Text 2699, 127 rader
Skriven 2005-02-24 13:15:04 av Chris (1:379/45)
Ärende: Apple takes a step away from FireWire
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From: Chris <nospam@noemail>

Apple takes a step away from FireWire

By Ina Fried
http://news.com.com/Apple+takes+a+step+away+from+FireWire/2100-1041_3-5587951.h
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Story last modified Thu Feb 24 04:00:00 PST 2005


FireWire is still Apple Computer's baby, but the proud parent is cutting the
cord.

With the latest crop of iPods, Apple is no longer including a FireWire cable in
the box. The music players will still work with FireWire, if a cord is
purchased separately, but only a USB 2.0 cable comes with the device. The move
is part of a gradual shift on Apple's part to standardize the iPod on USB,
which is far more common in the Windows world.

Although Apple's embrace has been gradual over several years, it is still a big
shift for a company that helped develop the standard behind FireWire,
technically known as IEEE 1394, and has been one of its biggest proponents.

IDC analyst Susan Kevorkian identified two main reasons for the shift. First,
it used to not be possible to recharge the device via USB. News.context

What's new:
With its new lower-priced generation of iPods, Apple isn't including a FireWire
cord, providing users users the more PC-friendly USB option.

Bottom line:
The move saves Apple a few bucks and admits that USB, not FireWire, is the
dominant connection technology.

More stories on iPod

"They've been wedded to FireWire for a long time because it allowed them to
charge (the iPod)," she said.

The other issue is cost. With the latest round of products, Apple cut its
prices. By omitting the FireWire cord, the company can gain back some of the
lost profit margins.

"It's more cost efficient to ship with one cable rather than two, and USB is
more broadly supported on both platforms," Kevorkian said. "FireWire, it ships
on some PCs, but not the vast majority."

Nonetheless, some Mac owners were rankled by the move, saying that as recently
as a year or two ago many Macs didn't include a USB 2.0 port. As of Wednesday
night, more than 1,300 people had signed an online petition calling on Apple to
again include a FireWire cable with iPods.

Gary Reich, an Annapolis, Md.-based boating publication editor and owner of
three Macs, said he launched the petition because he "felt a little betrayed."

"We, as dedicated users and supporter of your hardware and software are
completely dismayed at your recent decision to discontinue standard FireWire
support for the iPod music player line," the petition states, going on to note
that "It is very unfortunate that you have left your faithful out in the dark
on this one."

When the iPod debuted in 2001, it used only FireWire, and even the second crop
of iPods--the first to support Windows--lacked USB support entirely. It wasn't
until April 2003, with the dock connector-based iPods, that Apple first offered
a USB 2.0 option. And then it was USB 2.0, which had to be bought separately as
a $19 extra.

But there are clearly more and more Windows users that are looking for an iPod.

Shortly after Apple started selling a Windows-compatible iPod, the company said
the breakdown of Mac versus PC users was about evenly split. But, at that time,
only FireWire-equipped PCs could connect to an iPod. Now, nearly all PC users
have the ability to connect to an iPod. In addition, iPod sales are now several
times those of new Macs.

Apple first showed a clear preference for USB with its flash memory-based iPod
Shuffle, which debuted in January. That player has a built-in USB attachment
and uses that port for data transfer and charging.

USB creep
On its Macs, Apple has gradually been adding USB 2.0 ports alongside those for
FireWire, adding it, for example, in 2003 to the iMac line.

Apple said it is still committed to supporting FireWire on the iPod, but sees
USB as a more common port on which to standardize.

"We've been a proponent of both," said Greg Joswiak, Apple vice president of
iPod marketing. "We try not to be religious about (it)."

Joswiak notes that Apple helped popularize USB when the company went USB-only
on the original iMac.

"We're also the guys that made USB work," he said.

There are a few downsides to cutting the FireWire cord from the iPod box. There
is a generation of Macs that have FireWire ports, but their only USB port is
the slower USB 1.1. That version transfers files much more slowly and does not
carry enough power to charge an iPod. Also, some USB hubs do not carry power,
meaning iPod owners need to remember to plug the devices directly into their
Mac or PC to charge them. Those who want the FireWire cord will now have to pay
$19 to get one.

Who's a niche technology now, huh?
Advocates of FireWire had once pitched a much broader role for the connector,
arguing that USB was the more niche technology, best suited for things like
mice and keyboards. Instead, USB 2.0 has become nearly ubiquitous and it is
FireWire that is seen as more the niche player.

FireWire and USB 2.0 both have roughly similar transfer rates, but they have
found different markets. Macs typically have both ports. On Windows machines,
USB 2.0 is standard, while FireWire is often left out or made available as an
option.

On the peripheral side, while both USB 2.0 and FireWire are used for external
hard drives, USB 2.0 is more common for digital cameras and FireWire for
camcorders. More recently, Apple has been trying to make inroads for FireWire
in the consumer electronics world, particularly as a secure method of
transmitting digital video.

A faster version of FireWire, known as IEEE 1394.b or FireWire 800, offers
roughly twice the speed of FireWire and USB 2.0. It is offered by Apple on its
professional models and on some external hard drives, but has yet to see
widespread adoption.

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