no expansion port in new macbooks?

[animefx]

i just noticed today that the current ibooks lack any type of expansion port. even those these are "value systems" i'm still a bit disapointed that there is no expansion port.

i'm really hoping that the new macbooks will ditch the internal modem and maybe use part of that extra space for an express card slot. i really need audio in and out without having to buy some type of usb2 expansion. however, it would be less bulky and better if there was an expansion port where i could plugin a sound device.

i know i could get a macbook pro, but by the time you upgrade the ram and up the hard drive space one notch, and get applecare, its a bit too high for my blood.

what are the chances the new macbooks will have an expansion card slot?

 

[FocusAndEarnIt]

Zero.

The iBooks have never had a PCMCIA slot, and I doubt they ever will, it's a pro feature to attract people to buy the PowerBooks + MacBook Pros.

 

[danny_w]

Zero.

The iBooks have never had a PCMCIA slot, and I doubt they ever will, it's a pro feature to attract people to buy the PowerBooks + MacBook Pros.

And this is something I have never been able to understand. Even the cheapest Windows lapop has a PCMCIA or Expresscard slot. Why is is considered a "professional only" feature for Apple?

 

[kgarner]

If you were to take a survey, I would be surprised if more than 10% of people have ever used a PCMCIA card. Back when laptops didn't include things like ethernet or modems and such they were pretty common, but those are all included now and the use of those slots has dropped a lot.

(All observations based off my experience as a salesman at CompUSA which ended about 2 years ago)

 

[Danksi]

And this is something I have never been able to understand. Even the cheapest Windows lapop has a PCMCIA or Expresscard slot. Why is is considered a "professional only" feature for Apple?

Most people don't need a PCMCIA type expansion slot, if you do then Apple wants to up-sell you to a PowerBook or MacBook Pro.

 

[milo]

And this is something I have never been able to understand. Even the cheapest Windows lapop has a PCMCIA or Expresscard slot. Why is is considered a "professional only" feature for Apple?

Because someone who isn't a pro wouldn't ever use it. What would you need it for that doesn't fall into the pro category (and can't be done with usb or fw)?

 

[danny_w]

Because someone who isn't a pro wouldn't ever use it. What would you need it for that doesn't fall into the pro category (and can't be done with usb or fw)?

While I agree that for the most part that is true, it is just one more area where it appears to the general public that Apple products are more expensive, because they are missing a feature that is common in even the cheapest Windows laptop. And again I say "for the most part". an expansion slot would be very helpful in extending the life of notebook by allowing expansion to new versions of wifi, usb, etc. Just look at how long it too Apple to start putting USB2 into laptops; there are a myriad of even recent Apple laptops that have only USB1.1 that would benefit from being able to add a USB2 port (esp. now that iPods have gone all USB).

 

[Chaszmyr]

Apple's design philosophy has never been to load their consumer computers up with everything anyone may or may not need. They like to keep them small, light, and aesthetically pleasing. I didn't know that this was a mystery to anyone here.

 

[danny_w]

Apple's design philosophy has never been to load their consumer computers up with everything anyone may or may not need. They like to keep them small, light, and aesthetically pleasing. I didn't know that this was a mystery to anyone here.

I undersdtand that is their philosophy, I just don't happen to agree with it. For my use, it makes their laptops obsolete way too fast.

 

[animefx]

exactly... with some type of expansion slot, i could get another 2 years out of a laptop when some new technology is out that i can't take advantage of. one example would be a wireless usb (usb 3.0) it will be vastly superior to bluetooth. also, i would like to do some basic audio recording, but the macbook pro is still a bit overkill for what i want to do. if the macbook/ibook at least had an analog (i'm not even asking for digital) in and out, i would crave the expansion slot less.

to be honest i'm thinking there should be a "mid range" apple notebook, even if its in limited availability. the closest thing i can thing of as mid range would be the 12" powerbook which hasn't been updated forever, nor will it ever be updated again. a 13.3" powerbook starting at $1599 would be perfect. does anyone agree?

as far as apple being a minimalist, thats one thing i love about apple.. however this doesn't not apply to the expansion slot with a macbook, since the macbook pro has one, plus audio ins and outs, and is still considered a "minimalist design".

I undersdtand that is their philosophy, I just don't happen
to agree with it. For my use, it makes their laptops obsolete way too fast.

 

[animefx]

(a correction from above) i meant 13.3 macbook pro, not powerbook.

 

[whooleytoo]

Apple's design philosophy has never been to load their consumer computers up with everything anyone may or may not need. They like to keep them small, light, and aesthetically pleasing. I didn't know that this was a mystery to anyone here.

That's one view..

..another is they limit the feature set of their 'consumer' Macs to entice people to buy their higher-margin 'pro' machines.

 

[Flowbee]

also, i would like to do some basic audio recording, but the macbook pro is still a bit overkill for what i want to do. if the macbook/ibook at least had an analog (i'm not even asking for digital) in and out, i would crave the expansion slot less.

Really, for $35 you can get an iMic and be done with all this fretting about the lack of a card slot. It's small and light and surprisingly good at getting audio into your computer.

 

[danny_w]

Really, for $35 you can get an iMic and be done with all this fretting about the lack of a card slot. It's small and light and surprisingly good at getting audio into your computer.

...and takes up one of your precious USB ports.

 

[animefx]

actually that does look like a pretty nice product. what would be ideal is if there was a usb hub available for macintosh notebooks that looked nearly as good as that and had a few more female plugs at the end... say it looks like this:

,------------o (female usb)
note book[]------|------------o (female usb)
`------------o (female usb)

is there anything like that? also, does the imic have mic in and line in and line out? if not, is there something similar with all 3?

...and takes up one of your precious USB ports.

 

[animefx]

looks like my ascii image of the perfect usb hub was messed up when i posted that.. i hope you guys know what i mean by it though.

 

[animefx]

i looked at the imic and the specs. lacks mic in and line-in but still pretty nice. if anyone knows of any more advanced options let me know.

on the imic is the "in" good enough for sources "louder" than your typical mic?

 

[Flowbee]

i looked at the imic and the specs. lacks mic in and line-in but still pretty nice. if anyone knows of any more advanced options let me know.

on the imic is the "in" good enough for sources "louder" than your typical mic?

From the first paragraph of the iMic link above:

"iMic allows you to connect virtually any microphone or sound input device to your iBook, PowerBook, PowerMac or other Mac or PC systems with a USB port. iMic supports both mic and line level inputs via a selectable switch, as well as a variable level output for connecting speakers or headphones."

In other words, yes. If you click the photo below you can see the Mic/Line switch.

 

[animefx]

yeah, i noticed that on the picture after i had posted already. oh well. sounds like a good option.

anyone know of mac style usb hubs though, and yet portable enough for notebooks?

From the first paragraph of the iMic link above:

"iMic allows you to connect virtually any microphone or sound input device to your iBook, PowerBook, PowerMac or other Mac or PC systems with a USB port. iMic supports both mic and line level inputs via a selectable switch, as well as a variable level output for connecting speakers or headphones."

In other words, yes. If you click the photo below you can see the Mic/Line switch.

 

[milo]

exactly... with some type of expansion slot, i could get another 2 years out of a laptop when some new technology is out that i can't take advantage of. one example would be a wireless usb (usb 3.0) it will be vastly superior to bluetooth. also, i would like to do some basic audio recording, but the macbook pro is still a bit overkill for what i want to do. if the macbook/ibook at least had an analog (i'm not even asking for digital) in and out, i would crave the expansion slot less.

There are tons of USB audio devices, few if any that use an expansion slot. And while I agree with future USB standards, any future wireless standards can likely be added with usb as well. If anything I'd like to see more USB slots although hubs are small and cheap.