"Put FireWire back in the MacBook", demands petition

The new MacBook: FireWire not included.
The new MacBook: FireWire not included. (Image credit: Image courtesy of Apple)

Apple's decision not to include a FireWire port in its new MacBook is now being challenged by online petitioners.

The campaign to get the interface reinstated started last week, and at the time of writing has been backed by more than 8300 people.

The petition site features this simple message to Apple: "Your recently refreshed line of consumer notebooks lacks the possibility to plug in digital audio and video equipment as well as fast mass storage devices.

"Therefore, we pledge to purchase a new MacBook or MacBook Air if you, the inventor of FireWire technology, would be so kind to bring back FireWire ports to those products."

Although MusicRadar can empathise with the campaigners, we can't help but feel that this is a lost cause. Putting FireWire back into the MacBook (it was never in the MacBook Air) would require the laptop to be significantly redesigned, a process that would probably cost Apple far more than the company will lose because of its omission.

If you want to sign the petition, though, you can do so here.

Ben Rogerson

I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it.