Why did apple switch iPods to USB instead of FireWire?

Discussion in 'iPod' started by imacintel, Nov 12, 2006.

  1. macrumors 68000

    Mar 12, 2006
    Is it simply because USB is cheaper and mor popular? Or is it for an other reason? aI really would love it if my iPOd was FW.
  2. macrumors Core

    Jun 16, 2004
    Maybe because of PeeCee users not having Firewire as standard.
  3. macrumors 603


    Aug 15, 2006
    Carlisle, Up Norf!
    I love the firewire, but it'll be a cost cutting thing, PeeCees and Macs can use USB2, so why put Firewire AND USB2 in the box? Saying that, my Mac doesn't like me using USB2 for my iPod Mini, gawd knows why, but it just wont play ball.
  4. thread starter macrumors 68000

    Mar 12, 2006
    I am sorry, but every dell, hp and pretty much every modern (2 years old at least) has FireWire. my bor's laptop has it, my dads laptop has it, my iMac has it, my HP desktop has it, my PB has it.
  5. macrumors Core

    Jun 16, 2004
    Didn't Apple supply FW cards if you ordered a "PC" iPod?
    Or is my old memory failing again...
  6. macrumors 6502


    Apr 25, 2003
    New York, NY
    The simple reason is that the Firewire architecture requires more physical space than a USB architecture (having something to do with the fact that USB devices are either master or slave but FireWire is always able to be both). In order for the new iPods to be so thin, they couldn't have a fully-functioning FireWire port. This is also why you can charge the 5G iPods over FireWire, but can't sync--they have the ability to get power over the cable, but not anything more sophisticated.

    It's likely also cheaper, but not significantly so.
  7. macrumors 68040


    Dec 27, 2003
    Portland, OR

    Yep, that's exactly why. Frustrating for Mac users, but it's nice having such a thin iPod.

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