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Recent Macs Have Built-in USB 2.0
RalphBNumbers writes "According to a forum thread at CreateMac, a Korean Mac community, the newer MDD 1.25 and 1.42 GHz dual G4s actually use a NEC PD720101 USB 2.0 controller for their built-in USB. Apple's drivers only support USB 1.x, but you can apparently enable USB 2.0 functionality by using the drivers for a USB 2.0 card from Orange Micro that uses the same NEC controller. YMMV." Is there a translation of any of this, somewhere?
Since FireWire 800 is twice as fast as USB 2.0, it's hard to see a threat there.
No.
Apple has always stated that you get USB 1.1 performance from their USB ports. If you want higher-speed, you use Firewire.
The fact that newer machines "may" have a 2.0 compatible controller is likely due more to that's what's easily available from the semiconductor manufacturers. Apple has not been selling those as 2.0 compatible, so the drivers do not support using them in 2.0 mode. It's that simple.
What? You can hack a driver to enable the 2.0 performance? Well, that's just great, good for you. Apple didn't sell it that way though, so it's not like you paid for a 2.0 system, and it's not like they owe you anything.
Given the amount of whinging in the mac crowd. I bet if Apple put out a Software Update tonight that enabled full 2.0 in all those systems with a 2.0 chip they'd actually get more complaints than praise, from people who feel 'cheated' that they didn't get 2.0 with their system (even though it was neither advertised nor did they pay for it).
Those prices aren't exactly stellar. That's without any of the fancy user-apps that Apple includes that make life a whole lot easier. That's also without the more durable and attractive construction. Nor does it include a Unix-based operating system that can also run x86 operating systems. Nor does it include FireWire. And the Wi-Fi option would take up the PC Card slot as opposed to being an internal upgrade.
So if you add up all the stuff you'd have to add to the Dell to make it comparable to the Mac, the Mac winds up being a better value, especially over time as Apple's OS updates generally make things FASTER and MORE STABLE as opposed to SLOWER and REPLETE WITH BUGS.
If you cared about having slots, you wouldn't have bought an iMac. That's like asking what you do if you have a PS2 and want to get USB 2.0 for it.
It's likely that they used the IC because they are going to adopt USB 2.0 at some point, most likely in another revision of the current. It's not being used to its full advantage in the current models, but a later model might take advantage of it...since the later model might use a similar motherboard, they've designed 2.0 into the motherboard ahead of time?
Sure, you can't add another drive, but you can replace the one that comes installed. Swap that one for your 200GB, and put the small one in your USB case. It will work if the 200GB drive is bootable. I replaced my iMac's 6GB drive with a 120GB one, and it worked fine.
I agree 100%, my iBook is priceless to me as well. It proforms well,gives me my unix base that I want/need, and is easy to use. It is also quiet, unlike these modern pc laptops that sound like a 747. And above all that, the iBook will keep it's value quite well, as most apple hardware does.