So now a $500 Dell has Firewire, but a $1300 Mac doesn't? Is this true?

Question

With Apple dropping more features from their laptops, I decided to check out the Dell site out of curiosity. I can't believe the features you can get for as little as $500 dollars. Here is a list of ports on a base $500 Dell (as compared to a $1200 MacBook):
Four USB 2 ports
*IEEE 1394a*
8-in-1 memory card reader
VDA & S-Video out
1 ExpressCard 54mm Slot
headphone & mic jacks
So... 1394a is a Firewire port, correct?
http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/inspnnb1525?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&~oid=us~en~29~inspnnb_1525anav1~~

Answer 1

You'll also need to care about N wireless, Bluetooth, and web cam, as the base $500 Dell you link are options on that model that you need to add. And you have to add the 225$ processor to match the processor with 3MB cache and 800Mhz buss in the $999 "white" Macbook that has firewire. Once you do get the $500 one added with things to bring it inline with the MacBook white's specs you are at $824 and that's not knowing if a 6 cell battery is equivalent to a 55-watt hour battery. If not add $70 for the 9 cell battery. But hey, you get a modem! Which the macbook does not have, and a card reader. I know that this is not a comparison to the "new" one, but. Well there it is.
But you are correct, the "$500" Dell has firewire and the $1300 MacBook AL does not. It certainly doesn't play down the "lack" of firewire in top line MacBooks as this is going to be a significant problem for some, a "mindblock" for others, but a final "who cares" for the rest, but I suppose to some of the "who cars" category would buy that $500 dell as well.
It will always come down to different strokes for different folks. A few people may prefer the slightly better integrated graphics and Smaller screen and for go the firewire. But it's always different strokes for different folks.
For me, though I wouldn't "need" firewire for my day to day work, I "Want" the option, so I might even be willing to plop the premium for the Pro, but the problem is I personally want the smaller footprint I want some more portable, but I guess you take things as they will, but who knows.