Firewire in front - a serious design flaw

In my research, I was so excited about the M860TU...seemed like the ideal laptop for me....UNTIL I SAW THAT THEY PLACED THE FIREWIRE PORT IN FRONT! Who the heck wants a thick rigid cord sticking out from the front where their arm is resting! This is a HUGE dealbreaker because I use the firewire port for my digital audio interface. Options? Get an ExpressCard with Firewire ports so that I can plug it on the side? Pretty costly solution...

 

OMG. I gotta cancel my order over this. This is too big. I mean the build quality, cpu options, the 260m gtx customer service and such are just too small to even consider compared to were a fire wire port is!!! Calling xotic now to cancel my order.


Sarcasm aside i dont think its that big of a deal but i am flexible with room and usb and fire wire placements. I guess if thats the road you want to take go for it.

 

Yeah who needs one of the most powerful 15" notebooks out there when theres an ugly firewire port in the front...

Can't have your cake and eat it too I suppose
May have to upgrade

 

firewire?
i dont see many peripherals using that interface anyways...

if you can afford a $1500 laptop...why does a firewire expresscard so COSTLY? your statement doesnt make sense..

it is because those who complain about the location of ports dont know how difficult it is to design a laptop..
maybe because of many factors that prevents the firewire to be located in the side or back..

and if you're not satisfy with it , can choose the alienware m15x aswell that have the hinge crack issues...

 

i must admit i thought this at first (for a couple of minutes) but it is no way a deal breaker.
i use firewire for digital editing and it hasnt got in my way yet.
the wire (as you know) is on the front edge and i cant see how your arms get affected by it being there as your arms are above the wire and knowhere near it.

if you get an express card wont that be in the way of your mouse (unless you are left handed)

defo not a deal breaker imo.

 

Thanks Mr DJ. You're the only one who offered a sensible answer. BTW, do you like your screen? I'm assuming its glossy...is it acceptable for creative design & editing?

 

no probs mate. thats what im here for.

 

Depends on if you like to work on bright lighting conditions I guess. I usually have my blinds half down and so glossy screen works like a charm. I have a NP2096 with a matte screen but as I do a lot of digital painting, I find that diamond pattern that matte screens give to pure black areas unacceptable.

 

Thanks Tabnir. Your post is very helpful. I will give glossy a shot...besides, I have an external monitor (matte) that I can always use for reference.

 

Color calibrations can be adjusted by software but there shouldn't be any difference between glossy and matte. In fact I believe glossy screens are superior for rendering since they they're higher contrast.

But yeah the M860TU's screen isn't that reflective at all. Right now I have my screen facing my windows and I didn't even notice the dull reflection.

 

I'm with the OP--I cannot stand anything in the front...firewire, speaker jacks, optical drive bays...

drives me nuts

 

It is actually kind of stupid when you think about it.

It's sort of like how the M570TU has the audio ports in front. It's completely ridiculous, it makes it uncomfortable to have the laptop in your lap. Firstly because there is a wire almost sticking you in the stomach. Second because the audio ports on the M570TU are crap, and if you barely touch them they break.

 

Why would you have the laptop so far in your lap that the wires would stick into your stomach you're not like... reclining and propping the laptop front edge on your belly are you?

The laptops are a bit heavy for true laptop computing anyways, even the 8662 is more fit for desktop replacement.