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Aluminum Unibody MacBook Q&A - Updated June 23, 2009
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How can I transfer all my files from my old Mac to my "Unibody" MacBook without using Firewire?
Please note that the "Late 2008/Unibody" MacBook models have been discontinued. The "Unibody" MacBook was replaced by the "Mid-2009" 13-Inch MacBook Pro on June 8, 2009, which has a single Firewire "800" port.
Apple's decision to not include a Firewire "400" port on the Aluminum "Unibody" MacBook models -- the MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 13" (Unibody) and MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 13" (Unibody) -- meant that the long favored method of system migration using the Setup Assistant/Migration Assistant utility and a Firewire cable to connect the two computers is not an option for these Macs. It is not possible to transfer files between systems using the convenient Firewire Target Disk Mode method either.
Fortunately, it still is possible to easily migrate to a "Unibody" MacBook from an older Mac using the Setup Assistant/Migration Assistant utility via Ethernet, wi-fi, or an external drive. For many recent models, the new MacBook can be connected to the older Mac with a standard Ethernet cable.
For additional information, please refer to the "Setup Assistant/Migration Assistant FAQ" from the Apple Support Site.
What ports are provided by the "Unibody" MacBook? Why does Apple not support Firewire?
The Aluminum "Unibody" MacBook models -- the MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 13" (Unibody) and MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 13" (Unibody) -- have one Mini DisplayPort, two USB 2.0 ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, optical/digital audio input/output ports, a Kensington security port, and a "MagSafe" power connector. These models lack a Firewire port.
On November 3, 2008, EveryMac.com originally published:
Only those at the upper echelon of the company know for certain why Apple decided to drop Firewire support on the "Unibody" MacBook models. You could choose to believe that technical limitations prevented the inclusion of Firewire "400" on these systems. Alternately, you could choose to believe that the standard already is "on the way out" and merely accept it. Apple removed Firewire from the iPod some time ago and it seemed inevitable that the company would start removing it from consumer-targeted Macs as well.
Realistically, however, Apple dropped Firewire "400" from the "Unibody" MacBook models as a method of product differentiation between the increasingly similar "non-Pro" and "Pro" MacBook models. In all likelihood, it's that simple. Whether or not Apple will be rewarded or punished for this action will be decided by the marketplace.
On June 8, 2009, Apple essentially made the decision to push the Unibody MacBook "up" into the "Pro" category with the introduction of a 13-Inch MacBook Pro equipped with a single Firewire "800" port. This may or may not be indicative that Apple was "punished" for not including Firewire on the "Unibody" MacBook models, but it definitely shows that Apple determined there still was sufficient demand for a 13-Inch Apple notebook with Firewire.
Does the "Unibody" MacBook support 802.11n?
Yes, the Aluminum "Unibody" MacBook models -- the MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 13" (Unibody) and MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 13" (Unibody) -- both support 802.11n.
For the wireless capabilities of all "recent" -- G3 and later -- Macs, please refer to the AirPort Capability listing.
Also see: What is 802.11n? How is it different from 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11a?
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