Why is it so difficult to shop for a laptop with Firewire?
Too many reviews are all gloss, and no specifics.

I'm looking to get a core I5 laptop.
It is hunt-and-peck to find specs listing input devices

Just buy the laptop you need and buy and expresscard with firewire ports...it works fine.

Well make sure that the laptop you buy has aan expresscard slot, sincec that is not a forgone conclusion. Expresscard is more versatile than firewire, since it can be used to add support for firewirre, or for eSATA or USB3, among many other things.