Archive notice: This article was originally published on February 4, 2009. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Because data transfer is faster and more reliable than USB, connecting devices via FireWire became a trend in the Mac market in recent years. The future seemed to lie in a combination of eSATA and FireWire, but Apple surprised users with a reversal on the new MacBook Pro. The new systems no longer include a FireWire 400 interface and have only a FireWire 800 port, preventing many users from connecting FireWire 400 devices directly.
Simple Solution: FireWire 800 Becomes FireWire 400
The 6-pin-to-9-pin FireWire adapter allows FireWire 400 accessories to be connected easily and inexpensively to computers without the corresponding port. The 5 cm adapter plugs into the FireWire 800 interface and directly into the cable of the device being connected. Without buying and attaching additional cumbersome cables, the latest MacBook Pro’s sole FireWire connection becomes a FireWire 400 port. At under €10, Sonnet’s adapter is a particularly inexpensive and simple solution.
From Zero to Two
The new MacBook Pro is a prime example: notebooks are compact and powerful, but offer fewer interfaces than larger desktop computers. Sonnet’s FireWire/USB ExpressCard/34 allows users to connect several high-performance FireWire devices simultaneously to the new MacBook Pro without compromising speed. In addition to an extra USB connection, it offers two FireWire 400 ports for devices such as hard drives and digital cameras.
The card fits into the notebook’s ExpressCard/34 slot and provides two hot-swappable, hot-pluggable FireWire 400 interfaces alongside the USB port.
No drivers are required under Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. The card also works under Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista in PC notebooks with ExpressCard/34 or ExpressCard/54 slots.
Pricing and Availability:
The FireWire adapter is available from IT and Apple retailers and many online shops at a recommended retail price of €8.90 including VAT; the FireWire/USB ExpressCard/34 costs €54 including VAT.
