Firewire 800 backwards compatible?

wij · 19 Oct 2008 at 15:20

Seem to be a lot of people whinging about the lack of a Firewire 400 port on the new range of Mac laptops.

Isn't Fw800 backwards compatible? Pretty sure I've got a couple of cables around here somewhere that allow me to plug 400 devices into an 800 socket.

Only wondering if anyone has tried this with a range of devices and found any issues, I'm currently thinking of changing my MBP to a new model as this one is getting a bit tired from a couple of years of solid use.

Suppose I can just get an express card with a couple of 400 ports on it anyway

Slogan · 19 Oct 2008 at 15:21

Yes. You can get an adapter cable to make a 800 port work for 400.

wij · 19 Oct 2008 at 15:24

Indeed, a quick google reveals my local purple shirt shop sells such cables, might go get one and try a few things on my 800 port on this one before I do anything else.

Most of the things I use for work are actually fitted with Fw800 anyway, just a couple of cameras that aren't.

Shame it only has the one port, for me that is more annoying than the lack of firewire 400.

Slogan · 19 Oct 2008 at 15:33

They've been shoddy with the new laptops in my opinion.

Firewire 800 which can do 400 isn't a Firewire 800 and Firewire 400. People who have bought hard drives and things with Firewire are now up the creek and having to spend more money on alternatives.

helmutcheese · 19 Oct 2008 at 15:41

I have a WD My Book that's 3 interfaced, the Firewire 800 (1394b) is backwards compatible.

The port on the HDD Caddy is 1394b but you get 2 Cables, 1 is 1394b at both ends and the other is 1394b at one end and 1394a at the other end.

This is on a PC BTW.

wij · 19 Oct 2008 at 15:52

Slogan said:
Firewire 800 which can do 400 isn't a Firewire 800 and Firewire 400. People who have bought hard drives and things with Firewire are now up the creek and having to spend more money on alternatives.

Agreed its annoying that it is only the one port but to be honest if you can get a cable for a few pounds that enables you to use your old devices is it really that much of an issue? If you can afford to spend £1500 on a laptop you can probably find the £10 for a cable of adapter or a £30 express card with some FW400 ports. Annoying but hardly the end of the world is it.

For me personally with the new ones I would have liked to see a bump to the screen resolution a bit and perhaps include a blu-ray drive or make it an option at least.

They did something similar with the first generation of MBPs - took the FW800 away, that was more annoying for me having just spent a small fortune on a RME interface and a couple of Glyph drives to use with it!

Maybe when they revise the product in a few months time they will add another 800 port or a 400 port, shall probably old off until then.

Slogan · 19 Oct 2008 at 16:00

I'm talking more in relation to people who have their MBP as a primary computer and say, do video work. You have one Firewire 800 hard drive as Time Machine and no where for your camera to go, unless you're unplugging the time machine.

I'm sure they could have included two Firewire ports if they really wanted to and at least one on the MacBook. Just plain confusing at times as to how they think although most people happily accept it.

helmutcheese · 19 Oct 2008 at 22:15

Ohh the WD My Book has 2x 1394b ports so you can Daisy Chain.

bigredshark · 19 Oct 2008 at 22:37

Slogan said:
I'm talking more in relation to people who have their MBP as a primary computer and say, do video work. You have one Firewire 800 hard drive as Time Machine and no where for your camera to go, unless you're unplugging the time machine.

I'm sure they could have included two Firewire ports if they really wanted to and at least one on the MacBook. Just plain confusing at times as to how they think although most people happily accept it.

Firewire hubs are available, and as has already been point out, you can daisy chain devices. The number of ports isn't an issue (well it is but not insurmountable and it's nothing new on a mac) but the absence of firewire from the macbook is. It's a standard apple has been a big supporter of for years after all.