best option for adding firewire

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phat_mats · #1 Post by **phat_mats** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 6:00 pm

Hi

I assume this is in the right forum since I am talking about adding firewire to a t-series. I have an i-pod and I need it to work with my notebook since it will be my only computer. I know of getting firewire that goes into the cardbus slot. Any other options?

jephhy · #2 Post by **jephhy** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 6:40 pm

An alternative solution would be to buy the USB cable from Apple and sync that way. That's what I use, although you can't charge the iPod via that method.

Jeff

eriqesque · #3 Post by **eriqesque** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 6:56 pm

The regular ipod's don't charge through the USB 2.0 or just on the 1.1
I have a mini and it charges through the USB 2.0. I guess it could be just different on the mini.

phat_mats · #4 Post by **phat_mats** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 7:01 pm

Data transfer is much slower through the USB 2.0 compared to the firewire, I also render home movies on my computer and you have to have firewire for that

cynic · #5 Post by **cynic** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 8:00 pm

A) USB2 transfer is not much slower than firewire. Recent facts have come to light that on x86 systems, the USB2 data trasfer rates are almost exactly on par with FW400. Apple's implementation, however, is crippled. See www.barefeats.com to see some data sheets. Here is the exact link on that site. Be aware, it is a Mac enthusiast site (which is why this is all the more interesting they are pointing this out.)

B) Yes, miniDV will require firewire for data transfers (not rendering, which is a completely different thing)

C) mini iPods do charge and sync over USB2. There is no reason why iPods couldn't do the same and most like future versions will.

D) A PCMCIA card is the only way to go for getting a firewire port. Make sure which ever one you choose is OHCI compliant (Texas Instruments chipsets are the best for this compatablility)

eliu · #6 Post by **eliu** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 8:29 pm

Take a look at this: http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDe ... 004&depa=0. It's a FireWire, Type II PCMIA card--your T41 has two slots for these things. It's 22 bucks, free shipping...gives you 3 firewire sockets.

At least, this is what I'll be buying...

-Eric

jephhy · #7 Post by **jephhy** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 12:05 am

Yes, USB2.0 may be a bit slower than Firewire 400, but it's not that bad. Plus, I hate having anything sticking out of my PC card slot, and firewire cards do protrude quite a bit.

Jeff

kjor76 · #8 Post by **kjor76** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 6:59 am

I found a belkin PCMCIA firewire card that sits completely inside the cardbus slot, flush with the exterior of the thinkpad. Heres a link. Shop around, it is possible to get it cheaper,

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductP ... _Id=100318

Ken

dclee012 · #9 Post by **dclee012** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 8:02 am

you may need a "powered" firewire drive if you also want it to charge your ipod while you access it. some cardbus adapaters have an optional power plug

smakdown61 · #10 Post by **smakdown61** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 8:53 am

I would be careful which kind of firewire card you use because my brother tried to buy a cheap desktop firewire card and it didn't work with his ipod. I went the safe way and ordered a pcmcia Belkin one straight off of apple's website that is guaranteed to work with the ipod. You can take your chances with a cheap one but i've known alot of people who had to return them. BTW my ipod doesn't charge through my firewire card (although the card does have the little power connecter available)

Sci-Clone · #11 Post by **Sci-Clone** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 10:44 am

I would be really careful with the firewire card you get. My old desktop did not have firewire so I had to buy a cheap firewire card. When I tried to connect my iPOD to it... it burnt it! Luckly my iPOD was brand new and I could replace it at the apple store. My firewire card went straight to the trash...

cynic · #12 Post by **cynic** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 11:07 am

You will definitely need a powered firewire port to power a iPod. 4 pins in firewire are for data transmission and 2 pins are for power (which is why iLink is "non-powered" firewire) This is only important for bus powered devices (3.5" drives, miniDV cameras, etc. don't work off of bus power.) In order to use an addon 6pin firewire port as a powered port, you have to have an AC adapter plugged into the PCMCIA card. I have seen some solutions which will draw the power off of 2 USB2 ports (since they supply 500mA each.) using a special cable.

But here's the real question when it comes to iPods... charging off of firewire draws power from your laptop battery, so why do it in the first place? Why not just power from the nearest outlet? Unless you need a quick power fix (which you shouldn't if your iPod is able to run for 8 hrs a day), you're only reducing the battery life of your laptop's battery. 99% of the time, you should be able to find an outlet to use first. Sync over USB2 and charge from an outlet once a day and everything works out fine.

phat_mats · #13 Post by **phat_mats** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 8:07 pm

kjor76 wrote:I found a belkin PCMCIA firewire card that sits completely inside the cardbus slot, flush with the exterior of the thinkpad. Heres a link. Shop around, it is possible to get it cheaper,

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductP ... _Id=100318

Ken

hey kjor76 I went to your link but I am confused, the card look small but there is a hug black thing that has th ports on it ... does that think hand out of your computer or does that part ectually insert flush too ... if so where?

benz · #14 Post by **benz** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 8:12 pm

It looks like the card itself is flush, but to use it you have to attach a big ol dongle to the thing....not exactly the best solution IMO. I'd rather have a card that stuck out a little, but was self-contained and didn't require you to keep up with the dongle...

phat_mats · #15 Post by **phat_mats** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 8:14 pm

yes me too ... no donlge on the end. So it sounds to me like getting power to the firewire card is pain in the butt. However if it's not much more expensive and doesn't cause any issues I don't see why not to go through with it. Any opinions on what the best options are for firewire card with power too it?

phat_mats · #16 Post by **phat_mats** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 8:21 pm

k found this ... it's at a canadian site and it's $100 her so like approx $70 USD. It has 2 USB 2.0 Ports and 1 Firewire, one of the USB 2.0 is powered. It does look like it sticks out a long way though.

http://www.compusmart.com/product.asp?C ... EEE%2D1394

I guess ideally I'd like one of each port (USB and Firewire) both powered and minimal amount sticking out. ANybody out there have anything like that?

cynic · #17 Post by **cynic** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 8:30 pm

T4x models already have 2 powered USB2 ports buit-in

cynic · #18 Post by **cynic** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 8:33 pm

There is no such thing as a firewire pcmcia card that draws power without using an additional a/c power supply hooked directly to the card. no such thing

jephhy · #19 Post by **jephhy** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 8:35 pm

cynic wrote:You will definitely need a powered firewire port to power a iPod. 4 pins in firewire are for data transmission and 2 pins are for power (which is why iLink is "non-powered" firewire) This is only important for bus powered devices (3.5" drives, miniDV cameras, etc. don't work off of bus power.) In order to use an addon 6pin firewire port as a powered port, you have to have an AC adapter plugged into the PCMCIA card. I have seen some solutions which will draw the power off of 2 USB2 ports (since they supply 500mA each.) using a special cable.

But here's the real question when it comes to iPods... charging off of firewire draws power from your laptop battery, so why do it in the first place? Why not just power from the nearest outlet? Unless you need a quick power fix (which you shouldn't if your iPod is able to run for 8 hrs a day), you're only reducing the battery life of your laptop's battery. 99% of the time, you should be able to find an outlet to use first. Sync over USB2 and charge from an outlet once a day and everything works out fine.

I agree, buy the USB/Firewire cable from Apple and bring the little iPod AC adapter to charge it. Simple and relatively inexpensive. Works fine for me and I don't have to worry about anything protruding from my laptop when I stick it in my bag.

kano · #20 Post by **kano** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 10:28 pm

I bought combo FireWire 800/400 from LaCie. Expensive ($80), but I hope this will be good, long term investment:
http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?id=10121
KaNo

cynic · #21 Post by **cynic** » Fri Jun 18, 2004 12:20 am

I've used that PCMCIA card for about 4 months and it works flawlessly without fail, has exceptional speed, and has been quite durable. You made a good buy. (On my recommendation to colleagues, 4 others have bought that card and all have been satisfied--it's been the reference card for many head-to-head tests of FW800 on the internet as well)

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