Apple has certainly made a couple of controversial moves in the latest MacBook line up. The New MacBook drops Firewire altogether and both the New MacBook and MacBook Pro come with a glossy screen behind a piece of glass. Luckily, the 15″ MacBook Pro does still include a single Firewire 800 port.
While I’m waiting to receive my new MacBook Pro before passing judgement on the glossy display, I am getting ready for the loss of the Firewire 400 port (the older MacBook Pro had both a Firewire 800 AND Firewire 400 port). Although I do have some Firewire 800 to 400 cables, sometimes you may have cables that are just the right length and rather than go out have to buy all new cables, there’s a simpler option…
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The Synchrotech Firewire 800 to 400 adapter
This simple adapter lets you keep using your existing Firewire 400 cables. All you do is plug this adapter into your Firewire 800 port and it converts it to a Firewire 400 port. That’s it! No muss, no fuss.
The Synchrotech Firewire 800 to 400 adapter goes for a mere $9. You can order it here.
I’ve noticed that none of the Photoshop Guys have a new MacBook Pro yet. Does the glossy-only screen mean they won’t upgrade?
Alan,
It just means they haven’t gotten theirs yet. I don’t have mine yet either although it’s on order.
The designers I support plan to use their MacBooks with a second screen (not glossy). The second screen is where they do their design work while in the office, which is 90+% of the time. That was enough for them to overcome the glossy screen on the MacBook Pro. Which, by the way, was going to be an issue if they went with iMacs as well.
Oh… sorry… thanks for the Firewire adapter find, Terry!
If you purchase an external Western Digital drive that supports firewire 800 they come with a firewire 800-400 cable.
Some others do too. Be sure to check the box or the specs. It makes it worth the extra few bucks.
this my not be possible, but is there a 400 – 800 adapter?
good info Terry.
Mike,
Synchrotech does make a 400-800 adapter. However, keep in mind that this is just an adapter and doesn’t speed up Firewire 400 devices in anyway. Thanks!
here’s another site I found a few weeks ago:
http://www.sonnettech.com/product/fw_adapter.html
I love your podcasts and this blog about gadgets and stuff. Been reading since the ‘old blog’. Noticed you wear a mic headset for your podcasts, got a recommendation for one with a mac? I thought you listed everything on your “my favorite’s page”. Didn’t see it there?
keep up the good work.
Hi Leo,
Thanks!
I don’t necessarily have a “favorite” headset mic. I’ve been using my Snowball and Snowflake mics more lately. The headset mic I have been using is the Plantronics USB Headset Mic Model .Audio 650 USB Multimedia Stereo Headset $59.99 list. Very UNCOMFORTABLE (due to the stupid SQUARE ear cup design), but great sound.