FireWire socket changed?!?#&$"?

[Deano]

Just setting up me new toy/tool the 17" MacBook Pro when I find that the bloody FireWire socket is smaller than the one on this PowerBook G4.

Which leaves me in a bit of a pickle as I want to use Migration Assistant to transfer data.

Does anyone know if an old FireWire to new FireWire adapter is made? Or will USB 2 .0 do the job for me?

I will need to order something >> just what is the problem...

Sigh

TIA

[Robert Seltman]

I feel your pain. When I bought my iMac I too was surprised to see the new firewire standard, particularly since I have draws full of cables none of which would fit. I had to go to the Mac shop in Shiga and buy a very over priced adaptor cable. When I bought a new hard drive these cables were also included so I would have been better to wait. The usb will work fine, just much slower.  If you are watching movies or multitasking you may see a delay sometimes. For example on a USB drive I can't empty the trash while watching a film as it will delay the film. You can get the cable online from Apple, at the Apple store, or with drives built to recent Apple standards. Unfortunately I could not find the new firewire standard any where in Kyoto, and I tried quite a few shops. It is probably easier to find in Osaka but still a nuisance. That said, I prefer Firewire drives to USB, there is quite a speed difference. USB 3 is coming, which will be much faster, but when, I am not sure, and I wonder if USB 3 may require even different cables.

[Tall Paul]

What you need is the Firewire 400/800 cable. That's an IEEE 1394 6-pin to 9-pin. MAKE SURE it's the 6 to 9, otherwise you'll have to make two trips to the store.

[Deano]

Thanks for the empathy and advice Robert and Paul. Last night I ordered a 400/800 adapter from the Apple Store (it looked like the right shape ends in the blow-up pix) . It will arrive tomorrow. Sod going to the store -- the train fare would be 4x the delivery charge...

If it is the wrong one there will be a great howling and wailing and gnashing of teeth, not to mention rending of garments. Not that I'm Jewish -- just enjoy a bit of drama...