Firewire question...

[bigsexy]

OK, here's my problem. A while back I bought a laptop from Alienware. The laptop, the Area 51m, was pretty state of the art....possible with one exception. The firewire port on it is of the 4 pin variety. I've come to realize that most devices use (or appear to use) the 6 pin cable. I am currently considering buying a Lexar firewire CF card reader, but am concerned that it will have a non removable 6 pin cable, which would mean I can't connect it to my computer. I'd really appreciate it if anyone could tell me what kind of cable the lexar firewire CF card reader has (4 or 6 pin) and if the cable is removable (and therefore could be replaced)? Thank you in advance for you help. A box of Romeo and Juliet #2s to the first contestant to answer. :-)

[jfretless]

It has the six pin and it's not removable.

they use four pin because of space and most MiniDV cams, maybe all, use them.

how about getting a pcmcia firewire card, you can probably get one that has USB2 also on the same card.

john

[NickC]

The two "extra" pins are for accommodating bus-powered devices. Could be the Lexar reader, which I use on my Macs, is using the extra pins to light up their little light.

If you can wait a day, I will try the Lexar with a 6-to-4-pin converter and see if it works on my Toshiba laptop which has a 4-pin FW connector.

[MrChevy]

David,
I bought a Delkin PRO CardBus 32-bit PCMCIA Adapter

http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_display.html?tid=7412

http://luminous-landscape.com/reviews/accessories/aska32.shtml

I love it, faster than the USB2 SanDisk reader I have... AND faster than the Lexar Firewire reader I use on the desktop computer.

Very well spent money for me.

Ken

[bigsexy]

Thank you all for your help! I took your advice on the Delkin CF card adaptor and just ordered one from B&H. It sounds like the answer to my prayers. Again, thank you for your assistance, you're the coolest!