Apple Mac Farewell FireWire 400… the price of progress by Mark Yates and Chris Ridley
Author: Mark Yates
As business consultants at maconestopshop Mark Yates & Chris Ridley we are constantly asked about how to remedy IT related headaches experienced by Apple Mac users when upgrading to newer Mac systems. One of the most recent headaches concerns FireWire 400 devices and the price of progress.
The founders of Maconestopshop asked both Chris and Mark Yates to write a brief article titled Apple Mac Farewell FireWire 400… the price of progress
The introduction of the latest Apple MacBook and iMac computers has been causing headaches for users upgrading from older Apple systems. Users who have invested in FireWire 400 devices have found they have been unable to simply connect their FireWire devices due to a tiny hardware change, the removal of the previous 6-pin FireWire 400 port and replacement with the newer 9-pin FireWire 800 port.
FireWire is the High Speed Serial Bus initiated by Apple in 1995 and developed by the IEEE P1394 Working Group which is frequently used by personal computers to connect external hard disk drives and digital video cameras. FireWire 400, or 1394a as it is officially known, has been a regular feature of Apple devices for over ten years, even appearing in the original iPod. It was joined by FireWire 800 (1394b) in high end Apple products in 2002. This new interface increased the theoretical maximum data transfer speed from 400Mbit/sec to 800Mbit/sec and introduced a new plug or connector. Although “backwards compatible”, connecting a FireWire 400 device to a computer featuring a FireWire 800 port is not straight requiring either a new cable or adapter.
www.maconestopshop.com sell such an adapter in the form of the Sonnet Technologies FireWire 400 to 800 Adapter. This tiny black unit instantly solves the problem created by the absence of the FireWire 400 port on the latest MacBooks and iMacs.
Why did Apple Mac choose to remove something used by so many users? This is probably a question only Apple’s designers could answer, however it should not have come as much of a surprise. Apple Mac has a history of pushing the industry forward when it comes to new standards and interfaces, even when it can be painful for users, luckily adapters like the Sonnet FireWire 400 to 800 Adapter make the price of progress a little easier to swallow.
maconestopshop is a Mac specific web site designed to offer a true one stop shop shopping experience for all Mac users. The web site is currently active with a featured Blog. The full web site will soft launch in the middle of May 2009
Mark Yates recommends if you work with business consultants or you are a business IT consultant with the responsibility of recommending Apple Mac products to clients you may qualify for certain discounts to purchase your Apple Macintosh Mac computers and other Mac and IT related products all available at the cheapest prices online.
Mark Yates is recognised globally as the British American security expert after providing his security expertise to government security, intelligence, law enforcement and security agencies in 41 countries. 5 major TV documentaries have been broadcast and hundreds of press articles published about his extremely high risk security operations. Contact Mark Yates at drmarkdyates@aol.com
And there you have it, Apple Mac Farewell FireWire 400… the price of progress
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/software-articles/apple-mac-farewell-firewire-400-the-price-of-progress-by-mark-yates-and-chris-ridley-875204.html
About the Author
Business Background of Mark D. Yates: A former Managing Director & CEO of a USA corporation and former MD of two UK Companies. Dr. Mark Yates provides his expertise to a cross section of corporate entities including, Information technology, media, mining, banking and other financial & business institutions, security, law enforcement, construction, sales, marketing, manufacture, banking, film & TV, trade unions, graphic & web design & high income generation E-commerce development & sales. Mark is a very experienced corporate trouble shooter and visionary leader. He effectively handles special assignments and specialises in providing practical solutions to complex business problems. A compulsive achiever who demonstrates the ability to consistently exceed desired results. He is particularly adept in structuring International joint venture businesses and is particularly skilled at identifying new domestic & overseas markets for clients. Now Security specialists who consults for the UK’s largest e-tailer of security products and services