ChrisT Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 Can I use the newer high speed firewire on my older model iMac? (graphite edition circa 12/1999) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobBob Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 Chris, that deafening silence you're hearing is from the rest of us living in MSWorld. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisT Posted April 7, 2003 Author Share Posted April 7, 2003 Well that's why I asked IAIN initially but he doesn't seem to be hearing me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fejas Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 You should be able to, a computer is a computer... just add or replace your modem with a network modem that supports a fire-wire... depending on how old your comp is, you may have an extra plug so you can just add one, but if not then you will have to replace the old one... save it thoght, just in case you need to move it where there is no fire-wire, and have to put the modem back in... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisT Posted April 7, 2003 Author Share Posted April 7, 2003 well it already supports firewire...I just need to know if I can use the 800Mbps firewire (currently using 400Mbps) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erik Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 hell just give it a whirl!!! whats to worse that can happen?? its only a computer! Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fejas Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 Plug it in and let it rip.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalius Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 Forgive my ignorance, but I'm from planet PC. Â What Fejas was referring to, it seems, was using Firewire for an internet connection. Lots of other peripherals can attach directly to your computer via a firewire cable though, like printers and scanners and such, and if you don't have the right port, you could be screwed. Â It seems like older (Firewire 400) devices can be plugged into the newer Firewire 800(1394) ports, with a special adapter, but I don't know if you can plug the newer (800) devices into the older (400) port that's on your computer. If your computer takes cards though, you can buy the new firewire cards for cheap and give your computer the capability to run these devices. Â Don't quote me on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkrueger Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 ChrisT said: Can I use the newer high speed firewire on my older model iMac? (graphite edition circa 12/1999) You can use an old firewire device on a new firewire iMac (backwards compatibility), but I doubt you would be able to use a new firewire device on an old firewire iMac (forwards compatibility). You can't teach an old dog new tricks (at least not without a hardware upgrade!).  From the Apple website:  Backwards Compatibility Manufacturers have adopted FireWire for a broad range of devices, such as DV cameras, hard drives, digital still cameras, professional audio, printers, scanners and home entertainment. Adapter cables for the FireWire 800 9-pin connector let you use these FireWire 400 products on the FireWire 800 port. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisT Posted April 7, 2003 Author Share Posted April 7, 2003 well at least you're getting warmer dalius - thanks! Â I'll be using the firewire to download photos from a Nikon DH1 (high end digital camera). We currently use the 400 firewire for video and iPod. My low-end digital camera uses USB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisT Posted April 7, 2003 Author Share Posted April 7, 2003 jkrueger said: ChrisT said: Can I use the newer high speed firewire on my older model iMac? (graphite edition circa 12/1999) You can use an old firewire device on a new firewire iMac (backwards compatibility), but I doubt you would be able to use a new firewire device on an old firewire iMac (forwards compatibility). You can't teach an old dog new tricks (at least not without a hardware upgrade!).  From the Apple website:  Backwards Compatibility Manufacturers have adopted FireWire for a broad range of devices, such as DV cameras, hard drives, digital still cameras, professional audio, printers, scanners and home entertainment. Adapter cables for the FireWire 800 9-pin connector let you use these FireWire 400 products on the FireWire 800 port.  that's what I thought! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalius Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 Just so you know, you can't just plug in a newer Firewire800 device into your older 400 port. They're differently shaped and won't fit. Such much for the plug n' play. Â So much for Monday morning nerd fest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Attitude Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 ChrisT said: jkrueger said: ChrisT said: Can I use the newer high speed firewire on my older model iMac? (graphite edition circa 12/1999) You can use an old firewire device on a new firewire iMac (backwards compatibility), but I doubt you would be able to use a new firewire device on an old firewire iMac (forwards compatibility). You can't teach an old dog new tricks (at least not without a hardware upgrade!).  From the Apple website:  Backwards Compatibility Manufacturers have adopted FireWire for a broad range of devices, such as DV cameras, hard drives, digital still cameras, professional audio, printers, scanners and home entertainment. Adapter cables for the FireWire 800 9-pin connector let you use these FireWire 400 products on the FireWire 800 port.  that's what I thought! Gosh, sounds complicated. I thought Macs were supposed to be simple to use, no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisT Posted April 7, 2003 Author Share Posted April 7, 2003 Gosh, sounds complicated. I thought Macs were supposed to be simple to use, no? Â MUCH simpler than PCs! But just like PCs there are upgrades. Remember I'm on a 4 year old iMac...and still going strong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iain Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 as far as I know you can use older devices on the new firewire 800 port, but not vice versa. not like there are many 800 devices even shipping yet. I'm sure there will be bridges available to deal with that situation though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iain Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 sorry I was actually doing some work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 i guess you guys aren't asking where the 1 nut placement is on the otherwise bolted 12a "Fire Wire" at Skaha huh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gapertimmy Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 i think we should start a new forum, jon and iain's mac palace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erik Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 gapertimmy said: i think we should start a new forum, jon and iain's mac palace  trask should be the mod!!!  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allthumbs Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 damn right. I think it's time Trask became a moderator. then I'd see who's who in the avatar world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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