I made a discovery today I must share with other users of laptops, especially those who own Apple computers. There is a third-party FireWire port device that will work with PowerBook G4s and iBooks. The discovery occurred because the single FireWire (IEEE-1394) port on my 2002 PowerBook is damaged. Peculiarly so. It will recognize my iPod, Titania, to charge it, but will not load the drive in hard disk or iTunes mode. The defective port also refuses to recognize my AcomData combination USB/FireWire combo external hard drive. That drive, which set me back a pretty penny and then quickly lost value, has mainly decorated by desk as a result. After becoming attached to FireWire, it is difficult to accept the slow speed of USB 1. I've attempted to remedy the problem previously with PCMCIA cards which, when inserted into Windows compatible computers, provide a FireWire port or two. The computer refused to recognize them, despite representations on the boxes that the FireWire cards were compatible with the Macintosh in some cases.

The solution is the Adaptec Fire Connect 3 -Port FireWire Cardbus Kit for Notebooks. The kit consists of a PCMCIA card with three FireWire ports and a video connection port, a six-pin FireWire cable, software for the device and bonus digital video software for Windows computers. I haven't installed the software because the PCMCIA card was recognized faster than you can say "plug-and-play." Titania was greeted by name and loaded as soon as I plugged its FireWire cable into one of the ports on the card.

The video software, which is not compatible with the Macintosh, is MGI VideoWave 4 SE and Sonic NyDVD 3.

The System Requirements for the device are:

PC

IBM-compatible PC, 266 MHz processor

Microsoft Windows 98SE, 2000, ME, or XP

Available PCI slot

CD-ROM drive

Macintosh

Mac OS 8.6 or later

Power Macintosh 8600/9600 or later

Available PCI slot

CD-ROM drive

Of course I should get my computer's FireWire port repaired. But, I've been reluctant to part with it for the requisite week. At some point, I will make myself bite the bullet. However, a busted IEEE-1394 port is not necessary to make the purchase of the Adaptec FireWire card rational. The majority of laptops in the hands of owners are six months old or older. Most have one just FireWire port or none whatsoever. (Newer models tend to have two.) Whether you are an Apple or a Windows user, this device is the perfect way to add FireWire to your laptop, increase the number of ports available to four or have a substitute for your own problem port, as I am doing. Many high tech products are bells and whistles — fun to have, but unnecessary. This one isn't. The Adaptec Fire Connect 3-Port FireWire Cardbus Kit for Notebooks anticipates and serves some of laptop owners' true needs.

My blog is Mac-a-ro-nies.