How to attach a fireware to a laptop computer?

**sbasak** · Nov 19th, 2002, 10:56 AM

I heard that to transfer movie from digital camcorder to a computer, a fireware card is required. But my laptop computer doesn't have a fireware card. I'm afraid that it is not possible to fit a fireware card inside.

Is there any way to attach an external fireware card to the laptop? Or, is there any alternate way to transfer digital movie to computer from camcorder?

Thanks.

**Cander** · Nov 19th, 2002, 11:01 AM

you can always look for a firewire to USB converter. Dont know if any exist, but it might

**siyan** · Nov 19th, 2002, 11:52 AM

you can go 1394 to USB, but if its not USB 2.0 then you'll take a massive speed hit (i mean massive)

you could try a cardbus pcmcia 1394 adapter though

**Sastraxi** · Nov 19th, 2002, 05:20 PM

Yep, that's your best bet.. you'll get full speed.. though it'll use a dongle

**msimmons** · Nov 19th, 2002, 05:37 PM

i do believe they make a pmcia (or whatever) card to give you firewire slots.

**msimmons** · Nov 19th, 2002, 05:38 PM

Originally posted by siyan
you could try a cardbus pcmcia 1394 adapter though

yeah, i guess I should read before posting

**sbasak** · Nov 20th, 2002, 05:16 AM

Thanks for your replies folks.

But could you please specify exact products (or web links). Because while I searched with cardbus pcmcia 1394, I'm getting only fireware cards, which are actually to be fitted INSIDE the computer! But I need something external....

Thanx again...

**agent** · Nov 21st, 2002, 05:46 PM

Originally posted by siyan
you can go 1394 to USB, but if its not USB 2.0 then you'll take a massive speed hit (i mean massive)

you could try a cardbus pcmcia 1394 adapter though

i'll bet that the pcmcia card is going to be about $100 more than a regular pci card... i don't think that there is a ieee-1394<-->usb adapter, simply because the technologies are completely different. ieee-1394 is peer-to-peer (i.e. you can plug the firewire on the camcorder into a firewire on another camcorder and record video digitally from one to another, you can even connect to computers together and have yourself a 400mbit network interface) whereas usb is client-host (i.e. to connect to computers together, you need a box in the middle and special software).

good luck finding that pcmcia card...

**sbasak** · Nov 22nd, 2002, 05:54 AM

That means the computer must have a firewire card built in!
So, I am outta luck???

**siyan** · Nov 22nd, 2002, 10:11 AM

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...on=pcmcia+1394

**TomGibbons** · Nov 22nd, 2002, 11:36 AM

Originally posted by Sastraxi
Yep, that's your best bet.. you'll get full speed.. though it'll use a dongle

Whats a dongle? I have heard that mentioned before

**Sastraxi** · Nov 22nd, 2002, 03:59 PM

Dongles are horrible, flimsy, easily-broken things that act as a breakout box. You plug your PCMCIA Firewire card in, and then plug in a Dongle that connects to the card, and on the other end has the actual jack.

**msimmons** · Nov 22nd, 2002, 04:02 PM

Originally posted by TomGibbons
Whats a dongle? I have heard that mentioned before

You've never gotten your dongle cought in your zipper? But seriously they are also very easily lost and very hard to replace... when I worked at CompUSA that was one of the most requested items and we coulden't do anything for them (except sell them the whole thing).

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