Another Computer Question

[SOOOSKA]

We recently just purchased a Dell Computer. My problem with it is it doesn't have a Firewire port so I can download my videos off my Sony Handycam. I did purchase the Firewire cable, but like I said when I went to hook it up it doesn't have the port to plug it into.

I'm really not too impressed with Dell at the moment (I was at 2 computer stores where the sales men told me that every computer that is sold now a days has one of these ports). Good God I was on the phone to Dell for over an hour and of course the people I talked to were really useless.

Well anyway does anyone know if I can get some kind of connector to put on the Firewall cable and hook it up to a USB port?

Thanks

Susan

 

[HoneyPot]

Hi Susan. There's no Firewire to USBadapter (unfortunately), the only thing they have are new pieces of hardware to put into the computer to add a firewire adapter to the PC. Too complex I think.

If you have a Sony Handycam - I suspect you can probably purchase a USB cable for it instead of the Firewire cable it came with. You can go into Best Buy (or wherever you bought the camera)and take the camera with you, and ask them if there is a USB connection cable you can get for the camera.



Nadia


Edit: I looked it up, and you're going to have to ask about your camera specifically, I think some of the older cameras don't support USB, in which case your only choice may be to add the ports to your computer. It's not hard... but you may not want to do it youself if you're not too comfortable opening up the computer.

 

[Dev2C]

HoneyPot wrote:

Edit: I looked it up, and you're going to have to ask about your camera specifically, I think some of the older cameras don't support USB, in which case your only choice may be to add the ports to your computer.   It's not hard... but you may not want to do it youself if you're not too comfortable opening up the computer.

Correct. A new Firewire PCI card is reasonably inexpensive (I'd say $30-40) and pretty easy to install.

SOOOSKA: The salesmen you talked to were wrong; most computers nowadays don't come with firewire ports, unless it's an Apple. Very few devices are firewire only, so there's little reason for the OEM to add the cost of the card.