Rating: 
Summary: Quick+Easy=GREAT
Review: I use this with Windows XP and my 20gig ipod. I simply had to insert the card into its slot, connect my ipod, and my music was ready for downloading. I shopped around ...but the best price was at Amazon.
Rating: 
Summary: No problems so far works fine---------------
Review: I'm using this Card with my windows XP Notebook. Just follow the instructions. Make sure your system is turned off when you are inserting this card for the 1st time. Later on you can just insert whenever u want.------------No performance problems so far-----works great with great speed as it is designed for. As other reviewer pointed out I would have been very happy if this little thing could be powered up my ipod or any other connecting device. I don't know wheter I'm asking for too much. Suppose if you get some external devices (like hard drive, cd/dvd burners or something else) which could get the power from laptop then this may not work (i'm not sure). Obviously it would be painful to carry adopters for all of your external connecting devices--------------------any way I just wrote this review so that this may help other buyers to search more useful and better product---------------finally I took out one star b'coz it couldn't power up my ipod. B'coz this is really a issue when u are downloading music from ur system to ipod. Power drains out just like that from ipod.----
Rating:
Summary: Great with XP and Canon DV Camcorder
Review: One of the reviews above states that this adapter won't provide power to devices such as the Apple iPod. You actually can power these devices by plugging an external power adapter into the card. This feature appears to be undocumented, but the plug is clearly visible to the left of the 1394 ports. I phoned the Startech customer support, and they said that you can use any generic DC adapter, with the following settings: 12 volt DC, 3 amp, and a plug with positive (+) in the centre. Hope it helps.
Rating:
Summary: Powered Firewire is possible
Review: One of the reviews above states that this adapter won't provide power to devices such as the Apple iPod. You actually can power these devices by plugging an external power adapter into the card. This feature appears to be undocumented, but the plug is clearly visible to the left of the 1394 ports. I phoned the Startech customer support, and they said that you can use any generic DC adapter, with the following settings: 12 volt DC, 3 amp, and a plug with positive (+) in the centre. Hope it helps.
Rating:
Summary: Works great except no charging with ipod
Review: Plug and play with my windows xp home edition. I use with my ipod and the only thing it doesnt charge the ipod when connected to the computer. The ipod instructions say that some firewire ports will charge the ipod when connected to the computer. So I charge using the wall plug (comes with ipod). Otherwise it sooooooo fast...great.
Rating:
Summary: PCMCIA cards WILL NOT POWER IPODS!
Review: Some people are rating this card down incorrecty. To set the matter straight: The PCMCIA bus specification does not provide enough power to allow the PCMCIA cards to power external devices. Therefore, the PCMCIA Firewire cards do not provide enough power to the Firewire bus. NO PCMCIA firewire cards can charge an ipod by itself (using the laptop's battery). PCI firewire cards (the kind for you desktop) CAN, but PCMCIA cards (the ones for you laptop) CANNOT. It is not a "feature" that this card lacks. HOWEVER: Some PCMCIA cards come with an input for an external power adaptor, including this Startech card (as another reviewer mentioned). So basically, you plug an external adapter into the port (which you can see in the picture) and the external adapter will then power the firewire card, letting it charge your ipod. As far as I can tell, this feature isn't available on a lot of cheaper models. But you WILL have to have an external power adapter to use this feature. So again, NO PCMCIA cards can self power an ipod while charging. Don't rate a product down for something that's not possible.
Rating:
Summary: PCMCIA cards WILL NOT POWER IPODS!
Review: Some people are rating this card down incorrecty. To set the matter straight: The PCMCIA bus specification does not provide enough power to allow the PCMCIA cards to power external devices. Therefore, the PCMCIA Firewire cards do not provide enough power to the Firewire bus. NO PCMCIA firewire cards can charge an ipod by itself (using the laptop's battery). PCI firewire cards (the kind for you desktop) CAN, but PCMCIA cards (the ones for you laptop) CANNOT. It is not a "feature" that this card lacks. HOWEVER: Some PCMCIA cards come with an input for an external power adaptor, including this Startech card (as another reviewer mentioned). So basically, you plug an external adapter into the port (which you can see in the picture) and the external adapter will then power the firewire card, letting it charge your ipod. As far as I can tell, this feature isn't available on a lot of cheaper models. But you WILL have to have an external power adapter to use this feature. So again, NO PCMCIA cards can self power an ipod while charging. Don't rate a product down for something that's not possible.
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