Workaround for iPod 5G sync with FireWire?

I'm not sure the LaCie acts as a USB host to a computer to which it's connected via Firewire.

You can always try it, however.

I know you can piggyback like that with Firewire Devices, but I'm not sure if the computer can send data through Firewire and then have it transferred through USB. That would be a cool workaround though.

It won't work. When you use the external hard drives other firewire port, you are effectively just using the external hard drive as a Firewire connector. The firewire is like a bus or network, a bit like ethernet, so when you plug another device in, it just uses the Firewire bus like the first device. No data running on the Firewire cables will end up on the USB bus. They are two incompatible standards.

Okay, I'm buying my next iPod together with a new PowerBook (Intel, with USB 2.0) then. See you in 2006, Apple iPod department...

Thanks for contributing.

Originally posted by dcmacnut
All PowerBooks that support Firewire 800 already have USB 2.0 ports, so your work around is a moot point. Also, the Lacie three-format drive will not work as a hub. You can only connect it to a computer via USB, you cannot plug USB devices into it. Here is a picture of the ports on the back.
Part 1: Incorrect. My PowerBook G4 17" 1GHz supports Firewire 800 (first introduced @ MWSF 2003, remember?) but only USB 1.1.
Part 2: Probably correct.

Here's a find, from MacNN forums, courtesy of member "IFLY2HIGH":

Hold Up Guys, those who are wanting firewire checkout this product:

SendStation PocketDock
http://a248.e.akamai.net/7/248/2041/865/store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/t8579lla_125.jpg

It's actually in the Apple Store under iPod Accessories. Convertes USB iPods to use Firewire connections. If this works on the new one I'm gona get one so I don't have to buy a new dock and cables for it. Best of all, 13$ !!

Originally posted by san
Nope. It doesn't do that. It just converts the dock connector of FireWire-capable iPods to a standard 6-pin FireWire cable so you don't have to buy extra, more expense dock-connector-to-FireWire cables from Apple. It will *not* add firewire capability to a USB 2 iPod. It cannot. The new iPods lack the controller chips (hardware) to do FireWire.
Aha! Thanks for clearing that up.

I just check Apple's tech specs, and now all it says is USB connectivity (no version) number. I swear it used to say USB, no version number, and then in parentheses USB 2 recommended. I think they might have change it because USB 1.1 is going to result in a *a lot* of tech support calls. But it might work.

Honestly, I was ready for a new iPod when I ordered the iPod video, but if I didn't happen to have USB 2 on my PowerBook, I probably would have waited until I got a new PowerBook. Or rushed out and bought an iPod color before they all sold out. But probably waited.