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Eug Wanker · 09:19 AM

I have the Lexar Firewire CF reader on the right, and it doesn't seem to work with OS X 10.3.6 on my Cube for some reason. (It worked once a while back but hasn't since.) When I stick in a CF card nothing happens. I've tried this thru two different hubs, including with supplemental power. The reader's power on light is active, but it simply doesn't work. My external Firewire drives all work fine, including my bus powered 2.5" drive (even if I use hubs with no supplemental power).

Anybody have the same issue with this reader? I hadn't been using it for a while, because I had been using USB 2.0 on my PC. I have since replaced the PC with the Cube.

I also have a USB 2.0 reader, but unfortunately, my Cube doesn't support USB 2.0. When you're talking 1 GB cards, USB 1.1 just doesn't cut it.

If this is a known issue, are there any workarounds, or alternate options?

EDIT:

This seems to be a known issue both with the new Lexar, and my old Lexar. Worse, the Lexars are known to corrupt data. Hmmm...

Eug Wanker · Dec 14, 2004, 10:52 AM

Hmmmm... OS X 10.3.7 is supposed to come out very soon, and it's rumoured to improve compatibility with Firewire devices. I hope that includes the Lexar.

Eug Wanker · Dec 19, 2004, 11:39 PM

Originally posted by Eug Wanker:
Hmmmm... OS X 10.3.7 is supposed to come out very soon, and it's rumoured to improve compatibility with Firewire devices. I hope that includes the Lexar.

Nope.

So I bought a SanDisk Ultra ImageMate Firewire reader. It doesn't work either. Well, it worked once and then stopped working.

This on both my TiBook and Cube. WTF?

ChrisF · Dec 20, 2004, 07:30 AM

Some earlier G4s had problems with firewire ports dying. That may be what's happened here, unfortunately. Do you have other firewire devices to try?

Eug Wanker · Dec 20, 2004, 12:50 PM

Originally posted by ChrisF:
Some earlier G4s had problems with firewire ports dying. That may be what's happened here, unfortunately. Do you have other firewire devices to try?

I have lots of Firewire devices, and they all work fine, including my bus-powered 2.5" hard drive.

Furthermore, I get the same issues with these readers on two different Macs.

finknottle · Dec 20, 2004, 01:11 PM

This is not much help to you but I have a Lexar Firewire reader and it works fine on both my G5 and G4 ibook. I have 10.3.7 on the G5 and 10.3.6 on the iBook. Sorry this is not much help. I do find the reader a little flakey sometimes with OS X. It always worked better in OS 9. I often have to plug and unplug it to get it to work in OS X

scottiB · Dec 21, 2004, 09:19 AM

Eug, I have the very same one--and no-go for me, either. I haven't tried it since May--being content in using a 1.1 USB reader in the background. I presumed that the Lexar, itself, was having a physical failure.

MaxPower2k3 · Dec 21, 2004, 05:27 PM

and here i was just about to buy one of the newer Lexar firewire readers. as you said, USB 1.1 with 1GB cards is just excruciating. I'll try the Sandisk one, i guess...

spiky_dog · Dec 21, 2004, 05:30 PM

i have that same purple reader on the right. it works with my G4 Quicksilver 2002, but it makes a really annoying high pitched squeal. this squeal is present both when the card is in the device and when it is ejected, with the sound when ejected a bit more intense. then again i am bugged by the sound that tvs make when they are on but not displaying an image so ymmv

Hydra · Dec 22, 2004, 01:32 AM

I have a newer Lexar firewire reader which has worked through multiple OSX updates without a hitch. On the bottom it says Part no. RW019 REV A. I use it almost exlusively with my Hitachi 4GB Microdrive, pulled from a MuVo2, as even when just partially full of 8 MP photos it is unbearable to dl over USB. It has a door that flips down, kinda cheap plastic, but it does a nice job of keeping gunk out of the slot if you want to throw it into a bag or something. It uses a standard firewire port and comes with a small 2 ft. cable but it can be used with any 6 pin firewire 400 cable which is nice.

This is the one :
http://www.lexar.com/readers/firewire.html

Maybe the Lexar you have needs some kind of firmware update or something.

-Jerry C.

Eug Wanker · Dec 22, 2004, 08:41 AM

Originally posted by Hydra:
I have a newer Lexar firewire reader which has worked through multiple OSX updates without a hitch. On the bottom it says Part no. RW019 REV A. I use it almost exlusively with my Hitachi 4GB Microdrive, pulled from a MuVo2, as even when just partially full of 8 MP photos it is unbearable to dl over USB. It has a door that flips down, kinda cheap plastic, but it does a nice job of keeping gunk out of the slot if you want to throw it into a bag or something. It uses a standard firewire port and comes with a small 2 ft. cable but it can be used with any 6 pin firewire 400 cable which is nice.

This is the one :
http://www.lexar.com/readers/firewire.html

Maybe the Lexar you have needs some kind of firmware update or something.

Well, it seems that some on the net have had similar problems with the new one as I have had with the old one. I emailed Lexar, and they say there is nothing wrong with the old Lexar.

Originally posted by finknottle:
This is not much help to you but I have a Lexar Firewire reader and it works fine on both my G5 and G4 ibook. I have 10.3.7 on the G5 and 10.3.6 on the iBook. Sorry this is not much help. I do find the reader a little flakey sometimes with OS X. It always worked better in OS 9. I often have to plug and unplug it to get it to work in OS X

So in other words it doesn't work fine.

Anyone have an Addonics?

Hydra · Dec 22, 2004, 11:53 AM

Originally posted by Eug Wanker:
Well, it seems that some on the net have had similar problems with the new one as I have had with the old one. I emailed Lexar, and they say there is nothing wrong with the old Lexar.

So in other words it doesn't work fine.

Anyone have an Addonics?

Yeah I read the link you posted with the reports of corruption but was under the impression it was older cards that were the problem but who knows, mine could fail tomorrow

-Jerry C.

MaxPower2k3 · Dec 26, 2004, 05:52 PM

for anyone still interested, I just got this reader. Despite the rather unfortunate brand name "Delkin," It works just fine and is quite speedy. 200 megs of pictures in around 40 seconds. Much better than the USB connection on my D70, which took around 8 minutes to do the same.

Eug Wanker · Dec 28, 2004, 11:08 PM

It turns out the SanDisk was defective. I replaced it with another SanDisk, and all is well.

BTW, Addonics emailed me back to say their Firewire multi-reader does NOT work in OS X.3.7.