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It's official: firewire can burn you.

Most users of Firewire products like DVCam decks and cameras are unaware of the fact that this is NOT a hot-pluggable system! If you don't power down your PC/Mac and you device (camera/deck) before attaching or detaching via firewire, you stand the chance of frying the firewire controller on the deck/camera, or the firewire port on your computer, which in the case of a Mac is on the logic board (the "motherboard"). This is expensive and time-consuming either way you look at it. It's not covered under warranty, and as a facility owner I can personally attest to the fact that sooner or later, it will happen... I have burned chips on 2 Sony decks and one Mac.

Sony recommend the following procedure:
1. Switch off all equipment, including external drives which may be attached via firewire to the computer.
2. Attach firewire cable to camera/deck/drive
3. Attach firewire cable to computer
4. Power up computer
5. Power up devices (can be during boot-up)

BTW, the solution for a Mac with a burnt firewire port is not necessarily to replace the logic board, but get a multi-port PCI card from a company like Sonnettech (see link). On a camera or deck: speak to your dealer - expect to pay around R1400.00 (about USD150.00)

Take your time, power down and Don't get burned!
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