" AMUG has published a detailed review of the new FirmTek eSATA to FireWire/USB 2.0 Converter ($129.95). This device allows up to two external direct connect eSATA hard disks to interface with a FireWire or USB 2.0 computer port. This ultra small, four-ounce portable device is ideal for connecting external eSATA direct connect enclosures to the MacBook Air, MacBook, iMac and the Mac mini."

I already own a Quad-Interface external drive (that takes SATA HD's) and have no eSATA-only cases, but several bare SATA drives (desktop and notebook) so I think I'd prefer the lower cost ($99) Voyager Quad-Interface (FW800/FW400/USB 2.0/SATA) Dock that takes both desktop and notebook SATA drives and connects via FW, USB or eSATA. Don wrote today he's been using a Voyager:

"I'm using the Newertech Voyager four interface docking device using Oxford 934DSb. Has esata, FW800 (2) , FW400 and USB 2.0. Takes 2.5in and 3.5in SATA l/II hard drives. This is simple to use and fast. Running it with all variations of Leopard.
-Don"

I wish I had one a couple weeks ago when updating the 1TB drive in my Ministack. I took apart another External Case to swap in the new HD for cloning from the previous Ministack drive - having a Dock like this would have saved time, as well as being handy to mount all the previous SATA drives left over from upgrades which still have some files on them. (Since Dec. 2007 I've been using a miniStack Quad Interface enclosure kit (for SATA HDs) ($109.99) as a backup/Time Machine and CCC clone (3 partitions). The ministack v3 has FW800, FW400, USB 2.0 and eSATA ports to connect to most anything - plus it has FW and USB hubs builtin that I've found very useful.)

(english not native language)
" No update needed for me since i have my MacBook Pro 2.53GHz for 3 days with (EFI) BootROM version MBP51.0074.B01 and SMC version 1.33f8 - same as the updater versions, but I've never seen so buggy a mac, and I'm an apple user since my macintosh SE...
The wake-up is just impossible to understand. Black screen again and again. I have to disconnected firewire and usb before sleep mode. (what devices are connected?-Mike) If not, blackscreen and when usb hub disconnected then reconnected, the MBP stops (black screen but no noise from fan) - It doesn't like my firewire HD, I need to disconnect this Time Machine drive to avoid a new black screen.
Same story with my external LCD (brand/model?), connected with DVI-D 24 pins (they said that single link is not enough), sometimes it's recognized, sometimes it seems that it wants the MBP to be used with lid closed, but no external keyboard here, so how to do I? Sometimes the external LCD is staying black. (Have all updates (including QT update specifically for late 2008 models) been applied?-Mike)

Last but not least, of course if the external display is powered off, you can still move your cursor outside the screen area of the MBP. I won't talk about the battery, the unbalanced speakers... And I haven't tested it under vista, new blackscreen to come?... How do the apple guys test their new products? I wouldn't like to be a switcher!
-Denez"

Another reader that recently had a new macbook replaced said the updaters were not required:

" I have one of the Late 2008 15" Macbooks. It was ordered on day 1 and seemed fine when it came. However, it failed after a month with the brightness control failing to change screen brightness (the indicator on the screen moved but the brightness was stuck in the mid range somewhere) and the fan became very loud and constant. I sent it in for repair, and it returned this past Monday. Other than my firmware password being removed and my "needs password to get out of screensaver" being turned off, all seems well. Strangely, the 2 new updates aren't in the software update list (not on the list of installed updates), but the updates themselves (I had to hand-download them) say my computer doesn't need them. Maybe they were applied back in the repair center (before their public release), (or more likely new motherboard builds already have them) so I am wondering if you know how I can check on my firmware versions to see if they are ask they should be.
-David"

I sent David a note that Apple System profiler will show the BootROM (EFI) version and SMC firmware version in the hardware info.

• Apple iPod Touch, New MacBook Selling Like Crazy (silicon alley insider)
• iPod Docks That Rock (pcmag)
• INQUIRER confirms (new) Apple Macbook Pros have Nvidia (GPU) bad bump material (w/Analysis of 9600 GPU material - per an Oct. Apple doc this affected only earlier MBP models.) Also see the replies to the Inquirer article, which reference rebuttals such as Cnet's Allegations, denials of 'bad' Nvidia chips in MacBook Pros. Time will tell if these really have a higher than normal failure rate...)
• $99 (Yes, $99) Netbook Debuts From Asus, RadioShack (the catch - a 2yr wireless contract w/AT&T)
• Which operating system is best for solid-state drives? (computerworld)
• ngmoco's Dropship (arcade game) Launches onto Apple's App Store ($1.99 at Apps store)
• Developers complain about Apple's applications pricing policy (vnunet)
• Is Apple Gaining Ground In The Enterprise? (crn)
• 8 Tech Predictions for 2009 (PCmag - item 7 is apple related)
• Cobalt v8 SP1 (3D modeling, drafting, rendering)
• Newertech 802.11g/b Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter ($22.75 on site specials page which also has 802.11N adapters)
• LittleSnapper 1.0
• Hear 1.0.3
• Adobe Soundbooth CS4 1.0
• Adobe Fireworks CS4 1.0
• Adobe InCopy CS4 1.0
• Adobe InDesign CS4 1.0
• Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 1.0
• Adobe Illustrator CS4 1.0
• Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 1.0
• Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended 1.0
• Adobe Contribute CS4 1.0
• GamePanel Software 3.00.229 (Beta) (for Logitech G13 Advanced Gameboard)
• Slope Rider 1.5 (shareware game)
• Fallout 3 Garden of Eden Creation Kit released
• Google Chrome Goes Gold With 1.0 Release (informationweek)
• Sony (BMG music) collected, shared kids' info; FTC sues
• Intuit backtracks on new TurboTax fees
• Touring PlayStation Home's Open House
• New solid-state drives still pack sticker shock
• Canon to break silence about SLR's 'black dot' issue
• New Canon SLR bumps Sony on sensor test
• PC Gaming Performance Versus Antivirus Software (extremetech)

• iSync: About third-party mobile phone plug-ins for Mac OS X 10.4, 10.5
• MobileMe: Email is delayed or returns to sender with "452" error message
• MobileMe Mail can't send some files as attachments
• Using iSight with iMovie
• iMovie '08: Pure Digital Flip Video MinoHD camcorders
• iMovie '08: Pure Digital Flip Mino camcorders
• iMovie '08: Built-in iSight camera not recognized
• Apple Portables: Troubleshooting MagSafe adapters
• FireWire Ports: Specifications
• About Automatic Processor Performance Setting (PPC macs)
• Back up your iTunes library by copying to an external hard drive
• MobileMe: How to password-protect shared files in your iDisk