Did Apple drop FireWire support in macOS Tahoe?

This is yet another reason I hate macOS Tahoe compared to Sonoma. I still have Hi8 and Digital8 family tapes from the 90s and 2000s that I have to digitize. My old 2016 MacBook Pro running Monterey is dying, so I'd better work fast before I lose everything. Tahoe has been an absolute train wreck for so many reasons!

shaynewhite wrote:

This is yet another reason I hate macOS Tahoe compared to Sonoma. I still have Hi8 and Digital8 family tapes from the 90s and 2000s that I have to digitize. My old 2016 MacBook Pro running Monterey is dying, so I'd better work fast before I lose everything. Tahoe has been an absolute train wreck for so many reasons!

You had 20 to 30 YEARS to digitize them. Don’t blame Apple for your procrastination.

Does this also apply to Firewire devices connected through adaptors? My old Microtek scanner, connected through adaptors, worked fine with my Mac Studio until upgrading to Tahoe, and now the computer doesn't see it. Scanners are expensive!

ElCartoonist wrote:

Does this also apply to Firewire devices connected through adaptors?

Yes. Even though the FW device may be connected via the Apple Thunderbolt-to-Firewire adapter and (in come cases also) the Apple Thunderbolt-3-to-Thunderbolt-2 adapter ... the Mac still detects that there is a FW device attached to the adapter(s).

Or not ... since Tahoe does not support FW, it doesn't "see" the FW device even if connected via an adapter.

What can I say? Scummy move on Apple's part. True, my scanner's old, and I've had a lot of good service out of it, but it still works perfectly. This baby (Microtek 9800XL) scans 12 x 17 at hi res and cost almost $2k. Equivalent replacement costs the same.

I'm loath to install the previous OS. Afraid of screwing up my machine. Right now, I'm looking at using Scanner Pro on an iPad for routine stuff, and when I need the big guy, I'll hook it up to my 2018 Macbook Pro with its Firewire port. Luckily, a lot of my drawing is now done in ProCreate on the iPad not on paper, but still...

If I had someone to walk me through a reinstall of OS X 15, I'd probably do it, but Apple apparently also did away with the call centers that helped people with problems like this. Way to go, Apple.

Sorry, but this is a BS excuse. No one is asking for Firewire ports, just the ability to connect old devices through adapters. A replacement tabloid-size scanner costs around $1800 I guess you're right, the old laptop is from way back when. My 2018 MB Pro died. Forgot about that.

Re: “Does this also apply to Firewire devices connected through adaptors?”

Yes, it does.

Also, thanks to you and Servant of Cats for the quick replies.

To be fair on Apple (which is not generally my default mode) Tahoe dropping Firewire was fairly well trailed.