Firewire 800 port design: BAD

2011 Macbook Pro 13". Same problem. My preamp constantly and randomly disconnects. ANYTHING I run from that **** firewire connection disconnects randomly-- have switched out connecting cords also, and since I wasn't using it while the laptop was under warranty, I wasn't aware it was garbage. Lot of fun recording music and having to stop every **** minute because the preamp keeps disconnecting.

Apple connectors in general are the WORST. I had to pay 85 bucks for a **** charger when it stopped working a year and a half after I bought the machine.

So frustrated right now. Have had problem after problem with this machine.

I have the exact same problem here man. I have an external Lacie and since the day I bought it and heard all the rave of the new FIREWIRE ports, i have been thoroughly disappointed.

I couldn't agree with you more, what a flimsy piece of crap connection.

Coming from the audio industry, we are all about strong fast connections, take a look at a SPEAKON cable, you can rip that thing as hard as you can and it won't come out.
Compare that to a firewire, where you can spend anywhere from $5-$50 on a cable, but at the end of the day, the port ***** balls. What a terrible design indeed.

I've gone through numerous cables with both my External drive and Interface, from apple, lacie, and others. And it's always the cable when you ask apple.

Just had my entire top case replaced because I winged enough about my ports being dodgy, hopefully some results this time!

YOUR NOT ALONE, FIREWIRE *****, USB 3 will surely over rule, its faster than 800 anyway.

I have the same issue and have for several years on various Macs.

I had a 2009 MacBook Pro that the Firewire plug would slowly make it's way out of the plug and eventually make the drive disconnect, The problem also existed on a 2008 black MacBook.

Last week, I bought a new I5 Mac Mini that too has the same problem but worse. I barely move the Mac Mini or ply in or unplug another drive and the firewire will disconnect. After a week, I exchanged the Mini and bought the I7 model. Same exact problem. Just now I barely touched the Mini and the Firewire drive disconnected and then remounted.

I've tried bending the metal connector just a bit to make the plug fit in tighter but that really doesn't help. I've had three Macs over these years and they've all had this problem. This is also my first Mac with USB 3.0 ports so all of my other enclosures are USB 2.0. The drive with the Firewire also has a USB 2.0 port but if I use that, I don't have enough ports to connect my drives and wired keyboard.

I have two different Firewire wires and both of them fit loosely.

I have the same problem with a 2011 MacBook Pro. It been getting gradually worse.

I've come up with a temporary fix: Take a small piece of paper and fold it a couple times and place it at the top of the Firewire 800 jack. If done right, the piece of paper will make the cable's jack more firmly seated in.

A high-tech problem with a low-tech solution!