[Macified]

There are two Firewire ports on the MBP. Are you using the Firewire 800 port? You can get an adapter that will allow you to use it for Firewire 400 devices.

 

[Macified]

It depends on how recent the MBP is. Any of the CoreDuo MBPs only have one FW400 port - the Core2Duo's have the FW800 port as well.

Seriously? My PowerBook G4 has two. Why would Apple have dropped the 800 from the interim models. Weird.