The 4600 Does not come with a firewire port.  I don't think it is even an option.  You will need to install a firewire card in one of your PCI slots.  See the specs on the 4600 here.

So how come the Standard Movie Studio Essentials and Dell Movie Studio Plus are options with the 4600?  I'm on the phone with Dell right now asking why there wasn't a firewire card placed into the 4600 we just bought.  Both of these video editing options are supposed to come with firewire.

Thankfully I can just add in a firewire card from another computer in the office.

If all Dell is giving to you for $40 is the software, that's pretty inexcusable.  You are supposed to get firewire with this option.

exactly, this is what i was told as well. that's the only reason i got that software package--i guess i'll be calling as well and demanding a refund.

Here's something interesting -- the packing slip we have mentions the Movie Studio Essentials, but next to it is written "no hardware".  There was no indication at all when I got the specs on the system that it was the software only.

I think Dell owes us a firewire card, but it's not worth the hassle now because we have some spares sitting around anyway.

For those of you who thought you were going to get a firewire card but didn't, you should definitely talk to tech support and/or customer service until you either get a card or a refund.

I think Dell just goofed things up here by accident, and they'll do what they can to keep us happy.

Please let us know how things go with your salesperson, mongo_jones.

now, this is a helpful reply. i hate it when people respond to very specific questions with generic disclaimers. i mean, i never said i purchased the standard setup of the dimension 4600- i clearly said i had purchased the movie studio package that was supposed to include the 1394 port. my actual question had been about whether i might actually have a 1394 port and just not be seeing it because it might look different than the 1394 port on my laptop.

anyway, i've emailed my sales guy about it--the order confirmation clearly marks the package with 1394 and i did pay for it. the way i see it they either need to send me a card or a refund.

The link given by caddlellwr showing the 4600 specs is a standard system configuration and does NOT show options that you may choose that will obviouslly change these specs.

Yes, if you purchase either the Dell Movie Studio Essentials or the Dell Move Studio Plus option, you are to get (3) 1394 firewire ports (2 external and 1 internal).

To prove this, follow this link and then about half way down the page you will see the section titled Video Editing.  Tic either of the options (Studio Essentials or Studio Plus) and then click on the button on the right side of the page called "Help Me Choose".  Then once that page opens, click on the "Details" tab.  Third from the bottom of this page is the section on what you should get, as far as hardware, along with the Dell Movie Studio software.

Hey mongo,

I gave you a link to the specs.  I was not trying to mislead you with a generic answer.  The link took you to all the information that you needed.  If all you can do is criticize the people that are trying to give you some help then hopefully you will not get any help  I guess it is par for the course.  Criticize those who are trying to help even if they don't give you specifically what you are looking for.

 

caddellwr,

i don't want to get into a fight and i'm sorry for offending you but to tell the truth your attempts at being helpful would be more helpful if you actually paid attention to the questions. i wasn't asking if dimension 4600s came with firewire ports as standard features, but what firewire ports looked like since i'd purchased an option that allegedly came with firewire ports and i couldn't find them--your response was therefore completely irrelevant. i was/am annoyed with it not because i am usually an impatient person but because i'd come across a bunch of other responses/respondees at the time which parrot the standard features/specs as though that's the answer for everything.

i'd thank you for taking the time to help me if i actually thought you'd taken the time to help me. which would be evidenced first by giving my question more than a cursory glance.

love,

mongo

I would say your welcome but since you obviously don't appreciate help then I won't.

The End.

mongo_jones,

The firewire connections look similar to usb with the exception that one side is pointed giving the connection the appearance of a squashed capital letter D.

I think he knows what firewire ports look like

Basically, Dell is offering a video editing package that is supposed to have firewire, but doesn't.  How are we supposed to do video editing if we don't have the firewire ports that are supposed to be part of the deal?

thanks littleadvice--i knew that was what the firewire port looked like but since i'd ordered the option that came with it and since i couldn't see the port i recognized i automatically thought that perhaps there was a second type of firewire port as well that i wasn't seeing. of course, i blamed myself and didn't consider that perhaps it wasn't there at all because of a dell screw-up--thanks to this board i know i'm not crazy (well not for this reason anyway) and that i'm not the only one with the problem. hopefully dell will soon resolve this.

i haven't had a chance to talk with my salesperson yet--will post the result as soon as i have.

mongo_jones

Would be real interested in hearing what the outcome and response was from Dell on the missing firewire ports, that should have accomplanied the Dell Movie Studio option when you purchase your system.