The iBook G3 (dual USB) and MacBook both have 6 pin firewire ports. Are you saying they are 6 pins without actually supplying power? I don't have any firewire powered devices to test with.
Just the opposite, they DO have power. But they likely only supply 7W of power, the firewire spec is for 15w. So what you run on it depends a bit on its power draw.
VERY few laptops have a powered firewire port of ANY sort, that is why I like the apple laptops.
Seablade
