FutureWire (IEEE 1394b)
The 1394 Trade Association has announced a next-generation FireWire specification called 1394b (as we all know). It will boost sustained data-transfer rateto 800 Mpbs and faster, reaching 3,200 Mbps at high-end implementation. It should e finalized by now and had previously passed 2 IEEE ballots and awaited minor revisions to the connector design.
current FireWire- 400 Mbps
USB 2.0- 480 Mbps
The 1394b specification can be used with Cat 5 (Ethernet) cable, Plastic Optical Fiber (POF) cable, and 50-micron Multimode Fiber (MMF) glass cable. The optical cables permit high data-transfer speeds over distances of up to 100 meters.
White1394a and 1394b specifications are compatible, 1394b requires different hardware to run at higher speeds. So 1394b devices need to be identifiable, and one way to recognize them is by the connectors.
1394b adds a beta connector and a bilingual connector over the current FireWire.
Intel has adopted the USB 2.0 standard and wants to kill off FireWire.
The advantages of FireWire over USB are that it lets devices communicatewithout a computer, offers protection of intellectual property, and guarantees bandwidth for streaming data.
current FireWire- 400 Mbps
USB 2.0- 480 Mbps
The 1394b specification can be used with Cat 5 (Ethernet) cable, Plastic Optical Fiber (POF) cable, and 50-micron Multimode Fiber (MMF) glass cable. The optical cables permit high data-transfer speeds over distances of up to 100 meters.
White1394a and 1394b specifications are compatible, 1394b requires different hardware to run at higher speeds. So 1394b devices need to be identifiable, and one way to recognize them is by the connectors.
1394b adds a beta connector and a bilingual connector over the current FireWire.
Intel has adopted the USB 2.0 standard and wants to kill off FireWire.
The advantages of FireWire over USB are that it lets devices communicatewithout a computer, offers protection of intellectual property, and guarantees bandwidth for streaming data.
Comments
Apple has yet to announce whether it will adopt 1394b.
They are betting on the wrong horse. Yeah, USB is popular but I just feel that Firewire has more legs in higher end stuff. You know, video and minor stuff like that.
usb2 or "usb 2.0" = 71 + 157 = 228
usb = 2792 - 228 (to adjust for overlap) = 2564
11 : 1 ratio of usb to usb2 devices
Good bye, Intel!
Screed
P.S. Firewire? Between 600 and 700
Good bye Intel!
[ 01-30-2002: Message edited by: sCreeD ]</p>
usb = 2792 - 228 (to adjust for overlap) = 2564
11 : 1 ratio of usb to usb2 devices
Good bye, Intel!<hr></blockquote>
Yeah, USB 1 only has about a 5 year headstart.
[quote]P.S. Firewire? Between 600 and 700
Good bye Intel!<hr></blockquote>
Again, a 2 year head start.
Firewire is better, but competition is good. The 2 will most likely co-exist, unless Sony drops 1394 for some reason.
[ 01-31-2002: Message edited by: LKMusician ]</p>
However, FireWire has a lot going for it. It will be faster, and has advantages for some types of data flow. The really big advantage is that FireWire can connect devices to each other without a computer. Think of the advantages of that. For example, if you are a photographer, you could have a FireWire digital camera and store your photos directly to a future iPod. No need to have memory cards or sticks with their limited storage. If that were developed into a useful system, it might be a compelling reason for digital camera makers to switch from USB to FireWire.
<strong> The really big advantage is that FireWire can connect devices to each other without a computer. Think of the advantages of that. For example, if you are a photographer, you could have a FireWire digital camera and store your photos directly to a future iPod. No need to have memory cards or sticks with their limited storage. If that were developed into a useful system, it might be a compelling reason for digital camera makers to switch from USB to FireWire.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Digital Video cameras could use it likewise.
For recording professionals, and songwriters, something like a portable DAT recorder or a MINIDisc recorder with a firewire port could be incredible.
The point is, some are looking at Firewire as a peripheral interface protocol?but it is more than that. If electronics manufacturers find other uses for it?Firewire could take off. The iPod is just the start. Firewire is a great technology.... However, to compete with USB peripherals, Firewire 2.0 also needs to be backwards compatible, just like USB 2.0
[ 01-31-2002: Message edited by: LKMusician ]
[ 01-31-2002: Message edited by: LKMusician ]</p>
<strong>
[SNIP]
However, to compete with USB peripherals, Firewire 2.0 also needs to be backwards compatible, just like USB 2.0
[ 01-31-2002: Message edited by: LKMusician ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
Who said Firewire 2 won't be compatible with previous Firewire? If it weren't compatible, that would be the death of the new specification. Do you really think all the camcorder manufacturers would let Firewire 2 be incompatible with their cameras? Do you think the Firewire TA would like that? Would Apple like that? Backward compatibility is built into the specification. Morevoer, the current 400MBs limit to Firewire was an upgrade from previous iterations of Firewire. Firewire's been around a long time, and it was only put into the Blue & Whites because it was ready to provide sufficient bandwidth as a replacement for SCSI.
Btw, USB 2 does provide backward compatibility with old devices, but with the big caveat that any old devices put on the new bus slows the new bus down to 1.1 speeds. USB is a cheap specification relegated to low end input devices. It's here to stay, but it's certainly no Firewire.
Printers: The printer takes longer to print than USB sends the data already, how will USB2 make that noticeably better?
Keyboards: Yeah, right.
MP3 players: I suppose that would take some of the shine off of the iPod's FW connection, but would current mp3 players be able to accept the data that fast?
USB speakers: Apple is all about USB sound. Would faster USB be a factor in this? Is FW even a factor? If the answers are yes and no, then Steve has ensured the future of USB on Macs already.
USB2 will probably be around, but I don't think it is a threat to FireWire, especially with FW2. How much would it add to the cost of a Mac to have both? $100?
Lots of questions that I have no answer for....like usual.
The great thing about USB 2 is that it meets all the I/O needs. Without the need for both a Firewire bus and a USB bus, costs go down for the consumer. Wouldn't it be great to have only one type of port, that is used for everything, keyboard, mouse, printer, cd burner, everything?
This is why USB 2 will give Firewire a run for it's money, and also the fact that Intel is pushing it. Intel has far more influence over Wintels than Apple, and with M$ and Intel pushing USB 2 hand in hand, Apple is going to have to fight hard for FIrewire. The most important thing for Apple to do now is upgrade Firewire to the faster transfer speed, so they are ahead in the spec number war. Otherwise the Wintel drones are going to go for USB 2 because it has better specs.
It's out right now with competitive speeds.
Soon, when it reaches 800mps+ . . . well, that just might be the death knell for USB products that require faster speeds . . . well . . . not that there ARE any right now . . .
This is a smart move by Intel, because it ensures that Apple will again have to play catch-up with their port technology. All of the camera makers will switch to USB 2 for compatibility with Wintels, and Apple will be forced to follow.
The best thing Apple can do at this point is put both USB 2 and Firewire ports on all new Macs. But within a few years, Firewire will just be another proprietary Apple port that went the way of the Dodo bird.
Too bad, because I think Firewire is far superior to USB 2. Is it even possible to power devices over USB 2?