USB 2.0 vs Firewire: Which should we use?
Will USB 2.0 really be as fast and flexible as Firewire? If not, should we care that people think it is? If it is, should we worry about those trashing Fireware (and by implication its proponents like Apple and me)?
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Comments
Use Firewire if possible.
<strong>no
Use Firewire if possible.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Thank you hmurchison. That is where I am in my thnking, but I wonder why there is the need to claim otherwise? I'm looking forward to all the firewire products that will emerge and I'm using my Cube to pump out music to my little iPod and have played a bit with video on my iMac---luckily I don't own my own video camera, so settle for iPhoto and my Canon G1.
I will now shut my mouth and leave it up to others to explain the other pros of FW.
A USB will slow down if there is a slower device on it downstream.
Firewire will make more an more sense when people realize that it's a flexible connection that will soon show up in more consumer electronics. It's future is bright but Apple will have to push the market forward.
Firewire will probably continue to dominate the pro market for such devices, simply because it's already entrenched, but consumer grade stuff is going USB2.
Both
This is going to general discussion, as it is a 'debate' about USB 2 vs Firewire.
If you had to choose to buy a device with one option or the other, there are advantages to Firewire in some situations.
Power - Charge your iPod just by hooking it up to your computer and updating your playlists and songs, no need to hook up a brick.
Peer to Peer - No need for a computer to negotiate the data. Have a digital camera with firewire? You can send it directly to another firewire device. I wouldn't be surprised if the iPod couldn't hook up to a digicam and act as extra storage space in the near future (if it doesn't alread?).
You can boot off of external firewire HDs, I don't think this is true of USB2.
Because it is peer to peer there is no drag on the computers CPU.
Ext CDRW, HD, & DVD I would recommend firewire. Digicams are obvious. Scanners, printers, and other devices i would take either since speed is not so critical (well actually my scanner is Firewire).
Both are nice, just make sure you chose the port that fits the application best.