[maguirer]

Okay, I sort of know what USB 2.0 is, but I haven't seen it discussed here at all. I've looked at some specs and FAQs (usb.org), but their pages seem more like advertisements than informative articles.

If someone could run through all the specs here that would be good. I'd like to hear what people think about USB2.0 and how viable it'll actually be. (Please, no "FireWire rules! USB2 droolz!" posts)

For instance, what are the details behind USB2's backwards compatability? How true is the statement that you lose the higher data rate by attaching USB1 devices?

[Misha]

You may find some answers to your questions in this article I wrote a while back:
http://www.macnn.com/feature.php?id=59

[maguirer]

Heh. More of the same info. Seems not much has changed in a year. My main question is asking how much truth there is to the statement that upon adding a USB 1 device everything slows to USB 1 speeds whether they be USB2 devices or not...?

In other words, I have a couple of USB 2 devices doing their thing at USB2 speeds, then let's say I attach a USB1 mouse. What happens...? It seems silly to me that my USB2 devices might slow down for something as simple as a mouse.

thanks for the info, tho.

[bradoesch]

I'm so sick of USB this, USB that. Why can't we just use FireWire for high speed stuff (i.e. digital camcorders, camera, burners, etc.) and just stick with USB 1.1 for keyboards, mice and other low speed stuff. Isn't the next revision of FireWire coming sometime soon? 400Mb is still very fast for most people. Grr, USB annoys me!

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Why 1984, won't be
like "1984"

[G4ME]

Intel intel intel. The only reason that the Peecees don't have fire wire on the mobo is that apple founded it, same with 802.11b (airport) so they won't accept it and people have to by their PCI cards to get all of those cool things. USB was created by intel and thats why it is on the mobo and they have hated apple who one uped their revoutinary plug with firewire. So now every camcorder has an apple desiged technoligy and it is pissing them off, so whats to so updated it with version 2 and up grade the speed, 12mb/sec to I think 400mb/sec, or the same as firewire but with their name. The are no avdantages one over the other, just one has been around for about three years and has many peripherals for it and the other is brand new. Intel is just going to fall on its face with this one. ha ha.

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I Have a Super Computer

[PeteWK]

Just to continue with my Boycott the PC boys, I'm going to avoid the USB 2.0. I've got several FW devices that work great. And so long as I have a choice, I'm going to be putting a few cents into Apple's pockets instead of Intel's.

PeteWK

[G4ME]

Another thing is the new speed of 80 more mb/sec is basicly useless because there is no divice that takes advantage of the 400mb/sec now suported by firewire.

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I Have a Super Computer

[bradoesch]

And with Apple rumored 800Mb/s FireWire 2 (or whatever it's called, the next revision, anyway), Intel's stupid 480Mb/s USB 2.0 is just going to look like crap...again. And with digital camcorders (and some camera) using FireWire already, why would they switch to USB 2.0?
Is there flaws in the current USB? I think I read that somewhere. And with USB 2.0 being backwards compatible, doesn't that mean they have to continue using the existing technology, only bumping up the speed? I really can't see a need for a new USB. It seems to work fine for keyboards and mice and scanners and such, so why challenge FireWire? Good luck Intel, I can't wait to laugh at you again!

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Why 1984, won't be
like "1984"

[RoofusPennymore]

Originally posted by G4ME:
Intel intel intel. The only reason that the Peecees don't have fire wire on the mobo is that apple founded it, same with 802.11b (airport) so they won't accept it and people have to by their PCI cards to get all of those cool things. USB was created by intel and thats why it is on the mobo and they have hated apple who one uped their revoutinary plug with firewire. So now every camcorder has an apple desiged technoligy and it is pissing them off, so whats to so updated it with version 2 and up grade the speed, 12mb/sec to I think 400mb/sec, or the same as firewire but with their name. The are no avdantages one over the other, just one has been around for about three years and has many peripherals for it and the other is brand new. Intel is just going to fall on its face with this one. ha ha.

It's true, Intel does not include FireWIre support in their chipsets (and it would seem that's becasue they didn't invent it). That doesn't mean
that computer manufactures can't include it on a seperate chip set (can you say Sony)?

FireWire is a Peer-to-peer system, where as USB requires a host. To use a USB device you have to hook it up to a computer. That's why you can't hook a USB keyboard up to a USB Handspring becasue neither one of them is a host. You could, in theory, hook a FireWire enabled camcorder right up to a FireWire harddrive. That why you can see TV's, VCR, etc with FireWire on them.

As for 802.11, Intel thinks 802.11 should be used for Buisness and HomeRF should be for consumers. I thought I had read that they were backing off that some, especially since they have bought so many networking companies that make 802.11 stuff,

[This message has been edited by RoofusPennymore (edited 05-13-2001).]