How important will Firewire become?

[Picard]

Over the next 4-5 years. Reason I'm asking because I'm buying a PC for an office and because it is the entry level micro-ATX board it won't have a firewire port. I take it you can install a firewire CARD later on.

EDIT: Typo, forgot about the word card.

 

[bwana]

You can get firewire cards.

 

[LazyLion]

You can get firewire cards.

in fact, you can get combo firewire/USB expansion cards from Matrix for about a hundred to two hundred bucks.

http://www.pricecheck.co.za/offers/26804/Sunix+UFC3212V+USB+2.0+++FireWire+Combo+PCI+Card/

 

[PHTech]

Firewire cards are available at most computer hardware retailers. Personally, if you want to use Firewire in the next 4 - 5 years, then I would recommend you upgrade your PC as well then. Over 4-5 years, imagine (if you are going to use FireWire) what PC you will need to handle your FireWire devices and processing (if you are going to use it for Audio / Visual editing etc.)

 

[quovadis]

If you have no plans on using firewire then don't bother - in any case by the time Firewire becomes mainstream (ie. if it overtakes USB) the standards will change and you'll have to upgrade anyway. Rule of thumb - if there's a need in the forseeable future for firewire then get it - if not don't bother.

 

[werner]

firewire is dead. there i said it.
purely because the licensing costs for a firewire device is higher than for a usb2 device.

prior to usb2, i wouldve said firewire was putting up a good fight.

if by some quirk of fate it becomes an issue, spend a few RRR's and put in a pci card.

 

[scotty777]

does anyone even use firewire?

 

[bwana]

does anyone even use firewire?

Everyday

 

[Herm]

what do u use it for bwana?

 

[bwana]

what do u use it for bwana?

At the moment most of my external hdds are firewire.

My camcorder is also firewire but that's been broken for some time now

 

[Herm]

Don't you only see a deference when you use fire wire 800?
i suppose you probably have fire wire 800

 

[bwana]

Don't you only see a deference when you use fire wire 800?
i suppose you probably have fire wire 800

I see plenty of difference using fw400 for backups - for short bursts though there is little in it between 400 and USB2.

 

[.Froot.]

Is Firewire 2 even out yet? Not that I heard of.
Firewire has a better sustained speed than USB. Their burst speeds are around 99% the same.

 

[Just_Ice]

USB 3 is out or is coming out soon isnt it?
SO thats another nail in the coffin of firewire

 

[bwana]

Is Firewire 2 even out yet? Not that I heard of.
Firewire has a better sustained speed than USB. Their burst speeds are around 99% the same.

If you mean fw800 then yes - its been out for many years now.

USB 3 is out or is coming out soon isnt it?
SO thats another nail in the coffin of firewire

Until the next version of FW comes out that is. I for one am glad there are competing standards.

 

[thed33p]

rule of thumb:
USB1 - Mouse, Keyboard
USB2 - HDD, flash, anything high speed
1394 - >SUSTAINED< high speed transfer i.e. camcorders

 

[werner]

Is Firewire 2 even out yet? Not that I heard of.
Firewire has a better sustained speed than USB. Their burst speeds are around 99% the same.

about 2 years ago i built a pentium D machine around an intel 955XBK motherboard which had onboard fw800...so it is out there for a long time.

i've championed firewire before on this forum, and understand the technical advantages. but i also know that in the world of the far east, cost is king. and fw costs more (not the chip as such, the license to use the chip)

slowly over the last year or so i've seen more and more usb2 camcorders, and less fw stuff..it just feels like it is happening...

 

[.Froot.]

Ooh. Maybe it's just called by the 1394 then?