USB or Firewire?

LandyMan

LandyMan

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Hi all,

Sitting here, thinking about using Firewire for my iPod, rather than USB (need to open up a USB port). Which do you guys prefer, and whats the reasoning behind your choices?

Thanks
 
USB - every computer has a USB port these days
Firewire - fast!

USB2.0 might be as fast as firewire, not sure.

for ipod, I would use USB as I can plug it into any computer, for things like CDRW/DVD drive, I would use firewire.
 
yeah i agree. for now, i'd go USB2. Not every computer has firewire, but u'll struggle to find a PC without USB support(even older ones)

AFAIK firewire is faster than USB2 and has the advantage of being able to connect way more devices to one machine...
 
Ok, maybe I should have made it clearer ... my notebook does have a firewire port. The Firewire cables for the iPod have a USB connector on as well

Thanks for the input guys!
 
Firewire without a doubt - especially if you're going to use the iPod for extensive file transfers. It sounds like you've got the same cable as I do and I've found the transfer rate to be significantly higher using fw.

Besides, it frees up a usb port that you might need for other devices and will still charge the iPod as long as its a 6 pin port and not a 4 pin with an adapter.
 
bwana v.9 said:
Firewire without a doubt - especially if you're going to use the iPod for extensive file transfers. It sounds like you've got the same cable as I do and I've found the transfer rate to be significantly higher using fw.

Besides, it frees up a usb port that you might need for other devices and will still charge the iPod as long as its a 6 pin port and not a 4 pin with an adapter.
Click to expand...
File transfers: Yeah, I am going to be using it alot from the 12th of April. Getting my EOS 20D, and will be using my iPod (or a new 60Gb Video) with camera adapter to transfer the pics from the camera to iPod, and then when back from the trip to my PC.

And as you say, it frees up a USB port ... currently I have to unplug either my mouse, pda or external HDD to plug the iPod in
 
LandyMan said:
File transfers: Yeah, I am going to be using it alot from the 12th of April. Getting my EOS 20D, and will be using my iPod (or a new 60Gb Video) with camera adapter to transfer the pics from the camera to iPod, and then when back from the trip to my PC.

And as you say, it frees up a USB port ... currently I have to unplug either my mouse, pda or external HDD to plug the iPod in
Click to expand...
Pity your external hdd doesnt use firewire - you'd really notice the difference then. :)
 
bwana v.9 said:
Pity your external hdd doesnt use firewire - you'd really notice the difference then. :)
Click to expand...
Yeah, looked this morning for that option, but only USB2.0 :(
 
For large sustained file transfers Firewire will give you better performance. Also remember that you have one port for firewire while all the USB ports share the same bus.
 
LandyMan said:
File transfers: Yeah, I am going to be using it alot from the 12th of April. Getting my EOS 20D, and will be using my iPod (or a new 60Gb Video) with camera adapter to transfer the pics from the camera to iPod, and then when back from the trip to my PC.

And as you say, it frees up a USB port ... currently I have to unplug either my mouse, pda or external HDD to plug the iPod in
Click to expand...
AFAIK the new 5G iPod (with video) does not support firewire at all...
 
Rkootknir said:
AFAIK the new 5G iPod (with video) does not support firewire at all...
Click to expand...
I believe you are correct.
 
Rkootknir said:
AFAIK the new 5G iPod (with video) does not support firewire at all...
Click to expand...
I heard that too ... not a problem though, as my Microdrive has more space than that :)
Will be using either my 30Gb photo or 60Gb Video
 
Ag Crap, so I bought the Firewire USB cable yesterday, and the dumb twit that I am, I didn't check the Firewire connector properly. My notebook has the small one, and the cable is the 'standard' one! DAMMIT!
 
JUGGY said:
For now USB 2.0 is actually faster than firewire, here is an interesting article on Toms Hardware. http://www.tomshardware.com/2004/04/02/go_external/

Transfer speeds are as follows.

USB 1.1 - 120MBPS
Firewire (S400) - 400MBPS
USB 2.0 - 480MBPS
Click to expand...
You left out firewire 800

Also - for sustained writing and reading I notice a huge speed difference with firewire performing far better than usb2.
 
I have an external drive with both a USB2 and a firewire connection. It runs a lot faster when I use the firewire connection.
 
bwana v.9 said:
You left out firewire 800

Also - for sustained writing and reading I notice a huge speed difference with firewire performing far better than usb2.
Click to expand...

My bad, I didn't realise ho wold the article was:(

Firewire is a much more robust connection anyway.
 
LandyMan said:
Ag Crap, so I bought the Firewire USB cable yesterday, and the dumb twit that I am, I didn't check the Firewire connector properly. My notebook has the small one, and the cable is the 'standard' one! DAMMIT!
Click to expand...
I wondered about that (which is why I mentioned the 6/4 pin thing earlier). Bad luck. :(
 
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