The differences between USB and FireWire begin and the data transfer rates between the two. The beauty of both types of port is their plug-and-play simplicity and the ability to use most USB and FireWire devices on either Windows or Mac computers.

USB 1.1: Transfer limit of 11Mbps or around 1.5MB per second
USB 2.0: Transfer limit of 480Mbps or around 60MB per second. USB 1/2: 4 Pin STP standard Connection data and power

FireWire 400 (IEEE 1394a): 400 Mbit/s data rates (50MB per second). FireWire 800 (IEEE 1394b): 800 Mbit/s data rates (100MB per second) .

FireWire: 4/6 pin STP standard.
4-pin sockets connect the data signals only but do not connect the power supply of the bus. 6-pin sockets connect the data signals as well as the power supply of the bus.

A quick history on FireWire and USB:
Before FireWire and USB appeared, external devices were typically connected to a computer using serial and parallel ports. But those connections had many limitations: data transfer rates were sluggish, devices couldn't be unplugged without causing your computer to crash, you couldn't easily swap multiple devices on the same port, and so on.

In the mid nineties, the connectivity situation began to improve dramatically with the introduction of FireWire and, a few years later, USB. Both technologies offer faster data transfer rates, true plug-and-play connectivity, the ability to unplug one device and plug another into the same port without rebooting, and more.

At first, it would seem that USB 2.0 is faster than FireWire (400); however speed is not the only thing to consider when it comes to Digital Video. One serious issue is that USB 2.0 doesn't always guarantee a consistent data rate. This is because USB 2.0 is a "master-slave" technology, which means it needs a computer's CPU to manage data transfers. This isn't a huge problem when working with low end peripherals like web cams, scanners, printers etc. Though, Digital Video requires reliable performance to prevent dropping frame rate.

FireWire is a more independent technology, because it works in a peer-to-peer relationship. Using this method, professional Digital Video users are able to download their video from a DV camcorder to an external hard drive without the use of a PC (video source may vary for peer-to-peer management). Most importantly FireWire delivers data consistently at a specific data rate. Serious editors and whomever looking to edit video in a professional way, are recommended using FireWire.

A tale of our modern age starts with technology, and introduces many questions in which technology is the most reliable, which will last the longest, and which is the best investment for you and your customer.

In the arena of video... the digital revolution is changing the way we create and use our video. Prior generations are conditioned to the methods of an Analog Video Signal, while the current and future generations are quickly pushing forward by replacing Analog, with Digital Video.

Why the change? Analog Video is a 50-year old technology, that can be adapted to be accessible in digital methods, and a cost effective solution if already implemented. Yet this method is still inaccessible to most of the more modern methods of video transmission.

As digital video is the "wave of the future", the future is here. This has become the primary method in sharing and recording video, and exceeds the limitations of traditional Analog methods. Computers and mobile devices have become the primary workstations for accessing and managing this video, and are connected to networks around the world.

Enabling global management and global standards for video, erasing the strict limitations and formats of Analog Video. Digital video also provides clearer, sharper, detailed imagery, at a higher frame rate and resolution than Analog Video.

All in all, Digital Video has unlimited possibilities and will quickly replace traditional methods in years to come. This method has proven and will continue to prove its reliability, and investment.