Winsor,
On 3Jan , 2007, at 11:06 PM, Winsor Crosby wrote:
>
> I have been using FireWire since it came out with zero problems. The
> iPods until recently were Firewire and I have never heard of a
> connector problem with the frequent synchronization and recharging
> required.
To some extend, I suppose that the reason for this can be traced to
the relatively low number of computers (other than Apple's) which
were shipped with a FW port at the time when the iPod was shipped
with FW.
> As loosely as the standard for USB2 is followed it is
> frequently not nearly as fast as FW400. You have to shop very
> carefully.
You're 100% right in as much as I have never seen a single USB2
device which approximated the theoretical capacity - and I have been
shopping carefully. FW is faster - what keeps me from using it is, as
I mentioned, the fragility of the connectors which I have experienced.
4-pin FW connecters (those you typically find in DV cameras and DVPs)
are the worst - the full connectors (FW400 and FW800 both) are
better, but still on the fragile side.
> I have also been surprised at how seldom power for the
> device comes from the USB2 bus and there must be a separate power
> source. But I am no power user by any means. Just my experience.
>
Well, I've yet to have anything-firewire that I could power from the
FW bus - but then again, I've been hanging only HDs and DVD-writers
off of such a bus. On the flip-side, my USB2-bus nicely powers my
portable hd's and my USB memory key and card reader.
Notice that I am not saying that USB is perfect. It's an epsilon
better than FW, but I am still eagerly awaiting the day when a real
robust standard plug for external connectivity emerges.....
Thomas
>
>
> Winsor
> Long Beach, California, USA
>
>
>
>
> On Jan 3, 2007, at 10:15 AM, Thomas Clausen wrote:
>
>> For speed & delays FireWire wins in my book - however the mechanical
>> reliability of the firewire plugs leaves a LOT to be desired, so if
>> you intend to disconnect/reconnect the device more than - say - once
>> a year, then I'd think twice. In particular since there are reports
>> and first-hand experience (yes, me) that the plugging/unplugging
>> operation of a FW cable can have dire conseqences.
>>
>> For that particular reason, I'd never recommend or use FW in any
>> "professional" or personal setting - there are better connectors out
>> there for the pro (who's willing to pay) and there's very little
>> gained for the hobbyist in using FW400 over USB2.
>
>
>
> ==============================================
> List usage info: http://www.zuikoholic.com
> List nannies: olympusadmin@xxxxxxxxxx
> ==============================================
>
--
Thomas Clausen
Thomas.Clausen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.lix.polytechnique.fr/Labo/Thomas.Clausen/
http://www.lix.polytechnique.fr/hipercom/
==============================================
List usage info: http://www.zuikoholic.com
List nannies: olympusadmin@xxxxxxxxxx
==============================================
|