Why do some products come with a USB port/wire and a Firewire Cable/port? Which is better to use?

Question

And what is the difference between the two in terms of results or performance...

Answer 1

Firewire is definitely faster than the old USB 1.1 ports, but USB 2.0 is pretty dang fast, so I'm not sure if Firewire is still faster. I doubt it will matter much for the great majority of applications (especially if you have the newer USB).

Answer 2

they are two different forms of universal data transferal cables, each one is "local" if you will, to one of the two major operating systems(windows and macintosh) firewire is mainly used on macs and usb is standard to windows. now though, you'll find alot of USBs on macs and firewires on windows. usually it depends on what kind of data you're transfering that determines which one you'll need. I need to use a firewire for my video cam but i use USB for all other devices. theres no noticable difference between the two as far as performance goes. really it's whatever your device requires. u can find an adapter for either one so that it works with your computer.

Answer 3

USB is more universal, as in, more products come with or require that so I'd say USB first, and you can always add a firewire port later if it turns out you need it- and have BOTH! :)

Answer 4

FireWire is faster than a USB port.

Answer 5

They are two different formats. Manufacturers usually have gone one way or another.
The original Firewire was faster than USB. With USB2, that speed differential has decreased.
Many computer makers put in both because they don't know what devices you have, and want you to be able to use what you have...thus be happy with them.

Answer 6

WRONG!!

Firewire maxes out at 400Mbps (or 50MB/s) and USB 2.0 maxes out at 480Mbps (60MB/s). USB 2.0 has a slight edge.

Now the older USB 1.1 is a different story. It is slower than molasses at only 12Mbps (1.5MB/s). If you're not sure what you have, this link will help:
http://www.usbman.com/Guides/checking_for_usb_2.htm


Firewire is still good to have, since most digital cameras and camcorders support it. It's the standard for transferring video. USB is typically for everything else, though any device can choose to use either...

Answer 7

hey - this is large to ensure you putting your tapes onto DVD to observe. there are multiple those who purely shove them in a draw - this is poor! So it is what you want to study about FireWire (iLink) vs USB on your MiniDV camcorder. you could in ordinary words use FireWire to move your video to the computer. you could move the nevertheless images utilising the USB cable even with the undeniable fact that. once you connect your camcorder on your television the video is at its brilliant high quality - it really is, it has not been compressed. even with the undeniable fact that, once you move it on your computer and then burn it to DVD, it compresses the image utilising MPEG-2 (commonplace for all video clips, Hollywood lined - yet they have extra constructive cameras that us). certainly, the commonplace shouldn't degrade "that a lot." one element you'd be doing is compressing the video two times - once when you edit the photographs and then back once you burn it onto DVD. each in certain situations this happens in case you employ an modifying application and a burning answer made through 2 diverse organizations. in case you do not pay interest to the settings, it may do this immediately. What you could do is compress/render it in the video editor. then you truthfully can open up the project on your DVD burning application. you'll in ordinary words like it to "burn" the video, not render it back. there will be a level for "making waiting" and it is fantastic. So, flow purchase a FireWire cable so that you'll move the video, then ascertain you do not render the video two times. good success!

Answer 8

firewire is supposedly faster.....