FireWire

=FireWire= = = = =
 * Just a tip: before you read about FireWire read about USB. FireWire has many similarities to USB, but differs in several important ways described below.

FireWire is a way to transfer large quantitites of information, like digital video and digital audio, from peripherals to a computer, or between peripherals. FireWire was originally developed by Apple and was standardized in 1995 and given the official name ISEEE 1394.

FireWire has many similarities to the USB, but FireWire is faster. The current version can transfer up to 800 megabits per second, which is almost twice as fast as USB 2.0. FireWire is a better choice than USB when transferring data from high-bandwidth devices like digital camcorders. Also, FireWire allows for real-time, uninterrupted video streaming. This is so useful for video editing that today most camcorders are sold with FireWire plugs.

Also, whereas USB is host-based (peripherals must be attached to a computer to transfer data), FireWire allows for peer-to-peer communication. This means that with FireWire two digital cameras can share information without going through a computer.

FireWire is more expensive than USB, so USB has become the standard unless high speed or peer-to-peer communication is required in the transfer of data.

For sources and more information see: [|How Stuff Works] [|Wikipedia]

Defined By: Pam McCuen
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