FireWire a.k.a. IEEE 1394 High Speed Serial Bus is a very fast data transfer technology, often used a way to connect things to a computer. By things we mean peripherals, and by peripherals, we mean digital cameras, external hard drives, printers, MP3 players, and such. FireWire supports Plug-and-Play and hot swapping, making it relatively simply to connect and use any device instantly. FireWire is also handy for connecting devices directly to each other, such as a hooking up a digital camera to a printer. Among the advantages offered by FireWire are the fast speed at which it can transfer data, and its ability to deliver power to any device it’s connecting. FireWire is brought to you by Apple.
Technical Advantages of FireWire
FireWire 400 came out in 1995 and can transfer data at up to 400 Mbits/s. The next version was FireWire 800 in 2002 which improved its data transfer rate up to 786 Mbits/s. Currently the fastest FireWire technology outperforms USB 2.0 which at it’s best can do 480 Mbits/s.
Most FireWire implementations are able to supply power to the devices connected, eliminating the need for an external power supply. When you plug your digital camera into your computer with a FireWire, you won’t be draining your battery. You can also charge your iPod by plugging it into your computer with a FireWire.
We say “most”, because some manufacturers, for example Sony, produce cables that do not supply power.
FireWire Plug-and-Play/Hot Swapping
FireWire supports plug-and-play and hot swapping of peripheral devices. Plug-and-play and hot swapping are catchy names for technologies that allow you to connect a device to a computer and use it instantly, without doing any technical configuration. Devices can be connected and disconnected while the computer is turned on, and no rebooting is required.
Looking for FireWire Cables?
If you decide to pick up a FireWire cable from Amazon
