USB has become the Colossus of computer connectivity, standing astride the world of computing accessories and peripherals with the self-confident ease of a standard that has triumphed over its opponents. Parallel and serial protocols are virtual dinosaurs, being phased out almost universally by computer manufacturers. Firewire (IEEE 1394) still maintains a presence in certain nice markets, in large part due to the dogged determination on Apple Computers and Sony to keep pushing the standard. But what has caused USB to become the standard of choice for computer connectivity?
The first answer is speed. For years, computers used serial (RS-232) and parallel (IEEE 1284) for data connection and transmission between computers as well as devices. However, the transmission speed of these protocols are slow, averaging 4mbps with the most recent parallel revision and an average 58,000bps with serial connections. In contrast, USB 1.1 has a 12mbps transfer speed and USB 2.0 high speed can go as high as 480 mbps. The speed difference coupled with the durability, universality, and simplicity of the USB connection easily tolled the death knell for serial and parallel ports.
This still fails to explain the ascension of USB over Firewire. Though Firewire has a max transfer speed of 400 mbps (80 mbps slower than the USB 2.0 standard), when it comes to transferring large quantities of data Firewire actually has the advantage of USB. Apparently, USB’s transfer rate tops out at 480mbps but its average speed is quite a bit slower. Firewire, on the other hand, has a consistent 400mbps transfer rate, making it ideal to transfer large files or data streams such as audio and video. It is this constant high-speed connection that has made Firewire the connection of choice for multimedia applications.
Firewire’s downfall comes not in design quality but in price. Where USB is actually quite inexpensive for manufacturers to implement, Firewire costs $1-$2 per connection. Thus, fewer manufacturers have made devices that support Firewire, relegating the standard to the multimedia computing niche. In addition, a minor factor is the slightly less durable nature of the Firewire connector.
That said, there is a strong possibility that several years from now, USB will no longer be the standard of choice as its successor, Wireless USB, comes into the computer connectivity market. Boasting USB 2.0 speeds, similar ease of connectivity, and the complete absence of tangling wires, Wireless USB could easily become the de facto standard of the future.
Nathan Kartchner works in Product Development for Sewell Direct, an online distributor of USB adapters and other connectivity products. Look for Wireless USB products as they become available.