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--></style><title>Re: [X4U] USB 2.0 vs Firewire?</title></head><body>
<div>Will someone tell me why I should use FireWire for an
external Backup drive instead of USB 2.0.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>I accidentally purchased a USB 2.0 instead of the Combo drive as
I had intended. I can still return it at some coast. A good priced
Seagate's FreeAgent, a 5 year warrantee unit. I can use it on my
primary desktop commuter (has both FireWire and USB 2.0) and my other
computers (laptops) have only FireWire. I usually backup to my primary
(Desktop), then back that computer up weekly.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>I guess my real question what is the practice difference between
FW and USB 2.0? The specs indicate transfer rates of USB 2.0 are
faster than FireWire<font face="Lucida Grande" color="#000000">
[FireWire 400 - 400Mbps (or 50MB/sec)</font> and<font
face="Lucida Grande" color="#000000"> USB 2.0 - 480Mbps (or
60MB/sec)]</font>. However, I seem to remember articles that
indicated there were technical reasons why<font face="Lucida Grande"
color="#000000"> FireWire</font> provided better actual throughput. I
haven't been able to find such articles now.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Any advise would be appreciated.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Bob Hall</div>
<div>rahall@ptd.net</div>
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