USB 2.0 SET TO ARRIVE

PC upgraders beware: Your interface options for peripheral devices will soon become more complicated. At this month's USB 2.0 Developer's Conference, hardware makers discussed plans to introduce products based on the new, faster USB (Universal Serial Bus) 2.0 specification in the last quarter of this year. The USB 2.0 spec supports data transfer rates of 480 Mbps, much faster than the current USB 1.1's 12-Mbps rate. Keep in mind that FireWire currently supports a 400-Mbps data transfer rate. Thus choosing between a FireWire and a USB 2.0 interface for your next high-bandwidth peripheral, such as a video camera, may turn into a real mind-boggler.