FireWire vs. USB

FireWire is the Apple Inc. name for the IEEE 1394 interface which operates at a bandwidth of 400Mbps. Since it supported a much higher bandwidth than USB 1.1, it was well suited for applications requiring large amounts of data transfer (scanners, disk drives).

FireWire interfaces first appeared in the PowerMac G3 (Blue & White), the iMac 350MHz (3rd generation), PowerBook G3 "Pismo", and second-generation iBook "clamshell" models.

"Hi-Speed" USB 2.0 later came out supporting a higher signal rate (480Mbps). Although the theoretical data rate was better than FireWire, data transfers over FireWire 400 interfaces generally outperform USB 2.0 interfaces. It's no wonder then that PC's have standardized on USB.

When Apple introduced the iPod, it supported only FireWire connectivity. Later Apple added USB support. Apple dropped FireWire support beginning with the 5th-generation iPod "Video" and iPod shuffle in order to reduce the number of components to make the units smaller.

The last iPod with FireWire support was the iPod "photo", AKA iPod "color display".

Beginning with the PowerMac G4 "Mirror Drive Door", Apple began implementing the FireWire 800 interface (IEEE 1394b), which doubled the theoretical bandwidth of the original FireWire specification. The first Mac Laptop with FireWire 800 was the PowerBook G4 introduced in September, 2003.

Improvements continue to be made to the specification including a provision for 800Mbps over the same 8P8C (Ethernet) connectors with Cat 5 cable and increases in the data rate to 1600 or even 3200 Mbps.