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Q: Can I connect the AcomData Drive to a USB or FireWire
expansion card?
A: Yes, but you may need to update the software/firmware for the
card. We recommend you check with the card’s manufacturer for
the latest updates.
Q: Is the AcomData Drive compatible with Windows 95, 98
(First Edition) or Windows NT 4.0?
A: No.
Q: What’s faster, USB 2.0 or FireWire 400?
A: USB 2.0 and FireWire are very similar in many respects, but there
are definite differences. At first glance it would appear that USB 2.0
(480 Mbps) is indeed faster than FireWire 400 (400 Mbps). However,
this is only true under ideal conditions. While 480 Mbps is the
maximum speed achievable, USB 2.0 cannot guarantee a specified
data transfer rate. This is mainly because USB 2.0 is a master-slave,
host-dependent technology, meaning it relies on your computer’s
CPU to facilitate and manage data transfers.
FireWire, on the other hand, is a peer-to-peer technology that
does not require CPU resources to facilitate data transfers between
FireWire devices. Moreover, FireWire devices can guarantee real-
time delivery of data at a specific rate, which is necessary for
certain applications, such as digital video capture where dropped
or delayed data packets is unacceptable. This is why devices like
digital camcorders have 1394 interfaces, and why FireWire is the
interface of choice for digital video editing applications.
For day-to-day hard drive use, USB 2.0 and FireWire 400 will have
comparable performance though FireWire 400 will probably have
a slight performance edge, which can make a difference if you are
performing tasks that require large, frequent data transfers.
Q: Why doesn’t the FireWire cable fit my FireWire port?
A: The supplied FireWire cable uses 6-pin connectors at both ends,
but many laptops have a 4-pin FireWire port. In order to connect
the Drive to your laptop via FireWire, you will need to purchase a
6-pin to 4-pin cable.
Summary of Contents for Enclosure
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