What is USB?
USB is a specification that allows computer peripherals to be attached to the outside of the computer. It eliminates the need to install cards into dedicated computer slots and reconfigure the system. USB is really an ultimate plug-n-play specification that no switches or jumpers are required to configure. One of the top benefits from USB is that users can install hardware without needing to reboot their computers. USB allows up to 127 devices to run at the same time on the bus, with hubs connecting to devices to the bus. The USB also provides a much higher transfer rates than the traditional RS-232 or parallel-port devices.
A. Universal Serial Bus is a high speed connectivity standard enabling simple plug and play connections to devices such as modems, digital cameras, camcorders, keyboards and mice. An attractive advantage to USB is devices are hot pluggable (live connection/disconnection without data loss or interruption). Cables and devices manufactured to the current USB version 2.0 specifications are backward compatible with version 1.1, but the reverse scenario does not apply.
USB is used to connect devices such as scanners, digital cameras, printers, external hard drives, and many other peripherals to a computer. For many devices such as scanners and printers, USB has become the standard connection method. Because USB is “plug and play ” you can connect and disconnect devices while your computer is turned on. Up to 128 USB devices can be connected to a computer using multiple USB ports or USB Hubs.
USB, Universal Serial Bus, is the Plug and Play* peripheral connection. The USB interface is faster than EPP (enhanced parallel port), and has better compatibility with PCs or other peripherals. Plug and Play (PnP) is an industry-wide hardware standard for add-in hardware that requires the hardware to be able to identify itself, on demand, in a standard fashion. Plug and Play uses both hardware (a Plug and Play BIOS) and software (a Plug and Play-compatible operating system to do the install).
