What is USB 2.0?
Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 is an external serial interface used on computers and other digital devices to transfer data using a USB cable. The designation “2.0” refers to the standard or version of the USB interface. As of fall 2006, USB 2.0 remains the current standard. USB is a plug-and-play interface. This means that the computer does not need to be powered off in order to plug in or unplug a USB 2.0 component. For example, an iPod or other MP3 player can be connected to a computer via a USB cable running to the USB 2.0 port. The computer will register the device as another storage area and show any files it contains. Using the USB 2.0 interface, one can transfer files to or from the MP3 player. When finished, simply unplug the USB cable from the interface. Because the computer does not need to be shut down to plug in the device, USB components are considered “hot swappable.” Aside from MP3 players, many other external devices use USB 2.0 data ports, including digital cameras, c
USB 1.1 was great when it was introduced almost a decade ago. But the newer USB 2.0 transfers data dramatically faster – up to 40 times quicker. Plus, USB 2.0 provides additional bandwidth for multimedia and storage applications, which are growing larger every year. Also to your advantage is the fact that USB 2.0 is forward and backward compatible with USB 1.1, which means that cables and connectors made for the original USB configuration will also work perfectly in a USB 2.0 port, though some newer devices are specifically designed for USB 2.0. It is always a good idea to verify the version of USB supported by each device you want to use.
