Firewire

Invented by ApPle Computer in the mid-1990's, Firewire has become one of the leading peripheral standards. Firewire can be used to connect devices such as digital camcorders, digital cameras, hard drives, and MP3 players, such as the Apple iPod, to your computer. Its uses are similar the USB, but Firewire can transfer data at 400 Mbps, which is roughly 30 times faster than USB. This blazing speed allows for quick transfers of large video files, which is great for video-editing professionals. You may see Firewire referred to by its technical name, IEEE 1394, since it was standardized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Both terms refer to the same serial input/output technology. If your computer doesn't have Firewire and you wish it did, fear not. You can always buy a PCI Firewire card to add Firewire ports to your computer.