which laptops have USB 2.0 & Firewire built in?

THELAIR

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
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perferably not a sony, due to their price.

Anyone out there have that built in?

Idealy they would have bulit in 802.11b wireless, CF/SD memory stick slot, USB 2.0 (2 or more ports), firewire port, 10/100 network rj45 port and a rj11 modem jack. Serial is very important too although its harder and harder to find (alot of my radio equipment wont work iwth hte USB to serial adapters). Don't need a parallel port.

anything mentioned in the near future that might fit?
 

xype

Member
Apr 20, 2002
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how about any of the Apple kit? (unless the software you run is windows only)
 

corkyg

Elite Member | Peripherals
Super Moderator
Mar 4, 2000
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There are several that have Firewire built in - but I haven't seen one yet with native USB 2.0 on the mobo. I think there are USB 2.0 PC cards. I like your question - I would not buy a new laptop that did not have both capabilities. My old one has Firewire and 802.11b - and the former is very useful - the latter not so much so.

USB2
 

BDawg

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
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My Compaq Presario 2700T has USB 1.1 and Firewire built in and 802.11b with an Orinocco card.

The only thing you'll get close is an iBook or Powerbook G4 with USB 1.1, Firewire, and optional AirPort card.
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
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Why do you care so much? It's not as if there's anything that's a must have that's USB 2 that isn't already available for Firewire. And Firewire is the better technology anyway.

If in the future you really do need USB 2, you can just buy a PCMCIA card.

Or you can go the other way around and get USB 2 with no Firewire, but IMO this is less attractive choice.
 

THELAIR

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
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USB 2 built in is important to us due to a few particular propriety appliances that we need/want to run.

Not everything is firewire yet, but we only want it for future expandability. USB devices is what we are dealing with, and what the programmers and hardware developers are working with.

All PCMCIA slots will be occupied with other exapansion cards, so having USB 2.0 and firewire built in is extremly important.
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
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Originally posted by: THELAIR
USB 2 built in is important to us due to a few particular propriety appliances that we need/want to run.
Like what?
Not everything is firewire yet, but we only want it for future expandability. USB devices is what we are dealing with, and what the programmers and hardware developers are working with.
USB 1.1 not USB 2.0 is what everyone is working with. Pretty much everything I've seen that's USB 2.0 is already available for Firewire. Indeed, if you get an external hard drive today, USB 2.0 would be a very poor choice, since the speeds are pretty crappy. This may change in the next few months though, since USB 2.0 to IDE bridge chips are getting much faster.
All PCMCIA slots will be occupied with other exapansion cards, so having USB 2.0 and firewire built in is extremly important.
Well, then you'll be waiting a long time for your laptop, since these are rare if not non-existent.

 

crypticlogin

Diamond Member
Feb 6, 2001
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This came up from a really quick google search. 4x USB2, 1x IEEE1394 I've never heard of this make/model before so quality and performance is.. unknown.

edit: Review of i-buddie at hardwarezone.com

And to Eug:

Why do you care so much?
I'll ask the same of you? Why does it bother you so much when someone opts for USB over firewire that you feel compelled to preach under the firewire banner? You've done already in several threads and truthfully, it's getting tiresome.
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
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I'll ask the same of you? Why does it bother you so much when someone opts for USB over firewire that you feel compelled to preach under the firewire banner? You've done already in several threads and truthfully, it's getting tiresome.
Sorry if I sound preachy. :eek: Doesn't really bother me, but based on user reactions I just think it's not a good technology for certain uses. Also, like I've said (in several threads) USB 2 is fine for stuff like external CD-RW/DVD-ROM, but it's not ideal for hard drives because current chipsets are too slow performance wise. Contrary to popular belief, neither Firewire nor USB 2 IDE bridge chipsets run at full speed and right now, Firewire chipsets that are found in shipping bridgeboards are MUCH faster than their USB 2 counterparts. OTOH, SMC has just announced a new USB 2 chipset which is pretty speedy, although still not as fast as the Firewire Oxford 911 chipset (which is very common). And of course, because it's so new, people say it's more buggy when you run multiple devices.

Anyways, on a laptop it's a mistake to demand both USB 2 and Firewire on the same machine because it just means you're going to severely limit your choices. That will change by the end of the year I'm guessing though.

For a desktop, by all means get both. Can't hurt. Indeed, contrary to what you may think, I'll probably get USB 2 on my next mobo. It will definitely have to Firewire as well though. If you do get USB 2 though, I'd advise USB 1.1 AND USB 2.0 ports, since some people seem to have problems mixing USB 2 and USB 1 devices.