Why don't we have IEEE1394 flash drives?

[jonessoda]

Don't just say "because it's inferior... DUH!" And now I've said that, can we just assume that at least five people are going to say that and skip that part? Thank you.

I'm not an engineer, so why is it inferior (if it is, in fact, inferior)? Why is USB so ubiquitous and 1394 not? But then, why do I have several 1394 ports on my soundcard control box, but no USB? Why aren't there IEEE 1394 flash drives and game pads and mice and all that?

 

[ElFenix]

USB is probably cheaper to implement, as 1394 requires processing power on both ends. there are also licensing costs also, not every computer has a 1394 port. and finally, even those that do use the smaller ports on the computer sometimes.

 

[imported_Mike]

might have to do with cost, I think someone owns the rights to IEEE

 

[keeleysam]

1. USB is cheaper
2. USB is on EVERY computer (that matters)
3. Flash drives don't max out USB's speed

Trust me, I love FireWire, but flash drives based on that technology make no sense.

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Actually, 1394 is superior to USB in terms of transfer speeds but USB is cheaper and, as you say, ubiquitous. Besides, flash drives are limited by the NAND read/write speed, not by the USB or FireWire interface, so there's not much point to making a FireWire drive over a USB drive.

 

[keeleysam]

Originally posted by: Mike
might have to do with cost, I think someone owns the rights to IEEE

That is correct, there is a $.25 fee per port.

 

[secretanchitman]

Originally posted by: keeleysam
1. USB is cheaper
2. USB is on EVERY computer (that matters)
3. Flash drives don't max out USB's speed

Trust me, I love FireWire, but flash drives based on that technology make no sense.

:thumbsup:

 

[Goosemaster]

firewire still kicks ass...

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle
Actually, 1394 is superior to USB in terms of transfer speeds but USB is cheaper and, as you say, ubiquitous. Besides, flash drives are limited by the NAND read/write speed, not by the USB or FireWire interface, so there's not much point to making a FireWire drive over a USB drive.

I've read a few things that have said that the sustained transfer rate of firewire is slower in certain cases (I believe it was specifically large numbers of smaller files).

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: keeleysam
1. USB is cheaper
2. USB is on EVERY computer (that matters)
3. Flash drives don't max out USB's speed

4. USB drives are on the front panels of almost every system produced in the past three years.

 

[dighn]

the company I work at used to deal with firewire. it is so complicated and touchy that there is only one company (TI) that makes chips for it.

for the speed flash drives operate at, USB is plenty good.

 

[spp]

flash drive is maxing out the USB pretty fast.

http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/20/sandisks-extreme-iv-compactflash-cards/