FireWire® is a high-speed computer interface designed to replace SCSI. It allows multiple devices to connect without a central computer. Its direct competitor is USB, which is cheaper and can power devices. FireWire® was released in 1995 and has undergone changes, with the beta version being faster but unable to transmit power to connected devices.
A FireWire® connection is a variety of Apple’s proprietary IEEE 1394 computer interface. This type of connection is designed to allow high-speed transfer of information through a universal socket system. Its direct competitor in the field is the Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector. A FireWire® connection is generally faster than all but the latest USB and allows multiple devices to connect to each other without a central computer. The USB connection can power devices, which some forms of FireWire® cannot, and it is significantly cheaper to manufacture. First, the difference in cost has led to USB taking the lead in the industry as the go-to device connection.
FireWire® was born in 1986 under a massive push from Apple. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) immediately began work on the specification. While Apple has been the biggest motivator for this project, other major computer and media device companies have also donated significant amounts. As a result, the IEEE released what would become the alpha version of the FireWire® connection in 1995. The generic name for the connection is IEEE 1394, but individual manufacturers were free to name their version whatever they wanted.
This type of connection was designed to replace the older Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) that was common on most media-based computer peripherals. SCSI was fast in its day, but modern devices had left it far behind in terms of speed, and the hardware was complicated. The new FireWire® connection would allow devices to connect to each other without the need for computer interaction, allowing for quick and easy transfer of information.
The alpha version of the FireWire® connection had a very distinctive look. It looked like a rectangle with a pointed end, similar to a child’s drawing of a house. This connection worked well, but the expense and limited availability made it less common than it could have been. This is also when the competition between FireWire® and USB really started.
With the release of the FireWire® connection beta, the playing field began to change. This plug is similar to the more common USB connection, but has two fang-like plastic prongs that give it a unique shape. This version is faster than USB 1.0 but is technically slower than USB 2.0. In reality, the maximum speed of a USB 2.0 connection is extremely difficult to achieve, and beta FireWire® is generally faster in actual use. On the other hand, it is significantly slower than USB 3.0.
The differences between the alpha and beta versions of the FireWire® connection are minor, but significant. The beta version is much faster but cannot transmit power to connected devices, which the alpha can. This feature has been left out to make the connection smaller, more energy efficient, and faster. Both versions have the basic design methodology and daisy chain capabilities originally designed in the specification.
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