| USB stands for Universal Serial Bus and was first | | | | apperance, taking the USB conncetivity revolution even |
| rolled out on new PC's back in November 1995. It | | | | further. Currently emerging technologies such as "USB |
| wasn't until 1998 and the release of the USB 1.1 | | | | On The Go" is set to be released soon on mobile |
| standard that USB really started to take off. Since this | | | | devices, allowing a USB device to connect to another |
| time USB has grown to be one of the most popular | | | | USB device without the need for a computer to act |
| ways of connecting devices to your computer. | | | | as a go between. Next-generation consumer |
| To truly appreciate how great USB is - you only have | | | | electronic devices will also be supporting "Wireless |
| to look back at what was around before the great | | | | USB" another exciting technology allowing USB |
| connector. People using computers pre 1995 were | | | | devices to connect wirelessly. |
| connecting their printers, scanners and game | | | | Currently however, there is a common problem that |
| controllers via Serial, Parallel and SCSI ports which are | | | | people face when using todays USB storage devices, |
| comparatively very slow and required at least a | | | | such as USB Pen Drives, USB Hard Drives and USB |
| degree in computer science to install! | | | | Memory Card Readers. Many people believe it is |
| People new to computers at that time had a serious | | | | perfectly safe to just pull out a USB device from their |
| learning curve to get peripherals connected and | | | | computer once they have finished with the USB |
| working, and to make things worse the more devices | | | | device. This can however, potentially cause corruption |
| you had the more complex the install process | | | | and data loss on a USB storage device. |
| became.With USB, these days it's so much easier, you | | | | It's always good practice to "Safely Remove |
| can simply plug in your "USB mini desktop aquarium" | | | | Hardware" before removing a USB Device. In |
| (yes it does actually exist!) and it will practically install | | | | Windows XP or Windows 2000, it's simply a case of |
| itself without the worry of your Printer, Scanner, | | | | double clicking on the "Remove Hardware" icon (circled |
| Mouse or USB Pen Drive failing as a result of the | | | | below), in the system tray and then clicking on the stop |
| install. | | | | button. Your computer should then tell you that it's |
| The simplicity of installation for modern USB devices, | | | | "Now safe to remove the USB Hardware". If a |
| coupled with it's superior data speed performance has | | | | message is returned from your computer saying "USB |
| allowed a whole range of USB peripherals and | | | | Device cannot be stopped now", then you may need |
| gadgets to venture on to the market. From the fairly | | | | to close any files being accessed by your computer |
| useless USB disco ball to USB Hard Drives, USB Pen | | | | from the USB Device. |
| Drives, Graphics Tablets, USB telephones (coming | | | | By "Safely Removing Hardware" before unplugging |
| soon to Mousehouse) - the list goes on and on. | | | | USB devices, you are effectively asking the computer |
| Besides the ability for manufacturers to easily support | | | | if it is safe to remove the USB device first. This |
| a variety of USB devices, a large part of the versatility | | | | process is very important as once you "Safely |
| of USB is down to the fact that a USB socket is able | | | | Remove Hardware" the computer is able to prepare |
| to provide a small amount of power to whatever is | | | | the USB device to be removed. The computer will |
| plugged into it, so devices that require a small amount | | | | check that any files being accessed by the USB |
| of power can be entirely powered by the USB socket | | | | device are saved and not in use, then power to the |
| alone, using a standard USB cable. USB 2.0 finalised in | | | | USB device is turned off. Only then is the USB Device |
| 2001, transfers data at 480Mbps, (megabits per | | | | safe to be removed from your computer. If this |
| second) about 40X times faster than USB1.1, which | | | | procedure is not followed when removing USB |
| operates at just 12Mbps. USB 2.0 is backwards | | | | Storage Devices, not only are you at risk of loosing |
| compatible with USB 1.1 and vice versa but will only | | | | data stored on the USB Device, but also damaging the |
| operate at USB 1.1 speed. | | | | device itself and this damage would not be covered |
| More USB technologies are soon to make an | | | | under the warranty of the device. |