USB 3.0 – The Pros and Cons

I started this blog to discuss just about anything technical. I have left comments open for starting discussions, and suggesting new topics.

My topic today is USB 3.0. Is it worth the money? How long until it’s fully integrated?

First off, let’s start with the differences between USB 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0. USB was a revolution in the connection of peripheral devices, such as printers, mice, and keyboards. USB 1.0 was released in 1995 by Intel. It had a speed of 12 Mbps. USB 2.0 was released in April 2000, and was forty-fold faster than USB 1.0, with a speed of 480 Mbps, which is the current standard today. USB 3.0 has the amazing capability of running at 5 Gbits a second at full speed, and usually runs around 3.2 Gbits a second after overhead.

The problem is, as with anything you eventually lose backwards compatibility, as we now have in USB 3.0. USB 1.0 and 2.0 were backwards compatible. The physical structure of the plug never changed, it was merely a slight receiving end hardware change, and a major software update. I can plug my USB 1.0 device into my USB 2.0 computer without any special cables or adapters, and it will run, albeit still only at 12 Mbps, but it will run. The same goes for putting my 2.0 device into a legacy 1.0 port. It will only run as fast as the slowest hardware involved.

In USB 3.0 the plugs were made longer, to accommodate new pins, called SuperSpeed pins. Don’t misunderstand me; there are certain ways to connect old devices. You can connect USB 1.0 and 2.0 to a new USB 3.0 female plug, or receiving end, such as on a motherboard or hub, because the new plug is simply longer, and the legacy plugs will never reach the new pins. However, you will not be able to connect a USB 3.0 device to a USB 2.0 board or hub without a special type of cable or adapter. So the issue once again comes down to being able to upgrade in a timely manner without disrupting too many people. Within a few years I will need an adapter to connect my new iPod to my 3 year old laptop.

Another issue is cost. At the moment there are very few devices on the market for USB 3.0. If you like building or upgrading your own computers, you can buy a motherboard equipped with USB 3.0, but you will definitely pay an arm and a leg just to have the jump on your friends. So yes, USB 3.0 is a great addition to the technological world, and a much needed upgrade to a system that was quickly aging as everything sped up around it. Would I go out and buy a 3.0 motherboard now? No. There aren’t enough devices out yet to justify the price. But USB 3.0 is growing up quickly and very soon it will be in all of our lives.