Using FireWire devices with your computer

Using FireWire devices with your computer

FireWire is an open industry standard also known as IEEE 1394. If your computer has built-in FireWire, you can use this technology to connect high-speed external devices, such as digital video (DV) cameras, hard disks, printers, and scanners, to your computer.

FireWire also allows you to transfer video images from a DV camera to and from your computer. With video-editing software, you can edit the images and export them to the camera or to another FireWire device.

Here are some key benefits of FireWire:

• You can connect as many as 63 FireWire devices (including computers) together; you can connect up to 16 devices together in a chain.

• You can connect and disconnect FireWire devices while your computer is turned on.

• You can transfer information at up to 400 megabits per second (Mbps).

• There are no identification numbers to set for FireWire devices.

• Some FireWire devices receive their operating power through the FireWire cable and don't need to be connected to a power supply or outlet.

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