IEEE 1394 High-Performance Serial Buses

ALSO CALLED: HPSB, High Performance Serial Bus, High Speed Serial Bus, i.LINK, FireWire
DEFINITION: FireWire is Apple Computer's version of a standard, IEEE 1394, High Performance Serial Bus, for connecting devices to your personal computer. FireWire provides a single plug-and-socket connection on which up to 63 devices can be attached with data transfer speeds up to 400 Mbps (megabits per second). The standard describes a serial bus or pathway between one or more peripheral devices and your computer's  … 
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IEEE 1394 HIGH-PERFORMANCE SERIAL BUSES DEFINITION (continued): …  microprocessor. Many peripheral devices now come equipped to meet IEEE 1394. FireWire and other IEEE 1394 implementations provide:A simple common plug-in serial connector on the back of your computer and on many different types of peripheral devicesA thin serial cable rather than the thicker parallel cable you now use to your printer, for exampleA very high-speed rate of data transfer that will accommodate multimedia applications (100 and 200 megabits per second today; with much higher rates later) Hot-plug and plug and play capability without disrupting your computerThe ability to chain devices … 
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