Fire Wire or USB2.0 ??

[thebrain_16]

Hello,

I just received my 15GB 3rd Gen ipod a few days ago, but i don't have USB2.0 or Fire Wire. I am debating about whether to get USB2.0 or FW, or both. Is FW400 capable of charging the ipod in the dock? I though that only the FW800 cards are able to do that. I know i can get the iPod Dock Connector to FireWire and USB 2.0 Cable and charge and sync the ipod in the dock, but i'd rather just buy a FW card if possible to do both. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[thebrain_16]

Sorry, forgot to mention that I am using a Dell PC, with WinXP.

[oneness]

I'd go with Firewire. It can charge the iPod while docked, while USB 2.0 cannot.

Look around for a Belkin refurb card, I bought one from cputopia.com for just under$20 including UPS Ground shipping. Working great so far.

[thebrain_16]

So just a regular FW400 will charge the ipod in the dock?

[ToddW]

Yes just a regular 6-Pin firewire 400 IEEE 1394a card will charge the ipod in the dock

[theflyingbeagle]

Ipod can be charged while docked with a USB cable plugged into the power socket.

Agreed no power socket no charge....but likely to be one where a computer is unless it is a laptop.

It also charges while the computer is off, as long as the ipod is unmounted (which you would anyway)

Just for info.

Paul

[drssyoon]

In my experience with Dell and Win XP, USB 2 is consistently 2x faster than the firewire. I purchased the Apple USB cable and plug the single firewire end to the AC adapter and the USB connector to the PC and the ipod connector to the ipod.

Steve

[jjclub]

Originally posted by drssyoon
In my experience with Dell and Win XP, USB 2 is consistently 2x faster than the firewire. I purchased the Apple USB cable and plug the single firewire end to the AC adapter and the USB connector to the PC and the ipod connector to the ipod.

Steve
USB2 is 2x faster than firewire? You got to be kidding. How do you measure that?

[drssyoon]

I have a PCI firewire card installed in my Dell. I transfer files using firewire and USB 2.0. USB 2.0 shows about 7-8 MB transfer rate whereas firewire shows aboug 3-4 MB transfer rate. Ergo, 2x transfer rate. Is this unusual?

Steve

[oneness]

is there a util to check the badnwidth rate? i'm using firewire and it uploads to ipod at about 1 song per second (edit: lol, i meant second, not minute)

[drssyoon]

I recall seeing the transfer rate being displayed somewhere - ipod screen or the PC monitor. By the way, I use ephpod. 1 minute per song is way too slow. My MP3s that are about 4 MB in size gets loaded in about 3 seconds using USB2. Takes about 10 seconds using firewire.

/S/

[jjclub]

Originally posted by drssyoon
I recall seeing the transfer rate being displayed somewhere - ipod screen or the PC monitor. By the way, I use ephpod. 1 minute per song is way too slow. My MP3s that are about 4 MB in size gets loaded in about 3 seconds using USB2. Takes about 10 seconds using firewire.

/S/

10 seconds for just one 4MB MP3 is too slow. I think you have to update your firewire driver.

I upload a 4MB MP3 to my iPod by firewire it just take approximately 1 second.

Something must be wrong with your firewire.

[mtkversion]

I would recommend Firewire.

I picked up the Koutech card from Newegg for around $18 and change.

XP installed its native driver with no problems and I haven't had any trouble since.

Using Ephpod I transfer anywhere from 4 mb/sec - 9 mb/sec.

Only reason I'd choose Firewire is that it can charge while you're uploading songs without having to purchase a seperate cable.

[7 cats]

ok--here with an opposing viewpoint--firewire is swell....BUT...
if you turn off your computer at night, and you have firewire, you will wake up to a dead ipod if you leave it on the dock

with the usb adapter, there is a constant AC connection.

that is why is switched

[oneness]

Originally posted by 8 cats
ok--here with an opposing viewpoint--firewire is swell....BUT...
if you turn off your computer at night, and you have firewire, you will wake up to a dead ipod if you leave it on the dock

with the usb adapter, there is a constant AC connection.

that is why is switched

not a "dead" ipod just an uncharged ipod.