Tech Question USB port vs. IEEE1394 port

[BlueCollar]

I'm setting up to scan slides to disc. Instructions for the unit (PF3600) allow me to hook up to either IEEE1394 port or USB port.

Is there a particular advantage gained by using one hook-up over the other? I'm familiar with the USB 2.0 port as I use it for downloading digital camera images, but I've never had occasion to use the IE1394 port

The computer has both ports. (HPa430)

Thanks in advance folks

edit: to clarify subject

[jmowreader]

1. Is ANYTHING else hooked to that USB port?

Any USB 1 device? Anything at all? If so, use the 1394 (FireWire) port.

Plug anything into a USB 2 port that's not USB 2 and the whole bus switches to USB 1 speed. FireWire devices all run at FireWire speed, so there's no downshifting worries.

[BlueCollar]

3. nothing at all

only used when I'm actually downloading from the camera to the computer....sounds like I should use the 1394 port

[jmowreader]

5. Yeah, I would

1394 is supposedly a little faster than USB 2, but in real life you won't see the difference unless you have two identical computer/scanner systems, one wired as 1394, the other USB 2. (If you did have two identical computer/scanner systems, you wouldn't wire them differently.)

[Clovis Sangrail]

2. read here

http://www.firewire-1394.com/firewire-vs-usb.htm

[BlueCollar]

4. Thanks so much

for the information...I'll be using the 1394 port. It seems to be designed for what I want to do which is move a lot of digital images...

I'm new at this but want to get these slides on to disc before another hurricane hits ...:-)

[Uroboros]

6. Turns out that the USB port on that scanner is USB1

So the question of whether USB2 is faster or slower then Firewire is moot. Firewire is the only option that makes sense here.


You are talking about the PrimeFilm PF3600 PRO Film Scanner correct?

[BlueCollar]

7. correct

and it's my first attempt at anything like this...

not for the faint-hearted...:-)

Have it hooked up and am wading through the tutorial...any suggestions would be most helpful