FireWire 400/1394a "A" became the standard for digital content storage and management for graphic designers, digital audio and video makers, and anyone desiring fast, easy mass storage... and FirewireDirect was there at the beginning. Now the new FireWire 800 or 1394b products are arriving, and here we are again...

Firewire 800 will revolutionize the revolution, with a promised 800Mbps ceiling, about twice the limits of legacy FireWire. And FirewireDirect has the first good stuff:

OK, so the breaking of the speed barrier means you'll be able to transfer a CD's worth of data every 10 seconds. But it's more than speed.

LENGTH: With special 1394b glass fiber cables, you'll burst data over the length of a football field INTEGRITY: FireWire 800 provides a new way of transferring data for extra signal integrity and less interference BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY: Now that you have a roomful of FireWire devices, you won't have to toss them all out. Firewire 800 will allow you to run your legacy devices and transition to the "B" standard as new ones become available

Want to know more? Let's break it down....

• Connectivity options - The FireWire bus supports up to 63 devices chained together
• Real-Time data delivery - Audio and video applications require a guaranteed isochronous delivery of data to prevent delayed or out-of-order frames. FireWire did that, and did it better than USB 2.0
• Power to the bus - USB 2.0 allows 2.5W of power, enough to run simple devices like mice. Firewire allows for a big time 45W of power, enough for portable hard drives and other devices to run without AC
• Plug... play - FireWire just works. Just plug it in. Most FirewireDirect products ship with no CD because... nothing is needed.
  

• All this and more - All of the things FireWire was, plus speed... speed.... speed
• New, more efficient architecture - 1394b reduces delays in arbitration, reduces signal distortion and increases throughput - improvements that are going to thrill the digital video and audio producer in you
• Backwards compatibility - Special cables and dual tecnhology cards will allow you to painlessly transition from Firewire A to B, without having to retire the legacy FireWire stuff you've grown to love.