The right USB for you.
USB terminology can be confusing. You'll find products described as USB, USB 2.0, Hi-Speed USB, Full-Speed USB, USB 1.1., and just plain USB. So how do you know you're getting the product that makes the best sense for you? What it boils down to is this: USB products are backward-compatible with previous versions of USB. So if you have an older USB device or peripheral it will work in your new computer's USB 2.0 port, but your device will not run any faster than it was designed to. In turn, if you have a brand new Crucial Hi-Speed USB card reader and your computer has an older original speed USB 1.1 port, your device will only run as fast as your USB port is capable of.
Understanding the naming conventions
USB 2.0 is the most recent revision of USB specifications. It represents the evolution of USB from its introduction years ago as USB 1.0 (1.5Mbps, now often referred to as low-speed USB) to USB 1.1 (12Mbps, often referred to as full-speed USB) to the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 of today, the most advanced evolution. Hi-Speed USB has a data transfer rate of 480Mbps, up to 40 times faster than previous versions of USB. So, to clarify, USB 2.0 encompasses all three target speeds of USB (480Mbps, 12Mbps, and 1.5Mbps). The important point for you to understand is that USB 2.0 is backward-compatible with previous versions of USB. You can use an older USB device or peripheral in a USB 2.0 port, but your device will not run any faster than it was designed to. So use caution when you see a product described as USB 2.0 Full Speed, Full Speed USB, or USB 2.0, for example. As you can see, this terminology can be misleading to a consumer whose expectation is that a USB 2.0 product is, by definition, going to run as Hi-Speed.
Hi-Speed USB refers only to the 480Mbps portion of the USB 2.0 specification, and the only correct usage of it is "Hi-Speed USB." As we mentioned earlier, Hi-Speed USB can potentially achieve speeds up to 40 times faster than USB. Hi-Speed USB is fully compatible with original USB. USB refers only to the 12Mbps and the 1.5Mbps portions of the USB 2.0 specification. These portions, often referred to as full- and low-speed, or USB 1.1 and USB 1.0 respectively, should today be referred to simply as "USB." USB is compatible with the USB 2.0 specification, meaning it works with USB and Hi-Speed USB systems, cables, devices, and peripherals, but not that it runs at those higher speeds.
Ironically, the speeds associated with USB (480 Mbps, 12 Mbps, and 1.5 Mbps), refer to the theoretical maximum speed of the USB interface on a USB device or USB port and really have nothing to do with the device itself. The actual speed a USB-compliant device achieves is not necessarily the speed of the USB specification reflected in the product descriptions and marketing materials. Real performance of any given product is dependent upon how fast that product can run. The device can only achieve the theoretical speeds if it can keep up with the USB data transfer rate. For the highest-speed transfers, look for a card reader that's at least as fast as your system's connection. Hi-Speed USB 2.0 is currently your best option. It allows you to transfer data between your computer and card reader at speeds up to 480 megabits per second.
HOW TO SELECT A VENDOR THAT ISN'T SOME FLY-BY-NIGHT SHOP THAT WILL TAKE YOUR MONEY, SHIP YOU LOW-QUALITY GARBAGE, AND LEAVE YOU HANGING IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM
Literally thousands of companies sell flash cards and readers. Learn how to select one that is trustworthy.
We'll admit it — there are a whole lot of other places you can buy flash products, and some of them might even be cheaper than the prices you'll find at Crucial. However, no one else has our unique combination of low prices, exceptional customer service, and extremely knowledgeable support staff.
If you're buying products from an auction site or deep discounter, you'll probably find some really low prices. But how do you know you're getting a quality product? Will you even be able to return your card or reader if you need to? Large stores that sell a wide range of items generally offer acceptable-quality products and easy returns, but their staff are generalists, not memory specialists. They won't be able to answer your most detailed questions. Even if you purchase from another store that specializes in memory products, you might have to wait hours or days for answers to your technical questions, and you may even have to PAY for technical support if your question is considered too complex.
At Crucial, our customer service begins the moment you first click on our Web site. While we make it easy for you to find what you need in just three easy clicks using the Flash Memory Advisor tool, we also give you lots of other choices and ways to learn about and find the right product for you. You can call us directly, you can e-mail us, you can chat live online with a Memory Expert, or you can serve yourself by accessing our vast library of helpful articles and guides or our extensive database of frequently asked questions.
Whether you need help before you buy, or you have a question after the sale, our highly skilled, highly trained team of customer service representatives, Expert Online agents, and technical support experts are available from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (MST) Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. By the way, when we call them "experts," we really mean it. Our certified support representatives average 15 hours of technical training each month and spend about 20 hours a month "hands-on" in the Crucial Performance Lab. And we don't keep you waiting. The average hold time (measured over a six-month period) is just over one minute, and the average time spent on the phone resolving an issue is about three minutes!
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