Upgrading my iMac to USB 2.0 Questions

[DangerDiabolik]

So...

I have a flat panel G4 iMac. It is just old enough to have USB 1 and Since the new iPod is USB 2.0 and since apple seems to be phasing out Firewire....Im wondering how difficult/expensive it would be to upgrade ( if its possible ) to have USB 2.0

any and all info would be great

 

[mkrishnan]

Well, the biggest problem you will have is that, in order to get a USB2 connection, you need a bus to hook into that is as fast as or faster than USB2. Your USB 1 ports obviously are not. Your ethernet port is not. You don't have PCI or Cardbus slots or anything like that.... So your only option would be a device that plugs into your firewire port and gives you USB ports. I did a quick search because I was curious and I don't think such a thing exists, although I would be happy to be wrong....

 

[jtown]

Not difficult at all. Pricing for this upgrade starts at USD$1299.

Seriously, tho, the imac doesn't have any upgrade paths. It is what it is and that's all that it is. If enough people complain to apple, maybe they'll return firewire support in a future generation of ipods.

 

[aquajet]

Sorry, you don't have any upgrade options. You can still use the new iPods with your USB 1 iMac, it just takes longer to transfer your music.

 

[xsedrinam]

Sorry, you don't have any upgrade options. You can still use the new iPods with your USB 1 iMac, it just takes longer to transfer your music.

Slow, though, and it may even time out on you.

 

[ClarkeB]

Can you just buy a firewire cable or does it not work at all?

 

[ITASOR]

Can you just buy a firewire cable or does it not work at all?

It only works to charge it, you cannot sync via FW.

 

[DangerDiabolik]

ARGH....

that what i thought....my new ipod video is fast enough on a usb 1, its not like im gonna be transfering gigs of data back and forth. Im just worried that somewhere down the line...things like extrernal harddrives wont be FW reday....

I just dont Apples drop of FW....very very dissapointing....

 

[DangerDiabolik]

Slow, though, and it may even time out on you.

eh....i havent had any problems. People want to tell you that 10 songs will take 4 hours. . On my machine 100 megs takes about 60 seconds. Not blazing...but certainly not frozen.

 

[mkrishnan]

eh....i havent had any problems. People want to tell you that 10 songs will take 4 hours. . On my machine 100 megs takes about 60 seconds. Not blazing...but certainly not frozen.

Are you sure about this? 100 megabytes in 60 seconds is 13.3 mbps... that's faster than the rated maximum speed of USB 1.1.

 

[i4k20c]

umm i use usb 1.1 for my bro's ipod at home.. and its fine.

Yes if you plan to transfer all 10gigs of music you may want to leave it over night.. but i've transfered like 5 gigs within 2 hrs or smthn.. not fast.. but jus leave it at ur comp and watch tv.