USB 3.0: A Quick-Tech Guide for Small Businesses

It seems like Universal Serial Bus (USB) technology has been around forever. That's probably because compared to many kinds of computer technology, it has been around forever -- the first USB 1.0 devices hit the mass market way back in the mid-1990s.

That early version of USB was fine for connecting a mouse or keyboard, but it was unbearably slow at moving data. Then in 2000, USB 2.0 came along and finally made it practical to transfer data from cameras, hard drives, and the now-ubiquitous "thumb drives" that most of us use (and lose!) every day.

Now there's a new kid on the USB block. And if you haven't met them yet, it's time to get acquainted.

Introducing USB 3.0

The USB 3.0 standard was approved in 2008. Like most such standards, however, it took a couple of years for manufacturers and developers to get onboard and start using it. Today, you can find USB 3.0 as a default option on almost every new laptop and desktop PC (with one very notable exception -- more on that in a moment).

The biggest benefit of USB 3.0 is by far its speed. On paper, USB 3.0 devices can transfer data at a top speed of 4.8 gigabytes per second, or 10 times faster than a USB 2.0 device and 400 times faster than old USB 1.0 devices! In practice, you'll never see that top speed, because actual transfer speeds are always lower, and they depend on the hardware, drivers, and other variables.

But the bottom line doesn't change: USB 3.0 is a huge improvement over its predecessors when you're doing things like transferring large files to and from portable hard drives. That's especially true now that today's "portable" hard drives may have capacities of 2 terabytes or more, and many small businesses routinely work with very large image, video, graphics, and business data files.

There are other benefits to using USB 3.0, including the technology's ability to deliver more power to connected devices when it's needed and less power when it's not. That makes USB 3.0 both more flexible and more efficient.

In one respect, though, USB really isn't an improvement over its predecessors: cable length. Unless you buy special extension gear, you're still limited to about 3 meters (10 feet).

Also keep in mind that USB 3.0 is both backward- and forward-compatible with legacy USB gear. In other words, a USB 2.0 device will work fine with a USB 3.0 slot, and a USB 3.0 device will work with a USB 2.0 slot. (You'll just have to accept the lower USB 2.0 transfer speeds.)

USB 3.0: It's (Almost) Everywhere

Like I said, if you're buying a new system, you're probably all set: USB 3.0 is now standard-issue on most new PCs and laptops. However, there are two big exceptions at this point:

1. Tablets and smartphones: USB 3.0 is now available on many portable devices, but not all of them. If data transfer-speed is a priority for you, be sure to check whether that new smartphone you're looking at supports USB 3.0.
2. Apple hardware: As of August 2011, Apple still doesn't support USB 3.0 on any of its computers. It's not clear why, but this may have something to do with Apple's desire to promote a competing high-speed peripheral interface called Thunderbolt. There's a silver lining, though: You can buy third-party hardware that adds USB 3.0 support to some desktop Macs.

Does Upgrading Make Sense?

You might also own a PC or laptop that predates USB 3.0. If you want to upgrade an existing laptop, you're probably out of luck; these systems just aren't built for after-the-fact modifications. Many desktop PCs, however, have internal PCI expansion slots that can support an add-on USB 3.0 card. These plug in to your PC's motherboard and add a set of USB 3.0 slots that will be accessible on the back of the PC.

If your PC supports this, adding one of these cards is something most users can do themselves in just a few minutes.

But before you invest in an add-on card, or even run out to buy a new PC, keep in mind that there are cases in which USB 3.0 might be more than you really need. This is a standard that was designed to move large amounts of data; it's perfect for use with external hard drives, digital video and still cameras, and similar devices. If, on the other hand, all you want to do is connect a mouse and keyboard, USB 3.0 is overkill -- and a waste of money. As with all technology, decide what you really need to get the job done before making a purchasing decision for your small business.