QPS Inc. is using its presence at the CeBIT trade show to unveil a new line of storage devices that utilize the USB 2.0 standard. QPS’s line of USB 2.0-compliant devices includes a CD-RW, DVD-RAM and hard drives. The new drives go on display Monday.
USB 2.0 is a faster implementation of the Universal Serial Bus standard already adopted by Apple and Windows-compatible PC manufacturers. USB 1.1 — the standard currently in use — tops out at around 12 megabits per second, while USB 2.0 propels interface speeds to 480 megabits per second.
USB 1.1-compliant devices like hard drives and CD-RWs have seen their performance hampered by the slow interface, and USB 2.0 promises to resolve that problem. Manufacturers hope to see USB 2.0 utilized for multimedia, digital video and other high-speed uses. FireWire — IEEE 1394 — has filled the gap up until now, but it has not seen as widespread adoption on the PC as USB 1.1.
QPS Vice President Pierre Abboud said that his company is among the first to offer USB 2.0-based peripherals. “The development of peripherals using this standard will be an important issue this year,” said Abboud.
In addition to the Que! CD-RW and DVD-RAM drives, QPS is also showing off hard drives that use the USB 2.0 standard, including the new Que! D2 Dual Drive. The D2 sports fixed hard drive and a removable drive, as well. QPS plans to make the new USB 2.0 devices available in April.
Apple has stayed mum regarding any plans to adopt the USB 2.0 standard, although some third-party manufacturers are developing USB 2.0-compliant products — PCI cards, PC cards, and peripherals that will function with the Mac.