Microsoft have released a final driver for USB 2.0

[Whoosh25]

Microsoft have released a final driver for USB 2.0 - June 11th 2002.

"Over the past two years, Microsoft has been working with industry partners on the USB 2.0 project. We are pleased to announce that USB 2.0 drivers are available for Microsoft® Windows® XP through Windows Update . USB 2.0 driver support for Windows 2000 , is also now available. The driver version 5.1.2600.0"

http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/bus/USB/default.asp


FAQ:

USB 2.0 runs at a whopping 480 Mbits/sec (or 60MBytes /sec) and features complete backward compatibility with the original USB. At the present time USB 2.0 will most likely not completely replace its predicator because, simply, a keyboard or mouse doesn’t need 480 Mbps bandwidth. Most likely all newer PC to come will come pre-packaged with USB 2.0 support. While peripherals won’t utilize 2.0, it will be great for web cams, digital cameras, etc.

USB 1.0 crawls at 12 Mbits/sec (or 1.5 MBytes/sec)

[Greg12]

Do I need new hardware to use 2.0 or just drivers?

[Craig Tucker]

You need a USB 2.0 PCI card if you dont have it built into your motherboard (very few do). Belkin do one for about £40. You also need USB 2.0 peripherals, usb 1.0 peripherals will work with a usb 2.0 card but only at the speed of usb 1.0

Craig

[Craig Tucker]

While peripherals won’t utilize 2.0, it will be great for web cams, digital cameras, etc.

These are peripherals

Craig

[Greg12]

Damn, I get USB 2.0 PCMCIA cards are expensive.

[Kennyshin]

Most of the new motherboards have USB 2.0 on their south bridge chips.

All 845G and 845GL motherboards have built-in USB 2.0. Some of 850E have USB 2.0 but they are more expensive. Some 845GL motherboards are under $90 with built-in graphics, too.

Most of VIA and SiS chipsets have USB 2.0 as well. Some of them also have IEEE 1394a and in the second half, some SiS and VIA motherboards will add Serial ATA, 802.11, Home PNA 2.0, IEEE 1394b and so on.

ALi, ATi, and NVidia also either have released or announced to release USB 2.0-supporting motherboard chipsets.