| A Universal Serial Bus or USB is a serial bus | | | | A USB establishes connections to different |
| standard device that is used to interface various | | | | storage devices by using a set of standards called |
| electronic gadgets. A USB allows for peripherals | | | | the USB Mass Storage Device Class Standards. A |
| like chargers and printers to be connected to the | | | | 500 GB USB hard drive can store up to 500 GB |
| gadgets through a single standardised interface | | | | of electronic data on it. A USB is not primarily |
| socket. This helps in improving the plug & | | | | intended to act as a bus for a computer's internal |
| play capabilities of the gadgets as they can easily | | | | storage. This job is better done by buses like |
| be connected and disconnected, without rebooting | | | | ATA and SCSI. |
| the gadgets. A USB also supplies power to low | | | | A number of manufacturers are offering high |
| energy consumption devices. | | | | performance external USB hard disk drives to |
| USBs were originally meant to be used on | | | | consumers these days. These external drives |
| personal computers. But thanks to the advances | | | | usually contain a translating device that interfaces |
| in technology, these devices are now also widely | | | | conventional technology based drives with a USB. |
| used in gadgets like personal digital assistants | | | | A USB supports three data transfer rates - low |
| (PDAs) and video game consoles. A USB has | | | | speed (187 KB/s), full speed (1.5 MB/s) and high |
| become a standard connection method for a | | | | speed (60 MB/s). Researchers are working on a |
| majority of these devices. Several variants of | | | | USB drive that will transfer data a "super speed |
| USB hard disk drives are available in the markets. | | | | "(600 MB/s). A 500 MB USB hard drive is widely |
| These variants have been developed for specific | | | | used in many modern computers. Advances in |
| use on various electronic gadgets. One such | | | | technology have made it possible for these |
| variant is a 500 GB USB hard drive. | | | | devices to be marketed at lower prices. |