why isn't USB 3 more widely used?

[Cylphid]

Hi guys,

Just curious why USB 2.0 is still so widely used. I've been shopping laptops lately and the majority of available ports is still USB 2. Most configurations seem to use 3 USB 2 ports and just 1 USB 3 port.

Isn't 3 backwards compatible? Just curious as to why it's use still seems so limited, seems odd.

Thanks

[EciDemon]

To cut back costs until it gets cheaper I would think
But yeah it's backwards compatible.

[nekrosoft13]

and because of limited chipset design, you need a lot of bandwith to run usb 3.0

[dukenukemz]

Right now its the price. currently USB 2.0 ports cost about 10 cents per port and USB 3.0 ports cost about one dollar per port so as the price drops they will slowly be implementing it more. Just like thunderbolt ports which u can mostly only find in apple macbook's they range at about $10 per port so you almost never see them in use.

[Cylphid]

Should have known it was about money

Thanks for the explanations guys.

[ViN86]

Money? Usefulness? I use eSATA for external storage and it's plenty fast. I don't think the demand for USB 3.0 parts is there yet. I've seen some devices emerging. I may pick up a USB3.0 memory key soon.

[Cylphid]

Originally Posted by ViN86

Money? Usefulness? I use eSATA for external storage and it's plenty fast. I don't think the demand for USB 3.0 parts is there yet. I've seen some devices emerging. I may pick up a USB3.0 memory key soon.

Usefulness? I thought USB3 is faster than eSATA.

http://www.techradar.com/news/comput...s-esata-931343

eSATA delivers 3Gbps, with older eSATA 1.5 devices offering 1.5Mbps; USB 3.0, also known as Superspeed USB, goes up to 5Gbps; and Thunderbolt is a very respectable 10Gbps. As Intel puts it, that's enough to "transfer a full-length HD movie in less than 30 seconds".

I don't know what costs are associated with it though. Not super important to me at this time though. Just curious, as stated above.

[ViN86]

Originally Posted by Cylphid

Usefulness? I thought USB3 is faster than eSATA.

http://www.techradar.com/news/comput...s-esata-931343



I don't know what costs are associated with it though. Not super important to me at this time though. Just curious, as stated above.

.

Originally Posted by ViN86

Money? Usefulness? I use eSATA for external storage and it's plenty fast. I don't think the demand for USB 3.0 parts is there yet. I've seen some devices emerging. I may pick up a USB3.0 memory key soon.

Why would I buy a new enclosure and cables for an increase in speed that wouldn't be very noticeable? The most useful application of USB 3.0 I see is external drives. I don't see the benefit in spending money and upgrading yet, that's all.

[XDanger]

No USB 3 Android phones yet?

If I had to buy an enclosure it would be USB 3 since its much more useful for older devices.

[frenchy2k1]

The other reason is that few applications actually NEED the transfer speed of USB3.
Technically, you can plug your mouse or SD-card reader into a USB3 port, but it will make 0 difference on transfer speed as the bottleneck is not the USB2 port.
Storage benefits from USB3 and future webcams will take advantage of the faster transfer speed to output RAW 1080p video for example..

[Cylphid]

Originally Posted by frenchy2k1

The other reason is that few applications actually NEED the transfer speed of USB3.
Technically, you can plug your mouse or SD-card reader into a USB3 port, but it will make 0 difference on transfer speed as the bottleneck is not the USB2 port.
Storage benefits from USB3 and future webcams will take advantage of the faster transfer speed to output RAW 1080p video for example..

Thanks frenchy2k1

@vin86 - I misunderstood your statement, thinking you meant it wasn't useful

[nekrosoft13]

Originally Posted by Cylphid

Should have known it was about money

Thanks for the explanations guys.

its only partially about the money, mostly about lack of available bandwith in current chipsets to make a true 100% compatile usb 3.0 laptop/desktop.