With all the high-intensity USB activity over the past year, it's sometimes easy to forget that the USB 1.0 specification was first released to the industry only 12 months ago at the 1995 Fall COMDEX. Since then, the pace of the deployment of USB technology, components and products has been unprecedented. A number of suppliers have already introduced USB-compliant PCs and peripheral devices––and more are on the way. For example, manufacturers including Compaq*, DEC*, IBM*, Sony*, Toshiba* and others have rolled out Pentium® and Pentium Pro processor-based USB PCs for both home and business applications. PC purchasers can now select from a variety of new USB-compliant systems from a growing list of high-volume suppliers. At the same time, a number of USB peripherals are also now being demonstrated, from USB-compliant telephones to monitors and multimedia speaker systems. In my view, USB's fast-track deployment was made possible by three key factors: In the second quarter of 1996, Intel shipped PCI chip sets for the Pentium and Pentium Pro processor which included integrated USB host controllers. In the third quarter, Intel made available the first single-chip USB peripheral controller, the 8x930Ax. Intel is now leading the way with a complete line of USB controllers, including the 8x930Ax hubless USB controller and the 8x930Hx USB hub controller. Microsoft has announced the availability of USB software drivers within the Windows* 95 operating system environment. Of course, behind the scenes there were USB compatibility workshops and global developers conferences that involved hundreds of companies and incalculable hours of engineering effort. This is an outstanding example of the PC industry working together to achieve a common goal. The reason for the widespread industry support for USB is to meet the demand of PC users for a more usable and productive personal computer: By employing a single connector type to greatly simplify connectivity, By avoiding add-in cards and bringing plug-and-play connectivity outside the box And by making plug-and-play fast and easy with hot insertion and removal. As PC users are about to discover for themselves, USB is an idea whose time has arrived. * Pentium is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation. Other brands and names are property of their respective owners.

The Ultimate Lab How USB Works New USB Apps USB "Firsts" FAQs How Do I Get Started? USB Notes USB's Role Nuts and Bolts Before You Buy

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