Comparison of USB & Bluetooth
USB and Bluetooth both provide connections between the computer and compatible external devices. Computers typically have one to three USB ports available. While not all computers have Bluetooth capability, the USB port can be used to connect an adapter to convert a USB port into a Bluetooth dongle.
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Speed
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Bluetooth is generally slower than USB. With speeds of up to 3mbps with practical data rates around 2.1 mbps, Bluetooth 2.0 is three times faster than Bluetooth 1.2. The earlier version is limited to 1 mbps with actual data rates of about 700 kbps. USB 3.0, the latest version maintaining a backwards compatibility with USB 1.0 and 2.0, features a maximum transfer speed of 4.8 gbps, almost 10 times faster than USB 2.0.
Connection
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USB connection is easily achieved through the computer's plug and play functionality. The external device is directly plugged into the computer's USB port. In a few seconds, the external device gets recognized by the computer. Bluetooth connection generally requires scanning for available external devices, then pairing them together by using a passcode. The same passcode must be entered in both the computer and the external device for them to be successfully connected.
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Distance
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The primary advantage of Bluetooth is that it conveniently offers wireless connectivity between the computer and other Bluetooth-capable devices. Ideally, it requires a wireless connection distance of up to 25 to 35 feet. This means that any device beyond the preferred distance would likely lose the connection. A USB utilizes plug and play connectivity between the computer's USB port and the USB device or its USB cable. This means that there should be a direct connection between the computer and the external USB device or an applicable USB cable.
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References
- Photo Credit usb 2 image by Bosko Martinovic from Fotolia.com
