USB1/USB2 cables

chippy2u

Can anybody tell me if there is any difference between a USB1 cable and a USB2 cable and I mean just the cable not the connections. I am asking because I have just bought a new printer from PC World and they wanted to sell me a USB2 cable for £9.99. When I said I have plenty of USB1 cables, I was told the printer would not work as quickly using a USB1 cable. Well, I have tried it on both types of cable and can't see any difference! Surely the wire inside either cable is just that, a piece of wire!
I am sure somebody will tell me if I am wrong!
P.S. I did get a USB2 3m gold cable from my local charity shop for £2. Now that's what I call a bargain!!!!

Sput2001

I think it depends on the cable. As far as I know, USB 1.1 cables perform pretty much identically to USB 2 cables. The problem is that loads of cheapo cables didn't even meet the USB1.1 standard, and these may struggle with USB 2.

If your USB 1 cable works as well as a USB 2, with no marked drop in speeds, then you're fine. I wouldn't worry about it any more...

Do NOT take advice about this kind of thing from PC World, whose principal aim (as usual) is to sell you an overpriced item you don't really need.

trcooke

No difference at all. PC World are trying to scam you for an extra tenner.

chippy2u

Thanks for your answer. That's pretty much what I thought.

SJames_3

Agree with what's been said above, USB2 is completely backwards compatible with USB1, it's just a case of speed. USB1 is capable of transfer speeds of up to around 1.2mb per sec, so for just printing, you shouldn't notice any difference, but with alot of new printers now featuring card readers and the like, as well as multifunction printers, the difference between USB1 and 2 will be noticeable, but maybe not to the extent that it would really bother most users, unless these features are used frequently.