The Purpose of USB Ports

All computers sold today have atleast one USB port. USB ports let you connect many devices to your computer and makes connecting the devices more easily. Before different devices used to use parallel and serial ports. These ports are simplified to install and take up less space.

People that have been paying attention to computer history know why we have USB ports. In the past connecting devices was a days work. Now a average user can get it done.

• Parallel Port - Was used for printers and zip drives. These ports "good speed" to these devices and that is why they where used.
• Serial Port - was used for modems and PDA devices. Cameras and some printer also used this port. Serial ports were not as fast as Parallel ports.
• Devices that required more speed had their own cards. These cards would take up PCI slots. There were also a limit to these slots. Installing the software needed for the card was not that easy.

So the Universal Serial Bus lets you connect about 127 devices to your computer with a standardized and easy way.