Microsoft to USB 3.0 support on Windows 8, compatibility with USB 2.0 is a challenge

Microsoft has announced that it will officially support USB 3.0 with the next OS "Windows 8".

Although it is USB 3.0 which realizes high-speed transfer equivalent to 10 times of USB 2.0, although it is expected to spread explosively, compatibility with the conventional interface seems to be a problem.

Building robust USB 3.0 support - Building Windows 8 - Site Home - MSDN Blogs


According to the official blog of "MSDN (Microsoft Developer Network)", a website that aims to support developers who create applications, which Microsoft runs, the company supports USB 3.0 at the next OS "Windows 8" It seems he decided to do.

USB 3.0 will realize transfer speed up to 10 times of USB 2.0, all PCs will have USB 3.0 ports in 2015, and 2 billion USB 3.0 terminals will be sold in the same year It is considered to be.

This is a popularization prediction of USB 3.0. It will be accelerated in 2012 when Windows 8 is released, and in 2013 it will be surprising that nearly 90% will be compatible with USB 3.0.


Forecast of proportion of each standard to USB as a whole. With the peak of 2011-2004, USB2.0 began to decrease in proportion, and USB 3.0 is expected to rise at a stroke.


Although Microsoft itself was easy to decide support for USB 3.0, Microsoft has revealed that it is a big problem to "not compromise existing USB devices", and why I mention that it is difficult to develop an OS to make it compatible with USB 3.0 in conformity with specifications while checking compatibility with existing billions of old USB devices.

A speed comparison movie of USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 released by Microsoft. Despite initiating file transfer first with USB 2.0, it is a content that shows the superiority of USB 3.0, that transfer over USB 3.0 overtakes overwhelmingly and overwhelming victory ... ....

Speed ​​comparison between USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 by Microsoft - YouTube