Nycjdc, there is more power available on the FireWire bus than on the USB bus. To work properly, some USB drives may require an extra power takeoff wire from the other USB port or from an external (wall wart) supply. This situation appears to be most common if you are using a PowerBook (see macintouch.com, "PowerBook USB issues".)
Your advisor may have been thinking of the need to keep the power demand down on the USB bus.
I have always preferred FireWire external drives to USB drives. Initially this was a speed issue, but USB 2.0 has gone some way to remedy this.
Your advisor may have been thinking of the need to keep the power demand down on the USB bus.
I have always preferred FireWire external drives to USB drives. Initially this was a speed issue, but USB 2.0 has gone some way to remedy this.