This week I added USB 2.0 ports and FireWire ports to my computer. Then I hooked my digital camcorder up to a FireWire port and using Nero software transferred my first digital video to my computer. Next, I will hook my Philips JackRabbit DVD burner to a USB 2.0 port, transfer the edited video to a DVD or CD-ROM and send it off to unsuspecting friends. They can then play it using a DVD player or on their computers using the free Real Player or Windows Media viewers, depending on the format I've changed the video into. Voila!

If you've got an older machine you will need to install USB 2.0 ports and Firewire ports, which are needed for the new high-speed devices coming out today, such as cameras, external drives, joysticks, MP3 players, TV tuners. Others using Windows-based machines who already have USB 2.0 and FireWire ports might also want to add more, so read on about how to do this relatively simple task. You'll have to get used to the terminology to determine what you need on your computer.

The Universal Serial Bus (USB) port standard was introduced in 1995. USB 1.0 and 1.1 standards support data transfer rates of 12 Mbps (megabits per second) and are capable of supporting up to 127 peripheral devices. Low-power USB devices can usually also get most or some of their power directly from your computer, so many do not need to be plugged in to a electrical supply, such as the latest technology fad today ? USB flash memory storage units that hang from a key chain.

USB ports are also great because they are "hot-swappable", meaning you can pull out one device and plug in a new one to the same port without having to restart your computer. USB 2.0, also known as hi-speed USB, was introduced in 2001. Hi-speed USB is capable of supporting a transfer rate of up to 480 Mbps and is backwards compatible, meaning USB 1.0 and 1.1 devices and cables work with the new standard. Older computers will have USB 1 ports; newer ones will have two to six USB 2.0 ports. You must check first before you decide to install USB 2 ports. For pictures of a USB cable and how to tell whether you've got USB 1 or 2 see the excellent description at www.usb.org. For those using Windows 98 or 98SE, you can download a free USB evaluation utility from the site to tell you what you've got. Meanwhile FireWire, also known as IEEE 1394, is a an even faster connection standard that was developed by Apple, allows a transfer rate of 400-1000 Mbps and is hot swappable. If you own an Apple computer you'll have a FireWire connection. You'll need such a high-speed peripherals such as digital video cameras and other high-speed devices.

Go to Apple's site on the subject for more information (http://developer.apple.com/firewire). To add new USB 2.0 or FireWire ports to your computer you must first have Windows 98 or higher installed on your computer. You must also have at least two additional expansion slots on the back of your computer box. Check the back of your computer. Other types of ports are all sitting in their slots. If their are additional slots covered over by metal connecters then you have space to fit the USB 2.0 and FireWire cards, which fall under the general name of PCI (peripheral component interconnect) cards. You can then go out and purchase the USB 2.0 and FireWire PCI cards. These will cost from $40 to $80 each and will come with the necessary software drivers. Ensure that your FireWire card also comes with a FireWire connection cable. Many digital video cameras do not supply one and they can be expensive. I advise installing one card first, ensure it works, then install the second card. You'll need to open the side of your computer case. Do not be afraid. I know this seems like a big step, but it is not. Get out your original manual to see how this is done. Back up any important data first. Unplug the power connection and all other connections to your computer. This is very important. Lay your computer on its side. Usually you only need a Phillips screwdriver to unscrew any retaining screws. Lift the cover away. It sometimes takes some pressing and fiddling. Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal object, such as a part of your computer case. Unpack you USB 2.0 PCI card. It will have a part that will fit into a slot on your motherboard, like the other PCI cards already installed in their slots. Take your non-magnetic screwdriver and unscrew the metal connector associated with an empty slot on the motherboard. Save the screw. Align the male end of the card with the slot in the motherboard and firmly press the new card into it. Do not try to force it in. If it is aligned properly it will slide in with a push.

You'll know it's in with the metal part of card can be screwed into the case. I would now advise that you stand your computer back up. Restart it with just your monitor, mouse and keyboard attached. You do not need to put the side panel back on. Start up your computer. Windows should automatically detect the new hardware and got through a search for the necessary drivers, which are pieces of software needed to run the ports. Windows 98 users might have to install the drivers from the supplied CD that came with the PCI card. You can also download the drivers online. If everything seems to be working, repeat the same installation procedure for your FireWire card. You now have all the necessary hardware for your high-speed devices!

Next week I'll discuss the process of transferring video from your digital camera to your computer.