Conclusion - A Great Way To Add USB 2.0 & 1394 To Your Computer!
Once the DuoConnect was installed, we used it with a variety of USB 2.0 and 1394 Firewire devices. We used the DuoConnect to pull digital video via the 1394 port, and burned CDs using a USB 2.0 CDRW drive. We also tried a number of first-generation USB devices to make sure that they were compatible with the DuoConnect. We experienced no compatibility problems with the DuoConnect, and it performed as advertised.
Included in the box with the DuoConnect is the digital video editing and DVD creation software Sonic MyDVD 3. You might already have Sonic MyDVD 3 as a result of it being bundled with another product you have purchased, such as a video card or DVD burner.
One additional value that Adaptec was kind enough to include is the six-foot (1.8m) 6-pin to 4-pin Firewire cable. This gives some additional value, as the cost of these Firewire cables can be expensive, going for as much as $30.
The DuoConnect offers an outstanding value that updates your computer to the latest connection technology with a painless install. The DuoConnect can really breathe new life into an existing system that isn't quite ready for the graveyard yet. Having the ability to connect all of the latest peripherals to your system and achieve transfer rates of 480mbit for USB 2.0 and 400mbit for 1394 can be of great benefit. And, you can still connect your first generation USB devices to the DuoConnect, as it is backwards-compatible and allows the use of these older devices, too.
Although there are other products that can offer both USB 2.0 and 1394 Firewire in the same card, you would be hard pressed to find a better and more stable offering than that of the DuoConnect. While you might be able to do it cheaper with another brand card, we can't really say if the cost savings will be worth it. The Adaptec seal of quality should mean reliable performance over the life of the card with no headaches, based on our experience with other Adaptec products. We also want to stress once again that the card was very stable and compatible, which, in our opinion, is always worth a few extra dollars.
Overall, we do recommend the purchase of the DuoConnect as one of the most ingenious connection products that we have seen so far. With its new reduced price and current $20 mail-in rebate, you can get the card for as low as $79 (after rebate). (Of course, certain purchase restrictions on the rebate do apply). Try getting a USB 2.0 card, 1394 Firewire Card, and the 6-pin/4-pin Firewire cable for $79! If you're eager to start checking out some of those new high speed devices, the DuoConnect will get the job done and won't break the bank in the process.
