External HardDrive/Hub combo on iMac 800MHz

I'm thinking of getting an external Hard drive/Hub combo in the hopes that it will allow me to use my 800MHz iMac with peripherals that require USB 2.0. Is this the way to upgrade to usb 2.0 and/or Firewire 800 on this vintage of Mac?
Thanks, Martin

Hi Martin, 
When you connect a "Ministack" type hard disk with Firewire and USB hubs there is no cross-over in the technologies. You must connect the USB hub to a free USB port on your iMac and the Firewire Hub to a free Firewire port on the iMac. As such the USB2.0 (480Mbps)ports on the hub are limited to the single USB1.1 (12Mbps) port that you connect to on the iMac. USB relies on the iMac's processor for a lot of it's processing whereas Firewire does not. This is why you'll variation in performance, but Firewire is nearly always better.
I'm sure Ian will agree with me (we've move just moved from iMac G4s to Alu Intel iMacs) that there is absolutely no user learning curve to the move to Intel. The OS is identical. no path names are different. Admittedly some software needs updating but most 'just works'. Because Mac OS transfers everything across a new iMac can be made to be identical to an old iMac in a couple of hours (the Mac working not you!). That said I did get a phone call from my wife whilst I was at work today; she couldn't find where to put her CD-ROM in the new iMac. I struggled to contain my mirth in front of my colleagues and am sure I'll be reprimanded for it later.
cheers
mrtotes

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