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Advice for a USB Hub purchase?
- Thread starter keowee
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USB hubs do not have OS requirements. You should be fine getting about any hub. If this is for a desktop make sure to get a powered one.
Any hub will do, but I particularly like the Kensington DomeHub. It's quite large for a hub, but the added weight keeps it from being dragged off the desk (which I've had happen with every other hub I've ever purchased), and it also has a convenient port on the top to stick flash drives and such. Kind of a luxury hub, but well worth it. 
irmongoose
irmongoose
I have a Belkin four port USB hub that I am very happy with (http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=357371). The only issue, as irmongoose mentioned, is that pretty much an USB hub is light and slides around your desk. I had to tape mine down. In retrospect I would have gotten something like the Kensington DomeHub.
Don't buy an NON-powered hub (one without a power brick) IF you intend to use several devices at once like cameras, scanners, card readers etc.....
also, for the best possible performance, only connect a hub directly to your computer's on-baord usb ports, not to other hub-ports, like those on your keyboard or monitor
And NO, hubs are not OS specific, just plug & play !
also, for the best possible performance, only connect a hub directly to your computer's on-baord usb ports, not to other hub-ports, like those on your keyboard or monitor
And NO, hubs are not OS specific, just plug & play !
I have this one. I like that is has the memory card reader built-in. I also like that it has two ports on the front to quickly plug devices in. I found it for a lot cheaper at amazon.com.
http://www.iogear.com/product/GUH284R/
http://www.iogear.com/product/GUH284R/
That's only an issue for bus-powered USB devices without their own power bricks. Self powered USB devices (like cameras and scanners) don't need a hub to be powered.
I have a powered hub with 2 hard drives and 2 USB printers attached. But I don't bother to use the hub's power brick since it isn't needed. If I were attaching several portable USB drives without their own power supply that would be different.
Problems I experience with noname
You can say "What does it matter if it is no-name or known name? The technology is the same." This is not true in my experience and USB hubs. I have clients who use cheaper USB hubs and run into loss of connectivity. There are power issues and device driver issues over time. So I now have my clients buy a notable brand (Belkin) because they just work and continue to work for years.
I suggest you always going with Belkin since they pay for better manufacturing, and charge you more for it.
You can say "What does it matter if it is no-name or known name? The technology is the same." This is not true in my experience and USB hubs. I have clients who use cheaper USB hubs and run into loss of connectivity. There are power issues and device driver issues over time. So I now have my clients buy a notable brand (Belkin) because they just work and continue to work for years.
I suggest you always going with Belkin since they pay for better manufacturing, and charge you more for it.
id also recommend the kensington dome, had no problems with it, plus the extra weight makes a difference
My Logitech 4 USB Hub works great!
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/notebook_products/usb_hubs/devices/3048&cl=us,en
A while back, Amazon had a rebate so I got it for wicked cheap.
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/notebook_products/usb_hubs/devices/3048&cl=us,en
A while back, Amazon had a rebate so I got it for wicked cheap.