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Enough USB ports on iMac?

Theres no way i could survive with just four ports, but i use them for alot of different things and i like having dedicated ports for different purposes.

- A iPad charge/sync port
- An iPhone charge/sync port
- Kindle Charge port
- 3x usb hard drives each requiring a port
- a USB DVD burner
- a USB scanner
- a USB powered desk fan
- a spare port for my portable hard drive
- a couple of other spare ports for misc items e.g. flash drives, SATA dock etc

I currently use 2 AC powered Trust 7 port usb hubs. Never had any problems with them.
 
fhall1 said:
That's the one I've had since March 2008...it's been a great hub for over 3 years....they must have really cheapened them or I just got really lucky.
Click to expand...

I often take negative comments on the Internet with a grain of salt, rarely do you find anyone saying positive things, so the negative always outweighs.

I've recommended the hub to several people over the same time frame so that is at least 6 of us who are "really lucky". Or just smart enough to work a USB hub ;)
 
Paulywauly said:
Theres no way i could survive with just four ports, but i use them for alot of different things and i like having dedicated ports for different purposes.

- A iPad charge/sync port
- An iPhone charge/sync port
- Kindle Charge port
- 3x usb hard drives each requiring a port
- a USB DVD burner
- a USB scanner
- a USB powered desk fan
- a spare port for my portable hard drive
- a couple of other spare ports for misc items e.g. flash drives, SATA dock etc

I currently use 2 AC powered Trust 7 port usb hubs. Never had any problems with them.
Click to expand...

WTF! Why use a USB desk fan!! you can only draw 2.5W from a single socket!!
 
Does anyone realize that most devices aren't all in use at the same time? You can unplug devices as you don't need them, and have free USB ports.

Since we're apparently listing all our devices that we use...

iLok
USB HD
FW800 HD
FW Audio Interface
USB Thumbdrive
... I'm out of ports.
iPad
iPhone
iPod

Does anyone have a solution for me to be able to use all of my peripherals at the same time? It's so important.
 
4 ports is perfect. If I had anymore then they would go unused. Today it's so easy and cheap($7) to add more ports via a USB hub on an as needed basis. Why pay for things that aren't' used?
 
I used to need lots of USB ports, but I've been finding the number dropping over time.

1) Keyboard - provides me with 2 more ports
2) Camera cable
3) iPod/iPad cable
4) Spare (used for USB drives, etc)

So many things have gone wireless:
Printer & Scanner
Mouse/Trackpad
Time Capsule

Once WiFi sync is enabled, I won't even have to plug the iPhone/iPad in. I charge the Kindle etc off the dedicated charger elsewhere.
 
dlmart2 said:
I have the 2011 iMac w/ 4 USB ports. Has anyone else run out of USB ports? Can you recommend a good USB Hub to expand the number of ports?
Click to expand...


I had to install a 4-port mini-hub. Ran out of ports because I have full size keyboard / w numeric pad and a locally attached local printer. If these items were wireless, my iMac would have enough USB ports. For USB hub, I used a generic $12 Hub - from my local "lower cost" computer store.
 
Last edited:
I use 2 of these for USB Hub : Belkin http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817394008

They look nice and work fine and are also AC powered, which I absolutely need. I also have a generic hub under the desk which is fixed by velcro to plug quickly USB key. Apple should have made one on the side on the iMac to plug those keys. Here my USB devices 24/24 plugged:

Apple cable ipad/iphone
2.5 hdd time machine backup
1 external hdd
1 bluray burner
UPS
Piano midi
Wireless 1ear headset
Headset
scanner
printer

So to your question, 4 ports only is not enough for me.
 
Last edited:
Paulywauly said:
Theres no way i could survive with just four ports, but i use them for alot of different things and i like having dedicated ports for different purposes.

- A iPad charge/sync port
- An iPhone charge/sync port
...
Click to expand...
Next month you can remove those two. Just plug into power and sync via wifi.
 
Wireless printer, scanner, keyboard, mouse, network storage...I don' need no stinkin' USB ports.

I pull the iPad cord out of my desk drawer once or twice a month to sync. As others have indicated, that may end next month. {Giddy}

And when the Tesla machine is finely perfected, I can get rid of that one last remaining cord.
 
Remember the white iMacs that only had three USB ports? And the coloured CRT iMacs that only had two USB ports? :eek:

----------
norrismantooth said:
Does anyone realize that most devices aren't all in use at the same time? You can unplug devices as you don't need them, and have free USB ports.

Since we're apparently listing all our devices that we use...

iLok
USB HD
FW800 HD
FW Audio Interface
USB Thumbdrive
... I'm out of ports.
iPad
iPhone
iPod

Does anyone have a solution for me to be able to use all of my peripherals at the same time? It's so important.
Click to expand...

Why do you need to use an iPod when you've got an iPhone?
 
I think four ports is enough, at least for me. I also like how the ones on the iMAC have enough space between them so you can actually use them.
 
I think there are enough ports, but I wouldn't mind a more accessible USB port for flash drive use. Some of my peripherals are wireless, like a lot of folks here, and some "permanent" USB peripherals are left plugged in all the time (or at least the cords are). But I think the flash drives should be easy to put in and take out. With a 27" monitor, the user doesn't have to be that close to it, and with the well-designed thin all-in-one that is the iMac, it's easy to push up against the wall, saving space. So how does one access the USB ports? Not all that easily. There should be at least one USB port on the front or the side for the oft-connected flash drive.

Yeah, having a wired keyboard would solve that issue, but it would also contrast the clean minimalist beauty of the "one wire" iMac system. One not-so-insubstantial reason for my recent transition from PC to Mac was that awful rat's nest of wires and cables I had to deal with.
 
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