The Inateck USB 3.0 3 Port Hub with Magic Port is an interesting product. On the face of it, it is a simple USB 3.0 hub but the magic reference conjures up images of something you would find in a Harry Potter scene. No magic here though, just a clever bundle of software to some very useful utility. If you are looking how to transfer files from PC to PC, PC to Mac, Mac to PC, or share a keyboard and mouse, read on.
Inside the box you will find the USB Hub, a USB cable, an OTG adapter and the instruction manual. The Hub measures 108 x 31 x 22mm and weighs in at 67g. The attached cable is 30cm long and the supplied USB cable for the magic port is 120cm.
Okay, so the USB Hub piece is straight forward, simply plug this into an available USB port on your computer and you get three more to play with. It is fully USB 3.0 compliant so you will want to use one of these ports if available. The real 'magic' comes from using the supplied USB cable to connect this HUB to another computer or a compatible OTG Android mobile device.
Once two devices are connected, some clever features are opened up. As well as the ability to share content from any data drives connected to the USB 3.0 Hub, you can drag and drop files directly between the two computers. You don't select a file and send it to the other computer, you literally drag and drop it from one screen to the other thanks to the ability to share both the keyboard and mouse from one computer to the next. If you are working on the screen for one computer, you can move the cursor to an application on the other computer and start typing away.
This is a clever, cross platform implementation and is achieved using software to enable this functionality. This will work readily between Windows, Mac and Android (using the included OTG adapter). Because the hub is a plug and play solution though, you don't need to download and install the necessary software, it will prompt you to install the software directly from the hub when you connect it. If this functionality all sounds familiar, it is because there are already tools out there that allow you to do this over Wireless such as Synergy or Teleport. The benefit of using this solution however is the wired connection which eliminates any lagging issues you may experience with a Wireless connection. It also ensures you have a fast transfer if you are dragging large files between computers, not to mention sharing connected USB drives via the 3 port hub.
I have a desktop Mac as well as a MacBook Pro and there are times when I am working between them at the same time. Using a solution like this lets me work on both computers at the same time without the need to constantly switch between keyboards and trackpads. It also makes the movement of files between the computers a seamless experience without the need to work with shares and flash drives or the Internet. It is also a great solution when wanting to share content with another user and doesn't rely on the need to have a good Internet connection or even be connected to any network at all, let alone the same one.
The USB 3.0 Hub with Magic Port won't be for everyone but if you regularly work between two computers or engage with other users and their equipment on the go, this is a very clever solution. Even just the ability to share keyboard and mouse easily between two computers will be enough for many people. If you can see this type of solution working for you, this offering from Inateck does the job in a simple, reliable fashion.
I got this from http://www.amazon.co.uk/Inateck-3-Port-Transfer-Devices-Driver-free/dp/B00SM5NLRY
More details from http://www.inateck.com/hb4009-4-port-usb-3-0-hub-km-switch-transfer-files-from-pc-to-pc/
Video review:
Inside the box you will find the USB Hub, a USB cable, an OTG adapter and the instruction manual. The Hub measures 108 x 31 x 22mm and weighs in at 67g. The attached cable is 30cm long and the supplied USB cable for the magic port is 120cm.
Okay, so the USB Hub piece is straight forward, simply plug this into an available USB port on your computer and you get three more to play with. It is fully USB 3.0 compliant so you will want to use one of these ports if available. The real 'magic' comes from using the supplied USB cable to connect this HUB to another computer or a compatible OTG Android mobile device.
Once two devices are connected, some clever features are opened up. As well as the ability to share content from any data drives connected to the USB 3.0 Hub, you can drag and drop files directly between the two computers. You don't select a file and send it to the other computer, you literally drag and drop it from one screen to the other thanks to the ability to share both the keyboard and mouse from one computer to the next. If you are working on the screen for one computer, you can move the cursor to an application on the other computer and start typing away.
This is a clever, cross platform implementation and is achieved using software to enable this functionality. This will work readily between Windows, Mac and Android (using the included OTG adapter). Because the hub is a plug and play solution though, you don't need to download and install the necessary software, it will prompt you to install the software directly from the hub when you connect it. If this functionality all sounds familiar, it is because there are already tools out there that allow you to do this over Wireless such as Synergy or Teleport. The benefit of using this solution however is the wired connection which eliminates any lagging issues you may experience with a Wireless connection. It also ensures you have a fast transfer if you are dragging large files between computers, not to mention sharing connected USB drives via the 3 port hub.
I have a desktop Mac as well as a MacBook Pro and there are times when I am working between them at the same time. Using a solution like this lets me work on both computers at the same time without the need to constantly switch between keyboards and trackpads. It also makes the movement of files between the computers a seamless experience without the need to work with shares and flash drives or the Internet. It is also a great solution when wanting to share content with another user and doesn't rely on the need to have a good Internet connection or even be connected to any network at all, let alone the same one.
The USB 3.0 Hub with Magic Port won't be for everyone but if you regularly work between two computers or engage with other users and their equipment on the go, this is a very clever solution. Even just the ability to share keyboard and mouse easily between two computers will be enough for many people. If you can see this type of solution working for you, this offering from Inateck does the job in a simple, reliable fashion.
I got this from http://www.amazon.co.uk/Inateck-3-Port-Transfer-Devices-Driver-free/dp/B00SM5NLRY
More details from http://www.inateck.com/hb4009-4-port-usb-3-0-hub-km-switch-transfer-files-from-pc-to-pc/
Video review:
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I'll buy a few more for the office.