Need more USB!

[RichL]

I didn't foresee a USB (or lack of USB port) problem but some posts got me thinking. My USB devices on my PC all fit with their own slot because I have about 8 of them total but 15" MBPs only have 2.

My devices are as follows:
-USB Mouse
-USB Keyboard
-Internal-turned-external Hard Drive
-Digital Camera Cable
-iPod cable

The USB Mouse/Keyboard can be fit into one port using this Y device I saw and most likely will have to buy. The Digi-cam/iPod don't always have to be plugged in obviously. My problem is that without buying a wireless mouse and keyboard OR hooking my External HD to my router I'm gonna have to disconnect one or the other to plug in my Digi-cam or iPod.

What option is the cheapest ? I could:
-Buy Bluetooth keyboard/mouse (expensive)
-Buy Media Storage ready router (since I need a new router anyway..but the media routers I've seen seem like junk)
-Buy a USB port hub type deal (does this work well with laptops? Under-power issues?)

Long post. Advice please

-Rich L.

 

[Osarkon]

Just get a usb hub?

Power wise some will run mostly well just off the power of the laptop, whereas if you're going to be using it for more demanding things then some hubs provide mains power.

 

[kolax]

One USB port will not give enough power if you buy an unpowered USB hub to allow you to use your camera, hard drive and iPod.

So if you do buy a USB hub get a powered one.

Also, I thought you were getting a MBP - I work fine with the trackpad and keyboard.

 

[Jasoco]

I agree. Just get a hub. Then you can have everything hooked to it and just plug one thing in.

 

[iBookG4user]

Get a powered USB Hub, I have one that also has Firewire and it works great.

 

[RichL]

Get a powered USB Hub, I have one that also has Firewire and it works great.

That sounds hawt. Who makes the one you bought?

Kilamite: I have faith in the keyboard and track pad but at my workstation I'd prefer an external setup. Especially for gaming

 

[plinden]

I suggest moving the external drive to a Firewire enclosure - it'll be faster and you'll free up one of the USB ports. And yes, a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard would work great to free up a couple of USB ports (especially for a laptop that you'll be taking with you), but a USB keyboard/mouse would work fine in an unpowered hub if you don't want to spend that much.

In any case, get an unpowered USB hub for your other needs - try to reserve one of the MBP's USB ports for when you really need it. Your camera can run off its own power if the hub can't supply enough power, and the iPod should charge ok.

I have an unpowered four port hub with a PDA, USB printer and multicard reader attached. I don't have any issues with the devices failing.

Another option is to get a monitor with a built in hub. At work, I have a 20" Dell with a built in powered 4 port USB hub.

 

[iPhil]

Since you said one of devices is ext. hard drive thru usb needs more power.. so i would look @ a/c powered usb hubs unless the drive is ext. powered..


Each device going thru a non-powered hub splits the power from that 1 source so 1 on-board usb puts out avg. 5-8 watts of power..

So on that non-power usb hub splits that 8 watts over the devices that are plugged into the hub @ the time ..

 

[RichL]

I forgot to specify about the HD. It is powered actually.

 

[iPhil]

Then i would look for a 4 or 6 port usb hub non-powered and plug the drive into the computer directly

 

[Jestered]

If you are not going to have the hard drive connected directly to the computer, you will need to get more than one USB hub. If you have a USB1 device connected to a hub, all devices on the hub will run at USB1 speeds. So if you have the keyboard connected to the hub and also the external drive, the external drive is going to be very slow. When using USB hubs you should always segregate devices depending on USB speed of the devices. The iPod, camera and external hard drive would be on one hub and all USB1 devices on another.

 

[iPhil]

If you are not going to have the hard drive connected directly to the computer, you will need to get more than one USB hub. If you have a USB1 device connected to a hub, all devices on the hub will run at USB1 speeds. So if you have the keyboard connected to the hub and also the external drive, the external drive is going to be very slow. When using USB hubs you should always segregate devices depending on USB speed of the devices. The iPod, camera and external hard drive would be on one hub and all USB1 devices on another.

The hub will figure out which 'speed' to run @ for each device ..


So if the usb port is 2.0 and you plug a usb 1.1 hub and run 2.0 devices and 1.1 devices thru the same hub.. -- 1.1 devices will run @ 1.1 speeds and 2.0 will run @ 2.0 speeds

 

[Jestered]

The hub will figure out which 'speed' to run @ for each device ..


So if the usb port is 2.0 and you plug a usb 1.1 hub and run 2.0 devices and 1.1 devices thru the same hub.. -- 1.1 devices will run @ 1.1 speeds and 2.0 will run @ 2.0 speeds

No they won't. Devices on most all hubs can only be as fast as the slowest device.

 

[RichL]

Haven't 1.1 USB devices been phased out?

 

[CanadaRAM]

A USB 1.1 hub will run all devices at 1.1 even if they are 2.0 devices.

Keyboards and mice are commonly USB 1.1

If it's an Apple keyboard however, run the mouse off the Keyboard's extra USB port. It's not good for anything else, that needs power or USB 2.0.

 

[XheartcoreboyX]

Why dont you just get a usb express card/it costs more than a usb hub/ but its very much more portable...thats what im getting probably for my future mbp...

 

[Sean Dempsey]

No they won't. Devices on most all hubs can only be as fast as the slowest device.

I just bought a Belkin USB hub from BestBuy, 7 port, USB 2.0.

I have my wacom, nulooq navigator, and printer plugged into it, all USB 1.1 devices.

Both a flash drive and an external drive are the exact same transfer up and down speed when plugged into the hub, and plugged into the front of my Mac Pro.

So, even with the 1.1 devices, it still ran at it's regular 2.0 speed.

 

[EvryDayImShufln]

I have a 4 USB port hub and it works great, however it is fed through an AC adapter so it doesn't need to leech through my computer (however this seems pretty useless to me). Anyway just get a big hub

 

[iBunny]

I Bought a D-Link 4 Port Powered USB 2.0 Hub. Its Great.

I have my iPod, External HDD, Mouse, and Printer hooked up with it.

This allows the other USB port on my MBP to be used for quick use things such as thumb drives, and digi cam hookups

 

[techlover828]

just buy a powered usb hub, unless you need portability, which I don't think you specified

 

[NYRngrs24]

I just bought a Belkin 7port usb hub that is powered for $11 on buy.com.

check it out. i didnt read all the post, but i saw someone mention firewire is faster. firewire a, is slower than USB 2.0. not by much, but it is slower. Firewire b is faster than USB 2.0

 

[john2006wright]

thanks for all the info guys, has helped me decide to get a powered usb hub.

 

[RichL]

How do you tell if you have firewire a or b? I didn't even know there were two different kinds.

 

[aaronw1986]

I just bought a Belkin 7port usb hub that is powered for $11 on buy.com.

check it out. i didnt read all the post, but i saw someone mention firewire is faster. firewire a, is slower than USB 2.0. not by much, but it is slower. Firewire b is faster than USB 2.0

firewire a is theoretically slower then USB by 80 MBs'. However, firewire usually wins out in actuality.

 

[PlaceofDis]

I just bought a Belkin 7port usb hub that is powered for $11 on buy.com.

check it out. i didnt read all the post, but i saw someone mention firewire is faster. firewire a, is slower than USB 2.0. not by much, but it is slower. Firewire b is faster than USB 2.0

Firewire 400 is faster than USB 2.0 more often than not. there are a few reasons for this. USB uses your processor so it has to go though a longer pipeline and it also uses burst of data instead of a steady stream. FW needs a chip at both ends for it to work, which is part of why its more expensive and once its up to speed, you'll get a consistent high data transfer rate.