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OH NO! Not another USB Hub and Superdrive (SD) Thread... THE DEFINITIVE THREAD?

A

alpinadvl

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 24, 2008
139
48
I have searched and searched and searched :

Question :
Does the Apple Superdrive work thru a USB hub (powered or un-powered) ?

Answers (from searches and pm'd info):
1. Will work when plugged into rear of Apple Cinema Display (confirmed)
2. Will work thru IOGEAR GUH285 (tested, does NOT work) and also, the unit will self destruct within days/weeks DO NOT BUY !!
3. Will work via Sabrent SBT-U2HA Ultra Slim USB Hub (unconfirmed)
4. Will not work - because it uses different power rating
5. Will work - the power rating issue is insignificant
6. Will work via (any) USB hub while using Windows (Bootcamp) - but not in Mac OS X
7. Will work with "Mi MicroHub Innovations Model #USB220N (4-Port Hi-Speed USB Travel Hub) with a powersource from BestBuy; total everything cost about $18 plus tax." (thanks to SFStatestudent for giving me this info)

Tested (by me) :
1. Kensington 3-USB minidock with Ethernet port (link)- NYET !
2. Belkin 4-usb or 7-usb hub (powered) - NEIN !
3. Gigaware (at Radioshack) 4 usb (non powered hub) - NUNCA!
4. Logitech 4 port hub (link) - NOPE !
5. Dynex 4-usb port (at Best Buy) - NADA !
6. IOGEAR GUH285 (also sold under other brand names, such as "TRUST" in germany where I bought mine. The unit burned out within exactly 1 week of purchase - DO NOT BUY, DOES NOT WORK
7. MBA superdrive in black packaging (with "MB397G/A" on the box), and [b[]also tested MBA superdrive in white (newer) packaging (with same "MB397G/A" on the box) - MAKES NO DIFFERENCE

Curious About...

THE FOLLOWING WAS ADDED/UPDATED October 23, 2009 :
1. Cardette Media Card Reader and USB hub --> Does NOT work with Superdrive...... see review later in thread, but in summary : RECOMMEND IT !

2. Belkin USB 2.0 THUMB DRIVE --> Does NOT work with SD,
but will work unpowered with 4 other devices, including External Hard drive, ipod, usb flash drive (all tested together) (Very compact and straightforwatd Unit. Includes Power Adapter. RECOMMEND IT !

3.Belkin USB SWIVEL HUB --> Does NOT work.
I did not like the pivot of this unit (I know a lot of other people do) - but it has questionable quality for me. It may be good for those "tight" corners. (**OF NOTE: that above USB 2.0 THUMB DRIVE - inserts EXACTLY flush with the MBA... so that the base is EXACTLY even with the base of the MBA)

4. LaCIE Core 4 USB 2.0 HUB - Does NOT work with SD.
This is an "interesting device"... it includes a min-USB cable, so you dont have to bring one for your mini-USB devices...which is neat. It has a top loading port for USB devices, which is very handy, and 2 additional USB ports on the side. HERE'S THE PROBLEM : this unit will NOT work with my External (Western Digital 500gb) hard drive. PLUS it does NOT include a power adapter...but does have a hole for one. The other downside I can see... is that the USB and mini-USB cables are "pinched" to keep them in the case all neat... and obviously this can be concerning over time.

*NOTE: look at LaCie's website to better understand the device... the pictures may be a bit confusing at first. If it worked with my Hard drive I would keep it in a second

5. GigaWare 4-port USB 2.0 hub (With built in retractable cable) - found at Radio Shack - does not work (Surprise surprise)

6. ioGear USB 2.0 Hub and Card reader - this unit has:
5 dedicated card reader slots
5 usb ports
1 mini usb built in cable
external power supply

the issue with this unit is it gives the "this device needs external power support" error...even though it continued to function fine without an additional power source hooked up (I did not however do extensive tests with it). I would consider this unit as a desktop piece, with occasional road use.

biggest con: size. they could have easily made this thing half it's size. I bet there is a lot of empty space in there !

7. Belkin 7-port lighted usb hub - no SD
this is a standard issue belkin hub. no problems. the only annoying thing is the ridiculous overkill blue led lighting. which some may like, but i didnt. I bought this as a desktop hub replacement... but will return it, and get something a little more inconspicuous. i am not reviewing its portability...because if you need to carry a 7 port hub around with you on the road....you have other issues !


CAN ANYONE PLEASE ADD A DEFINITE HUB THEY KNOW TO WORK?

THANKS !

alf
 
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I have tried various USB hubs. The one certainty between powered and non-powered is there is NO certainty.

The big difference is THE PORT you use on the USB hub... YES, you read that correctly. I have had non-powered hubs work absolutely fine in a certain port and not at all in another port. SAME EXACT thing for POWERED... in three ports may work perfect, in last (or first) port you check may not work at all.

I am convinced that somehow power is ultimately flowing through certain ports on USB devices, but I don't know how or why the reasoning.

Another thing I have noticed is the number or type of devices connected to the other reports may alter the device's response on any certain port on the device.

Finally, I have noticed certain service updates will alter the ACD from working. I remember it all the sudden not working through a device it usually worked through, but I had done a service update. By the next service update it was working again.

I use primarily the 24" LED ACD OR the GE powered USB hub for most all connections ever. I keep an extra non-powered hub in my bag in the rare need I might ever have, it's an IO Gear (it USUALLY works without power).

At the end of the day, remember these are all cheap $10/20 USB hubs, what do you expect? Until Apple comes out with its own brand, we are all going to wonder whether it works on our next attempt or if a software "patch/upgrade" screws up the whole deal!
 
Thanks for chiming in.....

I think the GE hub you mentioned ($44) is the same as the Sabrent ($6) hub on amazon.
 
do not work here

Spanking new MBair 2.13 SSD - snow leoprad + Apple superdrive...
Wel well, I did listen to some posts of USB hub compatibility for the new superdrive and bought the Apple instead of the LaCie I had in mind ( with power supply ) .
Alas... It does not work on my Belkin 7 ports USB.
Feels really bad

Can I be sure it works with the 24" display ?
 
alpinadvl said:
I have searched and searched and searched :

Question :
Does the Apple Superdrive work thru a USB hub (powered or un-powered) ?
Click to expand...

May be not exactly the answer you were looking for, but.. Don't get Apple Superdrive. It's finicky and over priced.

These days you can get BluRay/DVD/CD combo drives for less. This is the one i got. It's bus-powered and works with LED Cinema display as well as USB hubs. About the same size as Apple Superdrive, but reads Blu-ray and costs $30 bucks less.
 
hitekalex said:
May be not exactly the answer you were looking for, but.. Don't get Apple Superdrive. It's finicky and over priced.

These days you can get BluRay/DVD/CD combo drives for less. This is the one i got. It's bus-powered and works with LED Cinema display as well as USB hubs. About the same size as Apple Superdrive, but reads Blu-ray and costs $30 bucks less.
Click to expand...

I would get a BR drive over an Apple SuperDrive. The SuperDrive has a terrible cable that often gets frayed or disconnects from where attaches to drive. Also, if OS X ever starts using it, you will be ready.
 
Apple Ciinema Display definitely works (for me w/ a Rev C)

ANYONE have any hub info to ADD?
 
has anyone tried if the MBair superdrive will work on a USB hub using a Y USB cable ?
 
NC MacGuy said:
(1)Yes and (2)no.
Click to expand...

Ok ..makes me feel ripped off once again by Apple... after so many years there is still in that company such a disregard for the customers.
So you buy their 99$ burner , it does not work on a hub although it is proved that it is intentional since it can be modified by changing a tiny part. And it does not work on any other Mac.
Pitiful.
Mine's going to ebay .
 
Macintox said:
Ok ..makes me feel ripped off once again by Apple... after so many years there is still in that company such a disregard for the customers.
So you buy their 99$ burner , it does not work on a hub although it is proved that it is intentional since it can be modified by changing a tiny part. And it does not work on any other Mac.
Pitiful.
Mine's going to ebay .
Click to expand...

It works on most hubs fine. Sometimes non powered, most of the time powered. You're talking about something else with your mod thing... that's to make it work with another computer.

I feel the SuperDrive is a fine drive for use with the MBA. At the same time, if I were buying new now I would buy a Blu Ray Drive as is backwards compatible with DVD/CD and hopefully one day soon Apple will support it and it will play BR on our MBAs.
 
Scottsdale said:
It works on most hubs fine. Sometimes non powered, most of the time powered. You're talking about something else with your mod thing... that's to make it work with another computer.

I feel the SuperDrive is a fine drive for use with the MBA. At the same time, if I were buying new now I would buy a Blu Ray Drive as is backwards compatible with DVD/CD and hopefully one day soon Apple will support it and it will play BR on our MBAs.
Click to expand...

The MBA Superdrive shouldn't (hesitated to write doesn't) work on hubs or other computers. The same mod. that allows the drive to work with other computers also allows the drive to work on most USB hubs. Apple support discussions has had running dialogue about the lack of hub compatibility on and off since it was introduced last year.
 
NC MacGuy said:
The MBA Superdrive shouldn't (hesitated to write doesn't) work on hubs or other computers. The same mod. that allows the drive to work with other computers also allows the drive to work on most USB hubs. Apple support discussions has had running dialogue about the lack of hub compatibility on and off since it was introduced last year.
Click to expand...

I take it by "shouldn't" you mean that "one should not expect it to" rather than "it's for MacBook Air .. all the rest can go pound sand" ;)
 
stoconnell said:
I take it by "shouldn't" you mean that "one should not expect it to" rather than "it's for MacBook Air .. all the rest can go pound sand" ;)
Click to expand...

Well, the bottom line is the MBA SuperDrive works perfectly fine in MOST hubs I have tried. Works in ACD too!

Don't go spreading lies here... most threads I have read show plenty of others using their external MBA SuperDrives through USB hubs (powered and non) and ACDs.

And, it is built for the MBA, as all others have an optical drive included! What would be the point? No, it's not for a PC or as a replacement for a broken Mac's optical drive. Apple would want you to fix that and pay them more.

Want it to work with a different computer, go buy something else, Apple is fine with that too!

EDIT - The bottom line is Apple doesn't have to SUPPORT it with anything other than the MBA, and that's probably the biggest reason why it's the MBA SuperDrive meant to work with MBA ONLY!
 
Scottsdale said:
Well, the bottom line is the MBA SuperDrive works perfectly fine in MOST hubs I have tried. Works in ACD too!

Don't go spreading lies here... most threads I have read show plenty of others using their external MBA SuperDrives through USB hubs (powered and non) and ACDs.
Click to expand...

Yeesh, dude. Please take a chill pill.

I was clarifying the quoted person's comment. The general vibe (well, your mactastically fantastical hyperbolically excellent experiences aside) is that you cannot necessarily count on the drive to work on any given hub. Nor is it necessarily Apple's responsibility to ensure that it does; however, it would be nice if they sold their own that could pull power from the MBA and drive the SuperDrive and provide say 2 or three non-powered ports for things like ethernet or wireless WAN modem, etc. I think it's a missed opportunity.

This might be true of other external USB DVD drives (needing Y-cables, etc) but is particularly galling to people (in light of the lack of second USB port on device or pass through USB port on the drive AND please don't interpret this as a bash on the single USB. I am using it to highlight a case where you've ponied up for the drive and a hub and need to use it and another device. Yes, I know you could buy the ACD, blah blah .. doesn't help you in hotel room on the road .. kind of defeats the purpose of the MBA now doesn't it?).

In fact, the lack of generic utility is one of the reasons that I haven't bought the thing. Also, in the past I have bought machines lacking an internal drive w/o one and never missed it and others where I have bought the drive and not really used it much. I am intrigued by the fastmac Blu-Ray offering. In particular, given your and others accounts of it just working with the Air.
 
Scottsdale said:
It works on most hubs fine. Sometimes non powered, most of the time powered. You're talking about something else with your mod thing... that's to make it work with another computer.

I feel the SuperDrive is a fine drive for use with the MBA. At the same time, if I were buying new now I would buy a Blu Ray Drive as is backwards compatible with DVD/CD and hopefully one day soon Apple will support it and it will play BR on our MBAs.
Click to expand...

I can assure you my 2 weeks old superdrive , new from Apple online store "does not work on the many hub we have tried ".
I'll have to sell it on ebay , loose some money and buy the mobile powered Lacie I should have bought in the first place.
 
I need to buy a hub for my partner's MBA so that she can plug in her SD, keyboard/mouse, and ethernet all at the same time at work. I was really hoping someone in this thread would have an answer. Sigh.

It seems that nobody has any definitive answer. Am I right?
 
RedTomato said:
I need to buy a hub for my partner's MBA so that she can plug in her SD, keyboard/mouse, and ethernet all at the same time at work. I was really hoping someone in this thread would have an answer. Sigh.

It seems that nobody has any definitive answer. Am I right?
Click to expand...

With 99% certainty, I can say it won't work. Best to buy another brand of ext. optical or perform the mod. I linked above. I have one and have tried it on every hub I've had access to and it's always been a no go. That's a big reason I was researching the mod. route in the first place.

It will work on the new 24" ACD just fine but not on an ext. USB hub.
 
RedTomato said:
I need to buy a hub for my partner's MBA so that she can plug in her SD, keyboard/mouse, and ethernet all at the same time at work. I was really hoping someone in this thread would have an answer. Sigh.

It seems that nobody has any definitive answer. Am I right?
Click to expand...

I have 7 USB devices on a Belkin powered hub connected to the MBAir : keyboard & mouse - USB 500GB Hard drive ( for time machine) - apple modem - apple ethernet USB adapter - skype phone - D2 Lacie DVD burner - + either a USB memory stick or a digital camera.
All work beautifully . the one and only that do not work is the Apple Superdrive.
My 99$ advice to all of you. DO not buy an Apple superdrive .
 
Macintox said:
My 99$ advice to all of you. DO not buy an Apple superdrive .
Click to expand...

I think you're right there. Sadly Apple have missed a trick with this. A lot of windows users would have bought their SD if it worked with all computers.

Proof of this is the Apple keyboard is one of the top selling keyboards on Amazon as it's one of the best looking keyboards out there. (We'll politely ignore the Mighty Mouse for now)

TBH my partner hardly ever uses her SD, and it lives most of its life collecting dust in the drawer. But it would be nice to have a single USB to plug in everything via a hub.

Which third-party USB optical drive do you recommend? (no need for Blu-ray)
 
RedTomato said:
I think you're right there. Sadly Apple have missed a trick with this. A lot of windows users would have bought their SD if it worked with all computers.

Proof of this is the Apple keyboard is one of the top selling keyboards on Amazon as it's one of the best looking keyboards out there. (We'll politely ignore the Mighty Mouse for now)

TBH my partner hardly ever uses her SD, and it lives most of its life collecting dust in the drawer. But it would be nice to have a single USB to plug in everything via a hub.

Which third-party USB optical drive do you recommend? (no need for Blu-ray)
Click to expand...

The Lacie have always been Mac friendly and good to me, I have 4 different and they are flawless. So for this Macbok air I am ordering the mobile USB burner. The one with power supply, to unload my USB hub as much as possible
 
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