Usb hub

[bigboss10]

Looking to buy a USB HUB for my 15' MBP. running 10.6.8

Q1. Difference between 2.0 & 3.0 just the speed for transferring files and/or the device is 2.0 HAS to be 2.0 drive?

Q2. Im reading a lot of mixed reviews about USB hubs for mac, which 1 is good one that will last.

http://www.amazon.com/Gear-Head-7-Port-Adapter-UH7250MAC/dp/B004OBYYYE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1370653616&sr=8-2&keywords=USB+Hub+mac

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-USB-2-0-4-Port-Ultra-Mini/dp/B000Q8UAWY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1370653616&sr=8-3&keywords=USB+Hub+mac



Thanks,
Steve

 

[Yahooligan]

If you don't have a USB3.0 port on your MBP, which you won't if it's a pre-2012 MBP, then a USB3.0 hub will have no advantage, everything will run at USB2.0 speed.

If you do have a USB3.0 port then a USB3.0 hub will let you connect both USB3.0 and USB2.0/1.1 devices up to it, it's backwards compatible.

I've used a Belkin USB2.0 and a USB3.0 hub with my Macs without issue.

 

[bigboss10]

that second link is good then...

 

[zulu.walker]

I use an Orico 4-port USB 3.0 bus-powered hub (i actually use 2, one per port on my rMBP) for extreme portability and another Orico 7-port powered hub at home. Both were really cheap (~$10 for the 4-port and ~$40 for the 7-port) and so far have caused no problems. If you have a USB 3.0 equipped Mac I'd suggest using a USB 3.0 hub over a 2.0 one (even if you only use 2.0 devices) due to being future-proof with your purchase and the increased power provided by USB 3.0 (900mAh vs 500mAh for USB 2.0). I've had 4 bus-powered portable drives running with no problems on a USB 3.0 hub and usually mix USB 3.0 with 2.0 devices.

One thing to look out for with USB 3.0 hubs is to attach a USB 3.0 device before any USB 2.0 device - doing so in reverse would initialize the hub down to USB 2.0 speeds making your USB 3.0 devices operate at only 480Mbps.