Archive for: hub
Many smaller laptops/netbooks often come with a lack of USB ports. Something as simple as a mouse and flash drive pretty much pushes the limits of what smaller hardware can accommodate. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Noooo sir. When the going gets tough, the tough get a 24-port USB hub.
What anyone could possibly need 24 for at any given moment is beyond me. But I guess it’s nice to have the option, right? Pick yours up from Chinavasion for $28 bucks a pop.
With the onslaught of gadgets the common consumer faces, a subtle and often hidden problem lays in weight, only rearing its ugly head when in times of need. This time of need is of course when plugging into a USB port is needed. Many people use desktop computers day in and day out that feature 2, 4, 8 or more of said ports. But mobile users in particular dont always have such abundant options.
Meet the Infinite USB Plug. The beauty of this plug is that it is small and economical — you only use what you need. A full USB hub on the other hand usually ends up with 2-3 ports used while the remaining ones sit unused.
This design would win over many, I know. Now I just hope somewhere, someone or some manufacturer takes this idea and runs. In the world of gadgets and multi-gadget toting individuals, having “too many” cables is pretty much impossible. Would you buy it?
Tech Blog > Engadget > Yenko Design
- February 9, 2010 12:36 am
What would you say if I gave you a USB hub that was made out of cheap plastic, a crystal eagle, and featured gimmicky blue LED’s? You’d probably laugh and hopefully take the joke in good stride. There is of course the ever persistent danger that you’d take that econo-hub and chuck it right back at my face. Seeing as how it costs next to nothing, the loss after it fell to the ground and shattered would be relatively painless. The fake crystal shards in my face however, would not be. On the bright side, it has 4-usb ports…
If such a tale sounds uber exciting, you can relive it for yourself for the low low price of $5.99.
[Nerd Approved]
You may have an external hard drive or two, a flash drive, a couple input devices, and a USB NERF Dart launcher, but when you really look at it all, it isn’t that over the top — is it? The manufacturers (Thanko) of the 80-port USB board — yes 80-port — seem to think there is plenty more in life we could cram into a USB port.
Before you get too excited, it’s worth highlighting one major flaw — you can’t transfer data between any two of the 80-ports. They’re sole use is for charging USB powered gadgets. Bummer doesn’t begin to describe how disappointed I am. Before I read that little spoiler, I was dreaming up images of dual 80-port USB hubs mounted to the wall and stuffed to the gills with flash drives, turning the boards into a new, ultra modern, extra small server farm of sorts.
Now that I see it’s lacking any real usefulness, the $208.68 price seems a lot less like a steal and more of a robbery. Looks like I’m going to have to keep on searching…
Geek4U > Thanko
Stopping by D-Link’s booth netted us all kinds of networking goodies. To start, their fully touch router had me quite pleased. Eschewing the buttons of yore, this router goes full touch with a large touchscreen adorning the top of the unit.
Multiple antennas and your standard b/g/n support come for the ride. The internal specs are usually pretty important. But in the case of a router, there really isn’t that much you can do to set yourself apart. Getting all touchy however is a nice start.
The real thing we’re excited for from D-Link however is the BoxeeBox. Besides what we already know, the small gem revealed at CES is the remote — a remote and keyboard in one. +1.
This little oddly shaped gem will hopefully usher in an era of more consumer controlled media. Choose to watch what you want when you want. Does it get any better?
Hit up the gallery below folks.
- December 29, 2009 2:25 pm
If a man were measured by the number of USB ports he had, any man with the “Super USB 24-Port Hub” from USB Fever would easily be labeled a god. While I consider myself a gadget geek, computer guru, and electronic collector, I don’t come anywhere close to needing even half of the 24-port hub’s maximum allotment. Along the same line, I don’t know anyone who would have any need for such a high number of ports.
The only logical way I can imagine someone filling up those digital holes is by creating their own damn sudo server farm with external drives all connected via USB with a few wireless peripherals and USB hairbrush/teeth whitener/flash drive combo device thrown in for good measure.
At $70 it is outside the realm (for most of us) of “impulse buy” so some thought is needed before picking one up. Is it on your list? If so, please share with us what in God’s green earth you actually need 24 USB ports simultaneously available for? I’m ever so curious…
[Product Page]
CrunchGear > Red Ferret
Love to travel light and efficient? Have a knack for novelty flash drives/gadgets? Look no further than the Washing Machine 3-Port USB Hub Card Reader Clock Combo. Whew! It’s quite a mouthful to say yet the entire package is roughly the size of a rubiks cube. Obviously this USB appendage won’t wash your laundry. Why someone would want a miniature washing machine sitting next to their computer is beyond me. Hey, I won’t judge you. We all have our crutches. Moving on, this buffet of words does manage to fulfill the rest of it’s promises with 3 USB ports for whatever other crazy house hold appliances turned flash drive you may have, a card reader that supports XD, M2, T-Flash, SD/MMC, MS card, and finally — the most important of all — a clock. Green isn’t your thing? Sorry guys and gals, that’s your only choice.
As weird and awkward as this meshing of various forms of life is, I still kinda want one. Yes, I’m weird…
I’ve got a few USB gizmos laying around here and there as well as more legit devices such as hard drives, I/O devices, etc. But in all reality, I don’t have 10 things that I would ever need to use at once. I’m sure that there are people out there though that would benefit from having such wide flexibility. You know, they only make stuff like the 10-port USB hub above because someone, somewhere requested such a device. As hubs grow, keeping physical size to a minimum means port spacing becomes less and less. So that cute little fat assed duck USB drive your grandma gave you won’t work here. Devastating I know. Somehow we’ll carry on. One thing that does strike me as cool is the ability to power down half of the hub that is going unused allowing you to save a few dollars on your utility bill. It won’t help you afford that new BMW you’ve had your eye on. But, every little bit counts. Apparently we Americans or anyone else outside of Japan aren’t quite geeky enough to need one as this is a Japan only gadget for now. So, if you really want one, better work on saving up that 4,980 yen needed.
TechChee > Everything USB
Here in the states, everyone is looking at Halloween quickly approaching. A few weeks later, the big ‘ol turkey strolls by with Christmas soon after. While Valentines day is still several months and holidays away, why wait to get your special someone the perfect gift? If you happen to be one of the lucky men out there with a geeky female significant other, the USB Heart Hub may be the perfect gift. The specs are pretty standard by now: USB 2.0, Windows support all the way back to Win2000, and features bus power meaning no external power cord. Sorry Mac users, you’re out of the game on this one.
What better way to share your geeky, romantic bond than with a pink, plastic heart? Heck, at $6.99 you can be romantic and thrifty.
