Good 4 port USB hub between 10-30$

Any suggestions?

How does it work if I want to plug in devices that need power (charging?). Does the hub need an ac adaptor?

Any good brand names I should be able to trust?

Thanks guys

 

I would get a powered one if I were you, never know what you're going to be plugging into it down the road.
I use a 4 port powered one (off-brand) from the Egg, and plugged into it is another USB 1.1 4 port hub (with all of its ports full), along with a USB 2 external HD, Wacom tablet, and printer, and it works great and reliably. Brand shouldnt matter.

 

Yeah, i agree with sprtnbsblpya and go with a hub that is powered. Regarding your question of where to buy, I would definetly check out www.dealextreme.com. These guys are reliable and are based out of Hong Kong, so it may take about 2 weeks for you to get your order. They are cheap (and I mean really cheap) - I bought a powered hub for about 6 dollars including free shipping (they offer free shipping to anywhere in the world). So it might be worth your while to check them out.

Good Luck!

 

first off - thanks for helpin me out

How would I know if its 'powered' though?

Also - that dealextreme place has EXTREME deals no lie lol. Im browsing all their other stuff. The only thing I worry about is the quality of the product.

 

Once you get your hub let us know how the quality of it is...these are seriously good deals.

 

Belkin makes USB hub but its expensive

 

Powered USB hub just means that it comes with an AC adapter to power the USB ports. Basically your computer's USB ports draw power from the computer's power supply. They themselves only output a certain amount of power which the USB hub can draw from. The problem is that this power out put may not be enough to power some of the power-hungry devices like external hard drives, printers, etc. and so many hubs come with their own external power supply.

Secondly regarding Dealextreme, most of their products are of decent quality. In fact, a lot of their products are OEM items which companies like Belkin, Kensignton, etc. rebadge, repackage, and distribute. For their prices, you could very well buy two or three hubs just in case, and it would still end up costing you less than what you would spend for a belkin or kensington.

Again, the con is that they take some time for these products to reach you. BTW, I dont work for them or gain anything from referring them to you guys - I have just had a great experience as a customer - that's all.

Good Luck!