The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Plug-in USB Hub?

    Discussion in 'Accessories' started by Justitia, Mar 18, 2009.

  1. Justitia

    Justitia Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    91
    Messages:
    617
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I bought a USB Hub for a friend whose Hub from Radio Shack died. I didn't realize that his hub plugged directly into his laptop without having to use any wire to plug in. The one I bought is self-powered but it needs a wire with a USB mini-plug on one end to go into the Hub and a USB plug at the other end to go into the laptop.

    He really doesn't want to have to carry around any additional wires. He forgets stuff and looses stuff all the time. It has taken me 2 years to get him to realize that he needs both the AC Adapter (which he finally calls a "brick) and a power cord to be able to recharge his laptop when he travels. (He is older -- but then so am I.)

    He still comes up to visit without one or the other or neither. I keep a spare.

    So you see -- the extra wire with the mini-USB plug on one end and a USB plug on the other is very likely to get lost or forgotten.

    I looked a fair bit at Newegg but couldn't find a USB hub that plugged directly into a USB port without a wire.

    I got myself one of the hubs and it works great. But I am not bothered by carrying around extra wires. I already carry around one of these anyway.

    Does anyone know of one that is of good quality?
     
    Justitia, Mar 18, 2009
    #1
  2. paper_wastage

    paper_wastage Beat this 7x7x7 Cube

    Reputations:
    486
    Messages:
    2,596
    Likes Received:
    24
    Trophy Points:
    56
    paper_wastage, Mar 18, 2009
    #2
  3. Persnickety

    Persnickety Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    357
    Messages:
    525
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Although this doesn't plug directly into the laptop, the cable isn't "loose":

    http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=469617#

    Then there's this, although I find the price quite steep considering what constitutes a USB hub:

    http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=ach74us

    I also found what could be considered a break-out cable:
    http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3948476&CatId=392 (has a mini-plug)

    And:
    http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4115639&CatId=392 (no mini plug)

    And this is more like the things you wanted:

    http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-USBHUB4C-ProConnect-Compact-4-Port/dp/B0000658CH

    Swiveling:

    http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3956825&CatId=392

    Swivel/tower:
    http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4115640&CatId=392

    Short installed cable:

    http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3981753&CatId=392
     
    Persnickety, Mar 18, 2009
    #3