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Message: [QUOTE="EscapeVelocity, post: 92953, member: 3771"]Recently I was shopping for a new USB Hub for my home base computer system.  This is my experience.All these devices are USB 2.0.The last time I went shopping for a USB Hub, the choice came down to the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Targus-7-Port-Desktop-Pass-Through-ACH81US/dp/B000I3XIE4/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1332454895&sr=1-7">Targus ACH81US 7-Port USB Hub</a>  or the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/CyberPower-High-Speed-7-Port-USB-Hub/dp/B0006TIA8Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1332454980&sr=1-1">CyberPower  7-Port USB Hub</a>.   Both offered decent power supplies to power USB devices but the Targus offered Audio Pass Through to boot, which is very handy.   I chose the CyberPower based on its lower price, and it continues to be a popular choice, going on 3 years later.   The Targus has somewhat fallen out of favor. <img src="http://usb2.0hub.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/CyberPower-High-Speed-7-Port-2-300x225.jpg" class="bbImage" alt="" data-url="http://usb2.0hub.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/CyberPower-High-Speed-7-Port-2-300x225.jpg" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/CyberPower-High-Speed-7-Port-USB-Hub/dp/B0006TIA8Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1332457916&sr=1-1">CyberPower 7 Port USB Hub</a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/CyberPower-High-Speed-7-Port-USB-Hub/dp/B0006TIA8Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1332457916&sr=1-1"></a><img src="http://voicerecognitionsoftware.co/img/targus-7-port-usb-20-desktop-hub-with-audio-pass-through-ach81us-silver_71050_500.jpg" class="bbImage" alt="" data-url="http://voicerecognitionsoftware.co/img/targus-7-port-usb-20-desktop-hub-with-audio-pass-through-ach81us-silver_71050_500.jpg" />   <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Targus-7-Port-Desktop-Pass-Through-ACH81US/dp/B000I3XIE4/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1332457943&sr=1-7">Targus 7 Port USB Hub</a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Targus-7-Port-Desktop-Pass-Through-ACH81US/dp/B000I3XIE4/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1332457943&sr=1-7"></a>My recent search led me to 2 newcomers to the USB Hub marketplace...the <a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSN347p29ejA4JD1cxY2VVvjAnipRhp_53RiNIiT7hjW_vLTmz5">Plugable 10 Port USB Hub</a> and the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Power-Adapter-Control-Switches/dp/B0051PGX2I/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1332457519&sr=1-4">Satechi 12 Port USB Hub</a>.<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/411c02On8rL.jpg" class="bbImage" alt="" data-url="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/411c02On8rL.jpg" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Power-Adapter-Control-Switches/dp/B0051PGX2I/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1332457519&sr=1-4"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Power-Adapter-Control-Switches/dp/B0051PGX2I/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1332457519&sr=1-4"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Power-Adapter-Control-Switches/dp/B0051PGX2I/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1332457519&sr=1-4">Satechi 12 Port USB Hub</a>The Satechi 12 Port is fantastically simple, in the style of the classic power strip with USB ports all face up in a row and lit up with blue LEDs.  It has 2 switches which correspond to the two sets of 6 USB ports and allows you to turn them off or on.  When turned off, the Blue LEDs which correspond with those 6 USB ports turn off as well, for a great visual cue.  One drawback is that the Satechi does not offer additional power to the USB devices plugged into it....only the power from the one USB port is distributed to the USB devices plugged into it.   At only $30 shipped from Amazon, it is highly recommended![video=youtube;W6g1-CvdwZM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6g1-CvdwZM[/video]<img src="https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSN347p29ejA4JD1cxY2VVvjAnipRhp_53RiNIiT7hjW_vLTmz5" class="bbImage" alt="" data-url="https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSN347p29ejA4JD1cxY2VVvjAnipRhp_53RiNIiT7hjW_vLTmz5" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Plugable-USB-Port-Power-Adapter/dp/B00483WRZ6/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1332458021&sr=1-2"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Plugable-USB-Port-Power-Adapter/dp/B00483WRZ6/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1332458021&sr=1-2">Plugable 10 Port USB Hub</a>The Plugable 10 Port USB Hub has 6 ports facing forward as it sits flat on the desk and 4 ports facing rear-ward with 2 of those flippable to the verticle position seen in the pics.  This is a nice configuration for keeping those cables organized on the desktop and is the reason I went with this over the Satechi above.   There is plenty of power (2.5 amps) available for powering the USB devices attached to this hub as well.   At $27 shipped from Amazon, it is highly recommended!Plugable also makes a nice <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Plugable-Port-Speed-Power-Adapter/dp/B003Z4G3I6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1332468796&sr=8-2">7 Port USB Hub</a> with 3 Amps available to the USB Devices.Also worth a mention is this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/HDE-Port-High-Speed-Blue/dp/B005QB3HB2/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1332607324&sr=8-7">HDE 7 Port USB Hub</a> in which each individual port has a physical On/Off switch....which can be very handy in certain situations.  Highly rated on Meritline.  It does not provide extra power to the USB ports, but the ability shut them down individually somewhat alleviates that concern.These days, those paltry 3 or 4 ports on your laptop just arent cutting the mustard.   Even the 7 Port Hubs are becoming too restricting.   These two 10 and 12 Port Hubs are great additions to the marketplace.  The ergonomics are much better on these two hubs as well....still scratching my head on those verticle orientations on those lightweight 7 port CyberPower and Targus hubs (though the CyberPower can lay flat and no doubt that is where the vast majority of them ended up).Super Accessory<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Plugable-One-Button-Swapping-Between-Computers/dp/B006Z0Q2SI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1332607501&sr=8-3">Plugable USB 2.0 Switch for One-Button Swapping of USB Device/Hub Between Two Computers</a>Easy peripheral sharing!4 Port USB Hubs for On the Go Laptop Use<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41XxF57Nt%2BL._AA300_.jpg" class="bbImage" alt="" data-url="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41XxF57Nt%2BL._AA300_.jpg" />First of all, let it be known that the Squid Style USB Hubs suck.  The electronics are subpar and the ergonomics are poor.  Dont do it!Now onto some good devices and the why's of their goodness.  Most all of these do not have additional power available to the USB Devices plugged into them, they are only duplicating the port and dividing the USB Standard power from the one duplicated port to the the four ports.   But this shouldnt be too much of a concern, if running flash drives, mouse, keyboards, cameras, cell phones and such things as you would be hooking up to your laptop on the go.Ergonomics are king.  Here are my picks...Meritline has 2 great offerings.<img src="http://images.meritline.com/images/product/6/0/0/-/8/micro/600-880.jpg" class="bbImage" alt="" data-url="http://images.meritline.com/images/product/6/0/0/-/8/micro/600-880.jpg" /><a href="http://www.meritline.com/showproduct.aspx?ProductID=56409&SEName=480-mbps-high-speed-4-ports-usb-2-0-hub-with-on-off-button-black">One</a><a href="http://www.meritline.com/showproduct.aspx?ProductID=56409&SEName=480-mbps-high-speed-4-ports-usb-2-0-hub-with-on-off-button-black"></a><img src="http://images.meritline.com/images/product/6/0/0/-/8/micro/600-895_1_.jpg" class="bbImage" alt="" data-url="http://images.meritline.com/images/product/6/0/0/-/8/micro/600-895_1_.jpg" /><a href="http://www.meritline.com/showproduct.aspx?ProductID=56389&SEName=high-speed-up-to-480-mbps-4-port-usb-hub-with-on-off-button-black">Two</a>You will notice that One has a longer USB connection cable.  The other has a short rat tail connection cable is a bit more compact, with one of the USB ports facing out for the end of the stick.   Both have switches which allow you to stop the drain on your laptop battery from USB devices plugged into it.  Pick the features that suit your needs.Also worth mentioning is the...<img src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/97/d2/58bf810ae7a0e0deb0a12210.L._AA300_.jpg" class="bbImage" alt="" data-url="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/97/d2/58bf810ae7a0e0deb0a12210.L._AA300_.jpg" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-USB-2-0-4-Port-Ultra-Mini/dp/B000Q8UAWY/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1332608739&sr=1-1">Belkin USB Ultra-Mini</a>when space is at a premium.  The Belkin quality brand name is reassuring.Good Luck out there!.[/QUOTE]

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