Cables To Go 7 Port USB 2.0 Hub
by CABLES TO GO
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List Price: Our Price: $26.44 You Save: $18.55 (41%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $13.00 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Cables To Go 7 Port USB 2.0 Hub
Customer Review: A Sturdy Little Hub From A Name I Trust
Summary: 5 Stars
Bottom-Line: The "Cables-To-Go 7-Port USB 2.0 Hub" is a small, affordable, convenient solution to my USB dilemma.
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is everywhere and thankfully so, because the good ole PC was running out of IRQ ports to handle new hardware. Slow out of the gate, USB is everywhere now and is miraculously standard across Mac and PC alike. Like everyone else I have a myriad of USB devices from printers, to keyboards, to mice, and memory sticks and digital camera, almost anything to attaches to a computer in the Year 2008 does so via USB.
My old desktop PC has no less than (10) available USB ports and I used a fair amount of them. But my new Dell XPS-One Desktop PC only has six, and I have upwards to seven devices I might want to plug into the machine at any given time, so I had a dilemma, one I resolved with the little stylish "Cables-To-Go 7-Port USB 2.0 Hub."
The Hub
In The Box
o Cables-To-Go 7-Port USB 2.0 Hub
o 3-foot USB cable
o Base w/mounting screws
o A/C Power Adapter
As the name implies the "Cables-To-Go 7-Port USB 2.0 Hub" is adorned with (7) USB 2.0 ports, 4 in the back of the unit and three in the front. Additionally, this unit like most USB hubs can support up to 127 devices and its USB 2.0 designation ensures high speed data transfers up to 480 Mbps (Megabits per second).
The slim black and silver unit is surprisingly small and thus saves space while the smart port placement--like I stated the majority of the ports are situated in the back of the unit--coupled with the hard-mountable metal (mounting screws included) base help keep the hub in place even when several USB cables are connected. And the little hub is portable, sliding easily out of its base. However, if you want to make the base less slippery, Cables-To-Go provides a foam insert that can be attached to the unit.
The 7-Port USB 2.0 "Aluminum" Hub can draw power from the computer it's attached to, or you can utilize the included A/C adapter. Once powered on a small blue LED glows on top of the unit.
First Impressions:
Though smaller than I anticipated, I am very happy with the "Cables-To-Go 7-Port USB 2.0 Hub." The hub feels solid in the hand and stays in place as advertised. Cable slide into the provided ports and stay put, which is important since I have the hub tangling over the edge of my inside desk drawer. This is because the provided three foot cable is too short. Six foot is standard, so I do not why Cables-To-Go decided to slight the consumer.
Be forwarded, the blue power LED is powerful and bright; you might want to cover it with a piece of cloth or tape. As for me, I like the blue glow.
Conclusion:
The "Cables-To-Go 7-Port USB 2.0 Hub" is a small, affordable, convenient solution to my USB dilemma. The unit is well engineered, well balanced, attractive, and easy to use. I highly recommend it.
Customer Review: Nearly perfect
Summary: 5 Stars
So much better than some of the not-necessarily cheap competition out there.
Positives:
Sturdy metal case - Feels very solid.
Good looking - Sleek silver and black with a prominent blue light (contrary to what at least one poster said, marred by a minimum of painted lettering).
Solid performance - 100% reliable so far. Every device plugged in to it works perfectly (quite unlike the simlarly-priced hub it replaced). Very satisfying.
Good port spacing - Especially the side with three ports. The base actually helps here, as the plugs are held a small distance away from the wall or desk, and are therefore easier to grip.
Negatives (mostly minor):
USB-to-PC and power cord placement - Are alongside four of the seven ports, creating unnecessary crowding on one side. What is worse is that they are on opposite ends of the device, so if the cords are going to the same place, it is difficult to gather them together or otherwise keep them away from devices and wires you plug in. I would have preferred them to be side-by-side on the end so they could be kept out of the way. As it is, I used an L-adapter on the mini USB to mitigate the problem.
Bright blue light - I like the light, as it is a nice color, and as another has said, provides an efficient night light. As it happens, I have the device in a position where I do not look directly at it. On a whim, I looked straight into it and found it something like looking directly into an LED flashlight (I agree: Way too bright). Try to position it where it will not shine directly into users' eyes.
Sliding bracket - Works well if you want your hub to slide. I added adhesive rubber feet (cut to size) on one end to prevent sliding in that direction. You can mount the bracket with good double sided tape if you do not want to create holes in your wall or desk.
Short USB cable - I have several USB cables with a mini end (used by many cameras and phones) but no long ones. Be sure to get one the length you will need when you buy this hub.
Customer Review: Great product jost got better!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Wow! I got this hub today and got so excited that I turned on the computer just to write this review!
I purchased one of these hubs in december 2007 and installed it in my office. It's a great product, especially because ports are well spaced (using both sides of the hub), which reduces the chances of one big fat USB device hindering the use of the other nearby ports (see D-Link's 7 port USB hub and you'll know what I mean).
Back then, I remember some of the complaints people had were mainly cosmetic:
1. blue light is too bright.
2. base can be secured to wall or other surface with screws, but machine screws are provided. (Of course, you can use double sided tape or you could go to a hardware store get two wood screws)
3. hub slides too easily from the base. (Some people put adhesive foam on the base. But a folded piece of used paper works too, if you want to go cheap!)
Which proves that sometimes we can get a great product and then start complaining about the accessories!
Well, lo and behold, because 4 months later I bought my second USB hub, which fixes 2 out of 3:
1. blue light is still bright. (I can't cmpare it with the one in my office, but yeah, it is bright).
2. the screws are no longer machine screws, but are wood screws, 3/4 inch.
3. a black foam stripe with adhesive on one side is supplied, along with a NOTE that says:
"Attach the enclosed foam piece horizontally to the center of the base if you prefer your hub not [sic] slide out of the base so easily. This will cause enough resistance between the base and the hub to prevent the hub from sliding off. This is ideal for situations where you would like to mount your hub vertically."
So, there you go. Our complaints were listened AND responded. AND they send us a note, isn't it cute?
I like that in a company and that's the kind of company that deserves my patronage. (So far, the only other one I recall making me this happy is Staedtler, the pencil makers from Germany. They're good too, but that's another story)
Customer Review: Excellent Design & Performance
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the best USB hub I've ever dealt with. It looks great and works wonderfully. The squashed oval shape is eye-catching and sleek. The color is a matte black with silver trim around the ports and the end caps. The casing has a subtle grain to it and looks more like painted wood than plastic. It just does not look like a cheap piece of plastic. The base it sits on is metal with just enough heft to stay in place on the desk and includes 2 predrilled holes in the bottom and 2 screws if you want to attach it to a desk.
In normal operation the hub slides lengthwise onto the base and sits very snugly so it feels like one piece. It slides easily off in either direction to become a mobile hub for a laptop also. Being round and feather-light it is easy to grab and chuck in a laptop bag. And without the base it still sits nicely because of a slight base to the hub which is the part that normally locks into the base.
Performance-wise, it rocks. I plugged it into my laptop and it was ready to go 3 seconds later. I plugged in my ipod, which immediately started to sync. I normally have a printer, external USB hard drive, and an ipod sitting on it with operation as seamless and fast as when plugged directly into the laptop.
Another great thing about this hub is the spacing of ports. There are 3 on one side with about 2 centimeters between each plug. There are 4 on the other side along with the AC adapter and mini-USB plug that connects it to the laptop, so these are somewhat closer together but still enough room for normal size USB plugs to sit adjacent to each other.
I looked long and hard to find a hub that had good plug spacing, could possibly function as a mobile hub (with or without a power adapter on the road), and was fairly light. This hub is all of those things, and it looks great as well.
Customer Review: Works like a charm
Summary: 5 Stars
Can't beat the price on this 7-port HUB. The unit feels solid despite it's very compact and sleek design. It is truly plug and play, as soon as I plugged it in, my PC recognized it and it was up and running. Be careful with a MAC though..seems there are some compatibility issues according to other reviews.
The design is great, 4 ports on one side and 3 on the other. This makes it easier to access as you can plug the permanent devices into the 4 port side and the 3 port side can be used for removable devices like cameras, etc. If you don't plan on permanently attaching it to a desk top, you will need to use the included foam insert to keep the base from sliding/falling off. Also, if it's not attached, it may not sit flat if there are too many cords on one side or if the cords hang over the edge of the desk. Obvious solutions would be to plug the cords into both sides to balance it or attach the HUB to the desk top. If you do plan on attaching it to a desk top, you'll need different screws as the ones included will not bore into any surface. Velcro would work if you don't want to drill holes into your desk.
The cord is short so if you plan on the HUB being a distance from your computer, you can forget that plan. The two power source options is a nice feature though I opted for the USB power instead of the electric cord. Every device regarless of being 2.0 or 1.0, has worked flawlessly. The blue light on the top is a bit obnoxious. It doesn't really bother me but if you leave your computer on all the time, I can see how it could. You could easily conceal it with a piece of electrical tape if it really bothers you.
All in all, I have no complaints about this HUB. For the features, you certainly can't beat the price.