If you have run out of USB ports on your computer or you want to increase the number of ports easily accessible, look into getting a USB hub. These are an effective and cheap alternative to buying additional USB PCI cards for your computer.
I have been using one of these instead of the front USB ports on my machine for several months now and love the flexibility they offer. You can move them anywhere you like without having to move your PC and with the aid of some double sided tape, you can be quite creative with your placement.
Typically, a USB hub is installed by running a USB cable from the back of the hub to a USB port on your computer and then there is an AC adapter which needs to be plugged in. Additional software or drivers are usually not needed (I have 2 and neither require drivers).
For your convenience, here is NewEgg search which lists available USB hubs.
Like what you read?
If so, please join over 28,000 people who receive our exclusive weekly newsletter and computer tips, and get FREE COPIES of 5 eBooks we created, as our gift to you for subscribing. Just enter your name and email below:
Hi,
Although this is a nice idea but failed to mention 1 thing that not everyone is aware of! USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 – Most common devices are USB 2.0 and older devices are USB 1.1, some cheap USB can be 1.1 and find the USB 2.0 devices may not function fully on an USB Hub running version 1.1!
This should be pointed out to everyone and to be made aware of it, how to tell if the device is an 2.0 or 1.1? Look on the box (if you still have them) and it should say USB 2.0 or 1.1 version. Some devices do actually warn you that you has plugged into 1.1 and would work better on 2.0.
Thanks, Peter
Great Tip, another top tip for USB is immediately after installing a USB device , printer etc.. place the device to ALL the USB ports on the computer, Windows will then not reinstall the USB driver if the device is plugged into a different port…
Charley Rouse :: EntreperNerd :: http://www.nerdsonsite.com
Charley, you say “place the device to ALL the USB ports on the computer”.
Do you mean just plug it into each port after the initial install on one particular port?
Please clarify.