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  • #2291747

    Laptop…need more USB Ports !!

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    by cyberghost_1 ·

    Here is the dilema, a friend of mine has a Generic Notebook (actually it is exactly like a Toshiba on the outside.)

    WinME, 256MB RAM, 30.0GB HDD, DVD/CD-R/RW Combo Drive, Celeron 1.7GHz.

    The NB only has 2 USB Ports, he needs to connect 1 Lexmark Printer, 1 Lexmark All-in-One…(Printer, Scanner, Fax, Copier.) 2 Digital Cameras. That’s 4 Ports needed, one of the digital cameras can be disconnected anytime, but the All-in-One can’t. Where can I get an USB Hub/Adapter to connect all the machines to the NB?
    NOTE: The NB has a mouse connected to it, so using the Mouse/Keyboard Port is out of the question….
    Any suggestions?

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    • #3345497

      Reply To: Laptop…need more USB Ports !!

      by willcomp ·

      In reply to Laptop…need more USB Ports !!

      To conect all that, you will need a powered USB hub. They are common and most any larger store like CompUSA or Office Depot should have them in stock. If you need an online source, here’s some.

      http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-111-955&depa=0

      http://store.yahoo.com/directron/belkin7port.html

      Note: To reiterate; you need a POWERED hub.

      Dalton

    • #3345494

      Reply To: Laptop…need more USB Ports !!

      by glyall ·

      In reply to Laptop…need more USB Ports !!

      You need a USB hub.

      You can get them at BestBuy, Staples, OfficeMax or at any office supply store. Have you checked with any local PC store, they can get one for you or form E-Bay.

      good Luck

    • #3345433

      Reply To: Laptop…need more USB Ports !!

      by oz_media ·

      In reply to Laptop…need more USB Ports !!

      Buy a MINI USB hub, they have all kinds of compact hardware for laptops, including mini USB hubs.

      http://overture-cnet.com.com/Tripp_Lite_4-port_USB_20_mini_hub_-_VS-U222004R/4014-3334_9-30399672.html

      These are much smaller than the standard USB hub and will fit easily in your laptop case or coat pocket.

    • #3345847

      Reply To: Laptop…need more USB Ports !!

      by sdfbervbdb ·

      In reply to Laptop…need more USB Ports !!

      I would not jump to the gun in buying a USB hun. Most hubs i have come across don’t contain enough power to run everything you want to plug into it. I would suggest getting a USB 2.0 PCI Card. You can get 4 ports with that and it would be powered by the computer instead of a power chord.

    • #3345739

      Reply To: Laptop…need more USB Ports !!

      by g.brown ·

      In reply to Laptop…need more USB Ports !!

      Hi, if the NB has got PCMCIA, then you could use a PCMICIA to USB adapter, less cables.

      • #3337440

        Reply To: Laptop…need more USB Ports !!

        by cyberghost_1 ·

        In reply to Reply To: Laptop…need more USB Ports !!

        True, buy the user is afraid of techs opening up his machine…he will think it is too complicated, plus I would charge him more for that type of installation..

    • #3345698

      Reply To: Laptop…need more USB Ports !!

      by luminous ·

      In reply to Laptop…need more USB Ports !!

      The USB hub idea suggested above is a good idea. You will need a powered hub as previously mentioned.

      You should also look to make sure you get a USB 2 compliant hub. USB 1.1 is very slow and limits the transfer rate to things like memory card readers and the new cameras that are capable of faster data transfer rates.

      USB 2 powered hubs are about 50% more than the 1.1 versions, but they are well worth the extra money. Transfer rates are generall 10x faster than USB 1.1

      Please also remember that to get USB 2 transfer rates the computer and the device you connect must also be USB 2.

    • #3344678

      Reply To: Laptop…need more USB Ports !!

      by tcstombar ·

      In reply to Laptop…need more USB Ports !!

      Most, but not all of the answers above are correct. You will be able to use either a PCMCIA USB 2.0 card or a powered 4 into 1 USB hub.
      The PCMCIA USB 2.0 card will cost 35-65 dollars and will probably have a maximum of 2 extra USB ports.
      The 4 into 1 USB hub will use one of the existing ports and will give you 4 ports. These can be daisychained together so that you can have up to 128 devices connected. BUT, Make sure that you buy a POWERED hub. It will have a small external 115V power connector.

      Good luck.

    • #3342600

      Reply To: Laptop…need more USB Ports !!

      by sureshtech_aagac ·

      In reply to Laptop…need more USB Ports !!

      It’s better to buy self-powered USB hub
      (Self-Powered hubs has its own power it doesn’t draws power from usb port so laptop batteries doesn’t goes down on charge quickly)

    • #3337436

      Reply To: Laptop…need more USB Ports !!

      by cyberghost_1 ·

      In reply to Laptop…need more USB Ports !!

      This question was closed by the author

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