Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Pocket Hub ReviewOctober 11th, 2002
Pros: Low price; compact; cable management.
Cons: Difficult to pull out the integrated USB cable.
Verdict: The Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Pocket Hub is definitely worth the price for laptop travelers with its future-proof, space-saving design.
Running out of ports on a notebook could be frustrating, especially when you’ve an integrated USB device blocking the way of an adjacent USB port. Getting a hub would solve everything, but not any hubs are as lightweight and compact as the Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Pocket Hub.
Hub On The Go The solid-black Pocket Hub has three Hi-Speed USB certified ports, and its LEDs on top of the unit keeps you informed of the bus activities. When you pull out the integrated USB cable from the hub and connect to either USB or Hi-Speed USB port, you still have a net gain of two additional ports. You can also plug this hub with the bundled voltage switching power supply to provide enough juice for three high-powered USB devices. Without AC power, the hub still serves as a bus-powered hub, boosting 100mA to each port, for your typical mice, Bluetooth USB adapters and USB flash drives. While the Pocket Hub does not speed up your legacy USB devices, it is the hub you would need to increase the number of ports on a Hi-Speed USB laptop. Performance wise, the hub passed our tolerance test of flooding traffic from our USB audio and Hi-Speed USB storage devices. Belkin is also assuring your purchase with a lifetime (of the company) warranty.
The Bottom Line Overall, the Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Pocket Hub is the choice of expansion hub for laptop travelers with its future-proof, space-saving design. Only if the integrated USB cable were a little easier to detach, the hub would have been perfect.
Where to buy Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Pocket Hub?
User Review(s)
We're currently upgrading our user review system; so we won't be accepting new reviews for now. Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Pocket Hub Specs
Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP, MacOS X
Number of USB ports
3
Built-in Ethernet?
No
Built-in parallel converter(s)
0
Built-in serial converter(s)
0
Built-in PS/2 converter(s)
0
Built-in SCSI converter(s)
0
Stackable?
No
Type
External
Extra?
Integrated cable management, voltage switching power supply
Number of FireWire 400 ports
--
Power source
Self- or bus-powered
Warranty
Lifetime
Extras Turn on and off this self-powered device automatically with your PC.
Lost a USB cable? Get a replacement USB cable.
Running out of USB ports? Get an extra USB hub.
You may need a new USB card to achieve Hi-Speed USB speeds.
Confirm with our USB 2.0 FAQ if you have Hi-Speed USB on your PC.
