The Bottom Line: This hub is as fine of a product as any but the power supply makes it awkward to transport. It CAN work without the adapter, but with limited capabilities.
bvckvs's Full Review: Targus Mobile MiniHub (PA060U) Networking Hub
This is a fine little USB hub, extending one USB port out to four.
It's designed to be particularly useful with laptops and other mobile devices that can host USB peripherals. It even has a little hidden compartment for stowing the rat-tail cable that connects it to the host device.
The hardware supports an older version of USB, which means it will work with the broadest range of ports. Unfortunately, this means that it will only communicate at 12Mbps and will not support some USB 2.0 devices, especially those that have Firewire connectors. (Firewire devices normally require the higher bandwidth of USB 2.0.)
One major down-side to the product is its power supply. The AC power adapter has an unusually small outlet, not easily replaced by the power adapters of other devices. Because of the sensitivity of the USB system, the wrong power supply could wreck the hub. Additionally, no power supply means that using all of the hub's outlets could over-tax the power coming to it from the computer - rendering all of the accessories useless.
A minor plus is the activity lites on the plastic housing. They let the user know at a glance if the components are inactive or malfunctioning. If they flash rapidly, there's a lot of activity. If they remain on, there is no activity. If they are unlit, there is no power coming to the hub - neither from the power adapter, nor from the USB cable to the computer.
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