quasar's Full Review: Belkin ExpressBus 4-port (F5U021) Networking Hub
I've used several different USB hubs. None of them have been perfect, but only one has been truly awful. Each has had its own strengths and weaknesses so choosing the right set of non-perfect features for a specific situation can be difficult.
Like the other hubs I've used, the Belkin 4 Port Hub has its unique set of strengths and weaknesses. All in all, it's a decent hub, but it's not for everyone.
First of all, the hub is a little bit larger and heavier than most of the other USB hubs I've used. It's certainly not enormous by anyone's standards, but if compact and light is one of your goals this isn't the hub for you. On the other hand, the extra size and weight help anchor the hub in place so the various cables don't weigh it down and drag it all over your desk.
Like most hubs, this one has both a self-powered and bus-powered mode. I'm using it in self-powered mode with two printers and a scanner and all three devices work without any problems. Also like most hubs the Belkin is plug-and-play. It requires no installation. Just plug it in and it works.
The hub is translucent graphite which lets you see all of the circuit boards inside. As a fan of clear gear I like this look, but it also causes some problems. It took me a good ten minutes to find the small switch that moves the hub between self-powered and bus-powered mode because it blended in.
The hub has a typical circular power jack, one USB Type A jack, and four USB type B jacks. All of these interfaces are along a single side of the hub which is a bit awkward. I much prefer hubs that place the power jack and incoming USB A plug on one side and the four split USB B interfaces on the other side. This provides a nicer balance and makes it easier to reach devices at various locations on a desk while still keeping the power cord out of the way.
While we're on the topic of cords and power plugs, this hub has one of the largest plugs I've ever seen. No matter how I positioned it or which surge protector I used there was no way to keep it from spilling over into two outlets even when using the one on the end. Given the number of things I have plugged into the machine I'm using the hub with, this was a bit irritating.
My last complaint concerns the LED indicators. Like most hubs the Belkin hub has an LED indicator showing whether the hub is drawing power and one for each USB port. On this device all five LEDs are on the side opposite the side with all of the ports and they don't line up directly across from the ones they match up with. Also, the four USB indicator lights are on whenever the hubs are available regardless of whether or not they're currently in use. Thus they don't really hold much meaning. On most hubs I've used the light only goes on when you're actually using a particular port. Thus it acts as an indicator that a particular port is working and getting throughput. I miss having that little extra check.
This is certainly a useable hub. It worked automatically with all of my USB devices running both in Mac OS X and Classic mode. It's heavy enough that it doesn't slide all over my desk when I have multiple devices plugged in. It lets you use your choice of self-powered or bus-powered modes. However, it's larger than many other hubs on the market and the translucent plastic shell effectively hides the power mode switch. It also uses non-standard and less than useful LED indicators. Thus, like every other hub on the market it has its share of shortcomings.
A tangled web of wires lies dormant behind the computer. Your back stiffens as you creep down to look for an open USB port to connect your new USB mod...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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