Review: Ultra Products 7-Port USB Buddy Hub

GlitterKill · 21-November-05, 05:13 PM

Rob has a new review up on a sweet little USB switch from Ultra Products that allows you to share USB devices between two PCs.

Check it out here.

Bionic · 21-November-05, 06:40 PM

It looks to me like this would be a lot more useful if they would add a monitor port and market it as a KVM switch with a lot of USB ports

Wordbiker · 21-November-05, 11:12 PM

Yes, I could see it being a lot more useful if it included a keyboard hotkey feature like a KVM. Reaching for a button on top of a cable octopus still seems a bit awkward. If they were to do so, I can see it as a nice way to switch 5.1 or better audio (such as with an Audigy2 NX and the other USB peripherals) between two PCs along with standard KVM functions, something I have yet to find a device under $1000 to accomplish.

EDIT: My apologies Rob for not thanking you for the review. Although some may see it as "merely" a USB hub/switch review, you went through it very professionally, and because of that, I know that it doesn't quite fit my needs. I see that as a real service, and hopefully so does Ultra. Perhaps due to this review and the responses from it, we will see an improved and/or expanded version in the next iteration. Ultra will be Ultra happy with PimpRig that they're making products according to consumer demands...and find them selling as fast as $5 binoculars at a nude beach.

prime-evil · 22-November-05, 08:04 AM

Thanks for the review Rob.

I have to agree with a lot of your comments. I would also like to see a hub that has a little heft to it, maybe an aluminum enclosure instead of a cheap plastic box.
And better connectors, because the Belkin I have now drops signal on occasion ( rarely, but it has happened once or twice while printing). I always thought it was the quaility of the connectors. This made the comment made by Ultra on the stepping down of the hub's speed very interesting.
I wouldn't mind paying for an upscale hub, but there doesn't seem to be such an animal.

Spectrum · 22-November-05, 03:41 PM

How many USB devices do you guys have? I have 6 USB ports and have 2 free. Jeez!

Great review Rob. Very well done. It's nothing something I need, but it's great that Ultra found a solution to a dilema facing multiple PC users.

Pharaoh · 22-November-05, 03:57 PM

Nice review Rob.

I like what this switch can do but I'll be waiting for the USB 2.0 version.
Who knows, by then a new I/O may evolve?

Rob · 22-November-05, 05:58 PM

Total number of USB devices I've got...

Lexmark Printer/Scanner/Copier
Sony digital video camera
Sony digital still camera
Nikon digital still camera
Sony PDA
Sony Mini-Disc player
Flexi-glow mouse pad (rocks!)
MS Natural Keyboard
Logitech MX518 mouse
CyberSnipa game pad
USB thumb drive

I've got one or two others, but I can't think of them now. The ones that I would leave plugged in would be the Lexmark, the PDA, Mini-Disc (stand), mouse pad, keyboard, mouse, and the CyberSnipa. The mouse pad and the CyberSnipa is plugged into the back of my keyboard. That gives me five that I have plugged in all the time. The mouse and keyboard are into the motherboard's USB ports, and the rest are into the USB PCI 4-port card I got.

Rob

21-November-05, 05:13 PM		#1 (permalink)
GlitterKill Pimp-of-all-Pimps	Ultra Products 7-Port USB Buddy Hub Rob has a new review up on a sweet little USB switch from Ultra Products that allows you to share USB devices between two PCs. Check it out here.

21-November-05, 11:12 PM		#3 (permalink)
Wordbiker Apex Tech God	Yes, I could see it being a lot more useful if it included a keyboard hotkey feature like a KVM. Reaching for a button on top of a cable octopus still seems a bit awkward. If they were to do so, I can see it as a nice way to switch 5.1 or better audio (such as with an Audigy2 NX and the other USB peripherals) between two PCs along with standard KVM functions, something I have yet to find a device under $1000 to accomplish. EDIT: My apologies Rob for not thanking you for the review. Although some may see it as "merely" a USB hub/switch review, you went through it very professionally, and because of that, I know that it doesn't quite fit my needs. I see that as a real service, and hopefully so does Ultra. Perhaps due to this review and the responses from it, we will see an improved and/or expanded version in the next iteration. Ultra will be Ultra happy with PimpRig that they're making products according to consumer demands...and find them selling as fast as $5 binoculars at a nude beach. Last edited by Wordbiker; 21-November-05 at 11:35 PM..

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21-November-05, 06:40 PM		#2 (permalink)
Bionic Apex Tech Maniac	It looks to me like this would be a lot more useful if they would add a monitor port and market it as a KVM switch with a lot of USB ports

22-November-05, 08:04 AM		#4 (permalink)
prime-evil Apex Tech Fanatic Supreme	Thanks for the review Rob. I have to agree with a lot of your comments. I would also like to see a hub that has a little heft to it, maybe an aluminum enclosure instead of a cheap plastic box. And better connectors, because the Belkin I have now drops signal on occasion ( rarely, but it has happened once or twice while printing). I always thought it was the quaility of the connectors. This made the comment made by Ultra on the stepping down of the hub's speed very interesting. I wouldn't mind paying for an upscale hub, but there doesn't seem to be such an animal.

22-November-05, 03:41 PM		#5 (permalink)
Spectrum Former GameApex Editor	How many USB devices do you guys have? I have 6 USB ports and have 2 free. Jeez! Great review Rob. Very well done. It's nothing something I need, but it's great that Ultra found a solution to a dilema facing multiple PC users.

22-November-05, 03:57 PM		#6 (permalink)
Pharaoh Apex Tech God	Nice review Rob. I like what this switch can do but I'll be waiting for the USB 2.0 version. Who knows, by then a new I/O may evolve?

22-November-05, 05:58 PM		#7 (permalink)
Rob Advocatus Diaboli	Total number of USB devices I've got... Lexmark Printer/Scanner/Copier Sony digital video camera Sony digital still camera Nikon digital still camera Sony PDA Sony Mini-Disc player Flexi-glow mouse pad (rocks!) MS Natural Keyboard Logitech MX518 mouse CyberSnipa game pad USB thumb drive I've got one or two others, but I can't think of them now. The ones that I would leave plugged in would be the Lexmark, the PDA, Mini-Disc (stand), mouse pad, keyboard, mouse, and the CyberSnipa. The mouse pad and the CyberSnipa is plugged into the back of my keyboard. That gives me five that I have plugged in all the time. The mouse and keyboard are into the motherboard's USB ports, and the rest are into the USB PCI 4-port card I got. Rob