Ultra-Mini USB Hub: Plug in and go

This plug-and-play, hot-swappable, credit card-sized device has four USB ports

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"Gadgets on the go"

With all the add-on devices available these days for notebook and desktop computers, people often find that they need more than the one or two available on their system. So Tripp Lite came up with the Ultra-Mini USB Hub.

This plug-and-play, hot-swappable, credit card-sized device has four USB 1.1 ports and a connector that tucks into a built-in compartment. It increases a user's number of ports by three, since the fourth port must be used to connect the device.

If you need more ports, though, you can daisy-chain an unlimited number of hubs, although all of them must be self-powered except the last one in the chain, which would require use of the AC adapter.

The hub needs no external power for use with most devices, such as printers, scanners and digital cameras. For power-hungry peripherals such as videoconferencing cameras, Tripp Lite bundles an AC power adapter.

It's rated for high-speed transmissions of 12 megabits/sec and has a port-to-port output of 5 volts.

The Ultra-Mini USB Hub is compatible with systems running Microsoft Corp. Windows 98 and higher and Apple Computer Inc. Mac OS 8.5 or higher. The device costs $39.

Contact Tripp Lite at (773) 869-1111 or www.tripplite.com.

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