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General discussion

How many USB peripherals do you have connected?

Oct 12, 2005 8:02AM PDT

How many USB peripherals do you have connected to your computer?

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Discussion is locked

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Slightly ambiguous question
Oct 13, 2005 8:33PM PDT

I had a hard time counting this - I assume a hub is NOT a peripheral but I reasonably frequently hot plug some peripherals - digital camera and PDA but they are not permanently connected. This is probably true of quite a few people.

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Agreed
Oct 13, 2005 9:20PM PDT

I have a laptop so for a while I had a mouse permanently using a usb. However, I don't even use that all the time any more. I have 6 peripherals that could be connected if I wished - or use alternative ports, but to say permanently - now it's not even one.

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What isn't connected by USB
Oct 13, 2005 10:02PM PDT

I have three permanently connected including the printed which i think moves alot faster. But that can be seven at once with a PDA, camera, USB memory keys and MP3 player. This is why I will not consider a PC without USB port in the front because who has time to be on their knees fighting to plug in stuff behind a desk.

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CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT MY USB PORTS
Oct 14, 2005 1:57AM PDT

On my laptop I have 3 USB2 ports and on one of them I hooked up a 4-port unit and same as you, there's the printer, fax,mp3,camera and the rest of the gadgets connected. Works great! so, in all, I guess I have 6 USB ports.

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my old printer and my old scanner
Oct 16, 2005 12:54AM PDT

neither of them are connected with a USB. I have my PALM, Camera, wireless, fax and printer connected via USB

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Virtually Everything is USB today
Oct 13, 2005 11:09PM PDT

I have all four of my USB ports in back filled, 2-printers, 1-wireless keyboard/mouse, 1 - Hub (all four ports in hub filled with, MP3 player cradle, PDA cradle, digital camera dock/printer, and UPS.) I also have, not continuously connected, a flatbed scanner, another digital camera dock, a PSP,and 2-GPS units, that I use the two front ports for when needed. Computers need to come with more USB ports in back...that's for sure...

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Only a couple
Oct 14, 2005 12:41AM PDT

I'm running a 5 yr old Dell PIII that came with 2 ports, both on the back of the unit. Because of the systems age, naturally they are USB 1.1. The mouse utilizes 1 port and my printer uses the other. I had been using a networked print server but was unhappy with it's performance so it's been ripped out and I'm back to using a USB port.

For the times I've needed to plug in a digital camera, I simply unplug the printer for the duration. My system is close at hand and easily accessable so this really isn't an issue.

Yes I know I can plug in an expansion card for more ports, but my needs to date have been simple and easily worked around.

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I connect everything via USB
Oct 14, 2005 1:42AM PDT

I purchase high speed machines with next to nothing in the box I have Video Card, one hard disk (40 GB), a CD-ROM, and 3.5" everything else is attached via USB then I take the "My Documents" and move it to a USB drive. I use the Microsoft "Synch Toy" to make a copy of the document/software USB drive.

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Utility of USB ports in present day computers
Oct 14, 2005 4:31AM PDT

Everything is getting UBB connected now. Stating from Printers, Scanners, camera docks, compuer-to-computer USB connections and all sorts of other devices. In fact, in time to come,even 4x4 (with hubs is going to be a tight situation in the developing countries.

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Two "permanent", Three alternating and One free.
Oct 14, 2005 6:23AM PDT

It's a 4-USB-port laptop so it isn't really "permanent". Priter/Scanner and 250 GB external HD are "always" connected. The third port I use it for Digital Camera, Thumb Drive and Video Capture device. The forth one is currently free but could very well be used for a mouse soon.

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usb usage
Oct 14, 2005 6:45AM PDT

I have a usb hub. But not every usb accessory can be used through a hub. I have a couple of devices that require a usb connection on my computer. I don't attach my camera via usb. I have memory card slots for my camera media and cell phone media. I keep my cell phone cradle permanently connected to my hub. I have 5 usb ports on the back of my computer and 2 in the front. I keep extra usb cables next to the computer to attach temporary accessories. Plugging and unplugging cables wears them out.

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How Many USB peripherals do you have connected.
Oct 14, 2005 10:46AM PDT

I have 7 actual USB peripherals connected along with 3 1394 devices. I can't even remember how computers were without those external ports. If you are a power user, that is probably about how many you have too.

Here is the list of all the external devices,

1. 1 USB1 Epson Printer
2. 1 USB2 Epson Printer
3. 1 USB1 HP scanner
4. 1 USB2 Hard Drive
5. 1 USB2 Casio Camera
6. 1 USB2 Flash drive
7. 3 1394 Hard Drives
8. 1 USB2 DVD writer

And fortunately everything is currently working perfectly with Window XP Professional with SP2.
Oh by the way, in order to get the 1394 drives recognized, I had to run a separate connection from a 3 output PCI 1394 card. They would not run in a daisy chain configuration currently. One of those MINOR Windows XP problems!!!!! Ha! Ha!

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How Many USBs Hooked Up/
Oct 14, 2005 2:20PM PDT

1-Printer
2-Printer
3-PVR
4-Scanner
5-Camera Card Reader
6-Fax
Had to install a card to gain more ports and add fire wire. Do I like peripherals? Oh, yess.
Running XP Home loaded to the gills.
Connected 24/7 and running smooth.

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Top This...
Oct 15, 2005 10:56PM PDT

1. Intel Webcam
2. SanDisk 6-in-1 Card Reader
3. Sony Clie Personal Organizer
4. Lexar JumpDrive (Memory Stick)
5. Canon Flatbed Scanner
6. Minolta Slide Scanner
7. HP DeskJet Printer
8. APC Biopod
9. Logitech MX 510 Mouse
10. APC BackUPS ES500 (monitor cable for UPS status)
11. ViewSonic VP201s with built-in active 4-port USB 2.0 Hub
12. Western Digital Dual-option External USB Hard Drive
13. Microsoft Internet Keyboard Pro (with built-in passive 2-port USB 1.1 hub)

I have a number of other USB devices that are NOT connected right now or are connected to other machines.

- Digital SLR
- Adaptec VideOh! MPEG2 capture device
- RCA Lyra MP3 player
- Bytecc USB 2.0 to IDE hard disk adapter
- USB IrDA Adapter
- Midiman Midisport 2x2 MIDI Adapter

In total I have 14 USB 2.0 ports inside my computer (8 built-in, 6 via an add-in card), and 6 additional ports via the hubs for a total usable ports = 18.

DO I WIN??? What's the prize... ;^)

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Top This.... USB Ports
Nov 10, 2005 6:00AM PST

With that many toys, looks like you might be single. No woman would tolerate all the stuff that I have connected to my computer!!!!! I have been single for over 20 years!!!! One good thing about all the external devices, is that they will travel along to your next computer.

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USB & 1394 Peripherals
Nov 10, 2005 8:35AM PST

I have a 7 port Belkin USB 2.0 Hub that I bought at Fry's Electronics for less than $50. If you have two ports coming out of the back of a laptop, you should probably connect up two hubs, and use one for USB1.1 and one for USB 2.0. If you plug a USB 1.0/1.1 device into a USB hub, that will limit all other devices to that speed. I have a desktop, but have both a USB 1.0/1.1 and USB 2.0 hub connected. You can daisy chain the devices, but with the hubs, you might be able to connect each one seperately to a Hub. The 7 port Belkin Hub mentioned above has 5 jacks in the back, and two on top which helps if you want to anchor a flash drive in one and a camera cable to the other on the top. I have my Printer and external Hard drives connected to the rear inputs. Also, I have Windows XP Professional, and when I tried to daisy chain 3 1394 hard drives from one jack, XP failed to recognize them. I have a 1394 PCI card installed with 3 outputs, and have each output go to its own 1394 device. Things work perfectly that way.