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| September 3 - September 10 |
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 by Alessandro CancianI have to admit, Ive always been a sucker for gadgets. Palm PDA, Graphic Tablet, USB speakers, Intellimouse, Videocamera and other small objects they take up all the desk space my computer doesnt. And yet, I cant do without them. In fact, every day I always find something new to add to the collection. The release of the USB as new connection standard has in some way alleviated this process thanks mostly to the number of peripheries which can be connected simultaneously (up to 127), and to the lack of problems which were created at one time by the various IRQ conflicts. Users of Windows know exactly what Im referring to. So its these problems aside from connecting the various gadgets to the computer that makes a Hub USB indispensable. In the market the solutions are many, and among these I was able to try out, with great satisfaction, one of the latest products from Belkin. The USB BusStation is much more than a simple USB Hub. Complete with a perfect design for someone whom, like myself, has space problems, the USB BusStation offers the possibility of customizing your own USB environment. The Belkin product is equipped with a 4 port USB Hub and three additional trays thanks to which its possible to add various modules more suited to your needs. Belkin, in fact, offers a complete range of modules, each of which work either by themselves as a stand-alone product, or in combination with the BusStation. Aside from the above-mentioned Hub, there are more modules available from the USB Serial Adapter, thanks to which you can attach virtually any existing serial device through the USB port on your PC or Mac. There is also a USB Ethernet Adapter to connect your desktop or laptop in a network without need of a network card, as well as a USB PS/2 adapter and a USB SCSI one. The BusStation and the different modular are available for both PC and for Mac, and offered in different colours, from purple to graphite, passing through Blueberry and Tangerine, which will coordinate perfectly with my wifes iBook. The BusStation I sampled was equipped with four modules capable of providing up to seven USB ports (max 16 USB ports). Installing it was easy and all the devices were, to my relief, perfectly functional a a few seconds. No software was necessary to make the USB PS/2 adapter installed later. It was only necessary to simply substitute one of the present modules on the BusStation. I was able to dust off my old keyboard which I had abandoned time ago in favour of one featuring USB ports. The combinations offered by the BusStation will certainly satisfy all your needs, using up only a minimal part of the space available and leaving room on your desk for that odd photograph. The final Belkin module tested was the USB Ethernet adapter, thanks to which I was able to connect a laptop in a local network. In this case it was necessary to install some software, but this was not a complicated thing if one excludes the foreseen search of a network cable which unfortunately is not included in the package. After a minute or two, the laptop was easily visible to the other computers and the exchange of files or printing was decidedly painless. Finally, the solution offered by Belkin represents something unique in the market, even more so for one who wants to look to the future without undoing the past, thanks also to the competitive prices. For more information visit www.belkin.com |
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