Product Description

Specially designed for PCs equipped with a USB port, theCompact USB 4-Port Hub from Linksys offers instant connectivityfor up to four USB devices. Plug in peripherals likedigital cameras, Ethernet adapters, modems, printers, mice, keyboards,scanners, and portable data storage devices in seconds.Ready to run right out of the box, the Compact USB 4-Port Hubmakes high-speed, low-cost expansion a snap. The Compact USB4-Port Hub allows four USB devices to be configured and ready foruse as soon as you plug them in. Equipped with advanced hotswap technology, the hub even lets you attach or detach USBdevices while your computer is on, making it possible to switchdevices on the flyThe Compact USB 4-Port Hub offers data transfer rates of up to 12million bits per second, which makes it perfect for speed-hungrymultimedia, gaming, and Ethernet networking applications. Foradded expandability, you can daisy-chain the 4-Port Hub to additionalUSB hubs -- you can use up to 127 USB devices at thesame time Expand the capabilities of your PC with one easy step.its never been easierS

Product Details

• Brand: Linksys
• Model: USBHUB4C
• Platform: Windows
• Format: CD
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .35 pounds

Features

• Data Transfer Rate - 12 Mbps
• Network Ports Qty - 4
• Compliant Standards - USB 1.1
• System Requirements - USB-Equipped PCs or Notebooks with Windows 98, 2000, ME, and XP

Amazon.com Product Description
Specially designed for PCs equipped with a USB port, the Proconnect compact USB four-port hub from Linksys offers instant connectivity for up to four USB devices. Plug in peripherals like digital cameras, Ethernet adapters, modems, printers, mice, keyboards, scanners, and portable data storage devices in seconds.

Ready to run, right out of the box, this compact USB four-port hub makes high-speed, low-cost expansion a snap. The hub allows four USB devices to be configured and ready for use as soon as you plug them in. Equipped with advanced hot-swap technology, the hub even lets you attach or detach USB devices while your computer is on, making it possible to switch devices on the fly!

The Linksys Proconnect compact USB four-port hub offers data transfer rates of up to 12 Mbps, which makes it perfect for speed-hungry multimedia, gaming, and Ethernet networking applications. For added expandability, you can daisy chain the hub to additional USB hubs. Use up to 127 USB devices at the same time.

Customer Reviews

Cheap. But there is a CATCH!
I would recommend that if you are considering this product, you spend the extra [$] and get powered Linksys USB 4-Port Hub (ASIN: B00004Z6PI) instead.

What does not appear on Amazon's description, but appears on the back of the packaging is a warning from Linksys that this product may not work with USB devices that draw power through the connection, unless you buy an optional AC adapter add-on ...

You see, the USB socket provides both connectivity to other devices, and a low current power supply to those devices that need it -- like, for example, a mouse or a keyboard.

If you are attaching only devices that also plug into the wall -- such as a printer or scanner -- this may be a great, cheap solution for you. But if you need to be able to add on other devices without worrying about whether they can draw power through this un-powered hub, you'd better step up and buy a powered hub.

I hope this helps you avoid the mistake I made.

The hub works, but...
Like some reviews say, "You just plug it in and it works." Well that's a good start; that's what USB is supposed to do. But before you spent the money to buy this hub, consider the downsides.

1. Unfortunately the USB cord is about five or six inches long. On my computer and many others that means that the hub is just hanging precariously of the back of the tower.
2. Second, the hub is not compact. Its rectangular clunky design may take up a lot of very valuable area (especially since it may be hanging off the back of your desktop).
3. Thirdly, and probably most frustrating for me: no power cord included! I've purchased Belkin hubs in the past. They are all powered so that they work with powered devices. Unforturnately, Linksys says that you may purchase one of these separately. But when I call Linksys technical support they say, "Oh we're sorry, we don't support that product anymore," and everywhere I've read says that the cord is no longer available for purchase. Maybe I'll have to do ebay.

BUT this may be the hub for if:
1. You don't mind the short cord (ie if you're using it for a laptop or if your tower setup is condusive to a hub with very short wires)
2. You don't mind the awkward shape.
3. You don't use any USB powered devices.

The hub is definately inexpensive and it works well. Unfortunately, for me, the drawbacks made this an bad purchase.

Fat and Clunky for "Compact", No USB Extension Included.
This has to be the fattest "compact" USB adapter I have ever seen. I've had USB hubs that were a 1/4 of the USBHUB4C's size, and got the job done well. AND, those other hubs were FREE after mail-in rebate....

It would have been nice if Linksys included an USB "A" extension cable with the USBHUB4C, since the cable itself is only about 5" long. It doesn't really benefit desktop users to have a short, stubby USB hub hanging off the back of the computer. If you have an extension cable, use it.

For some reason, the DC power adapter, USBHUB4CP, that you supposedly can purchase separately to turn this USBHUB4C into a powered USB hub, doesn't exist anymore on the web.... So don't count on this hub for any USB device that draws power from the computer itself, unless you can figure out the DC rating for this hub.