[Cube] USB 2.0 options? Macally HUB-UF

[Chris Weiss]

On 1/16/07, Andrew <andrewaa at comcast.net> wrote:
> I just came across this Macally USB/Firewire hub (part number  HUB-UF)
> <http://www.macally.com/spec/usb/input_device/hubuf.html>
>
> "This ice white USB2.0 and FireWire Combo hub is designed for users who
> would like to connect both USB 2.0 (OSX) / USB 1.1 (OS9.x) and FireWire
> devices easily to their computer."
>
> It says that it will work with
> "Any desktop or notebook computer with an available USB port and
> FireWire port"
>
> I'm guessing that it passes through the USB and firewire rather than
> being a firewire to USB 2.0 converter but I'd love to be wrong.
>
> Has anyone played with one of these?
>

I had one of those and smoked it when I tried plugging in my iPod, USB
mouse, and external hard disk.

FWIW - USB needs "smarts" on the computer side of it to figure out
just what you're plugging in and how to talk to it. To convert USB to
something else (say, Firewire), you'd pretty much need an entire
computer in the middle with a library of drivers to support all the
USB devices you might plug in.
I, too, was on a quest to get USB 2.0 (for a USB 802.11g adapter) and
eventually gave up and went with a network cable instead.

-- 
-Chris