Bob Moriarty of MacCPU call this The Ugliest USB Hub in the
World. I can't verify that, but the Pertec USB Hub Master isn't one
of the prettified, candy-colored hubs with translucent
plastics
.
No, this hub is beige and strictly business. It's designed as a
working hub, not a desktop ornament.
I've been using the Hub Master for months, ever since I got my USB
card installed. I haven't reviewed it because, well, there's not a lot
to say about it. It works. And it doesn't draw attention to itself.
In the process of testing different USB mice and keyboards, it's
nice to have all those ports in a row right next to my beige Umax SuperMac S900. It's very easy to
plug and unplug peripherals, which is what a hub should do best. After
all, the concept behind USB is plug-and-play.
The Hub Master is self-contained; there's no power module on the
floor. You plug the power cord into the wall, surge strip, or UPS, then
connect the 6' USB cable between your computer and the seven port Hub
Master. Then plug in your USB devices.
Lights on the Hub Master indicate power to the hub, USB bus power,
and which ports are active.
Four of the seven ports are powered; three are not. I don't know why
that is, nor do I have enough USB devices to worry about it. The three
unpowered ports would be used by devices which have their own power
supply, such as printers and other hubs.
Until the iMac came along, anyone looking at the Hub Master would
call it a well designed product. Form follows function, not vice versa.
Post-iMac, the Hub Master remains a well designed product, albeit not
as colorful or plasticy as most USB hubs.
I see that as a good thing. If you're looking for a well-built USB
hub that simply does the job well and makes using the USB ports easy,
the Hub Master merits consideration.
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