penk

Is this a problem for the 2k's or what?

Poor clipper is having a hard time dealing with my rampant gadget-itus. Since USB has really taken over the 'small component' interconnect need, the number of devices connected to your standard power-users desktop machine has gone through the roof.

Well, I've hit the wall myself. clipper lives in it's docking station most of the time, which provides 3 nice USB ports in the back of the dock (I ignore the 2 ports on the side of the laptop, to avoid having to plug and unplug things everytime I undock). One of the ports on the dock is a cable to my external powered 4 port hub.

Doing the math, that gives me 6 available connections. Here's how they're wired up:

Labtec USB webcam (Used with Skype and MSN Live Messenger)
USB audio dongle (Dell D620's for -some- nutty reason have no speaker connector on the dock. So when the laptop is in the dock, I would have to plug in my desktop speakers everytime I dock. Screw that, $10 from newegg got me an external audio device.
Microsoft 4000 ergo keyboard (IMHO one of the best keyboards ever made)
USB 'LED' mouse
HP deskjet 5150 printer (I got this printer about 2.5 years ago for $70 from CompUSA. I've never regretted it, it's a great printer.)
Dock for a Mobile Crossing GPS
Sync cable for my Treo 650

And I'm out of ports. I'm somewhat amused that the Dell monitor I have has a pair of USB ports on the side of it, but that's pretty ugly, and would only gain me one more port (it would take up a port to plug it in).

The search is now on for a super-geeky 8 port hub. I want lights and blinky bits and cool live activity. I have to thank Mort for finding this Evil Genius USB hub which is mighty tempting, though it's only 4 ports. (And no, I -do not- have USB powered manicure kit :)

Cloned from: Planet Geek!
Category: Geekitude
Full article & comments: Link (Comment ticker:

)