Now here's a simple and useful concept: a USB hub sold with a Y-cable. This makes it possible to run power-hungry gadgets that usually don't play well with unpowered hubs—think optical drives, scanners and 2.5" SATA drives—without mains power.
Product Page [Brando via Gizmodo]
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What does the Y-cable form factor have to do with power? After someone answers, I assume that I will have an AHA! moment, but right now I don't understand how a USB hub without a transformer can be considered to be 'powered'.
(Oh, is it because it plugs in to TWO of the computer's USB ports?)
Yep! It can draw more juice. 2.5 SATA drives typically need them to run: it's luck of the draw whether your motherboard/USB controller will supply extra current on demand.
Hubs, however, typically come with a standard cable, preventing the use of Y-cable devices "down the line."
USB 3, expected this year, should fix these problems by upping the power per device to 1.5A from 500mA.
"USB 3, expected this year, should fix these problems by upping the power per device to 1.5A from 500mA."
Yay, I hate powered hubs and wall-warts for larger external drives.
Maybe I am missing the point here I just don't see the benifit of wasting two USB ports on your computer to get 3 ports... 1 extra port doesn't seem to be that good of a gain.. ya the mini-usb is nice for camera, phone/what-not but looking at the image above the length of the cable would me having to crawl around behind my computer on the floor to plug in my phone.
I just don't get it... I don't understand why you guys think this is such a good thing, ya I know one less power plug == good I have to agree with the USB3.0 comments... that's a far better and more exciting solution. at least power wise.