Thinkpads Forum

Hi all,

Was just wondering, how do you solve (if you even do solve) the lack of usb ports? I understand theres stuff like docks, but i was more thinking in terms of minimal usb hubs or something.

Is there such a thing, do you use it, how do you like it and what does it cost?

Awaiting your answer,

Rob.

For my X40, I have a powered USB hub, to which I have two portable hard drives attached. That hub goes into one USB port. Into the other port goes my USB keyboard. Works fine for me.

I have an external 10-key number pad from Kingston. It went on clerance at my work, but it has two built in USB ports that come in handy every now and then. Targus has a really tiny tiny little four-port USB hub which looks pretty cool but it doesn't have an extra power plug option.

Hubs work great, another solution is a USB PCMCIA card.

I use a small Belkin 4-port hub (powered, but works fine unpowered), to connect an external HD, mouse, Bluetooth dongle, printer and scanner. Works great -- just one thing to unplug every time I take my Thinkpad off my desk.

A mini USB hub will do the job, usually. They are rarely much larger than a matchbox these days. Depending on the hardware you want to attach you'll need a powered one (i.e. a power adapter as well) or an unpowered one. There's a multitude out there, just ensure you get a USB 2.0 version. At least one manufacturer sells an external 4-connector minihub that will slide into the PCMCIA slot for storage while on the road, with the very short USB cable and plug folding away in the housing. That still leaves the slot free for other hardware when the hub is connected.
I' using the Mini Dock with my T42 right now, and found that not only does it have 4 USB ports, but the USB connectors on the side of the T42 keep working as well - so this effectively gives me 6 USB connections . Of course this only works at home.

I have seen (and own ) a PC Card that has USB ports on it. Pretty good if ones computer does not have any USB ports.