We are full of gadgets, more than anything because we love them, that is the real reason that you are here and that we are telling you about it. Therefore we like to do a little review on those elements that can make you more productive or simply to make your life more comfortable, one of those elements is the HUB - USB, which is increasingly essential.
To carry out this content in a more graphic way, we will take advantage of the We analyze two USB 3.0 HUBs from Aukey, commenting on how they work and why they can make your life much easier.
Computers are more minimalist than ever, That is why, due to space and lightness, more and more firms such as Xiaomi, Apple and HP (among other) are choosing to reduce to a minimum the number of ports they offer. So much so that it is difficult for us to see laptops that have a Gigabit RJ45 connection, and even in most cases they even ignore connections such as VGA or HDMI in the most daring cases. That is why HUB - USB are becoming a practically indispensable tool, so much so that laptop manufacturers already choose to even offer their own stations in the accessories section.
What is a HUB and why can it help me?
A HUB is a terminal that has numerous ports of different kinds, all taking advantage of a single connection. In this case we will find many variants, since we have passive and simple HUBs that only expand the number of USB connections, or even some that derive a variety of connections from HDMI to Ethernet. In short, it is a station that can take advantage of a single port on your laptop to offer you many more connections.
Undoubtedly this will increase our productivity and comfort for many reasons, the first is that in many cases it is an obligation, especially in those laptops that have a single connection such as USB-C. Definitely, will allow us to access much more content, since we are faced with a serious problem when we have a monitor with HDMI, an Ethernet connection and three external storage devices to use, while in our laptop we only have a couple of USB 3.0s or a USB-C. Basically a HUB comes to solve these problems.
However, there are many who use the HUBs completely voluntarily, for example because they want to have more connections on their device, for convenience by the fact of being able to place the HUB in the place you want on the desktop without the need to move the portable, or simply by having multiple options in your setup. Definitely, the HUB is an increasingly indispensable item on desktops around the world, despite the fact that HUBs were once a product clearly focused on a more professional audience, due to the need to cover those types of characteristics that a normal laptop lacked.
Passive and Simple HUBs
In this case we are faced with a series of HUBs that do not require additional powerIn other words, the energy they acquire through the laptop's USB is enough for them to function. Obviously this type of HUBs have a series of limitations, those of the electrical power of our laptop, without more. An example is that we are going to find it difficult to load more than one device through them, or the fact that they get hot under what circumstances. However, for obvious reasons this type of HUBs are preferred by users who usually move with them.
The most common is that passive HUBs only have extra USB 3.0 connections, or at most an Ethernet connection that allows us to navigate faster through the cable. For this reason it is a type of accessory that never hurts in the briefcase of our laptop. Nevertheless, except in the case of USB-CWe are not going to find HUBs that allow us to output an image through HDMI for example, since USB technology is limited in that regard, not so in USB-C.
On the other hand, the HUB connectors through USB-C offer much more possibilities for audio, video and even internet connection. This is the main reason that USB-C is advancing unstoppably and is on its way to becoming a leading standard for connections across the board. In short, the passive HUB has limitations. In this case we are faced with a passive Aukey HUB made of black plastic with a glossy front, a design that accompanies the product, and that is that Aukey has always had a reputation for manufacturing quite well. In the current case we find three 3-0 USB connections extended through the box with the approximate size of a card. In addition, on one of the sides it offers a high-speed Gigabit Ethernet connection.
Active HUBs - additional functionalities
We now focus on other types of HUBs,They require an additional power source because they intend to offer us many more features than we obtain with simple passive HUBs. Thanks to using an external power supply, we get the advantage that we will reach a greater number of USB 3.0 ports, and on the other hand, we will have the functionality, for example, of activating or deactivating it at will. However, the great deficiency of these active HUBs is the fact that transporting them is not the most recommended option, they are designed to be placed in our conventional setup.
An example is the HUB CB-H17 by Aukey, a pretty nice HUB that has no less than six USB 3.0 ports, a charging USB of up to 2,4 Amps (we can easily charge an iPad) and as a gift at one end we have a Gigabit Ethernet connection. We have been testing all the points and the reality is that they have given an excellent result. It also has a removable USB, that is, the connection to the laptop can be easily expanded because it can be completely disconnected from the HUB, which gives us an extra convenience.
Once again Aukey opts for black polycarbonate materials, but taking into account that it is a mainly writing HUB has decided to give a JetBlack tonality to the upper part of the HUB, as well as an LED that will show orange when the HUB is on stand -by and green when the HUB is running. It is certainly a good alternative, if we require additional ports. We hope this didactic review has helped you to know why a HUB can change the way you work, as well as we leave you below the links so that you can get hold of the HUBs that we have photographed to leave a graphic document in this article. As always, let us know what your favorite alternatives are and if you really think that HUBs can increase your productivity.
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AUKEY Hub CB-H17: USB 3.0 6 Ports with 1 Charging Port and Gigabit Ethernet Port since 36,99 euros.
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Aukey CB-H15: USB Ethernet hub with 3 ports 3.0 from 16,99 euro.