Ainex HUB-03 Fills Your Rig with 13 USB Ports

[btarunr]

One of the latest peripherals to hit Japan's Akihabara is the HUB-03 from Ainex, a case-internal USB hub that doles out as many as 13 USB 2.0 ports. The hub occupies a 5.25" drive bay of your case, connects to the motherboard by a two-port internal header connection, and powers the ports by taking in auxiliary power from a floppy power connector (Molex to floppy dongle included). If you manage to run out of those 13-ports, you can just add another one of those next to it.



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[_JP_]

Who needs these many USB ports?!

 

[Phxprovost]

uhhh it looks pretty interesting....though i dont think i even own 13 usb devices

 

[FreedomEclipse]

What a waste of effort, time and money. the average pc comes with at least 6 usb ports on the back not to mention how ugly it looks

 

[3volvedcombat]

I actually know someones *my dad " That actually uses the 4 usb ports in the back of his computer, Has an adapter for 3 more USB ports- and uses at least 2 USB ports in the front for his blue tooth thing, and his wireless mouse.

He uses 10+ USB devices- period.

Has a M-atx motherboard from asus so that dosnt work to good... so he needs adapters to create more ports


So I might litteraly buy this thing and slap it in his dam HP pavilion so he can be quiet

 

[link2009]

Hey, it's more convenient to have the USB ports in the front of your case for when you plug in your portable disk drive, your USB drive, maybe your phone...

It's important to remember that with today's technology, a lot of devices communicate and charge through USB ports, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that there are individuals that need to power 13 devices.

I find this hub to be more of a convenience item than a necessity. As it was stated before, the USB ports on the rear of your motherboard, plus USB addon cards should be enough for most users.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Hey, it's more convenient to have the USB ports in the front of your case for when you plug in your portable disk drive, your USB drive, maybe your phone...

almost over 80% of PC cases come with 2 USB ports at the front. your point is invalid - in the case that you do need more ports at the front. there are better devices you can buy then this ugly peice of trash

 

[Perseid]

The ports are too close together. Imagine trying to plug a magicjack into that mess. It'd take up 2 if not 4 of those slots.

 

[link2009]

almost over 80% of PC cases come with 2 USB ports at the front. your point is invalid - in the case that you do need more ports at the front. there are better devices you can buy then this ugly peice of trash

I fail to see how my point is invalid. I never argued that having two USB ports in the front is sufficient.

I was not comparing this item to other USB hubs but if you say there are better and more elegant solutions, I take it on your honest account that there are.

I was merely stating that some people might prefer to have the freedom of plugging multiple devices in the front of their case (such as myself). I would use this since I do not have a floppy drive.

The ports are too close together. Imagine trying to plug a magicjack into that mess. It'd take up 2 if not 4 of those slots.

I agree with you on this point but they probably shoved in that many USB ports to account for large adapters and devices. You could plug 3 magicjacks in there

 

[newtekie1]

Interesting concept, I don't think I would need 13 ports, but I certainly have times when the 2 in the front of my case are not enough, and I don't want to keep crawling behind my desk to plug things into the back of my computer, that is inconvienient, and the 6 ports in the back are already filled w/ 2 Externals, my USB Keyboard, my USB Mouse, my USB charger/sync cable for my Blackberry, and my USB Joystick, and one of the front ports is already almost constantly filled with my USB headphones, leaving me 1 USB port to use for everything else.

Personally, I'd prefer a 6 port in a 3.5" bay...

 

[FreedomEclipse]

I fail to see how my point is invalid. I never argued that having two USB ports in the front is sufficient.

I was not comparing this item to other USB hubs but if you say there are better and more elegant solutions, I take it on your honest account that there are.

Do you really need 13 USB plugs? do you really have 13 mobilephones, external hard drives or mp3 players and other assorted peripherals n hardware/accessories that ALL need to be plugged in at the same time???? if yes then this product must be like a godsend for you. but I have 2 frontpanel USBs on my 902 & their only used for the occasional USB hard drive/flash drive or MP3 player.

if you arent using something thats plugged into your USB port then take it out. 2 USB ports at the front are more then enough for anyone, the Xigmatech Utgard case has 4 FP usb ports.

 

[newtekie1]

Do you really need 13 USB plugs? do you really have 13 mobilephones, external hard drives or mp3 players and other assorted peripherals n hardware/accessories that ALL need to be plugged in at the same time???? if yes then this product must be like a godsend for you. but I have 2 frontpanel USBs on my 902 & their only used for the occasional USB hard drive/flash drive or MP3 player.

if you arent using something thats plugged into your USB port then take it out. 2 USB ports at the front are more then enough for anyone, the Xigmatech Utgard case has 4 FP usb ports.

As my post above indicates, 2 in the front is not enough for everyone. It may be enough for you, but not for everyone. Yes, you can unplug and replug things as needed, but some don't like to do that. In my situation, if I want to transfer pictures from my camera to my flash drive, I have to transfer the pictures to my computer, then unplug the camera and plug in the flash drive, then transfer the pictures from my computer to the flash drive. Some don't like the extra hassle.

Yes, 13 ports is probably excessive, but so is a 750w PSU with a single HD5850...excessive is what we love.

 

[link2009]

Do you really need 13 USB plugs? do you really have 13 mobilephones, external hard drives or mp3 players and other assorted peripherals n hardware/accessories that ALL need to be plugged in at the same time???? if yes then this product must be like a godsend for you. but I have 2 frontpanel USBs on my 902 & their only used for the occasional USB hard drive/flash drive or MP3 player.

if you arent using something thats plugged into your USB port then take it out. 2 USB ports at the front are more then enough for anyone, the Xigmatech Utgard case has 4 FP usb ports.

I personally sometimes have a USB drive and portable hard disk plugged in. Then I would like to plug in my phone to transfer data from it. It is a pain to go behind the case and do that.

I have the Antec P183 and so far it has been perfect for me. I would not buy this out of convenience (although I know I stated before that I would have) but I guess there has to be a market for this product or else they wouldn't manufacture it... right ... RIGHT?

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Yes, 13 ports is probably excessive, but so is a 750w PSU with a single HD5850...excessive is what we love.

I was running 2 overclocked 4870s with the same PSU before the 5850, so your argument is invalid (if that was aimed at me - which im guessing it is....)

 

[FreedomEclipse]

I personally sometimes have a USB drive and portable hard disk plugged in. Then I would like to plug in my phone to transfer data from it. It is a pain to go behind the case and do that.

I have the Antec P183 and so far it has been perfect for me. I would not buy this out of convenience (although I know I stated before that I would have) but I guess there has to be a market for this product or else they wouldn't manufacture it... right ... RIGHT?

there are USB bays like this that have about 4 extra USB ports for those who really need it. it would probably be a darn sight cheaper then this 13 plug usb bay too.

also just because they manufacture a product, doesnt always mean theres a market for it. have you seen the amount of crap products that some companies manufacture every year? THEY think people will flock to their product, but in the real world nobody really cares about it.

Im not saying theres no use for that many USB plugs but i think 13 is a bit OTT

 

[Steevo]

I would prefer just adding some of the many internal USB headers to output slot adaperters. I already have 2 in plus my onboard USB.

Phone, camera, camcorder, mouse, kb, printer, game controller, bluetooth dongle, jumpdrive, windows jumpdrive.


I wish my monitor had built in USB on the side. Then I wondn't have to worry about cables falling behind my desk.

 

[Disparia]

Nice. It's more or less the same device that USB dupe towers have for massive USB cloning.

Personally though, I'm holding out for a USB 3.0 controller with 4 external ports (+4 internal would be icing!)

 

[popswala]

neat idea. But why now when things are slowly switching to 3.0? I would get it but it does look ugly. Just a bunch of usb's. I know I'm using the four in the back, four via hub and one to two on front. But I'm not about to switch all all those to the front. It'll look like a centipede tried getting in and got stuck with all those cords hanging off. Most pc's today have at least six to eight usb's on back with four or more on front of case. And a lot of boards come with that bracket to give you two more w/ sometimes an esata.

 

[AlienIsGOD]

13?!?! i already have 8 on the back, 2 in the front, and 2 on my keyboard.....never came close to fillin them all up...

 

[newtekie1]

I was running 2 overclocked 4870s with the same PSU before the 5850, so your argument is invalid (if that was aimed at me - which im guessing it is....)

No its not any less invalid just because you say it is. A 750w PSU is excessive, if you want to go on about how this product is uselss because it is excessive, then your PSU is useless because it is excessive, and you should have gotten rid of it the instant it became excessive.

Just because you don't have a use for something doesn't mean no one has a use for it.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

No its not any less invalid just because you say it is. A 750w PSU is excessive, if you want to go on about how this product is uselss because it is excessive, then your PSU is useless because it is excessive, and you should have gotten rid of it the instant it became excessive.

Just because you don't have a use for something doesn't mean no one has a use for it.

Future proofing is not excessive - a 13 port USB bay however - is

 

[Scrizz]

Wow, sweet!


now i can buy 10 to put in the front of my PC

you can never have enough USB ports.

YaY!

 

[newtekie1]

Future proofing is not excessive - a 13 port USB bay however - is

Again, excessive for you does not mean excessive for everyone.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Again, excessive for you does not mean excessive for everyone.

well, this 13 port usb bay is perfect for your needs then. though i still think theres a better way of gettin close to 13 ports without having to put something half as ugly as this in

 

[newtekie1]

well, this 13 port usb bay is perfect for your needs then. though i still think theres a better way of gettin close to 13 ports without having to put something half as ugly as this in

It is 13 USB ports and a black faceplate, how could it look any less ugly exactly?