Belkin USB 2.0& Firewire 6-Port Hub For Mac Mini by Belkin Components
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Digital camera reviews of Belkin USB 2.0& Firewire 6-Port Hub For Mac Mini
Digital camera Review: This device not supported by Apple.
Summary: 1 Stars
6-Port Combo Hub for Mac Mini
6-Port Combo Hub for Mac Mini
6-Port Combo Hub for Mac Mini
The Belkin 6 Port Combo Hub is not supported by Apple. It does not function as Belkin claims; Belkin's tech support is useless and there is no information available from Belkin to explain what a customer needs to do to make this device work - it absolutely is NOT plug and play.
Digital camera Review: Two big flaws
Summary: 3 Stars
1. The hub itself does not have its own power source, restricting its [reliable] use to self-powered devices. So if you add this device to your system, you still run the risk of all your portable USB and Firewire goodies (the reason you need a hub, right?) flaking out from lack of power.
2. Although having the hub in a form factor complementary to the Mac mini is an attractive feature (and probably the major reason for purchasing it), placing it under the Mac mini limits access to the ports you are adding because you will have to fight the cables in the back of the mini to plug anything in. Apple does not advise putting anything on top of the mini because of interference issues with Bluetooth and Airport, so below the mini it must go. I am thinking I may be able to rotate it 90 degrees to get better access to the ports, but then the cable tangle will spread.
Really nice design, but the reality is that you'd probably be better off focusing on ease of access than a nice-looking hub. If you need a hard drive too, the better option is something like the NewerTech miniStack that adds powered USB and Firewire ports as well as a larger external hard drive.
Digital camera Review: USB Firewire hub
Summary: 3 Stars
The product itself works fine. My problem was that they said it was designed for the Mac Mini but the firewire connection provided was a 400 compatible plug and the new Max Mini's require a 800 compatible plug. I had to buy another cable that converted the 400 to 800 connection to use it. Should either say that its for the old Mac Mini or the should provide the right plug.Digital camera Review: What they don't make clear
Summary: 1 Stars
Nice aesthetic design and all that, but what's not at all clear upfront is that this Belkin hub only supports up to Firewire 400. Who uses that any more if they don't have to? And know that if you're using this for anything but a MacMini you'll have to purchase new cables (Firewire 6-pin (400) and USB) because the cables provided with the hub are so short as to not reach anything except a MacMini sitting directly on top of the hub. The new cables will end up costing you more than what you just paid for the hub. So the problem is not with the information provided BEFORE the sale, but with the information NOT provided.Digital camera Review: Workable
Summary: 4 Stars
I dunno. The more USB ports I add to my Mac Mini the more noise the poor little thing makes. Still, I like being able to have the printer, soundsticks and such plugged in without having to pull one thing out in order to use another. So all in all I'm happy with this Belkin extension.