Targus PA055U 4 Port USB 1.1 Ultra Mini Hub Reviews

• It works perfectly!

  
  By A3VFA9E300MBEN on 2002-12-31
  I love this product!
  I read the reviews of all the hubs and was confused about what would work and what wouldn't and "powered" vrs "un-powered"...
  So I decided to buy a cheap, un-powered hub and see if it worked and go from there.
  It works perfectly!
  I have a 2-yr old PC running Windows 98 second edition.
  I only have two USB ports and was ready to buy a new PC just to get more ports since every peripheral nowadays uses USB.
  A friend told me about USB hubs--essentially an extension cord for your USB ports.
  I plugged-in the Targus (the blue lights are cool), and plugged into the Targus the following--internet cable modem, scanner, DVD burner, and MP3 player. I rebooted (probably not necessary, but it never hurts), and everything is totally cool.
  Now, I'll get another year out of this PC before I upgrade and I WILL keep the Targus hub--it saved Christmas!
  
  

• Great Device

  
  By A3FARCKMBHQZLY on 2004-03-08
  This is a great product at a great price. I bought one of these for my laptop to add to the number of USB ports available. I liked it so much, I bought another for my desktop to simply make the ports more accessible. The supplied cord is plenty long to reach the desktop on the floor and then I simply Velcro'ed the Targus to my desk to make plugging and unplugging USB devices much more convenient. The Targus works right out of the box, no install required and it works on every computer I've tried -- no problems. I must confess, the blue LED's look pretty cool too!
  
  

• Not USB 2.0

  
  By A3DO1CFMYIRNCX on 2004-12-29
  The "See more technical details" link indicates
  
  Standards: USB (1.1, 2.0)
  
  However, the hub is USB 1.1, not 2.0. The cable, size, and function are nice, but the description should be clear that transfers will not be at USB 2.0 speeds. An e-mail response from Targus after receiving the product included:
  
  The Targus Ultra Mini 4-Port USB Hub Model # PA055U
  is a USB 1.1 hub. It does not support USB 2.0.
  
  At this point in time, a USB 2.0 alternative was what I was looking for, and what I would recommend.
  
  

• Not USB 2.0

  
  By A309IQ1GONVRT9 on 2004-08-24
  This hub seems to work fine, but it is not a high-speed USB 2.0 hub, despite the on-line technical specifications. (The packaging doesn't say anything about USB 2.0 either.)
  
  

• Great, compact usb hub for mobile or desktop users!

  
  By on 2002-09-13
  This is an excellent usb hub for the price. Very compact and very light. It doesn't take up too much space at all. Also, it's powered thru USB so you do not need to deal with an AC adaptor.

  I have a couple of USB devices that are powered through the USB port as well and my concern was whether they would still be active through this hub. I plugged both into the hub and both were powered up!!

  And the 4 ports light up with a nice blue led color that's looks really cool!! Targus should show this in their ads/marketing material because it definitely makes the hub look much cooler!

  This is a great bargain and perfect for people that need a simple & compact USB hub for all their gadgets.

  Definitely recommended!!
  
  

• Great for laptop use, poor for desktop use
  By A3KR6A2Q1YZ2J1 on 2005-11-19
  First off, note that Amazon has grouped together reviews from a number of different Targus hubs. That's why you see references to USB 1 versus USB 2, some people with 4 ports and some with 8. This review is for the Targus PA050U USB 2.0 High-Speed Hub (4-port).
  
  The positive:
  
  --It functions. However, almost all USB hubs do that, so that can't really be the basis for a rating.
  
  --I do like the glowing blue lights when a device is plugged in and powered. (And it matches my Saitek Eclipse keyboard, which also has a blue glow. Unfortunately, the hub ended up on my tower underneath my desk because of the cord length, so I can't even see it).
  
  The negative:
  
  --The cord! It's not even three feet! Make sure you measure the distance you'd like your cord to travel before purchasing this hub. It's about 2 feet 9 inches. I wanted to put this hub on my desk, but the cord is not long enough to make it there from the back of the computer. For the price of this hub, I shouldn't have to buy a longer cord.
  
  --It weighs almost nothing, which means it won't stay where you want it to. Plus, the cord it comes with is fairly rigid, which means that the direction of the cord determines where your hub points. I grant that the weight is a positive for those who carry it around with a laptop, but it is not good for someone who wants it to sit somewhere semi-permanently. Another reviewer had the great idea to use velcro; I will have to take that suggestion.
  
  Overall, it does what it's supposed to, but doesn't every hub? The difference is in the details, and this hub's short cord and feather weight are disappointing. Three stars for a desktop user. I'd probably give it four or five stars if I were a laptop user, since the short cord and light wieght would be great.
  
  
  
  
  
• Great hub - just a few minor issues.
  By A3LYRF8UZ0W182 on 2005-12-13
  PROS
  
  Small
  Cute
  Self-powered - comes with a power adaptor. I have 6 devices hooked up to it, including 2 USB Hard Drives, and it works fine without the adapter - a big plus for me. Most hubs would not work with this setup.
  USB 2.0 & 1.1 - 6 devices hooked up, 3 low speed and 3 high speed, all work very well.
  Runs cool.
  
  CONS
  
  Not sure why, but they put the 7 ports on one side of the hub and power/uplink ports on the other. This is dumb. If you have the hub on a desk it looks awkward. All ports should be on the back and leds on the front. Here, the leds are next to each port which makes them completely useless as you don't see them.
  The hub is very light so when you have lots of devices hooked up the font gets a elevated.
  
  Overall, the best hub I've ever had and I tried many.
  
  
• RIP-OFF: Doesn't advertise that you need an AC adaptor
  By A1RL13JAUS3M2B on 2006-02-21
  I would like to believe that this hub works well- but I wouldn't know. I bought it to reduce clutter on my desk from all my devices hooking into my powermac. I hooked up my printer, ipod and digital camera and nothing happened. I called Targus and they said I needed an a/c adaptor. It doesn't come with one and doesn't say anything about one in the manual or instructions, or their website. They said I could get it at radio shack and gave me the info (5 volt, 2.1 amp, center positive). I've been to two radio shacks and online- they don't carry it. I'm upset. Any advice?
  
  
• Does exactly what it is supposed to, at a good price
  By A3N6TGOCZJJN1O on 2004-06-12
  I chose this just because I wanted something cheap. I have heard bad things about some other brands overheating or having various problems, but I have been using this a few months and found no problems whatsoever.

  It remains room temperature and has had no bandwidth or power problems for me. It appears to have a place to connect a power supply (not included), but that doesn't seem to be listed as a feature so I cannot guarantee it. It has two USB plugs so you can get the power from a second USB port if you need it. I have only needed one. My only complaint with the device is having that extra plug sitting around (attached to the cord), but of course that isn't a problem if you use it.

  It's cheap and it works, so I recommend this item.
  
  

• Not USB 2
  By A12G5Z9HYD7XV8 on 2003-11-01
  Just started using it, everything just about fine and dandy except it is not USB 2 compatable. Part of the reson I bought it is because I thought it was (said so in the tech specs) but it doesn't seem to work, or at least it gives out warnings (Win XP).
  But for this price its still not bad and it turns out I can rearange some stuff so USB 1 is sufficient for me at the moment.
  
  
• Small and convenient
  By A19SLTWBAHSAYI on 2005-03-09
  The 4 Port Slim USB 2.0 Hub is a very compact and portable USB 2 hub. I was able to easily plug in the device and attach my printer, headset, and mouse, which all worked fine without using the AC adaptor. The design works nicely, with 2 ports on either side which makes plugging everything in easier. Matching these characteristics to an affordable price, I am very satisfied with this product.
  
  
• Great!!!
  By A381SEATF051LF on 2003-10-07
  After Looking and searching for quite a while, I think this hub is what I need. It doesn't need a power supply. My webcam which gets its power from the PC , works great. all the other devices that use USB work great too. As all the reviews said, the blue lights are cool especially in the dark. This hub is small but works as it should. I would recommend it to everyone.
  
  
• Better than my old Belkin model
  By A1WKUY7T0EM0GM on 2006-01-30
  It's speedy and space saving and inexpensive. I bought this to replace my Belkin because the Belkin needed to be plugged in. This one is powered by your computer so there's no extra power cords, which is a big plus to me.
  
  The only thing I dislike about this is the fact that the Hub takes up two Usb ports instead of just one like the Belkin.
  
  
  
• It's called the Ultra Mini for a reason!
  By A2CLVTYQ12Y5OW on 2006-03-18
  This review pertains specifically to the Targus PAUH217U 4 Port Ultra Mini USB 2.0 Hub.
  The cord is about 2.5 feet long - long enough to reach from my pc, which sits on the ground, to the top of the desk. It has a cable which is split into two USB plugs - one just to transmit data, the second to power the unit. The second plug does not need to be used unless you plan on using some heavy-duty hardware, and if so what are you buying a hub called the ultra mini for anyways? If you insist on trying to run a blow dryer off the thing, then it does have an input for a separate power source, which you will have to buy separately.
  
  In short, If you have an old school machine with USB ports which are inaccessible /inconvenient to use, this little hub will give you quick access while taking up minimal space on your desk.
  
  
• Excellent little product!
  By A3LMD58LMKPQ3S on 2002-12-06
  With Win Xp, just plug and go, no problems whatsoever. The ports do light up with blue LEDs, making it look even cooler than in the pictures. I highly reccomend this USB hub.
  
  
• Great little hub
  By A1O0GLT7QYGN on 2003-05-10
  I use this hub with my laptop that I rarely transport (although this hub is definitely small enough for easy travel). Each port has cool blue lights surrounding them that turn on when the computer is powered up. This might be an issue for those that do a lot of traveling and require maximum battery conservation, but since I rarely rely on battery power alone, this isn't a problem for me. Even when I do run off my battery, battery life is not shortened by much (maybe 20-25 min). Great product for a great price. Recommended!
  
  
• great product!
  By A32CIPK5G1MR1F on 2005-01-16
  I just bought this hub and it is amazing! When it is connected to a computer that is turned on, it lights up and it looks awesome. Plus, it actually works, unlike some of the other brands. The only bad thing about it, which only some people care about, is that it doesn't come with a plug. It still lights up without it, so I don't know why they even added a port to this great product from Targus.
  
  
• Unlike other USB Hubs
  By A26GRJMC26RUJ2 on 2006-07-16
  This is very well designed. It give you 4 USB Port but two on opposite sides. This is very clever becase you have plug in devices from both sides. You webcam or cell on your left and your mouse and number pad on your right. The cord that plug in from the Hub to the Computer is very sterdy yet flexible so you can not only adjust the Hub in all kind of angles, it would stay at that angle and not twist all around you wires. It also works great if you jsut want to charge you USB devices on the go. It come with a plug in AC adapter so you don't need to bring your computer along with you to charge youd devices.
  
  
• After a Year of Use
  By A2PZNH4AMIR6VN on 2006-11-28
  Actually, I've probably had it for a year and a half now.
  
  Pros:
  - For the most part this product has functioned quite well
  - Most of the ports still work (6 of 7)
  - Design is nice, I like having output and power on one side and ports on the other for space purposes.
  - Outlasted my other hub (can't remember the make or model - I threw it away some time ago)
  
  Cons:
  - One of the ports stopped working about three months ago.
  - Everytime I start my computer I have to unplug and replug at least one or more of the devices in the hub to get them to work. For instance, when I start the computer and the mouse and keyboard are already plugged into the hub, they will not work until unplugging them and plugging them back in. This is consistent - EVERY time I turn on or restart my computer this has to be done. Kind of a pain.
  
  
• plug and play with win2000
  By on 2003-02-05
  simple, works great, looks cool. I highly recommend this product. You can't go wrong with this one and it is portable with a small footprint.
  
  
• SImple as can be!
  By A3JYZRCO0HS6CT on 2004-01-23
  I just got this item after reading just some of the confusing reviews and other positive ones.

  It was inexpensive and worth the buy.

  Upon getting it I unplugged by Logitech webcam and plugged in the targus. I then plugged in mouse, digi camer and webcam and it worked as smooth as silk. It is most recommended!

  Works great!!
  
  

• Great little hub, better than most...I have tried them all
  By A2L8BKRJM7UJ37 on 2005-01-14
  This is a great little hub...I have 2 7 porter's and they work great...much better than the others...no name needed.
  
  A get It ! from me ***** five stars
  
  
• Fell apart after 5 months
  By A3D1PULHYOGQDV on 2005-05-23
  I bought this in late January of this year and it fell apart last night. I plugged it in the day after I got it and I have not moved it until I went to dust (yes, I only dust 2 or 3 times a year) and the USB connection just fell out. I will be contacting the company.
  
  
• Awesome little hub!
  By on 2003-09-17
  I used Belkin hub before and had all sorts of problems
  even with AC power adapter. But this little device with
  cool blue lighting works fine with no AC power.
  Just plugged it in to my laptop and works. Mine is windows2000.
  And the price, no brainer. Amazon.com review helped me to
  choose this.
  
  
• Blue LEDs cool, but also fragile.
  By A28CDVITG60706 on 2003-11-01
  I have two of these hubs on two different machines, and they have both performed flawlessly with a wide variety of USB devices. Buy with confidence. On the other hand, two out of the eight blue LEDs have perished - though this had no effect on the real function. Everything considered, good value for the small price.
  
  
• Poor Reliability
  By A1RFIUQTJ7MC2L on 2005-07-06
  Stopped working for reasons unbeknownst to me in less than 60 days.
  Simple product, poorly on reliability.
  
  
• Computer Hangs with Targus PA055 USB Hub
  By AMFZ0F1VTB61Q on 2004-01-19
  The concept is great, use one USB port on the back to connect to the Targus USB Hub, and then from there you can plug in four additional USB devices.

  The problem I had with my Win98 SE machine, was when the Targus USB Hub was attached at bootup, my PC would not boot at all. Unplug the connection (either from hub itself or back of PC) and the computer boots fine. Once up, I can reconnect the USB cable to the Hub and use all connected devices, but then I have to unplug before shutdown or right before start-up which is a pain in the arse.

  Hey, if you have a solution, then email me at wilkc@yahoo.com.
  
  

• Great Hub
  By A2J6AIKEDEZZSO on 2005-09-09
  This hub takes care of old power issues I had with smaller (unpowered hubs). It is handling my pda, usb jump drive, high capacity external drive, and printer. And I still have 3 more ports. And I haven't had any USB power alerts from my computer since I added this hub. It does what it says.
  
  
• Great product
  By A2TKDXPBSM0VR3 on 2007-02-02
  I bought this to solve my probem of ever dwindling supply of USB ports. This product has a very long cord on it which is very helpful. I would recommend purchasing it.
  
  
• A worthwile purchase
  By A25AVQPH4J7KH1 on 2005-06-22
  My experiences with this device are great. It's small, so it doesn't take up much room, and one can plug just about any USB device they want into it. My only complaints, if any, were that the ports on the hub were kind of stiff when i first plugged things into it, and it takes a second for things like mice and controllers to load, for lack of a better word.
  
  

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