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geekhack Community => Other Geeky Stuff => Topic started by: SCTony on Thu, 21 January 2010, 06:00:10

Title: spacebar Keyboard Roof
Post by: SCTony on Thu, 21 January 2010, 06:00:10
I stumbled over this (http://www.quirky.com/products/22-The-Space-Bar) while searching for a good USB hub - it is not yet in production but looks good. Looks as if they would go into production once they get 590 commitments to purchase (they currently have 207).  BTW, I think I am going to try a Belkin USB hub- any suggestions? I tried a Cables-To-Go hub and it was a fail. Thanks.
Title: spacebar Keyboard Roof
Post by: itlnstln on Thu, 21 January 2010, 08:04:42
Hah!  Beat you to it (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=8550).  (Different source, though.)
 
I don't think this will fit over most of the keyboards we use around here.  The Engadget article I read showed it over an Apple Aluminum keyboard, and there wasn't a whole helluva lot of room over it.
Title: spacebar Keyboard Roof
Post by: AndrewZorn on Thu, 21 January 2010, 10:23:56
looks neat, but i am interested, disappointed, and confused at the whole business model.
Title: spacebar Keyboard Roof
Post by: elservo on Thu, 21 January 2010, 12:42:39
That's a very interesting way to do it.  Getting all those people on board before starting production is like business without the whole "risk factor."  We should have thought of that, people!
Title: spacebar Keyboard Roof
Post by: SCTony on Thu, 21 January 2010, 16:35:30
Yes, I was disappointed in the Cables To Go hub.
This Hub-

would not write to this reader-

It would read a card ok, but not write to it. I was not using the AC adapter but it is supposed to work on bus power or AC adapter. Once or twice I got it to write, but mostly no. Seems like a power problem? I need a bus-powered hub currently. I like the layout and metal constuction of that hub. I found this comment on Terry White website :

"  Any 7 port USB 2.0 hub using the Philips chip ISP1521BE is a nightmare..
There’s a design falw that Philips will not admit (atleast not in public)
They are sensitive to staics and will drop several time per day when used in 2.0
The Cable-To-Go 7 port is using this IC  ".

  I can't vouch for or against that comment but there are several negative reviews on the Cables To Go website (http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=7035&sku=29563).
  :clap2: Kudos to B&H Photo (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/)!! Great prices and picked up the return shipping. Plus, their free shipping has been regular 3-day UPS delivery, not the economy 7 day UPS.

 That little card reader works great- I get like 19 MB/second read transfers off a Kingston Class 4 (4 GB) card.
Title: spacebar Keyboard Roof
Post by: elservo on Thu, 21 January 2010, 16:43:52
I love how monitors these days almost always come with 4 USB ports on them in one place or another.  Keeps most of my cables off the floor, which is good.
Title: spacebar Keyboard Roof
Post by: ricercar on Thu, 21 January 2010, 18:12:01
Might be non-obvious:
A 7-port hub should be purchased with a power supply. There's no way a single USB connector can power 7 USB peripherals.
Title: spacebar Keyboard Roof
Post by: SCTony on Fri, 22 January 2010, 04:55:18
The hub came with a power supply, but I wasn't using it. The only thing I had connected to the hub was the card reader. Per the manufacturer, "This hub can be self-powered from the USB port, or utilize the included AC power supply adapter."  I am not sure what the reason was for the write failure. I didn't think it would be so difficult  to find a good hub.:ranger:
Title: spacebar Keyboard Roof
Post by: SCTony on Sat, 23 January 2010, 14:48:12
Belkin hub showed up today- and this is more what I was expecting. To test it without using the AC adapter, I am able to write to a SDHC card, power a CCFL light, operate a Powermate, and power an 8GB Rally thumbdrive.

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