Belkin's new Mac mini form-factor USB/FireWire hubs
By Barb Dybwad 
posted May 11th 2005 10:15PM
posted May 11th 2005 10:15PM
Here's the latest in the Mac mini-shaped
hub category: Belkin is putting out a pair in the shape of the little white Apple box. One is USB only and the
other adds two FireWire ports; both sport four USB 2.0 high-speed connectors. A single USB port (also a single FireWire
on the combo model) will be present on the front of the hub for quick connections, with the rest in the back as usual.
Rolling out in mid-July, they'll go for $40 for the USB-only and a bit shy of $60 for the combination USB/FireWire
model.
[Via TUAW]
What's the point of a 2-port FireWire hub? You have to use the one port on the mini, so at best you have added a port. The page also isn't clear if one of those 2 FireWire ports needs to be used to connect to the mini, in which case you'd gain exactly... zero ports! Unless Belkin ups the number of Firewire ports, the Firewire version doesn't seem like it's worth it.
wow, That seems like such a rip off.. Why are there only two ports? can't they sqeeze in like 2 more ports. I know it's small but there is still room.
This can't be right. This product is practically useless, unless you want something to raise your MacMini a half inch.
I believe theres more in the back people.
Eric, there are only two ports on the front, but there are more ports on the back, the picture is only of the front of the hub.
Eric, there are only two ports on the front, but there are more ports on the back, the picture is only of the front of the hub.
I'm still waiting for someone to make an external HD enclosure with an extra firewire (and usb2) port or two that will sit under my mini. And look pretty of course.
All that space... do you think you could stick a SD card reader in there, Belkin? Maybe a microphone jack, eh?
Bigfat, there is already something like that out there.
http://www.micronet.com/General/minimate.asp
Would be perfect if Griffin made a FireWire/USB hub and added one of their iMic's to it (http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/imic/). It would completment the mini perfectly with it's lack of an internal microphone, and could simply be connected to the internal hub, so no further messy wires.
they need to include right angle mini cables as well.
t
Remember, people, all Belkin and others do is repackage circuitry from other companies, so space has little to nothing to do with it. Obviously someone out there does a very cheap and reliable 4-port USB / 3-port Firewire chip (probably a buck or two). Belkin and others take that, put it in a slick case and do some wiring and mounting and sell it for $60.
Dustin:
I have my 120GB from my previous Mac, I don't want to pay for additional space that I don't need. Not to mention they are just a little overpriced for the amount of storage. I don't see why they couldn't make an empty one(even though their FAQ states otherwise).
Bigfat.
Try this...
http://www.byodkm.net/articles/show/00143.html
Does this suit your needs? Or are you going to complain that it is USB2 only?
Could they squeeze a ketchup dispenser in there?
nutjob sure,
belkin or griffin will make it soon.
Cyberwhore:
Are you Jesus?
Thank you. ;)
The hub does actually add a second firewire port. I wasn't sure either until I saw a picture of the back of the hub in a review at Macworld.
http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/macgems/2005/07/belkinmacminihub/index.php