Brando's four-port USB hub comes with on / off switches

This four-port USB hub cube from Brando almost makes sense. You see, the top two ports have on / off switches which, if you use USB to charge things, may be a useful feature. But then we gotta wonder what kind of USB device doesn't either shut down automatically or stop charging once it has gotten all the juice it needs. That all said, if you're looking for a 4-port hub with on / off switches, this could be yours for $12.

[Danakin @ Jun 19th 2008 12:15PM]

I like their UFO design better.
http://usb.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00520&cat_id=039&dept_id=015

[Michael @ Jun 19th 2008 12:17PM]

If the on off switch controlled the connection but let the power continue to flow then I could see this being useful...I don't need to connect and launch programs every time I charge my Mp3 player...but it doesn't say whether it does that so it probably just cuts off the entire USB port which would be pointless....

[unleashedlive @ Jun 19th 2008 12:21PM]

I could see the switches being useful. I hate the fact that TimeMachine runs every hour, so I end up just turning off or unplugging my external drive because it doesn't need the stress of running 24/7. Doing that, shuts the external down, so having a switch instead would be useful.

[natels @ Jun 19th 2008 12:23PM]

You can change the settings of Time Machine to run to your likings.

[Taylor Woods @ Jun 19th 2008 5:28PM]

I concur. Many external hard drives (especially the 2.5" portables
from Seagate, Western Digital, etc) and enclosures do not power-down according to other system parameters, and may even keep spinning after the computer is turned off. An on/off switch can prevent unnecessary wear on the drives.

[PopsG @ Jun 19th 2008 12:21PM]

My USB logitec webcam still draws a lot of power even when not used. Its actually warm to the touch. This is why I unplug it when I dont plan on using it for a long time. An on/off switch would be handy.

[From my Cube @ Jun 19th 2008 12:26PM]

I like the space saving design

[Kurian @ Jun 19th 2008 12:29PM]

Wait till the switch malfunctions and corrupts some files.

[CosmicSquirt @ Jun 19th 2008 12:32PM]

I had Griffin's Rocket FM which had a bright blue LED that stayed lit up as long as it was plugged in. The on/off switch here would have been perfect for the Rocket FM... or the Rocket FM would have been perfect had it the option to turn off the light!

[Low Ranked @ Jun 19th 2008 12:35PM]

Looks a little cheesy to me.

[The Dude @ Jun 19th 2008 12:53PM]

Cheddar cheese, to be precise.

[Frun @ Jun 19th 2008 12:57PM]

Well put!

[Tim @ Jun 19th 2008 1:25PM]

It has electrolytes!

[commandoclayproductions @ Jun 19th 2008 2:22PM]

more lytes than my body has room for!

[John Lock @ Jun 19th 2008 12:39PM]

Finally a great way to plug in all 4 of your Olinari Silver USB dog tags! lol

check it

http://olinari.com

[bolezhinkov @ Jun 19th 2008 2:44PM]

finally. they are weighing heavy on my neck . . . the price of awesome these days

[Boarderwoot @ Jun 19th 2008 2:45PM]

Bluetooth dongles, a must have for this season's fashion.

[Darren @ Jun 19th 2008 12:38PM]

There are a TON of USB gadgets that would benefit from an on/off switch... From a lava lamp to a George Foreman grill.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/brain/whereisit.cgi?t=usb&sortby=min_price&sortorder=asc&sorthow=num&dispstart=1&dispnum=all

[Ziokendo @ Jun 19th 2008 12:51PM]

I like the feature.

Think about bluetooth dongles you don't want to be powered and connected all the time, or similar devices.

[Simon @ Jun 19th 2008 12:52PM]

USB Lamps, USB Fans, etc..

[94 taurus owner @ Jun 19th 2008 12:55PM]

Nice, but I'd rather go with the Allspark USB hub *if I can find one*

[BratPAQ @ Jun 19th 2008 1:13PM]

i have a usb hub that have a led light on it, sometimes id really like to turn that light off specially when i need all the lights out in my room, id really want that on/off switch for the led light on my usb hub

[Low Ranked @ Jun 19th 2008 2:45PM]

Electrical tape.

[Phillip @ Jun 19th 2008 1:28PM]

It doesn't support Macs?

[tcw @ Jun 19th 2008 5:17PM]

I have to ask that, too!
A USB hub that doesn't want to support a Mac?
It's just a USB hub!

Then again, I don't know a lot about the tech, so I can't say it's super easy.
But seeing as USB is ubiquitous, why in the world not?

I'm going to buy it and test it out. The green one will look so cute on my little desk; I'm already imagining my cute little Kingston Mini Fun (purple) plugged in =)

It's nice to be a girly girl.

[BigTeebo @ Jun 19th 2008 1:34PM]

I could see the use for the on/off switch for my PS2 Socom headset. When it's plugged in, ALL the audio gets routed to it. Trying to disconnect it when some audio is playing locks up said app. I only use it for Team Fortress 2.

[Sredlums @ Jun 19th 2008 1:42PM]

I use a webcam that has a few LEDs that turn on when it's dark
This is great when I use iChat in a dim-lit room, but not so great when I put my computer to sleep to watch a movie with those same lights still on at full brightness...
So: great feature for my use!

[Surur @ Jun 19th 2008 1:51PM]

My external USB drive keeps spinning constantly, running very hot. I would love to switch it off easily with a button.

[Acerei @ Jun 19th 2008 1:56PM]

Very nice. A cute system, looks organized.
I would love one of these things for my old laptop, (only has 1 USB port).
This would just simplify things sooo much !

[unityblue @ Jun 19th 2008 3:13PM]

WIRELESS!! Switch your wireless gadgets on on off people, amongst all the other suggestions above.

[Fabio FZero @ Jun 19th 2008 3:11PM]

Well, I'm a musician and my M-Audio Trigger Finger controller doesn't have a power switch. Absolutely dumb design decision to cut a few cents off the final price, I think.

[Fernando G. @ Jun 19th 2008 6:39PM]

mpd24 too =/

[radpay @ Dec 8th 2008 10:06AM]

Funny... I found this page through a google search while trying to deal with another crappy m-audio design decision for the groovelab/transit. The stupid LED stays on even after my computer is turned off, and to compound the problem, the beta drivers for vista force my machine to BSOD if the device is plugged in on boot...

[Richard Lai @ Jun 19th 2008 3:52PM]

Brando seems to be picking up some attention these days. I wonder what's their next big thing.

[Hun @ Jun 19th 2008 5:11PM]

I've had this hub since I bought it from Yodabashi Camera in Akiba a few years back (in white not yellow).

It works.
Nothing special.

The switches are a little loose but you know when it's switched on or off. It's a really helpful feature but alas, it's just a regular hub. It does it's job well. No complaints.