Magnetic 4-port USB hub: for brazen daredevils only

We know, the minuscule magnets adorned on this 4-port USB hub aren't technically strong enough to have any severe effect on your data, but seriously, why would you chance it? In what has to be one of the worst ideas in low-end technology to ever grace our eyes, the magnetic 4-port USB hub enables users to stick their hub on any nearby file cabinet, metal plate or refrigerator door, though we can't figure out why that's such an awesome benefit. If you can, however, feel to show off your carefree side by handing over $13.99.

[Totalfixation @ Oct 6th 2008 3:15AM]

magnets and electronics.....hmmmmmm

[FlamingGhost @ Oct 6th 2008 5:39AM]

"If you can, however, feel feel to show off"

get your 'feel feel' on people :D

engadget heard of proofing? FAIL

[maty @ Oct 6th 2008 10:24AM]

SSD anyone?

[Fred @ Oct 6th 2008 3:17AM]

I don't think magnets affect flash based memory. Just don't get your portable Hard Drive next to it.

[Matthew C @ Oct 6th 2008 3:33AM]

So, do the magnets in the imacs cause the computer any damage?

For those of you who dont know, there is a relatively strong magnet in the right site of the slim imacs (i know in the white ones for sure).
Its there to hold the apple remote, but I often sick my flash dive of keys on it.

[kuade @ Oct 6th 2008 4:39AM]

Magnets only have a common danger to damage magnetic media; casset tapes, VHS tapes, floppy disk and 8tracks. All of those are ancient technology and you shouldn't be using them anyway! Try looking up the words INDUCTION or ELECTRO-MAGNETIC-PULSE! I think this little hub is a nice idea and I would trust my 4Gig thumb drive on it anyday.

[Fred @ Oct 6th 2008 4:48AM]

Oh no. Not my 8 track collection. Ancient technology, I think not!

[j_g_puff @ Oct 6th 2008 5:00AM]

kuade,

What about non-solid-state hard drives? Can we use them, or are they too ancient for you?

[kornation @ Oct 6th 2008 5:21AM]

So what about the laptops using magnets for quick release power cords, the powerful magnets that are actually inside HDD's and the magnetic material found in DVD/CD drives?

The only danger I see from this is using a HDD externally and putting this directly on the casing while its turned on and read/writing, even then it would be because it damaging the drive arm mechanism as it moves, maybe causing it to scratch the discs itself, but it wouldn't be destroying the data on the actual disc in a magnetic sense.

This is one myth that should of had its heyday by now, please let it die.

[j_g_puff @ Oct 6th 2008 6:35AM]

koronation,

You do what you want with your data. I've grown too fond of mine to torture it in this way. The few advantages of a tacky magnetic USB hub are, IMO, rendered thoroughly undesirable when compared to the terrifying risk of data loss.

[happy_penguin @ Oct 6th 2008 3:05PM]

You wouldn't want to get it near a CRT, if anyone is still using one of those.

[kr @ Oct 6th 2008 3:19AM]

Wow. USB hubs that have magnets on them have been around for a while. Please google before calling something "one of the worst ideas in low-end technology." These types of hubs are really useful in that you can stick them to your computer case if you don't happen to have front USB.

[dchaosdx @ Oct 6th 2008 3:20AM]

data is stored electronically in flash memory is it not? i'd imagine you could slap a neodymium on the bottom of that and it would have no effect on your data.

[allislost @ Oct 6th 2008 3:21AM]

For those of you with metal plates in their heads, you can actually wear this as a... hat.

[shimmy shimmy yah @ Oct 6th 2008 3:44AM]

ahahahah family guy ftw

[Jon Nelson @ Oct 6th 2008 4:07AM]

Seeeeriously getting sick of all the hat comments, mate.

Wasn't funny the first time I saw it, and it isn't funny now.

[collegekid13 @ Oct 6th 2008 3:23AM]

to quote Jeremy Clarkson:

"What could possibly go wrong?"

[linuxamp @ Oct 6th 2008 3:28AM]

If you're not plugging magnetic media I don't see what the problem is. As far as I know USB flashdrives are not susceptible to magnets, are they? I wouldn't plug in USB microdrives though.

[Matthew C @ Oct 6th 2008 3:31AM]

Wow, I would actually find this very useful. Mine always fall on the floor

[joseph young @ Oct 6th 2008 3:35AM]

Great idea. Horrible implementation. Use the 3M non-adhesive stick or a suction cup. I want a hub anywhere I choose, but magnets are not the right adhesive material!

[rawhead @ Oct 6th 2008 3:54AM]

Why would I risk it? 'Cuz I live on the *edge*, baby, bring it on!




On second thought, thanks but no thanks.

[giuliop @ Oct 6th 2008 5:36AM]

I see acupuncture is not beneficial to your brain cells at all, is it?

[AJ in the East Bay @ Oct 6th 2008 9:27AM]

Easy giuliop, or he'll tear your soul apart!

[AxMi-24 @ Oct 6th 2008 4:20AM]

Every single hard drive has a magnet (how else do you think that it's electric motor is working). Having a magnet outside your case is no problem. Unshielded magnetic media are at risk from the magnets (think old floppies and credit cards) not normal harddrives. Rest of the computer is electric so static magnetic field will not impact on it in any way.

[Brian! @ Oct 6th 2008 4:22AM]

This is not a bad idea. Even a hard drive connected is not going to get affected as you don't have to put the drive on the magnet... it isn't like the cable is going to become super-magnetized or anything.

A truly bad idea would be a combo USB Hub + EMP Pulse Generator.

[Wwhat @ Oct 6th 2008 4:31AM]

Seriously, harddisks aren't THAT sensitive to magnetic influences you know, you could stick this thing on top of your HD and it won't be affected at all, to affect a HD you'll need a VERY powerful magnet, and that means either one that uses electricity and it bulky, or a very expensive one that costs more than this whole hub on itself

I read tests where they tried with very powerful magnets to affect a HD and it turns out the problem was the head assembly getting magnetised and making the arm stick so that it could not move in position anymore to read the data, shows you that there's nothing like a test to see what actually happens in these cases.

[Fred @ Oct 6th 2008 4:48AM]

I almost forgot, if you open a hard drive there are two very powerful magnets already in it for the read/write arm. Got them right here in my hand and they must be neodymium cause I can't pull them apart.

[barry99705 @ Oct 6th 2008 7:14AM]

I ran a degausser on top of a non-powered hard drive once to see if it would work to erase the drive. Didn't bother the drive one bit. Same thing will erase tape backup cartridges. Didn't try it with a thumb drive, pretty sure it wouldn't bother it either. I've stuck really strong magnets to computers before, doesn't bother them one bit. Now I wouldn't use one to stick your emergency boot floppy to your network cabinet, but magnets really don't effect computers that much any more.

[Zorque @ Oct 6th 2008 4:32AM]

I actually kinda want one of these, it'd be nice to stick to a cubicle wall or somewhere right within reach.

[Santaclaus @ Oct 6th 2008 4:40AM]

it would be a good idea if people who knew what they were talkign about would write articles for engadget... stuff like this just looks embarassing for the writer

[bp @ Oct 6th 2008 4:41AM]

Yep, worst is a very appropriate word choice for this. This is the worst review article I've recently read.

Is it too much to expect, that people reviewing the technology understand the basics, a tiny little bit about how the damn things actually work?

[Leon @ Oct 6th 2008 5:29AM]

Yes, I totally agree with bp! The word 'worst' should be for the writer of this article who clearly don't know what is he is talking (ok, writing that is) about! Engadget, it's time to change some editors! Or please send them to some basic computer/technology skill training class! This is not the first time that I see stupid reviews like this! Know what you are writing about or simply don't write a review!

[reticulate @ Oct 6th 2008 4:43AM]

Magnets don't have any effect on flash storage.

In fact, they don't have any effect on normal magnetic platter hard drives either, if they did the rare-earth magnet you'll find inside would wipe the data as you wrote it.

[Matt @ Oct 6th 2008 4:58AM]

To destroy data on a hard drive a really strong magnet has to come very close to the platters. I doubt that normal PCs are packed tight enough. However, on some notebooks the scenario is realistic. The trays on the seats of some InterRegio trains in germany were hold in place by some very strong rare earth magnets. When laying your notebook on the tray on some models the hard disk was placed directy atop the magnet -- and destroyed.

[Bonbon @ Oct 6th 2008 5:04AM]

Lol if magnets are so harmful for electronics, how come laptops can have speakers?
All speakers are, are magnets.

And think about all the magnet-clasp cases for cellphones and such nowadays.

[KilgoreTrout @ Oct 6th 2008 6:15AM]

My GPS/PMP is fixed to my car's dash with 2 magnets, on that same magnetic plates I often stick also my Nokia N95 (some adesive metal strips are sold with the holding plate),coins AND occasionaly some metallic USB keys.
It's by far the best, most practical and best looking method I have ever seen to fix all your devices on the same holder without screws, suction cups and the like.
I used it every day for more than 2 years, first with a N95 and a garmin now with a N95 8gb and a tomtom and I never ever had any problems.
Soon I'll be buying a new cell phone and the first hing I'm gonna buy for it will surely be the little metallic adesive strip to stick on its back to have it placed on my dash magnet.

[KilgoreTrout @ Oct 6th 2008 6:16AM]

My GPS/PMP is fixed to my car's dash with 2 magnets, on that same magnetic plates I often stick also my Nokia N95 (some adesive metal strips are sold with the holding plate),coins AND occasionaly some metallic USB keys.
It's by far the best, most practical and best looking method I have ever seen to fix all your devices on the same holder without screws, suction cups and the like.
I used it every day for more than 2 years, first with a N95 and a garmin now with a N95 8gb and a tomtom and I never ever had any problems.
Soon I'll be buying a new cell phone and the first hing I'm gonna buy for it will surely be the little metallic adesive strip to stick on its back to have it placed on my dash magnet.

[EngadgetSucks @ Oct 6th 2008 7:21AM]

Thought I'd chime in on the idocy in this article. Any magnet available to a consumer will have no effect on flash memory, and bugger all on a magnetic hard drive (I'd be wary about rubbing one up with a large Neodymium though).

Long story short: Disregard the bullshit old-wives tale perpetuated in this article.

[Lam Nguyen @ Oct 6th 2008 7:28AM]

What is that PC case? It looks groovy. Does anyone know?

[maze @ Oct 6th 2008 7:46AM]

had to think of http://www.techspot.com/gallery/data/504/bust-disk.jpg when i saw this

[Galley @ Oct 6th 2008 8:42AM]

A popular PC World article on the magnets vs. hard drive myth.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/116572/busting_the_biggest_pc_myths.html

[-Tj- @ Oct 6th 2008 8:42AM]

I want one with that gecko feet hair stuff.

[strider_mt2k @ Oct 6th 2008 8:56AM]

Loving the knee-jerk magnet reaction.

EWWW IT'S GOT MAGNETS!!!

Go grab your Texas Toast cell phone and cowboy up.

[Jash Sayani @ Oct 6th 2008 9:21AM]

Doesn't the magnet affect the data-flow in USB ports...?

BTW, 14 bucks is expensive for this !!! YOu can get a 8 USB port hub....

[Mikee @ Oct 6th 2008 9:26AM]

I agree. What case is that?

[Mikee @ Oct 6th 2008 9:28AM]

That was a reply to: Lam Nguyen's comment.

[Hickeroar @ Oct 6th 2008 10:19AM]

There are magnets INSIDE every hard drive. Ever taken one apart? They're actually surprisingly strong too. The platters are magnetically shielded. Putting a magnet on the outside of your case will NOT affect your HDD or any other electronics near by. The only thing you'd have to worry about were any floppy discs or things like that....but who uses those anymore?

[james @ Oct 6th 2008 11:28AM]

Easy alternative would be a regular Hub and some double sided tape.

[Bruce Rosner @ Oct 6th 2008 1:06PM]

I use Velcro tape to attach a usb hub to the top of my computer for extra ports. I like the magnet idea which is much cleaner and more secure. And the claim that a magnet affects flash memory is, of course, nonsense.

[mike @ Oct 6th 2008 12:48PM]

I swear, you sound like the folks that are concerned that the LHC will end the planet.

You really should do a little research before spreading FUD.

First, google GMR as it pertains to disk storage..._gigantic_ magneto resistive.

Second, take apart a dead hard disk and futz with the magnets inside...careful, they can raise a heckuva blister if they pinch your skin

Third, research what's required when buying a professional disk destruction cabinet. They're many thousands of dollars, come with a remote control, and make a godawful racket as the rather large electromagnet renders the drive unuseable.

No refrigerator magnet placed anywhere on the outside of your computer will harm your data.