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USB Switch

36 Responses (Add) | Monday, February 4th, 2008 at 10:46pm

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Ever since I first laid eyes on USB… I’ve been enamored with USB devices. I probably have no less than 20 USB devices within arm’s reach at any given time. But, what happens if you have a USB printer, but you have two computers. How can you keep that one printer connected to two computers… if there is only one USB port on the printer?

Well, you can get a USB 2.0. The goal of the new serial bus is to broaden the range of external peripherals that can be used on a computer.

You can identify whether your PC has Hi-Speed USB or not relatively easy. Open Device Manager and expand the Universal Serial Bus section. There should be an “Enhanced” USB host controller present. USB 2.0 has a raw data rate at 480Mbps, and it is rated 40 times faster than its predecessor interface, USB 1.1, which tops at 12Mbps. Originally, USB 2.0 was intended to go only as fast as 240Mbps, but in October 1999, USB 2.0 Promoter Group pumped up the speed to 480Mbps.

Almost every conceivable peripheral has a USB 2.0 version ranging from a HDTV tuner, a micro hard drive to even video card / USB monitor. So, even if you buy a all-in-one HP multimedia PC with all the gizmos, you’ll still need something USB.

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36 Comments

SocioBiblog

February 5th, 2008
at 8:50am

USB Switch(Chris Pirillo )

Technobabble

February 7th, 2008
at 4:09pm

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Windows Vista Torrent

February 5th, 2008
at 7:15am

Tech Interviews Buying a Mac Pro Wireless CameraUSB SwitchHow to Save Money CD Destroyer To Give is Better than to Receive Don?t Jerk Your Power Cables! Tips for Keeping the Weight Off Do You Have any Online Video Tips? Eating Penguin Candy

StJimmyPyro

February 4th, 2008
at 1:56pm

Fine, don’t say U.S.B. say usb, but don’t say usbu, it bugs me…

BuckeyeSparky

February 4th, 2008
at 1:57pm

ahhh didnt know they had those out there

Jonn004

February 4th, 2008
at 11:45pm

Chris you should really get a 24″ iMac on the right of your 30″ monitors(with the MacPro)

stevewondering

February 5th, 2008
at 1:08am

am un-subscribing! because chris is mean!

just jk:P

preschmanager

February 5th, 2008
at 2:02am

You’re EMO. sice when. AND ALL YOU HJAVE TO DO IS CUT ALL THE WAY AROUND THE EDGE OF THE PLASTIC THINGY AND IT FALLS APART. YOU NEED PATIENCE WHEN OPENING Things. I’ll stop shouting now.

Mushy2000

February 5th, 2008
at 4:49am

Ever heard of networking your usb Divices across all you computers?

FallenLeafProduction

February 5th, 2008
at 5:22am

i LOVE opening those things. unless the thing inside is fragile and or expensive. Its a great challenge getting it open without cutting off a finger!

hambizle

February 4th, 2008
at 11:21pm

Good article, I am still waiting for USB to die, but it still keeps kickin

mura

February 4th, 2008
at 11:21pm

nop you are not alone Ib cut me self soooo many times well like 8
my second PS2 controller that what painfull

my dad could use one for his office, but I’ll conect the black/white printer to
my lan for when i nide it

till next time
mura

Strifezilla

February 5th, 2008
at 7:00am

your an idiot not everyone cutting themselves is emo and not all emos cut themselves go learn a bit about emos before you bash on them, you idiot

preschmanager

February 5th, 2008
at 7:01am

i did’nt call him emo. he called himself emo. wtf.

lionnn1233

February 5th, 2008
at 8:24am

i think i just lost a nipple lmao

smartpartsionlover

February 5th, 2008
at 10:55am

i think the usb drink cooler/heaters are nice

dvdd127

February 5th, 2008
at 1:08pm

with printers and hard drives you could also just use printer and file sharing.. LOL

fred hayes

February 5th, 2008
at 8:10am

I think this is what you may have been thinking: http://www.usb.org/developers/wusb/ for wireless USB, but here agian, it drops to 110 MBPS after 30 M. I have a USB 2.0 Canon printer, and it is shared with 2 computers on a USB connection, I do not need a host computer to run, I ordered a Print Server to connect by network cable to the router (BB connection) hook the USB to the server, run the cable to routher, setup the software, and set the printer on IP address and away it prints. install the driver on both computers and set the printer IP on both. works great and uses a wireless connection to the routher to the printer. not for your beginner though, but experienced user could do the setup in less than an hour. as for the print server, it is about the size of large single reese cup bar, ant price was $40 new.

GhostZalker

February 5th, 2008
at 6:28pm

i had too stopp watching this video cause that usbah thing was so annoying

kronflux

February 5th, 2008
at 8:29pm

me too. Pirillo, stop ruining USB.

JP

February 5th, 2008
at 2:14pm

The only problem with UZBAH switches is that they don’t play well with sound drivers. For example, you won’t have much luck using USB switches with USB headphones/mics.

Dragonx2x

February 5th, 2008
at 3:49pm

Where can i pick up this exact usb switch?

Thanks in advance!

HertsCast

February 6th, 2008
at 3:03am

I completely agree with that packaging thing, I’ve cut and scraped my hands soooooo much with them.

Jean Cotton

February 6th, 2008
at 5:10am

I’m glad you mentioned those awful molded plastic packages on so many products today…they’re a pain in the butt to open! Definitely NOT consumer friendly. Every CEO of companies that use such packaging should be made to try opening them…and I thought that CD’s/DVD’s with those damn seals on 3 sides was a big problem! I’m 70 years old and fear that one of these days I’ll not be able to survive in this world of child proof caps, unbudgeable jar lids and packaging that can send one to the hospital.

Stan

February 6th, 2008
at 11:21am

I have a laser printer that uses a USB interface, and it works across my network just like any other kind of printer.

Dale Lowery

February 6th, 2008
at 4:40pm

Here’s my solution: I have several computers linked by a Gigabit LAN. My serial HP LaserJet connects via a Hawking LAN to Printer device. As for my USB connected Epson color printer, it’s connected to one computer and all the other machines can access it through the LAN also.

Setting up a LAN is easy since Win2K and sure makes life easy! You’ll probably need a LAN hub or switch for more than two computers but they’re pretty cheap (and good) these days.

I guess I need more experience with USB because a couple devices (scanner) don’t wanna play nice at times, especially when they need POWER from the computer USB connection.

marctc3

February 9th, 2008
at 6:44pm

i have one there great

jonnyk5614

February 10th, 2008
at 1:12am

Or, if the two computers are on a network, you can add any printer as a network printer (e.g. NetworkNAME\ComputerNAME\PrinterNAME)

jonnyk5614

February 10th, 2008
at 1:15am

You aren’t the only one who agrees! I love Chinese Drop Shipping packaging! They have a paper bag with a tie-string and inside it is your product wrapped in a bit of bubblewrap. Simple, easy, quick, CHEAP!

What Do You Think?