8Bit Joystick.com: Review : Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 4-Port Mini-Hub

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Review : Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 4-Port Mini-Hub

This weekend I bit the bullet and got a dedicated USB hub for my Xbox 360. Now the Xbox 360 only has three USB ports on it (four if you add an HD-DVD drive). Once you have the Wireless Networking Adaptor in back and the Xbox Live Vision Camera in front that only means one USB port left open.

So unless you want to do a lot of plugging and unplugging you need to get a USB hub to add some additional ports to the system. I ended up getting a Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 4-Port Mini-Hub and it was only twenty bucks. It is a small black hub with two ports on each side and a retractable connection cable so it actually adds four ports.

It also comes with a six foot extension cable so I have my hub on the floor and the cables are running to it from my couch rather than diagonally directly towards my Xbox. My cats like this so they can sit on my foot stool and not worry about an Xbox cord disturbing them.

Now why indeed would I need so many USB ports with my 360?

I use the following stuff:
Wireless Xbox 360 controller with play-N-Charge cable
MadCatz Xbox 360 wired controller
Guitar Hero 2 controller
Xbox 360 Wireless networking adapter
Xbox Live Vision Camera
Full-size USB keyboard (I might end up getting a 360 Chatpad)
External Hard Drive for media such as music and MP4s
1-Gig Thumbdrive
SD Card reader for photos
iPod cable

And to top it all off later on this year I am going to be getting a microphone for the game Rock Band.

This is a nice full speed USB 2.0 hub and it does not need a power adapter for most USB devices. If you end up with a lot of USB thingies to plug in to your Xbox 360 and if you are juggling with what USB device to have in your front ports and any given time it might be time to get a hub like this one.