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TechWorks PowerUSB Hub
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Contact and Other Information
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| Manufacturer: |
TechWorks
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| Description: |
USB Hub
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| Address: |
TechWorks Inc.
4030 W Braker Lane #350
Austin, Texas 78759
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| Price: |
US$59.95 Direct From TechWorks
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| Telephone: |
1.800.688.7466
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| Fax: |
1.512.794.8520
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| Requirements |
USB Equipped Macintosh
Mac OS 8.1 and later
Available USB port
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| System Used For Testing |
iMac 266 Mhz
96MB RAM
MacOS 8.6 |
By Bryan Chaffin and Dave Hamilton
USB hubs are popular items to be sure. With a wealth of companies offering their own version of a USB hub, it is often just a matter of choosing which one you like. TechWorks enters the USB market with their first offering called the PowerUSB hub. TechWorks has long been known for their RAM products as well as the first Voodoo card for the Mac called the Power3D.
The PowerUSB Hub is attractive and comes in any one of the 5 candy colors that the iMac is available in. It comes equipped with four downstream USB ports for peripherals and one upstream USB port for expansion, a power adapter and an upstream USB cable TechWorks also provides a 1 Year Limited Warranty, a 30-Day Money Back Guarantee, and unlimited Toll-Free Technical Support.
More importantly, the hub works... it supplies power to devices that need it, and it supports full USB throughput. Plug it in and go. Just make sure the computer is OFF when you plug it in, otherwise the hub may or may not register with the machine and, a few times, we didn't get a USB link signal from it. Shutting off the computer prior to plugging in the hub ensured success every time.
The documentation provided told us everything we needed to know, though most users will not need it. The directions were clear and concise.
One thing that TechWorks told us that they are asked about often, is the power light on each port. This light is in fact a power light which means that it signals a port that has power. It resembles a link light, which signals that an active signal is being received, on an Ethernet hub, and so many users who have not read the documentation get confused when all the lights are lit. We would like to have seen the power lights actually be link lights, though this is not a major issue.
The Bottom Line
We found the hub to be reliable, easy to use, and the color blended well with our Lime iMac. TechWorks has been providing quality products for many years and we think that the PowerUSB Hub will mark a successful entry into the USB market.
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Final Score (Maximum score is 5 Gadgies)
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4 1/2 Gadgies
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Pros |
The product is solid and reliable. The documentation was easy to understand, and it was easy to install. The included upstream USB cable is extremely handy. The Toll Free Tech Support is also very attractive, especially when added to the strong warranty. |
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Cons |
The power lights might be confused for link lights by some users, especially those that do not read the documentation. This is a minor weakness for an otherwise strong product. |
TechWorks
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