A lot of laptops and netbooks come complete with two USB ports, capable of accommodating your mouse, digital camera for image transfer, and the optional USB Mug Warmer(!). Whatever the reason for you running out of USB ports on your computer the solution is right here, the Belkin Hi-Speed USB 4-Port Hub.

I have owned a lot of Belkin computer accessories in the past and continue to find them both affordable and practical. This particular model is compatible with USB 2.0 which is the second generation of USB ports. The benefit of this is a faster transfer of data and overall improved connectivity. As this product has 4 ports it gives you the ability to turn a single USB Port into four ports, instantly quadrupling the capacity.

Installation is very simple, I simply attached the device via an available USB Port and away I went. All I had to do was attach the hub and then connect my various devices to it. I sometimes connect a printer via this hub, also my mouse, digital camera and USB stick. File transfer works exactly the same as with using the original USB ports and there is no noticeable lag in transfer rate due to the hubs intervention.

The hub is self-powered, meaning it draws the required power from its connection to your laptop, for example. This is required to light the various LED's which are in place to indicate there is power to the unit, also to show which ports are in use at any given time. The simplicity of the design is typical of a Belkin product, with no fancy ideas just a simple yet effective end product. The casing of the hub is very durable, giving good protection to the componants within. The Belkin branding is also present on the top of the hub and it is of a good weight and gives me the impression it isn't shoddily knocked together for pennies.

The USB-USB cable is supplied and although it isn't as long I would have hoped, it still is adequate for the job. Longer US-USB cables can be bought, though, with a 5metre cable costing around £4 online. I have seen these hubs for around £12 on Amazon, I think I paid around £20 for mine! I would recommend the Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 4-Port Hub to anyone with an expanding list of computer accessories that they wish to attach via the USB ports.