imac connections
I am thinking about buying a new imac but am not sure I can connect all my external devices: optimum online internet connection, Epson 2450 Photo scanner, Epson 2400 Photo printer, Epson Stylus C88 printer, LaCie Lightscribe DVD burner, LaCie 500GB External HD, Airport Extreme, ipod, digital cameras. any feedback would be helpful. any recommended firewire & USB hubs?
Comments
It's a pity the elegance of an iMac is completely trashed the second you need anymore than 4 USB ports.
You need more than 4?
You need more than 4?
iPhone dock, printer, scanner, flash drive, Nokia USB connectivity cable, my own keyboard/mouse (USBx2) and I'm already up to needing 7 USB ports there!
External backup hard drive = 8USB ports required.
iPhone dock, printer, scanner, flash drive, Nokia USB connectivity cable, my own keyboard/mouse (USBx2) and I'm already up to needing 7 USB ports there!
External backup hard drive = 8USB ports required.
Most people don't have two mobile phones, a separate printer and scanner, and separately connected keyboard and mouse. That right there is three USB ports that 95% of users don't need. Go wireless on the keyboard and mouse and you can eliminate another port (two in your case).
It's a pity the elegance of an iMac is completely trashed the second you need anymore than 4 USB ports.
Most people don't.
I have a Wacom tablet, iPhone, and a printer attached. That's it: three. The wife has a printer and an iPhone: two. Wireless keyboards are great. Even with wired boards and mice, we'd both be four or less.
For those that do, a hub would keep the area immediately behind the computer clearer, anyways.
At work, I have a printer, an iPod dock and USB speakers set off to the side in the room. One long USB cable with a hub saves running three cables around a door and window.
Most people don't have two mobile phones, a separate printer and scanner, and separately connected keyboard and mouse. That right there is three USB ports that 95% of users don't need. Go wireless on the keyboard and mouse and you can eliminate another port (two in your case).
The point isn't really that most people don't, it's that if you do, it spoils the appearance completely. I reckon Apple could easily up the USB port count to 8 or 10, and then that'd cover every customers needs without having to resort to buying extra equipment.
Ten cables running into the machine and around the desk and all over is a mess, anyway. A hub would clean things up.
So should the iMac have 10 USB ports in the back in order to maintain the image?
Ten cables running into the machine and around the desk and all over is a mess, anyway. A hub would clean things up.
A hub means an extra cable and an extra box on your desk. That hardly clears things up! I think Apple could swallow the cost of 4 USB ports at a few pence each for the sake of convenience
A hub means an extra cable and an extra box on your desk. That hardly clears things up!
I think that depends highly upon the arrangement of the machine on the desk, in the room, etc. As i said earlier, I have one cable running around a door and window... instead of three. The hub certainly clears things up for me.
Oh, I didn't mention that my desk at work is pretty small and I don't have the room on the desk to run 10 cables; the hole in the desk will only accommodate a power cord, LAN and max 3 USB cables. Of course, I could run cables all over my desk, but what would that do to the appearance?
I think that depends highly upon the arrangement of the machine on the desk, in the room, etc. As i said earlier, I have one cable running around a door and window... instead of three. The hub certainly clears things up for me.
Oh, I didn't mention that my desk at work is pretty small and I don't have the room on the desk to run 10 cables; the hole in the desk will only accommodate a power cord, LAN and max 3 USB cables. Of course, I could run cables all over my desk, but what would that do to the appearance?
It would depend entirely on the arrangment. At my desk, for instance, a USB hub would have to hang down the back of the desk (not really ideal) or sit on the desk (again not ideal). Either way, the hub solution isn't as satisfactory as the more USB ports in the back of the iMac solution. If the cables are all connecting at the same point, you can at least zip tie them all together to make them look neater. Although that's no good if you need to regularly connect and disconnect them (as I would!).
Connect an ACD (-1 on the MP, +2 on the ACD for a net of +1 = 6 ports)
... quite a bit of cash
iMac 4 ports
... much less expensive
Add a wired keyboard on either machine and get +2 ports, but -1 for the connection so a net of +1 = 5)
Sounds about right to me.
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Why don't we ask the people reading the thread...
How many USB ports do you NEED?
I happy with 3 on a desktop. One is fine on an MBA, 3 for other portables.
The point isn't really that most people don't, it's that if you do, it spoils the appearance completely. I reckon Apple could easily up the USB port count to 8 or 10, and then that'd cover every customers needs without having to resort to buying extra equipment.
If you have 8 or 10 USB cables handing off of your iMac, you have a total eyesore anyway. Besides, no product is ever designed to meet every single customer's perceived need. I could see 5 USB ports in the iMac as that's what the mini is now sporting.
I have a powered 4 port (A) USB hub fastened behind desk and hard to reach.
I just bought a 7 port USB port but haven't set it up yet. It will replace the 4 port hub.
1. Scanner ---> back of ACD (will plug scanner into new hub when set up. I'll use the ACD port for USB drives that aren't bus powered. They don't work with keyboard port.
2. Keyboard ---> plugged into back of ACD
3. Logitech Evolution Mouse (battery operated) ---> keyboard
4. Mini lamp over keyboard ---> keyboard
5. For bus powered USB drives ---> same keyboard USB as Mini lamp interchanged when needed.
6. Revolution Mouse (rechargeable - used when battery in Evolution dies and has to be recharged separately or battery replaced) Rev. Mouse charger plugged into (A) USB hub.
7. Broadband modem ---> (A) USB hub
8. For USB drives that need AC power, I have to interchange with something on (A) USB hub. Will plug into ACD when port no longer needed for Scanner.
9. Printer {1. Laser} OR {2. Color} [number 12 USB] ---> (A) USB hub (will plug the other one into new hub when set up.
10. UPS ---> G4 back (UPS communicates with computer?!?!)
11. External HDD [i]---> G4 back // Ext.HDD [2] ---> FiWi ---> G4 back
I'd ask for suggestions to set up a better system, BUT all this will change when new Mini arrives. However, feel free to criticize my current system or suggest what you would do in this case.