I use lots of USB devices. External hard drives, a flatbed scanner, card reader, webcam, etc… But I don’t use all of them very often. I’ve even disconnected the scanner because it has no on/off switch and it makes all kind of calibrating noises when I start my computer. My external hard drive, which I use just once a week to run a system backup, also makes more noise than my PC does and it too lacks a proper power switch. This why I came up with the idea of an USB hub with switches that let you decide which devices you want to start up and which you don’t need.

USB is hot-pluggable, so technically this should be a piece of cake. The user could simply flick the switch for a device to enable/disable it at any time they wanted to. The device could also look quite attractive. An elegant small flat box, much like other USB hubs, with connectors on the back and corresponding buttons on the front. The top cover could be made a little longer,so it runs over the ugly plugs in the back. Also, a front connector or two for USB sticks and such would be nice.

I’ve contacted a few manufacturers but with little result. So I decided to post the idea here and see if anyone out there likes it. What do you think? Do you dig(g) it?

1. USB hub with on/off switches: Buffalo does it right
2. USB hub with on/off switches: It’s here!
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