by Antonia Anderson

Created on: January 06, 2009   Last Updated: May 19, 2009

In today's fast-paced world, we connect and disconnect a dizzying array of devices from our computers on a daily basis. Scanners, cameras, iPods, external hard drives, scanners, and dozens of other goodies whip on and off your computer like a teenager trying on prom dresses.

How do these different devices talk to your computer? That skinny little hole in your computer with the branchy diagram over it is called a USB port, and it is to your computer as a wall socket is to a power supply. Sadly, your computer comes with only a few USB ports already built in, presenting us with the age-old dilemma of How can I do everything I want to doright now?

If you enjoy waiting for your 300-page thesis to finish printing before being able to sync your iPod, you need read no further. For the rest of you, two easy and affordable approaches let you to increase the number of USB ports and connect more devices to your computer.

1. USB hub

Just like you use a power strip for extra plugs around the house, you can use a USB hub to connect several devices at a time to a single USB port on your computer. Make sure you get a hub that uses USB 2.0 technology rather than 1.1, since it's much speedier than the first generation technology and is also backwards compatible.

TIP: If you connect too many devices to your computer, you run the risk of a power overload, which can damage the power supply and even blow out your USB port. Avoid this little snag by choosing a powered USB hub.

2. USB add-on card

A slightly more complicated option is to install a USB add-on card. You'll need to remove the cover of your PC and install the card in a spare PCI slot. Don't forget to remove the faceplate so that you can access the ports once you've replaced the cover. After installation, Windows will automatically recognize the new card and install the appropriate drivers.

TIP: If you're not familiar with working inside your computer, make sure to ground yourself by touching the metal case of the computer before doing anything else. If you're not grounded, the static discharge could damage your computer components.

If you're not sure which option to choose, try a USB hub first. You can find them for less then ten dollars on Amazon.com or any electronics dealer. A USB card costs only a few dollars more, but the convenience of a hub may be just what you need. If you really have a lot of external devices, you may end up filling all your free PCI slots with USB cards and then connecting hubs to every USB port. Just make sure your computer has enough power to handle them!

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