by Josh Peffer

Created on: June 21, 2009

USB, or universal serial bus, is a port on your computer where you can plug in a number of different devices. Some devices, such as a mouse or keyboard, will use this port to connect to your computer and be used to navigate your computer. Others, such as a printer, fax machine, copier, or scanner, will use this device to recieve information from your computer and process an output. And then others, such as iPods, and other MP3 players, can use this port to draw power and charge the device. Overall, this USB port is a versatile and essential part of a computer.

Having a sufficient amount of these ports is essential to a well functioning computer. To increase the number of USB ports you have on your computer, there are a number of possibilities. You can increase the amount by adding more hardware. Adding additional hardware has some options as well. You could add expansion USB cards, or replace your existing USB cards, with USB cards that have more ports, or you could even get a completely new motherboard that has more on board USB ports. That being said, is that the way you want to do it?

Another, less complicated, way to add more USB ports, is to buy a USB port hub. These little devices plug into an existing USB port, and have additional USB ports in them. They can range for 2 addition USB ports, to having many more. Either way, will do the job.

Some advantages of using hardware:

Hardware is more permanent than using a USB hub. With a USB hub, you have to plug it back into your computer every single time you want to use it. So, if you were using this for your laptop, every time you set up your laptop, you would have to plug it back in. This would get rather tedious and annoying to me. With the hardware, it is always there. In your computer and ready to go. All you need to do is turn your computer on, and away you go.

Some advantages of using USB hub:

You can keep adding as many as you like. With the hardware, you can only add so many expansion cards, or upgrade your mother board so many times. With a USB hub, you can plug a USB hub into another USB hub. Then you have even more ports.

USB hubs are sometimes cheaper. They are definitely cheaper than buy a new motherboard. Some USB expansion cards could be cheaper than other USB hubs. But USB hubs are more portable. You can take them out and put them back in. If it is getting in the way, you can take it out and use it for next time.

Whether you go out and buy a new motherboard, or just go out and buy a USB hub. Both will add more USB ports to your computer, and thus make it a more functioning computer.

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