Belkin Bus Station

Author : Wayne Date : 20th November 2000

Summary :

So there you have it, the Belkin USB BusStation. A very stylish piece of kit, with curves in all the right places and a look that would grace even the executive desktop.

In the words of Mark Reynoso, European general manager for Belkin Components,

"Belkin's BusStation gives users complete flexibility to plug and play whatever peripherals they need without needing to shut down or reboot their computer every time. It's the easiest way to connect multiple interfaces through a single device."

"We developed the product through our R&D programme, which aims to meet users' needs for the maximum flexibility of connectivity. Belkin is committed to being the best producer of productivity-enhancing computer and communication products and accessories in the world, and introducing innovative products like the BusStation is key to that aim."

And this is probably as good a point as any to mention the one feature that Belkin provide that no potential buyer should be without :

Belkin's Lifetime Product Warranty

Yup, that's right, the damned thing is guaranteed for life! Now what am I going to complain about?. I can't even complain about the colour, because if you don't like the standard burgundy and charcoal grey (and I do), then you can get it in those gawdy fruity Mac colours too.

 

Conclusion :

When the time arrives that you need a USB hub to expand your connectivity, you will be faced with a simple choice. Either you get one of the standard fixed port hubs which offer no flexibility later on (Belkin produce a range of these too), and you save some cash, or you go for the slightly more expensive "hub plus" design and give yourself some small element of futureproofing. Belkin claim to be working on new modules to slot into the BusStation, and in theory a great many technologies and future technologies could potentially be caered for in this single device.

There's also the question of whether the hub should have its own power supply, or should draw its power from your existing USB port, and my advice in almost every situation would be to get a self powered hub (one that has its own power supply).

As a rough guide, I've seen the BusStation advertised on Jungle.com for around the £50 mark, and I believe the average US street price is around $70 or less.

Belkin has a solid and hard won reputation for quality, and the BusStation is a prime example of what a little thought and innovation can result in. It's a solidly constructed and highly functional device that does what it sets out to do without any fuss. The only "fault", if you can call it that, is that the front facing LED's offer no information as to which ports are in active use, but I'm not sure I'd want to pay the extra for that feature anyway, I mean let's face it, you only have to swivel the thing around to see for yourself, and as most of us will have a fixed set of devices plugged in permenantly, I don't see how I can knock it on this one churlish point.

So I guess the big question on your lips now is should you run out and buy one?........Hell Yeah!!!!

The Belkin USB BusStation

 

 

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