A device that allows one or more USB peripherals to connect to multiple computers, one computer at a time. Such a device is often used to share a scanner, printer or external hard drive with two or more computers. The computer is selected manually by pressing buttons on the device or via software.
In order to allow more peripherals to be connected than there are ports on the switch, a USB hub can be connected to one of the switch ports. See USB hub.
In order to allow more peripherals to be connected than there are ports on the switch, a USB hub can be connected to one of the switch ports. See USB hub.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- FileSalvage 7.0 (Mac)
- FileSalvage is an extremely powerful data recovery tools designed to restore files that have been accidentally deleted, have become unreadable due to media faults, or were stored on a drive before it was re-initialized or formatted. It is device and file system independent, allowing the users to recover files from...
- Software downloads 2009-11-19
- Synology Disk Station DS409slim - NAS server
- Synology Disk Station DS409slim is a true miniature powerhouse in the network-attached storage device market. It's the first 2.5-inch hard drive-based NAS server we've reviewed that offers hot-swappable capability. However, that is its least impressive feature. The server did well in our performance tests and, like other Synology products we've...
- Product reviews 2009-11-16
- Palm Pixi (Sprint)
- The debut of the Palm Pre got the tech world and gadget enthusiasts excited about Palm once again. Long considered dead in the water, Palm's innovative WebOS operating system buoyed it back into the spotlight, and the Pre was certainly a boon for the company as well as Sprint. While...
- Product reviews 2009-11-12
- Magellan RoadMate 1470
- Design The RoadMate 1470 doesn't deviate from the tried and true portable navigation device form factor. Measuring 3.3 inches by 5.2 inches by 7 inches, the RoadMate's thinness easily makes this unit one of the most pocketable devices in its class. Like nearly all PNDs, the majority of the RoadMate's...
- Product reviews 2009-11-10
- Amazon Kindle Wireless Reading Device (U.S. & International Wireless, Latest Generation)
- On October 22, 2009, Amazon discontinued the U.S.-only version of the Kindle and replaced it with the international Kindle model and set the price at $259. This new model--now called the "U.S. and International Kindle"--runs on AT&T's network and can access content on cellular networks inside and outside of the...
- Product reviews 2009-11-07
- Samsung HZ15W
- The Samsung HZ15W is a camera that looks good on paper but doesn't live up to the specs. The main attraction is the 24mm-equivalent wide-angle lens with 10x zoom, which is certainly a plus in a camera this size, giving you a lot of shooting flexibility for less than $280....
- Product reviews 2009-11-05
- Revisiting the Motorola Droid on Verizon [Q&A]
- Why the hate for drag and drop?Almost every review I have read faults the Droid because you can't auto-sync music:"(You can dump your music on a microSD card and pop it in, but it?s a copy-paste files affair, not a ?load my music? integrated experience.)"The Droid ships with a 16...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-05
- LoginStar 2009.11.5 (Windows)
- LoginStar lets you only remember a password, then simple and fast login in each kind of website (Blog, E-shopping / Auctions, E-mail, Online Banking, Web Drives ....and so on). Remove the need to remember a variety of network accounts and passwords, allowing you to easily enjoy the network of life....
- Software downloads 2009-11-05
- Express Scribe 5.00 (Windows)
- Express Scribe is a free transcription player featuring variable speed playback, foot pedal operation, speech recognition, file management and more. Ideal for playing dictation. Features: Variable speed playback constant pitch; Supports many professional foot pedals which connect to the game, serial or USB port to control playback; Uses 'hot' keys...
- Software downloads 2009-10-31
- Adesso WKB-3100UB wireless keyboard with trackball
- The $80 Adesso WKB-3100UB wireless keyboard is a good mini keyboard for surfing the Web from your sofa, but it's a nightmare to use as an everyday keyboard and trackball. The keyboard is usable most of the time, but its inaccurate trackball, poor button press recognition, sticking keys, lack of...
- Product reviews 2009-10-29
- VMware Fusion 3.0 (Mac)
- VMware Fusion is the most seamless way to run Windows applications on your Mac. VMware Fusion combines a clean and intuitive Cocoa-native interface that Mac users expect with a virtual platform trusted by millions of users today. VMware Fusion allows you to launch your Windows applications from the Dock and...
- Software downloads 2009-10-27
- Samsung Intrepid (Sprint)
- The Samsung Intrepid made its debut at CTIA Fall 2009 as Sprint's first Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphone. Admittedly, we weren't particularly impressed by the handset's drab and slightly plasticky design when we saw it at the show but now that we've had some time to get to know the device,...
- Product reviews 2009-10-22
- Samsung Moment (Sprint)
- In case you haven't noticed, the Google Android dam has broken. For almost a year HTC was the only manufacturer to offer handsets with the operating system, but in the past month, Motorola and Samsung almost fell over each other to offer Android smartphones of their own. Moto gave us...
- Product reviews 2009-10-22
- Apple MacBook Fall 2009 (Core 2 Duo 2.26GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, Nvidia GeForce 9400M)
- While it's neither the less-expensive entry-level MacBook some had hoped for, nor the long-rumored touch-screen device, the new 13-inch MacBook can now escape its designation as the lone holdover system from Apple's previous generation, thanks to an upscale makeover that keeps the price stable at just under the $1,000 mark....
- Product reviews 2009-10-22
- Microsoft to ease Windows 7 upgrades to netbooks with USB key solution
- Now if we can just get this "Incredible Offer" for $19.95 .........BUT WAIT! There is more!For an additional $100.00 we will even "activate" it for you!RE: Microsoft to ease Windows 7 upgrades to netbooks with USB key solution$119 is way too expensive for my netbook which cost $299I don't...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-22
- HTC Tilt 2 (AT&T)
- Editors' note: Portions of the Features section were taken from our review of the HTC Pure since the two smartphones share a number of same features.After waiting in the wings, AT&T's business customers are finally getting their turn with the HTC Touch Pro2. Dubbed the HTC Tilt 2 (and obviously...
- Product reviews 2009-10-20
- Lenovo SL510
- Without proceeding any further, I am about to make a guess: you have already decided whether or not you're buying a ThinkPad. The iconic brand, the unending combination of professional respect, solid features, and unabashed blandness, combine to make a product that has surprising appeal across the board, yet remains,...
- Product reviews 2009-10-16
- Motorola Cliq (T-Mobile)
- Photo gallery:Motorola CliqIf anyone doubts that Google's Android has a future, then they haven't seen T-Mobile's Motorola Cliq MB200. With its easy-to-use design, spacious keyboard, and action-packed feature set, the Cliq combines an attractive, powerful device with the customization of the Android operating system. We won't say it's the...
- Product reviews 2009-10-15
- LG Bliss - white (US Cellular)
- LG is one of the top makers of touch-screen feature phones, and though many of them go to big national carriers like Verizon Wireless and AT&T Wireless like the LG enV Touch and the LG Xenon for example, quite a number of them make it to regional carrier U.S. Cellular...
- Product reviews 2009-10-14
- 2010 Lexus IS 350 C
- Photo gallery:2010 Lexus IS 350 CWhen Lexus chopped the top off the IS model, it not only added a convertible to its lineup, but made some much-needed updates to the cabin tech. The 2010 Lexus IS 350 C uses a retractable hard top. We like the extra weather protection provided...
- Product reviews 2009-10-13
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
- New Online Dashboard for IT Leaders
-
Read about top issues IT decision-makers face every day, plus get cost-effective solutions to real-life IT problems.
- Learn more >>
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online - Free Six-Month Trial for Eligible Organizations
-
Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online provides fast online access, simple contact management and better sales performance for a low monthly cost - the best value on the market today.
- Learn more about the free, six-month trial offer>>
- Learn more about tools to grow your business
-
The Business Essentials Guide provides you useful tools and templates to help grow your business and save you time with automated shipping solutions.
- Save time with the UPS Business Essentials Guide
- Reduce risk. Reduce complexity. Increase reliability.
-
A simplified IT environment isn't just less complex. It's also more reliable. Standardize on a single Linux platform with SUSE Linux Enterprise from Novell, and get the world's most interoperable Linux
- Learn more >>
SmartPlanet
- Thought-provoking progressive ideas on diverse topics that intersect with technology, business, and life, and matter to the world at large. Visit SmartPlanet
- More from IBM
-
- Innovate your business' process model, play against the market, compete against others on our scoreboards and WIN! Try INNOV8 2.0: A BPM Simulator
- Enabling Real-World Business Transformation through IBM Service Management Read the EMA Analyst Report
