Strengths: Super easy to set up, works like a champ
Summary: After wrestling with an actual Print Server from another company for 6 or 7 hours, only to find out my printer isn't compatible, I was desperate to avoid a repeat. Lots of research led me to question most of the other print server choices and their compatibility with my Samsung ML-1450 Laser Printer. The Belkin Network USB Hub box said \"Industry's 1st reliable print server\". The Best Buy computer guy said that it was so new he hadn't heard any feedback about it. I decided to take the plunge and I'm so happy I did. It's a little more expensive than other print servers, but what's a Saturday of frustration worth to you? The \"secret\" of this thing that separates it from the others is that you don't need to mess with a bunch of IP addresses. It comes with a small resident program that you install on each computer that convinces it that the printer is actually plugged in directly. As a matter of fact your XP will pop up with the Discovered New Printer message, even while wireless through the router. All you do is plug the Hub into your wireless or wired router, then into your USB printer. You then install the Control Center (takes just a couple of seconds). When you run the program you can already see the printer there on the list. Since a printer can only be \"Connected\" to one computer at a time, you simply direct the computer, through the Control Center, to connect, print, then disconnect when finished. The last step is to go to your printer icon through the Control Panel and through Properties, and click on the \"Virtual USB Printer Port\" in the Ports section. That's it! It was so easy. The Control Center automatically told the XP firewall that it needed access. There are also very detailed, easy to follow instructions (pictures) on how to set other common firewalls made by the big companies. It's also great that since it connects directly through my existing wireless DSL router, I don't even have to program it for WEP or WPA-PSK codes. The computers do all the \"talking\" and they're already coded. I don't think you'll regret getting this Print Server, I mean Hub. I guess you can connect lots of other things through it...external hard drive, for instance. Worst comes to worst, it'll take only a fraction of the time to find out it doesn't work for you than other brands! How's that for an endorsement!
Reviewed by: doowop02 on 21-Feb-08Rating:
Strengths: - Very easy to setup.- Works like a charm.- Highly recommended.
Summary: - Because of work I have a new Dell M1530, but have a need to print documents (from another room) using my printer. I tried D-Link's print server, and that really sucked. No tech support at all from D-Link and as soon as I upgraded the D-Link's firmware in hopes an upgrade would help ... the D-Link print server crashed and burned, and I returned the item. - So far I'm likin' this network USB hub from Belkin ... - But let's see how easy it is to set up my new Dell laptop (w/Vista worries).
Reviewed by: CHICHORAF on 21-Jan-08Rating:
Strengths: Simple to install, Works as advertised, great software, 5 USB ports.
Summary: I really like this simple but effective Network USB. Now I have wireless (over wi fi) Printing, Scanning, and Storage. If it has a USB connection, chances are that it will work with this little gem. I have a Vista laptop and an XP desktop, and both of them are sharing all my USB devices without any problems. If you have more than one computer and many USB devices and want to share them all, buy the Belkin Network USB Hub! You wont regret it.