Satechi Aluminum USB 3.0 Hub & Card Reader

More (or easier) ports for your Mac

$29.99 Manufacturer Satechi, satechi.net

Features Three USB 3.0 ports, SD and microSD card reader

Having ports on the back of Mac desktops makes them look good, but it’s not always the most convenient thing. This hub borrows the styling of Apple’s Magic Trackpad and keyboard (though, slightly awkwardly, the last generation of them, rather than the currrent style), and gives you three USB 3.0 ports, an SD card reader, and a microSD card reader, with a single USB Type-A cable that connects to your Mac.

Mostly, it works great. With two drives connected through it, data rates were almost exactly the same as with the drives connected to the Mac directly. It also pushes enough power to charge an iPad. However, be warned that if you connect too many things at once, you may overload its power capabilities – our two drives stopped transferring once we connected the iPad. (Your Mac will warn you if this is the case.) Personally we’d have liked a fourth USB over the microSD reader, but it’s still great.

the bottom line. An excellent, useful USB hub. It’s fast, looks good, and has a great price.

Satechi Aluminum USB 3.0 Hub & Card reader

Fast multi-USB connectivity Looks smart and Mac-like Passes through enough power to charge iPad Is microSD the best use of space?

Excellent