If you have a computer, some of the gifts that Santa is bringing may be computer peripherals - perhaps a new digital camera, a printer, a scanner, or perhaps something more exotic. The odds are that it will attach to your computer via a USB connection. As a matter of fact, if it doesn't (and uses an older serial or parallel port connection), you probably don't want to buy it - all new devices feature USB attachment. There is also another attachment called FireWire, which we may cover in a future column.
So, here are a couple of helpful hints for understanding USB devices. First of all, all USB devices are "hot plug". This means that you can conect and disconnect the device at any time, even while your PC is on and running other programs. Really. Its OK. This means, for example, that you can plug an external USB CD-RW drive into one PC, do a backup, and then just unplug it and take it to another PC. Slick.
The USB cables and connectors are different on one side of the cable than the other. Thus, you can't make a mistake plugging it in - just plug in the end that fits where you want to go. USB cables can be up to 15 feet long, and you can get extender cables if you need them.
Your PC probably has two or four USB connectors on it. Most often, they are on the back, but sometimes on the front. It doesn't matter where you plug your device in. But you may find it easier to plug "permanent" devices such as printers in the back, and leave any USB slots in the front for things you plug in only once in a while, such as a camera.
You can plug one of two things into a USB connector. The first is, of course, a USB device. But you can also plug in things called "hubs". A hub plugs into any USB port (such as the one on the back of your computer) and then provides four or more new USB ports to plug into. The advantage of this is that you can plug in more devices, but also that you can have the hub more conveniently located. For example, if your computer only has USB ports on the back, you can buy a hub and place the hub right on your desktop. You then just have one small cable that runs from the hub to the PC.
Installing USB devices is easy. Of course, you should always follow directions. To install most USB devices, you just plug it in. If you have not yet installed the drivers (or if you need to), you will be prompted to plug in the CD that came with the device. After that, you will just have to plug it in - the drivers are already loaded.
Note however that some devices require you to install the drivers first, prior to plugging in the device. Again, read the manufacturer's directions.
One final thing: some USB devices draw their power directly from the USB cable itself, and some require external power. So, how much power your devices draw may be a concern. If you plug too many devices into one hub (or into your PC) there may not be enough power for them. In that case, installing a hub with its own power may cure the problem.
(Bob Seidel is a local computer consultant in the Southport / Oak Island area. You can visit his website at www.bobseidel.com or e-mail him at bsc@bobseidel.com).