Apple Mac Mini 19 - Manual (Page 36)

36 Chapter 3 Using Your Mac mini
Using USB Devices
To use a USB device, simply connect the device to the computer. Your computer
automatically accesses the necessary software whenever you connect a new device.
You can connect USB 1.1 devices and high-speed USB 2.0 devices to the USB 2.0 ports
on the back of your computer. USB 1.1 devices won’t take advantage of the USB 2.0
higher transfer rate.
Note: Apple has already included software to work with many USB devices. When you
connect a USB device, if your Mac mini cannot find the correct software, you can install
the software that came with the device or check the device manufacturer’s website for
the latest software.
Using Multiple USB Devices at the Same Time
If all of your USB ports are being used and you want to connect more USB devices, you
can purchase a USB hub. The USB hub connects to an open USB port on your computer
and provides additional USB ports (usually four or seven). Most USB hubs also have a
power adapter and should be plugged in to an outlet.
Note: If you’re using a chain of USB devices and hubs, some USB devices may not work
when connected through a combination of USB 2.0 high-speed hubs and USB 1.1 full-
speed or low-speed hubs. For example, you may not see an external USB hard drive on
your desktop. To avoid this problem, do not connect USB devices with different speeds
together. Connect your high-speed hub directly to your computer and connect high-
speed devices to it. Connect a full-speed or low-speed hub directly to your computer
and connect similar speed devices to it.