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Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch) User Manual

Page 54

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54

Chapter 3

Using Your MacBook Pro

Using Multiple USB Devices at the Same Time

You can purchase a USB hub to connect multiple USB devices to your computer.

The USB hub connects to an open USB port on your computer and provides additional

USB ports (usually four or seven). High-speed hubs can support USB 2.0 high-speed

devices as well as USB 1.1 compatible devices. USB 1.1 hubs don’t allow high-speed USB

devices to operate at their maximum data speed. Most USB hubs have a power adapter

and should be plugged into an outlet.

Note: If you are using a chain of USB devices and hubs, some USB devices might 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 might not see an external USB hard

disk on your desktop. To avoid this problem, don’t 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.