The Stackable All-In-1 Card Reader & USB 2.0 Hub:

     Although Ultra offers a standalone Stackable 7-Port USB 2.0 HUB, why would you want to pick that up when you can have it all in the Stackable All-In-1 Card Reader & USB 2.0 Hub!  Well maybe not everything but you do get a 6v port USB 2.0 hub and a four port multi-function card reader for about the same price.  And that's a good trade off in my book!

     The overall look of the Stackable Series is a design that is both boxy and plain compared to many external devices on the market.  I was turned off by the look at first by with a few days under the belt, the Ultra design quickly faded into the background on my desk.  I must admit that I wish more of my fancy external devices blended in so well. 

Specifications

• USB 2.0 Interface
• 6 Port USB 2.0 Hub (480Mbps transfer speed)
• All-In-1 Media Card Reader
• DC Power: 12V
• Mode Number: ULT33054

System Requirements

• Windows 98SE / ME / 2000 / XP / Vista
• Mac OS 9 and above
• CDROM Drive for Driver Installation
  (Windows 98 SE Only)

     The card reader/USB hub comes with: A users manual, warranty registration card, drivers for Windows 98, an AC adaptor, a 5 foot USB 2.0 cable, and two vertical brackets and four soft feet for horizontal stacking.

     The front is dominated by the four card slots each with it's own blue light.  The hub auto detects in most operating systems with out the need for drivers and appears in the drive listing as a series of removable disks.  Inserting a card successfully launches the auto play in Vista 64bit and allows me to browse the cards with no noticeable lag even through my Ultra Buddy Hub.

The Card Reader Supports:

     The back of the card reader/USB hub features the 6 USB 2.0 ports, the USB out to device port and a DC power port.  The power can come from the included power adapter or directly from the Ultra stackable 180-Watt Multi-outlet DC 12V Power Center.  As with the card reader, the USB hub just works right out of the box on most systems and devices plug-n-play with no issues in my Vista 64 bit OS.

     If you are planning on stacking several devices, you will find the USB hub functions nicely as a central hub for each of the additional devices.  I only wish each device would come with a shorter stacking friendly USB cord as well.