Is there a device....?

[Ed]

that will allow me to connect three computers to the same usb device.
They won't all be using it at the same time but it would save me
plugging and unplugging. The device is a digital audio to analog
converter. So i don't think i can use a hub because the hub would need
to install drivers...right? I'm kinda confused here....

Thanks,
Ed

 

[Sylvain Lafontaine]

Take a look at http://www.everythingusb.com/hardware/USB_Switchboxes/

 

[Guest]

If you have a home network, then all computers can share the device.
installing a usb hub is simple and xp has the drivers in it.

each pc would need to have the drivers installed to use the device, not the
hub.

 

[Ed]

Go on, this sounds interesting....
My computers (both laptops both XP Home) are connected via firewire,
and I have a usb hub connected to one. How do I get the puter without
the hub to see the device (both have the drivers installed)?

Thanks,
Ed

 

[Eric]

You would need both computers connected to the USB hub for both computers to
see devices connected to that hub.
Check out the
http://www.everythingusb.com/hardware/index/Belkin_4x4_USB_Peripheral_Switch.htm.
"A USB switch works like a hub except that it allows more than one PC (or
Mac) to share a single or multiple USB devices. The Belkin 4x4 USB
Peripheral Switch (F1U400) is a remarkable product supporting 4 PCs and 4
devices. "

Setup may be tricky, to get the PCs to communicate to the shared usb device
via the usb hub and communicate to each other via the firewire. They might
try to communicate to each other also using the hub. To be sure, the easy
way is usually to call the manufacturer of the hub device. I have my PCs
networked via a Linksys switch router. Linksys told me exactly how to set
it up over the phone.

If one computer is always going to be on whenever the other computer(s) are
on, you may be able to plug the usb device straight into that computer and
select to share it. I know that works for printers at least.