In today’s world of constantly improving laptop computers, it is easy to spend thousands of dollars on the latest model. It will have a fast processor, lots of memory, a big hard drive, large screen, etc. What it will most likely not have is the basic communication ports that we have used for decades. The modern laptop relies mainly on the USB standard for the connection of peripherals. So a new laptop might have 3 USB ports, but it will not have a parallel port for your printer or a PS/2 port for an external mouse or keyboard. The solution might be a Port Replicator.

The Targus USB Mobile Port Replicator with Ethernet is a full-featured Port Replicator designed to give you all the ports needed to support your existing peripherals and be small enough to travel with. The Replicator supplies your laptop with parallel printer, serial, PS/2 Mouse, PS/2 Keyboard, and Ethernet Network ports. It also provides 2 additional USB ports. L.E.D. lights will keep the user informed as to the status of each port.

The Targus USB Mobile Port Replicator connects to your laptop through a USB cable that is coiled inside the Port Replicator case. The storage method makes it easier to travel with the Port Replicator, although a retracting cable would have made the product easier to use. Unfortunately, an AC Adapter is required to provide power to the Port Replicator. This adds an additional item that you need to travel with, which is bothersome, especially since it is a large AC Adapter. This product would have been much easier to travel with, if the power regulator was built into the Port Replicator or a small, compact travel AC Adapter was included.

One thing that should be noted if you wish to connect parallel peripherals to the Port Replicator, the parallel port is connecting to the computer through the USB port and is being driven by the driver software. Because of this, the parallel port cannot be used with any peripheral that directly address a computer’s parallel port hardware or a specific parallel port address. The parallel port on the Port Replicator is only designed to be used with a printer.

The Targus USB Mobile Port Replicator is a plug-and-play device that can be used with any computer that has a USB port. If you are looking to connect peripherals directly to your laptop computer, this may be the solution you are looking for.

Pros
Easy to use
Complete set of ports
Small size good for travel
USB Cable storage inside case

Cons
Large AC Adapter
Expensive
Can only use Parallel port for Printers.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5 Stars.

--Harvey Lee
Technology Editor


Manufacturer: Targus
Web Site: www.targus.com
Category: PC / Hardware / Accessory
Price: $129.99
Requirements: PC or MAC compatible computer with USB port
Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP or MAC OS