多年前有一个名为LapLink的程序，它使用专有电缆在计算机之间传输和同步数据。顾名思义，它最初旨在在台式机和笔记本电脑之间同步文件，但它实际上可以在任何 PC 上运行，并且对于进行备份也非常有用。该软件当之无愧地受欢迎并且非常擅长它所做的事情（LapLink 公司(LapLink company)仍然很活跃，但这些天他们的重点有所不同）。Inateck HB4009 USB 3.0 (Inateck HB4009 USB 3.0) 3 端口集线器和魔术端口(3-Port Hub & Magic Port)旨在完成那些LapLink电缆曾经做过的事情，并且它具有许多额外的功能，使其看起来非常吸引人。它是否兑现了它的承诺？我们的审查会发现。
Inateck HB4009 USB 3.0 3 端口集线器和魔术端口(3-Port Hub & Magic Port)拆箱
Inateck HB4009 USB 3.0 (Inateck HB4009 USB 3.0) 3 端口集线器和魔术端口(3-Port Hub & Magic Port)装在一个普通的棕色纸板箱中(cardboard box)，带有设备图纸和白色标签上的有限描述。
在包装盒内，您会发现集线器本身及其附带的电缆、第二根 USB 电缆(USB cable)和一个MicroUSB OTG适配器，以及一份简短的说明手册(instruction manual)。我们收到的用于测试的设备随附的手册是用英语和德语(English and German)编写的。不明显的是，集线器包含用于 PC、Mac(Macs)和Android的内置传输和同步软件(transfer and sync software)，Inateck表示集线器也可以用作所有三个平台的KVM 切换器。(KVM switch)
集线器本身（不含电缆）尺寸为 100 x 30 x 20 毫米（3.9 x 1.18 x.8 英寸），重 50 克（0.05 盎司）。这使得它很容易滑入你的电脑包(computer bag)，但如果你想连接到微型USB设备，你必须小心不要丢失那个适配器。设备顶部有三个USB端口，末端有一个“魔术端口”（标记为(USB)M-Port），没有连接电缆。稍后将详细介绍这个“神奇端口”。集线器和电缆(hub and cables)为哑光灰色，所有端口均镀金。
(Inateck)包含完整规格、照片和描述的Inateck页面在这里(here)。请注意，虽然它说的是“PC 到 PC”，但它确实包括Mac 和 Android(Macs and Android)。🙂
使用Inateck HB4009 USB 3.0 3 端口集线器和魔术端口(3-Port Hub & Magic Port)
我们知道我们非常见多识广的读者已经知道 USB 集线器的作用（尽管如果您愿意，我们可以在此处指出一个提醒），因此我们没有将Inateck HB4009严格作为 3 端口集线器进行测试。我们想专注于寻找制造商承诺的“魔法”。出于测试目的，我们首先将运行Windows 8.1的(Windows 8.1)Lenovo B590笔记本电脑与运行OS X Yosemite的(OS X Yosemite)Macbook Air连接，然后连接运行Windows 7的台式 PC和运行OS X Yosemite的(OS X Yosemite)Mac Mini。除非您连接了多个设备，否则内置软件不会在任一平台上加载，但如您所见，它显示在文件资源管理器(File Explorer)和Finder中。这是您将在文件资源管理器(File Explorer)中获得的内容：
在Finder中：
我们发现集线器同时显示为CD 驱动器(CD drive)和可移动驱动器，这很有趣。这意味着您应该在完成后弹出集线器，尤其是在Mac上，如果您不这样做，它会向您抱怨。当您连接两台计算机时，软件将需要很短的时间才能在两台计算机上加载。我们在Mac上收到一条奇怪的错误消息(error message)，告诉我们已经进行了配置更改。(configuration change)它是由不是以英语为母语的人写的。
您将收到一条消息，表明计算机已连接。
您将在Windows 计算机(Windows computer)的任务栏中和 Mac 的Dock(Mac)中(Dock)看到Mac KM Link 图标(Mac KM Link icon)。右键单击(Right-click)Preferences （(Preferences)在 PC 上）或Options（在Mac上）以查看配置屏幕(configuration screen)。
注意(NOTE:)：(GoBridge) GoBridge ！软件是您用来连接Android设备的工具。
奇怪的是，PC 的选择要比Mac(Macs)多得多。以下是您可以使用该软件的PC 版本(PC version)执行的操作（图像来自Windows 7）：
这是您使用Mac获得的全部内容：
您需要的最重要的设置是指定另一台计算机在当前计算机的哪一侧（稍后您会明白为什么）。
测试不同的组合
您已经看到了联想笔记本电脑(Lenovo laptop)和Macbook Air之间以及台式电脑和Mac Mini之间的连接结果。由于Inateck HB4009 Hub承诺允许其他设备之间的连接，我们尝试了这一点。当我们将运行Windows 8.1的(Windows 8.1)联想笔记本电脑(Lenovo laptop)与运行Android Lollipop的(Android Lollipop)三星 Galaxy Tab 4(Samsung Galaxy Tab 4) 10.1 平板电脑连接起来时，我们遇到了一些严重的问题。首先(First)，我们必须使用说明书中的二维码(QR code)下载WinDroid Linker软件，或者在Google Play中搜索“Windroid Linker ”应用商店以获取应用（或单击此处(here)）。手册说，当您在Android 设备(Android device)（必须启用OTG）之间传输数据时，您必须使用计算机作为控制设备。不幸的是，事实证明WinDroid Linker 软件(WinDroid Linker software)无法在平板电脑上使用（其他评论者也发现了这种情况），因此我们根本无法测试这种设备组合。
强项
Inateck HB4009(Inateck HB4009) 3 端口USB 3.0 集线器和魔术端口(Hub and Magic Port)做工精良，看起来很坚固，镀金触点是一个优点。可拆卸电缆足够长，可以连接无论出于何种原因彼此相邻的设备。内置软件加载没有问题，应该很容易让大多数人使用。它使拖放文件变得非常容易，而且它的KVM功能也很棒。对于想要连接两台计算机或同时将文件从闪存驱动器传输到多台计算机的人来说，它应该非常有用。
怪癖和不便
- 无法为集线器供电。您必须确保您连接的设备不会消耗太多电流。如果您只是将两台计算机连接到各自的电源或从闪存驱动器传输文件，这可能不是问题 - 但如果您想将相对耗电的设备连接到集线器（例如外部驱动器、平板电脑和智能手机）。任何通过USB充电的设备都会在您连接时尝试自行充电，这会消耗大量能量，并且很可能会阻止集线器正常工作。事实上，当我们查看网络上关于这款设备的评论时，人们的第一大抱怨是缺乏足够的电力。Inateck 没有制造可以使用外部电源的该集线器的另一个版本。
- 当我们将计算机连接起来进行第二天的测试时，我们无意中颠倒了集线器相(position relative)对于计算机的位置。而且该软件将无法正常工作。PC 上的配置屏幕(configuration screen)会出现一秒钟然后消失。拖放(drag and drop)不起作用，我们甚至无法在Mac上(Mac)打开软件。因此，请记下HB4009的哪一端第一次连接到哪台计算机，否则当您再次尝试使用它时，您将无处可去。
- 当我们在运行Windows 7(Windows 7)的台式 PC和运行OS X Yosemite的(OS X Yosemite)Mac Mini之间连接集线器时，我们发现如果您使用平板电脑和手写笔(tablet and stylus)作为您的输入设备(input device)（就像我们在 PC 上所做的那样），您将无法由于平板电脑的工作方式，将文件拖出屏幕。您可能能够在第二台计算机的屏幕内看到光标，但由于您碰到了平板电脑的边框，因此您无法将其移动得更远。
- 用于连接Android设备的软件显然来自第三方，无法在我们的设备上运行。我们从来没有设法让平板电脑连接。Android 软件(Android software)的说明很少，Inateck 手册(Inateck manual)并没有让事情变得更容易。这是一种耻辱，因为这种转移可能非常有用。
判决
Inateck HB4009(Inateck HB4009) 3 端口USB 3.0 集线器和魔术端口(Hub and Magic Port)是一款制作精良且设计精良的设备。内置软件运行良好，尽管解读手册并不像使用软件那么容易。如果您只打算使用集线器连接具有自己电源的设备并从闪存驱动器复制文件，那么您应该完全没有问题。我们喜欢简单的界面(straightforward interface)，传输速度(transfer speed)，老实说，设备的整体理念。它对许多人来说应该工作得很好。但是，无法供电的事实可能会使其对通过USB(USB)自行充电的设备不太有用，而且每次都必须以相同的方式连接它，如果你弄错了，它可能看起来不起作用，就像我们无意中所做的那样。我们建议您从具有良好退货政策(return policy)的零售商处购买并试一试。
Reviewing The Inateck HB4009 USB 3.0 3-Port Hub & Magic Port: Is It Really Magic?
Υears ago there was a program called LapLink, that uѕed a proprietary сable tо transfer and sync data between computers. As the namе implies, it was originally intended to synс files between desktop and lаptop compυters, but it actually worked on any PC and was very useful for making backups as well. Thе software was deservedlу popular and very good at what it did (The LapLink company is still active, but their focus is a bit different theѕe days). The Inateck HB4009 USB 3.0 3-Port Hub & Magic Port is designed to do what those LaрLink cables did, once upon a time, and it hаs a lot of extra features that make it loоk very appealing. Does it live up to its promіses? Our review will find out.
Unboxing The Inateck HB4009 USB 3.0 3-Port Hub & Magic Port
The Inateck HB4009 USB 3.0 3-Port Hub & Magic Port arrives in a plain brown cardboard box with a drawing of the device and a limited description on a white label.
Inside the box you'll find the hub itself, with its attached cable, a second USB cable, and a MicroUSB OTG adapter, along with a brief instruction manual. The manual that came with the unit we received for testing was written in both English and German. What's not apparent is that the hub contains built-in transfer and sync software for PCs, Macs, and Android, and Inateck says that the hub can also be used as a KVM switch for all three platforms as well.
The hub itself (without its cable) measures 100 x 30 x 20 mm (3.9 x 1.18 x.8 inches) and weighs 50 grams (.05 ounce). This makes it very easy to slip into your computer bag, although you'll have to be careful not to lose that adapter if you want to connect to a microUSB device. There are three USB ports on the top of the device, and one "magic port" (labeled M-Port) on the end without the attached cable. More on this "magic port" in a moment. The hub and cables are matte gray and all the ports are gold plated.
Inateck's page with complete specs, photos and descriptions is here. Note that although it says "PC to PC" it really does include Macs and Android. 🙂
Using The Inateck HB4009 USB 3.0 3-Port Hub & Magic Port
We know that our uncommonly well-informed readers already know what a USB hub does (although we can point to a reminder here if you like) so we didn't test the Inateck HB4009 strictly as a 3-port hub. We wanted to concentrate on finding the "magic" that the manufacturer promised. For the purposes of testing, we first connected a Lenovo B590 laptop running Windows 8.1 with a Macbook Air running OS X Yosemite, and then connected a desktop PC running Windows 7 and a Mac Mini running OS X Yosemite. The built-in software does not load on either platform unless you have more than one device connected, but as you can see, it shows up in File Explorer and in the Finder. This is what you'll get in File Explorer:
And in Finder:
We found it interesting that the hub showed up as both a CD drive and a removable drive. This means that you should eject the hub when you're done with it, especially on the Mac, which will complain at you if you don't. When you connect two computers, the software will take a short time to load on both of them. We got an odd error message on the Mac, telling us about a configuration change that had already been made. It was written by someone who is not a native English speaker.
You'll get a message that the computers are connected.
You will see the Mac KM Link icon in the taskbar on the Windows computer and in the Dock on the Mac. Right-click on Preferences (on the PC) or Options (on the Mac) to see a configuration screen.
NOTE: The GoBridge! software is what you use to connect to Android devices.
Oddly, there are a lot more options for PCs than for Macs. Here is what you can do with the PC version of the software (image from Windows 7):
And here is all you get with the Mac:
The most important setting you will need is to specify which side of the current computer the other computer is on (you'll see why in a moment).
Testing Different Combinations
You've seen the results of connections between a Lenovo laptop and a Macbook Air, and between a desktop PC and a Mac Mini. Since the Inateck HB4009 Hub promised to allow connections between other devices, we tried that out. When we connected the Lenovo laptop running Windows 8.1 with a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 tablet running Android Lollipop we ran into some serious problems. First, we had to use the QR code in the manual to download the WinDroid Linker software, or search for "Windroid Linker" in the Google Play app store to get the app (or click here). The manual says that when you transfer data to and from an Android device (which must be OTG enabled) you must use the computer as the controlling device. Unfortunately, the WinDroid Linker software proved impossible to use on the tablet (something that other reviewers found to be the case as well) so we could not test this combination of devices at all.
Strong Points
The Inateck HB4009 3-port USB 3.0 Hub and Magic Port is well made and appears sturdy, and the gold plated contacts are a plus. The removable cable is plenty long enough to connect devices that aren't, for whatever reason, sitting right next to each other. The built-in software loads without problems and should be easy enough for most people to use. It makes dragging and dropping files spectacularly easy and its KVM capabilities are great. It should be very useful for anyone who wants to connect two computers or to transfer files from flash drives to more than one computer at the same time.
Quirks And Inconveniences
- There is no way to provide power to the hub. You have to be sure that the devices you connect don't draw too much current. If you are just connecting two computers with their own power sources or transferring files off flash drives, this will not likely be a problem - but it is something you should be aware of if you want to connect relatively power hungry devices to the hub (like external drives, tablets, and smartphones). Any device that charges via USB will quite logically try to charge itself when you connect it, and that will draw a lot of energy and may well prevent the hub from working properly. In fact, when we looked at comments on this device around the web, the #1 complaint people had was the lack of sufficient power. Inateck does not make another version of this hub that can use external power.
- When we hooked the computers up for a second day of testing, we inadvertently reversed the hub's position relative to the computers. And the software would not work. The configuration screen on the PC would appear for a second and vanish. The drag and drop didn't work, and we couldn't even open the software on the Mac. So make a note of which end of the HB4009 is connected to which computer the first time around or you won't get anywhere when you try to use it again.
- When we connected the hub between a desktop PC running Windows 7 and a Mac Mini running OS X Yosemite, we discovered that if you use a tablet and stylus as your input device (as we do on the PC) you won't be able to drag files off the screen due to the way the tablet works. You may be able to see the cursor just inside the screen on the second computer but you can't move it any farther than that because you run into the border of the tablet.
- The software used to connect Android devices is apparently from a third party and did not work on our device. We never did manage to get the tablet to connect. The instructions for the Android software are minimal, and the Inateck manual doesn't make things any easier. This is a shame because this kind of transfer could be extremely useful.
Verdict
The Inateck HB4009 3-port USB 3.0 Hub and Magic Port is a well made and well-designed device. The built-in software works quite well, although deciphering the manual is not quite as easy as using the software. If you are only going to be using the hub to connect devices that have their own power supplies and to copy files from flash drives, you should have no problems at all. We liked the straightforward interface, the transfer speed and, quite honestly, the whole idea of the device. It should work very well for many people. However, the fact that there's no way to supply power may make it somewhat less useful with devices that charge themselves via USB, and the fact that it has to be hooked up the same way every time might make it appear not to work if you get it wrong, as we inadvertently did. We recommend that you buy it from a retailer that has a good return policy and give it a try.
