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As with all things Apple, there's actually a reason for that. The mini was designed to BYOKDM -- bring your own keyboard, display and mouse. Being that many non-Apple keyboards don't have the 2 extra USB ports (1 for mouse, 1 for whatever), they built in more ports so as to not be too limited "right out of the box."

--Chris

OOh Right! I did not know that! but couldn't they just add two more ports to the iMac and people would be Happy??:):):)
 
there are never enough ports. the price you pay for decorating your mac with gadgets.

I have two hubs on my iMac: one on the desk and one behind the desk for 3 printers.
 
Get a Firewire External HD and a iPod firewire dock cable, then you can get rid of the USB hub.

Firewire support was removed from iPods 28 months ago...

On the 24" 2.8 GHz iMac, there is one FW400 and one FW800 port.

USB 2.0 (480Mbps) is faster than FW400, and very few devices support Firewire (basically DV cameras and harddisks). There are no FireWire mice, keyboards or iPods (anymore). And few if any Firewire printers or scanners (I saw an 8 year old reference for a printer, and either seem very expensive) or other devices.
 
I agree. And the keyboard ports are pretty much useless. Only thing that works with it is the mouse and an ipod shuffle and my digi camera. Everything else requirres more power, and i hate reaching into the back (no im not just being lazy :p )
 
I agree. And the keyboard ports are pretty much useless. Only thing that works with it is the mouse and an ipod shuffle and my digi camera. Everything else requirres more power, and i hate reaching into the back (no im not just being lazy :p )

I find it particularly ridiculous that it can't even power a USB flash drive. I think my digital camera might not even work as well.
 
Firewire support was removed from iPods 28 months ago...
Which is why I still have an iPod Photo (I always forget the generation number, but the 60 GB one). That and the fact that it still simply works, some problems sometimes, but nowhere near dead.

On the 24" 2.8 GHz iMac, there is one FW400 and one FW800 port.
And three USB 2 ports.

My assignment... I have two Lacie 1 TB discs that are daisychained thru the FW800 port. One USB port is taken by the keyboard, another by one that goes to a HUB/mousepad. The mouse pad has 4 USB ports (non-powered) of which two are taken up permanently by the printer and the mouse. I have two wires that ocassionally connect to the USB ports on the keyboard (PDA and iPod), and that is it. In short I have three USB sockets free for permanent occupation (I'd like the keyboard to be free for ocassional use). I will probably put another HUB on the free port on the iMac's back panel, that way I have some more free ports. That hub will probably be powered as I can use it to supply power to whatever is needed. As with any piece of equipment, you can never have too much memory, free disc space or connectors.
 
My keyboard USB ports are great, I have my mouse in one side and my Time Machine drive in the other, and when I need the printer, I switch them, then once done printing I plug Time Machine back in and it all works fine! :)
 
I need quite a bit:

printer
wacom tablet
mouse
keyboard
ipod
external dvd burner
thumbdrive
monitor USB cable (which has 4 ports)
cellphone used one too but I dont have service anymore

My PC's case + motherboard has 10 active USB ports if I connect them all, the motherboard is capable of 12 or 16, I dont remember (the case only has 2 front usb jacks so I can only use 10). I find myself needing almost all of them. If I include the monitor then thats 13 useable ports.

I dont know how people can live with just 4. Firewire is essentially useless in todays age, pretty much everything that can do firewire also has a USB 2.0 option, I dont know why Apple keeps waisting valueable ports for firewire. Its nice to have but not when theres only 4 USB ports.

Of course its always possible to buy new peripherals or usb hubs but thats money that shouldnt have to be spent if Apple would just include more USB ports like a typical PC.
 
I need quite a bit:

printer
wacom tablet
mouse
keyboard
ipod
external dvd burner
thumbdrive
monitor USB cable (which has 4 ports)
cellphone used one too but I dont have service anymore

My PC's case + motherboard has 10 active USB ports if I connect them all, the motherboard is capable of 12 or 16, I dont remember (the case only has 2 front usb jacks so I can only use 10). I find myself needing almost all of them. If I include the monitor then thats 13 useable ports.

I dont know how people can live with just 4. Firewire is essentially useless in todays age, pretty much everything that can do firewire also has a USB 2.0 option, I dont know why Apple keeps waisting valueable ports for firewire. Its nice to have but not when theres only 4 USB ports.

Of course its always possible to buy new peripherals or usb hubs but thats money that shouldnt have to be spent if Apple would just include more USB ports like a typical PC.

so much for the imac keeping your desk clean

your ipod, tablet, dvd burner and thumbdrive can all go into one port. rarely would you be doing all of this at the same time and you can easily disconnect the printer as well when you need to use 2 of the above.
 
for those of you that don't want to use apples wireless keyboard and mouse, the wired versions don't take up any extra ports. mouse goes into keyboard, keyboard goes into iMac and extra port on keyboard makes up for taken port on iMac. its simple really.
 
oh yeah!

this problem does need to be solutionized & remember solutions arent solutions if they cost us more money (hubs/ wireless products) i have a macbook with 2 ports on the same side, which is a pain because my wired mighty mouse's cord is only a few inches longer than my macbook is wide, leaving very little room for spazzing out. they should have ports on bolth sides for left and right handed individuals with impotent mice. I have a wireless keyboard and mouse from logictech they use infrared and the infrared receiver takes up a USB port, wouldnt it be cool:cool: if the infrared port built into my macbook had more driver support for stuff like that. I also have a Palm-OS PDA with infrared port built in, If there was a infrared port controller in the preferences pane i might be able to get it to sync over infrared instead of USB freeing up another port for me. thank god my PDA also uses bluetooth and a memory card. memory cards are a Huge improvement over the slow palm hotsync btw, with its meddlesome stalling. but gues what my card reader uses USB too and it cant use the USB port extensions of my :apple:Apple:apple: keyboard (too little power (needs USB 2.0))
powersupplies and printers need to pick up some of this slack, the printer always stays home it should handle all the networking of peripherals you do at home, so you can have your USB chargers, and what not all on a single USB hub built into the printer, then your laptop can handle its mobile stuff with its built in keybaord & the few ports it has. wouldnt it be cool if the powersupplies had usb ports for charging peripherals. they arent bailling out there end of he boat when it comes to power providing ****, they should also be able to introduce PowerOverEthernet into an ethernet cable. anyway even mortals end up collecting quite a few USB products down the road of user interface, :apple:Apple:apple: should totally have that **** falling on us like mana. and HDMI you stinkers:D
 
I want more USB ports! I don't like using a USB hub because it requires a wall wart, and I've used the APC Back-UPS ES 720 (which can shut off outlets based on the current draw from a master outlet) which can cause problems when a PC or Mac go to sleep (especially harddisks!).

This us what I had on my PowerMac:
* UPS
* Keyboard + Mouse
* Printer
* USB Speakers (great because no power supply needed, and don't have to remember to turn it off!)
* External HD
* iPod Dock

And I had to use a USB hub... whos' with me? Who wants more USB ports on their Macs?



*cough* HUB *cough*
 
I could live with swapping if one or two of the ports were on the side or front (which would compromise the clean, minimalist lines of the iMac I suppose, but function over form I say!), but getting to the ports in the back is a major trial. My iMac is pushed up against the wall, and my desk ain't exactly neat. The keyboard ports are of limited utility. The space is too narrow for my thumb drive SD card reader for instance. I've just about run out of sockets in my power strip too, but that's another story.
 
I find it particularly ridiculous that it can't even power a USB flash drive. I think my digital camera might not even work as well.

Well my camera works because its powered by the battery, but like you my flash drive cant connect because there isnt enough power. :rolleyes:
 
I need lots as well, and most need lots of power.

-Keyboard
-Mouse
-Wacom Tablet
-FW800 Drive (FW)
-FW400 Drive (FW)
-Digi 003 (FW)
-iLok USB Key
-Mackie Control Unit Pro
-Ipod
-EyeTV 250 Plus
-Digital Camera
-Cell Phone
-Printer


So yea.

I Would love about 4 more FW ports and about 12 more Usb ports.
 
This also needs a power supply but it looks cool...

detailed_image_1494.jpg

LOVE that hub. I have the stack on mi for my mini. Looked and looked and looked for a hub that went perfectly with my mini and when I can across the stack on mi I ordered immediately. Here it is:

20863116zv0.jpg


To whoever said theyd like it more if the ports were in the back...why would you want them turned around where its hard to reach? I want easy access for my peripherals that arent plugged in all the time.

I personally need more than 3 USB ports. Just ordered an iMac and looking at options for a hub. My printer, usb external, and the iMac keyboard will take up all 3 ports. Then I need one for my card reader and iphone/ipod cable. I guess for the time being I can use the spare one on the keyboard.
 
Somebody said HUBS were a poor excuse for not having enough ports.

Well that may be so, but they also help control a cable nightmare.

I have 2 USB HDD's and my printer up on a shelf, they go to a hub that is mounted behind them. From the shelf down to the computer is a single cable. Since the printer has a built-in card reader there is no need to connect a camera.

I hate having all those cables on the desk! :D
 
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