The Network Hub- A New Class of Device?

For at least a while now, there's been not that much new in wireless networking, unless we count the latest iteration of "not-quite-n" hardware. While I saw something about this a few weeks ago, the new Belkin Network USB Hub was officially announced today.

While Belkin's last attempt at a USB hub was a disappointment, I'm hoping things are better this time. Rather than using some new type of ultra wideband networking, with limited range, this time they're taking a more generic approach. The plan is to use this across an existing WiFi router, and allow a group of USB peripherals to be plugged in, and shared by users on the network. I think this would work well both for small offices, and families.

In my house, for example, I'd love to be able to leave my printer, scanner, and an external hard drive all in the basement by the wireless router. Apparently, this new Network Hub can accommodate up to five devices that can be accessed one at a time, all at the speed of your router. Then from upstairs I could print, or access the hard drive conveniently. Scanning a single page, my most common scanning task, should work as well without having to hook directly into the computer each time like I do now which gets real old, real fast.

Of course, the jury is still out, but looking at the specs, I'm hoping that this is the direction that WiFi networking is taking. I may eventually get less wires beneath my desk if this type of device works as well as I think it might.

--Jonas