This 9-in-1 USB dock with a Blu-ray drive just smashed its Kickstarter goal by 300x — as backers succumb to dongle fatigue and physical media nostalgia | Tech Radar
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This 9-in-1 USB dock with a Blu-ray drive just smashed its Kickstarter goal by 300x — as backers succumb to dongle fatigue and physical media nostalgia
The Blu Hub isn't very pretty but it is pretty comprehensive
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The Kickstarter Super Early bird price is
If you've got a fairly recent computer you'll be vividly aware that for everything but high-powered gaming PCs, thin is most definitely in: the pursuit of ultra-thin laptops in particular means that computers have shed their optical drives and many of their expansion ports to reduce their size and weight. But what if you want those things without having to live in World of Hubs, like I currently do? One Kickstarter may have the answer.
Thanks to our pals at Tom's Hardware we've been introduced to a docking station with a difference: it's a USB hub that also has a Blu-ray drive in it. The Blu Hub, as it's called, is a 9-in-1 PC and Mac dock that promises "everything you need in one compact drive". It's smashed its Kickstarter goal, which to be fair was a very low
It's clearly designed for people like me: I've got multiple hubs and accessories in front of my Mac so I can do things like burn discs, attach external storage and read camera memory cards, and that means a lot of cables and clutter. This could be a more elegant option, and it's not terribly expensive.
Blu Hub 9-in-1 docking station: key features and pricing
The Blu Hub connects via USB 3.2 Gen 2 at up to 10 Gbps, and it's bus-powered so you don't need a power supply. It's compatible with Windows, mac OS, Linux, Chrome OS and USB On-The-Go for mobile devices.
In addition to the expected USB ports (4x USB-A / USB 3.0) it has SD and micro SD slots and a Blu-ray, DVD and CD drive capable of up to 6x Blu-ray burning speeds.
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The promotional images confused me at first because what looks like a lid for the BD/DVD/CD drive isn't; it's just a place to park a disc or discs. The drive itself pops out of the side, with the same kind of mechanism as the drives in desktop PCs.
It's not remotely pretty, but it's a lot less messy than my desk — and the mobile compatibility means it's an interesting option for road warriors who need to expand their Android tablet or i Pad.
The retail price of the Blu Hub will be
Whether that early bird deal is a good one or not very much depends on your opinion of crowdfunders and your risk tolerance: they can be a great way to get in on the ground floor and save some money, but you're buying something without the benefit of being able to read reviews or see what customers have to say, and there are no guarantees.
Many early commenters on the likes of Reddit also seem a little dubious of the Blu Hub's credentials, noting that the enclosure appears 3D-printed and that the listing doesn't reveal the make or model of the Blu-ray drive.
As always, all of the usual caveats apply — Kickstarter isn't a retailer and doesn't offer refunds after a project is fully funded, so consider yourself warned.
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Writer, broadcaster, musician and kitchen gadget obsessive Carrie Marshall has been writing about tech since 1998, contributing sage advice and odd opinions to all kinds of magazines and websites as well as writing more than twenty books. Her latest, a love letter to music titled Small Town Joy, is on sale now. She is the singer in spectacularly obscure Glaswegian rock band Unquiet Mind.
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- News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets
- Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more
- Unlock and manage exclusive Techradar member rewards
- Unlock instant access to exclusive member features
- Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards
