Belkin Components — a manufacturer of computer cables, surge protectors, USB connectivity devices, FireWire digital video editing and connectivity products — is coming out with a FireWire 6-Port Hub in March.
The hub, which will have a manufacturers suggested retail price of US$99.99, connects multiple FireWire peripherals through a single port. It joins Belkin’s current $92.99 FireWire 4-Port Hub. What’s more, you can stack the Belkin hubs vertically or horizontally so that up to 63 devices to be connected (and if you have 63 FireWire devices connected concurrently, send me a picture).
To make access to your peripherals quick and easy, the FireWire 6-Port Hub features one port on the front of the hub and five on the inside of the connector bay. The hub’s design has, according to Belkin, its ports arranged in a radial manner, which brings the cables down to a single focal point. You can connect other Belkin FireWire devices — including additional hubs, hard disk drives, and other devices — using the docking ring feature.
“The design and engineering of the 6-Port hub will be the foundation of numerous groundbreaking FireWire products to be released in the coming year from Belkin,” said Eric Tong, director of marketing and product development at Belkin, in a press announcement. “2001 is going to be an extremely exciting time with the release of these new products.”