stupid newbie USB/Port replicator question.

[CanuckAmok]

I know this one will be a no-brainer, but I have a question...

if I want to clean-up all the wires on my desk by routing all the USB things I have going to my laptop (portable HDD, printer, scanner, camera) into one line, would that be the job of a port replicator, or a hub?

And if I did that, all I would have to do is plug one USB line into the laptop, and it would recognise all the devices, right?

[democracyindanger]

1. Sounds like

the simplest way is to plug everything into a hub, then connect the hub to your laptop. A port replicator does more than just USB, i think.

[CanuckAmok]

2. so what does a port replicator do that a hub doesn't?

[GAspnes]

3. replicates serial, parallel, network and modem ports.

And often video and keyboard as well. Drop your laptop into the (custom) port replicator or docking station and avoid plugging in all those other connections.