I just bought a new PC, based on Lenovo Legion gaming desktop. It comes with 2 USB port in the front, 4 regular USB port in the back + 1 USB-C port. That’s a total of 7 USB slots.
It’s been like 2 decades that every possible hardware device comes with an USB interface. Keyboard, mouse, joystick, hard-drive, memory stick, headset, webcam, spot/photo camera, and many others.
Of course it’s my fault, I should have thought about USB connectors when shopping for a new PC and check before buying. but seriously, 7 USB slots is so few compared to all the device I have using USB
Sure, but just like the PCIe USB port option, it’s quite frustrating to add another device to a new PC.
You’re the one with exorbitant usb needs. That means you’ll be the one who expansions are made for. I don’t have the stats in front of me, but I’d wager the vast vast majority of pc users don’t use beyond 4.
Thinking about this, my Mobo has only 5+c on back panel and I was bit afraid of that. Well, why though? Keyboard, mouse, usb audio and well, that is it. Sometimes I plug in extra usb mic. I don’t have printer or some weird setup, hard drives etc. When I want to connect flash drive, I put it to one of 2 extra slots in front. Same with mobile when I want to transfer something.
Most people will only need 3-4 usb ports…. Ever.
1-2 for the KBM, another for a printer (which are increasingly WiFi enabled,) and another for a sub stick.
Hubs aren’t that difficult and a single cable will look neater to your desk anyhow. Run your KbM/joysticks to the hub instead. (And you can get some 3m VHB tape, or far less permanently, the 3m command adhesive that’s double sided, to mount it somewhere like the back of the KB tray.)
What’s annoying these days is how few USB-C port expanders there are. I get why - USB-C is supposed to be able to deliver a certain amount of power, and a hub can’t do that while staying compliant to the standard - but it means that I have to resort to switching back and forth between devices. It’s even worse with laptops that have only one USB-C port that also doubles as power delivery: can’t use a yubikey C while having the laptop plugged in!
I guess I’ve been using laptops for so long, the concept of not having a USB hub seems alien to me. But they are really cheap and you just need to plug them in (so much easier than installing a PCIe card).
Also some peripharals come with addition USB ports. My monitors provide 3 USB-A ports each when connected over USB-C. They are only USB 2.0 ports but that’s perfect for plugging in the mouse and keyboard.
What? It’s easy as hell, man. Shut off pc, take off side and plug in the pcie hub, one screw, put the side on, and turn on PC again. Usually don’t even need to install the driver yourself. I don’t even think you listed more than like 7 things to plug in, anyhow.