The four-port Belkin Swivel HUB not only Belkins, but swivels too (180 degrees both horizontally and vertically). This is an absolute boon for Macs and any other laptops whose ports are crowded onto one side of the machine. The Swivel turns using a double ratchet system, which is strong enough to stand straight up, but doesn’t handle angles as well. It’s also light enough that it doesn’t put any undue pressure on your computer’s USB port. Oh, and did I mention the silver paint job on the Swivel matches the unibody MacBooks perfectly? Well, I guess I have now.

All of the ports are glorious full-speed USB 2.0 and there’s a small green light along the top of the hub to indicate that the device is properly connected. The ports feel just a little stiff, but they’re spaced evenly, and the fact that there are four of them should keep even the fattest USB thumb drive from awkwardly taking up all the space. You can even power bigger items (such as DVD drives) with the included AC adapter. Unfortunately, the adapter that comes with the Swivel is pretty large and really takes a bite out of the mobility factor. I usually leave it at home.

One of the reasons I found the Swivel so interesting was that it was a full-featured USB port that looked like it would be really easy to stuff into my gear bag. The main usb plug simply folds right against the main section of the hub and it’s good to go. The whole Swivel is made out of thin plastic that creaks when squeezed, but it held up well in my over-crowded gear bag, crammed with the things I took with me on vacation. Whenever you’re done computing you can just fold the Swivel up, throw it in your bag, and forget about it.

Of the two hubs I received from Belkin for review (Travel Hub review coming soon!), the Swivel is my favourite. The swiveling ports add more than a simple cool factor, and that becomes evident the moment you start using them. My only problem with the Swivel is its price: for $30, I would hope for better a better material than plastic — maybe a light aluminum casing for the port casing. In any case, the Swivel is a great little hub that is flexible enough to accommodate almost any mobile setup.

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The Swivel Hub is available from Belkin for $30, but keep in mind you can also check elsewhere.

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