USB hubs/docks

This is a quick one to simply warn about the hazards of buying inferior (cheap) USB thumb drives, hubs, and docks.

USB ports can get fried by cheaply made devices. INC is no exception to this, as the SCCN lab decided in the past to hand out complimentary USB thumb drives to its EEGLAB Workshop attendees. After duplicating a hundred or so, each containing sample EEGLAB data sets, several of the USB-3 ports on a brand-ew computer being used for the duplication stopped working!

This also applies to some of these really attractive USB-C-to-everything hubs. Read the reviews of these devices carefully! Many of the reviews say that the adapters become very hot to the touch. That means they are drawing a lot of current from your USB-C port, and you may end up frying your USB-C port. Some laptops only have one or two, so this is something you do not want to risk losing.

As LeVar Burton always said, "...but don't take my word for it."...

https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/2458215-why-are-usb-hubs-bricking-all-of-my-usb-ports

Be sure to read the comments below the article which offer more evidence that some of these devices are really just too good to be true.

So just remember this — if you are ever in need of an adapter and someone offers you an “octopus adapter,” take the time to walk back to your office and grab your simple USB-C to one-other-thing adapter.