Advantages: Good software bundle, cheap, works well.
Disadvantages: Only stereo out on analogue

...It's not always easy or convenient to open your PC to install a new soundcard. You may just not like the idea of physically opening the machine. It may be you are a laptop owner and plagued by their notoriously poor audio capabilities. In either case, if you need to upgrade your machine's sound capabilities, the Creative SoundBlaster MP3+ is just what the doctor ordered. I've had mine a couple of years now so you'll probably be looking to eBay or similar if you want to get one now. Installation Being a USB device, you simply need to install the drivers, plug it in to a USB socket and away you go. The MP3+ takes its power from the USB connection so no external power pack is needed which is a major plus point when your computer corner is heaving with external power packs hanging out of wall sockets. My PC has Windows XP... Read review

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Advantages: Durable, Light, Cheap, Good Sound Quality
Disadvantages: Software could be simpler

...I've had this unit for over a year now. I got it to use with my laptop for my 5.1 Logitech X530 speakers and just to improve the sound quality when on the go. First off I'd like to say if you have a low budget and you need an external sound card then this is the best buy! Although I dont see the point of having one for a PC since internal ones are better and dont use your CPU power, its a great little gadget for all the laptop owners like me. The remote that comes with it is a great little addition for watching movies (so that you dont have to get up :p) and also for just listening to music, works from quite a distance. Another benefit of this Sound Blaster is that its looks high tech! fits in well on my desk with my laptop and external LaCie HD. Another great thing about it is all the features that you get as with all other... Read review

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Advantages: Great surround sound, Pleasing design, Complementary to Creative Speakers, Easy to use, cheaper option to replacing internal soundcard of laptops plus the bonus of having surround sound, wide range of inputs other than PC.
Disadvantages: Relatively bulky, expensive

...aiding the Dolby Digital playback, making it the perfect partner for DVD movies, helping your speakers create the more realistic bangs and explosions and surround sound. It is similar to the stuff that you find in the movie theatres, except that its packed within this small black and silver casing. Although the sound card is external, there is absolutely no lag in the sound coming from your PC. The high speed USB cable is fast enough to make it seem as if the Extigy’s built into your PC, but in actual fact, its not. And the Extigy doesn’t even take up much space, as it can be either placed down flat, or standing up (which saves a lot of space. Support stands are included.) -SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS INCLUDED- Sound Blaster Extigy comes bundled with several software applications (that are mentioned in detail further below) that range from... Read review

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Advantages: Easy to install
Disadvantages: None

...I have bought this PCI card a week ago. Reason: I have got a MSI K7T266Pro2 motherboard that only offer USB1.1 ports (1.5Mbytes/s maximum transfer rate). Since I have got devices that uses USB2.0 and without breaking my piggy bank to upgrade my computer, the most economical way is to install a PCI card that offers USB2.0 connections (up to 480Mbits/s or 60Mbytes/s, 40X faster than USB1.1) for 1 internal port and 4 external ports. Before you buy a USB2.0 PCI card, make sure that your motherboard got version 2.2 PCI slots which are USB2.0 compatible. If your motherboard hasn't got version 2.2 PCI slots or higher, don't bother. You need a motherboard upgrade. Also, your operating system needs to be windows 2000 service pack 4 or windows XP which provides appropriate drivers to support USB2.0. For the other operation systems... Read review

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Advantages: 5.1 sound anywhere you like
Disadvantages: Feels a bit flimsy & cheap, lack of internal mic support?

...connection - the means by witch the sound card is connected to your computer, so it is essential you do have a free USB socket available. The USB cable is supplied with the product, as well as the installation CD and user manual, what this means is your not left pulling your hair out at the lack of the correct cable to connect everything up, and you can just plug it in, run the cd, restart the computer and get listening to those tunes like you've never heard them before. Onto the downsides. That last sentence is probably a bit of hyperbole. The 510's selling point is obviously its price; this is an external 5.1 soundcard without the frills. I'm sure if you forked out the extra £20-30 for a more expensive model from SoundBlaster then with the right speaker set-up you really would notice a difference in quality, but I have to say i'm not left... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Portable, easy to use, never failed on me yet!
Disadvantages: Perhaps only the disc size, but it has taken me 2 years to fill it!

...Wester Digital, a respected brand name, and i agree! I have owned the unit now for around 2 years, and have 0 problems. My internal hard drive has died on me twice but my external one, never! This 80gb HDD is perfect for storing large files, home movies, photo albums, music etc. It's ideal when transfering data from one place to another, simply unplug it, plug it in elsehwre and hey presto! It supports drag & drop so moving files couldn't be easier. Standard power adpater with 3-pin plug, and USB 2.0 connection to your pc, mac, server etc. It is easily recognised by each operating system and i have yet to find one that doesn't support the unit. Plug it in, wait around 30secs and it's up and running. Can be stored horizontally, and if you have 3 like me, you can stack them perfectly, or store them vertically... Read review

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Advantages: external plug in device, easy to set up, runs smoothly
Disadvantages: None

...If you need to increase the number of USB ports on your system then I can highly reccomend the Belkin External USB Hub F5U021. Just plug it in and away you go and at just £24.99 from PCWorld it is very good value for money. It comes complete with everything you need to be up and running in under 1 minute. It has provided me with the solution as to how to plug 4 USB devices into 2 ports. It now runs my 2 printers, webcamera and scanner through one port without any problems of any sort. This small box of electronics plugs directly into an existing USB port and can then run upto 4 seperate USB devices via its own 4 USB ports situated at the rear. It comes with its own power source which you may or may not need to use depending upon what devices you want to run through it. By using the power supply your devices will get the same power... Read review

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Advantages: cheap, good looking, excellent sound
Disadvantages: extra thing to carry around in a mobile world

...USB sound solution For Stereo playback, recording etc 3D stereo enhancement Light & ultra compact Specifications Interface is usb Form Factor is External Max Sample Rate 48 Sound Output Mode Stereo Sound Synthesis Wavetable 3D stereo enhancement Sound Quality 16-bit/48kHz </Geeky Bit> Don’t worry if you don’t understand all of that because neither do I. Price £42.06 from PC Builder £34.50 from Dabs.com £45.00 from creative supply’s Installation In a nutshell this External USB sound system, is basically a sound card on the outside meant mainly for Tablets, laptops and notebooks. Which normally come supplied with bog standard internal sound cards Once unpacked simply plug this in to a spare USB port on your PC (diagrams included to help) and install the supplied software by following the easy... Read review

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Advantages: Price.
Disadvantages: You have to destroy the box to get the unit out.

...Trust 4 Port USB Hub. Basics first I suppose. For the non techies out there, this device is used to connect up to four USB devices to your P.C., such as digital cameras. If like me you only have two USB ports on the back of your pc then this little device is a good investment for you. It is external, so there is no need to take the sides off of your computer and start mucking about inside. The box contents are as follows. USB Hub USB Cable Velcro Tape Protective Carry Case Multi Language User's Manual. The hub is a small black unit with single connecting point on the back and four USB ports on the front for your USB peripheral such as digital cameras and MP3 players. A really big well done for Ciao for not putting a picture up, as I did provide the web address so that they could. The dimensions are 75mm... Read review

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Advantages: Light, Small, High encoding rate, Great compatibility, cool blue light
Disadvantages: None that I can think of.

...an exceptional, it deserves it:)) which I read, and decided after some more reviews on the internet, that I would go for the Creative MP3+. With all out money, you're probably asking (Being the nosey lot you are ;)) why didn't I go for something better, like the Audigy? Well, for a start, I was looking for something external - As much as I love my computer, I can't really take it EVERYWHERE with me, however I can always take the laptop... An external sound card would give me the option of both! But they do make an Extigy - Why not that? I mean, all our spare cash came to around £120 - We could easily afford it... Well, to be honest, I just couldn't be bothered to get some gold plated Jack to RCA cables - I thought I'd probably lose about as much quality from that as the difference between this card and the Extigy is... But this has handy RCA gold... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful