The device does not replace a direct network between PCs. It enables the network to control it attached USB devices for direct connection when the devices were connected to the respective Pc. This is very useful for scanner, color printer, of course, to external hard drives.
But only useful for devices which do not at the same time (ever) to be shared among multiple PCs. So an external hard drive as a central location for multiple PCs at the same time is not so, at least it's not really practical. I had thought the central external hard disk to automatically connect from a PC and free to enter as a network drive. Goes well, but only until the next reboot. Then the network drive is no longer available because the are much more loaded than the service program provides the connections for the external devices.
But I can absolutely recommend the device in our experience!
You have to think about what you want to do as just before.
We now have 5 Pc access to the scanner, the photo printer and several external hard drives. In addition, we have bypassed some network problems between Windows 7 and XP with this little detour.
I hope the rows you have for you / useful. Here writes no technology specialist, but someone out day in day out working practices.
