They are crap .... You need more USB ports?
1) Your usb ports on your computer or laptop might well not all be the same. There's now a difference between usb3 or 2, but also, there can be a difference in power.
(The USB 1.x and 2.0 specifications provide a 5 V supply on a single wire to power connected USB devices.A unit load is defined as 100 mA in USB 2.0, and 150 mA in USB 3.0. A device may draw a maximum of 5 unit loads (500 mA) from a port in USB 2.0; 6 (900 mA) in USB 3.0.)
There might also be USB ports on your laptop that will have the correct voltage, but a little bit less ampere (or exactly the other way around, can't exactly remember).
So, if you connect your hub to one of the lesser ports, and you hook up a power heavy machine that is usb powered, the whole setup will struggle.
2) Not enough usb ports is something you pick your hub on. That is not something that makes it suck, that is something you have control over by picking the right one for your needs.
My advice:
1) make sure you connect your hub to the best usb port you have available on your computer or laptop.
2) you could choose a usb hub that is wall powered. It'll have a seperate cable running wall socket. That way, you'll be sure it has enough power.
Other then that, usb hubs should be able to power external HDs. You could also check for a HD that is wall socket powered.
You do end up with being dependable to wall sockets again, which isn't necessary. You should carefully pick your equipment to be able to run on usb power if wall socket dependance is something you don't like.
