USB Network Gate for Mac

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USB Network Gate is a trial version utility that lets you manage numerous peripherals and remote devices from one platform. USB Network Gate is useful for having full access to your printers, modems, webcams, scanners, and any other USB-based devices, without constantly having to plug them in and out again. 

This is a trial version alternative to the free USB Network Gate utility for Mac that performs roughly the same functions. Created by Electronic Team Inc, the utility also lets you share USB devices amongst various Macintosh devices. Another option is USB to Ethernet Connector.

Useful functionality

USB Network Gate adds a lot of functionality to your Mac ecosystem. Essentially what it does is trick your computer into believing that any associated peripheral device connected through USB Network Gate is connected directly. This opens up a wealth of previously inaccessible USB ports. They're virtual, but they work as though connected to your Mac by the traditional physical means. The connection takes place over the internet, so there are no cables to keep track of or countless USB hubs to find space for. 

You can also use USB Network Gate to connect devices to one another for simplified sharing of files and information. USB Network Gate also lets you lock certain virtually connected USB devices to certain computers and vice versa to give you better control over your USB setup. You can also isolate devices so that only one person can use them at a time. The software essentially lets you use an unlimited number of USB ports which you can manage better from one hub than if you had different devices connected to separate physical machines. 

Built for specialised situations

Even though USB Network Gate is incredibly functional, it's built for specific situations that not every computer user encounters on a daily basis. In general, laptops don't come with enough ports to support an external hard drive, USB mouse, printer and scanner at the same time. This is where USB Network Gate comes in. If you want to, you could have ten printers plugged in virtually at once. But outside of corporate situations, this kind of demand for USB connectivity is largely unheard of. 

Worth it, depending on your general needs

If you have the kind of problems USB Network Gate is designed to fix, then it's a brilliant, no-nonsense solution. But it may be easier to think of more practical ways to solve your problems. For instance, switching to cloud-based storage gets rid of the need for external hard drives in many cases, thereby freeing up a port.