Introduction

The need of USB hubs on the market is rising, because we are using more and more USB hardware devices like USB flash drives, USB external sound cards, printers, 5.1 headphones and the list could continue. ROCCAT have developed a very nice looking USB hub with an integrated mouse bungee, that holds the cable for you and this way it won't get in your way when you play ( when the cable is sitting right on the table there is a lot of rubbing on the edge of the desk ).



I want to thank ROCCAT for making a review of the APURI Active USB-Hub and Mouse Bungee possible.

About ROCCAT

“ROCCAT™ is the snow storm to the gaming industry. Everything called gaming before needs to be redefined. You will enter a world in which three attributes will keep you on the right path: alliance, independence and truth.



"DO IT YOUR OWN WAY AND DON'T TALK SHIT"
– this is the statement ROCCAT follows.

The ROCCATEERS can be found all over the world. And it was a revelation which led them together to energize the crucial benefit. The lake Inari long kept the secret our ROCCAT scientists call "Aimo". With every ROCCAT tool you will more and more internalize its Energy. Become part of our alliance.”

Product Specifications

4 high-speed USB 2.0 ports

Output power active (using AC adapter): 2A

Output power passive (using USB cable): 500mA

Length of USB cable: 1.5m

Length of power cable: 1.5m

Detachable Mouse bungee

3 LEDs (top) + under-lighting

Stable tripod design

Product description

The first component of the ROCCAT™ Smart Desktop Management System (SDMS) offers you the perfect combination of style and functionality right there on your desktop. The Apuri won’t just power your USB devices; among other things it’ll also bring new order to your desktop by taking control of your mouse cable.

USB PORTS ALWAYS WITHIN REACH

The Apuri combines stability and practically in the way it takes over the job of managing your devices and cables on the desktop. The Apuri’s AC adapter delivers sufficient power to supply its USB ports with a total power of 2A – allowing you to connect up to four power-hungry USB devices without data loss. And if you don’t want to use the AC adapter, you can simply power the hub using the supplied USB cable.

Sufficient power is always available in passive use – perfect for cell phones, cameras and other devices which don’t require their own separate AC adapter. The Apuri allows you to connect everything so it’s within reach, saving you the hassle of crawling around under the desk looking for ports and from the untidiness of cables hanging over the edge of the desk.

SMOOTH GAMING

Thanks to the flexible mouse bungee, the mouse cable in particular is optimally catered for. It is simply guided away from the mouse’s gliding area so that it doesn’t get in the way during game play. There won’t be any rubbing on the desktop or snagging of the cable on the edge of the desk to interfere with your gaming experience – you can even adjust the length of the cable to suit, and the flexible arm optimally flexes with your movements.

You’ll feel as if you’re using a wireless mouse, without the inherent disadvantages such as increased weight, sudden need to change batteries or long charging times. If you don’t want to use the mouse bungee, it can simply be detached from the hub. .

STYLE AND ATMOSPHERE

Contrary to many conventional hubs, which live out their existence as boring boxes, the ROCCAT™ Apuri adds style to your desktop. The unique tripod design gives the Apuri stability even during tense gaming situations.

The design fits perfectly with ROCCAT’s new ‘stealth’ style series. Beveled edges and futuristic lines give the hub a unique look. The top features three ice blue LEDs while the base boasts an illuminated ROCCAT logo, which will cast an atmospheric aura onto your desktop.



Product Features:
ACTIVE USB HUB INCLUDING-> AC adapter and 4 fully powered ports
ZERO-DRAG MOUSE BUNGEE-> guarantees unrestricted movement
YOUR DESKTOP ASSISTANT-> for device and cable management
DIRECT PORT ACCESS-> connect any USB device so it's within reach
PASSIVE USE POSSIBLE-> thanks to the supplied USB cable
SECURE + STABLE STAND-> with ROCCAT-style blue glow
PART OF SDMS-> organize your desktop

Packaging

The APURI mouse bungee/USB Hub from ROCCAT comes in a nicely themed box, with a clear plastic window; on the frontal part of the package, we can see some product features, the name of the product and 2 icons describing that it has 4 USB ports and its blue LED illuminated:




On one of the package sides, we can see a photo with all available SDMS ( Smart Desktop Management System ) products from ROCCAT and a description regarding the integration of the APURI into this platform; here we do also see the package contents, the system requirements and the tech specs:



On other side of the box, we can see the product components explained and the full list of features, in 7 different languages:



When we look on another side, we can see some other product photos and an impression of a professional gamer, Mr. Robert Shulz, a MMORPG Enthusiast:



Finally, on the bottom of the box, we can find a photo of the product bottom side, a serial number and what Dr. Erik J. Dale, a ROCCAT Scientist has to say about this product:



When we get the outside box out, we can see that the product is further protected on the inside with a plastic frame:



The product is covered by a rubberized paint, has the ROCCAT logo on top and all 3 blue items we see are places where LEDs will light up, for a nicer overall look; on this side we can see 2 available USB 2.0 ports; when looked from this side, we can see that the APURI resembles the look of a scorpion, ready to attack:



On one of the product laterals, we can see more clearly the mouse bungee, which is made of very flexible rubber, colored in black and with the APURI product name on it; also, on this side we can see 2 more available USB 2.0 ports:



On the opposite side, we can see a power adapter port and a mini-USB port to connect it to a spare USB 2.0 port from the PC:



On the bottom of the product, we can see the 3 feet which have rubber under them to avoid scratching the surface the product stays on and also ensures the product won't move on the table when used; in the center we can see the name of the product and a large logo, which has a bright blue LED underneath it:

A closer look

Here is a closer look upon one of the rubber feet of the product:



The mouse cable bungee has a special canal designed into it, in which we can insert the mouse cable, so it won't move all over the table if it is too long and annoy us:



Here is also a look of the product from behind, where we can see more clearly the canal in which we have to insert the mouse cable:



In the package we can also find a white clear cardboard box, with additional accessories:



The contents of the box are:

-USB cable to connect the APURI to a spare USB port of our computer;
-power adapter;



Here is how the power adapter connector looks:



The power adapter is rated for output 5Vdc at 2A:



With the product, we also get an instruction manual, which tells us in multiple languages and drawings what steps we have to take to make the product fully functional:



On the frontal part of the instruction guide we get to see a more in-depth look upon the products' main features:



Here is how the product does look when its operating; we can see the cable of the mouse inserted in the bungee's canal, on the left part a cable to charge the mobile phone, on the right the power adapter connector and the USB cable that came from the computer and on the bottom an external USB sound card connected along with the ROCCAT Kova mouse:



Here is another look of the mouse bungee, with the cable passing through the canal:



If the table we put the product on is reflective, we can see a projection of the ROCCAT logo on it:

Conclusive Thoughts

At first sight, a lot of people could say that this isn't a product everyone needs; after having the chance to work with the product even for a few minutes; it’s guaranteed that you will change your opinion regarding the product.

The mouse bungee is a very useful product because it practically holds the cable for you and does not leave the cable loose on the table; also, with the cable held by the bungee, you can also clear a lot of useful space on the table. The mouse bungee also eliminates the cable rubbing phenomenon on the desktop or snagging of the cable on the edge of the desk, which could ruin the gaming experience. This way we will feel our wired mouse moving as smooth as a wireless one.


Movie found on Youtube demo’ing the bungee function

The 4-port USB hub is also a very useful feature, for both desktops and laptops.

When I have started using the external USB sound card with the laptop, I have seen that I was running out of spare USB ports in lots of situations. When using the APURI, the situation changes completely and I can use most of the hardware I was using before, only occupying one USB port ( I find very important to mention that I have plugged in the hub a flash drive, a mouse and the USB sound card and all worked perfectly, without the need to plug in the power adapter that came with the device!! )

I also found the bungee a very useful in both office/gaming environments; with the cable hooked to the APURI, I could find the mouse easier to move. This reduces a lot of stress when using the mouse for long periods of time and improves the accuracy in games like Counter Strike: Source. Of course if you’re the owner of a wireless mouse you should just look for a nice USB hub without the fancy bungee cord or flashy lights.

The Apuri is available at €30~40 in Europe and USA, an affordable price point but only worth it if you’re an avid gamer using a wired mouse.



I thank ROCCAT for making this review possible.