The USB 3.0 hub instability problems extend beyond the Mac-Mini, as addressed below.
At long last we're seeing progress in getting 2012 Macs to work with USB 3.0 hubs. As discussed on this and other discussion groups I've had a horrible time with my MacBook Pro Retina being unstable with USB 3.0 hubs. I know many of you have also or you wouldn't be reading this posting.
In June 2012 I bought one of the first 2012 MacBook Pro's with a Retina display. It's been a battle since with Apple selling what appears to be an incompatible or unstable system to effectively communicate with the USB 3.0 hubs. You'll see vendors now making comments that Apple is the source of the problem.
I've been through USB 3.0 issues with two MacBook Pro Retina laptops. I've also tested a Uspeed hub, with 3 portable USB 3.0 drives connected, at the Apple Store. This was on a newer model MacBook Pro Retina, and also on a 27" iMac. All had instances where drives failed to mount during the short period allowed for testing. (Because of time constraints, we were unable to test at the Store for spontaneous and unprovoked unmounting of drives connected to the hub. These problems have existed since the beginning on my rMBP.)
I am now on my 20th hub that has been purchased, or provided for testing. They varied from 4-Port to 10-Port powered hubs and involved 11 brand names. Comments were posted on Amazon, Tiger, and others for most of the ones purchased, and some that were tested. Some, like the HooToo specifically warned against use with Macs in the manufacturer's manual and, as I learned, for good reason. That was reflected in my comments for the drive on Amazon.
The Plugable 7-Port USB 3.0 powered aluminum-finish hub that I have been testing since October 13 was provided by Plugable after the first one, purchased through Amazon, was returned as unreliable. This 3rd, and newer generation Plugable hub uses the VIA VL812 chipset with the new version 90.81 firmware. My experience over the last 4+ weeks with this hub has been solid. While there have been problems with Eject errors, none were traced to the hub electronics. (Problems with intermittent connections at the cable connectors appeared to be the cause of the disconnect errors. Almost all of the failures were traced to intermittent Micro-B connectors, but that's another story.)
In addition to the greatly improved reliability of this hub, I find several features of this Plugable to be a plus including:
The plug engages fully to the "hilt" when plugged into the hub giving a solid connection, as occurs on the MacBook Pro Retina USB 3.0 ports. Others hubs typically had a gap between the "hilt" of the connecting end, and the hub allowing for lateral movement. With some hubs this allowed for intermittent connections if the cable was disturbed.
The on/off switch on the hub allows the hub to be powered down when not in use.
The full size Type-B connectors on the cable at the hub end engage solidly. Hubs with Micro-B connectors have presented intermittent connections in the cable connector.
The aluminum case looks attractive with Macs, IMO, but not a reason to buy.
Overall, Plugable's support is the best I've encountered. I've found their response to questions to be prompt and thorough. This, coupled with their online support articles has put them at the top of my list. They provide news and information that I've not found with other hub vendors.
The article titled "Plugable USB 3.0 7 Port Hub Firmware History" at the below link gives insight into the history of the problems that we've been having with the USB 3.0 hubs on Macs and the firmware updates, regardless of the brand of hub you have. Apparently, if you have the VIA VL 812 chipset, firmware version 85.81, you're in safe territory.
http://plugable.com/2013/10/30/plugable-usb-3-0-hub-firmware-upgrades2
(One of the Plugable hubs appears identical to the black 7-Port Uspeed hub, and both use the VIA VL 812 chipset. They appear to be from the same manufacturer with the real difference appearing to be in the VL812 version of the firmware in the hub.)
Some of the firmware can be upgraded, and some can't. Contact Plugable or Anker if you're affected.
Uspeed has made improvements, but they were still unstable as of the last one I received for testing. In her last reply on 10/13/13 Sunnie with AnkerDirect Customer Support stated:
Unfortunately, the new Firmware version (908x) does not work with the model "68UNHUB-B7U" you have. The hub bellow has much less complaints about Mac issue. We suggest that you order this one.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009Z9M3DY
AnkerDirect Customer Support
Note that the above hub recommended by Anker has an 8th port just for charging iOS devices. Some will see this as a plus. However, the lack of such a port is not seen as a big problem. It's easy and relatively inexpensive to purchase extra 5V power adapters for charging, which is my preference. Plugging and unplugging devices on a hub that is powered "On" presents the potential for movement of the cables. This could interrupt a cable connection and disconnect a drive during data transfer resulting in corrupted files. With 7 and 10 port hubs, and all the cables needed, this gets risky.
I believe the USB 3.0 hub issues we're having are the result of poor design of the Mac's USB 3.0 implementation at the start. Unstable hubs that I've had a friend with Windows 7 test, said they "performed like a dream" on his PCs. This indicates the problem is with Macs, not the (twenty) hubs I've used.
A statement from a support person dealing with USB 3.0 hubs tells what's I've long suspected: " -- the evidence is pointing to something specific to the Apple design (perhaps external to the chipset, like the signal re-driver….."
If you're having USB 3.0 problems, be sure to let Apple know by sending in a Feedback comment to Apple at:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/
I'm told they read and treat the feedback seriously (although the duration of this USB 3.0 problem makes me wonder if Mavericks and iOS 7 haven't had a higher priority and distracted from this. Microsoft got USB 3.0 right, how about it Apple?)
