Mac Mini

[Gordon JC Pearce]

Dan Williams wrote:
> On 03/12/05, Tony Duell <ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> 
> 
>>The hamster wheel I mentioned didn't just use the USB connector as a 5V
>>power supply, on the grounds there was a CD-ROM of driver software with
>>it (you know, I can remember when a device driver and its source code
>>would fit on one floppy disk. Darn code-bloat!).
>>
> 
> I have a mobile that has a USB charger, but it will not charge unless
> the driver is installed. I don't know if the specs of USB mean it
> doesn't put voltage on a line unless it's told to. I keep meaning to
> try it on a powered hub. But I don't have one.

That seems to be the case.  If you have an iPod it won't charge from USB 
if it's connected to a Windows machine without the drive mounted (or 
whatever the Windows equivalent is) because it will turn the port off. 
On Macs and PCs running Unixy OSes, it works just fine.

Gordon.