Aleratec Closed and out of Business Since February 2022

From all accounts it appears Aleratec closed their doors and out of business from sometime starting in February, 2022.

GetUSB.info has called the corporate office multiple times searching for comment, but no answer. In addition, it appears Google removed Aleratec from their search results as their domain www.aleratec.com has been off-line for well over 30 days. We are posting this information in the event end-users are looking for support or warranty information related to the company.

Aleratec, Inc. was a family-owned, California-based company with two decades’ experience in designing, developing and marketing products acclaimed for high performance, reliability and ease of use.

Greg Morris, CEO of Nexcopy Inc, a similar company profile and also based in Southern California commented today after request, “I’ve known about Perry Solomon, the CEO, well over twenty years and he was always a good person to speak with regarding industry trends and business practices. Extremely friendly and approachable. Perry was focused on bring a solution to the market which brought true value to the end-user. I wish him the best of luck with his next business adventure.”

Aeratec sold PC based and standalone flash memory duplicators, CD and DVD duplicators, hard drive duplicators and hard drive demolishers. Aleratec also provided a “charge and guard” cabinet for charging portable devices like tablets. Schools found the charge and guard cabinet particularly beneficial.

At the time of this posting some products can still be found on-line, but most models seem to be listed as out of stock or on back order.

If Aleratec would like to comment or provide information for post sales support and parts, please reach out at: gmo @ getusb dot info and we can post the information in this article

Below are a list of the ten most common questions about a disk signature collision along with the related answer. The bottom of this article includes a video for some of the diskpart steps, which is needed when investigating a disk signature collision.

1. What is a disk signature collision?
2. Why does Windows create a disk signature collision?
3. How do I find the disk signature ID?
4. Does Windows 10 have diskpart?
5. How do I start or launch diskpart?
6. How to change a disk signature?
7. Is there a disk signature collision for every device?
8. What is MBR verse GPT
9. What is the difference between an online and offline device, how do I fix it?
10. Where can I find the full list of diskpart commands?
11. Jump right to the demonstration video at bottom of article

#1 – What is a disk signature collision?

When two (or more) storage devices have the same hexadecimal value for their disk ID (also known as disk signature). Windows does not like to see multiple storage devices with the same signature, so it will take all but one offline so the user gains access to only one device. The signature collision is most often found when binary copies of a master have been made to target devices.

#2 – Why does Windows create a disk signature collision?

Our understanding of why Microsoft did this was to prevent malware from spoofing the OS by presenting an identical seeming drive with bad intent. Bear in mind this MBR stuff was developed when dinosaurs still ruled the earth. Malware was but a dream in some teenage miscreants mind. So little effort was expended in that direction, much to the chagrin of todays Microsoft. The bible says something about this, “The sins of a father shall be visited upon their sons” or words to that effect.

#3 – How do I find the disk signature ID?

One-sentence summary; What is USB4

USB4 is the USB-C form factor for connecting; fully supports the Thunderbolt 3 specification, all wrapped up using the USB 3.2 specification.

USB4 has four benefits over prior versions of USB.

Maximum speed of 40Gbps. Using two-lane cables or a set of cables, devices may operate at up to 40Gbps, the same speed as Thunderbolt 3. Keep in mind there is a big difference between Mb and MB. Mb is megabits, not megabytes (MB). For example, 8Mb is about 1MB of data. As a reference, a typical MP3 audio file is about 3MB (megabytes). 5,000MB/second is the theoretical maximum speed of USB4.

USB4 supports DisplayPort 2.0. DisplayPort 2.0 cables feature 80Gbps bandwidth, making it possible to display ultra-high resolutions at previously impossible refresh rates. DisplayPort 2.0 can handle up to two 4K screens at 144Hz simultaneously, or an 8K display at up to 85Hz natively, with no form of image compression. This is possible because USB4 can use all eight data lanes at the same time.

Compatible with Thunderbolt 3 devices. USB4 is a protocol which supports all the specifications of Thunderbolt 3; however, Thunderbolt 3 is capable of 100 watts of bi-directional power delivery and not all manufacturers who support USB4 will include the full power implementation of Thunderbolt 3.

More efficient resource allocation. USB4 devices use a process called protocol tunneling, which optimizes the use of DisplayPort, PCIe, and USB packets at the same time while allocating bandwidth to improve efficiency. This approach can deliver better performance across multiple connected devices using different protocols.

USB4 will only operate through a USB-C type physical connector. USB4 peripherals will most likely not support older USB Type-A ports because the connection speeds and power delivery mechanisms will not be available. Although USB4 is backward compatible with all other USB protocols, it does not mean older standards will receive the improved benefits. For example, if you connect a Type-A 5Gbps USB 3 port using an adapter, the speed and power will drop to the lowest common denominator.

Some notable comments:

Device and host manufacturers are not required to pay Intel royalties when implementing USB4 technology. This improves the chance of mass adoption. However, there is a catch between manufacturing USB4 devices and making products fully USB4 compliant. Specifically, the Thunderbolt compatibility specification may become part of the product requirements for using the USB4 logo. This could mean a consumer buys a laptop with USB4 and later discovers it does not work with a Thunderbolt 3 peripheral.

It is important to know Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 are logo-certified programs from Intel which cost manufacturers time and money. While a USB4-powered computer may work with 40Gbps devices or even those labeled as Thunderbolt, this may not be obvious because the product did not go through certification. The opposite can also be true: a USB4 device may not support Thunderbolt due to the cost required for certification.

USB4 has two speed tiers. As with Thunderbolt, a USB4 product may not support the full 40Gbps specification. 40Gbps is the theoretical maximum speed, but many devices will use the lower 20Gbps standard because manufacturing costs are lower, resulting in a lower price for consumers. If speed is a priority, check the specifications of the USB4 product before purchasing. At the time of writing, most USB4 products that support 40Gbps are cables and PCIe adapter cards.

Why the USB4 name?

An online article summarizing an interview with Brad Saunders, CEO of the USB Implementers Forum (USB.org or USB-IF), indicated the lack of a space between “USB” and “4” is intended to move focus away from version numbers and toward branding. This branding change makes sense, but the long history of USB versions will likely continue to cause confusion.

Port Hub Provides Six Connection Options via USB

The Satechi Port Hub adapter extends the functionality of your M1 MacBook Pro laptop. It has all of the necessary ports, including a USB4 port, Gigabit Ethernet, a USB-C data port, two USB-A data ports, and an audio jack port. The Pro Hub Mini is the only adapter you need, with a wide range of options for fast data transfer and a modern aluminum design.

Designed to complement your MacBook ports, it includes two USB-A 3.0 data ports, one USB-C data port capable of up to 5 Gbps, Gigabit Ethernet, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

The port hub features next-gen USB4 technology and can charge your devices at up to 100W. You can also benefit from data transfer speeds of up to 40 Gbps and video output resolutions of up to 5K/60Hz.

By connecting the hub to the Thunderbolt ports of your MacBook Pro 14 and 16 inch (2021), you will have access to all ports. The MagSafe 3 port is still usable and recommended for fast charging. An audio jack port clip is also included and is designed to fit into the MacBook Pro 14 and 16 inch (2021) chassis to help stabilize the hub.

Having designed multiple technology products, this product does raise a question about the physical connection between the port hub and the MacBook. From the image (as this unit has not been tested here), it appears the audio jack and dual USB-C connectors provide a reasonably durable mating.

However, accidents happen. If the combined unit were to be dropped (for example, slipping off a desk edge) and landing on the hub, there is a reasonable concern about potential stress or damage to the laptop’s internal ports.

Given that these ports represent the only external digital connection for this model, repairs could be costly. Food for thought.

Consider buying this MacBook port hub from Amazon if this article helped inform your buying decision.

Important

• To achieve 5K video output, you’ll need a compatible computer, Thunderbolt cable, and a 5K monitor
• The MacBook Pro (16 inch, M1 Pro/Max, 2021) MagSafe 3 port can charge up to 140W
• The USB4 port can only charge up to 100W
• Use the MagSafe 3 port directly on the computer for faster charging
• Charging and CD drives are not supported by USB-A ports
• The audio jack port clip is only compatible with MacBook Pro 14 and 16 inch models released in 2021
• The hub can be used with older MacBooks with USB-C, but the audio jack clip will not fit

The original manufacturer product page can be found here on the Satechi website.

Mini Portrait Display Monitor – Mini in Size, Large on Coolness

With the everlasting newsfeeds from Twitter and never-ending social media feeds a portrait style display is the ideal monitor keeping you connected while not eating up real-estate on your main monitor. We understand not one display size will fit all needs, but this mini portrait display stands tall amongst other sizes we’ve seen. The cool factor for this product is off the charts and wouldn’t you love to be the first in your office to have this setup?

Resolution is 1280 x 400 with a physical size of 70mm (x) 208mm (x) 16mm so for you Americans on the Imperial measuring system that is 8 inches tall by 3 inches wide. The monitor size is just under 8 inches.

The mini portrait display uses an HDMI cable for video and micro-USB for power.

The display isn’t fully supported on the Mac so user experience will vary when paired with that OS, but the mini portrait display monitor will run as expected on a Windows machine. The unit is (about) $95 USD after the conversion from Yen. The company marketing this display is Sanko and the product is not yet available.

Are you interested in this product? GetUSB.info is planning to bring in 50 units… get on the list to buy. Send an email to gmo (at) getusb.info to make a request.

Source: Impress Watch, Japan