Note that it tells whether your PC is on or not by looking for a voltage over the USB connection. If your machine keeps its USB juiced up while shut down, then this won't work. However for most PCs that's just a case of changing a BIOS setting.

Wow. Better socket thingamajigs have been around for some time. You can buy a 6 socket thingamajig which monitors the voltage of 1 of the sockets and when will shut off the other sockets if the voltage goes down.

The better solution is to scrap the crappy USA power outlets we've put up with for years for UK-style with a power switch right next to each outlet. The whole USA "system" of crappy junction boxes nailed to studs with crappy holes sawn in the sheetrock with crappy outlets screwed in and then a crappy plastic panel screwed on top guarantees nothing lines up and the result looks like crap. Being unable to power off each outlet without spending extra money is just the icing on the cake of crap.

A picture of a UK-style outlet:
http://www.cybermarket.co.uk/ishop/images/923/429_891.jpg<...

Back in the olden days (I haven't seen one for at least 6 years) some power supplies had an output that you could plug a female monitor plug into. We used to rewire a 4-way adapter to plug straight into the PSU that would only be powered if the PC was on.

> A picture of a UK-style outlet:

Yuck!

/no accounting for taste

I don't think I've ever seen such a load of crap...

That wouldn't work here. The way most houses are designed, the outlets end up behind something. Having to move a couch to turn off a lamp isn't going to happen for most people.

Having a switch next to the outlet to turn that outlet off is irrelevant to this gadget anyway; the idea is that you don't have to turn it off, it does it on its own.

(there was supposed to be a 'Heh' after 'load of crap...'. Sorry...)

No No No.... This has a FAR better use.

You can use it in the shop with your tools. You attach the sander/saw/router/etc... to the PC port, and the vacuum cleaner to the switched port.

Turn on the tool, and the shop vac turns on to clean up the dust! Shut down the tool, and the noisy vacuum shuts off too.

I want one!

@dufus:

I don't know what sort of sander/saw/router/etc... you have in your shop, but I've never seen one with a powered USB port on it.

The concept is great, better in a powerstrip with surge protection. I guess skierpage is being sarcastic since those UK plugs are so large a 6 outlet powerstrip is scary big. I'm now in the "continent" in Spain, and all my US/Universal voltage gadgets still are plugged into my Nice Little 10 outlet North American powerstrip, 12", with converted male end plugged into the wall. You US residents are soo lucky with your small plugs.

Just plug all your computer related items, external hard drive, monitor, printer, speakers, etc. into a power strip with the computer, and hit it with your foot when you're done.

Won't work in every case, if your stuff is all spread out, but works great for me.

Yeah this USB thing is limited and actual compatibility is going to be unreliable. What if you use your computer's USB to charge something like so many ipods/phones/etc do these days?

The better solution is to use the "SmartStrip" from bits limited. It's cheaper and better. It monitors the current load of the control outlet and when it drops below a pre set threshold (adjustable with a dial on the side) it powers off the other outlets. It also has some 'always on' outlets. A really great way to set this up is to plug your computer into an always on outlet, plug your monitor into the control outlet and all your desk accessories, lamps, speakers etc into the switched outlets.

If you then set your screensaver to switch your monitor into a power saving mode and have your dial set appropriately you can make your devices power down with your screensaver -- setting your computer to automatically enter S3 or hibernation some time later will result in a setup which is both energy efficient and actually practical to use.

Yeah UK plugs are way too big. But having a switch next to each outlet is great. I like the switches in this Australia/Chines outlet, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_AC_power_plugs_and_s...