Yep you plug it into one of your USB ports on your Laptop or Desktop and it gives you 7 more USB ports at the cost of one.. Optionally you can use the plug it comes with. The plug adds 500ma or .5A so that you can actually use 4 to 7 usb devices off the hub simultaneously. But even with the plug you can problems trying to use several high powered usb devices that dont supply there own power.. Such as western digital "My Passport" External Hard Drive that doesn't need to plug into the wall.. If you really wanna get technical LOL... If you can find a match for the plug that runs the same polarity and 5volts but with 1A or 1000ma and switch it out, you could no doubt run many 5 to 7 high powered USB devices simultaneously..., anyway for far most practical purposes this will work fine and Id consider it a plus that it atleast comes with a plug adding more power for better stability, Unlike most hubs..