Easily add 2 USB 3.0 ports and Gigabit Ethernet to your Microsoft Surface Pro 3

If you travel, and use your Surface Pro 3 as a productivity device while away from home, you'll likely love the light weight and amazing 2160 x 1440 screen. Even the lowest spec model can be a great thin client, remotely controlling your primary workstation back home, using something like Teamviewer.

But what you'll also soon notice at least one of these limitations:

• using a favorite Logitech mouse, the dongle takes up your only USB port
• you use fast and tiny USB 3.0 flash drives, but don't want to disconnect your mouse every time you want to use the thumb drives
• you're in a hotel where wired networking is far faster than WiFi

This is all easily solved for under $40 USD. On Windows 8.1 or later, just insert the device, and it works. That's right, the networking driver auto-install without trouble. Tested it myself today, in my San Francisco hotel room, as pictured.

Notice that the little USB/Ethernet hub hugs the edge of your Surface Pro 3. Read more at the manufacturer's site, Bidul Microsoft Surface 2-In-1 Ethernet (S-USBHub RJ45 3.0). Works on the Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 as well.

Here's the link to buy on Amazon

Also pictured, Logitech M705 Mouse, and a Fellowes Microban mousepad that help for those hotels that still have glass desktops.

See also Paul Thurrott's

Surface Pro 3: Hardware Expansion