Is this hub able to work at all without the power supply? If i only need to use 1 or 2 of the ports?

Definitely no! Without power it's totally dead - like a stone! You must connect it to power and then you can expect it to work - if there is no anything other wrong. If you don't want to use power, you can check another model - http://www.amazon.com/Anker%C2%AE-4-Port-Portable-Aluminum-2-Foot/dp/B00IJ331WY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1416424283&sr=8-2&keywords=anker+usb+3.0+hub. It has only 4 ports and cannot charge devices, but it's more compact and doesn't power connection at all.

Does this unit also plug in directly to an electrical outlet (so it can act as a charging "hub")?

Yes. There's also one USB plug that is only for charging, no data.

can all seven ports be used for data transfer, or are some for charging only?

Have not tried to use all 7 ports. Paraphrased from mini welcome guide: "Use DC power adapter...and use the USB 3.0 type B cable to connect the hub to your computer. You may now connect any devices to the hub for data transfer or charging."

why are hubs so expensive past 4 port? I don't see anything about them that really justifies the price.

These devices are not just splitters, they have to have circuitry to route the signals. More ports = more circuitry = higher cost. USB 3.0 devices are still at a premium compared to USB 2.0. If you don't need the increased speed of USB 3.0, USB 2.0 hubs are cheaper. You could also use 2 smaller hubs if you have the ports available.

ASIN	B014ZQ07NE
Brand	Anker
Color	blue
Customer Reviews	4.5 out of 5 stars 5,320 Your Review
Data Transfer Rate	5 Gigabits Per Second
Hardware Interface	USB 3.0
Item Weight	322 g
Number of Ports	7
Total USB Ports	7
Total Usb Ports	7
UPC	848061071467 848061077643

Anker 7-Port USB 3.0 Data Hub with 36W Power Adapter and BC 1.2 Charging Port for iPhone 7/6s Plus, iPad Air 2, Galaxy S Series, Note Series, Mac, PC, USB Flash Drives and More

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