Netgear launches a switch that can't even power itself.
Over the past year I've seen a few pieces of equipment that support the often misunderstood PoE or Power Over Ethernet standard. The concept behind this technology is that the eight wires that make up Ethernet are enough to carry both data and power if used intelligently. It works well with devices like security cameras, as it's much easier to run a network cable than deliver mains power to many install locations.
The GS105PE is a switch that was made by Netgear specifically for supporting PoE situations and has five ports that between them support gigabit Ethernet and a couple of PoE standards. Those being; 802.3at Type 1 (802.3af) and 802.3at Type 2. What really confused about this device initally, though, is that it has no normal means of powering itself; instead, it uses PoE. That reduces the useable ports to four, though one port would always be used as a link back to a router or another switch anyway.