Safe removal of external device from computing device

Abstract

In some embodiments a computing device includes a coupler that is able to be coupled to an external device, and an eject button to signal the computing device that a user wishes to safely uncouple the external device from the computing device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computing device comprising:
 a coupler that is able to be coupled to an external device; and   an eject button to signal the computing device that a user wishes to safely uncouple the external device from the computing device.   
     
     
         2 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the external device is at least one of a media device, a portable device, a storage device, a hard drive, a memory device, a flash device, a flash memory device, a USB device, a USB hub, a music device, a video device, or an IEEE 1394 device. 
     
     
         3 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the eject button is a physical button on the computing device. 
     
     
         4 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the coupler is a slot in the computing device. 
     
     
         5 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device to determine that it is safe for a user to uncouple the external device from the computing device in response to the signal. 
     
     
         6 . The computing device of  claim 5 , the computing device to provide a signal to the user that it is safe to uncouple the external device from the computing device. 
     
     
         7 . The computing device of  claim 6 , wherein the signal to the user is provided on at least one of a light on the computing device, a light on the external device, or a display on the computing device. 
     
     
         8 . The computing device of  claim 1 , the computing device further including an operating system to determine that it is safe for a user to uncouple the external device from the computing device in response to the signal. 
     
     
         9 . The computing device of  claim 1 , the computing device further including an Input/Output Controller Hub to determine that it is safe for a user to uncouple the external device from the computing device in response to the signal. 
     
     
         10 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is at least one of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, or a USB hub. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 providing a signal at a computing device indicating that a user wishes to safely uncouple an external device from the computing device; and   determining that it is safe for a user to uncouple the external device from the computing device in response to the signal.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the signal is provided in response to a computing device eject button pressed by the user. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing a signal to the user that it is safe to uncouple the external device from the computing device. 
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 a computing device; and   an external device;   wherein the external device is able to be coupled to the computing device, the computing device further including a coupler that is able to be coupled to the external device, and an eject button to signal the computing device that a user wishes to safely uncouple the external device from the computing device.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , the computing device to determine that it is safe to uncouple the external device from the computing device in response to the signal. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , the computing device to provide an indication to the user that it is safe to uncouple the external device from the computing device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the external device is at least one of a media device, a portable device, a storage device, a hard drive, a memory device, a flash device, a flash memory device, a USB device, a USB hub, a music device, a video device, or an IEEE 1394 device. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the computing device is at least one of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, or a USB hub.