Hopefully that will work just fine for you.
However, USB 2.0 (spec'd at .5 amp per port) just doesn't seem to allow any power overhead. Wouldn't it be better use a USB 3.0 like this one, to guarantee 1.5 amps per port:
http://www.coolgear.com/productdetails1.cfm?sku=USBG-7U3ML&cats=434What about just popping them into open blue USB ports on our rigs?
You could do that, but to me the main benefit of an ASIC is the power efficiency, and since they do not need a full rig to power them, why use one? A Pi is cheep and cool, and I kinda wanted one anyway for messing with stuff... this was just a good excuse to get one personally.
If your desktop is always on, it makes no difference... but I turn my desktop off.