Annoying Macbook Pro issue: left USB power

Contrary to spec, the left USB port on the (early-gen?) Macbook Pro notebooks is unpowered, or under-powered. Many devices will only work in the right port (I have an external HDD which emits a “low power” beepcode in the left port). If plugged into the left port, portable devices may claim they are charging but actually deplete the battery. Annoying, durf durf.