Sony VAIO VGN-UX380N Core Solo U1500 1.33GHz 1GB 40GB 4.5" Touchscreen Vista Business Micro PC Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Hello,
I bought my Sony Vaio UX380N back in the beginning of 2008, and I haven't regretted it one bit. Even now, after having it and using it all this time, i still keep finding newer and more exciting ways to use my UX380N. Sony had a real winner on their hands with this model, but they were quite outrageous on the prices of them. If they would have lowered their prices to a more reasonable amount, and maybe have upgraded the RAM to 2Gb instead of just giving up on the UX model idea, they would and could have probably sold them like hot cakes. Everyone that I have talked to and showed my UX380N to really loved it, and they really were interested in purchasing one. But the Sony price of them, along with Sony's decision to discontinue the model rather than make a few upgrades to it and lower the price of it, drove them away from buying one. Sony could have made a killing profit with this model, but their poor business and tech practices, once again, put a damper on their sales.
Personally, I don't know or understand why Sony thinks so much of their cumputers that they raise their prices wayyyy above everyone else that builds computers with the same or better quality, and sells them cheaper, but Sony needs to come down to reality and notice and see that their brand name doesn't have the quality or known-ness as it once had. Sony just needs to come down to reality period. Until then, not too may people will pay their outrageous prices for things that they can just go to other manufacturers and get the same quality mwith a much more reasonable price tag. But still, that doesn't take away the wonderful computer that the UX380N is. If you can find a UX model UMPC at a reasonable price (Maybe @ $799 or less), then I highly recommend that you buy it. You will not regret it. Thanks for reading!!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony VAIO VGN-UX380N Core Solo U1500 1.33GHz 1GB 40GB 4.5" Touchscreen Vista Business Micro PC

Click here for more information about Sony VAIO VGN-UX380N Core Solo U1500 1.33GHz 1GB 40GB 4.5" Touchscreen Vista Business Micro PC

Read More...

Cisco-Linksys WUSBF54G Wireless-G USB Network Adapter with Wi-Fi Finder Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a direct comparision between the Linksys WUSBF54G and TrendNet 509UB.
Both perform as expected when used as a standalone hot spot detector.
Both perform as expected on Windows XP. Installation was quirky for both. After driver installation, inserting into USB slot it wasn't recognized at all. Fiddled around for awhile and it finally detected the device. Had to disable the notebook's builtin wireless before XP recognized the device.
Client software does not detect a device under Windows Vista Ultimate RC2. I assume this will be true for Windows Vista RTM too. Inserting the device into a Windows Vista RC2 system often completely froze Windows Vista (had to hold down power button for complete reboot). Had to disable the notebook's builtin wireless before Vista recognized the device.
Appears that the TrendNet and Linksys devices are so similar that they must be made by the same OEM or reference design. As expected, evaluation results are similar.
1. Both devices seem to have same sensitivity, similar to notebook's internal wireless card.
2. TrendNet device doesn't have Windows XP signed drivers so an extra click during install is requried. Also installing on new USB ports requires extra clicks.
3. TrendNet device supports 801.11a whereas Linksys does not.
4. TrendNet device sometimes crashes Vista Ultimate RC2.
5. Neither device's software client works under Vista Ultimate RC2. This isn't a deal breaker for me as they both work under Vista Ultimate RC2 networking as a USB wireless key. You just lose the client software feature.
6. The Linksys has a somewhat useful backlit LCD, TrendNet does not.
7. Both devices work as standalone hotspot locators equal well.
8. In hotspot mode, both devices show SSID, channel number, encryption mode, etc.
Conclusion: For XP, I recommend the TrendNet so save the extra dollars. For Vista, I recommend the Linksys device as it never crashed Vista Ultimate RC2 whereas TrendNet device was gave occasional freezes.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Cisco-Linksys WUSBF54G Wireless-G USB Network Adapter with Wi-Fi Finder

" Linksys Wireless-G USB Network Adapter with Wi-Fi Finder - Add Wireless-G to your notebook or desktop computers and detect wireless signals without powering on your PCThe Wireless-G USB Adapter with Wi-Fi Finder is a handy, pocket-sized device that combines an easy-to-use wireless network scanner with a USB-connected Wireless-G network adapter.Now you can scan for available wireless connectivity before turning on your computer.If the scanner does find a network, just plug it into your PC and get connected.The Wi-Fi Finder detects Wireless-G and Wireless-B networks with a simple push of a button.It displays all pertinent information such as the wireless network's name (SSID), signal strength, the channel used, and whether wireless security is enabled or not.The information is displayed on an easy-to-read LCD display and can be set up to look for only open networks, all networks, or a specific named network.Discovered networks are listed in order of signal strength.The advanced wireless search technology filters out 2.4GHz interference given off by microwave ovens, cordless phones, and Bluetooth devices to provide readouts only on working Wireless-G or -B networks.With the Wi-Fi Finder built into the unit, you no longer need to power on your PC to determine if there's a wireless network connection available.Public wireless hotspots are springing up all over in coffee shops, airport lounges, hotels and convention centers.The Wireless-G USB Adapter with Wi-Fi Finder from Linksys makes it easy to find, and connect to, those hotspots.Also works with :-WRT54G - Share your high-speed Internet connection with Wireless-B, Wireless-G, and wired Ethernet devices.WAP54G - Connects Wireless-G or Wireless-B devices to your existing wired networkWPC54G - Connects your notebook computer to Wireless-G networks.

Get 20% OFF

Click here for more information about Cisco-Linksys WUSBF54G Wireless-G USB Network Adapter with Wi-Fi Finder

Read More...

Eikon Digital Privacy Manager - USB fingerprint reader Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have tried the Microsoft, APC, Dell, and Omnipass fingerprint readers.
While the hardware is mediocre, the software is garbage.
Vista support is rare, Vista x64 support is ubelievably rare, and Windows 2008 support is non-existant.
Microsoft's own fingerprint reader wont properly support Windows Server 2008 or 64 bit.
On the other handm the Eikon /Upek solution is fantastic.
The hardware is made from aluminum instead of plastic and has a nice sturdy feel. However its the software that makes this solution stand out as "best of breed"
Not only does it support 64 bit and Vista and Windows 2008 Server, but it supports 2 factor and 3 factor authentication as well.
When you run the software, your first impression is WOW. The user experience is fantastic. It installs perfectly, its very intuitive and is very visually appealing.
It looks and feels like they really spent a lot of time on polishing the sofware.
If you are looking for a fingerprint solution, this is it.
Im so happy with my purchase that I just threw out my Microsoft and APC readers and I deleted my Omnipass software(that I had to pay extra for)
My new christmas wish is to get this reader built-in to a keyboard for my office PC.
Bottom line: I give it 12 out of 10. I bonus point for broad OS support and 1 bonus point for "exceeding expectations"

Click Here to see more reviews about: Eikon Digital Privacy Manager - USB fingerprint reader

Get 19% OFF

Click here for more information about Eikon Digital Privacy Manager - USB fingerprint reader

Read More...

IRIScan Executive 2 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)IRIScan Executive 2 is a compact, portable, sheet fed, color scanner. IRIScan is USB powered, thus making it easy to use anywhere. The Mac version includes the OCR software Readiris Pro 11 for scanning text documents and photographs; and Cardiris 4 for scanning business cards..
I installed IRIScan on a Mac Book G4 running Mac OS X 10.5.2. Following the installation instructions I installed the Readiris Pro 11 software then plugged the IRIScan into a USB port. I next calibrated the scanner using the provided calibration sheet and was all set to begin. I chose a text document, fed it into the scanner and waited. The scanned result was a blank page I tried again, same result. I chose another document and once again it produced a blank page. The Quick Start Guide was of little use. I checked the settings and tried several more times but nothing happened. Because it was late in the evening I put it away and decided I would check it out another day.
My next experience began the same way, so I opened up the electronic 128 page User's Manual. I spent two hours reading the manual, which didn't have any troubleshooting information and no instructions relating to my problem, making minor changes in the settings, and trying to scan. Finally success! However, I don't really know what made the difference.
The first document I scanned had several inaccuracies in the final product. The User's Manual explains that there are so many fonts and styles and sometimes there are extra dots left on the page and the OCR has trouble interpreting the text, but there is a Learn button in the program that will allow it to learn the unrecognized font or letters.

I continued scanning several documents from different sources. They all scanned word-for-word perfect. One had a format discrepancy. A nice feature of this software is all documents can be saved to any text or word processing application and be edited and adjusted.
I was happy with the text scanning results and wanted to try photos. The photo scans were a complete failure. The black and white pictures were like negatives and the color photos were blotchy with lots of white space. I gave up on photos and decided to install the Cardiris software.
Cardiris installed quickly, I connected the IRIScan, opened the software and nothing. It would not work. It was then that I discovered an update for Cardiris which I quickly downloaded and installed. It connected with the IRIScan immediately and I was ready to try scanning business cards. What a great tool. The business cards are accurately scanned and can be saved in the Cardiris database, the contact information can also be added to your Address Book. The information can be sent to applications such as Microsoft Entourage, New Contact, Microsoft Excel and others. Cardiris was very accurate in reading the cards and inserting the information in the correct places in Address Book even when scanning a "busy" card.
I still wasn't able to scan photos, so during my next session with IRIScan I checked the website for information but there is no help for Mac posted. I finally decided to email support. I received a reply back in about two hours. They had me re-calibrate. Afterwards I tried scanning black & white photos, they weren't much better. Then I changed the setting from black & white to grayscale and tried again. This setting change corrected the problem with black & white photos and the resulting scans were great, but i still didn't have a solution for the color photos.
I emailed support again late at night and had an answer in the morning. This time they said to change one of the settings from Automatic to Custom. It worked! Now i can produce beautiful scanned copies of color photographs.
The software included with IRIScan is definitely not written for Mac OS X . I found the interface to be quite awkward and the supplied user information inadequate. However, the support response was quick and courteous.
You are able to save your text scans in many different editable files, PDF, word processing, text edit, email, etc. The Windows version of IRIScan includes a photo editing program which would have been useful in the Mac version. I had to crop my photos after saving them to get rid of the extra black background surrounding the picture.
The Windows version also includes a translation program that will automatically translate from one language to another. I was able to successfully scan in a German document but the translation feature does not exist in the Mac version.
The IRIScan is lightweight, small and portable with USB connection.. You are able to scan full page documents, business cards and photos with up to 600 DPI. Colors are bright and text is clear. The speed is slow.
Though my initial start up with IRIScan was frustrating I now can scan documents, photos, and business cards almost flawlessly. Because of its size and portability it is a good tool to take along wherever you may travel. If you are considering purchasing an IRIScan for a Mac you may want to look at the IRIScan Express 2. The additional price for the Executive 2 includes software that is for Windows only.

Click Here to see more reviews about: IRIScan Executive 2

Get 26% OFF

Click here for more information about IRIScan Executive 2

Read More...

CardScan Personal v8 Card Scanner Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This product definitely saves time, but it's NOT 100% accurate. Company and people's names aren't always scanned properly, nor are they put in the correct category (company name, mobile, etc.)
Admittedly, many fonts and logos on business cards make the company name hard to decipher (even for me!) so I can't totally blame this on the scanner. Considering how many diverse types of business cards exist in this world, it does a pretty good job.
The good news is that this product seems to understand NUMBERS very well, and I generally find numbers the most challenging characters to enter since I actually need to pay close attention (and therefore take more time).
Another aspect I like about this scanner is that it's highly portable. It small in size, includes a USB cable (which powers the device), and comes with a carrying case that accommodates both the scanner and cable. Definitely a nice feature to have.
So far I'm pleased with this item. I scanned, organized and "verified" 40 business cards in about 20 minutes, which I think is decent time. Typing them into Outlook would've taken me about 2 hours, or 3 hours factoring in "distractions."
Overall, I feel this is a good business tool to have, and Amazon's low price makes it a good value overall.

Click Here to see more reviews about: CardScan Personal v8 Card Scanner

CardScan Personal is the smallest most affordable system from CardScan -- ideal for the user on the go. Synchronizes easily with Outlook, PDAs and smart phones. Monochrome scanning in about 5 seconds per card.

Get 51% OFF

Click here for more information about CardScan Personal v8 Card Scanner

Read More...

Visioneer Ultra-Slim OneTouch 7400 USB Photo Scanner (74007D-WU) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)For 4 years, I've owned a Visioneer 7300 VISIONEER 73007DWU SCANNER VISIONEER 7300 1200 DPI, which is the immediate predecessor to the 7400. The 7400 has essentially the same specs and appearance as the 7300. The difference? Only the 7400 supports Vista.
Pro: it works OK in light duty home service- I use it mostly for imaging receipts and so on for TurboTax and Quicken. But there are 2 Cons:
1) closing Quicken always generates an error from the Visioneer software complaining about qw.exe - it's benign except for having to close the dialog box each time
2) Visioneer has no plans to update the 7300 driver to spport Vista- will the 7400 be similarly stranded in 2 years or so when MS replaces Vista?

Click Here to see more reviews about: Visioneer Ultra-Slim OneTouch 7400 USB Photo Scanner (74007D-WU)

Click here for more information about Visioneer Ultra-Slim OneTouch 7400 USB Photo Scanner (74007D-WU)

Read More...

Canon LiDE200 Color Image Scanner (2924B002) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I decided to replace my old "all in one" printer which I was using as a scanner and a photocopying with the Canon LIDE200. I liked the specification: 4800x4800 dpi and a claimed 11 second scan rate.
The first thing I noticed as I was unpacking the scanner from the box was a mysterious WARNING about unlocking the lid of the scanner. The scanner was packed with the lid unlocked (as I found out later), and the instructions mentioned to keep the lid locked for travel or extensive handling. Fair enough, but it made me wonder if I had already done something bad to my scanner (I hadn't).
I then installed the software. I expected big things from Canon here, because generally they are pretty smart about software. The software, in terms of use, is much better than the software I had for scanning with my old scanner.The scanner has an "easy" setting that basically just scans at 300DPI without a fuss.If you want to scan at full resolution, you have to open the "driver" that exposes a page with all the bells and whistles to let you really fine tune your scan and set the highest resolutions.
All this was fair enough, however I found a few minor disturbing problems with the software. Firstly, once you've opened the "driver", it's not intuitive to figure out how to get back to the "no brainer" mode. Also, when you want to save your scan, it always seems to default to the scanning library it sets up. If you override it, it doesn't stay "changed". This is a slight pain. I always wonder who they hire to test and give feedback, because I always feel like I'm pointing out what should be the "obvious" to large companies like Canon (actually I really love Canon - so take no offense!).
As far as scanning speed is concerned, the scanner does indeed scan a 300 dpi page in about 11 seconds (that's pretty fast folks). However, the estimate does not include the 3 seconds the software takes to respond to the command to begin scanning (I'm running a duo core processor - no slouch) and the few seconds it takes to save the image. All in all, speed is impressive.
Now on to document quality. I tried scanning a few brochures and to be honest, at 300 DPI I wasn't super impressed with the result. So I went into the "driver" at set the scanning at maximum resolution (4800 x 4800). You get a pretty good result at that resolution, but by no means was I blown away. Perhaps more "tweaks" of the driver is needed. I noticed that the scanner attempts to "improve" the picture (which it does) but some of the detail of the text was a little off (brochure had images and text). I wondered if the lid of the scanner was making really good contact. Next time I will add a few pages of plain white paper behind the image and see if it makes a difference.
I tried scanning a printed document, and compared it to a printed document I scanned using my old scanner. I scanned the image to a PDF and low and behold, a major, major improvement (at 300 DPI).
So, I gave the scanner four "stars". Why not five? Well, the software is much easier to use than my old scanner, but still not without a few minor "quirks".This is a great scanner for scanning documents. How well it will actually scan and reproduce a photo is still in question, and perhaps I need to learn how to use the driver software better. I don't think I could scan an original photo without seeing some degradation in quality.
I'd be interested to hear other people's experiences regarding copying photos. I hope I'm wrong in my assessment, because I really expected a 4800x4800 scanner to reproduce "dead on" copies of a photo.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Canon LiDE200 Color Image Scanner (2924B002)

Canon LiDE200 color image scanner has convenient features for easy scanning up to 4800 dpi.

Get 33% OFF

Click here for more information about Canon LiDE200 Color Image Scanner (2924B002)

Read More...