Reviews about Misc. Peripherals

kdadman says "I want this little Device, Way Cool!" about Chumby Just About Everything!

kdadman — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:00:24 GMT

The Chumby

I use Pandora to stream music and they had a link for this little WiFi device. You can click yourself and see what it can do at chumby.com

Basically it can take any web widget you are using or want and display it in any room in your house - bedroom, kitchen, garage. You can stream music, display photos, see weather forecasts, stock ticker or should I say falling stock ticker, etc.

I haven't ordered one yet, but figure it will be on my Christmas list. If you own one I'd love to hear your review too.

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RudiXeno says "Durabrand 2.0 USB Powered Speaker System: Hey! For $12 bucks!" about Durabrand 2.0 CH USB Powered Speaker System

RudiXeno — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:59:06 GMT

You know how hard it is to hear the speakers on your laptop? Yeah me too.

The other day I was in my local Wal-Mart looking at a new netbook, they have on sale. Yes, I'm probably going to buy one but that's another review.

Satisfying my curiosity I was on my way out when I passed a display of compact flat panel USB powered speakers, ideal for laptops. While my desktop computer is augmented by a superb Creative Labs sound system, my Gateway laptop has been reliant on the puny, tinny speakers it came with. They're OK in the dead silence of the middle of the night, but most often I have to struggle to hear them.

The price on the display read $11.88. How could I resist?

Durabrand 2.0 CH USB Powered Speaker System
Okay, out of the box your biggest challenge is going to strip the plastic off the speakers. It's not one of those nasty blister-packs but boy do they know how to use tape!

With that done, simply plug in the USB connector into an open port and plug the sound jack into the headphone......

Appluele says "It needs a screen protector" about Wacom Bamboo™ (MTE450CCS)

Appluele — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:06:47 GMT

I love the wacom brand for the ability to draw straight to the computer and not have to scan it. The wacom bamboo isn't that great for drawing. Its pressure sensitive but not really that great at it. Not only that but it doesn't seem to work very well with adobe or corel painter x, the lines doesn't change to your pressure at all. I would recommend the intuo brand of wacom since theres more pressure sensitivity. The board also chips away at the pen nib....

bkovacs says "I like my connectors in the front" about StarTech PC Case Front Port Panel

bkovacs — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 23:00:00 GMT

I recently installed a card in my computer that gave me FireWire ports and a couple additional USB ports. The card works fine except that all these new connectors are only accessible on the back panel of the computer. It's much more practical having these kind of connectors on the front panel of the computer, so I looked for a solution and found it in the form of the StarTech PC Case Front Port Panel. StarTech's part number for this product is 35BAYPANEL, and I bought it for $25 at the nearby MicroCenter store.

What it is

The StarTech 35BAYPANEL is a plastic chassis that mounts into a standard 3.5-inch computer bay, such as what an old-fashioned floppy drive might use. My new Gateway computer had such a spot on its front and that's where I mounted this StarTech panel. The front panel of the 35BAYPANEL has two USB ports, one FireWire (IEEE1394) port, one nine-pin serial port and line audio in/out jacks. I really wanted it only for the FireWire port and have wired up only the USB and FireWire...

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Gus81 says "Great Video Device To Convert VHS To DVD And Other Digital Video" about Pinnacle systems Dazzle Digital Video Creator 150

Gus81 — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:19:08 GMT

The Dazzle Digital Video Creator 150 is a great digital video device for hooking up your PC to your VCR or any regular TV or cable/satellite box device. It can be practically be used as a cheap, flexible way record TV programs using your PC as a DVR or just capture video you want to burn on DVD. It's also fully compatible with the latest versions of Pinnacle Studio software. The only minor quibble is if you have a poor video source like a bad VHS recording, then the audio can go out of sync with the video. Other than that, it's a decent device for video editing.

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SpokaneMan says "An impressive portable storage device that is very user friendly" about Ativa 4.0 GB USB Portable Flash Drive

SpokaneMan — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 15:11:31 GMT

Needing a portable flash drive that could handle a lot of files at once, I stopped by Office Depot and found they had a nice flash drive by Ativa on sale. On sale for half price at just over $35.00, it looked like the perfect device for me, because it could hold up to 4.0GB of information. That is a lot of space, and probably a little more than I would normally need, but for work I wanted to make sure that I would have room for everything and more. With the flash drive you also get a lanyard for carrying it around, which you can choose to use, or just set aside and just use the flash drive.

Popping it out of the packaging, I found out that the portable drive was even better than I had expected. The reason for that, is that it has an integrated cap design that insures you will never lose the cap in transit. The way it works, is that you pull it forward, and the joints that it is connected to on the sides swivel around so that the cap slides to the back of the drive. When...

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MacOfMyPoints says "The BEST $$$ I ever spent!" about IVT BlueSoleil IVT BlueSoleil

MacOfMyPoints — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 01:31:44 GMT

I lucked out when I bought this Bluetooth. I wasn't sure that it would deliver, as expected, but it has. I found it to be almost as simple as any "Plug-N-Play" device. And, I have to admit, the blue that I got looks so good with my PC. Only thing I could say against it? It might have been low cost, but I would have prefered FREE! LMAO...

atergfox says "LOVE IT Logitect All The Way" about Logitech Internet Chat Headphones

atergfox — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:23:57 GMT

I bought mine at Wal-Mart and I just love it. I like mine so much I had to buy a second set for a Christmas present this year. The cord is the perfect length. Light weight, I can hardly tell I have them on my head. I read children stories and record them for my daycare kids. The head set is just perfect. It is also perfect for letting children use them . Not to big. I say thumbs up for this product...

Katznhat says "FANTASTIC&WORTH MORE THAN THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD!" about Logitech Internet Chat Headphones

Katznhat — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:17:25 GMT

I bought a pair of these on sale at Wal*Mart.I'd been using a mike until then and didn't like it at all! I figured they were cheap enough that I'd try them,and I could always give them to my son if they didn't work out.

WOW! Was I ever suprised!These are so lightweight they wyou really will forget that you're wearing them!More than once I tried to walk away from my computer and well......LOL!

The Stats:

Mike works easily and clearly!NOT garbled like many are!Flips on or off!

Super light weight

Easy to control volume

Volume set at acceptable standards-NOT so faint you can hardly hear it!

STAYS IN PLACE!

Cord is near perfect length.They couyld put a longer cord on it but then I'd be walking around and forget exactly how far I could go.

I highly recommend this tiny piece of computer necessity!

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gold88ape says "Good Headphones" about Logitech Internet Chat Headphones

gold88ape — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:45:08 GMT

I bought these headphones at wal mart because while I was looking for a microphone. I've never regretted bying this headphone /microphone set. They are comfortable and sometimes I even forget I have them on.

The volume is easy to control and you can easily flip the microphone on and off. The microphone is easy to use and works clearly. I can hear wonderfully out of them and they work for me. The cord is long enough to reach the front or the back of the computer but still short enough for you to be able to manage.

This set wasn't more then twenty dollars, probably about 15, and it was a wise investment.

If you like big cusy headsets, then these are not for you. I do have a pair of big headsets and yes they work and are comfortable, but I like these better....

uxbridge689 says "truly amazing how far we have come." about IOGear (GPEN100C) Digital Pen

uxbridge689 — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 01:19:35 GMT

Digital Scribe is the first device that can capture natural handwriting from any surface and store it directly onto your computer. Based on an electronic pen that uses ordinary ink refill and writes on any paper, the Digital Scribe has an internal memory to store handwritten notes, memos or drawings onto your computer screen for easy editing, for now or later.you can Compose and edit notes, then upload them later to your computer and save them in digital for easy modifications so you can highlight, annotate, add additional information or adjust ink color, ink width and page color .you can Create sticky notes on your desktop to keep reminders, to-do lists and phone numbers close at hand .Export notes in JPEG format to share notes easily. it feels so good in my hand. i love to draw and this makes it so easy to to put on my computer and color it in, saves so much it, better than having to scan it in and lose the color or some of the outline....

roadratray says "Awesome little gadget" about Bluetooth USB Dongle

roadratray — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 17:14:47 GMT

I purchased this off of ebay. The seller is wowpartspro. They have some awesome deals.

100% brand new.

Bluetooth specification V2.0 compliant (compatible with V1.1 and V1.2).

IVT software, compatible with Windows Vista, our bluetooth dongle is licensed with Version 2.6.0.8, no limitation.

Full speed USB interface, compatible with USB 2.0 / 1.1 / 1.0.

Built-in antenna.

LED status indicator.

Maximum data rate: 3MB, 3-times faster than bluetooth v1.2 or 1.1.

System Requirements

PC windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP/Vista.

Mac OS 10.1.4 or later.

Available USB port.

Specification

Product Type: USB Bluetooth Dongle.

Bluetooth Version: V2.0.

Interface Type: USB 2.0.

Chipset: ISSC.

Operation Range: 0-100m (class 2).

Frequency Band: 2.4 GHz.

Receiving Sensitivity: -89 dBM@0.1%BE.

Package Included

USB Bluetooth Dongle x 1.

Driver CD x 1 (include IVT Software).

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phoenixtears says "Sure the tools don't make the artist, but it sure can help!" about Wacom Intuos2 Platinum

phoenixtears — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 11:50:58 GMT

As an artist I've always believed that it's not the tools you use to create art it's how you use them, but a wacom tablet really allows the transition from classical mediums to digital mediums to be much more smooth. Having used a pencil and paper the majority of my artistic life, using a mouse was really difficult especially when it's an old ball mouse. But, with a Wacom Intuos2 I can have a baby in my lap and still preform all the tasks I need to without fussing over a mouse and trying to be detailed.
So what makes a tablet worth so much money? A tablet works just like a pencil or a pen instead of a mouse, you put your tablet pen to the tablet and begin drawing on your program of choice, the intuos2 comes with a trial of a few of my favorite programs, but several other programs recognize all the nifty things tablets can do. Specifically, a tablet has pressure sensitivity, in other words, if you press harder down on the pen point the harder the line is (and in some cases wider),......

catheme says "Very quick and extremely easy to use" about Digital Concepts SD/MMC READER WRITER

catheme — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 02:13:18 GMT

I recently bought a SD/MMC Reader Writer converter drive by Digital Concepts. I was looking for something easy to use to load the pictures from my digital camera onto my computer without going through the hassle of hooking my camera up and going through the motions with it. I was delighted when I got this product home and simply plugged in my SD card and then placed the drive into the USB Port on my computer then I opened the files and there they were my photos I could move them one at a time to be able to do the things that I wanted to with them. I love it!!! I am so excited to have found something that is so easy to use and definitely makes my life easier. I could not beat the price either I paid under $10.00 at a local retailer. I would highly reccommend this product!...

bkovacs says "The fastest card reader I've ever used" about Inland USB 2.0 Multi-Card Reader

bkovacs — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 02:09:58 GMT

I have three card readers made by Inland and all three are different. I just got a new computer at my work and the new computer does not have an SD card slot like my old computer had. Since I'm the designated photographer at my work, I needed a way to get images from the SD chip that my camera uses into the computer. Therefore, I went shopping for a new card reader and bought the cheapest thing I could find that could read SD and at least a couple other forms of data cards. It turned out to be called the Inland USB 2.0 Multi-Card Reader... there is no model number on the device or on its packaging.

What it is

The Inland USB 2.0 Multi-Card Reader is a small card reader that can read Secure Digital (SD), Compact Flash (CF), xD and Memory Stick (MS) data cards. I will refer to these interchangeably as as chips and cards, so please bear with me. The package for this card reader laughingly says it is a "43-in-1" device, meaning that it can read 43 different types of memory chips. What this actually......

karenbump says "a handy little addition to light up the notebook keyboard" about kensington Flylight, USB notebook light

karenbump — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:19:19 GMT

Kensington, a leader in computer add-ons, gives a five year warranty on this little unit. (I'll lose it long before that, I am sure) It has no switches to break and simply uses a USB port for power. Claims to have a bulb free design which uses less than 90 seconds per hour of battery charge. The darker the room, the brighter the light seems to be and the more it will illuminate. I got this as a two-fer deal with a friend, but I see them for anywhere from $6 to about $12 on the web.

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bkovacs says "Fast memory card reader" about Inland USB 2.0 Card Reader/Writer

bkovacs — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 02:23:41 GMT

I'm a big digital camera user and have been for several years. In fact, I have three digital cameras, including a really fancy one my wife has. The three cameras use two different types of memory cards, CompactFlash and SecureDigital (SD). We often travel and I wanted a card reader that could handle all our memory types, and I didn't want to spend a lot of money. It also had to travel easily.

Enter the Inland USB 2.0 Card Reader/Writer, which cost me $10 at a computer store.

What it is

The Inland USB 2.0 Card Reader/Writer (it has no other part number or name) is a little silver plastic box with four slots for memory cards. In addition to handling the two types described above, it will also work with Memory Stick and SmartMedia memory cards. SmartMedia is becoming increasingly rare, although I had a camera that used SmartMedia at the point I bought the Inland USB 2.0 Card Reader/Writer. Memory Stick cards are used in many Sony products.

The Inland USB 2.0 Card Reader/Writer has a short cable......

doggod says "My last APC product" about APC SmartUPS 1500VA UPS

doggod — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:19:06 GMT

I wanted power protection -- both against surges and spikes and also to avoid unexpected shutdowns from the utility -- for all three computers and my home entertainment center. I originally bought an APC UPS designed specifically for home entertainment centers, but it wouldn't furnish power during outages. APC customer service told me this unit wasn't designed to furnish power to both computers and a HEC, and they specifically advised me to get the SmartUPS1500. So I did.

The unit appeared to function normally for a while, but after about a month it started emitting a continuous screeching sound. I went on line to their tech support chat line, and the guy, after asking a bunch of questions, concluded that this unit wasn't big enough to support my load. The fact that I advised him that the load meter was reporting my load at about 15% full capacity didn't seem to bother him or cause him to question his nonsensical conclusion. Nor did my report that I had bought the unit on the...

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vytas says "HD TV + Tivo on your Mac for less than $150" about Elgato eyeTV Hybrid

vytas — Wed, 23 May 2007 21:12:48 GMT

As the HD TV wave hits the nation and analog TV is slowly reaching the end of its line, I was interested in getting exposed to HD without spending gobs of money. Enter the Elgato eyeTV Hybrid.

What is the Elgato eyeTV Hybrid? Quite simply it's a small USB dongle that is able to pull in over the air HD - High Definition television - (also know as ATSC) broadcasts as well as regular analog TV from the air and over cable (though NOT HD cable signals). In other words any free source of TV signals can be viewed on your Mac. It also comes packaged with eyeTV software that manages the viewing and recording of TV programming - essentially Tivo for your Mac. You can record, pause live TV, skip commercials in recorded programs or delayed live TV. Your Apple Remote will work seamlessly with eyeTV.

I mention in the cons above that the USB unit's width blocks adjacent ports (at least on the Apple MacBook Pro). Elgato doesn't leave you frustrated - they also include a short (approximately 6 inch) USB extension...

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Cat says "Creativity Has Never Been So Easy or Fun!" about Wacom Intuos2 Platinum

Cat — Sun, 06 May 2007 11:52:45 GMT

Every year my husband comes right out and asks me what I want for my birthday. And every year I'm at a complete loss as to what to ask for. So when he asked me last year I gave my usual shrug, but he was not deterred. "No, I want to know what you want!" So I went straight to Amazon.com, brought up the link to the Wacom Intuos2 Platinum 6 x 8 Graphics Tablet and sent it to him. "Awww, you're no fun," he complained. "Now if I get this for you you'll know exactly what I'm getting you for your birthday, and if I don't, you'll be disapponted." Apparently I wasn't vague enough.

It was a no-win situation, but come my birthday I had a Wacom Intuos 2!

About Wacom
Wacom Technology is headquartered in Vancouver, Washington and operates in Japan, Europe, Asia and America. They sell a complete line of pen tablets from tablets suitable for a casual artist to ones made for pros. Their tablets are the industry standard for graphic artists.

About the Wacom Intuos2 Platinum 6 x 8 Tablet
This tablet is designed...

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