This post was written by Tara Singer
Logitech has gone to town with its Cordless Desktop Wave Pro, which combines good looks and comfortable ergonomics without breaking the bank. The MX1100 mouse is a very attractive set, sporting a stylish combination of silvers, greys and matte/glossy blacks. Being shaped for one hand only does mean the MX1100 is very comfortable, though. As for keyboard the key feedback is good, and barely audible apart from the noisy spacebar. Good news for casual gamers is that the Cordless Desktop Wave Pro isn’t as averse to fragging as most wireless sets either.
PlanOn’s Printstik PS910 is a niche product, but it does a pretty good job of printing simple spreadsheets, emails, invoices and suchlike. The ability to print wirelessly from Bluetooth-enabled devices as well as from a standard USB 2.0 connection is useful, as is battery power option. However, pages curl up the way thermal-printed credit-card receipts do, running costs are higher than most laser printers and inkjets, and you have to use the special thermal paper. PlanOn has also done a great job of making the printer easy to use.
D-Link’s Wireless Photo Frame (DSM-210) is a solid entry into the market. The 10-inch frame offers a simple interface, and despite a lower pixel density (that is, it’s a larger screen, with fewer pixels) than other frames in its price range, its picture quality is impressive. But the DSM-210 ($244.99) does suffer from the sorts of flaws typical of first tries. Most notably, poor design means that the frame’s system of replaceable mats can interfere with use of the device.
Belkin Wireless USB 4 ports Hub gives you a break from the extra cables. Its one component that can be plugged to the USB port of your computer and the other part is the wireless USB 4 port hub that can be placed at a distance from your computer table. Four devices can be plugged in this hub for functioning on the computer commands. These can be any USB devices like printer, scanner, camera, or even mp3/mp4 players. It goes well with all the latest versions of windows vista. A good innovation!
Verizon Wireless’s new Blitz is an inexpensive, effective little texting and e-mailing phone for kids. This funny, chubby (3.5 by 2.6 by 0.7 inches HWD, 5.1 ounces) little slider phone looks like some sort of portable gaming device. The QWERTY keyboard has keys used for dialing numbers are small and close together, which can make them a little difficult to press and can cramp the phone’s gaming experience. But the Blitz has one major advantage: It’s available on prepaid plans, from Wal-Mart, for $99.
Ruckus Wireless is a cheaper alternative and just as reliable as the big players. There’s no need to run cabling between them, which is a huge advantage when it comes to saving setup time and costs. The Ruckus BeamFlex antenna technology is a marvel of engineering. The ZoneDirector, a super-7942 AP, manages communication with your entire mesh of APs. Ruckus’s mesh solution is highly resilient and performs well under brutal wireless conditions. The Ruckus Wireless ZoneDirector 1000, a ZoneFlex 7942 combination, is a gem for small businesses that need Wi-Fi coverage.
MetaGeek’s Wi-Spy DBx uses an industry-standard antenna connector (RP-SMA) that enhances the flexibility of the device. Software installation is wizard-driven and takes less time to install than to download. It takes a little while to get acclimated to the Chanalyzer interface; thankfully the help section is well-written and informative. A great new feature is the ability to install Wi-Spy DBx at a remote site and still access it. Overall, Wi-Spy DBx is a great tool for those looking to troubleshoot WLAN interference quickly, easily and inexpensively.
Mistral has announced the Indian launch of Smartvue S8, a next-generation wireless network video surveillance solution. Based on the latest 802.11n WLAN standard and true peer-to-peer video management, this IP surveillance solution offers long-range wireless capability coupled with high quality video and audio with global remote video management and access. The S8 network video camera offers a patented and award-winning design that is small enough to fit into the palm of a hand. The wireless NVR supports up to 20 cameras and stores up to 1,000 hours of video.