cover
Charles B.

Charles B.

Joined on 03/16/02

0
0

Product Reviews
product reviews
  • 24
Most Favorable Review

Old is new again.

Koutech Model IO-UP111 5 ft. USB to Parallel Port Adapter
Koutech Model IO-UP111 5 ft. USB to Parallel Port Adapter

Pros: Works very well. We're running an ancient, but perfectly good Epson 1520 parallel printer, (no USB port). The printer doesn't normally run on XPsp2. No problem w/ adapter, though. We don't have to buy a new printer and we get more than satisfactory results.

Cons: None. Unbox, hook up, run software disk, print.

12/13/2007
Most Critical Review

There are reasons it's so cheap.

Ezonics SD2GO USB 2.0 Portable SD/MMC Card Reader
Ezonics SD2GO USB 2.0 Portable SD/MMC Card Reader

Pros: All the rave reviews about this item's performance are accurate.

Cons: On both units shipped, the cap over the USB plug has zero friction to hold it on. It's begging to be lost. The nylon cord that comes with the item is too thick to pass through the eyelet on the edge. The cord may as well not be included. The half-size setup CD is intended for Windows 98. In fact, some options can't be installed for XP.

Overall Review: These secondary, negative factors are no doubt the reason for the unusually low price. I would return them myself if they were $12.99 a pop. Overall, however, if you don't mind a missing cap and a superfluous strap, it's a great bargain for a card reader that works so well.

Convenience & Flaws

Logitech Wireless Combo MK260 920-002950 Black 8 Hot Keys USB RF Wireless Standard Keyboard and Mouse
Logitech Wireless Combo MK260 920-002950 Black 8 Hot Keys USB RF Wireless Standard Keyboard and Mouse

Pros: Dedicated keys for play/stop; speaker off, louder, softer; home; mail; sleep; and calculator. Good key action. Key characters are covered with clear protective plastic--no wear-off. Freedom from a cable is very, very nice. Mouse works fine.

Cons: There are no led indicators for CAPS LOCK and NUM LOCK. If you type a password with CAPS LOCK on, there's no way to know until until you're rejectied. One never realizes how important these little lights are until they're gone. The keyboard transmitter and receiver are too weak. Sometimes keystrokes do nothing. Sometimes they do nothing for a while, then all the characters typed appear as if they were coughed up from a crippled buffer. The buffer and latch circuitry could need work. The keyboard is underpowered at 3.0 volts (two AA's) Logitech, in a new design cycle, should slip two more battery slots in the keyboard. Four AA's could provide either 6 volts or more current. This would provide plenty of power for led's and logic circuits.

Overall Review: If I had it to do over, I would wait to buy to buy a later model. Some people won't care about the missing indicator lights, but I would pay a little more for them.

Life-changing hardware

NETGEAR 5-Port Fast Ethernet 10/100 Unmanaged Switch (FS105NA)
NETGEAR 5-Port Fast Ethernet 10/100 Unmanaged Switch (FS105NA)

Pros: F A S T! Each line gets its own connection--no multiplex polling. With the $10 rebate on a future NetGear purchase, the price is very reasonable.

Cons: Can't see all leds unless you install it with a mirror.

Cannot adapt to adapter

MSI H61M-P21 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
MSI H61M-P21 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

Pros: Very good mobo. But...

Cons: The MSI H61M-P21 (B3) images all show a display adapter slot. The slot probably works, but not for a display adapter. The onboard video is the only choice you have. There is no bypass. There is no deactivation. It's Night of the Living Onboard. When disabled or uninstalled with Device Manager, it comes back.

Overall Review: If you want dual displays, get another board.

Software from Al Qeida

TREND MICRO Titanium Antivirus+ - 1 User for System Builders
TREND MICRO Titanium Antivirus+ - 1 User for System Builders

Pros: It doesn't plant IED's in your driveway.

Cons: I use Fix-It 9.0, which includes an antivirus option. I had the option turned off--no antivirus program at all. When I installed this Trend Micro abomination, it uninstalled Fix-It entirely anyhow. I received no prior screen notification, choice, or warning. Outrageous, irresponsible software develpment.

Overall Review: Trend Micro's evil may surpass that of Microsoft.