Ultra Cool Gadgets

The Iomega StorCenter Network Hard Drive 500GB offers easy, high-performing network attached storage for any small office network (recommended up to 15 users). Two USB host ports allow for added expansion. Print server capability and award-winning EMC Retrospect backup and disaster recovery software are included. Plus, it communicates seamlessly with UPnP AV media devices. This network hard drive is a cost effective solution for sharing files and increasing network storage capacity.

Minimum system requirements: Red Hat Linux 9, Apple MacOS X 10.2.7 or later, Mandrake Linux 10.0, Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Red Hat Fedora Core 3, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, Microsoft Windows Vista Business, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional / XP Professional, Debian Linux 3.0

With USB and FireWire connection interfaces, the Iomega UltraMax Desktop Hard Drive 500GB ensures that your data can be accessed no matter where you take it. This drive provides an easy way to add 500GB of storage to a computer, it supports Firewire 400 and USB 2.0, and even has a stylish look that complements a Mac. The drive is a perfect complement for Macs as it has a sleek silver design that matches the Mac style and it is HFS+ preformatted to work right out of the box. It is compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 and Time Machine. With 500GB of storage capacity, you’ll be able to save up to 2,000,000 photos, 9,250 hours of music, or 750 hours of video.

Technical Details
- Device Type - External
- Removable Storage Type - Hard Drive
- Storage Capacity - 500GB
- Storage Interface Type - USB2.0/ FireWire 400
- Rotational Speed — 7200 rpm

Customer feedback:

1. I received this hard drive about a week ago for Mac OS 10.5.2 Time Machine. The drive looks and works great. I own a Mac Pro so as you can see in the Amazon ad, this thing is like a “mini me” of the Mac Pro which I think is the coolest part of it. I have had no problems (yet) with this HD and I honestly do not see it happening.
Iomega has been around for so many years and I trust their products. There is indeed ONLY one drawback to this drive. When the drive is reading and writing, it could get a little loud. I don’t think this would justify one less star because the hard drive itself works perfectly so far. The firewire 400 speed is just fine for Time Machine once per hour.

2. I’ve had this external drive for a couple weeks now and it’s running fine. I don’t find it very loud or bothersome.

Combining the best features of the earlier iD and LX models, the T-Mobile Sidekick is a great way to chat on popular instant messaging services, connect with friends on MySpace, and easily record and share photos and videos. This new model for 2008 sports a slightly smaller, thinner and lighter design than previous Sidekicks, and it offers a high-resolution 2.6-inch slide-out display and changeable custom covers. The new Sidekick also features an integrated Spanish user interface–the first for a Sidekick device. Other features include a 2-megapixel camera/camcorder, MicroSD memory expansion (512 MB card included), digital audio player, Bluetooth stereo music streaming, Spanish language support, two interchangeable shells (black and green) and up to 5 hours of talk time.
This phone operates on GSM 850/1900 networks and can handle high-speed data connectivity via T-Mobile’s EDGE network (which stands for “Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution”). This high-speed, mobile data and Internet access technology is fast enough to support a wide range of advanced data services (with average data speeds between 75-135Kbps), including video and music clips, full picture and video messaging, high-speed color Internet access, and email on the go.

Technical Details
- New Sidekick messaging phone sports a slightly smaller, thinner and lighter design, 2.6-inch high-resolution screen
- Compatible with T-Mobile’s MyFaves service–unlimited calling to your five most called contacts
- 2-megapixel camera; digital audio player; Bluetooth for handsfree communication and stereo music; MicroSD expansion (512 MB card included)
- Access to personal email and instant messaging services; English and Spanish language; multi-format digital audio player
- Includes: handset, rechargeable battery, charger with AC adapter, 512 MB MicroSD memory card, USB cable, wired stereo handsfree headset, changeable shells (black and green), quick start guide

Customer feedback:

I got this phone for my birthday and I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
It has a 2.0 mega-pixel camera which i must admit isn’t that great but come on, its just a camera phone.
Fully loaded internet access. Only thing you cant do is view videos from the net.
Instant messaging (ex. Aol, Msn, Icq, Yahoo)
E-mails from any of your favorite email providers
Speakerphone
Video Capture and Playback
Mp3 player compatible with most music formats
Text and Picture Messaging
Download your favorite wallpapers, screen savers, and ringtones right from the phone
Organizer
Alarm
Notebook
Memo Pad
Games
The only complain I have is that all t-mobile sidekicks (all models) sometimes lose service for a few minutes which enables you to gain access to the internet and instant messaging for a few moments.

AF Nikkor lenses work with Nikon SLRs for optimal performance, even the very latest. The Nikon 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED AF VR is a compact, lightweight 5x telephoto zoom with Vibration Reduction. VR operation offers the equivalent of using a shutter speed three stops (eight times) faster. VR is automatically detected during panning operation with two modes of VR: Image plane and Viewfinder. VR for the viewfinder is cancelable to conserve battery power. Three ED glass elements ensure superior optical performance and high contrast even at maximum apertures. Filter does not rotate during zooming. The nine-blade rounded diaphragm achieves a natural blur for out-of-focus elements.
D-type and G-type Nikkors relay subject-to-camera distance information to AF Nikon camera bodies. This then makes possible advances like 3D Matrix Metering and 3D Multi-Sensor Balanced Fill-Flash. Note: D-type and G-type Nikkors provide distance information to the following cameras: Auto exposure; F6, F5, F100, F90X, F80, F75, F70, F65, F60, F55, F50, Pronea S, Pronea 600i, D2 series, D1 series, D100 and D70s/D70. Flash control; F6, F5, F100, F90X, F80, F75, F70, D2 series, D1 series, D100, and D70s/D70 cameras.

Technical Details
- Compact, lightweight 5x telephoto zoom lens
- Vibration Reduction operation offers the equivalent of using a shutter speed three stops faster
- VR automatically detected during panning operation
- Three ED glass elements ensure superior optical performance
- Nine-blade rounded diaphragm achieves a natural blur for out-of-focus elements
- Maximum aperture: f4.5-5.6
- Minimum aperture: f32
- Closest focusing distance: 7.5 feet
- Maximum reproduction ratio: 1:4.8
- Zoom control: Manual, via separate zoom ring
- Attachment and filter size: 77 millimeters

Customer feedback:

1. Many photographers who purchase telephoto lenses wind up disappointed in their lenses’ performance; they achieve subpar results and then swear that the lens is “not sharp.” Some lenses indeed might not be optically outstanding, but even in these cases the major cause of soft images, particularly when camera and lens are handheld, is camera/lens shake. People routinely try to take highly magnified photos at shutter speeds that are simply too slow.
Nikon has come up with a (partial) solution to this problem through its innovative “vibration reduction” series of lenses. These optics are designed to compensate, at least partially, for the camera shake/movement that is inevitable when a lens is hand-held. According to Nikon, the VR mechanism adds two or more “stops” worth of steadiness, meaning that a 400mm. lens that previously might be adequately handheld at 1/500 second now will (often) produce good results at 1/125. Out in the field this can make the difference between a successful photo outing and a frustrating one.
Does this technology work, and is this 80-400mm. lens a good product overall? To both questions I offer a qualified “yes.” As long as one realizes that VR is not magic and has definite limitations, this feature is definitely worth paying some extra money for, particularly if one’s photographic style prevents the regular and disciplined use of a tripod. The other thing about VR to keep in mind is that since camera shake itself is variable, it’s a good idea always to take multiple photos to ensure that at least one of them is optimally sharp (a slow-mo record of how much one ‘vibrates’ while holding a camera would reveal that from instant to instant there is considerable variation).

2. This is a great lens and takes simply amazing pictures. The results are much better than what you will get with the “plain” 70-300 telephoto lens. That being said, there are a few things to consider.
a) the lens is expensive. It cost more than my D70 did…
b) the lens is HEAVY. When lugging this baby around, you know *something* is in that camera bag…
c) the focus is SLOW, particularly compared to the 70-300.
However, using the tripod mount as a “handle” (an awkward but effective use of the mounting bracket), I got some shots that simply blew me away given the amount of perceived camera shake. I do not have very steady hands (particularly with something so heavy) so the VR feature is invaluable.

Nikon is a precision optical company with worldwide manufacturing, research and marketing capabilities. The Nikon name is equated with extraordinary photographic performance, innovation, precision and optical quality.

This piece is a Clear optical glass; used as a lens protecto.

Customer feedback:

1. UV Filters are usually most people buy just mainly to protect the lens, so am I. I never picky about UV or NC filters, so I settled all my filters on Hoya (reason is I bought few of the Hoya special filters such as Circular Polarizer, and Star-8) and I used to love Hoya filters until a month ago.
I got myself a 2nd hand Nikkor 105mm VR Macro F2.8, the previous owner sold it to me together with the Nikon 62mm NC Filter attached. I was amazed by the clarity the Nikon NC Filter was. You can test it out by simply putting the filters on top of a piece of white paper to check the clarity. Hoya UV had a slight yellowish, else Nikon is clearly a winner.

2. recently bought the Nikon 12-24mm wideangle zoom lens and bought this UV filter to protect it. It is very thin and it does not make any difference in your field of view which is what you look for with a wideangle like this. I strongly recommend UV filters to protect lenses. The other day my wife accidentaly (that’s what she told me!!!) drop my Nikon D200 which had the Nikon 18-200 VR zoom lens. It was inside its bag but when I took it out to take a picture I heard a terrifying noise… broken glass. When I started to see what it was I saw the lens-cap inside the filter ring and it was so stucked that I had to unscrew the filter in order to check my lens. Fortunately the filter was the only thing broken. If that filter hadn’t been there the broken thing would have been my precious lens and a heart attack would had come later.
With your eyes closed protect your lenses with UV filters and I strongly recommend this one for any 77mm filter sized lens, even a wideangle.

The LaCie Hard Disk 301302U 500 GB USB 2.0, Design by Neil Poulton adds a sleek, sophisticated style to your desktop while delivering high-speed performance as a hard drive. You no longer have to worry about running out of disk space for your latest music, movies, and photos. And with universal compatibility and a compact size, this portable drive lets you easily share your music, photos and video files with your friends and family.
Designed by internationally acclaimed designer Neil Poulton, the Hard Disk features sleek and sophisticated styling. The case is entirely black with a fashionable, mirror-polished finish. A cool, blue LED strip on the bottom casts an ambient glow. The ultra-minimalist look will blend perfectly into home entertainment setups and workstations.
But don’t think the design is just about looking good. Built to optimize heat dissipation so that it can operate without a fan, the drive is also designed for convenience and portability. At just 4.6 x 1.8 x 7.6 inches (WxHxD) and weighing barely two pounds, it can be easily transported into your briefcase, allowing you to shuttle files between your home and office, or move your work between your laptop and desktop with ease.

Technical Details
- 500 GB USB external hard drive with a stunning design by Neil Poulton
- Fast USB 2.0 interface offers connectivity and transfer rates of up to 480 Mbps
- Plug and Play functionality for both Macs and Windows
- Includes 1-Click Backup Software (Windows and Mac) and LaCie SilverKeeper Backup Software (Mac)
- Measures 4.6 x 1.8 x 7.6 inches (WxHxD); 2-year limited warranty

Customer feedback:

1. I was about to purchase one of the older F.A. Porsche disks when I stumbled upon this one last week. I purchased this to primarily be the Time Machine disk for my 230GB iMac (Leopard). In the spirit of a nearly all-wireless iMac, I wanted the disk to be as inconspicuous as possible. The glossy black enclosure is nearly invisible sitting under the iMac on our black desk. The only truly visible feature is the ambient blue light beneath the front, but that’s just cool. There are no markings whatsoever on the front or top of the drive.
Out of the box, the drive is easy to setup. After plugging it in, the Setup Assistant popped right up and had the drive properly formatted in just a couple of minutes. Then, Time Machine popped up automatically and presented the options to use the new disk.

2. I love this product. I just bought it a month ago. Easy to set up, it’s fast, it’s got huge storage and such a sleek design.

These elegant portable drives are simple to use, light and easy to carry, and require no power adapter — they are powered directly through the USB cable (except where the computer limits power available from the USB port). Works with Windows and Mac. Synchronize files between home and office and encrypt everything on the drive for added security. Pick from multiple colors to express your unique style.

Ideal For
- Storing or backing up your digital music, videos and photos.
- Carrying important files and e-mail between work and home or on the road and keeping them in sync.
- Sharing large files between office and home, between PC and Mac.

Technical Details
- Box Contents - My Passport Essential 320GB Portable USB Hard Drive, USB 2.0 cable, Quick Install guide
- 320GB Hard Drive Capacity
- Installation is a snap because you don’t really install this drive; you just plug it in and it’s ready to use. There is no CD to install; the included software loads from the drive the first time you plug it in
- Powered by the USB bus. No separate power supply is needed
- This ultra-portable drive fits easily in your pocket or purse, weighs only a few ounces, and holds tons of valuable data

Customer feedback:

1. Pros
+ Great capacity options at good prices available in this line of products
+ Nice portable form factor that easily connects via USB
+ USB powered, no A/C required, which is great for portability
+ Works well on Windows Vista, XP and Mac OS X
+ Easy to set up disk encryption for security and privacy
+ Nice looks, and cool color options for those that care about that
+ Turns on and off with your computer or easily ejected via system tray
+ Easy plug-and-play installation
+ Integrates nicely with my growing stable of WD MyBook drives
+ Included software may be useful for some novices
+ Drives are sufficiently durable holding up to normal use over time
+ 320 GB capacity is just about right for most users

Cons
- Somewhat slow file transfer speeds for larger backups
- Included software not useful for power users
- Shiny body attracts scratch, fingerprints and dust
- Only USB, so look to the LaCie 250 GB Rugged Hard Disk if you need fire-wire ports too
- Only up to 320 GB right now, so look to the LaCie 500 GB Rugged Hard Disk with FireWire and USB if you need more capacity in a portable drive
- Have to spend your cash to get a case that should have been included

2. The Western Digital Passport reduced my 388 CD rack to a pocket-sized miracle. Likewise, all the photos, lesson plans, and Power-Point presentations that were cluttering my computer are now on my Passport.
Here’s the low-down. I was a bit worried that I might have difficultly setting-up this little guy. My fears were alleviated in about 15 seconds. About a month ago, I downgraded from Vista to XP and had NO PROBLEMS with the installation of this product … whatsoever (seems some people who run Vista have been having some trouble). It could not have been easier. (Thank you Western Digital!)
Now, the pre-installed software is REALLLLLY bad (that part is true). Western Digital should rethink this approach since nearly everyone removes it (and it deters some people from even purchasing their products). Minus one-star for being SERIOUSLY annoying!!
As mentioned by other reviewers, the product is whisper-quiet. And, while some folks found that they need an USB Power Adapter Y Cable, I did not. I have a two-year old Alien Area 51 m5550 and experienced no problems with power (regarding this product). I would advise that you purchase the Passport without the substitute cable and give it a try before you invest the extra cash.

When its time to back up and protect your digital content–photos, music, documents, and more–it doesn’t get much easier than the Seagate Free Agent Desktop USB Portable Hard Drive. Simply plug it in to any power source, connect the USB cable to any computer, and you’re ready to go. This hip-looking hard drive takes up less room on your desk than an ordinary stapler, giving you more space for your other desktop items.
Computers come and go, but your content should always be nearby. With up to 1000 glorious gigabytes, the Free Agent external hard drive is the best place to gather and access all of your important photos, movies, music, games and documents. Simply plug in the power and the USB cable and you’re ready to go. The Seagate Free Agent is big enough to store a huge portion of your digital content in a safe and secure environment, but small enough to let you take that content with you wherever you go. In other words, having the Seagate Free Agent is like having your entire computer with you at all times, but in a package that’s a small fraction of the space and weight of your computer.

Technical Details

- 500 GB external hard drive connects to your computer via USB cable
- 7200 RPM spindle speed for high-speed performance and fast read times
- Footprint is no bigger than a stapler; Just plug it in and you’re ready to go
Backup CDs, DVDs or store files and programs for on-the-go
- Includes external drive, USB 2.0 cable, AC power adapter, and quick start guide

Customer feedback:

1. If your sole purpose is to offload archives, then this is a great product. Most people don’t think twice of backing up their existing data. Also, each version of windows comes with a backup program which originated from the Veritas Brand of Software. You can easily set the Free Agent Hardware and make it an active drive, then setup the Backup Software within MS 2000, XP, or Vista.
I’ve read reviews that seem to point out the burden of USB2 write speed. It makes no difference if the interface is Firewire or USB if the intent is to just backup data. If it takes a few extra seconds or minutes, no big deal. Either way the data will get to the disk and you can rest peacefully.

2. Love everything about this product! It came quickly and it is excellent! Brand new and works great!

The Ultra RangePlus Dual-Band Wireless-N Notebook Adapter is the simple way to add or upgrade wireless connectivity in your notebook computer. Just slide it into your notebook s PC Card slot and enjoy incredible high-speed wireless network access while retaining true mobility.

Technical Details

* High-speed Wireless-N (draft 802.11n) networking for your notebook computer
* MIMO technology uses multiple radios per band to create robust signals for maximum range and speed, with reduced dead spots
* Operates in the 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands–choose the one with least congestion in your area
* Also connects to Wireless-G, -B, and -A networks
* Compatible with Windows XP and Vista

Customer feedback:

1. At first, my experience with this card was very similar to the other reviews. The connection was extremely slow and I could not get it to switch from wireless-A to wireless-N. I could only use A on the 5.0 GHz frequency or G on the 2.4 GHz frequency. I tried restarting my computer, trying with and without my firewall and security software, restarted my router, et cetera, and the connection remained poor. However, once I turned off the wireless network monitor (the green icon that appears in the lower right after you install the driver) and simply connected through the Windows “choose a wireless connection” screen, my connection was very fast, reliable, and otherwise just like being connected with an Ethernet cable. Since then, I have had no problems and I no longer use the wireless network monitor that came on the installation CD. I am not recommending that you disregard the installation instructions, but I do recommend not using the wireless network monitor afterward. Just connect via Windows and the connection is great.
As I type this, there are two walls between my router and the wireless adapter and I still have signal strength of 4 bars (out of 5) and speed of 162 Mbps. Nearer to the router, I routinely get 5 bars and 297 Mbps.

2. Wow! I went from a top of 54 MPS to 270 MPS! That is along with the Linksys WRT600 N wireless router. Internet speed test was about 4000 KBS before I used this adapter, now I am hitting 11849 KPS. I love it!

The PowerLine AV Ethernet Adapter lets you turn the existing powerlines in your home or office into a high-speed network. Now you don’t have to drill through the walls and climb through the attic or cellar to install network cables — just use the wires that already run through the building! The PowerLine AV Adapter interfaces Ethernet devices to the HomePlug AV PowerLine network standard. Just plug the PowerLine AV Adapter into the wall, and connect your Ethernet-equipped device to the Adapter using the included network cable, and you’ve turned your whole house into network infrastructure!
Attach more computers to the network by simply plugging them into the wall anywhere in the house, using more PowerLine AV Adapters. Once your computers are connected to the network, they can share resources like printers and storage space, and all kinds of files — music, digital pictures, and documents. With up to 100Mbps data rates, you can play lag-free head-to-head network computer games, and run media-centric applications like streaming video and Voice over IP telephony. And if you use a PowerLine AV Ethernet Adapter to interface one of the famous Linksys Broadband Routers from your cable or DSL Internet connection to your PowerLine AV network, you’ll be able to get to the Internet from any computer in the house. The Linksys PowerLine AV Ethernet Adapter Kit is the perfect solution for high-speed, “no new wires”, home or office networking.

Technical Details

* Model: PLE200
* Item Package Quantity: 1
* Hardware Platform: PC
* Networking Feature: Adapter
* Form Factor: External
* Connectivity Technology: HomePlug
* Number of Ports: 1
* Data Link Protocol: 10/100 Ethernet
* Data Transfer Rate: Up to 100 Mbps
* Security: 128-bit WEP encryption

Customer feedback:

1. These adapters work great, but the Linksys setup could save many hours of frustration and tech calls to your ISP and to Linksys if they gave more information to those who need one adapter hooked up to their modem/router. [The instructions gave no specific steps for this.]
#1..The first adapter must be configured on a PC that’s attached to the modem/router you plan to use with it. [This may sound obvious, but my home network only had Macs directly hooked to the router, and the PC I was connecting was previously wireless downstairs at the very far end of the house. You can’t configure the first adapter attached to the PC alone, then hook it back to router, like I tried to do.] Now you can configure it’s twin where you want. However …
#2..It makes a difference which outlet in your house you plug the second adapter into. My adapter was originally plugged into the farthest plug away from the modem/router, and the internet connection was very poor. Simply moving it to another outlet helped a lot.

2. There’s no configuration required at all. Just plug one in to an outlet close to your router and another one in to an outlet anywhere you need another network connection, connect the Ethernet cables, and you’re in business. I definitely recommend them.
This listing is for the PLE200, which is a single unit. This is what you might need if you are expanding your existing powerline network. If you’re just starting out with powerline adapters, you’ll need at least 2 adapters. So you might consider the PLK200, which is a kit containing 2 units.