Kensington 72414 PilotMouse Bluetooth Mini Mouse (PC/Mac) Review

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(More customer reviews)After I noticed my thumbs developing slight pain from using the cramped touchpad on my laptop, I looked around for a cordless mouse. I opted for the Kensington Pilot Mini for the following reasons, in order of importance:
1) Bluetooth technology (no infrared receiver to deal with)
2) Priced lower than other models such as the MSFT mouse
3) Compact size because I travel every couple of months
I'll cut to the chase and list my pros and cons.
Cons:
- First mouse arrived and within a few days, the rubber pad peeled away from the chassis. I firmly pressed it down so that the adhesive made contact again but it would only stay down for a few days. I returned the mouse for a replacement.
- About half the time, when I stop moving the mouse, the cursor drifted right to left. It's unclear whether this is due to the mouse or my Bluetooth card but the replacement does not seem to have this problem.
- The scroll wheel makes an annoying rattling sound when scrolling. Not a problem at home but this could get annoying if I'm in a meeting. Replacement mouse also has this problem.
- I bought this for $52.99 but I now see the price is $69.99. At $52.99, it was pricier than most IR mice but I thought I'd invest in the Bluetooth technology and use the mouse for a number of years. In retrospect, I find the quality shoddy for a product priced at this premium. Certainly at $69.99, the mouse is overpriced in my opinion. I recognize I'm paying the early adopter price for Bluetooth but if you can get by with an IR mouse, do that or wait until this device drops to $30 in a year.
Pros:
- Setup is incredibly easy (I'm using XP pro with the Kensington Bluetooth card).
- Not specific to this mouse, but the comfort of a cordless mouse is fantastic. I plan on keeping the replacement mouse, scroll wheel rattle and all.
- Mouse seems to work on a variety of surfaces.
- Priced lower than other Bluetooth mice. Kensington marketing did their homework; this mouse is priced lower than mose Bluetooth mice but still higher than IR mice so it captures a profit. However, at $69.99, I'm not sure this is still true.
All in all, I'm keeping the mouse but disappointed with the quality given the price. As a side note, I've shopped Amazon since they started business 10 years ago and this is the first return I've had to make. The make the process EXTREMELY painfree. They had a Returns web site that sends out a replacement immediately with no cost to me. Since the product is a defect, I do not incur shipping charges for sending the old one back.

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The Kensington 72414 PilotMouse Bluetooth Mini Mouse offers the ultimate combination of comfort and wireless freedom. The Kensington 72414 features a compact size that is easy to carry and comfortable to use, as well as a battery-saving on/off switch that lets you conserve power for when you need it. This mouse provides secure, interference-free performance with any Bluetooth enabled laptop, within an amazing range of up to 65 feet for maximum freedom in presentation control. The speed and pinpoint accuracy of Kensington's DiamondEye optical technology allows it to respond to even your fastest movements with accurate tracking on virtually any surface. With a programmable buttons, a scroll wheel, and an ergonomic shape with integrated grips the Kensington 72414 is incredibly easy to use, and without having to use wires or an added receiver, it is one of the most convenient mouse you can buy. This Kensington optical mouse is guaranteed to work right out of the box on both PCs and Macs, with long-lasting reliability that is backed by a one-year manufacturer's warranty. The Kensington 72414 wireless mouse requires a Bluetooth enabled PC running Windows 98, ME, 2000, or XP, or Macintosh running Mac OS 10.2.8 or later.

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Samsung N120-12GW 10.1-Inch White Netbook - 6 Cell Battery Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this last week after reading a LOT of reviews on various netbooks. I wanted something lightweight, durable and reliable for traveling especially via plane. I have a fairly portable laptop already but every extra ounce seems to really seem heavy walking through airports, NYC, etc. I also like the idea of being able to carry a lightweight machine to public places where i can get a little work done without needing to carry a laptop, power cord, etc.
I was a little worried that a netbook would not be 'enough' but so far it has been outstanding!
This particular netbook is far nicer looking and seemingly more durable than ANYTHING i've seen at local stores. Although the screen is advertised as 'glossy' it is not overly so and looks nothing like the HP and Asus 'glossy' screens. The keyboard is fantastic and the built in track pad works really well. Battery life has been very good - I got close to 8 hours the first time I charged it. This netbook is comfortable to type on and has rounded edges. The speakers are decent and certainly better sounding than many other netbooks on the market.
I recently loaded Office 2007 - it runs just fine. I also UN-Loaded the pre-installed McAfee software, replaced with AVG and that was a good decision - things are much faster without McAfee. I plan to upgrade to 2 gb of RAM but right now everything runs just fine with the installed 1 gb.
Although a netbook will probably not ever replace my laptop, it is perfect for the times i want/need to have computer access for internet, email and word processing/office type work. The convenience of being able to take this very portable, lightweight machine with me is a real bonus!
Although this netbook is a bit more expensive than some others on the market, I think it's worth the extra money.

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Weighing just 2.8 pounds, the Samsung N120-12GW mini-notebook in white improves on its predecessors with a sleeker, curvier design, a glossy LCD screen, a larger touchpad, an integrated subwoofer for 2.1-channel surround sound (via SRS audio technology), and a 6-cell lithium rechargeable battery that provides up to 6 hours of continuous use. An affordable mobile PC that's ideal for all your online needs, the N120 is designed to go almost anywhere--from kitchen and living room at home to Wi-Fi hotspots at coffee shops, airports and more. It sports a 10.1-inch LED-backlit SuperBright screen and a 97-percent full-size keyboard that's easy to use.
It's powered by the 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, which is designed especially for mobile devices and features an innovative hafnium-infused circuitry that reduces electrical current leakage in transistors to conserve energy. The integrated 54g Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g) will keep you connected to email and all your social networks, while the Bluetooth 2.0+EDR technology enables you to use handsfree communication headsets while video chatting via the integrated 1.3-megapixel webcam. This model comes in white, but it's also available in black.

Other features include a 160 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM, built-in speakers and microphone, SD/SDHC/MMC memory card reader, three USB ports (with two of them able to charge your peripherals), and a VGA output to an external monitor. It comes preinstalled with the Microsoft Windows XP Home operating system, which offers more experienced users an enhanced and innovative experience that incorporates Windows Live features like Windows Live Messenger for instant messaging and Windows Live Mail for consolidated email accounts on your desktop.



Processor The Intel Atom processor uses a brand new design structure that packs in 47 million transistors into a single chip sized at just 22mm (0.87 inches), and it uses just 2.5 watts of power--less than 1/10 of the 35 watts used by an Intel Core 2 Duo processor--for excellent battery management. This 1.6 GHz Atom N270 processor also includes a power-optimized front side bus of 533 MHz for faster data transfer on demanding mobile applications and a 512 KB L2 cache (which temporarily stores data).

Storage & Memory There's plenty of room for everything you download from the web with 160 GB of hard disk drive storage. Plus, you'll enjoy a quick system boot-up and fast access to stored information. The N120 offers 1 GB of installed RAM, delivering maximum netbook performance for accessing the Internet and enjoying streaming multimedia.

Screen, Video & Audio With its LED-backlit SuperBright 10.1-inch wide LCD, you can view the Internet or any application in full-screen mode (at a 1024 x 600-pixel resolution) without compromise and in a clear and comfortable display. Video is powered by Intel's integrated, power-efficient 945GSE Express chipset, which features a 32-bit 3D graphics engine based on the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950. Enjoy a full and rich multimedia experience on the go with high-quality sound thanks to the integrated SRS 2.1-channel system, featuring 2 x 1.5 watt stereo speakers with a dedicated subwoofer. It also offers an integrated audio chip that's compatible with HD Audio.

Integrated Webcam An integrated 1.3 megapixel digital motion camera makes it easier than ever to keep in touch with friends and family, using video-conferencing or live messaging. The camera combines the resolution and image quality of a still camera with the sustained high frame rates of a video camera.

Connectivity This Samsung N120 mini-notebook has an integrated 54g wireless LAN (Acer InviLink) that's compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g wireless networks, as well as an Ethernet jack for plugging into a wired network. With the integrated Bluetooth connectivity, you can communicate and synchronize with Bluetooth-enabled peripherals such as PDAs and cell phones as well as use Bluetooth-enabled headsets for VoIP phone calls and handsfree video chats. To increase your storage capabilities, you can access optional memory cards (Secure Digital, Secure Digital High Capacity, and MultiMediaCard).Here's the full list of connectivity options:

3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players (2 chargeable USB ports
SD/SDHC/MMC memory card reader
1 headphone out/microphone in
RJ-45 port for 10/100 Fast Ethernet connection
VGA video output for external monitors

Operating System & Software Pre-installed with Windows XP, the Samsung N110 includes the following software: Samsung Recovery Solution III, Samsung Magic Doctor, Samsung Update Plus Easy Display Manager, Easy Battery Manager, Easy Network Manager, Easy SpeedUp Manager McAfee Virus Scan, Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Dimensions & Weight This netbook measures 10.71 x 7.4 x 1.17 inches and weighs 2.8 pounds.

Power This mini-notebook includes a six-cell (5200mAh) lithium-ion battery for up to 6 hours of use.

What's in the Box This package includes the Samsung N120-12GW, rechargeable battery, AC adapter, and printed operating instructions. It's backed by a one-year warranty.

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Belkin 2.4 MultiMedia Keyboard w/IR Review

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(More customer reviews)** Update on 8/20/2006 **
Not sure why Amazon doesn't allow me to change the numbers of stars on the review. Well, I need to, because I am kind of disappointed after using this for a few months. The keys on the keyboard have become kind of stiff. Two keys (8 and o) work only if I am lucky. At some point, they completely stopped working. I submitted an RMA request to Belkin (yes, they have an online form for that), but they haven't responded after a month. Anyway, the keys started working sporadically afterwards, and I don't use it much, so I didn't bother to follow up with Belkin on the RMA. But, I am not sure if this is a product that I want to recommend to anyone.
** Original Review **
Installation was easy and straight forward. In the picture, the right portion (the numeric pad) is part of the base that is connected to a USB port. The left portion (the alphabets part of the keyboard) rests on the base for charging and can be removed for wireless operation.
The wireless keyboard works on RF which means it doesn't have to be in a line of sight with the PC. It works very well upto 30ft. The universal remote (of course) uses IR. I haven't really tested this part.
The mouse is on the top end of the keyboard with the track ball on the right and the click and scroll buttons on the left. It makes it very convenient to hold and operate. The track ball needs a little getting used to.
Overall a good buy for a PC connected to the home theater.

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Belkin reinvents the keyboard to give you maximum control and ergonomic convenience. The MediaPilot provides the slimmest, most feature-rich media-control solution available-even including a built-in, dual-thumb-control mouse. Now you can easily integrate your PC with your home theater to create a complete multimedia center or just operate your theater system from your home office. The innovative Belkin MediaPilot offers you the flexibility to surf the Web using your TV as a computer monitor, play movies and CDs on your home theater system, and e-mail friends and family-all from the comfort of your favorite living-room chair or your home office. You can use the MediaPilot from virtually any location you choose, within 30 feet of the dock. Featuring a built-in, dual-thumb-control mouse, the MediaPilot combines the convenience of AV remote functionality with a wireless multimedia/Internet keyboard. An added recharge capability makes the MediaPilot a powerful, all-in-one multimedia solution. PRODUCT FEATURES: Fe

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Plugable USB 2.0 Universal Terminal Review

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(More customer reviews)This thing just works - plug it in wait for windows to find the software, click accept a couple of times and before you know it - it's up and running. Don't even bother using the disk that comes with it.
I'm using mine to allow my XP Desktop and Windows 7 Laptop to share a monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers - worked straight out of the box.
It's an attractive, functional addition to your desktop, very flexible and easy to use. The heavy base plate makes it very stable, despite the weight of the cables.
Shipping was a little slow (9 days) with Super Saver, but well worth the wait.


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The Plugable UT-1 enables turning one computer into many -- several users, each on their own USB terminal, can share a single PC. Each user appears to have full use of their own computer -- their own login, desktop, etc. The UT-1 provides hardware for USB to VGA/DVI, audio in/out, and 4 additional free ports (for USB keyboard, mouse, etc). Connect a spare VGA/DVI monitor, keyboard, and mouse to the UT-1 to allow it to function as a USB terminal. With one or more terminals sharing a single computer, significant savings can be realized: add seats at less than half the cost of a full computer, cut effort spent on security updates, maintenance, and backup by maintaining a single computer rather than many, and save up to 50% or more on power bills as each terminal is stateless, fanless, and consumes less than 12W. The Plugable UT-1 must be used with a multiseat capable operating system, including Windows Multipoint Server (DisplayLink drivers version 5.6 or later required), Userful Multiseat 2010 (fully supported out of the box), and Miniframe SoftXpand 3.2. The Plugable UT-1 has open source support for each of its hardware components, so it is compatible with Linux open source multiseat configurations that are under development. See Plugable.com for more details on multiseat operating system compatibility for the Plugable UT-1.

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Creative Labs 70GH011000000 Sound Blaster World of Warcraft USB Headset Review

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(More customer reviews)Received this product yesterday. After the initial 8 hour charge I was anxious to test it out. Comfort and sound quality are awesome. Installation was very easy if you follow the Quick-Start guide. The THX options are amazing for versatility. Range on the 2.4gHz wireless is also very delectable. I was very impressed until I went to talk to my guild mates over Ventrilo...
Every single person said I sounded very muffled / tin-e / static-e. The microphone also picks up almost every sound in the room. It is very annoying. Noise canceling microphone??? NO. More like noise amplifying microphone of terrible quality. I plugged in my old $15 headset from WalMart and my voice was back to crystal clarity to everyone in Ventrilo.
I spent about two hours of my own time alternating sound options inside Windows, Ventrilo, and the custom sound board to get my voice sounding somewhat normal over Ventrilo to no avail. I posted this issue on the official Sound Blaster forums. I am also going to create a support request. If this issue isn't fixed or on the way to being fixed I'm going to get a refund and by a different set.

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Experience the sounds of Azeroth and beyond like never before with the Sound Blaster World of Warcraft Headset. Designed specifically for World of Warcraft gamers, the headset features cutting-edge audio technology and THX Tru Studio PC. Get an amazing level of realism through unrivalled headphone surround and gaming sound enhancement technologies. Communicate with your party or raid clearly. The Sound Blaster World of Warcraft Headset features a professional grade microphone, ensuring everyone can hear your shouts in all their resonant glory. Declare your allegiance with interchangeable headset lenses bearing the masks of your chosen faction and 16 million programmable color illumination options. Package contents include headset with detachable microphone and built-in volume and mic mute buttons on ear cup, USB to mini-USB plug cable, quick start booklet, two sets of headset lenses one for Horde and one for Alliance, online software installation with user guide.

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