5 comments about ASUS Eee PC 1000 40G (10-inch Display, 1.6 GHz Intel ATOM Processor, 1 GB RAM, 40 GB Solid State Drive, Linux, 6 Cell Battery) Fine Ebony.

1. I've been using computers since the late '70's, and when the Mac came out in '84 figured then that command line and DOS prompts programming was a thing of the past. Well, if you ever expect to load ANY software on your Eee, or get it to do anything more than run installed software - be prepared for exciting terminal action.
   
   As for the installed software, Staroffice fails to spell check, and there is no simple fix - the 24-7 tech support asked me to call back on Monday, and then I was told to reset the software to factory settings - losing all the limited set-up I was able to do before. That reset did not help.
   
   Also, bluetooth on my 1000 does not work at all, since the discover device window instantly closes itself with an error message. I work in a university setting and have great help so will probably keep trying for now, but XP Pro is only a few inches away right now. Linux in the Xandros version is far from ready for prime time. If you know how to use windows and do not want to become a programmer, beware - unless all you want to do is web browsing - it's pretty awesome at that.
   
   I like the small size and SSD and would prefer this to the 1000H with the HD, so I'm not disappointed in the machine. Linux, however is a great disappointment. Who wants to use terminal software in the 21st century?
   
   BTW - do not expect much help from Asus tech support, they apparently know nothing about Linux or Xandors. The Level 3 support that I spoke with offered only two suggestions:
   1. Reinstall the OS (which I did - and it did not help)
   2. Send the computer back to them in exchange for a rebuilt one (declined)
   In addition, the Asus support reps I dealt with were unpleasant. Oh well.
   
   UPDATE
   
   Still using Xandros, as per post by Fletch, bluetooth works now, I installed Open Office after removing Star Office and that works much better. The Repositories (sites that store software for this particular OS) do not contain some of the best free releases (like GIMP for photo editing) because Xandros might not work right if they are installed without modification. I've spend much more time setting this maching up than I expected, and am pleased with the maching, but doing it today would probably choose the XP version for 150 less at cost co.



2. Purchased this as a second laptop for when I travel on business. Started out with it's baby brother, the 900 and returned it. This machine, while by no means a quick PC, will at least allow me to surf the web, respond to e-mail, etc. Nice size, but very annoying little thing is the layout of the right Shift key. One of the arrow keys is where it should logically be, so you have to train yourself not to Shift with your right hand...



3. If you are looking at buying a eeePC 900 or 1000 series there are some things you should be aware of as of Aug 27,2008. I'm reviewing the 1000 but there are some common issues that relate to a 900 series as well. I'm writing about the Linux models so Windows may vary.
   
   Amazon has some good screenshots of the desktop to give you an idea of what you get right out of the box. Take a good look to see if it's enough for you to work with because there are issues making it hard for some users to expand beyond them on the Linux models.
   
   Immediately upon boot up you'll start to see an icon saying there is an update available, in fact there are several but the main one of concern is the Asus System update. When you go and process it the update is rendered as broken and in the work area the file manager disapears. Now one would think something like this would have been fixed but in fact it hasn't and the error relating to this file lies in the repository (where linux gets new files and programs if you aren't familiar with it).
   
   Hence the problem is at the Asus eee PC site not on the device itself. I got mine about 3 days ago but apparently this has now been the case for a couple months. I would point out this seems to be true at least on the English language versions, not sure about the Chinese and there seems to be a CN version of most things out of the box. If you are fluent you might want to look at those support/discussion sites to check if it's a universal issue or just say North American/UK.
   
   So without this you can't update, add new programs, or fix bugs in the software essentially. You can still update the installed programs like the antivirus but one of the main draws for many people in having linux is the 20,000 or so open source programs. It is possible to use a command line to install but the programs still won't show up in the graphical menu tabs. So you should be familiar with command line to run those programs as well as some that are actually there but don't show up.
   
   An important element of Linux is it's command line functions and the Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the eee PC does not provide you with access one via an icon. You will need to hit CTRL-ALT-T and then you are presented with one that lacks a menu bar or any of the things your favorite interface has if you are a Linux user. You can type say Konsole and get the K desktop interface because KDE is there but then you will have two windows, and should you close that first one you lose the second one. The same will be true of each program called this way, and the command window is in use until you close the called program so you need a window for each. Hence the big deal about them failing to fix the add/remove feature.
   
   That said there is an advanced desktop, but again it is no longer easily accessible for beginners or possibly intermediate computer and linux users. You have to circumvent it via command line and changing the code. Of course I'd rather do it on this units hard drive because if a mistake is made it doesn't take very long to reinstall.
   
   The reason I say be aware as opposed to beware is the unit is still very useful, in fact I'm writing this on one. It's a solidly built unit that serves the main purpose I bought it. I am a photographer and I also got it a matching black usb powered hard drive. In field testing I was impressed with the speed from SD cards to the USB drive or the SSD and the smallest cards I use are around 2GB. An issue with this does come up in viewing raw files, it does not include the capability to view this so command line is needed. Again GIMP is there (the linux Photoshop equivalent) but it's not available except by command line out of the box though ironically it is listed as an external app by the viewer (attempts to call it as an editor failed on this machine). If you shoot in JPG or want to use it to present portfolio work to clients it's fine.
   
   The keyboard is not bad compared to some minis I've seen but might take some getting used to. The trackpad is responsive but you will need to watch your text most likely as bumps to it and hitting the up arrow key will often put you up and having you erasing a few keystrokes and moving backdown. For extensive writing I'd recommend just plugging a larger keyboard into one of the USB slots. I've noted no lags in the typing speed while playing music and typing even with several windows open. Though as noted below music playback requires a certain technique to avoid hitches.
   
   With a larger keyboard you really could write really write all your term papers or other documents on it as the screen is quite sharp. I haven't done a lot of outside typing but I'd imagine it would work well there as well, though as always with LCDs on cameras or whatever if they seem a bit dark and you were glasses it may be the photograde (more common to digicams but I've heard of larger screen coatings doing it now and then).
   
   It plays music though again codecs may be an issue with some lossless formats, but MP3s work. You'll find when web surfing the playback hitches when you use an arrow key on the keyboard or in the bar on the screen. In fact it will often pause the player until you let up on the arrow. This is likely hardware based and is remedied if you use the page up page down function instead which is achieved with the FN key on the keypad or by clicking on the spaces surrounding the movement bar on the screen (or by dragging it). The same issues will face you if you prefer another player like Rythmbox, in that even if installed it requires a command line to start out of the box. I also just inserted a music CD in the drive I have attached and it play just as well as files on the SSD but the default player failed to pull in track info like you might expect. Also of note if the music or sound you are playing sounds muffled it's due to the speakers being on the bottom. Prop up an edge and it should be notably louder, also check both the player the sound settings in the settings tab as neither are "cranked" when you first get it.
   
   It uses an Mplayer shell to play video and did well with the X-Files from disc and avi when I tested it so normal DVD and DIVX should not be an issue as it seems to have adequate codec coverage. I haven't tested it I would not expect Bluray to work necessarily but in time if they do correct the primary issue with updates, downloads, and install and remove I would expect it might.
   
   For my purposes the office suite is fine and it all runs fine including the Thunderbird mail client. I have about 7 computers used for graphics and I generally prefer Claws but TB works fine especially out in the field at a hotspot. It may be worth noting that there are no p2p, ftp, http editors in the default setup. To have a GUI access to these you have to do the hacks or go commando line.
   
   In order to get around the problems you will have to hunt down hacks on the web. This probably won't be that daunting to most linux users but there are a lot of posts out there from beginners who find it all a bit confusing so be aware. It's a cheap enough line of products though that there are a lot of folks in the linux community drawn to it. Thats general how support is down in linux anyways unless you buy a corp contract such as Red Hat or Ubuntu but I don't think you'd get far with those here :)
   
   I can only speculate what is going on with Asus, I've never had a problem like this with them before because frankly their stuff usually works. I'd speculate that they are outsourcing the support in North America for example and that there is a disconnect of some sort causing the delay of months in fixing things. That's just speculation though and people are reporting reps telling them to just return it and hanging up insisting there is no issue with downloads. Make no mistake if you are told this, there is and it is widespread. It'll be fixed in time, there are already people working on a port of Ubuntu, but when I did a clean install of it to take a look earlier neither the wifi nor the ethernet (oddly) networking worked. That's no doubt something addressable via command line but keep in mind your references are limited with no networking. Of course it's only a matter of minutes to swap back, the SSD is really rather fast.
   
   So should you get one of these or look elsewhere what's the final verdict? Well I'd point out at least with the Asus you get restore disks for Windows and Linux. So even if you opt to go the safe route with Windows initially it's not really that hard to switch to Linux and "free software" later on. Not sure about some of the others so take a good look if a mini-PC comes in both flavors or not. I've noted that the networking and hardware works well on these it's a software issue. That's important because it means software drivers exist that are linux native. An issue for a lot of people starting with linux is trying to get things like wifi to work right especially the cutting edge ones, in this case N or perhaps Bluray. Even if you go Windows at first you will be able to get drivers made for the eee PC so long as the internet is around. Using the recovery media will let you swap OS pretty fast and I'd be surprised if the hdd models are near as fast.
   
   So I'd say yes it's a buy. If Asus takes too long I'd wager the linux community will take over make the necessary forks and ports and Asus will ultimately lose control of the OS aspect. If you fail to fix something people will just open the box and replace the broken software you know?
   
   I'm going to completely hack it but time is the issue. It actually works well enough that I've put it off and slated it for the labor day weekend here in the U.S.
   
   I wouldn't be surprised if in time we see more distros with a fork that works on these particularly the like of DSL or Puppy linux and other small distros who knows maybe even Slackware that would be cool. But then I got started on DOS and ARPANET so the command line thing works for me :)



4. It was with great thought that I decided to upgrade from the eeepc 700, as I'd had a very good few months run with it. Because I travel a lot, airport security hassles were a minimum, as I could toss it into a small backpack without worry and setting up wireless in hotel rooms and toting the thing around was a breeze. However, being a writer and a musician, because I ended up using the thing for 50% more time than my desktop, the small keyboard and screen was proving to be limiting for long hours of use. Anyway I felt it best to stick with Asus, even though there were a lot of new UMPCs vying for attention! I finally settled on this eeepc 1000. I have no complaints. I installed Windows XP with all my major programs and have room to spare. No error messages, mail inbox and wireless is breeze, good accuracy on the keyboard, nice bright screen. (I can even use the thing in the shade outside on a sunny day with very good visibilty and incredible battery life.) And 40G ssd! It even has stereo built in microphones, which makes recording a quick acoustic demo very quick and easy.It's a sturdy good product that I highly recommend.



5. EEE with Solid State Drive was my choice because I'm going to use it mostly in the car and public transport, instead of PDA.
   After playing with default Linux-based system, tried to install XP to the second large SSD - it was too slow. Reinstalled to the first small one - works much faster, but failed to install the audio driver. Did not try the built-in camera, everything else works excellent.
   Now I'm going to use it for navigation with a blutooth GPS receiver.

5 comments about TRENDnet54Mbps Wireless G USB Adapter.

1. TRENDnet54Mbps Wireless G USB Adapter
   
   I bought this wireless adapter because of the price and I guess it is true what they say...you get what you pay for. I had this product for only 45 days before it just quit on me.



2. I'm very happy with this purchase. It works like it should and it was one of the cheapest out there. Now let's hope it doesn't die on me within half a year or so....
   
   Pros: Cheap, Good range (through 2 walls), NOT ONCE disconnected in 2 weeks + use, works like a charm
   
   Cons: wide form factor (might prevent you from accessing USB slots next to the one being used), low quality workmanship, status LED too big (possibly leading to extra heat?)



3. I rarely do reviews, but considering the difficulties I have had and the headaches that may occur for someone in a similar situation to mine I decided to add my own two cents.
   
   For starters, I'd like to throw out a general complaint to all the main wireless USB network adapters, i.e. Linksys, D-link, Belkin, Trendnet, Netgear, etc. None of them seem willing to specify system requirements other than operating system. For those of us trying to get older systems to work, this is a huge hassle. While some adapters may work for older systems, the version number of those adapters (rather absent in most if not all documentation) might not. So if it says it supports older operating sytems, make sure it supports the amount of ram (if you have low ram).
   
   My problem is that I needed version 2.0 of this adapter, which is shown on the page, yet whenever I ordered I received version 3.1R. My old laptop only has 128 MB of ram and any version higher than 2.0 apparently only supports 256mb RAM or more. Amazon needs to change the picture or be more specific on which version you will receive.
   
   I am sure that Trendnet, or any other mainstream adapter will work for the system that it supports. So, again, this review is more a criticism of how the product is advertised than how it functions.



4. So far, works pretty well. The utility that comes with it sometimes acts flaky, and doesn't start or doesn't connect right away.
   For this type of solid-state device, it gets incredibly hot! Almost too hot to touch! Given that, probably not going to last long.
   The range is ok, nothing special. Of course, the greatest thing about these is the price.



5. I needed to get a new adapter for my PC after my old one died on me after 2 years. I installed the software and followed the SIMPLE directions and was up and running in 10 minutes!
   
   My signal strength is strong and I'm very satisfied with the product so far. I can't comment on the longevity of the adapter as I just set it up yesterday but based on initial setup and price this little adapter easily gets 5 stars.
   
   Oh, by the way, my wireless router is about 15 feet away through one wall and I run Windows XP if you're curious. This thing cost only $12 after a $10 mail in rebate at the time I purchased it(8/08). Hope this helps!

5 comments about Crucial 2 GB Kit (2 x 1GB) DDR PC3200 UNBUFFERED NON-ECC 184-PIN DIMM.

1. I purchased this upgrade kit to expand the memory of my computer. It worked great for about fifteen minutes then everything went black. So it was off to the repair shop, where I was informed the one of these modules was bad and had also burned out a memory slot. Anyone can get a defective item from time to time. This was just really an inconvenient time to have my system down. Not to mention the expense.



2. I bought a memory stick (2 gb) and it was in very good condition and it arrived quickly! Thanks.



3. Great price on this memory, about half the price of other brands. Increased the memory to 2GB from 128MB, so there was a great performance improvement as well on a 4-year old PC. No problems with quality so far..



4. I ordered this item along with another item. Prompt shipping. Memory sticks did not fit my computer (not Amazon's fault) & had to return the memory. The return was handled without any hassles & I received credit for the item. What a pleasure to deal with a large company that treats customers in the old fashion way - like a valued customer!! Amazon has been my online "go to" shopping source and certainly will continue to be.



5. I've tried different types of ram before and this ram installed great, worked great and I haven't had any problems... So I recommend it 8c)

5 comments about Seagate FreeAgent Go 160 GB USB External Hard Drive ST901603FGA1E1-RK.

1. I needed a "big pendrive", and this disk works just like that. It's small enough to be truly portable but holds enough data to allow me to backup my notebook once in a while, and keep some photos, videos and alike at hand.
   
   I would suggest to keep out of the software addons. I use SyncToy to backup my data, even when the drives comes with software I found too complicated and invasive to use. I drive is a drive, dont add a bag of crap to it.



2. Overall, I'd say decent. Note that actual storage capacity is 149 gigs. No need for pre-installed software or the use of both USB cords. Just format the hard drive to clear the pre-installed components and use it like a simple flash drive. No extra software. After formatting, only the larger of two cords is needed for the USB port, to connect the hard drive to the computer. I find it much easier to transfer stuff back and forth from PHD (portable hard drive) to computer without Ceedo. For this price, this lightweight and durable (I own two and they both get banged around quite a bit) PHD is a pretty deal. Because of the size, media (music, movies) doesn't fit so this one's probably more appropriate for light backup storage and such.



3. Warning! Don't buy. I bought this drive based on these excellent Amazon reviews...BUT my drive just died today ... after 3 only months!! It lost all my past backup files! I even gave my drive super-gentle care (it never left my desk or room).
   
   So now I googled the words "FreeAgent Go Problem" & found THOUSANDS of similar complaints. I guess many work great, but an equal number just die (or as the FreeAgent software said: 'no drive connected.' "
   
   Seagate phone & web support has been useless.
   They offered to recover my data for a mere $1,400!!!
   
   Hello??! $1,400!!!???? Wow! Now I REALLY hate Seagate.
   
   Pls be careful & avoid this brand. Good luck, dave in austin, tx



4. I have used the product a couple of times in the week or so that I have used it and find the built in software very user un-friendly. Not east to develope a backup scheme. I will try help menues further, but off the top, it is not easy to use the drive for a full system or drive backup



5. 1) Do not use the software provided with this drive. Either get software somewhere else, or just format it and copy/paste your files to the drive for backup.
   
   2) Use BOTH usb plugins... using just one can ruin your drive! And it's better if you first plug them both into your computer, then plugin the drive. Likewise, unplug the drive first when you're done.
   
   3) Use "Safely remove hardware" in the tray before unplugging the drive. (Or "unmount" for Linux users.) Or shut down the computer before unplugging.
   
   4) Don't drop it. Don't bang it around. Especially don't lift or bump it while it's plugged in! This could damage the drive or your data.
   
   So far, this drive has functioned perfectly fine for me. (I've had it for 3 months.) I just formated it to FAT32 and use it to backup files on Windows and Linux via Copy/Paste. I gave this 4 stars because the software it comes with is junk. But I don't use it anyway. Treat this drive well, and I think you'll be happy.

5 comments about HP iPAQ 211 Enterprise Handheld (210 Series).

1. The sceeen on my lovely 4 years HP 3715 broke just before my vacation - I used it also as a navigator together with a GPS receiver - and I had to buy a new PDA. I chose a HP 211. OK The screen are larger but the touch function was better on the HP 3715. Sometimes you have to touch the screen several times to activate the function. I later bought a new display for my HP 3715 - not original but cheap $25.



2. Great product that I'm still learning how to use. This was bought to replace my Palm Lifedrive which was starting to fail. The HP works flawlessly with Windows Vista which the Palm did not. I look forward to learning new things to do with the IPAQ daily.



3. The product itself is not too bad. It has a solid feel to it. Programs open quickly and respond well. As soon as you turn it on its ready to go, there is no bootup time. Has a great picture but lousy sound. I ended up buying a Bluetooth headset so I can hear it. I also strongly recommend buying screen protectors because you'll be poking and stroking pretty hard with the diddle stick until the touch screen breaks in after a couple weeks of use.
   
   The software and firmware is what's bad about it. Every time you put it on or off the charger, connect or disconnect anything, it automatically turns itself on. There is no setting to defeat this. The mobile office software and clear view PDF don't have full screen mode, so a third of the screen is taken up by the window frames. Bring up the input window and now you only have one third of the screen left see what you're working on.
   
   Bottom line, it's a great tool for doing simple tasks. It won't replace a laptop when traveling. If you're waiting for the mini PCs to become practical, this is a great pacifier.



4. The iPaq 211 is quite a bit bigger than than the 2200 that I have had for 3 or 4 years now and does seem a bit clumsier to hold. BUT it has a larger screen with twice the resolution so that it is a joy to look at and it does seem a bit more responsive. I bought mine refurbished and it's perfect. It did have a few spots of something sticky on it but they were easily cleaned off and there are now no signs that it was anything other than brand new.
   
   The good:
   It has USB host capabilities so I can transfer photos directly from SD or CF cards to a powered hard drive without a PC or Laptop. You need a special cable which costs another $50 but it is well worth it for me. The hard drive must have a separate power supply, as all 3.5" ones do. The smaller 2.5" drives are usually powered from the USB port and the iPaq has not got enough power for that. However, my Buffalo 320GB ministation is capable of being powered from the mains (my TomTom mains charger fits and supplies the 5v with the correct polarity). File transfer is SLOW (about an hour for 1GB) but that is no problem if you can get through the day and download while you have dinner or something. The reason I value this capability so highly is the ever increasing restrictions on baggage that the airlines are imposing. Hand baggage allowances within Europe are so measly now that a DSLR camera with 2 lenses, a hard drive, a PDA and a silver flute + piccolo is as much as I am allowed leaving no room for a laptop as well. And no, I would not want to pack any of that into the checked luggage.
   
   It has both SD and CF card slots so you can have your cake and eat it. That covers both my point-and-shoot and my DSLR camera so I am very happy. It also means that you can get 64 GB of storage if you invest in 32GB cards in both slots. Yes, it does support SDHC.
   
   It has full VGA resolution so that your photos actually look good. And you can rotate the screen with a long press of a button.
   
   It can run movies (with added software) without significant glitches and the screen does a good job.
   
   The wireless just works. It picks up a new connection without fuss and there is an icon to disable it (to save power) right on the Today screen.
   
   I haven't tried the Bluetooth yet but I see no reason to suppose it works any less well than the 2200 which was fine. Apparently it does support the protocol that allows for stereo bluetooth headphones.
   
   And Skype (free download) works almost as well as on my laptop (without the webcam of course). There is a tiny speaker on the front and a microphone to bottom left so that when you hold the iPaq up to your left ear it works just like a large cellphone.
   
   Some people seem to hate the fact that the headphone jack is at the bottom instead of the top. However, I love that. It means that all the cables come from the same edge. It also means that you can put it in your pocket top down so you can easily reach the control dial and the headphone wire comes straight out from the exposed edge.
   
   The not so good:
   It takes a second or two to turn on when you press the button. The 2200 turned on almost instantly. Not a deal breaker but disconcerting. Also, the buttons for contacts and calendar do not turn the unit on as they did on 2200. It has to be on already for the buttons to launch the programs.
   
   I read all the reviews of the weakness of the main speaker (at the rear) and decided that for me this wasn't so important. They are right, the speakers are very very quiet. But you can hear it very well if you hold the unit up to your ear and a pair of headphones solves the problem completely. Now I need to invest in a stereo bluetooth pair!
   
   Also you do need to press a bit harder on the screen than on the 2200 but you get used to that very quickly. I found the bare screen rather sticky so that my letters had breaks in them and were therefore mis-recognised. (This could have been because I was afraid of scratching the screen before the screen protector arrived.) Anyway, I forked out for the official HP screen protectors (you get 3 and they last for ages) and after that, writing on the screen was a joy. If choosing off-brand protectors go for the crystal-clear ones rather than the glare-reducing. I think that will get you the smoothest writing experience.
   
   HP has not provided the backup software that saved my bacon a couple of times on the 2200. I believe there are free downloads and I will have to get one (you never know when you'll forget about it long enough for it to run down completely). However, I have now learned to install all new software to a card or to the iPaq store rather than to the default location so that at least I won't lose the programs if the power goes.
   
   Talking of which, the unit does seem to need charging at least every other day. I believe that while in use, the power lasts longer than the 2200, but when in standby, the 2200 would go for the best part of a week without significant discharge. The 211, however, seems to lose 10% of its power just overnight even with bluetooth and wireless turned off. I haven't been able to find out why this is. Some say that it is better if you stop all running programs (and maybe pop the CF card out) and so I have found, but it still isn't as carefree as the 2200 was.
   
   All in all, this is a pretty good PDA and the only one on the market running Windows Mobile that has USB Host capabilities, dual card slots and a big VGA screen. I don't need a keyboard so I am not prepared to pay almost twice as much for a umPC. In spite of its drawbacks, I love the 211 and really enjoy using it.



5. My ipaq 214 broke after 10 days of use, and HP refuses to fix it even though it is obviously well within the warrantee period. They plan to charge me half the price of the new item. The 24-pin connector was always stiff (unlike the nice cradle that came with my 4700) and became more and more difficult to connect during a trip I took to Iraq. On the 10th day it stopped working altogether, having mashed the teeth on the motherboard. I was only using this to charge the unit. HP simply does not stand by their products.

5 comments about Intel PWLA8391GT PRO/1000 GT PCI Network Adapter.

1. I ordered this because I was having problem with my Verizon Fios internet connection. My computer is six years old but in great condition and runs fast. I have recently wiped it clean and reinstalled Windows XP Pro and it is a great computer, however, the internet connection was intermittent. I decided to try a new network card to see if that would fix the problem and it did. It was easy to install, simple to get running and I haven't had any internet problem since then. Great inexpensive item.



2. I recently upgraded my multi-computer, multi-platform system from 10/100 to 10/100/1000 and needed new ethernet card for all of my computers. I found on Amazon the Intel PWLA8391GT PRO/1000 GT PCI Network Adapter. I was happy because I know intel products usually work out-of-the-box for any os system. When I got the product I found not only the ethernet cards but driver cds in addition. I slipped each card into my computers and as I thought no problems. No need for the provided cds either, Windows Vista easily downloaded drivers and I was on the net in minutes. Also my Linux boxes had no problems with drivers. All machines where up an running without a hitch. Great product!



3. This Intel NIC card works great under both Windows Vista 32 and 64-bit operating systems. I had purchased a NETGEAR network card prior to purchasing this and routinely ran into blue-screens and poor performance - this card performed significantly better. It's also priced attractively, so if you need a gigabit network card, then this is it.



4. I'm fairly technical, and I tend to work with standard products that I know are reliable. Intel is one of the brands that I never have to worry about, whether it's an Intel motherboard or an Intel network adapter.
   
   In this case, I had three of my systems being operated and maintained at an off-site facility, and I brought them back into my own facility. Some one of the maintenance guys at the off-site facility had swapped out my Intel adapter for a NetGear adapter on one of the systems (I have no idea why), and I didn't immediately notice the change. After having a tough time getting my system, high speed cable network, and DIR-655 router working together, I narrowed the problem to the system's network adapter.
   
   I purchased the Intel PWLA8391GT from Amazon at a good price, received it in a timely fashion, and after installing it on my troubled system, everything worked well.
   
   Intel makes good products. This is one of them.



5. I installed this in a three year old Dell Dimension 9100 running Vista 32-bit Ultimate. It works great and the drivers installed automatically. My unofficial performance tests indicate that this card truly delivers gigabit transfer rates. I previously installed a TRENDnet Gigabit PCI Adapter in the same machine and I couldn't get the drivers to load properly. Considering the simplicity and minimal labor required to install this NIC, it was definitely worth a few extra bucks over the lower-cost brands.

5 comments about USB 2.0 External 2.5" HDD Enclosure Case For Laptop.

1. I got this for my (non technical) brother in law. he was able to install his old laptop harddrive into it and get it to work in 10 minutes.



2. This product is good if you are in a jam where you just need to save a hard drive. It is not a long term solution to keep the hard drive in the enclosure due to it being very cheaply made.
   
   Pros:
   Included is the aluminum enclosure, a USB cable with an extra end in case you still have USB 1.1, a mini screw driver to secure one end, and a little slip case for the enclosure.
   
   Cons:
   The USB adapter on the drive is mounted in crooked, so when you plug in the USB cable, it comes out crooked. If you are looking to buy this you have at least a mild understanding of computers so you won't need the manual, but read it for fun. There are spelling mistakes, it references two lights on the enclosure when there is just one, and it also references a CD-ROM with drivers on it that is not included, even though you don't need the disc.
   
   I saw another review saying it doesn't have a fan. It does not need a fan because the drive is against the aluminum case, which acts as a passive heater which is completely adequate.
   
   This enclosure is a quick fix to recover some data. I would not keep a valuable drive in this.



3. This enclosure is an excellent value. Performance has been trouble-free, and it worked right out of the box - no problems whatsoever. After I added my laptop drive (perfect fit) and connected it to two of my USB ports (one for power, one for data), it was recognized immediately by my Windows XP computer. It has a slim lightweight compact profile which works well for travel, and has a very tight USB connection. I would highly recommend this enclosure over more expensive enclosures offered by others.



4. I actually don't have one but I need someone to clarify something for me...is this IDE or SATA? Thanks



5. I bought 2 thinking this would work for my two SATA drives and found out the interface was IDE. Rating it 2 stars for not listing the interface on the tech specs. No idea if the product works as intended.

5 comments about 20mw Green Laser Black Dimple Finish with Double Bonus L.E.D. Flashlight and Optical Cloth.

1. The product I received was not the EL20 I ordered on the Amazon website.I have had great success with orders on Amazon in the past but this one was a turkey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



2. I am pretty disappointed in this laser. I've had it less than one day, and already I've noticed two problems.
   
   1. The laser dims frequently while in use. I put fresh batteries in (tossed the ones that came with it) and it still dims after a few seconds of use.
   
   2. The button to activate the laser is already wearing out! The laser stays on all the time unless I unscrew the battery case a little bit to relieve pressure on the spring!
   
   
   Oh, and did I mention that the product is, "20mw Green Laser Black Dimple Finish with Double Bonus L.E.D. Flashlight and Optical Cloth" but it didn't come with the LED Light OR Cloth? The seller crossed out both on the invoice and just didn't ship them!
   
   Don't waste your cash on this thing.



3. I received my laser, and it works fine. I did not receive the LED flashlight or optical cloth. Contacted HDE and got the message "We are sorry but we had noted in our comment area that the bonus item were
   not included. This is because the original creator of the listing had changed the listing title on us and other vendors to drive out competition." I never saw any notes in a "comment area." Seems like deception to me.



4. I can easily project a beam on a water tower 1/2 mile from my house. What more would you want for less than $28 delivered!!!! The green dot is visable from 50 feet on a sunlit surface!!!! Far brighter than I expected. I did get the flashlight and cloth. The flashlight didn't work opened it up and could get it to work but threw it away. After reading these reviews before ordering didn't expect to use or even recieve the flashlight. The lazer is worth at least twice the price so who cares about the flashlight and why include it anyway. Maybe I got lucky or maybe other sellers don't want you to buy this product.



5. It would seem from other reviews that buying this product is a little hit or miss. Personally, mine worked fine. It didn't come with the bonus items, but I wasn't really expecting to get them. My laser seems very bright, although I have never seen any other green laser pointers in person. I measured the power output, and it was way more than advertised. It peaked at about 100 mW, and stayed pretty steady at around 85.5 mW. It does have some problems with dimming occasionally, but this always goes away quickly.

5 comments about Belkin Neoprene Notebook Sleeve for 15.4-Inch Laptop (F8N048-BR).

1. I bought this for my niece along with her pink Dell 1525. It is such a compact, well-made sleeve that I bought it for my own pink Dell. Yes, it is also pink. Anything pink lately is not only 'in' for girls it's in the good cause of breast cancer. The pink bag I bought to carry the laptop in just didn't have enough padding when putting it in the hands of a 14 year old; this sleeve did the trick.



2. This holds my Toshiba 15.4 laptop with little room to spare. Wish it had a hanlde, but you can't have everything. Only gripe, the smell of the Neoprene. I'm sure that will disapate with time.



3. I purchased this neoprene sleeve for my Dell Latitude D830. It is a perfect fit. I wanted something that I could keep in my unstructured backpack. I don't have a lot of room in my backpack and this sleeve is cushy but slim. It made it very easy to slip my notebook in and out of without pulling the whole sleeve out of my bag. I think the best feature is that the zipper can open from the top or side. The neoprene was a bit stinky initially, but the smell finally went away. There were several great color combinations to choose from, but this scheme fit my fashion needs. The red color is just as the picture shows. I'm very happy with my purchase. I would recommend this product to anyone with a 15.4" notebook.



4. Fits my 15.4 inch sony viao FZ-4000 with bigger battery snugly but not to tight, the perfect tightness. you also have the choice to put it in from the side or the top of the case. its nice because you can place and remove your computer from your bag without removing the case! the neoprene allows the case to stick to your bag, and the material on the inside allows the comp to slide right out. the case also has as good protection as any of the other cases in this class.



5. it fits my macbook pro 15" with some slide room probably 1 inch left where you open it. other than that. it's a good deal.

5 comments about SanDisk SDCFX3-2048-901 2 GB Extreme III CompactFlash Card (Retail Package).

1. I've had no problems with the CF card since I've purchased it. SanDisk is reliable company.
   
   If you ever do have problems with a CF card, just try reformatting it as that often fixes the problems.



2. Great cards. Super fast and reliable. San Disk cards are the only ones I use. I am very happy with my purchase.



3. this is a good, reliable product. The only disappointment is that I expected to get more photos onto the card. It seems like a lot of space is used up on applications and is not available for pictures.



4. While I have had many compact flash cards of varying sizes this card for the size and price was a much better bargain then those of the others. A lot of storage with a little price. Never had an fault or error and don't think I ever will.



5. I have five of these Sandisk Extreme III 2GB CF cards. They are very fast and have mostly been reliable (hence the three-star review). However, there is more to this product than merely the item itself. The other question is how efficiently the manufacturer handles things in the event of failure. I recently had one of these cards fail and I have been disappointed by Sandisk's warranty service.
   
   The situation was very straightforward. The card failed. I lost only one photo. No data needed to be recovered. I had all the information available, including a copy of my receipt to prove that I am the original owner. After two weeks, I am still sending follow-up messages to Sandisk asking them for a return authorization, and getting no response. Sandisk has not actually declined to replace the card -- but their process, which was already rather slow, has led to a dead-end.
   
   Several years ago, I had a Lexar CF card fail. It was a quite different experience. They replaced the card promptly. I recognize that all electronics products can fail -- but the real test is how well the manufacturer responds when that happens. My next CF card will be a Lexar, not a Sandisk.