 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
After I try out a product, I often never think of it again - unless I discover that I simply can't live without it. Of the 145 or so products I tested last year, six have withstood the Shaw Test of Time - they remained useful to me throughout long-term tests. Another five were not subjected to longevity testing, but grabbed my admiration all the same. I think of these eleven products as my Really Cool Tools picks.
Altec Lansing's inMotion portable audio speaker: This device ($130) helped jump-start the Apple iPod accessory revolution. Once connected to an iPod (or any other portable music device), these portable speakers blast out your playlists - Barry Manilow and all.
Apple's AirPort Express: Speaking of Apple, this little gadget ($130) does wonders. It's a portable wireless access point (when linked to a broadband connection via Ethernet) that can connect to a stereo system for streaming iTunes music from your PC and to a printer for easy printing from your laptop. The installation isn't the prettiest in the world (especially at Home Interoperability), but once you get things working, it's very cool.
Belkin's Powerline Ethernet Adapter: My home network has become the poster child for interoperability, with different flavors of wireless, Ethernet and about a dozen device types clamoring for network attention. Fortunately, the Belkin Powerline Ethernet Adapter ($57) has solved one of my problems - a flaky wireless connection between an upstairs PC and the rest of the network. By integrating the powerline adapter, I've rid myself of worries about wireless interference from my microwave oven, cordless phones or whatnot.
Epson's PictureMate photo printer: The office now has an official printer for all digital photo printing needs. PictureMate ($199) blows away the four or five other photo printers we tried last year in terms of picture quality, ease of use and the ability to print directly from our memory cards. It isn't as fast as we'd like, but we can forgive that for picture quality. We don't have to worry about replacing specific ink cartridges (when we run out of paper, we replace the ink system with a new pack), just another plus in this fine product.
| Start a public discussion with other Network World users on this article (scroll up to send this article to a colleague). Log In | Register for an account (Why you should) |
Note: Register to have your user name appear; otherwise your comment will show up as "Anonymous."
*Anonymous comments will only appear once they are approved by the moderator.
Copyright 2008 Network World Inc.
|
Does Verizon's Voyager stack up to the iPhone? |
5 IT skills that won't boost your salary 
[1,407]
Women 4 times more likely than men to cough up personal info [589]
Japan's 10 funniest tech-related commercials [Videos] [407]
Throwing away a promo CD is "unauthorized distribution"? [1,265]
Adults too quick to dismiss educational video games [682]
Attack of the iPhone clones [Slideshow] [578]
10 things IT needs to know about AJAX [1,258]
This Year's 25 Geekiest 25th Anniversaries [Slideshow] [409]
