Pop-up stopper tops our test list
 
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Stopping pop-up ads
If you're annoyed by pop-up ads, you definitely need to install either PopNot from High-Density Software or Panicware's Pop-Up Stopper.
The PopNot software was easy to install and worked well (we got no unsolicited pop-up or pop-under windows) in our tests. The software can display a visual and/or audio alert when it stops a pop-up window from appearing.
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The configuration features are easy to understand, and you can allow pop-up windows for specific Web sites if you choose. Clicking a link where a new window appears won't be stopped, but it will prevent cases where a pop-up window appears if you "cancel" or hit the back button. The software also keeps a log of all the locations that were "stopped," and there are other advanced features if you want to get more specific about what you are stopping. The software costs $20, and you can download a 15-day evaluation version.
Panicware's Pop-Up Stopper offers three versions - a free version with basic pop-up stopping capabilities, and a professional version ($20) and a Companion version ($40), which offer advanced pop-up stopping features.
We tested the latest version of Pop-Up Stopper Companion, which added a customizable toolbar to our Internet Explorer browser. In addition to pop-up stopping controls, the tool bar includes "cleaning options," which lets you clean your browser history, cookies, cache and recently viewed documents, and empty the recycling bin. There's also a "keep list" that lets you specify what Web sites from which you don't want cookies eliminated. Both pay versions offer free lifetime upgrades. Head to Panicware Inc. for more information on the products.
Color scanner that's pretty mobile
We also looked recently at Pentax Technologies' DSmobile Universal Serial Bus (USB) color mobile scanner, which is small enough (11 inches wide and only 12 ounces) to take with you if you're traveling. The scanner hooks up via your USB port, and lets you scan documents, photographs and magazine articles quickly and easily.
The hardware scanner comes with Pagis Pro scanning software, which lets you scan items directly into applications (including Excel, Internet Explorer and others). In testing, we took a few minutes to calibrate the scanner, but once that was done, scanning was simple. Initially the scans were done at 100 dots per inch (dpi), )
but you can change to scan at higher resolutions (no custom resolution options that we could see; we were limited to 50-, 100-, 200-, 300-, 400-, 600- and 1,200-dpi options). You also can use the scanner to copy or fax documents - faxing scans at 200 dpi and then you can send the image to a fax printer. Scanning can be done on documents up to 8.5 by 14 inches, and works with Windows 98, Millennium Edition, 2000 or XP computers with USB ports. The scanner costs $100; more information is available at Pentax Technologies.
Control your PowerPoint wirelessly
Atek keeps making great products for mobile workers. The last Atek item we tested was the Super Mini Optical Mouse, a two-button mouse that was very mobile. Now comes the Tote-Remote, an outstanding product that lets you control your PowerPoint presentations wirelessly.
The radio frequency receiver connects to a USB port on your laptop (so you'll need Windows 2000, XP, ME, 98 or a Mac OS 8.6 or higher computer to use this). We could easily install the remote on our Win 2000 laptop; no drivers were required. We had to do some simple driver installation (via Windows) on our Win 98 desktop.
After the installation, just be within 30 feet (no line of sight required) of the receiver to run the show. One button acts like the F5 key in PowerPoint, which starts the slide show. A second button on the remote triggers a laser pointer. On the side of the device is a scroll wheel, which lets you change slides (forward and backward).
Our tests revealed the remote worked with several cube walls in the way and from the 30-foot limit. Go to Atek Electronics for more information.
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