Tag Archives: Belkin International Inc.

About 1692 days ago Printers, Copiers, and Peripherals

Keep Your Keyboard and Mouse Clean

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According to a recent study commissioned by Grand & Toy, a popular Canadian office products retailer, the average office desk contains up to 400 times more germs and bacteria than a toilet seat. Yes, you read that correctly — that same desk you lay your hands on (and perhaps eat snacks at) each day. The good news is you can help reduce the number of germs at your desk by regularly cleaning your most used items — likely your mouse, keyboard, and phone — as well as keeping a bottle of hand sanitizer nearby to apply after using the bathroom, eating lunch, or after a cigarette break. Keyboard cleanliness Keeping your desktop clean isn’t just for reducing germs that can cause illness but to keep your computer equipment working properly, says Ken Newman, spokesman for Falcon Safety Products, the Branchburg, N.J.-based manufacturer and marketer of Dust-Off consumer electronics cleaning products. “Regularly cleaning maintains the performance of the product,” explains Newman. “You probably eat at your desk and crumbs fall in between the keys, as does dust and other particles, so you should clean underneath every so often to avoid the keys from sticking.” Newman says to hold your keyboard on its side and take a compressed gas duster, which costs between $5 and $10 for a 10-ounce can, and then deliver a series of pressurized blasts in between the keys. “You’ll be amazed at what comes out.” Not mousing around For the top of a mouse, keyboard, or phone, Newman says to use a disinfectant wipe, also offered in the Dust-Off line of products. In a pinch, even a baby wipe will do, suggests Mike Rogers, product marketing manager for hardware at Microsoft, in Redmond, Wash. “Believe it or not baby wipes work well, or even a clean and slightly damp — not wet — cloth can clean away any residue on your mouse.” “The issue boils down to germs and performance,” mirrors Rogers, “so anywhere you’ve got contact, you should keep it clean.” Rogers says Newman’s suggestion on compressed air or gas for underneath the keyboard is a good one, too “but just a couple of times a year is probably fine.” Other computer parts Rogers says it’s also a good idea for people to clean out the dust that often gets trapped inside a desktop computer’s fan — especially when the tower is kept on the floor, perhaps underneath a desk. “People with allergies might do this, but dust stuck in the fan can also affect your computer performance as the PC might get too hot without proper ventilation,” he says. A monitor can be cleaned to remove dust, but you need to be cautious about what kind of material you’re using to avoid possible damage. Be sure to first unplug the monitor from the wall socket before spraying a special LCD or CRT microfiber material or using pre-moistened wipes. When in doubt, check with the monitor manufacturer for recommended products. Some products were designed for those concerned about germs. Belkin, for example, recently introduced a completely washable mouse. Fellowes’ line of PC accessories, such as mice and keyboards, feature Microban antimicrobial protection. Paper Mate’s new FlexGrip pen with anti-germ coating includes an antibacterial surface designed to protect the pen’s surface. “Cleanliness will help keep you healthy while also providing you with a workstation that won’t give you too many performance frustrations,” concludes Newman.

About 1784 days ago Wireless Networks

Networking Needs for the 802.11n Era

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Try out these Wi-Fi terms — 802.11b, 801.11g, and now 802.11n, not to mention 2.4 GHz versus 5 GHz frequencies. For the not-so-techie business owner, shopping for wireless networking gear can put a cramp in the brain quicker than you can say 10/100 megabit Ethernet hub. Don’t let the geek speak make your eyes glaze over so fast. Once you get past the jargon, wireless networking is actually pretty simple to understand. It’s also an area of technology most companies can’t afford to assemble piece by piece without any forethought or strategy. Five numbers to understand: 802.11 802.11 are the Wi-Fi industry standards regulated by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The little letter after the 11 indicates the generation of standards, each letter as the alphabet progresses being more sophisticated, faster, and with a wider range of coverage than the previous. 802.11b was the first widely implemented protocol introduced back in 1999 (which makes it a dinosaur now). Most companies are still using 802.11g, which hit the market in 2003 and took off very quickly just as wireless gear was becoming more affordable. It was also a vast improvement over “11b” or Wireless B.  Mainly, it was faster.  Then along came “11n” 802.11n hasn’t actually been approved by IEEE yet, although all the major wireless vendors are using it in their latest product lines. “The IEEE can’t guarantee the final draft of 802.11n that gets approved will be completely operable with what’s currently on the market. But you now have big companies like Cisco and Trapeze shipping “N” Once that happens, you know it’s safe,” says Mark Tauschek, a senior research analyst at Info-Tech Research Group. There are a number of reasons why companies aren’t waiting around for final approval to either sell or purchase Wireless N technologies. “Bottom line: it’s six to eight times faster than ’11g’ and it has at least a 50 percent wider range.  I will also say this — I believe 50 percent is a conservative figure based on my own experience using ‘N’,” says Tauschek Other differences that set Wireless N apart from Wireless G and B include: Crowded frequency. Wireless B and G operate on the very crowded and unregulated 2.4 GHz frequency making it more likely for interference from everything from other nearby wireless networks to microwave ovens and portable phones. Wireless N is set on the 5 GHz band, which is also not regulated and therefore open to all. However, it hasn’t had the time to jam up yet with other technologies. Less interference. Wireless N runs into less interference from common building architecture than previous generations. “It goes through wood floors, sheet rock, even concrete walls, as long as there’s no wire mesh built into it. Mesh fencing of any kind chops it apart,” says Tauschek. Stronger signal. Wireless N is the first 802.11 generation to feature multiple input/multiple output technology (MIMO). This is the secret sauce that enables 11n’s signal to be so much stronger. When a wireless device beams out a signal it bounces off various surfaces in its path that can cause slight variations in signal strengths. MIMO technology sends out duplicate signals that reinforce each other into one strong signal that goes further and with greater clarity upon arrival at its destination. Deciding when to upgrade For companies still operating in an “11g” world, is it time to migrate to “11n”?  The short answer is yes, and no. In other words, it depends on the company in question. It also depends on who you ask. “Many applications can benefit from increased speed, especially those that involve heavy data transfer. The higher capacity of 802.11n also enables service for a higher density of users,” says Matthew Gast, author of  802.11 Wireless Networks: The Definitive Guide (O’Reilly, 2002).  Then again; “If you have a ‘g’ network and you’re not putting a lot strain on it, you can probably wait. Unless your gear is old and decrepit, which is unlikely, there is little reason to upgrade,” counters Tauschek. He says companies, like engineering and graphic design firms, that pass around a lot of large files are most likely to benefit from investing in “11n.” Tauschek and Gast also agree that if an organization is upgrading their wireless network anyway then “11n” is definitely the way to go. The question is where to begin. Putting the pieces together Switching to “11n” is not as simple as just buying a new router and calling it a day. That new Wireless N router will work with the old gear (all 802.11 gear is backwards compatible), but users won’t get the full benefit of the upgrade. Regardless of the router, the network is only as robust as its own hardware. “The shopping list is fairly straight forward,” says Gast, who narrows it down to these three areas: Wireless N capable access points. Okay, so the bad news is having to pony up for new access points. The good news is that work spaces will need fewer of them. That’s because Wireless N sends out a stronger signal with a wider range. Power for the access points.  This is a feature to shop for within those new access points that will save power and keep the company wireless network as unplugged as possible. “Many small-scale access points need to be plugged into the wall.  Better access points can take power over the Ethernet cable connecting them to the network,” says Gast. Before buying the access point, read the fine print on technical specifications and ask the vendor about the product’s “power over Ethernet” capabilities. Faster switch for the network backbone. Older Wireless B and G switches use 10/100 megabit Ethernet ports. In order to take advantage of those dramatic increases in speed that comes with the new “11n,” the network switch needs to be upgraded to a gigabit switch that can accommodate all that extra bandwidth. Whether a business decides to pull the trigger yet on Wireless N, the company next door may have done so already. That means that there’s likely to be a risk of interference on the 5 GHz frequency bleeding through the walls or even from across the parking lot. Between that and the already clogged up 2.4 GHz frequency, it may be time to consider 6 GHz portable phones. SIDEBAR: “Wireless N” Networking Products for Small Business NetGear  Known for its networking hardware solutions, the Santa Clara, Calif.- based company released its ProSafe 802.11 Dual Band Wireless Access Point just this Spring (April 2008). Priced for the small to mid-sized business, ProSafe sells for $475 and includes a gigabit Ethernet port, three antennas, and a console port for local configuration. NetGear also offers a Wireless N router (the RangeMax) for about $120. Linksys offers a Wireless N gigabit router for about $120 and its Wireless N Access Point priced at $160. As the prices would indicate, these product lines are geared more towards the needs of a small company or home office. Linksys, a division of Cisco, also offers outdoor antennas that are N-compatible, as well as their Wireless-N Gigabit Security Router with VPN tunnel support ($200) and for the road warriors on staff; a Wireless N notebook adapter ($120). Belkin is another option to consider for entry level businesses looking for modestly-priced networking products. Belkin’s line of Wireless-N routers ranges in price from $90 to $180. They also offer 802.11n adapter cards, desktop cards and a USB adapter. D-Link now offers a line of Wireless N access points priced between $80 and $160. The high end model only networks up to four devices, however. So this is really meant for either a small business or home. D-link’s business class networking solutions are sticking with Wireless G for now.

About 1906 days ago Servers and Routers

Router-mania: Best Draft N Buys

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The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has yet to sit down and formally ratify standard 802.11n, but that hasn’t stopped a flood of “Draft N” routers from hitting the market. Should you wait for the IEEE to formally bless the standard before you go out and buy equipment? Probably not. Most observers agree that the Institute’s blessing is merely a formality at this point. After all, many of the companies rolling out Draft N routers are on the IEEE. Draft N complications But here’s a more likely complication: You install Draft N routers, which are purported to be about six times faster than the previous “Wireless G” iteration (which maxed out at 54 Mbps under laboratory conditions) and find that they perform pretty much the same. That’s likely because although you have Draft N routers, the equipment on your PCs is still old school. Unless you bought a PC equipped with Intel’s Centrino technology after August or so, your PCs won’t clock an uptick in speeds. “The biggest potential for disappointment is not having client hardware in sync with the router,” says Chris Silva, an analyst with Forrester Research, of Cambridge, Mass. Indeed, when Austin Smith, the owner of Digital Son I.T. Services, an Atlanta value-added reseller (VAR), pitches Draft N upgrades to small business clients, he stresses that they are not likely to see an immediate improvement. “I basically have to sell it on the features they’ll be gaining when the standard’s completed,” he says. Though PCs are beginning to sport Draft N compatibility (and Apple’s MacBooks are already up to speed), other hardware, like digital cameras, have yet to catch up. Backwards compatible hardware Nevertheless, unlike previously updated equipment, most Draft N hardware is backwards-compatible, which means at least while customers are waiting for the IEEE to make its decision (likely in the third quarter of 2008), customers can still use their legacy equipment. Proponents of Draft N say it’s worth the wait. Not only is it much faster, but the wireless coverage is noticeably better, says Ivor Diedricks, senior product manager for Linksys, of Irvine, Calif. Before Draft N, users might lose their connection if they moved their laptop over two feet or so, but “in the case of [Draft N] you don’t have dead spots.” In the meantime, though, a Draft N upgrade is likely to be anticlimactic. That was the case with CornerStore Entertainment, a nine-person Atlanta firm that manages musical acts (including crunk artist YoungBloodZ). Jeffrey Joseph, president of CornerStore, says so far it’s hard to get excited about the upgrade: “We decided to buy the [Draft N] router thinking it would be six- to ten-times faster only to find that the devices we need aren’t available yet.” SIDEBAR: Best Buys in Draft N Routers If you’re interested in starting the draft N upgrade process, here are some small business-targeted routers: • Linksys offers a full line of Draft N routers including the WRT350N, which starts at around $150. •  D-Link also offers the DIR-655 Xtreme N Gigabit Route, which starts at $115. • Belkin’s N1 Wireless Router starts at $99. • Netgear’s WNR834B RangeMax Net Router starts at around $90.

About 2637 days ago PCs, Laptops, and Notebooks

Gear: Disconnected (In a Good Way)

RAZR With Brains The Motorola Q is so svelte that it may give Treo and BlackBerry owners an inferiority complex. Less than a half-inch thick, the Q is designed to work with cellular broadband (just like the most recent BlackBerry and Treo models) for fast Web surfing. It also packs a full QWERTY keyboard for pecking out e-mails and a 1.3-megapixel camera. The device runs Windows Mobile 5.0, which means you’ll have easy access to your Outlook e-mail, calendar, and contacts. The only catch is that it doesn’t use the Pocket PC edition of Windows Mobile, so you sacrifice both a touchscreen and the ability to edit Word documents and Excel files. The Q also comes with a built-in MP3 player, a relatively large 320×240-pixel display, a MiniSD card slot, and a high-quality speakerphone. Motorola is keeping mum about how the Q will compare with other smart phones on price. www.motorola.com Mobile VoIP With Netgear’s Skype Wi-Fi phone, you don’t have to be near your computer to make free PC-to-PC calls. Just like an instant-messenger program, it displays which members are available to talk. Calling regular phone numbers costs just two cents a minute. You can sign up to receive calls from regular phones for about $36 per year. (The price of the handset hasn’t been announced.) The phone works with Wi-Fi networks that need a WEP security key but not, unfortunately, from hot spots that require a user name and password. www.netgear.com Liberating Your Laptop Belkin’s CableFree USB hub promises an end to that rat’s nest of wires hanging off your laptop or desktop. Place the wireless hub anywhere in the same room as your PC and maintain connectivity with up to four gadgets simultaneously, including your MP3 player, camera, printer, or any other USB device. And it’s up to 100 times faster than Bluetooth. Just plug the small adapter into your computer’s USB port, plug your other equipment into the hub, and you’ll never need to tether your laptop to the printer again. $130; www.belkin.com Stream Catcher With Hewlett-Packard’s Advanced Digital Media LCD television, you can wirelessly stream music and videos stored on your computer to the 37-inch display. You just need a PC with a Wi-Fi connection. Using the remote control, you can easily put on a slide show of your vacation highlights and play MP3s. The LCD is also an awesome HDTV with a fast six-millisecond response time to eliminate motion blur and a sharp 6,000 to 1 contrast ratio. HP hadn’t put a price tag on it at presstime, but its model without integrated Wi-Fi goes for $2,700. www.hp.com XM on the Move The first round of portable satellite radios were about as portable as bricks. The 4.4-ounce Pioneer Inno isn’t much bigger than a cell phone, yet it can tune in and record XM’s 160 digital channels. The Inno’s one gigabyte of storage can hold up to 50 hours of music, sports, talk radio, and songs from your own digital collection. And it comes with a built-in FM transmitter so you can broadcast satellite radio and MP3s from the Inno to your car or home stereo without any accessories. $400; www.pioneerelectronics.com Mini Music Store The first portable music player to cut out the PC middleman, the MusicGremlin portable Wi-Fi device lets you buy and download tracks on the go. Just scroll the alphabet on this eight-gigabyte player’s color screen to narrow your selection of artists, choose a track or an album from the company’s library of 1.6 million songs, and start downloading songs for $1 each. You can also download preprogrammed playlists. Or use a computer to upload tracks from your existing collection. Less than $400; www.musicgremlin.com

About 3702 days ago Wireless Networks

2003 Tech Buying Guide: Wi-Fi Slices the Wires

2003 Tech Buying Guide Market Report A growing number of companies are using wireless local area networks in their office settings. “The 802.11 [wireless LAN] standard is so dirt cheap,” says Keith Waryas, an analyst at International Data Corp. “There’s virtually no installation, no massive servers, no drilling through walls,” he says. Wi-Fi makes particular sense for the small business, which may move its people and equipment around to accommodate growth and thus need a more fluid networking solution. A small law office, for example, can raid the shelves at CompUSA for all the networking products it needs. However, once a company reaches 10 users or more and uses more than one server, it may be time to call in the services of a value-added reseller (VAR) such as IBM or Accenture for tech support, he says. Wi-Fi has expanded its reach well beyond the walls of the office. Hot spots, or wireless on-ramps to the Internet, are popping up in very public places like Starbucks, which partners with T-Mobile to offer a $70 monthly flat-access card. (Individual visits cost $7 to $8.) AT&T, Intel, and IBM recently joined forces to form wireless networks to provide connectivity at more than 20,000 sites — such as hotels, campuses, and other businesses — in 50 major U.S. cities. Even with the push toward public hot spots, those efforts will “go cold” in the next couple of years, says Bob Egan, president and founder of research firm Mobile Competency. “The business plan does not pay out,” he says. He believes the real value of Wi-Fi, once security concerns are resolved, will be in private settings. MOVE AHEAD An expanding office environment looking for a Wi-Fi setup needs the type of network that will grow along with it. The 3Com OfficeConnect 11 Mbps Wireless Cable/DSL Router Starter Kit [$240; www.3com.com] includes a cable/DSL gateway that, with optional cards, can support up to 32 wireless users spread out to a distance of 300 feet. STAY THE COURSE Technophobes will find that the Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Base Station MN-500 [$139; www.microsoft.com] requires little downtime or sweat. Its setup wizard gets you sharing your broadband Net connection, files, and printers easily. THE BLEEDING EDGE If your wireless demands include sending full-motion videos and other intensive multimedia fast, Belkin [ www.belkin.com] offers an array of wireless networking products to build super-fast networks. Mix and match gateways ($150), notebook and desktop cards ($75-100), and access points ($175) to build a custom network. What to Ask How much will I spend on access? Does my data require enhanced security? Which PC’s, handhelds, and laptops complement my wireless strategy? Do I send enough image-based data to require high-speed service? Case In Point Dan Bean CEO Music Channels, LLC THE NEED: “I travel all over the country,” says Dan Bean, who runs an Internet- and radio-based entertainment company out of Newcastle, Wash., produces Broadway plays, and handles corporate promotions. Bean looked to Wi-Fi alternatives to support his mobile lifestyle. THE SOLUTION: A Winbook X1 laptop, a Compaq wireless modem, and T-Mobile wireless service. “I’ve used it everywhere, in Chicago, New York, L.A., and Vegas. I’ve had meetings with big shots at Starbucks,” he says. FEATURES CONSIDERED: Wireless coverage of the cities and locations that he most frequents was critical, as was the number of locations that he could “pop into” to work. Luckily, Starbucks had already secured prime real estate. “A guy I was working with had Wi-Fi in his laptop and showed it to me,” says Bean, who admits it was love at first sight. “I set up T-Mobile from my cell phone while I was sitting with him at a Starbucks,” he says. “It took all of 10 minutes.” Only 16% of Inc.com poll respondents feel wireless services are “critical” right now.*