Universal Serial Bus: it's worth the trip
Article Abstract:
The Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard, if it performs as promised, will allow up to 127 peripheral devices to run at once on a single PC using a 'daisy-chain' configuration. Among the devices that can be mounted to the new technology are scanners, keyboards, printers, monitors, audio I/O units, modems, joysticks, CD-ROM drives, floppy and tape drives, and digital cameras. The standard permits both high data and low data transmission. The USB Home Page states that no software will be required to operate USB peripherals on Windows-based systems. Windows 95 is equipped with a driver to permit PCs to recognize USB peripherals. With the upcoming release of Microsoft 'Memphis,' the plug-and-play aspects of the Windows operating system will be improved. While some manufacturers are waiting to see whether the new standard takes hold, others are committed to the new technology under the assumption that it will be popular with computer buyers and users.
Publication Name: PC Portables Magazine
Subject: Computers and office automation industries
ISSN: 1095-5070
Year: 1997
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Peripherals for your portable
Article Abstract:
A buyers' guide of peripheral devices and software for use with portable computers is presented. Among the devices discussed are printers, scanners, mice, voice-recognition software, keyboards and styluses. The Alps Masterpiece 2300 Photographic-Quality Color Printer, for Macintosh and PC, is designed with the business user, photographer, graphic artist, designer and hobbyist in mind. Price at $749, the color printer offers continuous-tone output and has Alps's proprietary MicroDry technology. Storm Technology's Easy Photo SmartPage Pro is a compact, full-page color scanner with 30-bit color, detachable handheld scanning and Contact Image Sensors (CIS). NEC's MultiSync LCD2000 flat-panel display has a viewable image size of 20.1 inches, and is only 8.7 inches deep. The display, costing $7,999, is claimed by NEC to be the biggest active matrix LCD monitor ever produced.
Publication Name: PC Portables Magazine
Subject: Computers and office automation industries
ISSN: 1095-5070
Year: 1997
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Altra Micropoint
Article Abstract:
Altra's Micropoint trackball offers a unique design consisting of a flat plastic pad with a movable mouselike device that sits on top and is connected to the pad beneath. Its moving portion is comfortable and easy to grip, but the three buttons are tiny and too close together. Altra provides many specialized features, including one-click shortcuts and custom macros, that are especially convenient for graphics users. The Micropoint's software offers numerous options for customizing how a computer operates, but the hardware device is so frustrating to use that many users may simply give up on the software. Altra offers the Micropoint in both Macintosh and PC versions, priced at $89 and $69 respectively.
Publication Name: PC Portables Magazine
Subject: Computers and office automation industries
ISSN: 1095-5070
Year: 1998
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