Matt’s Desk: Editor’s Blog

I use USB thumb drives to store all sorts of data, most of which would be useless (and boring) to anyone other than myself.  But some of the data is potentially valuable, including aspects of my finances and even some private information entrusted to me by third parties.  This reality has somewhat limited my use of USB drives since they can be so easily dropped, misplaced or stolen.

In the past I’ve experimented with encryption software, but I don’t think the average user would be very comfortable with much of what’s out there.  What the USB-thumb-drive-using masses need is a drive that comes with good security right out of the box.

And that’s exactly what the new Corsair Padlock 2 has: 256-bit AES hardware encryption baked right in.  What does this mean?  Well, in a nutshell, it means that there’s internal juju that locks down the information stored on the drive and it’s not computer dependant.  There’s no software to install, and there are no special adapters.  You just program the lock code (4-10 digits), and enter that code using the buttons on the drive to unlock the data.  Don’t input the correct code, and the Padlock 2 doesn’t even register when it’s plugged into a USB port.  If you did happen to lose the Padlock, it can only be used by the person who finds it once it’s been restored to factory defaults, which wipes all data in memory. 

I think this product (or products like it) will prove invaluable to professionals who carry sensitive data on a daily basis (lawyers and CPAs come to mind).  But its uses go far beyond preventing corporate espionage or identity theft – the Padlock 2 security is great for students, parents, or anyone who has mobile data to keep safe.

At present, the Corsair Padlock 2 is available in an 8GB capacity.

I began looking for a book light for my Kindle about a week ago.  What I quickly found was that most solutions were clip-on, gooseneck lights that seemed to stick out too far with too much off-center bulk. That’s not really what I wanted.

Then, during a Google Images search, I stumbled across the Kandle, a cleverly-named, Kindle-inspired LED book light that’s also compatible with other eBook devices like the Sony Reader.

The Kandle is the only Kindle-compatible book light I found without a long, flexible neck to deal with.  Rather, the Kandle has a wide, two-hinged light that’s situated at the top of the screen.  This is exactly what I was looking for.

The only thing that makes me a bit hesitant to go with the Kandle is that it runs on two CR2032 “coin” batteries.  These batteries aren’t as easy to find as, say, AAA batteries, and I can’t imagine they’d last as long.  Still, Amazon has a set of 25 of these batteries for a little over $5, so that should last a while.

So, I think I’m going to take the plunge and grab a Kandle.  Any thoughts? 

One of my techie wishes has already come true for the new year – someone has created a solution for adding Windows 7’s Aero Snap features to the Mac OS.  That solution is Cinch, a small utility from Irradiated Software, and it’s a must-have for Snap fans.  Isn’t it wonderful when things just work out?

While the words “Aero Snap” don’t appear anywhere in the utility’s description, there can be no doubt Cinch was designed to exactly mimic the Windows screen-snapping feature. For those who’ve not yet tried Windows 7, Aero Snap is a feature in Microsoft’s latest OS which allows the user to resize windows by dragging them to one of three sides of the screen: drag a window to the left or right side and that window is automatically resized to fill either side from top to bottom leaving the other half free for other windows; drag a window to the top of the screen at it’s maximized to fill the screen.  It may sound simple, but if you’re a multi-tasker, it’s an incredibly useful feature.

Cinch isn’t free, but its $7 price tag is a great value for Aero Snap devotees.  There are known issues with a handful of software titles, but I haven’t had a single hiccup, and I highly recommend this utility for all Mac OS users. 

There’s a demo version, too, so there’s no reason not to give it a try.

-M

If you’re a Windows power user who’ll never need telephone support for Windows 7, consider an OEM version of the upcoming OS.

Since OEM versions aren’t upgrades, you can do a fresh install without any of the usual upgrade headaches. Plus, OEM versions are much cheaper than the full retail versions (for example, the Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit OEM version is $110; $220 for the full version), and even a bit cheaper than the upgrades.  And if you build your own PC (or use Windows in Boot Camp or Parallels with your Mac), an OEM version of Windows 7 is certainly the way to go IMO. 

I have used OEM versions of Windows for years because I know I’ll never need Microsoft phone support and I build all of my desktops.  I also use an OEM version of Windows on my MacBook.

OEM versions of Windows 7 are now available for order from NewEgg.com.  Buy from NewEgg before October 10 and save a few extra bucks.

Check Prices:

Windows 7 Home Premium OEM: 32-bit   /   64-bit

Windows 7 Professional OEM: 32-bit   /   64-bit

If you have an Apple Store in your state, purchasing a new 5th Generation iPod nano from Apple’s online store will still result in your having to pay sales tax on the purchase.  But Amazon.com now has the new nanos in stock, and without sales tax.

Check your state laws to see if you are still responsible for paying sales tax on online purchases.

I’ve been using and reviewing technology (hardware, software, services, and everything between) for years, and – quite frankly – it takes more and more to impress me with each passing year. Sure, there are things I like, things I use, things  I recommend, but it’s rare when something comes along that makes me want to tell everyone I know to start using it yesterday (if not sooner).

But this, dear reader, is exactly the way I feel about Dropbox.

Dropbox is a free, cloud-based file syncing and file backup service. Install a small application on your Mac or PC (or Linux box) and it creates a folder on your hard drive – your Dropbox.  Anything you place in this on-system Dropbox is automatically synced with your account folder in the cloud, which you can access from any computer with an Internet connection simply by logging in.

Now for the really useful part:  You can install Dropbox on other machines, too, and once installed and linked with your account, files you place in your Dropbox on one computer is not only synced with your folder in the cloud, but is also synced with every other computer linked to your account.

Say I’m working on a product review on my MacBook, and want to pick up where I left off back at the office.  No problem – I just save it to my MacBook’s Dropbox.  Once I’m in the office, the file is already waiting in my office PC’s Dropbox folder, just as I left it on the notebook.  I do a little work on my PC, and those changes are immediately mirrored to my MacBook, my home PC and the cloud – all without a single command or button or click. 

It’s just that simple.  It’s fast.  It’s behind the scenes.  It’s amazing.  And I love it.

Now for the best and worst news about Dropbox. 

First, the best news:

Dropbox offers a 2GB account – meaning you can sync and store up to 2 gigabytes of data between computers and to your cloud storage – free.  This is enough for most users.

The worst news is that if you need more than 2GB, you’ll have to pay for the extra space, a service called Dropbox Pro.  The fact that they charge for this additional storage isn’t what’s bad –  it’s that what they charge is too high.

The next step up from the free 2 gigs of storage is 50GB, and for this you’ll pay $10 per month.  The next (and only other) option is 100GB of storage, which is $20 per month.

I think Dropbox Pro would be attractive to more users at half the price, but if you really need the space, I suppose it’s worth it.  I just wish they offered either more tiers at lower prices (say 25GB for $3 per month), or lower prices for their two existing tiers.

Chances are, the included 2GB of free space is enough, though.  But if you need more, there’s a free 14 day trial of Dropbox Pro.

@Despair.com

I have a lot of files – a LOT of files – on my office PC, and they’re spread over four drives (two internal, two external).  With nearly 3 terabytes of graphics files, photos, archived documents, video downloads, DVD backups, and drive images, finding what I want when I want it can be a headache.

Vista’s built-in Windows Search offers indexed search, which is great if you don’t have many files, or if you have a single drive – but for a setup like mine, the index becomes so bloated that searching is either too slow or too buggy, and I don’t like waiting for the index to be updated when I add a large amount of new data.

Over the past year, I’ve spent a considerable amount of time looking for the perfect desktop search solution for my needs. Google Desktop is one of the better options available, but it’s another indexer, and not really what I’m looking for.

The best option I’ve found is a free solution called Super Finder XT.

Super Finder XT offers traditional search without indexing for Windows XP, Vista and 7, and it’s very fast.  You can search one or multiple drives, search file names and/or contents, specify size and/or date parameters, wildcards, and more. and all of these options are presented with an Office 2007-ish ribbon UI.

If you like the program as much as I do, consider donating to the developers or posting a link on your blog to spread the word.  It’s now one of the most used programs on my office PC, and if you do a lot of searches, it’ll be one of yours, too.

From now until July 20, NewEgg.com is offering  the 1TB (terabyte) Western Digital Caviar Green 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive (Model WD10EADS) on sale for $89.  Enter coupon code EMCLVMR33 at checkout and save an additional $10, bringing the total price with shipping to $79.99.

This is a new, bare drive (no retail packaging) and is only usable in PCs and Macs with Serial ATA (SATA) data and power connections.  This is a desktop hard drive.

NOTE: You may need to subscribe to the NewEgg newsletter in order to use this code.

Sorry I haven’t posted for a while.  I’ve been busy with the iPhone 3GS, working on a Bluetooth headset roundup review… and deleting duplicate files.

If you’re like me, your hard drive is littered with thousands of files, many of which – for one reason or another – are duplicates.  I’ve spent hours manually removing duplicate files, largely because I’m a bit fearful of automatic duplicate file utilities that sometimes delete things you don’t want piled on the digital ash heap just yet.  But I’ve found a better solution: DoubleKiller.

DoubleKiller is a small, runs-without-installing Windows utility that locates duplicate files with ease.  Not only can DoubleKiller locate multiple files with the same name (which can be useless in many cases) it can also compare the size and CRC32-checksum of files to nail down duplicates even if the names are different.  You can scan entire drives or limit your search and destroy mission to specific folders.

Following the scan, you’re presented with a detailed list of files from which you can make deletion selections.  Ahh… full control, and no automatic deletion nightmares.

It would be difficult to calculate how much time this little gem has saved me.  And it’s totally free.