Toshiba PCX2600 DOCSIS Cable Modem ( DAZ8823A-R ) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the latest Toshiba modem supplied for broadband usage thru some of the TWC networks - IF you ask for it!
It's a great modem, as reliable as my older 1100, and the quality skips right over the 2500! If you've been using one of those, than you know THAT is very important...
Basically, it's a killer modem, better than all the other modems I've tried & I think it's a great relief. I was tired of the freeze-ups!
Another bonus, it works just as well on my MAC G4 as it does on my other PC's.

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Toshiba's DOCSIS 2.0 certified PCX2600 Cable Modem - Toshiba's answer to advanced symmetrical services. The PCX2600 offers the highest performance in cable data modem technology today, providing residential and business users with one of the fastest truly two-way interfaces to the Internet. Add the services made possible with the DOCSIS 2.0 standard, and the PCX2600 is the newest standard for DOCSIS cable modems.The Toshiba PCX2600 DOCSIS Cable Modem has been CableLabs Certified to meet the rigorous interoperability requirements of the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) 1.0 and 2.0 standards. This assures you that the Toshiba PCX2600 DOCSIS Cable Modem will work seamlessly with any DOCSIS network no matter where you are. The cable modem is easy to install using either a USB or a standard Ethernet 10/100 connection to your PC or to a network hub / router in a small business. With support for up to 16 PCs, the Toshiba PCX2600 DOCSIS Cable Modem is ideal for SOHO environments where secured, shared Internet access is a requirement. For MSOs, Toshiba's PCX2600 DOCSIS Cable Modem includes such advanced features as a customizable self-installation wizard, remote and local diagnostic capability, remote firmware download and SNMP support.

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Sling Media Slingbox PRO (SB200-100) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Slingbox Pro does an excellent job of streaming video from multiple sources (Tivo's, cable boxes, or satellite tuners, for example) to any internet-connected computer, anywhere in the world. If you have access to a fast internet connection, you'll be amazed at the quality of the picture and the sound.
Two issues:
1) The primary, defining feature of the PRO verison of the Slingbox is its ability to "sling" high-definition video across the internet to your laptop. It's unfortunate that the folks at Sling Media:
- saw fit to design the box to use a proprietary cable instead of the industry-standard HDMI cable that all HD component owners know and use, and
- failed to include their proprietary cable in the box with the Pro. When I buy a product for its PRO features, I shouldn't have to go back out and scavenge for a rare, $50.00 cable in order to use those features. This was a terrible oversight.
2) Be aware that you will not be able to use the Slingbox unless you:
- can plug it directly into your home network router, or
- purchase a $50-$90 wireless Ethernet "bridge," or
- purchase Slingbox's bizarre and expensive hardware solution for connecting the Slingbox to your router over your electrical wiring.
A PRO-level, premium product should be able to see and use a wireless home network connection, right out of the box; a trip back to the store to buy more hardware shouldn't be necessary.
The core product is great, and works better than advertised ... but this PRO package lacks what any pro would expect to find in the box. Be aware that, in addition to the Slingbox Pro, you'll need to buy:
- a home network router (if you don't already have one),
- a wireless G network bridge or the Slingbox networking product (if you don't have your router near your television), and
- a proprietary video cable (if you want to "sling" HD programming).

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The first generation Slingbox was a big step forward for so-called "place shifting" technology, a device that allowed you to view incoming TV signals on any TV computer in your home, or on any Internet-connected PC around the world. Sling Media is now introducing the successors to this groundbreaking product. Now there are three Slingboxes to choose from, each with features that make it easier than ever to bring your TV and other media with you wherever you roam. Choose from the Slingbox Tuner, AV, and Pro models depending on your entertainment needs. Compare Slingbox models.
Slingbox Pro The Slingbox Pro ensures that you can watch all of your favorite home theater entertainment anywhere you go, with the ability to watch and control up to three standard definition and one high definition video (via component connection) devices. Using an Internet connected computer or compatible mobile phone (with purchase of SlingPlayer Mobile software), you can watch and control your home TV, DVR, basic cable, digital cable box, or satellite receiver anywhere around your home or around the globe. With a Slingbox Pro you will never be separated from your favorite TV shows, sports broadcasts, breaking news stories, digital video recordings, or video on demand.
The Slingbox Pro also includes the free Slingbox Finder service to locate a Slingbox from any network location, in or out of the home.
How it Works Slingbox Pro is a small device that connects to your cable box to redirect the TV signal to the computer of your choice--providing high quality video, no matter the distance, so long as there is a high-speed Internet connection. This technology also allows you to access and control your TV from anywhere--and your TV doesn't even have to be on.
SlingMedia's patent pending SlingStream technology delivers the smoothest and best video quality possible. SlingStream delivers up to a 400 percent video quality improvement over the original Slingbox. SlingStream is powered by a programmable engine that is capable of running the latest video compression algorithms. SlingStream dynamically adjusts to changes in network conditions, video content, and Internet bandwidth.
At Home, At Work, or on the Go At home, Now you can watch TV in whatever room in the house you choose. Say goodbye to the days of having to watch your child's favorite DVD over and over again. Now you can watch your soaps in the laundry room. You can watch your fix-it shows in the garage. Or you can watch your cooking shows in the kitchen. You'll never get stuck having to watch shows you don't want to now that you're in charge of what's on, when it's on, and where it's on.
Now that you can access your TV wherever you have your computer, the clock won't be the only thing worth watching at work. You can watch your news and business channels to stay updated. You can catch the big game while tending to business. Or, you can watch your favorite shows during your downtime. In any event, work will never just be business as usual.
With the SlingBox you can travel to another country and actually understand the programs. You can visit the in-laws and not get stuck watching The Weather Channel.
Ready for Vista SlingPlayer software is compatible with the Windows Vista operating system. Future Vista-specific enhancements are expected in early 2007.
What's in the Box Slingbox Pro, SlingPlayer CD-ROM, AC adapter (100-240V 50-60Hz), ethernet cable, stereo audio cable, RF/coax cable, composite AV cable, S-video cable, remote control IR cable, and quick start guide.

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Brother HL-5250DN Refurbished Network Ready Laser Printer with Duplex Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought the Brother HL-5250DN printer from Amazon for five reasons:
1) fast monochrome (black and white) printer.
2) network capability.
3) automatic duplexing (printing on both sides of the paper).
4) Enclosed paper tray.
5) Price (and the one-year manufacturer's warranty is nice, even on the refurbished product).
I also like the low toner, paper, and drum replacement indicator lights on the printer. The cost of the toner cartridges is about the same with other printers I've seen.
What comes in the box:
Printer, drum and toner assembly, AC power cord, paper Quick Setup Guide, CD-ROM. The CD-ROM has the drivers, entire Owner's Manual, and animated installation guide.
Note: No cables are provided.
If you are going to connect the printer to a wireless router, you will need an Ethernet cable.
If you are going to connect the printer directly to one computer, you will need either a USB or parallel cable. The printer has connections for both.
Setup
The setup did not go as easily as I hoped.
I had two problems with installation and setup:
1) I was not sure which network to use (peer to peer or shared).
2) After installation, I could not print from one of the two computers on the network.
After easily removing some shipping adhesive tape, inserting the drum/toner assembly (looks like a full toner cartridge, not a starter cartridge) and paper tray, I was ready to proceed with installing the software drivers.
The Quick Setup Guide presents you with choices for Windows 98/Me/2000/XP: USB interface, parallel interface, and network interface. There are also choices if using Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Macintosh. The manufacturer's website indicates Microsoft Vista has "built-in" drivers but Brother drivers are also available on the website.
Upon clicking "Install Printer Driver" from CD-ROM menu, I was presented with three choices: USB cable users, Parallel cable users, and Network cable users. I chose the network cable users since I wanted to add the printer to my wireless network router. I was presented with a license agreement that I accepted. I then had to choose between "Brother Peer-to-Peer Network Printer" or "Network Shared Printer". I chose peer-to-peer to print directly to the printer over the network rather than to a central server on a shared printer. On Step 8 I had to choose "LPR" or "NetBios". I had no idea which one to choose and I didn't find any useful information to help with the decision. I chose LPR and clicked Next. The printer was recognized. Make sure to write down the IP Node Address (for a wireless router it is something like 192.xxx.xx.x).
Now, I needed to access the printer from my wireless computer running Microsoft Vista. I went to the Control Panel and double clicked on Printers. I then chose "Add a Printer" and selected "Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer". The computer searched for and found the printer. A couple more clicks and I was successfully printing from the wireless computer.
Printing from the desktop computer running Windows XP, connected to the router with an Ethernet cable, would not be as simple. The computer recognized the printer but would not send any data to the printer. I went to Control Panel, Printer and Faxes, right clicked on Properties. The General tab did not have the Location of the printer. I added 192.xxx.xx.x and clicked OK and tried printing a document but I was not successful. After two hours of dealing with it and looking at the company's website, I called the company (toll-free phone number right on the box). The company was closed; I called the next morning just after the company opened at 9 a.m. Eastern. I went through a very brief voice prompt menu and I was connected to Robby in all of about two minutes. He was polite but he was not able to solve my problem. He told me second level support would call me within 24 hours. Just over two hours later I got a call from Debbie, who was in Memphis, Tennessee. She was very helpful and quickly identified the problem. When hovering over the printer icon in the Printer and Faxes folder, the little popup message indicated the printer was offline. I don't know how I missed that. To correct the problem all I had to do was right click the printer and select "Use Printer Online". After a few seconds the printer was in Ready status. Problem resolved.
Summary
This is my first Brother printer and I am very favorably impressed. I don't think there is another printer on the market with these features at such a low price, at least at the time of this writing.
The product is shipped in the manufacturer's box, not an Amazon box, so all your neighbors will know what's in the box on your doorstep. The box looks like the box for a new printer, listing many features of the printer but it is clearly marked "Factory Refurbished". The printer itself has a sticker on the back with "Re-manufactured Product". My printer was originally manufactured in September 2005. I bought it in May 2007.
My experience with Brother International has been very positive. I got a great printer with excellent features, a full-size toner cartridge TN-550 (not a starter toner cartridge!), and a one-year warranty. From idle/sleep, the first page took only 20 seconds to print and the text quality is great. The icing on the cake was the technical support provided by Americans. Their promptness and knowledge was impressive. This was easily the best technical support experience I have ever had!Update December 4, 2007:
I am still very pleased with the printer but it is noisy when printing and it does make "tick, tick, tick" noises sometimes. Neither of these issues has effected performance. The only annoyance I've experienced is with envelope printing - the envelope always crinkles. This isn't a big deal for me but it is something to consider if envelope printing is important to you.
Update October 7, 2008:
I purchased another refurbished HL-5250. The toner and drum are also factory refurbished. The drum unit (DR-520) has life expectancy of 22,500 pages, about 90% of new. The toner cartridge (TN-550) has an expected yield of 3,150 pages at 5% coverage. A new toner cartridge has an expected yield of 3,500 pages.

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The EHL-5250DN is a 30ppm network-ready monochrome laser printer with a built-in duplex feature. Designed for busy offices and small workgroups, it is a smart and versatile choice.

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+9dB "Linksys" 15" Booster Antenna (Pair) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have always purchased genuine Linksys high-gain antennas in the past, for my Linksys wireless routers and access points, but I recently had the opportunity to try these 15" +9dB booster antennas provided by WiFi World, and I couldn't be happier with the results. These antennas, which are sold as a pair, have a standard TNC connector (female type), and connects easily to the Linksys WAP11 and WAP54G wireless access points. However, the newer revisions of the WRT54G and WRT54GS wireless routers no longer have user replaceable antennas, so you should check the back of your router before purchasing ANY antennas for these models.
As with any Omni-directional antenna, this +9dB model boosts signal strength on a horizontal plane. The do not offer much signal boost between floors of your home or office building. I think many people that purchase high gain antennas expect they will be able to add them to provide signal enhancement for multiple levels of a building. Although some amount of signal boost may reach a floor above or below your router, it is the strength across the same level of the building (or extending outside the building) that gets the biggest increase. I have a Linksys WRT54G wireless router on the lower level of my home, which does not have removable antennas. To achieve a better Wi-Fi signal to the upper level of my home I installed a Linksys WAP54G wireless access point and configured it as a repeater. This provided fairly good coverage in my home, but as I use a number of wireless network security cameras throughout my house I noticed some video and audio stuttering in the far corners, where the Wi-Fi signal was at its weakest. So I installed this set of +9dB booster antennas and within a couple of minutes I had my wireless access point powered up and blasting a stronger signal both inside and outside my home. All of my security cameras now stream flawless video at 30 fps, and there are no more audio dropouts. I also get coverage for my laptop computer much farther away from the house (in the yard) than I used to.
Although not everyone may receive the same excellent results with these antennas that I have, I honestly believe they are a quality product that performs as advertised. Linksys certainly produces excellent quality high-gain antennas as well, but at less than half the cost these +9dB antennas give me just as good, if not better, results than I previously received with the premium priced Linksys antennas. Just remember, vertical boost will not be strong with this type of antenna, and placement of the router and positioning of the antennas does make a big difference in signal strength at any given distance. If you need to "focus" your signal to another floor or between buildings then you may need to look at a directional style antenna rather than this Omni-directional model. I am giving these +9dB 15" antennas 5-stars, because they exceeded my expectations and were substantially cheaper than the recommended Linksys brand. I highly recommend them to anyone looking to increase horizontal signal strength at a very reasonable price. =o)

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This pair (qty=2) of quality built 15" omni-directional antenna is a direct replacement for the antenna that comes standard with your Linksys router. Replacing your router's antenna with this model will significantly increase the range and strength of your WiFi signal.Just connect the Booster Antenna to your Router or network device and you'll experience an instant jump in performance: up to 4x the signal strength and 3x the range. Installation is very easy - just twist off the factory antenna and twist on the Booster Antenna. This products is ideal for home and office environments. It is compatible with all 802.11b and 802.11g networks and extends Wireless LAN into hard-to-reach areas at home or in the office. Increases the effective range of an Access Point or a Router while reducing interference and noise. Easy no-tools installation of this antenna (twist-on / twist-off.) Complete with Lifetime Warranty.

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HP ProCurve Switch 1400-8G 8-Port 10/100/1000 Gigabit Network Switch Review

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(More customer reviews)These are great switches and just as fast as the compitition with ONE exception.. THEY DONT BREAK!
I've used them all and the major complaint I have with most home switches is the HEAT they generate. You can put money down that Your Cisco Linksys or DLINK switch is going to last about a year. They do give you a warranty and an easy replacement but I would rather buy a switch that I didnt need to exorcise the return policy every 1-2 years thank you very much.
The ProCurve Switches use external brick type power supplies that keep the heat away from your switch processor. This May be an issue for Business applications that use rack mounting, but for home use ProCurve hits a Home Run!

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The HP ProCurve Switch 1400-8G is a small form factor gigabit unmanaged stackable switch with 8 ports of 10/100/1000. It features fan-less for silent operation. Primary InformationNetworking Type:SwitchForm Factor:ExternalData Transfer Rate:1 GbpsData Link Protocol:Ethernet; Fast Ethernet; Gigabit EthernetNetworking / Ports Qty:8 x Ethernet 10Base-T Ethernet 100Base-TX Ethernet 1000Base-TVoltage Required:AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )Flow control auto-uplink (auto MDI/MDI-X) ; Compliant Standards :FCC Class A certified VCCI EN 60950 ICES-003 IEC 60950 UL 60950 CSA 22.2 No. 60950 FCC Part 15 B EN 55022SystemNetworking / Compliant Standards:IEEE 802.3 IEEE 802.3u IEEE 802.3ab IEEE 802.1p IEEE 802.3xInterfaces:8 x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45UNSPSC CodeUNSPSC Code:43222612Product IDUPC:882780979895Manufacturer Part:J9077A#ABA

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Acer Aspire 5517-5086 - Athlon 64 TF-20 / 1.6 GHz - RAM 2 GB - HDD 160 GB - DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM - Radeon X1200 - WLAN : 802.11b/g - Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit - 15.6" Widescreen TFT 1366 x 768 ( WXGA ) Review

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(More customer reviews)Bought this laptop for my 14 yr old son. He's a big Runescape fan. I've heard no complains or problems. Well worth the money.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Acer Aspire 5517-5086 - Athlon 64 TF-20 / 1.6 GHz - RAM 2 GB - HDD 160 GB - DVDRW (R DL) / DVD-RAM - Radeon X1200 - WLAN : 802.11b/g - Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit - 15.6" Widescreen TFT 1366 x 768 ( WXGA )

Running an AMD Athlon 64 TF-20 1.6GHz processor and 2GB of fast DDR2 memory, the Acer Aspire AS5517-5086 Notebook PC is perfect for completing daily tasks like e-mail, web browsing, document and spreadsheet use as well as enjoying digital media like pictures, movies and more. It has a 15.6-inch widescreen LCD display, ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics capability, 160GB hard drive and a dual Layer DVD optical drive. Additional features include 802.11b/g wireless capability, 5-in-1 media card reader, multiple audio and USB 2.0 ports for peripheral connections, and more.

Click here for more information about Acer Aspire 5517-5086 - Athlon 64 TF-20 / 1.6 GHz - RAM 2 GB - HDD 160 GB - DVDRW (R DL) / DVD-RAM - Radeon X1200 - WLAN : 802.11b/g - Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit - 15.6" Widescreen TFT 1366 x 768 ( WXGA )

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Brother MFC-465CN Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer with Networking Review

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(More customer reviews)I can't be happier about finally being able to take a sledge hammer to the festering pile of... err... that is, the HP PSC 1410 All-in-One Printer (Q7290A#ABA) I've been chained to for the past two years. This new Brother MFC-465CN is *everything* that the HP PSC 1410 is not -- it's quiet, it's fast, it's insanely easy to use, and (the single most important feature of all, in my opinion) it doesn't install hundreds of megabytes of useless bloat-ware and a dozen memory- and cycle-pig services on your computer when you install the printer driver.
I've got the MFC-465CN plugged into my LinkSys WRT54G wireless router, with wireless NIC's on five Windows boxes. It took me less than a minute per machine to install the driver, and (*gasp!*) it didn't add any services! Or tool tray garbage! Or auto-run garbage in the registry! My prayers had been answered! I wept for joy!
Regarding the other reviewer comment about slow printing, I have the feeling that your mileage may vary depending on how things are connected together. I just dumped this here page (lots of color, graphics, images, and whatnot) to the MFC-465CN and it took just a hair over 30 seconds from start to finish. Much, *much* faster than my old FrankenPrinter. And the print quality is *superb*, for both text and images. No idea how photos will look, but my bet is that it'll do an excellent job of it.
Also no clue about how long I'll be able to go before I have to replace the ink cartridges, but ANYTHING has to be better than the FrankenPrinter, which ate a black cartridge every three or four weeks... even though I rarely print more than a page every other day (!!!).
Just the mere thought of being able to nuke all of that HP bloat-ware on my computers and disembowel that PSC 1410 gives me great pleasure. And I think I'll jump up and down on its carcass a couple of times, and sprinkle some salt on it, just to make sure it doesn't rise from the dead.
UPDATED, 16JAN08: I've been working this printer like a plow-horse for the past month, churning out all sorts of stuff (maps, photos, mailing labels, etc.) and I *still* love the bejabbers outta it. I've dumped at least a dozen full-color Google maps, a dozen or so photos, around a hundred B&W pages and lots (and lots!) of mailing labels, and as far as I can tell it's NOT EVEN CLOSE to running out of ink -- black or otherwise.
Very happy camper. Loving this printer, and thinking about buying another one and putting it up in the attic, just in case they stop making 'em.

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The MFC465cn includes a 2 color flip-up LCD display and a 4x6 photo bypass tray.Print rich, vibrant borderless photos with a droplet as small as 1.5 picoliters and True2Life technology. The MFC465cn can also do other tasks with built-in functions to scan, copy, fax/PC fax, and the PhotoCapture Center to print high quality color photos from digital camera media cards, PictBridge-enabled camera or USB Flash Drive. Print resolutions up to 6000 x 1200 dpi and color inkjet print speeds (30ppm in black and 25ppm in color).

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