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<b>Intro</b>:
A powerpoint presentation could be considered the bane of many a college student's existence. I'm currently working on my Masters at Stevens Institiute in New Jersey, and I still see many Powerpoint classes, as well as lots of sweat-inducing presentations being performed by my fellow geek classmates. Today I'll be taking a look at <a href="http://www.btlogics.com/wizhome/menu_53.html">BT Logics' Memory Pointer</a>. It's definitely a device that many of my teachers would surely love to have. Now if these same professors would actually TEACH, instead of just READ directly out of a textbook, we'd all be happy campers... but (as usual) I digress.
<b>Packaging</b>:
<center>
</center>
BT Logics packages the Memory Pointer in an easy-to-open package. No cuts on the hands trying to get this one open. Plus, it makes it much, much easier to steal! Hooray! The laser pointer black market has a new champion.
<b>Stuff</b>:
<center>
</center>
Included in the packaging is the laser pointer, the USB receiver/memory stick, a battery, and the user's manual. Missing from the box is a cap for the USB receiver. This is a stupid oversight, as these kinds of USB plugs can easily break off in normal transport and the contacts could become dirty and fail to work at a critical time. It looks like the USB receiver was actually designed to accomodate a cap, and I was informed that BT Logics will be considering adding one to this package. In the meantime, use an unused condom to keep the USB port clean. We here at Stevens Institute have plenty of those.
<b>The Memory Stick</b>:
<center>
</center>
The USB stick combines a 128MB RAM storage capacity thumbdrive with the actual receiver for the pointer. The memory portion of the stick is recognized as a USB mass storage device and works with Windows ME/2000 and up. The receiver portion is recognized as a USB HID device; specifically, a keyboard. In this regard, the product is great as it needs no manual driver installation.
<center>
</center>
The USB stick contains a status LED that flashes rapidly as it impatiently waits for a device to connect to it. Connecting the pointer to the receiver is so easy, even you non-Stevens Institute yokels can figure it out. You simply hold one of the buttons down for 2 seconds and the device becomes programmed to the receiver. Bingo.
<b>The Pointer</b>:
<center>
</center>
The device combines a laser pointer with a transmitter that sends "Page Up" and "Page Down" commands to the computer. These are translated as regular keyboard commands and work fine with any piece of software that utilizes those keys. For everyone's favorite sleep-inducing program, Powerpoint, it works as expected. During my testing, I also enjoyed using this gadget to view documents and webpages as well. This little device can be used for a number of creative purposes, not just Powerpoint. For example, you can open up a picture of someone you hate in Photoshop and imagine that he's about to be sniped. It's also great for shining in your friend's eyeballs while he's driving.
<b>Testing</b>:
I have been using this product for about two weeks on multiple computers with various Windows-based operating systems. The product works as expected, and the memory storage portion of the device seems to do the job just fine as well. After the initial "new device" detection in Windows, the transmitter must always be synced to the receiver. After this, it works without a hitch. Transfer speeds are decent for a 128MB USB 1.1 device. Most users will just be putting Powerpoint and similarly small/boring files on it, after all. The range is pretty impressive as well. At about 40 or so feet from the receiver, it still works fine.
<b>Conclusion</b>:
Since this unit mixes three devices into one product, it is difficult to judge the price of $79.99 (MSRP) as being fair or overpriced right off the bat, so let's break it down: <a href="http://ase.shopping.com/xGS-laser%20pointer~NS-1~linkin_id-3002062">It is a laser pointer</a>, <a href="http://ase.shopping.com/xGS-128MB%20USB~NS-1~linkin_id-3002062">a 128MB USB stick</a>, and <a href="http://ase.shopping.com/xGS-remote%20control%20powerpoint~NS-1~linkin_id-3002062">a remote control</a>. Judging from this perspective, it's fair to say that the device is reasonably priced. It is perfect for a teacher, business presentations, or for pissing people off in a crowded movie theater. It also makes a great pet toy. My dog loved chasing the little laser dot around the floor. The <a href="http://www.btlogics.com/wizhome/menu_53.html">Memory Pointer</a> will be available to purchase in about a weeks time from the date of this article.
I'd like to thank Josephine from <a href="http://www.btlogics.com/wizhome/menu_53.html">BT Logics</a> for making this review possible.
<b>Intro</b>:
A powerpoint presentation could be considered the bane of many a college student's existence. I'm currently working on my Masters at Stevens Institiute in New Jersey, and I still see many Powerpoint classes, as well as lots of sweat-inducing presentations being performed by my fellow geek classmates. Today I'll be taking a look at <a href="http://www.btlogics.com/wizhome/menu_53.html">BT Logics' Memory Pointer</a>. It's definitely a device that many of my teachers would surely love to have. Now if these same professors would actually TEACH, instead of just READ directly out of a textbook, we'd all be happy campers... but (as usual) I digress.
<b>Packaging</b>:
<center>
</center>BT Logics packages the Memory Pointer in an easy-to-open package. No cuts on the hands trying to get this one open. Plus, it makes it much, much easier to steal! Hooray! The laser pointer black market has a new champion.
<b>Stuff</b>:
<center>
</center>Included in the packaging is the laser pointer, the USB receiver/memory stick, a battery, and the user's manual. Missing from the box is a cap for the USB receiver. This is a stupid oversight, as these kinds of USB plugs can easily break off in normal transport and the contacts could become dirty and fail to work at a critical time. It looks like the USB receiver was actually designed to accomodate a cap, and I was informed that BT Logics will be considering adding one to this package. In the meantime, use an unused condom to keep the USB port clean. We here at Stevens Institute have plenty of those.
<b>The Memory Stick</b>:
<center>
</center>The USB stick combines a 128MB RAM storage capacity thumbdrive with the actual receiver for the pointer. The memory portion of the stick is recognized as a USB mass storage device and works with Windows ME/2000 and up. The receiver portion is recognized as a USB HID device; specifically, a keyboard. In this regard, the product is great as it needs no manual driver installation.
<center>
</center>The USB stick contains a status LED that flashes rapidly as it impatiently waits for a device to connect to it. Connecting the pointer to the receiver is so easy, even you non-Stevens Institute yokels can figure it out. You simply hold one of the buttons down for 2 seconds and the device becomes programmed to the receiver. Bingo.
<b>The Pointer</b>:
<center>
</center>The device combines a laser pointer with a transmitter that sends "Page Up" and "Page Down" commands to the computer. These are translated as regular keyboard commands and work fine with any piece of software that utilizes those keys. For everyone's favorite sleep-inducing program, Powerpoint, it works as expected. During my testing, I also enjoyed using this gadget to view documents and webpages as well. This little device can be used for a number of creative purposes, not just Powerpoint. For example, you can open up a picture of someone you hate in Photoshop and imagine that he's about to be sniped. It's also great for shining in your friend's eyeballs while he's driving.
<b>Testing</b>:
I have been using this product for about two weeks on multiple computers with various Windows-based operating systems. The product works as expected, and the memory storage portion of the device seems to do the job just fine as well. After the initial "new device" detection in Windows, the transmitter must always be synced to the receiver. After this, it works without a hitch. Transfer speeds are decent for a 128MB USB 1.1 device. Most users will just be putting Powerpoint and similarly small/boring files on it, after all. The range is pretty impressive as well. At about 40 or so feet from the receiver, it still works fine.
<b>Conclusion</b>:
Since this unit mixes three devices into one product, it is difficult to judge the price of $79.99 (MSRP) as being fair or overpriced right off the bat, so let's break it down: <a href="http://ase.shopping.com/xGS-laser%20pointer~NS-1~linkin_id-3002062">It is a laser pointer</a>, <a href="http://ase.shopping.com/xGS-128MB%20USB~NS-1~linkin_id-3002062">a 128MB USB stick</a>, and <a href="http://ase.shopping.com/xGS-remote%20control%20powerpoint~NS-1~linkin_id-3002062">a remote control</a>. Judging from this perspective, it's fair to say that the device is reasonably priced. It is perfect for a teacher, business presentations, or for pissing people off in a crowded movie theater. It also makes a great pet toy. My dog loved chasing the little laser dot around the floor. The <a href="http://www.btlogics.com/wizhome/menu_53.html">Memory Pointer</a> will be available to purchase in about a weeks time from the date of this article.
I'd like to thank Josephine from <a href="http://www.btlogics.com/wizhome/menu_53.html">BT Logics</a> for making this review possible.