Longest name ever for a one trick app.  Microsoft developed the Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool to allow people to write an ISO file to a bootable medium: DVD or USB storage.  When Windows 7 launched a lot of people through student discounts, free upgrades and such received the operating system as a downloaded ISO file.  It was simple enough to burn to a DVD, I use ImgBurn, but if your system doesn’t have an optical drive like all netbooks you had to figure out how to get it …

Blast from the past: originally published July 26th 2002.
Now that I’m getting some use out of my HP Jornada 547 Pocket PC, I’m hot on the trail of useful accessories. Since my model came with a serial cable connection I purchased the USB cradle, so I can drop it in and sync up while recharging the battery. This was nice for home, but I wanted something that would travel. The AC adapter that comes with the Jornada is compact and handles power from 110 to 240, so with an AC …

There are two basic types of external hard drives for sale: those that use 3.5″ hard drives and those that use 2.5″ hard drives.  The 3.5″ units typically have an external power supply, multiple connection types (USB, eSATA, Firewire) and have some sort of stand to keep them in position.  The 2.5″ units have no external power connections and normally connect via USB.
The important item here is that the 3.5″ units are designed to remain stationary while the 2.5″ units are designed to be mobile.  It’s this alone that should …

I picked this up at my local Costco for $28 Canadian ( APC part USB-KIT ).  I needed a USB 2.0 hub and a USB extension cable.  This kit includes a four port USB 2.0 hub, three, six and ten foot A-B cables, and a ten foot extension cable.  Great value, expecially considering the lifetime warranty after registration.
The hub is smoked black and silver, and has a power LED.  It’s small and gets the job done.  The cables are a thick grey and feel solid, with double shielded braid and …