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PRODUCT
REVIEW: |
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The Power Presenter RF by Street Smart Technologies
Most of us have used laptops connected to LCD projectors when giving PowerPoint presentations. And we all know how frustrating it can be to have to stay close to the laptop in order to advance the slide show. The problem we face is that we always seem to be blocking someone's view. Using the Power Presenter RF by Street Smart Technologies (a division of Honeywell Corp.) eliminates this problem. When connected properly, you can control the presentation (forward and reverse) from up to 75 feet away. (The manufacturer says you may get up to 100 feet away, but we could barely see our slides at 75 feet.) The unit works with the Mac OS 8, Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000 and above.
The Power Presenter consists of only three parts: The RF Remote (see Fig.1), the USB-PS/2 Receiver (see Fig. 2), and the appropriate 3-foot USB or PS/2 cable. You can use either PS/2 or USB ports. The kit even comes with a nylon bag in which to put all the parts when you're on the road. (Nice move, guys!)
| Fig. 1 | Fig. 2 |
Since the RF Remote is a radio frequency product, you don't have to worry about the "line of site" problems typical of IR (infrared) devices. The small, palm-sized RF Remote has three buttons: one for advancing, one for reversing and a third button that controls a built-in laser pointer. The people at "Street Smart" Technologies appear to be living up to their name!
For our test, we used the USB connection commonly found on all current laptops. Our system is only a few years old and our OS is Windows 98 SE.
Following the instruction sheet included in the kit, installation was fast and easy. As soon as we plugged the USB Receiver into the USB port, the New Hardware Wizard came up and asked us for a driver. We were instructed to put in the Windows 98 CD, and the wizard found and loaded the hiddev.inf file. The wizard then completed the installation and returned the system to our full control. We then launched a PowerPoint presentation, and the remote worked beautifully. It should be noted that the Power Presenter does not prevent you from also using the mouse or keyboard keys to control the presentation.
The small, one-ounce RF Remote unit uses a 3-volt Lithium battery that can be found at any Radio Shack store. We agree with the company's suggestion to carry a spare battery with you at all times.
The current street price for the Power Presenter RF is $150.00, and in our opinion is well worth it. Hartley & Associates gives this product a big thumbs up!
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