Advantages: reasonable price
Disadvantages: no serial RS232 port, software limitations

...I bought a new Tosh 3000-X4 in february this year based on cost and the fact that I have had some good Toshiba machines in the past. The current machine I feel disappointed with now that I have had it for a few months. My first disappointment was the absence of a RS232 port and infra red ports. I used these applications quite a lot. I was probably blinded by the DVD player functions at the time of purchase as it was impossible to get one under a grand at that time. The DVD is great by the way! It came loaded with WInXP home edition. Fine if you like that sort of thing, but being an avid WIN 95 OSR 2 and WIN98 user I find it very disconcerting that I cannot run these versions on this machine effectively. I aint clever enough to write my own drivers for display etc. for the earlier Win versions, and Toshiba will NOT support these versions... Read review

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Advantages: Data capabilities, design
Disadvantages: Aerial

...This is a surprising phone from Ericsson. It is CURVY. Ericsson usually make square phones that are usually dull and boring. This phone is an exception. The complete solution for voice and data. The Ericsson data phone GS 18, with its built-in data/fax modem, is specifically designed for those who need an easy to use mobile phone and mobile office solution. The GS 18 comes complete with an RS232 cable to connect to a PC or laptop making working on the move easier than ever. The aerial looks tacky and weak.... Read review

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Advantages: Cheap for the level of resolution
Disadvantages: Poor customer and aftersales - not a home cinema projector

...The Infocus IN26XGA looked a good spec for the money. First disappointment was the input sockets. The information provided implied the projector had video ‘component’ connections but the RGB connection is only via the RS 232 (VESA) port, which can be done via an adaptor/accessory but this is not provided. Also you have to have a ‘component’ connection to achieve the higher levels of resolution the projector has, otherwise it is pointless paying for the extra picture resolution. There was no manual provided and information on the CD provided was scant. This may not have been a problem but the projector only produced very small scale pictures and it was not clear if this was by design or because the zoom was not working. The InFocus web site was also of no help and just added to the disappointment, particularly as it was not clear how... Read review

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Advantages: Good layout, excellent results from both voice and fax, good build quality,interface with PC,loads of facillties.
Disadvantages: You will CERTAINLY need the instruction manual, idiosyncratic menu system,film system can be expensive to run

...Well, I never ever thought I would ever buy a Fax Machine-until I spotted this Pansonic KX-FM330E in my local Cash Converters for the princely sum of £20. TWENTY POUNDS?!!! I could spend more than that in a pub on a Monday night! Close inspection revealed little use but the smell of tobacco smoke-the previous owner had obviously liked cigarettes. But it came with full instuctions,leads (except the RS232-C PC lead-but you can't have everything!)and a spare film cartridge. The previous owner had completly gone PC so this specimen had become surplus to requirements. When I got it home, I plugged it in and just about managed to get the lead into telephone socket wall. After a good study of the instuctions, I had managed to set the voicemail and the ringer volume. Furthur study revealed loads more facillites such as recall of received... Read review

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Advantages: Quick reliable dot matrix printer
Disadvantages: Just remember it is a dot matrix

...I have used these printers on and off for over 12 years. They are generally reliable and good for a 9 pin dot matrix. Some early ones had problems with weak drive gears, but later ones are fine. I had to go through about 50 of these looking for dodgy gears and replacing them!!!!! They support both IBM and EPSON control codes and have an easy to use menu which prints as it goes. They are available with both Centronics and RS232 sockets. Extras include various tractor feed modules. For business use with pre printed stationary they are excellent and are my favourite DMP. Scoring Picture Quality, well it is a dot matrix hence poor. it is also mono. In general OKI printers are very good, we have a colour laser at work which is very good and I will review it and the bigger version we get our customers to buy. My only concerns... Read review

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Advantages: Inbuilt modem and IR port
Disadvantages: RS232 cable does not work with win 98

...I upgraded to the Ericsson SH888 from a Nokia 5110. Immeadiately the increased call quality was noticeable. With only 1 bar signal strength the SH888 gave a clear and sharp phone call. The reason for my upgrade was to use the infrared port and built in modem with my palm top PC and laptop. The Ericsson website has excellent for using the phone in this way. Modem scripts can be downloaded and installed easily and used straight away. The infrared port can be also be used to edit the phone book on the phone and send text messages with the software supplied in the box. My one gripe is that the RS232 cable included in the package will not work with windows 98, meaning my main unit could not be used with the phone. Another problem is that Ericsson refuse to supple Win CE software to edit the phone book except with their own handhelds.... Read review

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Advantages: Small Form Factor, Enhanced Cooling, Easy to service
Disadvantages: Processor speed is not the fastest around

...HP really have got it completely right with this box. If you're looking for a PC based till, then this is the box for you. Using the standard desktop PC as a base, adding some extras, and targetting it at a specific use really has worked here. The RP5000 is very similar to the HP Compaq Small form factor desktops, however, they've taken into account the fact the box needs to be able to cope with the less than ideal situations a shop floor can bring. They have added an extra cooling fan which is thermal controlled allowing the box to be used in small and often confined spaces. Other manufacturers in this area offer solutions with either serial or USB ports. The RP5000 offers both 12V and 24V powered USB, and 4 (yes 4) RS232 serial ports. This allows retailers to future proof their purchase because they have the option to upgrade... Read review

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Advantages: reasonably high quality cable
Disadvantages: Of very limited use

...My 100th review – in some ways I wish I’d chosen a more glamorous item to cover, but this will have to do! Earlier Olympus Digital cameras used RS232c interfaces to connect directly to Personal Computers; my first semi-serious digital camera (an Olympus CAMEDIA C 960ZOOM reviewed previously) was one such example. Cameras of this vintage frequently have two 3.5mm jack sockets, one for Composite Video out (and feature a yellow collar) the other, for data is beige to match the cable. The cable is reasonably high quality, being roughly a metre long, and terminating in a 3.5mm jack plug at one end, and a 9 pin serial connection at the other. The camera automatically supplies the 12v signals required by an RS232 interface, there’s nothing ‘smart’ about the cable, it’s just a lump of wire! A screened cable is used, and features and Radio... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent range of features, good looking.
Disadvantages: None.

.... <> The K700i comes with many connectivity features. You can have Infra Red, Bluetooth, GSM and GPRS, USB and RS232 cable support. Infra Red and Bluetooth are very handy for data transfer, GSM and GPRS for mobile web and emailing, USB for sending and receiving files via PC or MAC and RS232 cable support for basically the same thing as USB. <> With the K700i you can listen to polyphonic tones with up to 40 voices. You can create your own tunes via the music maker and use them as your ring tone! <> With the K700i you can use java applications download from the internet, wap or your computer. The phone also supports Java games which are very popular. <> A standard battery comes with the phone which lasts about a week with everyday use. Charging is very quick; about thirty minutes at the most is all... Read review

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Advantages: Good Clear Pictures Fast Refresh Rate Easy To Set Up Loads Of Connenctions
Disadvantages: Gets Hot

...explains DLP is the DLP.com, if you are looking to buy this projector or any other DLP projector you have to watch the video on the site. The huge list of available connections is amazing, two VGA inputs, 1 VGA output, 3.5mm Audio in, S-Video, Composite Video, RS-232. With the handy SCART to VGA and S-Video adapter (included) allows you to project anything with a SCART port such as, DVD players, VHS players, SKY and SKY+ Boxes, TV's. you get loads in the box cables including : VGA Cable Composite Cable SCART to VGA and S-Video Smart Carry Case With Shoulder Strap Manuals and Other Documents Drivers and Software (1 CD) Remote Control with Batteries Power Cable The only bad thing about the projector is how hot it gets, but all projectors get hot, and as with most others this has... Read review

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