Accessories for Laptops

PCMCIA devices



Earlier PCMCIA slots were used for a modem or a network card, but now that these are inbuilt in most laptops, you can use them for other devices. Choices are a Wi-Fi card, biometric authentication device, and extenders for USB, FireWire, Bluetooth or even an FM tuner.






Targus Defcon Authenticator



If you don't trust your locks and keys, use this fingerprint scanner with the PCMCIA port of your notebook



Price: Rs 13,990



Contact: Targus, Bangalore. Tel: 56966424






Mobile versions of bigger devices



Mobile printers, extra slim scanners, webcams, external sound cards and mini USB speakers fit in this category. 






Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 NX



Your favorite song does not sound good on your notebook? Try using the External Sound Blaster by Creative. It plugs into you notebook through the USB port and comes with a remote too.



Price: Rs 10599



Contact: Creative Technology, Mumbai. Tel: 982035771. E-mail: rajshekhar_bhatt@ctl.creative.com 






PixelView PlayTV USB Pro



Hooked to television? Try this USB-based TV tuner that comes with a remote and offers still and moving video capture.



Price: Rs 4000


Contact:
Rashi Peripherals, Mumbai. Tel: 28260256.









USB accessories



Most accessories for notebooks are USB, from mice to IrDA, Bluetooth connectors and R/F pointing devices. The ones becoming popular are storage devices, which are as small as the size of a pen and store as much data

as 1GB.






Logitech Web Cameras 



Logitech ultra compact camera for notebooks. 



QuickCam Pro: Rs 8000 



QuickCam: Rs 6250



Contact: Rashi Peripherals, Mumbai. Tel: 28260256






Iomega HDD 



This 230 gms, 40 GB HDD can fit in your shirt pocket and comes with Norton Ghost 2003 and Iomega Automatic backup. You can also connect it via FireWire. 



Price: Rs 15,000



Contact: Neoteric Informatique, Delhi. 



Tel: 26433549/50. 




E-mail: manish@neoteric-info.com

Adaptors



Carry a universal power adaptor when traveling abroad, to avoid the problem of power-plug not fitting into the socket. Adaptors are associated not just with power. There's a USB to COM port adaptor. And, an adaptor to convert DV-I to regular analog if you're using a Mac.

Geetaj Channana