Specifications
5
try those functions. I did move around
some of the image files from the media
cards to my USB external HD, USB
thumb drive, PC, etc., and it worked
well. It handles both USB speeds. You
need Windows 2000 or XP for this
product. An available free download on
their Web site is Orb Networks that
allows accessing the photos, video, and
music on your home PC (broadband
connected) from your Internet enabled
mobile device. As for using it as a USB
hub, it normally handles low powered
USB devices, but an optional accessory
power supply is available. MSRP for the
Dazzle 990 is $49.95.
Dazzle Universal Media Reader/
Writer DM-24001: MSRP $39.99.
Dazzle 8 in 1 DM 22000: A high-
speed reader for eight different card
media: MSRP $29.95.
CameraMate VideoSafe CM-53000
allows you to capture analog video/
audio from any VCR or camcorder and
burn it to a CD or DVD and includes
some hardware: MSRP $49.99.
CameraMate Real Time Video CD-
50000 is an adapter and software for
capturing the video/audio from any
VCR or camcorder for the purpose of
burning to a CD or DVD. However,
Real Time Video software also offers
Autoedit Wizard, Autoedit Storyboard
Wizard, Randomize Wizard, and a DVD
Burn Wizard. Software and drivers are
included on a CD. Adapter cables for
RCA audio/video/SVHS plugs are not
included, but are easy to obtain, and
many folks have them lying around:
MSRP $69.99.
That’s it for this month. Meet me
here again next month if your editor
permits. This column is written to make
user group members aware of special
offers or freebies I have found or
arranged, and my comments should
not be interpreted to encourage, or
discourage, the purchase of any
products, no matter how enthused I
might sound. Bob (The Cheapskate)
Click <bobclick@mindspring.com>.
Visit my Web site at <http://
www.dealsguy.com
http://
www.dealsguy.com
http://
www.dealsguy.com>.
VoIP
Voice Over Internet
Protocol
By Brian K. Lewis
Are you using the Internet for your local
and/or long distance service? If not,
then maybe you need to read this article
to find out how some computer users
are saving “mucho dinero” on their
telephone calls.
VoIP stands for Voice Over Internet
Protocol. There are ways to use the
Internet for free phone calls, low cost
phone calls (2¢ per minute), or a
monthly fixed rate for both local and
long-distance calls. So how is it possible
to transmit your voice over your Internet
connection? We’ll look at some of the
technical aspects first. Then I can
discuss some of the services that are
available for you to check out further.
When you use your telephone, your
voice is converted into electrical
impulses and transmitted over copper
wires to another phone. There it is
converted back to sound waves. These
impulses are transmitted via several
switches in the telephone network. This
system is referred to as the Public
Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
As long as you are talking on the phone
you have a constant circuit connection
between the two phones. In the original
PSTN system, all calls required a