APC (BIOM34) Mouse

Last month I bought a new laptop. It's a Gateway CX200S convertible. The "convertible" part means that it can convert from a notebook to a tablet pc and back to a notebook. I wanted a convertible notebook because I am going back to school and I felt that having the ability to take notes directly onto the screen would be very beneficial. I don't do well with paper. No matter how much effort I put into being more organized, I always end up with my notes crumpled and coffee stained at the bottom of my tote. If my notebook computer ends up crumpled and coffee stained at the bottom of my tote, well...even I'm not that disorganized.

One of the issues I have had with my CX200S in tablet mode is passwords. It is extremely annoying trying to enter a password on a web page using the TIP (Tablet Input Panel). Switching to notebook mode just to enter a password is annoying as well. So, I set out to finder a way make this easier.

Once upon a time, on my old computer, I gave RoboForm a try. It certainly made things easier, but there was one problem. RoboForm stores your passwords and other sensitive information in plain text files. That makes you very vulnerable. Once I realized this I stopped using RoboForm and wouldn't use it again. Netscape and MIE both have password managers; but, I'm not really sure how secure they are either. It's not that I have a lot of sensitive information on my computer, it's just that it's my information and I'd like to keep it that way. So, I started looking into biometrics.

It's surprising, to me, that biometrics hasn't caught on more than it has. Some companies, like IBM, have biometric security integrated into their notebooks. Unfortunately, Gateway has no such thing.

Biometric security devices are available at all price points. The Microsoft Fingerprint Reader is $31.99 at Amazon.com. It's a basic device that will allow you to manage passwords for a single user. At the other end of the spectrum, the $171 Sony FIU 810 Puppy - fingerprint reader ( FIU810/PERS ) is a USB fingerprint reader that is both a password manager and a flash drive. All of your user information including your passwords and your fingerprint information is stored on the device itself, making it even more secure.

I wanted the Sony Puppy, but right now it is not in my budget. I finally decided on the APC USB Biometric Mouse Black/silver Password MgrIt's a little pricier than the Microsoft fingerprint reader, at $49.39; but, it has more functionality and, well, it's not Microsoft, which is always a plus.

The APC BioMouse comes with OmniPass software that allows you to manage passwords and user accounts for multiple users on the same system. When you first install the mouse you have to register the fingers you want to use. During the initial setup you are asked to register two fingers, but you can add more fingers at a later time for easier use. The OmniPass software also has encryption software that allows you to encrypt files and make them only accessible with your fingerprint.

When I first setup the mouse I thought it was defective. Then I realized that I'm just stupid! The mouse comes with a small clear film over the fingerprint reader to protect it. Obviously, you have to remove that before you can use it.

One of the drawbacks of this product is that you can only setup your passwords in MIE. I use Netscape. Once I setup the password for the site, however, I am able to log in using the fingerprint reader in Netscape. There is also the fact that I got the mouse to make things easier when I am in tablet mode and it happens that the TIP doesn't always work with Netscape so I use MIE more than I would like anyway.

If you use Netscape exclusively you may find switching to MIE to setup your passwords too inconvenient. I don't think that, at this time, there are any devices that are setup to work in Netscape, though. So, any device you use this is probably going to be an issue.

I can't comment on Firefox because I haven't installed it on this computer. Apparently Firefox and Windows XP Tablet Edition don't get along at all.

Other than the MIE/Netscape issues the BioMouse does have a couple of strange quirks. For reasons that I can't explain I can only log into Windows using my pinky finger. Even when my other fingers are confirmed it doesn't result in the device actually logging in-the fingerprint reader turns green for confirmed and then nothing happens. All of my fingers work for password management once I am logged in, though.

I did have an issue for a while with false rejection. I think this had to do with the orientation of the mouse when I registered the fingers vs. the orientation of the mouse when I actually use it. I re-registered the fingers with the mouse in the same position and at the same angle as it would be when I use it and I haven't had a problem since.

Overall, despite the quirks and the issues with MIE vs Netscape, I do like this product. I am glad that I got it. It makes logging into various web accounts easier and also gives me more flexibility with passwords because I don't have to be so concerned with being able to remember them. I do recommend keeping a record of your passwords in a secure place in case you have problems with your computers. This may not be an option if you are in the CIA or something, but if you're in the CIA you probably already have some nifty super secret way of dealing with passwords