Remember CueCat from Radio Shack? Get one from IBM.com.

[yongoro]

I got my free CueCat from Radio Shack a while back but haven't hooked it up and used it. Anyway, ibm.com is offering the same thing so you can scan their catalog and be taken directly to the site on the web.

http://www.ibm.com/shop/cuecat

[roboo7]

nice..didnt get a chance to pick one of these up from a radioshack. thnkz...might be able to use one of these.

[nexus_7]

thanks. I wonder if I could use this to scan my DVD's for dvd proflier. :)

Greg

[the_dude8]

thanks..

[K2]

niceness.. i didn't get in on the radio shack one.. but its coming up again with ibm.. so might as well give it a shot..

what does this thing do anyways?

[Sandman]

Originally posted by nexus_7
[B]thanks. I wonder if I could use this to scan my DVD's for dvd proflier. :)/B]

Yes you can....
Here is a link to the software driver for Cue Cat which will allow it to input any type of standardized bar-code:
http://goldsteinsoftware.com/catnip.htm

To use CatNip with DVD Profiler:
1. "CatNip Settings" screen:
Output Type: Data
Output (.[Period]) Output (Return)

2. "CatNip Profiles" screen:
a. Create a new profile: DVD Profiler
b. Scan Type: UPA
c. Filter: -++++++++++-
d. Leave "Command" blank,
click on "Save Scan"

3. Start DVD Profiler, add a DVD. With the cursor in the UPC entry field, scan the UPC with the CueCat. Voila!

If you change the right hand "Output" field from (Return) to (None) then the proper code will be entered and you can manually press "Enter". My own preference is to let CatNip automatically send the (Return) code

This works great I've been using it for almost a year...

[By-Tor]

The fine print reads:

Offer expires on the earlier of March 1st 2001 or when the first 5,000 :CueCatsTM are requested by eligible participants. In any event, no more than 5,000 responders will be provided to eligible participants in connection with this offer. Employees of IBM, its affiliates or subsidiaries are not eligible to participate in this offer.

[jmalm]

These things are extremely lame, is that hard to type out a few keys? Is it that much physical effort punching plastic which most of us average 45+wpm? Just another needless toy for the lazy American.

[yongoro]

Originally posted by jmalm
These things are extremely lame, is that hard to type out a few keys? Is it that much physical effort punching plastic which most of us average 45+wpm? Just another needless toy for the lazy American.

It's not so much what it is designed for but rather what it COULD be used for.

[Bandito]

still lame if you ask me

[jmalm]

Hrm, yongoro what do you think it could be used for?

[mykolJay]

Thnaks Sandman,
I entered all 72 of my DVDs in a few mins..other than that, the cue cat is kind of stupid..but it was free after all.

Also..I had never used DVD Profiler b4..its amazn

[yongoro]

I don't know all it could be used for but I'm not so quick to dismiss it outright.

Look at what it does: reads bar codes.

The obvious use would be to read and store data. (ex. DVD profiler) Just about everything has a UPC on it. You could inventory whatever you wanted.

The bar codes can be web addresses. The IBM catalog allowed you to scan and be taken to a web page with more information about a product.

I work in education. What about a textbook/web site where you can scan a code to get more information about a problem/subject? Or you could scan your answer choices and get help as needed.

Radio Shack had it set up to allow you to store products you'd like to order by scanning them and then sending off the order. What about using it to order groceries from the local market. They could put codes on the products in the weekly flier for you to order.

There's no way to know all the applications for a hand held bar code scanner (TRG has one built into their pda). If you are concerned about its quality then I agree. It is not made for high volume use (and I'm not thrilled with the cat shape).

jmalm
Thank you for giving me the chance to think some about this topic.

[Markel]

...not to mention the potential privacy issues, unless you use some of the techniques to "declaw" your cuecat (one place describing this is at http://air-soldier.com/~cuecat/5minute.html )