In attempting to fix erratic mouse behavior on my production desktop, I discovered the need to visualize what USB devices were connected to which ports on my PC. I also wanted to make sure I had USB 2.0 devices connected to USB 2.0-capable ports and hubs, while I was looking into these matters. To those ends, I tried to run down a reasonably capable but free USB inspection or reporting tool that could tell me what was what on my PC. Ultimately, I wound up with USBView, a simple but effective Microsoft-made utility.

Thermaltake makes some terrific products for PC enthusiasts and professionals inclined to pick up tools and computer components and indulge in a little do-it-yourself activity. In another recent review, I examined their nifty eSATA/USB hard drive dock, which led them to send me an actively ventilated and much more attractive eSATA/USB drive enclosure: This device is known as the Vi-ON ST0008U 3.5 External Hard Drive Enclosure with Active SMART Cooling System, and it retails for between $44 and $50 online (list price on the Thermaltake product page is $60). For the rest of this review, I'll simply call it the Vi-ON for brevity.

In the last week, I've reinstalled Vista on my primary production PC. Over time, this has led me back over ground that I've crossed many times before. It's also helped me to recognize some differences between Vista and XP behavior, in all kinds of interesting ways. Take printing, for example: I've got an old but incredibly reliable HP LaserJet 4M hooked up to my wife's Windows XP PC, which is available to machines on our household LAN.