Locked Tight

I set up a couple of fingers using the reader's registration wizard. It took four images of each digit, and the unit read them easily. I tried to register a pinky, however, and after "successfully" registering all four pinky images, the reader declared that none of the scans were usable.

The unit timed out during the unsuccessful registration, so I had to log into the fingerprint manager again with a nonpinky fingerprint to start the process over. I doubt anyone would select a pinky to register, but just in case ...

I had better luck with this reader than I've had with swipe readers, since I often don't get the swiping speed quite right, or my fingers are too dry, sweaty, oily or whatever. The reader had some trouble with a wet thumb, but otherwise it worked very well - even when the unit was upside down or sideways - without skipping a beat, and it only took a few tries to read my print diagonally.

The reader wasn't fooled by my other nonregistered fingers, or by an unauthorized person's finger. In those instances, an icon appeared with a red question mark instead of the usual green, go-ahead check mark.

It was simple to create a fingerprint logon for oft-visited Web sites. After pressing my thumb to the device, a wizard appeared offering to set it up. I simply entered my logon name and password for that Web site one last time, and voilÃ?? , I no longer needed to use my password.

Pressing a registered finger to the reader's window while already logged into my machine brought up the product's One Touch menu for creating a new fingerprint logon directly from the current Web page, or for reaching quick links (a list of my Web sites requiring log in information), help or properties.

Options allow administrators to configure settings for domains, sites and organizational units. Settings include fingerprint authentication and registration, data caching, fingerprint logons, password randomization and event logging. Administrators can audit who accessed or failed to access networked computers, password-protected programs and Web sites.        

The DigitalPersona Pro Workstation and Server software also support various notebook computers with embedded fingerprint swipe readers, including Dell, Lenovo, HP, Toshiba, Fujitsu and Itronix.

Specs

DigitalPersona Pro Workstation package:

• U.are.U 4000B fingerprint reader (512 dpi optical resolution)
• Pro Active Directory Workstation software
• 1 Pro administrator guide - stand-alone solution (Windows 98, ME, NT 4.0, 2000, XP Pro, XP Embedded)  
• Price: $149

Rating 4 out of 5