I don't like to get political here, so I am not going to. But for those interested in immigration policy and how it impacts businesses and the economy, I would highly recommend this podcast from Jack Welch. I'm not claiming everything he says is right, but he addresses some points that I think are sometimes missed in wider discussion of this subject.
It's one of those things where we can listen to it and make up our own minds about what he discusses- but the more information we have, the better decisions we can make.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
Location, Location, Location
When it comes to buying online, even though the Internet brings companies far away right into your home, the location of the merchant is still important. This is especially true when it comes to the purchase of computer and technology items.
We strongly recommend buying from a merchant in the USA when you can. Not just because it helps our nation's economy, but because it also helps you- the consumer. Some things to keep in mind about location when buying online:
1. Transit time- Merchants overseas may sometimes have an item a couple of dollars cheaper. But it may take a lot longer to receive the item as International Post tends to take a lot longer than regular domestic shipments. Check to see what method of shipping the merchant uses and go to the shipping company's web site to check time in transit. Also find out if there will be a tracking number or if you just have to check your mailbox each day.
2. Customer service/language- Some US companies can give poor customer service too, I know that from experience, so always check any seller's online feedback before buying. Keep in mind that in some countries where English is not the primary language, you may have difficulty getting the customer service you need. This could result in some headaches for you. Also take note when buying from a US company that outsources their customer support to overseas contractors who don't speak English well.
3. Return policies- often times products from outside the USA do not have the typical 14 or 30 day return policy many US companies have. If they do, check the fine print to make sure you aren't responsible for the shipping costs both ways. While many US merchants, including Rokland, don't refund shipping costs on returns unless due to merchant error, merchants overseas with the same policy may mean that you pay a high price if you need to return an item. It also means if you do have to return due to a defect, because of long transit times there and back, it could be several weeks before you have a working product. Also, on more expensive purchases, remember that when buying in the USA you can take actions against the merchant if there is an error on their part they do not resolve (consumer affairs, or a BBB report for example). With overseas merchants, unless they also have locations here in the USA, generally these outlets are not available.
3. Piracy and fraud- while many overseas vendors are good companies, products that come from some areas of the world may not be legitimate, or the sale may be fraudulent. This can be the case with some companies in the US too, so always do a background check on any company before buying, but again as noted in point #3, there are outlets available if you encounter an issue with a purchase made in the USA that are not available to you when you buy from other countries.
Sometimes buying outside of the USA might be the best way to go. More often than not though, a US company is more attractive for consumers living in the USA.
We strongly recommend buying from a merchant in the USA when you can. Not just because it helps our nation's economy, but because it also helps you- the consumer. Some things to keep in mind about location when buying online:
1. Transit time- Merchants overseas may sometimes have an item a couple of dollars cheaper. But it may take a lot longer to receive the item as International Post tends to take a lot longer than regular domestic shipments. Check to see what method of shipping the merchant uses and go to the shipping company's web site to check time in transit. Also find out if there will be a tracking number or if you just have to check your mailbox each day.
2. Customer service/language- Some US companies can give poor customer service too, I know that from experience, so always check any seller's online feedback before buying. Keep in mind that in some countries where English is not the primary language, you may have difficulty getting the customer service you need. This could result in some headaches for you. Also take note when buying from a US company that outsources their customer support to overseas contractors who don't speak English well.
3. Return policies- often times products from outside the USA do not have the typical 14 or 30 day return policy many US companies have. If they do, check the fine print to make sure you aren't responsible for the shipping costs both ways. While many US merchants, including Rokland, don't refund shipping costs on returns unless due to merchant error, merchants overseas with the same policy may mean that you pay a high price if you need to return an item. It also means if you do have to return due to a defect, because of long transit times there and back, it could be several weeks before you have a working product. Also, on more expensive purchases, remember that when buying in the USA you can take actions against the merchant if there is an error on their part they do not resolve (consumer affairs, or a BBB report for example). With overseas merchants, unless they also have locations here in the USA, generally these outlets are not available.
3. Piracy and fraud- while many overseas vendors are good companies, products that come from some areas of the world may not be legitimate, or the sale may be fraudulent. This can be the case with some companies in the US too, so always do a background check on any company before buying, but again as noted in point #3, there are outlets available if you encounter an issue with a purchase made in the USA that are not available to you when you buy from other countries.
Sometimes buying outside of the USA might be the best way to go. More often than not though, a US company is more attractive for consumers living in the USA.
Friday, January 11, 2008
What's on tap for 2008
2007 marked another exciting year here at Rokland, as we continue to see our company grow. We look forward to many new things in 2008, including the addition of new technologies to our primary web site, Rokland.com. When it comes to e-commerce, flashy new technologies aren't always the best, because sometimes they can get in the way of a customer's ultimate goal- ordering what they need quickly and easily. So we like to keep things simple, however we do have some new features we will be unveiling which will not only make purchases quicker and easier, but will make finding what you need easier too.
One of the main concerns customers have noted over the year is that as UPS continues to raise their rates and hike up their fuel surcharges, in some destination zip codes it can now cost upward of $10.00 to ship a small Ground package. We want to reiterate that we do not inflate UPS rates, we charge the exact amount plus a 50 cent handling fee on all web orders. The 50 cents is primarily because UPS fuel surcharge increases aren't reflected in the rate calculator right away, so generally you end up paying the actual shipping cost. What we will be doing toward the end of the first quarter this year is offering US Postal Service options on our web site, in addition to existing UPS options. Many smaller items can be sent through the US Postal Service much cheaper, and will arrive just as fast. We will post more details on that soon, but please keep in mind that if you currently wish to have an order go via the US Postal Service, even though our web site is currently set to only offer UPS options, you can email us for a rate quote for US Postal options on any item, and if you wish to select one of those options, we can manually adjust the shipping charge and method in the system.
In regards to product offerings, in 2007 we saw some major new additions to our product line, including a series of wireless adapters for Apple Macintosh computers- both general connectivity and long range setups. In November we officially launched our RokAir wireless adapter, which, as I like to say, is the "King of Compatibility". In addition to working with Mac OS 10.3 and 10.4, it also works on all Windows operating systems from Windows 98SE up through Vista, as well as Linux (kernel 2.6.6 and later). Its built-in heatsink and 100mw output power make it, in my opinion, superior to any of the usual suspect pen-style USB adapters you can buy in stores. We'd like to thank MacNN.com for writing about this adapter, you helped many of your readers find out about this low-cost Airport alternative, and we have had many happy emails from customers who purchased.
In 2008 we look forward to more additions to our product line, including a larger selection of 802.11n devices, as well as more options for Macintosh users including a wireless adapter that is Kismac compatible, and some that are Leopard compatible as well.
We'd like to thank all of our customers, suppliers, and contractors for making 2007 a great year, and we hope we helped make it a great year for you too. We look forward to continued relationships for the year to come, and if you have any questions, concerns, or would like more information on any of our current or planned offerings always remember to check here on our blog or email us.
One of the main concerns customers have noted over the year is that as UPS continues to raise their rates and hike up their fuel surcharges, in some destination zip codes it can now cost upward of $10.00 to ship a small Ground package. We want to reiterate that we do not inflate UPS rates, we charge the exact amount plus a 50 cent handling fee on all web orders. The 50 cents is primarily because UPS fuel surcharge increases aren't reflected in the rate calculator right away, so generally you end up paying the actual shipping cost. What we will be doing toward the end of the first quarter this year is offering US Postal Service options on our web site, in addition to existing UPS options. Many smaller items can be sent through the US Postal Service much cheaper, and will arrive just as fast. We will post more details on that soon, but please keep in mind that if you currently wish to have an order go via the US Postal Service, even though our web site is currently set to only offer UPS options, you can email us for a rate quote for US Postal options on any item, and if you wish to select one of those options, we can manually adjust the shipping charge and method in the system.
In regards to product offerings, in 2007 we saw some major new additions to our product line, including a series of wireless adapters for Apple Macintosh computers- both general connectivity and long range setups. In November we officially launched our RokAir wireless adapter, which, as I like to say, is the "King of Compatibility". In addition to working with Mac OS 10.3 and 10.4, it also works on all Windows operating systems from Windows 98SE up through Vista, as well as Linux (kernel 2.6.6 and later). Its built-in heatsink and 100mw output power make it, in my opinion, superior to any of the usual suspect pen-style USB adapters you can buy in stores. We'd like to thank MacNN.com for writing about this adapter, you helped many of your readers find out about this low-cost Airport alternative, and we have had many happy emails from customers who purchased.
In 2008 we look forward to more additions to our product line, including a larger selection of 802.11n devices, as well as more options for Macintosh users including a wireless adapter that is Kismac compatible, and some that are Leopard compatible as well.
We'd like to thank all of our customers, suppliers, and contractors for making 2007 a great year, and we hope we helped make it a great year for you too. We look forward to continued relationships for the year to come, and if you have any questions, concerns, or would like more information on any of our current or planned offerings always remember to check here on our blog or email us.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
RokAir Mac wireless USB adapter, no Leopard drivers yet
On December 3rd we announced the launch of the RokAir wireless USB adapter for Macs (it also works with Windows 98SE through Vista and Linux too). The product has been a great success, with many units sold in the first two weeks of availability, in fact more sold than any previous product on our site in its first two weeks.
The heatsink, sensitive chipset, and high output power (100mw), have proven to be a winning combination as customers have commented that they have been happy with the range of the product and its overall ease of use with Mac OS. We also want to thank those media outlets such as MacNN.com who have written about our product.
We have received several inquiries regarding Leopard (Mac OS 10.5) compatibility. As noted in the item description, right now this is compatible with Mac OS 10.3 and 10.4. We do not yet have a Leopard driver available for this and are awaiting the development of one from the chipset manufacturer. We are hoping this will come very soon in Q1 of 2008, and once the driver is released, we will post it here on our blog and in the drivers section of our web site, once we have been able to test the driver and make sure there are no bugs/glitches.
If you are looking to purchase a wireless adapter for immediate use with OS 10.3 or 10.4, the RokAir is the way to go. If you are looking for one to use immediately with Leopard, the drivers are not yet available for the RokAir. If you have 10.3 or 10.4 now and plan to upgrade, the Leopard driver should be available soon, but again we do not know for sure exactly when. There always exists a small possibility that the chipset maker opts not to release one for some reason, so at this point we cannot guarantee future compatibility with Leopard.
The heatsink, sensitive chipset, and high output power (100mw), have proven to be a winning combination as customers have commented that they have been happy with the range of the product and its overall ease of use with Mac OS. We also want to thank those media outlets such as MacNN.com who have written about our product.
We have received several inquiries regarding Leopard (Mac OS 10.5) compatibility. As noted in the item description, right now this is compatible with Mac OS 10.3 and 10.4. We do not yet have a Leopard driver available for this and are awaiting the development of one from the chipset manufacturer. We are hoping this will come very soon in Q1 of 2008, and once the driver is released, we will post it here on our blog and in the drivers section of our web site, once we have been able to test the driver and make sure there are no bugs/glitches.
If you are looking to purchase a wireless adapter for immediate use with OS 10.3 or 10.4, the RokAir is the way to go. If you are looking for one to use immediately with Leopard, the drivers are not yet available for the RokAir. If you have 10.3 or 10.4 now and plan to upgrade, the Leopard driver should be available soon, but again we do not know for sure exactly when. There always exists a small possibility that the chipset maker opts not to release one for some reason, so at this point we cannot guarantee future compatibility with Leopard.
Friday, December 07, 2007
Find out if Santa is naughty or nice...
This comes from Networkworld.com. Shows us how embarrassing technology blunders can be for the companies responsible. But they can also be entertaining for the rest of us...
Monday, December 03, 2007
New Product: RokAir Wireless USB Adapter for Apple Mac
We are excited to formally announce the launch of a new Rokland branded product, the RokAir wireless adapter for Apple Macintosh computers. This is an excellent alternative to the Airport line of wireless adapters, and with 100 mW of output power, it provides superior range performance compared to other adapters on the market. Below I have included our full press release announcing the launch. A PDF of the product spec sheet is available here. You can buy the adapter here.
***PRESS RELEASE***
Gainesville, FL -- 12/3/2007 -- Rokland LLC today formally announced the launch of RokAir, a new Apple Macintosh-compatible wireless USB adapter. The RokAir is an 802.11g/b device with a high 100mW (20 dBm) of output power and a built-in heat sink which allows for extended use. It also features PSP X-Link support and can run in AP mode. But what sets this device apart from most others is the fact that it is compatible with Apple Macintosh laptops and desktops and serves as an Airport alternative. All you need is an available USB port and Mac OS version 10.3 or 10.4.
"We've been in the wireless networking market for over six years," said Rokland spokesman Jason Opdyke. "We've carried various products and brands going back to the days of frequency hopping and RF wireless technology. This is one adapter to which we are very comfortable attaching our own brand name."
The RokAir is a pen-style USB device which also works with Linux operating systems in addition to the usual Windows suspects like 98SE and XP, as well as Windows Vista and the Mac operating systems noted above. "We have listened to our customers and they have told us what they want is a device compatible with a wide array of operating systems like Mac OS and Linux, but that is also portable and yet of very high power," continued Opdyke. "This device operates at 100mW of output power which is more than three times that of the popular Orinoco line, and twice that of Cisco b/g cards. And yet with the built-in heatsink, users can run the device for a long period of time."
The RokAir is poised to be one of very few Mac-compatible wireless adapters available to consumers this holiday shopping season. "If you know any one with a Mac computer, this would be a great gift for them," commented Opdyke. "You can even link up wirelessly with an Apple TV."
The RokAir wireless USB adapter from Rokland is available online at www.rokland.com with a special holiday street price of $27.99 plus shipping. A product spec sheet is available at http://www.rokland.com/rokair.pdf
***PRESS RELEASE***
Gainesville, FL -- 12/3/2007 -- Rokland LLC today formally announced the launch of RokAir, a new Apple Macintosh-compatible wireless USB adapter. The RokAir is an 802.11g/b device with a high 100mW (20 dBm) of output power and a built-in heat sink which allows for extended use. It also features PSP X-Link support and can run in AP mode. But what sets this device apart from most others is the fact that it is compatible with Apple Macintosh laptops and desktops and serves as an Airport alternative. All you need is an available USB port and Mac OS version 10.3 or 10.4.
"We've been in the wireless networking market for over six years," said Rokland spokesman Jason Opdyke. "We've carried various products and brands going back to the days of frequency hopping and RF wireless technology. This is one adapter to which we are very comfortable attaching our own brand name."
The RokAir is a pen-style USB device which also works with Linux operating systems in addition to the usual Windows suspects like 98SE and XP, as well as Windows Vista and the Mac operating systems noted above. "We have listened to our customers and they have told us what they want is a device compatible with a wide array of operating systems like Mac OS and Linux, but that is also portable and yet of very high power," continued Opdyke. "This device operates at 100mW of output power which is more than three times that of the popular Orinoco line, and twice that of Cisco b/g cards. And yet with the built-in heatsink, users can run the device for a long period of time."
The RokAir is poised to be one of very few Mac-compatible wireless adapters available to consumers this holiday shopping season. "If you know any one with a Mac computer, this would be a great gift for them," commented Opdyke. "You can even link up wirelessly with an Apple TV."
The RokAir wireless USB adapter from Rokland is available online at www.rokland.com with a special holiday street price of $27.99 plus shipping. A product spec sheet is available at http://www.rokland.com/rokair.pdf
Friday, November 30, 2007
Check out our new eBay Store About Me page
As some of you may know, in addition to selling product on our Rokland.com web site, we also sell product on eBay. Our eBay "About Me" page has long been our primary way of telling eBay buyers about who we are and what we do. But as with any web page, it can become stale over time. We have livened it up, with an electric new logo, and a cool new widget that shows all of our current auctions in real time via RSS. You can also see recent feedback ratings from our customers on the same page.
Check it out here.
Check it out here.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Thanksgiving schedule for Rokland.com orders
This is our Thanksgiving shipping schedule for Rokland.com.
Orders made at the Rokland.com web site, or via phone, are shipped via UPS. UPS will be closed on Thursday 11/22, Thanksgiving Day. UPS will not be picking up or delivering Ground shipments on Friday 11/23. Because the bulk of orders are shipped via UPS Ground, to give our employees time with their families we will not be shipping any products via UPS on Friday 11/23.
The cutoff to have your shipment sent out on Wednesday 11/21 will be 4:00 PM EST. Orders placed after 4:00 PM EST on Wednesday 11/21 will be shipped on Monday 11/26.
This means if you place an order for Next Day delivery at 8:00 PM on Wednesday 11/21, the order will be shipped on Monday 11/26 for Tuesday delivery. As a courtesy to customers who choose an expedited shipping method during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, we will email you after your purchase to make sure you are aware of this holiday schedule.
Orders made at the Rokland.com web site, or via phone, are shipped via UPS. UPS will be closed on Thursday 11/22, Thanksgiving Day. UPS will not be picking up or delivering Ground shipments on Friday 11/23. Because the bulk of orders are shipped via UPS Ground, to give our employees time with their families we will not be shipping any products via UPS on Friday 11/23.
The cutoff to have your shipment sent out on Wednesday 11/21 will be 4:00 PM EST. Orders placed after 4:00 PM EST on Wednesday 11/21 will be shipped on Monday 11/26.
This means if you place an order for Next Day delivery at 8:00 PM on Wednesday 11/21, the order will be shipped on Monday 11/26 for Tuesday delivery. As a courtesy to customers who choose an expedited shipping method during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, we will email you after your purchase to make sure you are aware of this holiday schedule.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Try our Alfa 500mW USB Adapter with an 8 dBi gain antenna
In late October I mentioned a new addition to our product line, the high-powered Alfa 500mW USB adapter with SMA connector, model AWUS036H. They come with a 2 dBi gain antenna in the box, but we now also carry both 8 dBi and 9 dBI gain rubber duck antennas on our website.
Personally I like the 8 dBi a little better because it is smaller and lighter than the 9 dBI antenna yet still gets a nearly comparable range (the 9 dBi is somewhat better overall- it really depends on if you need the most range or want something a little bit more portable). In any event, here is a comparison of this Alfa adapter with an 8 dBi gain antenna connected compared to an internal Centrino wireless card in an IBM laptop. As you can see, it is really no comparison at all, the Alfa setup gets nearly 3x the signals, and this is in an area where the buildings are pretty spaced out.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
New Product
Sorry for the lull, we've been busy getting new inventory in for the holiday season. One product we just got is a high powered USB adapter from Alfa. This is a really cool item, especially for those looking to get a longer range on their desktop, or those with laptops that don't have a PCMCIA slot.
http://rokland.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=294
It is model AWUS036H and features 500mw of output power. I've seen it on other web sites in the $69.99-$79.99 range so I think we have a pretty competitive price for you guys right now. It has an SMA jack and comes with a 2 dBi antenna in the box. Later this week we'll have some 9 dBi RP-SMA antennas you can hook up to these which will really give them fantastic range.
Throughout the rest of this month and November as well we will be attempting to get back to doing some product reviews here on our blog, and also will try and provide additional information, such as use in Linux and things of that nature.
http://rokland.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=294
It is model AWUS036H and features 500mw of output power. I've seen it on other web sites in the $69.99-$79.99 range so I think we have a pretty competitive price for you guys right now. It has an SMA jack and comes with a 2 dBi antenna in the box. Later this week we'll have some 9 dBi RP-SMA antennas you can hook up to these which will really give them fantastic range.
Throughout the rest of this month and November as well we will be attempting to get back to doing some product reviews here on our blog, and also will try and provide additional information, such as use in Linux and things of that nature.
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