Fingerprint Reader

Gadgets! Forum

We just installed 2 different Fingerprint Readers, my wife bought me the Microsoft DigitalPersona Fingerprint Reader for my birthday. I went to install it and low and behold it is only set up for Microsoft XP. Bummer since I am on Windows 2000 Pro. So in a search today I found a Fingerprint Reader from APC that works on everything from Windows 98/ME to XP. (Sorry I don't know about other OS's).

So I installed the APC Fingerprint Reader on my PC and my wife installed the Microsoft Fingerprint Reader on her PC. These things are really cool. You basically record your fingerprint into the device then as you go to logon just about anywhere it will record your username and password. The APC has a bit better password manager than the Microsoft in that you can look at your username and passwords for each thing you register in plain language. The Microsoft password manager (at least not that we can find) does that.

On problem with both that I have noticed, neither work with Firefox or XP, so for those who use those browsers might as well forget it until someone can figure out how to use them there.

I'll come back with more info later.

Do you have any experience with any fingerprint readers?

that's awesome ron. biometric authentication is so cool. bummer it won't work with firefox though. and the print scanner is way more efficient (and i have to imagine much more secure) than this crazy pen i came across online the other day. it plugs into your usb port and authenticates you when you sign your name with it.

First of all the differences, Microsoft's Fingerprint Reader is prettier but only works with PC's XP and above. APC's isn't quite as pretty but works with Windows 98/ME and above. You can't use any FP Readers with Firefox, Mozilla or Netscape. As I understand it the manufacture of those browsers are working on fixing that problem. APC's has a better manager (if I'm not mistaken it is a generic manager capable of being used with any FP Reader but it will show you your passwords and you can set up many users. The MS Fingerprint Reader was easier to setup and begin using. It took me a bit to figure out the APC FP Reader but once I figured it out using it is easy.

Now I am here to tell you, I love this little thing, it works great. Logging on is much faster, I don't use mine (the APC FP Reader) to log onto Windows but It seems to work everywhere I need a password. I just enter my username and password and before I hit enter It notifies me that I can put the info in the database and I just right click the icon in the icon tray, click Remember Password. It then turn my cursor into a key and I just click the area that has the username an password. Now every time I go to that page it knows that I can log on with a touch of the finger.

Everything still else still applies, like if you are on a site that remembers your password it will still remember your password. It doesn't change your password just automagically inputs it when you tough your finger to the Bipod.

With the MS FP Reader, you get a One Touch Menu where you can go to particular sites and automatically log you in. The Fingerprint Manager on the MS FP Reader isn't quite as user friendly. You have to go to the site or application then you have the option to add, change or remove the password.

All in all they both do what they advertise. For FireFox, Netscape, Mozilla users you are just out of luck for websites. They are great security devices and as I said, I love it.
I give them

Oh APC Password Manager can be used without a reader.

Update, APC uses OmniPass. I spoke with them at OmniPass and they are working on OmniPass Version 4 to work with FireFox Netscape and Mozilla. (all are on the Mozilla engine)