Swipe into your computer with the UPEK Eikon USB fingerprint reader : Shiny Shiny

The other day, I was told that for my increased convenience and security, I would have to give a four digit passcode to be able to pay my phone bill. Needless to say, I didn’t know the password and the bill didn’t get paid. How conveniently secure for me. So anything that means I carry my password at my fingertips – quite literally – is good for me.

The Eikon Digital Privacy Manager by UPEK is a USB fingerprint reader which enables fingerprint access to computers with Microsoft IE and Firefox. It’s Vista-ready and very simple to use, and uses the superior method of fingerprint recognition: swiping. You see, pressing your finger down on the reader is all well and good, but the reader then has to be cleaned every few weeks or it stops working. Which is why swiping is good. No contact; no dirt; no cleaning. Not a major pain, but it makes a difference. Combine that with it’s sleek and quite subtle look (you don’t want your desk taken over by the thing, however good it might be at its job), and it makes the Eikon a winner.

Product Page, $39