Product Resources
Buyers Guide(21)
Robo-Reserves
Weighing a little more than six pounds, Drobo, a data storage robot, automatically backs up documents, spreadsheets, photos, music, and other vulnerable computer files. The device can hold up to 16 terabytes of data in four serial advanced technology attachment hard drives. The second-generation Drobo includes USB 2.0 and FireWire 800 interfaces, with the latter reading up to 52 MB of data per second. The device is compatible with Windows, Macintosh, and Linux systems, and users who don’t need to back up 16 TB of real estate data (or funny pet videos) are not obligated to purchase multiple drives. The second-generation Drobo costs between $499 and $999.
Contact Data Robotics at (866) 997-6268 or www.drobo.com.
Financing Finder
Equityinterface.com is a Web platform that connects developers and brokers to individuals and private equity companies looking for investment opportunities. Investors can review deals based on developer experience, desired funding amount, geography, and financial returns. They then can arrange a meeting with the deal sponsor, who pays a listing fee for each project. The platform also includes a social networking portal and an investment profiler tool that sends automatic e-mail alerts to registered members. Equityinterface.com is U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission compliant. An investor membership costs $39.95 per month, and listings cost between $500 and $1,500 each.
Contact Equity Interface at (800) 899-2877 or www.equityinterface.com.
Beyond the Basics
Responding to a call from readers for less theory and more practice, Frank Gallinelli, founder and president of RealData, wrote Mastering Real Estate Investment: Examples, Metrics, and Case Studies. Divided into two sections, the book provides sample problems for 37 key real estate metrics and formulas including compound interest, net operating income, discounted cash flow, and depreciation. The second half focuses on case studies that show readers “how to build and interpret pro forma projections of each property’s potential future performance.” Downloadable calculation tools are available on a supplementary Web site. The book costs $21.95 plus shipping.
Contact RealData at (800) 899-6060 or www.realdata.com.
Nostalgic Navigation
Mio’s Knight Rider global positioning system provides turn-by-turn instructions in the voice of K.I.T.T., Michael Knight’s artificially intelligent — and genuinely peevish — companion on the television show. The device’s 4.3-inch LCD touch screen is framed by a K.I.T.T.-like blinking LED readout that accompanies the audio instructions. Preloaded with U.S. and Canadian maps, the GPS includes a searchable database of more than 4 million points of interest. The device also comes equipped with a rechargeable battery, a USB port, and a SirfStar III GPS Receiver with InstantFix II technology. And, of course, the Knight Rider GPS is available in only one color: Trans-Am black. The device costs $299.99.
Contact Mio at (866) 646-4477 or www.knightridergps.com.
In Charge
Bluelounge’s Sanctuary is an integrated power station that allows users to simultaneously charge up to 12 personal devices in one location. The Sanctuary is compatible with more than 1,500 electronic devices such as smartphones and MP3 players. Along with 12 built-in connectors, the station has one USB port for charging USB devices such as Bluetooth headsets. Designed for everyday use, the Sanctuary also contains a tray for oft-misplaced personal items such as keys and loose change. The two-color model costs $129.95, and the dark wood model costs $149.95.
Contact Bluelounge at (626) 564-2802 or www.bluelounge.com.