The Check-Out Line: Internet Password Organizer

Welcome to The Check-Out Line, where I review products (and services) that are designed to make your life easier. I give you my opinion and my opinion only. You decide for yourself. You can see all my past product reviews here.

This week I'm reviewing a product I had originally thought wasn't so great. Notice that happens a lot with me? Ha ha... at first blush, I thought the Internet Password Organizer was just another notebook. Big whoop. Or is it whup? Or woop? Anyway, I thought "Well, this is redundant." (And then I thought it again... )

Anyway, since I already have a super-secret hidden spiral notebook where I keep all my user names and passwords and other  information, I thought I'd have as much use for this product as Britney Spears has for a library card. But this time, I stand corrected...

Purpose: To store all your Internet user names and passwords all in one place and in an organized, easy-to-find fashion.

Suggested Retail: $19.99

Pros: Well, for starters, this product does indeed work. It's just a notebook, after all! What I like about it is that first off, it looks good. It has a logo-free, hard black cover and a sturdy spiral binding.  Secondly, the pages are similar to those in an address book, in that they're divided by alphabetized tabs A through Z, so each web site can be listed in the appropriate section, making it easy to find what you need.

So when I want to know my Amazon user name and password, I just turn to the A-B tab and poof there it is. This is quite a difference from my plain old spiral notebook, where I typically have to flip through it twice -- first from front to back then back to front -- just to find the web site I'm looking for. So right away, the Internet Password Organizer is a definite improvement on that system!

The other good thing about the Internet Password Organizer is that behind the alphabetized tabs, there are also special pages for you to log your ISP information, your home network information, all your various software license keys, and a few plain lined pages for notes.

Cons: The cons to the Internet Password Organizer are no different than the cons to my old system of writing all my user names and passwords in a regular spiral notebook. Namely, it can be lost or stolen like anything else, and if you're on the road, you don't have access to it. But that's no different than my old system, so it doesn't make a bit of difference to me.

Value: I think at $19.99, this is a good value, especially considering how many years of use you should get from it.  Especially if you write in pencil like I do.    :)

Where to Buy: You can buy the Internet Password Organizer at very select Hallmark stores around the country, but the super-duper easiest way to get it is to buy direct from the Innoventions Lab web site. In fact, if you order online before next Friday June 13th, you will receive 20% off retail price. But you have to check out using the Google Checkout and enter the coupon code 'Monica'.

See this image below if you're not sure where to enter your code:

 

Overall Score Out of Five Stars:

 

Comments

[Julie Bestry]

Or, if you aren't a time traveler, the Tuesday following the date of this post is June 10th. :-)

[Terry Lessig]

I was going to travel into next week and buy one, but if Julie is correct, that might screw up the space-time continuum, so I'll have to stick with my old method of internet password organization and write it on the wall behind the calendar. I use pencil, too.

[Megan @ Disorder2Order]

This is really good to know Monica. I have my passwords in an excel spreadsheet and the only thing that is challenging is remembering to open the doc and log it in. I have always liked the idea of this, but never tried it... great post, great review! Thanks Monica!

[Marina Martin]

I hope no one who owns this notebook ever gets robbed, or misplaces it. Great organizational idea in theory but horrible, horrible idea in practice.

[Monica Ricci]

Oh drat, I posted the review without updating the dates. CRAP. Ok, so the offer is good for SEVEN DAYS, which is June 13th to you and I. :)

Marina, all password storage solutions have some inherent risk, so as long as you don't travel with it, leaving it at your home is relatively safe. Do we all run the risk of being robbed? Of course. Is it likely? No.

Thanks to everyone for your comments!
~Monica

[Marilyn]

I purchased an online---VERY SECURE--(so the computer guru's tell me) program and I don't ever have to look up any passwords, it remembers it for me.
It is called RoboForm Pro. It was $39.90 for two computers, one time charge.
It remembers unlimited passwords. They also offer a 30 day try it for free. It has saved me loads of time!

[Monica Ricci]

Marilyn, I have heard of, but never used RoboForm. The Internet Password Organizer is simply a low-tech alternative to the online solutions. Whatever you like, use it consistently. :)
~Monica

[Hilary]

All I have to say is KeePass (or KeePassX for mac.) Secure and organized. Create one single long password to memorize to get to all of you passwords. It's opensource so you don't even have to pay a dime and the files will work on pc, mac and linux. AES and Blowfish encryption technology so unless you make the password your pet's name, it's super secure (do I need to have that discussion with people? Don't make a password out of info people can easily access!)

I've been horrified by this password notebook I keep seeing everyone promoting. All your info in one insecure place - not smart.

Oh and if you think it's safe in your home ... do you have kids? Maybe you trust them ... but do you really trust all of their friends? I know someone whose teenager's friend of a friend stole a checkbook (or maybe it was a checkcard I can't remember) and bought a very expensive guitar and caused quite a headache for some people.

[Monica Ricci]

Hilary, thanks for your comment. I will check out your suggestion. I reiterate that all password solutions have their risks and adults assume those risks when using a product. Any product. So if a person likes a low-tech solution and is comfortable with the risks, that's their decision, and a single password notebook might be a fine tool for them. For you, it's not comfortable, so you choose something else and that's what makes the world go 'round. :)

Similarly, anyone who hands their credit huge risk, but we all do that every day without even thinking about it because we're willing to live with that risk. This is really no different.

That being said, I appreciate your input and suggestion for a NON-paper password solution for my readers! Thanks for contributing to the discussion.

~Monica