Guy Low Price Electronic: 30 Dec 2008

Tuesday, 30 December 2008

Lightweight - dewalt, cordless

We go through a lot of cordless drills and had a lot of problems with the nicad batteries on the Milwaukee 18v drills and with the gearboxes of the Makitas (partly from operator misuse) and with the lithium-ion we decided to give the DeWalt drills a try. Very happy we did as they have a lot of power and 3-speed gearboxes. The hammer action is good enough for a 3/8" hole and the torque is good enough for even a 6" hole saw if it is one of the new kinds with the deep slots (Big Hawg and Blue Boar TCT).

Chuck is hard to untighten at first but it holds better than any other chuck I have used. The battery is the largest of any of our drills and also weighs more but gives a lot of power and lasts and lasts. Charge time is good and with the long life of the batteries I get through the day with only the original battery and seldom need to use the spare.

Side handle can be tightened in any position like the Bosch and Makita drills which I like but deWalt does not include a depth rod like Makita or a way to attach one later.

Buy this drill if you want the most powerful 18 volt drill around. Also has 2-year battery warranty. DEWALT DCD760KL 18-Volt 1/2-Inch Cordless Compact Lithium-Ion Drill/Driver Kit

I was looking forward to trying this drill/driver out. I wasn't disappointed. I enjoy the light weight for a 18v drill/driver. The battery last a long time. Though I didn't know that Li-Ion batteries just stopped turning the drill instead of slowing down like a Ni-Cad battery does. This was my first Li-Ion drill. However, it doesn't cause a problem, just pop the other battery in and keep going.

The only thing that caused me a problem at first was the brake for the drill motor. If I didn't securely tighten the bits, meaning tightening the drill bit, etc. at a high clutch setting, after a few times of using the drill/driver the bit would come loose. The brake stopped the drill motor so well that the chuck would open and the bit would be loose. I would expect that as the brake wears a little it might not stop the motor so quickly and it won't be a problem. However, I wouldn't want this option changed. It is nice to have it stop that quickly.

Ken

Our crews use a lot of different makes of cordless drills and when they need one from the shop they used to grab one of the Makitas but now their first choice is the DeWalt DCD970 drill. The DeWalt deliver a lot more power over a longer period of time. Part of this is their having the biggest (and heaviest) lithium ion battery and part of it is the 3 speed gearbox.

We use the Hole Pro adjustable hole cutters a lot and the low speed setting is perfect for good cutting speed and having enough power to cut 8-1/4" holes in TJI or plywood. The middle speed we have learned makes for smoother cutting with hole saws though we have switched to using Blue Boar TCT hole cutters 90% of the time. We can easily cut 6" holes in inch thick plywood with an 18 volt cordless and the very efficient Blue Boar hole cutters.

Hole Pro X-230 Kit: 1-7/8" to 9" and all fractional sizes in between. Infinitely Adjustable Cutter with Twin Tungsten Carbide Blades needs ¼ drill power of a hole saw to quickly cut Plywood Sheetrock Plaster Fiberglass OSB Plastic MDF Hardie Board

Blue Boar TSF-12 - 12 Piece Tungsten Carbide Deep Hole Saw Kit - Cut 10x Faster, 3x Larger, and 40x more holes per battery charge versus bi-metal hole saws in wood, chipboard, plaster, MDF, cement board, etc. Deep side slots for fast plug removal

The DCD760 has only two speeds but a strong gearbox and an excellent chuck. The DeWalt drills are the only ones that never seem to loosen while drilling or hammering. The Makita and Hitachi are easily the worst chucks and we only use them to drive screws. Don't be mislead by either the power ratings or recharge times from the manufacturers' marketing departments. If you want to compare two DeWalt or two Makita or two Milwaukee against each other they are OK but the are worthless for comparing two drills from different companies.

Recharge times are also a bit of a con. Faster recharge times means hotter batteries and this is not good for the batteries. With lithium ion batteries they can even catch fire. Makita states a 15 minute recharge time but in the manual it also recommends at least a 30 minute cool down period before you take the battery off the charger. We have found that the bigger the battery and the more efficient the hole cutter or drill bit or screw fastener the longer the drill lasts on the job and the fewer spare batteries we need. Before we switched to the Blue Boar hole cutters we used to take 6 batteries to a job and now we only take two and often never use the second one.

The DCD760 is all the average home DIY guy or gal will likely ever need but for pro use the DCD970 is worth the extra cost and weight. You get a pro grade gearbox and clutch and very good batteries (but with half the warranty period of the yellow ones on the high end drills from DeWalt).

I've been using Dewalt drills for the last 8 years for my job, but never bought one myself because I always had access to my work tools. Now I no longer have access to my tools all the time, and I decided to purchase a drill for my own. Compared to Ni-Cad batteries these Li-On batteries have some advantages. One is weight, its about 1/3 to 1/4 as heavy as the Ni-Cad. Their size is also an advantage, being slightly smaller, you can get the drill into positions and areas you have have had difficulty before with a Ni-Cad 18v.

As far as performance however, I see some problems. I've never had NEW Ni-Cad batteries, but these Li-On seem to have no performance degradation over their charge life; they go 100% until they are done. And when they are done, they stop. Thats it. No slowing, no signs nothing to let you know the battery is not 100% ready. This makes it hard to tell if your battery is charged enough for the job. It could go 5 mins it could last an hour. No way to know. They also seem to stop have a shorter charge life than Ni-Cads I've used. Just drilled 24 3/8 holes into treated 4x4's and it needed a new battery after 18. It might just be the new Li-Ons need some break in time, but it was still a bit disappointing.

But for the price, and for use in light duty house work, this is doing well. - Compact - Cordless - 18 Volt - Dewalt'

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Cardiac Health - hrm, garmin

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I have used this with my Garmin Forerunner 305, Forerunner 50, and Forerunner 405cx. Just wet it with saliva or water before you start, and it accurately and easily tracks your heart rate. The strap that attaches it to your chest is easily adjustable and easily removable. Unlike other products, my heart rate does not "jump around" 10 or 20 beats. The battery lasts a good amount of time and is easily replaceable. This is the best heart rate monitor that I have used, and I prefer it to Polar. Garmin Heart Rate Monitor

Works as advertised, no problems. This is a replacement of my first one that the seal (o-ring type) in the battery compartment failed, causing the battery to corrode due to moisture leaking. Then it never worked again. Be careful changing batteries not to damage the seal.

I got the Forerunner 405 as a gift, but without the HRM. I got this as an add on, but it worked seemlessly. I put it on and it synched immediately without having to really do anything on the device. Still figuring out all of the features, but the combo is highly recommended (I run and cycle).

I was very excited when I saw the ad for the Garmin Forerunner 405 and couldn't wait to get one. Unfortunately, when I went to make my purchase, the store only had the Forerunner 405 without the heart monitor in stock. To get the full benefits of my new Forerunner 405, I knew this was something I wanted to try.

When my Garmin Heart Rate Monitor came in, I immediately paired it with the Forerunner 405. Pairing was a breeze. I then put it on and wore it for a few minutes to check its accuracy (I wanted to be certain of its accuracy before I adjusted my run workouts based on the results). Suffice it to say, I was more than pleased with the results! It has become a constant companion to me along my runs.

The HRM is simple and easy to use. It picks up my heart rate everytime - quickly. I use it to send info to the Garmin Forerunner 405. When I put on the HRM, the 405 announces the connection in no time.

I bought this to pair with a new Garmin Edge 500 for cycling use. This was much cheaper than buying the Edge Bundle as I did not also want cadence. The strap works great with the Edge but installation was a little tricky. The Edge has to be "paired" with the HR strap but I was able to figure it out.

This is a great HR monitor and it paired easily (didn't have to do anything) with my Edge 500. It seems accurate and doesn't have any of the wild spikes I saw with my much older Polar HR monitor.

Most importantly, it is comfortable and doesnt leave any marks once adjusted correctly.

I reduced by one star because the strap is fairly short. I am not overweight (size 40 jacket) and I had to make the strap within 2" of its max for this to fit comfortably. Larger folks might have an issue.

Although the strap is very elastic, if it is stretched too tight it will leave marks and hurt.

I just turned on my 405 (held the "training" button) and it was recognized before it located satellites... It takes a bit getting used to wearing the strap around your chest, but it provides very good info... It is encouraging to see I can do the same run at a faster pace, with a lower average heart rate!

My bicycle Garmin 305 came with a cadence monitor... I really like this GPS device for my road bike and only recently did I become interested in adding the HRM strap. It comes ready to use, just be sure to set up your Garmin to work with the Heart Rate Monitor... it's a few menus into the device, but once I set the function and changed my displays to show - speed, elapsed time, altitude, heart rate on my main screen, it was all good to go.

Reasonable price, replaceable battery included, works with my Bicycle Garmin 305. - Hrm - Garmin - Running - Exercise'

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Laptop Battery Chargers - travel accessories, laptop battery chargers

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Pro:

This product functions just as advertised. Since there is only one AC plug, use a surge protector cord so two items can be plugged in at the same time. During a 400 mile road trip, both my son and I used our laptops at the same time while being powered through the use of this adapter.

Con:

The fan is a little noisy but after a while it became background noise and I forgot about it. Pro Series Car Travel Power Inverter / Charger with USB port for Laptop Computers , Portable DVD Players , MP3 Players, Smart Phones and More ** Includes cable for Micro and Mini USB compatible devices

Pros: Worked for a year

Charged everything I needed

Cons: Fan is loud

Broke after a year and shorted out every cigarette lighter it got plugged into

Overall it lasted pretty long but could have worked better in the long run. Very frustrating when the fuse in it is just fine and you wind up thinking your car is broke when low and behold, it is just your charger that is creating some type of fault.

-- UPDATE: As of 6/15/2010, the product appears to have broken. It has blown four car fuses over the past two days. I'm not sure what happened to it, but keep this in mind when getting one. I loved it before, but now I just threw it out. --

Electronic junkies will love this adapter, which you stick into your car's "cigarette lighter" port to gain the ability to charge items that require a regular house outlet.

I always carry it with me whenever I go on a car ride, and it spares me the trouble of panicking over car adapters I don't have. This can save you a lot of money on purchasing car chargers for all of your electronic items.

On long rides, if someone else is driving, I just plug in my laptop and watch movies the whole time, without worrying about the battery. To name a few things, I have also charged my cell phone, camera, iPod, and DSi.

I love the USB port, because I can simultaneously charge my iPod while charging another item.

The adapter's fan is a bit noisy, but as long as you are using the radio or AC, it shouldn't be a problem.

I checked many similar products, because I wanted to make sure that this product would work well for my laptop and flip camera. It is easy to use and supports devices up to 150 Watts continuously. There are some other ones that look alike, but does not suffice to supply power to laptops. Be careful! This product is made for laptops. The USB charger is really useful. I guess to more product will be available to be charged via USB in near future, and this product will be even more useful then. It has a fan to cool off the unit. Before buying it, I read that somebody complained about the "noisy" fan, but I personally disagree. Maybe I can tolerate it easier than most people. However, even if it is noisy, it is a trade I would gladly make in exchange of being able to charge my laptop on the go while at the same time I use it. I think, a fan was necessary for such a unit with this capacity, and for this price, it is a GOOD deal! I would definitely recommend.

Bought this for a road trip with my 7 yr old twins from Dallas to Chicago. Going there it worked great--used it for a laptop and to charge my blackberry. But on the way back, I was charging my cell phone and noticed that my clock in the car stopped working. Then I noticed that the unit didn't have the green light on. I had read about it blowing fuses in the car and I think this is what happened. Will be checking it out today. Tried the cigarette lighter and it does not work. I have a 2001 Lexus ES 300, so maybe it is a problem with an older car. It does everything all of the other reviews said it did, but only being able to use it for 2 days and then blowing a fuse doesn't work for me. I am returning it with much sadness. Heed all of the negative reviews---DON'T BUY IT!

This was exactly what I needed as I travel long distances daily.

Pros: Surprisingly short time to charge my laptop - very pleased on that score. Quick delivery (2 days). Simple to use.

Cons: As mentioned in other reviews, it is a little noisy. I guess it's some sort of fan to keep it cool. It's basically noticeable when the car is turned off, but not really audible when the car is running.

This was my first buy from Accessory Genie. (Now, for the record, I don't have any relationship with them.) But, they sent me an after sale email wanting to know what I liked or didn't like about the product and if I was happy. I think that's a first for me. Seemed like the type of people that would work with you if you ever had to return a product.

Provides a fully functional electric outlet in your vehicle, plus a handy USB port.

Cons: The cooling fan is a little noisy, and the socket itself has some bulk that doesn't allow it to be connected in any setting (although there is a little swivel to the connector head).

I have to say after a year using this product I am very pleased that it is still working just perfectly as like the first day I bought it. I have plugged my cellphone, MP3, video games, and even my laptop without a single problem. I really have put this product through some tests over the year and again, no problems. Haven't even had to replace the fuse as of yet; so that is very good. The only problem with the product is the fan is very load. I know it has to keep cool but it does get annoying. Other than that it has taken a beaten from use and is still working today so I give this 4 stars only because of the fan. Other than that this is a great product to have in the care for any emergency or to hook up any thing really.

It worked just for one day in my car. There is no problem with my cigarrette sockets. I use them to charge some Phones, GPS devices, etc. But this device only worked the first day. Second day it started to smell like burnt. Changed the fuse and it didn't help. Now I'm returning it. - Laptop Battery Chargers - Travel Accessories - Ac-dc Converter - Usb To Dc Adapter'

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Flip Ultra Hd - high definition, flip video

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If I'm going to spend more than a hundred bucks on an item or somewhere around there, I do extensive research first to know I got the best bang-for-the-buck and, consequently, dodge any potential future buyer's remorse.

I've realized that the time I spend doing my product comparisons is often time that others don't have so I may as well share what I can.

I'll start by saying that you'll see my "Verified Amazon Purchase" on the Flip HD Ultra Camcorder review because, obviously, that's the one I wound up buying and I'll share with you why. But what I like in a camcorder may not suit your own needs so I'll break it down and let you decide what's best for you via what I found out:

Here are the pocket camcorders I compared:

Flip UltraHD (will be referred to as "F")

Flip Mino HD 2nd generation (Will be referred to as "M")

Creative Labs Vado HD 8 GB 2nd generation (Will be referred to as "CL")

Kodak Zi6 Pocket HD (Will be referred to as "K")

Why HD cameras only? Brighter colors and better images, wider images

HD SHOOTING TIME:

F: 120 minutes.

M: 120 minutes

CL:120 minutes

K: 25 minutes with batteries they included, 120 minutes if you buy an SD card

MEMORY:

F: 8 GB

M:8 GB

CL: 8 GB

K: internally only 30 MB recording space but it has 32 GB expandable SD/SDHC card slot. Because it comes with such small recording space you really need to buy an SD or SDHC card to maximize its potential, but the potential is really good and this will increase your ability to shoot longer.

RESOLUTION:

All 720p which is excellent, just one step below the top 1080p format.

MICROPHONE:

F: Stereo

M: Mono **Update** They are now putting Stereo Mics in the Minos as of 2010.

CL: Mono

K: Mono

SOUND:

F:Premier AAC audio. Best stereo sound quality but still not great in winds

M:Good sound quality. Still not good in winds.

CL:Poor sound quality; had issues with sound and picture not being in sync.

K:Poor sound quality

ZOOM:

F: 2x

M:2x

CL:2x

K: poor quality zoom on the one I tried but I still think it's 2x. It has a great macro focus for very close-up objects if, for example, you see a bumble bee and want to shoot it on a leaf a few inches away! Kinda cool.

CAMERA SIZE AND WEIGHT:

F: 4.3x2.2x1.2 4 oz

M: 3.9x2x0.6 3. 3 oz

CL: 3.9x3x0.6 3.5 oz

K: 5.5x2.5.0.9 5.6 oz

SHIPPING SIZE AND WEIGHT:

F: 6.2 x 3.1 x 3.1 inches ; 11.2 ounces

M: 2 x 0.7 x 3.9 inches ; 1 pound

CL: 3.3 x 7.9 x 6.3 inches ; 11.2 ounces

K: 4x 5x 2.5" 2.4 lbs

TECHNICAL DETAILS:

F: USB cable pops out of the back so you don't need to keep up with a separate cable. Comes with Flip Video rechargeable AA battery pack (recharges when connected to USB); also supported by standard AA batteries. Note: Some sets come with the HDMi mini included and others come with the rechargeable battery pack on Amazon. Looks like one or the other but of course if you need both you can buy the other.

M: USB cable pops out of the back on this one as well. Has child safe button to prevent accidental deletion of videos. Internal lithium ion battery recharges through built-in USB arm

CL: USB in camcorder. Included in box are HDMI cable (nice), USB extension cable,(nice)silicon skin (cool) & rechargeable battery.

K: Included in box are HD and AV cables and wrist strap and rechargeable batteries and battery charger. Has built in USB arm.

SPEED:

F: 30 frames per second.

M: 30 frames per second

CL: 30 frames per second

K: choice of 30 frames per second or 60 frames per second.

VIEWING SCREEN: All 2" except the Kodak was the largest at 2.4"

IMPORTANT NOTES:

F: Best low-light performance for the mini cameras (though not perfect at all) and least amount of blurring and dropped frames in my opinion. Best color. Only one with stereo sound. You can get an underwater case for this one! Though that may sound crazy for a Texan, we use the camera non-stop on vacations and even when we aren't IN the water, we are around the water...on boats, in the sand with sea mist, etc. Then we can dive in and record the fish. Comes preloaded with flipshare software...just plug in to computer and it pops up. Only one with stereo sound.

M: Colors don't appear as good on the Mino as the other cameras. Thinnest camera. Make sure you get the one that only comes in the color aluminum or brushed metal. If it comes in any other colors it is the 1st generation MinoHD and they improved upon that one in the newer models. Great audio. Better shooting in low light than most mini cameras. Camera comes preloaded with FlipShare software. Can get still images through flipshare software.

CL: Decent filming in low light but not nearly as good as the Ultra or Mino; Software is preloaded in camcorder.

K: This is the only camera that I compared without the built in image stabilizatin which corrects for shaky images. What appears to be metal in picture is actually a chrome colored plastic. That said, this had the largest viewing screen of all of them. 2.4" Very poor in low light and seemed to have far more shaking and blurring. It also takes still pictures but they are really really poor quality...same as a lesser-quality cell phone pictures but good in a pinch if you want a still shot and have no cell or camera I s'pose. Heaviest for a pocket camera. Software is not preloaded in camcorder but a cd comes with it.

HOW CNET'S EDITORS RATED THE CAMERAS:

F Excellent

M Excellent

CL Very Good

K Very Good

And, finally, the reviews of the Flip from experts swayed me quite a bit:

Fast Company: "Flip Ultra HD is Pure Digital's "Best Pocket Camcorder Yet." 6-09

USA Today: "New Flip Ultra Video Cameras Might Flip Your Switch" 4-09

Business Week: How do you Invigorate a Recession? Look to i-phone, Flip, Kindle, and Zip Car For Answers

There were lootttts more I came across when researching the Flip Ultra HD but those are some of my favorites.

CONCLUSION: Clearest picture and sound was important to me, expert reviews that pointed to the Flip UltraHD as well and I liked the built in software and the case I can get to shoot underwater. It is the number one selling camcorder as well. So that was my personal decision-making process. However, keep in mind that if you need reading glasses none of that will matter if the 2" screen is too small for your viewing the shots easily for playback in which case you may wish to get the Kodak if that's important to you..

Also: No matter which one you get, you will probably want a mini tripod if you ever want to be in the shot yourself do don't forget those.

Also note: It's confusing because when these manufacturers make changes in the camcorders, they do not change the names on the new versions, nor do they change the names if it's an HD version or a non-HD version so be sure you look for the "HD" after the brand name and look for "2nd generation" or "newer version" on the Mino and Vado if you like one of those better so you don't get the older models.

Hope my obsessive comparing and contrasting for my own purchasing assistance helped you as well even if what you wanted in a camera was different from me. :-) Flip UltraHD Video Camera - Black, 8 GB, 2 Hours (2nd Generation) OLD MODEL - Camcorder - Flip Video - High Definition - 120 Minutes'

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Poulan Electric Chain Saw

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I originally bought the Poulan Pro 42 CC 18" Gas Chainsaw but after reading the reviews here I took it back without even taking it out of the case and bought this one instead. I am very glad I did. I only need a chainsaw for around the house to cut fallen trees or the odd job. So the idea of keeping a can of mixed gas and oil didn't appeal to me. Not to mention the saw would sit on the shelf for months at a time between uses and I didn't care for the starting problems or engine repairs of a gas chainsaw. However I was worried that this electric chainsaw would not be powerful enough. I had 2 fallen trees with a bases of about 15 inches that I needed to cut into firewood immediately. This chainsaw performed perfectly. I realize that it was new so the chain was nice and sharp but it still had no problem cutting through everything quickly. I loved being able to start it and stop it at will without the hassle of priming a gas engine or overheating problems or running out of gas or messing with the choke. I stopped whenever I felt like it and came in the house for a drink of water. Went right back out and with just a squeeze of the trigger was back to cutting again. I have a perfectly cut half cord of firewood in just a few hours. Amazon delivered the saw to my doorstep in 7 days with the free shipping. The saw did not come with a case or chain oil so I had to make a quick run to the store for some oil. I was happy to see that the saw used almost a quart of chain oil for the 2 trees. This told me that chain stayed nice and wet. Afterwards I spent about 10 minutes cleaning the saw back up like new and put it back on my shelf for the next time. It only took removing the two lugs and the chain and bar came right off for cleanup. Nice job Poulan. Poulan Pro 400E 18-Inch 4 HP Electric Chain Saw

As long as you can use it within extension cord reach, this is a great tool. the chain oiler is very good - the chain is always nice and wet without spraying oil, which is exactly the way I like it. And, of course with electric, there's no gas mixing and start up problems, and the saw is considerably quieter and lighter than a comparable 2-cycle powered tool. But, keep in mind, this is not a toy -- lighter saws can kickback easier, but on the otherhand they are easier to control as well.

Regarding the extension cord, I was worried that 4HP (4HP = 2984W = 27A @ 110V) would draw a lot of current. But I've had no problem using my regular old orange 14ga 100' outdoor extension cord. It seems to work just fine, and doesn't get warm even after an extended duty cycle. The saw only draws full power under extreme motor loading situations -- like if the chain is binding or dull or something....

This is a great little saw and a real value at the price.

It's powerful enough for the typical yard cleanup jobs you run into, and it's clean and easy to use, since all you have to worry about is keeping the chain oil reservoir full. This is NOT a production-style saw that you can take into the woods and cut fire wood. It's a yard maintenance tool-- and a good one.

This saw more than justifies the "Best Buy" rating Consumer Reports gave it. I'm very glad I bought it, and I'd do it again.

YOU MAY NOTICE THAT ABOUT 90% OF THE REVIEWS FOR THIS SAW ARE GUSHING WITH PRAISE, AND THE REMAINING 10% SAY SOMETHING LIKE "QUIT WORKING AFTER 20 MINUTES." WELL, I THINK I HAVE SOLVED THE MYSTERY...

TURNS OUT, UNLIKE MOST ELECTRIC CHAINSAWS, IT HAS A "CHAIN BRAKE" WHICH IS DESIGNED TO STOP THE SAW QUICKLY IF YOU BUMP IT, AS YOU MIGHT IF YOU LOST CONTROL OF IT. UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OWNER'S MANUALS DON'T SHOW THE CHAIN BRAKE IN THE DIAGRAM, IT REFERS TO IT AS A "HAND GUARD."

ALSO, THE TROUBLESHOOTING SECTION DOESN'T MENTION TO CHECK THE CHAIN BRAKE (I.E., HAND GUARD) POSITION EITHER. TO USE, IT NEEDS TO BE PULLED TOWARDS THE USER.

I WAS PERPLEXED DURING MY FIRST USE WHY AN EXCELLENT SAW JUST DIED. I CALLED AMAZON AND THEY PROMPTLY SENT A REPLACEMENT. WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR IT TO ARRIVE, I TOOK ANOTHER LOOK AT THE "DEFECTIVE" SAW AND REALIZED THE HAND GUARD HAD MOVED FORWARD, ENGAGING THE BRAKE.

THIS IS AN EXCELLENT SAFETY FEATURE FOUND ON ALL GAS SAWS, BUT I WOULD HAZARD A GUESS THAT MOST OF THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS ARE THE RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE OWNER'S MANUAL, NOT A DEFECTIVE UNIT, SO CHECK THIS OUT BEFORE RETURNING YOURS TO AMAZON!

AS FOR THE SAW, I LOVE IT. I'VE USED MANY GAS AND ELECTRIC CHAINSAWS OVER THE YEARS AND THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST ELECTRIC SAW I'VE EVER OWNED. IT IS QUIET, POWERFUL AND AFTER FAIRLY STEADY USE, HAS YET TO REQUIRE CHAIN RE-TENSIONING. I'VE OWNED REMINGTON SAWS THAT WERE PRETTY GOOD EXCEPT FOR THE TENSIONER.

THIS SAW DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB OF LUBRICATING THE CHAIN. JUST BE SURE TO EMPTY IT WHEN YOU'RE DONE SO IT DOESN'T DRIP DURING STORAGE.

UPDATE: AFTER A YEAR OF HEAVY, ALMOST WEEKLY USE CLEARING BRAZILIAN PEPPER TREES, THE CHAINSAW CONTINUES TO WORK FINE.

A big tree limp fell in my backyard. Tree removal companies wanted $350 to remove it. Decided to buy a chain saw and do it my self. I've never used a chain saw before and was intimidated by the gas powered ones. Bought the Poulan based on the positive reviews and it works great. Easily cut through over 14" of wood and not that scary to use. I saved my self a few hundred dollars and have some wood for the winter. Might keep it or sell it on Craigslist.

Made short work of a ficus tree about 15" across.

Easy to use, and great power. Hard to believe that it is an electric. Used other electric saws in the past that could not hold a flame to this one.

I can think of no drawbacks to this product

I love this electric chainsaw. It starts everytime. No more pulling and pulling trying to get it to start. No more issues with carbureator rebulding. And with 4HP, it has plenty of power & speed to match those $200 gas models at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. It's more than just a limb saw. I used it to cut down several good size trees up to 2' in diameter plus cut up the trunk for removal from the property. For many homeowner users, this will be a great choice for a general purpose chain saw. Only negative is no case (just a plastic sleeve for the chain). But still a strong value for the $.'

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Network Audio - radios, network audio

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I just bought this radio several days ago and absolutely love it! Very, very simple to operate, and took literally 15 minutes to set up (and I employ both 128 bit WEP and MAC filtering). In addition to the myriad stations available, I've linked my Internet Radio to my Pandora account; this allows the unit to play music directly from my Pandora radio stations. I can even create new Pandora radio stations directly from the Grace IR (although it is quicker and easier to do this from a computer). The sound quality from the onboard speakers is excellent. I have my unit connected to my home stereo system via the Grace IR's Headphone output into L-R inputs on my receiver. This is an excellent, excellent buy! I am considering purchasing a second unit for my bedroom. I highly recommend this unit. Grace Digital GDI-IR1000 Wi-Fi Internet Radio Featuring Pandora and NPR On-Demand

I have owned this GRACE GDI-IR1000 radio for a little over a week. When it works, it works well. It appears that almost ALL music, regardless of its source on the Internet, is funneled through the Reciva servers The problem that I have found is that the Reciva servers intermittently have bandwidth problems. I have not experienced any bandwidth problems sourcing music from Pandora. The issue manifests itself with the music stopping while the queue buffers in more of the song. While this is occurring I can switch to Pandora and there is no problem - switch back to Reciva and the problem is back. At times Reciva works without problem so, as I said, the problem is intermittent but present more than absent.

When it works (which is 100% of the time with Pandora) I LIKE it!

I just got it to work serving music from my desktop computer. I shared my music folder but the Grace radio would abort while scanning the files. I figured out that the problem was the length of the filename. Reciva expects the short filenames of Windows (real not pseudo) and my desktop is Linux, which supports long (real) filenames. I truncated the filenames to eight characters and the Grace radio accepted and played my MP3 songs without problem.

Having lived in large cities much of my life, I missed the variety of music programing in the mid-sized city we chose for retirement. This was a compromise we willingly accepted because the overall quality of life was much improved. Time-Warner broadband and the Grace GDI IR1000 has now given me the equivalent of a larger media market plus the rest of the world: symphonic music direct from London, Vienna, Moscow, etc. Gaelic And other Celtic music from the British Isles, authentic Chinese works from Beijing. It is all free and available 24/7. This little radio produces strong and steady sound even without a stereo hook-up which is available with RCA adapter included. The radio is a compact and attractive table model which is very easy to set up with your existing wireless router. Overall you can expect to spend 2+ hours exploring the choice of stations using the accompanying software to seek the music genres you prefer. Once setup with your selections, you have a lifetime to simply enjoy the music. I love to read another Hamish McBeth mystery book while listening to Celtic music from Radio Scotland. This one of the best purchases I have ever made from Amazon. While this is not a high end 7.1 sound system, it does produce excellent enjoyable sound. With new stations coming on line weekly, you can always add new music sources.

Just got this today and couldn't be happier!!!

I am a radio ADDICT, listening to both over the air and internet radio all day long. We just moved to a fairly rural area and I couldn't get any of my favorite over the air radio. I was miserable. I decided to try one of these WiFi radios and am so glad I chose this Grace model. I set it up, connected to my WiFi, and easily found some of my radio stations in under 10 minutes. I was so happy to find some of the small obscure internet stations, too. No problem. Doesn't sound like a Bose, but hey it was just over a 100 bucks and it does sound very good nonetheless.

I will not be using this with Sirius, so I can't comment on that feature.

I bought this radio after having a Logitech was not able to get it installed. The Grace radio came right out of the box, I entered my security code, and it connected right up. So easy. So many stations to enjoy. I am a Pandora fan. The ability to thumbs up and down directly off the radio is sick! These guys have a great radio.

The speaker out of the front has wonderful fidelity. I have it hooked up to my stereo to push the music throught the house.

Overall, I think that this radio is a good investment if you listen to internet radio, used to subscribe to satellite radio and want an endless supply of radio stations that circle the world for no subscription fee. For years now I have listened to radio over the internet bookmarking an endless list of URLs to the stations that I listened too. But to listen them I had to have access to my computer which wasn't always convenient. And before XM and Sirius merged I was an XM sub for four years. I loved the service because of all of the variety of music that it supplied.

The Grace Internet Radio is a great alternative to having to sit in front of your computer to get access to internet radio. And the endless supply of news, sports, music and what ever else you want to listen to on radio. Listen to radio all over the world, for free with the Grace Wireless Internet Radio. Its great not having to deal with my computer and listening to radio at the same time.

Positives -

Great sound quality from such a little device

Very easy to understand and connect to your network out of the box

Has an alarm clock and sleep timer

Can connect to Pandora, talk about endless music and you will actually want to hear

A ton of radio stations from all over the world, it is really amazing

Light, easy to move around

Best of all, no subscription fees

Negatives -

The menu on the radio is hard to figure out

The directions need to be more clearly written, they are difficult to understand

Cannot operate on batteries

The intergradation of Sirius needs to be more clearly written both by Grace and Sirius. Trying to be figure out how it works is painful

I wish there was a display button that could scroll through the stations by city, state, genre, station number and letters, and even show that is currently on. Instead you have to wait for the screen to scroll to the call letters and city.

This radio is a good investment because after the up-front cost of buying the radio you get and endless assortment of radio variety. And if you want a louder sound this model has the audio output in the back so that you can hook it up to your larger stereo. The sound is crystal clear and you and even play your MP3 selections from your computer to the Grace Internet Radio if you would like. I just wish the interface was better and more people would be tuned into buying this radio. - Wireless Music - Radios - Network Audio - Wifi Radio'

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Heart Monitor Watch - hrm, cycling

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Purchased this product about a month ago, and I was originally pleased with it. However, after a couple weeks of use and more focused exercise, I realized this watch doesn't perform. Here are my pros and cons

Pros

-nice look

-easy to use

Cons

-HR strap battey life has not lasted longer than 2 weeks. I've already replaced it twice

-HR readings are all over the place. I'm in good tune with my body, and it has recorded my HR as high as 185-190 for extended periods of time. I've never been able to get my HR past 175, even during an EKG stress test

-HR readings are very inconsisten with readings jumping up and down 10-20 bpm in a 10sec period

Essentially, the product is not reliable. I've used Polar in the past, and was happy to move away from their products with the this Timex. Looks like I'll be changing back. Timex Ironman Men's Road Trainer Heart Rate Monitor Watch

I read all the previous reviews of this particular watch thoroughly before making my decision. I am an active training triathlete and needed the functions provided by this watch for all three sports. Everything worked flawlessly for about 3 weeks and then the crystal started to fog up....I waited for a few days and then it got worse and then ultimately failed. I was not quite sure how to proceed. Do I engage Timex or Amazon? Well, the Timex website was not very return-friendly and so I came back to the Amazon website. OMG....this was so easy...I initiated the request for replacement product and had the new watch within about 4 days and then Amazon provides really easy return shipping labels so it did not cost me anything. Once I got the replacement watch, I used the same packaging for the faulty watch and dropped in the box. No fuss, no mess.

So, my 5-star rating is for both the watch and mostly Amazon.

I purchased this heart rate monitor over a Polar because Timex has an extended warranty available - 4 extra years for a measly $5. I received my watch and called the number on the Timex website and was informed that the extended warranty was not available for this particular model.

I see at the bottom of their website that not all products are available for this extended warranty offer, but in order to find out, you have to refer to the instruction manual. Kinda difficult to read the manual without having the watch in the first place, especially when I couldn't find a store locally that carried the Road Trainer (Gotta love Fort Polk, Louisiana).

Otherwise, I am happy with this HRM. Easy to read, and the set-up/operation is very intuitive, especially if you are familiar with other Timex Ironman products. The wristband fits - my left wrist measures approximately 7 inches. I wear it comfortably loose on the third from the smallest opening, although it needs loosening partway through an upper body weight workout. It fits comfortably tight on the next-tightest opening.

The chest strap fits comfortably - you know its there, but it doesn't pinch or annoy me like I thought it would.

Overall, I am happy with the watch and the chest strap. However, I tend to abuse watches, and an extra 4 years would have been great. That aspect of my purchase is very disappointing.

I have now owned two Timex HRM watches. The first one worked for a reasonable length of time, say 6 or 8 months. It then was not able to receive heart rate data from the chest strap. I changed the battery in the strap, I changed the battery in the watch. I went through every single piece of troubleshooting advice I could find, both from Timex and from and exhaustive internet search. The watch showed the heart icon WITH the animation indicating that data WAS being received, yet it would only show double dash for the current rate. Could not overcome this issue.

It had worked so well for a while, so I thought I'd just get another timex and would have better luck. I was flat out wrong. This one has made it about 2 months and is now refusing to receive data. This time, no matter what I do, the watch will only display the empty heart icon. I have again replaced batteries, "reset" the transmitter, moisture, position, tightness, I even shaved the hair on my chest in the area where the strap sits. NOTHING.

So while this device may work well for a short time out of the package, it has become glaringly clear that it is NOT reliable. I don't think spending $70 every couple of months for a whole new watch and band is an acceptable approach. I will NEVER buy any timex again, and I would strongly advise anyone NOT to get these devices. They are a flat out waste -- oh, unless you only want it for the watch. It's a decent enough watch, but the HRM is worthless!

I have been using my Road Trainer heart rate monitor for several weeks now, and must say it is a must-have for runners and athletes. This is the first HRM I have ever used, so I offer no comparative reviews to other models, but here are a few pros and cons of this particular unit:

PROS:

* Accurate heart beat measurement (just make sure to wet the chest pads a bit with water before wearing)

* Great tracking and review of workout stats (includes: total minutes of workout, time in heart rate zone, peak heart rate, minimum heart rate, calories burned and recovery time)

* Easy-to-read display, which is critical when you just want to glance down at the watch before looking back at the road/path

* Chest strap is very comfortable and stays in place (I'm a lean 5'11" 154lbs, so I can understand if larger guys find the strap snug)

* Customizable heart rate zone, great for changing the intensity of your workout

* Really informative manual and heart-health booklet included with this

* The watch looks nice enough to wear casually

CONS:

* The wrist watch strap is fairly large -- even for those with larger wrists

* There seems to be some relay lag between chest strap and watch if I start running too quickly. This is resolved if I slow down and allow the watch to "catch up," but it generally takes over two minutes to synch if I don't do this, which obviously skews the data

* The calorie counter tends to be somewhat inconsistent, either showing far too many or too few calories burned (I am by no means trying to lose weight, but I do need to monitor how many calories I need to consume in order to refuel -- especially when approaching race day)

I have not used this for biking or swimming, but I run roughly 15-20 miles per week, and can honestly say I will never be without my Road Trainer. My only regret is not having purchased it sooner! - Ironman - Heart Rate Monitor - Hrm - Cycling'

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Monitors - cinema, display

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No one is fooling themselves here. We're all aware this isn't a value priced monitor or a best bang for the buck item. But as of Nov-Dec of 2010, this is one of the best out there for pure picture quality.

It's regrettable that Apple currently elects to have only one choice for monitor size, but it IS an excellent size for any professional who is looking to shell out a grand. For some reason, IPS panels (the panel technology behind this display) have maintained their higher prices in this resolution/size range. Usually Apple's products command a bit extra for what you get, but compared to the rest of the market, they're actually setting right with everyone else.

If you're a PC user and are looking for a comparable monitor to this one, consider Dell's UltraSharp U2711. It will have the connections you need without needing an adapter to get the mini display port working.

If you're looking for the budget version of this monitor, look up HP's ZR22w 21.5-inch S-IPS LCD Monitor. Not quite the size or resolution, but you could afford two of them side by side for less than one of these.

If you're a gamer on a budget, don't even consider this monitor. The 12ms rating on the Apple monitor won't cut it for the First Person Shooter aficionado. Try Samsung's P2450H.

But if you're a graphics professional and/or love the minimal design of this monitor (and I DO think looks count for something, as shallow as that sounds) and have a mini display port on your computer, this is an incredibly attractive option.

Depending on what you work on everyday, you may or may not like the aspect ratio of this display. It's 16:9 rather than the previous 16:10 other monitors had. This is better for some applications (It works well for my 3D work with stuffing all the palette boxes to the right of my modeling windows, and having doubled up web windows while browsing) but not as good for others (Microsoft Office seems to be more crowded due to less height). 16:9 is definitely a better ratio for watching movies, no question.

Setting up the monitor on a Mac Pro Nehalem 8 Core was easy. There was one small firmware update required to fix an audio glitch that took all of 2 minutes. (Went to software updates control panel, ran the update, restarted, done.) Here's the link on that one...

[...]

I ran a calibration with my gretagmacbeth monitor calibrator and it actually had to change very little. Gray was an almost perfect 6400k out of the box and spot on 6500k after calibration. It was slightly greenish/yellow initially but looks perfect now.

The built in iSight camera works as advertised, and the built in speakers aren't too bad. (You'll want a stand alone audio system if you're looking for any real bass output, but the speakers on this display are every bit as good or better than what you'll find in a typical flat panel television in this size.)

I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't bring up the finish of the monitor. Yes, it's glossy. This monitor replaced my previous 20 inch matte display from Apple I had for years and like all debates, there are pros and cons to this. Here's my quick and dirty take on the debate...

MATTE VS GLOSSY

Matte Pros:

- When staring at dark images, you won't see any reflections

- Doing photo touch up work for long periods of time aren't as tiring (think 4 or 5 hour stretches)

Matt Cons:

- They're harder to keep clean. WAY. HARDER. ^_^

- Smaller text is actually harder to read due to the diffusion effect needed to make a matte screen.

- Recycling your monitor is probably not going to happen

Glossy Pros:

- Smaller details like tiny text is easier to see

- Easier to keep clean

- Colors pop more

Glossy Cons:

- If you don't have a light controlled room, or have a strong light source directly behind you... you'll be staring at your handsome (or gorgeous) mug all day long.

- Eye strain might set in just a little sooner

Which one is more color accurate? Honestly, every professional test I've seen leans towards glossy (Despite the parroting that continues in some circles that matte is king.) The thing is, the difference between the two is small enough that you should let your preference of screen type make the decision.

OVERALL MONITOR CONSIDERATIONS

Pros:

- No longer has a bulky power supply brick on the outside of the monitor. I've read one review that says the heat off the display is quite noticeable as a result. I have to respectfully disagree. I'm typing this in a room that's 67F with 21F outside and I can't feel ANY heat off it unless I put my hand an inch or two away from the monitor.

- Great color uniformity right out of the box.

- Built in iSight camera

- Great resolution

Cons:

- Pricey, duh

- Cord length could be an issue. If Apple would've make it even 18" longer, that would've accommodated a lot more situations. For my use, (tower below monitor under a desk and slightly to the right) it worked just fine.

- Limited connection options

Overall I have zero buyer's remorse in putting this monitor on my desktop. It looks great on or off, leaves my desk clutter free, and lets me do my work more efficiently than before. If only it was just a little cheaper... :-) Apple LED Cinema Display 27-Inch MC007LL/A - Monitor - Display - 27 Inch - Cinema'

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Replacement Battery - air pump, air compressor

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The Slime COMP 07 Rechargable Tire Inflator is also marketed as:

- Kwik Goal Portable Inflator

- Campbell-Hausfeld Model CC2300

Unfortunately, the unit is sold with a cheap 12 Volt, 7.0 Amp-Hour internal battery that cannot hold up under the rigors and demands put on it by the general consumer. Anyway, the battery in any of these types of portable devices doesn't last forever and will eventually have to be replaced. Think of is as normal maintenance, to be done every two to five years, even with the best of batteries.

But a simple change to a 12 Volt, 8.5 Amp-Hour, high-rate replacement battery will greatly enhance its performance. Without going into a stuffy brain-dump: A simple 21% increase in Amp-Hour capacity (to 8.5 Amp-Hours) will double the amount of work the fully charged battery can do, under load, such as the internal 12 Volt compressor motor. The "high-rate" designation is also a type of battery that is designed to take heavy loads without damage -or shortened battery lifespan.

But don't make the mistake that many 12 Volt power pack owners sometimes do: Attempting to jump-start their car from this tiny device. Doing so will instantly destroy the unit's internal 12 Volt battery and literally melt the compressor case down. Also, never plug a 12VDC appliance into the "Output DC 12V" jack that exceeds about 0.5 Amps (6 watts). For example, plugging in a small 12VDC coffee cup warmer will draw 8-10 Amps and burn out the internal 12 Volt lead acid battery in a couple of minutes. You'll know when a sealed lead acid battery is burned out when the tremendous amount of heat from the dying battery melts and distorts the outside plastic case of the compressor and a sick vinegar smell emits from the now-dead internal battery.

That said, replace with: Power-Sonic PSH-1280F1 FR Battery, 12 Volt, 8.5 Amp-Hour, High-Rate Series. I ordered mine from BatteryPlexDotCom. Really, to install a lower capacity battery in a portable field device is just false economy. And note, the "F1" designation is for the 3/16" / .187" wide metal terminal tabs on the battery, for a quick and speedy battery change with the internal wiring push-clips. To get to the internal battery, just lay the portable compressor on its side and unscrew the seven phillips-head screws that hold the halves of the outside plastic case together.

Now the portable compressor unit pumps up my 100psi bicycle tires -and 34psi minivan tires, with ease. The built-in pressure guage, in my unit, reads 5psi higher than actual, but that's easy to compensate for.

And the unit also now serves as a reliable 12 Volt portable power pack, a real workhorse, that is quickly recharged in the field with my portable 12 Volt wind generator, or my portable 12 Volt sun tracking solar panel.

I have also been pleasantly surprised with the unusually well-designed quick connect valve that seats perfectly on the valve stem, and releases without loss of tire pressure. Really, this has been a major headache with all my other air pumps, both manual and electric: When removing the quick connect valve from the tire stem, air always rushes out, and several more attempts have to be done before the tire is finally properly inflated, a real pain. But, to expedite things, and just to be sure, I usually disconnect the Slime COMP 07 quick connect valve from the tire valve stem as soon as the proper pressure is reached, with the air compressor still running.

The battery for this device is a lead acid battery, that is sealed, so that the electrolyte will not leak out of the battery. But, being a lead acid battery, it can do only half as much work, at 30 degrees Fahrenheit, as it will do at 70 degrees Fahrenheit. So either store the portable compressor in a reasonably warm environment until you need it, or accept its inherent shortcomings in a cold environment.

Also, never run the portable compressor down until it runs slowly, or ceases to run. This is commonly known as "batterycide." Doing so, even if promptly recharged, will greatly reduce the service lifespan, or even destroy, any good lead acid battery. Keep the portable compressor charged and ready at all times and you'll have no trouble. The LED Battery Check indicator is activated by turning on the Power switch (with the Compressor switch off). The unit is okay to run as long as the LED indicator is green "HI". The portable compressor should be recharged when the LED indicator is yellow "LOW". If at all possible, do not discharge the battery below 12.25 Volts. Always immediately recharge the battery after moderate-to-heavy use. You'll soon learn what this useful little compressor can handle -and can't handle.

And, being a lead acid battery, it will hold its charge for months and months, with very low self-discharge. Yet another advantage of lead acid batteries is that they are routinely recycled. In fact, a brand new lead acid battery, off-the-shelf, is manufactured from recycled lead.

One major, and justified, gripe many owners have with the unit is the ridiculous claim in the instruction manual that the device can be used to inflate air mattresses, rafts, etc.. Well, that's simply not true. The compressor is for pneumatic tires and soccer balls and footballs, etc. only (and maybe to run an airbrush). The hard-working piston in the compressor is only the size of your little fingertip, so it would take all day to fill up an air mattress, and keep filling it until the mattress bursts (if unattended). And the battery is not large enough to run the compressor that long anyway. For air mattresses and rafts, just buy a specialized high-volume, low pressure, 12 Volt air pump, and plug it into 12 Volt jack on your trusty Campbell-Hausfeld Cordlesss Air Inflator / 12-Volt Power Pack, and you're good to go. Slime COMP 07 Rechargable Tire Inflator - Inflator - Air Pump - Tire Inflator - Air Compressor'

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Four Thirds - kit lens, digital slr

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This lens is a newer version of the standard kit lens that comes with E-series Olympus digital SLRs. It is about 1/3 smaller in length and girth and weight than the 14-45 lens. It has the same apertures (3.5-5.6) as the old one but focuses a little closer. The first thing I noticed is that manual focusing is quicker, quieter and more positive than the old one. It has the feel of a "good old" prime lens when focusing manually. The smaller size really helps it fit in my bag better; the lighter weight makes carrying the camera (E-330) much easier. A fine point: Olympus now supplies a front-pinch type lens cap that makes it possible to remove and replace the cap with the lens hood in place. The previous model had an edge-pinch type that made it necessary to remove the lens shade first. The technical reviews suggest that this lens produces images that are sharper in the corners at full aperture than its predecessor. But what I do know for sure, is that although the near-focusing distance is about 1 foot, I was able to produce a sharp image (in Macro setting) at 5 inches on my E-330!! The mounting bayonet flange appears to be plastic. Only time will tell about its durability. I don't do a lot of lens changing, so I'm not concerned. The images I'm getting are excellent, so I'm glad I made the change. Recommended. Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens for Olympus Digital SLR Cameras

This is one of the best kit lenses made by any manufacturer. It is very sharp and optically superior to the Canon and Nikon equivalent kit lenses. It is also very small and works great with one of Olympus' small form factor cameras such as the E-420. The combination is about as small as it gets in the dslr world and makes it a great traveling companion.

Pro: Very sharp for a kit lens, very light, very small. Good focal range (28-84mm full-frame equivalent), really well built for a plastic lens

Con: plastic mount, not that fast (5.6 at the longest end)

This lens is so light and small that even if you have better ones, you should still have it in your camera bag as a backup. As a primary "walk-around" lens, it's more than up to the task.

The lens arrived in near perfect packaging and excellent condition. It has operated flawlessly in all environments and circomstances to date. To obtain this lens in "like new" condition at this price is astounding. I will certainly return to Amazon for future equipment perchases and make it the standard by which other on-line markets are judged.Olympus ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens for Olympus Digital SLR Cameras

This lense is great. I just upgraded my camera body and needed lenses to finish the upgrade. It responds well to all I have asked it to do. I have had it about a month and have been out shooting a lot since then. The results are great and any missteps on the results are mine and not the lenses. I will be purchasing another, a macro in the near future and will be looking to buy from this same family of products.

I bought the Olympus 14-42mm lens as part of the Olympus E-620 kit. Overall I am quite happy with the 14-42mm as a general-purpose lens, particularly for outdoor, daytime use. It is light weight and the zoom range is useful for landscapes at the wide end and portraits and closeups at full zoom. In good light this lens is capable of producing clear and crisp pictures that are not noticeably less clear at the edges than in the center (as expected given the four-thirds crop). Focusing is reasonably fast though I have been unable to get the lens to focus in some conditions, particularly in low light. The aperture range is fine for outdoor shooting though often not bright enough for indoor/low light conditions. Also, it is hard to achieve a shallow depth of field with this lens though it is possible at full zoom.

hi! I just got back from a out door trip. and I took this lens. I found it very use full as it act as a kind of wide angle. the picture through this lens were too good specially when the sun light was perfect. it do captures the true colour of the object. The great thing is the this les\ns is super light and focuses the close object and far one to its best.

I had to replace the lens that came with the camera and this seemed to be the best bet for quality and cost. We've only used it a few times since we purchased it and we are pleased with the ease of use, weight of lens, and quality. - Kit Lens - Four Thirds - Zuiko - Digital Slr'

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Iphone Clock Radio - ipod clock radio, ipod accessories

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Whats to say, it's average, which I'm surprised it's not better being made by Sony, however, it does what it's designed to do. It's decent sound for an alarm clock. That's basically what it is, an alarm AM/FM Tuner that happens to have an Ipod dock. without the Ipod dock it's worth I'd say about 10.00 bucks. Compared to others though it was definatley reasonably priced. Sony ICF-C05iP Clock Radio for iPod (Black)

When I went to the different stores I was looking for a small, minimal space occupying alarm clock that I can put by my bedside that would charge my iPhone, an adjustable buzzer volume that would wake me up with the buzzer, and not illuminate my whole room. If you're looking for that, then this is the product you need. In my shopping in stores I found them all to be too large, or the clock too bright, or the buzzer wasn't loud enough and didn't give you the option to adjust the volume to a level suitable for yourself. If you're looking for a high quality sound system, I doubt this is product for you because even though I didn't test the sound, I can't see it being used to provide music for a house party because it is so compact. I also really like that the ability to adjust the brightess of the alarm clock is real easy to find because it doubles as the snooze button when the alarm isn't going off. So, if it happens to be too bright you can adjust it easily. It has 3 levels of brightness and the option to completely turn the backlight off. I also am going to like the one touch button on back that will adjust up and back for daylight savings time. So basically my need for an alarm clock-iPhone charger was finally met in this product. Set up quickly and so far very happy with it.

Love it, and it is even better than the description makes it sound. I love that I can set the volume for the alarm itself so that I can listen to music while I fall asleep and not have to worry about it being to low in the morning to wake me up. I also love that I can turn the backlight off at night. The only issue I have with it is that it is really easy to accidently snooze for longer than you would like. If you push the snooze button more than once it increases the snooze time, so be careful with that.

This clock radio from Sony does the job. It is easy to understand and use. You can listen to your iPhone/iPod or to the radio - your choice. I put my iPhone in it each night and use the alarm on my iPhone to wake me up. Each morning my iPhone is fully charged and ready to face another day. There are no extras here so don't expect them. It simply does what it is meant to do very, very well.

Bought this for my IPod Touch (4th gen) to use at the office and it works great. Sound is good for a clock radio. It's not something you'd use for your main sound system, but for music in the office, it's great!

We were looking for a smaller option to go on the nightstand that would accommodate the iPhone or iPod and also be just a radio alarm clock if needed. So far we are happy with the quality of the sound and how it works. The option to turn the light off is nice and the radio reception appears to be better than the regular radio alarm clock we already had. It is easy to set up and use.

After trying a really crappy iHome iA5 and a confusing Jensen JiPS-250i, I went for simple-but-elegant with this Sony. Worked beautifully right out of the box. Don't want apps, don't want bells and whistles, don't need concert hall-quality sound. Just want an iPhone clock radio that will reliable charge my device and let me listen to my podcasts in bed at night without generating a bunch of error messages about how "this accessory is not optimized" for use with my iPhone. This one does the job. Small footprint on bedside table is a nice bonus.

Highly recommended.

Loved the size of this for next to my bed. It was ideal and I was so happy when I got it. 3 weeks later I woke up and no time was displayed and my iPhone wasn't charged. It just no longer worked. You need to save the box for the return period. Aggravating and so disappointed by the waste of money.

This little machine is great! It's compact, the speakers are pretty good and the dimmer light is good for me....I like a very dark room when I sleep. It's very easy to set the clock, set the sleep timer etc. I have had some clocks in my life that took a college degree to figure it out. And the best part is that my iPhone is always handy and charged. Great product. - Clock Radio - Volume - Ipod Clock Radio - Ipod Accessories'

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