Guy Low Price Electronic: 11 Apr 2009

Saturday, 11 April 2009

Kohler Kitchen Faucets - kohler kitchen faucets, kitchen faucet

I replaced a cheap Moen kitchen faucet (put in my Palrm Harbor Discovery modular) that just made 1-1/2 years of use with this faucet. I was drawn to the Kohler faucet because of the beauty of its design. The best looking one on the rows upon rows of faucets at the store. I want to get done quick in the kitchen and the sleek design enables a quick job of cleaning the faucet.

I got in a long conversation with a knowledgeable plumber and he said Kohler products had a good history. He said plumbers had advised Moen products over the years because the cartridge was non-functional after a while and the replacement easy to install so the plumber got a call and lots of money for a quick change with the cartridge itself prohibitively expensive costing around $25. He said the Kohler product would last far longer without any repairs, essentially only requiring descaling of the spout. I had to struggle to turn the Moen from one sink to the other and when the plastic ring that was causing the struggle unseated, I had a spray of water. Hence, the need to repair or replace. Given the hourly rate of plumbers, I figured a repair would last only as long as it did the first time, so elected to improve the faucet and replace. The faucet allows the filling of large containers due to the design and it moves with just a light touch. The spray head moves with ease from the fixed position to the moveable positions. I love the faucet. It is the best one I have ever had and makes kitchen work pleasurable and enjoyble. Kohler K-596-CP Simplice Single-Hole Pull-down Kitchen Faucet, Polished Chrome

I had the same experience as Arun, where I received a used product from Amazon. The box was not sealed, and in fact, had *two* broken Kohler seals on the box, indicating that I was the third to receive the product. The faucet had water stains and finger prints all over it. Come on Amazon, what is up with that? I was very disappointed. However, a replacement arrived the next day. The (one) seal on the box was still in tact, though there still seemed to be a lot of finger prints on the faucet. I went ahead with the installation which was far easier than the removal of the p.o.s. Moen I was replacing. I ran into a snag or two, but nothing that was Kohler's fault. The end result is a gorgeous, elegant, stylish faucet that works beautifully. It's even more attractive in person than in the photos. I only wish I had thought to get a replacement soap dispenser at the same time, as the original one looks pathetic next to the shiny new faucet.

I bought this faucet and it arrived in 2 days. When I took out the faucet, water started dripping from the connecting lines. Then I noticed drops of water in different parts. I called Kohler to see if this could be because of quality control measures. They said, what I got should be a RETURNED item. I called Amazon and they send another one as a replacement. Right away looking at the box, I saw 3 Kohler labels one, on top of the other. I carefully removed the top only to realize my worst fear that this item was also a returned Item. Both the labels inside were cut. I took the faucet out and once again, the new one(that's what they claim) started dripping water from the connected lines. So, it looks like this was returned atleast 2 times before. This is disgraceful. I lost trust in Amazon. I can't imagine how they can do business by just packaging a used item, when a customer pays full money for the same. This is totally unethical way of doing business and Amazon lost me once for all as a customer.

Beware of any items that you buy from amazon, which is not sealed by the manufacturer.

We just got this faucet and love it! My husband didn't have any problems putting it in. This is a big thing for him because he has struggled with every other faucet he has put in. I love the sleek look and how high the faucet is. It makes it so much easier to clean. Doing dishes is so much easier with the extra height, especially since we don't have a dish washer. The spray function is so smooth and has good water pressure. The buttons easily change water from spray to stream. It is also very solid and looks like it will last years to come. The only thing I wish was that the handle to turn the water on and off was a little bigger and a bit easier to access when I am trying to turn it on without using my hands because I have some food all over them. Otherwise, I love it!

This is a wonderful product - beautiful, versatile, well-constructed. As I've slowly replaced the last owner's low- to mid-market fixtures with nice ones I've ended up almost always buying Kohler (the others being Delta) at least partly because I'm partial to east central Wisconsin, but mostly because I have yet to experience a Kohler product I didn't love.

This faucet was super easy to install - it took maybe ten minutes once I'd removed the old faucet and swapped out the failing pipe shutoff valves.

The two spray settings (essentially a focused stream and a dispersed spray) are both very good though I might prefer a slightly more diffuse stream. I don't find the pause feature very useful, but I guess it's a nice option.

I am a fan of the high-arc design because it dramatically improves sink access for washing or filling large dishes, and of course the pull-down faucets are much higher quality than the old side-sprayers, which were a nuisance at best. Kohler of course isn't the only manufacturer of this popular style, but the Kohler is nice because it's pretty much all metal - a lot of the others are mostly plastic - and it's also about the narrowest and most compact neck and head that I could find. Many of the high-arc faucets with pull-down heads are big, bulky plasticky affairs but the Kohler is pretty narrow and very solid.

The photograph of the product shows it with the mounting plate, which covers the two side holes on a three-hole sink, but I chose to mount it without the plate, using the leftmost hole in my sink, which in my case puts the faucet in the exact center of the two basins. I used one of the other holes to mount a (Kohler) soap dispenser, and I plugged the other two with (cheap plastic) hole fillers. I think it looks nicer this way than with the mounting plate; it's nice to have the versatility. - Single-handle Faucets - Kitchen Faucet - Kohler Kitchen Faucets - Pull-down Faucets'

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Coming Of Age - sex, porn

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This is the second box set release by Funimation of the first season of xxxHolic. It's an excellent series and there are enough reviews of the previous box set that should give you a good introduction if you're not already familiar with it.

When multiple releases start appearing, I think it's good to know how one release differs from another. I got this set in advance from another web site (for $30) where it was titled as a Viridian Collection set from Funimation, which is how they designate their budget releases. However, this set does not actually say "Viridian Collection" anywhere on it. The seies is set on 4-DVD's with 6 episodes on each disc. The set takes up the same space as a normal DVD case. It has an outer cardboard slip-cover with the same artwork as in the case itself. The discs are set on two double-sided hub pages that hold the discs in place very well and there is additional artwork visable inside with a listing of all the episodes. There aren't any on disc extras beyond textless songs and trailers but the original single disc releases of the series were the same way.

If this truly is a Viridian Collection, then it seems like a nice improvement over prior packaging choices. The only thing missing from previous Funimation releases of the series would be the artwork on the cases, although this set still looks really good. If you've been waiting for a lower priced release of xxxHolic, then this one is a great choice. xxxHolic

xXxHoLic is an anime series that branches off from another CLAMP anime called "Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle". The basic plot revolves around a high school student named Kimihiro Watanuki who possesses the ability to see spirits, an ability he detests. Upon meeting a witch named Yuuko at her "wish granting shop" he wishes said ability away...but for a price. Yuuko's shop revolves around granting wishes with the compensation of what you value most. As his compensation Watanuki becomes employed at Yuuko's shop where he witnesses the many visitors who come in need of having their wish granted.

The first season comes in a regular DVD size case with gorgeous artwork both inside and out. It features multiple discs with special features such as commercials and textless songs. The episodes are also featured in Japanese audio and have subtitles in multiple languages.

If you're looking to own the English dub of xXxHoLic: Completely First Season this is the version to buy!

I avoided watching this for the longest time because the art seemed unappealing. But after watching Tsubasa: Resivoir Chronicles I had no other choice. First thing; if the art creeps you out IGNORE IT! This anime is great. The characters are awsome and the story line is phenomenal. After the first disc I couldn't turn the tv off. The voice actors did a a fantastic job and the music is great. The character development is great and besides the annoying girl, himawari, I loved all the characters. It is interesting to see the tie ins with other clamp novels and I was estatic when I saw Fai's staff! There is always a lesson to be learned in holic and Yuuko always seems to be the teacher! This show is great and I promise the art won't bother you for long! - Porn - Sex - Hardcore - Adult'

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Earbuds - earbuds, noise reducing

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While these JBUDS did not, in a side by side comparison, provide as much surrounding, warm sound as my Sennheiser 212 headphones, they provided excellent clarity, especially on KJAZZ radio. Talk formats are also excellent. The comfort is surprisingly good for an in-ear bud. For 20 dollars, this is a great substitute for the cheaper buds that come with most MP3 players.

Update on 12-21-06: I've come to be more impressed with my JBuds over the last two weeks, marvelling at the bright, crisp, and yes, warm sound that comes out of these inexpensive buds. Perhaps, as I've read in some of the headphone information that is out there, that there is a "breaking in" period, which has something to do with loosening the tranducer. In any event, I'd have to give these JBuds another star.

Second Update 10-8-07: My only complaint about the JBuds is that sleeping with them at night I will sometimes wake up and the bud will have fallen off. I can't secure the buds to my satisfaction; however, the JBuds are so comfortable I deal with this problem.

Third Update 1-7-08: The sound is not quite as good as the slightly more expensive V-Moda; however, the JBuds are easier on my ears for long-term (I sleep with them on) listening. Also the JBuds have a longer extension and don't pull out of the radio or iPod headphone jack as easily as the V-Modas, so again on balance the JBuds are better. JBuds Hi-Fi Noise-Reducing Ear Buds (Black)

Awesome headphones. I love these guys and have been using them for about 6 months now. Their sound is impeccable, and are extremely comfortable, I wear them while studying I mean like 8-10 hours a day, and never really notice them. I wouldn't say that these are actually noise cancelling via electrical interference, its more via sound muffling than anything, but don't misinterpret, with the sound at a medium volume you will kill all but the loudest ambient noise. I highly recommend these. Flat out the best $20 I have EVER spent.

I bought these headphones to replace my Sony MDR-EX51LP Fontopia Headphones. I like these better for one two reasons

1) completely superficial reason - it matches my black ipod

2) completely non superficial reason - it's better for my hearing

I typcially keep the sound on my ipod locked at 75% to minimize damage to my ears. With these JBuds I don't have to take that precaution, because I never have to raise the volume up that high. And I listen to my ipod chiefly going back and forth on the subway in D.C., where it can be pretty difficult to block out the sound of the train. I'm really glad I bought them.

Two words of caution, however. First, I don't think the sound is as good as it was with the Sony headphones. I listen mostly to podcasts and audiobooks, though, so it doesn't affect me much. Also, I'm not an audiophile so my standards aren't that high. Secondly, I've gone through 3 pairs of these types of headphones due to the rubber tips falling off. While I prefer these type of headphones to other in-ear phones (I've got small ears, and other types hurt), this is getting pretty aggravating. So electronic companies? Work on that.

I played the numbers game when deciding on a pair of earbuds for listening to voice podcasts on my daily 20 minute train commute. Figured that with a 4-out-of-5-star average on 870 reviews my chances were pretty good that I'd get a great product.

Well, I've read the 1-star reviews and not all of them are by people who are sound-afficionados concerned with clarity, bass, etc. No, the majority of 1-star ratings concern a crackling and then total failure of one of the earbuds. My 1-star review falls in that category.

I'd had these earbuds exactly 3 months when the right-side earbud started to die. At first, if I wiggled the jack or held the wire a certain way, and remained perfectly still, it'd come back but only go out again. I became so focused on holding/wiggling the wire that there were times I forgot what I was trying to listen to on the podcasts.

Today was the last time I attempted the odd hold/wiggle/be still sychronization. Nothing worked. I think now it's gone for good and I'm down to one earbud, which is annoying and leaves me with mono-ear. Can't think of anything unusual I did. Just sat on the train and walked in the train station. Disappointing.

I see a lot of reviewers complaining that the buds are not "noise-cancelling", but you can't expect that from buds with no electronic noise-cancellation. I like to walk down a particularly noisy street to get to class, and the difference between these and the standard iPod buds is incredible. I can comfortably walk to classes with the volume anywhere between 1/4 and 1/2 of full strength (as opposed to around 3/4 with other buds) and still hear just fine, which is definitely better for my hearing. I still want to hear busses, horns, etc for safety, so this does exactly what I need - muffles/blocks conversations and the like while still allowing me to hear necessary things.

Also, the different size fittings are a great feature. It takes a bit of experimentation to find the right size and fit, but once you do, the outside noise suppression and the sound quality are undeniably impressive.

As for that sound quality... While I don't have much to which to compare these and I'm no "audiophile", I couldn't be happier with the money I spent. I listen to a very wide variety of music (acoustic singer-songwriters, rock, rap, country, etc) and the sound is great for all of them. Good, crisp bass response in the rap and in bass drums, both acoustic and electric guitars sound clean, drums are smooth, and I'm generally hearing parts of songs I have not previously heard (echoing, multiple guitars/pitches, etc).

Bottom line? These are great buds. While I'm guessing there are better-sounding ones out there, a college student on a budget like me or anyone not looking to spend big bucks but get highly impressive sound should give these a shot. - Earbuds - Noise Reducing - Headphones - Jbuds'

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Dry Erase Markers - dry erase boards, boards

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It's okay, but the biggest problem is that there are a couple bubbles in the surface, like it wasn't glued well to the backing. I bought if for my daughter, so it's fine for her. Not for professional use in my opinion. Board Dudes Magnetic Dry Erase Board Value Pack, 24 x 36 Inches (79194VAT-12)

The first board I received was warped badly. I contacted Amazon and I obtained an RMA and they shipped a replacement overnight (Thank You Amazon!). However, the second board was also a "bit" warped. Well, I didn't want to have to return another oversized box at the UPS store so I decided to throw some flat iron weights (2 5lb and 2 10lb) on the back of it while leaving the board face down overnight on the carpet.

The twist in the board disapeard and I hung it on the wall (landscape). After about 4 days the warp (twist) in the white board re-appeared and now the board was not laying flat on the wall. This might be because I often open the window in my office and the humidity may have contributed to the warp re-appearing.

The board is a coated fiber board with an aluminum frame with plastic corners. The frame is mostly decorative. I had to drill the bottom corners and anchor it to the wall to keep it straight.

The board erases well with no ghosting; at least with the markers that came with the board. It came with an eraser, 2 black markers, 1 purple and 1 blue. It also came with some magnet backed clips and buttons.

Considering the extra effort to get the board hung, I don't think it was worth the $40 dollars.

The warp may have been attributed to the fact that the board was shipped in an oversized box at a canted angle. I don't know how long the board was sitting in this box in the warehouse. I expect the warp is due to using coated fiber board and not the packing.

If you are willing to put a couple of extra screws thru the bottom of the board to keep it flat on the wall don't sweat it. If you want a board that will hang flat on the wall with the two anchors and screws provided with the board, this may not be for you.

I wanted a magnetic board for the kitchen so I wouldn't have to use my new refrigerator for a bulletin board. The white board does the job perfectly and I can use the pens that came with it on my small note size white board. However, the packaging left much to be desired. The box was so squashed that FedEx had to tape the box to hold it together. The paper packaging inside was inadequate and the board did arrive slightly bent at the bottom.

When the board arrived, it looked very nice, had all the components, and worked well. About a week later, the whole board was warped so one of the corners was away from the wall ~3-4 inches and the whole surface had bubbled up. I had to return the board. I would not recommend this product or Board Dudes in general for future purchases.

I have bought 4 of this board & had to return all 4 of them due to warping & surface bubbling. The warping & bubbling usually occurred after about a week of hanging on the wall. Amazon should not carry this product at all.

The aluminum frame was warped, which would have been possible to fix by screwing the board to the wall. But I was installing it in an unusual location, so that wouldn't work. Fortunately, I velcroed it into place while trying to figure out a more permanent solution. After a week or two, the surface didn't just bubble up - it looked like a gopher dug a tunnel from top to bottom. The surface popped out about a half an inch, and the tunnel was about an inch wide.

The white board only has two jobs - be flat, and be erasable. At least it was erasable for the short time I had it before taking advantage of Amazon's return policy. If you still think it's a good idea to get this board, don't throw out the box until you are either confident the shape won't change suddenly, or the return period has expired.

It gets one star because it was erasable, and it also held magnets.

I got this board for homeschool use. It has bubbled up from all corners making it very difficult to use. Of course, the return window ended 2 months ago. I warn you against this board. It is awful!

Little pricey but nice board, came packed well.

After about two weeks the backing seemed to warp and the top white part de-laminated or came unglued from the wood it is mounted on.

So now I have a white board with ripples in it.

Bought it for my office but since my 5 year old uses it mostly and doesn't notice the bumps haven't bothered returning it.

Bottom line - pass on this brand and this model.

My child loved this and used it everyday. I saw her writing skils improve because she enjoyed the pruduct so muc. After about 3 months it starts to warp and you have wrinkles in the board. I was not able to do anything at this point because it has been so long.. I would not buy this again or tell anyone else this is crap! - Dry Erase Boards - Dry Erase Markers - White Board - Boards'

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Vintage Jewelry

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I got these for my girlfriend for Christmas. She loves them, but they are a little bit heavy which I should have expected. The stones also look much more green in real life, but I'm very happy with them. 1928 Jewelry Victorian Peacock Turquoise Colored Gem Earrings

These are perfect for one of my maids of honor to wear with our Peacock-blue bridesmaid dresses. They make a statement without being too loud. They are also a great weight (solid but not too heavy) and are exactly what I was looking for. A little pricey for what I would expect, but not TOO horrible. I would recommend, as this is exactly what I needed for my situation.

These earrings arrived and are gorgeous and make the statement I hoped for. However, the earrings smell like cheap metal. They are fairly expensive to be such poor quality metal and I am worried they are going to rust or deteriorate quickly.

These earrings are an intense teal color. They absolutely glow. Every one of my friends have complemented me on these. I lost one earring, and had to immediately buy another pair. My only despair is finding a matching ring or necklace!

I purchased these seeing that they were so beautiful as I gazed at my screen. However, when these arrived and I opened the box....They are absolutely stunning! When I wear these earrings it makes jaws drop open! People always ask me "Where did you find those?" I love these! Thank you for such beauty!'

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Hard Drive Cooler - antec, hard drive cooler

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I bought two to fill up my Thermaltake Armor tower. It is running 24/7. icage is very nice in keeping your harddrives cool to the touch. Fans are quite and unit is nicely constructed. Only complains are: there are no on and off switch for the blue light and it takes up 3 bays and it can support only 3 harddrives they could've fit one more harddrive (they might have their reasons such as cooling) Thermaltake iCage A2309 HDD Module with 12cm Blue LED Fan

I didn't expect this fan to make such a significant difference inside of my Thermaltake Armor case. I had a Zalman 9700 cpu fan and it already kept the CPU temperature cooled. However, my motherboard temperature constantly was at 40-45C idle and creeping higher as load increases. It made me uncomfortable so I had to try a case fan hoping for some kind of help to keep the temperature from rising too fast. I've bought this hard drive fan instead since it fits perfectly into my case and I had enough free slots in front. I also reallocated 1 hard drive to this cage. The results was unexpected. Instantly I experience a drop of 10 degrees celsius and temperature don't rise as fast for my motherboard readings. Below are some results I've gotten:

Temperatures when idle; with their before and after numbers separated with a "/".

CPU: 24-31C / 20-24C

Motherboard: 40-45C / 30-35C

Temperatures with load; with their before and after numbers separated with a "/".

CPU: 30C-35C / 24-27C

Motherboard: 45-55C / 35C

System used on was a Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 overclocked to 3.0GHz, Asus P5W DH Deluxe, BFG Nvidia 8800GTS 512MB OC...

I bought a Thermaltake Case with HDD dock on the top. This unit came with one 3.5" mounting kit, and I quickly needed to add a 4th HDD and faced the challenge of installing it since I ran out of the existing 3.5" mounting kit. I found this iCage A2309, and it was breeze to install, the fan was super quite. I believe that this works really well with any other case.

I use this at the bottom of an old ATX mid-tower that was not meant to hold as many hard drives as I put in it. It's just sitting, unsecured, on the bottom of the case, below the original drive bays. The weight of just one drive is enough to stop any rattling in my situation.

Absolutely effective in keeping two Hitachi Deskstar 3.5-Inch 2 TB Internal Hard Drive (0S02861) and one old 160GB Maxtor SATA II cool. It has a positive affect on the motherboard and processor, too. (I assume this is due to increase airflow within the case, as I did not increase the external intake/exhaust openings. It might be that the original fans were just inadequate.) The fan is quieter than the original case exhaust fan.

My only problem with it is the blue LEDs are bright, but the set-up is in another room so I don't have to see it very often.

Added to an Antec 300 case. Of course it leaves no space for an optical drive, but I was building a media server. Tight fit.

Pros: Looks great on the Antec 300 with Antec LED fans

Can't beat the price.

Cons: Need to remove cage to add drive

It a good idea but very hard to get a screw in a hard drive cause you have put a screw driver with a screw in holes along the sides just to get to the screw hole. If you have big fingers then you have a problem.

The Cool Master 4 in 3 is better because you can take the sides off to get to the hard drive screws holes. - Hard Drive Cooler - Antec - Hdd Enclosure - Computer Cooling'

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Notebook Mouse - mouse, notebook

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Most people will think this is a minimouse, but not at all, this is a small big-mouse or a big mini-mouse, i have big hands so i can't handle a minimouse with ease, this mouse feals just right in your hand, if you're right handed the thumb-button is just in the right position, but i find that the zoom function is not for me, i have it as a close application button.

With the intellipoint software (required to install) you can map a specific function for each button for a given application, which i find very usefull, for example, in a drawing app, i prefer to use the thum button as pan, and the middle for pen-styles.

The 1/2 star i took from the 5 stars is because for the click wheel you have to press with more pressure than the rest, and for the wheel not having the stepping sensation you just might scroll right before you click.

Because the middle button is that hard to press, you just might ending tilting the wheel before you actualy press the button (i have 4 days with the mouse and that doesn't happen anymore, but was anoying in the begining)

PRO:

* Great size

* 1000 dpi !!!!!!!!!

* Looks sharp

* 4 way tilt wheel

* Rubber sides with grips

* Nice USB Adaptor (it doesn't count, but it's nice

CONS:

* No clicks for wheel, it's smooth (but still ok)

* Middle button hard to press at the begining.

* Not-so-good price at the moment (but worth it) Microsoft Notebook Optical Mouse 3000

While not a big software fan of Microsoft, I do like their keyboards and mice. The latest acquisition is a Optical Mouse 3000. Where most notebook mice are small, this is no exception. It's about 2/3 the length of a normal mouse, but it does seem to be comfortable in my grip. It has raised bumps on both sides to aid grip (which helps with it's size) and the feel of the click buttons (all 3) are smooth and don't require pounding on. The scroll wheel is very smooth and not the standard ratcheting action that most mouse wheels have, which makes it feel smooth and quiet. It's well balanced and doesn't seem to need me to put my hands in an uncomfortable position to use it, even with it's small size. There is a crescent arc of blue LED light along the back of the mouse (where you'd rest the back of your palm) which is annoying, but a black or silver sharpie will cure that. What I really like is that while I've used many wireless notebook mice (recently a Bluetooth Logitech V270 Notebook Mouse) there is no lag with a wired mouse. Most wireless mice act as if they are strung out on caffeine and are too jittery for me. The Notebook Optical Mouse 3000 is a very nice compliment to my PowerBook. I think most folks who like a smooth running desktop-sized mouse would enjoy this mouse for it's size and portability.

I just purchased one of these mice and was addicted to it within 12 hours of first using it.

I had read other reviewers' comments about the scroll wheel turning in a smooth fashion without any bumps. I wasn't sure I wanted to order the mouse because of this, but I eventually did. When I first started using the mouse I didn't like it, but within an hour or so I found I greatly preferred the smooth scrolling wheel; it was easier to manipulate and added to the accuracy.

The reasons I'm addicted to this mouse:

1) I found that the mouse was so accurate and responsive that I could turn up the mouse speed by about 50% over my previous mouse while maintaining precise control of the pointer. This saved me significant time moving the pointer from one end of my 1920x1200 screen to the other.

2) I like the fact that the scroll wheel can be pushed to the right and left to scroll right and left. This function works very well.

3) The mouse has a cord...which is a BIG advantage and why I ordered it to begin with. Here's why:

I also own the Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000, which is a very nice mouse... but it is bluetooth and thus the pointer can be slightly unresponsive/jittery in the presence of bluetooth interference. Interference is especially high in large cities like Chicago where there are many WiFi networks that operate on the same frequency.

4) Smooth scrolling wheel.

5) Pressure required to click the buttons helps prevent pointer movement while depressing them.

6) Unlike bluetooth/wireless mice which must contain batteries (that go dead at inappropriate moments) the mouse is extremely light.

7) No need to carry the extra weight of 2 sets of mouse batteries. One set inside the mouse and another set in your notebook bag in case the first set go dead.

Some users have complained about the glaring blue light on the mouse. I've noticed that this is a problem with blue lights on many peripheral devices and can be quite blinding and annoying. The blue light is much dimmer than other blue lights I've encountered on peripherals and is just bright enough to sometimes be glaring, but mostly doesn't bother me. Some users have put a piece of black electrical tape over the like, a good solution, but if you are one like me who doesn't like to junk up your equipment with tape, etc. the glare isn't severe.

If you dont' want to buy this mouse, some previous corded interference free notebook mice I've used that I recommend as second to this are:

Microsoft Notebook Optical Mouse (Black with translucent red sides) - $19.99 on Amazon, $15 at Wal-Mart

Logitech optical mouse plus - $13.95 on Amazon

I'm kind of obsessive about mice. I don't know why, but I have to the perfect mouse with my computer (perfect for me anyway - YMMV). I had tried a handful of corded mice for use on the go with my Samsung netbook: Logitech V100 Optical Mouse for Notebooks - Mouse - optical - 3 button(s) - wired - USB, and the Logitech LS1 Laser Mouse to name a couple.

You see, I do use a cordless mouse for when I'm hanging out in coffee shops or whatever trying to get some studying done, but I wanted a nice, portable mouse with a cord for those times when the batteries got K.O.'ed. I didn't want to use a full-size mouse since it will travel with me in my netbook bag where space is at a premium. I found this little Microsoft pointing device at a local retailer (where I ended up paying nearly ten bucks more than what Amazon sells it for) and am ready to return the other mice. For what its worth, I like the other mice and they are very usable (Logitech makes great devices). But for individual fit, I chose this mouse. Here's why:

1) Size. The other two mice listed here either had a very narrow 'waist' (V100) or was a bit too big to take with me (LS1). The Microsoft mouse is small enough without being too narrow and thus hurting my hand. I use a claw-style mouse grip, and the narrow mouse gave me a cramped hand after prolonged usage.

2) Smooth scroll wheel. I didn't know how I'd like this feature until I was up and running. I dig it - it seems better to me than the 'notched' scroll somehow. I can't articulate it but I like the motion of this scroll wheel - it's not the least bit vague or sludgy. It feels as though it's just gliding in between the two buttons.

3) Ability to customize buttons. The IntelliPoint software 7.0 allows you to reconfigure the buttons, change cursor speed, whatever you'd like. I had issues trying to locate the Windows 7 version of the drivers for this mouse, but a Google search ultimately led me to my reward. All is right with the world :)

4) Style. I'll be honest: if it looks good, I'm going to be proud of it. Call me shallow. My Bluetooth mouse, Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000 - Mouse - laser - 4 button(s) - wireless - Bluetooth - gray, white - OEM - Reporting, is a sleek, futuristic-looking device that is ergonomically sound and very useful. This mouse is pretty chic too: Mixtures of silvers, grey-blues, a knobby coating on the sides, plus a blue LED 'tail light' all add up to a mouse that looks like a warp nacelle off of the Starship Enterprise (sorry - got a little nerdy there!) The LED light is not super bright, and instead is almost subtle. Very cool looking, I think. It sets it apart from the average black plastic mice I see.

5) The side button on the mouse can be setup how you see fit. I have it as a back button (like my MS 5000) but by default it is a magnifier tool. I can see that being handy in Photoshop, but for me, it was not needed. IntelliPoint has a huge list of tasks you can assign that button - I think I even saw 'Get me a cup of coffee' listed on there as an option when I last checked. Seriously, it's very flexible.

6) Short USB cord length. Some folks may not like the short cord. I love it. This mouse is designed to be used away from home so the portability is enhanced by necessity. Less cord means less to pack/untangle/deal with when sitting in a Starbucks surfing the web. The cord is long enough to wrap around my little netbook to attach on the left hand side of the computer. This still leaves me ample slack to maneuver the pointer. I have a right-sided USB port, too, but plugging in there means I have too much cord to deal with. For me, this setup is perfect; it's like having the freedom of motion of a wireless device without the need to mess with batteries or deal with frequency interference. Good stuff in my book though, again, your mileage may vary.

7) The optical device itself. This is an optical mouse, and not a Laser mouse, or a Bluetrack mouse, or a Darkfield mouse, or a Danger Mouse. That being said, it does utilize a proprietary design by MS that claims to have 1000 dpi. All I know is that this little puppy tracks accurately on every surface I have tried it on within reason (mirrors or glass need not apply).

8) It's a quiet clicker. I know this is picking at nits, but some mice wake the neighbors with the amplitude of their button clicks. This mouse is pretty muted.

If you don't want to mess with wireless mice on the go, this is a great pointing device. It's lightweight, comfy (for me anyhow), good-looking, and very accurate. I realize MS in the past has made inferior mice, but this and my Bluetooth 5000 are changing my mind about them. Good luck! - Optical Mouse - Notebook - Mouse - Ergonomic'

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Home Improvement - plumbing, home improvement

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Black & Decker brings a great how to and home improvement manual from the experts with plenty of step by step photos with the necessary in depth techniques to guide you through plenty of common projects.

Contents 23/25

Ease of Understanding/Practicality 24/25

Pictures/Illustrations 24/25

Additional Features 21/25

Total 92/100

Black & Decker brings a great home improvement and do it yourself manual with The Complete Photo Guide to Home Improvement. The book starts with techniques and skills for all kinds of home improvements and finishes with complete remodeling jobs that you can tackle.

They give great detailed photos to help you understand things they are doing as well as guide you in text to give you a detailed and in depth explanation of each topic. They continue from the basics to more complex tools and new materials and techniques that may not be common in building but soon will be.

From electrical to plumbing they take you on a safe tour of your home and give not only basic techniques but the continuation into projects helps you out with some common things you may want to do to your home. Projects include bathroom and kitchen remodeling, attic and basement finishing and a host of other common do it yourself projects to give you a good broad range of ideas and help.

The Complete Photo Guide to Home Improvement takes you not only into common practices in these projects but covers enough of a variety in each project that will cover the variety that will happen with your home. They cover enough of a broad range in each project so you can have a good idea of what you want in any given area of your home from remodeling and installing new counters, plumbing, fixtures, electrical and more.

The first chapter includes Anatomy of a House, Building Codes and Permits, Working Safety and more to get you in the mood for home improvement projects. The next chapter is on techniques and you move onto home improvement basics and then to major remodeling for an in depth look at projects you can accomplish.

The book goes from tools and planning with how to get the proper permits you need for work on your home to the actual steps to get the job done. Once you get into the actual work the book has plenty of tips and hints for odd circumstances that can crop up in jobs to help you out as well.

The books use of pictures makes sure you know what you're doing on a reference job so that once you get to your own work on your house you can have plenty of references. Simple examples like cutting a hole in an exterior wall shows how to do this on wood sided and stucco walls which will cover older homes.

Other sections also have these general tips on various types of materials and construction types to help you out in many general circumstances so you can work on your own home. This is a major benefit to the Complete Photo Guide with its step by step process of doing projects and improvements like installing a window.

The book shows on two different wall types how to cut the hole in the wall so you do the same on most any type of wall in your home. They also go into the safety of checking the wall for plumbing and electrical to give you a step by step guide for how to do the same thing on your home.

The Complete Guide does the same thing for all types of projects from simple things like adding an outlet or light fixture to complete jobs like finishing an attic or basement. While many of the projects are pretty specific like the attic finishing you can complete other jobs that are similar using many of the same principles and ideas.

The guide shows you how to do many jobs or projects including cutaway photos and general anatomy of a home so you can use these guides and photos on your own project or home improvement. The book also contains plenty of useful tips and hints like tools for special jobs or handy ways to make jobs go safer and easier.

This is one book that is a helpful and handy reference to keep on your bookshelf for jobs around the home to help you when things go wrong as well. The book contains plumbing and electrical guides so you can troubleshoot problems you may be having as well as the normal way things should be done.

I really like how they show various ways to do things according to different situations and materials that may be in a home or project so you have many different circumstances and jobs covered in one complete guide. I highly recommend this as an all in one guide and photo step by step book to help you with a lot of home improvement projects.

This is one handy reference for those times when some explanation of homes and their various systems may be needed and makes a fantastic home improvement manual. This is a great book to have on hand and use not only for home improvement projects but just to have for reference for electrical, heating and plumbing problems that may occur in the common home. Black & Decker The Complete Photo Guide to Home Improvement: More Than 200 Value-adding Remodeling Projects (Black & Decker Complete Photo Guide)

This book has useful step by step info in many areas but misses important areas. For example, want to know how to replace an alcove tub, install new tile? Covers the tub to some extent. Then goes to installing panels around the tub. If you want steps for installing the tub, installing cement board, then the tile, this is not the book you need. Purchased a Plumbing book by BD. It has the very same pages and photos / steps.

If you're someone that loves learning by SEEING than this is your book. I went to borders and flipped through many home improvement books and this one, even though its super heavy, had the best pictures.

this is a pretty good book but for what its supposed to be i expected much more. there really isn't a lot of detail in most of the projects here and it could have been much more informative. if you prefer really detailed steps for these types of diy projects i would suggest looking elsewhere. all in all for the used price i paid i can't really complain, however it isn't enough to be the only book i need for home improvement. - Home Repair - Home Improvement - Home Plumbing - Plumbing'

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