Thursday, 21 May 2009

Poor Quality - garmin nuvi, garmin gps


Pros: Small size, good text-to-speech, SD mapcard, ease-of-use, bright display, great suction cup mount, great satellite performance, decent maps (so far), clear and loud speaker



Cons: No prepare route, limited alternative route options, no USB-to-miniUSB cable for computer hookup





I bought this GPS for a planned trip to France, the smaller size (fits better in my pocket) and text-to-speech feature, along with SD mapcard capability were my reasons. I have had the Nuvi 1200 for 3 days and the adjustment from Tomtom think to Nuvi think has been relatively painless.

The suction cup mount (with its lever application) is a definite upgrade from the Tomtom. Also the auto detection for day/night mode is nice. Satellite performance seems even better than the Tomtom, and Tomtom has great reception. The map screen is bright and uncluttered, my wife says it is noticeably sharper. So far the maps seem to be comprehensive, won't really know until I use the Nuvi more.

The only things I miss (and/or could not find) was the ability to plan a trip when you were not at that location (Tomtom has a "Prepare Route" option that allows you to specify the departure point)and the ability to easily avoid a road when you start out (Tomtom has a "Find Alternative" option which allow 6 options such as "Avoid Roadblock", "Travel Via", "Calculate Alternative", etc.). Nuvi does have a "Detour" option that shows its alternatives to a selected route but they can only be selected, not tweeked by the user.

While it is not a big deal is seems like for the current price ($200) that the Nuvi could include a USB-to-miniUSB cable. After all this is not a $69 no-name GPS. And it is clear that Garmin/Nuvi expects you to hook up to a computer, there is software on the Nuvi so you can register your Nuvi at their website, also this is how you get your one free map update.

My wife and I were also both puzzled by one small Nuvi human factor mistake. We were trying to enter a numerical address (i.e 20th St) and after entering "20th" the Nuvi presented a two item list:



20th (Ave NE, Ave NW, Ave SE, Ave SW

20th Ave Ln NW



We were stumped for a while, where is 20th Street!! It turns out that you need to select "20th (Ave NE, Ave NW, Ave SE, Ave SW". After you do, you will be presented with all the "20th" options, including 20th Street.

Note that specifying "20th St" resulted on a "No matches found": error message! Garmin nĂ¼vi 1250 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

I got my 1260T from an authorized dealer on June 19 and used it along side of my 255 with MSN traffic. Because my MSN subscription would have to be renewed and maps upgraded soon, I thought buying a new GPS wouldn't cost much more and would give me a chance to get the latest bells and whistles. However, there aren't that many new bells and whistles to be had. I recommend reading the product description carefully. Unless the 1260T has what you consider a "can't-do-without"

feature not available on the 265T, I'd recommend taking advantage of the low prices for the 265T that can now had with the arrival the 1260T. In fact, that's what I did. I returned the 1260T and purchased the 265T saving more than 1/3 of the cost of the 1260T.



** On trips of 30 minutes or more, the 1260T initially reported arrival times that were 4 to 5 minutes earlier than the 255 over the same route. The 255's estimates were more appropriate. Someone on another forum told me that this would change as the 1260T learned my driving habits. It didn't happen in the 10 days I used the unit continuously.



** The 1260T's voices sound very thin compared to 2xx units, but it makes them easier to hear over road noise.



** Even though the GPS is now a mature product, the 1260T continues Garmin's practice of not having a QWERTY keyboard in 3.5" units.



** Even though the GPS is now a mature product, the 1260T does not allow for zip code entry.



** The speed indicator turns to magenta in the afternoon and red at night when speed exceeds the posted limit. Magenta is a terrible color for text.



** To erase favorites, one now goes to Settings / My Data



** The unit IS thinner than the 2xx series, but not "Oh, wow!" thin.



** The instructions from the 1260T and 255 are nearly identical. The estimates of distances to next turn are the same. The 1260T sometimes gives voice alerts 0.1 mile before the 255, say at 0.3 mile rather than 0.2 mile, but for the most part using both units is like listening in stereo.



** Emily now refers to "slip roads" rather than "ramps".



I did not experiment with the new pedestrian features. In terms of how it works in auto mode, I find nothing compelling over the 265T.

My wife is the world's biggest Garmin fan. Her Nuvi 350 was stolen recently and we replaced it with the 1260T. This looked like it was the top of the line for the smaller 3.5 inch units, which is the same size as the stolen unit.



As noted by another reviewer, the keyboard is not QWERTY. We purchased an iPod Touch recently and using that keyboard is easy and familiar. The Garmin though, with a straight across A, B, C, D, E, etc. layout takes more time and makes us look like it is our first day of typing class. There must be a reason Garmin did this but we're not happy about it.



Our Nuvi 350 came with a nice case. The 1260T does not. We are in the market for a case and plan to spend $10 to $20 for one, which then increases the price of this replacement purchase.



Overall the unit is the same as the Nuvi 350 but after three years we expected more of a "WOW" factor from the upgrade.



PUBLIC SERVICE NOTICE: We don't use the suction cup windshield mount and the old Nuvi 350 was hidden in the glovebox so the thieves got randomly lucky. We'll be taking it out of the car more often now (the 1260T is a little thinner so this is easier to do). A police friend told us thieves check the windshield for the "suction cup circle" and that's an indication the car uses a GPS. Just a word to the wise. - Garmin Gps - Directions - Garmin Nuvi - Garmin Nuvi 1350'


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Poor Quality - garmin nuvi, garmin gps garmin nuvi 1350 Poor Quality - garmin nuvi, garmin gps

Hava - monsoon, slingbox pro


So far I've only tested this as a remote streaming device and have not experimented much with the DVR. I will update as soon as I've done more.



Streaming quality is the best out there. I've been through the original Slingbox, the Slingbox Solo, the Pro-HD and the various HAVA boxes, and this thing is simply outstanding. I've tested in-house streaming and remote streaming to my laptop on WiFi and 3G and my smartphone on 3G. In all cases, the video quality is almost as good as watching a locally stored video file.



The price appears to be high, but when you compare it with the $261 for a Slingbox PRO-HD, it is a bargain. The Sling lacks DVR, local TV watching, internal storage, placeshifting and more. Sling also charges $30 for their mobile clients, while the Vulkano mobile players are free.



There are a few bugs in the setup process, but this thing is just out, so I'll cut them some slack to get those sorted out.



If you do not need a lot of DVR storage, stick with the cheaper version of this box.



PROS:



Can use as a full (single tuner) DVR

Can control for live TV and DVR on a mobile device

Free mobile players

Amazing streaming quality



CONS:



No internal tuner

Single DVR channel only

Does not appear to support network storage

Requires EXT3 formatted harddrive for video storage, with no "format drive" option to enable use of your own drives Vulkano Pro 010410VP All-In-One Media Placeshifter Includes 500 GB eSATA Hard Disk, Black

Take my word for it. Until Sling fixes the capacitor issue, from their current models, pass on them. Sling is using the failure rate to generate more income from support calls. All you have to do to verify this is to Google it. As far as Vulkano's reliability, only time will tell. But so far, I am super happy.

A quick overview of my setup:



The Vulkano hook up is:

Network: Wired and segmented 100mb cat5

To TV: HDMI

From DVR: Component

Storage: 500gb eSATA drive





The Vulkano setup went without a hitch except for what is listed below. Vulkano found the network and grabbed an IP address with no problems. Vulkano includes all the cables for a complete setup, so no searching or shopping for last minute connections.

The only issue I ran into was setting up the IR Blaster with my Verizon FiOS HD DVR. It is a Motorola QIP 7216-1, which was not a choice available. Instead I chose the 6416 which works perfectly. Once the Vulkano was up and running, I watched a few channels to make sure we were all set.



Now for the clients. I will start with the Apple client, first. I tested the Apple app on a Iphone 3g (wifi only) and a Touch 4g. Both clients installed and setup went perfectly. Both devices were connected onto a 54mb (G) network at Barnes and Noble. With the strongest signal, quality was exceptional on all channels. Even sports channels looked fantastic without a trace of smearing or blocking. Bitrate was between 600-900K starting out. It topped out at 2500K and was optimized on-the-fly. Sound was superb with no dropouts. Channel changes went smoothly with a 5 second (approx.) buffering after the change. I felt the channel changes were timely and precise. I would have to say that on wifi, the Apple client for the Vulkano, is a win.



The pc client was updated the last night, or so. So, I have not had the time to go over all of the settings. Install went well on a Windows 7 x64 laptop. I will not go over all of the features but talk about quality, instead. This is for the previous client Vulkano_V1.8.3.52. At first I was getting some stuttering, but no dropouts. I also noticed that when stuttering it was while trying to optimize the stream. So I reduced the stream limit from 2000K to 1000K. this took care of the stuttering and never had a hiccup after that. The newer client is supposed to recover from optimizing much quicker. But once the steam was reduced I did not have any more problems. On a 17 inch laptop screen the quality looked excellent. Of course, on a larger screen I am sure it would be more noticeable. I would give the pc client a A+ also.



Now for the Android client. The client installed without a hitch. When getting a strong signal the client optimized quickly and had excellent results. Remote control was timely without to much delay. All functions seemed to work including scheduling recordings as well as viewing the EPG. Even when the signal dropped to two bars the picture was great. The picture did suffer when the signal dropped to an unsteady one bar, though. Streaming speed was variable from 66K to 100K. Sound was steady but picture was a tad rough. How rough, you may ask...Sports playing (football action) was hard to watch due to smearing. But you could still figure it out. In a pinch it would due, but it would not be my favorite way to watch. Now regular shows (Jay Leno) were quite good. Very watchable...And the whole time the sound never dropped. The only issue that happened once, was while switching channels. After the switch I had no sound. So I typed the same channel number in again and the channel refreshed restoring sound. I would give the Android client an A+, also. The client is sound and seems to work very well on Verizon's network.



So, that's my little review. Remember, you might get different mileage due to all of the variables that are involved. But, I am very, very pleased with the Vulkano. Granted, I have not had the time to check every feature available. But it does what I purchaed the unit for. It streams live (or recorded FiOS) programming to my clients with clarity and reliable accuracy. Good bye Slingbox...Hello Vulkano! - Slingbox Pro - Monsoon - All In One - Slingbox'


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Makeup Remover - cloths, face wipes


I'm absolutely in love with these. I have very sensitive skin and most makeup removing wipes burn and irritate my skin. (especially the eye area) These are wonderful on the skin and do not irritate the skin. I will use these forever! Buy buy buy!! Garnier Nutritioniste Nutri-Pure Detoxifying Wet Cleansing Towelettes, Oil Free - 25 Ea

I have very oily skin even though I'm over 60, and this product removes all of my makeup and oil from my skin. I use them at night, follow up with a warm washcloth over my face and use only warm water and a cloth in the morning. I have been using them about two weeks and my pores look smaller and my face feels cleaner than ever. I have tried all of the expensive lines of facial cleansers, and this one suits me better than any I've ever tried. I'm very pleased with the convenience of the product as well.

What is love best about this towelette is its heavenly softness. But as well, it is an excellent eye makeup remover, doing a great job without excessive rubbing. It has a fresh non-perfumey fragrance and does not burn your eyes or leave a residue behind. It is a great product.

I live in an extremely dry climate. In the winter (in the past) my skin was so dry I was globing on Vaseline every night, and even that didn't help. Prescription creams, night masks . . . nothing could keep the dryness away.



I started using these after my second son was born, mostly out of laziness. Then I noticed that my skin was no longer dry. Seriously, it's like a skin miracle. I use one every night and only wash my face with water in the shower. A few weeks ago I ran out, and went about a week without them. Just in that week my skin got rashy and dry again. I bought some more, and within a few days my skin was restored.



I LOVE these!

I have been using these for a couple of months now and I love them. Perfect for on-the-go use or whenever you're feeling lazy late at night or early morning. They smell great and remove makeup pretty well. These wipes don't leave my skin feeling greasy, just cool and refreshed. Another plus is, they don't burn your eyes when used around the eye area. I definitely recommend them!

these wipes are a favorite; they don't leave a greasy film on your face, just fresh after taking off a day's worth of makeup. i still use a liquid cleanser/ exfoliater to get the last bit of makeup off b/c i don't want to "scrub" my face w/ the wipe itself. but if it's really late and i'm tired, i used the wipe alone before going to bed, it does the job, no makeup on the pillowcase or sheets.

I love these towelettes. I keep a pack at work and one in my gym bag. They are perfect for a little freshening up as well as removing makeup and dirt. I love the smell- it is crisp and clean without being overpowering or perfume-y - Cloths - Face - Face Wipes - Gentle'


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Countertop Water Filters - watts, water filter


THE GOOD



Just moved to a new town. Anywhere else around the area, my Britta would clean up the taste of bad water, but not here. Here it's SO chlorinated, I needed something better.



After a lot of reading and research I was down to the Filtrete Under-the-counter unit and this unit. The Filtrete pro sounded like it had a strong flow and filtered down to .5, but after looking at it closer, it would be just my luck to have a connector pop out and cause water damage without me around. So, I decided on this.



I had it connected in under 5 minutes. I just needed a pair of pliers to loosen the faucet part which needed to be removed. The unit came with a needed adapter which worked perfect. I turned it on and after letting it run for a few minutes, I tried the water. AWESOME!!! Clorine smell and taste was GONE!



This thing works, and works well and I don't have to worry about broken lines under the sink. The water flow remains good through the unit as well. I can also find many options in replacement filters because of its standard size. I love the quality and functionality of this unit.





THE BAD.



The problem was, upon closer inspection, there was a small bead of water coming from the units water output. At the bottom of the metal output piece (Which you can just pull out) there are 2 small, round O-rings, and one was pertruding. It was cracked, so only one O-ring was ok, and when I moved the water output, it beaded up.



I called the "Manufacturer", which sounds like it isn't REALLY the manufacture, but a distributor, and was told they don't have any parts, they get the unit assembled. The parts they DO carry they said, are all given to Amazon. SO.... they told me I should pack it back up, and send it back to Amazon.



What?!? I am suppose to ship the whole unit back, at MY expense, and have another unit sent, when a 5 cent part could be mailed out to me for the cost of a stamp. RIDICULOUS!!! Not too bright, or environmentally friendly. This is the problem with buying some things over the internet, from a place without a local retail outlet, but to save, we gamble...



Now I either ship it back, hunt online or drive to local hardware stores and look for something that COULD work as a replacement. Grrrrr.....



I finally went to Home Depot and found that they carried a package of #47 O-rings for a couple bucks that fit fine. All better now.





THE UGLY



This Item is Ugly as sin. It reminds me of my pool filter. I am going to make or find something to cover it.





OVERALL



For this price, it's an AWESOME deal!!! Watts 500315 Counter-Top Drinking Water Filter

This unit is just what one would expect. There's nothing fancy here, just a good solid unit. Installation was easy. The unit came with a couple adapters so that it should fit most faucets. No tools were required to hook it up. The diverter valve is a little nicer than I've seen on some units.



The only downside is a trait which is shared with all counter-top filters and that is that it takes countertop space and can be knocked over if one is careless.



For the price and Amazon free shipping, I'd be hard-presed to find a better unit.

I received this item and connected to faucet....water is coming out all around connection...not where it is suppose to come out!!!!! I called the company to see what to do, the woman I spoke with was trying to help me but when she realized this was an item from Amazon.com she couldn't help me!! She transferred me to someone else, I just got a voicemail....I left a long detailed message but have yet to hear back from anyone, this was 5 days ago! I will try again next week to see if I can get this resolved before returning this item. Hopefully I will have better info next week and will write another review.



********



Tried several more times to call Watts (they never returned my call). Each time I called I would get put on hold for 15-20 minutes and was never able to talk to anyone about problem with unit..so I have returned item. Really was hoping to resolve this, I live in the country and on well water....guess I will continue to purchase bottled water!

:( ........



**********

I read all the wonderful reviews and for its price it was a terrific choice ...at first. It's very easy to install but after 6 months of use the water diverter valve no longer snaps back into place. But that's minor.



Now after 6 months is time for the replacement filter. The wrench that's needed to open the canister was not provided. Based on other recent reviews there's no way to get it from Watts either. We don't have a monkey wrench at home that's large enough to fit around the entire canister.



I gave it a one-star because a good water filter shouldn't be this difficult to replace a simple filter.



Either way I'm very disappointed that I now have to replace the entire unit after just 6 months of use.



Sidenote: I looked on the Watts website in Nov. 2009 and they still offered support for this unit. I looked in Jan. 2010 they no longer list this unit on their website. I wonder why?

This filter is fast, and I'm glad to have found a counter top filter system.



The down side? I struggled to open the system to install a filter. The design is very, very poor since there is very little to grasp onto without damaging the exterior of the filter.

I purchased this product in April of 2009 and I can say that out of the numerous water filtration devices that I have purchased over the past 3 years, this one is the simplest and most convenient to use and provides great tasting water instantly without having to wait for the water to filter through a pitcher.



I live in an apartment complex and I've had to move four times over the past two years due to different circumstances. Installing this countertop device has made it so much easier for me to disconnect/reconnect and move it with me with ease. I worked with my dad to install a 5 stage reverse osmosis system at his house underneath his sink and it was a very tedious process. Not only that but he has to get down there every six months to change several filters. I did not want to this given that I rent a place and move frequently and the complexity of the installation of an R.O. system. With this filter, it makes a simple connection directly to the faucet and I only need to pull a pin to transfer the water through the filter. My dad's R.O. system also has a 3-5 gallon container to store the filtered water in but the water pressure coming out of the faucet is great at the beginning but near the end of a gallon, the water is trickling very slowly due to diminished water pressure. It will take him 4-5 minutes to fill a gallon jug of filtered water. This is not true with my countertop filter, If I turn up the water faucet pressure, the water comes out faster, and if I turn it down, it comes out slower. It doesn't take me more than 45 seconds to fill a gallon of filtered water into a pitcher, which I then store in the refrigerator or put directly into a glass with ice for instant cold drinking water.



I have one filter to change when I need to change it (and I still haven't needed to change it yet). Unlike brita and pur pitcher filters, there's no waiting for the water to filter into a pitcher and hassle to get it under my faucet in my sink to refill daily. I have even tried the PUR faucet mount filter and the water quality is disgusting tasting. PUR's water is so bad they have to sell flavor shots to mask the foul odor and taste of its filtered water. This is not the case with the Watts Countertop system. Only fast, clean water comes out from this filter.



I have one caveat with countertop filtration systems and that is the water hose that leads from the faucet to the filter. It gets in the way and moves unless it is tied down to the faucet. This is not a major issue because it can be zip-tied down to the sink faucet and routed behind the hot/cold handles over to the filter. The pros outweigh the cons so I can live with that. The other thing that I didn't like was that Watts did not include a tool to open the filter housing when I need to change the filter. I went to Lowe's hardware and bought a tool to open it. Even Home Depot didn't carry this in stores (useless store!)



I really love this filter. I've finally found a product that is versatile to meet my needs, simple and convenient, and provides great tasting clean water instantly! And the cost of changing filters every six months will only cost about $20-$30 anually! Get it! - Water Filter - Water Filters - Water Purifier - Watts'


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Flat Panel Wall Mount - lcd wall mount, tv wall mount


I bought the unit and was very skeptical due to the price point. But, I read the online reviews and felt confident enough to buy the unit. I was not disappointed at all. The unit appears to be made of sturdy construction. I thought the unit might be bulky, but it appears to have a profile similar to units costing over $100. The unit was fairly easy and straight forward to install. I am no craftsman, but I have some mechanical skill. If you are a do-it-yourself-er, there is no reason to spend $100 for a more expensive unit that does exactly the same thing. I was also very happy that the unit came with a large variety of screws, bushings, and washers. I did not need to hunt down my own screws or do any make shift adjustments. It bolted up clean straight out of the box. By the way, I used the kit to mount a 50" Panasonic Plasma. VideoSecu Tilt TV Wall Mount Bracket for Most 32"- 55" LED LCD Plasma TV Flat Panel Screen Free HDMI Cable and Magnetic Bubble Level MF607B 1QH

I like everyone else on here was pretty skeptical when I ordered these. But after reading all the reviews I had to try them out before purchasing a mount for about $100. These mounts were a piece of cake to install but what was suprising was how much hardware they gave you. You will definetely not have to run to the hardware store. Also the quality was good. I didn't see any bad looking welds or anything. These mounts look great on the wall and keep the tv pretty tight to it. The finished product looked great. As for the quality, great!! The reason I say this is I just mounted two tv's last weekend and we had a 5.9 Earthquake the other day. This was the one thing that worried me. Would the mount be able to withstand the walls twisting. They didn't move an inch. Great product, great price!! If I need to mount another tv I would buy another one of these in a second. Buy it, you will be happy!!

This has to be the best buy I've had in years! This VideoSecu TV wall mount is sturdy and easy to put up. The hardest part, for me,was finding the wall studs. I looked at mounts in stores around here. The cheapest was $89. I paid $19 each ,for the two,I bought. I bought two,for less than half, of one,here. One mount holds my 50" Samsung. The second mount holds my 42" Vizio. I also like the tilting part of the mount. This is a first time buy,from Amazon,but won't be my last.

This wall mount is an incredible bargain. It feels strong, installs easy, and is less that 2" deep, all at a fraction of the cost of mounts sold at the brick&mortar stores. Even at Wal-Mart, the cheapest bracket was $100!



Also, because the design uses two horizontal rails as opposed to a solid plate against the wall, there is space between the rails for power outlets, etc. I actually built a little recess in my wall between the rails to tuck wires. It works great!



One word of caution though: DO NOT rely on the bubble level which comes installed in this wall mount! Mine was off enough that I could tell it wasn't level when I stood back and looked at it. I verified by placing a true level on top of the wall mount, and sure enough, I had to reintall the wall mount. I guess this advice probably applies to any wall mount with a built-in level. Don't trust them!

Wow, I bought three flat screens for my business and didn't want to spend a fortune mounting them. This wall mount was inexpensive, well built and included all the hardware needed to mount numerous different TVs. This, my friends, is the way to go.

I wasn't sure to order it when I started reading other comments, some were positive and other kind of scary saying that the tv might fall of the wall.

But if it is installed correctly it has no problem, even in an apartment that does not have the best walls.



So overall I'm very happy with my purchase, and I recommend it. - Lcd Wall Mount - Wall Mount - Tv Wall Mount - Tv Mounts'


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motorola droid - motorola droid


Just used this battery a few times and new it seems to have a similar life as the regular Motorola batteries. The disappointing part about this battery is that it does not charge in the Motorola OEM P323 spare battery charger requiring charging only in the phone. I would not buy again mainly due to the lack of external charging, but also due to the higher price. Seidio Innocell Slim Extended Battery for Motorola Droid/Droid 2/Droid 2 Global - 1500mAh [Retail Packaging]

When I first got the battery, I was very happy. It does indeed hold more amp-hours than the standard battery. The "battery left" app rated it at 56 hours. I could leave the phone to charge every other night. However, after only 4 months of use (during which I was very careful to attempt full discharge before every recharge), the battery's capacity diminished suddenly. After recalibration, "battery left" now measures it at only 18 hours. To make matters worse, running apps which increase power draw (bluetooth, gps, etc.) cause the phone to reboot. Restoring the old original battery fixed the rebooting problem.

I have followed directions on the battery packaging. So far, the extended battery hasn't even lasted as long as the orginal battery that motorola supplies with the droid phone. I'm very disappointed and will be returning the battery if it does not live up to the claim that after several thorough charges, it will become more lasting. - Motorola Droid'


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Raymond Weil Freelancer - raymonds, watches


I wanted a stainless watch with a black face. This one does the trick. At $1,400, I wanted to love it but I don't. Here's why, it's a little heavy (even for an automatic) and slightly thicker than I would prefer. Thickness measures at 11.2 MM but who the heck can guage that before actually seeing the watch. The face almost seems blue and definitely not the deep black that the picture displays. Lastly, I thought I would like the tinge of red used in the battery reserve indicator but now that I have it, it almost takes a little away from the watch (though I think that is partly due to the blueness of the face).From all of that you may think that I don't like the watch, which is not true. I think the watch is an attention-getter. The automatic movement is as smooth as any I've owned. At 39.5 mm, the size is perfect for my wrist. And with any high-end (at least for my pocketbook) watch, the little details make a big difference. The stem on this watch looks much nicer in person that on the website and the bracelet feels really comfortable.All in all, a nice purchase.9/22/2011 UPDATE - Changed my rating from 3 to 4 stars as the more I wear this watch, the more I like it. I've gotten used to the added weight and it is simply a really elegant but understated timepiece. Didn't go 5-stars because of the thickness. Also, not related to the watch but Amazon policy that anyone considering purchasing this watch should be aware of. Amazon DOES NOT price adjust. I find this shocking in this day and age as just about every brick and mortar as well as online retailers do. This watch is now selling for over a hundred bucks less than I paid about 3 weeks ago. Rather than credit my account for the difference, Amazon gave me a hundred and seven dollar Amazon gift card. And they only did this because they could see how much business I do on Amazon. NO MORE! I will use their voucher and then begin the search for a new online retailer. Raymond Weil Men's 2843-ST-00207 Parsifal Black Dial Watch - Raymond Weil Freelancer - Raymonds - Watches - Chronograph'


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Stainless Steel - simple, soap saver


This soap saver has a simple but very funcional and modern design. On it, the soap doesn't slip and water doesn't pool (like it does in soap holders that don't have openings in the bottom, which over time dissolves the soap bar). Stainless steel means no rust, too. Works as it should and complements any bathroom. InterDesign Forma Kyoto Square Soap Saver, Stainless Steel

Wow does this thing rust. How exactly is STAINLESS steel supposed to be stainless when it rusts over completely? We had this holder for less than a week before it started leaving little discolored marks on the marble in the shower. If you are going to assume a soap dish to be near water... which is all soap dishes, don't you think you would have the fore thought not to use a material that rusts so easily. Oh well, hopefully I'll have better luck with the next dish.

This soap saver works very well on the edge of a sink, but only if there's enough space to accommodate it. It is nice and heavy, so it won't stay stuck to the soap. The design is clean and attractive, and it keeps a decent surface after being in contact with wet soap.



My only complaint is that it does not come with rubber feet, which means it's prone to moving toward the edge of the sink with each use. Even just a couple discreet stripes of hot glue do the trick though. - Bath Accessories - Simple - Soap Saver - Stainless Steel'


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Telescopic Fishing Rod - travel rod, fishing rod


They work great and last forever.



The best reel under $35 you can find (excluding other Shimano models under $35, which just get better and better for every additional dollar you spend).



Smooth (relatively, it only costs $13), flawless performance, tough.



I have a lot of these (1000s, 2500s and 4000s) that are over 15 years old, and were subject to very heavy saltwater use, and they still work fine.





I have caught literally hundreds of Mangrove snapper, Snook to 25 lbs, Tarpon to 30 lbs on this model, and they always come through.





For kids or beginners, you cannot find a better starting reel.



I use them as "assembly line" rods on an intercoastal dock I fish on. I put 6 or 8 of them in rod holders, baited with live shrimp, and wait for the action. (I'd say the average reel I own has spent over 100 hours in a rod holder, getting hit constantly by stingrays, snappers, snook and other game fish, and tackle busting Sail cats).



My 1000, with 6lb test line, out fought a 15 pound Jack Crevalle (who was getting chased the entire fight by a 6 foot Lemon shark and a 6 foot Hammerhead shark so you know the jack was swimming at full speed :) ) during a 60 minute fight on the flats in the Keys.



Buy one and you will be happy!





BTW, I never use the trigger bail thingy, but it seems to work fine. Shimano® IX Spinning Reel, IX-4000RC

For $13, I didn't expect to get much usage from this reel (the 1000 model). I bought it basically as a backup reel, but I decided to try it out after I bought it. I put it on my Ultra-Light rod, and only loaded it with 4 pound line. I used appropriately sized bait/lures, and I didn't miss a beat bringing in the Bluegills. Especially for a beginner, or as a backup, there's no down-side to this reel. Of course, the line retrieve isn't as smooth on this (I don't believe it even has any ball bearings), but then again, it's only $13. I liked the 1000 model so much, I bought the 2000 model also, as a backup to my rod/reel combo that I use 6 pound line on. Sure enough, the first time I used it, I reeled in a fighting 2 pound bass on it, and it worked great. I've used both the 1000 and 2000 models I own probably 3 times each, so they're not exactly getting a workout, but I can say that, using appropriately sized bait for the smaller fish, this reel should do the job just fine.

I've had one of these reels for about 15 years. Now it hasn't been used constantly the whole time. Well I own several more reels now and the ix has given me the least amount of trouble. I'm comparing this with $90 reels. It castes and retrieves pretty well. The one big plus about this reel is that is has never broken. This is a good cheap reel that holds up to lots of use.

For the price you cant beat it. I have it paired with a Shimano FXS 2 Piece Spinning Rod. The quick fire is amazing, and for a 10$ plastic reel with no ball bearings it is really smooth and well built. This is my first spinning setup and I wasn't sure if I was ready to switch over from baitcasting gear. It is better for lighter lures I must admit. I really like this reel over other more expensive spinning reels I looked at. I would reccomend for a beginner or anyone else that needs a good solid cheap spinning reel.

I have been using the Shimano IX series reels since I was a teenager. I am in my late 30's now and I swear by these reels. They have outlasted most of my 6-8 bearing rear drag and other more expensive reels by far. They clean up easily, are easy to re-grease and maintain and with the proper line and lures you will absolutely love the feel of a big fish. Still haven't mastered the rear drag system but that could be "user error" Happy Fishing.

I bought a pair of these as economical spare reels for my fishing gear. I was pleased to find they were smooth geared work horses and well worth the scant 10 dollar price. This reel is $36.00 at other well known commercial outlets. After catching several large trout on my first outing with them and enjoying the easy casting, smooth drag feel, I would buy these again in a heartbeat!

I bought one of these a few years ago when I decided to get back into fishing. My Buddy gave me a rod for free and told me to buy one of these reels. I mainly bass fish and I've been catching them on this reel consistently for the past few years with no problem.

Ok. I'm gonna be honest. this reel is awesome. ive everything from snagging kokanee salmon up to 6lbs on 15lb coploymer mono line to real light tackle: 2lb mono with trout magnets. the reel stands up to water, dirt, everything so far. if you are reading this review wondering if you should get the reel. GET IT! id buy 20 more if needed. - Telescopic Fishing Rod - Kids Fishing - Travel Rod - Fishing Rod'


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To be concise and summarize - Great value! 50 movies (I paid about 25 bucks; so 50 cent movies - how can you complain?)

Transfer quality generally awful, most but not all are slightly out of focus (won't notice on little tv!) but watchable. If you are a perfectionist you will not want this. Some scenes from some movies have been cut but nothing major so far (have seen maybe 26-27 so far). Sound generally poor, mono, (2 were in stereo). The B&W movies generally not so bad but many of the color films have serious quality problems IMHO. All are full screen; no wide-screen (that I have seen). This is OK since all movies before 1954 were approx. FF anyway. The ideal customer wants a sample of the 20's-60's Horror/Mystery/Action B movies with 3-4 real classics and 15+ total duds. Still, fantastic value. Absolutely no frills. All movies have small number of selectable scenes, no trailers or ANY other stuff. Packaging is 12 d/s single layer disks each in cardboard cd-type sleeve. None of the disks in my box was scratched (maybe lucky?). Horror Classics 50 Movie Pack Collection

I purchased this 50 DVD box set this past autumn (for Halloween) and have viewed all of the films. There are some GREAT CLASSICS mixed with fabulous SCHLOCK for a price that can't be beat!Different horror genres including:Crusty, Creepy CreaturesDescend to the depths of the deep, dark ocean and encounter the "Phantom From 10,000 Leagues" and "Creature From The Haunted Sea". Check out the cheesy and quite primitive special effects in "The Giant Gila Monster". Rediscover terror of dogs dressed up in fur playing "The Killer Shrews". Hold your breath to see which hick from the backwoods will actually survive "The Attack of the Giant Leeches"! Also the great "The Hunchback Of Notre Dame" with the fabulous Lon Chaney, Jr., "The Gorilla", "Swamp Women", "Atom Age Vampire", "Beast Of yucca Flats", "Black Dragons", "Invisible Ghost", "The Vampire Bat" with Fay Wray, "White Zombie" with Bela Lugosi and "The Bat" With Vincent Price!Majorly Maddening MadmenDescend into insanity and weird funereal rites in Francis Ford Coppola's first full-length feature "Dementia 13". Be astounded at the scientific perversity of Jason Evers as he keeps the severed head of his fiancée alive in "The Brain that Wouldn't Die". Also includes, "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde", "The Monster Maker", "Maniac", "The Amazing Mr. X", "The Tormented", and "Bluebeard".Cult ClassicsWatch when Audrey II cries "feeeed me" in "Little Shop of Horrors". Fear for the fate of humanity as flesh-eating zombies roam the earth in Romero's "Night of the Living Dead". Find out what it's like to be "The Last Man on Earth" with Vincent Price and "The Last Woman On Earth" with Robert Towne. Go to the "Carnival Of Souls" with Candace Hilligoss, even! Silent Horror ClassicsWatch the amazing Lon Chaney in "Phantom of the Opera", slinking through the cellars of the Paris Opera House. Marvel at the chilling Max Schreck in "Nosferatu", giving a truly mesmerizing performance and the classic and futuristic, "Metropolis". AND MUCH, MUCH MORE! I highly recommend this very cool and inexpensive box set for anyone who likes classic horror, cheesy schlock, Bela Lugosi or stylings of the great Ed Wood!Happy Watching!

For comments on quality see other reviews. Dates range from 1920-68; all B&W except 4 in color (see 3B, 9A, 10A, 11B).

DISK (12 2-sided disks total):

1A: Carnival of Souls (1962) 84 minutes. Starring: Candace Hilligoss

1A: Atom Age Vampire (1960) 87 minutes. Starring: Alberto Lupo

1B: Creature from the Haunted Sea (1961) 75 minutes. Starring: Robert Towne

1B: Nightmare Castle (1965) 101 minutes. Starring: Barbara Steele

2A: Black Dragons (1942) 64 minutes. Starring: Bela Lugosi

2A: Invisible Ghost (1941) 61 minutes. Starring: Bela Lugosi

2B: One Body Too Many (1944) 75 minutes. Starring: Bela Lugosi

2B: White Zombie (1932) 67 minutes. Starring: Bela Lugosi

3A: Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959) 62 minutes. Starring: Ken Clark

3A: The Screaming Skull (1958) 68 minutes. Starring: John Hudson

3A: Beast of Yucca Flats (1961) 53 minutes. Starring: Tor Johnson

3B: The Terror (1963) COLOR 83 minutes. Starring: Jack Nicholson

3B: Revolt of the Zombies (1936) 65 minutes. Starring: Dean Jagger

4A: The Giant Gila Monster (1959) 74 minutes. Starring: Don Sullivan

4A: The Fatal Hour (1940) 68 minutes. Starring: Boris Karloff

4B: Dead Men Walk (1943) 65 minutes. Starring: George Zucco

4B: The Mad Monster (1942) 77 minutes. Starring: George Zucco

5A: Maniac (1934) 67 minutes. Starring: Bill Woods

5A: Metropolis (1927) 115 minutes. Starring: Gustav Frolich

5B: The Vampire Bat (1933) 69 minutes. Starring: Melvyn Douglas

5B: The Ape (1940) 62 minutes. Starring: Boris Karloff

5B: The Monster Maker (1944) 65 minutes. Starring: J. Carrol Naish

6A: The Killer Shrews (1959) 70 minutes. Starring: James Best

6A: The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1962) 92 minutes. Starring: Jason Evers

6B: Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde (1920) 67 minutes. Starring: John Barrymore

7A: Bluebeard (1944) 73 minutes. Starring: John Carradine

7A: The Corpse Vanishes (1942) 64 minutes. Starring: Bela Lugosi

7B: Night of the Living Dead (1968) 90 minutes. Starring: Judith O'Dea

7B: Doomed to Die (1940) 67 minutes. Starring: Boris Karloff

8A: The Phantom of the Opera (1925) 79 minutes. Starring: Lon Chaney

8A: The Indestructible Man (1956) 70 minutes. Starring: Lon Chaney Jr.

8B: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) 100 minutes. Starring: Lon Chaney

8B: Nosferatu (1922) 63 minutes. Starring: Max Shreck

9A: Swamp Women (1955) COLOR 73 minutes. Starring: Mike Connors

9A: The World Gone Mad (1933) 70 minutes. Starring: Pat O'Brien

9B: Little Shop of Horrors (1960) 70 minutes. Starring: Jack Nicholson

9B: Tormented (1960) 75 minutes. Starring: Richard Carlson

10A: The Monster Walks (1932) 60 minutes. Starring: Rex Lease

10A: Monster from a Prehistoric Planet (1967) COLOR 90 minutes. Starring: Tamro Kawaji

10B: The Gorilla (1937) 67 minutes. Starring: The Ritz Brothers

10B: A Shriek in the Night (1933) 66 minutes. Starring: Ginger Rogers

11A: Bloodlust (1961) 68 minutes. Starring: Robert Reed

11A: The Amazing Mr. X (1948) 78 minutes. Starring: Richard Carlson

11B: Last Woman on Earth (1960) COLOR 71 minutes. Starring: Robert Towne

11B: The Bat (1959) 80 minutes. Starring: Vincent Price

12A: House on Haunted Hill (1958) 75 minutes. Starring: Vincent Price

12A: The Last Man on Earth (1964) 86 minutes. Starring: Vincent Price

12B: Dementia 13 (1963) 75 minutes. Starring: William Campbell

12B: Phantom from 10,000 Leagues (1956) 80 minutes. Starring: Kent Taylor'


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