Guy Low Price Electronic: 26 Sept 2009

Saturday, 26 September 2009

Brake Pads

I highly recommend this brand of brake pads. I do not value performance, I value getting high mileage. These wear longer than Toyota Sienna original equipment pads which cost 55$, which went 19K miles when they wore out and scratched the rotors. (Sienna is unusual, the Toyota pads don't last, I get 19K miles on my Toyota pads on '04 Sienna and 90K miles on my '98 Avalon.) These are far longer wearing than any of the best brake pads offered for sale that I have purchased from Pep Boys, Sherbas, Autozone, and all the rest. Not having to change the brake pads every time I change the oil, which is exactly what I had to do with the best of the Pep Boys pads for this vehicle, is nice. Now testing the Akebono competition, will get back to you on which wears longer. Toyota put too small an area rotors/pads on Sienna, and we drive it mostly unloaded and generally very moderately. Bendix D906 Front Ceramic Disc Brake Pad Set

Replaced OEM pads with these around 42K miles - the stopping distances were a little longer with these pads and they wore out very, very quickly. At 55K I need a new set of pads now. These only cost me 1/2 the money of regular ceramic pads, but lasted less than 1/2 the life of a regular one - means you will pay twice as much in labor/time. I would avoid these for now. I am going to try Akebono this time and post results.'

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Photography Equipment - canon lens cap, camera lens cover

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It does the job. You may be able to find cheaper ones but take it from me, that's not always the best way to go. I bought a $3 cap previously and it was cheaply made. The threads were messed up on it and it didn't attach to the threads on my adapter well at all. It did not stay on to good which, unless I'm mistaken, is the entire purpose for a lens cap. This cap is NOT a replacement for the slip on cap that comes with the S2/S3 cameras. It is made for use with an adapter and UV/filter lens. Canon E-58U 58mm Snap-On Accessory Lens Cap

The Canon 58mm lens cap fits the Canon conversion lens adapter very well and stays on well on my S5is. A complaint on the S5 is that the lens cap falls off too easily, but that is a safety precaution to not damage the lens if the camera is powered up and forgetting the cap is still on. With the LAH-DC20 adapter in place the camera is extended past the lens when powered on so a much more secure cap can be put on. This is the cap for that job! Be sure to get a stick-on style lens leash to attach to this cap, because it does not come with provision for a strap.

Let me start by saying, there seems to be a misconception this cap is specifically for the S series cameras; it is for ANY Canon camera that can support 58mm adapters, filters etc.

-The S1/2/3 feature a pop-on cap and this is NOT a pop-on cap. Therefore the E-58U will not fit as the "original" cap does.

-The S5 uses this "style" of cap, and is about the same size (overall), but as stated above, the E-58U is NOT an OEM replacement cap. The S5 OEM cap is roughly a 47mm cap, because the locking tabs are positioned farther in (to match the inner diameter of the S5's "trim ring"). That means the OEM cap size is 11mm smaller compared to the E-58U, which is the reason the E-58U will not fit as the S5's OEM cap does.

This cap is designed to fit into either a lens adapter, filter, or lens with threads; which would be mounted to the camera. The locking tabs of the cap have threads on them, which are designed to lock into threads.

One thing the "default image" does not show very well, is the color of the lettering: "Canon" is silver and "Ultrasonic" is a brassy-gold. The letters also have a slight sheen to them.

The only minor drawback to this cap is the lack of a tether or a hole to accept one. However, there are a couple solutions to this, one of which was discovered by a fellow reviewer-

"M. Nascimento: Purchase a Lens Cap String with the 2 sided round tape button that you attach to the front of the lens cap."

In closing-

If you are looking for a "replacement" S series factory cap, this cap is NOT for you.

If you have 58mm threaded filters, step rings, lenses, or a 58mm lens adapter and need a snug fitting cap, this is a great one!

I bought it recently, and found it perfect for my canon G9, as it fits properly to the conversion lens adapter(LA-DC58H) and protects my lens. Another good news, if you are using any filter it snaps perfectly on the top of your filter without removing the filter from the adapter.

I was amazed at the ease of use of this lens cap. It literally snaps RIGHT ON to the end of my camera lens, and also stays put when I move my hand away. I have to physically remove the lens cap with my hand to get it off! Protects my lens flawlessly. Terrific!

I recently lost my lens cap for my Cannon Rebel XTi. I was worried about buying this because so many reviewers said it didn't fit their Canon, but this cap fits my Rebel XTi perfectly. It's a perfect replacement for the lens cap that came with my camera.

If you've lost your lens cap on your Rebel XTi, get this lens as a replacement! :)

I got this lens cap when I ordered a close-up lens for my camera, a PowerShot S1 IS, because it was recommended as something people who ordered that part would also order. I, therefore, assumed that it went with the same camera, or with the lens/adapter I was ordering. However, it does not appear to fit either the camera itself or any of the attachments, so I now wish that I had done some more research to determine whether it would actually fit my equipment. - Canon Lens Cap - Lens Cover - Canon - Camera Lens Cover'

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Acne - blemish control, facial cleanser

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I am 14 years old and i had bad acne on my forehead,nose,and chin. I started looking online and found this product.Everyone has different skin so sometimes the products that you buy may not work. Well i needed to loose my acne fast because im gonna be a freshman in high school. i would definately recommend this product to any of my friends and family. One thing you should know is that it does have a kinda of burning sensation to it after you use everything. It also doesnt work after one use that is totally bull crap but it DOES work after a few uses. One more thing i would say is to use it once a day for about a week and see how that goes then i use it twice a day. :) GREAT PRODUCT AND VERY FAST SHIPPING :) Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Control Kit

While the product did help with my acne, which was mild, it definitely dried out my face and primarily around the eyebrow area (got those nasty little flakes that resemble dandruff). So consider that when buying this product. Would definitely recommend it to people with oily skin!

Clean and Clear works wonders for my face. I am an African American women that suffers from dark spots after my break outs. After using this product for a month I can defintely say I have seen improvement my dark spots are fading and now I am less reliant on make-up. I would recommdend this product. I gave it four not five stars because it didnt work as fast as i would like and they dont have something that exfoliates the skin in the kit, but none the less this product is worth giving a try.

I've been using Clean & Clear products for a couple of years now - the Deep Action Cream Cleanser and the Persa-Gel 10. I have oily skin and do not have severe acne, just occasionally get a few pimples, so these products were working all right. But I decided that I no longer wanted to deal with any pimples at all, so I bought this Acne Kit. Clean & Clear products have mostly agreed with my skin, so this one should be fine too, right? WRONG! I broke out with pimples all over my face and the pimples have left the darkest blackhead/scars I have ever had. I am utterly horrified! By using this kit I have taken several steps back in my mission to have clear skin. I am sadly disappointed. I'm sure that, as not all skin is the same, there are people who this product works perfectly for. But I am certainly not one of those people.

I literally saw a difference within 24 hours.

I'm 27 years old and I have been struggling with acne since my middle school days.

This stuff is a life saver. Within 24 hours my break outs had gone down on my chin! Within a week, there were no zits.

I get them worst on my chin and this has really helped. I don't find that this burns or over dries my skin. I always use all three products each time and I use them twice a day.

If I forget just one time though, I will get a zit. I swear, it takes me one day to get them and three days to get rid of them. I have this problem most on weekends... get in late, forget to wash my face... get up late... forget to wash my face.

So, in short, if you use it... it should work.

I have combination skin. My chin is very oily and my forehead is dry. I actually only wash the bottom of my face, then use the moisturizer mostly on the top of my face. Then I apply the on the spot to my entire chin and any problem areas.

My daughter has sensitive skin that dries out easily but is prone to breakouts on her forehead and nose area. This is by far the best face wash we have found. Due to her skin sensitivity she only uses the wash and not the lotion, otherwise she will have super dry skin that turns red. This face wash clears up her skin within two days and we no longer have to have the doctor prescribe her medicine. If you purchase from a local Wal-Mart or Target, it can cost $15 to $20 which I hated paying since she does not use the whole kit. We tried different face washes over summer hoping for the same results without paying the price but her face started breaking out again. I was so excited when I found it through Amazon for a great price!! Now we have it ordered through the auto ship and it's under $11 with free shipping and comes to our door every 3 months!!! Love this product!!!

I had purchased this productat at local Walmart in the clearance isle thinking what the heck I've tried just about everything (my forhead was horable)! within 3 days of use it was dramatacly better! I've been usuing the product for a month now and only use it when i shower which are sadly far and few between because I have three very busy children (ages One, Three and Six) and am absoultly in love and recommend it to anyone that can't or doesn't have time for a daily usage and busy life it still works when not all the time :)

I have oily skin with mild acne and this really helped clear it out. I still have some left but at least it's a little calmed down. It made my skin dry out and keep it from getting oily. It's only been a few days but there are already results. Washing my face two times a day is very tiresome but seeing the results of clearing up skin is worth it.

This is the only acne care system I can use on my face. I use it every day and it works great. The spot treatment is amazing as well. It takes care of problem areas over night. Will continue to keep using this product over and over. - Blemish Control - Face Treatments - Facial Cleanser'

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Liners - cloth diaper, pool diaper

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Knock on wood, my little guy hasn't had a poop in this swim diaper for the past 7 mos of use. We're just now upsizing to large, whereas the medium worked from 6mos through 13mos.

The colors have faded from regular pool use, but that's to be expected.

This diaper fits snuggly in all the right places and I LOVE the ties.

Why the ties??

My little guy loves to open his disposable and cloth diapers. Imagine that scene at the pool (or in the gym shower) with a mess inside!

Also, I still prefer the open-diaper style to the elastic pull-up style for the same possible deal-with-mess reason.

I highly recommend this style and brand of swim diapers for those who routinely hit the water. Kushies Reusable Swim Diaper, Small, Nautical Blue

We bought a size med for my son last summer, we used it from about 6mo old to now, he's 15 mo old. He is a little on the petite size but it still fits him now. I also bought a size large for my 2.5 yr old daughter last summer. I cannot tell you how much I love these! The tie makes sure it stays closed and the diaper itself fits snug around the legs to keep messes in. No swim diaper is meant to absorbe urine, or it would absorb pool water too so just a word of caution, this will only keep messes in. We have to change my little one into the diaper right before we get into the pool. But they are fantastic! I love not spending money on disposable swim diapers. We are a cloth diaper family anyway but I think anyone would love these! I will be buying more for the summer for my boy, as we only have one and we plan to be at the pool more often this summer. LOVE THEM!

I purchased this swim diaper for my daughter because she would not fit in the disposable diapers. Apparently babies less than 16 pounds do not "swim..." Anyway, I could not be more pleased with this product. The diaper is ridiculously cute and the small fits her really well and she's about 12 pounds now. Trial by fire proved this diaper does what it claimed, to contain the mess, and then came out perfectly in in the wash (I would wash it in a bra bag though so the Velcro doesn't stick to other clothes). Will definitely be purchasing more as my daughter gets bigger--much better than disposables.

For the cost of one pack of reuseables, this swim diaper is great! So much more attractive and environmentally friendly too. The only problem I had was with the size. I first ordered a Large for my 28 lb son and had to return it for an X-Large (labeled for 40-50 lbs).

I ordered this diaper for my 5 month old son. It doesn't hold in pee but neither do disposable swim diapers. These are just designed to hold in poop and they do the job. They are really cute too! They are easy to get on and off, wash out if your baby goes potty in them and they are cheaper than buying disposables all the time. - Pool Diaper - Cloth Diaper - Reusable Swim Diaper - Cloth Diapers'

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Digital Camera - olympus, 10x zoom

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*Updated: April 5, 2009

I bought this camera as a replacement to my Stylus 1010 which I owned for a year. The Stylus 9000 has pretty much addressed all of the issues I had with the 1010. Here are some comparisons.

Physical features: Put side by side the stylus 9000 is definitely bigger and heavier than the 1010, but that's no deal breaker especially since the 9000 has a sturdy metal body vice the plastic 1010 body. The 9000 is also not as sleek looking as the 1010 but it fits better in your hand and the buttons are raised further so you can find them with your fingers more easily.

Lens: The lens is a big improvement over the 1010 which most professionals will tell you is more important than having higher megapixels. Besides offering extra zoom the 9000 lens is much beefier and offers wide angle shots.

Media Card: It seems that Olympus has finally gotten over their proprietary high horse when it comes to XD media cards. Both the 1010 and 9000 come with adapters to allow the use of Micro SD cards. The problem with the 1010 was that if you wanted to take a panorama picture you had to have an OLYMPUS brand XD card. This is not an issue with the 9000 as it allows you to take panorama shots with any card or even just the internal memory. The 9000 also recognizes the higher write speeds of Class 4 and Class 6 Micro SD cards. Which has solved one of the major head aches associated with VGA videos on the 1010 and its predecessors.

Video: Both Cameras' offer VGA video recording size of 640x480 at 30 frames per second. This feature is normally limited to 10 second clips with regular media cards. The only way around this with the 1010 was to ensure your camera had the 1.1 firmware upgrade and to buy a more expensive XD type M+ card or type H card. But because the 9000 recognizes the higher write speeds of the class 4 and 6 Micro SD's you can now record up to 20:00 min videos without having to purchase one of those high speed XD cards.

Screen: The 9000 comes with the 3rd generation hyper crystal display which is much brighter and gives you a clearer picture than the 1st generation display on the 1010. I was very impressed with the visibility of the screen at high noon on a cloudless race day; I had no real problems taking or reviewing pictures. Though this screen is much better than that 1010 screen it's still not perfect especially considering the lack of a view finder.

Battery life: Both cameras utilize the same LI-50B battery. I do admit that I haven't done any scientific side by side testing, but it seems as though the battery life on the Stylus 9000 is a bit shorter than the 1010. This can be expected with a brighter screen and is kind of a tradeoff I guess. It's hard for me to put an estimate on the battery life here because everyone uses their camera differently, but I would say you could comfortably shoot all day with the 9000 without needing a spare battery. (Unless of course you leave you camera on all the time, take hundreds of pictures ect, ect.)

Operating software: The 9000's menu looks different on the 1010's however the software interface is almost identical. The 9000 does have a built in "beauty" feature, but it takes a lot of time for the camera to process the image, and it's something that is more suitably done on your computer with photo editing software.

A note on camera cases: I had an Olympus brand leather case that I could fit my Stylus 1010, a lens cleaning cloth, and a spare battery in with no issues. Because the Stylus 9000 is bigger only the camera fits in that same case so the $30 camera case had to go the way of the old camera. I also tried the Olympus Premium leather case with the same results. So I am on a hunt for a quality case that I can fit all my accessories in. I'll keep you posted.

Overall: I am very happy with this camera as a basic compact point and shoot. It takes awesome pictures and is small enough to carry around even if you don't know if you'll need a camera. I personally think the price is a little high on it right now, and it would be a great camera if you could get it for under $300.00. Which I'm sure will happen sooner than later. Olympus Stylus 9000 12 MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle Optical Dual Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Black)

Finally a compact camera with a great zoom. I've had it a few days now and the photos on the automatic settings are wonderful. The camera also lets you adjust most all parameters to "be creative." This camera will be perfect for travel. The LCD is bright and the controls are intuitive. No more carrying my larger Sony with the bulky (10x) lens. The software is just ok, but I generally use third party applications anyway. I am not a pro, just someone who travels a lot and takes photos to share with others. I'll be taking this camera to Europe next month so I'll update the review if I run into any issues.

Love the camera!

Its important to note what I was looking for when I purchased this. I wanted: 1) COMPACT, 2) High Optical Zoom, 3) Shooting Modes, 4) Ease of use 5) CHEAP ( I bought this camera for $300, $175 of it with gift certificates I already had, so I ended up paying like $125 all in all. I wanted an IDIOT-PROOF camera because I am NOT a professional photographer and have neither the time, nor the inclination to learn about aperture or shutter speed and one that I could travel with easily (put in my pocket). I wanted something that would be fast, simple and effective and this little guy hits all the marks. The pictures are clean and good and its super easy to use.

Im gonna make it super easy. Pros and cons . . .

PROS:

Zoom: The zoom is fantastic. It does exactly what I expected it to: The 10x Optical is rocking good! Clarity is awesome and Im very satisfied with the lack of pixillation.

Size: I love the fact that, in accordance with Olympus' other 'pocket-sized cameras,' I can put it in my pocket, no problem.

Panorama and Shooting Modes: Ive had three previous Olympus cameras and Im in total love with the shooting modes. The in-camera panorama is great and I find myself using it a lot. Beauty mode is quite useful, too, I find.

CONS:

Olympus has a few bad marks against it in my mind. First, its customer service sucks - just TRY to get your camera serviced or a question answered and youll see what I mean. Second, these cameras are delicate, to say the least - my first cameras' flash broke irreparably after the first year and a half and the second one ate it when a little water splashed on it. Just handle them carefully. Finally, Olympus compacts are notorious for taking AWESOME pictures in the daylight hours (dawn and dusk included) but you really have to focus on what your doing at night. If your using the flash, no problem, but if you wanna take pics of anything without it at night, youll have to work for it.

Other than that, the only major con that I can come up with is the size. The size IS good for fitting it into your pocket (which is why I listed it above, too) but its a little bulkier than I would have hoped. Its just bigger than Olympus' FE line cameras, for those who are familiar with them.

All in all, Im very satisfied and would recommend this camera for those who have the same photographic purposes as I. You may want to wait for the price to come down, though :) - Olympus Digital Camera - Olympus Stylus 9000 - Olympus - 10x Zoom'

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Samsung 1080p Lcd Hdtv

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I couldn't be happier with this tv. I bought the 37" for the bedroom having recently purchased a Sony Bravia for the living room. Reviews of other Samsung tvs had mentioned the low sound quality. I think the sound quality is superb and beats the heck out of the new Sony I own. The picture is top notch and the set-up couldn't have been be easier.

There is a noticable glare on the screen when daylight shines on the screen which is why I purchased the Sony for the living room whose matte screen better suited bright room.

All in all, I am very happy with this purchase. Samsung LN37D550 37-Inch 1080p 60Hz LCD HDTV (Black)

I bought this item a few days ago after doing a multitude of research on flat screen TV's. Frankly, I was ready to be done! Our focus was finding a TV with an external width no larger than 37 5/8". We were faced with a limited selection of 37" TV's or some barely close 40" TV's. The 40" TV's that we had to choose from were LED and cost roughly $1000 or more. Rather than being faced with a close fit of an expensive TV, we decided 37" would suffice. Then we were caught between buying a Samsung or a Sony and whether to get LED or LCD. In my opinion, the Sony brand commands a brand premium in price. Nice TV's though. I read a lot about LED v. LCD. The LCD is still energy efficient and is energy star qualified. After seeing the picture difference of the LCD and LED. My wife and I were both okay with LCD. Then I researched the difference of 60 hz versus 120 hz refresh rates. Okay, I understand the technical mumbo jumbo of this, but after comparing in a store the difference I couldn't tell. Maybe my eyes are not good enough anymore. We also bought the Samsung USB wireless adapter. I thought from all my reading that this TV had some Internet functionality i.e. Netflix etc. It DOES NOT. If you have a Wii or some other game platform that allows internet access - use it and save your money. The wireless adapter will work with some Samsung Blu-Ray players as well. The only thing the wireless adapter will do is connect with your pc network and play movies, music, and pictures from your pc. If this for you - great buy the wireless. Note: it has a network interface for wired applications on the back as well.

The nitty gritty of the TV. It works fantastic. Exceeded expectations on standard definition movies and TV broadcasts. No dark "halo" effects when the picture is dark. HD works fantastic...almost too clear and crisp to tell the truth. Works great in the game mode with the Wii. I know other's have said the sound/speakers were issues, but my family thinks it works just fine. The PIP(picture in a picture) function only works when viewing programs from two sources i.e. broadcast and DVD. Not a big user of PIP. Set up is easy. Remote is easy and intuitive to use. The enclosed manual is "light" on info. TV does have a manual you access through TV - it is more in-depth. For $569 and our first upgrade from a CRT TV - I have no regrets. TV is great for everyday use - watching broadcast, movies, games, and PC use. But then again, we didn't need all the bells and whistles of higher end models. Hope this helps your decision.

I recently purchased this TV for my family room. Since I mainly watch tv from a small table in the kitchen adjacent to the family room I didn't want a really large screen as I would be sitting too close. The 37" size is perfect both for close viewing from the kitchen as well as viewing from a distance in the family room. There is a really nice feature which allows you to reduce the picture size so for close viewing I watch a reduced picture while for further distances I increase the picture to its full size. I don't have that capability on my Sony Bravia 40" which I use in the bedroom, and often the picture is just too large for comfortable viewing. The other great feature is the ability to plug an external hard drive into the USB port and watch all my videos. It plays virtually any file format including MKV,avi,DIVX etc. The picture clarity is excellent both with HDTV and the 720 and 1080p videos. Additionally, the stand swivels which is very convenient for viewing from different locations. Overall I am very pleased with the tv and highly recommend it.

I've had this tv for about 4 weeks now and really do love it. Running Comcast and picture is very sweet. Blue Ray looks awesome too. The speakers actually work pretty good as far as LCD's go but normally use the Def Techs for sound.

My main gripe is that Amazon originally posted this as a 120 Hz and its actually only 60 Hz. I didn't know this until it got to my house. Not cool.

Samsung didn't publish much info on the 2011 models so it was close to impossible to research too.

All in all its a great tv and I would proably buy it again I just wish Amazon would actually post what you get!

This is the second Samsung HDTV that I have purchased directly through Amazon.

Both units worked perfectly "right out of the box" and with minimum hassle.

The picture and sound qualities are excellent on both, and I couldn't be happier with my purchase(s).

The only concern with this delivery was a hole(actually two)in the side of the carton, which turned out to be on the face side of the TV. There is no internal protection of the unit other than some wrapping material. Needless to say, I was happy to see no damage.

Samsung should look into their packaging procedures.

I purchased this top rated HDTV as recommended in Consumers Reports and have not been dissappointed. The TV is excellent in every area and since I used American Express Membership Rewards points for it, I am not out of pocket any funds for this great TV. Anyone looking for a top quality HDTV shoudl check it out.

Purchased this TV on sale directly from Amazon and received free 2 day shipping with my Prime account. The TV showed up when promised. The set up using the included base was simple and quick. If you have an HDMI cable (or other appropriate cable/box combo), a phillips screwdriver, a place to set it up, and less than 15 minutes and you will be up and running.

Picture quality is excellent, even better at home than in the stores I looked at it in before ordering. There are comments about sound quality, it isn't the greatest, but if you change settings around once it is in place, you can get decent sound out of it. I'm using it as a bedroom TV and couldn't be happier!'

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Small Cordless Screwdriver - cordless screwdriver, screwdriver

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About six years ago I found and bought my first mini powered screwdriver, a brand called the "iGo." The iGo was the same in concept as this Ultra Tech in that it was a super mini screwdriver, with small driver bits (albeit the iGo bit are not as small as the Ultra Tech). The iGo is powered by two AAA batteries.

Back then the iGo was the only miniature battery powered screwdriver on the market (at least that I could find). There were plenty of large AA battery powered drivers (that use four batteries), for example Black & Decker's drivers. But those are powerful screwdrivers meant for heavy duty jobs such as inserting wood screws into hardwood.

In 2004, when I was first researching and looking for a battery powered mini screwdriver, I wanted something for delicate, small jobs such as working on computers or small electronic devices. (The Black & Decker type drivers are too big, cumbersome and powerful to work on small screws, plus those powered screwdrivers don't come with bits small enough to fit into small screws.) What size screws am I talking about? Look on your netbook or notebook computer case, to see the screws I am talking about.

Enter the iGo powered screwdriver. Those have served me well all these years and I am still using the original two I bought back then. (Actually, I bought five of them and gave two as gifts. By the way, geeks love these powered mini screwdrivers. My friend gave one to her sister's new husband at their wedding reception, part of a box of gifts. Everyone at the reception was asking to play with the screwdriver and he caught two of his guests trying to "forget" they had the driver, by putting it in their pockets.

Fast forward to three weeks ago when I decided to see if there were any new powered miniature screwdrivers on the market. A search yielded pay dirt when I found this "General Ultra Tech Power Precision Screwdriver" (that's a mouthful but that's the official name of it).

I read the description and was impressed that this was obviously a better product than my iGo (even though the iGo was only $5 per driver and it has worked flawlessly). What I liked about this General Ultra Tech is that it comes with six screwdriver bits, including two torx bits (T5 and T6 that typically fit cell phones and small electronics). The bits case has two very small flathead and two small Phillips head bits.

The chuck that the bits fit into are proprietary to the Ultra Tech bits. That means the full size bits that come on bigger drivers won't fit. Besides, bits such as those on a Black & Decker driver are too big to work on small precision screws. And to be sure, a full-sized powered driver would strip screw threads, holes, or heads because there's simply too much power driving the screw.

Sidenote: The iGo driver also has a proprietary chuck and bit. The iGo came with two bits, a flathead and a Phillips, that conveniently stores inside the driver, so you don't lose or misplace them.

Also, the iGo bits and chuck are magnetized, a handy feature when working in tight spaces or difficult to access screw holes. (This General Ultra Tech is not magnetized.)

Impressions of the Ultra tech: This is a great driver. It was a well thought out design and it's perfect for doing precision work.

For example:

-- You grip it like holding a pen. Because it's a small diameter device, you can hold it and easily "target" the screw you are working with.

-- When using the driver your thumb is conveniently on the power switch. So you can power the switch to screw or unscrew without having to twist or contort your grip to operate the power switch.

-- The driver at the base is curved inward, like many pens that advertise a comfortable grip design. So when holding the driver with your fingers it's really a natural grip.

-- Lastly on the grip or feel in the hand, the driver body is 6" long and about the diameter of a U.S. dime. So when holding it, the top half rests on your hand, in between the thumb and forefinger. (This is similar to holding a pen.) This results in your being able to hold the driver firm and steady when using the driver.

All in all, the form factor is a great design and pleasure to use.

Now on performance.

I see some people criticize this as being under powered or incapable of driving certain screws. Excuse me folks, first of all, this is for precision work, not driving bolts or screws into hardwood or metal. This driver has more than enough power to work on any electronic device's screws. If you want more power, trust me, you are going to strip the screw or female threads of whatever you are working on.

True, the driver head has a slight degree of of wobble indicating that these are not machined parts, where tolerances need to be precise.

If the driver contained machined parts these drivers would cost a lot more than $20 to $25. How do I know this? There's a DSLR camera CMOS sensor cleaner that kind of looks the same as this driver, it's a powered pen device that spins fibers at about 10,000 rpm. Those sensor cleaners cost about $100 minimum. Why? Mainly it's because the parts that spin or turn have to be very precise since it will be accessing the insides of a digital camera. The pen obviously contains machined parts and that's why it cost so much. There's some guy on a lathe shaping those precision parts. He has has to be paid.

The Ultra Tech driver is powered by two AAA batteries. I have found on my iGo, because I am not using it that much (maybe 100 times a year) that a set of AAA batteries last me over two years. The driver is still working at that point, but just not as fast or powerful as with a fresh set of batteries.

The package advertises "10+ hours of power" but I imagine that simply means that if you ran the motor for ten hours while the motor is still technically turning at hour ten, by that time the driver won't work. Obviously, at hour 7 or 8 the driving capabilities are weak or lacking torque (screw turning ability) so it's best to swap out the batteries then and not to wait until the batteries are completely dead.

Bonus Tip: It's best to use rechargeable batteries in devices like this. When you feel that the driver is suffering power loss (getting weaker at driving screws) simply replace the batteries and recharge the old ones. I recommend you get Sanyo's ENELoop rechargeable batteries, by the way. IMHO those are the best rechargeable batteries on the market. (Why? Well for one thing, ENELoop batteries don't discharge much when sitting in a drawer, for example. At least not at the same rate as regular rechargeable batteries.

"Screw driving"...

I was very impressed. The bits are small for precision screws and detailed work. And the smallest driver bit even fit eyeglass screws!! Now that's a precision, powered screwdriver. What will keep you from doing "big jobs" with this driver is that the bits are very small, so it can't be used for screws bigger than what you see on your notebook computer, the screws that keep the case together.

Bonus Tip: Do NOT use this screwdriver in powered mode to completely drive in a screw, the driver's motor is too powerful and will strip threads or the screw. When you get close to the where the screw is almost completely screwed in, gently twist the driver to manually finish the job. (When not in powered mode the driver handle "locks" the bit and you can manually turn the driver.

Overall impressions:

This is a great screwdriver to have in one's precision tools box. It performs very well and will make short work in removing screws in tight places or when removing lots of screws at once, such as a notebook computer case (for example, the bottom of notebook computers have anywhere from 15 to 30 screws! Who wants to loosen and tighten those with a manual screwdriver).

I am so impressed I am buying a few more to give as gifts this 2010 holiday season. General Tools 500 Cordless Ultra Tech Power Precision Screwdriver - Cordless Screwdriver - Screwdriver - Mini - Cordless'

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Hanging File Folders

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The Pendaflex files themselves are great. However, there were no tabs and inserts included in the boxes. The boxes clearly state that they are included. I had to go and buy them separately. I wondered why they were so cheap. I got my answer. Pendaflex Recycled Standard Green 1/5-Cut Tab Hanging File Folders, 25 per Pack (81602)

Picked up a pack of these, hoping they'd fit an old wall-hanging mesh container I had lying around (Somewhat similar to this: Rolodex Single Pocket Wire Mesh Wall File (21931))

The fit was perfect! It also comes with the necessary plastic tab inserts needed. The price is great if you don't mind the drab bureaucratic color.

Pendaflex is really good quality brand, and this was an OK deal. Would have like a better price, but overall we are very happy with the quality of the product.

The folders are heavy and hold up to alot of overstuffing with file folders and papers. Tabs and hangers are very rugged.

These standard sized hanging file folders represent the height of adequacy when it comes to hanging and filing. The tabs/labels are easy to use and also fully functional. I was torn between a 4 and 5 star review, ultimately opting for the 5 because the price is right and the folders were made from recycled materials. I give these folders my full recommendation for those of you who have some sort of receptacle for hanging file folders and something that needs filing.

These hanging folders do exactly what they're supposed to do. I ordered the standard green folders and received one color and my package had the inserts and tabs included. Very pleased with this order and if I need more I will not hesitate ordering these again.'

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Home Theater - wireless, wireless music

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It's hard to review the Squeezebox Duet without comparing it to the Sonos system, current ruler of this class of products.

Since there are already many excellent reviews, I thought I would focus on a comparison of the two, to help you decide which system best fits your needs.

Controller

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Both controllers are responsive, pleasant to hold and operate. They are well built, and their LCD screen of excellent quality and easy to read.

Squeezebox: thin, light, easy to operate with one hand, excellent battery life, battery is user-replaceable, comes with charging stand. It also features an infrared blaster and a headphones port, which will be supported at some point in the future (although Logitech makes no promises there have been demonstrations of prototype firmware using both features), as well as a 3D accelerometer (yes, like a Wii remote).

Sonos: bulkier, designed for two-handed operation, battery life could be better, battery is not user-replaceable, charging stand optional.

Networking

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I did not compare the two systems in the same location, but they both operate well with a range sufficient for most medium-size houses.

Sonos: uses proprietary mesh networking that requires to plug one of the players into the wired LAN. Other players act as repeaters.

Squeezebox: uses standard 802.11g networking. Can hook up to an existing wireless network, or the player can be used as an access point for the remote.

Players

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Sonos offers two players: the ZP100 has a built-in amplifier and the ZP80 doesn't (but it offers a digital output missing from the ZP100). Both players feature an Ethernet hub and an audio input.

Squeezebox: on top of the inexpensive player bundled with the Duet, the Squeezebox system is also capable of controlling all other Squeezebox devices (excluding the first generation models).

Audio quality is comparable, although audiophiles may be attracted by the compatibility with the Squeezebox Transporter.

Server

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This is where both systems differ radically. Sonos connects to existing SMB shares whereas Squeezebox requires that you install and run the SqueezeCenter server on your computer. SqueezeCenter is open source and runs on Windows, Mac and Linux.

Sonos: less intrusive, no software to install, works happily off a lowly NAS. But: if your music collection is larger than 30,000 tracks, you may hit the limit of the indexing capabilities, a problem with no easy workaround.

Squeezebox: requires simple installation of server software, so you have to have a computer always on. Server is too CPU-intensive to run properly on a low-power NAS such as the D-Link DNS-323

Internet radio

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Sonos: Napster, Rhapsody, Audible, eMusic, Zune Marketplace, Sirius, Pandora, all configurable from the controller

Squeezebox: Rhapsody, MP3Tunes Locker, Radio IO, RadioTime, Slacker, Live365, SHOUTcast, Sirius, most must be configured and authorized from a computer using the SqueezeCenter web interface.

Support

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Both companies offer spectacular support through their on-line forums.

Summary

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Price: Squeezebox. A three-zone Sonos system will cost you about twice as much as a three zone Squeezebox system.

Capabilities: tie

Ease of setup: Sonos

Ease of use/WAF: Sonos. The Squeezebox interface is beautiful, but Sonos is more logically organized and simpler.

So, should you get Sonos or Squeezebox? It depends. Both systems are excellent.

If you're a tinkerer and want a solid, inexpensive system, the Squeezebox is for you. If you don't mind the added cost, want the best, simplest, friendliest user interface around, Sonos is still the ticket.

One thing is for sure: Sonos finally has some serious competition. Logitech Squeezebox Duet Wi-Fi Internet Radio

First off, this is a great device. A have been upgrading my Squeezeboxes for several years and the Duet is by far the coolest. I have a friend that spend three times this amount on a Sonos and they have the same features, including access to internet radio and other subscription services such as Rhapsody and Sirius. However, I found out a piece of information just after I bought and installed my Duet that would have saved me a lot of money.

If you have an iPod Touch or iPhone, you can buy an application for it by iPeng for $9.99 and control any Squeezebox from it. The controls are the same and you really don't need the Duet controller. If you don't have an iPod Touch, then you can get one along with an older version Squeezebox off of Ebay for about the same price as a Duet. Then you get two toys for the price of one.

I bought this product 4 months ago, and I love it... when it works.

Unfortunately I don't think that the product is ready for primetime, for the following reasons:

1/ The remote control takes a very long time to wake up. I think Logitech shold build an image of the music database on the remote. Currently, the remote is sluggish (takes 30 seconds to one minute to wake up). I assume that this is so because the remote has to connect over Wi-Fi to the computer that hosts the music folders, and this takes time (hence my suggestion for an image of the datebase on the remote).

2/ The whole setup is very sensitive to the smallest changes made in the home network. I say this because I want to give it some benefit of doubt; I could also describe the system as unstable over the long run. So far there were 3 instances when the remote/device was unable to connect to the main PC, and I did not change anything on my home network in two of these instances (I did reinstall an antivirus program today).

For this reason, I think that the Logitech solution is not conceptually sound. I think a far better design would have been to build the Logitech device on top of a NAS box that had a 4 slots for SATA drives(no 802 required to stream music). This way, the end user could have just added the music drives to the box. This solution coupled with a remote that has an image of the music database on it, might make this product work...

I believe that this approach was taken by a Korean company (see Dvico TviX HD M-7000), which was awarded the European Imaging and Sound Association award for the best Media Player)... see EISA awards on the internet.

The current design fails, and when it does so, it is very annoying.

3/ Subpar support - when the system failed to connect to my main PC the second time, I called the Logitech support, and after a few unsuccesfull attempts to solve the problem, I was told that Norton was the cause for all my problems. At that point, the rep asked me to remove Norton - as a condition for providing help further. I refused to do so (the system was working fine that same morning, and Norton has been running on my system forever (it was running before I bought the Logitech Duet)). We agreed to disagree, and I was left holding an empty bag of broken Logitech promisses.

4/ I saved the worst for last: Logitech is manipulative. After the incident listed above I went to the Logitech Duet product page, and posted a negative review... to this day (more than 45 days later), that review is not yet published. Right now I don't feel very good about Logitech as a company.

To sum it up: I am disapointed in the product, and would like to return it... I will see what Amazon will do. I think that their policy is 30 days... so it might be too late.

Stay away from the Logitech duet, it is a half baked product.

PS: I have worked in high tech in the last 10 years, and I consider myself computer literate... - Logitech - Wireless Music - Wireless - Internet Radio'

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