Monday, 12 October 2009

Overnight - folding, foldable


The Good:



I bought this grill for this summers motorcycle camping adventures. I can't think of a better use for this grill. Narrower main body section gives many options for tying down, and on my bike (a shadow 750) the bottom "foot hole" was able to go over and around my sissy bar and sit on my rack. Pretty sweet. 2 up camping now comes with a BBQ!



The Bad (at least for motorcycle camping):



It is a bit flimsy (but quite stable when open for grilling). With care, I am expecting to get about 50 or so BBQs out of it. After it falls apart I am planning to go to a metal shop in town and have it re-fabricated in some heaver gauge steel. I would be willing to have a little heaver (and smaller) grill for motorcycle camping if it was durable. The grilling surface is large. Expect to need about 3 pounds of charcoal to get it going well, 6 pounds (an entire small bag) of charcoal for a full grill to feed 4+ people. This makes it a requirement to setup camp, and then ride out to get groceries and charcoal. Messy.



I've BBQ'd for years and have to say the "action" on this grill is quite good. If you really have a need for an extremely portable grill, I would definitely recommend it. If you are just looking for a smaller grill for car camping or porch cookouts I would recommend the more traditional Coleman and Weber portable grills with a lid and better durability. HotSpot Notebook Portable Charcoal Grill

I had been wanting a foldable grill and didn't even know they existed until I came across this one on Amazon. It not only saves TONS of space on my small patio but it delivers in quality of food too! I've had a few bbq's with this grill so far and the quality of food has been phenominal. I find the easiest thing to do is to buy one of those small charcoal bags that all you do is light it - no need to open the bag. It fits perfectly in this grill. The cleanup is very easy and not messy at all. And I absolutely love that it folds up to be about 1/2" wide. It takes up no room at all on my patio. I gave up my Weber big grill for this one - great decision!!! I highly recommend this grill as it is great for serving about 6 good sized burgers and about 4 hot dogs on the grill at the same time. When I had it delivered at my job - a couple of co-workers had me open it and display it for them. Then after that weekend of testing it out, I reported the good news to them and they bought it too. If you're looking for a small portable, durable, inexpensive, & reliable grill -- get this one!!!

It's an OK grill. Can't be moved with ease once lit. It's good for trips to the park with the way it folds up when not in use. I DON'T like the holes in the bottom because the coal dust falls out and this item cannot be put on say something (grass) that can go on fire. With the hole in the bottom there should be some sort of tray to catch the burned out coals that fall. I'm somewhat disapointed.

I bought this grill because I have a small RV camper with limited space. The grill worked great except the grill is on very top with no sides so hot dogs can easily roll off. Also after one use, the paint peeled off and looks terrible. Seems like they could have used heat resistant paint like other grills. Once nice thing is after you finish cooking, you can throw in a couple of small pieces of wood and have a small camp fire. It is made of very thin material so it cools off fast once you dump out the coals so you can pack it up for travel. It would be nice to have a carrying case as it is nearly impossible to put back in the box. Other than that is exactly what I have been looking for for years.

PROS:

Very light

Decent Price

Doubles as a Fire Pit

Easy to Clean

Takes up very little storage space, either at home or during your travels.

Uses charcoal or wood as a fuel



CONS:

Grill portion, not made of stainless steel - chrome plated steel.

Product arrived with some damage to the sheet metal - since I do plan to USE this and know it will get damage, I opted not to return.

I used a hammer and "adjusted" the metal.



Overall:

The perfect companion if you plan an overnight car-camping trip or overland camping trip in your truck.

You can use either charcoal or wood as a fuel.

The fuel grill is perfect that when the fuel is burnt, the ashes fall through to the bottom of the grill and with a poker (wood stick), you can remove it.

Also from that same access hole (on both ends), it allows air to enter and help on maintaining the burn of the fuel.

A well thought out portable grill.



Check out the hyperlink for what I mean as a Expedition Overland Camping Trips.

[...] - Charcoal - Folding - Portable - Foldable'


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Portable Speakers - mp3 speakers, altec lansing


I bought an iM-207 and an iM-237 at the same time, curious to see what the difference was.

The 207 is roughly 25% smaller and comes with a 1/8 to 3/32 stereo adapter, is designed to function sitting with the speaker pointing upward or will sit at a slight angle back on its side. I think it is money well spent- compared to the same amount I spent 3 years ago on one of those fold-up cube type dual speakers. In comparison to that fold-up cube, I think the sound is like 3 times better: quality-wise and volume-wise. The iM-207 lacks an LED that lets you know if the power is switched on, so you might drain the batteries out if you forget to turn it off after you unplug your player unit. It turns on and off by rotating the outer chrome ring-not a smooth switch at all compared to a rocker, slider or push button. Now on to the iM-237: a bit more stylish than its predecessor the iM-207 and at a price that is 130% more. It comes with a swanky padded and zippered carrying case with a mini carabiner clip and a tether that can be attached to the speaker to secure it to your wrist or hang it on the wall, it doesn't have a 1/8th to 3/32 adapter. the sound is cleaner than the 207, more defined at both ends and easier to listen to and has more volume. I wouldn't say the sound is twice as good though- I'd say more like 40% better. I'm not an acoustical engineer and don't have the audio equipment to evaluate the quality on any emperical basis. The iM-237 does have a nice green LED to let you know the power is on and a simple push button on/off button (which is vulnerable to accidental activation) the cord conceals neatly in a winder molding in the base and secures the plug well- a little too well, it's hard to get it out if you don't have long fingernails! I'd say value wise the 207 has a better quality to dollar value, however if you prize sound quality then go for the iM-237. Altec Lansing iM-237 Orbit Ultraportable Speaker for MP3 Players (Silver)

I bought one of these to play music from my iPhone during a vacation. I used it outdoors by the swimming pool for about a week. Went through only one set of batteries (AAA). My friends and I were consistently impressed with the sound that came out of this little speaker; it's surprisingly loud and clear.



I figured when I bought it that it was basically a throw-away. Not so. It's a good little speaker that fits the bill.

When I first opened the IM237 I was dissapointed. I could not believe that the new orbit was about 50% bigger than the old one -IM207. When I listened to it though they did improve the sound. The new one does have improved bass. While its great that they added a light to show if the unit is on or off, the switch sticks out too far when it is off. This can cause it to accidentally turn on. The could easily have been fixed if they simply had it on when it was out and off when it was in. The second flaw is the cord is the same short lenghth as the old one when it could have been 6 or 12 inches longer without effeting anything. Infact I was able to wrap a 3 foot extention in addition to the actual cord in the bottom. There is plenty space for a longer cord.

While I still think the original is a great speaker the new one is improved. If you are on a tight budget or you want a really small speaker that will fit in your pocket buy the old one for $15. If you want better sound and dont mind carrying a bigger speaker get the new one. Its a shame about the 2 flaws which could have easily have been fixed.

Even though the internal speakers on my Sony Vaio notebook computer are decent, I sometimes need a little more volume and clarity. When the need arises, I usually whip out the ear-buds. But recently, I've been wanting to play some tunes on my computer at work where it's not convenient to wear ear-buds. Hence, the "need" for one of these portable mini-speakers.



After reading the reviews on portable notebook/iPod/iPhone speakers, I narrowed my choice down to 3 products and ordered all 3. I thought that I would choose the best one, send the others back, and review them at the same time. So....my 3 choices were the X-Mini II Capsule Speaker, the iHome iHM60 Rechargeable Mini Speakers for iPod (Blue), and the Altec Lansing iM-237 Orbit Ultraportable Speaker for MP3 Players (Silver).



I tested all 3 speakers with my Sony Vaio notebook, my iPhone 3Gs, and my 60-gig iPod. All 3 speakers worked with all 3 devices, and the rating results were comparable.



One more thing: although 2 of the 3 speakers have USB charging cables, none of them are USB devices. The USB only charges the speaker; the sound is controlled via the headphone-out controls.



1) X-Mini II Capsule Speaker ---- This speaker is the most compact. I like the design, the lines, the feel, and the size. It just feels right. It looks like a little pill/capsule, and then springs open to reveal bellows that enhance the bass. The sound is focused and clear, but ranks #3 in loudness and bass quality. It is the only speaker of the 3 that I tested that has a volume control, but I really don't see the need for a volume control when the speaker is only 6 inches away from the sound source. It has a built-in speaker cord for when you want to run it on the internal rechargeable battery. There's also a combined USB charging/speaker cable....1 plug inserts into your computer USB port to charge the speaker battery, and the 2nd plug goes to the headphone-out on your computer (or iPod). So, if your speaker battery dies, just plug the 2 plugs into the computer and you're back up and running. If you're using the speaker to listen to your iPod or iPhone, you are out of luck if the speaker battery dies, unless you have a USB power source nearby. Unfortunately, both the attached speaker cable and the combined USB charging/speaker cable are very flimsy. It also has a speaker-out jack, which allows you to daisy-chain speakers together. Not really a huge selling point, since people tend to buy these speakers because they are small and compact...so who wants to carry 2 with them? But I suppose it does allow for more flexibiity, athough daisy-chaining 2-3 of these little guys together just doesn't make good financial sense. So, just like the volume control, the speaker-out jack is a non-issue to me. Also comes with a little carrying bag made of felt material.



Pros --- Looks and feels right. Small/compact. Decent sound, considering it's size. Rechargeable battery. Option of using built-in cable or combined USB charging/speaker cable.

Cons --- Worst performance in terms of loudness and bass (but still not bad). Flimsy cables.



2) iHome iHM60 Rechargeable Mini Speakers for iPod (Blue) ---- This speaker is very similar to the X-Mini II above. The major differences: it's larger than the X-Mini and doesn't look as "polished". It doesn't have a volume control, but who needs one anyway? It doesn't have a built-in cable....it only has a USB charging/speaker cable....but it's MUCH sturdier than the cable on the X-Mini. The sound is louder and fuller, with more pronounced bass.....probably because the diameter is bigger and the bellows are longer. Comes with a medium-heavy duty black carrying bag, which is more substantial than the felt used for the X-Mini II bag. Also has a speaker-out jack, just like the X-Mini II, for daisy-chaining speakers together.



Pros --- Ranks #2 in loudness and bass. Small/compact. Rechargeable battery. Sturdy cable. Nicer carrying bag. $10 cheaper than the X-Mini.

Cons --- Less "polished" look/feel. Not as small as the X-Mini. No built-in speaker cable, so you MUST use the more bulky USB charging/speaker cable.



3) Altec Lansing iM-237 Orbit Ultraportable Speaker for MP3 Players (Silver) --- This speaker is the largest, but weighs about the same as the IHome. It has NO USB charging cable....just a built-in speaker cable. It ONLY runs on 3 AAA batteries. I haven't used it long enough to test the battery life. The carrying case is a deluxe zippered case that really protects the speaker. It also includes a lanyard for the speaker and a little caribiner clip for the case. The sound clearly out-classes the other 2 in loudness, clarity, and bass.



Pros --- Best sound of the 3. Uses 3 AAA batteries (no rechargeable battery to die on you). Built-in speaker cable. Very nice carrying case.

Cons --- Largest of the 3. Uses 3 AAA batteries (rechargeable battery is convenient, but they often die.) Flimsy built-in speaker cable.



So.....which one am I keeping? That's a good question. I'm DEFINITELY returning the X-Mini II. It performed the worst of the 3, it has flimsy cables, and it costs as much as the Altec. Although the iHome requires that you use the bulkier combo-cord, it sounds better and costs $10 less than the X-Mini II. No-brainer.



How about the Altec? It sounds the best, but has some limitations. I might keep BOTH the Altec and the iHome. But I'm DEFINITELY keeping the iHome, which is the all-around winner in this speaker shoot-out when you compare sound, price, and features.



A couple more remarks. The iHome packaging is maddening. The speaker is wire-tied into the package, making it extremely difficult to remove. I ended up essentially destroying the packaging in order to remove the speaker. But perhaps iHome did that on purpose, so as to discourage returns. Very annoying, but not a deal-breaker. Also, the iHome's cable has a hard plastic clip attached that is supposed to be used as a wire-tie. I have very good manual dexterity, but I was unable to fold the cable back up and clip it back together. Nice try, iHome, but the velcro cable-tie of the X-Mini II is a much better design.....too bad they decided to include such a flimsy cable.



I hope this review helps you in your purchase of a portable speaker for your notebook computer or iPod/iPhone. Be sure to check out my VIDEO REVIEW, which includes sound bytes from all 3 speakers. It is located here: iHome iHM60 Rechargeable Mini Speakers for iPod (Blue). - Portable Speakers - Mp3 Speakers - Ipod Speakers - Altec Lansing'


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Headphone Earpads - foam, headphones


I have used all sorts of tips for canalphones. There is no question that foam tips are the superior choice. They fill the entire ear canal and block out all sound, they are very comfortable and durable. I had a pair of E3C's and always used the Shure overpriced foam tips. After they died I bought the Klipsch canalphones and these ComplyTx-100s. This is a very nice product. They are designed far better than the Shure tips. They are less bulky and a better fit to the ear canal. Very comfortable. The wax-blocker thing is a definite plus. I heard people complaining about these getting dirty and/or not lasting. I have had no problems. I am still on my first pair and they seem very durable. Tip: Clean them with hydrogen peroxide - dissolves the ear wax right off and won't damage the tips. Avoid alcohol for cleaning as this will damage them. I would definitely buy these again. Comply Tx-100 Foam Tips (Black) 3-Pair Pack, Medium

I own a pair of Shure headphones, and I don't really think you can go "wrong" with either these or the Shure tips. However, I would definitely purchase these first because:



-They are a little more comfortable in the ear

-They are easier to get a perfect seal with

-The wax-guard is fantastic (think... no more need to clean out the grossness deep inside of your canalphones)

-They will make your headphones sound better (mostly as a result of the previous three reasons)





Now, to answer the questions I myself have had at some point:



-The foam is a little different than the kind Shure uses. It seems to be a little firmer... until it is placed in the ear, where it feels softer and a little more comfortable. It's also slightly more resistant to wax in my experience, and is a quality product that can withstand daily use.



-They aren't tricky to apply. I was worried that the fit on the headphones themselves would be too tight or too loose (the former being annoying and the latter literally making the foams useless). I can only speak for SE Models, but the fit was perfect for me. The build is a tad different, as the foams feature a slightly thinner and flexible core tube... but this doesn't really change the ease of applying them in comparison to the Shures.



-For Shure owners: the "one size" of these roughly equates to the medium Shure size... they are themselves a tiny bit smaller than a medium Shure foam, but it is very close. I will say this... I wore the mediums AND larges for my Shures (mediums preferred), and the smalls wouldn't fit quite right... but these create the best seal by far that I have experienced with any IEM tip. If you are hesitant about the fit, go to the Comply website. They have three different sizes for all of their models.



-For non-Shure/non-foam users: soft foam is generally better than flex tips/silicone/hard foam, but it depends on your ears and your preferences. For most, it is the best blend of comfort and sound quality. The foam (if fitted correctly) is not painful on the ear at all after prolonged use and will not cause headaches. The fit is crucial in getting good sound, just like pretty much any other tip. If the build quality is good (like these), there is little to no change in frequency response in comparison to silicone.



-The sound quality with these is better than with other foams, and this is why- they are designed to give a better fit and keep wax out, allowing earphones to stream more pristine audio as a result. Earphones with these tips will sound more "open" and clear, and even the discerning ear will probably notice a wider soundstage with their current headphones.



-Sound isolation is close to most foams, but a little better (for me) because they seal so well. For users who want premier sound isolation, these will suit your needs very well.



-The 2dB of transmission loss with the wax guard is virtually a non-issue, especially since ear wax within the audio canal is much more detrimental to sound quality than anything else.





Overall, I do not hesitate to give these a five star rating. If you are interested in these or are even on the fence, I would stop reading this review right now, place them in my cart, and checkout. Happy listening!

I bought a pair of Klipsch S4 earphones and unfortunately none of the included ear pieces were comfortable or achieved good isolation of external noise. I ordered the Comply foam tips and I now love my earphones. When I go to the gym or get on a plane, I can't hear a thing except my iPod. The foam tips are very comfortable even after several hours of use. One small con is that they do wear out over time. They come in a three pack and I'm on pair #2 after about 3 months of daily use and periodic cleanings (the foam on the first pair got a little too soft to stay attached to the earphones). I assume this is why they come in a three pack. I'm willing to invest a bit for superior comfort and performance of my earphones.

Doesn't matter what others said how their earbud tips work, they were not in your ear channels. You have to try them for yourself. I am not a fan for those silicon tips. The original Klipsch S4 tips hurt my ears after about an hour of listening, even on low volume radio. These foam tips changed all. When you put them in your ear channels, while them expand, you can clearly tell the noise fade away. Someone complained the fit. These tips are available in different sizes. Amazon's version might be medium. Try the three size pack to see which one is best for you. You can find some retailers on Comply's official website.



I've never seen better foam tips as I do not own any expensive pieces. These are not cheap, but I am willing to pay a couple of bucks for my own comfort. I can lower the volume to about 2/3 of what I used to. Because they shield considerable amount of noise, the sound quality improved significantly as well. I have been using the first pair for about a month. They seem worn out a bit. After the warm soak water treatment, they resumed to the near original state.



Don't wear both of them on street, they may block the traffic noise and that is were you want them for your own safety. - Comply - Headphones - Headphone Earpads - Foam'


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Watches


And a super value for the price.



All the Seiko 5 watches use an accurate and reliable HH:mm:ss, day:date movement. This one is elegant and unpretentious, and suitable for any occasion.



Let's get the shortcomings over with; that is the smallest part of this review.

-This watch is one rated for 30m, which generally means it's OK to shower in it, but not to swim with it. Normally, I like a watch that is 50m or more water resistant, both for the water resistance, and for the implied shock resistance. On the other hand, I haven't seen any problems with water or shock resistence.



Now what's right with it. (Pretty much everything.)

-Appearence. Classy. Small, smooth, simple. A very refined appearance for office or formal occasions, but without pretension. The red sweep hand is the only highlight, and balances the austerity of the rest of the watch.

-Functionality. HH:mm:ss, day and date, and markings for an appropriate degree of precision for routine uses. Discrete luminescent markings are as good as any non-tritium marking I've seen.

-Reliability. No batteries, but when worn consistantly, is almost as good as a quartz. I haven't subjected this one to the extremes that I have other watches, but that isn't what it is for. Still, casual abuse hasn't effected it at all.



This is an excellent time piece for most civilized environments and I'll wear it anyplace I would wear shoes to (as opposed to needing sneakers, boots, or bare feet).



E. M. Van Court Seiko 5 Mens Automatic Watch SNK795

Just received this watch in the mail today. The watch came in a light blue box, with a pillow inserted throughout the band for support with an instruction manual. The manual was not for the product listed but close enough that instructions could be applied to the SNK795. That being said, I read other reviews that stated that the link removal was somewhat difficult. I found it to be easy enough if you just remember to use something that has a point with some good backbone, like a small household nail or a jewelers screwdriver (both are available at almost any general store for a reasonable price.

1. Insert the end of your chosen tool in the hole where the embedded arrow points to on the link, and pull back (think of a shovel being put into the ground and pulled back and up) same concept :)

2. when the link begins to push out from its cradle, use a flat head pair of pliers to grip the tip and pull out. repeat this same process for the remaining links if you need more out.

3. The watch keeps good time as I have worn this all night at work for ten hours straight. Automatic watches will lose or gain a minute or two in a week so this is not unusual.

4. While not wearing the watch, make sure that when you lay it aside for the night, that it lays with dial face, facing up towards this ceiling. This helps the watch to maintain time while it is not being used. I do not know what kind of reserve this watch has but I know that any automatic watch left unworn for more than a day will probably stop. worn daily, this should not be a problem.

5. Nice watch overall, cosmetically appealing, thin, with a good solid feel to it. not bad for the 70 something dollars I spent. I've only had it a day so if any major complications arise, I will update this review. Hope this was helpful to you. Thanks! :)

Seems to be hit or miss quality-wise, judging from the other reviews. Maybe I just got lucky, but I haven't had any problems, and the accuracy is very good. I've owned this for 2 weeks, and in that time it has only gained less than a minute.



I love the classic looks of this watch. It has a heavy, solid feel to it - doesn't feel cheesy to me at all. The value for the price I think is outstanding.



Hopefully my experience is closer to the norm, and that the others who've had problems are just isolated cases.

Stops erratically and loses time unpredictably when it does work. Supposed to be an automatic but does not seem to wind itself reliably. It took long enough to be convinced that it wasn't reliable that I can't return it - the vendor (BlueDial) will only accept returns with all the original packaging, which of course I don't have. I'm sorry I bought this watch.

I've been looking for a stylish watch for some time. My old watch died, and I went to the department stores to find a replacement. None of the watches there impressed me, so off to Amazon I went.



I ended up settling on this one, and I really like it. It was less that $75, and is the nicest watch I've owned to date. I've had it about two weeks now. It keeps time great, and not needing to have a battery is a HUGE plus for me. Read the directions before you fiddle with it. I don't plan on submersing it in water, but the box claims it is 30m waterproof.



I was able to remove links with a little trial and error, but once you do it, you figure it out, it is very easy to do.



This watch is not too heavy, and not to light. I wear it everywhere but the bed, shower, and swimming pool.

I got this watch because I have been having trouble getting batteries replaced on other watches and the idea of a customer-serviceable battery doesn't seem to have occurred to the watch makers (anyone out there listening?).



It is a handsome watch but the band was not at all trivial to adjust to size. Thank goodness for Google and a nice fellow who shared his secrets with the rest of us. There were NO instructions in the manual on this.



I have to say for a Seiko it doesn't keep very good time. It is not clear to me if this is because it never is wound fully (I only wear it 8-10 hours/day) but I suspect not. It loses about 5 minutes every 2-3 days. It takes 2 seconds to reset but I was hoping for better from Seiko. Still, a watch that is good to +/- 2 minutes is better than a stopped one.'


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Smart Battery Charger - rc car, rc


They accidentally sent us the wrong battery packs with the charger. I called them up, I got to talk with a real person right away. They apologized and sent me the right 2 packs. Also with the right 2 packs was all the items needed for return shipping the other 2 battery packs. Although the order wasn't right the first time, I would not trade the experience for anything. My confidence in the company has been boosted and I will not hesitate to order from them in the future. There is nothing quite as satisfying as getting good customer service. In my opinion customer service defines a company. Thanks again.



Dan Two 7.2V 3800mAh High Power NiMH Batteries with A 7.2V-12V Smart Charger

So far the product is performing as stated and the quality is decent. The batteries hold a charge much longer than the 1800 MA 7.2 V battery included with the RC Boat. Have to be careful to let the motors cool down after a longer run cycle. The combo pack seems to be a good price with two batteries and a quick charger.

I bought this item because the battery that came with my RC boat only lasted about 5 minutes and took 4 hours to charge. These batteries last over 30 minutes a piece and take 2 hours to charge with the smart charger. This was a great purchase and I would advise anyone to buy these batteries.

its overall a great charger but if it sits for a little while like a week the first time you charge a battery it will not fully charge the battery and you have to stik the battery back on charge. its really not a big deal but its not supposed to do that . I'm doing everything the directions say and it still does that. also which this is nothing the cord shown in the picture is a removable cord but the cord you get is a real short non-detachable cord (about 1 foot long) that you can't do anything with. however there is a knockout where a plug would have been where the cord goes in but nothing else. checkout my pictures you'll see what i'm talking about

From all appearances, this product is of good quality and so far has met my expectations. However, it's hard to rate rechargeable batteries since their quality doesn't usually become evident many weeks or months after using them. Too bad Amazon doesn't allow one to provide additional ratings 6, 9, or 12 months after a purchase. - Rc - Tenergy - Battery Pack - Rc Car'


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Ink Tanks For The Cannon Mp 530 Printer - mx700, ink cartridge


I use these cartridges in my Canon MP970. I'm very happy with the printer and its years of good service and certainly have no complaints about the ink. The PGI 5 cartridge is larger and lasts longer than the other black cartridge in this printer. Quality has been good.



Several times I've used generic black cartridges bought from Databazaar. The cartridges are half the price of the Canons and results have been satisfactory, though the Canon inks are noticeably better.

I've also noticed that though they are the same size, the Canon cartridges do last longer than the generic types.



The ink cartridges are easy to install and easy to remove. Usually they last many weeks after the blinking warning of low ink appears on my monitor. I use them until the very end when they are totally empty. Canon PGI-5 Pigment Black Ink Tank

Where I live the sales tax is 9.2% - OUTRAGEOUS. Local government wastes so much money on their opulent city hall, crazy retirement plans, and other programs. I like to buy from Amazon just to avoid paying the sales tax, its kin of my way of protesting goverment waste!!! And besides, this is a way better price than any of the local office supply stores.

I have found that G&G ink carts are the best of the alternatives to Canon that I have tried. However, I ultimately come back to the genuine Canon ink carts. The PGBK-5 is no exception. The Canon item is expensive, but it always looks crisp, installs cleanly, and never dirties up the printer.



A word about sources. I buy my Canon cartridges from various sources, usually based on price. This time I tried an "Amazon fulfilled" supplier. It was not a good experience. Amazon had problems with a perfectly good credit card and the shipping was slow after that was resolved. The problem with Amazon fulfilled, as opposed to supplier fulfilled, is that you can only leave packaging feedback. This is the only place I could find to relate that experinece. There are better options.

Like all printer manufacturers, Canon almost gives away it's basic printers and makes a bundle on the ink. Pretty much like Gillette giving away a free Fusion razor and picking your pocket when you go to buy the cartridges at $4 a pop.



That's just the way that it is and it makes no difference if you buy Canon, HP or Epson. Whether or not the "generic" ink cartridges are detrimental to the print head is something that only the user can determine. Personally, I've stuck with Canon but I'm not totally convinced that its own brand is any better than the no-name brands that are available for half the price.



With that said, I do have to admit that I've used Canon printers for about ten years and have never had a clogged print head using their brand of ink. Would I have been as fortunate using another brand? I really have no idea. - Mx700 - Ink Cartridge - Canon Mp500 - Cannon Ink'


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Great - piece


Pros:

1. great looking watch at a reasonable cost.

2. simple but noticable.

3. light weight.

4. the date and the time can be adjusted seperately so you dont have to turn the dial a full 24hrs to change the date.



Cons:

I will let you know when i find something. Baume & Mercier Men's 8780 Riviera Divers Rubber Watch

Recieved this watch today. Bought at 6:30pm friday, was on my doorstep at 10:30amo saturday morning with freeshipping.



Beautiful watch. Not light but not heavy, just weighty enough. Sporty casual buy classy enough for me to wear with a suit and tie.



Interesting thing about the price of this watch. I have heard this but never experienced it....i viewed this watch many times on amazon over the last two weeks. After a week and an unknown number of page views of this watch, the price dropped by $200. Made it very tempting but i still did not buy it. A week later, the price dropped another $100. So $300 lower in price in about two weeks. So i bought it.



Just came bqck to the page and it is back to the original price $300 more than i just purchased for. I had never placed it in my cart before i decided to buy it. Too bad they didnt drop the price of the chrono riviera, i wou,d have bought that instead.



So, if you have time and te item is somewhat expensive, keep viewing on amazon and they will drop tje price to tempt you to buy. I saved $300. - Piece'


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17 Inch Laptop Bag For Women - laptop tote, travel


After hunting around online for about a week, I have finally found a great tote bag for my 15" Macbook Pro! There is plenty of space in the bag for files and textbooks. The pockets on the outside of the bag comes in very handy for a cellphone. There is even a latch inside for keys, so they don't get lost in the bag.

The only complaint I have for the bag is the lack of padding for a my laptop. The laptop divider is only a thin material. But this isn't something a laptop sleeve cannot solve.

Overall, this it a great size bag for the amount of stuff you can fit and especially for a 15" laptop. I'm 4'11 and I don't find this bag overwhelming like most laptop bags. JanSport Ella Tote (Black Cabesa Blue Perry Plaid)

I thought this tote looked like it would suit my needs when I saw it online, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was even better than I thought when it arrived. I love how much I can carry while keeping everything organized. My previous tote did not have any small compartments, and I was always losing my keys, ID badge, pens, etc. Now, everything has a place. The bag is large enough to carry everything, but not too ridiculous in size. I did not buy it with the intention of carrying my laptop, but I would probably place my laptop in an additional padded cover if I used this bag to carry it. There is not much padding in the laptop compartment. The water bottle pocket is on the outside so if I ever have a leak, my books/papers are protected. The zipper across the top of the tote is nice and keeps things in place. It is well manufactured and not "cheap" in any way. The clasps and zippers are metal (not plastic). I am beyond happy with this purchase and would highly recommend it.

i love this back pack omg its just the best thing.. ive always enjoyed jansport but this one is just great the colors they have the size the extra pockets inside.. its just the right size and i can fit all my books mini laptop papers and just about all my crap in their and theirs still room for more.. i just love it

This tote comes in awesome patterns and black too of course.

Its the perfect size and shape w/plenty of correct sized pockets to be used as an Airline Carry-on or even to carry around as a Purse/Diaper Bag combo for the mom with a toddler that wants to branch out to a bag more "HER".

LOVE THE POCKETS! Handles are great for carrying in hand or on shoulder.

I love this bag. I bought it originally as a "toddler bag" to transition from my huge diaper bag & liked it so much, I ended up buying a second one (in another color) for my work bag. I love the outside pockets - easy to access, but still secure to hold my keys, cellphone & iTouch. The inside is very spacious, but not bulky. It fits my laptop, plus tons of paperwork & it's comfortable to carry. It's a functional bag that's appealing to look at.

I bought this tote because I was looking for a decent looking bag that would be able to handle all my books, laptop, and work stuff. I have torn the straps off at leasat two bags because my books and laptop are heavy. It holds up extremely well. I can throw everything in and just go without worrying a strap is going to pop on me.

its a very cute bag, its the perfect size, and its comfortable to carry around. I placed 4 notebooks and my 13' laptop into the bag and it doesn't feel overly heavy. I am definitely glad I purchased it and it arrived remarkable fast I placed my order on the 4th and received it on the 6th. I thought the red and stripes would be over whelming but it actually looks cute in person. Thanks great buy! - Travel - Women - Laptop Tote - Bag'


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17 Inch Laptop Bag For Women - laptop tote, travel bag 17 Inch Laptop Bag For Women - laptop tote, travel

Eye Glasses Repair Kit - eye glasses repair kit, glasses repair kit


Bought 6 of these for $.69 each. One for the truck, car, house, office, backpack and travel trailer. PERFECT. Received them as quickly as I would with Amazon Prime. Great price, great shipping. Thank you will buy from this vendor again! SE Eyeglass Repair Kit, Compact Boxed

Seventy-Nine cents PLUS Shipping. This product isn't worth nine cents. This was quite possibly the most rediculous thing that I have ever purchased. I actually laughed out loud when I opened the package. The nose pads are a piece of foam with a sticky side. What is the sticky side suppose to stick to??? - Eyeglasses - Eye Glasses Repair Kit - Repair Kits - Glasses Repair Kit'


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Pocket T-shirt


I am a big man and it is difficult to find t-shirts that fit properly and feel good. Most shirts I have tried in the past have e tendacy to ride up and expose the pot belly we large men usually have, these shirts are long enough to not have that problem. I grade them A+++++. Dickies Men's 2-Pack Short Sleeve Pocket T-Shirts, White, Large

Dickies brand has been a long-time favorite for us. My husband LOVES these T-shirts and rather than traipse from one store to another only "hoping" to find them for him, I ordered them from Amazon.com. These are 99% cotton; seemingly hugely oversized to begin with, but they will shrink ... as with any product made with a high percentage of cotton. After the first washing/drying, these fit my husband perfectly.

As always, service from Amazon was great and the package arrived sooner than expected.

These are basically my favorite shirts on earth. I still have some from ten years ago that hold up great for what they're made for.



But some time in the last few years, Dickies pocket T's (and only the short-sleeved ones as far as I can tell) have become vastly oversized. I have some larges from a couple of years ago that fit me perfectly, as well as some mediums that are now a little too small, so recently I ordered several pairs of large pocket Ts in different colors. They were so huge it was ridiculous, and pre-shrunk so no amount of hot water and dryers would do anything to them (believe me, I tried).



Seriously huge in every dimension: chest, sleeve length, overall length. I could gain 50 pounds and four inches in height and they might fit me right. This was the case with all three packs of shirts, all in different colors, so it wasn't just an isolated mislabeling. I don't know if this is a commentary on the obesity of Americans or a shifting customer base that prefers to dress like gangster toddlers or what. Dickies calls this a "generous fit," but for as much as I love a good cheeseburger, I don't need quite that much generosity. I sent them back for mediums and we'll see how those do.



What's weird is at the same time I bought several other Dickies shirts (button up and long-sleeve pocket Ts) and they fit fine in the appropriate size, just like the old ones did. So watch out with the sizing on the pocket T's and if it's been a few years since you bought them but you know you like them, try a size smaller than what used to work.

I've been buying these tee shirts for years. They are longer than most other brands which I like. I notice now that my old ones---some two years old now---have shrunk some with repeated washings as compared to the new but still fit just fine. You get your moneys worth with Dickies tee shirts.

where i work we have to wear all white and i love the dickies tshirts they wear well for quite a few years well i needed new ones and i could only find 1 in the store i went to a friend of mying told me to try and find them on line im so glad i did they are great thankyou!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep, agree with others on the oversizing BUT I don't see it as a problem. so many manufacturers are short changing the customer by skimping on fabric quality and size. These shirts will easily outlast most if not all others and they are REALLY pre-shrunk.'


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Best Of The Best - micro-dermabras, skin care


The newer face towelettes that are already wet have too many strange things in them and they make my face break out. The Olay 2-in-1 is a simple cloth that you have to wet, but it cleanses and exfoliates very well without additional ingredients that may cause problems for sensitive skin. I've used them for several years. Olay 2-in-1 Normal Daily Facial Cloths, 66-Count

I received samples of these a few years ago and have been using them ever since. I use some other facial cleansers as well, but these are my to go to product for removing eye make-up and for when I travel. You can skip the toner for sure. All you need is these wipes and a moisturizer and your good to go.

I typically don't wear face make-up, but my face just doesn't feel clean w/o using them every night before going to bed. 1 side is a little rougher [like a washcloth] than the other side. Even removes eye make-up, ie waterproof mascara, w/o rubbing too hard.

The Olay facial cloths are soft yet sturdy enough to allow you to really clean your face - all you do is wet them. You don't have to worry about the package drying out since they're dry to start with, but if you don't have access to water, this wouldn't be the cloth to have. And, after using one on my face, I can rinse it out and use it to do a quick wipe up around the sink! Delivery was fast, packaging was fine, cost is good - sometimes you can find it a little cheaper on a special deal at a local store, but not often.

I started using these after one of my favorite beauty gurus on youtube said she had been using them for years. I had been using scrubs to slough off dead skin, but it was irritating my skin and making it worse. Dry skin needs to be exfoliated to keep the dead skin from clogging your pores and making your complexion dull. Anyway, these cloth wipes ended up being perfect!! They are totally gentle on your face and I can even get the soap in my eyes and it does not sting. I thought maybe I should use the ones made for sensitive skin, but these were fine. There is soap already on the cloths, so just add water and scrub :) They really made my skin soft and helped calm redness (which I suspect came from the harsh scrubs I had been using). My face didn't feel uncomfortably tight after washing, but I always apply a moisturizer anyway. Buying the 2 pack was cheaper and I run out of these all the time, so it worked out buying them online. Overall, these are great for my dry skin and they are really convenient for when I'm feeling lazy or tired. Definitely give em' a try! - Skin Care - Olay Pro-x - Cleansers - Micro-dermabras'


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Best Of The Best - micro-dermabras, skin care cleansers Best Of The Best - micro-dermabras, skin care

Amazon Kindle Fire - fire, tablet


The boat cover fit fairly well on the Bayliner. There were two problems. The cover did not fit over the the deck on the back of the boat. The second problem was the straps that hold the cover on. They were not the quality we expected with the fine quality of the cover itself. VORTEX HEAVY DUTY VHULL FISH SKI RUNABOUT COVER FOR 17 18 19' BOAT, BEST AVAILABLE COVER BLUE

The cover is a light cover, it is descent. It does not fit like a customer one, it was tight on the bow, but got looser tward the stern. It does fit ok, and included straps to hold it to the trailer. For the price, great cover.

Heavy-Duty boat cover at an affordable price. Boat covers are one of those items that "you get what you pay for." That being said, this is still a great price for an above-average cover that should last for many years. Thanks for the service!

The cover material is fairly light compared to the more expensive covers I've purchased in the past. Will have to see how it holds up. Considering the price if I get 3 to 4 years out of it I will be satisfied. The fit is fairly good. My boat is 18' and I have two upright poles to keep the tension sufficient to avoid water puddling.

I don't have a ton of experience with boats and covers, but so far it seems to be a good cover. It fits my 19' 88 bayliner capri bowrider better than I could expect. I read a lot of reviews that complained that the straps were confusing. I figured out what works for me just fine. I haven't trailored with it on, but I'd rather not. It keeps the rain and debri out. I may try to find a way to scotch guard it as it does sweat through in the rain, but the vast vast majority runs off. Good cover for the price. Go ahead a buy it. No Worries. - Android - Tablet - Fire - Kindle Fire'


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Air Duster - respirator, masks


I make a lot of dust in my woodworking shop and am careful to ALWAYS wear a dust mask. Once you develop a wood allergy, it never goes away so I am very careful to use this mask.

First, if you are going to wear a mask all the time, it has to be comfortable. The #8511 is soft and with the adjustable nose-fit feature, it conforms snugly to the contours of my face. The two elastic straps provide snug but not over-tight contact and, with a little care, I get a close enough fit so that my exhalations do not fog up my safety glasses. The masks are durable and I typically can wear one all day, every day for several weeks (as long as I don't sneeze while wearing it!).

The masks appear to effectively remove even fine sanding dust as the inside remains clean and I have developed no allergies after many years of usage.

Thanks for another fine product 3M!

ROD 3M 8511 Particulate Sanding Respirator N95 with Valve, 10-Pack

I purchased the respirator for general use around the house. Recently I used one of the masks while trimming a tall privet hedge. The hedge is usually loaded with pollen,dust,etc.. The mask kept out the dust and the vent prevented my glasses from fogging. This is a good general use mask for average jobs around the home.

This is a great mask for cleaning and other household chores. I've used this mask in dusty environments. It was also useful when my neighbors were remodeling their house and the dust was coming into our house. These masks are also good for wildfire ash. The valve makes this mask much easier to breathe through. The metal band for the nose is very sturdy. The only problem I had was that the mask was a little large for my face.

During construction demolition it's important to protect your lungs from inhaling dust. I do a lot of demo and found the 3M 8511 Particle Sanding Respirator to be the best dust mask for the job. The straps remain firmly attached and the one way valve helps with exhalation and to keep glasses from fogging up. Once you pinch the metal nose clip you achieve a solid seal that keeps dust out. If you're working in extremely dusty conditions be sure to change masks once a day. Watch the Amazon site and pick up on deals of 3 or 4 10 packs of these masks. They are very affordable.



I've tried the Moldex - 2300 N95 Respirator and had about 20% of the straps snap off as I tried to pull it over my head for the first time. Don't waste your money with the Moldex respirators.



9-22-09 Just reordered another 30 masks that will make a total of 80. Still very satisfied and wouldn't order any other brand.

Good construction, the exhalation valve works as advertised to reduce condensation from respiration. My only complain is that the respirator is a little too big for my medium size face, thus it is uncomfortable to wear glasses with the respirator.

Four stars because of the oversize issue, I wish there were a smaller size for 3M 8511, that would be perfect for me and I would give five stars.

Like many a cheap turkey, I used the ulta-cheap dust masks when chopping leaves, sanding, or what have you. They sort of worked, caused my glasses to fog in 2.4 seconds, and afterwards I'd hack up dust and gunk a bit. After one particularly vile session of hacking and coughing, I thought that perhaps my lungs might be worth spending another $1.10 per mask.



Wow. The difference between these and the charlie-cheapos is huge. I wore one of these while leaves with the leaf blower until my clothes were brown with dust. It was about 3 hours of work, and as I say by the end I was just brown and covered with dust. Normally I'd spend the rest of the day wheezing and hacking and spitting, but with this mask I didn't cough once. Not once. No wheezing, no hacking, no nothing.



The valve makes it much easier to breathe and greatly reduces the fogging of your glasses. I have a massive head (98 percentile my son's pediatrician told me after realizing that perhaps there's a genetic component to my kid's big melon) and I didn't feel the straps are too tight. They are snug, but you need that for a good seal around your mouth and nose.



This is a great product. Buy it. Your lungs and sinuses will thank you. - Masks - Respirator - 3m - Dust'


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