Monday, 14 December 2009
Camping Stove - grill, camping
I bought this stove/grill on sale at a Target store to replace my old liquid fuel stove in time for camping season this past summer. It came with the instastart ignition although it doesn't say so in the Amazon product description. The product picture shows the little red igniter button near the center of the stove front. The grill is an excellent design option allowing for grilling steaks, hot dogs, burgers, sausages, etc., which I do frequently now. The Instastart ignition has worked flawlessly so far.
Propane bottles win hands-down over liquid fuel tanks (no more having to pump the darn thing all the time). The bottles are cheap and with normal use, last through a three-meal day, no problem! I usually get a meal or two the next day, since lunches are typically cold... sandwiches, salads, etc. Most of the time we are away from the camp site at lunch time anyway. I always bring a 'bottle-a-day plus one' to be on the safe side and usually bring a bottle or two home for the next trip (depending on the length of the outting and how much cooking). I can usually find the bottles on sale through the year for just over a buck in the 'big' department stores and load up on them. As far as I can tell, the claim of an even, continuous gas flow is true (high or low)... just like using a gas range at home. Clean up is easy and the grease trap underneath the unit catches all that fat dripping from those New York strip steaks. Two or three strip steaks will fill that grease trap reservoir to the brim, so don't forget to empty it before grilling again. The long grill burner also heats that 10 or 12 inch fry pan across the bottom quickly for bacon, eggs, etc. The grill itself will take some scrubbing when you get home if you have been grilling steaks.
If you're looking to replace that old liquid fuel stove, do yourself a favor and get this unit, you won't be sorry. Coleman PerfectFlow Insta Start Grill Stove
I was a little hesitant to buy this grill, but I was proven wrong. This is grill is great. I made hamburgers and was dreading the clean-up and boy was I suprised at how easy it was to clean. I just wiped the bottom out with paper towel and that was it. The grill cooks evenly and quickly. I am so excited to go camping next year.
The grill (or at least the one I have) seems to only be adjustable in a small range right near the turn off point for the propane. Beyond that it just stays at full for probably 7/8 of the dial. With a fine touch you can get it to the flame level you desire though.
And that's what I use this Coleman Stove/Grill for, an "Outdoor Kitchen Combo". I tried to purchase this several times from Amazon and when they lowered the price, I was on the road and couldn't place the order. Then when I was able to order it the price went back to $99.99. So, I went to Target and picked it up for $89.99, and today I notice Amazon has it for less than $88.00 :-) Regardless, wherever you purchase it from, this stove/grill is the BEST! I've had it a week now, and I've used it everyday approximately 2x a day. I'm a fulltime RVer, and its too HOT to heat up a kitchen to make breakfast and dinner, so I've used this for cooking 2 meals a day for the last week. I LOVE the INSTASTART function, and it works on the first try, and the flame is even all the way around on both burners and cooks evenly. I noticed that there were two "Red" models made, starting in 2008, and I picked up the one made in 2009 which is Model Number 2000003733, which appears to be the one on this site. But the other red one had a model number starting with a number 4 I believe if you decide to buy one elsewhere. Afte a week, I'm still on my original propane bottle, and I make coffee twice a day too in addition to the meals. I basically store paper plates/utensils and everything I need to cook outside except the food and clean up is a breeze! I keep foil on the bottom of the stove just in case, but its so easy to clean up. I purchased the separate "Griddle" too and I use that for pancakes, eggs etc. The griddle unfortunately is a little taller than the "grill" insert, so you can't close the top with the griddle insert inside. I keep the griddle insert inside of a laptop neoprene sleeve that I purchased from Target this week for $5.00. I also purchased the travel/storage bag for the entire grill/stove which fits just fine and holds the extra griddle too. Also, this unit has a 5 year warranty, which is 2 more years than Coleman's regular 2 burner stoves. Also, what I really LIKE about the Grill function is that you don't have those big flareups like with regular charcoal and propane grills, and you don't have dripping all over the ground or table where it is sitting. I love this grill/stove. Thank you Coleman! I recommend this purchase!
I've had this grill for several years now (I bought it when Coleman was still making it in the red color,) and absolutely love it. My family is small (2 adults, 1 child,) so the small grilling surface size has not been a problem for us. We've cooked steaks, burgers, hot dogs, sausages, and fish on it. All were cooked in a reasonable amount of time. Now that the grill is older, my instastart isn't quite as instant as it was in the beginning, but I'm still satisfied that it works as it should. 90% of the time it requires only one button press to ignite. Boiling water will take you a little extra time (this is not a JetBoil, afterall,) but keeping the wind screens up and cooking all the food at once seems to help. I bought the griddle that goes with it so we can also make pancakes, french toast, and eggs. One reviewer commented on the difficulty of making low adjustments to the flame without shutting the grill off entirely. It is tricky at first, but with a light touch and a little patience you can learn where the "sweet spot" is on the dials for low flame. The propane connector fits nicely under the grill for storage and clean up is no different than any other portable grill. By the end our camping trips, it's usually quite sloppy and ready for a good cleaning at home. I like the under-the-unit grease catcher; that helps to keep home clean up a little less messy. Overall, this has been a great addition to our camping trips. We recently upgraded from a tent to a popup and I wondered if I would need my little grill with all the extras that came with my new pup. I'm so glad I didn't leave it behind on our first trip this season. A camp stove inside a pup is a nice luxury on a rainy day, but nothing beats grilling and cooking outside under the trees. This little grill/stove is a winner. - Camping Stoves - Grill - Camping - Camping Stove'
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Battery Aa Rechargeable
I ordered the batteries for my phone because I thought that I was getting the Panasonic Brand at a great price. What I got was a "generic" which I had to pay to return.
I find it difficult to find this specific battery - Panasonic Brand - at any stores. For the cost that you would pay for 8 of these real Panasonic batteries - you could buy a new 4 phone system. Panasonic NiMH AAA Rechargeable Battery for Cordless Phones (HHR-4DPA/2B)
I purchased this bet of batteries thinking, "What a Great deal!" I was let down when I opened the box and discovered a cheap Chinese knock-off. You know hte old saying "If it looks too good to be true, then it probably is too good to be true. This applies to this set of batteries. They do work in the phone but they aren't as advertised. You be the judge!
Dr...
As many other reviewers have found out: depending on from which vendor you order those Panasonic NiMH AAA Rechargeable Battery for Cordless Phones, you may receive either the genuine Panasonic brand, or some off-brand substitutes. Neither outcome is a good deal in my opinion. Allow me to explain...
Check the battery compartment of your Panasonic cordless phone (for example, the Panasonic KX-TG1062M DECT 6.0 Cordless/Corded Phone). If you see just two loose AAA cells instead of a battery pack, you're in luck! You can put any AAA rechargeable NiMH cells in there, and the phone won't know the difference. When the handset is placed into the charging cradle, the charger won't know the difference either. So it will just continue to charge the batteries at a low current (around 50mA). As long as your replacement batteries have capacity equal or higher than the original batteries, you are good to go.
That said, I highly recommend getting some good-quality LSD (Low-Self-Discharge, also known as 'Pre-Charged') rechargeable batteries, instead of either genuine Panasonic brand or off-brand rechargeable batteries. This is because:
1. Genuine Panasonic batteries have capacities of 550-650mAh, which is very low by today's standard for AAA rechargeable NiMH cells. Also note that Panasonic is not a battery manufacturer. So those 'Panasonic' batteries are just rebranded cells from some unknown battery maker.
2. Off-brand batteries advertise higher capacities such as '1000mAh', but they usually suffer from rapid self-discharge problem. That means if you leave the handset outside the cradle for just a few days, the batteries will be dead due to self-discharge.
3. LSD batteries are pre-charged from the factory, and they are ready to use right out of the package. That means you can start using your phone with those batteries right away, instead of having to charge the handset for several hours before testing.
As of this writing, you can set a set of 4 good-quality LSD cells for about the same price as just two of those 'Panasonic' batteries. Consider, for examples:
- Sanyo eneloop AAA Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries (800mAh)
- Rayovac Hybrid - Battery 4 x AAA NiMH (800mAh)
- GP ReCyko AAA Rechargeable Batteries Pre-Charged (850mAh)
- Tenergy Centura AAA Low Self-Discharge NiMH Rechargeable Batteries (850mAh)
All those batteries above offer higher capacity than the original Panasonic batteries. Furthermore, you get batteries with known quality, instead of trying your luck. That may be more important than cost-saving alone.
I just ordered and received these a couple of weeks ago, they are exactly as pictured on the product page, the same Panasonic batteries that came with the new phone. For whatever reason, it looks like the company switched as of this year, as it looks like most or all of the 2010 reviews are saying that the Panasonic brand batteries are what they got.
When i needed new batteries for one of my phones, i looked on Amazon, found these batteries, read a few reviews and only saw reviews saying that the off brand batteries were received. Those who got the off brand and kept them did not mention any problems with them, and since i needed the batteries and didn't have time to shop around locally for them, and because i think most things like batteries are probably made in China anyway, including the brand name ones, i went ahead and ordered some, expecting them to be OK either way.
What i received were the Panasonic batteries as pictured. They are working fine so far.
I ordered these to replace the rechargeable AAA batteries in my Panasonic phones. I had read reviews of previous purchasers who said even though the batteries worked they were NOT Panasonic branded. As far as I can tell, the ones I received ARE Panasonic branded and appear to work great. Thanks Amazon, You're my best friend.
I bought what I thought were a pack of 4 but it was only a pack of 2. They did not have a picture of the prduct otherwise I would have seen it was only two. Sony's similar product comes in a pack of 4 and is only .14 cents more.
Suggest Duracell AAA "precharged" rechargeable batteries:
Our Panasonic original batteries (the ones that came with the phone) died quickly in one of our phones (the other phone is doing ok). I'm sure the manufacturer would not recommend this, and you'd have to try it at your own risk, but we tried Duracell AAA "precharged" rechargeable batteries (these hold their charge for months) and so far they've been working great! Nice thing is you can get these at most any store. We just let them charge in the phone charger (e.g. we do not take them out to charge them separately in a Duracell charger) and they've been fine so far.
This saved us hunting around for "Panasonic specific" batteries, hoping the were good quality, etc.'
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Shipping Labels
I had used the Avery brand shipping labels before at $40 for 200 Labels. I found these and they do the same job for [...] including shipping. They don't appear to be the same thickness / quality as the avery ones. But for a 74% reduction in price, I'll take it. After all, I'm not keeping them. I'm mailing each one out to someone else, and that person isn't buying the label, they're buying what is in the package. In the end, the package gets to it's destination cheaper. 200 Shipping Labels White Blank Half Page Self Adhesive for Laser Inkjet Printer
This listing is full of large resellers who use Amazon shipping service to entice buyers to them. Then they ship you out generic half sheet labels and not what is pictured. I purchased this item in Dec. 2010 and got a product that matched the picture with easy to peel labels that worked great and didn't stick in my printer.
The most recent pack from value mailer was a generic knockoff that does not have easy peel labels and sticks in my printer often.
Be wary of this listing.
I purchased a bundle of these last month & they were CRAP! The edges were all curled up and the bundle had been crammed into a priority mail envelope. It was literally busting out of the seams and half damaged. Due to the edges being so curled, I had to manually feed them one label at a time and they constantly caught in the printer. What wasn't damaged when it arrived, became damaged in my printer after jamming.
After becoming so fed up with them, I attempted to order more...I thought I was ordering something different, but actually, it was the EXACT same listing I purchased from the first time. When they arrived they were in an Amazon box; I opened them just to check & they are completely different labels than I received the first time. They are perfectly straight and print like a dream! Labels stick well and have had no issues with labels peeling off of mailing envelopes. I threw out what was left of the others immediately! The good shipment came from "FantasyBuy" and is fullfilled by Amazon. The crappy shipment came from "RoyalMailers".
I suggest finding a seller with good product and sticking with them - otherwise, you could be the guy stuck with 800 bad labels!!
**ADDED**
FantasyBuy has not had product & ordered from VineBranch & Value Mailers with success.
I use these labels for Internet shipping and they work great. They adhere well to both Kraft and poly envelopes, and as another reviewer mentioned, the sheets are strong enough to feed through the printer twice. Haven't had a problem with them yet, and they're so much more convenient than printing on plain paper and taping. Highly recommended!
I've ordered these labels many times without a problem, but in the last month they have changed their supplier it seems. The junk that they are selling now is a much cheaper product than their original labels were.
The old labels had rounded corners and a firm backing they loaded and printed without any problems and their new labels have square corners and very a thin backing. I would have never considered changing who I ordered my labels from until the last two unusable orders that I have received from them. I only ordered the last batch because I thought that they may have gotten a bad batch of labels from their supplier.
That brings me to the new (inferior) labels that they are selling now. The last two orders that I have received from them, one last month and another today, which I have returned to Amazon arrived with the top and bottom edges curled in the packaging. The backing is very thin and flimsy and doesn't support the labels, they curl up even more if left in the sheet feeder overnight.
I had never had loading problems in the past and with their new labels I have nothing but loading problems and jams making these labels unusable.
The backing on this paper is so thin that as soon as you peel the first label off the printer (or at least my printer) jams when passing it through for the second time. Would NOT buy again. Look for the label with the yellow backing. Stay away from these
You do not get the same label everytime you order. First order of labels were excellent quality, so I ordered 2 packages this time. What I received this time were of a much much much cheaper quality with slightly different label dimensions and the corners of the labels are all bent and the cheap backing curls. They are repeatedly jamming the printer. Will not risk buying these again!
Not good. I usually buy the Avery shipping labels. Based on the reviews here I was excited to try these. Nope. They are really thin. They curl on the ends so the jam in my printer. I have tried both the manual feed and the automated feed. My printer is brand new and is designed for office use.
I do not recommend. I am now in the process of trying to return them.'
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Perry Ellis - wool, peacoat
I have two of these pea coats from Alpha. I'm 5'11", 190 lbs with a 42" chest. Given those measurement and going by the sizing chart you'd order a size L (Large). The Large I received was too tight for me so I gave that one to my son. He usually wears a Medium. It fits him well and he loves it. The XL fits me perfectly except for the arm length which I've shortened by about 2 inches (FYI I usually wear shirts with a sleeve length of 34). Overall the coat seems to be well crafted using high quality material and workmanship. Bottom line, order a size larger than you normally wear. Why 4 stars instead of 5? Because I feel Alpha should change its sizing to be mor inline with traditional specs. Usn Pea Coat Rev (Black/2XL)
Good quality pea coat, only thing I had to do was to re-stitch the buttons, they had become loose after about two weeks of wear. Not a big problem, just a bit of a nuisance. After fixing buttons no problems what so ever. Jacket kept me warm through the cold spells this past winter. Overall, a good quality jacket.
This coat was a pleasant surprise as I have yet to find a coat to fit my odd frame of 5'5" and 200 lbs.(164.6 cm and about 91kg for the rest of the world.) For the most part it manages to fit me quite well, aside from the sleeves,which are about 2-3 inches too long,but this is due to my arm length being atypical rather than the coat itself. I anticipated this would be the case and will have it altered soon. I do recommend the coat to others and find the other reviews to be mostly accurate. You will need to buy a size up from 'typical' sizes and if you have shorter arms,do expect to have the sleeves taken up a bit.
The peacoat did not fit my son and was returned. The quality of the coat was excellent.
I am still attempting to see if I received credit for return of the peacoat. Actually, the service receiving the peacoat was excellent. I am not sure if the return was completed satisfactory. - Peacoat - Wool - Perry Ellis'
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Stanley Hand Tools - measuring, 25
Standout is undoubtedly very important to save time when working by yourself. One IMPORTANT thing to know before you buy this quality measuring tape is that due to its heavy end clip and blade, it has a comparatively poor standout when measuring on its side (like when you're measuring siding, etc), and you'll measure sideways a large percentage of the time. The regular Stanley Fat Max tapes have a much longer standout on their side. I've also noticed that the sides of the blades seem to dent very easily, impairing smoothness. It makes me wonder about their durability. I love the new Bostitch tool line, but am going to stay with the Stanley Fat Max tapes. Bostitch 33-001 Bi-Material Tape with Blade Armour, 1-1/4-Inch by 25-Feet
Best tape ever, with a 13 foot stand out, and the large head it makes it easy to measure things on your own. Don't waste your time and money buying other tapes, even for a homeowner this tape would last you a lifetime.
*Professional contractor
For those of you looking for a great durable tape measure then look no futher....(Made it through a Afghanistan depoyment) Pretty much exactly like the stanley fat max (same blade dimessions, same everything). The extra large hook really comes in handy when working alone.... I like it and so will you..... - Measuring - 25 - Hand Tools - Lay Out Tools'
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Money Management
Wanting to save money is a no-brainer in today's economy - being able to do it, is another thing. Kathy Spencer does a great job of explaining how, when and why to get things at a great price and to "pay it forward" when you are able to score on great deals. I bought this book - actually 3 - one for me, one for a friend, and one for my mom (I really wanted to help them save more money) - has more than paid for itself I don't know how many times. I love going to stores now with a handful of coupons, a cartfull of groceries and I get to leave with a lot more in my pocket than I used to - and way more in my pantry. Thank you Kathy!! How to Shop for Free: Shopping Secrets for Smart Women Who Love to Get Something for Nothing
As a former Marine, a recently divorced dad of 2 with a full time job and an MBA, I have to say OOOORAH. This book is a "how to" on money management. It was written intentionally or not "Marine proof." That means that any person who can read this book can follow the script laid out for you by Kathy. It is an easy read with checklists, resources and / or "work it" exercises at the end of the chapters to get you in the thought process and attitude to find the deals. In my first week of reading this book I have already saved over $33.00 using the tools in the book. Now the book costs $[...], therefore I am still up $[...] (assuming I paid full price, I didn't, I had a coupon) if I never use another idea, coupon or strategy Kathy laid out in this book.
Yes, Kathy plugs her website in this book, but it is free to join; [...] and I hope this isn't the first time you have heard of it. If it is check it out. This book is a great compliment to the site and has now given me the additional knowledge I needed to maximize the resources provided on the site. This is a process and takes organization, knowledge and a little time each week. The good news is this book will show you how to get organized, where & how to get the knowledge and you just need to budget your time. I look forward to reading your "Hall of Fame" in the weeks to come.
For many years I have said I am going to start using coupons and always fell back into feeling that they were a waste of time and led you to spend more money than you would otherwise (buying products just because you had a coupon). My husband vehemently disagrees with that theory and has been what we thought was a faithful "coupon-er" for many years. We have just started reading "HOW TO SHOP FOR FREE" and are dumbfounded by just how much we DIDN'T know! He has already changed his style and is so deep into the book now, that I have just had to order another copy for myself! Not a problem, I know it will pay for itself and then some.
OK, I admit it. I'm a coupon fan. I've read books, I've read blogs, I've tried it myself. I've done well at couponing, I've gotten bored and fallen off the wagon and I've started again. Since I have read quite a few books and blogs about couponing and super couponing, there wasn't too much that I hadn't already heard about. But there are a few points I would like to make about this book (which was very fun to read!)
1. It was the only book I've read that listed examples outside of standard grocery stores (ie. Petsmart, clothing, etc). It was nice that she included these in her examples of 'free shopping.'
2. I liked her sales calendar that lets you know when to buy anything. I'd never heard of the Staples penny sale (I'll have to check that out) before, or the best month to buy bedding
3. Her websites and resources that she lists are excellent. I've already checked out a few of the websites mentioned.
4. Sometimes I think that these super couponers are just lucky in where they live. Kathy's grocery store doubles coupons up to $1. I've also read about the couponers with regular triple coupon days, allowable up to $.70. Mine (which is the only store in my area that doubles) only doubles up to $.40, and only 16 coupons at that. And my grocery stores, when running a CAT deal, never mark the products down by $3 (about 60% in some of her examples) AND give you the CATs. Usually our CAT deals are to get you to buy full price goods, or at least slightly marked down.
All in all, if you are used to the subject matter, there isn't too much new in here. But it is still a worthwhile read. It is entertaining, informative and motivating. I don't have time to dedicate 40 hours a week to couponing, but I am itching to get started again.
Kathy Spencer's book has been a page-turner. The things that I have learned in the 226 pages will stick with me forever. The advice, motivation, and words of encouragement make this book an enjoyable read. I cannot wait to put into practice the information I learned!
Annemarie Guertin
Kathy Spencer is a "Coupon Queen". She can dress her kids in designer duds for free, fill a grocery cart for $4 out of pocket and even get stores to pay her to buy things. She may be able to teach you to do these things to. In order to be a shopping Queen like Kathy you musth:
Be able to invest a great deal of time in researching deals, driving from store to store and reselling excess goods.
Live in an area that accepts double coupons and have several grocery stores within driving distance.
Have some extra cash to invest in buying goods to resell, purchase coupons in bluk an djump on clearance sales when they pop up.
If you don't have or can't spare those three things, then this book may not be for you. However, if you're willing to put in the effort, give up the time and risk the resources, you can be a shopping Queen like Kathy.
Kathy does provide a very detailed account of how she does what she does. Alot of it I already knew, but there were some things I learned that are worth the price of the book twice over. And if you're a total beginner to the frugal shopping lifestyle, this book could very well be you're new bible.'
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Project Runway - crafts, project runway
I purchased this for our 8y/o daughter for Christmas. She hasn't been given this, but I looked over the contents and it looks great. You receive a cute and sturdy tote with over 400 pieces! There are many different designer pages and TONS of stickers, plus colored pens and a CD that will let you do even more with your project! This will provide hours of fun and creativity at its best. If your child is creative and likes to do art projects or scrapbook this is perfect. I think any little girl would love this. Project Runway Fashion Magazine Editor Tote
This is a case of the packaging being much better than the product. The 'tote' is cardboard and very cheap - don't expect to get much use out of it. Inside, you'll find a couple of rules, blank paper, a CD with some clip art, and some stencils. Not a lot to get excited about. My daughter preferred the books much better over this 'kit'.
I bought this for my 7 year old daughter for Christmas. But I wound up letting her use it when she had 2 of her friends over for the day. This kept them busy for days. The fun continued when my daughter brought the kit to her friends house the next day. They created their own magazines without any help. They were so creative and funny it was great to flip through the pages and see what they came up with next. I think it is probably geared for girls a little older as my 7 year old loves to draw but is still about fun instead of serious. She cut out pictures from real magazines and added on into the books what the tote came with. Very cute product.
I purchased this as a gift for a nine-year-old girl and she loves it! There are a lot of accessories and an infinite number of ways to create your own magazines. The carrying tote is really cute and fashionable and is also a great way to carry your supplies to work on them at a friend's house! I rated it 4/5 stars because the glue was coming apart on the tote -an easy fix with a glue gun, however!
I bought this for my 10 year old here at amazon as my daughter is quite interested with drawing, designing and writing. I got this at a much lower price and thought it might be a good piece for her to work with & keep her creative juices flowing. I am pleased that it arrived on time. Its an "ok" tote for me and gave it 3 stars. My daughter likes it and has kept her busy since, however she & i felt that it didn't come with quality designs/materials (for the price) to work with in order to create a really nice magazine or at least something close to a glossy magazine
Tote includes the blank magazines, variety of stickers (clothes, shoes, make up and backgrounds) , markers, stencils, CD, and instructions on how to create your own magazine... I felt that the materials was something we can source on our own from craft and book stores.
On the other hand the carry tote is nice and a good size to carry and to keep all the materials. It might be good to combine this with project runway to create fashionable designs that you can include in the magazine.
Overall its an "Ok" Tote that enhances creativity.
I have 2 girls, ages 9 & 12. They got together with the neighbor girls and they made the magazine together. I'm not sure how long it took them but they were busy for a couple days. They did an excellent job with it, with different sections of a magazine (editor feature, quiz, and stories). They took pictures to add to it and each had their own section. I really don't know what was included in the kit but I do know that it kept them occupied and interested and they were very proud of the finished product. They enjoyed it so much that I am ordering a second one because they want to do a second edition! They enjoyed it as a group project. I would say you do need to be creative to make it fun. If you are looking for a "follow the directions" type of thing this is not it. I thought this was also the perfect age for this product, too much younger and they may not understand it's potential.
My oldest daughter (age 11) loves Project Runway,and was thrilled to get this as a gift. It is a very comprehensive package, with lots of activities and various projects to keep young 'fashion designers' busy. In addition, the set was very easy for her to use on her own and she needed very little assistance from mom. We are very happy with it and would highly recommend this to others!
Bought this for my daughter, after it taking 3 weeks, YES 3 WEEKS, to arrive it looks pretty cute even if it didn't make it in time for her birthday what so ever. It seems ok but not what we were expecting. It seems it would better for a little kid to just play and toss, like a coloring book type theory rather than something a 12yr old would use to make a real magazine type thing with. Disappointing for the price, disappointing for anyone over about 9, disappointing it took nearly a month to get here, disappointing all around. And the lady who keeps reporting this review and sending me threatening messages over it must be the seller, like it or not this is my review! - Fashion Design - Project Runway - Crafts - Designer'
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Acrylic Nails - buffer, manicure
I shouldn't have bothered getting this extra few bites when I bought my dremel, the dremel had all I needed now that it is here...and some (2) of these bites don't even fit into the socket. Too big and I feel cheated. MAXIM Pro Nail Drill 3/32" BITS Attachments Kit fits DREMEL KUPA
I like my drill set, It doesnt get much abuse but I have had no broken bits yet and everything fit as a standard in my nail drill so I am happy with it the case it came in also fits all my other bits I have so it makes life easier overall with everything. - Kits - Acrylic Nails - Buffer - Manicure'
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Cd Label Maker
Even if you use other labeling devices - I use Fellowes Neato - these labels are a steal at this price. The best part about these labels vs. the ones I used before is that they can be used for "full" or "partial" coverage. They have two perforated circles in the middle so you can punch out the small hole or the larger "neato sized" hole. This is not available on the more expensive neato labels I traditionally bought. So far I've used about 100 of these labels with no problems at all, I'm very happy with these labels. Memorex White CD Labels, Matte Finish. 300 Count (32020403)
I'm on my 4th package of 300 ct labels. Every label program I've used has a ready made template (Nero, CoverXP, etc.). The labels give the option of standard or full face labels ("big hole" or "little hole"). They have a matte flat finish as opposed to a slick, glossy finish. Consequently, they are better for text-intensive applications. Graphics do print beautifully. Those who intend to print photographic images best choose a glossy product.
These labels print nicely and were exactly what I expected for the price. The software that comes with the package is good enough for printing labels, although they don't print exactly as you see them on the monitor (there will be white space on the label if you don't overlap it in the software. Other than that, this is a decent pack of matte labels and you can't beat the price.
I have found, for the money spent, these are the best value. They have vibrant, full face printing, and I have always had a consistant batch. They peel easily, which is something I have found to be a problem with other brands. I haven't tried them all, but I have tried quite a few, and I always come back to these. I always find the best price thru amazon. I would definitely give them a try.
I've bought hundreds of Memorex labels and recognize the face and backing sheets. These labels have a slick back sheet, while real Memorex labels have a paper back sheet. That alone doesn't bother me, but these labels (which I now believe are cheap knockoffs) constantly jam my HP7500 printer. Most sheets fold over as they round the bend to the print head and stop there. If they make it any further, there is a good chance they won't make it into the hold down guides at the heads, which makes a real mess. About one in eight sheets actually made it through. Those that did, show inaccurate and inconsistent colors - much darker oranges that range from grayish to brown, not close to what consistently prints on real Memorex labels. After a lot of frustration, wasted sheets, and possibly damage to my printer, the very first real Memorex sheet fed through perfectly with accurate colors. All real labels and other paper types feed through just fine. Before ordering, I suggest you try to get a sample to see if these labels work for you. I accept this risk on eBay where sellers usually let you know when products are not genuine. However, Amazon sells these as the real thing. I'm very disappointed with Amazon (again).
These lables work great. I have used several different brands with my CD Stomper Pro program and sometimes certain brands do not stick or the printing looks shoddy. These stick very well to the CD/DVD's and the matte finish is great. I especially like the fact that you can print two different ways either close to the center hole or further away. I haven't used the labeling program very much as I am so used to the one I already have. All in all a great product for a great price with free shipping.
I consistently buy Memorex brand labels and this is the first time Amazon has falsely sent a knock off. The paper backing is not there, it is a thin slick back and the printing is awful. Does not come close to the clear, quality you get when you print on real Memorex labels. Shame on you Amazon! At least on eBay the sellers tell you when it is not the true brand. Instead you wrap these labels and insert them in a 300 plastic box!
I believe I have ordered on Amazon before but never again after these fake labels! You need to wake up!
The labels are a little thin and cannot be used right after printing.
The color fades over time.
But The product reproduces without any adjustment to my printer.
I have not had any that peels over time as many do.
I like the product. Would recommend it for reproducing images on labels.'
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Cd Label Maker Cd Label Maker Cd Label Maker
Heart Rate Monitor Women - heart rate monitor women, fitness
Hey folks, I just wanted to add a bit of information based on some comments I've read on other Polar devices: The FT4, based on my tests, IS water-resistant and should work great to help you track your stats as you swim laps. I'll update this once I've used it for a few more lap swims, but both the heart monitor you wear on your chest and the watch itself are sealed and won't immediately flood and ruin if you take it into the pool. Only thing is, you probably don't want to be pressing the buttons on the watch while you're under water, which may mean you have to stop and dry off if you want to take a break in the middle of your lap swim.
Update: I have now used my FT4 several times to track my lap swimming. It works great! Don't press the buttons while you're actually underwater, but I have had no trouble at all with the 'pause' or 'continue' functions at the end of the lap, even with wet fingers. Oh, and - you don't have to wet the chest band before you put it on if you're going to swim in it ;)
I have the same beef as others about the FT4 - you can't see all your workout stats at once while you work out - you have to press the bottom right-hand button to change the display to heart rate vs. calories vs. workout time or what have you, and you can't see your time while you're working out (you can once you're finished and you click STOP to end the workout session...at this point you also get your upper and average heart rates and your time in the zone. You can also hit 'Pause' to see your workout time.) Basically, this little gizmo does what it's designed to do. It does make a unique double-beep when you're in your heart rate zone, which I find helpful.
A couple other details: the FT4 has a user-serviceable battery (some other Polar models don't, which means you have to pay $$ and ship the device to Polar to change the battery.) The chest band is fabric, as opposed to the stiff plastic of other Polar models, also. You can buy software to download the information off your Polar, but the software is $80 and you need an infrared reader for your computer. I haven't really explored this, as I use the [...] website to track my info and I just copy it straight off the Polar without downloading.
My one complaint is the difference in calorie burn between the FT4, my Garmin Forerunner and my GoWearFit...who knows how many I'm actually burning...but I do have a little bit of a formula I can use to convert from one to the next...
Overall, I'd say this device is well worth the money, especially if you're just doing casual exercise without the need for a GPS or an all-day calorie tracker. I'll probably buy another one should the one I bought break or wear out. Polar FT4 Women's Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Bronze)
I have spent months looking for a heart rate monitor that would fit me comfortably, but still be pretty. This is it! I've decided to finally get off my big butt and start doing something healthy - walking or biking every day - but I wanted to be able to keep track of the time AND make sure I was working at the right heart rate. As someone who is really out of shape, I find that I might feel like I am really working hard, but my heart rate ends up being at the very low end, so I needed something that I could use to be sure my workouts are actually worth it.
This watch is very accurate and stylish. I also like that it tracks my calories burned and my previous workouts so I can see if I am getting healthier. I was worried that it wouldn't fit my wrist because it is a women's watch and they tend to run small, but this fits my 7 3/4" wrist with a little room to spare. The chest strap also fits and is super comfy! I am almost 300lbs (at the time of purchase) and the M/XXL strap that comes with this fit me just fine - again with room to spare. I don't even feel it once I get it on and start moving.
So, for you bigger girls out there who are looking for a rate monitor that will fit, be accurate and comfortable AND is pretty - get this one!
I'm new to heart rate monitors, so I had a lot of searching to do to figure out what I needed from one before I placed my order. I soon found that the Polar brand was the one to get, but they have hundreds of models, ranging from affordable to incredible. I know some will say this model doesn't have it all, but if you're looking for something to keep you informed of your progress in your exercise routine, this is really all you need. Tracking up to 10 sessions worth of data, but also keeping a running total, the watch can tell you how long you worked out, your average heart rate, maximum reached, and time in the zone, and from that, how many calories you burned. It beeps softly at you every 5 seconds or so when you're under the zone, and also tells you when you've exceeded your maximum. The display is really easy to read, even in the middle of vigorous training session. The watch in comfortable and easy to clean, as is the chest strap, which is fully adjustable. I have no complaints at all, and for the price, I'm extremely pleased. I only wish there was a way to download the training files from the watch to my computer, but a spreadsheet also works just fine.
So my trainer suggested I get a heart rate monitor watch, but for one, they were still pretty expensive at the time and truthfully, not all that attractive. I didn't want some huge thing on my wrist, nor did I necessarily want to advertise to the world what I was doing! I just wanted something small enough to blend in yet hopefully cute enough to do the job. Then lo and behold, this watch was introduced, and what a great deal! One thing is, I actually thought for some reason that the strap was kind of a metal...it doesn't make sense that it wouldn't be rubber or plastic, but the photos--at least to me--make it appear like metal. On to the review!
I actually bought this watch in March but only started using it last week. It does all the basic functions. I don't know about you guys, but my primary goal was to see if what I was doing at the gym was negating all the crap I consume during the day at work (although, I eat fairly healthy. It's the desk that kills you). I find it slightly interesting to see how my heart rate fluctuated when I wasn't working out. It literally jumped back and forth between sitting at the computer to walking briskly up the hill to my car, then it shot up 15 beats while sitting in rush-hour LA traffic (ha-ha).
You get used to the strap very quickly (although it would be nice to not have one at all...I don't like struggling with it in the locker room before a workout but whatever.) It's not like it bulges out underneath your clothing, which is great.
Anyway it's not going to compile your grocery list or babysit your children, but it's a handy little device that does just what it needs to do. Oh and setup is a breeze too...you don't even need the guide, really. - Calorie Counting - Fitness - Heart Monitor Watch - Heart Rate Monitor Women'
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Lithium Battery - lithium, lithium-ion
These batteries are a great value because they last a lot longer than other 18V batteries. I have crews using these tools for metal framing and such and the less time they spend getting down off of scaffolds looking for a charged battery, the more money I save. I personally used the 18V driver to install 18 sheets of Durock and I went thru over 300 fasteners on a single charge. I kept reaching for more fasteners wondering when the battery would go dead and it just kept on going. The 3 amp hour design is awesome. In this case, I say you get what you pay for...and maybe a little bit more. Makita BL 1830-2 18-Volt 3.0 AH Battery, 2-Pack
I have used a lot of different tools/batteries. These outlast all the guys at work who are using dewalt. The batteries actually make a cordless sawszaw a useful tool. Even my boss was impressed. The only draw back is they are not cheap, but you get what you pay for.
if clothes make the man these batteries make the tool. just don,t leave the battery in the tool when you put then in the bag that the tools came in. the sligest touch to the trigger and the lite stays on and the battery willl be drained when you go to use it.
These batteries are important if you own a makita li-ion set. With the supplied two batteries you have to switch a single battery among the tools you are using while the second battery is charging, agrhh. This was very annoying when you are trying to make money on the job site. Armed with four batteries you can run three tools while one is charging, now you can make money!
These along with any of the tools made by Makita are the best on the market. I have used Makita's 14.4 Nicd stuff for years and actually sold them to a buddy and he is still using and lovin them.
Thank you Makita keep up the good work.
I was using the much smaller 1.0ah batts that came with the tool, and they'd last less than an hour.
This 3.0ah is so much better and lasts for a good couple of hours (having 2 is also great). Plenty of torque, super-fast recharging time and THE CAPACITY TO GET THINGS DONE.
Also, the Lithium technology is far superior to NiCd (and even NiMh); smaller, lighter, no degrading capacity (memory) effect, stronger torque, faster recharge and longer lasting.
I purchased the 18 volt Makita Drill and Impact Driver with the 1.4mAH batteries. Due to the amount I use them at the same time I purchased two 3.0 mAH batteries and these batteries have significant improved capacity over the 1.4's. I would recommend spending the difference if you use these tools frequently.
We normally buy Dewalt cordless tools, but when we find deals, we will buy other brands and we figured we'd give the Makita's a try.
The pluses: these batteries do last longer between charges than the old Dewalts nicads we had. If we have 2 guys doing the same job, the Dewalt would lose its charge in 3 hours, while the Makita would last at least 3.5 hours doing the same job.
The downside...the batteries cost you more in the long run. They aren't cheap, and they do last longer between charges, but we seem to have to buy new replacement Makita batteries more often than we do for our Dewalt products.
So, these batteries are great in that they are probably the longest running 18v cordless batteries we have had for our tools, but in the long run we probably won't stick with them because they need to be replaced every 4-6 months (we use them everyday), while our 'other' branded batteries are lasting almost a year under the same workload.
Having gone through several batteries with DeWalt products, I decided to shop around and see if I could find a "better mouse trap". I purchased these extra batteries thinking that they would be on par with the DeWalt's. Boy was I wrong!!! The charge on these last a long time. I have a four man crew with two impact screw guns, a chordless sawzall and a heavy duty drill. We have five batteries total and one single charger. I cant think of a time that anyone of us was waiting on a "hot" battery! Very satisfied!
extra batteries simply make sense for a serious worker. the one or two which normaly come with a set will not keep you working indefinitely and being able to cycle through four means constantly having power. even if your buddy keeps borrowing your impact driver. - Lithium-ion - Battery Packs - Lithium Battery - Lithium'
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Converter - converter, pc
The converter worked, but not as intended. First, it supported resolution only up to 800x600 (did not support 1024x768 as claimed). Second, the TV image was shaking occasionally (once per 1-2 minutes). While 800x600 resolution was fine for watching movies, the shaking was not acceptable. As a result, I had to return the converter. Unfortunately, Sewell claimed the converter was OK and did not return the shipping and handling costs to me. I have a Fujitsu Lifebook notebook with an Intel video card (in case this information helps). Buy a more expensive converter with a power adapter (as opposed to power coming from a USB port). This is because a good effective video processing takes considerable power, which a USB port might not be able to provide. Sewell PC to TV (VGA to RCA) Converter
I needed a device that would allow our church to occasionally record the output of a computer rather than the camera feed that is normally recorded. The computer output is set to 1024 x 768 to match the projectors, so I needed a device that could at least handle that resolution. I also didn't want to spend too much money because this would only be needed occasionally and we don't require studio quality recordings. This device was easy to hook up and the output is very acceptable for an item at this price point. The unit has menu buttons that allow you to adjust the output of the device if needed and that works quite well.
Overall, I'm very happy with the way this item works, especially considering the price I paid. If you are considering this item, just remember to make sure the specifications indicate that it is capable of doing what you need it to do.
I use this to display karaoke words on HD screens (from a laptop to the TV). This product is very easy to use and requires no significant tech savvy, as long as you know the difference between an RCA (most TVs have one) and a VGA (computer monitor) plug. In my opinion, this is the best one you can buy because it's cheap, and for karaoke it cuts down on overhead. Also, works great for turning any TV into a second monitor for either a desktop or laptop. Everything you need is included (i.e. VGA cable, RCA cable, USB power cable, S-Video cable, and the converter itself). NOT OPTIMAL FOR RUNNING MOVIES FROM PC OR LAPTOP TO YOUR HDTV!! For that use a VGA to HDMI converter!!
I purchased this device to interconnect my MacBook Pro to a TV, previously I just borrowed my mom's Apple TV converter "My old ibook g3" but since Apple no longer is going to make those I had to find a alternative.
I am very happy with this device overall.
however there is one thing to note, other than the fact that down converting VGA resolution of 1024x768 down to 640x480 for a TV that is interlaced or to a flat-panel LCD or similar viewing medium. The quality is only as good as 640x480 interlaced.
I would classify this device is an entry-level medium quality converter.
Picture quality is almost equal to the Apple one however!
There is some lag but it's not too horrible, it's there i noticed it on my tube TV and a portable 5 inch LCD.
I move my mouse cursor up and down and it didn't move up and down as quickly as it did on my computer screen. this is due to the lag that it takes to process the video signal through this device, I have used other devices and I did not notice this problem before.
that being said this will work great with still photos, basic PowerPoint presentations "nothing moving real fast", and movies that don't have a lot of action in them. get the point no sports or fast action.
Other than the mouse cursor I didn't notice the lag very much while I was streaming Netflix movies, that is until the scenes started to move quickly.
but it Wasn't as bad as Netflix rebuffering.
now that that's out of the way I did buy another one of these for my church.
the primary use will be to display the PowerPoint "keynote" on a closed-circuit television network amongst four TVs.
We will have the occasional video clip however I don't see the lag being a very big problem right now.
and if you're wondering what my setup is at church.
the VGA out of four computers "Mac, Dell, my Mac, guest" gos into a basic four-port video switch "from cables to go Product #28750" into this device and that goes out to the projector via VGA.
and the composite of this device goes to a four-port video switch and selects between camera and computer which then goes to a VCR to output on channel 3.
I am a part-time DJ and VJ (Video Jockey) and had a problem when I switched to a new computer. It did not have a s video or RCA to plug in my video mixer, which I often like to use. I got this product today, and I tried it out and it worked like a charm. The claims of it not being as clear as VGA is somewhat true, but I tested with the music videos and it looked good and maybe a slight loss in quality, but not much. If you need this product for a specific reason like me, then this works. Text in smaller fonts are little blurry when I intitially was hooking it up, but the print under the videos looked fine because they were bigger.
Only got snowy shadows on TV when hook up. Read instructions carefully again and found the statement saying that (paraphrasing here!) I would need a 5(?) volt AC adopter to make it work. Do not expect to spend more $ to get it work - so still can't tell if it works at all with the "required" AC adopter.
My motivation for buying this product was to obtain quality transfer of video from my computer to my TV (with a small 14" display) at an affordable price. Amazon.com has a great selection of low price PC to TV converters. The Sewell PC to TV (VGA to RCA) Converter stuck out in particular due to its high customer rating.
I've been able to get quite good quality transfer of video with this product, especially for the price. My only disappointment is that this product does not preserve old settings when you power off/power on. For example, there are 8 display settings that the user has control over: horizontal size, vertical size, brightness, contrast, hue, saturation, flicker, and sharpness. In my case, the original image on my TV screen is acceptable... but does not quite match the display on my computer. I can adjust these settings to make the image substantially better, but if I power the unit off at any time... the next time I power the unit back on I am go back to the original mediocre image. For $25, though, keep in mind I am not complaining... just explaining!
One other thing to point out, TEXT does not display very clearly. However, images are still nice as described above. (And this is likely general to ALL PC to TV Converters)
On a final note, I HIGHLY recommend taking the time to read the information available for this product at Sewell Direct's website. Sewell Direct has an EXCELLENT explanation of this product, explanation of installation, and even images detailing the quality of the video transfer - all on their website. Absolutely one of the most helpful pieces of information that I found during my search.
Bottom line: Good quality at a GREAT price. - Pc To Tv - Pc - Converter - Tv'
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Battery Storage Unit - battery organizer, battery case
This is the best wedding or housewarming gift ever! It is unusual so you don't have to worry about them getting two of them (like a toaster or blender) and serves a need every household has ~ batteries. This allows ALL household batteries to be kept in one convenient place so they are there when you need them. I use it as a housewarming ot wedding gift, along with enough batteries to fill it. It makes a useable gift that they will keep0 and use for years! Awesome to have in your home as well. Range Kleen WKT4162 Battery Storage Rack
Okay, this thing is amazing. It holds batteries. And when I say it holds them, I mean, it holds them. I got two of them and I've never had such organized batteries. I don't really use the battery tester, but it seems to work okay. It's pretty easy to hang on the wall, but I bet it'd take up a ton of drawer space if you laid it flat.
Honestly though, half used batteries don't work for much, so stop keeping them you weirdos. :)
Best for laying flat in a drawer, can be mounted this on a wall so batteries stay put even though the battery slots are loose when a battery is put into them . When I say the batteries loosely fir in their slots, I mean very loosely fit but since there is a small angle downward in how the batteries slide in they should stay put. Additionally, you could also add some type of shim easily to the back side of the whole thing to increase the angle at which the batteries slide in to provide extra assurance that they won't slide out. Only reason I bring this up is that I live in earthquake country so most buyers elsewhere will not have this concern Still, I wouldn't mount this behind a cupboard door, it's easy to envision your floor being covered with as many batteries as had been put into the slots of this thing. Still worth it, good to have a central place to store batteries neatly and to have a handy tester ready at all times to make sure batteries are good.
Very convenient but some of the holes for the AA batteries are too small. The holes in the center horizontal row for the AA batteries are barely big enough to fit my Duracell/Energizer rechargeable batteries. The batteries fit but it is a really tight fit. All of the other holes for the all the other battery types are fine.
Handy item to keep a reasonable supply of your most needed batteries at the ready.
The tester is really useful especially for the rechargeable batteries.
Two of them mounted side by side works really well if you really go through the batteries!
The battery organizer/ charger arrived in 3 days and I found it to be of good quality. Very convenient slots for the batteries, and the tester was easy enough to use. I ordered a second one for my office. Ten bucks well spent!
I just put this up yesterday. The battery tester seems to work and is very easy to use. I have not tried to use any of the batteries that tested good (and weren't new) so I don't know if this is accurate yet. I do wish it held a few more of the larger button batteries. It holds two which is probably sufficient for most people. It holds three of the smaller button batteries. It holds eight 9 volts, several Ds, several Cs, many AA's and AAA's.
I would upgrade to five stars if I knew the battery tester was accurate.
My only wish is that it held more batteries. This is less an issue with the product and more because I buy batteries at Costco (think dozens of batteries per package). I still have to store my extras somewhere. - Battery Tester - Battery Storage - Battery Organizer - Battery Case'
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