Multifunction Printer

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I have used HP inkjet printers for many years and always found them to be of high quality and reliable. This is not the case with this printer. This printer constantly loses connectivity with my computer (it is connected with a USB cable). After approximately 48 hours of being plugged in the printer on/off button ceases to function. The only way to print is to uninstall the printer and then reinstall the printer after power cycling the printer. My first call to technical support was answered by someone in the Philippines who eventually forwarded me to a knowledgeable supervisor and that is how I learned about reinstalling the printer to make it work. My second call two weeks later was answered in India where the tech person was difficult to understand and obviously was not knowledgeable about the product. I spent quite some time waiting while she tried to find simple answers in her resource materials. Her supervisor was also not helpful other than elevating this issue to HP in the United States which was not open at the time. I have not yet received a return call from US Tech and R&D support, but my experience has been poor enough already that I would recommend against purchasing this product. I regret that I purchased it.



Addendum to above review: HP elevated support has issued a gift card to me which I was able to use to purchase a Photosmart Plus B210a printer directly from them. I have been assured that this printer will not have any of the issues that I have experienced. I am hopeful and impressed that they have taken my issue seriously and have resolved it with a superior printer. HP Photosmart D110A Wireless e-All-in-One Printer (CN731A#B1H)

We finally bit the bullet and got a new printer - the old hp deskjet 3220 just would not die, so we donated it to a school. We switched because we wanted better photo printing and speed, and the scanner was USB 1.1 only.



I'm a Mac person, but more and more HP products are truly impressive. The laptop I most recently set up was the simplest ever. This unit was more of that simplicity. Just unpacking it was comparable to the Apple experience. One booklet, and the packaging was two pieces of foam and a tote bag instead of plastic wrapping, cords and ink were in a zippered reusable pouch. Both were of the same material used for reusable grocery bags. Minimal waste. Suggest they move from styro to compressed paper like others.



Setup was done without so much as a USB cable. All was done by loading the software, first into the Mac, then later into the HP. Power up the printer, tell it to find your WiFi router and it appears as a Bonjour (zeroconf) item. No issues with Mac or Win setup. Alignment is done by printing and then scanning an alignment page. No more squinting to discern the most-lined-up raster.



Printing is darn good on plain paper and knockout on photo paper. A 4x6 guide on the tray is convenient. There is an extended paper support that I don't even see using.



Scanning was the big question. I've used Ed Hamrick's VueScan for years, it's a wonderful tool. It warned that I'd need to install HP drivers in order to use VueScan, which would contribute to bloat. Since we sent off the USB cables with the printer and scanner, VueScan didn't see the cable-less WiFi scanner when it booted. I figured we were stuck. Well, we weren't - as there is a web interface to the scanner that can scan jpg or PDF at up to 600 dpi from a browser.



*** Correction - VueScan now sees the printer and scans as always. ***



Printing and scanning over WiFI is wonderful, much improved over similar devices from just a few years ago.

ePrint gives you an email address that lets you print common document formats via email attachments.

The web interface lets you double check remote print jobs.



Amazing for $99 retail, $79 at HP, $55 here. Available XL ink also saves.

It was very easy to get the printer set-up on the wireless network by following the prompts on the LCD screen. It really walks you through the process very well. The applications that can be accessed through the printer itself are pretty cool. These include Disney coloring pages, coupons, etc. Printing from my camera's memory card was intuitive.



The next step was to install the software on my computers. This was also easy, although I did have an issue in which the printer picked up an IP address that the router didn't like. This was solved by searching the HP website to determine how to assign a static IP that was within the DHCP range. Thankfully the instructions were clear and very easy, because I really don't have much networking experience.



After everything was set-up, I printed off a few pictures from my PC. There is not a multi-page paper feeder and the speed may not be enough for some. However, for a household like mine, where we will only have occasional printing needs, I think it's more then sufficient. Even though I haven't yet had an opportunity to use photo quality paper, I think the quality of the print, even on multi-purpose paper, was very good.



I then had an opportunity to use the included picture printing software. My daughter and I had quite a bit of fun setting up different borders, adding text, and choosing different decorations to add to the pictures. This was pretty darn cool. I am not sure if there is a limit and after I reach that limit it will start charging me, or if this will always be free, but for now, at least, it's free.



Finally, I had the need to actually scan something in. This was a very easy process, and once scanned in you are given the chance to edit the scan, flip it around, etc. This was my first time ever scanning something in, so I don't have anything to compare it to, but I thought the process was very simple.



BTW, because it wasn't mentioned in any other reviews and I didn't realize it and almost bought wireless NIC cards: A desktop computer, connected by Ethernet to the same wireless router as the printer, is able to print to the wireless printer. The desktop PC's do not have to be wireless.'

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Multifunction Printer

Monitor Wall Mount - lcd wall mount, tv wall mount

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This mount is about the best I have seen yet. Looking locally, I couldn't find anything for less than $60 -$80 (even walmart). This came home for about $25. It mounts easily, comes with all hardware, it is black, just like the TV I mounted and the cables I strap to it to get them out of the way. The swing is very smooth, there is very little rock (side-to-side). The tilt (pitch) is very sturdy but adjustble. I don't have a single complaint about this unit. VideoSecu Articulating TV Wall Mount Bracket for VESA 100 LCD LED Flat Screen Monitor TV 1E9

Nice product, fairly well built, and attractive black powder coating. I mounted a 26" HDTV (22.8 lbs) on our bedroom wall. As others have mentioned, no rotation after installing makes it important that you measure carefully before drilling. Here's a couple tips that should help your install.



Before proceeding, I suggest that you tighten the arm hinges (using the supplied Allen wrench) to where you think they should be. They were fairly loose on the mount that I received. Reason being ... Their tightness changes the level of the TV bracket.



1st tip: First thing I noticed was that the top of the bracket that mounts on the TV was NOT parallel with the mount's arms when the mount was folded flat. Therefore, I mounted the vertical wall bracket (plate) so that the TV bracket was level; this meant that the wall bracket was NOT perfectly vertical, but just a "scosh" off vertical.



2nd tip: Even doing this, the TV was still not exactly level; close, but not "perfect". This time I took a round file to the screw holes on the TV bracket and elongated them to correct the rotation required to make the TV perfectly level. It didn't take much filing; less than 1/8".



That did it! TV hangs perfectly level now when flat against the wall, which is where it is used mostly. Swinging the TV out to "max" position from the wall, due to the slight "give" others have mentioned, the TV is a gnat's off from level, but this is low priority and tolerable.



One other point: If your TV/monitor is wider than 26", you won't be able to get it completely perpendicular to the wall, something to consider.

I purchased this mount to hang a 15" LCD TV, weighing less than 9 pounds (the specifications rate it up to 33 lbs). I carefully measured and used a level to mount the swing arm on the wall, but when I hung the TV, the position of the arms and the small amount of "give" between the arm segments caused the TV to hang at a slight, but noticable, angle. You can tighten the arm segment joints, which helps the problem somewhat, but you won't be able to swing the arm around once tightened. The swivel adjustments only allow you to change the side-to-side angle and the vertical tilt, there is no way to fix the rotation of the set.

This monitor arm is pretty cool, and great price point. I mounted a 26" LCD TV weighing like 32 LBS. Have not had a problem with it. I did need to make a trip to the hardware store for some longer screws than what was provided to connect to my TV.

I tend to be the engineer type, so looks don't win me over if a product is flawed below the surface. This mount looks good, if and when you catch a glimpse of it but most important to me, it is designed well. The joints lock and hold positions well because the design provides enough flat mating surface area. All of the major parts are solid cast, forged or machined.

Finally, after you have mounted a monitor or TV, this mount does not demand or call your attention back, it just does its job, `quietly', behind the scene.

I purchased this wall mount on the basis of other reviews. It was perfect for our need. Installation was very easy, the bracket was well made, moves easy (side to side, up and down). I put a 15" tv on it and I am well satisfied compared to other brackets that are 3 & 4 times the price. I give this bracket a 5 star rating.

I own 8 flat panel TV's, all of them wall mounted, for two (26"ers) of them I am using this particular bracket. I like the flexibility of these brackets, however, they are quite "wobbly" and that leaves me with great concern each time I adjust them. Only time will tell if they will hold up to the moderate usage they receive.

In one of the other reviews someone said something about the mount being lose or having some "give", I am thinking they may have recieved a bad mount and should send it back. I have a 23" LCD mounted with this bracket and its tight and holds the TV right where I set it. Now I can see where if you mounted it maybe a little off center where you could complain that they should have put a rotation(tilt) adjustment on it. But alas if you mount it level then you should have no problems. It was easy to mount and does what it should. A mount like this at a box store will cost you about $80, so you can't beat this price. The product is also very durable - Tv Wall Mount - Wall Mount - Lcd Wall Mount - Monitor Wall Mount'

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Waterproof Camera - finepix, waterproof camera

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Just took the new camera on a white water rafting trip down the Grand Canyon. Clearly the camera met the specs for water tightness and shock ability as this type of trip had both. Pictures were of low quality, with little ability to handle a mix of shadows and light. Shutter is slow and unresponsive to the moment. In bright sunshine, or very low evening light, the lack of a view finder rendered most pictures a pure guess. Controls at the top of the camera for on/off and snapping the picture were too low a profile to allow for handling in tough situations. Worst of all was dismal battery life--only able to get about 100-125 pictures, while carefully turning the camera off in between, before battery was exhausted. Overall--very disappointing. Fujifilm FinePix XP10 12 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Silver)

I got this camera to replace my previous underwater / shockproof Canon D10, which died after about 8 months for no apparent reason. When I got the D10, it was the only low-cost point-and-shoot I could find for light underwater use, which made it good in its own way, but the electronics and sensor and etc. were already a couple of years out of date on the Canon, plus it was really big and bulky.



I don't do serious underwater work, but do want a camera I can take out in the rain and occasionally in a swimming pool or to the beach, without worrying about it. Also with small kids, the likelihood of a camera getting dropped is high, so a sturdy model is key.



This little Fujifilm advertises the same kind of water- and shock-proof characteristics as the Canon, but it's a whole lot more modern in its features, and a whole lot smaller, which is great. I haven't used it underwater yet, but for everyday use it takes good pictures.



A few issues I have with it. One, the cable connector is nonstandard. It should be mini-USB, like so many other things - I keep a mini USB hanging off my computer anyway, and if I lose a mini USB cable it's easy to find another, vs. the Fuji cable which doesn't match anything else I own.



Second, the mechanicals are not quite as polished as I'd like. The waterproof cover for the cable connector doesn't seat well - it's very hard to get in. And the battery cover has a strange hinge device that was confusing to figure out and I fear will not last well, since I have to open it frequently to extract the memory card, because the cable connector is nonstandard and hard to reseal.



All in all I would still recommend this camera, and I hope these few flaws get corrected in a future model.

Took the Fuji XP10 out twice; once camping at Lake Tahoe and again at Kern River. The Fuji functioned well on the first outting, but started developing problems on the latter camping trip: moisture started developing in the lens area, causing photos to appear foggy. The display became disrupted, as the moisture that permeated the camera began to make it's way through the housing.



I sent the Fuji XP10 back to Fuji in hopes of getting it replaced, but received an invoice stating, "Water damage in camera not covered under warranty."



Um, no kidding.



The invoice also requested a payment of approximately $118 for an exchange of the same camera, with $100 of the cost going towards "labor"... Labor for what?!?! That's like buying a new XP10 with a little over a $20 discount over what I paid originally!



What's the point of marketing a "waterproof" camera, when it's not really waterproof and Fuji won't even honor the warranty to make things right? It would serve Fuji well to learn from other companies that unconditionally back the products that they sell, like Pelican Products and Strider Knives. Don't claim your product is waterproof, freezeproof, dustproof, and shockproof, unless you can back your product under warranty. I'm going to pass on Fuji's offer to exchange my camera for the $118 fee, which I can use towards an Olympus Tough camera! ;-)



As clean and compact as the Fuji XP10 appears, I will suggest to potential buyers of this camera to spend the extra money for the Olympus Tough series, which I am now considering. The Olympus Tough series may not be aesthetically pleasing as the Fuji XP10, but, like the AK-47 and Glock, the Olympus will probably work.



Buy the Fuji XP10 at your own risk.

I bought this camera for the waterproof feature, for beach and snorkeling photos. I took it to the beach and within 30 minutes it broke. The camera was never more than 2 feet underwater and it never hit anything. Water began leaking in the back display screen and the camera stopped functioning. Water also got in the front lens area and battery. Fortunately I was able to get the photos I had taken off the memory card.



Picture quality was really nice and the display screen size is large for easy viewing. But if you plan on taking it in the water I suggest buying a different camera. - Finepix - Digital Camera - Waterproof Camera - Weatherproof'

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Coffeemaker - bialetti, coffee

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The instructions do not tell you exactly when the coffee is done and when to turn off the heat. The plastic parts melted the first time I used it. I am a do-it-yourself type, so I bought a metal knob and some flat aluminum to fashion a new handle. Now it is better than new. It makes great espresso, but the instructions are little help. What the instructions should say is when the top fills with espresso and steam stops coming out of the spout, it's time to turn off the heat. It was well worth the discount price I paid. However, in hindsight, I would not buy one with plastic parts.

Imusa Espresso Coffeemaker, 6 cup

My sister-in-law lives in Austria and is always talking about how weak American coffee tastes to her. I tend to prefer a European-style coffee myself, so did some checking to find out what kind of coffeemaker is most commonly used there. This style seemed to be the one that came up most often.



I ordered this coffeemaker wondering how I'd feel about aluminum once I got it. I had my doubts but went ahead based on the strength of the reviews.



The first 3 pots weren't horrible, but I was glad I'd been warned (through the reviews) that the first few pots wouldn't taste the greatest. Pot #4, and following, have been delicious!



My favorite way to drink this type of espresso is Americano-style. It makes a very robust, yet smooth, cup of coffee this way. I'm able to pour the contents of the coffeemaker into a thermal carafe, add hot water to fill and serve full-flavored coffee to my husband and myself.



Sometimes I do choose to make cappuccino or a macchiato with the full-strength coffee I get from this pot. While it doesn't taste quite as "nutty" as the espresso I used to make with my electric espresso machine, it's still a good cup.



For BEST results, I would recommend that one use a good, dark, espresso-roast coffee, but I've also gotten good results with well-roasted flavored coffees if I'm making Americano-style. The flavored coffees come out with more of the flavor noticeable than when I use other methods of brewing them.



A drawback, which is true of all "mochi-style" coffeemakers is that you can't vary the amount of coffee you make... unless you have more than one of these coffeemakers in different sizes. Thanks to other reviews here at Amazon, I knew that going in so I haven't been disappointed.



I have no problem recommending this coffeemaker to anyone who simply wants a good every-day way to make full-flavored coffee with little or no bitterness. If you're looking for espresso that tastes exactly like what you get in a coffee-bar, you may be disappointed. It's good espresso, but it doesn't taste exactly like what you get from a machine. Again, I already knew that from the reviews so I wasn't disappointed.

I received this item as a gift and I am extremely pleased with it. Some other reviewers complained of poor instructions or melted handles. Perhaps the manufacturer has made some changes as my espresso maker did come with instructions that made it very simple to use. They specifically state that one should keep the handle positioned so that it is not directly over the burner. I have had many, many cups of espresso in the last week without any problems. The size is perfect for two people to enjoy some delicious espresso and cleaning is so easy. I think this product is fantastic for the price, especially if you are mindful of the plastic handle and keep it away from the direct flame.

I'm drinking a mocha I made with this expresso coffeemaker as I type. It is delicious.



I read the reviews before mine, but I wasn't worried about the handle issue since I have an electric stove. Handle has been totally fine, but just in case I do position the coffeemaker with the handle on the side of the burner, not directly over the heat. The first time I didn't screw the top on completely tight enough, so I got a few drips of water come out while boiling, but no big deal. Hasn't happened since then because I am screwing it on completely tight.



I have been going to starbucks and other local coffeeshops almost daily to get mochas, and I know that is a super expensive habit. So, I am trying to break myself but I just can't seem to enjoy the plain coffee made with my french press. I am a cheap grad student, so I don't want to fork out tons of money, and I also wasn't sure I'd keep to my plan of making coffee instead of buying it. So, I forked out $10 for this guy from amazon, and 5-mochas-in-3-days later, this thing has already paid for itself a couple of times.



I'm still perfecting it, but that is kind of nice to customize things exactly how I like them. I always hated mochas where the chocolate flavor came from a syrup instead of a powder. So, I first put some milk in a pot with some hot cocoa mix (Ghirardelli is delicious, but I've also used grocery store brand hot chocolate and it seems to suffice) and put it on the stove on low-medium heat. Now, get the coffee ready: some water a bit below the valve (I am only making for me, so the 6 cups is a little much...), put in the grounds container, and then some grounds till that's full. I even used the rest of my course ground coffee from the french press and it did fine... a little watery I guess, but it is hard to notice when you're so pleased with your first few mochas. Screw the top on tight and stick it on the stove on medium-high. Wait for the water to boil in the coffeemaker, and you can even lift the lid with the plastic topper to check if it is full. Make sure you're stirring your hot cocoa on the side. Both should be done around the same time. Espresso goes in the cup first, then the hot cocoa. I don't have a frother (yet) but it doesn't bother me much. Enjoy! - Bialetti - Coffee - Espresso Maker - Coffeemaker - Stovetop Espresso Pots - Espresso'

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Framing Nailers - bostitch, bostich

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I am editing this review a year later (14Apr08) with some revisions



I am a professional builder presently building super high end homes on the lakefront of Lake Tahoe. I have used every framing nailer made. Before I bought this nailer I was a Senco and Hitachi user. I needed another nailer so from the recommendation of another carpenter I went with this model. What sold it to me was that I liked the fact that it had another nosepiece that allowed it to be used for nailing hardware.

I have had this nailer for about 5 months now and it has a few problems.

When it was new it would tend to spark a lot when ever a nail was fired. Now that it is broken in it sparks still but much less. Edit.. It no longer sparks.

There was a part missing in the unopened box. I promptly ordered it from Bostich and it came right away. The part was a vinyl rod that adjusts the magazine for varying thickness nails.

The nailer really hammers the nail hard with a loud smack. I worry that it will wear out the hammer driver sooner. The sound with the Hitachi is much quieter and the Hitachi nailer seems to work with much less recoil when sinking a nail.

The trigger on the Bostich is very finicky and will not fire unless you depress the nose "just so" even with the bounce trigger installed. The Hitachi and Senco is an honest trigger that fires every time you depress the nose. Hitachi users say bad words out of frustration when using this nailer because of the finicky trigger.

The rubber pad on the side has a metal part that surrounds it. The metal part is thin and recently it broke. Since a nailer is often left on the side then this weak and flimsy part is in a very vulnerable spot.

The nose has a spring that can easily snag something and fly away. Without this spring the nailer will not work. I spent a lot of time searching in the powder snow once for this spring when it accidentally ejected.

This nailer does have all the modern features that some nailers lack. It has the directional exhaust port and an easily adjustable nosepiece. It will sink a 16d toenail with the depth adjustment all the way down unlike other nailers. It comes with an accessory nosepiece cover that covers the toenail teeth to prevent marring the wood. The nose cover though will not stay on very well and is easy to lose.

If I had my preference I would use cliphead nailers because the magazine holds more nails and the paper collation does not spit eye damaging pieces like the plastic collated strips for round head nailers. Cliphead nails are getting hard to find as misguided architects spec only round head nails. You must use safety glasses when using any round head nailer. The plastic shards are probably not very good for the environment either.

I give it 3 stars still because it works fine most of the time and the hardware nailing feature is nice to have.



Edit 13Apr08 I give it 4.5 stars now. I like this nailer because it really has a large piston and can completely sink a toenail into hard LVL. I do a lot of framing with LVL and this is the only nailer that will not make you reach for your hammer to finish driving the nail home. I am used to the trigger now and it no longer frustrates me. I did have to take apart the trigger once and clean it. The trigger started to blow air and the nailer would not shoot. A less mechanically inclined person might have sent it to the shop for a repair. No parts were very worn, it just needed a cleaning. The broken part on the side bumper has not been a problem. This nailer has held up well so far. I frame about a third of the time so this nailer has about 6 months of heavy use behind it now. Bostitch F21PL Round Head 1-1/2-Inch to 3-1/2-Inch Framing Nailer with Positive Placement Tip and Magnesium Housing

I'm currently using this sucker to frame my garage. I bought Hitachi plastic collated nails for it. It took me a bit to sort it out, but I was able to find 21 degree full round head nails at Lowes. I've been sticking with the Hitachi nails even though there are cheaper brands - the quality is good.



I used 0.131" diameter 21 degree plastic collated nails, 3 1/4" in length, for all of my framing. I was able to blast a bunch of 2x6's together in no time.



I then used 0.131" diameter 21 degree plastic collated nails, 2 3/4" in length, for all of my sheathing. The nailer handled both of these with ease. I can set the depth so I don't go splintering my OSB with too deep of a punch.



I am currently using the trigger that only allows one shot per pull. I like this feature as I don't go machine-gunning 3 nails on top of one another if I slip during the shot. Sometimes it is a little finicky, as you have to get the tip compressed just-so before you pull the trigger, or it will give you a disappointing "pphhh" and no nail. It also seems to have about a 50% ratio of actually firing the last nail in the clip. A lot of times it misses the last nail altogether. I did jam it once with the 2 3/4 nails because I inserted a partially used clip. The uneven break in the plastic collation misaligned the nail and the piston jammed the nail in the barell. I fixed it with a small screwdriver.



It's pretty light for its size. Some friendly helpers I had with the initial framing all remarked at the size of this thing. It looks big and beefy. You'll have a bit of trouble fitting it between studs that are 16" apart - it's a little bulky in tight spaces. For toe-nailing and mating studs together, I had to shoot at an angle. That's when the tip is most finicky, so you have to brace it on the back with one hand while you pull the trigger. At 90 psi or so it might not fully sink the nail on an angled shot like that. At 120 psi it sinks everything. It's kind of scary. My gun came with a protective rubber tip that is handy for things that you don't want to blemish, but without the rubber tip, the cleated gun is much easier to use for angled shots because the tip bites into the wood.



These problems are avoidable if you are careful. A nail gun is an amazing piece of machinery, as I am surprised that with the violence of each shot it doesn't go blowing apart after a few shots. Yet this thing will shoot and shoot as long as I pay attention to the clip, keep it oiled, and set it aside so I don't trip over it. I've dropped it off the ladder twice and it hasn't complained. It's also nice that you can direct the exhaust in multiple directions, as each shot will create a fine oily mist that you can feel on your arm, hand, leg, or whatever. That's just how it works with air tools. At least you can shoot it away from your face. Also, the rubber grip on the handle is slipping around slowly as I use it. That's kind of irritating, especially when it's hot, because the rubber will slide up and bunch up underneath the trigger. Eventually it will probably fall off with enough use. Could probably use a redesign.



On a final note, I bought this thing used from another online auction site that you can probably guess. It was well used before I got it and it's still kicking. For what I paid for it, I'm quite satisfied. I'd probably still be happy with it if I bought it new for a higher price.



Edit 9/6/07: I've been using the metal connector attachment. This thing is pretty handy if you are using Simpson Strong Ties or a similar metal connector for your framing. Most of the Simpson products require a 1.5" nail (so that it doesn't penetrate the other side of 2x lumber) and this gun won't go that small. I've used the 2 1/4" nails when I'm shooting into a junction or multiple pieces. It makes the work go much faster, otherwise you are stuck with a hammer. The tip for metal connectors has a triangular aligning piece that allows you to line up the nail with the hole in the connector. It works really well but be warned - the smaller the nail the better the chance that this thing will misfire. I had much more trouble with the 2 1/4" nails than the bigger framing nails. Also, I glanced off the connector more than once and shot a bent nail bouncing around all over the place - not like a bullet but enough to be dangerous. The metal connector work is much more sensitive to alignment so be careful. Also - be careful about lining up your shot, especially if you are using one hand to brace boards before you shoot. That nail doesn't care if your hand is on the other side of the board when you pull the trigger. I managed to nick my thumb pretty good at about nail number 2,327 during a 10 hour day. Not bad odds - but you'll be better off if you are constantly aware.



Edit 7/12/08: My F21PL is still going and my garage is pretty much done except for electrical and painting. I took this thing up in my attic to build a knee wall around the perimeter so that I could install foam backer board to keep insulation from spilling out onto my soffits. My attic is full of old fiberglass blown-in insulation, so it's nasty and dusty up there. I used my nailer for a few days and it stopped working. After messing with it I figured I had gotten dust inside and perhaps ruined a seal. I finished framing my knee wall with the Bostitch palm nailer (see other review on here - great little tool). I was able to download a rebuild kit from the Bostitch website instantaneously. There are also blow-up diagrams of all of their tools. I bought several rebuild kits and downloaded the diagram, and I was able to successfully rebuild the nailer and get it functioning again. I expect that with my rebuild kits I will keep this nailer going for the rest of my life. Great product support. - Framing Nailers - Bostich - F21pl - Bostitch'

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Usb Flash Drives - 32gb, patriot

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I recently purchased the 32 GB Patriot thumb drive and have been very happy with it. I work in video animation and web design and have found the drive to be very fast - even with large size file loads or loads with a large number of files. I've read some other complaints about the load speed of the drive but haven't noticed them myself. Perhaps the people complaining about the load speed weren't using a USB 2.0 port or they were simply being overly scientific about it.



Upon opening the drive from its packaging I inserted it into my USB drive right away and both my Vista machine and my Windows XP machine recognized it immediately. There was no formatting or configuration required. I'm not sure how it would react to a Mac.



My biggest concern with a drive like this is losing the cap. For example, if you put the drive on your keychain and stick it in your pocket the cap will eventually come off of the drive in your pocket, or while you take your keychain out of your pocket, or while the drive hangs from your vehicle's ignition. It's also common, at least for me, to forget where I put the caps. In consideration of a potential future lost cap I emailed the manufacturer's customer service department and asked them for extra caps and I received 2 additional caps about two weeks later free of charge. To me, that's customer service.



Overall the drive seems reasonably rugged. It's encased in rubber so I suspect that's what the manufacturer was going for. I'll modify this post if the drive ever craps out on me but for now I'm very satisfied with it - especially when compared to other thumb drives I've owned. Patriot Xporter XT Boost 32 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive PEF32GUSB

Bottom line: The Patriot Xporter XT Boost 16 GB is a good USB drive but far below the performance I expected. Its tests average slightly below a Class 8 flash drive or 50X.



I will update my review on the cap status in the future since most rubber caps loosen with age and this one is a pocket gripper. I may epoxy a little leash on it to the body.



Reading so many of these reviews does not help in purchase decisions. Frankly, they drive me nuts. "It was so fast!" "It was so much faster than my old drive!" "Some people are too scientific." "It booted immediately on my Windows... (version)/Mac [computer]." (Please do not take any of these comments as personal attacks on your reviews. I have been hammered in past professional writing to ensure I provide hard, substantive data for any statement I make.)



Can I please have objective data to assist in my purchase decision? The first thing I do is benchmark when I receive a flash drive or flash card. I have returned fakes, counterfeits, and below spec units. Formatting new drives appropriately upon receipt is a smart decision, since it removes any crapware from the manufacturer and any viruses a disgruntled employee could have placed. (Does anyone remember the WordPerfect employee who knew he was going to be fired back around 1990?) Although not a Mac user. I use flash drives for Windows Vista/7 and Linux OS purposes.



Flash "class" is based on write speed. I have included a conversion table toward the end of my review. I am sorry I forgot to specify sequential write testing for my benchmarks. To increase accuracy and reduce extraneous hardware reductions in test results, I do not use USB extension cables and clean format the flash for each test. Here are some hard data for you on the 16 GB Patriot XT Boost I received from Amazon:



Flash Drive/Card Tester 1.16.1

Patriot Memory, PMAP, PMAP 1234; 15271 MB

00:01:30.99 - -------------------------------- New test process started --------------------------------

00:01:31.03 - Started "Writing test data" for drive F: 15271MB, ", Patriot Memory, PMAP, PMAP1234", 512b

00:41:11.94 - Completed "Writing test data" for drive F: 15271MB, ", Patriot Memory, PMAP, PMAP1234", 512b

00:41:11.94 - Tested total 15271.999MB in 0:39:40 with 6.424MB/s (**Class 6**)

00:41:11.94 - Total write errors: Fatal=0, Recoverable=0

00:41:11.95 - Started "Reading and comparing data" for drive F: 15271MB, ", Patriot Memory, PMAP, PMAP1234", 512b

00:52:27.89 - Completed "Reading and comparing data" for drive F: 15271MB, ", Patriot Memory, PMAP, PMAP1234", 512b

00:52:27.91 - Tested total 15271.999MB in 0:11:15 with 22.608 MB/s

00:52:27.91 - Total errors: Read fatal=0, Read recoverable=0; Write fatal=0, Write recoverable=0; Comparsion=0



H2testw Results

Warning: Only 15255 of 15256 MByte tested.

Test finished without errors.

You can now delete the test files *.h2w or verify them again.

Writing speed: 8.01 MByte/s (**Class 8**)

Reading speed: 24.5 MByte/s

H2testw v1.4



Checkflash 1.16.1

Four sector errors in last block of flash, 2nd Pass: No errors (I did a second pass since the first showed physical errors and it could have been caused by factors outside of the flash, which it was.)

1 Cycle Test, 1:25:44 elapsed

Read: 26.92, 25.50 MB/s

Write: 8.15, 8.12 MB/s (**Class 8**)



Conversion Chart

Class 2 - 16Mbps - 2MBps - 13X

Class 4 - 32Mbps - 4MBps - 27X

Class 6 - 48Mbps - 6MBps - 40X

Class 8 - 64Mbps - 8MBps - 53X

Class 10 - 80Mbps - 10MBps - 67X



Thank you for reading my review. I hope it helps you. Please approve or disapprove so I know if I should continue writing and submitting results from this several hour process for future drive or card purchases.

I own a few of these, I find I need alot of portable space but I dont want to carry around an ext HDD. The drive is soooooo fast. Before this I owned a corsair voyager 16gb which was just way way too slow, this drive reminds me of my old lexar lightning. Well worth the price.

I bought this to help back up photos on trips. Works great. Relatively fast and was pleased with the transfer speed. I like the rubber housing.



Pros: Fast. Reliable. Small. Lightweight. Rubber housing semi-weather proof and feels fairly durable.



Cons: Only one small complaint. It would be nice if the cap was attached by a small rubber strip to keep the unit together as one piece. Otherwise you have to slide it on the back of the drive or set it aside which is easy to loose if you don't pay atttention. - Patriot - Usb Flash Drive - 32gb - Usb Flash Drives'

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Droid Case - purple, seidio droid case

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I have had my Droid since Day 1 on launch day and have been looking for the perfect case the entire time. I had the black silicone snap-on case from Verizon and liked it initially but fell out of love for several reasons. I finally stumbled on the Seidio Innocase Surface and it is PERFECT. Forget everything else, this is THE case to own for the Motorola Droid.



PROS:

- Perfect fit (no gaps)

- Easy to install AND to remove

- Provides extra grip around the Droid

- Perfect cutouts

- Durable plastic material w/soft coating

- Does not pick up lint



CONS:

- Availability



The best part of the Seidio Innocase is the perfect fit and solid build. The cutouts for volume, camera, power, microUSB port, headphone jack, mic, camera lens, and speaker are spot on perfect. My old Verizon snap-on cover covered all the buttons so it wasn't easy to always get a good feel for where the buttons were. My old case also covered all but a 3rd of the speaker on the back, which I never could figure out why. The Innocase reveals the entire rear speaker. The plastic snap-on case by Seidio is coated with a soft material so that it almost feels like a rubber case. I had Seidio cases for my old Blackberry Curve as well.



I also like the top part because it's rigid enough that when I swipe the screen from side to side, the sides of the case do not flex. My old VZW case flexed so much that it eventually felt like it was going to fall off. The cutout for the mic is also done very nicely and I hope it improves the audio quality as I had problems sounding muffled with the VZW case. The entire case is also very easy to install and also to remove. I nearly bought the OEM Body Glove case but read a LOT of complaints about how difficult it was to remove and how it added significant bulk.



The Seidio Innocase Surface case for the Motorola Droid is absolute perfection. You can really tell that a lot of thought went into the design. It is also very slim and adds only the tiniest amount of extra bulk. If you wish you could keep your Droid naked, but don't want to risk it, this is your best solution. It's not a mil spec Otterbox case, but who among us really need that level of protection? Go buy this today, in two colors, if you can find it in stock. Seidio SURFACE Case for Motorola Droid (Amethyst)

This cover snaps on quickly and fits perfectly, with cutouts in all the right places. It doesn't interfere with the operation of the phone -- you can charge it, connect to it, slide it open/closed without any trouble.



The back pops off easily if you need to get at the battery compartment (which you often do, with a Droid), and then snaps right back on. It doesn't feel like it will be damaged with frequent removal and attachment. I've had it about a week at this writing, so I'll update my review if it turns out I'm wrong about this.



It also softens the contours a bit so the phone doesn't look quite so blocky. Or maybe that's just an optical illusion. At any rate, my phone is now purple so it stands out from the crowd a bit and is less likely to get mixed up with somebody else's blocky black phone.



I would definitely recommend this cover to a friend.

Love, love love my droid and wanted to protect it. bought el cheapo one first and it lasted couple of months before cracking, but it also covered the sensor to automatically turn off display when against your ear. This case however is very good quality and worth the price. only had for few weeks and hope it lasts (it should as seems to be very well made and durable), but it fits perfectly and does not have same sensor cover-up issue. i did alot of research for good case and this is definitely the best one to get! I dropped my phone for first time on concrete and this case protected it well. i bought my wife the dark purple one and black for me. i got it for $23

I really like this cover. it fits my droid perfectly and I get lots of compliments on the color (true to the picture).



I do think that you should be aware of one detail. I use my physical keyboard very frequently. I read on a message board about Seidio case "scratching" the phone. I didn't notice it until I read that but sure enough there it is! When you slide the keyboard out, apparently the case rubs against the "chin" of the phone on the right side and leaves a small track mark (i've heard that it does it on both sides but I have not experienced that). It happens if you use the keyboard frequently, which I do as I mentioned.



That being said, I didn't notice the scratch until the defect was brought to my attention. And I'd prefer to have one minor scrape as opposed to a phone covered in them from everyday wear and tear (and the unfortunate possibility of dropping it). This is not a big is for me and I like the aesthetics of the case enough to keep it.



Update: one of the tabs that keeps the case on the phone "peeled" off. Didn't expect that to happen and I'm quite disappointed. - Droid - Seidio Droid Case - Purple - Motorola Droid'

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Tomtom Accessories - case, gps case

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This fits the TomTomXLS perfectly. And if you want to just charge it in the car with it in the case, just put it in upside down and don't zip it. It doesn't add weight, which is great since I always put my TomTom in my purse whenever I leave the car. I do worry that the "string" connecting the wrist strap to the case my break since it seems very thin, so I don't use the strap. TomTom One XL Carrying Case and Strap for 330, 330s, 340 and 340s (Black)

I ordered this from Amazon for my new TomTom XL340S. As with others, I found that I could not fit the GPS in the case with the EasyPort mount attached. This is no big deal to me, as I just leave the EasyPort mount in the glove box with the beanbag dashboard mount and carry the GPS in the case.



However, when browsing through Target the other day, I came across a case with the same name, but it's different. That case is deeper, and zips open across the top. It's made for the ones with the EasyPort mount.



So if you have an XL GPS with an EasyPort mount and want a case that fits the GPS with the mount attached, look for the TomTom case that zips across the top and is deeper. I can't find it here at Amazon.



But if you don't care about keeping the EasyPort attached while in the case, this case will work just fine. Fits the GPS perfectly, with nice padding to protect it.

I was not happy with the carrying case. I returned the carrying case for my TomTom One XL-S. Too tight of a fit. Had to take the back off the GPS system to fit in case. I purchased a "camera" bag which allows me to put the whole GPS system (GPS and holder) in the bag without having to take it apart each time I remove it from the car!

For all owners of the tomtom xl 330-s, if you are looking for a case that fits the GPS unit and suction cup while it is still on the GPS unit, you need to get the tomtom case that zips over the top, not the side.

I am very pleased that I purchased this case for my TomTom XL 340-S. Not only does it fit like a glove, it is very ridged, sturdy, and made of quality materials. The zipper is strong and easy to pull...actually "glides" open and closed. The inside is extremely soft and protective. A great buy to protect a great GPS. - Protective Case - Tomtom Case - Case - Gps Case'

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Monitor Cleaner - lcd, cleaner

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Since cleaning is my business I work a lot with microfiber cloths and tried those out the first time today. In my opinion they are pretty overpriced considering they are the size of a handkerchief , they are pretty flimsy and not any better than some others available by the dozen for this price in twice the size. The statement that they soak up seven times their weight in water is ridiculous considering they hardly weigh anything. They pick up dust and get mirrors bright and shiny, but that's what microfiber does, not a wonder. Microfiber Wonder Cloths ( Set of 4)

These cloths are simply amazing; they clean just about everything, easily and quickly. I have yet to find a surface that resists their touch. Mirrors and glass sparkle, counters become spotless and chrome glows.

I even polished some silver containers I use on the bathroom counter to hold cotton balls, Q-tips, and paper cups. I used the cloth with a tiny bit of water and WOW! all the little water splash marks and dark colors were gone and the silver was beautifully shiny again. No more chemical odors and shredding paper towels, just these four cloths meet all cleaning needs.

I have bought sets for my daughters and friends and they are also fans of this wonderful product.

I actually got these to clean my glass top table, rather than wasting paper towels every day. I can use a cloth over and over again, then wash it and get a new one. I haven't washed one yet, so I can't comment, but so far, for the price it is a great product.

I bought these so that I could get free shipping with something else I ordered... I wanted a lint free towel to use on my glasses and another to use on my silver and these will do the trick. With the pack of 4 I can put one in each room I use it the most in!

These are the size of washcloths. I thought they would be bigger. One major problem is that they are major static magnets. I don't know why but when I put them is the wash and then the dryer they produce tons of static - both on them and the rest of the wash. I still haven't decided what I'm going to use them for. I use one of them as a kitchen towel to dry dishes. Since everything seems to stick to the cloths they are good for dusting. I like using it to dust my computer monitor screen and my TV screens.

I bought some microfiber cloths from Costco a few years back, and was looking for some replacements recently. I couldn't find any anywhere locally, so I turned to Amazon. I thought these were on the expensive side, but paid it anyway since I really wanted microfiber. They do what all microfiber does - clean really really well. But also like all microfiber, I see them wearing down already, and I've been rotating through two sets for only about three months. On a side note, my mom likes them so well I ordered her a couple of sets too. - Dish Towels - Dish Cloths - Lcd - Cleaner'

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Noise Canceling - noise canceling, audio technica

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Bose QC15 vs. Sennheiser PXC 450 vs. Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7b



Disclosure: I have tried all these on an airplane. I am not an audiophile. Noise Cancelation is the most important attribute to me.



The Carrying Case: All three are quite durable and stiff.

1.) Bose- the smallest, a low profile, room for an Ipod, accessories too.

2.) Sennheiser- Square shape, low profile, however not a lot of room for anything else in case.

3.) Audio Technica- Nice big case if you want to carry extra stuff (Nintendo DS, ipod, etc).



Build Quality:

1.) Sennheiser- you can tell this is built VERY well. Strong plastics, good components, thick cord. Top notch. You feel like you are getting something really high quality.

2.) Audio Technica- Nice solid construction, appears durable.

3.) Bose- If this had a Sanyo logo on the side, I would not have flinched. How can something $300 be so incredibly cheaply made.



Size:

1.) Bose- as far as over the ears go, these are pretty small.

2.) Audio-Technica- mid-sized.

3.) Sennheiser- These are big. No question, but they store flat.



Comfort:

1.) Sennheiser- Very comfortable, will fit almost any size ears. Keep on for hours.

2.) Bose- Also comfortable. I did not experience "highs" discomfort.

3.) Audio-Technica- Perfectly satisfactory. Larger opening than previous AT model.



Sound:

1.) Sennheiser- I actually wore these at home too, simply to hear parts of songs I had never heard before. Astounding. My 10yr old music collection sounded totally NEW.

2.) Audio-Technica- Well balanced, good sound.

3.) Bose- Great sound, but very heavy on the bass. I listen to a lot of rap and pop, so it was mildly annoying. I ultimately had to turn my treble settings up on my ipod to balance the sound.



Features:

1.) Sennheiser- nice cord, push to talk button (temporarily mutes NC and sound which is great for interruptions on airplanes).

2.) Bose/Audio Technica- just the basics. Bose simply an on/off switch.



Price:

1.) Audio Technica- $150 to $225 depending on how you shop.

2.) Sennheiser- $200 to $275

3.) Bose- Hard to find below $300+.



Noise Cancelation:

1.) Bose- No question here, far surpassed the other two. Best Noise Cancelation.

2.) Audio-Technica- Good Noise Cancelation.

3.) Sennheiser- Not sure what happened here. Incredible sound, satisfactory noise cancelation.



Summary:



I ultimately kept the Bose because I was only using these for flying and the Sennheiser's (as much as I loved them) let me down in the Noise Cancelation department. The Sennheiser's had by far the most superior sound, but the Bose Noise Cancelation was night and day. The Bose are made very poorly for a $300+ product, it was disappointing.



Final assessment:



Audio-Technica- best balance of value for money

Sennheiser- Best sound and comfort

Bose- Best Noise Cancelation Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B Active Noise-Cancelling Closed-Back Headphones

I've been toying with the idea of getting a set of active noise canceling headphones for a while. Both my wife and I are having to fly more for our jobs, so I can certainly justify this expense. While I hadn't directly tested anything else, I've read reviews both at Amazon and other places for a number of different headphones. The predecessor to these, Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones generally scored well in the reviews, and seemed favored even over the venerable BOSE Quiet Comfort models, the several low rated reviews about sound leakage gave me pause.



Seeing these supposedly new and improved versions recently come to market, I decided to take a chance with the hope that this one negative would be fixed for what is otherwise an excellent product.



I've not been exposed to the original to know first hand how bad the "sound leakage" issue is, but it is something I wanted to test for. I can say that, when I have my Ipod cranked up full (almost at a painful level) and the ANC turned on, it is pretty easy for someone outside to hear what is playing, particularly when there's not a lot of noise in the area. However, in a more "real world" test, I had my wife listening with them while we took a trip with the kids in our minivan. While not up to aircraft levels, the van can generate a decent amount of noise, especially at speed and on noisy asphalt. In this case, I had her turn it up as loud as she could comfortably do. I managed to barely be able to hear something from the headphones, but not even to the point that I could tell what she was listening to. That test was enough to allay my concerns about the "sound leakage" issue as a practical matter.



My wife greatly appreciated using the headphones on our road trip and found them very effective and damping down the road and engine noise. For the most part, our trips don't happen at the same time, but I can already tell that, if we are traveling together, I'll be adding a second set to our house hold. While not as good sounding as some of my dedicated over the ear heaphones for music, especially with the ANC on, the sound quality is still well more than acceptable and a fair compromise to go along with the ANC capability. As is typical of the technology, most of the sound reduction comes at the lower frequencies, with higher vocal level frequencies getting much less attentuation. These will knock down the low level engine rumblings, but not silence a conversation.



As for the package in general, it's very simple and elegant. The battery compartment takes a single AAA battery and it is easy to rotate the cover on the right earpiece to expose and replace the battery. While it doesn't lock, it is firm enough that I don't think there's going to be an issue with accidentally opening the battery compartment. The headphones use a standard 3.5mm stereo connection and the package comes with both a short (good for having a player in your hand or on a belt clip) and longer cable that would be suitable plugging into a set of desktop speakers and allowing you to move about your desk. There are also 1/4" adapter plugs for use with a typical home stereo/AVR as well as the typical two pronged airline connector. The case has a zippered internal pocket to hold all of these, along with extra AAA batteries (one Energizer even comes with the package). The case is pretty compact, which is good for using with a carry on bag. Even so, there is sufficient room to easily hold my Ipod 5G 60GB inside. There's space still for something a little wider and a good bit longer, so I suspect an Ipod Touch or Zune would fit with no trouble. The case itself is pretty sturdy with heavy inserts in the back, front, and sides to hold the case's shape.



When I made my purchase, the price difference between the new model and the old one was effectively the same. Even as of this writing, there's only a net $10 difference. With that in mind, if you have looked at the previous generation, I see no reason to get it anymore. This unit incorporates at least two year's worth of improvements over the original and comes in at a very competitive pricepoint, especially compared to BOSE and some of the other high end ANC headphones. - Audio-technica - Audio Technica - Noise Canceling - Ath-anc7b'

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Wireless Printer - inkjet, canon printer

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I bought this unit as my laser printer was just too much wrt toner costs. I also wanted a wireless printer to share between all my computers (PC and Mac/iphone).



It is low cost (really low cost), and the print quality (at this price point) is great.



The reason that I'm not happy with this product, like I should be is just how poorly thought out the software is. During install, you basically are going to be loading up with a number of bloatware features (trying to not install these resulted in weird artifacts/or the software you need just not installing).



Also there's a little bubble that sit's on your desktop - really annoying. After all, I wanted a printer and a printer really should just work in the background without the need to be seen by me every time i use my computer.



Finally, the settings. The settings are crazy. First - no matter what I try, I can't get the printer to print in the proper order. Out of the box with all the defaults, I found that when I print a document - it prints in reverse order. Unacceptable. Going through the settings - I can't find the setting to lock this down. So I have to remember each time that I print to 'reverse' print order.



Also, there's a 'silent' feature. I haven't a clue what this does. It does make the printer a bit more silent, but it's not default. If there's some software to make the printer work just as well, but with less noise - shouldn't this be default?



Again, the install was a mess. Installing across computers (PC or Mac) was not fun. The fact that the settings were/are not correct out of the box, not fun. The bloatware/and the weird bubble that shows up on my desktops - really NOT fun. If the unit printed at lightening speed or completely silent, perhaps then I could overlook the poorly designed software - but it doesn't. The printer is just average.



I'm giving the OK rating because the print quality is average, the cost overall is great, and the software is poor. So it's just so/so. Canon PIXMA MP495 Wireless Inkjet Photo All-In-One (4499B026)

1) Choosing a printer:

Need a new printer, one to replace my HP D1660 that has been nothing but problems, you get what you pay for. Shopping around and reading consumer reviews, and Consumer Reports gave both Canon and Epson printers high marks. Cheap ink price with Canon was the selling point, see the ** at the bottom of review. While I do shop a lot for electronics online, and got most of my stuff through Amazon, Amazon did not have the lowest price for the printer, Wal Mart priced in at $59.99. For its price, even if you pay the six dollar's more with Amazon, you still get a great deal for what this printer can do.



2) Setting up printer:

Setting up the printer was easy for me, and there are two ways to set it up to use on you Wireless Network. The faster way is using the USB cable that comes with the printer by plugging it in to your computer. When you start installing the driver for the printer, asks you if you would like to us it on WLAN Network. If you choose yes the driver install does the rest, grabbing the PSK from your computer. The other way is to much work if you ask me, and that involves WPA using thing maintenance button on the printer.



3) Using printer

Copying using the printer, while it is not the kind of copier you find in an office, it does however copy every well. The only choose you have for enlarging the document is the Fit to Page button: In my opinion that is all that is needed for home use and most office use. You can choose the number of copies to make, with the number being displayed on the LED display. A plus when copying with the printer, it auto detects the right shade level to use. Scanning with the printer, takes a bit more work when setup for Wireless use, and there are a few ways to scan documents and/or pictures. One: Is the Scan button on the Printer, (Note this feature does not work if you have the printer setup via the WLAN). Two: Using the auto scan via Canon Solution Menu EX located in the Taskbar. Three: Using scanners driver via the MP Navigator EX 4.0 and using the scanners driver you can set the scanning dpi resolution higher. Using the Auto Scan feature does yelled good scans, and the only time that I have found that I needed to use the scanners drive, was when scanning older pictures. *Note; if you using the print via the WLAN then you will need the scanning software that comes with the printer, otherwise Windows Live Photo Gallery can be used to scan. Other thing is, if you scan other things then photo then you will like the scanning software for the printer, lettered and graphic documents can be converted to PDF, which I find very handy. Printing with the printer, yields good results better than any printer I have had mostly due to the fact that page comes out evenly, and it does use about one cent extra ink. Documents that have simple graphics, printer very well under fast mode, the only time that I have a need to set it higher is when printer multi-color documents that need to have a higher dpi. Photo printing with the printer, is what makes this printer a great buy; and best thing about this printer is how photo's come out looking like photo lab pictures. You can print with or without borders, though I find without borders to look the best. The software that comes with the printer is a bit clucky, and is unneeded if you are already using a program to organize you photo's. If you do not do any hardcore photo editing, other than getting read of redeye, or gray scaling, then Windows Live Photo Gallery is all you need. Picasa is another great program for organize you photo's, that does a little more; and it is free. One thing that I found with printing great looking photo's, is picking the right kind of photo paper, and using the right photo print settings. I use HP Glossy Premium Photo Paper, and have great results.



4) Pros:

a) Wireless printing

b) One touch Auto Scanning, (does not work when printer is setup on a WLAN Network.

c) Photo Printing

d) iPhone and Android printing by way of a printer app for the phones.

e) Cheap in price, but not in quality, $59.99 at Wal Mart.

f) *Low ink indicator LED for both color and black ink on printer.

g) **Low ink cost.

h) WPA and WPA2 and 802.11b/g/n



5) Cons:

a) Auto Scan via the printer does not work when printer is setup to work on WLAN.

b) Clunky software for photo printing and scanning.

c) ***Ink not refillable.

d) Scanning default set at 300dpi.



6) Overview:

When shopping around for a printer, found that Canon printers had happy users, and for the price this one is a must have if you looking for a multifunction (printer, scanner and copier). Even if you are in the market for just a printer, go ahead and get this one; you will not be disappointed.



* The My Printer program can also be used to indicate when ink is low, but the indicator LED's means one less program needs to be installed.

** Amazon has the Black PG-210XL at $16.99 and the CL-211XL at 21.99. Wal Marts price is $21.98 for the PG-210XL, and for the CL-211XL $28.84. Plus with Amazon the shipping for ink is free, and there is no tax.

*** Due to the ink level indicator of the ink cartridge of this type being unable to be rest, there is a high defect rate of refilled PG-210 and CL-211. However the cartridges can still be recycled at your local printer ink store. - All In One Printer - Canon Printer - Inkjet - Multifunction Printer'

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Schumacher - schumacher, battery charger

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As my title states, this charger handles all four main types of large batteries: Lead Acid Auto Starter batteries, Deep Cycle Marine, AGM and Gel Cell. You select battery type and size and it takes care of the rest. When you first hook up the clips to the battery and plug in the charger, selecting battery type, it tests the battery and gives you the volts available as well as the percentage that battery is currently charged! Many times I've wanted to know that. You then select battery size and it starts charging. If you select 15 or 10 amps, when the battery is fully charged it goes into a maintenance mode automatically! You can leave the charger running forever - and it won't over charge the battery. Also - if your battery is damaged by sulfide build up, it detects that and runs a cycle to clean the battery and give it life again if it can. Wow. I wonder how many batteries I've replaced that could have been revived or kept alive by this charger?! This is going to save me a lot of money.



I purchased a new 850 cc amp deep cycle battery to use as an emergency power source for my amateur radio equipment (I'm a net control storm spotter for the National Weather Service Skywarn network). This brand new battery tested at 95% charged - so I fully charged it (while using the radio) and it worked fine. Charged up to 100% and went into maintenance mode automatically. Took the charger to the farm and connected it to a dead tractor battery. Showed 11% charged and began building the charge immediately. Was up to 15% in about 7 minutes when I had to leave. I'll have to update this review later to let you know if it was able to salvage that poor battery.



I know of no other chargers that test the battery, charge all types of batteries and can safely be left on to maintain them as well. Go check out the cost of Gel Cell battery chargers - and you'll find this is a deal.



BTW, if you forget to turn it from 'test' to 'charge', after 10 minutes or so this charger will automatically charge up the battery and keep it maintained for you! How easy is that? Schumacher SSC-1500A Ship 'N' Shore SpeedCharge Charger with included 75-amp battery clamps

As others have noted, the percent-charged reading can be grossly misleading. My experience is that when it shows 100%, you can expect to continue charging for another couple of hours before reaching full charge. Other than that, this charger works well. The biggest consideration with this product, however, is life expectancy. While this charger comes with a five year warranty, you are unlikely to get anywhere near that before it dies. This has been my experience with several Schumacher battery chargers. Unfortunately, there is almost nothing in the way of comparable items by other makers to choose from.

I bought this charger to replace a 15yr. old manual charger that finally gave up the ghost. All I can say is that chargers have come a long way over the last decade and a half. This charger was about 1/3 the price of the one it replaced. It's easy to use and does a great job. I would prefer metal construction rather than the plastic, but given the price, that's a minor complaint. The fan is a bit loud, but I don't sleep in my garage so I don't see that as an issue either.



I've used this charger several times. Most recently to revive the battery in my wife's mini van. It was drained to less than 6v when my kids left the interior lights on. In the past, this would have been a death sentence for the battery, but the SSC-1500A was able to recharge it without any problems. It's been over 2 months and her car starts just fine. Considering it's winter in Alaska, that's no small feet for a battery that was drained as far as her's was.



The SSC-1500A was also able to breathe new life into a portable jump start battery that had recently started refusing to accept more than a 50% charge with it's included wall wart. I hooked the SSC-1500A's clamps to the portable batteries clamps, started the charge and left it overnight. The next morning the portable battery was back to full capacity.



I'll say it again, great charger for the price.

Purchased through Amazon the SSC 1500A charger arrived well packaged and in a timely fashion, as promised. My car battery was almost out of juice, having only enough to dimly illuminate the interior lights. Easy to hook up and get started at a "medium" size battery setting . The blinking yellow light came on, indicating that the battery was being desulfated. Left it on overnight and the next morning the "BAD" message was on the indicator panel. Car wouldn't start. Disconnected the charger for a few minutes, reconnected it and started over with same setting. Same yellow blinking light. came on. Left it for 24 hours and came back to find yellow blinking light still on. Checked the 'percent charged' indicator and it was at 19%. Car wouldn't start. Disconnected and reconnected again, this time increasing the charge rate to 15 amps by selecting the "large" battery setting. Came back 8 hours later and the "BAD" message was again on, and the percent charge was still 19 %. "

Highly annoyed and ready to send it back at this point, decided to keep trying as felt no way the battery could be bad. Reconnected, at the same "large setting and sat down to watch. Yellow blinking light stayed on for about 15 minutes and then went steady (unblinking). Percent charged started moving up and I was elated. Left and came back 6 hours later. The % charged indicator showed 60%, but the "BAD" indicator was on, along with the red light which indicated the same thing. Decided to try to start the car anyway. Started on the first crank with a strong burst from the starter motor. Left the engine running and got out of the car to find the % charged indicator moving steadily upward until it stopped at 72% about 5 minutes later. Turned of the car and left to let the battery become completely charged. Came back an hour later, " "BAD " message on again and battery 60% charged. Now totally peeved, disconnected the charger, vowing to return it. Opened the car door to put some stuff inside and noticed the interior lights were shining brightly. Car started up immediately and did so several times in a row. Two weeks later and it still starts up immediately. Problem solved---but obviously after a big hassle.



I think the issue must be in the microchip sensor or the circuitry of the charger. Probably does not effect every unit sold but definitely a good sign of poor quality control. I will still return the unit and if there is a hassle, I will let you know. - Battery Chargers - Battery Charger - Automatic Battery Charger - Schumacher'

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Blackberry Storm Charger

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Many reviews of this product point out that it can be used with devices other than the specified Blackberry models.



This is true, but be careful!



This charger is rated with an output of 5v at 700mA. Many devices ship an OEM AC adapter outputting 5V at 1,000mA.



I'll be using this with a Sprint HTC Evo 4G which normally uses a 1,000mA adapter. What it means is a slightly longer charging time for the battery. More than likely not important for the vast majority of people, but a few might object for one reason or another.



Build quality on this Blackberry branded adapter is moderate. Mine has a distinct rattle.



Design is okay. Folding prongs, compact wall wart body, long attached cable with a microUSB connector.



Overall a tremendous value, especially if you have Amazon Prime, but double-check the specs on your device to make sure 700mA output will work for you.



Jerry BlackBerry Folding Blade Micro Charger for BlackBerry 8900, Storm 9530, Tour 9630, Torch 9800 (Black)

I just wanted to clarify for people, these are standard Micro USB wall chargers - no weird brand-specific extensions. I got two of these for my Samsung Moment and they work fine, besides the fact they say BlackBerry. This was the best deal out there for wall chargers I could find.

This item is available from several different sellers. The highest price (but eligible for free shipping so it makes up for it) is from Amazon -- so if you're looking to receive the exact thing you see pictured here, I'd recommend going for the Amazon one. Other reviewers may be reviewing this item purchased from different sellers.



When sellers set up their item, they can choose among the current listings and just indicate that they are selling that thing. It's entirely possible that they choose the closest similar thing, and don't get it exactly right.



I ordered from Amazon (figuring they know what they're selling and have a vested interest in listing things accurately) and I received a Blackberry branded charger, and the blades were indeed folding.

There are so many sketchy sellers selling phone chargers out there, that it can be a bit scary. The problem is that if the charger is poorly made, the output of the charger can be out of spec and can, in some cases, fry the phone you connect to it.



For that reason, when it comes to phone chargers, you should stick to name brands. (They are all made in China, but the name brand ones are usually subject to stricter QA).



When I found this charger on Amazon, SOLD BY AMAZON, I jumped on it. It's a MICRO USB charger, made for the Blackberry and sold under the Blackberry name, in retail packaging. The rated output is 5V and 700mA.



This charger should work fine with most any phone that uses the MICRO USB connector. The key number to pay attention to is the second one, the rated amperage. This is the MAXIMUM amount of current that the phone can request from the charger. A typical USB port on a PC provides as little as 100mA, and few provide more than 500mA. So this charger should charge your phone faster than when it's connected to a PC. A few phones out now can use up to 1000mA. But that just means they CAN use that amount. If 700mA is provided, they'll still charge, just a bit more slowly.



This is an excellent quality name brand travel micro USB charger at a price that beats the no-name junk from third party sellers. What's not to like?

This is original blackberry equipment and works perfectly. I understand through my research that there's some imitations on the market that don't perform very well. The price on this item is outstanding and so is the product.

Let's face it: you can never have enough chargers for your Blackberry. If you're like me, your battery runs out at the most inopportune times. It's a MicroUSB charger, so it'll charge not only your Blackberry Bold/Storm/Tour/Torch, but it should work for most Android phones. This also charges my Kindle as well.



Also, check to make sure you are buying directly from Amazon instead of a third party seller. It'll reduce the risk that you'll get some bad knockoff.



Overall, you need to have one as a spare. This is my third charger and to be kept at the office just in case.

I bought this charger as a "spare" to keep at the office. I was pleased to see that it was identical to the OEM charger that came with my 9650. Amazon's price and shipping service beat all other competitors. Thank you Amazon.

The ones I got did have folding blades and were OEM by RIM. The sellers that Amazon used for me were The OEM Shop and SFPlanet. I use them for my Kindle 2 (and would work with the Dx model too) and they are perfect, and inexpensive.'

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