Guy Low Price Electronic: 10 Feb 2010

Wednesday, 10 February 2010

counter - counter, lap counter

Fair value and solid product so far (three months as of this writing).

It has a constant "on" feature, so it is always showing a count, like those old style freebie LED travel clocks and credit card calculators. There is no way to turn it off, but there is battery in the back that's easy to change out (little disc battery) and should last for at least a year.

It's a very simple and straightforward counter:

1. Hit the big black button in the center and count up or down by one for each press.

2. The little grey button on top right is the reset whenever you need to start over again. It's designed well in that you have to keep it pressed for a few seconds, so you can't have accidental resets.

3. The other little grey button on the top left is the mode to count up (+) or count down (-)

4. If you hold both little grey buttons down for three seconds you can toggle on or off a beep sound for every time you hit the black button.

I bought this because I wanted a way to keep count of customers at events; I've got it right in my cash box and it's a good, tight fit, making it easy to hit it each time I take cash from a sale.

What I like most about this item is that its understated in grey, is inexpensive, has an ability to turn off the annoying beep sound most other counters don't let you silence and came with a nice little black wrist strap that would be convenient if you wanted to take it out on walkabout. Robic M367 Digital Pitch and Tally Counter

i had bought one of these and used it for several months. This is my third type of tally counter. the first one was the traditional mechanincal one that had a steel outer covering. with regular use, the steel coating started wearing off so i had to replace it. the next one i bought was a plastic bodied mechanical hand tally counter which lasted only about 3 months before the counter mechanism started either skipping digits or just getting jammed. My next purchase was a digital tally counter from minisciences that looked and felt just like a traditional metal hand tally counter, except that this one was totally made of plastic and had a digital display. this too lasted for about 2 to 3 months before the counter button started getting less and less sensitive/ accurate. This Robic one i have used for over 3 months and have now ordered 10 more to hopefully last me atleast for the next 2 years.

I don't usually go to the trouble of writing a review unless I am really pleased or really disappointed. On this counter, to say that I'm disappointed would be a huge understatement.

On the upside, the counter is easy to hold and to use. The display is large and easy to read. However, this is of little value if the count is unreliable. As another reviewer said, it will reset at the slightest impact or vibration. I usually wear it around my neck and if I bend over and stand up the "bounce" against my chest is often enough to cause a reset. If I set it on a table, it will reset. If I take a big step or jog a few steps with it around my neck that is enough to cause it reset. Since I use this to count made/missed shots for my son's basketball practice, it is nearly useless if I reach for a rebound or move quickly to get out the way. I can only assume that this malfunction is due to poor quality rather than an intended function of the design.

This is clearly one of those times that I wished I had given heed to some of the negative reviews rather than assuming in my situation "it would work fine".

Unless your counting needs can be done without any movement or jostling, I recommend in the strongest possible way that you look elsewhere for a reliable counter.

A previous reviewer had difficulty with the set button staying set. When I

received mine I put it through its paces and it is working perfectly. The buttons have to be held down long enough that a correctly-manufactured unit will not easily change the count.

I needed the silent option and chose this counter and am very happy with it!

I bought one of these back in March of '10 and just had to get a second one due to it no longer working correctly. However, it lasted that long and was used daily in a warehouse environment to count anywhere from 300 to 600 items a day. For this price I'd say that's pretty good.

actually, this product at the beggining was so good but after some days i put it inside my backpack and i start running for 10 minutes, when i opened and i take out the counter,i realized that it stopped working. nothing appears on the screen,,, i just hear the bip and thats all - Lap Counter - Counter'

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Reels

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My first order was misplaced by courier name i-parcel and it was always the case when shipping with i-parcel.

I placed a new order for 2 reels and they arrived super fast by DHL shipping.

I mounted the reel on a Shimano Tiralejo medium fast rod at this stage a 3 ounce sinker when casted goes closer to the safety markers buoys

which I believe closer to 200 meters.

I have yet to catch a fish with this one and test how the drag works. Abu Garcia 6500C3 Ambassadeur C3 Baitcast Round Reel (3 Ball-Bearing, Gear Ratio 5.3:1, Capacity 14/245)

Brilliant reel. Exactly as advertised by amazon.

Good price, good service, nice quick delivery from amazon, as usual.

The reel itself is solid and well made, made in sweden like all good ambassadeurs.

Easy to use, easy to cast and big enough for some decent sized fish.

A dream to fish with!

Definately recommended!

The 6500C3 is a smooth, strong reel. I have owned several Penns in the past, but this is my first Abu in the levelwind area. I will not likely purchase anything else in the near future. It is a workhorse of a reel on big catfish.'

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Childhood Memories - trouble, board game

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I've been playing Trouble since I was a kid and it's still fun to play with my brothers and my niece. You push down on the middle part of the game with the dice in it and the dice will 'pop' and give you a number, telling you how many spaces to move. The first person to get their four pieces around the board and to their base, wins. If you land on a space where one of your opponent's pieces are already at, they will have to start all over with that piece. For that reason, some kids might get mad if they have to start over, but that's the only thing that I see that anyone wouldn't like about Trouble.Playing Trouble can teach kids some counting skills and maybe even some sportsmanship after you teach them not to get mad because they're not winning everytime. Trouble is a lot of fun and I recommend anybody to get it. Trouble Board Game

I think even young children will enjoy this game. My daughter was under 4 when we started, but she loves the counting aspect of the game. It's great for number recognition skills because you make them say the number on the die outloud as they "roll." The only rule I don't like is that you need a "6" to start. Often that makes the beginning a bit slow if no one gets a 6. Once things get going, it's a lot of fun and easy to play. The thing in the middle is harder to push than it looks, so for very young children, they may not be strong enough to push it. 3-4 year olds should have no problem though and it makes a satisfying pop. A fun and easy game -- avoid if your child still puts small plastic pieces in his mouth though.

"I sat hunkered over the board. Five years old, and a "Trouble" champion. My brother stared me down. At eight years old, he knew how to intimidate. My glass of chocolate milk quivered in my nervous hands..." --me... circa 1971 or 1972The sheer delight of a simple game will be satisfying as you see your children pop on the plastic bubble to 'toss the dice.' And you'll smile as you know those dice won't be easily lost. Milton Bradley were smart to use such a creative device without losing an ounce of fun.Easy to learn, keeps a child's attention, and just plain good 'ol fun.My brother usually beat me. But I went at the game as intensely as Michael Jordan plays basketball.I fully recommend "Trouble."Anthony Trendl

I'm a 27 year old mother of 3. I remember loving this game when I was a kid. I was so dissapointed when I opened this game. I couldn't believe how cheesey it is. You can barely 'POP' the dice. And when my kids POP the bubble all the game pieces fly around. Plus the bottom of the game has a pop in piece of cardboard. Shouldn't the bottom be covered with hard plastic??

I also wish there was something to hold all the pieces because my kids (like many others) abuse the box and all of the pieces fall out and get lost.

****Can't the board game makers start making harder cases or Tins so we all don't have a stack of smashed boxes and missing pieces.

The game itself is fun...but I ended up throwing it away because pieces got lost way to fast.

I have a hard time finding a game my daughters will both agree on. When I found Trouble, I found relief! It's one game they agree on and the whole family can get into the action. The die helped my youngest learn to recognize her numbers. What a wonderful family game. My hat's off to you Amazon for selling this game and thank you Hasbro for making such a wonderful family game!

When "I'm bored" rings out, this is a great toy. One of those ones everyone can play together, without sitting mesmerised at a computer or video screen. A good one to take away on holidays too - it gets packed first in our house.

I like many other adults rember this game from when I was a child. My wife and I purchased it as a Christmas gift for our kids. My kids love the game, and have they have lots of fun playing it. Educationally they learn to count and strategize as part of the game(which piece to move, what pieces are at risk).

The construction of the game seems quite flimsy compared to the game I had as a young boy. The kids have to really push down on the bubble to get the die to jump.

Another interesting note, this isn't a complaint, just an observation. With four players the game takes a little longer to play, all four of us were knocking opposing players back to home every few turns. This didn't seem to bother the kids too much, they enjoyed forcing their siblings pieces home, but it happened so often that I commented to my wife that the game might take all day...

Overall the game is fun and the kids enjoy playing it. Sometimes a player can get stuck waiting for a six (we allow 1 and 6 to speed up the game), and there are some games where everyone keeps getting their game pieces sent home, in games like that my kids begin to stop sending other players pieces home. The quality of the product itself is rather cheap, and the little ones have to push the bubble with both hands to get it to pop but I wouldn't let that stop me from purchasing this game.

I always loved this game when I was little - and the fact that my daughter also enjoys it now makes this a special toy for us to share. My four-year old really gets into it. Sometimes the pop-o-matic thing in the center is too hard for her to push. If she has to put a lot of pressure on it, the game pieces can become dislodged. She has learned a lot about counting and strategy - I think the educational value is high. And on a sweeter note, she's learning manners and sportsmanship in a really gentle way. As much as she loves to send her mommy back "home" she always notes "that it's just part of the game".

This is the one game we enjoy playing with our 6 year old -who is a very sore loser. But this game is so much fun, he doesn't mind if he loses. It's great for counting skills and really tests a kid's patience. The pop up dice is fun, too. - Trouble - Games - Board Game - Childhood Memories'

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Clock Radio - ipod alarm clock, iphone clock alarm

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I have searched hard to find the "perfect" iPod alarm clock. For me, the iHome iP9 comes closer than anything else I found, but it does have some very annoying flaws.

In my opinion, the best features are:

* The alarm can be set to wake to a random song on an "iHome" playlist on your iPod. Only Sanyo seems to have a product with a similar feature, but I think theirs looks REALLY ugly.

* The backlight dimmer has 7 levels of brightness and can even be turned off.

* You can adjust the snooze time from 1 to 29 minutes in 1-minute increments.

* The alarm volume (for radio and iPod) gradually increases for "gentle" waking.

* The sound quality is quite good for such a small unit.

The things that annoy me about the unit are:

* The alarm set buttons are located directly behind the snooze bar, and hitting one of these buttons resets the alarm when the alarm is sounding. While the snooze bar is very big and has a bump that you can feel with your fingers, I fear that I will accidentally turn off my alarm one morning when just trying to snooze for a few more minutes.

* There is a beep when setting the alarm. While this offers audio confirmation of your alarm setting actions, it can be annoying if you are trying to set the alarm when your significant other is sleeping.

* The dial controls are cool in theory/aesthetic but are not so great in practice. It can be more time-consuming to use these to set the alarm time and other settings when compared to conventional buttons and a system where one sets the hour and minute independently. Also, the dials are mechanical (unlike an iPod) and lack an indent or other means for providing traction. So, your finger can slip, making them not so easy to turn. For this, I found a simple work-around: I stuck on each dial a small, round, self-adhesive, clear plastic bumper (something you can find in any hardware store). This makes it much easier to turn the dials, but it does not get around the fact that dials are not always the best interface.

* Personally, I find only the dimmest and off settings for the backlight to be of any use. Perhaps, the other backlight settings would be needed if the unit is placed in direct sunlight. However, I find them too bright, and it is very slightly annoying that I need to press the dimmer button to cycle through the 6 other "on" settings each time I turn the backlight off. While definitely better than some competing units whose backlight is always way too bright (e.g. the Sony ICF-CD3iP), even the dimmest setting can be rather bright in a totally dark room.

For me, the positive outweighs the negative when evaluating this unit as an iPod alarm clock. While not my primary usage (and paling in comparison to a dedicated home stereo), I found the sound on this unit to be surprisingly good when using the unit as an iPod speaker system for casual listening in a small room. iHome iP9 Speaker Dock with Clock Radio for iPod and iPhone (Silver)

I had been reading about the IP99 for months but was unwilling to pay well over $120 for it. When I happened across the new IP9 for $79.99 in a local warehouse that starts with "Cost" and ends with "co", I thought I would give it a try.

The sound is slightly improved over my older IH5 and IH6 radios -- which is to say excellent for the money -- and so far I haven't heard the slightest GSM buzz. The iP9's 3D effect is richer than the Sony ICF-C1iPMK2's "Mega Xpand" feature. The overall sound of the iP9 is slightly warmer than that of the Sony but otherwise comparable. The Eq option is a big plus.

The one advantage the Sony has is that it supports an iPhone from the back via and adustable block. That somewhat negates the need for a dock insert. This is a nice convenience for people with an iPhone shell that is small enough to fit in a universal dock as you may not have to remove the shell to dock the iPhone securely. You NEED an insert on the iP9 as you would on any device with a universal dock on top and nothing substantial behind the dock. Fortunately, the iPhone insert iHome includes seems to work as well as an iPhone 3G Universal Dock Insert from Apple... and it's black! The iHome website currently states that the IP9 does not ship with an iPhone 3G insert but perhaps iHome wised-up.

The dual alarms work in a similar manner to the Sony. The 2-5-7 day setting is a plus. I have not used the snooze feature though it is supposed to be configurable. Our dogs do not allow us to snooze, in case you were wondering. At night, one big advantage for the iP9 is that the dimmer allows you to turn off the backlighting entirely. As anyone with a Sony will tell you, their dimmest setting is way too bright. The iHome's numbers are also a little larger.

I have read about some quality problems with the IP99 and am hoping that the IP9 is as solid as the IH5 and IH6 clocks I have had for a few years without any problems. The iP9 seems to be built more solidly than the Sony, particularly with respect the buttons. The dials take a little getting used to, but if you're tying to adjust the volume in a dark room they are much easier to adjust than the tiny Sony volume buttons, which have an annoyingly loud click. I also give the iP9's remote an edge because it includes a few more functions.

In summary, the iHome iP9 is a solid performer with an excellent attention to detail that puts it ahead of the Sony ICF-C1iPMK2, despite its more iPhone shell-friendly design.

First of all, THIS IS THE ONE TO BUY IF YOU HAVE AN iPHONE, because the other model just doesn't have sufficient shielding to work with the iPhone. You will have constant buzzing and interference due to the iPhone constantly polling.

Now to the review. The product comes nicely packaged and protected, and with good instructions. Set up is simple, even setting the time, which is just a selection of a time zone if needed. Mine came perfectly timed (it has a battery backup for it's internal clock) and so I just selected my time zone and I was done. Most of the setting are intuitive, except perhaps turning off the alarms if you don't want them to ring the next day... But, read the instructions (I had to finally turn to them as I couldn't work it out... and you know, turning to instructions is the last thing any man wants to do!:-)))))

In function the unit deliver acceptable sound for what is basically a clock radio. And being able to access all your favorite music on the iPod or iPhone, with a remote control no less, is great. Even the alarm works well, with a gradually increasing volume (and irritation... exactly what is required to pierce my slumbering brain...). And being able to wake to radio, MP3, or buzzer is great. The dual alarms can be set for 5 or 7 day setting, so that if you don't have to get up quite so early on the weekend, you can...

FM & AM reception are acceptable, and the tuner has pretty good lock and definition (stays on station, and doesn't pick up much "bleed through" of stations that are close to each other on the dial...). Finding a place to hang/hide the antenna cables can be challenging...

Answering the phone while in the cradle works fine, but isn't the greatest sound.

So, great sound, great time keeping, great access to favorite tunes, great that it charges the phone whilst in the cradle, and it looks good too. So why do I say "almost" does everything? Well, the one think I would change would be to fit a small light sensor, and have it maintain one illumination setting for day and one for night (illumination level of my choice of course). It does have plenty of graduations of light intensity, but it seems I am forever adjusting the illumination, from the bright setting for day, and one of the night... Setting them once as a preference and having it automatically set to that selection as needed would be wonderful...

Anyway, it's a nice solution to keeping your iPhone by the bed, and charging it without cables everywhere. And it does it all whilst looking good, and performing other tasks... Pretty good value if you ask me...

BrianB. - Ipod Alarm Clock - Iphone Clock Alarm - Clock Radio - Ihome'

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Usb Sound Card - junk, sound card

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Amazon won't update the listing on this item, but the "Microphone Jack" is a joke at best. Most microphones require "plug-in power", a small amount of power from the jack that amplifies the signal. This does not provide any power. What that means is that most PC microphones won't work, and those that do will be at a low volume with high noise. The sound outputs seem to work fine, but the mic input is a waste of space and money. It will probably work if you use a microphone is self-powered, but not very versatile. that Don't buy it!

Griffin Technology 9066-IMIC2 iMic/USB Audio Interface

This product is vastly superior, and supplies phantom power. Get it instead. External 5.1 USB 3D Audio Sound Card Adapter for PC Desktop Notebook Laptop

I picked this up to try to use it as an auxilliary sound device for my Macs after my iMic died; I figured that if it didn't work, I wouldn't be out much. But it works very well; plug it in and it's recognized, without any driver installation. The out-bound sound quality seems very good. All in all, you can't beat the performance for the price.

I won't beat around the bush, this is a terrible product. I was looking for something to allow Mic level recordings on my computer (Macbook Pro) and I wasn't sure I wanted to spend the money on an iMic. I found this remarkably cheaper device, and decided to try it instead. When I got it, the first thing I thought upon seeing the packaging was how un-professional it looked. The box looks like something someone printed off their computer, and it even had spelling errors on it. When I popped the device out of the box it came apart in my hand. Right then I knew I had made a mistake. It comes with a minidisc that 1. doesn't fit in a mac, and 2. only had PC software on it. Of course the box and the product page don't say what platform this device is for, and indeed my Mac did recognize it when plugged in. However, when I switched over to USB audio out, my ears were nearly blown out. There was absolutely no way to control the volume. Upon plugging in a Mic, I found the device didn't even respond The audio in channel lights up half way as though it's picking up some signal, but it doesn't make a sound (tested with Line In and Garage Band and no response). This is a shoddy, unprofessional product that should be avoided at all cost. Don't be cheap, I'm sure the iMic is loads better.

I wanted this for both listening and mic usage. For simply listening, its okay, but for use with the mic it is unacceptable. It creates a dreadful amount of high pitched noise. I've tried a variety of configurations but so far without success.

I picked this unit up to provide sound and mic for an ear boom headset to take with me in my laptop bag so I can use my Skype line. I have an acer gemstone that I picked up a year ago at a Walmart doorbuster special, and the built in mic never worked. I was a little nervous purchasing this product, given the reviews, but the price was right so I gave it a chance.

Wow, what a refreshing surprise this turned out to be! I plugged in the boom headset, plugged the unit into the USB port of my Ubuntu 8.10 laptop, it showed up automatically in the volume control, adjusted the mixer settings a bit, and it worked perfectly. The sound going into the mono earpiece was perfect, and everyone I've talked to over my Skype line has said I sound crystal clear, like on a real phone, or at least a decent cell connection.

I would recommend this to anyone looking to do Skype or voice over IP. Its always best to have a separate sound system when doing VOIP, as your primary sound typically interferes with your reception. This is an awesome solution to the second sound card problem, its ultra portable, has perfectly crisp sound with no interference

For what I was using it for worked great, but what about music? I reconfigured the sound server to use the little device to play back music, and wow, amazing sound came out of the headphones! This unit can more than replace your current sound system. It even seemed to provide more backbone to the music than the internal HDA sound built into my laptop.

So for doing VOIP, or replacing a sound card that just isn't working for you, or providing sound to a machine that lacks it, this little unit is for you. It works 110% for me on Ubuntu 8.10.

I broke the headphone jack on my laptop, and to get it fixed would cost me hundreds because it's part of the motherboard. So i got this and it works fine for my headphones or external speakers. It uses its own sound card which is pretty decent. My internal sound card is pretty basic itself anyway. I don't use the microphone function so i cant comment on that.

Easy plug and play mini microphone. As I got tired of hooking up a mic on a stand or putting a headset on this little guy conveniently plugs into one of my USB ports and I forget about it - nothing that dangles or flops around. The sound quality is very nice and volume easily adjustable. One of the reviews here have been negative but there are two products - one is a mic and the other a playback only device which I have not tried.

For speakers or headset this produces an acceptable sound. However, the speaker input produces low volume fuzzy and crackly noise. I tried in two PC's running XP and Vista with the same results. Plug the same mike into the rear input jacks and the mike works fine. If you need to use just the speaker output on this it works fine. I bought it to use for Skype, but it is useless for that.

This USB mic input and audio output appears to have promise, but the audio output level is too strong for headphones and it generates electrical noise from the USB.

Apparently, they could not decide between driving headphones or speakers, so they picked speakers and that means the volume level must be turned almost all the way down so it does not hurt your ears when good headphones are used. The audio output quality seems very muddy.

I bought this because my MacBook Pro does not have a mic amplifier, but when the device is plugged into the USB, electrical noise, a continuous buzz and click, is picked up by my headphones. The noise occurs even when my headphones are plugged into a different audio out and the volume is turned all the way down, so the interference is probably electromagnetic noise.

I don't know if this noise problem occurs on other laptops, but the device is in an unshielded, un-grounded plastic case, and that is a recipie for electromagnetic interference.

The "3D Sound" hype is a marketing gimmick since the outputs are still only stereo. - Usb - Sound - Sound Card - Junk'

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Flooring Tool - porta-nails, floor jacks

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Great tool! Nice heavy weight and easy to use.

The quick release forward makes it easy to use and move quickly as your working. Really pulls the floor to make a nice tight floor.

Be careful! This thing has power and could probably push a wall out of place! Porta-JACK Pro

I have been a flooring installer for 7yrs...how did i ever manage without the porta jack....simple to use and powerful..it ratchets boards into place effortlessly and allows secure nailing for a tight fit... life is great and much easier now!

Product does what it is supposed to do, albeit pretty heavy to move around. Also, it has to grab the tongue of the plank instead of the top edge, which cuts down on the amount of room you actually have to use when laying your last plank by the distance of the tongue. Not that big a deal though usually because your last plank is almost always a rip.

The Porta-Jack is a small but extremely powerful tool. Used to straighten any curved boards and to pull together joints at the wall. Have used other types of jacks but none are as easy and small as this one. You have to make sure you use a longer piece of wood next to the wall when you force the joints together or you will puncture the sheetrock, also watch that you do not move the wall. After you use one you can retire the pry bars and blocks of wood. Overall just a great designed tool.

I am installing over 800 sq ft of 4" x 3/4" Brazilian Cherry in an old home. I won't have any help with this installation and needed something to take the place of a guy with a pry bar. I found this tool and decided to give it a try. The tool is awesome. It's built to last so the price tag is not that bad. This is definately something that will last years and years. I read some people saying it's heavy but I find it pretty consistant for what it is. It is solidly constructed and made with you, the guy or girl installing the floor, in mind. Anyway, about how well it works. Long (6 - 8 foot) boards go in tight with no problem. These boards, even with two other people are a pain in the neck normally. After you straighten out four boards you are going to realize that the tool is worth every last penny. Even though I still can't move as fast as I can with another guy, I get the results I want by myself. While it won't perform miracles it can come really close. It can straigten boards that are already nailed down and it is awesome on your last row before rip cuts. This coupled with a porta nailer and a 16 gauge finish nailer and you're good to go. I could only imagine how awesome this thing could be on an oak floor. I am just happy that I don't have to hack away at a pull bar as much. If you are installing a sizable amount of quality hardwood and have no handy friends do yourself a favor and buy this. Make sure you know what your doing and don't blow out any walls.

I used this for a recent install of hardwood flooring and was thoroughly impressed with the tool. It can generate incredible force and is particularly useful for face-nailing the first or last few rows of flooring, holding everything tight while you drive the nails.

It also provides a useful "anchor point" when using the Porta-Nailer w/ face-nailing attachment, as you can butt the face nailer up against the Porta-Jack and hold it nice and steady while driving the nailer's ram with the hammer.

For the price, I would not buy it for a single room-sized installation (e.g. 150 sq. feet or so) as you can use wedges and pry-bars to move the flooring around. If you have a helper who can lever the pry bar while you nail, that probably works just as good as the Porta-Jack.

However, if you will be undertaking several projects, if you are working alone or if you are using the Porta-Nails nail gun in a face-nailing mode, I'd highly recommend this tool.

I'm professional flooring installer and have used this tool but ended up returning it when I found the same tool at Harbor freight for 24.99. I purchased the one at Harbor freight and have used it for a long time with no problems. I know that you can get alot of junk from them but this is one product you buy from them that will last and work. Save your money this thing is way over priced. - Porta-nails - Floor Jacks'

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Action Adventure - high definition, action

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Why is it, that we want more from a movie than is on offer? Come on chaps, "Lara Croft - Tomb Raider" isn't a film of any intellectual merit, it is merely an exciting adventure movie with a whole host of good special effects and lots of quality funny moments. I for one really enjoyed this film, I expected nothing from it other than a series of explosions and gun battles and that is what I got and I loved every single minute of it. The plot wasn't too complicated, with Lara piecing together a mystery about an ancient clock and two pieces of a mystical triangle that has the ability to fragment time and space and of course there are the obligatory bad guys trying to get their hands on it. There was a fine cast of characters from Iain Glenn playing the evil Mr. Powell (the main bad guy) to Chris Barrie of Red Dwarf fame coming across with great aplomb as the overtly English Butler Hillary who tries and fails to make his young employer into a regal young lady instead of a gun-toting maniac. One of my favorite moments is when Hillary realizes that the security in the Croft Mansion has been breeched and there is a battle going on downstairs. He calmly gets out of bed, dons a bullet proof vest taken from his wardrobe, locks and loads a massive double barreled shot gun without blinking an eye then carefully steps into his leather slippers before stepping out to join the melee. I cracked up laughing, it was SO funny! Angelina Jolie is well cast as Lara Croft, and she manages a pretty good English accent too as well as doing ALL her own stunts which impressed me big time. The special effects were superb, watch out for when a husky-dog jumps through a break in the fabric of time, it's awesome. All in all this is fun, fun film and that is the way it should be treated. The DVD is worth every cent and is stuffed full of extras that just add to the enjoyment of the film. So come on chaps, give it a chance, you never know, you just might enjoy yourselves! Lara Croft - Tomb Raider [Blu-ray]

I give the movie 5 stars as an exciting imaginitive adventure movie.

But there are issues with the Blu-ray version - which are:

The movie was not photographically focused with HD video in mind. Sometimes the details are clearly in focus, sometimes the details are only DVD clear. This is better than an ordinary DVD "upconverted" but is not consistently what I would expect from a true Blu-ray quality movie. If you already own the DVD it may not be worth upgrading - but if you don't I think it is worth it for adventure movie fans.

This is based on the original Blu-ray disk release.

I've been loading up on big, dumb action movies on blu-ray, so when I saw this on sale for $10.99, I said why not... I popped the disc in, and was horrified at the picture quality- it looks like an upconverted dvd. If you have this on dvd already, then don't waste your money.

This has got to be the best attempt at a good game-based movie that I've seen. There were a few minor plot discrepancies that didn't quite follow the storyline of the game, but they could be ignored-I actually didn't notice them myself until my avid Tomb Raider-playing pal pointed them out. I loved the action sequences-the "ceiling ballet" being my favorite, and I think that Angelina Jolie did a suberb job portraying our feisty heroine. The music was probably the best part of the movie, though. The fast-paced techno stuck with me more than the actual story did, and I bought the soundtrack almost immediately afterward. What I didn't like was that the storyline of the movie wasn't that well developed. The charcters were typical, the events were ordinary, and the plot was so predictable that I found myself speaking the dialogue before the characters did! The story wasn't that detailed or involved. A third-grader could have followed it without trouble. I had been hoping for a more provoking, mature movie. Overall, it was...okay. Maybe the next ones will be better...that is, if they don't follow the rule of sequels...

I read so many bad reviews about this product, I was almost positive I would hate it. Then I came across the review Roger Ebert gave it for the Chicago Tribune. HE gave it 4 and half stars out of five. That peaked my interest. I found it at my Wal-Mart for $4. Figuring I could spare four bucks, I bought it, and watched it two days later. By far one of the best movies I've seen a LOOOONG time. Very intriguing plot, great acting, plus it's just plain fun. Combine Indiana Jones with Mission Impossible 2, and you have an idea what this is like. Plenty of special features to keep die-hard movie buffs happy. Plus it's got Angelina Jolie. Need I say more?

Yes, many people are bashing this movie but I think they are all wrong. That is why there is a sequel since it was a good flick, right?

This movie is a very good adaptation from a game, since I also love the games. Angelina was a good Lara Croft not just in the physical aspect but also in the attitude. She is as confident as the one in the games.

The movie also circles in a great plot line. The plot is very well served and not draggy, unlike other movies. It doesn't aim to much to inform people a lot about the Illuminati but supplies what the viewers need, not over or under that. The whole plot makes sense in a not so draggy way.

The adventure aspect is also well done. The exotic locations were mesmerizing as well as the action sequences. The stunts were very realistic, unlike the ones in movies like Charlie's Angels were people leap like animals. Here, Lara is very human but athletic, doing stunts that are actually possible to do and done very nice cinematically.

The movie overall is very enjoyable. its a fun action flick. It may lack depth or may fail to satisfy one but its an action flick. Let go and enjoy. - Action - Angelina Jolie - Adventure - High Definition'

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Stress Reduction - back pain relief, back stretcher

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Works on the same principle as the "Lumbar Extender" but costs less. I showed it to the physiotherapist of the Swiss National Soccer Team, who's been using the Lumbar Extender for years on his patients with back problems. He tried it and found it quite good except for one thing: even in the most advanced position, the slope of the curve should be steeper lower in the back (under L5 specifically) and not high in the back, as is the case. (You'll see this if you look closely at the picture: the wider end slopes more gently down than the narrow end. It really should be the opposite.) You can solve this problem by simply using it "upside down" (i.e., with the adjustment slots down at the bottom of your back rather than at the top as per instructions).

Other than that (and the fact that they won't ship outside the US) this is an excellent, reasonably-priced product. Back Magic Multi-Level Adjustable Back Stretching Devise

Let me tell you my story;

I'm 63 and 6ft 3in; at 19 I fell on my back on a cement floor in a factory; (the days before physical rehab). Over the years this injury caused me great discomfort and pain. Every so often I would move the wrong way and "boom", my back would "go out" and I would be off my feet for a week. I used corset-style back braces and pain pills to some relief. In 1997 I finally went to an orthopedic surgeon after a particularly bad time; x-rays showed deterioration of two discs (age related); again I used pain pills that hardly worked, and again a corset-style brace. In 2006 I had a bulging disc; horribly strong pain pills and (finally) physical rehab which helped a great deal; however, I still had a "bad back" and decided on some chiropractic help; the adjustment helped a great deal but $50 a pop, so I couldn't go as often as I felt I needed and Advil became my best friend. (How many of you can relate to me so far?)

3 weeks ago I saw a Back Majic ad on TV and went to the net and bought it at Amazon which I concider one of the most important things I've ever done!

After my first 10 minute session I got up and immediately walked straighter, (hips forward, shoulders back); immediate lower back pain relief ( I no longer take Advil); my breathing improved and each breath was more satisfying than ever before; my hearing improved and all sounds were "fuller"; I felt more alert and awake and not lathargic and achey; my day was richer and I got more rest at sleep, and without concentrating on pain and discomfort my mood has improved immensly; I feel like a human being again and would pay $100 or with no problem for this device, that's how important it is to me.

I remember reading something Hippocrates wrote;"Look to the spine for the origin of disease".

This device aligns the spine allowing proper nerve function and stretches the back muscles and abs that support the spine and you can definetly feel all this work right away; because of the stretching don't over-use it in the beginning; at first you might feel odd and uncomfortable while using the device because of the stretching and aligning but hang in there. I followed the advice in the booklet and it worked fine. I also use it vertically while sitting in a chair or the couch watching TV and use it for driving which I'm surprised no one else tried; it beats all the rest of the pillows and back rests out there.

If you've had back surgery or spine fussion I wouldn't think this would be good for you; definetly ask your doctor.

It's AMAZING and has made a big difference in my life after so many years of discomfort and agony. Good luck to you!!!!

I'm in my late 30s and have been suffering from lower back pain for the past three years. The pain had moved into my shoulders and most recently my neck. The shoulder pain got so bad that I had to stop my upper-body workout routine 2 years ago. I found the Back Magic device while browsing Amazon two months ago. It has allowed me to manage my neck and back pain, and so far has eliminated the shoulder pain. I have been slowly getting back to my workout routine, thanks to Back Magic.

The device is adjustable with 3 levels of arch support. I suggest sticking to the lowest level for the first couple of weeks before graduating to the next. I am currently at the 2nd level and see no need to go any further.

I use the Back Magic at least 3 times daily. I take it to work with me since it is very portable. I will probably be using it the rest of my life.

Edit 2/12/2010: I am still using this nearly 2 years later. It's made from plastic, but it's holding up well. I only weigh 160 lbs however; if you weigh over 200 lbs, it may not hold up long term. As one of the other reviewers stated, it does work better with the narrow end of the unit placed at the lower back. My positive opinion of this device has not changed and I continue to use it every day. It is not a cure-all, but has helped me manage my lower back pain.

I bought mine from a shopping channel that sells out of them every time they are offered. It is demonstrated by a pilates instructor. I had been suffering from a low back strain and had carpel tunnel symptoms. Both were significantly relieved by regular use of this product. In fact, when I stopped for a week or so, my carpel tunnel symptoms started to return. After using it for a few months, I get compliments on my posture that never happened before. I also can feel significant softening in my chronically overworked neck/shoulder muscles as my head is now balanced on top of my spine, not way out in front of my body. Even after 6 months, I am still only on the first level and feel no great need to adjust to the second position. Great product, fabulous price!

I saw Back Magic advertised on a home shopping program, and the concept really caught my attention. The fact that my neck was in knots and had been for weeks only fueled my desperation for help. The product arrived in a reasonable amount of time, and I have been pleased with its results. I use the first level of elevation for now. I lie on it twice a day in five minute intervals. It is not comfortable at first, but it's not painful either. It's awkward. However, my body has adjusted over time. I have no clue as to why it has relieved my neck, but it has. Several days passed before I felt relief in my neck. I have shared it with friends of various shapes and sizes. The product is made of very sturdy material. It's one of those things that makes me say, "Why didn't I think of that?" The price is reasonable, and if you are at a point of giving up because of back pain, neck pain, or stress in general, you might as well give it a try. I have no regrets. - Back Pain - Back Stretcher - Back Pain Relief - Spine'

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