Apple Computer Accessories - trackpad, wireless

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I bought the trackpad for my 2010 Mac Mini, which I use mainly as a media center appliance, with XBMC.



In this context the trackpad adds a lot of usability for the following reasons:



* I don't need a surface for the mouse anymore. So it's basically like another remote, sitting beside me on the couch.

* I no longer require to use the keyboard, for basic operations. Thanks to the gestures, I can switch between running applications (e.g. from XBMC to Finder) without the need of the keyboard. In fact, since I bought the trackpad I hardly use the keyboard at all.



Cons (same context):



* If you're holding the trackpad with your hand or operating it on a soft surface (like the couch) you can't use the click option, since it requires the trackpad to be sitting on a hard surface, like a desk. So you have to live with tapping for clicking operations. Apple Magic Trackpad

I've been using this as my mousing input device on my work desktop Mac for a couple of weeks. I made a conscience effort to leave my comfort zone and move my regular mice away and rely solely on the Magic Trackpad. I did this because I was unconsciously reaching way over to grab the mouse whenever I needed something done and I wasn't giving the trackpad a fair shot. Anytime you switch away from something familiar there is going to be stress. My long term preference for a pointing device is a Logitech thumb wheel style trackball, but anytime a co-worker came to use my machine I'd have to break out a mouse as their displays of awkwardness defy description. These things take time.



So I gave it a shot. What do I think?



I think the Magic Trackpad has potential if you are the kind of person that can internalize the gestures Apple provides. The 3 and 4 finger swipes especially are useful and if I did them naturally and without much thought then the trackpad would have a significant advantage over other pointing devices as I could do common actions like task switching or browsing back more quickly. This would be a skill worth mastering. I am not a master after a couple weeks, and maybe I won't get there. After all, the Magic Mouse also accepts gestures and has the precision of a mouse. It's possible that people will find the trackpad is good for some activities, such as web browsing where swiping and scrolling dominate, while reserving the mouse for activities such as file management or photo editing where precision is paramount. Nobody said you had to choose only one. Except maybe your wallet.



The addition of iPad-like inertial scrolling is a big win for Mac trackpad users, whether via a built in Macbook trackpad or this Magic Trackpad, and we can expect more gestures to originate on the iDevices and make their way onto the desktop. If you love the browsing experience on an iPad, you are building up skills you can use with this trackpad.



It helps if you are a long time Mac laptop user. I'm so conditioned to using my thumb to click in the lower portion of the surface that I never even notice there is no actual button there. Just as in the unibody series of laptops, the whole surface is a button, which is easily pressed with my thumb after my index finger has guided the cursor. Users coming from a different hardware setup might try clicking with their forefingers and find it exhausting transmitting all that energy through a single extended digit.



The actual device is classic Apple, part work of art, part extremely minimalistic functionality. My one complaint with the hardware is that because clicking goes through the little rubber feet on the bottom front, I cannot click when the trackpad is off the desktop, such as on my lap when I'm reclining. I had to enable tap clicking in the control panel, which works well enough, but I miss the firm solidity of the click. I still prefer a thumbwheel for its unparalleled utility when my feet are on the desk and the device is in my lap or on my leg.



I ended up disabling all one finger gestures except for tap to click as they were driving me crazy with unwanted drags and contextual menus.



Who will like this device: iPad users, power-user MacBook owners, those with Mac Minis attached to a TV.

Who will hate this device: people who absolutely love the precision of a mouse.



Is it worth buying now? I would say probably not. This is a hint at a future where the interaction between human and computer is more gestural, subtle and sophisticated. I don't know if I'm ready for that future.



[Update: if you watched the "Back to The Mac Keynote" on October 20, 2010, you saw that OS X 10.7 will be make much more use of gestures for navigation and control, so come summer of 2011 things will start to get advanced.]

I received this trackpad as a gift and honestly, I wanted to sell it after the first day. It felt awkward and clumsy and I had some guilt over telling it's purchaser, "Yeah, it's great. Thanks so much for the gift..." (even though I was considering selling it on Craigslist the next day).



BUT, after a few days, I have really grown to love it.



That being said, here's what you can expect if you unshackle yourself from the comfort zone of mousedom:



Day One - You will hate this thing. It doesn't do what you want. The mouse is so much easier. Where's the receipt?



Day Two - Okay, staying away from the mouse...giving it a chance. Scrolling is easier and the damn scrollball never sticks and the bottom doesn't get gunked up like a mouse does.



Day Six - Three finger swipes for browsing the net? Loving it. Got more control now with some practice. Two finger tap right clicks. Four finger for Expose. Got it.



Day Seven - My hand knows what to do now. Everything is so smooth. I'm keeping this thing after all.





Moral to the story? Give it a chance. You just might love it. - Mac - Touchpad - Trackpad - Wireless'

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Bicycle Lights - bike headlight, bicycle lights

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Battery life is good and the whole package seems pretty well-built. My only compliant is that the front headlight is not very bright. It serves to let other people know you're there, but definitely does not sufficiently light up the road in front of you. The rear light works just fine.



For the price, however, I don't think this can be beat. If you're looking for a cheap but usable bike light set, this is the way to go. Planet Bike Beamer 1 and Blinky 3 LED Bicycle Light Set

I thought this light would suffice for my short ride home from work every night but its has a much more limited scope than I was expecting. If I could do it again, I would have splurged for a bigger light. Works great and has sturdy construction but is definitely the minimum you need for night riding.

Up front, a large disclaimer - I do not own this product, and gave it 3 stars as a 'guessed at' rating.



So why am I writing a review? Well, I thought I'd pass along a very helpful bit of information I received while I debated between this bike light set and a similar, more expensive one from Planet Bike also offered by Amazon. This light set includes the Beamer 1 headlight, while the more expensive one features the 1/2 watt Blaze headlight (also from Planet Bike). In reading the reviews I saw where people had said the Beamer 1 was a bit dim, but that didn't clarify things for me.



What I'd recommend is to go over to the Planet Bike web site and fire up their 'See the Light' feature, [...]. This very helpful web page shows you *exactly* how each of the different products work, and the area they illuminate.

QUICK SUMMARY: I like this product enough to equip all six of our family's bicycles with this combo unit. They're easy to attach to the handle bar (once you understand the mechanism), easy to remove, and do a good job helping others to see you. Don't expect to use this headlight to illuminate a dark road at night, though.



There are six reasons why I like this set:



1) LED lights are much more energy efficient than the old-fashioned, incandescent light bulbs I used to use growing up. Saves money on replacement batteries.



2) The headlight beam, when focused correctly, is very bright and can be easily seen by an oncoming car from a faraway distance. Similarly, the red tail-light, when properly focused, can also be easily seen from an approaching vehicle.



3) The physical size of both the headlight and tail-light are very compact, so they look nice on the bikes.



4) They're weatherproof enough so if you're caught in the rain, both devices should keep working for you.



5) They're easy to mount on the handlebar and seat post. I used one of the rubber inserts to ensure a tight fit on the handlebar. The headlight doesn't require a screwdriver to install; the tail-light does need a screwdriver.



6) The headlight is easy to detach from the bike. I liked this feature when I was nighttime riding, and I wanted to stop and take a look at an armadillo along the road. So, it doubles as a handy flashlight, too. The tail-light is easily detached from the mounting bracket, too, but you'll probably do that only to replace the batteries.



I have four caveats to share with you:



1) The headlight isn't good enough to illuminate a dark road well enough that you can safely ride at night. You can do it, but the road will be dimly lit up. There's only one white LED in the headlight. It's fine if you're riding at night on a well-lit road and you just need a headlight so others can see you. If you need a headlight to really light up the road for you, look elsewhere.



2) Both the headlight and tail-light need to be properly focused so an oncoming vehicle can actually see you. They need to point almost straight ahead so the beam can be highly visible to an oncoming or approaching vehicle. If not pointed correctly, the bright intensity of the LED lights won't help you become visible to others.



3) Even when the lights are correctly focused, the bright light can only be seen from a relatively narrow field-of-vision. I would have preferred the tail-light to slightly offset the leftmost and rightmost LEDs so the tail-light could be seen by a wider field-of-vision. Because the field-of-vision is so narrow, take time to evaluate whether you've correctly installed the lights by moving 50 or 100 yards away from your bike, and looking to see how well the lights can be seen. (It's helpful if you work with another person to install the lights, where one person makes the adjustments, and the other stands far away to evaluate the results).



4) Stupidly, you press the headlight button once to initiate a blinking action, a second time to have a steady beam, whereas the tail-light is just the opposite -- click once for a steady beam, twice to initiate a blinking action.



In short, recommended!

This is definitely made for letting others know you are there not for riding dark trails at night, but, it does that very well and at a great price. Front and back are plenty bright enough for getting attention. Both mounted easily. My only tiny complaint is that they don't default to the same mode one to flashing and the other to solid.

I've been really happy with these lights. I the front light is bright enough for an average suburban road, and I like the blinking function on the back light. I haven't used them long enough to judge if the battery length is as long as they say, but so far I've had no problems. The bracket for the tail light was strange, I never did figure out how it was supposed to work, but I just skipped the bracket entirely and used the clip that was attached to the light. The clip seems sturdy enough by itself. Overall I'm very happy with them and it was the best price I found around. - Bike Light - Cycling - Bicycle Lights - Bike Headlight'

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Correspondence - john updike, memoirs

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Transparent writing consists of prose that doesn't tell; it is prose that shows. E. B. White is the master of this. His prose takes you where he wants you to be and, once there, shows you the sights, lets you smell the aromas and hear the sounds.

A modest man, E. B. White claims often that writing for him is difficult and painful. Yet this collection of letters shows that from the beginning, Elwyn Brooks White had an innate ability to write simply, clearly, and charmingly.

Whether he is thanking young readers for compliments, advising aspiring writers on writing, or berating a famous author for endorsing a product, he is witty, clear, and compassionate.

Reading these letters you will think, cry, laugh, and even wince, but you will not frown in confusion as you wonder what the writer is trying to say. As a very beneficial side effect, reading E. B. White will often improve your own writing.

Am I biased? You bet! Years of reading the stilted, jargon-laced writing of business, and the contrived, artificial efforts at "style" of many authors, reading anything by E. B. White is like talking to your best friend. Letters of E. B. White

E.B. White was a well known writer for The New Yorker, but I think his real genius was in writing letters to friends and family. He wrote about the ordinary and made it more than interesting, but fun. (His description of how to set up your room when admitted to the hospital is hysterical!) But he also wrote about hard times in life, his wife's illness, his own aging, death of friends and family. He wrote with honesty, clarity, and gusto. Letter writing (and READING a letter also) should never be a chore. Reading White's letters never is. I keep this book on the nightstand by my bed.

Letters of E.B. White, Dorothy Lobrano Goth, Ed.; Harper & Row, Publishers (1976); Revised Edition (2006; paperback, 2007; Amazon review "Hardcover Original 5 Stars; Revised Edition No Stars" sent/accepted 08/18/10)



The original hardcover review: "The perfect book is the book where you don't care what page you're on, & this is the perfect book."



Post Note (08/18/10): In case you're thinking of purchasing the Revised Edition of the Letters (2006), don't.



Recently, a friend exhibited an interest in Mr. White after being swiftly won over by sampling a page or two of White's "Wild Flag" (Houghton Mifflin Co.; 1943-46).



I figured his best next venture would be the Letters & foraged into the Amazon marketplace, where I found the "Letters of E.B. White, Revised Edition." I'm game. A paperback copy was purchased.



I was appalled, successively, by:



Richard Grant's cliché-infested "Praise for The Revised Edition" ("deft," etc.) is exactly the sort of cheapjack media log-rolling that Andy White regarded with heart-felt contempt;



John Updike's weirdly disengaged "Foreword" also featured the telltale "deft" (a word most likely to surface when a writer is uninspired by what he's been commissioned to endorse) - & the word "unease," promiscuously employed no less than five times (buy a thesaurus!). Its final paragraph ends with the tone of his writing tailing off into a void of invisible conviction;



(Updike's incessant characterization of White's "unease" should be balanced by what Updike had written earlier which, fortunately, was quoted by White's biographer, Scott Elledge (p. 130, "E.B. White, A Biography," 1985 paperback edition): "What struck me in [White's] walk, in the encouraging memos he once or twice wrote me, & in [what he wrote for `Notes & Comment'] was how much fun he had in him than us younger residents of those halls [of The New Yorker]" magazine.)



And Martha White's graceless & clumsy "Editor's Note" was offensive.



Dorothy Lobrano Guth was the original editor, having done at least eighty percent of the work that was then recycled into the revised edition - hard toil that went inexplicably & rudely unacknowledged by M. White.



(Thankfully, it is emphatically stated right on the front cover of the book: "Originally Edited By" DLG. This makes M. White's silence/omission all the more glaring.)



Additionally, Guth's original empathetic, personable "Acknowledgments" - thanking each one of the many people who had assisted her in the 1976 publication of the original edition - is nowhere to be found in the revised edition, which is outrageous.



And had M. White competently edited, as a matter of professional courtesy, she would have provided a list of the letters in the original edition (by my count, 64) that she left out of the revised edition; & an asterisk next to the letters in the first 14 chapters in the revised edition (by my count, 17) not published in the original edition (the letters in the final two chapters of the revised edition are all "new").



It's a shame that Andy White had not been there to prevent her use of the absurdly redundant slang, "copied out" (editor's note, p. 618. If nothing can be "copied in", the reverse reveals itself as grammatical nonsense. It is incredible that something like this could appear in a book of the letters of a renowned writing stylist who had famously endorsed Will Strunk's advice: "Omit unnecessary words!").



Incredibly, NONE OF THIS MATTERS.



All of the above was irrevocably upstaged by Harper Perennial's technical incompetence. The size of the type employed is so small as to be illegible; the ink density is practically non-existent (illegibility factor squared), & the quality of the flimsy paper is unacceptable.



Hold the book up with the spine of the binding in the palm of your hand, with the book bottom facing you.



It tilts & flounders & flops like a garage driveway-destined annual edition of the Yellow Pages.



So, for all of these reasons, spend a little extra money & buy the hard-cover edition of the original Letters. Fortunately, I had recently found one in a used book store in Maine; little did I know how valuable this discovery would be. It was gratefully given to my friend in appreciation for all that he has done for us in past years.



The Revised Edition, a disgrace, at some point will be discarded. - John Updike - Memoirs - Martha White - Maine'

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Microsoft Wireless Mouse - mouse, wireless optical mouse

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I've had this mouse for a couple of weeks and am very satisfied with it. There was no software installation. I simply plugged the wireless receiver into an available USB port, put a "AA" size battery in the mouse, and turned on the computer. The mouse started working just as Windows XP finished loading.



It may be a little small for really large hands, but it fits my hand (medium-size male) perfectly with my palm resting on a mouse pad for comfort. In fact, it feels better than most I've had in the past (desktop or laptop). And the mouse fits into a side packet of a laptop case very nicely. As others have pointed out, the USB receiver fits into the bottom of the mouse when traveling.



The buttons are shapped well, as are the rubber side grips. The two large buttons feel solid, but the center scroll button is a little noisy and doesn't feel as well made. But, that center button works as well as the other two.



Since I've only had it a couple of weeks, I don't know how long the "AA" battery will last yet. However, I'm using my laptop mainly as a desktop, used many hours each day, and the original battery is still going strong. To insert the battery, press the silver button directly below the "Microsoft" logo and the top pops off (the release button is designed to look decorative). At that point, one will immediately see the battery holder.



The wireless feature works flawlessly. In fact, if one had really good eyes, one could operate the computer from the other side of a room. Yes, I've actually tried that, with the mouse moving the cursor around the screen with no problems.



I just read one of the other reviews where a lag was mentioned. I've seen nothing of this. In fact, after reading that review, I sat here moving the mouse slowly, quickly, tiny movements, short movements, long movements, and so on, with no noticeable lag. The cursor moves exactly as the mouse moves.



All in all, I think anyone would be satisfied with this mouse.



---



UPDATE: I wrote the above in February 2005 and have continued to use the mouse since (now Aug 2006). It is still performing well and the battery mentioned in the review above lasted through about 2.5 months of routine everyday use. I have since purchased a second mouse for my desktop computer, which is also working fine after about four months. The following is in response to issues raised by other reviewers.



To Edwin A. Pell III (New York), the mouse fits identically in either a left or right hand. To reverse the buttons, open the "Mouse" control panel and select "other pointing devices" in the drop-down menu listing your laptop's touchpad.



Again, to anyone wanting to ADJUST MOUSE SETTINGS, use the "other pointing devices" selection in the "Mouse" control panel.



To A. Mazakov (Fairfax, VA), the mouse is not sealed shut. The screws are located under the four black adhesive feet on the bottom of the mouse. Pry the feet off with a knife and stick them back on when finished with your modification.



To Denis Dolgachev (Ann Arbor, MI), you do not have to disconnect the mouse each night. The mouse enters a battery saving mode when no movement is detected for some time, allowing batteries to last upwards of two to three months (depending on usage) with a continous connection. In other words, you really only need to disconnect the mouse when you want to move or store the computer.



Those mentioning lags, delays, or choppy movement should check the "Mouse" control panel settings or for things interfering with USB devices. When setup and operating properly, there is no latency behavior whatsoever with this mouse. Movements are fine and precise. The only normal delay is in the split second when the mouse recovers from the battery saving mode after periods of inactivity. Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000 - Winter Blue

I'm a computer junkie, i have to admit that I fall for every gadget and gimmick that comes along when it comes to computer hardware. This was no exception. I recently picked up a new laptop and thought i'd compliment it with a new mouse. Whilst shopping, I noticed this little fellow on sale and thought what a great idea... the usb transmitter snaps in to the bottom of the mouse (also shuts it off so its not burning up the battery). Unfortunately the store that I spotted it at had sold out! I asked the clerk and he said the things were flyin off the shelves. Figured it must be worth a look so I went a few doors down to a competitor and found one.



Great thing about buying hardware from the evil empire (Microsoft), is that it pretty much all works without downloading new drivers. Plugged the USB transmitter in, snapped the included single AA battery in the mouse (its located under the top cover btw if you dont like reading instructions like me), and it fired to life. Nice smooth tracking, worked on all surfaces i tested except for the actual screen of my laptop.. hehe



All I cared about was to have an ultra-portable mouse that was wireless and worked well. I got the great bonus of, good price, easy to install, great function, perfect compatability. If it had two tumb buttons for fwd/back on web browsing, i'd write microsoft a thank you letter.

My second wireless optical moue after Logitech 931152-0403 Cordless Optical Mouse. Much better than the Logitech mouse as it lighter and "soft"buttons.



Highly recommended for laptops. Even though it has a "connect" button, never had to use it. Just plug and play installation. No need to download/install drivers. Used it with Win 2000 and Win XP.



Pros ::



* Solid responsive mouse

* Soft buttons

* Cordless so no tangled wires around you

* Optical so can be used on ( just about ) any surface

* Small USB receiver

* * Used it, without any issues, with my wireless internet connection

* Easy to replace batteries

* Single AA battery



Cons ::



* Might be small for a person with large hands &/or long fingers

* NO carrying case. Even though the adapter fits *in* the mouse. It could help to have a carrying case as well.

* Not aware of any way to program the "buttons" ( for "left handed" persons ) - Notebook Mouse - Mouse - Microsoft Wireless Mouse - Wireless Optical Mouse'

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Highly Recommended - leonard maltin, movie reviews

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Back in 2005 when Leonard Maltin published the first edition of his "Classic Movie Guide", he noted in the foreward that it contained over 1,000 new reviews of pre-1960 films that had begun to show up on DVD and cable channels like Turner Classic Movies, Fox Movie Channel and (Encore) Westerns. He especially trumpeted the addition of many B Westerns, including the complete filmographies of Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and Hopalong Cassidy. Sure enough, glancing through the book, I noticed that it was heavily weighted toward the "sagebrush sagas" of the 1930's and 1940's, while missing some key "A" titles from the same decades. But Mr. Maltin promised that this fledgling effort would be freshened and updated in five years time; accordingly, I simply took him at his word, was grateful for the first edition, and began eagerly awaiting 2010 and the arrival of the second edition.



Well, it's here. But unfortunately, it definitely was not worth the wait. Sure it covers over 1,500 more films than the first edition - but according to Mr. Maltin himself, over 1,200 of the so-called "new" entries are the result of films from 1961 through 1965 being transferred to this book from his annual "Movie Guide". Just over 300 of the reviews in this second edition are genuinely new material that was previously unavailable elsewhere. Divided into five years, that only comes out to 5 fresh reviews a month - which is only a problem because there are dozens and dozens of older films resurfacing on DVD, cable, and the new DVD-R "manufactured on demand" programs like the Warner Archives, the MGM / Amazon exclusives, and the newly announced Universal MOD series. At best, this second incarnation of Maltin's "Classic Movie Guide" isn't keeping up with the market.



Among the missing are such titles as "The Locked Door", Barbara Stanwyck's first talkie which has been rotating fairly frequently on TCM's schedule; "The Ruling Voice", a fascinating Warner's crime drama starring Walter Huston and Loretta Young; early films currently available from The Warner Archives such as "The Flying Fleet", "Let Us Be Gay", and "Son of the Gods"; "The Perfect Clue", one of many "lost" films now found and available on DVD from companies like Alpha Video ... the casualty list goes on and on. Of course, not every title can or should be included in a reasonably sized and priced volume like the "Classic Movie Guide". But still, one is left to wonder ... are more readers going to be looking for information about "A Ship Comes In", for which Louise Dresser was nominated for the first Best Actress Oscar, and is not included - or for "Hear Me Good", a 1957 turkey that is included?



The bottom line - if you have the "Classic Movie Guide", first edition, think twice before you "upgrade". If you don't have a copy of the original, then go ahead and pick up the 2010 version. It's obviously not perfect, but depite its flaws, it's still the best mass market single-volume guide to the classics that's currently available. I give it **1/2 stars. Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide: From the Silent Era Through 1965, Second Edition

I've not yet found a review in this book that is different from his usual guide. I'm assuming it contains old movies that are not in the regular guide, but I haven't yet run across one. I would rather that Maltin publish a comprehensive two-volume set of the regular movie guide than to have a separate classic movie guide that has so many overlaps with his regular guide. My husband, who likes vintage movies, does not use this guide because every movie he's look up is in the regular guide.

MR. MALTIN, ONCE AGAIN, HAS COMPILED THE BEST MOVIE GUIDE, IN THIS CASE, FROM THE SILENT ERA THROUGH 1965. WE REFER TO THIS GUIDE ALMOST DAILY GIVEN THAT WE DO WATCH TCM MOVIES QUITE OFTEN. I WOULD CERTAINLY RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE.

The book was good, but not what I expected. Most of the information in it is available in Leonard Maltin's 2010 movie guide. I was hoping for a book that gave a more detailed description of the 'best of the best' of classic movies, so that I would know which ones that I would want to make the effort to seek out, and watch.

In an age of crowdsourcing and mob "wisdom" made available on every mobile device, why invest in a reference book? With dozens of user reviews available on websites such as imdb.com and rottentomatoes.com for each film ever shot, however obscure - why bother with Maltin's voluminous fine-print doorstopper movie guides? Because Maltin is the Britannica to imdb's Wikipedia: he offers expertise where laymen merely register opinions.



There are two Maltin movie guides: the veteran and venerated "Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide", annually published since 1996 and a lighter-weight but equally authoritative "Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide" whose second edition covers movies made no later than 1965. The Guides are mutually exclusive: most films would be listed in either book, but not in both. Each volume proffers between 10,000 (the Classics Guide) and 17,000 (the annual tome) capsule reviews of movies and what a marvel these snippets are!



Each capsule review comes replete with a plethora of information culled from hundreds of sources: date of release, viewing time in minutes, a quality rating assigned by the Guide's editors (more about them later) as well as the MPAA's parental guidance rating, credits of directors and actors involved, a brief synopsis of the plot, and even gossip, cameo appearances, anecdotes, and the social and cultural context of the work - all neatly and articulately folded into a Tweet-like 100 words or less!



The annual guide also includes an incisive and insightful essay (in the form of an introduction) about the current state of the cinematic arts and commerce; lists of movies by topic; mail-order and online sources for home videos (a USA-centric feature, admittedly); a widescreen glossary; and indices of film stars and movie directors, each with his or her respective oeuvre. The Classic Guide augments these offerings with "25 vintage movies you really shouldn't miss."



Back to our opening salvo: why not stick with imdb, or rottentomatoes, both of which now aggregate critics' reviews from a wide variety of sources, print and digital?



When one is faced with a health problem one consults a doctor or two (for a second opinion.) No one I have heard of confers with 10, 70, or 5000 doctors. The element of expertise is crucial. The authors-editors of the two Guides are not merely the world's leading critics (which they are) - but some of them have actually worked in the film industry, bringing to the proverbial table invaluable insights gleaned first-hand.



But surely cinema - as opposed to medicine - is a matter of taste and opinion rather than facts and figures? Well, yes and no. Filmmaking is a discipline which must be learned and assimilated methodically and in-depth. Many of its aspects are utterly objective. The same applies to film historiography. And when it comes to taste and opinion I would rather rely on Maltin's than on any Joe Schmo with a keyboard and time to kill. Even when I wholeheartedly disagree with Maltin, I find that the "dialog" is informed by the collective intelligence and unfathomable knowledge of the crew behind the book.



No lover of the movies should go without a Maltin Guide (or two.)



DISCLAIMER: I have bought every single edition of Maltin's Guides that I possess, except the last two, which were provided to me, as review copies, courtesy Penguin/Alan Lane. Sam Vaknin, author of "Malignant Self-love: Narcissism Revisited" - Leonard Maltin - Movie Reviews - Classic Movie - Highly Recommended'

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Canon Rebel Xs - photography, digital rebel

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I spent several weeks reviewing the REBEL XS vs it's many 10 MP adversaries, I even checked it against the ultra zooms as I wanted the convenience of video as well, but too many good things stood out with this camera and so I decided upon it. I bought the rebel XS and after days of dirt testing this camera I've found it a beautiful experience.

Now I'm a professional videographer attached to a tv station in Trinidad & Tobago, my purpose for this camera was the need for a quick sharp still shot camera that would be impressive under low light and still capture impressive portrait shots to be used for my website and for large prints. I didn't want to shell out over a $1000. US for a camera body.

What is tagged by Canon is true: The full auto mode is truly accurate and gives excellent shots always, it makes photography so easy for a beginner or intermediate. The portrait mode isn't blurry, images are clean, nicely toned, excellent in quality for large size prints. The P ( program mode) I like alot at first because this mode sets exposure so nicely I found it addictive. I shot alot of night pics of cars on a freeway, with bright, sharp, lively colours emerging. Night pics at 800 iso had very very very little noise, and I mean I was searching the pics on 15" monitors for reason to complain, but was really impressed.

The auto focus is really quick. Th XS comes with "only" a 7 point auto focus system compared to the XSi 9 point, forgive me when I say there may be no need for another 2 points when the camera focusses so quick and so accurately. I have not gotten a soft image when shot with the auto focus operating.

Now for those point and shoot cams that boast about "face detection"....5 faces...6,7, some even 15. I also have a 10 mp ultra zoom, this simply matters little if not at all, if the focussing ability of the camera is poor or average, and given the "average lens" quality they're made of.

I have learnt clearly that a 10 MP ultra zoom simply cannot compare to a 10 MP D SLR...chalk and cheese.

I also bought the Tamron 70mm - 300mm, F4-5.6 telephoto/ macro lens. No vignetting at either end of the lens.

Auto iso is simply magnificent, have not taken a shot where the camera over estimated or underestimated the iso levels.

The Manual mode of this camera is the most impressive for me. The rebel XS via various magazine testing has come up faster than it's other 10 MP rivals when it comes to fps shooting, and burst images. It really does shoot 3 fps consistently, it shoots 2.3 fps in low light, worst case is over 1 fps all at 10 MP quality.

I haven't used a lower quality since, given I bought a Transcend 8GB SDHC card storage is not an issue.

Most of my shooting has been at night, for the little done in daylight, it has been amazing. Colours are very bright, depth of field very very nice. Macros works well. Image optimizer simply shocked life out of me. I was in a shaded area and without flash it really improves the subject without over blowing the background, stuff that is almost impossible on point and shoot cams.



Stuff I disagree with from the "reviews" : 1- "The camera feels cheaply built"....simply wrong, nothing is shabby, buttons are actually easy to press, doesn't have cheap clicks to them, the lens mount has a secure feel to it, and a proper snap when it is set. Battery compartment is certainly secure. Your finger must intricately open the door for entry, won't be an accident issue. Rubber door at a.v. ports snap in well. Rubber grip is firm enough, smooth enough to not irritate your hands.

2- " XS is "overpriced" compared to the XSi.....Xsi shoots slower than the XS, XSi picture quality is equal to the XS even though the XSi is 12 MP. The XSi may be the 3" LCD and a few other upgrades, but these upgrades don't add up when the picture is taken and the quality of both cameras match alike. I may have chosen the XSI if I wanted to spend the extra $150. u.s but for the lesser price, I'm yet to regret.

3- "The XS "only has a 2.5" LCD compared to a couple of it's rivals having 3" LCD's". I can see every thing clearly with this screen, even with Histograms, and grids onscreen. If LCD's get much bigger then canon may need to install a tv tuner as well....the 2.5" is more than sufficient.

4- "The XS doesn't have SPOT METERING compared to the XSi, so this is a big issue"- haven't encountered a reason to complain yet, after 500 night shots and 200 day shots.



THE DOWN SIDE: the EOS software for uploading the photos to computer, and remote controlling the cam via computer is AWFUL. It's a task to upload, as it is beach balling when you hit "upload". Digital professional software is non responsive. I have not been able to use the software past the install point. Mac version here.

Better use i-photo and photoshop.



I highly rate this camera, and as a videographer who's accustomed to t.v. broadcast quality the REBEL XS is worth it, and since canon is so intent on pushing the rebel XSi they have significantly lowered the price on the XS.....I recommend people buy the XS and get a good lens with the discount earned. The trick is in the lens and the user, and lesser the camera. Canon Rebel XS 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black)

I want to save you the time and uncertainty in choosing the best affordable DSLR. For those considering the Canon EOS Rebel XS, the Olympus E-510 or the Nikon D40 / D40x / D60, I believe the Canon XS is the best choice. Also, at the price difference between the XS and the SXi ($150-200 as of December '08), the XS is an excellent alternative--both take exactly the same high quality pictures, save the 2MP difference, which is negligible at the end. Please note that the XS's new lens kit comes with the better quality EFS 18-55 Image Stabilization lens (they are better engineered); and that Canon is offering nowadays generous rebates on telephoto lenses when coupled with the purchase of the XS (I bought mine with the entry-level Canon EF 75-300mm III lens with a generous instant Canon rebate. Don't buy from anybody different from B&H Photo, directly from Amazon, Adorama, Buydig/Beach Camera; stay away from Broadway Photo and TriState).



Canons are popular for the excellent image processing. Nikons for their Nikor lenses. Olympus, some say, for the color of some of the pictures they take.



The Olympus E-510 has important flaws, e.g., the average performance in high ISO speeds and highlight blowing. Also, its inconsistency with good results is worth noting.



The Nikon D40 lacks important features, e.g., image stabilization in their kit lens. The D60 is lacking the high picture quality ratings of the Canon XS. Both Nikons are nice looking, which is a selling factor I usually consider; but picture quality should be your top criterion for the long run.



Don't go through the extensive research I have already done (months, and intense debating). The Canon XS is a winner (specially with the new IS lens kit), even more with its current price (Dec. '08: $480). It is feature rich (you can even add 3 of your preferred defined Picture Style modes), good/professional looking (black body), even the sound of the shooter is nicer than the others. Bottom line: Excellent picture quality, high ISO/low light remarkable performance, and relevant features and space for customization make the Canon XS a winner for months and even years to come. - Canon Rebel Xs - Photography - Digital Rebel - Canon'

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