Wednesday, 19 May 2010

Work Pants


I've had a couple of pairs of these in different colors now, and they are among my favorite slacks. Like all dickies when you get them they are very stiff, almost like lightweight cardboard, but once they break in they are very comfy. The scotchguard treatment works pretty well, and they are resistant to most stains that would indelibly mark untreated cotton.

These are straight cut, flat fronts, so they have a pretty snug fit. If you need more room or want a baggier look, get them larger, or get another cut. Dickies Men's Flat Front Multi Use Pocket Work Pant, Black, 30x32

As a simple good looking work pants, these do the job. They fit well and are very resistant to liquids and wear. However, they are made from something that feels like sack cloth. Not the most comfortable material but sturdy and once broken in, they work very well.

I like these type of pants, but I had to return the pair I ordered because they didn't fit right. They were too tight, which I don't understand since I regularly wear a size smaller than the ones I ordered. I assume that it had to do with the sub-category of "fit" - classic, relaxed or loose, but I haven't found any options to choose which "fit" I want and I saw nothing about it in the description.



Overall, I like the pants. I like the metal clasp instead of a button. The cell/mutli-use pocket is great, but finding the right "fit" online is too much of a chore and unfortunately they still charge you to return them.

Although I have had Dickies in the past, the quality of the sewing around the zipper was bad. After only wearing these to work for the second time, I noticed the stitching was coming apart where the zipper cover was. It looked as if my zipper was open at the top. The pants were not small, as a matter of fact I thought a 36" waist would have been more appropriate after I tried on the 38", but decided to keep the 38 in case of shrinkage. Anyway, I ended up stitching the seam myself, and now all is well, the comfort and easy care of the work pants are fine.

I like these pants, I've ordered 3 pairs from Amazon now. They're durable, fit well, are comfortable, and for $20 the price is right. The style is a nice compromise between jeans and khaki pants.



Beware that the 'dark navy' color is indeed very dark. In poor light you might confuse them for a pair of 'black'.

These were horrible. The first day he wore one pair, they busted open in the butt. He tried the second pair the next day and the same thing happened. We have never had these kind of problems before with Dickies. We have been buying dickies for him for work for the past 5 years and have never had any problems until now....

These pants are my husband's favorite workpants. He first found them at Target and bought 2 pairs. After several months, they were no longer sold at Target. We looked at Sears and JC Penney but they only had the baggy fit. I finally decided to search online and that's when I came across them on Amazon. I bought 2 more pairs for my husband and now he's a happy camper! =)'


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Refrigerator Water Filters - water filter for refrigerator, water filter


I purchased 2 Whirlpool 4396701 refrigerator water

filters on line from Amazon.com a few weeks back.

I am very satisfied with the availability of this

filter required by my Whirlpool Gold Refrigerator.

I searched the internet and shopped around local

stores like Lowe's and Sears and found none that

could match the low price. The free shipping on

this item sealed the deal for me. Amazon.com has

not disappointed me with all purchases I have made

through them.



Keep up the good work, Amazon.com.



Retired Senior Whirlpool 4396701 Quarter-Turn Top Mount Refrigerator Water Filter, 1-Pack

After much research for a replacement Kenmore 46-9915 Refrigerator Water Filter at a more reasonable price (Kenmore cost, approx. $40), I found out that Whirlpool KitchenAid 4396701 Refrigerator Filter replaces Kenmore 46-9915 Refrigerator Water Filter and other Whirlpool filters. These filters reduce cholrine taste and odor, particulate class III, lead, mercury, benzene, p-dichlorobenzene, o-dichlorobenzene, etheyl benzene, toxaphene, and 1,2,4-trichorobenzene. Easy to replace, just push and turn. Price on Amazon for the Whirlpool 4396701 was [...] (1 pack) with free super saver shipping.

This was/is the standard as labeled water filter. Cheaper for us than buying them at Sears (at the time at least) and enjoyed the Amazon Prime free home delivery. No issues, no complaints. AFAIK, there aren't any other options for this part other than buying THIS part -- it's just matter of quantity -- so there's not really any choices except based on price.

I swapped out the filter which was obviously very easy, and the new filter does not leak or anything.

But, with the new filter our water tastes slightly "chemically".

We are going to try buying another filter, but for now, we just aren't using the water from our fridge.

What can I say - I got three of these filters for the price of 2 if I had bought them at Sears. The water tastes fine, and I'll have the other 2 remaining ones ready in 6 months when I need to change the current filter.

I used this to replace a Kenmore 9915 on a 106.76239402, and it was an exact match. I hadn't realized the water flow had been reduced so much until I replaced it. Granted, I've never replaced it before and I've had this refrigerator for several years. FYI, my manual covers models 106.762{32-34,36,39,42-44,46,49}402, and specifies 9915 for all.

My Kenmore refrigerator (Model Number# 106.74206402) needed new water filters (Part# filter 9915). This part is same as 9915 part. It is much cheaper and compatible with my refrigerator. Overall happy with this purchase. - Refrigerator Water Filters - Water Filter - Refrigerator Accessories - Water Filter For Refrigerator'


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Lifting Gloves


I am very pleased with my purchase of the Valeo Wrist Wrap Lifting gloves - though I do not use them for lifting. Rather, I am in a manual wheelchair and these gloves, with the full 3/4 length on the fingers and the incredible soft, "sticky" leather helps me to move my wheelchair with ease and comfort - and the double thick leather in the palm and "thumb cradle" makes for long lasting performance. I have, and still do, recommend these gloves to other wheelchair bound people who use manual chairs.

Furthermore, the service I recieved from Amazon was first rate. Fair pricing, quick shipping and on-time delivery made this a most enjoyable experience. Valeo Competition Wrist Wrap Lifting Gloves (Medium)

These gloves work for there specific purpose I've had them for only two months and the strap is starting to tear. If you are into serious competition these aren't the gloves for you but for getting in shape and basic weightlifting they work fine.

I owned these gloves for 2 years. Never had a major problem with stitching. They are comfortable gloves, especially the padding on the palm for heavy benching. At first I didn't like the wrist strap, but now I can see how it stablizes the wrist and I like it a lot.



Only downside is that the leather around the fingers do curl/crunch up a bit after 2 years use and I often find myself straightening it out.



But for the price on Amazon - you could buy a pair every year and it's a pretty good price!

The gloves were comfortable. However, the seaming along the fingers came apart within two weeks and less than 5 uses. Unless you only plan to use these gloves for a week or less, invest your money in a different pair. They were a very big disappointment to me.

I gave these 4 stars because of the size. The quality is decent. I'm 5'6 and have average to slightly small hands for my height, but these glove are definitely loose but wearable. When concentrating on lifting weights i am detracted so i don't really notice it, but I measured my hands for the sizing guide and it said xs was 6-7 inches across below the knuckles. Anyway, my measurement was a solid 7 so i almost ordered a size up and glad i didn't. I like a more snug fitting glove and these have creases and wrinkles when i wear them and the fingers are loose, but for $10 I'm not sending them back. Next time i will buy exclusively a woman's glove.

The leather on these gloves feels like plastic and the thumb portion doesn't extend far enough to protect your skin on the inside of your thumb - a spot that needs covering whenever you grip something. Overall, I am not satisfied with these gloves.

These would appear to be great for the price: leather, washable, wrist wraps-- all very impressive. The only problem is, if you frequent the gym like I do, they just don't last long enough. I use the gloves probably four days a week for an hour each day (I don't use wear them on leg days or when doing cardio), and probably wash them every three weeks, and let's just say they aren't the best stitched gloves. One pair I bought actually lasted me six months, but the replacement only made it to six months after I got my wife to sew up all the rips. On my third pair, they are not looking good after two months. These will do the job for light usage, but I'm going to treat myself and try to find something that lasts longer.

For some reason, when I was lifting, my wrist were being pressured by some of my sets. I brought these and the price is right as well. I just got them today and wore them. They look the pressure off my wrist and gave me more support just like it should. Yeah I'll will buy them again when I need new ones.'


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Cable Signal Booster - cable signal booster, antenna amplifier


I always thought passive 3-way splitters had two -7.5db taps and one -3.5 tap. But Monster implies that all three taps on this unit have the same -5.7 loss. In addition, one tap is labeled "Power pass out". I know this is used by inline amplifiers on satellite systems, but it would be nice if the packaging explained this feature.



The only specs I could find are below from Monster's site.



"The DB Loss per output is:

TGHZ-2RF 5MHz-1GHz: -3.4dB 1GHz- 2GHz: -4.9dB

TGHZ-3RF 5MHz-1GHz: -5.7dB 1GHz- 2GHz: -8.9dB

TGHZ-4RF 5MHz-1GHz: -7.4dB 1GHz- 2GHz: -9.6dB"



So I like the look and performance of this in my system, but I wish Monster would provide more documentation and explain why this unit is different from the other 2 ghz splitters on the market. Two Gigahertz Low-Loss RF Splitters for TV & Satellite MKII - 3 Way 2 GigaHertz RF Splitter

I purchased this splitter under the assumption it was a low-loss splitter that would help improve the signal level to my digital tuner. It turns out it actually decreased my signal from -6dbi to -12dbi. This level of signal loss is unacceptable.

Prior to this unit I bought a cheaper splitter from a well known company and it worked like crap by giving me poor quality signals. I bought this and my HD cable and cable internet split fine. I like it and it's really that simple. You do get what you pay for folks.

Previously had Time Warner's splitter, which was 900mHz, and after I replaced with this new one, I didn't see any difference. I have an HD receiver, and having the higher flow rate didn't make enough of a difference to justify the price. Save yourself the money from this product. - Signal Booster - Cable Signal Booster - Antenna Amplifier - Cable Splitter'


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Arts And Crafts


I ordered this book with Nicola Hurst's "Step-by-Step Jewelry Workshop" and was very disappointed to find that they were nearly identical.

They used the same photographs and right down to some of the same text.





For example, on page 11 of McGrath a section on Finding Inspiration is exactly the same text as Hurst's pg 21. And there are many more instances of being exactly the same book with different covers.



Neither books are bad, but don't buy them both. In fact, find another less sleazy publisher than Quarto Books to provide your needs. The Complete Jewelry Making Course: Principles, Practice and Techniques: A Beginner's Course for Aspiring Jewelry Makers

This is a relatively good place to start metalsmithing if you have some knowledge of jewelry making. I'm very new using and forming metals, but I have been doing wirework and beading techniques for over five years. At some point beaders often have a desire to move on. This was a good choice for me when that time came. I am well pleased with this book.

I really like the way this book is set up. All the information is presented in easy to read and remember "bullets". It's aimed at beginners and should give any beginner a real grasp of the essential techniques and tools of the trade.



The book starts with an overview of tools (types of tools and how to use them, their care and maintenance) and materials (a lot of information about working with various metals and their properties). There are also tips on where to look for design ideas and how to evaluate and translate your ideas into designs you can use.



The next section includes thirty-four units on various facets of jewelry making - annealing, soldering, bending, polishing and finishing, using a draw plate, texturing, and more. Each of these units is broken down into tips and how-tos - with lots of photos to supplement the text. The section on annealing has several tips plus some practice lessons in annealing wire and sheet metal.



The final section of the book has a series of six projects that bring together all of the techniques you've been exploring in some neat designs - a ring, an etched bangle, and a textured pendant for example.



I highly recommend this book - I use it as a ready reference. This is a great reference book for a beginning jewelry maker.

Maybe I already own too many jewelry instruction books but this is my least favorite. There are only a few projects in the back and I don't really find them all that inspiring. I do think the bezel setting section was very thorough - maybe more so than other books I have.

this book will work for anyone wanting an overall concise introduction to the art of jewelry making. personally,

it was not the book i was looking for - i tend to balk at anything too technical. i do have a friend, however,

who took the book right out of my hands and is loving it. if you are of the nature to do things in an orderly and precise fashion, you will get a lot out of this book: clear direction and helpful illustrations of all techniques.

I have taken a beginning level jewelry making course and find Jinks McGrath's book to be a very useful supplement to classwork. It is particularly good on setting up a studio, identifying needed tools and purchasing or ordering materials. The soldering and bezel-making information interested me most and the book is very thorough in that respect. Other areas very well-covered are design and the related topic of measuring to achieve design aspirations. Finally, the work pictured throughout is lovely and inspiring, with nothing tacky or tasteless included. I like this manual very much and feel that it delivers exactly what the title promises.

I have several books on jewelry making and this is a good addition to my library. Ms. McGrath gives some useful tips that I have not found elsewhere. I recommend that you take a jewelry course at a local school when starting out. No book is a substitute for having someone show you how to use a torch or polishing wheel. These can be dangerous when not handled properly. That said, this book can augment other direct instructions.'


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Otterbox - case, commuter


You can see my other reviews to know that I buy A LOT of cases - it has became an addiction of sorts. With that said, I have often found Otterbox products to be the best of the best. (See my 5 star Otterbox iPhone 4 Defender review for proof!)



I received this item last Monday and I was anxiously awaiting installing it and giving it a go. Unfortunately my excitement quickly subsided. I hate to sound negative but this case leaves a lot to be desired. Below I will give you my unbiased thoughts on the case and its pros/cons.



Pros:



Much thinner than the Defender case

All ports are easily accessible

Lightweight



Cons:

The screen protector that it comes with is very sub-par, I've purchased several screen protectors in the past for both my iPhone(s) and other models, the one that came with the Otterbox ranks near (or at) the bottom of the list as far as quality build and ease of installation in avoiding air bubbles etc.

The case doesn't quite fit "right" sometimes the silicon case will come loose from around the lip of the phone and it will in turn cause the polycarbonate shell to shift and not only fit awkward but look horrible as well.

The cover for the audio out jack (headphone jack etc.) should have been designed better. It often protrudes from the case and just looks awkward.



In conclusion I would state that though the case isn't the worse (and 2 stars may be harsh) due to the price and quality expected from Otterbox it came up well short of expectations.



I will try to post pictures later showing this case next to a bare iPhone 4 and also next to the Defender case. OtterBox AT&T and Verizon iPhone 4 Commuter Case (Black)

Hi, I just got this case yesterday. It's the third one I've tried with my iPhone 4. Otterbox makes fine cases so I expected something nice and was not disappointed. I also had the Commuter and Defender cases for my iPhone 3Gs.



Here are some notes for you:



- The case provides the best protection of the three I've tried. The Apple bumper case is nice but the open back leaves a lot of glass exposed. This one gets the job done while not being too bulky.



- Compared to the iPhone 3Gs Commuter case this one exposes more of the hard plastic surface and less of the rubber. The plastic is textured nicely so gripping is still secure. In all fairness I think I do prefer the design of the 3G/3Gs version.



- The phone will connect (Yeah!) to my Magellan car mount and B&W speakers with this case. It would not connect with the thicker Apple bumper case. I'm also able to get other cables to connect to it that would not connect with the bumper case. The opening for the thirty pin connector is larger on the Otterbox case.



- Putting the screen protector on can be frustrating but I was mostly successful this time. Dust must be avoided at all cost while applying it. Hey Intel, can I use your clean room for a few minutes?



It's a good compromise between protection and bulk. If you had the 3G version you might be a little disappointed because the fit on this one doesn't seem quite as good.



Update (9/2/2010): The reviewer(s) that said the case can be uncomfortable on your ear while making calls was right. If you make a lot of calls this could be rather annoying. I'll post a picture or two of the offending sharp edge. I filed the edge on mine with my Leatherman to smooth it out. That helped a lot.



Regards,

John

This case exceeded my expectations i had after reading some of these peoples reviews. First of all, the fit is perfect. i dont know if maybe some of these people didnt put it on right (it takes a while to get it right) but mine fits snugly.second, It does not feel cheap. The plastic is not very thick but it doesnt need to be thick to protect, it is only there to hold the shape of the silicone. It is the perfect balance of protection and bulkiness.. I had a defender series for my 3gs and that thing felt like a brick.. this one feels just right, not to mention its a lot cheaper than the defender. If youre gonna be rock climbing or working at construction site, then theres no reson why you would want the defender over this case. The screen protector is pretty cool, i dont really see the point of it because the case sits in such way that your screen will not get scratched. i still put mine on and cant even tell its there.. I would highly recomend this case, and no i dont work for otterbox, im just a regular guy that really liked this product and i dont think the reviews on it are very accurate. Thanks!

Sadly, this is the first review I've written, because I've had such a bad experience with this case. I'm a big OtterBox fan, I had a Commuter on my previous 3GS, and a Defender for my old 3G which is now on my wife's S. Both of those cases are great and I don't have a negative thing to say about them.



I had such a good experience with the previous version of the Commuter, that I got one for my Iphone 4. Unlike other reviewers, I think the screen protector is great, the only reason I gave this case 2 stars instead of one. I've had several screen protectors in the past, and they've mostly been all the same. The OtterBox protector seems to be of higher quality, and its the first case I've gotten on with absolutely no bubbles. Also, while trying to get the bubbles out on other protectors, you end up scratching the protector with the credit card. OtterBox solved that issue by putting an extra layer on the protector, and once you have worked all the bubbles out, you peel off the outer layer, leaving a pristine screen protector. I honestly can't tell that it's even there. Unfortunately that's where the good stops.



The silicone on the Iphone 4 commuter seems cheap, and doesn't fit the phone as well as in previous versions. The corners and parts that aren't covered by the outer shell constantly move and don't hug the phone as tightly as on the last version.



The hard protective shell is a complete failure on my case. When you initially take it out of the case, you can tell that the plastic is of cheaper construction than previous models. It is significantly thinner than the last, which is nice from a size perspective, but it just feels cheap in your hands, like it is going to break at the slightest stress. Also, the worst thing about mine is that it just doesn't fit the phone. It is too big for the phone, leaving gaps around all 4 sides. On 2 sides, the gap is small enough as to be almost not noticeable, but on 2 it's very obvious, and its so far from the silicone that the whole case flexes in your hand. On my particular case, it's obvious that the protective shell was machined too large for the silicone. No matter how much massaging and fiddling you so with the case, it won't fit the phone properly. As I've said before, on my 3GS, once you snap the outer case on, it's bombproof.



I bought the case direct from OtterBox the day it became available, and Amazon's price is now significantly cheaper. Still, this case isn't worth the cheaper price.



-Update

Otterbox customer service replied, and are sending out a replacement case. Their customer service was very friendly. I'll write another update when the new case arrives.



-Update 2

Customer service promptly sent out a replacement case. The 2nd case definitely fits better, it fits the phone correctly, but there isn't the tight, solid feel of previous versions. As other reviews have noted, the outer case can be uncomfortable against your ear. There are better cases out there for less money, for example, the 'free' case I got through Apple. I got a Griffin Reveal Etch through the free case program, which doesn't offer as much protection, but the case feels solid and fits the phone much tighter than the Otterbox. I still think they make great products, but this one was a failure. At least they've dropped the price since I ordered mine. - Commuter - Otterbox - Case - Iphone 4'


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Concrete Countertop


We used this to make our concrete counter tops in our kitchen. One set of diamond pads was enough to finish our project. The thing to remember though is you get out of it what you put into it. Wet polishing is tedious business, so it can take a long time with each pad to get a highly polished surface, but it can be done with this product. I only have two complaints with this product. First is that it's loud. Each polishing session we did was at least an hour long, and this thing is deafening. I recomend earplugs. My second complaint is the plastic shield that deflects water from coming back at you. This shield does little more than slow down the rate at which you're soaked. Also, if you have any odd angles, as we did, you have to remove it. All in all, this is a good product and I would recomend it as a cost effective option for DIY projects. Hardin Variable Speed Polisher 5 Inch Concrete and Stone Wet Polishing Kit with Diamond Pads

Overall this is a nice tool for someone looking to trying their hand at concrete polishing. In general I would classify this as a good "value minded" tool heading towards the upper end of value. I purchased it to polish a 50+ year old floor slab in the laundry and mechanical room within our house so we could stain the slab. The review is based on general tool knowledge and some actual use (have completed about 15% of the floor) but please keep in mind this is the first time I have used this specific type of tool so I can't compare it against like tools. I can compare it to grinders and buffers I own.



The tool isn't a super-high quality tool but neither is it a piece of Chinese's junk. The tool itself feels solid and performs well. My biggest beef with the tool is the all plastic/nylon "D" handle which probably won't last the project. The nub on one side of the "D" handle that hits the top of the polisher to stop the handle in either the forward or more upright working positions deflects a fair amount. I suspect it's only a matter of time before the nub gives under the pressure (in particular in the forward position where you have more leverage) of pushing the tool into the work piece. It's a knuckler-buster in waiting.



The other piece I both love and hate is the plastic water shield. The shield really minimizes the water slung backwards at you (the positive side) but because it is a stiff plastic (most likely to resist wear), it takes a fair amount of downward pressure to engage the polishing wheel on the concrete. Also, getting the shield on/off is a bit of a pain. I would use a 7" diamond cup wheel (Dewalt) to really cut through the concrete fast (obviously this was far messier as I had to remove the water shield).



The constant flow of water from the spindle is awesome and really makes a difference in both pad longevity, lubrication, keeping the area `fresh' and minimizing the overall mess. Realize that adding water will make a mess but unlike dust (which will eventually find itself everywhere and obscures your vision) the slung water can be contained relatively easily with 18" of plastic at the bottom of the walls around the room.



The included polishing pads are nice. Again no frame of reference but they do a good job and seem to hold up well. Because the included velcro backing pad is flexible it resulted in greater wear at the edges of the pad. While this was great at the sloped areas of the floor, I will be getting a hard backing pad to better work the main flat areas.

The tool does get hot after use. It is a shame they couldn't have used the water flow somehow to dissipate the heat. I suspect the heat will shorten the life of the tool as heat is almost always the enemy.



In the area of "ticky-tacky", the water supply hose is pretty much permanently coiled so you will find yourself fighting this on occasion. Also, the GFIC needs to be engaged after each loss of power (when you unplug it) which is a great safety feature, just a little disconcerting the first time it happened.



The last item of comment is the tool lacks any electronic feedback to maintain consistent speed under load but realistically, at this price point, you shouldn't expect that.

Overall I like the tool and will take it on my first foray in to concrete polishing.

I bought this wet polisher for a contrete countertop. I recently polished a small piece and I'm really happy with the results. The water connection connects easily to a water hose and the water valve works great. The power cord is long and flexible so is out of your way. It's not heavy so is easy to use. At one point I was using it with just one hand. The pads look good and don't feel cheap.

Grinder works great....first time Ive ever polished a rock and it came out super smooth and shiny. A little time consuming to go through all of the steps but the velcro backing pads are pretty sweet. You will probably need to get a few more 50 or 100 grits as they get eaten up faster than the others.

I just received my Hardin VSP wet polisher. It comes in a sealed box from Hardin Industrial Products, so I have to assume it's as the manufacturer intended. There's the main motor unit, polishing pads, some parts, and an Operator's Manual. There's no assembly manual, but hey, how hard could it be, right?

Well, first there's the D-handle. It doesn't fit. We're talking about a molded plastic part, so there's no adjustment involved. It just doesn't fit. Perhaps they accidentally included the handle from the 4" polisher in the 5" box. Oh well, perhaps I'll just use the side handle instead. Wrong! The threaded part of the handle isn't long enough to go into the body. And no, it's not broken or adjustable. It just doesn't fit. Then there are the spare bushings. Great, except the unit doesn't look like the picture and there are no bushing caps. As for the two allen bolts, I haven't a clue.

I looked for the company's website, but they don't have one.

Hey, it may work great, but with parts that don't fit and lack of an assembly manual I give it one star.'


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Projector - viewsonic


I've only had my ViewSonic PJD5123 one day, which is a little premature for reviewing, but with only one review posted, I thought another would be helpful. I actually made my purchase on that review's recommendation, since I could find no others.



First, let me say that my purchase was largely price-driven. I figured I'd have to buy a used projector, but the low price Amazon charged was the hook that caused me to bite on this brand-new one. My second criterion was that it had to work with a Mac; it does! I did have to purchase an extra cable for my Macbook Pro unibody ($29.99 from Apple). I could have gotten a third party cable for much less (and may still do that for a backup), but the reviews on them were not as favorable as those on the Apple one.



So I took the plunge, even paying an extra $4 (Amazon Prime) to have it delivered in two days. It arrived on time and I found everything in the box as advertised. The written documentation is worthless, but their CD has much good information. You can also go to the ViewSonic website and download their PDF manual to read before your purchase arrives (highly recommended).



I installed the software on my Macbook Pro, connected the ViewSonic PJD5123 and fired it up. My computer (running OS X 10.6.7) recognized the projector and the computer screen's image shone on the white wall across the room, but it was very blurry. My heart sank. Thinking I'd bought a pig in a poke, I began lamenting the irritation of having to ship it back. Then, I began to turn the adjustments this way and that, and the picture on the wall became as clear as the one on the laptop screen. Was I ever relieved!



Then I wondered, will it work in an environment with a lot of daylight? Because I teach college courses and give seminars in rooms with many windows, I needed a projector with enough brightness to provide a clear text and picture in broad daylight. Now please do not misunderstand. The picture and text are better at night, but they are just fine in the daylight.

Someone may wonder how it works for movie watching. I've been watching movies on my 17" computer screen, so when I focused the ViewSonic with a movie projecting from it on the wall, I held my breath hoping that it would provide at least an acceptable picture. Wow, was I every pleased! I now have a huge screen on the wall that looks as good as the one on my computer. This is a bonus I'd not planned on.



Another concern for me is the voltage. I travel internationally and was delighted to find that this little projector works with 110-240v/50-60hz. With a plug adapter I'll be in business in the USA and foreign countries.



I almost forgot to mention that while there is no carrying case, a remote (with batteries!) is included. I've barely used the remote, but the features look sufficient for my use. As for the bag, what do you want for a rock bottom price? I'll likely go to the local thrift store and find a suitable case for less than three bucks!



Do I have any concerns or disappointments? So far I'm not disappointed at all. This projector does all the basic stuff I need and provides a very nice picture. My only concern is that when I shut it down I do not hear the fan running to cool it down before final shut down as the instructions indicate. I will call or email the company to see if its shut down feature is defective. My guess is that it is just fine. Other than that, it seems to work A-OK!



Please note that this is not a heavy-duty, latest and greatest feature-filled projector. For such a product you'll likely pay three or four times what this little fellow costs. But it does what I need and even has an eye to the future with a sticker that boasts "3-D READY."



ADDED 6 JULY, 2011



Just a quick note on the issue of the fan not running after shutdown to cool the projector: I emailed ViewSonic on Saturday of the July 4th weekend and they responded promptly the following Tuesday after the holidays. Here's their email response:



"Dear Valued Customer,



Thank you for contacting ViewSonic. Our newer projectors have a feature in which the unit will cool off on its own when needed. This new feature is so that the unit can be used more on the go , ViewSonic and a few other brand name companies have added such feature to recently manufactured projectors . If you should have further questions please contact us back. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to provide assistance."



Well, I couldn't believe what I'd read, so I called ViewSonic and talked to a technical person. He assured me that the email was, indeed, correct and that the unit is working just fine. He said ViewSonic designed this projector so that one could immediately pack it away after using it. For me, this is a blessing in disguise! It means that I can use the projector until the close of class, and immediately walk out with it. ViewSonic PJD5123 SVGA DLP Projector 120Hz/3D Ready, 2700 Lumens, 3000:1 DCR

The ViewSonic PJD5123 Projector is an effective and economical solution for movie viewing and PowerPoint presentations. Projecting from 25' it creates a bright 8' wide image. I connect it to a laptop with Bose Companion 2 Series II computer speakers creating an exceptional audio video experience. I use a Logitech wireless mouse to control presentations. You may need a case for the projector and possibly a longer video cable than the 6' cable provided. I am completely satisfied with the quality and performance of the projector and would recommend it to anyone in the market.

After shopping around and purchasing a few "cheap" projectors I realized that I needed to bight the bullet and buy something a bit more expensive. I did a ton of research and for my price point of around $300 I found this projector. I was a bit skeptical as I have had no luck with projectors recently and was nervous about throwing down so much money. Rest assured, this projector is worth it! I wanted a nice affordable movie projector for backyard movie nights with friends. Trying to find one that provided a great picture along with being affordable is no easy task. But this model is fantastic. I can't get over how crisp the picture is. And we use nothing but a white sheet pinned between two hammok posts. Even in a room with mid day sun the picture is still bright and clear. The fan is not too loud and the controls are very easy to work. My only concern is that finding the right connection for my macbook 5,1 unibody has been a hassle. We connected it to a cheap dvd player and it worked great. Also there are RCA connections and we hooked it up to a vintage receiver and speakers for an amazing sound experience. If you can afford the price, this is a great buy. I highly recommend this projector!!! - Viewsonic'


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Battery Charger - charger


This is about as simple as a charger can get. An AC plug in transformer with a voltage select switch and color coded alligator clips at the end of the cord. It charged both of my batteries (6 and 12 volt) without any problems and gets only slightly warm to the touch. The charge rate varied between 400 ma to 40 ma (depending on battery condition) and produces pulsating DC. UPG D1724 Sealed Lead Acid Battery Charger (6V/12V Switchable Single-Stage with Alligator Clips)

Arrival of very hot weather seemed to coincide with annoying beeping of my house alarm. Further investigation determined that the battery needed charging.



12V sealed lead-acid batteries of the type used in many house alarms are pretty expensive. Fortunately, they are rechargeable. This charger only costs about 1/4 to 1/3 of the price of a new battery.



I let it charge during a weekend for a total of about 12-16 hours. I don't recommend leaving things like this charging while you're away from home or asleep, just in case.



No more beeping, so it seems to have worked. The charger does NOT have an LED light or other feature to indicate that it is "on" or whether in fact it is "done" charging.

This is a no frills trickle charger that will recharge and maintain a charge in my sealed acid 1.5V battery. There is no display to let you know exactly when it is fully charged, but I let it charge for a full day and check it with my battery meter and it is fully charged.

This item should be listed as I have, because it will charge only small batteries, (lawn Tractor, or such items) that have loss their charge over a long period, as is common with lead acid batteries.It will maintain batteries that sit idle over the winter, and recharge small like batteries, if the discharge was do to idle periods. If your battery, "dies" after only a few days replace it, as it more than likely has a bad cell(shorted) and you will ruin these chargers, as they will put out the max they can and eventually "burn" up, do to excess heat.They can be used on large batteries that are in good shape,to "Maintain" the charge. Don't confuse these units for a full size battery charger, they charge at 4-10 AMPS, this unit only puts out Milli amps.

I ordered this battery to replace the failed battery in my portable air compressor. I was very glad to find this, since it saved me the cost of a new compressor. So far, the battery performs great and seems to have a longer life than the old one. It fit perfectly in my battery area, which had no margin for error. By the way, since I tried to be a responsible citizen by taking my old battery to a recycle center, it paid off because they gave me 5 bucks for my old one!! So, it can pay off to think of the environment. - Charger'


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Womens Boots - riding boots, wide calf


I researched all over the net about these boots. I found mixed reviews, but most were that these boots run slender in the calf. I held my breath and ordered them, after having trouble with other boots as well. Don't pay attention to the seemingly narrow measurements shown in the description! These boots are wide. For size 12, one would probably want an 18" calf for these. However, these boots are made of beautiful leather and would have been otherwise happy to keep them. Trotters Women's Andie Riding Boot,Black Softy,6 W US

I love these boots. I have large, muscular calves (17"), and it's hard to find tall boots that zip up all the way. I bought the 6.5 wide, and they zipped up easily. They're comfy too. I wore them for 12 hours the first day and my feet felt great the whole time. The shape is flattering; they look great with a knee-length skirt and they make my calves look slimmer. The heel is a nice height -- high enough to give me a bit of height, but low enough that I feel steady doing my brisk walk to and from work. I only have one tiny complaint; the bottom of the heel is too smooth and could be slippery on wet sidewalks. I'm going to have the shoemaker put grips on them for winter, but the front of the sole has a nice non-slip tread. - Wide Calf - Riding Boots - Boots - Leather'


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