Thursday, 2 September 2010

Battery Charger


I haven't done the voltage and charge-discarge test to test it right (and am not the guy to do that,) but I sell batteries, solar electric products and such for a living, and the sound, action and ultimate performace so far is killer. If you get, let's say, B&D 'Firestorm' 18 volt batteries, the charger is DUMB and doesn't know when the battery is charged, when to lay off the battery and keep a voltage-sustaining charge to it (instead of cramming amps into a charged battery and overheating and killing your battery over time.) This one seems to do it right. The Makita stuff is really good, esp. this 'lithium' line of product. I have 6 different tools and they all are really, really good.



The Makita lithium hammer drill is 3 times faster than the B&D CORDED hammer drill I had. I did 200 block-penetrating, hurricane shutter drills with the B&D and then decided to get the Makita.



SO much easier, quiter and quicker with the Makita (and it's a cordless!.) I could have saved myself a lot of time and hearing using quality tools like Makita. Live and learn.



Mt Makita DC18RA Rapid Battery Charger for Li-Ion Batteries

Charger works very well. A welcome upgrade from the standard charger that came with the set. Fast charge allows me to keep working without interuption, and helps because I don't need as many batteries when using multiple tools(drill, circular saw, impact driver, etc.) Definitely recommend.

Makita DC18RA Rapid Battery Charger for Li-Ion Batteries is a very good investment, this is a very good charger it charges the battery fast and if you have two batteries you can continue to work while the other one is charging, that makes it very convient for you, but be careful its very sensitive to power serges (it won't survive).

I've used this with all my 18 volt Makita tools. It has worked perfectly for years. It even tells you when the batteries are bad.

Hint on the batteries: always recharge the batteries when you first notice the power dropping, not when it is almost out of power.

This charger arrived in a timely manner and works excellently. When my 18-volt 3.0 AH batteries are fully depleted, it charges them fully again in about a half hour. I'd recommend this product to anyone using Makita lithium-ion batteries.

I got mine with a Combo kit just over a year ago. It was kept busy charging the 4 batteries I have during a major project. Maximum of 20 minutes to charge a 3 Amp battery from empty. This is what it is supposed to do and it does it.'


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Battery Charger Battery Charger Battery Charger

Step Aerobics


I used to do Gilad videos in the early 90s when I was in high school and I always liked him. I thought his videos were challenging. I decided to purchase this dvd to see what the deal was with Gilad today, but this DVD is from like 1993. So it's pretty dated as far as their clothes go, but I still love it! If you like Gilad, you'll like this. You either love him or hate him. I love him! I think he's GREAT! Its a very challenging, fun video and it gives you the option to intensify the movements to make it even more challenging. The setting is at a beach resort in Hawaii and although some people might find this a little hokey, I was totally into it. I could almost imagine myself at this beach (yes wishfull thinking..) And even the best excercise dvds are pretty corny, this one is really good. I only gave it 4 stars because I would have like a little more difficult combinations, but they were still pretty challenging none the less. If you need to lose weight, this is the way! The ab workout is great too! Gilad defiantely stands the test of time! Definately purchase this workout if you want to burn calories (which burns fat!!) and also step aerobics certainly tones your legs too. If you don't have a gym membership and work out at home like I do, you can be pretty limited on what your equipment is. But step aerobics really tones up your calves and thighs. This is an excellent DVD and I definately recommend it for all fitness levels. If you are a beginner, don't do the arms and don't jump the movements and walk in place if you need to catch your breathe. If you are advanced then you can definately power it up and get a great workout! Step Aerobics

Although I think Gilad is a little goofy, this is the best exercise DVD I have used/own. The reason why is because:

- he warns you of a change in step before it happens and he's consistent about this

- his counting is never off - or at least I haven't discovered any counting errors

- the videographers don't try to get artsy with the cuts, so there is never a cut at the outset of a new step or a transition between steps (I haven't found any other exercise DVD that can boast this and this is important if you want to learn the steps and keep up)

- although the steps themselves are realitively simple, the way Gilad combines them is quite challenging cardio-wise

- the overall combinations are fun



The only thing you need to know about him is that he will say that you're getting ready to do the "last one;" and instead of meaning the very last step, he means the last combination of steps (one to each side, left and right). So for instance, if you are stepping up on the step and kicking with, first the left foot, and then you switch to the right foot (step up and kick). Instead of the final right foot kick being the "last one," Gilad means the last set of left and right kicks. (I hope that made sense. If you get the DVD, I think it will.)

I like routine and consistency (and not just in my step aerobics!) and Step Aerobics by Gilad offers that.



I have made a hobby out of building a collection of step aerobics workouts and resisted Gilad's DVD for awhile. Once I did buy it, the DVD quickly became one of my favorites.



Gilad's warm-up routine is among the best in workout videos and my personal favorite. It's low impact, but gets you moving right away. The step routines are very athletic and very repetitive. Personally, I like repetition because it allows me to focus on getting the most out of each movement (squeezing my muscles, keeping the abs in, standing tall). There's enough variety, though, to keep you interested and enough movement to keep you energized. But my favorite part about the step routines is that every time I do this workout, I feel challenged because of the athleticism required.



In addition to the very relaxing cool down, there's a separate ab workout that's a nice addition.



I like Gilad as an instructor. His cues are excellent and I find him motivating.



Here's a weird thing that creeps me out, though. The two female steppers in the video are wearing some weird support hose that bags up in a strange way. I know it's an incredibly dumb thing to notice, but I have to admit it's something I think about every time I consider doing this workout!

Until now, I have never owned a Gilad aerobic dvd of any kind. I always thought I'd prefer a dvd by someone not so extremely buff looking, but decided to give it a try out of the blue. I'm really happy with this workout (even though it's a little old and now days there are better choreographers).

He's outgoing without being over the top and he's a good instructor. He keeps the routine fresh by changing the steps often, but it's not too hard that you won't be able to keep up. The choreography isn't too complex. There is the usual pivots, knee lifts and taps etc so if you are already an experienced stepper, you'll have this down in no time. His setting here is stunning - Waikiki. That in itself is motivating.

Based on this particular dvd, I'm quite prepared to purchase and try other Gilad workouts because he's really good and knows what he's doing and makes the workout interesting. I highly recommend this one.

I loved Gilad from watching him on ESPN and LOVE the beach scenes. However, I felt like he went too fast; I was playing catch-up because he switched from one thing to another very quickly. There weren't a lot of repeats before moving on to something new. Maybe if I did it more and got used to it, I wouldn't mind. However, I much prefer my Kathy Smith and Cathe videos. This one is just collecting dust for me right now. Maybe I'll give it a try another time, but I regret buying it.

I used to work out with Gilad long ago when his show was on ESPN. When I found myself in desperate need of losing weight, I turned to him again. I never get tired of this workout - I have been using this video for about 3 years now, and I definitely credit this with my 85 pound weight loss. You get a great workout - but it's not so challenging that you want to quit. You can build on the workout as you become more fit. Yes, the clothing is dated, but it gets the job done - cardio and ab workout, too!

Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous!!!'


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Step Aerobics Step Aerobics Step Aerobics

Right Angle Drill - close quarters electric drill, right angle drill


The drill has a lot of power but is a little bulky. It could be redisigned, however, for the price you just can't beat it. If you use a right angle drill all day long then perhaps you should upgrade. However, if you are like me and use it infrequently, but still need a right angle drill for the occasional jobs, this is the drill. Neiko 3/8-Inch, 55-Degree Close Quarters Right-Angle Drill - Pistol Grip

The drill only looks like it would work but does not. It spins like any other drill but when you put it up against a stud to drill the chuck does not spin. The motor sounds fine but the mechnical parts inside the drill do not spin under pressure. Save your money and do not buy this drill!

Like the old saying - you get what you pay for. Sure, it works fine, but watch out if you are looking for a variable speed drill. The trigger on this thing is either on full speed or off. It is very hard, or impossible to try to control the speed. Also, don't think that you'll get a keyless chuck, or one you can operate with your hand. You have to have the key, like the old style. Other than that, it works fine - like I said, you get what you pay for.

I bought this drill in July 2008, I literally used it to drill approx 18, 1/2in holes. Then the gear stripped out. When I contacted the company, within one year of purchase, I received no response. Needless to say I will not do business with this company or refer this product to even the novice, save your money and buy a better drill. I found a refurbished Dewalt for around $100. Pay a little more and you'll be happier in the long run.

This drill appears to be fairly well-made. I bought it for a specific task and it performed flawlessly. I already know of at least two more projects where this "close quarters" drill will come in handy. Since I will be generally be using this drill rather sparingly, I'm glad I bought this one instead of a higher priced one, as it does everything asked of it, and I expect it will probably last me a lifetime. And if not, well, at least it didn't cost very much.

Faced with trying to run a new 110v outlet involving drilling through a stud, I needed some type of right-angle drill to enable doing this through the wallboard cutout for the outlet. This close-quarter drill did the trick.



Not sure about the "professional grade" label, though, since the gears in the drill did make some grinding noises which make me wonder about durability -- but, still was working effectively after putting the 3/4" hole where I needed it! So, definitely recommended, at least for moderate-demand uses.

I power sand all my woodturnings. The dust does eventually kill all drills used like this, so life expectancy is a few months. But the same was true with my Milwaukie angle drill also, so at 1/4 the price, these drills are worth it. Sanding drills have gone from a tool purchase to a regular expense. The tool repair guy I talked to said there are no drills on the market that won't die from sanding dust, so I'm set on using these drills for my sanding. I have no idea how they'll hold up to heavy drilling. - Neiko Tools - Right Angle Drill - Electric Drill - Close Quarters Electric Drill'


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Right Angle Drill - close quarters electric drill, right angle drill right angle drill Right Angle Drill - close quarters electric drill, right angle drill

Cpu - i5, lga1155


I bought this processor that came bundled with with the Intel DH67BL motherboard for about $320 and I couldn't be happier. Intel has certainly out done themselves with this piece of work. The processor is noticeably faster than the previous generation of the Intel Core i5 family line. This processor has the GPU integrated into the processor itself, and with the motherboard I'm using, it is capable of supporting it's own graphics demands; however I don't use the feature. I'm using the Intel stock fan that came with the processor and the processor temperature stays within its safe operating range.



Key notes:

-noticeably faster than previous generation

-temperature stays within range (using the Intel stock fan)

-integrated GPU in processor

-various Intel technologies allow the processor to efficiently and effectively process data. Intel Core i5 Processor i5-2400 3.10GHz 6MB LGA1155 CPU BX80623I52400

I have my computer(s) on much of the day and I wanted both great performance and energy efficiency. This CPU with the ASUS Motherboards ability to adjust the power give me the package I want. So far the i5 has exceeded my needs; it performs great.

I am not a gamer and chose to use the built in video. Now it is in the CPU, not on the motherboard. The colors are vivid and the picture is very good.

I purchased this as a relatively inexpensive option for a computer I wanted to put together for work only (not for gaming). It's been almost 2 months since it was installed and it has worked flawlessly. I use a separate graphics card and do not use the intrinsic graphics capabilities of the CPU, so cannot comment on how it performs in this regard, but a general consensus has been that it works fine for rather mundane computer use (i.e. web browsing, word processing, and just general computer stuff). Nevertheless, this CPU performs incredibly well from an application standpoint and offers more than adequate firepower for just about anything you might need in a processor, including games. Of note, I used the stock fan/heatsink and it keeps the CPU at about 30 degrees C idle, and have never measured it under load, but I don't use any "stressful" applications that could elevate the temperature dramatically. All in all, I am very happy with this CPU and recommend it for anyone who wants a budget processor that can, in most all cases, get the job done.

I bought the i52400 because i decided to built a new cheapper pc. i have 4GBS Corsair ddr 1333, and the ASUS P8P67PRO.



in AIDA64 cpu queen is about 31255 defeating the 6x Phenon 1055T.



In bechmark cache memory. (READ.COPY.WRITE) the ram is above 16000MB/S



Im really satisfied with this new computer. So i recommend this intel for gaming too.. - Cpu - Sandy Bridge - I5 - Lga1155'


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Cpu - i5, lga1155 i5 Cpu - i5, lga1155

Ipod Accessories - ear buds, headphones


Disappointing sound



I guess it is a matter of taste, but I was truly disappointed with the quality of sound from this Bose product. I am addicted to music and consider myself very critical when it comes to the way music devices sound. I have a set of Bose QC3 headphones which I consider sound quite well so, I was expecting these earbuds to sound close to the QC 2's. Unfortunately not. The bass response is quite good, the mid frequencies are OK but, the high frequency sounds like the cymbals in jazz or rock music are very poor. You have to listen carefully to discover that they are there. I own a pair of Sennheiser's CX-300 earbuds, and the difference is enormous. The Sennheiser's are crystal clear throughout all the frequency range, and the cost half the price of the Bose's. For classical music the Bose's could be OK but, if you are also into pop, jazz, new age, etc. I suggest you consider the Sennheiser's. They are as comfortable (or more) as the Bose's, they are more sound-isolating, and they cost about 50% less. Bose TriPort In-Ear Headphones - Headphones ( ear-bud ) - black - Ear Buds - Headphones - Earphones - Ipod Accessories'


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Ipod Accessories - ear buds, headphones ipod accessories Ipod Accessories - ear buds, headphones

Portable - portable, light


cheap build cheap construction, but it does what it says and that is all I can ask for. I was a lil bummed realizing later that I wanted a bit more length than was offered. Yet the unit is a good value. took off a star because it feels easily breakable. .. Deluxe 57" Camera Tripod with Carrying Case For The Kodak Zi8 Video Camera

It works. It stands. It does not fall over. It is light. It is cheap. What more do you need? If you just need to just hold up a camera while it takes a picture this is all you need to spend. If you have more sophisticated requirements, keep looking.

I understand this is cheap and shouldn't be held to a high standard. The thing broke in 2 minutes after I unpacked it. The spring button on the top shot off after I touched it. It is really cheaply made.

OK first of all, shipping is great! Then the product. The tripod is feels kind of light (and I don't mind buying cheaply made products) more sort of like hollow on the inside of the tubes. So don't take it to a tornado watch or something other than that the rest is fine like the head, joints, all are very smooth. Good buy

This tripod was nice and small. Unfortunately, it had a small piece that screws into the camera that quick disconnects to the tripod, instead of a standard mounting screw. I was scared that I would lose the tiny piece that "quick disconnects" and would no longer be able to use the tripod, so I returned it. I actually lost it first day i had it and then found it. Didnt want to press my luck.

not the best of quality for it does the job at holding the camera for great shots. i do have a problem with the level. panning from horizontal to vertical works fine but it is not level in the horizontal position. i have to adjust the legs everytime to fix this problem. since brand new the thing only cost 11 $ (shipping included) i give 4 stars. i dont worry about this this at sport events or on hikes as it was that cheap i could buy another one. however the shipping took longer than estimated and seller took awhile to ship it out of the store.

I ordered two of these because for $6 each I could probably use 10 of them. I have a high quality tripod which I spent more money on than the camera on it. However mine is heavy, 32" long and although stable as a rock, I rarely take it anywhere except for a serious photo shoot. This cheap lil tripod is small, portable and can expand to 56" which is at least as high as most people's eye level. It cheap enough to toss around and use for random things. As long as your not adjusting the camera/lights a lot, since its very light and the legs are quite flexible, it will serve most people just fine. Not to mention they both came with a carrying bag and microfiber cleaning cloths (db roth) which you can never have enough of.



Overall its a great deal for the money, it works as promised and was delivered immediately.



It did not however, come with a hook on the bottom to add extra weight and stabilize the tripod as shown in the picture, which would have been helpful. - Reliable - Portable - Light - Cheap'


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Portable - portable, light light Portable - portable, light

Exercise Mat - yoga, yoga mat


I am 5' 5" and usually barely fit on normal yoga mats that the gym provides with a little extra space on the ends. I love that this yoga mat is extra long.....in fact it is 4" longer than most traditional mats, and is a total of 72" long. It is also 1/4" thick so it provides just enough cushion and support to protect your knees, back, hips, and joints by absorbing the impact of the floor. My experience using this mat was very enjoyable and relaxing and made prenatal yoga much more comfortable on my hips and back.



I also found my mat to have just the right level of stickiness. I didn't find myself slipping as I got sweaty which was very nice. Because of the soft support, Aurorae Yoga Mats are great for other floor exercises such as sit ups, push-ups, core, and more.



Another amazing feature of this mat is it is actually machine washable! In fact, it's recommended to "break in" your mat and make it less slippery! Just make sure you hang dry it.....never put it in the dryer.



All in all I LOVE my yoga mat and would deffinately suggest Auoroae to anyone that is looking for anything for yoga Aurorae Northern Lights Yoga Mat with Golden Sun Focal Icon -SGS approved Free from Phthalates and Latex. Sunset (Golden)

I read lots of reviews and looked at quite a few mats before deciding on this one. I've had 2 Gaiam mats that were OK, but not great. I didn't want to spend a fortune but I wanted a quality mat for home and studio classes. I'm really pleased with this mat and it's much nicer than my Gaiam mats. It feels more substantial. I used it right out of the box and no smell and it was plenty sticky. Not too thin but not so thick that's it's heavy to haul to class either. It's quite light.

After using it for classes that are very warm, I have not had any issues with slipping due to sweat.

Love the earthy colors and would recommend this to anyone needing a nice mat.

This is actually my second yoga mat purchase from Aurorae. I purchased their Seamist mat last fall and was incredibly happy with it that I decided to pick up another color.. It just so happens that they had recently released a new line of higher end yoga mats in a color that i just had to have! The blend of colors is even more vivid in person and very hypnotic, relaxing your mind during poses.



Aurorae has clearly done their homework.. they continue to know exactly what yoga practitioners want. I highly recommend them!

The mat is a beautiful orange sunset color with a Golden Sun Focal Icon. The mat is 5 mm thick which is the perfect thickness to absorb the impact on joints while still providing stability. The mat is also extra long which is great when you have little ones that want to exercise with you.



The mat has also has great traction! Some of the yoga poses really test a persons balance and a non slip mat is a must have. I love that if a traction problem ever develops, the mat comes with a non slip rosin bag that sucks the moisture out if the mat. On top of everything else, the mat is odorless and completely biodegradable!

I loved the Northern Lights yoga mat I was sent to review. It was the best mat I've tried:) It is thick and cushy, but still light weight and easily transportable. It was made from quality materials and I know it will last a long time. It is super easy to take care of and I didn't have any trouble at all with the mat slipping or me slipping(the rosin bag is super helpful)...we both stayed put through every workout:) The mat itself was beautiful with calming, relaxing colors and a gorgeous pattern reminiscent of a sunset. I also really appreciated the length. We often have "family" yoga sessions and this mat was big enough to share on many poses:) If you are looking for a quality comfortable mat, you should definitely keep the Northern Lights mat in mind. Aurorae Yoga has a ton of other really great yoga products, so if you are in the market, check them out! ABCD Diaries gives Aurorae Yoga an A+!

I LOVE my mat! It's seriously the prettiest mat ever! It's the perfect thickness and it doesn't slip at all! The company really does have great customer service! I wouldn't recommend washing it unless you can place in the sun for a few days~b/c you will never get the suds out otherwise. Mine dried out and was fine after that. There rosin bag works great too! So happy!

The color of this mat is an awakening color and makes me think of the sun rising so it's refreshing and gives you a little extra burst of energy. I have hard wood floors that everything slides on it seems but I had not one slip or move of the mat any time that I've used it. Easy to clean and can be wiped down with a damp cloth or rag then wipe with a towel to dry.

After researching several yoga mats and narrowing it down to two mats I decided to give this mat a try over the Manduka mat at twice the price. The Manduka mat is thick with a dense material making it cumbersome for those who like to practice yoga in different areas of the house or travel to studios.



The Aurorea mat is as nearly as thick as the Manduka and less then half the weight (and price!). It has a pleasant aesthetic look about it making yoga practice even that more enjoyable. After I received the mat I had several questions for the company regarding traction issues I was having (my hands perspire during practice) and the owner contacted me immediately, assisting me with my slipping. I plan on ordering another mat for my wife in the very near future.

Love this mat-nice and thick so I feel supported in all the poses. Beautiful to look at too! Nice to find an ecologically responsible mat for a reasonable price. Highly recommend-cannot wait to use this mat for years to come!! - Yoga Mat - Yoga - Aurorae - Yoga Accessories'


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Exercise Mat - yoga, yoga mat yoga Exercise Mat - yoga, yoga mat

Kodak Easyshare - first choice, kodak easyshare


Just purchased this and writing a quick review. I'll do another later if any problems show up.



So far very pleased, upgrading from my old Kodak Easyshare. Couldn't be easier to begin using, plugged it into power and put my USB in and pictures began to roll.



Pictures bright, clear with much less cropping off the bottom of my pictures and controls on the top of the frame very intuitive.



A bit worried when I opened it because of the size then realized the larger frame could be removed leaving just the actual picture with 1 inch rim around which works great for space on desk at work. The frame I removed was very nice however and would look great on a wall, frame would also be easy to shift out to change styles.



One great upgrade it does have a shuffle switch on the top so no more needing to shuffle the pics before loading on the USB. No remote but never found it necessary on my old one, controls on the top and easy to use, even tried the copy pictures to add a few in case my USB or card wasn't with me and very simple.



________

Now I have had a chance to actually use this product all week at work upgraded from 4 to 5 stars. Absolutely perfect for my desk at work, picture crisp and clear. Especially love the option to watch pics as organized on my flash drive and then switch to shuffle mode and let it choose for me. I also decided to test it with how many pics it could store (stated 4000) 512 mb didn't seem like much but easily copied my 2000 pictures into the frame, quality might be slightly less than off the flash but not enough to make them unwatchable, like going from HD to regular on my TV. Also find the top of frame controls much easier to use than the remote since I can just tap the pause and it will stay on single picture until I come back to desk.



Best thing I've bought since my flat screen HD TV. Kodak Easyshare D1025 10-Inch Digital Picture Frame

I bought this for my elderly relatives and it has been a family joy! If you put enough pictures on it and let it cycle through the snapshots, it's really better than most TV shows!



Before I purchased it, I saw this frame side by side with several others at a local retailer. This was by far the biggest, clearest and brightest.

The pictures display on a huge 10" screen which is bigger than most digital frames (easier on the 'older' eyes), and the picture display is clear and frame is nice-looking.



I spent a couple of hours organizing and copying all our digital photos to an SD card. I slipped the SD card in the back of the frame and set the frame on auto-play. So easy and a joy for the family to see years and years of memories!



This frame does NOT have music or a remote, but frankly, that is exactly the kind of unnecessary complication that an older couple does not want. It's simple and easy to use.

I made the mistake of starting with an HP. I wanted to give it to my elderly parents, loaded with pictures of their lives. The HP was challenging for me. After I got it loaded, the remote was dead. Did an exchange, and the next one was slightly different in not having any resident memory. I was ready to give up and then I stumbled onto this. No remote, enough resident memory for a lot of photos - over a thousand but I don't know where the end is. It down sizes jpegs automatically, loads easily enough for a small child to handle. The pictures are stunningly bright and clear. There are three choices for transition speeds. The only negative for me was that on mine, it had a transition for the middle speed where it would kind of zoom a small amount as it transitioned. Looked a little weird, but not a real problem. Others might enjoy it. My review: excellent value, bright beautiful picture, extremely simple operation, good internal storage, well positioned and simple controls, easy to add more pictures. My parents love it and with all their friends and the rest of the family they can sit for hours just watching the pictures and telling stories. They laugh and cry and just love all the memories it recalls.

This was probably the most appreciated gift I ever gave, and I'm scanning and working on more photos to add to the frame now.

Seriously, if I had started with this frame my aggravation factor would have been so much less. If I knew then what I know now, I'd have taken this in a heartbeat. I'd give this one six stars if I could. Fooey on HP with those pain in the neck remotes and complex controls.

I looked long and hard before I decided on this model. The main thing that drew me to this item is the Kodak name. All of my digital pictures were taken with a Kodak easy share camera and its quality is excellent, so I figured the digital picture frame would be more of the same and I am not disappointed. First of all, this frame has internal memory for several thousand photos. This is a main selling point for me as who likes all of the pictures on their memory card? This lets you pick and choose which ones you want to save on the frame as opposed to looking at the entire memory card. If you want to view the entire memory card on the frame, you have the option to do that as well.



Next, the picture quality is excellent. What else would you expect from Kodak? This frame replaced a 7" Pandigital frame that I had and the picture quality is like night and day. The kodak frame shows vivid color and sharpness. Also, the Kodak frame shows a large 10" photo. This is perfect for my office as I can actually see my photos now.



This picture frame does not have all the "bells and whistles" that some newer models offer such as music and a remote control, but quite honestly I did not want them. It does give you the option to switch out frames, but I am happy with the nice one that came with the purchase. I simply wanted a larger, quality, easy to use picture frame with internal memory and that is exactly what Kodak delivered!! - First Choice - Kodak Easyshare'


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Kodak Easyshare - first choice, kodak easyshare kodak easyshare Kodak Easyshare - first choice, kodak easyshare

Portable Data Device - hd enclosure, drive enclosures


This product is good if you are in a jam where you just need to save a hard drive. It is not a long term solution to keep the hard drive in the enclosure due to it being very cheaply made.



Pros:

Included is the aluminum enclosure, a USB cable with an extra end in case you still have USB 1.1, a mini screw driver to secure one end, and a little slip case for the enclosure.



Cons:

The USB adapter on the drive is mounted in crooked, so when you plug in the USB cable, it comes out crooked. If you are looking to buy this you have at least a mild understanding of computers so you won't need the manual, but read it for fun. There are spelling mistakes, it references two lights on the enclosure when there is just one, and it also references a CD-ROM with drivers on it that is not included, even though you don't need the disc.



I saw another review saying it doesn't have a fan. It does not need a fan because the drive is against the aluminum case, which acts as a passive heater which is completely adequate.



This enclosure is a quick fix to recover some data. I would not keep a valuable drive in this. USB 2.0 External 2.5" IDE HDD Enclosure Case Blue For Laptop

I recently bought this Hard Drive case after using one at work and I got one just in time. My laptop motherboard blew up and i had no way of getting the files from my hard drive back. So i removed the hard drive plugged it in the case and plugged the case into my desktop and almost instantly the hard rive popped up allowing me to copy over my files that I thought where gone forever. This truly is a life saver!

This is a very good product it may seem cheap but it does what it needs to.

I had no issues getting it to work just plugged it in and it worked just fine. It comes with all you need to install hard drive.



Here are the pros

1. cheap

2. slim

3. made of aluminum to help get rid of heat

4. works with Macs and windows



I would have a con list but I can think of any

This is exactly the same car that is sold under the Sabrent name and it's 1/3 the price of that one.



Not a bad damn deal!!!



XP and up don't need to install anything, just toss the disk that it comes with, it's meant for windows 98 and older. These devices are set to USB standards for 2.0 and it's all just plug and play. Before closing the case up and putting the screws in just go ahead and start it up and make sure that your drive is accessible. It it's not just move the jumper until you figure out the right setting for it.



Just make sure that you have the 2.5" drive set to either master or single (the jumper setting, normally single is without a jumper).



Also be careful with the screws for the top of the case they will strip out easily if you try to TIGHTEN them too much.

After my second hand laptop failed I salvaged the 40Gb hard drive and ordered this enclosure. It works great for me and was very easy to install. Fits perfectly to 2.5" laptop hard drives; 1 connection to the front panel and 2 screws - very simple design.



Some reviews complain about ventilation for overheating, but I can only see it getting hot if you use it for a long period of time transferring large files across a USB 1.0 connection. Most of the time its quite cool idle on USB 2.0.



The package comes with a screwdriver to install the screws, a 'Y-cable' for additional devices to connect to the same USB port (which I've never used), a black cloth cover for the case and the external case (silver).



Works great!

This enclosure is an excellent value. Performance has been trouble-free, and it worked right out of the box - no problems whatsoever. After I added my laptop drive (perfect fit) and connected it to two of my USB ports (one for power, one for data), it was recognized immediately by my Windows XP computer. It has a slim lightweight compact profile which works well for travel, and has a very tight USB connection. I would highly recommend this enclosure over more expensive enclosures offered by others.

bought product and it arrived 2 days later. seller was quick, price was amazing. 2 weeks later after using the enclosure half a dozen times the front part of the case where the drive plugs in came apart. the plastic end came unglued from the board. looking at it i noticed it's only held in place by 2 dabs of glue. now it won't stay back on, even tried gluing it back with super glue but the amount of force needed to pull the drive out is too much even for that since the glue just touches the edge of the pcb board.



i decided i needed a firewire enclosure too so i had already bought another one last week before this came apart on me tonight. like i said, seller was great but the product...well, you get what you pay for. not worth an RMA either as i paid $5.66 for the enclosure and $5.49 shipping. would cost another $5.49 to ship it back for a new one.

This thing is really as simple and easy as it gets, and actually does more than most people need. My primary hobby used to be computers, and even though I've moved on to different things, I still help people with their computers if need be.



As long as you're careful to ground yourself (so that static electricity doesn't kill your hard drive), you don't even need the enclosure (though don't keep the hard drive exposed for too long). This makes it quick and easy to test drives or use old and oversized laptop hard drives, or hard drives with built in heatsinks etc. (This is why another reviewer had to file down the tabs)



There was one small hiccup that I ran into, but it was on the software end, not the hardware one. If you buy a new or pre-formatted hard drive to use in this, it may not come up in 'My Computer', even though the computer will report that everything is working alright. What you need to do is to go to Device Manager -> Disk Drives -> ::Your harddrive:: Properties and under the Volumes tab, click Populate. Finally, right click on a link for 'My Computer' and click 'Manage'. This should bring up Computer Management. Under 'Disk Management' on the left, find your drive and right click and select 'Add new partition'. After that, follow the brief wizard to format it appropriately (I recommend NTFS unless you really know what you're doing).



Let the formatting run - you can do this all through this enclosure, unlike some where you have to get an adapter and plug in the hdd internally. Once it's done it should pop right up in My Computer ready to use.



Other than that, the usb cable doesn't care which direction it goes in, making it pretty fool proof. The manual is relatively useless though - a lot of words got lost in translation, calling different menus by the wrong names etc. - Usb Drive - Cheap - Hd Enclosure - Drive Enclosures'


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Jewelry Set - craft kits, shrinky dinks


This is too much fun! My four year old had a great time coloring each piece and watching them "shrink." The greatest part is she has jewelry to wear afterwards. Most art projects get hung on the wall or stashed somewhere. This is something she can keep! Very fun and simple project with little cleanup needed. Alex Shrinky Dinks Minis - Ballerina Jewelry

If you have a little ballerina in your life, this is a fun way to spend an afternoon with her. Shrinkydinks need to be placed in the oven to "shrink" so adult participation is required. But my grand daughter and I had a fun filled afternoon tracing, coloring and baking our shrinkydinks. Lots of planning and talking and experimenting with shapes and colors. A really fun gift for sharing some time together.

i gave this to my 4 year old cousin for Easter and she LOVED it! i aged myself when no one else knew what shrinky dinks were, but everyone thought it was a great idea and they were impressed with the end result and value. i let them know i got it from amazon and they plan on getting some more. great product and great price!

I bought this and some other shrinky dinks kits for my just turned 5 year old. She LOVES them and when we have time and are stuck in the house due to yucky winter weather, she asks to do shrinky dinks. Definitely worth it. Fun activity to do spending time with your children. - Shrinky Dinks - Craft - Crafts - Craft Kits'


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Made In America - made in usa, wool blanket


You can see and feel the quality craftsmanship in this blanket right away. It looks great, feels durable and is a nice warm blanket. I will definitely buy another should I need one.

It is also nice to be able to buy a textile product that is still made in the USA. U.S. Calvary - Navy / Brick Red Civil War Replicated 100% Wool Blanket - Made In Usa - Wool Blanket'


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Eco-sports - eco-sports, yoga


I got this mat because it was extra long and had a couple of extra inches in width--very helpful in the Fixed-Firm pose! I also loved the color--not many long mats in a color a girl could love. But my beef is that this mat is like an ice rink for my Yogitoes towel!! I simply cannot believe it! The towel that gripped my cheap mat before now slides ALL OVER the place on this pricey one. So I guess now I need to spend the extra money to get a Manduka towel--I sweat so much in hot yoga that regular towels tend to get too wet. Ugh. Three $50 Yogitoes towels that are now useless. I wish they had mentioned something to this nature in the description. I've tried wetting the towel like another guy in my class does, but no dice. Very disappointing. So if you are considering this mat and have Yogitoes towels, add replacing them into the cost of purchase. It's going to be a $200 mat before I know it... Manduka eKO 85-Inch 5mm Yoga Mat

The ec0-mat just make me feel guilty-free carrying it around. It grip very well, and I'm loving practicing my Yoga on this beautiful mat. It's quite stink at first, i had it un-rolled indoor for a week to make the rubber smell go faster. The Mat still heavier than other brand, but i can't find this size mat anywhere else....

The picture shows a two colored mat with moss green on one side and black on the other. I liked this combo. It was actually moss green on both sides. If I had known this, I would have purchased a different color from the Manduka web site. Otherwise, I am very happy with the product.

Very nice mat. Great size and very well padded. My problem is that the mat "stinks". No, it is rancid. I used it once and had to drag it out of the yoga studio. I've since sprayed it with vinegar, scrubbed it with soap and left it in the rain to kill the odor. It's still there. Very harsh chemical odor. Not sure if it gets better but I'm hoping so.

Shipping was very fast.

I'm 5" 10" and wanted a yoga mat long enough for me. This mat has room to spare! I like the thickness even though it's a little heavy to cart around. The pattern reminds me of water running over grass - very soothing.

I know it will get better, but I've had to wash this mat three times to try and get it "sticky." I love the size and I know I'm going to build upper body strength by carrying it around. This mat weighs a lot.



I've had it for 3 weeks and only used it twice because I kept having to wash it to get it to stick. Just washed it yesterday, it's in my bag so we'll see.

The size and thickness makes for a comfortable workout session. I'm not dissapointed at all with this product, but the downfalls for some might be that it's a bit heavy and a little too big. It's definitely too big for the the bag I had, so I think I'm going to have to buy a new one. It also has the odor others have mentioned in their reviews. Nothing I've found too bad or distracting. It's perfect for leaving in your home. I think this will last much longer than most mats (not that I've personally had a mat wear out on me). - Manduka Yoga Mat - Best Yoga Mat On The Market - Eco-sports - Yoga'


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Recommended - wireless, usb network adapters


it works great with my router. upgrading my laptop internal wireless wasn't a viable option so I figured for the cost I'd try this. With windows 7 64bit edition on our laptop I plugged this usb adapter in and without using it's included cd windows recognized it, installed it's own driver, then I had to log back into my router with this adapter and bam it worked perfect. signal went from 54k to 150k instantly it was amazing. I have another computer still using wired ethernet 100 and this wireless adapter is faster than it. I'm considering upgrading my router to see if I can get even more speed but we'll see about that later. for now I'm totally satisfied. 1000mW Wireless N/G 802.11n/g USB Wifi Network Adapter with 5 dBi antenna Up to 150Mbps

This adapter works as design. Took me some time to go through set up, because some of the options I needed were hidden. But in the end it works as designed.

Keep in mind, this unit is rather big and long and if you are installing it where it is easily accessible, it can be broken off or tripped over.

For my situation I had a desktop with it's back hidden so it worked.

My computer is a seven-year-old Dell desktop, a few dozen feet and a few walls away from our Airport Extreme wireless router. I've been using an almost ten-year-old Linksys USB adapter up to now for Internet connectivity, with a typical connection speed of ~24 Mbps. This Linksys adapter also had a very irritating habit of losing connectivity whenever I disconnected any other USB device, such as an external hard drive or my mobile phone, from my computer; I would have to physically reset the adapter by unplugging its USB cable and reconnecting, in both the original Windows XP and the Windows 7 I've upgraded to. I figured it was time for a change.



This replacement USB adapter, chosen on price and on the number of positive reviews it received, arrived quickly and installed easily three days ago, two or three days after ordering. That ~24 Mbps connection speed almost trebled to 65 Mbps instantly. An equally important benefit to me: I can now disconnect other USB devices from my computer without losing connectivity.



Summary: excellent, inexpensive product that was the perfect solution for my purposes. Recommended for others in similar situations.

I bought this little adapter not expecting a great deal from it. I mainly needed it for when I'm bored at work and "borrow" the near-by (About 1500ft) hotels wifi to entertain myself. My old adapter/booster would work fine until a semi-truck passed by and would block my connection. This was very annoying and after months of fidgeting with my old stuff I finally bought this mainly because it had an external antenna connection. I was going to ditch the included antenna and run a yagi, but after setting this adapter up it already had 25% better signal than my old 1w booster! I was throughly pleased to say the least! I do recommend that you use an usb extension cable because the adapter with the included antenna is a tad heavy. It also helped because I could move the adapter around until I could find signal "sweet spot" in my office. Now I can work on my special "projects" without interruption.

I was having problems with receiving public Wi-Fi in my building downtown. I bought this because of the price and review on it. I was amazed to see that not only did it pick up the public Wi-Fi, but 12 other routers in other businesses around. It also picked up the public library a block away. I bought another one to keep in my computer bag for trips where Hotel Wi-Fi can be hit and miss.

Just got this today . Installed drivers and within ten minutes I was online.I also purchased the amazon brand 9 foot usb extention cable ,so that I could place the device in the best spot to pickup a signal. This was a very good buy. Good price too . At this price take the chance I'm glad I did.

This works perfectly on my Win 7 desktop. Didn't even need the CD manual to install. I don't know how it would be if I was an online gamer, but it works perfectly for netflix, youtube, facebook, etc. etc. Would recommend to friends and family. - Usb Network Adapters - Wireless - Wireless Adapter - Usb Wireless Adapter'


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