Tuesday, 19 October 2010

Rechargeable Ladies Razor - electric razor, panasonic


I decided to go with this model because of the pivoting head and the bikini attachment. When I was a teenager, my mom bought me a ladies electric shaver. It was nice for using in or out of the shower, but the battery died on it pretty quick. I've realized now that I hate shaving with a razor in the shower. I just have a shower stall, not a bathtub/shower unit, so it's very cramped and uncomfortable. I wanted something I could use in or out of the shower and that would be quick.



The key thing to remember with an electric shaver is it's not going to give you as close of a shave as a razor. If you think it will, you'll be disappointed. With that in mind, I was VERY satisfied with this shaver's performance. I've tried it now both wet and dry. It is quick to use and easy to clean. It didn't cause the shave itch I normally get right out of the shower after I shave my legs. It worked very well for tidying up my nether region. Again, no itch and it was quick. The attachment was very easy to get on and off.



The downsides to the product are: the switches are a little hard to operate in the shower when your hands are wet. If you are using the bikini trimmer attachment in the shower, you need to go a little slow because wet hair tends to clog things. I can't shave my armpits with this. The skin there is too delicate, so I have to stick to a single swipe with a razor there.



I gave this 5 stars because it exceeded my expectations. It's a much closer shave than my old electric shaver and it's quick - much quicker than shaving with a razor. The results were a bit better than how my legs would feel the day after a razor shave. The shaver is very quiet and easy for me to maneuver in my hands, wet or dry.



Tips: Don't press down hard while you shave - go smooth and light over your skin. If you are shaving dry, pull the skin taut above where you are shaving. You get very good, very close and very quick results that way. Panasonic ES2216PC Close Curves Wet/Dry Ladies Shaver with Bikini Attachment, Mauve

I was hesitant to purchase this shave due to the mixed reviews, but decided to give it a chance for two reasons- first, Panasonic's webpage claims this razor has the sharpest blades (based on a 2004 comparison, I wished it was more recent) and the fact that the replacement blades for my Venus razor seem to get more expensive each time I purchase them. I was also sick of the razor burn on my bikini line, as well as the ingrown hairs. I am very satisfied so far. According to the instructions, the shave should get closer over the first three weeks of use; however, the shave out of the box is a smooth one and I have stopped getting razor burn and ingrown hairs, and the razor is not loud! I am very pleased so far.

I had a Remington wet/dry that finally got outdated and I thought to replace it. I did a lot of research and decided to try this Panasonic. I was really excited when it got here and the first time I used it I loved it and was all set to write a raving review. But I thought I should wait a couple weeks. I am very unhappy with it, as it turns out. I wish I had my Remington back (or got a new Remington). Yes, the Remington is a little louder. But this one is loud too - you can hear both of them from many rooms away. So really, that's not a big deal.



What got me is two things with this one:

1) The sides that hold the razor in place are taller than the razor area. So when you go to get a close shave, the sides of the unit scratch/scrape your leg. It is plastic, so no blood drawn or anything, but it doesn't feel good. Has no one else noticed this? I went to do a quick shave on my calves and ended up with stripes from the sides of the unit scraping my legs. And it didn't even get the little stubble. I didn't think the Remington was that fantastic, but it did better than this.

2) It vents out the cut hair once in a while all over your leg. You could be shaving along la di da and all of a sudden get a huge area of hair. I thought "I already went over that area?" but it was just the hair that got spit out from the razor. It is a little gross, I'm always wiping the cut hair off my leg.



Another disadvantage is that this one's charger plugs straight into the outlet, instead of having a cord. So I have to find an outlet to leave it in to charge that my kids won't get to. I like the cord better, so I can plug the cord in behind my dresser and have it sitting on top of my dresser in the little charger base. This one, you have to put the razor in the charger directly into the outlet. I could deal with this though if it didn't spit hair out all over my leg or leave scrapes down my leg.

I have very sensitive skin and need to use an electric razor on my underarms to avoid razor burn. My last two electric razors have been Remington, the most recent being the one with the gold foil for sensitive skin. No matter how lightly I pressed with the Remington, I would still get razor burn as if I had shaved with a real razor. The same is true of when I shave my legs.



I have only been using this Panasonic razor for less than a month, but I have already noticed significantly less razor burn. If I press too hard, it will still cause it. But really there is no need to press very hard at all.



Some of the reviews I saw talked about how loud this razor is and to never use it when you have company. Well, it is much quieter than my Remington razors. Yes, you can hear it when it is on. But it's not like a jet engine or anything!



My only real complaint is that the little green strip that goes in between the foil can scratch a little if you're pressing too hard. I sometimes press a little harder on my legs to try to get a closer shave. (I try to get that delicate balance between razor burn and closeness!) Another issue, though small, is the travel pouch it comes in. It is just a nylon bag that really doesn't protect it at all.



I do really like the pivoting head, though. I was undecided whether that would really make a difference, since I'd never had one that pivoted before. Well, it really does make it easier to shave around your knees and ankles. You can change it from pivoting a lot to just a little. I also like that you can just run it under the faucet to clean the hairs off when you are done using it. The head comes off so you can rinse it. It goes on easily, though you have to be a little bit careful to make sure both ends snap on. The charger is sturdy and not too bulky. It stays standing upright better than both of my Remington stands.



I have not tried the bikini trimmer yet, as I am a little nervous to, after reading how many people had issues with it. I use a Wahl beard and mustache trimmer with a guard now that works perfectly, so that really wasn't anything I anticipated using.



Overall, I am so far very pleased with the razor and think I will like it more than my Remington shavers. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because of the tiny bit of scratching and the very slight razor burn. I have to have something be PERFECT to give five stars! I think you can definitely see the difference between this mid-priced razor and the cheaper $20 store versions. I'd recommend spending the extra money! - Electric Razor - Panasonic - Ladies Razor - Electric Razors'


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Financial Software - finance, financial software


YNAB is a fresh approach to budgeting.

In this book you learn where that approach came from. The author's perspective is innovative, interesting and he's darn fun to read!

The anecdotes describing financial situations we've all encountered are fresh and lively and give great insight into why the YNAB way evolved and give you a fantastic idea of how it will change your life.

The book is condensed, the points are concise and the reading is FUN. Highly recommend for anyone thinking (and/or stressing) about their money. You Need A Budget

YNAB is a smarter approach to personal financial management than most other software packages out there. The focus is on putting your dollars to work for you in the most logical, and important way. Quicken and other similar programs tend to focus on managing transactions; YNAB focuses on managing your life. It is easy to use, and the interface is simple and user-friendly. Read the online manual about budgeting - suddenly your life will be clearer. Highly recommended.

I consider myself a budgeting pro... Have look at a lot of systems over the years and YNAB is a system that is very intuitive, straight forward and it works with "electronic" payments in 2011. Some of the older cash based systems make online banking, purchses, etc difficult, but YNAB enables one to create a budget that encompasses a checking account, credit card and cash accounts and places them into the same budget. Other online services charge a large amount to do this, but are slow and lacking in features such as projected budget, etc.



Kudos to Jesse and team!!!

Dave Ramsey fans (I am certainly one) will be pleased to discover YNAB software. It picks up where Dave's Gazelle Budget left off. The level of support of new users of the software, on the YNAB website, is fantastic and totally unexpected. The YNAP software leads the user to follow four rules: Name each dollar's use; Save in an organized way for lump sum bills; Let the software help deal with overspending; Live off the buffer (LAST months income). Good-bye Marriage Counselor, Hello Second Honeymoon! ;-)

I'm not in financial trouble, but I do plan to purchase a home in the next couple of years, and I needed a budget that was focused on saving $X-amount per month. This book was a short, sweet, remarkable resource to me in building a comprehensive budget, and will prove as a valuable primer to anyone who is putting together their first budget.



Note that there is accompanying software sold separately on Amazon, but the software is by NO means necessary to absorb the concepts of the book.

If you're Excel-savvy, you can most likely get any data you might need using spreadsheets.

I personally love how this author explained how to properly budget. I am already seeing a healthier checking account balance and I have only been using this system for a little under a month. I know that if I stick to my budget, I will be able to accomplish a lot of other goals I have further on down the road. Seeing how I am a little under 20 and just now realizing how important it is to keep tabs on your money is eye-opening. If you are looking to change how to manage your money for the better, I highly recommend this book.

We have been working on our finances from the very beginning of our marriage, but we missed the absolutely brilliant point of making the buffer which now makes total sense. Highly recommended book for every and each household!

It took me about a couple of weeks to get the hang of it, but now that I'm getting a good feel for YNAB, I'm really beginning to love it. A lot of folks complain that it has a steep learning curve. There is no doubt a learning curve attached to this program, but I wouldn't say it's "steep". Before I purchased this program, I participated in a few of their free online training seminars, and they helped tremendously, especially the one on how to handle credit cards.



I highly recommend this program. It is nicely laid out and you can see that they spent a great deal of time in trying to make this program easy to use.

This book doesn't actually give you a budget but it gives you all the principles behind creating one. It was very informative and chock full of ideas in an abbreviated format. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to get their finances under control. - Financial Software - Quicken - Finance - Intuit'


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Lenny Magill - gun, firearms


Lenny Magill is great at what he does. This beginers guide to CCW carry is essential to anyone who is a new CCW holder. THey go over all the basic concelaed posistions, shooting techniques, and concealment and cover. Even if you feel that you know that basics I would suggest buying any of Lenny Magill's videos. They sure helped a new CCW holder like me. Practical Concealed Carry--DVD

Ken Hackathorn talks about 2-stupid mistakes commonly made by those who carry concealed handguns and what he calls short term and long term modes of concealment for carrying a handgun concealed.

He also mentions 3-recognizable visual signs that might indicate that someone is carrying a concealed handgun.



Several concealed carry holsters and methods are shown and Ken Hackathorn talks a little about each one: inside the pants, pancake holster, Bruce Nelson #1 holster, shoulder holster, fanny pack holsters, pocket holsters, ankle holsters, paddle holsters and belly band holsters.



Ken Hackathorn demonstrates some methods of drawing the gun from concealment: sweep draw and snatch draw.



The process of drawing the gun is broken down into simpler component actions for the concealed handgun owner to practice.



The instructional part of the video is 80 minutes long or 1 hour and 20 minutes. Afterwards there are some video promotions of other gun videos produced by Lenny Magill.



Advanced Self Defense, Volume 1--DVD



Advanced Self Defense, Volume 2--DVD



Advanced Self Defense, Volume 3--DVD



Advanced Self Defense, Volume 4--DVD



Advanced Self Defense, Volume 5--DVD



Wilson's House Clearing & Cornering Tactics & Techniques--DVD



Handgun Workout--DVD



Handgun Retention / Weapon Retention for Law Enforcement & Concealed Carry



Handguns & Home Survival



Wilson's Night Master: Low Light Shooting & Flashlight Techniques--DVD - Concealed Carry - Firearms - Gun - Guns'


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Snow Removal - snow thrower, snowblower


I have used this item twice since purchase--a 2 inch and a 4 inch snowfall. It does an excellent job of throwing loose snow from my driveway. The only problem I have noticed is that the plastic scraper (also known as the snow spade) wears down rapidly. I am using the thrower on a concrete drive and pushing it across the concrete is like grinding the plastic away. Replacement scrapers are $20 so I hope I don't have to replace it several times a year. It seems to me that the scraper should have a metal wear surface that would hold up better than the plastic. I am in the process of trying to design aluminum "skid" for that purpose. Greenworks 26012 12-Inch 7 Amp Electric Snow Thrower

I live in a row home in a major city on the East Coast. I bought this thinking that it would peed up the clearing of my sidewalk and to dig out my cars on the street. The shovel works very in deep snow and is light enough not kill your back. The biggest drawback is that there is no way to control the speed of the blade. As a result, the shovel creates a 25 foot plum snow, which makes maneuvering the shovel very difficult. I spent a lot of my time ensuring that I didn't pepper my neighbor's house with snow or shooting the snow into the street.

I am a widow women going on five years now. I use to shovel my deck but thanks to the Greenworks Electric Snow Thrower it is a breeze shoveling the deck. Great price and FREE SHIPPING ALSO.



Greenworks 26012 12-Inch 7 Amp Electric Snow Thrower

we live in sw colorado, so this was a great purchase. my husband LOVES it, we got dumped on with snow this morning...so it came just in time

looking to purchase some added items from this company later on,

added bonus that they are a green friendly company

best buy of the year

This snow thrower is a terrific value. It has a couple of minor flaws, but on the whole I am extremely pleased.



I live in an older house, and so the 7-amp motor (what some might see as a disadvantage, was a real benefit to me) because it doesn't easily trip the household breakers. (It hasn't tripped them yet, in fact, after about 4 hours of usage moving substantial snow.) It also has a built in circuit protector which I have not yet tripped either. The reset button is convenient and well-designed. It throws the snow with enough force that it can make it from one side of the double driveway to the piles beyond the other. It's trigger system and dead man's switch work well, and don't require a lot of fussing to operate. Also, unlike several other electric yard tools I own, it has a clever looping system for the cord near the plug which makes it all but impossible to disconnect it by accident. It comes pre-assembled and ready to use out of the box. It is a bit heavy to move around, but certainly lighter than a big full gas-powered one.



I wish it had a handle that was 8 to 12 inches longer. It can be adjusted (which is nice) but its longest setting is a bit short. I am only 5'10", but I have to bend way over to get the shovel at the optimum angle for throwing snow over the considerable banks around the driveway. It wants to be used at an angle relatively close to the ground in any case, which a few extra inches of handle would make more comfortable. It also much prefers light and fluffy snow to the stuff that builds up at the end of the driveway from the snow plow. In a perfect world, its deflector would be adjustable to give at least a bit of an angle to the toss. But those are mostly quibbles over an $80 snow thrower.



The big snow last week, I spent three hours shoveling the driveway, with help some of the time from my son and some from my wife. This morning, I did the whole thing myself in just over an hour, and I'm not nearly as wiped out from the hour. The handle length is really the only design flaw that I feel could be fixed at this price point, but it's a real issue. If they fix that, I'll happily revise to 5 stars, and start giving them out as presents to all my friends!

I bought this for my husband for Christmas 2010. I was tired of seeing him shoveling snow with a regular shovel. I waited to put a review here until he was actually using it which is happening now. He has now begun doing neighbor's sidewalks just to see how high the snow is thrown which is considerable.



This arrived well packed from Greenworks and well constructed, easy to move around and obviously fun to use! My husband is 61, strong and healthy..........I'd like to see this continue just as much as the inside 'kid' who loves to play also continues!



This is a great product, worth the price and I know I can even use it too (I'm older than my husband)!

This product performed above and beyond what was stated. I had 7 inches of snow and it moved it all! I think i'm in love! it is not too heavy so you can do steps and different levels without difficulty.

With the exception of the on/off switch the Thrower works very well. So far I've used it twice, and it does a fine job on both heavy and light snow types. These snowfalls were in the 4-5 inch range. The problem with the hand switch is that it requires the operator to apply a rather heavy grip to keep the power engaged. I used a tie-wrap to permananetly keep the unit switched on and used the plug to turn it on and off. - Snow Removal - Snowblower - Snow Thrower - Electric Snow Blower'


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Good Quality - good quality, paper mate


Suffice to say, that when I misplace my sharpwritter I go to great lengths to try finding it back. When I don't find it, my day becomes miserable. I love it. It writes well - just like a pencil. Unlike a pencil it erases perfectly. And unlike any other (expensive or not) mechanical pencil I have used, the lead doesn't break. That is the hidden beauty of this product - the control you have on the length of the lead coming out of the pencil. I have become good @ it to pull it out enough to be able to write a long time, but not so much as to break the lead. I have, however, seen other people borrowing it from me, pulling the lead too long and breaking it. In addition to the deft use, I believe the lead of sharpwritter is stronger than that of the other products - another reason for it not breaking that often (or never in my case). Paper Mate Sharpwriter 0.7mm Mechanical Pencils, 12 Yellow Pencils (3030131)

I've been using the Paper Mate Sharpwriter Non-refillable Mechanical Pencil for many years. It's the only one I use. I hate regular wood pencils and I don't like those expensive refillable pencils either. I also don't like any mechanical pencil where you click the eraser part to bring out more 'lead'. For example, I tried one by BIC with the clicky eraser and I hated it including how it felt in my hand. I like the twist mechanism of the Paper Mate Sharpwriter the best. Twist it in for travel and twist it back out again for use. Perfect. I also like this pencil because it's not heavy and the outside is rounded and smooth which doesn't hurt my fingers.



I don't abuse things I own, so I never have trouble with my pencils breaking on the inside. I have nothing bad to say about this pencil, it's great just the way it is. It's affordable, easy to use, and as with any mechanical pencil, it's always sharp. I love having a pencil that is always ready to use and this one is better than all others I have tried.

Effectively cheap, works every time, and free shipping. You literally cannot go wrong with this purchase. I keep them in my desk at work to take phone messages and the like. A few people stopping by have asked if I had a pen or pencil for loan. I have happily given them one of these because they are so inexpensive. 3 out of 4 have come back and asked where I got them so they could get a pack of their own. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

As far back as I can remember (maybe not that far back) the Paper Mate SharpWriter has been my favorite mechanical pencil, and I'm not even a mechanic.



What's so special about this particular mechanical pencil? I like the feel, looks, and performance of the Sharpwriter. The "lead" is not overly thin so that it doesn't break as readily as the lead on other pencils. Mostly I like how the lead is advanced. Instead of an eraser end clicking mechanism, the SharpWriter contains a more precise turning device at the writing end. Lead can be advanced or retracted slowly to achieve the exact length desired with a gentle twist. In years past I would twist and shout, but now I just quietly twist.



I even like the erasers on these pencils. They attach to the pencil body snugly and outlast the lead. Of course, that could be because I make so few mistakes when I write.



The price for these pencils on Amazon is terrific and the pencils were assembled in the USA.

Started back to school again this semester and decided to stock up on pencils. This particular pencil has been my favorite for years. I've bought more expensive (refillable) pencils but did not like them as much.



I have carpal tunnel syndrome so after a lot of writing my hand starts to cramp up. I guess these fit my hands better and unless I'm writing for hours I have no problems with them.



Also, I wanted to note that even though I've used other pencils with 0.7mm lead these seem to be sturdier and do not break as often.



I did get one bad pencil out of the bunch. The lead would not stay in the pencil no matter what I did. Then without warning the whole thing fell out. But, that is only one out of close to 30 pencils so I won't complain.

The good:

+ Functional - twist the top & you get more graphite - simple. It's really easy to extend the graphite mid-sentence with your thumb and index finger.

+ Eraser - same type as the typical wooden pencils (the best type)

+ Cheap - throw them away after you use up the graphite. Most of the time my eraser is gone at the exact same time



The bad:

+ Impossible to refill



This is a basic, mass-produced pencil. It has no frills or gimmicks, which is exactly why I love this pencil. It does everything it is supposed to do very well - write & erase. I strongly prefer to use a new mechanical pencil every time the eraser is fully used up (the eraser refills are inconvenient / never really work well). The graphite and eraser tend to be fully used up at the exact same time - perfect timing! If you prefer to get a pencil that you can refill both the graphite and eraser, then choose a different product.

I have been using these pencils exclusively for the past two years in math classes. The quality of purchased wooden pencils is no longer reliable. (The lead seems to be either broken into many tiny parts or it is off-center within the wood. Either way, the sharpeners grind away until the pencils are unuseable.) I have never found a better price on these PaperMate mechanicals! - Good Quality - Paper Mate - Mechanical Pencils'


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3rd Generation - ipod, 32gb


Before i start let me just tell you "what's New" with the iPod touch Third generation" :



-Faster Cpu/Double the ram/Better graphic (faster Boot time/faster loading is all what i did notice)

-Double the storage for the same old price

-Voice control (I'll explain it in a second)

-Latest firmware for free

-New Earbuds with built in remote+Microphone (So you can use voice control)



And that is everything~ depends on your needs upgrading from 2G to 3G might be not worth it.



*Important Note* : only the New iPod touch 32GB/64GB are third generation ~ (8GB is repacked 2G) Details below.



About the new Voice control function, if you love to take your iPod with you to the Gym the new feature "Voice control" is pretty cool, it does allow you to control your music via your voice, no need to get the iPod out of your pocket you can simply say "Next" to move to next song, say "shuffle" for shuffle , say "Pause" and music playback will stop etc, that is why i recommend the iPod touch over iPod classic for gym users, my friend bought an iPod classic and now he complains that the iPod classic is too heavy for him when he goes to the gym and he will have to buy another iPod "properly Nano" for his Gym, for me i use my iPod touch for the gym, it's so light that sometimes i forgot that it's even in my pocket.



After playing with my iPod touch 3g for a while i honestly did not notice any difference from the outside or the inside compared to my old iPod touch Second generation (It's supposed to be faster but i did not notice anything during music and video playback or the menus, however browsing with safari and loading facebook was faster, same thing with boot time), you properly can only notice it being faster with heavy applications since video/music playback is already fast enough with 2G.



I got the 64GB iPod 3G for [...]$, if you think of upgrading your 2G iPod touch honestly do yourself a favor and save yourself the money unless you really need that much of a storage (I do that is why i bought one), also remember that the 3G battery lasts less than 2G,(3G battery = 30 Hours of music playback versus 2G 36 hours of music playback according to apple official specs)



*VERY IMPORTANT* for the people who wants the new 8GB version, the new third generation 8GB iPod touch is NOT 3G it's a second generation iPod touch but apple did repack it/renamed it to 3rd generation, which seems to be misleading by APPLE and it's not cool at all, it is IPod Touch 2G+Updated firmware and that is it.



The iPod touch 3rd generation 32GB/64GB versions comes with a free mic+remote with the earbuds while the 8GB do not (it comes with normal earbuds), the 32GB/64GB have the New CPU+Graphic (According to apple the new cpu is twice as fast just like the iPhone 3GS) while the new 8GB use the same old CPU/Chip from the old iPod touch second generation.



Here is APPLE description on the iPod touches page about the 32/64GB versions : """Enjoy all the great features of the 8GB model along with better performance, richer graphics and voice control"""



The iPod touch 3rd generation is the same awesome iPod touch second generation was.

You can play your music/watch your videos/play games, even read your kindle books/etc "you can read amazon big description of what it's capable of if you do not know yet, it's better than what would i say because it has pictures and everything.



The iPod touch got the best browser i have ever seen in a portable device, i do not even need to carry my netbook with me anymore thanks to my iPod touch, if you hated browsing with lame browsers that crash a lot or slow (many mobile phones) trust me on this one, the iPod touch browser is not a toy or a gimmick it is a browser you can depends on, it's super fast and smooth and after using it for like a full year it has only crashed on me once!



Short list of pros and cons about the iPod touch



Pros:

-Slick,small and light device

-Great touch screen

-The BEST web browser on a portable device

-Amazing video/music playback

-App Store (Too many cool applications for Free)

-Display screen is clear and bright

-No bugs and annoying stuff a very reliable hardware

-64GB Flash based mp3 player



Cons:

-Not much of an upgrade over 2G (people were disappointed because they did not get upgrades like camera/OLED/etc)

-Weaker battery, only lasts 30 hours for music playback versus 2G iPod touch 36 Hours music playback

-Expensive for the 64GB version

-Still no FM radio without the use of online applications

-Bluetooth is still half locked



Update : one more reason to avoid the 8GB ipod touch, Apple announced today "April 09 2010" that iPhone 4.0 OS will be released this summer and it will bring many new features to the iphone and ipod touch, however some features like Multitasking will only be available for iphone 3GS and higher or Ipod touch third generation and higher (As i said before the 8GB is second Generation only, a third generation 8gb ipod touch do not exist! so you wont be getting multitasking if you buy the 8GB ipod touch),



I hope my review was helpful :) Apple iPod touch 32 GB (3rd Generation) OLD MODEL

This is my first iPod and MP3 player. So far I've had the iPOD TOUCH (32-GIG/3RD GEN) for two-weeks and I'm loving it.



It's does so much more than just play music, which is why I wanted one. I'm not a Mac person at all but the iPod Touch...I love it.



Out of the box it found my Wi-Fi connection and had me surfing the net (the real Internet and not the cell phone web pages like the one on my Verizon phone). It was intuitive to use and I'm finally getting accustomed to using the touch screen to scroll and type away.



This review is mostly for other iPod newbies like myself. Here's what it comes with:



***The iPod Touch- slick and smooth and very thin



***A USB Cable- this hooks your iPod to your computer to recharge the battery and to sync it with iTunes.



***Plastic Docking Thing- this is a small plastic part that allows you to dock the iPod to an external device (I'm not sure what).



***Head Phones with Microphone and external volume control.



***Teeny-tiny insert- with bare-bones info. You have to access the full manual, which is available for free download in PDF format, at the apple website.



My advice is to buy an external cover for the iPod--the 2nd Generation iPod Touch skins/cover fit the new 3rd Generation ones because the body is the same--and buy a screen protector so you keep the screen free from scratches and such. I already scratched the shiny back of my iPod just by placing it down on the table so be careful when you first get it if you don't have a cover for it.



As long as you have Wi-Fi (wireless Internet connection) in your house/apt you can get full use out of the iPod Touch. You can also access free Wi-Fi hotspots in stores, restaurants, and other areas, so you can get on the Internet and download applications (apps) etc., check your email, go on facebook, youtube, even Amazon has an app, that can be downloaded onto the iPod.



The iPod Touch is configured to automatically search for Wi-Fi networks, it looks for both either locked (need a password) or unlocked (no password) networks, and displays them in the settings for "Wi-Fi." You really don't have to know anything about Wi-Fi to get it started. You just pick one of them and it connects to it.



I've tried my iPod at some hotspots like a shopping center with a Starbucks and it found the Wi-Fi and connected but since a lot of people were using it, it took a while to connect.



You need the program iTunes, which is a free down-loadable program for Windows or Mac, and an iTunes account to purchase and download the apps (most are free but you still need an account to download them). If you've used iTunes before for buying song downloads or just to register then you already have a login account...if you haven't used iTunes before it's free to download and easy to install. Then you sign up for an account which is also free, unless you plan on purchasing songs or videos.



The pluses on the iPod Touch:



===== Applications (Apps) =====

The apps are a plenty on the iPod Touch and there's an app for everything (practically). They're arranged by category like games, news, productivity, etc., and are furthered displayed by best selling, top-free, and release date. You can also search by keyword or check out the most popular and featured apps.



Some apps are free and some cost a one time fee of between $.99-$4.99 and up. If you're a news junkie like me, you'll really love it. I've downloaded Time Magazine, NPR (radio and print stories), BBC READER, New York Times, USA Today, AP (Associated Press) and ABC News...all for free!



I really like that the BBC Reader will download their stories into the cache memory, once you connect via Wi-Fi so you can read the articles offline (when Wi-Fi is not available). NYT and AP will allow you to save articles that you can read offline as well. And the AP will deliver breaking news as long as you're connected... ALL FREE!!!



I've downloaded a dictionary, spell checker, facebook, Grimm's Fairytales and Alice In Wonderland books to read...all for FREE! I also got this free app called "Pandora" which is a radio station that will only play songs by artists that you want to hear. Too cool!



I know that I sound like a broken record with the "free" stuff but being a Verizon Wireless user, I'm sure other VZW customers feel me, I'm amazed that one can download and install quality, portable applications onto a device for no charge or subscription plan.



===== Other Fun Stuff =====



Calendar for appointments etc., contact phone book, clock, weather, calculator (you can download a free tip-calculator), notes and maps. These all come with the iPod Touch.



iTunes will keep the stuff (music, apps, videos) on your iPod, backed-up on your computer so you'll always have a copy of those things. And you can tell it which play-lists to sync so that you don't have to carry around your entire music/video library from your computer on the portable.



Anyway, I'm loving my iPod Touch and it was the perfect birthday gift to myself. It really is like having a mini-computer with you at all times. The only thing that's missing is a camera, but that's not a big deal at all. It's great for people who want an iPhone, but don't want AT&T's lousy service. I also love not having to pay a monthly subscription charge to Verizon for apps on my cell phone, now that I have the iPod Touch!



The only thing I would advise getting--in addition to the iPod--is the cover protector skin and screen protector mentioned earlier, and the Apple USB Power Adapter which will allow you to plug the USB cord into an electrical outlet (though it isn't necessary, it charges a lot faster than when it's charging from your computer).



Since this is my first iPod, I don't know how it stacks up against the previous versions. But this one is great and really addicting! So if you've been wondering if you should get one and you don't have an iPhone, have access to Wi-Fi, then I'd say...yes! The iPod Touch has so much to offer the user that you can find something to do with it even if you don't plan on using it as an MP3 player all that much.



*** A Note About iTunes ***

Even if you don't buy MP3s--I've only purchased about three from iTunes; the rest was from Amazon through credits from special purchases and iPod can play them--iTunes is really handy because it makes taking songs from CDs so easy by capturing them and turning them into MP3s. The program will even retrieve song and artist information for you so you don't have to label the file once you import it. From there you can make your own playlists and burn your own CDs from those playlists, not to mention carrying them on your iPod, so it's definitely worth it and really easy to use. - 32gb - Apple - 3rd Generation - Ipod'


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Car Mount - motorola droid, droid


Great way to turn your Droid into a mounted GPS unit and make voice calls, as soon as you pop it into the holder it switches to "car mode", which makes it simple to switch from GPS to voicecall or voice search. Verizon wanted 65$ for this in store. When it's in the holder and the charger is plugged in it stays illuminated, without the charger it goes to sleep after one or two minutes. The charger lights up so you know it's working. Motorola 89396N Window Mount for Motorola Droid A855

I use this mount often for navigation and playing music through my phone. The mount is great, swivels in every direction. It is sturdy on the windown mount. Charger works well, looks cool. My only issue was with the adhesive disk to mount to the dash. It gets hot and the sticky backing comes off the plastic part, so its pretty useless. The window mount works great though. I would reccomend this for mounting your droid to your windsheild.

We used this on our trip to Maine and the mounting worked perfectly. We used it on the windshield and tilted the phone sideways. (The arm is articulated for many positions). It was very hot and humid some days and the seal held just fine. The lock in motion could be done easily with one hand. I never felt like the Droid was going to fall out or shake. Great little gadget.

I like this mount it can move around to fit about any position, but the one thing i dont like is that they didnt make it big enough to have the back part my case to fit in the mount. so everytime i go to use it i have to take the back portion of the case off.. not a big deal but it is a pain when i get in and out of my car all the time.

I purchased this mount so I would have a backup device for my Garmin GPS and, because it works so well, I have all but stopped using the Garmin because it's so convenient to take my "GPS" off of my hip and snap it to the windshield. The mount is sturdy and the cool blue glow off of the lighter plug is ... well ... cool. The Droid recognizes that it is in an auto mount and switches to the car interface. I have zero complaints. You can't go wrong with this mount.

This fits my Droid perfectly and automatically switches my phone to Car mode when mounted. I wish the mount would fold up into something smaller to take up less room in my bag. As a car renter, I can't just toss it in the glove compartment when I'm done. Also wish i didn't have to keep removing the protective cover on my phone for it to fit. Otherwise, it works very well!

The Car Dock has been working great. I use it everyday during my commute to/from work. I already had a car charger when I purchased this set, but when the package arrived I realized that the charger that was included was a 'Rapid Rate Charger'. The installation was simple. I initially installed the dock on my dash, however I soon learned that when the car reaches a certain temperature during the hot summer days, the adhesive on the disk they provide for mounting on the dash, no longer stuck to the dash. Not a deal breaker, I just mounted to the windshield and it works great.

This mount was very easy to install, directions were easy to read and understand.

Mounts to windshield or dashboard. Cannot have a cover on your phone when putting

it in the holder..so you would have to remove and case before hand....that is the

only downfall...other than that it is great. I am very pleased with this purchase. - Motorola Droid - Car Charger - Car Mount - Droid'


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External Sound Card - laptop, external sound card


If you notice there are reviews all over the place. The reason for this is because those that are not getting good performance are not setting them up correctly in windows. After you install the USB device in a USB 2 connector (not a USB 1) you have to go into the windows volume control panel and be sure to select it (USB) as the device to be used. Otherwise it will still be set on your internal sound card. It is best to disable the internal sound card or else you may end up with noise you don't want. If you set it up correctly it works beautifully and for a fraction of the cost of a new soundcard. USB 2.0 External 5.1 Channel 3D Sound Card Adapter for PC Notebook Laptop

I love it, it works well with my PS3 and PC, it has great sound through the Headphones, it is very good if you dont want to spend the extra money on a PS3 headset when you can buy a PC headset for $5 or less, so it is alot cheaper alternative for a PS3 headset!

I got this adapter as a replacement for my broken headphone jack which I used to plug my speakers into.



With the adapter (Used in conjunction with my Logitech X-240 Speakers), however, there is a small, but noticeable, amount of static coming from some songs. I can't be sure as to what causes the static, but in the songs where it does occur, lowering the 8K and 16K settings in the iTunes equalizer makes most of it go away.



But, if you're like me and like loud music, you will be disappointed. Turning up the volume makes the speakers sound like they're going to blow out any second. This didn't use to happen when I didn't need the adapter.



In review: It's not terrible, but not great. Not for loud music fans.

Needed to buy this after the microphone jack from my laptop broke. It's easy to use (just plug it in) and the sound I get on the headphone is very good. However, the sound recorded from the microphone has quite a bit of background noise and I am told that I'm hard to understand when making phone calls through Skype since there are some 'clicking' noises (could be some interference with other laptop components?). But for less than 10$ it's ok (would have spent 4 times as much in a store).

This one worked well as my secondary sound card with my Mixmeister Pro that I DJ with. I plugged it into my laptop with Vista and it configured to my laptop with no problem. This secondary sound card allows me to hear the cued up songs while the main sound card on my laptop is playing the music on the club's stereo system.



I was having problems with an older sound card that wasn't working well with Vista. The thing kept losing power to it. I needed a replacement and this sound card here was cheap enough to give it a shot. This sound card so far works with Vista and has no given me any problems. Two thumbs up for that!



I would suggest using a usb extension on this sound card so, you don't wear out your usb connection on you pc. Plugging and unplugging cable from this sound card every weekend for me would wear out my usb connection. Plus it seemed like the weight from my audio cable was prying down on my sound card looking like it could possible wear out the USB Connection on my laptop. The USB extension will help prevent the USB connection on your pc from wearing out if you are going to be plugging and unplugging things from it.



I only wish this sound card was a little bit louder. I have trouble sometimes hearing it when the music in the club is blasting. No biggie though. I can always buy a professional set of headphones to fix this problem.



I am glad this sound card flickers a light when there is music flowing through it. It lets me know I have power to it and it working.



I would recommend buying this sound card for sure. They should raise the price of this product...it's too cheap!!! I'm only kidding...please don't raise the price...haha!!!

I use a laptop and I was having problems with the sound for a while. The jack got messed up somehow so I could only hear if I had my headphones pugged into the jack at some odd angle and I constantly had to wiggle it into place. After a while that didn't work anymore so I had to find an alternative...I bought this thing. It works. When I first plugged it in I was surprised that it actually worked but I wasn't blown away by the sound quality. I was just happy I could hear something. Anyway, it has been a few days and it still works but not very well. There is lots of static in the background and sometimes the sound cuts off completely. Also, itunes doesn't always recognize it but WMP does. I don't get that. This product is very cheaply made. I don't recommend it. There has got to be something better out there!

i bought this item so i can use it with "Djay" so i can pre-cue music. i used it on my macbook pro and it worked fine. The sound quality is not the best it sounds rough, but like i said i only bought it so i can pre-cue music through the headphones. u cant go wrong with the price. overall it got the job done for me..

My company provided me a laptop for business use, and to make sure, ordered it from Lenovo without the sound hardware.



This device allows me to view You Tube videos now with sound. It works fine. Just plugged it in and it works.



It's a little bulky, and when plugged in to my side USB port, it elevates the computer such that the weight is taken by the device. I have to put the laptop on a book when I use this adapter and have the adapter hang over the side of the book (we are talking about 1/4 inch) Also, I don't like how the LED flashes constantly when audio streams thru.



It is inexpensive and works well except for the few negatives mentioned.

My laptop audio jack has a short in it and only works on the left side. I got this as a cheap work-around. It works, but is by no means "studio quality". At high volume there is distortion. For the price it will do the job for now. - Usb Audio Interface - Laptop - Usb Sound Card - External Sound Card'


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Disaster Preparedness - flashlight, battery


With the number of high performance flashlights that Surefire sales it only makes sense for them to sell batteries, and at a good price. The 123A batteries you find at most super stores will normally cost you quite a bit more than the $1.75 a piece you will pay for these. You can sometimes find a bulk buy that works out cheaper per battery but you really don't know what you are going to end up with. With the Surefire batteries you are going to get a good price on well made, high quality batteries. Like the other reviewed noted though, Surefire actually sells these on their web site for $21 a 12 pack. Surefire SF12-BB Box of 12 123A 3 Volt Lithium Batteries 12-Pack SF123A

Surefire CR123A are excellent batteries. I use them. Just be aware that they are made by Panasonic. I cannot believe that Panasonic makes better batteries for Surefire, so if you can get a better deal for Panasonic batteries that are fresh (recent dates), then you are saving some dough and getting the same product.

Surefire is the best, their Lithium batteries boast a 10 year shelf life. I am thankful for that, because the batteries I received (from CargoLargo) are already 5 years into their shelf life. That's a bit on the annoying side. The expiration date is printed on the batteries themselves. Mine say 2014. As a comparison, the batteries I received with a new Surefire (E2D LED Defender) are set to expire in 2019. For an extra couple of bucks I could have purchased the batteries directly from Surefire (I doubt they are sending out 5 year old batteries). Which is exactly what I will do from now on.



This is not a slam on Surefire Batteries, merely a seller selling 5 year old batteries for about the same price as new ones. Even though the batteries are still considered good, I would have liked to have the option to store them for a longer period of time. Fortunately, I only purchased the 12 pack, and I'm pretty sure I can go through 12 batteries in 4 years.

Good News. Others have complained about the near expiration date on these Surefire Batteries from Ace Photo. I just ordered some in 03/2011 with an expiration date of 09/2020. That's 9 1/2 years. As for the batteries themselves, I've used them in the past with great success.

I just wanted to post a review to let everyone know that the batteries I received today had a Nov 2020 expiration date. I can't speak for batteries being shipped in the future but I can say that I received three FRESH boxes.



These batteries might be a bit more expensive but I think the peace of mind is worth it. I've never had any trouble with any surefire products. I sleep soundly at night knowing that when I'm battling the undead after the zombie apocalypse, my flashlight won't let me down.

Nearly all quality high-output halogen and LED flashlights use these cells. But buying them over the counter is needlessly expensive. Since they last about 5 years in storage, why not buy a bunch? For those of us in areas prone to natural disaster, these are a good investment and don't take up a lot of space.

They came in a nice box for storage, with a 12/2020 expiration date AND they all tested out at the max for a 3-volt lithium battery. These batteries will be used in my Davis VantagePro2 weather stations(3 of them), so I've got enough for 3-5 years. Time will tell how they last, but I'll do the 5 stars for now....Amazon service does not get any stars...bad experience with C/S.

The batteries work great. Even though the surfire website sells them for 21 dollars, after tax and shipping the cost is 30 dollars, so if you have an Amazon Prime account you're better off ordering it from Amazon for the same price with 2 day shipping. - Lithium - Flashlight - Lithium Batteries - Battery'


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