Guy Low Price Electronic: 8 Dec 2010

Wednesday, 8 December 2010

Garmin Nuvi 255w - garmin nuvi 255w, garmin accessories

Purchased Garmin nüvi 260W GPS, this product was listed under 'Frequently Bought Together' items. It was inexpensive, in fact, shipping was more than the item itself. I purchased the AC wall charger and when I received my GPS I attempted to use it to initially charge the GPS. Not only would the Garmin NOT charge, it functioned like it kept getting reset, like it was caught in a loop. Once I placed the Garmin inside my vehicle with the car charger it worked exactly like it should have, so I know the problem was the AC charger. The AC charger price was not worth going thru the expense or hassle or returning it, so I threw it in the trash. Hopefully this review will save others a couple of bucks. NEW AC WALL CHARGER FOR GARMIN NUVI 200w 250 255 260W

This charger did not work on the Garmin NUV 255. It was a total waste of money. The box it came in didn't even say it was for a GPS. It only said cell phone and MP3 player on the box. It was a complete false advertisement. Don't purchade this for a GPs system.

The first time I used this product it failed. I charged up my GPS then disconnected the plug from the back of GPS and only half of the plug end came out of my gps. I had to remove the rest of the plug end with pliers. - Garmin Accessories - Garmin Nuvi 255w - 255w - Garmin Charger'

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Apple Ipad Stylus - iphone stylus, ipad

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This is an excellent stylus. I don't often use a stylus with my iPad - but did have a pogo sketch ten one for sketching. This stylus is a much more practical device for normal sized (man's) hands. The pogo stylus is thin, small, and much to light - I would get cramps in my hand with using it for more than five minutes or so.

Another plus compared to the pogo sketch is the clip. On the pogo - it's a cheap piece of plastic with broke quickly. On the Acase stylus it is a metal clip... doubt this will break anytime soon.

With the price point of both being so close, unless you need a very small stylus, or you have small hands - I'd suggest looking at the Acase stylus to use with your iPad. Acase Capacitive Stylus for Apple iPad 16GB, 32GB, 64GB WiFi + 3G, iPad 2, iPhone, iPod, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy, BlackBerry Playbook (Jet Black)

This stylus works perfectly with my ipad. It is infinitely better than the Pogo which I had previously purchased - the rubbery tip is more stable and precise, the shaft is thicker and easier to hold, and the metal clip seems much more likely to hold up than the plastic Pogo clip, which broke within days.

Using it with the "Penultimate" app, my handwriting has never looked so good! Also- gives me almost perfect results with the "Writepad" handwriting recognition software, which I had pretty much abandoned until this arrived. I'm thrilled!

In case you were wondering, this appears to be exactly the same product as the Boxwave, and comes with the same goofy dongle meant for securing it to the earphone jack. The dongle is easily removed - I have no use for it.

Short and sweet:

I've tried three of the stylus brands offered on Amazon: The $15.00; the $11.99 aCase; and the cheap three-pack "Universal Touch Screen Stylus.".

It is easy to tell you which not to buy: the cheap ones. The rubber tips on them have too much friction. You can't write or draw easily; you literally feel like the Stylus is getting stuck on the screen. Guaranteed, one zillion percent, you will hate it.

Now, to the Boxwave vs. the aCase.

This isn't just a draw; there's not even a fight, because the two products are exactly the same (there's one subtle difference in the way the little headphone-jack string insert is attached to the pen. One uses a tiny, carbiner-type hook, and the other a ring. You'd probably never notice the difference, because there is non.

So, which to buy? The aCase is three dollars cheaper, but it only comes in black. That's it.

[...]

I really love this stylus! I play a lot of games on my iPad and so many of them are easy using this stylus. I feel like my movements are so much more accurate, plus when the screen gets hot, as it inevitably does when you get sucked into a game, I no longer have the problem of my fingers not gliding across the screen as easily as they do when the screen is cool.

The only thing I didn't like was the little attachment to attach the stylus to the headphone jack, probably to secure it. I could just see it swinging and cracking my screen one day. Luckily it's extremely easy to remove and you can't tell it was once there.

Great product! I'd buy another one if I lost mine!

One major reason I got the iPad is to draw on it. Artists will naturally understand the benefits of drawing on a screen rather then a wacom tab. Many styluses available have poor reviews when it comes to moveing the tip across the screen or accuracy. Both qualities are required for drawing.

This stylus tip is a soft bubble that slides very easily over the screen, even if the screen is a little dirty. The bubble doesn't seem to effect accuracy. It should be mentioned that the screen itself does not have the same input resolution as a piece of paper, which is why many drawing apps have a zoom function for fine details.

It's well balanced and well weighted to feel like a lightewieght pen, the tip feels like a high quality supple latex or silicone of some sort

Use a microfiber cloth under your hand to avoid unintentional palm inputs, and get the bonus of cleaning your screen. This feels similar to using a piece of paper to avoid smudging soft pencil marks.

Coupled with a premium drawing app ( I used the $7.99 autodesk sketchbook pro), drawing on the iPad becomes so natural it's scary. It's also good for pointing and using the keyboard.

One potential downside is it you make a habit of pushing too hard on it, I could image the Metal ring around the supple tip may eventual puncture the side. I could also imagine the tip could "dry out" over a year or two, becoming hard and less effective. That's all speculation, but I would expect 1-2 years of regular use out of this product.

PROS: Accurate, smooth, inexpensive, feels good to use. Great for drawing and pointing.

CONS: none, except possible wear and tear on the tip may mean a 1-2 year life Span.

One star on cheap plastic, because it's not cheap plastic. - Acase - Ipad - Stylus - Iphone Stylus'

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Panasonic Dect Cordless Phone

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I know that a lot of people are using their home phones less and less these days because of cell phones - but we still use ours a lot. Believe it or not, my wife was interviewed to be on the Oprah show a few years ago because of the amount of time she spends on the phone:). With her and the three kids competing for the phones, these end up getting a lot of hard use.

Anyway, the main problems we run into with phones are typically sound quality and durability.

With these DECT 6.0+ phones from Panasonic, the sound quality is truly as good as a corded phone. We live in a 3000 square foot, 2-story house and these phones easily cover that space as well as the yard. We never really take the handsets past the yard boundaries, so I don't know what the maximum range is before these start breaking up. I'm also an early-adopter tech person; so our house is probably one of the most challenging environments a wireless phone could exist in.

This is the second set of DECT 6.0 phones we've had from Panasonic and the sound quality is head and shoulders above the wireless phones we've had from other manufacturers.

When it comes to features, here are the things we like about these:

1) The handsets have pocket clips that work well and stay attached to the phone for walking around.

2) There is a headset jack on the handsets, which is also great for walking around.

3) Panasonic has improved the caller ID and redial features from their previous generations - both features are now much easier to access.

4) I like that the lights on the handset tend to stay off in the base unit so we can sleep with the phone in its base.

5) These phones use standard NiMH AAA batteries, so they are easy to replace, or even to charge outside the phone if you want.

6) We use voicemail anyway, so I like that this particular phone does NOT include an answering machine. (I hate paying for a feature that we'll never use.)

7) I love that we can pick up any handset and immediately join the call without having to do anything special to let a new caller join.

8) The handsets are a great size and shape - so they're very easy to use. I can't imagine wanting a home phone that is the size of a cell phone...

As far as durability goes, we've only had these for a couple of weeks now so it's hard to know how long they will last. They do feel solid; and, based on the longevity of our last Panasonic phones, I'm expecting that they will last quite a while. In fact, the last Panasonic DECT 6.0 cordless phones we owned are the first phones we've ever had that have made it past a year without breaking - and they lasted more than two years! I've come to the conclusion that Panasonic phones are the only phones available that can be dropped repeatedly (including an occasional dunk in the sink or bounce off the tile) without completely dying.

Overall, if you're looking for a high-quality phone that doesn't have an answering machine, I think this phone should be at the top of your list. I won't claim to have used every phone that is currently on the market; but we are extremely pleased with these! Panasonic KX-TG6513B DECT 6.0 PLUS Expandable Digital Cordless Phone System with 3 Handsets

I have been truly surprised with the fine quality audio performance of the Panasonic DECT 6.0 PLUS cordless phone technology.

Having been frustrated with echo-ish, scratchy cordless phone performance with previous FM frequency systems among several brands, the DECT 6.0 PLUS stands out with clarity and sound quality that needs no apologies.

The handset speakerphone capability was a very pleasant surprise. It works great for monitoring those seemingly-endless "on-hold" customer service calls while enabling you to do more than just wait until the understaffed customer service folks show up.

All in all, a great sounding phone!!

Besides being good looking with very readable buttons and screen, this telephone has excellent clarity of sound. We love the intercom feature feature and the speaker phone, both of which have very good audio. A very small problem is the fact that "missed call" appears even though the call was answered on our one other wired phone; at first annoying but now we know to expect it. We chose this model because we use the phone company answering service and could avoid paying for the built-in answering recorder we wouldn't use.

NO TALKING CALLER ID AS STATED IN DESCRIPTION!

We've only had the phone a short time - it seems fine. So far, so good. We were, though, incredibly disappointed that it did not come with 'talking caller ID'. The description plainly states that it's one of its features and that was the deciding factor when we ordered this particular phone.

Had we not been desperate for new phones, we might have pursued a return, etc. I did contact both Amazon and Vanns to let them know of the misleading information in the description. As of today, though, the description still falsely states that it has 'talking caller ID'. If you find this feature to be important, this is not the phone for you.

After reading Consumer Reports and the rave reviews on Amazon I decided to replace my aging Panasonic KX-TG5433 with this new system in an identical configuration. I am very disappointed. The sound of the KX-TG6513B is so poor compared with my old phone that I am reverting to the old one and returning the new for a refund. I had been hoping for a significant improvement. There are some operating and display improvements but these do not make up for the inferior sound quality. No doubt some genius at Panasonic or their manufacturer decided to shave a few pennies off the cost of the sound system. I have used several generations of Panasonic phones and this is the first that is worse than the previous.

I have tried many other brands of phones with the Dect 6.0 feature and to be honest none of them compare to the 6.0 Plus that Panasonic has to offer, the clarity of the calls in these handsets in un-comparable and can go further away from the station system than the other brands I have tried......I highly recommend this phone system to anyone out there looking for a good quality Dect 6.0 phone. Go Panasonic!!!'

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Brad Nailers - brad nailer, brad nailers

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Since each seller may have a different standard and policy, my review is more specific to the one that I purchased from Tool King. Please see my uploaded photos above, the unit I received was likely to be a rental unit. There are stains all over the handle. The paint on the tool is worn off at corners, indicating substantial usage. The signs of "reconditioning" are the black marker cover-up of the scratches on the black paint. The tool is in working order. But it is deceiving to call it refurbished. Factory-Reconditioned Bostitch U/SB-2IN1 2-In-1 Narrow Crown Stapler/18-Gauge Brad Nailer

This gun works perfect with not one problem. I have always liked Bostitch tools and this one being reconditioned has been tested better than a stock shelf item and I would buy reconditioned anytime with full warranty and I save about 30%, a good deal in my book.

Just started to use the 2 in 1 Bostitch. I would personally recommend to anybody that has a workshop or is a woodworking. It's lite weight plus can get into about any space to staple or put in a brad. Yes' it is small but packs enough power to set the stable or brad where you want it.

works just like it noted in the booklet with no problems.. looks brand new (I could not tell if it was used at all).. Came in a case with complimentary staples and nails (Hello and Thank You Bostitch/Amazon) Thanks so much to whom it may concern....

I bought this item for the flexibility of being able to use brads or staples in it, and the price was very reasonable. When I tried out my Bostitch U/SB-2in1 I could not get it to drive the brads all the way into the 3/4 in plywood I was using for the test. I had the air preasure at the Max recommended for its operation. There is a little knurled wheel in the front, but adjusting it up or down did't seem to make any difference. I looked in the operating manual that comes with the nailer, but could find no solution to the problem. The manual is very poorly written. So I just had a bunch of brads with their heads sticking out of the wood. Maybe they should send a nail set along with this item.

I tried out the staples and had the same result.

I don't know whether its being reconditioned had anything to do with the poor performance. In any event, this one is not a good buy at any price.

Works excellently perfect for the home repair projects I'm involved in.

In the box was everything I needed to get started. You just need a compressor and hose.

The gun is reasonably light, about 2 pounds, making it very easy to maneuver.

Tool King had the best overall deal.

I just ordered this nailer on 6-15-11 and received it TODAY!! (6-16-11) WOW!! that was quick...So, I take it out of the box. The carrying case is clean and working order with the owners manual. The nailer is clean, no blemishes, doesn't even look like it has ever been used.

I tested the nailer with the provided narrow crown 18 Gage staples and then the brad nails. The gun works perfect. I am glad I bought this from Amazon instead of paying full price on a brand new unit. If your looking for good quality tools, CPO is the way to go. I cant say enough good things about CPO.

Thank you

Billy

Factory-Reconditioned Bostitch U/SB-2IN1 2-In-1 Narrow Crown Stapler/18-Gauge Brad Nailer

I started to do some minor repairs after our foundation was repaired and realized a trim nailer was badly needed. I located this one on the internet and figured the price was right. I am glad I bought it . it came in a nice case, came quickly and works great.

No complaints on this refurbished item. Redid all of my kitchen cabinet doors using this baby. I'm sure it saved me over $3K. Couldn't be happier. Says it shouldn't be used over 100 psi, but I cranked it up to 120 just to get thru the hard beadboard I put over the melamine, and it did great. This was using the 3/4" staples, which I know I went thru a few hundred. I haven't used it yet as a brad nailer. - Woodworking - Cpo Bostitch - Brad Nailers - Brad Nailer'

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Honeycomb - android, android tablet

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When I first got the Xoom about a week ago I turned it on and I really wasn't blown away. I use lots of devices, and my first impression of the Xoom just wasn't stellar. However, I could see the potential, and so I kept using it, I got some apps, I started to learn the interface and the depth of the features.

Sometime during day 2 of using the Xoom it really hit me. The Xoom and the iPad are like chess and checkers. When you first start playing chess (or trying to use the Xoom, in my amazing analogy) you feel overwhelmed and confused. You can't really do things smoothly, you don't understand the options, it just is not a great first impression. On the other hand, your first game of checkers (or using the iPad) is probably going to be pretty smooth. It isn't complex, most all the options and concepts are obvious and easy to understand and your first game is going to be pretty similar to your hundredth.

However, as you start to understand the Xoom (or chess) it really starts to grow on you. You understand what you can do, how to do it, the amazing depth and possibility in the device. While the iPad (or checkers) players are still having roughly the same experience time after time, with the Xoom every day of experience with the device makes it more powerful and enjoyable to use. In the end, the Xoom becomes a much better device than any of the competition; it just takes some time for you to learn what it is capable of and how to make the most of it.

As you can tell from the last three paragraphs I wasn't exactly impressed with the Xoom to start. I wasn't even sure it would replace my current device for most things. However, by day two I started to really "get" the device.

This first happened when I needed to look over and annotate a PDF someone had sent me. I downloaded it from my email, and was able to actually put it in the Xoom memory where-ever I wanted in whatever folder I wanted. Wow, that is kind of cool, can't do that on the competition. Next, I was able to open it in a PDF reader, using this fancy program (which I easily found on the marketplace). I went through and did what I needed (with an amazing free hand drawing tool, it was a snap!), then I jumped back over to email, attached the newly edited PDF and sent it away. Now maybe I just never tried hard enough, but I don't think that is possible on some of the competition. That freedom to download files, do what you need, and then send them away again. On the iPad apps I have used it always requires the files to be in something like Dropbox, which is fine, except it would have made what I did impossible without using a computer.

Another "WOW" moment came when I wanted to get some ebooks onto the device. Now, on my Apple products this is generally a pain, you hook the device to the computer, go open itunes, you go to a certain tab, and a certain area, and a certain feature, and if you do it all right you can drag your ebooks over to the reader. It was rather simpler on the Xoom. For the ebooks I had on my computer I just dropped them in Dropbox, then I downloaded them on the Xoom, and using the Xoom file manager I easily moved them into a new "Books" folder I made in the Documents folder. Fast, quick, and simple and done on the device, rather than on the PC.

However, what really blew me away was when I wanted some ebooks off the web. Using the regular browser I was able to just download them directly from the internet onto the device. I then used the file manager again and simply moved them to the right folder. This really did impress me, my tablet was uncoupled from the PC, I could browse the full web, download things, and then make use of them all without ever needing to tether to my computer. I was hooked.

With my new excitement at not requiring my computer to use my tablet I headed over to an Android App development forum. Here developers had posted lots of cool apps that were in beta or that they wanted to promote. On competing devices the only way to get an app is through the sanctioned and controlled portal, not so on Android (and thus Xoom). Using the Xoom browser I bounced around the forum, I downloaded beta apps, and then I was able to easily install them. Again, this is all on the device, and these were not approved apps, awesome.

Another example of something that impressed me came on my third day with the device. I was using the CNN app (which is free and tablet optimized, go check it out) and I watched a video of a story that I thought was really interesting, but it was one of those that is only a teaser, and the rest is on another site. When I hit these videos on my iPad I just have to try to remember to watch them later on a computer, because they are inevitably flash based. Not so on the Xoom, I typed in the address, the flash loaded up perfectly, and I was watching the video in full screen with no trouble.

This process of growing more comfortable with the device and learning what it could do continued over the last few days. At every turn I would find something amazing that just wasn't possible on competing tablets. I discovered the glory of widgets (custom little desktop things to show you the weather, or news, or whatever). I found some live wallpaper (moving animated wallpaper, that can change and adapt to things, such as the weather). I just kept finding new awesome features and uses.

One thing I want to touch on that is perhaps more technical than the rest of my review is the screen. I use my tablets to read, I started using ebooks a while back and I found tablets to work pretty well for that. I do most of my reading at night before bed, so the backlit screen is actually helpful versus a traditional reader. Anyway, one of the things that has always bothered me about the iPad as an ereader is that the pixel density (that is the number of pixels (or square blocks of color) in each inch of screen space) is very low. The iPad has somewhere around 130PPI (pixels per inch). It was so low that it really did give me noticeable eye strain to read on the device, I could see the pixels, and it really just wasn't a great reading experience. This was so pronounced that for the last few months I had actually been doing most of my reading on a 4th generation iPod Touch. It had a smaller screen, but a higher pixel density.

Anyway, the Xoom has a very noticeable increase in resolution and pixel density. With its higher resolution it has roughly 33% more pixels than the iPad, roughly 300,000 additional pixels. This is something you can see immediately when looking at any text. It is a lot smoother and easier to read on the Xoom. However, the other side of this is that the iPad has a different display type, that does have better viewing angles and color/contrast. In my case I don't really care, I find the pixel density to be 1000 times more important than small color improvements or viewing angles but I feel I should mention it.

My point in these last two paragraphs is that the Xoom is a much better device for displaying text than any of the lower resolution competition. If you are looking for a tablet to read your newspaper and books and websites on, then you definitely should give the Xoom or other higher resolution tablets a look. In my opinion the resolution on the iPad/iPad 2 just does not cut it for text.

Welp, this is really starting to get long, so I guess I should wrap it up. I know this isn't like the usual review you read, but I really wanted to give people an idea of the experience of using the Xoom versus just giving the facts and the breakdown and the comparisons. The Xoom is a device that improves exponentially the more you use it. After a few days of use I really can't imagine returning to the constraints and frustrations of the competition. However, on my first day I wasn't that impressed, so be sure to stick with it and get used to it. Now I am off to make dinner, and to accompany me I am going to take my Xoom, which is streaming live video thanks to the wonderful inclusion of flash, the competition is going to stay sitting on the shelf (probably for the foreseeable future).

I just want to mention that I am giving the Xoom four stars because it is not perfect. As a reference after using the Xoom I would probably give the iPad / iPad 2 three stars. There are still improvements that can be made to tablets. I really feel like Android and Xoom are on the right track, but this is still not what I would call a perfect tablet, it is just the best that is available right now (for my uses).

I hope someone finds my review helpful, feel free to ask any questions you may have in the comments. MOTOROLA XOOM Android Tablet (Wi-Fi) - Motorola - Android Tablet - Honeycomb - Android'

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Electricians Tool - klein tools, blu-ray

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I bought this set for a young man who is starting training as an electrician.

There are many cheaper tools. Several people asked me why I paid so much.

The answer is simple: safety.

Plus, real quality. The steel is USA made, hardened and carbon tipped. The handles are rubber with strong insulation and there is a "electrity indicator" at the tip of the handle so you can see if you have a live line. The set has almoost everything to get you started and it is of excellent quality.

I lost my favorite cousin to an electric shock. He was only 21. I want to make sure this kid is protected and with these tools, I can feel good about it. They are top notch. Klein 80028 28-Piece Electrician Tool Set

klien = quality. you could spend $100 and get a cheap set like greenlee or kobalt but i don't buy cheap tools. there is a reason why there so cheap. i'm not a electrician so insulation wasn't a factor.i use every thing but the wire strippers. there durable tools you'll have them forever. an if you bought them individually you'd spend $500 easy just the two bags alone are $60. it comes with a orange klien tee shirt too.

this is a great set of tools. i did not buy this set but i do own at least two of everything in it and plus some. the only thing that bothers me on klein is that on the life time warranty is that they do not return hot burns. also these are not insulated i own that set to and it cost me over a thousand dollars dont believe the first two reviews because on the tools its clearly printed "will not protect against eletric shock" but all said the best tools out there for a price you will not find anywhere else - Klein - Klein Tools - Electricians Tool - Blu-ray'

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Kindle 2 Power Adapter - kindle accessory, kindle 2 power adapter

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This product is a complete waste of money. The adapter that comes with the Kindle is already for 100 - 240V. You pay an extra $20 for the European style plug on the end. If you already own a voltage adapter kit or a universal plug, you don't need this at all, it's just another thing to carry when you travel. Of course it is my own fault for not realizing that, like all electronics these days, the kindle adapter would be universal. Do not buy this! Amazon Kindle EU (European Union Universal) Power Adapter [Fits Kindle and Kindle DX]

In order to load your Kindle's battery, just attach the cable included to a USB port of any computer nearby. Simple as that.

If you want to use your 220 volt wall socket, you can buy a USB power adapter from every electronics store for about $5. This power adapter / cable -combo from Amazon did cost me $31 (including shipping to Europe).

Also, if You have bought any mobile phone, GPS navigator or such a device lately, chances are that you already have one of these.

To summarize: This gadget is nice, but don't waste your money on it.

Somebody else had written in a review that this item is good but should have been free. That is the basic problem. Assuming you are located in Europe (otherwise you would not be very interested in a "European Union Universal" power adapter), then this thing costs a lot of money with shipping. Might vary depending on where you are, but I had to pay around 35 Euro.

And that is the problem. The product is good. But, it is nothing more than a usb-cable for Kindle (same as already included with the kindle itself) together with a standard 220v to usb converter.

Short and concise; Ok product, but a complete waste of money to pay 35 Euro for it.

As was mentioned by other reviewers the adapter that comes with US version of Kindle supports both 110 (US) and 220V (European), so strictly speaking you do not need to buy the European version. Definitely not for 20$. Still if you buy it together with Kindle you get this item for just 5$, and this makes perfect sense. I wish the product page has explicitly mentioned that, I've almost missed 15$ discount. Amazon customer support was as usual extremely helpful and efficient - they helped me to get the discount after the order was placed.

I bought this because I thought I needed a specific power adapter for the kindle. I didn't need it at all. The USB connector to the kindle would have sufficed - I only needed an adapter that accepts USB plugs as well (which I have plenty of at home for different countries!). I am disappointed that I didn't realise it before and paid $20 for the adapter! I am living in Europe so to send it back makes no sense - if you have power adapters that has its own USB port, then you do not need this expensive adapter!

This is the third Kindle I buy and I cannot beleive that the EU power adapter is not yet part of the package. If it is included in the device's price in the USA and in the UK, why not in Portugal or Spain ? - Kindle Accessory - Charger - Kindle 2 Power Adapter - Kindle'

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Portable Speaker - mp3 speakers, ipod speakers

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I'm sure this review, as with all other negative reviews, is going to get a "this was not helpful" rating. Look, I get it.. the X-Mini II is an AWESOME product and nobody should to talk bad about it, right? At least hear me out first.. because I've been using these for almost a year and have owned 3 of them. I think that earns me the right to an honest negative review. And remember, most people review products shortly after they buy them.. I've actually spent a lot of time using them.

I absolutely loved mine when I first got it. I showed it to lots of friends and all my coworkers, many of which have since bought their own. It's an excellent little speaker. The sound quality is amazing for such a small package.. the build quality feels very solid. Sadly, it's what's inside that counts.. and what's inside is junk. I've owned 3 of these speakers and all 3 are now dead. Here's the series of events that led to this bad review:

X-Mini #1 - Bought my first one about 10 months ago on Amazon. Loved everything about it. One thing that really stood out (aside from excellent audio quality) was the build quality. Very solid construction. I liked it so much I bought another one for a family member, which we'll call X-Mini #2.

X-Mini #2 - Worked fine, but I noticed the build quality wasn't as good as the first one I bought. The once soft rubber-like audio cable was now stiff, cheap, shiny plastic. The power switch was now flimsy and didn't operate as solidly as my first one. The sound wasn't quite as good, and it was a tiny bit lighter weight. After about 1 month, I started having audio hiccups from it and had to contact the store (possibly power surges?). They sent me a replacement and let me keep this one. The replacement they sent me is X-Mini #3.

X-Mini #3 - Same lower-quality construction. By this point it was obvious that X-Mi had started to cheap out on the materials of the speaker. The once rock-solid speaker now feels like a cheap toy. About two weeks after owning this speaker, the battery stopped working. It no longer holds a charge and has to be plugged in via USB or a wall outlet in order to play sound. I'm not going to bother the company I bought this one from because they already sent me a free replacement.. now it's up to X-Mi.

Now I have 1 good speaker (my original), one defective one, and one with a dead battery, right? Wrong.

Back to X-Mini #1 - My beloved original, now, after 10 months of light use (maybe 3 hours a week), is dead. The battery is having the same issue as X-Mini #3. It will no longer play sound without being attached to external power.

I'm done with these things. I want to love it.. I really do.. and several months ago I would have given this thing 6 out of 5 stars if it were possible. I can no longer do that. They simply don't last. I'm extremely disappointed with X-Mi for cheaping out on materials and have sent them an email explaining this.

If you've been able to snag one that lasts longer than a year, consider yourself lucky. I envy you. X-Mini II Capsule Speaker (Black)

I bought this and the iHome rechargeable mini-speaker at the same time. The iHome mini-speaker is much louder, but the sound quality of the X-Mini II is better for music, at least in my opinion. You get more of the high and low tones with the X-Mini II, and I am surprised that it does not have a tinny sound. The iHome speaker is good for movies or if you need a loud but small speaker for parties. The X-Mini II is slightly larger than the iHome speaker, but not much. I recommend the X-Mini II for listening to music, and it works really well with my netbook or with an mp3 player.

Even though the internal speakers on my Sony Vaio notebook computer are decent, I sometimes need a little more volume and clarity. When the need arises, I usually whip out the ear-buds. But recently, I've been wanting to play some tunes on my computer at work where it's not convenient to wear ear-buds. Hence, the "need" for one of these portable mini-speakers.

After reading the reviews on portable notebook/iPod/iPhone speakers, I narrowed my choice down to 3 products and ordered all 3. I thought that I would choose the best one, send the others back, and review them at the same time. So....my 3 choices were the X-Mini II Capsule Speaker, the iHome iHM60 Rechargeable Mini Speakers for iPod (Blue), and the Altec Lansing iM-237 Orbit Ultraportable Speaker for MP3 Players (Silver).

I tested all 3 speakers with my Sony Vaio notebook, my iPhone 3Gs, and my 60-gig iPod. All 3 speakers worked with all 3 devices, and the rating results were comparable.

One more thing: although 2 of the 3 speakers have USB charging cables, none of them are USB devices. The USB only charges the speaker; the sound is controlled via the headphone-out controls.

1) X-Mini II Capsule Speaker ---- This speaker is the most compact. I like the design, the lines, the feel, and the size. It just feels right. It looks like a little pill/capsule, and then springs open to reveal bellows that enhance the bass. The sound is focused and clear, but ranks #3 in loudness and bass quality. It is the only speaker of the 3 that I tested that has a volume control, but I really don't see the need for a volume control when the speaker is only 6 inches away from the sound source. It has a built-in speaker cord for when you want to run it on the internal rechargeable battery. There's also a combined USB charging/speaker cable....1 plug inserts into your computer USB port to charge the speaker battery, and the 2nd plug goes to the headphone-out on your computer (or iPod). So, if your speaker battery dies, just plug the 2 plugs into the computer and you're back up and running. If you're using the speaker to listen to your iPod or iPhone, you are out of luck if the speaker battery dies, unless you have a USB power source nearby. Unfortunately, both the attached speaker cable and the combined USB charging/speaker cable are very flimsy. It also has a speaker-out jack, which allows you to daisy-chain speakers together. Not really a huge selling point, since people tend to buy these speakers because they are small and compact...so who wants to carry 2 with them? But I suppose it does allow for more flexibiity, athough daisy-chaining 2-3 of these little guys together just doesn't make good financial sense. So, just like the volume control, the speaker-out jack is a non-issue to me. Also comes with a little carrying bag made of felt material.

Pros --- Looks and feels right. Small/compact. Decent sound, considering it's size. Rechargeable battery. Option of using built-in cable or combined USB charging/speaker cable.

Cons --- Worst performance in terms of loudness and bass (but still not bad). Flimsy cables.

2) iHome iHM60 Rechargeable Mini Speakers for iPod (Blue) ---- This speaker is very similar to the X-Mini II above. The major differences: it's larger than the X-Mini and doesn't look as "polished". It doesn't have a volume control, but who needs one anyway? It doesn't have a built-in cable....it only has a USB charging/speaker cable....but it's MUCH sturdier than the cable on the X-Mini. The sound is louder and fuller, with more pronounced bass.....probably because the diameter is bigger and the bellows are longer. Comes with a medium-heavy duty black carrying bag, which is more substantial than the felt used for the X-Mini II bag. Also has a speaker-out jack, just like the X-Mini II, for daisy-chaining speakers together.

Pros --- Ranks #2 in loudness and bass. Small/compact. Rechargeable battery. Sturdy cable. Nicer carrying bag. $10 cheaper than the X-Mini.

Cons --- Less "polished" look/feel. Not as small as the X-Mini. No built-in speaker cable, so you MUST use the more bulky USB charging/speaker cable.

3) Altec Lansing iM-237 Orbit Ultraportable Speaker for MP3 Players (Silver) --- This speaker is the largest, but weighs about the same as the IHome. It has NO USB charging cable....just a built-in speaker cable. It ONLY runs on 3 AAA batteries. I haven't used it long enough to test the battery life. The carrying case is a deluxe zippered case that really protects the speaker. It also includes a lanyard for the speaker and a little caribiner clip for the case. The sound clearly out-classes the other 2 in loudness, clarity, and bass.

Pros --- Best sound of the 3. Uses 3 AAA batteries (no rechargeable battery to die on you). Built-in speaker cable. Very nice carrying case.

Cons --- Largest of the 3. Uses 3 AAA batteries (rechargeable battery is convenient, but they often die.) Flimsy built-in speaker cable.

So.....which one am I keeping? That's a good question. I'm DEFINITELY returning the X-Mini II. It performed the worst of the 3, it has flimsy cables, and it costs as much as the Altec. Although the iHome requires that you use the bulkier combo-cord, it sounds better and costs $10 less than the X-Mini II. No-brainer.

How about the Altec? It sounds the best, but has some limitations. I might keep BOTH the Altec and the iHome. But I'm DEFINITELY keeping the iHome, which is the all-around winner in this speaker shoot-out when you compare sound, price, and features.

A couple more remarks. The iHome packaging is maddening. The speaker is wire-tied into the package, making it extremely difficult to remove. I ended up essentially destroying the packaging in order to remove the speaker. But perhaps iHome did that on purpose, so as to discourage returns. Very annoying, but not a deal-breaker. Also, the iHome's cable has a hard plastic clip attached that is supposed to be used as a wire-tie. I have very good manual dexterity, but I was unable to fold the cable back up and clip it back together. Nice try, iHome, but the velcro cable-tie of the X-Mini II is a much better design.....too bad they decided to include such a flimsy cable.

I hope this review helps you in your purchase of a portable speaker for your notebook computer or iPod/iPhone. Be sure to check out my VIDEO REVIEW, which includes sound bytes from all 3 speakers. It is located here: iHome iHM60 Rechargeable Mini Speakers for iPod (Blue). - Ipod Speakers - Portable Speakers - Mp3 Speakers - Speakers'

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Cap Nailer - hitachi

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I HAVE RECEINTLEY STARTED MY OWN BUSINESS BUILDING HOUSES AND I HAVE BEEN BUYING TOOLS WITH THE PROFITS MADE. THIS WAS THE THIRD GUN I BOUGHT AND IT IS THE MOST APPRECIATED ONE I HAVE. I HAVE SPENT HOURS UPON HOURS ON A ROOF TRYING TO GET IT DRIED IN AND THEN I BOUGHT THIS GUN AND IT TOOK ABOUT 75% OFF THE TIME TO HAND DRIVE THE PLASTIC CAPS! I DEFINATELY RECOMEND THIS GUN TO EVERY HOMEBUILDER! Hitachi NV50AP2 2-Inch Plastic and Metal Cap Nailer

This tool seemed to be a godsend so I went for it. Unfortunately it sounded much better than it is. Like the previous review, my gun hangs up after maybe shooting 10 good caps. After that I have to pull EVERY single cap into place MANUALLY. The instructions are just an add on sheet which don't give you ANY indication if there might be an adjustment to correct the problem. When I'm on a roof trying to beat an incoming rain storm I don't want to hear about bringing it to a service center. I need to take care of things right then and there or lose money!!!The gun comes with NOTHING, not even the air connect nipple! This gun is extremely expensive and shouldn't be a source of frustration and monitary loss to me.Since this review I have spent some time tracking why the gun wouldn't perform as expected. The problem with the hung up caps was/is invariably the flimsy paper roll that holds the caps. If it's just slighly deformed/wavey it hangs up the caps. Now that I am aware of this, I pay attention when reloading and I am actually pretty happy with the gun now. Still hangs up at times, that's why I gave the gun 4 stars now instead or 5.

I'm not afraid to spend money on a good tool if it helps me do a better job, saves me time, and saves be from a sore arm at the end of the week from pounding thousands of nails. This nail gun is easily one of the more expensive in my garage. While finishing, framing, coil-siding, & coil-roofing nailers seemed to be a given I hesitated on buying a cap nailer thinking I wouldn't mind pounding a few caps in by hand. I found a good deal on a used 1st generation Hitachi Plasti-Cap NV50AP nailer and never regretted it!!! I have to say the balance of the 1st & 2d generation tools are awkward. You have to fight the cap magazine to keep the tool level on your surface. It looks like the cap magazine was added to the side of an existing tool design which throws the balance off. The tool wants to roll over on its side while it's in your hand. I recently purchased one of the 3rd generation NV50AP3 nailers and this is definitely the tool to buy. It weighs significantly less and the nail and cap magazines are better designed to minimize the overall profile of the gun while maintaining almost perfect balance. I have put several thousand cap nails through both of these guns and my comment on jams and mis-feeds is simple... take care not to damage or bend your nails and cap rolls and you shouldn't have any problems. I have only used the Hitachi brand caps/nails and can't comment on the generic brands out there. If you have a coil of nails that looks like someone stepped on it or tossed in the tool trailer under a pile of who knows what you're going to have problems. Anyone with coil nails should know this but I've seen some people who just don't understand why they have so many mis-feeds and blame the gun. Even if you only think you will use this tool one time BUY IT and sell it off when you're finished. You'll save lots of time, have a much easier time nailing down that felt or house wrap in the wind (been there) and your arm won't hate you.

Although I don't own this newer model, I purchased an almost identical older version several years ago. The only real difference

between the two models is that this "newer" one shoots plastic AND metal head nails. Let me tell you without hesitation this gun is absolutely great. Yes the nails cost a bit more than the hand-driven ones, and it does take using it in a certain way to insure the nails are fully driven, and once in a while you need to fully set the heads with a hammer {as in all other guns}and once in a while you might "lose" a few caps here and there, but using this gun is at least 7-10 times faster than hand driving the plasticap nails. It's alo durable as mine is used constantly. In fact I ordered a secong one last week. Looking forward to using the new one in my flat roof installations. "Don't know what I'd do" if Hitachi ever stopped making the nails for this gun. And there's no camparison between plastic-headed nails holding down felt in winds, and staples. Forget the staples or reguler EG roofing nails. Plastic caps all the way and the felt will survive even 80 MPH winds!

Have a Plasti Tacker Pro and it is great for drying in a roof but have found it to be unreliable. The plastic caps hang up just before dropping into place and jam. Thus driveing a nail without a cap. And sometimes resulting in wasting several plastic caps. It also leaks air at the trigger if held open for repetitive driving. I did have the O-rings replaced in the trigger valves but it still leaks air just like before. For the last couple of days I have been searching for a web site that provides professional technical advise but I don't speak German and that is the only thing I could find except for the places to buy something, they were in English. - Hitachi'

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Kindle Dx Accessories - kindle 2 book light, kindle accessory

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If you need a light for your kindle I recommend you buy the Great Point reading light. This light is perfect! It stays in place when clipped on, the neck can be adjusted in any position and it provides full coverage. I thought it was a bonus that it came with batteries installed as well as replacement batteries.

Please don't waste your time and money with any other reading light. After purchasing 3 brands I was starting to get so frustrated I almost gave up! Either they slipped off my kindle or the light did not provide enough coverage. I spent so much time trying to make them work I was too tired/frustrated to read!

I never thought that I would be so happy about a book light, let alone write a recommendation for one! But what can I say....The Great Point reading light has further enhanced my kindle experience. LightWedge Flex Neck Clip-On Reading Light for Kindle (White)

After years of using many different reading lights I finally found one that does everything you want. It lights up my Kindle DX perfect! The light is not too bright or too dim.

It grips great on the Kindle frame without touching the screen(I tried the Mighty Bright but the only way to secure it was to clip it on the screen. Yikes!)

It's beautifully designed and very sturdy. The head also locks in the clip when your not using it.

The bonus was it came with batteries included AND an extra set of batteries.

I love it. I think I might buy the black one too.

Enjoy.

I received this light along with the Kindle as a Birthday gift. The person who gave it to me did not know that I had the Mighty Bright XtraFlex2 already from reading at night when my husband can't sleep. I have tried to use it for the past couple of days to give it a shot as maybe it would be better than my current book light. Potential shoppers please listen to a person who has REALLY tried every book light out there. This light is not very good. While it is better than a few I have tried, it is still so inferior to some others including the Mighty Bright light. This light only has only one level of lighting and though it was bright for the first 4 hours of using it, it started to get dimmer and dimmer the next few hours after. It did come with batteries but what will happen after the next 4 hours?? I would then have to look for button cell batteries. They are expensive. AAA batteries are less expensive and in my drawer or easy to find when traveling. The clip is easy to open but it is HUGE on the Kindle. Looks really bad.

I had my doubts after reading the negative reviews about other clip-on lights. But I have been so pleased with this accessory. It clips easily to the K-2, doesn't slip or slide, but stays where you put it. The clip does not interfere with the screen at all. Aesthetically it matches the kindle. The flexible neck stays put and is easy to move without having to hold the clip. Once you find the best position for you, it stays put - even when I remove it from the Kindle.

The light coverage is superb over about 90% of the screen. The bottom 10-15% kind of fades off, but it has presented no reading issue. There may be a tiny bit of glare at the very top, but nothing is perfect.

The only complaint I have is the on/off switch is a bit flimsy. But I can easily read for hours without eyestrain in a dimly lit room or in bed at night.

When I was shopping for a reading light to use with my new Kindle, I read all sorts of reports complaining about the different lights. This one had the most five star reviews (when compared to the single two star review), so I decided to try it. Why not? I could always return it if it didn't work out or wasn't what I was looking for. It's perfect. It has a great light and is very bright, showing the entire Kindle. It hooks securely to my Kindle without leaving any marks or even touching the screen (something I was anxious about after reading about some of the other lights that have ruined people's screens). This light is perfect. It may not be the most stylish light when compared to some of the other ones out there, but it is excellent quality! I would recommend this to ANYONE who is looking for a reading light for their Kindle. I'm so glad that I bought this one!

I got this with my Kindle 2 as I prefer low light in the evenings and am prone to headaches. I have noticed no eyestrain and when reading in complete darkness this light is more than enough. The neck stays in place and it's very easy to adjust when I change position. I'm able to limit the glare off the screen, as I have it clipped on to my cover, it just takes a minute to find the right angle. The 2 led lights don't get hot and so far as the battery life has been great and I appreciated the replacements that are included. This is the first reading light I've tried and over the past few days have been very impressed. I have recommended it to my friends that also have Kindle's and those that just like to read! - Kindle 2 Book Light - Kindle Book Light - Reading Light - Kindle Accessory'

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Led Projector

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Tryed too find info about this Projector on-line... I was like oh no what have I done... could not find anything and the stuff I did find all said the same thing... So, now I have the projector at home all stet up, works Great...but I think for 350 bucks if it last 20000 hours on one bulb, hell I'll try it. So, now I can give my brother back his projector. ( Infocous 1X ). It work Well but the fan noise was very load, but this one has very littal noise.love it. my projector is on a shelf that I made. just use 4 L brakets that you would use for a shelf, but just turned them inside out mout it to the celing their ya go. It set right at 16' away from the screen so its right at 96" wide by 66" tall at 4:3-5... the KEYSTONE function that ajust the sides of the picture and helps ajust the focse on the top part of the picture could be made differantly... But all and all GREAT PROJECTOR...and I seldom write about things SO, if your on the fince about getting a 350 doller projector and you just feel the need to spend more money on a name brand by all means go ahead... but this works just fine...PEACE OUT RABBIT ProjectR LDR33 LED projector. full 1080p resolution, 50-100inch picture size

Love this Projector, I wanted LED for long life & brightness.. it has both.

Using "PC" or VGA input;

It does HD OK with black boarders top & bottom, although the native is 800X600 (4x3).

720 & 1080 in 16x9 look GREAT. ( I have been changing the resolution of the monitor output in the computer as well as changing the Projectors resolution to match the movie's format that I'm trying to watch)

I'm getting 8'W X 4.5'H-100"diag.=16x9 & 8'W X 6'H-120"diag.=4x3. At 13' lens-to-screen. It would, no doubt, be larger with a longer distance, however it does "step" down the 4x3 aspect ratio in 5 or 6 steps ( so if your distance is say 14'+, you can step it down to get 120"diag. which will fit standard screens)

The 16x9 does not step down and it would be larger than 8'W X 4.5'H-100"diag. @ 14'+.

I plan on Painting the wall a bright white and not using a screen.

I have tried the HDMI input & it worked very well also. same dimensions.

It does PIP, but the "inset" picture can ONLY be a naturally 4x3 input, Video (AV) S-vid & TV (RF) not the VGA (PC) or HDMI's and it cant be "swapped" with the full screen,

you have to change your main screen source to view full screen.

It does have a tuner in it, but I have no cable, I watch the "NET".

flip the picture vertically and horizontally ( hang from ceiling inverted and rear screen )

For the money, this is a Great Projector !!

I just hooked this projector up and used it for 20 minutes before the picture cut out. The sound is working but no light coming out of the projector! I tried shutting it off and unplugging it , but still having the same problem. I'd suggest you spend your money on something else. This projector just isn't worth the frustrations.

This is a pretty nice projector I was a little dissapointed when I plugged my computer to it and could not read anything unless I put it at a very low resolution. I decided to hook it up straight to my hd dvr from directv via hdmi and the picture is awesome! I tried gaming on it but you really have to bump up the brightness if you're not going thru the hdmi. Also there is a grid that is very noticable when you sit close kinda looks like a window screen over the picture which makes reading small text hard. but if you sit back and use hdmi or a very low res. with the lights down low this thing is awesome.

the projector was a great buy in my opinion, i have it set up for my everyday use, cable, and gaming, not the best picture but for 300 bucks you can really beat it, it came from china but shipped VERY VERY fast, within 3 days, and i am absolutly happy with this projector

Ok first of all it seems like a great deal, I figured it was worth a shot. Picture is ok, colors are very poor. Built in speakers are terrible. The manual zoom is a joke. DOES NOT WORK! What happens when you turn it to zoom in? The picture is instantly so blurred that you cannot view the image. Now if you can set the projector in one spot and manage to not use the zoom function, it will be ok. It does however have a lot of great inputs, such as 2 HDMI, 1 RCA audio out, Component in, and a built in tv tuner which is nice. But over all if you want something cheap are not concerned about picture quality at all what so ever, or sound quality for that matter great go for it. But once again like always you are getting what you paid for!

I am thinking of posting a video on this projector for people who are researching. This projector has everything you want. Very good quality, 20,000 hrs bulb life, 1080p video works very well with xbox (modern warfare) and sound is amazing.

I received mine yesterday (I didn't get mine from Amazon),' I turned it on and with only a couple of simple adjustments I was watching a movie at about 100" across. I was impressed... Then I tried it after the sun went down last night, "Holy Cow!" the picture was amazing!!! Though I am sure that it would be better with a higher resolution but heck it beats the socks off of my old JVC CRT. The built in sound is surprisingly good for it's size. Overall I am quite impressed with it and it was a great value for the buck.

Bill Schober

Pine Grove, CA'

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Granite

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I have been using this product with my new Granite countertops. When applied according to the directions, it will seal your countertops for months at lenght. While not cheap, it does what it claims. It has a very pleasant aroma, can be bought in gallon sizes. Great product. Stone Care International Stone Spray-N-Seal, 32oz

We aren't familiar with this seller, but thought we'd leave word that this product works well. We have honed granite countertops and they need a sealer. This product neatly seals the granite, keeps it from staining. We use it around once every other month on some pretty large countertops and a 32 ounce bottle has been good for around a year.

This stone cleaner has a slight vanilla scent--it's the best stone cleaner I've ever used. The company who sells it couldn't be better. There was an shipping error and they were first-class all the way. I couldn't be happier with them. Highly recommended all around.

I have used three granite sealing products on 65 square feet of newly-installed granite in our kitchen. SCI's Spray-N-Seal is by far, superior to anything that I have applied to my countertops. You do not need to accomplish any further research or leg-work. Stop right here, put this product in your shopping cart, and get it on order immediately. In addition, if you pay $79 for Amazon Prime, you will receive free shipping for an entire year on almost every product available on Amazon and an additional $3.99 if you want it delivered overnight! On top of that, you have several thousand free movies available on-demand from Amazon. You cannot beat that!'

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Not Interested - epson, not interested

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I've been a user of Epson glossy photo papers for over a decade. I've never had a problem with them. Colors are brilliant and don't fade. Granted, some of that is ink performance, but the paper clearly lets the ink succeed! If you have an Epson printer and are using Epson ink, look no further! Epson High-Gloss Premium Borderless Photo Paper, 5 x 7 Inches, 20 Sheets per Pack (S041464)

I have used several different Epson photo papers. I prefer the ultrapremium and premium luster papers, especially when you are showing your prints or framing them. Otherwise, the premium gloss paper is an excellent buy.

The prints produced on this paper (by an Epson 890, in my experience) are virtually indistinguishable from photo prints. The paper looks and feels just like a photograph. For high quality printing needs, this paper fits the bill.Epson also takes extra care in the packaging. The paper is sealed between two pieces of cardboard in a plastic sleeve. This keeps the paper flat and smudge free.

If you have an epson printer and are printing photographs, you should definitely use epson's photo paper and ink. The prints come out great! Unfortunately, Amazon's packaging wasn't very good and some of the sheets had damaged corners. Amazon's packaging has been bad on other orders I've made in the past so I won't buy printer paper from them again. - Epson - Photo Supply - Not Interested - Epson Photo Paper'

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