Friday, 7 January 2011

Adventure Movies - 3d, blu-ray


I dont understand why people hated this movie so much. I have been a huge green lantern fan since i was 7 so ive been waiting for this movie for 13 years. The visual effects were great. The story (even though innacurate to the comics) was good. Ryan Reynolds played a near perfect Hal Jordan. The only problem was Hal was kinda whiny in parts in the movie which he never was in the comics. Blake Lively played Carol perfectly. The only problem I had witht he movie was the fact it wasnt long enough. The movie was only 1 hour 40 minutes. To fit in more character development and more story it should have been atleast a 2 hour movie. Didnt get enough development on the other lanterns, and the only ones you meet are Sinestro, Kilowog, and Tomar-Re. Even then you didnt get much of them. They need to make a sequel and go more in depth on more characters........the scene during the credits set up the sequel beautifully. Overall I loved this movie I sat in aww with goosebumps the whole movie (maybe because ive been waiting for this for years), but it was a really good movie. People complain because it wasnt realistic and goofy.......Has a superhero movie ever been realistic or not goofy in some way thats why we read and watch superhero movies to believe in something unrealistic. Green Lantern (Three-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD / Digital Copy)

I'll admit up front that I wasn't that familiar with the Green Lantern character before this movie. In fact, if I hadn't have talked to a friend who was a fan of the comics, everything I knew would have been from watching the old "Justice League" cartoons on Saturday mornings -- the ones in which Green Lantern was just another random face in the crowd. At least he wasn't the Wonder Twins, but Aquaman got more love than Green Lantern on that show. Thankfully, my friend explained why Green Lantern is so cool. I mean, having the power to create anything you can imagine... that's pretty awesome stuff. Obviously, the more imaginative the person, the better, and that was my main concern going in to this movie -- that the things the writers came up with for Green Lantern to create wouldn't be that creative. But I think they actually did a pretty good job in that department. Of course you have to keep in mind that he has to come up with these things on the spot, without a lot of time to sit around and think about it. The movie does have its flaws. There are a few scenes that feel cliche and it could have used a bit more action and a longer end fight, etc., but I still found it to be a fun, inspiring movie overall. I loved the "courage overcoming fear" storyline. As it turned out, it was the best time I had at the movies all summer.

As a DC Comics fan, I liked the movie althought I thought the movie's ending was way too comic-book like with Hal Jordan and Parallax. My wife, who does not read comics books at all, liked the movie as it introduced her to the Green Lantern Corp and the other characters.



I will probably get this, as it was announced this week (week of August 21st) that the Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D releases include an Arkham City bonus of the Sinestro Corp costume for Batman. I stated the Arkham City bonus here, as I could not find a way of updating the product information with this.



So, if you're a Green Lantern fan and an Arkham City fan, then you probably want to seriously consider getting this release.

Green Lantern has received quite a bit of flak from reviewers for not being mainstream enough to relate to modern audiences. And that's a shame, because if Green Lantern is guilty of anything, it's of being a SUPERHERO movie.



Back before all these directors started streamlining films, revising backstories, and taking out Spider-Man's technologically-advanced web shooters, comic books were a glorious hodge-podge of the near possible, the impossible, and the just plain fantastic. Because superhero settings include every superhero and villain imaginable, they have to accommodate magic, aliens, superscience, and alternate dimensions in one heady mix. This makes for a very rich comic book series that can be intimidating for new audiences - which is precisely why movie directors cut out so much.



But you can't cut all the crazy out of Green Lantern and still stay true to the comics. And so, with tons of exposition, Green Lantern rabbit-punches viewers with world-shattering fact after mind-altering fact in the first five minutes: aliens exist, there's a giant yellow monster imprisoned in a planet, ancient humanoids predating humanity have been guarding the universe with green willpower, and there's a dizzying variety of highly advanced technical races from across the galaxy. Green Lantern makes Superman's backstory look quaint. His name doesn't help either - Emerald Flashlight has to say an oath that activates a ring that's charged by a lantern that's powered by a planet that's actually the embodiment of all sentient beings' will. No wonder critics got confused.



)o()o()o( "I pledge allegiance to a lantern, given to me by a dying purple alien." - Hal Jordan )o()o()o(



Director Martin Campbell knows all this. He makes fun of the ridiculous circumstances in which Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds and his fab abs) finds himself, ranging from a dogfight with two robot jets to a dogfight with a giant soul-eating monster. Part of what makes Green Lantern so entertaining is that it embraces its pulpy roots: there's the childhood sweetheart (smoking hot Blake Lively as Carol Ferris who just happens to be a successful businesswoman and fighter pilot), the nebbishly awkward villain (Peter Sarsgaard as Hector Hammond), and tough-as-nails "red Spock" Sinestro (Mark Strong). The real villain of the piece, Parallax, sounds like a 1980s video game effect - oh wait, it is! This is not a movie to be taken too seriously.



)o()o()o( "It's not a magic ring--it's a ring powered by advanced technology!" - Hal Jordan )o()o()o(



And yet, Green Lantern is no movie trifle. The challenge with a superhero who has powers like Green Lantern is that the possibilities are literally endless - the rings are powered by the hero's will, which means he can technically imagine anything. This also means that an abusive hero might imagine black holes and solve all of his problems that way. Green Lantern cleverly constrains these god-like powers by imposing plot-related restrictions on Hal's creativity. When all Hal can come up with to stop a helicopter from crashing into partying guests is a Matchbox car in a ramp, it's because he played with one in his nephew's room the day before. When he's trying to use the sun's gravitational pull as a weapon, it's because he used the Earth's gravitational pull as a weapon against the two jets earlier and because his tutor Kilowog points out that gravity is a...uh, harsh mistress. Hal Jordan might always manifest boring weapons straight out of a first-person shooter, but that's because he's harboring a lot of guilt over his military daddy's death.



)o()o()o( "You thought I wouldn't recognize you just because I can't see your cheekbones?" - Carol Ferris )o()o()o(



Speaking of daddy issues, Green Lantern is one giant ball of forest-colored father/son conflict: Hal and his military pilot father, Hammond and his successful senator father, dead Abin Sur and grieving Sinestro, Abin Sur and the newly created Green Lantern, Parallax and his newly adopted avatar Hammond...it's clear the Green Lantern writers were looking for some emotional hook, and that hook was spelled out D-A-D. Green Lantern tries very hard to be deep.



Unfortunately, Green Lantern can be pretty shallow at times. Parallax, remember, is an ancient being predating much of humanity's evolution, but he falls for the oldest trick in the book. We're supposed to believe that Parallax really, really, REALLY hates Abin Sur and everything associated with him. After he kills Abin Sur, you have to ask why Parallax wants to go after just Hal Jordan when he could be eating so many other Green Lanterns for breakfast.



When Green Lantern goes big, it's glorious, but when it pulls in tight, the plot turns an earth-shattering battle between god-like beings into a schoolyard shoving match. But really, that's pretty normal from superhero comics. It's just that today's movie superhero fans expect a guy in a cloak that's just like you and me without any of the world-spanning baggage.



Green Lantern's guilty of being true to Green Lantern, spandex, mask, ring and all. For those who find it implausible, maybe a superhero powered by a jade-colored light source isn't for them. - Martin Campbell - Dc Comics - 3d - Blu-ray'


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Adventure Movies - 3d, blu-ray dc comics Adventure Movies - 3d, blu-ray

Greeting Card Paper - envelopes, avery


These cards are overall a good deal. They work best for invitations, announcements, and other times when you will be doing mass mailings. They are a little too flimsy for my liking for nicer, individual cards, despite Avery advertising them as "heavyweight" on the box. That's the only reason I give them four stars instead of five. Other than that these are great cards; I haven't had problems with smearing or paperjams at all. The cards are scored evenly and fold very easily. The texture is a nice touch, too. Avery Textured Half-Fold Greeting Cards for Inkjet Printers, Uncoated, 5.5 x 8.5 Inches, White, Box of 30 (03378)

I completely agree with the previous review. While I certainly don't think the cards should be classified as heavyweight (they most definitely are not), the texture is very nice and the printing on them is excellent (I love our Canon i860 printer. If you're shopping around for a new printer, I would highly recommend it). Happy cardmaking!

I've been making my own cards using Staples' Photo Greeting Cards. When I went to get more of Staples' cards, I found they were sold out of their own product, so I opted to buy this Avery 'card' paper instead. I thought, because of the Avery name, the product would be comparable or of superior quality. BOY was I disappointed! I might as well have used 24 lb. paper I had at home. The Avery paper in this package is NOT cardstock, which is what I expected for a greeting card type of product. I'm Very disappointed, particularly because I expected better of Avery.

I have been using these for well over a year. I make greeting cards for my church and I have made over 150 for them already this year, as well as my own cards. Made with this paper they look better and richer and are well liked by everyone. They print well and the colors are great. I have used many kinds before I found these. None compared.

Service from the provider was fast and I got exactly what I wanted! I make my own cards for a large extended family and these are perfect! The slight texture to the cardstock makes each card a little nicer than slick cardstock, at least in my opinion. I will certainly order it again.

My wife uses these cards in conjunction with her Printmaster program to create a variety of greeting cards. She really loves this product as it has an integral pre-fold crease which facilitates a pefect fold after printing.

I was so looking forward to receiving Avery's textured greeting cards as I had worked with some of their products before like their white notecard paper and half fold white greeting cards and was quite pleased with them. Unfortunately I found myself feeling very disappointed with these textured cards. Although the paper has a nice texture to it, it is way too flimsy. And the quality of the prints compared to avery's half fold white cards leaves a lot to be desired for. A waste of my money really! Perhaps I will use the paper to make drawings instead and stick to their textured free paper for greeting cards. - Avery - Greeting Cards - Envelopes - Blank Cards'


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Lcd Wall Mount - lcd wall mount, wall mount


I bought a 50" Plasma and decided it would be best on my wall. I went looking through stores and found higher prices than this one and bulkier designs.



I love the articulating arms!! I can pull it away from the wall to access the wires, etc. and adjust the left to right tilt for best viewing. It seems very sturdy and has worked great for me the last six months.



It was easy enough to mount to the wall but if you are not good with tools seek experienced assistance. You will need someone to hold it up for you unless you are good at this sort of thing. The hardest part was hanging the TV and that was only due to the weight of it.





Note: Make sure you have wall studs with 16" centers if mounting to drywall!! I bought it not realizing I had 24" centers on that one wall. This caused me to mount it to a steel plate so it could get anchored to the studs (The 50" TV weighed 125lbs!!) Cheetah Mounts APDAM2B Plasma LCD Flat Screen TV Articulating Full Motion Dual Arm Wall Mount Bracket for 32 to 55-Inch Displays Up To 165Lbs (Black)

Mount itself - http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/1387/82287344396999171260088.jpg

Load testing it (215 lbs!) - http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/6553/82287344397498171260088.jpg

Final installation - http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/6895/82287344397697771260088.jpg



WOW. I bought a cheetah mount that only tilts for my 52" SAMSUNG LCD TV. But the configuration of my living room/kitchen area had me thinking I'd rather go with an articulating wall mount, so I can turn it if I'm cooking or if I have people over on the sectional sofa I can turn it that (the opposite) way. So I bought this puppy (I kept the other tilting-only mount for my bedroom LCD TV which I haven't purchased yet). After taxes and S&H, it came out to $106. A similar product at BestBuy and hhgregg costs well over $300 (bestbuy has some that articulate and tilt that are up to $750!!!)



I'm a civil engineer, I work on designing things as a career. When I opened the box and saw the structural bulk of this thing, I was very impressed. I knew my brand new TV would be secure hanging from this thing. It came with a BUNCH of extra hardware in case you needed to use it (I ended up using the screws they supplied for the connection to the TV, since mine were too short). I also used their spacers to help ensure full thread engagement.



I wanted to install the TV on the wall and run the cables through the wall, so I had a lot of work cut out for me. Also, I live on a first floor condo unit, so my studs were in groups of 3 and only 12" apart. So I had to cut a whole in the drywall and add another adjacent stud to it. The lag screws they supplied are more than efficient. Just be sure to have the right sized screwdriver head to avoid stripping the heads.



Once I got the TV up I load tested it. I brought it out about 3/4 the total extension distance and first pulled down on it a bit. Then I slowly transferred all my weight to the mount. I heard a little bit of stress in the wood, but after all 215lbs of me was hanging from it, I knew that my 66 lb tv would be just fine. It's only upon writing this review that I see it's rated for 180 lbs. so it's a good thing that I didn't see that before load-testing it. (even though, being an engineer and all) I know things are derated all the time. The instructions were a little fuzzy, but it's still pretty easy to not screw up.



Feel free to ask me any questions about the TV or the wall mount, i'd be glad to answer.

Bought this mount for a Samsung LN46A750 46-Inch 1080p DLNA LCD HDTV with RED Touch of Color also purchased at Amazon.



I was impressed with the sheer weight of this mount as it weighs nearly as much as the TV I mounted to it. It left me with the impression it could hold what it claims (165 lbs.). I weigh around 260 lbs. and leaned heavily on the empty mount after I put it on the wall (before attaching TV) and it didn't budge.



Its appearance is somewhat stylish for what it is. I have it tilted out fairly well so there is quite a bit showing to any who enter the room, yet it blends w/ the back of the TV and looks professional.



The instructions were a bit flaky, but it got the point across as I was able to mount it and this was the first time I have installed a wall mount. Although, I do consider myself fairly intelligent and do DIY stuff all the time so I'm not new to such things.



The range of movement is awesome...this thing will move any which way you try and with a fair amount of ease. I didn't mess with any "settings" as the instructions didn't say much about any of the levers on it. It did what I wanted by default.



Altogether a good buy and I recommend this mount to anyone.

I have a 50" Samsung plasma that weighs just over 80 pounds, so the specs are well within the range of this mount. The directions are OK, but lack some detail and any illustrations would be helpful. That being said, it is not rocket science to figure it out. Spending some time looking over the product, the tv and the mounting location, I figured out the items I would need.



The mounting hardware was a collection of items that did not work with this mount, such as: wood lag screws too short and smallish; no screws to mount tilt arms to back of tv; dry wall mounting inserts (per instructions & common sense, this should never ever be installed just to drywall); and a plethora of various other screws, washers, spacers, etc. that could not be used with this application or mount.



So, I made a trip to my local Home Depot & Lowe's to pick up the necessary items.



I bought some M8 (1.0 threads) x 30 mm machine screws, 5/16" x 1" flat washers (could not find M8x1" washer, but these work) & M8 locking washers to mount the tilt arms to the back of my tv. The instructions suggest using the screws that previously occupied the mounting holes on the back of the tv, but when you add the tilt arms and both washers (which are necessary, flat washer to distribute the load more effectively across the width of the arm & the locking washer to make sure the screw will not back out at all), the screws were not nearly long enough to mount. My tv will accommodate a 600x400 Versa mount. The tilt arms have various mounting holes on the bottom of the arm and slots on the top. Based on the size and weight balance of your tv (i.e. where the heaviest areas of the tv are, mine is in the bottom), you need to move the arms up or down to position where on the wall mount the bulk of the tv weight will rest (more on this later.....). Unfortunately, the slots have dividers in them (separates into three slots and they limit the number of holes that are usable on the bottom of the tilt arm). The importance of having flexibility to move the arms up and down on the back of the tv is not limited just to the weight distribution of the tv, but also to slightly adjust the vertical position of the tv on the wall. No matter how many measurements you make, you never know exactly how the tv will rest as it is so much weight to support that it will pull down slightly and affect the vertical position and there are various tilt options (which is critical if you are trying to center it in a specific location-mine is in a custom built wall/cabinet unit). My suggestion to the manufacuturer would be to make both the top and bottom mounting positions with open slots for their entire length to give ultimate flexibility.



Now, on to mounting the wall bracket. My mount came assembled, arms attached to wall plate. Together, they are very heavy and awkward to hold with the arms extended. My initial plan was to mark my first hole, have my wife hold the mount up and I would screw the upper left corner screw in, level the wall plate and then drill the upper right hole. My wife said, "I can't hold that up, why don't you just take the arms off......." What a great idea (which I can honestly say I did not have).......Just a simply ratchet on four screws and off the arms come and you are left with a wall plate that weights much less and not awkward at all to hold for install. The hardest part of this was putting wood screws all the way in........I bought four 1/4" x 2.5" galvanized wood screws, 1/4" x 1" flat washers & 1/4" locking washers to mount the wall plate to studs. The biggest issue here was not the mount itself, it was the location of the studs relative to where the center of my built in cabinet was. The wall plate allows for some flexibility by having slots for the mounting screws. The wall plate is made for 16" O.C. studs (standard for home construction), but the slots are wide enough for about 18". Additionally, the bracket that the tilt arms hang on is wider than the wall mount and gives you an additional couple of inches of flexibility. Unfortunately in my situation, I was still approximately 1.5" off center.......but again, this is all based on the stud location, not the mount itself. The mount is solid on the wall, and when you hang or pull the tv out, you can hear the wood creaking a little bit but there is no sag.......and with 80+ pounds extended about 2'from the wall, to not sag or twist is impressive.......the mount will hold. As several of the other reviewers have suggested, mounting plywood to the studs or solid blocking between the studs can alleviate this issue........Once the wall plate is on, I just reinstalled the arms very easily.



Now, the biggest issue I have.....the tilt........I followed the instructions and tightened the center bolt and nut on the tilt arms as tight as they would absolutely go. I also tightened the plastic knobs as tight as they would go. When we placed the tv on the bracket, the tilt was automatically pulled all the way down so the tv was all the way at the bottom of the tilt angle and did not work for my location. We must have taken it off the mount a half dozen times, retightend the bolt and knobs, moved the arms up and down on the various mounting holes (on mine, I can only use about 3 of the 10 holes as discussed above) and nothing worked.........no matter how tight, due to the weight of the tv, it would always slide to the lowest tilt angle. So, I logged on yesterday afternoon to start scouring the reviews.......and low and behold, others had suggestions........I have to give credit to Joseph from IL for his fix of this problem (thanks Joseph)........I bought various diameter Cleve pins (machine screws will work as well, these Cleve pins are smooth so they sit flush and won't scratch the arms) to slide into the tilt slot to limit it's motion.......They have to be at least 2" long to pass all the way through.....I tried 1/2", 3/8" & 1/4" diameter and settled on the 1/4" as it had just the right amount of tilt. This is a permanent fix, granted it removes your ability to adjust the tilt frequently, but due to the difficulty to grab and tighten/loosen the knobs (the mount bracket gets in the way) and how hard you have to crank down on the knobs, I do not believe that you actually can use the tilt function on the fly.....you pretty much have to take the tv down, set the tilt and put it back up.......you can very easily pull the tv away from the wall, and rotate it side to side, but tilting is difficult........although, my thought is that you can set it and forget it on the tilt angle for the most part.......



The final issue I have is that after getting through all of this, my tv is about 1/2" out of level from left to right (which is really bugging my wife)......not sure exactly the cause because I know the wall plate is dead level (I checked it many times).........I believe it is a combination, of sliding the tv to one side of the hanging bracket to try and get it in the center of my built in cabinet and maybe the mounting holes on the back of the tv being a little uneven.......just not quite sure, but understandable.........I am now going to move the mount over slightly (to center it on the built in cabinet) and mount the wall plate to accomodate the amount that it is out of level.........kind of a pain at this point, but after all this I (ok, my wife) really wants it right........



Unfortunately, it is impossible to diagnose many of these issues until you actually have it hung on the wall........you really need the entire weight of the tv to be supported by the mount and see what gravity does. So, you are likely going to mount the wall bracket twice, unless you have a smaller tv on the lower end of the specs for this mount.......



Overall, my only issue with this mount is the tilt angle issue.....but that is very easily over come with a couple of pins that cost about $4.......I did have to adapt to my specific install and buy some additional hardware, however, all said and done I have about $15 in additional hardware and the initial cost was less than half of what a similar (with less features) one cost at Best Buy........this mount is extremely sturdy and well built.......hanging a 80+ pound tv about 2' from the wall is very impressive.......I would recommend this mount, for the cost and features, it is hard to beat.......Just thought I would pass along some tips to make the install easier..... - Wall Mount - Cheetah - Lcd Wall Mount - Tv Wall Mount'


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Waterproof Digital Camera - digital camera, waterproof camera


Just took the new camera on a white water rafting trip down the Grand Canyon. Clearly the camera met the specs for water tightness and shock ability as this type of trip had both. Pictures were of low quality, with little ability to handle a mix of shadows and light. Shutter is slow and unresponsive to the moment. In bright sunshine, or very low evening light, the lack of a view finder rendered most pictures a pure guess. Controls at the top of the camera for on/off and snapping the picture were too low a profile to allow for handling in tough situations. Worst of all was dismal battery life--only able to get about 100-125 pictures, while carefully turning the camera off in between, before battery was exhausted. Overall--very disappointing. Fujifilm FinePix XP10 12 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Green)

I got this camera to replace my previous underwater / shockproof Canon D10, which died after about 8 months for no apparent reason. When I got the D10, it was the only low-cost point-and-shoot I could find for light underwater use, which made it good in its own way, but the electronics and sensor and etc. were already a couple of years out of date on the Canon, plus it was really big and bulky.



I don't do serious underwater work, but do want a camera I can take out in the rain and occasionally in a swimming pool or to the beach, without worrying about it. Also with small kids, the likelihood of a camera getting dropped is high, so a sturdy model is key.



This little Fujifilm advertises the same kind of water- and shock-proof characteristics as the Canon, but it's a whole lot more modern in its features, and a whole lot smaller, which is great. I haven't used it underwater yet, but for everyday use it takes good pictures.



A few issues I have with it. One, the cable connector is nonstandard. It should be mini-USB, like so many other things - I keep a mini USB hanging off my computer anyway, and if I lose a mini USB cable it's easy to find another, vs. the Fuji cable which doesn't match anything else I own.



Second, the mechanicals are not quite as polished as I'd like. The waterproof cover for the cable connector doesn't seat well - it's very hard to get in. And the battery cover has a strange hinge device that was confusing to figure out and I fear will not last well, since I have to open it frequently to extract the memory card, because the cable connector is nonstandard and hard to reseal.



All in all I would still recommend this camera, and I hope these few flaws get corrected in a future model.

Took the Fuji XP10 out twice; once camping at Lake Tahoe and again at Kern River. The Fuji functioned well on the first outting, but started developing problems on the latter camping trip: moisture started developing in the lens area, causing photos to appear foggy. The display became disrupted, as the moisture that permeated the camera began to make it's way through the housing.



I sent the Fuji XP10 back to Fuji in hopes of getting it replaced, but received an invoice stating, "Water damage in camera not covered under warranty."



Um, no kidding.



The invoice also requested a payment of approximately $118 for an exchange of the same camera, with $100 of the cost going towards "labor"... Labor for what?!?! That's like buying a new XP10 with a little over a $20 discount over what I paid originally!



What's the point of marketing a "waterproof" camera, when it's not really waterproof and Fuji won't even honor the warranty to make things right? It would serve Fuji well to learn from other companies that unconditionally back the products that they sell, like Pelican Products and Strider Knives. Don't claim your product is waterproof, freezeproof, dustproof, and shockproof, unless you can back your product under warranty. I'm going to pass on Fuji's offer to exchange my camera for the $118 fee, which I can use towards an Olympus Tough camera! ;-)



As clean and compact as the Fuji XP10 appears, I will suggest to potential buyers of this camera to spend the extra money for the Olympus Tough series, which I am now considering. The Olympus Tough series may not be aesthetically pleasing as the Fuji XP10, but, like the AK-47 and Glock, the Olympus will probably work.



Buy the Fuji XP10 at your own risk.

I bought this camera for the waterproof feature, for beach and snorkeling photos. I took it to the beach and within 30 minutes it broke. The camera was never more than 2 feet underwater and it never hit anything. Water began leaking in the back display screen and the camera stopped functioning. Water also got in the front lens area and battery. Fortunately I was able to get the photos I had taken off the memory card.



Picture quality was really nice and the display screen size is large for easy viewing. But if you plan on taking it in the water I suggest buying a different camera. - Underwater Digital Camera - Digital Camera - Waterproof Camera - Weatherproof'


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Stovetop Espresso Pots - latte, espresso maker


Every family in Italy owns one of these machines. Here are a few tips:

1. In Italy this is NOT called an espresso machine, but a Moka machine. An espresso is what you would drink in bar made with a steam or high pressure machine with the crema on top.

2. Smaller size Moka machine tend to make better coffee.

3. Never wash the Moka with detergents, just rinse it under tap water

4. You've gotta use it often for a good coffee.

5. If you haven't use it in a while, make a weak coffee ("lungo") and discard

6. DO NOT put the MOka in the dishwasher.

7. Use drinking water. Avoid tap water especially if very chlorinated

8. Never compress the coffee.

9. For a strong coffee fill the filter with ground coffee and make a small cupola that slightly protrudes beyond the rim. Do not press down.

10. For best coffee, heat at very low heat. It's ok if it takes 10min.

11. As soon as coffee reaches the top, remove from heat

12. Do not let the coffee boil

13. Use good quality coffee, not too strong, medium grind (try Illy for a good commercial brand)

14. Sip while still hot, enjoy!



My wife and I have been spending a pretty penny at the local coffee shop, so I began looking for inexpensive home alternatives. Most of the coffee snobs claim you have to purchase a $200+ machine and $150+ grinder to have a decent cup of espresso. I turned instead to the frugal Italians. They did invent the stuff, afterall. My Bialetti Moka Express coffee pot came this afternoon. I was a little concerned that a $20 pot might not meet the high standards of the gourmet beverages wifey and I have become accustomed to. I was wrong. The brew made by this ingenious little pot is a little weaker than "pumped" espresso and lacks the foamy cap (crema) that all the snobs rave about, but mixed with some hot, frothed milk and a bit of chocolate syrup I couldn't tell the difference between Bialetti and Seattle's Best.



This rich brew comes from a tiny little aluminum contraption with no moving parts, no electronic gizmos, no pump handle and virtually no wait time or clean-up. You just fill, brew and pour. It's that simple. Its base only covers half of the stovetop's smallest eye and I expect it will be easy to store due to its diminuitive size. I've already had three cups of homemade mocha today, and I've only had the pot since noon! *jitter jitter* The point is this: If you're a coffee lover who is bored with Folgers from a Mr. Coffee drip machine or is spending way too much at Starbucks, the Moka pot is an inexpensive and easy-to-use alternative with excellent results.

***DO NOT OVERHEAT!***DO NOT OVERHEAT!***DO NOT OVERHEAT!***



There. I've done my good deed, and passed along the warning for the next person. Reading the translated-to-English directions, it's easy to miss this important cautionary note. In fact, it's not even IN the directions. It's written on the side of the box.



But fortunately, before my Moka Express ever arrived, I read another reviewer's cautionary note about avoiding HIGH heat (which can destroy the rubber gasket), so I didn't have any problem from the get-go.



And speaking of 'get-go' here's the deal. The FIRST time out (actually the second time, because the directions recommend that you dispose of the first batch), I had THE *BEST* ESPRESSO I EVER HAD. PERIOD. BAR NONE.



Using some Columbian coffee (that a friend had actually hand-carried from Columbia a few weeks ago), and setting my smallest burner (it's a ceramic-top stove) to just under "5" (10 being the hottest), the espresso that came out of this coffeemaker was INCREDIBLY smooth, and totally without the bitter taste that it can sometimes have.



If this is the result after using it ONCE, I'm looking forward to seeing how good it gets after I've had a chance to figure out the best combination of type of coffee/amount to use/fineness of grind/etc.



Also, for the price, it absolutely cannot be beat. The full pot yielded about six double-shots, so after just one use, it's almost half paid for!



I'm going to be drinking a lot more espresso. And cappuccino. And cafe-au-lait.



Oh well. Who needs sleep? It's overrated anyway! ;-)





-Jonathan Sabin



UPDATE... We put it in the dishwasher today.



DON'T make this mistake!



When we pulled it out at the end of the cycle, the shiny aluminum exterior had turned into a pretty ugly, uneven, dull finish. I'm sure it'll still work just fine, but it sure doesn't look as nice as it did before.



(ONE other review, among the 48 thusfar, mentions the dishwasher issue, but doesn't say why.)





UPDATE TO THE UPDATE... It's taken about 3 months, but a BUNCH of hand-cleaning has finally reverted our Bialetti to its former shiny state! It's STILL making the best espresso/cappucino I've ever had! - Latte - Coffee - Espresso Maker - Cappuccino - Stovetop Espresso Pots - Bialetti'


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Garmin Carrying Case - nuvi 255w, gps case


This case is absolutly perfect for my Garmin Nuvi 255W (with room on both sides while in the case if you had a slightly wider gps, but fits snug for height). Much better quality than what pictures appear, and great for the price! (I paid 9.50). Nice and sturdy, and would definitely protect my garmin if I dropped it in the case. It is not hard like plastic, but rather has a synthetic fabric feel to the outside. This case would not fit any other cords, so if you're looking for something to hold your charger or stand/mount, this would not work. I'm just going to keep them seperate in my arm rest holder. Plus, the side pocket inside the case is perfect if you had any gas cards, coupons, or some spare just-in-case cash. It's a nice place to keep everything together. The zipper is high quality, and has a rubber covering on the part that you zip so it is more comfortable and won't scratch anything around it where it is being stored. The case includes a wrist strap (just like photo) and the ring/hook attached to the case to attach to the strap is sturdy and will definitely not break. Also, in the inside along the SD card holders flap, it has small elastic bands that would hold a ~4 inch-long pen/pencil if you ever needed a place to store one. Since it is usually wise to keep your gps with you when you leave your car (incase somebody were to break in and steal it from your car in a parking lot or something) having that pen holder is nice if you were to also include a shopping list in the side pouch. This is a really well thought out design for a gps case.



Overall, I would definetly reccommend this case to anyone I knew with a gps that would fit it. It is the perfect size (small, compact) and sturdy enough for protection. Great size for getting out of the car and throwing it in my purse to go get groceries/shop. Totally worth it, no regrets!! Compact Premium GPS Carrying Case for Garmin Nuvi 255W 4.3"

This left me wondering if maybe there was a better choice. I will say that the case holds the GPS unit, the car charger and the USB cable; as a matter of fact I think the case seems bulky (measures LxWxH = 5"x6"x3"). However, in spite of that bulkiness, I am disappointed in the fact that I have to bend the cord on the car charger very close to the charger plug, a notorious shorting point for an electronic power component, and it makes me worry that down the road I might have problems with the charger because of the way it has to be stored in this case.

I got this case on impulse when I bought a Garmin 255W. (Amazon is so good at promoting impulse buying.) The case is fine, and well made, as the other reviews have stated.



Trouble is, it's just a bit bigger than it needs to be to fit a standard Garmin wide-screen GPS (do I need those little pockets for storing 3 memory cards? not really), but it's too small to hold the GPS AND the car power supply cord. Just a little bit bigger and the cord would have fit in there.



If you bought a Garmin such as the 255W--you know that Garmin provides a soft fabric case, so if you don't need a semi-hard case such as this one, save your money.



Still, this is a fine little case for the money.

I would give this another star if it had a strap. It's a roomy case that is divided by a middle "flap". One half holds the GPS in a "holder" (think egg carton or jewelry case insert). This provides cushioning in case you drop the case. The other half of the case has a net that I use to hold the charger. No need to worry about scratches because the middle "flap" keeps the 2 sides separate. It's not sleek or slim and even with a strap, would be considered bulky to carry around.

If you ever have owned a GPS, PMP player, or even a cell phone, then you know how easy it is for these screens to get scratched! Even worse is when you drop them, most plastic digital devices today don't survive a fall to the ground, and usually will break into a million pieces. Recently I purchased one of those 4.3" digital portable media player devices, but it didn't come with a protective case, so I decided to buy this one for it.



EXPERIENCE: When I took the case out of the package, I noticed it was sealed in plastic. Once I removed the plastic, I was able to open the case up, which is closed by a standard zipper. Once I opened the case, I almost wish I hadn't! You know the smell you get from brand new shoes at your local shoe store? OK, it was that smell inside the case, only multiply it by 10. I say the smell is so toxic, one sniff of this case can leave you feeling mellow yellow.



However, the good news is, the case is constructed very well, its very tough, and very durable. The inside of the case is very soft, as to not damage whatever you have inside. They also include a carrying strap inside the case which you can attach to the O-ring on the outside of the case. This is kind of nice, as not everybody is going to have a pocket in their pants big enough to fit this case inside.



CONCLUSION: The main thing to remember here, is protection of your digital device, weather it be a GPS, PMP player, or cell phone. You want something that will protect the screen from scratches, and protect your device from a fatal fall to concrete. I believe all heartedly, this case does exactly that. However, its going to take a long time for the evil smell to outgas, so I would watch out for that. All in all, I give this a 5 out of 5. - Gps Case - Nuvi 255w - Garmin Carrying Case - Garmin Nuvi 255w'


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Great Camp Stove - camping stove, cookware


We have this, but with a larger family, it is really slow going. Doing a LOT of food on a campout with lots of kids and hungry people -- you'll be cooking for a long time. Go for an item with higher BTU's that you can just crank up and get it done.... With a couple of people, okay to use, but it does take time to even just heat water. Plan for heat it up dishes that don't need cooking time. Coleman Two-Burner Propane Stove

Just wanted a small reliable unit for occasional camping trips; it is very compact, throws out plenty of heat; Pros are good price, brand name. Cons: not being able to store the propane bottle inside the box like older camping stoves, and you need a match or lighter. Other pricier models have ignitors built in. I like this item!

This review is based on a very limited use of this product, as it is new and the need for using it is not great. The stove is nicely designed and easy to set up. The gas feed tube screws onto the gas cylinder and then into the right side of the stove. Because of the design, only the squat 16.4 oz. tanks are usable, though it may be possible to obtain an adapter and hose to run the stove from refillable tanks. The proper disposable tank will not fit into the stove cabinet for travel, so fuel cylinders must be carried separately. This may be a problem for those who need maximum compactness. The throw-away cylinders may be undesireable for those who are carrying their equipment into remote regions that have no trash pickup service.

The stove lights easily with a match or other device and it meets my needs for heat output. The stove was purchased to allow flexibility during the time that our kitchen is remodeled. It was also bought as a backup cooking device, should we have an electrical outage. So far, so good. Amazon was good to its word on shipping and product description.

We go camping 10-20 times a year and this item was one of the best buy I have ever made. It reliable and durable. The stove isn't a new model but works just the same if not better. Anyone looking to find a GREAT BUY this would be it. You will not regreat it. We didn't!!! =-)

This stove is lightweight compared to the rest of the line, easy to clean, gets the job done and it's dependable. It's only problem is that the diameter of the burners is too small, you can't use 12" pots, and it doesn't have enough BTU's to boil water fast. Listen, if space is not an issue, get the Coleman 2 Burner Powerpack Stove. It's a couple of dollars more than this stove. It's quite a bit larger than this stove, and it's as nice as cooking on a gas stovetop at home. You can boil tons of water quick, saute calamari or scallops while you're camping if you're so inclined, or make pancakes for a mob of people on your Lodge Reversable Grill/Griddle. There's some trips I use a single burner backpack stove, and then the rest of the time I'm eatin' homefries and cheese omelette's. You could cook chicken marsala with portobello mushrooms and sage on the Powerpack stove. The stove I'm reviewing is a great stove, just not for a family.

I purchased this stove because of the frequent power failures we have had the last two months. This stove cooks food faster than our electric stove and has paid for itself by us not having to go out to eat. It is easy to use and gives us comfort knowing it is available should we need it.

We have had this camping stove for at least five years and it always works well. Never had a problem with it,

cooked all kinds of meals on it and it is easy to use. A must have item for family style camping.

My wife and I bought this stove a few years ago for a camping/hiking trip to Baxter State Park in Maine. I'd never used a portable stove before. With this product, we ate well. Pans got very hot quickly; meat was wonderfully seared. As advertised, water boiled amazingly fast - the second season we used it, in cool to cold late fall northern Maine temperatures. The dual burners allow for meals beyond canned food, and the wind shields work. The only weakness, that Coleman should fix, is that if the stove is not exactly on the level (rare at mountain campsites), pots and pans tend to slide off the burner, requiring finicky positioning or a non-burning implement to keep them in place. Still - a great product at a good price.

A newbie to this whole camping scene although when it came to this stove, I actually looked like I knew what I was doing! Did purchase a portable table designed for this stove so cooking on uneven ground was not a problem.



We did the coffee percolater gizmo in the morning and it boiled 9 cups of coffee in 7 minutes...faster than my drip coffee maker.



Very pleased. Again, being new at this maybe I impress to easily although I would say this stove was worth the money. - Camping Stove - Cookware - Camp Stoves - Coleman'


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Garmin 1490t - garmin 1490t, 1490t


I received the 1490T on Tuesday evening and downloaded all the updates and new maps. I paired it with my Bluetooth phone and left it to charge overnight. On Wednesday we left Central Florida for the Panhandle and the 1490T worked flawlessly - this GPS was really terrific and we played with most every function. I turned it off and put it in the center console to keep it safe and left it overnight. Got it out and plugged it in the next morning and the screen flashed white then the Garmin name appeared - that is where it sits today. YES, I tried resetting the unit, turned it off and on and with and without the power adapter plugged in. Nothing works - it comes on and flashes a white screen and then the word "garmin" on the screen and it sits there. We made the trip back home without this amazing GPS and were just totally dissappointed. It was so nuch fun using it going up..

This was my 2nd Garmin in 1 week to go bad. I purchased a 265WT last week but the bluetooth would shut the gps down when it engaged. I obtained a RMA from Amazon as I decided to just go ahead and jump up to the latest feature rich unit (the 1490T). I previouslly owned a Magellan Crossover for the past 4 years and it is still running great but I wanted to upgrade and add the bluetooth. It appears that even though Garmin is gaining market share, they have sacrificed their quality to hold profits. I am going to try again with another 1490T as we did really love it but we are concerned over the Garmin GPS quality.

UPDATE - 06-02-2010

I received an email from Garmin support who offered the following (Thank you for contacting Garmin International, I am sorry to hear that this has happened. Your GPS will require warranty service. Please return your device to the address below ---- Once we receive your GPS Unit and check it into the system, you will receive it back in approximately 10 - 14 days. For most units, the device will be exchanged for a newly overhauled device)



YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!! Ship, at my cost to Garmin, wait 10-14 days and get an "overhauled" unit back. After only 5 hours of use on a brand new unit??????????? I'm not a happy camper with Garmin!



NOW - Amazon on the other hand emailed me a return shipping label to send my dead gps back to them and they sent me a brand new NUVI 1490T (overnight) at the same time. AS I am writing this I am already updating my new unit. Amazon is GREAT - Garmin's customer service policy sucks.. (and this was over the Memorial day weekend - WOW)



June 23, 2010 - followup

I've been using the 1490T on a regular basis now and it is working just great. Everything is working including the traffic information updates. I have seen the occasional advertising from the fm traffic receiver but the messages are totally out of the way and cause no problems at all. this is a really terrific GPs and we continue to love it. I downloaded additional POI including the speed and red light cameras. Very nice feature and lets you know in plenty of time to be careful.

Although I love this unit I still harbor negative feelings toward Garmin and their customer service policy.



UPDATE 07-08-10

I received an email from Garmin telling me that I had to download a 'MANDATORY" free update. This update is to fix the previous problem I had on the first unit I had received. I followed the instructions, the download went fine and the new version was updated to 4.40. I disconnected the unit from the computer and the 1490T will no longer run. It is dead as a door nail. I have tried everything but it will not respond at all..



I am again returning this Garmin 1490T to Amazon but for a full refund this time. This Garmin 1490T and Garmin support is the worst there is.

quote---

Here is what Garmin says - Please allow 10-14 days for the repair and return of your device.



We know our customers rely upon their Garmin GPS device(s), especially during the summer travel season, and we regret any inconvenience this situation may have caused. We are committed to developing products that are known for their quality and reliability and will continue to work diligently to earn the trust of our customers..

endquote ---

Garmin has pissed on this customer one two many times. Garmin nuvi 1490T 5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with nuMaps Lifetime

I recently purchased the Garmin 1490T to take on vacation, I updated the maps (I purchased the lifetime updates) an was ready to go. After traveling 40 miles on a 700 mile trip we passed by an airport and the garmin froze, it would not turn off or do anything. After the battery ran out, we plugged into the power source and tried to reboot, but if froze each time at the loading maps screen. e-mailed Garmin and 2 days later they responded an told me how to do a reset, that didn't work. I also tried to hook up to the computer and it was not recognized. Garmin said I would have to return to have it repaired. I did not purchase a repaired garmin. so I returned to Amazon for a new replacement, hope this one works, it has all the features I wanted. - Garmin 1490t - Bluetooth Gps - 1490t - Nuvi 1490t'


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Milwaukee 18v Lithium-ion - milwaukee, battery packs


Great battery! I bought this specifically for my job site radio (2790-20), but recently purchased a cordless sawzall and will be using it for the sawzall as well. Additionally, I have two XC batteries that came with my hammer drill (2602-22) and impact driver (2650-22). These batteries last a loooooong time for almost all applications; it seems like each battery will last for several hours doing even mid-level work. So far, the only time that the battery completely drained on me while I was working was when I used my drill to mix concrete (using an attached paddle for mixing concrete in a bucket).



As far as the weight, it's really not that bad and you get used to it quickly. I have used the 18V compact li-on batteries, which are great, but half the amperage; this battery is 2.8 amps and the compact is 1.4. Additionally, if you buy this retail at Home Depot, you're paying $120 + tax versus the $75 here. Totally worth it.



Now comes my critique. I absolutely loooooove Milwaukee, but they really should have taken a lesson from DeWalt: Their Ni-Cad and Li-On batteries are not "backwards compatible" with each other, that is, you HAVE TO USE the respective battery with its respective tool. Even worst, certain tools REQUIRE the XC M18 battery and cannot be powered by the compact M18 (for example, the cordless sawzall [2620-20]). To me, Milwaukee should have made every battery--from Ni-Cad to Li-On, and regardless of XC/compact or voltage--compatible with every tool and charger, but they didn't . . . so yeah. The good thing about purchasing this battery from the get-go is that it can be used on all of Milwaukee's M18 series tool line, whereas the compact M18 cannot.



As for charging, it's pretty reasonable. If it only has one bar left on the fuel gauge, I find that it takes anywhere from 30 to 50 minutes to charge. I called Milwaukee about leaving the battery charging overnight, and they said that it's not an issue with these batteries--a sigh of relief for those of us used to older batteries with "battery memory."



I would highly recommend this battery, but KNOW if the tool you intend to use it on is compatible with it. Again, Milwaukee's Ni-Cad tools are NOT compatible with their Li-On batteries, and vice versa. Know your line of Milwaukee cordless tools before purchasing. Milwaukee 48-11-1828 High-Capacity 18-Volt Battery Pack

I purchased a couple of these batteries with a four tool combo kit. While the tools seem to be solid and comfortable, the batteries are bit of a disappointment. Why would Milwaukee downgrade the amperage of their batteries from the V18's 3 amp to the M18's 2.6 amp? When Makita has set the benchmark @ 3 amps, it seems foolish to offer anything less. This wouldn't really bother me that much, after all it is only about 14% less, but Milwaukee went out of their way to obscure this fact. Nowhere on their website does it state the amperage for these and the battery itself only gives it's rating in watts, on the bottom in very small writing, 47 watt hours. Not a good way to treat your base who loved the V18 batteries, only to see that line discontinued. I gave it three stars because I think these batteries will probably live up to their expectations, mostly, but feel like I got tricked into buying something that's not equivalent to Makita's LXT, and that is who they are chasing after, IMH0.

I have a multi-tool M18 kit along with three of these M18 XC batteries. They've been used and abused my me and all my helpers while building a house. The tools have been dropped and kicked around at times, and I've cringed as I've watched tools fall and direct hits taken by the batteries. The little Milwaukee circular saw took a 15' plunge (a new table fixed it) and the battery had a ding indicating it had taken a hit also. I saw the drill/driver take two direct hits. To no avail. They all still lock on properly, they all work properly, they all recharge very quickly.



They've been drained to nothing, or been run for just a little bit then topped off. It seems to make no difference, as they all seem to be running tools just about the same duration after one year of use. The little 1/4" impact driver has seen an insane amount of screws, thousands of 2-1/2" torx, 5,000 1-1/2" washer heads, 250 7" torx lags, 500 5" torx lags, and on and on (that little Milwaukee impact driver is an animal). It really was shocking to see how long these batteries would run these screws before needing a charge/change. Tons of sawzall work, tons of circular saw work, tons of drill/driver work.



Only one trick to keep in mind during cold winters and subzero temperatures... The battery charger will give a blinking LED indication if the battery is too cold to recharge. This happened when we were pushing through temps around zero. We took the batteries into warmth each night when we shut down, topped them all off, so that they were all warm and raring to go in the morning. During the day we just put the battery in the charger (a warm area) and within a few minutes it was up to temperature and quickly recharging.



I really, really, value the Milwaukee M18 cordless line and batteries and recommend them wholeheartedly.

My 3-4 year old 18V compact Milwaukee drill had lost its effectiveness in the shop due to the inability of the lithium ion batteries to properly recharge. Any suspicion I had about the charger's capabilities disappeared when I removed a new,freshly charged high cap. pack and plugged it in. Whole new tool. Major power increase and sustained. I was impressed enough to buy a second one and about the same time I acquired the new 18V right angle drill. Either way this new battery packs a wallop. Down side is the weight increase.

Already had one, needed a spare. Price at the local stores was WAY more than Amazon, plus with Prime I got it next day without having to spend any time or fuel on the road! (and no standing in line either!) - Milwaukee 18v Lithium-ion - Milwaukee - Cordless Tools - Battery Packs'


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Analog Interconnects - rca cables, video games


This is a pretty good cable. I use the cable for connecting my Logitech Speakers to my TV. The quality is pretty good, except sometimes when watching movies there is a little bit of static. I can tolerate it though since of course it is a really cheap cable and most of the time it does a really good job. PCD Basics RCA Stereo Audio Cable - 25ft (7.6M)

I was very excited to get this cable because I wanted my subwoofer to be hidden and I needed a long cable, but the second I connected the sub using these cables, I heard a lot of distortion, feedback, and noises. Quite disappointed!

Decent enough cable but it is subject to RFI as it is "unshielded" If you are intending to use this cable on any kind of a "pre amp" side of a system, DONT... it will pick up "hum and buzz" from any a/c source running anywhere close to it (RFI).

Purchase either "Shielded" cable or use "RJ5/6 coax with "compression" style RCA ends (yes I know the ends are $$ but the cable is far superior to the stranded wire)

For a gaming system? Not a problem in the world with this stuff, just not suitable for upper end audio systems.

Why spend boatloads of money on silly monstrous cables when all one needs is this?



The sound clarity is excellent, the plugs are solid and work just fine, no shorts, no problems.



There is something about these cables that seem maybe not quite as solid as they could be - but I don't need cables to be pulled out and moved and plugged in all the time. Maybe once every few years I'll actually even look at these things, so I don't think they'll ever go bad on me from that. If you're thinking of buying these because you're a DJ or someone else whose unhooking and setting up equipment on a daily basis, I think you'll want a more solidly built cable than this, but for home use these are your cables.



Save your money for something that really matters - like the DVDs and CDs you like. Don't waste it on cables that cost 10 times these and that deliver maybe at most a 0.1% increase in fidelity; an increase in fidelity that's going to be swamped by the sound of your air conditioning or furnace or bacon sizzling on the griddle, anyway.

The length of these cables is just what we needed for our components. The cables are not bulky and may affect durability but since we just leave them in place I think they will be fine for us. If you plan transport them around frequently you may need to look for some of a bit heavier quality. The sound has not been affected on our systems. - Video Games - Cables - Rca Cable - Rca Cables'


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Weight Lifting


When I initially bought them, I gave them 5 stars and wrote a glowing review. I happened to visit city sports recently and checked out the same gloves. But I realized that they were different from the ones I received. The ones in this pic and at city-sports seem to have better leather and more cushion. But the ones I received were very basic. The seams are different too. I am wondering if I got something counterfeit now. I am working out with my gloves and they are ok but if you are looking to get the exact same gloves, you might be a little surprised when they arrive. Valeo GMLS Meshback Lifting Gloves (Large)

This was exactly the type of lifting glove that I was looking for because it matched the style of glove that I had previously. If this is the style of lifting glove that you are looking for you will find that these are an exceptional deal. After one week of use they prove to be very durable and offer cushioning in just the right places so you can focus on the amount of weight you are lifting rather than the toll that weight takes on your palms. I was also impressed with the speed of delivery. I am a soldier currently serving in Iraq so it was important for me to be able to have it delivered to an APO address.

I owned a pair of these very same Valeo gloves for about 2 years. At the time they were the cheapest brand of weight gloves I could find at a local sporting goods store. In my opinion, all weightlifting gloves are just about the same by design. They all have open fingers for gripping, a padded palm to resist friction and aid in protecting your hands, and a form of stretch backing for flexibility. The sometimes wide price range between the selections has much more to do with the quality of the gloves manufacturing than it does some new space age design. Weightlifting gloves take on as rugged a workout as you do. They constantly stretch under tremendous weight and pressure, and of course get soaked with sweat with every workout as well. Even though these gloves were used with every one of my workouts for a couple of years, the padding and Velcro wrist loop stayed relatively intact and useful. However I cannot say the same, nor are a fan of any mesh design in these or any glove. The mesh seems like a good idea at first since they appear to let your hands "breath" as you work out. But my own experience as to any breathing my hands were doing as compared to the meshes holding up over time is that the mesh started to come apart before even the first year was up. It appears to be strong and well woven, but I noticed it starting to fray after just a couple of months, and before a year was out open holes spread across the back of my hand. They still basically did the job for another year or so, but eventually looked and felt too ratty to stick with any longer.



It very well could be that my workouts were a little more rugged than others, but I doubt it. I am not an avid screaming weightlifter, but just doing some weight training to stay healthy. I feel these gloves, though very cheap in price just don't hold up and thus not worth it. For a pair of gloves that are just a couple of dollars more that do indeed seem to hold out for years, may I suggest The Harbingers 155 that I have enclosed a link to at the end of this review. I bought a pair of these after my Valeos wore out and they are still strong and completely intact after more than two years use. They employ a much more popular and durable stretch design for backing. They are very reasonably priced here on Amazon, and are very comfortable to wear and use. Excellent gloves all around that I highly recommend. One last thing, if you do decide to go with these Valeos after all, take heed of some of the other reviewers advice here that they do indeed tend to run small. Most men would take a large to an x-large in my opinion. Better to be a little too big than too small. The Harbingers on the other hand are more reasonably sized, and much easier to fit. Just another reason to spend a little extra and get some good quality gloves... Harbinger 155 Power StretchBack Glove (Black)

It is probably the lowest priced pair of gym gloves I have ever used. It gets the job done. A great filler item! Fit may be on the smaller side. I used to wear small on other brands, but medium fits me fine with Valeo.

pros: I got this many years ago and only now is it wearing out. Does a great job protecting my palm, ie the leather never wore out.



cons: One glove is bigger than the other. The fingers are too short. The netting on one of the thumbs ripped up after a year or so.



If it wasn't for the fingers being a bit too short, I'd buy another pair without a second thought . . .

Got these gloves as a gift and I guess you might as well expect the poor quality for the low price. The right hand glove is perfect. Everything is sewn that way it should be. The left hand glove is poorly sewn. Once I put it on, it looks like a knitted blanket with hardly any of the holes visible and doesn't fit my hand the way the other gloves does. If you're looking for lifting gloves, pay about 10 more dollars for a really good pair.

These are cheap gloves, so dont expect to much. Their leather fronts are pretty solid, but the back messing is pretty flimsy. It had already begun to come apart after only a few uses. You can still use the gloves, just doesn't look very nice. Another thing is the finger holes have started to curl in a bit (this maybe because mine are too big) but that can get painful when you are lifting heavier weights.'


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1080p - hdmi, boxee box


This seemed like more than the WD Live as it has a Browser, that was the reason for my ordering it, along with a cool, full keyboard remote.

Sadly the Browser is useless, slow and quirky and really serves little purpose. I was also hoping that one could assign a VPN to the box allowing access to streaming media from the UK. Which it doesn't.

It did pick up my network, but does not recognize a USB hub, so you are limited to what you can connect to the 3 USB ports.

My reasons for giving it 2 stars, rather than 1, are it actually comes with a wireless dongle along with an HDMI cable. Many other manufacturers do not include this.

It will not playback BluRay files, again a drawback. But others seemed to stream over my network without any hiccups.

There is so little information about this product, even on iomega's website, which is why I ordered it in the hope it would work with my set-up.

So in conclusion, it's basically the same as a WD Live, it has Netlfix, Pandora, Mediafly etc. So if that's what you want and it fit's your needs, then choose whichever is the cheapest !! But if you are buying it for the browser, better you opt for GoogleTV. Iomega 35039 1 TB ScreenPlay DX HD Media Player

First this is awesome player with huge I TB capacity.

You can dump all your personal photos, videos, movies, songs and watch/listen at a click of button. Included remote (mini keyboard) is good but it will take some time before to get used.



I tried with MKV, JPG, AVI, BMP, MP3 formats and it works well.



Sometimes it is struck but that is fine we can't expect powerful processor for less than $200. Not yet tried with Netflix.

But for web browser it is like basic only you can't read text as letters are very small.





PROS:

1. 1 TB hard disk

2. Runs almost all formats with Ease

3. Bearable starting and running speed

4. Can run Music and photos simultaneously

5. Include WIFI USB which is good if you are setting home network.

6. Included HDMI cable

7. Joystick (Player Control Pad) is awesome when you are watching YouTube or searching.

8. Can run for older TV's with composite AV cables

9. Pretty fast when copying files to hard disk. Copied 60 GB in 1 hour.

10. Good YouTube app - but some times alignment goes crazy - may be video issue.



CONS:

1. Provides beta web browser i.e., you can't play anything out of website which ruined my happiness. If it supports Flash it would have been instant hit.

E.g. can't play any video from CNN, CNBC!!!!

This reduces 1 point in rating.

2. Struck when it can't run file types. But "Eject" button is helping to move back to home screen.

3. Very very small letters when you are typing. Literally invisible. Just assume you are typing correctly! Could have been better if input window enlarges when typing.

4. No Zoom functionality except for photos.





Nice-to-have

- Could have provided home screen back ground music.

- Printed Manual atleast for some items like key board, navigation, home network setup.

- Lengthy cables like power cord, HDMI, composite cables.

Setup was easy. Updated firmware and connected via ethernet. Netflix worked fine, but what I bought it for was streaming video from my PC. Some files worked...but froze more than I found acceptable...others were not compatible - even though they were formats listed on the box (and Iomega's site) as playable formats.

The remote was horrible. Sometimes you hit the center button of the directional pad to select something, sometimes you don't - and it's MUCH smaller than pictures make it appear. I'm no technophobe at all and was really hoping this would work as advertised...sadly it doesn't. I sold it and await something better...though I'm close to going with the Boxee Box. I had thought about considering the Iomega TV with Boxee (settop box not yet available), but with the way this Iomega product disappointed me, I doubt I'll go that route.

If all you want to do is watch Netflix or load Divx files to the hard drive and watch them, this unit might satisfy you. Anything more than that most likely will disappoint...

The unit comes with a solutions cd that would not load.



I called customer support and they told me I had to download the latest version. I had already looked for it and couldn't find any version. The customer service rep looked for 25 minutes and couldn't find one either. He told me to just read the manual. Point being I wanted to see what was on the Solutions cd. I expect there is organizational software etc. I gave up and retuned the unit.

If you plan to use this for rmvb playback don't bother. even though it does play it technically, it is useless unless you want 20 fps even on 480p videos, and also you don't need to fast forward, or skip, which it can't do.



The only reason why I give it 3 stars is that playback of other video types are pretty nice, like m2ts from my panny micro 3/4. And also even though it doesn't say it supports .3gp files, it actually can play 720p videos recorded from my android phone, although not perfectly smooth, and that I had to rename the files from .3gp to .avi first.



online content I would rate it 2 stars, even though it does work, it isn't very practical even with the keyboard remote. - Boxee Box - Hdmi - Amazon Video On Demand - Boxee'


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boxee 1080p - hdmi, boxee box

Underwater Digital Camera - digital camera, underwater digital camera


Just took the new camera on a white water rafting trip down the Grand Canyon. Clearly the camera met the specs for water tightness and shock ability as this type of trip had both. Pictures were of low quality, with little ability to handle a mix of shadows and light. Shutter is slow and unresponsive to the moment. In bright sunshine, or very low evening light, the lack of a view finder rendered most pictures a pure guess. Controls at the top of the camera for on/off and snapping the picture were too low a profile to allow for handling in tough situations. Worst of all was dismal battery life--only able to get about 100-125 pictures, while carefully turning the camera off in between, before battery was exhausted. Overall--very disappointing. Fujifilm FinePix XP10 12 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Green)

Took the Fuji XP10 out twice; once camping at Lake Tahoe and again at Kern River. The Fuji functioned well on the first outting, but started developing problems on the latter camping trip: moisture started developing in the lens area, causing photos to appear foggy. The display became disrupted, as the moisture that permeated the camera began to make it's way through the housing.



I sent the Fuji XP10 back to Fuji in hopes of getting it replaced, but received an invoice stating, "Water damage in camera not covered under warranty."



Um, no kidding.



The invoice also requested a payment of approximately $118 for an exchange of the same camera, with $100 of the cost going towards "labor"... Labor for what?!?! That's like buying a new XP10 with a little over a $20 discount over what I paid originally!



What's the point of marketing a "waterproof" camera, when it's not really waterproof and Fuji won't even honor the warranty to make things right? It would serve Fuji well to learn from other companies that unconditionally back the products that they sell, like Pelican Products and Strider Knives. Don't claim your product is waterproof, freezeproof, dustproof, and shockproof, unless you can back your product under warranty. I'm going to pass on Fuji's offer to exchange my camera for the $118 fee, which I can use towards an Olympus Tough camera! ;-)



As clean and compact as the Fuji XP10 appears, I will suggest to potential buyers of this camera to spend the extra money for the Olympus Tough series, which I am now considering. The Olympus Tough series may not be aesthetically pleasing as the Fuji XP10, but, like the AK-47 and Glock, the Olympus will probably work.



Buy the Fuji XP10 at your own risk.

I got this camera to replace my previous underwater / shockproof Canon D10, which died after about 8 months for no apparent reason. When I got the D10, it was the only low-cost point-and-shoot I could find for light underwater use, which made it good in its own way, but the electronics and sensor and etc. were already a couple of years out of date on the Canon, plus it was really big and bulky.



I don't do serious underwater work, but do want a camera I can take out in the rain and occasionally in a swimming pool or to the beach, without worrying about it. Also with small kids, the likelihood of a camera getting dropped is high, so a sturdy model is key.



This little Fujifilm advertises the same kind of water- and shock-proof characteristics as the Canon, but it's a whole lot more modern in its features, and a whole lot smaller, which is great. I haven't used it underwater yet, but for everyday use it takes good pictures.



A few issues I have with it. One, the cable connector is nonstandard. It should be mini-USB, like so many other things - I keep a mini USB hanging off my computer anyway, and if I lose a mini USB cable it's easy to find another, vs. the Fuji cable which doesn't match anything else I own.



Second, the mechanicals are not quite as polished as I'd like. The waterproof cover for the cable connector doesn't seat well - it's very hard to get in. And the battery cover has a strange hinge device that was confusing to figure out and I fear will not last well, since I have to open it frequently to extract the memory card, because the cable connector is nonstandard and hard to reseal.



All in all I would still recommend this camera, and I hope these few flaws get corrected in a future model.

I bought this camera for the waterproof feature, for beach and snorkeling photos. I took it to the beach and within 30 minutes it broke. The camera was never more than 2 feet underwater and it never hit anything. Water began leaking in the back display screen and the camera stopped functioning. Water also got in the front lens area and battery. Fortunately I was able to get the photos I had taken off the memory card.



Picture quality was really nice and the display screen size is large for easy viewing. But if you plan on taking it in the water I suggest buying a different camera. - Weatherproof - Waterproof Camera - Underwater Digital Camera - Digital Camera'


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