Monday, 10 January 2011

High Definition - media player, multimedia player


More than I expected, for the price this is a great product, it has played every format I have in my external 500GB HDD with great video and sound quality.



These are the Pros I want to highlight:

1.Video & sound quality, this streamer supports up to 1080p and do it great, using HDMI cable the sound's great too.

2.Video modes, I like to watch my movies in full screen mode even if they come in 4:3 or 16:9, this device supports many video modes like: movie mode, subtitle mode, full screen mode, wide screen mode, etc, so no matter how is your movie formatted, you can always get your HDTV screen full.

3.Subtitles, I live in Costa Rica and although I'm doing OK with English I really like foreign films, especially oriental, and this device has no problems with subtitles, you can change position, size and even color.

4.Menu, it comes with a nice menu (isn't the PS3 menu, but come on), and I think the response time and reception from the remote is good, you don't need to be right in front of the device to make it work

5.Additional features, I just wanted a media streamer for the movies and videos in my HDD, however this device has some more features like Internet Radio, Picasa and Flickr access, UPnP streaming from PCs on your LAN, photo and audio files streaming, All of them works OK



And these are the Cons I found:

1.This device can read DVD .ISO images and load the entire menu on your screen, this is a really cool feature and it works most of the time, however I've had issues with some particular images, sometimes I can't enter to all the features on the menu, and sometimes it won't read the file at all, I don't know if there is some particular reason for that, maybe the software you use to make the image or something.

2.You must be careful when watching a movie to avoid touch the Menu of any other button on the remote that take you out of the movie because I haven't found any way to come back again to the point I was watching.

3.Don't lose the remote since there's no way to use the device without it.



Overall I really like this device, it's very functional, cheap and has cool features, I recommend this one if you're looking for something that do the job really well and is not so expensive. Micca MPLAY-HD Net 1080p Full-HD Digital Media Player and Network Streamer With UPnP Client and Internet Radio

Hands down this Micca MPLAY-HD Net has been the perfect addition to our home! From being able to play everything we have asked it to do and even more. Had a WD HD TV player and this blows it away when compared to what it can do and it actually comes with a FULL sized remote and many cool features. Received this item 3 days earlier than expected date!! YEAH! Easy to hook up and update the firmware (you have to D/L the firmware from Micca online and use a USB drive)Has media slot for card reader and that is so cool when wanting to see on your TV photos you just took. HDMI hookup and user controls were awesome! Clarity, ease of use and simple straight forward menu choices makes it so much easier to understand and find what you wan to view or listen to. Wow.. tried the internet radio features and this is outstanding! Hooked up to 2 usb drive (1TB and 2TB) and had no problems in loading and finding all connected devices. Playback was so clear we thought we had a new TV! You can also copy and delete files from the drives too! That is amazing! (wish it could read PDF files... maybe in a future firmware update.. we hope!) So much more to try out.. but as of now.. this totally is exactly what we wanted and more! Yes, we would totally recommend this to family and friends. (even those who aren't electronically inclined or device impaired!)

So far it's run all my HD and AVI files. Easy to use. The only downside, as some others have said is that the remote control is a little weak and you have to point directly at the box. Very happy with this device.

I got this product mostly because it offered internet radio. It works great! I just plugged it into my Cisco wireless router and the internet radio came right up. Lots of variety. The audio quality of each station may vary, from so-so to very good.



I have used the USB input and briefly tried the upnp server feature. They both work, but sometimes the Micca needs to be restarted to see them properly. Also, while I was able to play or view jpg, avi, mpg, and mp3, I was not able to see mkv video that was on the upnp computer. With both usb and upnp, you use the Micca to control the browsing.



One final note - plan to use HDMI to connect to your receiver. I first tried the component cables and the audio quality was muddy. Using HDMI sends digital to your system, and I found the audio to be excellent when converted by my Marantz receiver.

I bought this media player so that i could watch tv shows i record using my Hauppauge WinTV HVR 950Q TV Tuner. I got tired of having to burn the shows onto a dvd-r to be able to watch what i recorded on my TV. Its super easy to use! if you know how to use a DVD player you know how to use this media player. as a backup i had my universal remote learn the commands from the media players remote control



NOTE: DONT LOSE THE REMOTE! or you wont be able to use the system anymore. the remote is the only way to control the unit. - Media Player - Multimedia Player - 1080p - Hdmi'


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All In One Printer - ipad, hp


I bought 2 printers in the last 2 months both HP and both worked OK with the iPad , however it was a chore to print, many times it would print and others not.

Saw this on Amazon and love the Apple looking HP printer.

It was very easy to set up using just the iPad, not any other computer , took less then five minutes, love it, it has a straight plug and not one of those bricks,the look is very art like and it pretty quiet.

Love that the paper tray is hidden and under the front panel.

The touch screen was very fluid like and was easy to scroll, I have a hidden network and set up was very easy found my network in a minute.

The print quality is very good and it faster then my last 2 HPs both current models.



The bests thing it works flawless with my iPad, I can even print EBay shipping labels which I could not before.

I now feel complete without a MacBook.



Update.



I have been getting about 267 prints from a ink carterage which is good, printer can handle all tasks with ease.

Very happy I bought this printer, it looks stunning.

Ink can be found for about 14.00 each refill which is not bad at all. HP Envy 100 e-All-in-One D410a Printer (CN517A#B1H)

I purchased this model a couple months back and I find the scanning and printing functions to work well; however there is one bug which I have noticed. On this model, the control panel opens and closes upon power up and whenever you perform a printing function. The lid is suppose to close to the position that it was left at before it opened. This default position or angle of the control panel is manually adjustable to allow the user to manage the viewing angle of the LCS display. However, on my printer I find the lid does not always close or return to its "default" position. I have to actually manually close the lid.



The problem is intermittent. I did download the last software version to the printer but it made no difference.



Now, this is not a big deal because it is easy to manually close the lid but when I called HP support, I must say I was disappointed. The support desk engineers had no familiarity of the printer nor access to one and they did not seem to be interested in flagging this issue to the design team. I explained to them that the problem only occurs after printer and is intermittent, but never occurs when you first power up the printer. In other words, there is no mechanical or hardware problem with the printer. The problem seems to be that the printer software "forgets" on occassion what the "return" position is for the lid. I spent a few hours of my time trying to troubleshoot and share my findings with HP support, but like I said, their support team in India seems to be clueless or not well educated on customer service and problem management.



Now I will admit that HP did offer me the option to replace my printer, but I told them I ws sure the problem is in the software and I would end up driving 80 miles back/forth to the store and just end up with another unit with the same issue. Will see who is right once this printer gets out there more.

This is a gorgeous device in search of greatness. It is extremely well built, set up was easy, and it works as expected and as advertised. Print quality and speed in B&W and color is very good although I don't use this to print large format photographs. The scanner is quite good. The management software is simple and straightforward and the USB (hard wired) and network (wireless) can be individually adjusted. In short, everything works as anticipated.



I think with any multifunction device there are going to be trade-offs that balance price point, performance, and features. I don't think you will be happy with this printer if you want a quality photo printer but it has only one color ink source so that tells you something. You won't be happy replacing ink cartridges if you print reams of paper. I wanted a printer that didn't look like a NASA rover, had good print quality and speed, a good scanner, and wireless capability for a home office. This printer hits the sweet spot for my use and I would purchase it again in a heatbeat.



Why very good and not great? It has it's weak spots. The print delivery method: open door - tongue out - paper print - tongue back, door close. It needs a little work. The draft setting for color prints tends to produce only a partial page; I guess HP wants you to burn through the color cartridge or maybe it's intended as a coloration draft only? Software bloat is an issue but that's easily solved. I'm sure there will be other minor inconveniences but the qauality of the printer and scanner aren't diminished.



You can definitely buy a better multifunction device but at this price point I haven't seen anything that competes with this one. And it is a really nice looking piece of equipment. Good luck in your search and hope you find a printer that works as well as this one has for me.

I loved this printer for 1 week. I printed wirelessly to my Macs and ipad and ipod. Then the printer's internet connection asked if I would like to update. Stupid me, I said yes. It went into the HP death spiral and not only would not finish the update, but would never work again. After much time on the phone with HP, they offered me a rebuilt unit as a replacement; I said no, the printer is a week old and you can send a brand new one. And are you going to take down the update which destroyed my printer and many others (google HP Envy D410 problems and you will see)



I WOULD GIVE IT 1/2 star if that were possible





Never install the HP updates!!!!





I would add after dealing with HP, I just gave up----hopeless.



I love Amazon---full refund with no hassles.



I also bought amazon stock today and sold my hp-----eventually those attitudes show much about the company.



Can you believe they are still sending this HP "deathstar" update? - Wireless - Ipad - Hp - All In One Printer'


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Kindle 3 Covers - kindle 3 cover, cover


I read about these covers in an electronics magazine review of e-book covers. Had looked on Amazon for covers and didn't see these. Yet when I typed in Javoedge they popped up. Far superior to the ones in the recommended section. The Kindle slides right into the cover, no having to manipulate the metal fasteners. Strong magnetic closure. The best part is the easel design, even works on your lap. Nice looking faux leather- for $20 more you can get real leather, but I am cheap. JAVOedge MiMo Flip Case for Amazon Kindle 3 (Purple) - Latest Generation

I recieved this Javoedge flip case a couple of days ago and wanted to say how happy I am with my choice. I had this style in the Kimono pattern for my Kindle 2 and loved it so much. It too was beautiful, practical and well made. This new Mimo case is a lovely, sophisticated shade of purple and really compliments the color of my new graphite Kindle 3. It is very lightweight, well made and functional. I love to sit it on my lap and read it handsfree with the easel stand and have just discovered that opened, I can drape it over the front of my treadmill. The flip cover acts as a counterbalance to keep it from falling off and from that position I can read it as well as listen to the text to speech function on the kindle. I think it is the best choice of all the flip cases!

I've been using my Javoedge case now for about a month. I wouldn't carry my Kindle without it. I love how it flips open easily, and stands so I can read at the table or at my desk. My Kindle fits in it very securely, and everything is accessible. I bought one of these for my mom for her Kindle, and when my daughter bought a Kindle, she got one, too, in plaid. Highly recommended!

It wasn't easy to choose a cover for my new Kindle 3, especially since this was my first Kindle and I wasn't sure what style would suit me best. After having the Kindle for a couple weeks, I realized my Kindle needed protection, if for no other reason than to keep the dust from settling on the screen when it's not in use. I studied reviews, hemmed and hawed, and finally decided on the JAVOedge MiMo Flip Case. I love the fact that the cover simply flips open and folds flat behind the Kindle. I chose the MiMo because I thought it would be easier to keep clean ... simply wipe away any smudges, fingerprints, or dust. I was pleasantly surprised that I actually use the little "kick stand" to prop up my Kindle if I want to read while at the table. I love my Kindle and I love my JAVOedge Flip Case. They are a perfect match!

Great product, perfect for reading at the table....or virtually anywhere for that matter. Good quality too with extra pocket for your i.d. or other papers. Definitely made a good choice here. (and it was delivered withing 1-2 days of ordering to boot!)

love this case, easy to insert the kindle, and uses as easy as with no case. They didn't use elastic to hold the kindle in, but same material as the case. Didn't give 5 stars because I would like a light to use with it and haven't figured out which one to try. - Kindle 3 Cover - Cover - Kindle 3 - E-book Cases'


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Iphone - screen protector foils


This is a really good protection for my screen.

The best part is that you get six.

I got a couple bubbles but I think theres bubbles on

any screen protection.

You just have to clean it really good.

I would reccomend any one getting it. Iphone 3g\3gs Clear Screen Protector Covers

My experience with these protectors varied drastically from that of another reviewer. The two stickers on either side of the protectors come off quite easily, with no residue. The screen protector itself does a great job and sticks very well with no bubbles. The only problem comes if you have a tight-fitting case; you will have to cut the sides of this protector in order to get the case on over it.

First of all, it is advertised that you will receive 6 screen protector covers. I received one. Although it was not expensive, I expected to receive the amount of screen protectors advertised. I didn't bother contacting Amazon or the seller about not receiving all six because I only kept the cover on my phone for about a week before I took it off. I got fed up with the edges curling up and getting caught on everything and figured I was better off without it. You definitely get what you paid for, which in this case, wasn't much. - Screen Protector Foils'


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Weather Radio - weather alert, weather


This radio arrived (and was set up) two days before very heavy thunderstorms with hail and high winds hit my area. It was early evening and the weather looked sunny and clear outside, when this thing goes off for no apparent reason. I thought it was a mistake or false alarm, but when I turned on the cable weather channel the radar showed a huge thunder storm rapidly forming in the West and moving my way. It's very late in the Spring season right now for a storm like this and I wasn't expecting any harsh weather. I had time to get the cars under cover, find the cat & put her inside and bring in the outdoor furniture cushions before the storm hit. In our neighborhood, we lost some big limbs a few trees and some cars were damaged by hail. Fortunately, I had no damage.



The instructions are not very complicated and the set-up was much, much easier than that required for a VCR or TIVO. It has battery back-up in case the power goes off and doesn't take up a lot of space on the night stand or dresser. Also, you can program which alerts you want to hear and limit the alerts to those applicable to only the County you live in. This really cuts down on unnecessary alarms. For example, though we are in an area that can have flash floods, I don't need this warning because I don't go out in heavy rain or flooding anyway. A warning about a storm only is sufficient. I think I might get this radio as a gift for some elderly friends and relatives of mine. It's a good and very unobtrusive watchdog. First Alert Public Alert Radio with S.A.M.E

This radio can be programmed not to sound alerts which are unimportant to me. For example, I don't want to hear flash flood warnings as I am not in an area prone to flooding. Basically, what I really want are tornado warnings when issued for three specific counties in Tennessee and one county in Kentucky. This radio can do that. (There are some alerts which cannot be blocked, but these are rare, for example a chemical hazard warning.)



The radio is fairly easy to program. It took me about 30 minutes to get everything the way I wanted it. It runs on AC power and has backup power provided by 4 AA batteries (not included). Overall, I rate this as a very effective, well-designed product, and I have just purchased some additional units for friends.

This little unit is easy to set up and has the SAME functionality which is important to me since I didn't want to hear warnings for places that weren't near to me. Other units I looked at had extra options like AM/FM radio but I didn't need those features. I just wanted something that would wake me up if a tornado was coming my way. This will warn you of many other things and you can set what you want to be notified about. Follow the instructions, it's pretty easy. It also will take rechargeable NiMH or Ni-Cad batteries and keep them charged. Or, you can switch it to accept Alkaline. The battery backup is important to have. Great unit, no complaints.

Let's get to the point. What you want in a weather radio is for it to work when it's supposed to and be easy to set up. This one does that. I have programmed a Midland WR-300 for my In-Laws, and it was a long winded pain. They still can't figure out how to use it. I own an Oregon Scientific WR-103... an equal P.I.T.A. to set up, and you can't shut off the weekly test siren, which is an irritant to us day sleepers. You also can't mute the frigging beeps each time a button is pressed. Surely someone can come up with a more pleasant tone for this purpose.

Anyway, the First Alert is really easy to set up, and much more intuitive to use. I can mute the weekly test siren, and still the radio will notify me through the display if recent tests have failed. I can mute the irritating button beeps, and easily select which alerts I want to hear. This radio also holds your settings even without power, so you never have to reprogram after the first time. It has battery power in the event of power loss, and it will even charge the on board batteries when plugged in, alkaline or NiMH. You will appreciate that feature if you've ever had a radio that lost it's settings during a power outage.

What makes this radio deal even sweeter is that it's almost half the price here than it is at the Shack. Buy this one!

We really like this First Alert Weather Radio. We bought a Midland first, but couldn't get a signal no matter where we put it. We had a First Alert for years that was great and lasted several years, but we bought the Midland because at the time we couldn't find another First Alert. After the Midland mistake we searched and found this First Alert Public Alert Radio. We get a good signal and receive all of the alerts and warnings that we need. We live in North Texas and need a reliable weather radio for the scary Spring weather. I recommend this First Alert!

I've had the 'First Alert Public Alert Radio with S.A.M.E' for about two months now and it continues to surprise me - in a good way! I had been using an ancient hand sized portable alert radio for the last 8 years and this is a HUGE improvement.



Pros:

- SAME technology that works. Not being woken up for a severe thunderstorm on the other side of the state is priceless.

- When an alert activates the radio, the tone sounds, the alert plays, and then the radio returns to standby until the watch/warning is updated. However, a light continues to flash red or orange depending on the type of alert. This is a really nice feature - I have a dog that would be driven nuts by the sound so I always had to turn my old radio off when I left for work and then reprogram everything when I got home. I can leave this radio plugged in and programmed.

- Easy to understand features/directions as long as you read the owners manual (for me it took about 10 minutes total for set-up).

- You can deactivate alerts. I live in MN and am not all that concerned about Hurricanes. :-) The alerts I do have programmed function beautifully.

- Nice size. Smaller than my CD alarm clock and reception comes in loud and clear without the antennae up.

- You have the ability to turn OFF the tone that sounds whenever you push a button. Surprisingly, this was one of the main reasons I chose this unit over its competitors.

- Decent volume control - on the lowest setting I can hear the alert throughout my single level townhome.



Cons:

- While I like the size, I do wish that it was a tad smaller. This is just my personal preference (and a sign of how much I like it) since having it slightly smaller would allow me to bring it camping.

- The system stores several alert messages, allowing you to scroll through them if say you missed one while you were at work. A 'delete' button would have been very handy (like an answering machine).



Overall, I give the unit a solid 4.5/5 stars. It has great features (though I think there's always room for improvement) and it's a fairly inexpensive way to gain peace of mind. - Weather - Same - Weather Alert - Weather Radio'


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Hd Enclosure - external hard drive, hd enclosure


After seeing some very poor reviews to the $10 and $15 enclosures, I decided I'd "splurge" and see if $20 could buy you a good drive enclosure. I'm glad I did. Unlike the plastic enclosures, this model uses a very well-designed aluminum case, which will withstand repeated installations. It also looks great, as a bonus, and appears to do a very good job dissipating heat. (You can tell this because the enclosure gets slightly warm to the touch. Contrary to popular belief, if something feels warm, that actually means it's doing a good job of pulling the heat out of whatever is inside it and letting it flow to the air. That's why heatsinks get hot, and why styrofoam cups don't.)



Internally, the printed circuit board (PCB) takes up the entire length of the enclosure, and the drive is screwed on to it. This is much more stable and rugged than the cheap enclosures, where the drive simply gets shoved in the enclosure and attached to a small PCB at the back.



An additional benefit you won't find on other, cheaper, enclosures is that an eSATA interface is offered, allowing for high transfer speeds if your computer can support this.



The only problem I encountered was that the manual was completely incorrect in its diagram of how to install the drive, and must be referring to a previous generation. Other than that, I have nothing but good things to say about this product. Acomdata 2.5" Tango USB/eSATA Hard Drive Enclosure Kit, Obsidian Black (TNGXXXUSE-BLK)

First of all, the enclosure works; that's always a bonus ;) I replaced my stock 80 GB 7200 RPM drive in my Dell E6400 and threw it into this enclosure. Worked fine with just one USB connector. When I got my eSATA cable (see my reviews), it connected right up and it worked perfectly with my Vista Business x64 install on my Dell E6400; no settings changes, no configuration, just worked. The eSATA cable fit nice and snugly into the connector and the connection feels pretty secure.



I verified that it was using eSATA using DiskBench and got transfer rates around 55-60MB/s for a 1 GB file. Solid. Dramatically improved my virtual machine load and save times.



Secondly, as a bonus, it's a very attractive case. It's relatively slim in profile (barely larger than the disk itself). The ends are plastic, but the core is anodized aluminum. The only way this could be better is if it came with some rubber feet or some rubber end caps or something to keep it from sliding around.



I would definitely recommend this if you are looking for an eSATA capable enclosure.

My HP dv9500 laptop just stopped working, no warning...no chance to recover any files....I had backed up lots of stuff on cd's...but not iTunes library and my CD collection and lots of jpgs...empty feeling in the stomach.....fast forward 2 weeks....Blue Tango Portable Enclosure Kit to the rescue. It was expensive to recover data from HDD ......so I just removed them from the broken laptop.



I read the Amazon reviews, and was skeptical of the cheap USB enclosures, but this enclosure got a good review and was only $20 with the bonus eSATA interface......so I ordered it Friday from Amazon prime....and it was delivered Monday 1:00pm.....Amazon rules.

First off, the manual does not describe how to install the drive...it has diagrams, which could be clearer, but just follow them best you can and fill in the blanks. The enclosure was well made, all aluminum, metal end caps, the screws fitted well, and it looks kind of stylish in blue. Installing the hdd was a breeze, place hdd on backplane and push into connector, and secure to the (pcb) with 4 screws.....push the backplane back into housing (making sure to locate backplane in slides), replace end cap and tighten 2 screws. The housing holds the hdd securely...the connectors fit well....so I guess you could carry this around with a laptop.....but remember it doesn't have any shock protection.



Connected the USB....it recognized the drive immediately loaded drivers and explorer opened my old hdd....with all my files accessible......great..... I connected using a single USB connector (2nd USB not required).....I didn't measure the time but it found all the files (110GB) in several minutes. I will connect with the eSATA interface when I get around to purchasing a connector cable (eSATA cable not included in box..pity).

This housing and USB/eSATA enclosure is recommended, it works perfectly for recovering my data, and I will format the hdd as a spare backup.

The case is aluminum, which is nice for heat dissipation. 7200rpm drives seem to be OK in this.



The board inside is full length phenolic resin with high quality copper etching and green resin coating. The USB to SATA bridge is square with the board, well soldered, and without any residue. The eSATA and USB ports on the back fit the endplate and are snug on the board, with equally good quality soldering for the electrical and mechanical connections.



The endplates are thin, white plastic painted metallic grey. They are fairly flimsy, so you need to be careful when you tighten the screws down. Also, this would not hold up to accident nor abuse. It's quite a contrast to the bulk of the case. It would have been nice to have metal endplates.



The serial number sticker is on the back plate which is attached by screws. This seems a poor placement. The serial number should be attached to a part which is permanently attached to the electronics, or to a durable part of the case.



The serial number reported by the device does not match the serial number sticker on the back.



The USB to SATA bridge is made by Sunplus Innovation Technology. This is a poor performance bridge. Sunplus bridges seem to top out around 18MB/sec regardless of the type of drive I use inside. I have other bridges from other manufacturers which give me slightly over 30MB/sec.



PROS: aluminum, everything fits, good price

CONS: Slow chip, plastic endplates, Software serial # mismatch - Drive Enclosures - Hd Enclosure - External Hard Drive - Enclosure'


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Swingline - cross cut shredder, shredder


I purchased this for our small office group of two people to replace an aging Fellowes traditional style cross cut shredder that munched mounds of paper quickly and efficiently for the last 5 or 6 years. This shredder was returned to the seller because it is only good in concept. The unit is not at all quiet. Paper loads inside with ease, but the rollers inside the unit often miss the paper stack and shuts off and you have to reopen and reposition the paper to get it to start shredding. The top of the unit has a slot that allows you to feed in a few sheets at a time if you do not have a big stack, but this is virtually useless. The slot you have to shove the paper in is partially covered and the slot is beneath this cover at an odd angle (probably for safety to keep out ties, etc) and it is virtually the exact width of a piece of paper so you constantly have to fumble with the page to get it in. The unit is also slow. It literally shreds one page at a time inside. We used it for 1 week, became frustrated with it, and returned it. Perhaps for a home unit or very light office shredder this would work ok, but I think there are a lot of other products that are a fraction of the cost that will do much better for the small jobs. If you are going to be shredding 100+ documents spend a bit more and go with a regular shredder, you will be much happier. The little bit of time saved with this unit is lost on reopening and closing the unit to get it to work and the fumbling with the top shredder on single sheets. Swingline Stack-and-Shred Automatic Shredder (EX100-07)

This shredder is definitely NOT worth the money even at a discounted price. Being able to stack multiple sheets of paper into the bin and walk away is a great concept but frequently the machine either didn't shred any of the stack or only shred part of the stack. Fanning the papers helped sometimes but not always. Along with not shredding, this machine jammed frequently (from the bin). The single sheet slot is poorly designed; to shed individual sheets required the sheet to be inserted almost 3/4th of its length before it engaged the cutting heads. After struggling with the Stack-and-Shred for three (3) hours I packed it up and returned it for another brand. Save your money.

I just bought this as Office Depot since it was on sale and I had a coupon... so I got it for a really good price. I just got it for home use, so I wasn't sure if I would like it...but I love it.



The good:

- Put a stack of paper in and walk away. No need to feed a few sheets at a time... but if you want to, it says you can feed 6 at a time - but it seems kind of slow that way to me.

- It has all the standard features of shredding credit cards and small staples, everything you would expect from a shredder (but not CD's). Just use common sense.

- What I LOVE is that I just threw a bunch of receipts into the hopper and it gobbled them right up. I went thru a bag of receipts that I had saved up to shred and it only took a

few minutes. I had a big bag because it is such a pain with a regular shredder, but this was really easy. Don't know if you're supposed to use it like that, but it works great!

- Not too big, about 12" wide by about 17" deep and about 17" high.

- Seems to be good quality, heavy duty.

The bad:

- No wheels or rubber feet or anything on the bottom...just sits there on the floor.

- Does not shred CDs.

- Not the fastest shredder, but you can put stack of paper in and leave it.



I've only had it for a day, but so far I'm really happy with my purchase. I don't think I would have purchased it for the full price, but for the price I got it for ($120), I LOVE it!

I hate shredding as a rule, so when I found the swingline automatic shredder I just had to have it. I have put it through quite a bit of use for just having it one day and I must say that except for the occasional re-shifting so that the shredder feeds the papers, the machine is definitely worth the price. I am used to the mess that shredding creates and have not found this shredder to be any different and you just have to keep the vacuum sweeper handy to pick up what the bin doesn't get. Overall, I am quite pleased with this product, but I will definitely come back and review the product once I have had it a month or so. - Shredder - Paper Shredder - Cross Cut Shredder - Shredders'


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Milwaukee 18v Lithium-ion - milwaukee, milwaukee m18


I received this tool in the combo kit with the compact drill/driver, which I bought from Amazon largely for the drill.



I had originally bought the cheap Porter Cable 4 part Combo Kit from Lowes (Drill, Reciprocating Saw, Circular Saw, Light), only to have the forward/reverse control on that drill break within a year. I could still use it theoretically, but only for removing screws. Since I already had the batteries with my kit, I went to Lowes and purchased the bare tool Porter Cable Impact Driver ($40 at the time), and ended up using that for months for most of my work (hanging sheetrock, HVAC systems, etc). Eventually, it became more of a pain to pre-drill holes, or do anything with a bit that needed a chuck to fit onto it.



I made a couple trips to Home Depot and some other Hardware stores, and tried out the tools. I knew Milwaukee had one of the best reputations, and wanted something that was ergonomic, and used the Lithium-Ion batteries, and luckily the Milwaukee Compact Drill/Driver seemed like the most comfortable tool there, and it fit what I wanted. I went onto Amazon and bought the combo kit that came with the compact drill/driver and this impact driver, two compact batteries, one pocket clip, and the charger, which was only $200, compared to the same price for just the drill/driver at Home Depot.



The first job I had when I got these tools was replacing some metal roofing, and either tool worked fine, but I can't emphasize enough how important the pocket clip is if you're going to be doing roofing, framing, or sheetrock. It's also useful when you're putting up cabinets and need somewhere to place your drill. Unfortunately my kit only came with the one, so I chose to put it on the drill/driver, expecting I'd be using it more. Now that I've had the kit for almost 5 months, I have to say that was a premature decision. I'll be purchasing another clip whenever I can find one (I didn't see them at Home Depot) for my Impact Driver, because that's become my favorite tool to use for most applications.



I've used it for driving deck screws through TREX, and it worked phenomenally. I've used it with a socket attachment with 7-9 in. lags when I was attaching 4"x4" posts to beams on a large commercial deck, and it worked splendidly. I was going to be stuck with my socket where I was, and started off using it before trying the impact driver, and was pleasantly surprised. It did start to slow down when the lag got deeper, but it was still able to keep driving the lag while sinking the washer fairly deep into the treated 4"x4".



The compact size of the impact driver also makes it useful for crawlspace work. I use it often when working on HVAC systems and need to drive sheet metal screws into pipe. Perhaps due to the short length of the tool, it is a lot easier to control, and slipping has become a much less common occurrence. It's much easier to apply force in the direction that you are trying to with this tool versus a normal drill.



The only time when I don't use this impact driver is when I actually need to drill something, or I need more reach, in which case I use the drill with a finder driver, or a larger bit extension (tightening screws on the ceiling that didn't sink well enough for mudding, etc.).



Since I've gotten this kit, my boss rarely ever uses his Ridgid NiCad Hammer Drill/Driver, opting instead to borrow one of my tools for most applications. They're a great buy, but for most things, the Impact Driver is the most useful to have. It's more compact than the drill, and it's far more powerful. If you're using a good brand (DeWalt, Makita, etc), there's probably no financially good reason to switch over to this impact driver, but for those making the decision, I have had no regrets about owning this tool, and the exclusive battery meter on the Milwaukee M18 batteries just sweetens the deal. Bare-Tool Milwaukee 2650-20 M18 18-Volt Impact Driver (Tool Only, No Battery)

I have many of the M18 cordless tools. I can't sing the praises of these tools enough - especially this impact driver.



-It is truly compact - goes places the drill/driver can't.

-It is quite light - including with the full size battery attached.

-It has tons of torque, and has never failed me. It has so much muscle, my full size Milwaukee 120v. impact drill is rarely used anymore. The M18 drill/driver/impact plays second fiddle to this little impact driver.

-In the last ten months it has smoked through thousands of 2-1/2" torx screws, 500 5" torx lags, 250 7" torx lags, 5,000 1-1/2" washer-head screws, and lots more.

-It has been dropped, kicked around, and generally mistreated by willing, but occasionally clumsy, helpers. It keeps chattering away to this day.

-When it comes to fasteners, it is the clearly preferred by everyone that has put some time on it, and is now the first tool that disappears for tasks.

-The batteries (have three of them 'tween all the tools used) have been excellent and without fault. Fantastic number of screws driven per charge. See my other review on the M18 XC batteries.

-The trigger gives me all the control I would expect of a non-clutched driver.

-You get used to the forward/reverse switch location. Like it much better than the old 120v hole hawg location.



An absolute animal, and to think it was a "free" add-on in the Milwaukee kit I purchased. I would never have thought it would turn into THE most used and loved tool of all.

The only people that will tell you an impact driver is basically a drill are the ones that have never used one! I will never use a drill to screw again. I'm not a carpenter but my friend has a building company and he swears by impacts for screwing as well.



As for this specific tool, I switched from a Makita which did the job, but when the M18 line came out I had to have it. This impact feels much more durable in your hand than the Makita. I have both the compact batteries and the XC models and would recommend anyone to make sure they have both in their arsenal. The compact complements the size of this impact but for long drawn-out jobs it's nice to have the more powerful battery - Cordless Tools - Milwaukee M18 - Milwaukee - Milwaukee 18v Lithium-ion'


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Milwaukee 18v Lithium-ion - milwaukee, milwaukee m18 milwaukee Milwaukee 18v Lithium-ion - milwaukee, milwaukee m18
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Multifunction Printer - all in one printer, photosmart


Yes, like other reviewers have said, this ink does die out a little fast but that is understandable seeing as how it is a small ink cartridge. People on here are starting to blame Amazon for some reason which is weird. I don't really have a problem with this ink but I do have a problem with my printer. It tells you that the ink has died out and you need to replace it way earlier than you actually need to. Don't pay attention to your printer or the levels it shows on your HP ink level chart on your computer. Don't change it until the actual ink starts to fade on your prints. HP 564 Black Ink Cartridge

The HP 564 Original Black is really inexpensive to buy. In addition, they do a fairly decent job of printing. However, I seem to be replacing these cartridges way, way too often. I am experiencing roughly 50-75 prints before the printer tells me it's time to replace the cartridge. HP advertizes up to 250 yield. I'm getting nowhere near that claim.



Overall, this product is horrible.



And, I refuse to purchase the more expensive "XL" version (3-4 times the cost of the non-"XL" version), even though HP claims they last 3-4 times longer than the original. HP advertizes up to 800 yield on these "XL" versions. I don't believe their first claim of 250 yield, so what makes you think I will believe their second claim.

You've heard it before I'm sure. HP Vivera is great ink, vibrant colors, nice skin tones, pretty decent blacks.. But if you are an occasional printer - maybe do a batch of photos once a month or so, go with the smaller (not the XL) cartridges. The XL's will actually time out before they run out. You're better off buying more of the smaller carts.



December 2010 UPDATE: I'm not sure if it's a direct result of the class action suit against HP for their approach to expiring these cartridges or what - but the way that they report their remaining qty and expiration has changed. Now when the cartridge reports its remaining ink, it says that it's an estimate - based on the amount of time you've had the cartridge installed. Now it allows you to print even if it "estimates" that one of your carts is empty. This has solved the problem for me when I would print a dozen pages of black text and then a month later it would prevent me from printing because I'm out of Cyan or something.



Bottom line: For my HP Photosmart C6380, this problem no longer exists. Thanks HP.

I'm amazed at how fast this new HP Photosmart printer uses ink in comparison to my old one. The colors are brighter, but are they deeper - no. I'm trying the XL ink now, and if the usage doesn't improve the printer is going back. With the cost of the ink, the fact you can't refill the cartridges, and constantly reordering, it's just not worth it. It hardly makes me want to upgrade even further to the even more expensive ink. Not real happy with HP right now. Had my old printer for 4 years and very pleased with it, it just couldn't handle the Vista upgrade, so in their planning, you have to purchase new...Not better.

I purchased a HP 6380 printer last January & although I am reasonably happy with the print quality & ease of use, the output from the ink cartridges is abysmal. A standard HP 564 black ink cartridge is supposed to produce 250 sheets (according to the information on the box) I have been getting 35-50 sheets of standard text (no block color printing). I have spent considerably more than the original purchase price in the last 10 months alone on ink for what I consider to be light home use. Needless to say, I will not be buying an HP printer again in the future.

Ink uses up too fast. On the first day I installed the cartridge, I haven't even printed anything out yet, but the printer, after moving its cartridges around, already used up about 40% of the ink. Within a month I had to buy new ink cartridges again.

Used the 564black that was shipped with my printer. Even with below average printing (occasional) and always using fast-economical prints, the printer now says I am very low on ink! I am going to let it drain all the way until it prints no more. In any case, I can understand that this being a small cartridge and all, but its not worth wasting so much plastic to house such a micro sized ink. I dont know what HP achieves by these low volume cartridges (other than being able to ship a cartridge with the printer).

I agree with some of the other comments that this ink cartridge runs out very very fast. We only use the fast draft mode for efficient ink use and yet despite being a smaller cartridge, proportionately we get very few prints out of a cartridge in comparison to our old HP printer. This seems to have been the trend as HP keeps making the printers less expensive and finding ways to get you to spend more money on the ink. I'm going to seriously rethink my next HP printer purchase and likely opt for a different brand despite having been relatively happy with my last 6 HP printers over two decades. I hope someone from HP takes notice - their short term gain and ink business had gone too far and will be a long term loss of previously loyal customers. - Inkjet Cartridges - Photosmart - Hewlett-packard - All In One Printer'


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Ipod Nano - nike plus, nike


I'm usually somewhat jaded when I see technology, and I was skeptical this would be much better than an equivalent $10-15 pedometer. However, Apple has once again proven that details matter.



I bought this for my wife (forget about having to have Nike+ shoes - it works fine slipped into laces or in a shoe wallet). She plugged it into her first-gen (1G) Nano, and instantly the Nike+ menu option appeared. There's a little calibration that has to be done, but once you get going, it's just neat. You can specify your workout type (distance, duration, just go), and then select a playlist (or shuffle, or something else) and you are off!



There's even a built in voice that will give you a verbal run summary at the touch of a button (and at scheduled intervals).



I run with a fourth-gen (4G) big (disk) iPod, and no, it doesn't work with my iPod. Too bad. I might have to get a Nano just for running - this is too cool, and saves the time off of keeping a running log - it keeps one for you, which you can upload.



Good:

-don't need Nike shoes

-works amazingly well out of the box

-easy to use

-neat features (like voice alerts about pace, distance, etc)

-ultra-light

Bad:

-only works with the Nano

-supposedly can't replace the battery in the shoe transponder - we'll see about that

-some calibration required Apple Nike + iPod Sport Kit for iPod nano 1G, 2G, 3G

First off this is a great addition to all the weekend warriors out there. It can help keep you motivated via the headphones or the internet (when you get home)



There are some minor things you should know about when owning one of these kits.



1. You have to have an iPod Nano, not a video, iphone, classic, shuffle, whatever... I plugged this into my ultra cool iPod touch and it did not work.



2. Put the disk inside your shoes tongue or get one of the lace kits. Dont buy the shoes built for this. (see next)



3. If you are not headed out the door DO NOT HAVE THIS IN YOUR SHOE! The battery will die and youll need to buy the sender unit (the red thing) again. If you run out to get groceries in your car make sure this is out of your shoe. Having one in your shoe and not having the iPod on will not save all your walking data.



Motion (of any kind even riding in your ash tray) will use up the battery! Take it out and place it on your dresser. Unless you live in a volcanic area it should last a long time.



4. Get a good belkin or other nano type running case. This will help.



All in all a great product. If you treat it well it is a great help for your fitness routine.



edit:

Just figured this out, if you use an ellipticle machine you can tape the sensor to the arm at the farthest point back. It is not 100% accurate but it does read fairly close. Basically you will lose 1/10th the run (or so on my em)

Hope this helps! You can check my progress: http://runnin2lose.blogspot.com

I can't say enough good things about this product. I got mine at Christmas and I love it. Let me start by saying that I hate running and walking. I find walking to be boring and running to be no fun at all. In the six weeks that I have owned this device I have run/walked almost 80 miles. I can say for a fact that this is probably more than I have run/walked (directly for exercise that is) in my entire life leading up to this point. I love bike riding and swimming but I can't swim at any time of the day and as much as I love biking you have to go so much further to get the same results and there just aren't enough places to bike near my house.



The main reason that this is so motivating is the Nike website. When you sync your iPod your information is uploaded to the Nike website where you can view great charts and graphs of your runs. It tracks your records as well (fastest mile, furthest run, etc.) It allows you to set goals (run 40 miles in 4 weeks, burn 10,000 calories in 4 weeks, etc.) It also allows you to challenge other people with this device. Well, my best friend got one for Christmas as well. He lives 250 miles away and we are already on our second challenge. The first was who can run the most miles in 30 days. The current is who can run 60 miles first. The website keeps track of your progress and shows you how far each participant has gone so far. So you can see if you are ahead or need to pick up the pace. It is great and makes you want to run further and more often.



I always knew I was competitive but I never realized how competitive I was! The other day I ran 7 miles (further than I have ever gone at one time in my life) just so that I could get a good headstart on my friend!

Fun piece of kit but if you are a serious runner expecting accurate results there are some major flaws in the product.



1. starting and stopping your workout is not a push one button job - you have to scroll through menu's - so if you are on the starting line looking to do your best 10km and then the gun goes off, everyone will be long gone before you get through the menu's to start your workout. Stopping too is not simple - if you are just out having fun then it is not a major issue.

2. Accuracy - though you can calibrate the sensor it is not 100% accurate - typically my wife and I have both found that if you can get around 90% to 95% you are doing well - however that is a 1km or at least 500m out every ten. So again not that useful if you want to measure your best 10km time

3. Downloading to Nike has its problems too - you just need to read the forums to see how many problems people have with their best times not being recognised, not been given their trophies, distances and times not matching up etc. etc. etc.



Bottom line - fun for keeping a more or less record of what you have done - useless as an accurate log of your times and distances - Nike Plus - Ipod Nano - Nike - Ipod Accessories'


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Canon Rebel Xti Accessories - canon, 50mm


With the 50mm f1.8 lens available for less than a hundred dollars, why spend so much more to get the f1.4? The answer is, you may not need to. It all depends on your seriousness, budget, and how long you need your lens to last.



If you want a "starter lens" for shooting at 50mm (or with prime lenses in general), the f1.8 would be a great buy. 50mm is a very useful and intuitive focal length to spend some time with, because it sees the world at the same distance as your naked eye (regardless of your camera's crop factor). So you could buy the f1.8 cheaply, regard it as a "play with it" lens, and get a nice introduction to "prime lens quality." The f1.8 will seem like a substantial step up from kit lenses and most consumer-priced zooms, and amazing bang for few bucks.



So if the f1.8 is such a great bargain, why would the f1.4 be among Canon's most all-time popular lenses? It's that the f1.8 can take the great shot within certain conditions, but the f1.4 delivers within a much wider range of conditions. In other words, "You get what you pay for," and we'll save the best for last.



Affordable-but-Solid Contruction: The f1.4 will likely have a much longer life than the cheaper plastic build of the f1.8, and retain more resale value. It's an investment, rather than a commodity. And it'll be more certain on your camera and in your hand. (My first one finally needed some calibration, after 80,000 shots and extreme wear-and-tear from frequent swapping with my other primes.) Users sometimes report the front glass falling out of their f1.8s. For the f1.4, the main issues revolve around the Micro USM focus motor, which is not as sturdy as true USM.



Focus Versatility: The f1.4 lets your camera autofocus, and then lets you tweak further by hand without flipping a switch - that's called "Full-Time Manual Focus." The f1.8 requires switching back and forth between auto and manual focus. The f1.8 is famously noisy/buzzy during autofocus, has a bare-minimum focus ring, and no distance scale. The f1.4 will autofocus more reliably, especially in dim light, though it will fail occasionally when starved.



Resistance to Abberation: Chromatic abberation (fringe colors) and barrel distortion are evident-but-low for both lenses at wide apertures - that's "prime lens quality." But in comparison tests, the f1.8 is more susceptible to vignetting (shadows around the corners), halation (glowing around the highlights), and lens flare. For instance, lens flare within the f1.4 tends to be more tightly controlled - "in focus" - whereas a bright light source is more like to blow out the whole shot in the f1.8. All these factors improve when stopped down, but lag about a stop behind the f1.4.



Color: However, if the f1.8 catches up at f/8 to the f1.4 by many standards, it rarely catches up to the f1.4's saturation. The f1.4 has "proper-to-strong" color richness at all but the widest apertures, while the f1.8's shots are much more likely to require postwork. (I do, however, get better saturation from my 24mm f2.8 and 100mm Macro f2.8. The 50 f1.4's saturation seems good-not-great by comparison.)



"Headroom": The engineering of both lenses lets you choose the tradeoff between "most possible light" or "most possible clarity." It's by design that you can choose "more light for less crisp," or stop down for sharpness. *Samples vary*, but the average 50mm f1.4 should consistently "get down to sharp" more quickly, "sharp enough" by f/2.0, "very very sharp" by f/2.8 (often exceeding the professional 24-70mm f2.8 L when wide open), and delivering "unreal sharp" by f/4. (I saw insane "specks of mascara sharpness" at f/3.5 from my first f1.4.) Again, the f1.8 will probably lag about a stop behind that curve.



My second 50mm f1.4 performed even better than my first, right out of the box, "marginally sharp" at f/1.4 and increasingly beyond reproach by f/1.8-2. (At f/1.4-1.6, it suffers only from halation and some light fall-off in darker areas.) So if extreme sharpness is necessary for you, shop with a strategy that will let you return your lens or get it calibrated if not up to your needs. My guess is that my first one was more typical out of the box, but it approached the performance of the second after calibration.



(It's also worth noting that the premium-priced 50mm f1.2L is drastically more sharp (and better performing generally) at wide apertures, but *less* sharp at f/2.8 through f/8. The f1.4 is a better "walkaround" performer than the f1.2L lens that costs four times as much.)



Regarding light return specifically, my own experience in lens-swapping baffled me, until I read other reports that the f1.4 exposes a third of a stop brighter than most other Canon lenses. It's brighter in the viewfinder generally, and really IS a whole stop "faster" than the f1.8 at maximum apertures (i.e., the same net exposure at half the shutter speed). If you're willing to sacrifice some clarity, that extra stop can make a huge difference when you're challenged by moving targets in low light.



(For instance, shooting "wide open" for performers in dim venues. Faster shutter for less motion blur. More light for better color. And the edges may be soft at 100% magnification, but *relatively* clear compared to the out-of-focus background. That "illusion of clarity" isn't as likely to print very well, but resizes very snappily for the web.)



So the f1.8 can certainly produce some stunning images, particularly in general daylight photography OR tightly-controlled conditions OR stopped down, but is less adaptable to challenging circumstances that the f1.4.



"The Best for Last...":



Now, with both these lenses, you get the advantage of marvelously wide aperture, which can be used for a tight focal plane that lets the background (or foreground distractions) fall quickly out of focus. This is of course a cornerstone of creative photography, and both lenses give you plenty to explore. (In practice, even f/2.8 delivers a pretty shallow depth of field in close-up shots, so these wider lenses give you even more room to play.)



However, there is such a thing as "blur quality," called "bokeh," based on the number of aperture blades within the lens. The f1.8 has five, and the f1.4 has eight. The f1.8 will portray out-of-focus lights more pentagonally, the f1.4 more roundly. (In focus, those same lights will be eight-pointed stars with the f1.4, ten-pointed with the f1.8 - odd numbers of blades double the number of points.) But most importantly, the blur from the f1.8 can be rather "choppy," especially at wide apertures, while the f1.4's is consistently more "buttery smooth."



In other words, there's more to quality than sharpness - there's also quality where your shot is LESS than sharp. And this is where the f1.4 becomes "a favorite lens" for some people, even at over three times the price of its diminuitive counterpart.



Make no mistake, the f1.8 would make an excellent "starter" lens. But the f1.4 is an exceptionally *serious* lens. Are you still learning to love photography? Then $80 is a fine price to pay for a lens you might outgrow. Or do you already love photography? Then $300 is a worthy price for a true investment that will reliably pay off. So they're both bargains, just buy what's best for you.



(Addendum - Canon also sells a 50mm f2.5 Macro lens around $250. If you NEED macro, it's reportedly pretty good, and for general purpose as well. But it's a) not even as fast as the f1.8, b) more difficult to manually focus than the f1.4, and c) not as creamy in the bokeh, with six aperture blades instead of eight. And Canon's 100mm version is drastically more practical for macro work, and better performing generally. But the 50mm Macro does become a contender, at a "middle price," if what you really need is one decent lens to do as many different things as possible, though none of them as well.) Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras - Canon - Photography - Prime - 50mm'


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Kitchen Gadgets - sharpener, knife sharpeners


I purchased this knife sharpener because the price was right. I wanted a spare knife sharpener to keep at my camper. It will sharpen knives just as well as more expensive two stage sharpeners do. The cutters are fixed so you can't replace them. At the price who cares, buy a new one and save the aggravation of replacing cutters at $7 a pop.



This is a fantastic product. It's inexpensive, ergonomically friendly, and sharpens very well. Because it is both small and attractive, I can leave it on the kitchen counter beside my knife block for very quick, easy touch-up sharpening (use the ceramic slot for this purpose).



You may or may not want to buy an expensive electric sharpener to sharpen all your knives a couple of times a year, but you definitely want to have a Smith's Edge Grip handy so you can easily keep your edges sharp on a day-to-day basis.

I bought this specifically for some inexpensive "Farberware Pro" knives, for which it matched the factory bevel very well. I have not tried it with any other knives, but I imagine Farberware's grind is fairly typical of most kitchen knives being sold today.

This sharpener is not comparable to a stone or similar systems when faced with varied or more complex grinds, and is not going anywhere near the cleaver, for example. However, the carbide bits are very aggressive, much better than typical "coarse" ceramic sharpeners, and could probably regrind a knife fairly quickly. The "fine" ceramic rods are standard fare.

The grip looked small in the picture but, combined with the traction from the rubber bottom, proved comfortable and completely secure. Of the fixed angle, countertop sharpeners I have encountered, this is the best designed and I expect to replace it with same model when it wears out.

I have a small kitchen and just a few drawers. So, I need to save space, and this sharpener has the size that I was looking without losing quality. The first impression was that it wouldn't last long, but after 4 months it still works perfectly and my knives are always in the perfect shape.

THIS little thing works perfect for the price and size. My husband sharpens the knifes in the garage but I got this to have in the drawer to keep them super sharp when needed for a lot of veggie chopping and it works fantastic.

This is a magnificent little sharpener. As a former professional chef, I can honestly say if this product had been available twenty years ago I would have had one. When the blade dulls the work is slower and more likely to result in inferior cuts and accidental cuts. If you follow the instructions you'll have a razor sharp knife in about one minute. For the money, this is the BEST product for the kitchen I've seen in years! Thank you for making my food prep easier & better.

It was cheap so I gave it a try, turns out it's actually a very good sharpener. I thought the built in sharpener on the knife block was ok until I used this. You will actually remove steel shavings from the blade to form the correct angle with the rough side and basically polish with the fine side. My set holds the edge quite well but that will depend on the quality of knife you have. Definately will buy another for when the current one wears out.

Man, I paid 6 bucks for this thing and it might be the best 6 bucks I've ever spent. It's small so it can be tucked away in a drawer, lightweight and gets knives CRAZY sharp for how small and inexpensive it is. I bought one and had it sent to a friend I was so impressed.

Man, this thing is tiny! I don't mention that because it affects it's performance, I was just surprised, as it appears larger in the pictures. This sharpener performs well, with plenty of rubber coating on it for a good hand grip and good traction on the counter. - Sharpening Tools - Sharpener - Knife Sharpeners - Kitchen Gadgets'


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Replacement Battery


This charger is really cheap and works with my DV4 series laptop. It charges the battery and does everything a normal charger should do for a fraction of the price compared to the chargers available at retail stores. It also does have a light on it to tell you if it is on. However, it does have some major drawbacks. One, the cord is a bit shorter than the original. Not a big deal, but it is annoying sometimes. Two, when I plug this charger into my laptop, I can hear a high pitched noise emanating from my computer; this is certainly not the case with my other original HP charger. When I plug any of my monitors into my laptop with the new charger in, the screen becomes shaky and unstable, like it is receiving interference. When I use my regular HP charger, the problem goes away. Thus, this leads me to believe that there is a problem with the way the chargers are manufactured.



Even though the price was really good, it makes me hesitant to use this charger because I am afraid that it might destroy my laptop in the long run. I would say this is a good charger to use only when no other options are available. If I knew this information when I bought the charger, I wouldn't have bought it. New Replacement AC Adapter Laptop Charger for HP Pavilion DV4 DV5 Series; HP G50 G60 Series

I was skeptical with this being $15 cheaper than others but it works fine. I got a second one for work. Now I have one for work and home offices that I don't have to unplug. I keep the original in my laptop case for the road.



Only thing to be aware of is the cord is slightly shorter than original. It is not too short by any means but it is shorter by a foot or so. So if you need this for a lengthy reach then make sure you get an extension cord or buy something else.



Hope this helps!

Perfect condition, good packaging.

Not a whole lot to say, the charger came new.. you can't beat that for this price.

I prefer it to my original adapter as the one MoonTech shipped me had an LED display for when the charger was plugged in..

Thank you, good buy if you need a replacement.

I got this adapter as a replacement for my sons laptop 3 months ago. A few days ago it started making noise and overheated and melted! Good thing we were home, it would have burned the house down. This is a piece of junk. STAY AWAY!

THIS ADAPTER CAUSED MY LAPTOP TO SHORT CIRCUIT AND CATCH FIRE!



Just because an adapter is listed to be compatible with your laptop DOES NOT MEAN IT IS! I'm not an expert and cannot properly explain it, but a technologically capable friend of mine told me that the voltage of this adapter wasn't the same as my old adapter, and the difference caused my computer to short circuit and go up in smoke. And because this happened with a replacement adapter and not the original given to me by HP, my warranty doesn't mean a damn thing. So please check to make sure the voltage is the same, I'd hate for someone to go through what I just went through!



GO WITH THE SURE THING! I really wish I would have spent the money on one approved by HP! I TRIED TO SAVE FORTY BUCKS AND NOW I HAVE TO COME UP WITH 700 FOR A NEW COMPUTER! I AM SO FULL OF RAGE.

What I paid for, and expected, was a charger that would perform up to industry standard and last AT LEAST six months. That didn't happen.





The product is horrible. Charged the laptop just fine(although it did overheat) for the first two weeks, developed a short in the next week, stopped charging completely within a month. Even the housing around the innards was poor, the cords couldn't stand up to BASIC wear and tear. Do yourself a favor, and just spring for the expensive HP replacement.

i bought this charger amazed at the price and when i received it, it worked great for around the first month but then it stopped fully charging my laptop and now doesnt even work!! then i contacted the seller and they havent answered me so i dont know what to do because i have a 12 month warrenty and i cant use it because the seller will not contact me back!!!! i am sooooo dissappointed with this product and strongly suggest you DO NOT BUY IT!!

I purchased this product because it was cheap and I didn't do much research on AC adapters. Next time, I will be more conscious about what I purchase. Not only was I shocked every time I plugged in the cord, the cord would generate an excessive amount of heat. After only a few uses, my computer started running slower, and now over-heats. Upon further inspection by an expert, I found out the plug was not properly grounded (despite having a 3rd prong), and the amperage it was outputting was much higher than it claimed... thereby melting my computer. Awesome right?



Anyway, I have since returned this cord, and have purchased a much better one. In my opinion this AC adapter is a waste of time and money. For the safety of your outlets and your computer buy something else.

I ordered this replacement charger in October and it worked fine until last week. The charger began getting very hot and eventually stopped working. I actually watched it as it sizzled and made a spark. Now it doesn't work at all. I'm just thankful that it didn't harm my laptop or worse, burn my house down.



The price is low for this charger, but the risk is not worth it.'


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