Friday, 18 February 2011

Video Games - halo, video games


Skipping out on this game is doing yourself a disservice if you were a former HALO fan. I hadn't played Halo 3 in months because I was bored with it. There's a lot of content here and I'm glad to say this game is worth every penny of $60 and I've been very entertained. Yes, it's still Halo and "more of the same", but they've changed enough about it to make a new Halo experience, not just another rehash. ODST was a joke of a game compared to Reach and having owned it almost made me skip out on Reach.



The campaign spoilers will go at the bottom of the review.



I'll put in some of the major stuff I've noticed but I'm sure I'll miss a lot.



There's a new graphics engine and the graphics in the game are superior to any other 4 player split screen game I've played, and I make a special effort to purchase as many of them as I can. The graphics are certainly not Killzone 2 level, but very high quality. MUCH better than Halo 3. I was very pleased when I played the BETA that the new engine still plays in HD when doing split-screen and that it's split horizontally. The blood and shield effects are very well done. You have a night vision mode instead of a flashlight now, similar to ODST. The sound effects are pretty darn good. They finally made the sound of a grenade somewhat deafening. The music, as usual, is very well done and adds a lot to the experience.



The new engineering packs have really added to the game and are what really makes Reach a different experience. Your options that you'll find in the campaign are sprint, hologram, bubble shield(that also heals you), cloaking that doesn't work well if you're moving quickly, what I'd call an ostrich or turtle shield that turns you invincible but immobile and unable to attack and a jetpack. My personal favorites are the bubble shield and the hologram. The Covenant have a roll instead of a sprint in multiplayer.



The enemies are much more mobile and capable of dodging than they were in the past. I beat it on heroic and found the game to be more difficult than the past games, but certainly manageable. The Covenant have engineering packs too. They use the roll very well. There are a couple of new enemies/variations that make the game a little more diverse, but for the most part you've encountered most of them before.



There are new weapons. There is no dual wielding. Both factions have weapons that are very similar now, I suppose it made balancing the game easy. All the weapons seem more effective than they were in the past (probably explains why there is no dual-wielding). The particle beam gun is pretty neat as is the covenant grenade launcher. The rocket launcher can lock onto vehicles. There are some of the old goodies, but there's a new covenant needler battle rifle, a covenant multi-lock plasma/rocket launcher and a couple of other new guns. The battle rifle is single fire instead of burst. There's the awesome pistol from the original Halo. There are two animations in how you melee something when you're holding a weapon. You can also backstab/knife someone now and it shows a little cinematic of you letting them have it instead of them just dying in with an ordinary hit.



There's a health-bar under your shields like HALO 1. There's no red screen when you're injured either, just a red bar. This is a huge plus for me. It's the perfect system.

Customizable characters are a great addition. You get credits for every kill you make, and you can use those credits to make your character look different. New helmets, new kneepads, new add-ons etc. It's a great way to make people feel like they have a real in-game Avatar. As far as I know there are no benefits combat-wise to having new armor, it's just visual. This is how I like it. In Call of Duty games you have to play the game for quite a while to unlock all the weapons and upgrades and it gives experienced players an unfair advantage online. In Reach you should always have a level playing field, you'll just look spiffy if you play a lot. Your customized appearance is in the campaign and multi-player, even the cutscense as they're rendered.



Vehicles. The ghost has been nerfed. It was my favorite vehicle. I got a 27 kill spree on one in Halo 3 so I'm disappointed. The invincibility power ruins running people over. The guns on it are not all that effective either. There's a mini wraith vehicle that is pretty awesome, it can carry other people too. There's a missile launcher mounted to a Warthog also. The humans have the VTOL aircraft with side gunners again.



Multiplayer is where this game really shines. No games does online split screen shooter as well has HALO. The engineering packs/loadouts add a new dimension to the game. Sprint and roll makes the game much faster than it used to be. Not every game mode makes use of the loadouts so if you're a purist you've still got options. Some of the packs don't seem too effective on some game types but sometimes it's fun to just mess around. There's an invasion mode where you play Covenant VS NSDF and try and capture objectives. It's a lot of fun and a great new challenge. There are 3 more classes available with different engineering packs. I also played some firefight (like ODST, but with some new modes) and it was great fun. You can put a human player on the covenant side to make it even more challenging.

HUGE NEGATIVE: No 4 player split screen in Big Team Battle, the Campaign, or Firefight. I expected this for the last two, but Big Team Battle has always had this option. 3 or 4 players split-screen Big Team Battle was what I'd do 90% of the time I've ever played Halo. It probably didn't run very well with the new engine, and that's unfortunate. Taking this away from the game took away A LOT of value for me. I should remove a star but there are still a variety of other options for you to play. I still think the game deserves 5 stars but the loss of 4 player split screen Big Team Battle really hurts the game's playability as a "party game".



Negative: DLC. I was a fan of DLC until Bungie/MSFT disabled some game modes on my original copy of Halo 3 because I didn't want to buy their overpriced map packs. That's shameful. Charging $5+ for 3 maps is shameful. This game might be great now but once they release a couple of map packs the price of playing the full game goes up and up and up. If I lose game modes I'm dropping this review to 1 star. Matchmaking doesn't have much variety. There are more maps than what the playlist is using over and over. Of course the game could use some more maps but I'm not willing to pay much for more of them considering how easy it is for them to make a map with the included editor. Many of the multiplayer maps are in the campaign anyways.



Negative: The double punch in multiplayer, it's not as easy as it was in the beta but it's still how you'll die about half the time. I actually like it but I know it'll annoy a lot of people as sometimes not firing your gun at all is the best strategy.



Negative: Matchmaking still doesn't work perfectly, but the option to vote for different game types/modes makes it a lot more enjoyable.



Negative: In invasion mode the humans seem to win the majority of the time. This may or may not be because of their weapons loadout. The assault rifle is easier to use as the shots hit instantaneously and you don't have to lead your target like you would with the plasma gun.



Negative: You can spawn off of your teammates now which seems like a cool idea but I don't like it. One guy will make it past your defenses and then suddenly it's 3 guys. Spawning in mid-air and falling to your death seems to be a big problem now too. If someone is flying around they shouldn't be an option for spawning.

A few SPOILERS

The campaign is awesome and has a good storyline. There's a Spartan 2 (like master chief) on your squad. I liked that there are some indigenous creatures on Reach. It makes it seem more like a real planet. I didn't have to fight any flood in the game and for that I'm grateful, they're pretty lame. There's no Courtana interrupting you every 2 minutes either like in Halo 3. There is a space flight-sim which is actually really well done. It made me miss playing Wing Commander. The only mission I thought was kind of boring was one where you're flying around from rooftop to rooftop on a VTOL. 8/9 on the missions is pretty darn good. It was pretty interesting that some of the tough enemies could dual wield but it's not an option for you.

The voice acting is OK. Your squad is pretty cool and the cut-scenes are fun to watch and easy to skip. If you've read the books (I haven't) you'll know the ending to the game, eventually everyone has to die at some point. You'll probably like the commander and the Spartan 2. It's great getting to know your squad and then watching them bite the dust. It gives you a feeling of urgency and resolve to complete your mission no matter the cost. There were a few surprises at the end for me. I thought you were just trying to defend the planet. Apparently there's a greater cause. I appreciated that you don't have to put up with the Covenant storyline at all. You don't play the `other side'. The Covenant in Reach remain a powerful and mysterious enemy. Halo Reach - Video Games - Xbox 360 - Halo - Bungie'


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sidekick - tmobile, sidekick


I JUST GOT MY SIDEKICKK LX ITS THE BEST PHONE EVER I LOVE IT, ITS UNLOCKED BUT BEWARE IF U DONT HAVE TMOBILE YOUR SIDEKICK WONT WORK PROPERLY IN MY CASE I HAVE AT&T AND WHEN I TEXT THE NUMBER SHOWS NOT THE NAME WHEN U PREVIEW A MSG,,,ALSO THE PHONE WONT RING/VIBRATE WHEN U GET A TEXT UNTIL 2 MINUTES PASS BCUZ I DONT HAVE THE PHONE UNDER TMOBILE BUT IM PLANNING TO SWITCH COMPANIES ANYWAY..SO I CAN PUT UP WITH IT FOR NOW ILL DEAL WITH IT,

MY PHONE CAME WITH ALOT OF SONGS (RINGTONES) I LIKE THEM ALL,THERE ALL HIPHOP THO..SO IF U DONT LIKE HIPHOP THAT WONT MATTER,,OTHER THEN THAT THE PHONE WORKS GREAT,,IT HAS SOOO MANY SETTINGS U CAN PLAY WITH,U CAN REALLY PERSONALIZE THE FONE

I DONT LIKE THAT THE FONE DOESNT HAVE WIFI THO THATS A DOWNER,BUT THE TEXTING IS AMAZING UR FINGRRS FIT PERFECT TO TEXT UR HANDS JUST ROLL.

I LOVE THIS FONE!!

GREAT BUY

HIGHLY RECOMMEND,ESPECIALLY IF UR ALREADY A TMOBILE CUSTOMER!!



ALSO I PAID REG SHIPPING AND IT CAME IN 3DAYS!

SUPERRR FAST SHIPPPING ITS FROM NY I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA¬ Sidekick LX PV250 Unlocked Dark Blue For Any GSM Carrier (Factory Reconditioned)

I got this phone awhile ago and the only reason I still have it is because I can't afford a different one. My phone has tons of problems with it: The battery doesn't stay charged for more than a day, It won't let me send or recive picture texts, It doesn't let me use Email, Ims, web, It won't even let me download ringtones. It also doesn't let me store more than 9 pictures, it doesn't have an alarm clock, or calcultor. Alot of the time the trackball doesn't work and sometimes it won't let me shut it off with the off button you have to go through the menu which doesn't really bother me except for when the trackball isn't working. I would not recommend buying this phone from this seller. The wall phone charger didn't work so the only way I can charge my phone is from an USB cord. DO NOT BUY FROM THIS SELLER. Try a different one.

The sidekick lx pv 250 is a wonderful waste of money, even though its a factory reconditioned phone, it comes with endless faults which the consumer is unaware of. It is until the phone is purchased, then the consumer recognises faults such as the text messaging alert feature does not work and the memory card slot never functioned since purchase. The keypad is faulty sinse some of the buttons work sporadically. Dont waste your time or effort on this item you will be severly disappointed.

I used this phone for all of 2 minutes before I quickly realized it was not 3G....then 5hours later it deleted all of my contacts from my AT&T SIM and every picture I had taken!!! Do not buy it if you do not have a T-Mobile SIM =( - Tmobile - Unlocked Cell Phones - Sidekick - Cell Phone'


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Reading In Bed - cookbook, gift idea


This is my second time buying Paperbax. It is an amazing product because you can use it as a hand held book holder which I like to use when lying in bed. I have bought other book holders before but they were only stands and quite bulky. With Paperbax I lie in bed and hold the side of the book but don't have to hold the pages open. Or I lie it flat and read on my side. But it also opens up into a stand which was great for reading when I am eating dinner. My girlfriend uses it for cookbooks. Pretty cool how it attached to the book at the end to mark my page. It is also small and weighs close to nothing. Pretty amazing product. It arrived in less than four days and it was a great service. Just ordered three more for Christmas presents. Thanks! Bookbax: Hand-held Book Holder. Portable Book Stand. Bookmark. Kindle & Tablet PC Holder

Paperbax were very popular among several friends of mine whom I gave these product as a gift. Paperbax presents a completely new solution to bookholders design. Practically all paperbacks have the same nagging problem: they are stubbornly closing on you while you are reading making you grip constantly closing pages. Paperbax drastically solves this problem allowing the book to be read in any position without fight with pages. In distinction with available on the markets bookstands it is lightweight and portable; I have it with me when travelling always. The product is charged very reasonable, its cosmetical appearance is impeccable. Strongly recommended to all who like to read.

I really wanted this to work for me and i even committed to giving it a worthy trial period, but, it is just a bad product. I am a college student and am always reading from paperbacks. I used this product for about 9 days. In the beginning it was rough. It was hard to get used to turning the pages and keeping the wings out and stuff, but i was determined to 'get the hang of it'. After 9 days, i got the hang of it, and even though i had muscle memory and good reflexes with the product, it still was really bad and impractical.



Number one thing that was really bad, is that the wings do not lock into place! The pieces of plastic that stick out to hold the device up will just fold in on you at random times. Especially if you pick up the entire thing. They really should have made a locking mechanism for that.



Number two is that it really isnt easy to turn pages, the device is a double spring system that works for both sides of the book holder and they correspond to the opposite sides. It might sound crazy, but it actually is crazy. Its not at all easy to use and i felt like a was doing some sort of martial art every time i changed pages.



And finally, it isnt strong. It doesnt hold books in place strong and firm but they are always coming out of the little clamps. Its a cheap little product.



Oh yeah, and i have no idea what they meant by a bookmark...its not a bookmark at all. And I have a kindle, and i have no idea how they claim that it is a kindle holder because it simply is not.



I sent my product back and am going to get the bookgem book holder on amazon. I would advise that you check that out, its only a couple bucks more than this. Dont waste your money here!

This is the best holder I've seen for propping up a kindle. It holds the kindle firmly at the edges, with or without the cover, and does not get in the way of any buttons. The legs fold up so it's easy to carry. Works on books, too, but it should be standard equipment with a kindle.

Although it's a little bit of work to get used to how it works, this little tool is quite handy. Very useful for avoiding strain on your hands and elbows and very nice for reading while eating. It's also very compact. To mirror another review, it's no good if the paperback is very thick, but very good for the average sized paperback.

Excellent, speedy service. The bookholder was as described, and it works great, even on fairly large hardbound books. I am very happy with this purchase and with the way it was handled. I highly recommend this seller.

The product was shipped from Bermuda to NY and took 2 1/2 weeks to arrive--way too long to wait for the purpose I needed it for. I had broken my arm & was in a full arm cast. As a university professor and occupational therapist, I searched the internet for a few key pieces of adaptive equipment to allow me to work & function that would not break the bank. The paperbax requires 2 hands to both insert the book and turn the pages, so it has been useless for the purpose I needed it for. I do intend to use it in the future to hold cookbooks. It's small size & foldability makes it easy to store when not in use or put in a backpack if a child could benefit from this device. It does require a flat surface however, so it doesn't really work well in bed, on the sofa. or on a pillow.

Paperbax: The Ultimate All in One Bookholder, Bookstand and Bookmark



This really is a very ingenious little product which proves invaluable in almost every situation. No more struggling with your paperbacks. Will prove to be one of the essential "must have" gadgets for 2008.

I absolutely adore this product and use it on an almost daily basis at the gym. It is so lightweight, so easy to use, works beautifully on most books. I've recommended it to all my fellow-reader friends and love it. If you're a reader, buy it, buy it, buy it!

Awesome product! I no longer have to press hard on the pages and to lose track of where my last page is. It can fit a 450-page paper back easily. Although it doesn't allow you to adjust the tilt, the angle is perfect for reading already.



I'm coming here to buy another one! - Gift Idea - Elderly - Cookbook - Reading In Bed'


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Affordable - portable projectors, projector


I ordered this product on the day of release (not from Amazon, wasn't released yet). I am seriously impressed by it and will post a video after I clean up my place. It will also be with a cell phone camera so if it's not good enough I won't bother to upload it.Fan & BrightnessOk first, right out the box it is very bright and vivid. The colors really pop and are saturated, but in a good way. 500 lumens doesn't seem like a lot compared to bulb projectors but this holds its own. I have about a 90" screen right now with my light on and even on Eco mode (lower in brightness to save power everything is easily viewable. I don't even use regular mode as it makes the fan louder. The fan is not that loud but can easily be heard if the room is perfectly quiet. It sounds like a desktop computer with no dedicated graphics card. On Eco mode you can barely hear it. On regular, it's audible but nothing that would bother you. I sleep right next to it and it doesn't bother me one bit if I fall asleep watching a movie. In other words, don't worry about it. Some projectors have a problem with warming up and causing the picture to become out of focus but I leave this on all day and never have to focus it. A recommendation, tape a piece of cardboard (or something that doesn't look as cheap) to the ceiling in front of the light that shines on the wall you are pointing your projector at. It will make a huge difference in brightness and won't affect the lightning in your room one bit. You will be able to watch TV with the lights on while only the wall with the picture on it will be dimmer. It works great and I don't even notice light is being blocked. Keystone CorrectionThis projector has auto keystone correction as many projectors do these days although no one who uses projectors would recommend taking advantage of it. It distorts the picture because it needs to display a lower resolution to make up for the angle the projector is at Again, this is with all projectors. For a 90" screen my projector is about 4 feet off the ground and I use manual keystone correction set to 0. The image looks absolutely fantastic and I suggest you use manual and find where you can put the projector where you can set it at 0 in the menu. You will notice the top of the screen's image quality become dramtically betterSettingsAlthough I use eco mode all the time there is no quick setting on the remote for it. You have to go into the menus to turn it on and off. Play around with the color settings on the remote but you will find PC and Cinema look by far the best. Leave it on the best setting you find because it doesn't matter if you are watching TV or using your computer, those two will always be the best. Turn off auto source! It's super, super annoying. The second your computer or set top box does something and loses the connection for 1 second it will start cycling through trying to find a connection. I don't see anyone using anything but HDMI. Even if you did use another source just use the remote to change it. Trust me, its' really annoying. Now that I have it set on HDMI all the time I never have to change it. RemoteThe remote is very simple and I didn't expect much from it. I suggest you just get a learning remote and program the codes into that. It's too small and you will easily lose it. I just programmed a learning remote and kept the real one in a safe drawer. Picture ClarityHonestly, I hyped this projector up a lot and have been waiting for an LED projector with an acceptable amount of brightness. It definitely lives up to it. I can't wait to get home from work and play video games on it (which look incredible). I didn't play around with any color settings except the pre-chosen ones which I set on PC and left it (I feel it looks the best). Football looks amazing and walking into my roommates room who has a 37" LCD made me feel like I was watching it on a cell phone. This will ruin other screen sizes for you. I used to have a 50" plasma before I got this which was more expensive and I'm much happier with this. Sometimes when I use it I feel like I'm in the future (not kidding). The contrast ratio is a little low when the lights are on but don't let it discourage you, believe me, it's no plasma but it will not at all take away from the size and color of the image. Besides, anything that you want higher contrast ratio with you will turn the lights off anyway (even if you were watching on a TV) so that's not something to worry about. Overall, I would give this 6/5 stars. I absolutely love it. If they come out with a 1080p version next year I'm getting it the day it's released. I seriously doubt I will ever buy another TV again. Feel free to post questions in the comments and I'll do my best to answer them. Hopefully I can get a hold of a real camera to do a video review because I'm not sure how well a cell phone will work. Optoma's ML500, WXGA, 500 Lumen, Mobile LED Projector

I bought this for Home Theater use only (not for data). I am using an 80 inch white screen (1.1 gain) at a viewing distance of about 8 ft.The decision to purchase this unit was made on the following factors:LED - long life

DLP technology

Small form factor (easy to set up on a tripod)

Brightness (highest rated lumen output LED projector in this price range)

Reduced likely hood of the Rainbow Effect

Price Firstly, I did not expect too much with respect to video quality. My intent was to watch a movie or so at night, and some sports as well (my main TV is a Pioneer Elite Plasma). I was pleasantly surprised (once I adjusted the settings to my liking). Overall, the movie image is very "cinematic" - similar to a movie theater screen. The colors are vibrant and saturated - they are also pretty accurate; which was surprising since the color adjustment options are limited. Football looks fantastic as well. I've watched Blu-ray movies, HD cable, DVD's - they all look great.Regular DVD's looked really good - which I did not expect because of the lower resolution of DVD's. The ML500 is very bright for night-time viewing, the picture is still watchable with a little ambient light. I had to turn the brightness down a couple notches (I only use this at night) - with the LED mode in ECO (the normal mode is too bright). You don't want to look directly at the lens - it will damage your eyesight. I have not seen any of the Rainbow effect at all - neither has my wife, who is more sensitive to seeing this.Dark scenes look good as well, with good detail. Overall, the contrast, saturation, vibrancy and detail of the image is very good. The fan noise is actually less than my PC - it is only noticeable when my surround system is off. I have this mounted on a tripod - the unit gets warm, but not hot. On the downside - the preset picture modes were not very watchable for me, I had to make a few adjustments (which is not uncommon, I've done the same with my plasma). As with all LED projectors at this price, there is no optical zoom.Highly recommended - its great to own a projector and not worry about how much you can use it; because of the short lamp life! - Pico Projector - Portable Projectors - Mini Projector - Projector'


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Brother Laser Printer - inexpensive, monochrome


I am always curious about the expectations of other consumers who write reviews, so I will try to detail mine. I specifically bought this printer because I travel frequently for work and spend a lot of time working from a hotel room. The size is fairly compact for a laser printer, and having a laser printer was a must since I print a lot of documents when I am on the road (I have gone through inject cartridges within a few days). Price was an issue since things have way of breaking more frequently when you move them around a lot. The cartridges are $70 or so at Office Depot, so don't buy them there! I have found them here on amazon for around $35 which is more than reasonable. Do yourself a favor and buy a replacement immediately as the cartridge that comes with the unit will run out quicker than expected. The speed and quality of prints is decent, and quite frankly would not have even mentioned it unless other reviewers had mentioned it. For anybody who has never used a laser printer, they have cooling fans and yes the do make some noise, but mine has never run for more than 5 minutes. I have a much older brother at home (it is 10 years old and still works great) that is much noisier and runs for much longer than this model. Quite frankly, I was pleased with how much quieter this model is. One feature that I really like is the auxiliary paper feeder for envelopes or other documents that may require a different paper size than is in the main tray. Ultimately, this is a good unit for the price. I have had it a bit over a month and it has met all of my expectations. If you want and expect a more refined unit, then you may want to consider paying more. Personally, I have no complaints. Brother HL-2240 Mono Laser Printer

I purchased this printer as an additional laser printer. I also own the Brother HL-2140 which is highly rated. I ended up returning this printer and will get another HL-2140. This printer is very noisy. The fan stays on for almost 1/2 hour after the last document is printed. The fan on the HL-2140 would turn off after a minute or two after the last document is printed. The fan can be heard across the room and is too much if you sit near the printer. This printer comes with a toner starter cartridge which only prints 700 pages. The higher model HL-2270DW has a 1200 page toner cartridge. This model also lacks automatic duplex which the HL-2270DW offers. Currently there are no aftermarket companies making toner for this model since it is a newer model. The HL-2140 has several companies making toner that you can get below $20 for 2,000+ page capacity. The toner on this model will run you around $40-$50 for the same capacity. If you are considering purchasing this model, I strongly suggest that you go with the HL-2140 or HL-2170. If you prefer the looks of the HL-2240, then go with the HL-2270DW which has wireless and ethernet connections, larger capacity starter cartridge and automatic duplex.

[UPDATE: I've had the printer now for about three months and it's exactly what I wanted. Not only that, but I'm using the ink-saver setting and am still on the starter cartridge that came with the printer! As expected, there are now after-market printer ink refill options. People were just being whiney. All in all, I'm very happy with the purchase.]



I too was frustrated to see so few reviews of this product as I was deciding whether to purchase it (there was only one yesterday!). So, here's my initial review based on having used the printer for less than 24 hours. I'll adjust if my later experience changes.



First, the basics: the printer fundamentally does what it says it does. It prints laser quality copies off at a remarkable speed (at least for someone used to an inkjet printer). Nobody expects the performance listed on the box, I think, but just to give you an idea I tried printing a 19 page PDF document. It printed in about 90 seconds: 15 seconds to warm up and process, and another 68 seconds to print the document. That comes to something like 17 pgs per minute-- not the 34 ppm on the box, but really, who cares?



As per the noise issue: yes, I notice the fan, but it's not as bad as everyone makes it sound. I don't really think it makes a difference while I'm printing... afterwards, though, you do kinda wish it would shut off. It's not a half hour like someone said-- it's more like 5-10 minutes, but maybe still too much. I couldn't find a way to change the fan settings but it is something that could be fixed in software.



As for the printer refills, yes-- it seems there are not yet aftermarket refills. However this is unlikely to stay this way; one place told me to check back in a month. I can wait a month, or pay for one Brother refill.



SO FAR-- not a bad purchase for a Black Friday sale, not bad at all.

I bought this printer at staples because it was a good price and brother toner refills are more affordable than HP. I read some of the reviews on amazon before buying it and the main complaint seemed to be the noise. My printer does not run the fan for more than a second or two after the last sheet prints, so there may have been a driver update to eliminate that particular annoyance.



It prints pages quickly and with good quality.

So far it seems to be a good little printer well worth the 79.95 I paid for it. - Printer - Inexpensive - Laser Printer - Monochrome'


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Brother Printer - brother tn360, inexpensive


It seems like an good product. We've been using it for over a month and a paper for a master's degree is being printed with it so it's getting a workout. So far it's working fine and quite a bit cheaper than the OEM version. WARNING - no instructions were included and there is more to it than just swapping out drums. You have to reset the counter in the printer or the lights stay on and annoy the crap out of you. Go on line to the Brother site and they have step by step instructions including how to reset the counter. Anyone who can read can handle this. Brother DR360 (DR-360) Drum Unit - New Compatible Brand Replacement Drum Unit Compatible For Use With Brother DCP-7030, DCP-7040, HL-2140, HL-2150N, HL-2170W, MFC-7320, MFC-7440N and MFC7840W Laser Printers

This item fulfills the need of a new drum for our printer at a reasonable price. Most drums from the printer manufacturers cost as much as a new printer. This item cost much less and fills the need. I will definitely be buying from this supplier again.



The only issue I had was with shipping. The problem was not the vendors problem, but with FedEx. The item wound up going back to the vendor, and they had to re-ship. Other than that issue I am very happy.



Norm

Based on information I received with another compatible drum I had previously received from another company (TheOfficeDepot),I was able to install this drum and turn off the blinking lights. Although the vendor (Vivamart)selling this drum gave me a $7.00 refund, they never answered my questions about the problem. In the future, I wouldn't purchase from Vivamart. I would happily purchase from TheOfficeDepot.

I've used this drum for nearly a year and it worked perfectly. Print quality was the same as it was from the included Brother drum that eventually became defective. This one finally became unusable while changing the toner, be careful when changing the ink as dust/dirt may get in and damage the sensitive film on the drum, this will render it unusable.



Though it doesn't come with instruction, a simple visit to Brother's website should yield plenty of information about how to install/replace toners and drums.

I make a lot of copies on my Brother, about 3000 a month. I was very unhappy the the official Brother replacment drum was the same as the sale price I got the printer for. So I was really happy when I found one at less than half that price. It arrived quickly and works fine. The vote is still out on if it will last as long as the original but I am hopeful.

I received product promptly. But as soon as I entered the new drum in printer at gave me same error message "Drum End Soon"



First impression, I got the non-compatible cheap product and write to seller about the issue and ask for help. But after a quick Google I found the answer. Here is the instructions.



1) Open front cover

2) Insert drum unit and leave the front door open

3) Press Clear/Back button. It will prompt "Replace Button?" +Yes -No

4) Close the front cover and ready to print. Enjoy new drum!!





I print couple of pages with this drum unit and I couldn't find any difference between this and original unit.



I hope this will help.

This item was worthless. After replacing the old, original drum unit in my HL-2140, print quality was so poor that a document could not be read. Print is barely there and very light gray in color. I went to a local store to buy a Brother Drum Unit and found out that since they don't make this printer any more it's a special order item. I didn't have time to wait so I ended up buying an entirely new printer. It does not pay to buy compatible items! I'm extremely disappointed and feel I wasted my money.

I have a Brother MFC-7840W Laser Multifunction Center with Wireless and Ethernet Network Interfaces I'm not seeing any difference with the output than the OEM version, this is after 600 printouts. Definitely worth the savings. Very odd though, the inside cover of the box had directions for installing a toner cartridge in your printer, but not for installing the drum unit.. lol

Swapping out and resetting the printer was a breeze, check with your owners manual since not all printers are the same. - Cartridge - Brother Tn360 - Tn360 Compatible - Inexpensive'


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Ipod Accessory - ipod, ipod accessories


I took a chance and bought this even though I saw the bad reviews. I thought to myself "it's only a dollar, if it dies in a month or two like the reviews say, I will just get something else because this does have some good reviews...." This completely ruined my Ipod Classic 80 gig. My Ipod was 1 month old, I had to return it and get a refurbished one because of this!!

It shipped to me real quick so I was happy, then i took it out of the packaging and right away charged my Ipod to a full battery relatively quickly, still happy. Then I went to listen to my Ipod.... Every single song was complete static! I restored it to factory settings and reloaded with the same problem. I took it back to apple who restored it again and put their music on it and they got the same results!



I have never written a review before, but I felt the need to warn anybody who is on the fence about buying this. CTA Digital Rapid Travel Charger for iPod (White)

I bought it to be used with my ipod touch. I was really excited that I wouldn't have to buy the expensive apple charger, but when I hooked it up I was disappointed. I noticed that if I tried to use the ipod while charging the screen started to flicker. also on places where you have to drag your finger ie. unlock from sleep mode, it seems to be not working properly and it gives it an effect that its sticky like glue, makes it feel like you are dragging it by force. So i didnt take any risk using it anymore and ended up buying the expensive apple's version, so this is a complete waste of money for me.

Unless I'm downloading new music to my iPod video, I prefer to recharge it using this. It's fast and dependable and it's $28 cheaper than an Apple charger, with both doing exactly the same thing. Also there's an effective lock on the plug insert that keeps in firmly in place as it's charging your unit. Recommended as an excellent value.

I think this a great item and should be considered for avid Ipod users. It is compatible and works well with my 2G 2nd Generation Ipod. It charges the Ipod from any wall outlet quickly and easily. It contains a red light that is lit up when plugged in so you are aware of its status. It also has a handy feature that eliminates over-charging. All in all, I'm very pleased with this item.

This IPod charger has really solved by problem. I like to sleep with music and playing my Ipod through a stereo with 4 others in my household, not a good idea. This charger and Cta Digital Portable Dual Speaker for Ipod has made it easier to solve the problem. I can keep my Ipod next to my bed without draining it's battery. And The under $10 USD price is unbeatable. Great charger.

If you own an IPOD Video 30G, stay away from this product. I tried charging my IPOD with this charger and it completely FROZE the screen and the IPOD could no longer be used. I had to return the IPOD to amazon to get a replacement. What a hassle!!!!! Do not buy this CHEAP product and invest in the APPLE Charger. There must be a reason why this charger is being sold for under $2... GO FIGURE!

I took a chance and bought this. It came quickly but only lasted 3 days and then gave out. If you want to buy a charger then go with Belkin or another reliable model. This one didn't make the grade. I guess you get what you pay for. - Ipod Accessories - Charger - Travel - Ipod'


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Pet Grooming Tool - dremel, dogs


Love the new Dremel! It's a great little tool. We originally purchased it because I wanted to carve "Funkins" for Halloween rather than a real pumpkin. We did use it for that and it worked great. We also used it for our dog's nails and it worked great for that too. She isn't fond of having her nails clipped so this was a better choice. It wasn't as invasive and if you just take your time it's pretty gentle. Dremel 7300-N/8 MiniMite 4.8-Volt Cordless Two-Speed Rotary Tool

I was looking for a grinding tool to use for trimming my dogs' nails since they don't like clippers and I refuse to pay a vet or groomer for something so simple...especially since I have four dogs. I did some research, checked Amazon reviews for various products, watched prices on both Amazon and Ebay (used and new) and ended up buying the Dremel 7300 cordless MiniMite new on Amazon.



After only about a week of introducing my dogs to the tool (using the instructions on doberdawn.com which is very detailed and great for the newbie...they don't sell anything, just an advice site), I'm now able to get my dogs to lie there while I do nail trimmings. This is a HUGE improvement over using typical dog clippers! I'm simply amazed at how well they took to it.



After reading about the PediPaws and similar items, then the Dremel models/options, I went with the MiniMite because it's similar to the Pedipaws except there's no guard (I haven't found this to be an issue) and it works better, is sturdier, and lasts longer according to other reviewers. I've only had it for two weeks, so I can't give feedback on longevity yet...but I do know it will be getting lots of use at our house, so time will tell. And we are still using the first sanding wheel, haven't had to replace it yet.



Plus it's cordless, so it's easier to use for the dogs anywhere in the house or outside (in warmer weather). So far I haven't had to recharge the battery (I've been using it daily for about two weeks now).



If you're struggling with dogs who hate nail clippers, I highly recommend trying a MiniMite. I have four dogs ranging size from 11 lbs to 67 lbs and it works well for all of them. I bought this specific one because I wanted more than one speed and I didn't need a lot of attachments to go with it. This is nice and compact and not so noisy that it scares the dogs. Both the MiniMite and the charger fit on my desk, within easy reach whenever I need to do some nail trimming. There's no cord on the charger, it just plugs directly into a wall outlet and you click the MiniMite battery into the charger base. It's 2-1/2" deep (sticking out from the outlet), so you need a spot where there's about 4-5" of clearance to easily plug in/remove the battery & charger. A counter outlet or a wall outlet that's not next to furniture are both good choices.



I've never had a Dremel or similar model of hand grinder. It's a handy little tool and I'm sure I'll find other uses for it in time. But for right now, I'm VERY happy with the results on my dogs' nails (and no rough edges like you get with nail clippers).

This tool is very simple in design, yet I have used it for many things I never even planned for when I purchased it. I bought the accessory kit (710-02) with it and I have been able to accomplish a lot of projects which wouldn't have gotten done without it. It comes with a few sanding and polishing accessories as well which is a nice start.



Additionally, the rechargable battery is great as working without cords speeds things up. Nice to not buy a ton of AA batteries to finish projects.

I ordered this dremel to replace a really old one I had. I was awry of buying this because i didn't want to give up the power of buying a cordless dremel. But it was worth every penny. It comes with every tool needed to get anything you need to get done. I was removing rust spots on my car and this dremel is perfect for the job when using the stainless steel brush. It has a fast 3 hour charger, and the battery lasts for about 40 minutes. It has two speeds which is more than sufficient. The tools are really easy to change and very easy to find.

I purchased this product to cut dog nails. I had previously used a more expensive but cheaply made pet nail grinder I bought off a TV infomercial. My mistake. That product turned out to be a worthless piece of junk. But, this dremel (the 7300 minimite) grinds wonderfully, charges quickly and is very efficient. Highly recommend.

i got this for trimming my dogs toenails... she is a yellow lab and usually HATES getting her nails trimmed.. she holds still for this and doesnt seem to mind.. it does a MUCH better job than the the pedi paws tool...that did not seem to have enough power..i am sure that i will find other uses for this too, but it is balanced and it seems to hold a charge for a long time.. i also like the fact that its cordless.. - Rotary Tool - Nails - Dremel - Dogs'


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Extra Handset Included - cordless telephones, vtech


I have been using my new VTECH phones for about a month now--I wanted to wait at least this long before submitting a review so I could give the product a workout and submit a fair review.



The phones are light weight but well built; the buttons have a great feel and the display is easy to read. I spent about 10 minutes reviewing the nicely organized and easy-to-understand instruction manual before I was well on my way to programming numbers and setting other features. The sound quality has been consistently good and once you've reviewed the manual you'll find the buttons and features to be quite intuitive.



From a practical standpoint, I was looking for a two-station cordless phone that does not have a built-in answering machine as I have voicemail with my phone service. So this phone fit the bill.



There are a couple of features I miss from my old phones I replaced--a belt clip (for trips to the garage when I don't want to miss a call) and a headphone jack. However, given the excellent price point of this product, I have no room to complain (For long conference calls I have been using the speakerphone feature, which also works well). I read some reviews where people complained that this phone does not have distinctive ring tones. If this is a feature you absolutely can't live without, look for a different product--remember, the price is great for what you get.



In case you're wondering, I have had zero interference with my home wireless network, which would have prompted me to immediately return this product.



The bottom line: If you're looking for a good-quality phone at a very attractive price, this is the one. Vtech CS6219-2 DECT 6.0 Expandable 2-Handset Cordless Phone System with Caller ID and Handset Speakerphone (CS6219-2)

We purchased these telephones as a replacement for our old VTechs. We had a problem with our phone system and as a result purchased new phones during the diagnosing phase. Our VTechs lasted over 10 years and, as it turns out, were still working well. So we replaced them with VTechs and glad that we stayed with the same manufacturer. The new phones have all the features we expected and they work great with our phone company's set-up. Easy to create your own directory, retrieve numbers, etc. Most of the functions I did without reading the manual. Very user friendly. You will be glad you purchased this phone system.

Small, reliable phones. It's an easy way to add a phone to a room that doesn't have a phone jack. Unlike some phones of this type, two people can talk to the same caller on each extension. You don't have to transfer the call to the other handset unit. The speakerphone works great.

This simple set offers solid performance and attractive looks for half the price of the competition. It's perfect for anyone who subscribes to a digital voice service with carrier-based voicemail (e.g. FiOS, Comcast) and doesn't need the fancy features that other sets offer.

Well, let's be honest. The phone is very inexpensive... and you get some of the baggage that comes along with that. Sometimes the signal is crystal clear, however fairly often (enough so that it's very annoying) it picks up other signals. The other signal is so loud that it makes it nearly impossible to hear who you are talking to.



If you're in an urban area or a place with a high population density, it's probably better to go with a phone that broadcasts in a higher frequency spectrum for clearer signals.

After owning a set of 3 GE phones that were total junk, these phones seem to be perfect for my needs so far. I especially like the voice mail indicator. Another issue I had with my old phones is that you had to transfer a call if you wanted to pick it up on a different phone, something my family never mastered. You can pick up a call on these phones without transferring. They are small and lightweight, the volume is great (another GE issue) - so I am very happy!

Have had this phone for about a month, nice and slick, great reception, holds about 3 numbers as a readial option, meaning that you have the option to redial any of the last 3 numbers you just dialed.

Ilumination is good when its dark, you can read all the numbers clearly.



Speaker phone not that good, It sound loud enough, but cant hear clearly what the other person is saying.

This is a great phone. I used to use an AT&T cordless phone with a handset speakerphone and heard static too often. This VTech has good clear sound and is well made. The intercom function comes in handy as well. The only issue I have with it is that it does not have an earphone jack or belt clip - functions I thought every phone offered. Still, I highly recommend.

I read a lot of reviews of this item and decided to buy it. I liked the phone till my wife pointed out that caller ID doesn't work if you have call waiting.



I'm surprised no one mentioned it that I saw. For us, having caller ID during call waiting is one of the main points for having call waiting.



It's a good phone, but if you need that feature, at least the phone we received didn't have it. - Vtech - Expandable Multi-handset - Extra Handset Included - Cordless Telephones'


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Ipod Touch - nike plus ipod, ipod touch


I didnt want to run in Nike+ shoes. Prefer other brands. Bought a couple pouches for each pair of different shoes I run in, just move the sensor from shoe to shoe... Matched the color to the shoe too. Perfectly accurate, well made, reasonably priced. The Original Shoe Pouch for Nike + iPod, PURPLE

I received my shoe pouch and immediately went for a run. What a great

product - very simple and ingenious! Many of my friends have 'modded' their

shoes by cutting in to the heel, inserting the sensor and putting an insole

over the hole!!



I am very happy not to 'butcher' my expensive shoes and have something so

simple that works so well - congratulations to Grantwood Technology on this product, you have one - more happy customer!!

This product is very good for those runners that can not wear Nike running shoe, like myself. The sensor remains safely attached to the shoe. The one issues that I have is that it is time consuming to move it from one pair of shoes to another. I rotate between three pairs so it is a bit of a pain to undo the laces. - Nike Plus Ipod - Ipod Touch - Shoe Pouch - Ipod Nano'


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Dslr Camera Case - slr camera bag, dslr camera case


I had originally bought the Case Logic SLR-1Z Zoom Holster to accommodate my D70 with attached Tamron 28-300 lens, however I found that case had too small of an opening for my camera. So I got the SLRC-201 Zoom and it is much better, the differences between the two cases are:



SLRC-201

1) Larger opening, camera slips in and out with ease.

2) Main compartment zipper is easier to operate.

3) Hammock suspension system is a better design.

4) Base is sturdier and made of better material.

5) Strap is a little longer.



SLR-1Z

1) Strap pad is thicker.

2) Extra pocket on inside flap cover.

3) Although the main zipper is difficult to open, it seems to be more water proof.

4) Has option for belt attachment.



Both of these cases are very well made and great for cameras with attached lenses, if you have a smaller SLR then the 1Z will work for you, however the 201 is much better for a larger SLR camera, hope this helps with your decision. Case Logic SLRC-201 SLR Zoom Holster (Black)

I purchased this holster case for a Canon EOS 7D (with the 18-135mm IS 3.5-5.6 lens) when I purchased it. The bag is just the right size for the camera, I have enough space above it to tuck the strap in and zip it up for carrying it around. The pockets on the sides are slightly cramped, but provide ample space for a remote shutter release, lens cloth, miniature tripod, and lens caps. Thus I feel prepared whenever I am shooting.

Now, the caveats to this case:

The 7D is a larger SLR (not the size of the D3 or the 1D, but still hefty) and when you are using the suspension strap, it holds the camera body very close to the top, thus I undid the velcro holding the suspension strap in place, and used a twist tie to keep it from getting tangled up in things.

The strap works well, but is a little thin, and the padded portion tends to slip and slide around, while you can put on a different strap with ease, this is annoying on a case that is meant to hold relatively hefty cameras.

That being said, the case protects the camera extremely well. I have gone skiing with this bag at my side, and had no worries for the camera while on the mountain. If you have anything larger than a 7D, I would suggest you look elsewhere for a case, though if you have any of the smaller nikons or canons, this will do just fine. Overall, I really like it, It's a good size and feels like it keeps my camera well protected.

This is a great case - very nicely designed, well built, looks great, very functional. It is my third Caselogic digital SLR case, purchased because I wanted a holster case for my Nikon D50 with a new, longer 50-200mm zoom lens. I searched around a bit and tried other cases at stores like Best Buy, Ritz photo, and Calumet. This case works great, and has improved several features over my earlier cases (which have worked great for me.) The handle is nicely padded, the "hammock" has a nice Y-shaped cutout extending from the circular lens opening making it very easy to insert and remove my camera without snagging, even with the hood attached in the reverse position. The solid, waterproof base is a nice addition, and allows the case to stand up solidly when placed on a flat surface. Very well made, very well padded, classy and sporty looking at the same time. A great purchase, and also a very good value compare to what else is available.

Usually I carry my cameras around in a cheap insulated soft-side lunchbox - the kind you can get anywhere for less than $10. (They work OK, and they don't look worth stealing which is nice.) Having bought a new DSLR (Nikon D5000) I decided to see if I could find a real camera bag that wasn't too pricey, protected the camera better, had good access and was suitable for moderate exposure to the elements. This one comes very close to all of those requirements.



Pros: Holds the camera securely without requiring excessive handling to retrieve it for use. Has dual zippers so you don't have to remember which side the zipper is on. Has three handy compartments for accessories. The shape fits nicely into niches a rectangular bag would not. The base has a waterproof "shoe" so you can set it down in almost an inch of water without leaking. (Very nice, that last bit. I was traveling in snow and ice in December and sometimes you just have to set it down - if there was snow I just stamped it flat and set the bag down.) Fit and finish seem excellent: at no time have I felt any insecurity about tugging on any of its zippers, flaps or straps.



Cons: The three flap opening in the "hammock" is a bit tight especially if you have a lens shade on your lens. (You can stretch it some, and it will loosen over time anyway.) Depending on your camera it's a bit tricky finding a grip to easily extract the camera from the compartment without accidentally turning a switch or setting dial. (You can upend the bag and the camera will drop out a bit for easier grabbing; an extra half-inch width might have been nice though.) If you have a full sized DSLR this may be more of an issue, if you have smaller hands than I, probably not. Finally, the compartments are fine for a few extra filters, battery, and memory cards, etc., but might be too small for your charger if it's larger than average. (Nikon supplies a charger with a full-length AC cord which makes it a tight fit in this bag.)



Other: No room for a 2nd lens, but that's not the point of this bag. You also don't want to put a long lens on your camera and try to shove it into this bag either. Most reasonable prime and kit lenses should fit just fine, though. (The 18-105 mm Nikon lens, for example, has plenty of room.) Any lens that's about 4.25" or less from lens cap to camera body should be very happy, and the bottom of the case is well padded if it happens to touch that.) The "hammock" can also be unhitched (it's held on one end by Velcro) which makes grabbing the camera out faster, but sacrifices some security. Nice to have the choice, though.



P.S. I repurposed a lunch bag with some cut foam to hold my extra lens, battery charger and other bits for now, but I'm looking at getting this bag's big brother - the one with lens-suitable side pockets - not as a replacement, but as a supplement for when I need a more inclusive kit to carry around. - Camera Bag - Dslr Camera Case - Slr Camera Bag - Dslr Camera Bag'


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Great Family Tent - big, family camping tents


Bought this tent, took it camping memorial weekend. We fit 9 people in this tent. 2 Adults, 5 teenagers, and 2 smaller children. We had 2 full air mattresses 2 twin air mattresses and 3 cots. Very roomy. We even had a freak thunderstorm, it never leaked. Air flows through very well. Can't wait to take it camping again!! Swiss Gear Montreaux Ten Person Family Dome Tent

I was worried about buying this tent without any reviews posted, but I decided to take the chance anyway. Hopefully my review can help someone else out. I have not been camping in this tent yet, but it is currently set up in my back yard taking on the rain as we speak. First of all, the tent was very well packed and protected in a great bag when it arrived. The instructions said that two adults were required for assembly, but all I had was my four-year-old son. The instructions for assembly are sewn into the bag, so you cannot lose them! I set my son to work assembling the poles which he did with ease since they all have a cord inside that helps snap them together. The parts are not labeled, but they make sense for assembly anyway. After sorting all of the poles, I rolled the tent out onto a tarp base that I purchased to protect the bottom of the tent. We quickly inserted the poles into the top of the tent and had the main dome up in a matter of 10 minutes. After that, the rest of the assembly took only another 10 minutes, including the rain fly. The fly was a challenge to put on the tent with only one adult since the tent is so tall, but I managed to get it in place. So far, the rain fly is my only concern because after securing it in place, it caused the two smaller rooms on the back side of the tent to deform slightly. I did not mark this rating down however, as after looking at it, my back yard is somewhat unlevel, and I believe that is the cause for this deformation. I will report back after I have had a chance to assemble later on level ground on our first camping trip.



I have to say that walking into this tent for the first time was a real treat. This is the first tent I have ever owned which allowed me to stand upright inside. The two smaller rooms on the back side are shorter, however, I think most people will use these rooms for storage. The room divider runs parallel with the front door of the tent, with a single zipper that runs from top to bottom in the middle. The two halves of the divider separate and tie up at the sides so you can comfortably walk underneath. It looks like the 17.5 foot wide back half of the tent will comfortably accomodate two queen sized air mattresses, which is what we plan to put inside. This leaves the front half of the tent to put our other items. Of course you will be able to set the interior up however you would like. There are little pockets all over the inside of the tent which will allow us to stow smaller items like keys, phones, kids toys, or even shoes. As far as the build of the tent is concerned, it seems well made with good solid materials and craftsmanship. The floor is not a solid piece, however, it is "a sonic-welded polyethylene floor" and I have no reason to believe that the welded seams would ever leak. As I said above the tent has been out in rainy conditions for five hours now. Even without seam sealer, the tent has only one very small leak in the back, and that leak has amounted to about half the size of a dollar bill. Not bad for steady rainfall. I will be buying a seam sealing kit soon and taking care of all of the seams inside. Once that is done, I think this tent will be everything we need and more for a family of four.

I just went on a 7 dsy csmping trip with this tent and just like my last Swiss tent this one was worth EVERY penny! Tons of space, plus we had very wet weather this trip and of the 12 people that camped with us we were the ONLY ones that had a water tight tent! Ozark trail has nothing on Swiss Army! Not only was it Water tight, but while we were throwing the football around my boyfriend landed on the side of the tent and collapsed the whole side of it, I wanted to beat him for ruining my new tent, but all I did was pull one pole back into place and the whole tent popped right back into place! I will NEVER buy another tent that isn't Swiss Army brand!

We bought this for a family weekender to sleep between 4 and 6 people comfortably using air mattresses. I spend a lot (too much time according to my wife) investigating all brands for a comparable price/value/& features. We chose this on the web for what appeared to be the best value. We were not disappointed! The tent has plenty of room, and set up easily. It IS worth a dry run to set up because you won't look like a jerk when you have to set this up with others around the camp sight. :-) Plus a few tiny things required in the learning curve for a first timer.



The back "rooms" fit ONE Queen sized mattress for each room. (It's not a perfect fit but it works well enough. It's tight but your living space is between the "rooms" in the middle) We configured two twins flanking the outsides of the entrance way. This slept six comfortably and we could easily sleep another three with sleeping bags. (or say four kids). The center divider allows for good privacy and fun for kids.



We got no dew in the inside as the tent breaths well. Frankly the many time campers we camped with (10 families) thought we had the best tent. I was bragging about the $200 number for what we got. We didn't have time to do a seam reinforcement and I'll do that the next time we camp. We didn't have any nasty weather so I can not comment on the tents water integrity but it appeared comparable to others at the site. The tent looks great, has plenty of room, breaths well, and I would recommend it for a family that seeks comfort vs high end ruggedness or light weight.



Enjoy.



Mike - Family Camping Tents - Great Family Tent - Big - Cabin Tent'


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Console Shooter - ps3 games, fps


Ok, let me begin this review by saying I love shooters and have been playing them ever since I was a kid and Wolfenstien was on PC. That evolved to Goldeneye on Nintendo 64. That all changed when Metal Gear Solid came out for PS1 and I now wanted a good story to go along with my gameplay. I have always kind of liked the COD world war series, but never got into it. When MW1 came out I was blown away, I loved the game and it had a good story to tell. My only complaint with MW2 was that the story was not only lacking, but down right stupid. I never got into multiplayer because I don't have the time to train myself to compete with a bunch of 5th graders who spend 40 hours a week playing the game.



This all leads me to Black Ops, as with all 1st person shooters the campaign is short, yet good. The action is intense and the overall gaming is fun. What made the campaign even more fun was that I felt fully drawn into the game due to the compelling story. I actually wanted to check out zombies but I could not draw myself away from the campaign in order to check it out. The story was that good; I wanted to find out what happens. I'm not going into detail what the story is about because you probably already read that somewhere else. As far as the graphics, I thought they looked sharp. The scenery was not as sharp as MW2 because their seemed to be a haze in the air everywhere I went but it was still looking good. My favorite part was in Vietnam they started playing rock music from the time of the Vietnam War, which made it fill even more authentic.



As far as zombies go, it's fun to shoot zombies every now and then when I have a few free minutes so it's a nice add-on bonus.



Bottom line, if you are a lone wolf player like me, this is definitely the game for you. If you are a strictly on-line player, read someone else's review. Call of Duty: Black Ops

***UPDATE*** After having spent substantial time with Black Ops, I stand by my initial impressions. The overall balancing has proven to be exceptional as there is no single "money" class to exploit or be forced to use in tough games. The maps are fun, weapons and upgrade system a blast and all of the customization available makes the game really enjoyable.



There is a big negative. As mentioned in my original review - connection is a serious issue. Lag, framerate drops, freezes...pretty much any connection problem you can think of applies. Patch 1.04 is on the way from Treyarch to address some of these issues, but connection certainly mars what is an otherwise great online experience.



***END UPDATE***



I'm about 42 hours into the game. I would consider myself a hardcore-console gamer (if there is such thing). I logged 25+ days on MW2 and have spent time with BFBC2, Killzone2 and pretty much every other game that involves shooting other people in the face - online. The review is aimed at people who may have been turned off after MW2.



Campaign mode - I wouldn't know cause I don't play it. I hear it takes 6 hours, so probably just a rental if that's all you're interested in.



Online



* The fixes - noob toobing, commando, stoping power, one man army, boosting, tactical insertions, stacking killstreaks, explosive radius nerfed - ALL GONE. If that means anything to you, then you already love this game.



*The Mechanics - best in the console market. Period. The guns are NOT all the same. No more UMP45 across the map kills. It also requires more hits to get a kill. This is good and bad - see connections below.



*Graphics/Sound - The maps look phenominal, but the player models are mediocre. The music ambient sound effects are great, but I'm not impressed with the sounds of the guns.



*The Maps - my first impression is that they are amazing...BUT... and this is one big but - they are not sniper friendly. I'm not a sniper, so I don't care, but I have some friends that already hate the game becuase the wide open lanes in MW2 are non-existant. There are varied levels, tunnels, etc. - but camping just seems much more difficult.



*Connection - still P2P, no dedicated servers, and that sucks. Ultimately, regardless of skill level, connection will be the deciding factor in your enjoyment of the online game (also why I give it four stars)



*Wager Games - also known as online crack. Being able to wager your money (which is required to purchase the items you've unlocked and their attachements - it's not automatic anymore) is like playing poker online. There are multiple game types, all very new and add a whole seperate dimesnion to online shooters. Definately the best innovation for FPS's in a long time.



*Split Screen - for all online modes is awesome. I have 2 PS3's in the house and can accomodate 4 players with them in an online match. It's about time that option was available.



Overall, this is a must buy if you are a COD fan. If you were turned off by MW2 - which many were, and rightfully so, at least give it a try. The Zombie mode, Training mode and wager matches are a blast and give everyone a shot at having a good time - not just experts and 12yr old, foul mouthed racists. - Black Ops - Fps - Playstation 3 - Ps3 Games'


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Console Shooter - ps3 games, fps ps3 games Console Shooter - ps3 games, fps