Playstation 3 - toslink, 51 surround

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Digital audio cable (or TOSLINK, as it is also commonly known) is a very common interface in my home entertainment system. My aging Sony A/V reciever only has 4 optical ins/outs and my system of components using the cable standard easily doubles that. I've purchased optical cable switchers and have a lot of optical cable running in the back of my media center. In that regards, I have a number of makes and models of cables, from minimalist and very delicate in build quality to quite robust (and perhaps to the point of overkill). This Tripp Lite cable fits squarely in the middle...a nice solid cable that feels good, but not indestructable. I plugged it in and it works just fine.



Why does build quality matter? TOSLINK, a glass fiber based optical cable standard, is nice, thin and robust in its transmission speeds--but it is susceptible to breaking by overtwisting or sharp impact. If you're comfortable using thin cheap optical cabling because your system is sealed and the cabling rarely accessed, go for it. But for many of us, your system isn't in 'lock down mode' and you may have an intermittent need to rewire or get back there in the "rats' nest" on occasion. For that reason, I recommend this product as a good compromise between cost/quality...it will take the knocks/use (within reason) without breaking the bank.



In short--you don't need the more expensive solutions by Monster or Belkin (which I own and respect). Just evaluate your scenario/circumstances and buy accordingly. Tripp Lite A102-02M Digital Optical Audio Cable with 2 Toslink connectors - 2M (6ft)

I was so pleased to find this quality optical cable at a reasonable price that I bought two. I also appreciated that it was packaged in a simple ziplock-style bag, rather than the bulky, difficult to open plastic stuff that most cables are packaged in.

Don't fall for the rediculous notion that there is some difference between the quality of different optical cables. Unlike analog cables (like speaker cables) an optical cable only transmits a digital signal, so there is no "quality" to their performance. So, buy a great, cheap cable like this one.

I picked this up to connect my Sony PlayStation 3 (60GB) to my surround sound system so that I could enjoy the full benefits of Blu-ray. Being an optical cable there are no issues with signal distortion and the cable operated at the same level as other more expensive cables that I already owned. The only disappointment with this cable was the thin plastic bag that was used for packaging - while my cable appears to be fine I would caution any buyers to check for damage to the cable immediately.

no instructions with the cable so i tried installing as is and couldn't really get them to snap into I/O ports between HDTV and 5.1 sound system.



duh! once i noticed the clear rubber protectors on the cable ends and removed them i get 5.1 signals directly from a HDTV channel that broadcasts in Dolby Digital into my 5.1 ONKYO system. WOW!

For anyone looking for a digital optical cable, the Tripp Lite is a very affordable solution. It is not the highest quality cable, but since it is transmitting a digital signal, quality does not really matter. The only way quality comes into play with optical cables is in the housing. There are many cheap cables out there that can have the ends break off after a lot of reconnecting. This cable is sort of mid-quality in terms of housing. It does not feel cheap, but I also wouldn't expect it to last ten years like a Monster cable would. But at this price, it is a great choice if you plan on connecting it and leaving it alone for awhile. I have bought two and it sounds great.



Do not be fooled into spending $80 for Monster cables when this cable does exactly what it needs to. I have a premium "Monster-type" cable and there is no distinguishable difference in sound. If you are currently using component or God-forbid, analog RCA cables for your audio connections, I definitely recommend upgrading to toslink. You will definitely notice a difference in sound.

I bought this optical cable to attach my Playstation 3 to my Yamaha receiver.

It works and sounds perfectly. Much better quality sound than using r and l

output wires. Less wiring to deal with also. Highly recommend!

I just installed 2 of these TOS cables in my system (Onkyo receiver, cable box and Sony DVD player). The sound is AMAZING!!! If you REALLY want your cables (that are hidden behind your components) to say "Monster" on them, then by all means, spend the 50+ dollars. I'm glad I got these, and I recommend them with no hesitation.

Not much more to say. Most of your cheaper cables are poorly made but this one is well put together. It doesn't have the same level of protection as the really expensive ones but you really don't need it as long as you don't abuse them or tie them in knots.



Everything hooked up perfect and the difference in sound quality is amazing. If you've been putting off upgrading because of cable prices grab a couple of these and enjoy the improvement. - Hdtv - Playstation 3 - Toslink - 51 Surround'

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Playstation 3 - toslink, 51 surround 51 surround Playstation 3 - toslink, 51 surround

Electronic Music - usb cables, flip video

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Not much to say about this cable except that it works and is reasonably priced. One end is a USB plug, the other a USB port-like connector, which allows you to plug things into your computer's USB port from a distance of a few feet. I was just looking for a cheap cable that would let me plug a Flip Video camera into my laptop (I figured I was bound to break that side-arm off the camera eventually if I kept plugging it directly into the USB port...no doubt I'd forget about it as I was moving the computer around). Anyway, it works fine for my purposes. Cables To Go 19003 USB A Male to A Female Extension Cable, White (1 Meter/3.28 Feet)

Thank god for Amazon reviews! I got a Flip Video a couple of months ago and had some trouble getting it to work, partly because the software wouldn't upload from the Flip to my computer and partly because I couldn't squeeze in the USB port on the side of the camcorder to the already crowded back panel of my computer. When you look at the accessories page for the Flip, you'll see a cord made specially for the Flip. It gets unbelievably awful reviews, the most common complaint being that it simply doesn't fit. So, based on those almost universally awful reviews, I sought other options. I'm glad I did!



This cord works perfectly with my Flip. I've been somewhat slow to use my Flip, but this cord is one of the things that is going to help me do more. I definitely recommend it as one of the essential items for anyone owning a Flip Video.

On my Dell, access to the USB ports is either in the back under the desk or in the front, under some plastic overhang, and skewed sideways. Either way it was a pain to use for something that you need to plug in and out a lot like an iPod or digital camera. Worse, they are impossible to use with something like the flip video that has a built-in USB plug on a short arm.



So I decided to get an extension cable so that I could plug in anything easily. I checked out Staples and Radio Shack and found $25 minimum for a simple A/A cable. But amazon and Cables-to-go came through with an inexpensive 10 foot cable that simplifies hooking up my peripherals to my computer. (I probably could have gotten away with the 3 foot cable but better to be too long than too short.) I plug in the cable and leave the other end disconnected on top of the PC where it waits patiently to be needed. The cable feels solid and gives every impression of being able to hold up to some abuse. I have used it with my iPod, my digital camera, and my flip video camera without any problems.



Anyone who buys a flip video camera MUST buy either the 10 foot or three foot A/A cable. Everyone else should buy it so that they don't have to struggle to get their iPod or digital camera hooked up. It does the job it is supposed to do, does it well, is solidly built, and is cheaper than anything else I could find. Strongly recommended.



Update (December 2008): I have had it for over a year and have had no problems with the cable. Well worth the price.

I was unable to even find any male/female extension USB cables at my local bricks & mortar stores, and the male/male cables available cost an arm and a leg.

These cables are extraordinarily low priced, arrived in the blink of an eye, fit perfectly, are of heavy construction, and work like a charm.

I couldn't be happier.

My FLIP Camera has a USB port that hangs precariously onto my computer, so I bought these lengthy cables. Now I can set my FLIP Camera on my desk and pass the information through the cable to my computer's USB ports. I don't know why FLIP didn't think of this sooner. No chance of breaking the FLIP USB port anymore. Plus these cables are dirt cheap and very well made!

The cable is just the thing for plugging in your Flip Camera into an otherwise inaccessible USB port. The Flip interface works well for laptops, but not so well withdesktops. Flip has a set of 3 cables for $15, but if you don't have 3 cameras it's kind of redundant. This cable was a fraction of price and works fine. I also bought 2 more for hooking in my peripheral USB devices with longer cables that otherwise would stretch and pull out if I need to remove the computer tower from my desk. An excellent and economical buy.

I ordered 2 of these USB extensions.

With USB 2.0 devices (5 devices tested) one cable worked sometimes and the second cable worked rarely.

With USB 1.1/1.0 devices (USB mice and keyboard) both cables worked fine.



Be warned, these are not high speed cables. - Usb - Cables - Flip Video - Usb Cables'

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3rd Generation - flip video, mino

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FLIP video has done a great deal to prove to me as a repeat customer that they heavily weigh simplicity and ease of use when designing their products. My family owns two FLIP camcorders and it is clear to me that the previous version:



-Flip MinoHD Video Camera - Brushed Metal, 8 GB, 2 Hours (2nd Generation) OLD MODEL



is a much better value for the money as I do not believe the minor updates on this "new" model warrant a $70 plus price increase (a nearly 50% premium!!!!)



The new generation has maintained the small size and easy use of the second generation. They have added a new sensors and image stabilization to 720p video at 60fps. (Second gen-720p 30fps)



I bought the 2nd generation flip minoHD (ASIN: B002R5AM7C) as a present for myself and my family to use for many different applications. The kids have used it for making YouTube videos with their friends. We have used it to record Birthdays, Christmas and many other random filmable occasions all with great results. It has become a favorite of all of the members of my family and me.



My son recently moved away to college and I decided to give the second generation family minoHD to him for school. Conveniently for our Flip-Lacking family, the new 3rd generation minoHD just came out so I ordered it to replace the second generation.



I would be kidding myself if I did not acknowledge that the new features do add some recording benefits but the basis of this review is that my family and I have decided that these improvements just ARE NOT worth the extra $70.



The recording quality is still 720p; the fps increase is hardly noticed. I would feel much better about the price increase if 1080p recording had been incorporated but with the newest round of cell phones producing HD video now, FLIP needs to give us more upgrade for the money.



For now, IMO, the 2nd generation Flip minoHD is a much better value. Flip MinoHD Video Camera - Black, 8 GB, 2 Hours (3rd Generation) NEWEST MODEL

I got one of these as a gift and wasn't sure I'd use it much since I have accumulated an assortment of digital cameras big and small. This little powerhouse of a camera has become the go-to for all my video. It's very small and light but comfortable in the hand and I've been able to use it with ease without ever opening the instruction book which was a big plus for me. I also love that there is no power or USB cord that I have to keep track of because I'm terrible about keeping those handy for my other cameras. The video plays back crisp and clear even on the full-screen. It rivals my much larger and more expensive Canon HD video camera, which takes amazing video but I rarely use because it's such a hassle. Overall I think this new Flip is an amazing piece of hardware -- stylish, compact, powerful -- that couldn't be easier to use.

I bought this camera for my girlfriend for Christmas. She wanted a digital camera, but I thought she would have more fun with a pocket video camera. Ironically, my dad had the same idea for my mom and also bought her a pocket video camera. However, being that he read a lot of reviews and is tedious in his research, he went with the Kodak Zi8. That was most unfortunate for the Flip product because I was able to compare them side by side. The Kodak Zi8 is a far superior product in every aspect. Here is a list of what you can do with Flip: Record video, adjust volume, view video. Here is a list of what you can do with Zi8: Choose between 4 different qualities of video, with the highest being 1080p, zoom in and out, adjust volume, take still pictures (which was a huge selling point), date/time stamp, adjust brightness. For half the price, the Zi8 is a no brainer. I returned the Flip to Amazon and promptly order the Zi8 in its stead. I saw a similar product from Sharper Image that I would purchase over the Flip if I had a choice based on the ridiculous price being charged for the Flip.

I have several nice cameras and camcorders but anytime I ask my wife to take a picture, I have to go through a minor training program explaining what this is and what that is. By the time I get it all explained, the photo opportunity is usually lost. I have given up buying her cameras since even the simplest ones seem to baffle her.



I have a smart and very high tech friend, who has many excellent cameras, but often uses a Flip Ultra and loves it. When Amazon offered the Mino HD as the "Deal of the Day", I read a few reviews and went for it. I frankly find it to be an amazing and unique piece of equipment. In this day of cramming more and more features into smaller and smaller packages, Flip has taken the "Keep it Simple" route and I applaud them for that. There is no choice of several video formats, just the one that many of us consider the best. There is no separate still image feature but the software allows you to grab stills of pretty good quality quite easily. Essentially, there is one button to turn the unit on, one button to extend the USB connection, and a large red button to begin and end recording. There is no memory card and no battery, instead, an internal battery and built in memory that will give you two hours of HD recording. It has an image stabilization system, probably electronic that does fine. The LCD screen is beautiful and adequate in size.



In short, this is exactly what I wanted for my wife, something that turns on, takes videos, and turns off. The videos viewed full screen are very good. The sound is excellent. This camera is exactly what it was meant to be, fast into action and good HD quality with good sound. Videos are simple to get on the computer and play beautifully.



The Flip software loads right from the camera, no disc to keep track of. As soon as I loaded it, I was offered a chance to update the software and did. One of the new features allowed me to import my contact list for email. The email program, for the most part, is excellent, but more on that in a minute.



The software is excellent and very intuitive. You can shorten videos from either end and save the new video separately or replace the original one in your camera. You can take stills from the videos with the click of one button. A couple of times my videos were a little jerky, causing a dialogue box to appear that said something like,...."You seem to be having trouble playing your video from the camera. We suggest saving it to your computer and playing the saved copy" That was a one click operation and worked perfectly. I have tried stills, shortening, etc, everything except making a movie. I'm sure that will be easy.



emailing is a snap. All you do is click the email symbol. It lets you drag and drop any video or still and emails them easily. There is no sizing or changing of anything required. I love this feature! Although the emails do not appear in your sent mail file, the Flip software has it's own sent mail file. You can always find what you sent to someone.



So, why not give this Mino HD five stars? It is what it claims to be and it exceeds my expectations. I'd love to give it five stars but I find that the emailing feature, one of my favorites, is mishandled by Flip, at least in my opinion. The person receiving the email will feel that is has been sent by Flip,...and there are ads and invitations to click on this or that for more. It is very easy for the email recipient to find himself in the Flip store with many items offered for sale. Really now, Flip, should you attach your ads to what you call privately shared email? I don't think so. We all get enough spam without it being attached to our personal email.



Anyone wanting something small enough to have with them and simple to operate will love this Mino HD. I'll probably check back after my wife tries it Christmas day. I'm betting she'll love it.



Flip, if you see this, please consider changing your email presentation. You really don't need that with the excellent products you have. It wouldn't surprise me if people found your email ads more offensive than enlightening.



Jack - Pocket Camcorder - Mino - Flip Video - Camcorder'

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Frustration-fre - memory card, sd card

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Well, it was great while it lasted. Unfortunately, it did not last long.



Like other reviewers, after <20 use cycles the device failed and I got a "lock" error when, in fact, the write-protection lock was not engaged. Oddly, by engaging the lock (i.e. entering read-only mode) I was able to remove the picture files from the card. Obviously, further use in the camera was impossible; I was also unable to reformat the card (either with my camera or with the SD Associations free software [..]).



This card has a high average rating but I would urge customers to consider the number of 1-star ratings due to complete product failure before they purchase this item. Transcend 8 GB Class 6 SDHC Flash Memory Card TS8GSDHC6E

Transcend 16 GB SDHC SD Class 6 Flash Memory Card TS16GSDHC6E [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]

I have 4 of these cards that I use in my Panasonic HMC-150, a professional grade video camera. I've run read/write tests on all of them and they get about 14 MB/s write speeds and 17.5 MB/s read speeds. Never encountered any errors! These cards are the best bang for your buck, and the frustration free packaging is awesome.

I recently ordered this card as an accessory for my Acer Aspire One netbook PC. The card took a little while to ship, about 8 days, but that wasn't a big deal. The card has lots of space, and the read speeds are quite impressive. I mostly use it to run and store portable software, and it does a very good job at that.



My only complaint is that when I first inserted the card into my PC it attempted to install some adware. The program was from a company called RelevantKnowledge, and they gather your information for market research purposes. Luckily my spyware software picked it up immediately,so I was able to delete it. Afterward I formatted the card, and now I'm happy as can be.

This was a great fast card while it worked. I used it several times during one month period, and then it crashed and now Windows says "delayed write failed" everytime I insert it into my SDHC reader (tried diff readers on couple PCs). It is ok to use this card for fast transfer of copies of your data (like play images in digital picture frame), but should not be used as a primary storage for images/video (e.g. used in digital or video camera on a vacation of a lifetime).

This 16GB HC SD card works wonderfully in my digital camera. It arrived fast and the Amazon frustration free packaging is just that - easy to open, less waste to dispose of, and less annoying! What can I say, so far, the card works wonderfully and even Best Buy and other stores don't have SD cards this big yet. They only had 8GB when I looked and they wanted as much as a 16GB here on Amazon.



Like all SD cards, the back side's vertical, blue plastic pieces are delicate. I wouldn't use these, or any SD cards, in a card reader. Just plug your camera into the USB directly to transfer images, much safer for the card.



Great deal!

I bought this memory card for my Canon SD1100is, it works great and at 8MP can hold about 1,900 pictures. If only I would have waited until they came out with the frustration-free packaging for this! That was by far the most annoying part, trying to get into the thing. Do yourself a favor and buy the one with the new packaging! --> Transcend TS8GSDHC6E 8 GB SDHC Card (SD 2.0 SPD Class 6) [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging] Oh, I should also add that amazon is the best place to buy any kind of memory card. I've compared prices with stores and they're always about twice as much there as on amazon. The money you can save is worth waiting a day or two to get it.

I would not recommend this card for any use where you can't afford to lose data. The card although quite speedy, failed on reading out images and movies on it's third use. The card now shows only 11 GB and the only way I was able to get some of my images back was with a data recovery software which read the low level blocks. I suspect one of the banks on the flash failed taking about a quarter of my images with it.



My experience does not seem to be unique. Unfortunately, I didn't read the other reviews before I placed my order. I have an 8GB Transcend SDHC which has worked flawlessly for over a year, so I thought I could extrapolate form that experience :-(



Hopefully, I'll be able to get my money back. Even if Transcend replaces it, I doubt that I would ever use it out of fear of losing valuable pictures.

I bought two of these to use in my Canon XSi and I ordered both of them with Amazon's frustration-free packaging, which is a wonderful idea. I thought the price was reasonable even though they were more expensive with the new packaging, and they both seem to be good cards. Both worked upon arrival and I formatted and used both without a problem. I was hesitant at first to purchase them because I didn't recognize the brand. I have always purchased memory cards from Kingston and SanDisk. These seem to be fine and they were cheaper than the other brands. - Sd Card - 8gb - Frustration-fre - Memory Card'

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Remington Beard Trimmer - clipper, trimmer

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I have had a beard, and thus have had beard trimmers, for almost 30 years, so I have some pretty strong ideas about what a trimmer should and should not do. IT SHOULD NOT STAB YOU IN THE FACE! But that is exactly what the new QT4070/41 does.



For years I was wonderfully happy with Norelco's previous top-of-the-line model, the T980. I love the vacuum feature, the turbo setting cut my tough beard with gusto, and the length adjustment was generally adequate (though the settings were a bit wide apart, so 3 was too long and 2 was too short).



But the engineers at Norelco have taken a wonderfully designed T980 trimmer and screwed it up royally. The problem is with the guide comb. On the older T980, the guide comb completely covered the cutting head. But on the new Qt4070/41, the guide comb has tines that extend along the top and front of the cutting head, and END IN SHARP POINTS. So the cutting head sits exposed within a cavity between the ends of the two sets of pointy tines. Yeah, sure, that's what I need to drag across my face all bleery-eyed in the morning - pointed sticks! :-(



The new guide comb's design is woefully stupid for two reasons:



1) The length to which your hairs are cut will VARY depending on the angle with which you hold the trimmer against your skin. If you hold the upper face of the guide comb flat against your skin, you get a longer cut than if you allow your skin to span the gap between the two set of tines. And frankly, you KNOW you can't hold the trimmer at the same angle all over your face! BOTTOM LINE: AN UNEVEN TRIM!



2) Even if you are trying hard to keep the flat top of the guide comb flush against your face, you eventually have to turn a corner, like at your jaw line. I have used this Qt4070/41 about a dozen times now, and each time I have managed to jab myself with those stupid tines somewhere - in the jawline, in the chin, in the lip, etc. I know it's just a matter of time before I (a) break a tine, or (b) draw blood. BOTTOM LINE: A PAINFUL TRIM



My advice: QUICK! Buy a T980 before it is discontinued and all bought up! Maybe Norelco will fix the Qt4070/41 by the time you wear out your T980. Philips Norelco Qt4070 Turbo Vacuum Beard, Stubble and Moustach Trimmer Pro, Black/silver

I have previously been using a Norelco T870 but the battery stopped holding a charge so I have had to buy a new trimmer. Although there were 3 reviews here that mentioned the guide being faulty I decided to try the trimmer due to the 20+ positive reviews and the lack of a decent alternative.

The trimmer arrived this evening so after charging it for an hour I tried it out.

The guide is adjustable to give a varying length of cut. The lowest setting gives a 2mm cut and the highest 18mm. Unfortunately, the guide is made using flexible prongs which bend a good 3-4mm. This means that if you use a low setting the guide prongs will bend fully to the blade. I found this out by cutting my lip twice in the first minute of use. I also quickly found that due to the flexibility of the guide using a low setting results in a really uneven cut.

I keep my beard pretty short (4-5mm) and there's no way I can use this without the blade cutting me and without making my beard look like it's been hacked at by someone with blunt kid scissors. I think it would be a good product for someone with longer beard hair but for me it is completely unusable.

I lost my Norelco T980 a couple of weeks ago and I was dismayed to discover it was out of production. I purchased the QT4070 this evening and after using it I'm absolutely dismayed at the design of the guard. The gap is wide enough that you WILL maul your upper lip when attempting to trip your mustache! Also the prongs dig into the skin when trimming from the neck toward the cheek. I have a very heavy beard so I have to pass over the same area a couple of times due to the thickness of my hair. It was an extremely unpleasant experience. I've had numerous Norelco Beard Trimmers over the years and I've always been happy with the design however the QT4070 is a production FAIL!

bought this to replace my older turbo vacuum model....what a mistake! The space between the guard and the guide comb doesn't work for me at all...it jabs my skin and allows very very uneven cuts to happen. I tried my best to get adjusted but have just called norelco to exercise the 45 day money back offer.

Definitely be cautious when reading the negative reviews about the trim guide on this trimmer. It is different, but if you slide the guide along your face instead of trying to stuff your chin into the blade slot, you will have a much more comfortable experience.



This trimmer is a little different from the previous model(980 I think), which by the way I loved until the day it found it's way into my toilet...still ran it just was never the same! The QT4070 has a strong motor, a more durable cover for the clippings catcher, and the digital display for battery and height is awesome. Plus the lack of springs and hinges on the guide will make this trimmer survive my poor luggage packing as well! Mustn't forget the travel lock! A great addition to keep the trimmer from draining itself en route to your destination.



I have a pretty tough beard and this little guy made short work of it, neat as a pin!



All in all I think if you can adapt your trimming stroke to the new guide you will be very happy with this trimmer...oh and don't try to drown it! - Groomer - Vacuum Trimmer - Clipper - Trimmer'

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1080p Dvd Player - 1080p, upconverting dvd player

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A really decent DVD player with everything one would expect at this price point. The included SE-R0313 remote control has buttons spaced out well considering normal finger thickness of an average men in USA or Europe. The DVD player offers an ergonomic remote control, richness of functions (including the very useful zoom and slow), intelligent menus (big and easy to see and navigate through), and a legible display unlike any other player in its class. it is not surprising considering that Toshiba invented the DVD. Though the front panel display has only 4 digits to show only chapter number unlike a 8-digit display in Toshiba SD3950 showing the time of already seen or remaining part. Also, it is lacking the corresponding FL SELECT function to switch between displaying said time and chapter number. However, such lack is compensated since the time of already seen or remaining part can be continuously displayed, as a little distraction, on-screen and also switched to the chapter number. Toshiba SD7300 1080p Upconverting DVD Player (Black)

This is problably the Best HD DVD player that you can buy @ this Price. When you connect it to your HDTV with a HDMI cable, it brings your old DVD's Back to Life in Cristal Clear 1080p High Definition!!!

I have a Blu Ray player in the living room, which is great, but didn't want to spend as much on a new DVD player for my son's bedroom & this Toshiba 1080p Upconverter does a great job without having to go deep into your pocket.

I've had toshiba's in the past and they were amazing and lasted for years!

I've had two of these and each only lasted about 3 months, and maybe 5-10 DVD movies on each then they progressivly got grainier and grainier. And I was using an HDMI cable. Only a 3 month warranty so it was $50 wasted each time.



Shame on Toshiba! Must be taking lessons from GM.



Picture was great as well as upscaling out of the box. Beware afterwards

Bought this player for the sd card slot and hdmi connector. Tried different cables, tvs, discs, players to get the hdmi to continuously play. It doesn't work unless at least 1 other output cable is connected to the tv. Don't know why that is. Called 2 different customer support numbers and checked Toshiba's website. WOT. No help at all. The dvds do display @ 1080p resolution. Haven't tried the sd slot as yet.

I bought this to show JPEG photos on my big screen from DVD and CDs. It worked sporatically on some CDs. When I read the fine print in the manual, I find that it will not read JPEGs from DVDs at all. CD-RW "may not be compatable". The only CDs that it will read are CD-R 650 MB/74 minute). These are not available locally. I tried 700 MB/80 minute CDs and they did not work. It will not play any file name unless it contains only letters or numerals. I have 2000 photos-all of which have a hyphen in the filename. Not happy. Taking it back - 1080p - Disc Players - 1080p Dvd Player - Upconverting Dvd Player'

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Cats

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Its a very cute item in, but the quality of manufacture is disappointing.



When I opened the box I immediately noticed small glue smears on the black plastic where it had been adheared to the metal, which took a lot of time and care to remove without scratching the plastic.



The metal encasing was littered with pock-marks from where it was sloppily molded, and its clear that while it may be white-gold plated, theres nothing more than weak pot-metal underneath.



I plan on keeping the necklace, simply because it is pretty, and adequate for a quick gift. But I wouldnt buy another one of these. White Gold Plated Crystal Deco Kitty Cat Pendant Fashion Necklace'

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Bellaonline Recommended - bellaonline recommended, homeschooling

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This book covers some very important concepts that parents can use to help their young children learn math. Through simple games, it is possible to stimulate kids to learn math without being stopped by "math phobia". I've read several math books for children lately, but this one impressed me the most! It is a very practical approach. Though the book is geared for K-3rd grade, I found that my 5th grader also enjoys playing these games with her younger sister, who is in K. I wish Peggy Kaye would write another book geared for older children as well. She has a refreshing writing style. This book is awesome and fun! Games for Math

This book is the best! The games and approach have worked very well with the Title One kids that I tutor, providing a fun way to work on skills. The author has an easy writing style that talks the reader through each activity, explaining variations and "what if's". She also provides information on the psychology of learning (such as, "What is a 6 year old's concept of number?") that is geared to the parent and a separate addendum that is geared to teachers.

I recommend this book at almost every workshop I do. It contains fun, easy games and activities to do that teach math skills. The book itself is fun to read and the games are real games, not made up activities to do with flash cards. I highly recommend anyone who works with young children to get a copy of this book.

I took this book out of the library hoping it would have some fun ideas for my four year old. I was not disappointed! The games are lots of fun and I appreciate that the author takes the time to explain what they are learning. We're only doing section one because of my daughter's age, but flipping through the book the other sections look good too. I am definitely buying this one and intend to look at the other books by this author too. I highly recommend this for any child!

My 1st grade daughter hates to study. She screams and rolls her eyes when I bring out the math workbook. Unfortunatly, I have to work with her beacause she's not doing well in math. After looking at a number of books on the subject, and not seeing much to my liking, I found this one. It's wonderful. You really can play these games with your child, help them with math, and they don't even know they're studying. This book (actually this whole series of books) would be great for any child. Those doing well in math will love these games, those doing poorly in math might actually enjoy math for the first time. I've started with a simple solitaire game to help my daughter with addition. This one takes a bit of time, about 10 minutes, but there are plenty of others that you can do any time, for just a couple of minutes. A few of the games are a bit more involved, but they're all fun and the author does a great job explaining exaclty how each game will help your child learn, how often it should be played and for how long. My 6 year old is at a good age for the book, and I can see that I will have some good games for later too. There are some games that my 4 year old likes as well. I wish I could give this book 6 stars. It's really great!

I bought this book based on the reviews I had seen on Amazon. I was hoping that it would be a book that was chock full of ideas for my Kindergarten classroom. I have gotten a few ideas, but it seemed to really focus more on grades 2-3.

"Games for Math" is geared for children from kindergarten through fourth grade. I'm a mother of seven children, and I've taught math classes and concepts for several years. These games can be a key for children to have fun and enjoy math without realizing how much they are learning. I'm glad to have tools like this book. Taking fear from children's hearts concerning math...showing them the simple concepts, and how God uses math to show His order and abundance...these are my goals when teaching math. This book is a very helpful aid in doing so.

Most of the activities in this book are explained in hard to understand, narrative style. Look at this example from the beginning of the description for an activity called STAR COUNT.



"After one round of Star Count, my scorecard looked like this: (illustration).



Elise, a first-grade math fan, had a scorecard that looked like this: (illustration).



Elise let out a moan. 'You won.'"



It goes on like this for another page and a half. So as the reader you need to guess how the game is played, instead of the author clearly stating it. While I am working with children, I want to be able to use the book as a quick reference guide, not a riddle. If the author really needs to put in these stories of individual children playing the game, it should be placed after a succinct explanation of how to play the game.



This book has been on my shelf for two years, but I have never found it very useful. On the other hand, I highly recommend Family Math by Jean Kerr Stenmark. It is written in a very clear style, and the activities are more interesting.

I have been teaching for many years in the classroom, as a tutor and also as a homeschooling mom. I have found all of Peggy Kaye's books to be top of the line. I love that they are usually short and don't require any additional purchased materials. Most games use nothing more than paper, pencil, dice and maybe some sort of counter like paper clips or pennies. This book and her Games for Learning are books that I have recommended over and over. - Teaching Resource - Mathematics - Bellaonline Recommended - Homeschooling'

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Audio-video Kits - pyle, audio-video kits

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Bought this to connect 5 pairs of RC60i polk audio speakers (8 ohm) to our office speaker setup. 3 of our other volume controls were the Phoenix Gold VMT-100 variety that has jumpers that let you change the multiplier. This control has a metal tab that you move to adjust the 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x settings (they call it index "1, 2, 3, 4") I believe when you set it to a higher multiplier it just prevents you from setting the sound higher. i.e. instead of 12 steps of attenuation there are 10, 8, etc..



I gave this 3 stars cuz one of the volume controls had a problem with intermittent contact. One day the audio would cut out and taking the control back out of the wall I discovered that the terminal block was loose. I was sure that the set screws were tightened down on the speaker wires so that wasn't the problem. Wiggling the block would cause the sound to come and go. Perhaps bad solder contacts? BIC AMERICA SVC-2W Impedance Matching Stereo Volume Control (White Standard)

Nice Looking, Frustrating Quality



I've worked with several different volume control units over the years. This one is one of the better looking, more modern looking plate and knob. The construction looks good, but I have a few complaints that will most likely deter me from ordering this model in the future.



1 - Won't take 16 Gauge Wire (18 Gauge MAX) - This can be easily fixed by clipping some copper, but lacking ability, figuring most the units I've bought in the past will take 16 Gauge wire.

2 - I purchased two of these units; one had a sticker identifying the terminal connections, while the other didn't, not even in the box. I had to reference the instructions to find the correct input and output connections. Quality control issue, and could become annoying if you ever had to move the unit and didn't keep the instructions.

3 - The connections are overly sensitive, even with the correct crimped depth, the correct gauge, and the correct amount of torch on each terminal, the simplest of movement while sliding the unit into the electrical box can cause a disconnect of sound. I find this to also be a huge quality control issue with the terminal blocks not making a solid connection despite triple checking the quality of my connection. Both units had this same problem.



The price of this unit reflects the quality of the unit. If you have patience, this unit will work fine for you and looks good, but if you're looking for a frustration free unit, look elsewhere. - Pyle - Niles - Audio-video Kits - Mount'

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Otterbox Defender - otterbox, otterbox defender

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I waited anxiously for Otterbox to release this case and ordered mine within minutes of receiving the "Defender Released" e-mail. I received the case on Friday and I must admit, it did not disappoint.



First impressions: The case is of great quality and a lot of detail went into making it compatible with all the OEM "accessories". The holster is among the best I've seen for a phone of this size and works perfectly with the case.



After carrying it for two days (and this is already my 3rd iPhone 4 case - I am rough on my phones): The case is without a doubt the most durable I've seen for the iPhone 4 and lives up to the reputation that Otterbox has built over the years.



Cons: The case does add considerable bulk to the phone and may not be perfect for pocket carriers. It does include a holster which works great and can rotate for vertical or parallel carrying of the phone.





Miscellaneous: I have no complaints really, but I am left to wonder if the silicone "flaps" that cover the earphone and USB plug-ins could have been a little more user-friendly. Sometimes they are frustrating to get back into their proper "closed" position.



Edited one month after using: I am still extremely happy with the case. I have dropped my phones a few times already and though the case is starting to show signs the abuse I have provided it the phone still looks pristine! I opened up the case this morning to clean the phone etc and to my surprise there wasn't much to clean. With cases I've owned in the past I would have a forest of lint, dust etc. that would trap itself between the case and the phone. The Otterbox has minimized that debris!





I am uploading several photos showing the difference between a "bare" iPhone 4 and an iPhone 4 in the Defender case so everyone can get an idea of how much "protection" and in turn "bulk" this case adds to the phone.



Edited to add: Amazon removed my pictures when the placed the phone back in a "pre-order" status, I will re-upload them again once they allow. I'm not sure why they state "pre-order" when it should state "Back-ordered, will deliver in xx to xx weeks", but I digress. OtterBox Defender Case for iPhone 4 (White/Pink, Retail Packaging, Fits AT&T iPhone)

Otterbox defender for my iPhone 3Gs was the best thing I ever did for that phone! It fell into and was completely submerged in a 5 gallon pot of BBQ sauce - and rinsed off with the sprayer in the sink. Phone continued to operate flawlessly!



As soon as I bought iPhone 4 - I immediately ordered an otterbox case for it. It took over a month to arrive and when it finally did - I could immediately tell it did not offer the same amount of protection as the Otterbox for the 3Gs.



I'm constantly fighting the rubber covering -- if I pull it out of my pocket I have to push it back into place all the way around the phone.



The screen protector is better -- the bubbles are gone from the previous version. I like that.



The flaps that cover the charger port and headphone jack suck! They never stay in place and to get them to lock down is a pain. Debris can easily infiltrate into the case through these openings. I find that I have to take the phone completely out of the case and clean the phone and the case more often than I ever did with the other phone/otterbox.



Maybe they were just in a hurry to get a case that would fit the quick arrival of iPhone4. I hope the case is revamped and the thought is completed. I really need and want the kind of protection and rugged durability that the other case provided for 3Gs.



Regardless of what I hate about this case, it's still the BEST case that you can put on the new iPhone 4 if you're hard on your phone. Just wish it was better...

**** 02/12 update: I bought an AT&T case to get one fast at a discount and it works fine until the price drops on the universal case. The Verizon silent mode button is partially covered so if you use silent mode a lot and have big fingers, you might want to wait or buy from the manufacturer. The headphone jack doesn't align quite right with my Verizon phone, but just open the silicone port. And now this is a genuine five star review. I really like this case. It is sturdy and protective, looks stylish, feels comfortably grippy and it was easy to install the phone. Box directions are minimal but Otterbox has a simple video that takes you through it. *****



I just called Otterbox and a very nice lady in Customer Service says they have a universal design ready to fit both AT&T and Verizon phones, to be released 02/10/11. I suppose Amazon will have these as well. Hope they do all the same colors.



Important to know because the Verizon iPhone has some ports and controls in a slightly different place than its AT&T sister and this case would not fit both phones.



Just thought you should know. Glad I did some research before I bought this one. Yes, I know this isn't a real review but not everyone reads comments. At least I'm not one of those tiresome people who posts a one star review because something went wrong with the shipping.

Because you WILL drop your phone. Thats the slogan I would use if I was Otterbox. You will drop it, many times. It amazes me how many people think they are above dropping their phone. The iphone4 is a slippery devil and you must protect it. When I first saw the case in an AT&T store I knew that someone had finally got it right. However, at 50 bucks, I knew I could get it cheaper online (and did). The case is very attractive (the white is a bit more of a greyish white and I honestly think it improves the appearance of my already attractive Iphone 4. All the buttons work perfectly (I swear I think its more responsive now and it keeps debris and dust outta all the ports.



If you are willing to spend 10 bucks on a case, then you should be willing to spend more to truly protect your phone. This is the only solution that i've seen to keeping your expensive Iphone, clean, safe, and functioning at all times. The case does add size to the phone though and with the holster it adds a lot of bulk, but its not bad. This is a smart purchase, trust me. - Defender - Otterbox - Otterbox Defender - Iphone 4'

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Family Reunion - portable scanner, slide converter

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I bought this to turn my old slides into pictures and transfer them online. Works great except, and this is a big except, you used kodak film to make your slides! Kodak was the most common film in the 60's and 70's for taking pictures. And almost everyone made slides because they lasted longer than prints. None of my slides taken with Kodak film will scan. They all come out as if they are a negative. I called the company and they first tried to tell me that I could fix this with photo shop! Not!!! I called back and spoke to someone else who, in passing, said that there was some trouble with Kodak. At that time, I had no idea what was wrong. Now I do. If the slide was taken using some other film, this machine works great. But if you are like me, and most of your precious memories were captured by Kodak, don't buy this converter. Keep looking. Pandigital Photolink One-Touch PANSCN05 4-Inch x6-Inch Photo and Slide and Negative Scanner

I recently purchased this item so my wife could scan a large collection of our old 35mm negatives. The simplicity of use was very appealing. The unit is very easy to set up, and the ability to use while connected to a computer or as a standalone unit is very convenient.



Operation is simple for either slides or negatives. Slides need to be taken out of their carrier, which is simple. On some slides that are relatively dark, the AI in the unit thinks that the edge of the slide has not been detected. The dark area of the slide does not appear in the scan, making the image a little skinnier than it should be. The instruction book does warn that this can happen.



For negatives, just push the negative into the unit and it feeds itself through. The AI detects the frame lines between the pictures and creates one file for each photo detected. This worked great!



The only issue I had with the unit was that the color was not very true. Overall, photos had a much bluer cast to them, making them look like they were all taken with a flash. We had some of these negatives printed professionally, and those appeared normal. There is no way to adjust the unit using software to compensate. This color difference was so distracting that I could not keep the product. I'm still on the lookout for a simple unit that scans all formats.

Very small and compact scanner. Super quiet and fast. Very good images. Does have an issue with very dark edges of photos, which will autocrop the image sometimes cutting peoples heads down. Other that that very pleased. I have a secondary old HP Scanjet 6 for those dark edged images. My wife has been busy archived 30 years worth of photos. Well worth the money.

All my slides from the 60s and 70s come mounted in cardboard holders, as I'll bet most people's slides do. They won't work with this scanner. There is no way you can get your slides out of the cardboard mounts without wasting lots of time and probably ruining your slides. Besides, the dates are stamped on the cardboard, which would then be lost.



The product description just says it does photos, slides, and negatives. It's a big oversight to fail to mention that it won't work for the vast majority of people's slides.

I got this device and started to scan my negatives. If the negative I scan is KODAK, amazingly the device will just not scan it. You will not have even a file for the scan on the SD card. If the negative is anything else but KODAK, it will be scanned greatly and converted automatically from negative to positive and even each picture will have it is own file (i.e. the device will convert a negative has 6 pieces of pictures to 6 individual files without your intervention).



More great, the device quickly scan printed pictures and it is amazingly fast and colors are nice. Also the device is stand alone and small in size to carry while you are traveling if you have family to meet somewhere else and want to scan their pictures.



My only frustration is that this device will never scan KODAK negatives. I found out they sell another device just for KODAK (model P460). Also this device will never scan your mounted slide as you have to unmount them.



The 2 stars rating has to do with the lack of honesty of the description of this device. It should clearly state that it does not scan KODAK negatives or mounted slides.

EVERY WINTER I SAY I A GOING TO CLEAN UP OLD PHOTOS-GLAD I WAITED. THIS IS WORTH EVERY PENNY! I HAVE BEEN SCANNING EVERYTHING IN SITE! WIRKS GREAT ON OLD PHOTOS TOO. I HAVE FAMILY PHOTOS FROM PRE 1900--THEY LOOK TERRIFIC. PLAN OT TAKE MY TIME AND CATALOG THE THOUSANDS OF PICTURES I HAVE AND GIVE NEAT CD,S /DVDS TO KIDS! SCANS WELL, AMAZINGLY FAST, AND SOME NOT SO HOT PICTURES ACTUALLY LOOK BETTER.

I bought this to scan my old photos (haven't used the negative or slides functionality). It scans one photo fairly quickly (a few seconds compared to my Epson flatbed scanner which takes 1-2 mins per photo); it's pretty fast to go through a stack of old photos. However, the scanned photo quality is not as good as my Epson scanner. Also, I need to feed the photo in one at a time as opposed to other devices where you can scan a stack of photos. - Photography - Slide Converter - Portable Scanner - Negative Scanner'

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3 5 M To Audio Cable

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The cable is adequate. Sometimes it seems that the audio signal transmission through the cable is shaky and it crackles a bit, but if you don't play with it, it's okay.



It's cheap, it works, it's a cable. Enjoy. Cables Unlimited AUD-1100-06 6-Feet 3.5MM Male to Male Stereo Cable

I bought this cable to connect my laptop's audio to my TV. The sound is ok, but the plug in does not fit tightly to the laptop audio out - My other cable had a much better fit but unfortunately it was too short for my setup. For the price it is ok, but if you want a tight connection, look for a better cable.

This Cables Unlimited 3.5mm male to male cable is great in one aspect, namely price. While this attribute is undoubtedly great for those looking for a cheap cable, even at the price point, there are better options such as Scosche IU3.5RC 3.5mm Retractable Cable etc.



The sound quality is rather poor. There is a lot of noise from the cables themselves, which is somewhat less than expected as the casing of the cable seems better than the average. I primarily used this cable to connect my iPod to my car through an auxilary jack, but also experienced the aforementioned issues when connecting to a a speaker set.



I have since began using a cable bought for two dollars at a local discount store without any issues. In conclusion, even if one desires a cheap auxillary cable, this is one product to avoid. Amazon as well as local stores have plenty of other superior options at this price, and such an alternative should be pursued to avoid frustration.

It works - but - the sound crackles every time you touch the cable. If you don't touch or move your equipment I guess its sufficient. Not recommended for portable MP3 type players that you frequently move.

The cord I received is low quality. I suspect the connections between the wire and jack are poor. I have to jiggle the cord to get a good connection. If I move the cord even slightly, I get a scratchy, static filled sound. I've experienced the same problem using the cord with different players and speakers, so the cord is definitely the source of the problem.

I mean there's not a lot to say. It is what it is. Sound quality was good out of my laptop into my TV and the length meant that I could put the laptop where I wanted to (this replaces a 12 inch cable...THAT was not ideal). Cable seems of decent quality. Not flimsy nor stiff. Connectors are nice and tight when connected.



No complaints.

They crackle when you connect them or move the sound device, but when they aren't crackling they sound good. The crackling doesn't happen that terribly often. I wish I would have payed 4 more bucks for a better cable.'

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Male To Male - monitor cable, vga cable

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Cable quality appears to be very nice. Very thick shielding. However, with Win7 at least, you will not be able to get native resolution for your TV through this cable (if you have a 1080p HD TV). I bought this because I wanted to put the computer farther than 6 ft away (length of VGA cable I had). When I hooked this up, the resolution dropped from 1920x1080, to 1024x768, and windows would not allow 1080p resolution. Go back to the cheap 6 ft VGA, works no problem. Apparently, some VGA cables don't support a certain pin that helps the computer identify the monitor, so windows locks any monitor you hook up with this to "generic PnP monitor". I've tried 2 long VGA cables so far, same results with both. I wish there were a way to identify up front which VGA cables support 1080p (identify monitor type), and which don't. RiteAV - SVGA Monitor Cable - 15 Ft.

This is a quality cable. I was surprised to see how well constructed and well insulated it is. It came with sm plastic prtective pin covers and a spare set of post nuts. It provided a really nice picture when I connected my laptop to my sony rptv (lcos). A sweet deal for $8.79 (thats about $0.58 per foot). Note: I didn't have to pay s/h because I subscribe to amazon prime (another sweet deal if you use amazon alot). - Vga - Video Cable - Vga Cable - Monitor Cable'

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