Sunday, 24 April 2011

Energizer Lithium Aa Batteries - lithium batteries, battery


The Energizer L91 Lithium AA cell is a fantastic power source. For high-drain applications, it offers great advantages over ordinary alkaline cell and rechargeable NiMH cell. However, it is also very expensive as a disposable battery. So it is important to recognize the strength of L91, and use it only in applications that give you the best results. Otherwise you'll be wasting your money.



According to data sheet published by Energizer, the capacity of the Lithium AA cell (L91) is 3000mAh. This number remains nearly constant with load current. In comparison, the ordinary Alkaline battery (such as the Energizer E91 AA) is rated as 2800mAh, but only at a very light load of 25mA. At a heavy load of 1000mA (typical for a digital camera or flash unit), its capacity drops to below 1000mAh. This number gets even worse at low temperature. At zero degree C and 1000mA load, the L91 can provide about seven times more energy compared to the E91. This is where the marketing claim of "Last up to 7 times longer" comes from.



When used in a digital camera at room temperature of 25 degree C, the L91 is more likely to last 3-4 times longer than alkaline. This is enough to justify its price, which is also around 3-4 times higher than alkaline. However, in low-drain applications (such as smoke detector, wireless mouse or remote control) alkaline cells will last just as long at a fraction of the cost.



The L91 also contains much higher energy when compared to an ordinary rechargeable NiMH cell such as the Energizer NH15-2500. This is partially due to its higher terminal voltage of 1.5V, which is 20% higher than that for NiMH.

Energy stored in NH15-2500 : 2.5Ah * 1.25V = 3.125Wh,

Energy stored in L91 : 3Ah * 1.5V = 4.5Wh (44% higher).



Higher terminal voltage for L91 is especially advantageous in digital camera applications, because your camera flash will recharge up to 20% faster. An added benefit is that the L91 weighs only 14.5 grams (0.5 oz) each, compared to 30 grams (1 oz) for NiMH. So your camera becomes much lighter.



The NH15-2500, like all ordinary NiMH cells, suffers from rapid self-discharge problem. If you charge up a set of those cells and leave them in your camera for a few weeks, you're likely to be greeted by 'Low Battery' sign when you try to take a photo. The new generation of 'ready-to-use' NiMH cells such as SANYO eneloop and Rayovac Hybrid solved this problem by having very low self discharge rate. But they have lower capacity of only 2000-2100mAh.



Bottom line: If you need AA batteries for a long hiking trip, then L91 is obviously your best choice. For most other situations, I recommend using low self-discharge NiMH cells for lower operating cost. Energizer L91BP-8 Lithium AA Photo Battery (8-Pack)

The Energizer L91 Lithium AA cell is a fantastic power source. For high-drain applications, it offers great advantages over ordinary alkaline cell and rechargeable NiMH cell. However, it is also very expensive as a disposable battery. So it is important to recognize the strength of L91, and use it only in applications that give you the best results. Otherwise you'll be wasting your money.



According to data sheet published by Energizer, the capacity of the Lithium AA cell (L91) is 3000mAh. This number remains nearly constant with load current. In comparison, the ordinary Alkaline battery (such as the Energizer E91 AA) is rated as 2800mAh, but only at a very light load of 25mA. At a heavy load of 1000mA (typical for a digital camera or flash unit), its capacity drops to below 1000mAh. This number gets even worse at low temperature. At zero degree C and 1000mA load, the L91 can provide about seven times more energy compared to the E91. This is where the marketing claim of "Last up to 7 times longer" comes from.



When used in a digital camera at room temperature of 25 degree C, the L91 is more likely to last 3-4 times longer than alkaline. This is enough to justify its price, which is also around 3-4 times higher than alkaline. However, in low-drain applications (such as smoke detector, wireless mouse or remote control) alkaline cells will last just as long at a fraction of the cost.



The L91 also contains much higher energy when compared to an ordinary rechargeable NiMH cell such as the Energizer NH15-2500. This is partially due to its higher terminal voltage of 1.5V, which is 20% higher than that for NiMH.

Energy stored in NH15-2500 : 2.5Ah * 1.25V = 3.125Wh,

Energy stored in L91 : 3Ah * 1.5V = 4.5Wh (44% higher).



Higher terminal voltage for L91 is especially advantageous in digital camera applications, because your camera flash will recharge up to 20% faster. An added benefit is that the L91 weighs only 14.5 grams (0.5 oz) each, compared to 30 grams (1 oz) for NiMH. So your camera becomes much lighter.



The NH15-2500, like all ordinary NiMH cells, suffers from rapid self-discharge problem. If you charge up a set of those cells and leave them in your camera for a few weeks, you're likely to be greeted by 'Low Battery' sign when you try to take a photo. The new generation of 'ready-to-use' NiMH cells such as SANYO eneloop and Rayovac Hybrid solved this problem by having very low self discharge rate. But they have lower capacity of only 2000-2100mAh.



Bottom line: If you need AA batteries for a long hiking trip, then L91 is obviously your best choice. For most other situations, I recommend using low self-discharge NiMH cells for lower operating cost. - Energizer - Battery - Lithium Batteries - Lithium'


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Wireless Controller - wireless controller, 360 controller


This is a good looking controller, with some improvements over the original design. A lot of people are complaining about the lack of color on the a,b,x,y buttons, but I don't need them to have color anyway.



I like the new texture of the controller. It isn't a slippery surface and has a little tackier/rougher feel. Makes it easier to hold onto if your hands sweat. I also like that they added a bit of resistance to the thumbsticks. This should also help fix the problem of the thumbsticks getting "floaty" after some use. The trigger buttons also now have a curve, but doesn't really have an impact on use or feel for me, but okay design.



On to the directional pad. It still sucks. It is neat that you can convert it to a raised plus shape or more of a flat shape, but the underlying problem is still there. The d-pad is still on top of a disk, which makes it imprecise. I was trying to enter character names last night and had to use the thumbstick because the d-pad is so inaccurate. I would love it if they went to the ps3 style d-pad that is just four digital buttons instead of basically an analog directional pad.



Gave it 4 stars, would have been 5 if they fixed the d-pad. Xbox 360 Silver Controller and Play & Charge Kit

OK, when I first heard about this controller the first thing I said was about time!!! I am one of the very few people that prefer the PS3 controller, mainly due to the D-Pad. But for shooters the 360 controller cant be beat. But since day one the 360 has had that horrible D-Pad. So obviously when I heard about the new transforming D-Pad I had high hopes.



The main reason (if not the only reason) I bought this was for Fallout New Vegas. If you are familiar with it or Fallout 3 you know that you can "hot key" your weapons, etc to the D-Pad. Well because of how bad the original D-Pad was I would only use up, down, left, and right. If you tried to use ANY of the diagonal keys you would end up in BAD situations pulling the wrong weapon as a Deathclaw is storming at you and you really need your missile launcher, and you accidentally pull out a pistol.



In New Vegas up is already designated as your "change ammo type", so that leaves only 3 other reliable slots. So when I heard about this new controller and its "improved" D-Pad I thought awesome finally I can hot key more weapons, and not always have to open my pip boy to get to the right weapon. Well, I ordered it, and paid for one day shipping which was only 9.98, and the controller itself was only 51.99, even thought it retails everywhere else for 64.99.



So it came yesterday (ironically while I was playing New Vegas), so I decided to test it out. I hot keyed 7 weapons, and tried to use the D-Pad to pull out the right weapon. I tried it with just the plus (+), and then with the whole disc, and strangely it worked better for the diagonal presses when it was in the plus (+) formation then it did as the disc. And the results are overall just barely better. It still would pull out the wrong weapon about 1 out of every 3 times, when it use to be like 2 out of 3.



Another great test is to open up a message on your 360, and try to navigate the qwerty keyboard with the D-Pad only. You'll see how bad the D-Pad is, and that it is CONSTANTLY moving up when you press left, down when you press right, etc. Now if it were up to me, and I was a controller designer the perfect D-Pad would be a cross between the 360, and PS3 D-Pads. It would have separated up, down, left, and right like the PS3, but instead of a disc shape for the diagonal, it would have independent sections for diagonal. So that you would be able to properly press the direction you are intending. Ill try to insert a drawing of what I mean if I can.



But anyway to sum up the review I would say, unless you really need the plus shaped D-Pad for a game, then its not worth it. The new color scheme is kinda cool, but if you rely on the button colors for a game like Fable 3, then this ones not for you. The buttons are white, black, and grey now. I watched an interview with the main designer of XBOX equipment about this controller, and he mentioned several times that the improvements would help with fighting games, and maybe they have. I cant comment on that since I dont play fighting games. But for me, it wasn't worth it.



UPDATE: 11/18/2010



Ok, after using this for a couple weeks I felt I should update the review. I guess by using it for awhile it loosened up a little. Because now it works perfect. I can use all 8 directions in both modes. (plus and circle). And it works right now. I can pick the correct weapons that Im trying to. But when I try to use it for messaging its still constantly going diagonal when I need down, etc. So depending on what your using it for give it a chance. And just know that after a few days/ weeks (depending on how much you use it) it will get better with time. MUCH better that the original. - 360 Controller - Controller - Xbox 360 - Wireless Controller'


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Battery


These are great batteries. I had one set in Nikon F4s and used them for many trips and it is still going and going f0r four years alrady. Light weight (1/3 the weight and at least 5+ times the power than the Alkaline batteries. Best of the all, it will not dmage your camera while storing. A true "everyready"! HIghtly recommended. Energizer- AA2 Lithium Batteries (2-Pack), 8 Times Longer

I was able to take 125 digital images (both day and evening flash shots) with my Olympus D-490Z over a course of a 10 day vacation to Los Angeles and San Francisco. The Olympus takes 4 AA batteries. I thought I would need a 2nd set of batteries but the first set lasted the whole trip.Great for vacations when you don't want to lug around a charger and a spare set of batteries, however if you take a lot of pictures with your digital camera, it might be wise to invest in two sets of rechargable NiMH batteries and a portable charger.

These batteries are great. I don't have scientific numbers as to how much longer they last that regular alkaline batteries, but I can believe the claim of five times, even more. I have a digital camera, which is particularly suited to take advantage of the difference. These are definitely worth the money.

Like many users of Lithium Batteries, I've had trouble finding batteries that really last. I've had four of these in my Olympus D-490 Zoom for over 6 months. During this time, we toured Europe and gone on other vacations. These still show a full charge. I can't find them in stores, so will buy these for the day these wear out.

I have a bad habit of leaving my TI-83 calculator in my bag in my car when I'm not using it. In Michigan it gets quite cold around this time (Dec./Jan.), so batteries die quickly. These batteries have so far lasted much longer than others I have used. They are pricey, but they keep me from having to stock up on batteries as often.

These are great and last a long time. I mainly use these for my CD player which significantly improves the life, but for a little more money I would prefer rechargeable. If only they also made rechargeable Lithium AA. I also have an Olympus DM-1 voice recorder which uses AAA. I cannot find batteries for it that last more than a day or two. Pro: Great battery lifeCon: not rechargeableCon: no AAA

I primarily use these batteries in my Nikon SB-600 Speedlight Flash. I started using them about a year ago after much frustration with the lifespan of normal alkaline batteries. I am not a professional photographer but it is a pretty serious hobby (addiction my wife would say) of mine, and nothing drives me more crazy than my equipment becoming the limiting factor of what I want to do creatively. Replacing batteries in the flash on what seems like a weekly basis is annoying--running out of juice in my camera flash at the wrong moment is much worse and can even be devastating depending on the context.



Thankfully these excellent lithium batteries from Energizer are truly superior in performance over either normal alkaline or rechargeable batteries. I get 500-700 shots out of a set of these, which makes them economical compared with the seemingly less expensive alternatives.



It is possible to find these batteries in larger packs at big box stores, but they're actually the same price per battery overall. I prefer them shipped free to my door, even if they were slightly more expensive. However, it is worth noting that buying 4 of them is cheaper than just two: Energizer Ultimate L91BP-4 Lithium AA Battery 4 Pack. If you need more than two, I'd highly recommend getting a 4, or even 8 pack to save some coin.



These are great batteries for virtually any photography application weather in a point-and-shoot digital or in a flash unit like the SB-600. As other reviewers have mentioned, they are not superior when used in low drain applications like a computer mouse. Stick with normal alkaline or nimh batteries for those uses.

These are amazing! I put two in my camera a year ago and they're still showing a full charge. For those people complaining about the price, do the math. How much would you pay for 12 name-brand alkaline batteries - the rough equivalent of 2 lithium ones?'


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Tactical Light And Laser Combo - tactical light, ar-15


For the price ($70'ish?) I didn't expect much, but it looked good in print, worth a try. When I opened the box I was VERY impressed. This unit (an ELP-38) is combat, rock solid (says it all). All the screw fittings are fine-threaded and have rubber O-ring sealers. I'd wager that this unit would have no problem working under full water submersion, and I may try it someday and add to this report.



As per functionality, the light is rated at 150 lumens, good? bad? Here's how I rated it as "GOOD!"..



a) It lit up a totally dark room like daytime.

b) It lit up the inside of an SUV through dark tinted windows like a flood light.

c) I had my partner give me a sudden blast of it square in the face from 10' away, and I was absolutely blinded like looking into a welders arc. I had a brown dot in my vision for a half-hour afterwards (definately not fun, won't do it again).



The laser comes with a rubberized push-button ON/OFF switch, and a "momentary" pressure activated remote switch on coil cable. Both work great.



The light also comes with "momentary" pressure switch. The "push button" on the light however, is kinda' lame. It's on a screw-cap. You have 2 options: 1) to screw the cap all the way on, and light stays on until you back off the screw. 2) you press the steel back button with your thumb until light comes on, but have to hold it to keep it lit. Let it go, lights goes off. For my mission, I will simply screw the cap to full "ON" and leave it on until done. I personally will have no reason to shut it off tactically during the use. (some other folks may)



I mounted the unit on the port side of a Command-Arms TRM3 picatinny rail, mounted on a Colt AR15's top/forward handguard. It fits up easy and locks down rock solid.



The very best part of this unit is the rotating laser adjustment ring. If you've used laser sights before, you know that the parallax offset is a pain when trying to sight the bullet impact with the laser. It's HUGELY important to try and get the laser as close to the barrel as possible.



With the ELP-38's 360-deg rotating laser ring, I pivoted the laser around, down, and ONTO the Colt-AR15's barrel! (I'll attach a photo of this later). The laser literally lays aside the barrel. It is on the exact horizontal & vertical plane, and fractions of an inch from the bore! It peaks out barely enough for the laser beam to clear the outter edge of the muzzle-break flash-guard.



The parallax is absolutely the least using this setup, next best thing to having a laser in the tip of the bullet, pointing down the bore.



If they had a rubber "On/Off" button on the light, this unit would be 6-stars all the way. ******

I have shopped and shopped for a light laser combo, wanting a good product but not wanting to pay the hundreds of dollars that the seemingly good lights cost. I finally decided to give this one a shot. Guys I got it and it is the real deal. Solid construction, excellent mount, bright light, and bright laser. This is everything the description says it is. It actually didn't do it justice. You will not be disappointed by your purchase. I can't believe how affordable it was. I almost bought a different brand for double the cost. I think I'll order another for my other tactical riffle.

I would have given this 5 stars, but the elevation and windage adjustments would be better if there were positive click stops. Lots of minute adjustments with a little screwdriver. But once sighted in, it has stayed dead-on with shoot from the hip accuracy at 75 feet. Everyone has been amazed at how bright the led flashlight is. It really lights up the night.

Mounted this to my JG M4 S-System on the Right side Rail.

Sighted it in and it works Great.

LED Flashlight is SUPER bright.

The Laser is Good and Powerful and will work for good long distances.



You can use with Pushbutton on the Back of the Laser and/or the Flashlight

- or -

You can attach (included) Pressure Pads on Gun or Foregrip.

I am using the Pressure Pad for my Laser, but prefer not to use it on my Flashlight.

Either way you like it the Flexibility is There.

(Pressure Pads are Momentary ie. as long as you press it that device is on.



The Laser can be Rotated around any one of 16 Positions around the Flashlight.

This is ideal cause you will want your Laser as Close to the Barrel as Possible so Close and Long Distance will Sight in Better.

Purchased this item for mounting on Mossberg 500c 20ga shotgun. Received it today. I have not yet fired the shotgun w/ this mounted on top. However, here are my perceptions thus far:



1. Solid construction

2. Mounting on weaver rail is simple. Large fasteners makes it even easier.

3. Laser is bright and clear. Adjustment is simple.

4. Flashlight is BRIGHT! I purchased this in order to assure that I am not firing at a friendly in a home defense scenario. Aimed it down the hallway of my 2nd story to simulate a home invasion amongst my childrens rooms (late night w/ no light). This thing lights up the hallway like a small star. Anyone standing on the other end of the hallway would be seeing spots and shielding their eyes....all while I lay down some rounds in their direction.

5. Pressure sensors are perfectly sensitive. Mounted them both in the thumb area of my left hand on the forearm. Both activate and shut off w/ a small shift in pressure.



Again, I have not fired my shotgun w/ this attached. However, given where I've mounted it on the shotgun, I do not expect to have too much recoil risk. Regardless, I cannot address how it stands up under actual fire. I can merely provide my opinions thus far. This thing is sold and it has raised my level of comfort/confidence in protecting my family dramatically. - Tactical Light - Ar-15 - Tactical Laser - Laser Sight'


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Leather Wallet - leather wallet, ipad


I read the reviews saying that it doesn't fit, but noted that it now says it's an Updated Version and that they had listened to their customers. The photos looked like it fit so I figured for $9.99 it would be worth a try. I can report that it DOES fit the Xoom! The cutouts on the back are nearly perfect. The back camera works great. The Power Button could maybe be a little easier to acess, as the cutout ends right at its outside edge - but - I have no trouble at all accessing the button to push it. Someone with large hands might, but then they might have trouble even without it being in a case.



I am very happy with this case. I bought the plastic Motorola case when I bought my Xoom (at the urging of Best Buy even though the reviews on Amazon were not good. Duh!) In the Motorla case, you can't access the charger! And that case costs $39.99 and is NOT an easy fit and looks and feels CHEAP. This case seems sturdy, the Xoom feels secure, and I can access all the buttons and ports. I had a hard time figuring out how to make it support my Xoom at an angle - but if you look at the photo above it's pretty easy to figure out. I can't make it stand up vertically, but I don't need that anyway.



It isn't nice beautiful leather, folks - it's only $9.99 after all. It has a texture that makes it easy to grip onto. It has only the faintest, almost nondetectable smell (not like described in other reviews - I had to hold it right up to my nose and the smell is... normal plastic.) I'm very happy with this case and particularly happy with the low price. I feel bad for the people who got a bad product but hope they tried returning it for an exchange or refund. It's refreshing to see a company that actually does take reviews seriously! I hope others won't be afraid to give it a try! CrazyOnDigital Folio Leather Case for Motorola Xoom (Updated Version). Bonus Wristband Included

I bought this item a week back. My Xoom fits in to the case but pops out a little if you put it in a backpack and move it around. It's designed to fit an iPad and the dimensions of the Xoom are obviously different. If you plan on using your Xoom in the case,the screen will partially obscured (as shown in the pictures)and it's pretty uncomfortable to use. If you're just looking for something to protect it from falls, it's acceptable. Looks very elegant from the outside.

This review comes after about 2 weeks of use.



For what you pay, you cannot expect much. What a surprise then that this case really blew that theory out of the water. I thought it would be a marginal fit at best, but my Xoom slid in perfectly. I tried it with a naked Xoom first and all was great. Then, just for giggles, I tried with the horrible silicon skin that ships with Xoom. The straps stretched and it fit fine. But that silicon thing is going in the trash anyway because ... for the final test, I put on the hard rubber protective TPU skin that I had purchased from the same vendor. Tight fit, but with a slight bit of pressure, the straps quickly allowed this to work. My only complaint is that the corners of the Xoom are a bit exposed. But being able to fit the Xoom in the case with a second skin-like case on is the perfect solution. The TPU cases only cost a couple of bucks, too. I really like the durable material that they use on this case. It's not leather, but it is textured and interesting. Nice contrast to the slickness of the Xoom. It doesn't scream quality but it's not even remotely cheap looking. Middle of the road, really. The red "clasp" is a nice style touch. Nice felt-like lining on the inside. Does not have any sort of scent -- this is a good thing. I have the smell problem with a completely different manufacturers' budget Kindle case. The bottom straps are leather and do not stretch, top straps are leather and elastic and do stretch.



Negatives (all minor): You cannot use this case to prop the Xoom up beyond anything more than maybe a 20 degree slant. It's a little more comfy for typing that sitting flat on a desk, but only moderately so. The "clasp" is just a slider into a loop. I'd prefer magnetic. Top left strap covers the "Motorola" logo on the Xoom. It is a difficult to hit the power button, BUT unlike any other device I've owned, the Xoom seems to be very sensitive and, surprisingly, detects the slightest touch on the power ... so only a semi-negative there.



Positives: Besides all of the above, excellent build quality. The Crazy Digital logo on the front is very subtle (etched in), and I like that it is there because it makes me feel as if I did not buy some ultra-cheapo generic case. When somebody puts their brand on an item, it is always a good thing. Huge, huge positive is that you can charge the Xoom without removing it from the case and you know what? That just shows you that somebody really thought about the user when they were designing this. When in the case, everything feels well-protected. I would say that it has the heft and solidness of a hardback book. Not even remotely flimsy. I have put things on top of the Xoom (coffee ... groan) in the case without thinking about it.



All in all, do not be fooled by the price. This is a rock solid case. If you are spending under $50, this is the best you are going to do. In the $50+ category (and that is a whole different class), you should probably take a gander at the Zoogue Case Genius.

I just received this today and I agree with previous post. The Xoom fits very well- a perfect fit with room for storing headphones, and the cut outs work very well for this tablet. You also have about a half inch of extra room to leave a headset connected and close up the case, very convenient.



There is very little odor associated with this product. Unless you put it right up to your nose and sniff there is no odor. If you smell it up close it is a slight "vinyl manufacturing new smell"- not unpleasant- just a by product materials.



I have 2 more months to evaluate the xoom before my window to return it is up. This is a small investment to keep it protected and it works OK as a stand too. No it's not leather, but it is a nice looking case all the same. It is a textured vinyl that looks like leather. With a splash of red on the closure. Put velcro on the closure and it is more secure as a case and as a stand will be sturdier. Just fold back and secure the velcro behind it. The lining is a soft imitation suede and will not scratch.



For [...], a good buy compared to the few options out there for Xoom owners. Shipping was also very reasonable. A couple dollars. - Leather Wallet - Ipad'


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Leather Wallet - leather wallet, ipad leather wallet Leather Wallet - leather wallet, ipad

Rain-x Latitude Wiper Blades


Reading some of the other reviews, I think some people are installing these incorrectly. The symptoms they describe sound like the first set I bought, which was for my girlfriend's 2008 Nissan Rogue. When I installed the driver's side wiper (the longer of the two) it didn't make good contact with the windshield and would have left huge streaks. There is a way to adjust how the wiper sits by fiddling with the mount. Once I did that (per the included instructions), it worked like a champ. I just put a pair on my 2010 Xterra, and didn't have to do anything special...they worked great from the start. It sometimes pays to read the instructions.



As far as the blades scratching the windshield, the only thing I can think of that would cause that to happen is if they forgot to take the plastic cover off the blade. I can't see how someone might do that, but the blade itself is pretty flexible, so I have no idea how it could scratch auto glass.



For me, these have been great, and the price on Amazon is very reasonable. I think I saved about $6 per blade by not getting them at the local auto parts store. I think this should be one of the items that Amazon lets you "Subscribe" to, so you could have them delivered every six months or so. That would certainly help me to remember to change my wiper blades! Rain-X 5079280 Latitude 8-In-1 Premium Graphite Coated Wiper Blade - 24"

These wipers are fantastic in the rain, especially when brand new. They do not squeak or smear while removing all water from your windshield.



In the snow, they are not that bad, if you park your car in a garage anyway. The problem with these blades is that they do not hold up well in cold weather, especially when coated with snow and ice.



I've had these blades on my Blazer for about 7 months, and during the fall they were great. Once the bad weather started to come (Buffalo, NY) the snow and ice began to build up on the blades while parked outside. The design of these blades includes plastic end caps that keep the main blade strip from moving. But when water has collected inside the cap and it freezes, the expanded ice loosens the cap and it eventually falls off. After that, the blade will slowly ease its way out from the holder slot. If you do not slide it back right away (every day or during the drive) it will ruin the blade when it wipes. This results in the wiper not being able to get a clean wipe in thick snows or sleet on both strokes. I regularly get a big wet icy patch in the middle of my windshield due to this.



I have been looking for the perfect winter wipers for a long time, and these are not them.

The Rain-X Latitude wiper blade promises advanced visibility through simplified design. Gone are the springs and hinges that conventional wipers use to try to keep the blade on your windshield. The Latitude is basically a floppy graphite-coated blade that molds itself to the shape of your windshield, promoting more uniform contact, pressure, and as a result, visibility.



I've been using mine for several months now and have always been pleased with their performance. They're definitely quieter than any other wipers I've ever used and they do eliminate those annoying streaks of rain/ice/salt that can form when conventional wipers start to break down.



Installation was supposedly simple, but the mounting clips that were provided were ill-fitting. Plus, they're made out of lightweight plastic that felt very cheap - I was afraid that I'd break them while trying to fit them to my car's wiper arms. I finally gave up and had my mechanic put them on since I had a routine appointment coming up anyway.



My only ongoing concern is how long they'll last given the plastic mounting clips and the soft, delicate feel of the blades themselves. I'll update this review if I run into any trouble, but so far so good.

When I received these wipers I was pretty excited about the design. They are basically a sturdy curved flexible one-piece body with a graphite rubber wiper blade attached. They curve that is build-in seems to be a good solution to replacing all of the little metal springy parts that make up a conventional wiper - fewer parts to catch ice or snow.



I installed these on my '03 Tundra and found that when the curve of the wiper was pushed into the curve of my windshield it failed for about 1.5" of wiper on the far right of the passenger window wiper. This small portion just floated over the window - in some places wiping - in most places just skimming the water, not really touching the window.. This was also happening to a lesser degree on the driver's side. The result is unsatisfactory, as the missed water tends to cause running before the wiper cycles again. I switched sides and got the same results.



I am going to try to intentionally deform the wiper end that is not contacting the window but I'm afraid the verdict is in for me. These may work just fine for your vehicle but '03 Tundra owners, consider yourselves warned.

In cold weather one wiper worked in one direction of sweep then did not "flip" over and change direction for the opposite sweep. This caused a chattering and rappid skipping.



The other wiper simply did not make complete contact with windshield.



These might work in a warm weather climate.

I had Bosch wipers on my VW Passat and they never really cleaned off the windshield well. I've had the 20" Latitudes on for two month in a typical New England winter (rain, snow, sleet, more snow) and they've worked like a charm. I would recommend them over Bosch, they are more substantial and look cool too.

So, this was my first attempt at the "contemporary" wiper blade design and I have to say I was extremely disappointed with the Latitudes. Right out of the box they were streaking on me. The driver side wiper was leaving a huge smear patch in the middle of my line of sight. They were very quiet, but just didn't seem to hug the windshield at all. I have since moved to the Bosch Icon's and they are a far superior product in my opinion.'


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Rain-x Latitude Wiper Blades Rain-x Latitude Wiper Blades Rain-x Latitude Wiper Blades

Ken Follett


This was written before the best selling Eye of the Needle back in 1976 and under a pseudonym. Follett considers it his best unsuccessful book. I consider it an interesting opportunity to see an early effort from a well known author. The story takes place in one day and involves about a half dozen people who have no idea how their lives are becoming interlinked by events. Were he to write the same story today, it would probably be tied together a bit differently and would be fleshed out a little more, but all the ingredients are there and if you have been a fan of this author, it is well worth your time to read this one. Paper Money

Follett writes an introduction to this book and explains that in this early novel the plot was too complex and their were too many characters that didn't get enough development. So Follett admits, this isn't the best book, but it was still entertaining, even if the end was abrupt.



The plot revolves around an British politician who is seduced by a young woman then blackmailed into revealing who wins a government oil contract. Also, financial wizard Felix Laski tells a henchman Tony Cox the location of a delivery of money to be destroyed.



The plot then follows the money being stolen and Laski wheeling and dealing to buy the company that won the oil contract. All of this information is filtered through a newspaper office where the reporters must decide what to print and what not to print. The only intrigue lies in will the reporters discover the scheme and will they print it, and will some of the bad guys get there due. For an early novel, this isn't bad, but is extremely obvious that Follett improved greatly after this book.



Paper money is short and good read for a Follett fan, but not anyone else.

We were horrified at the poor reviews for this book. It is our favorite Ken Follett. It seemed to relate to his frustation as a reporter who was unable to report a fabulous story which had been clevely discovered. We, also, were a bit taken back by the ending, since we expected the bad guys to be suitably punished - but as one thought about it further, they received some punishment, and the good guys came out OK. Follett is telling us this is the way it is sometimes. And the plot really is very subtle - the reader certainly is constantly amazed as the story unfolds. Follett's introduction, which was very helpful, suggested to us that it was one of his favorite books. If you like Follett, and if you are willing to allow a relaxation of the traditional thriller format, we think you will really enjoy this book. We certainly did.

For all Ken Follet fans this is a must. In the foward of the first American release of his first novel, Follet admits that he tried too much in too little space and made things way too complicated. However, Paper Money allows us to se an established novelist when he was taking his first steps and see what lessons he learned.If you like Follet, you will like this book. The same story teller is there. He just has learned to do it better and take his time. Avery short book with alot of story. Read it.

"Paper Money" is a Follett find. Especially for those who want to read everything Follett wrote or anyone who enjoys reading a good writer's early work. Originally published under a pseudonym in England, "Paper Money" appeared in the United States ten years later ­ after the eye-popping success of "Eye of the Needle." This is a good enough story. Drawing on his newspaper experience, Follet tells what happens as the strands of a half dozen Londoners' lives intersect on one fateful day. Millions of dollars are gained and lost. Lives are ended and re-invented. Nobody escapes unscathed. All in less than 24 hours. But what's most intriguing is to catch glimpses of the vintage Follet that make his books instant bestsellers today. Characters, good and bad, you can empathize with. Page-turning plots. Small details that loom large. To be honest, "Paper Money" is not as good as what he's written more recently. He admits that himself in the forward to the American edition. But who would expect it to be? It's still a entertaining, quick read that¹ll leave you asking "what if" about nearly every character at the end of the day.

This is the first Ken Follett I have read and I understand it is an early effort. This novel is a wonderful invocation of London and various types that were around in the late 60s and early 70s. In a short space it paints a rich canvass of characters and has a very clever plot.The insight into characters and "the way things work" is sharp and the sex is well handled without becoming prurient. I was amazed at the talent here ("I normally read more "serious" authors) and this is a cut above other best selling authors I sometimes have read. I intend to explore his other novels.

Ken Follett won my heart as one of my favorite authors in PILLARS OF THE EARTH, and EYE OF THE NEEDLE. I was so intrigued, that I wanted to read one of his earliest novels. It was praised, by Follett..and he ponders in the introduction if he was "TOO CLEVER" in writing this book. NO WAY! Clever is not an adjective which comes to mind.. Taunted as a novel of international suspense and action...it was neither. It was flat. It was dull. It was booooring. It was fragmented. The characters did not make me care about them....and I didn't "get it" when it was finished. I knew what Ken Follett wanted me to "get", but I did not. It was was so trite, that it wasn't even a summer "Take me Away" type of novel. IT was a weak start...but thankgoodness Ken Follett has risen to the occasion.and become a better author.

The novel paper money is an intriguing novel which describes a single day in the world of a bustling newspaper company. Follet's method of character description and presentation in which he introduces each character in their their own light, is an effective, yet sometimes confusing way of developing the novel's characters. The novel as a whole is a refreshing story which is sure to delight, yet the inadequate ending of the book may cause its readers to yearn for a sense of closure.'


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Liftmaster - garage door remote, liftmaster


Works fine, range is good, but buttons are much to easy to push when bumped or jostled in pants pockets. Whenever I try to carry this remote, I find my electric gate opening and closing accidentally. Might work better to use one the left or right buttons, rathern than the middle button as your primary control. LiftMaster Garage Door Opener Three-Button 315 MHz Mini Remote Control model 370LM/956D

Works great. Range is better than expected. I like having it on my key chain rather than in the car for security reasons. Downside is that I have accidentally opened the garage door while in the house and not realized it until I go to the garage the next morning. I'm using the center button only I thinking about trimming the button so it is flush or slightly recessed. With all that said... I do have a lot of crap in my pockets.

This remote is an ideal way to get in the house without carrying a bunch of keys, whether out bicycling with the family or on my daily commute by motorcycle.



It fits easily in a weatherproof zippered pocket. The center button is large enough to be easily felt in the pocket, even while wearing gloves, and the range is enough to allow me to open the garage door while first pulling into the driveway. The other buttons can be programmed for a second garage door or for the opener's lights, something that is handy when they automatically turn off before I'm finished suiting up in the morning or before I finish peeling off a wet riding suit in the evening.



This is the second one I've had (only because I moved); it's exactly right for riders. Be sure to use it in a waterproof pocket or put it in a ziploc bag.

This is a great remote. I had the fancy illuminated remote until my brother-in-law lost it. I replaced it with this smaller, easier to carry remote. I bought two of these and it took about 15 seconds to program both, VERY easy to do. I programed another button to turn the garage lights on/off, also VERY easy to do. This key-chain model is perfect for me as I commute on a motorcycle and it easily fits in my pocket. For $14.99 each, you'd be hard pressed to find a better solution.

This is a good remote, small and light. howver, as another reviewer mentioned, it is easily activated in the pocket once it gets bumped around. I have noticed a few times when my garage door opened when it was either in the process of being put into my jean pocket, or when it is being bumped around in my jeans

they should consider making the button more difficult to press

This is a great little keychain remote for your garage door. With my detached garage, I love that I can open up the garage door with this keychain remote. However, there have been a few mornings when I went out to my garage and found the door was already open. Apparently sometime during the evening, the button must have been activated while my keys were in my pocket.

I'm using this with a chamberlain garage door opener and it functions perfectly. It's easy to train for use with my opener. For my Chamberlain I just had to open the light cover on the right side of my open; there you'll find a purple button. Once you push the button you get a small yellow blinking light. You have about 10 seconds to push the button you want to program to open your door. The opener clicks and lets you know your done. At that point your done. Very easy. This is my second one.

I highly recommend this. If you don't have one of these you won't know how you got along with out one of these. - Liftmaster - Garage Door Remote - Garage Door Opener - Remote'


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Brads - brads


I obviously got a box of brads that somebody else had returned, the box was taped back up somewhat amateurishly. I think the brads are all there but not sure.



If I have to, I'll pay more to purchase from somewhere else next time so I can make sure I get what I pay for. Bostitch BT1350B 2-Inch 18-Gauge Brad Nails, 2000-Per Box

Shop worn box with torn flaps had contents spilling out in package, and many of the brad-sticks were broken into small sections. While the brads work the condition is poor (poor packing probably contributes to condition). - Brads'


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Garmin Nuvi 1350t - charger, garmin nuvi 1350t


The generic adapter did not charge the Nuvi 1350T. The Nuvi cycled on and off without taking a charge. It turns out that the adapter has different voltage/amp characteristics from the Garmin adapter. Perhaps the seller just sent me the wrong item among their collection of devices.



I contacted the seller (Crazy Digital) directly. They responded promptly and offered a full refund. Portable Travel Rapid 12V Home Wall AC Charger

Everything I ordered (case, charger, USB cable) arrived promptly and together. The only question I had was about the wall charger. I knew it wasn't a Garmin product so I was careful to inspect it before using it. The unit's label states it's a 5V cell phone charger (no current rating). Since the on-line product title/description says "... Rapid 12V Home..." I asked the seller (Eforcity, now Bargaincell?) if they had shipped me the right unit. They responded quickly (~10 hours), stating that the unit was correct. Meanwhile I did a little research. Yes, 5V is correct, however, a real Garmin charger will put out 1A vs (500 mA for this transformer). This difference, and some unique connector wiring keeps the unit from entering into the Computer/USB mode when plugged in. The Eforcity product features section states that the 1350T will cycle through the computer mode when first plugged in, but will restart in GPS mode in less than 10 seconds. That is true, my 1350T does exactly that. The Garmin support site states that charging through a computer USB port (also 5V, 500mA) will take a longer (8-12 hrs, vs 4-6 on either their AC charger or 12V Car charger). The Nuvi 1350T, will tell you the charging current if you power it up stand alone, then press and hold the "Battery Charge" icon on the main screen for about 8 seconds - then it will enter diagnostic mode, with one displayed parameters being the USB current (after you plug in the charger). Sure enough, the Eforcity charger is 500mA. Therefore, it will work, but not "Rapidly". Incidentally, I used my 1A Apple iPod transformer and a USB cable and while the 1350T did state that it was 1A, it still cycled (once) through the USB computer connection mode. The bottom line is: Eforcity sent me what I ordered promptly, and quickly responded to my e-mail inquiry. It was clear it wasn't a real Garmin transformer when I ordered it, but it was also inexpensive and does work as the product features description claims. The only thing misleading is the "Rapid 12V" in the product title, as it is neither 12V nor Rapid. I'm satisfied I got what I paid for. If you are bothered by the USB mode coming up when you use this (or any other cell phone charger), you should probably pay the extra and get a genuine Garmin AC wall charger. Assuming there is no fault in the device (keep in mind it's cheaply made, though not unusually so), I believe this transformer will work, though slowly, and will not damage your Nuvi (as it replicates standard USB port specs, maybe even slightly better as it's suppose to sense when the battery is full and automatically cut off charging, but I have not verified that).

I bought this to use with a Garmin 1350 which is clearly listed, but it did not work to charge it. It would start out looking like it was going to, but instead it would just cause the Garmin to restart continuously making it think it was connected to a computer, which actually ended up draining the battery. I also tried it with a Garmin 1450 as well. I have a mini USB charger from a pair of bluetooth headphones that works fine to charge it, so it's obviously not either of the two Garmin's fault...

I purchased this charger for my nuvi 1300. After attaching it to the Garmin nuvi 1300 and connecting it to a 110 volt outlet, the nuvi 1300 booted up, and then started to rotate through different screens, over and over again.

Hmm, what could be causing this strange behavior? The charger WAS charging the GPS, but while the charge was occurring, the nuvi 1300 was continually cycling through the Start-Up screen, then the Pass-Word screen and then the GPS would reboot and do that over and over.

I wasn't pleased with that behavior and I finally figured out what was causing the problem. I had Pass-Word protection on, and once I disabled Pass-Word protection, the nuvi 1300 booted up and was useable while it was being changed.

Bingo! Problem solved.

This AC charger is an inexpensive solution to Garmin's tight-fisted and short sighted "maximize profits, no matter what it takes" policy of not including an AC adapter with the GPS... thank you Amazon.com! - Garmin Nuvi 1350t - Garmin Nuvi - Gps - Charger'


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Htc Thunderbolt


First of all, thanks to everyone else for the reviews which helped me to purchase this.



Now here's what I have to say about it:



First of all, I'd like to give a good description of the item and how it works because the detail in the item listing isn't that great (including the pictures). The case is actually 3 pieces (not counting the holster).



-There's a hard plastic case which has a soft rubber like coating on the outside and a velvet like material on the inside which protects the outside of your phone from getting scratches. Some cases are hard plastic which gets sand and dust inside and then small vibrations scratch the phone to pieces. The velvet in this case should prevent most/all of that. The hard case is in two pieces and which slide onto the phone (one piece from the top and one from the bottom). They meet in the middle and 'snap' together for a snug fit. This is basically the same case you see by Seidio sold separately for $21 or so (Seidio Innocase II Surface Case for HTC ThunderBolt (Black). Note that the link here is to a case which does not have a holster. The holster is included in a separate item so you can purchase with or without the holster). This case can be used independently, but does NOT fit properly in the holster without the rubberized layer.



-Next there is a rubber layer which is very flexible and the phone simply slides into it and the corners stretch around the phone. It has rubber covers for all the holes in the phone except mics and the rear speaker/stand.



-Lastly there is a hard plastic backplate that fits over the rubber case to reinforce the corners and sides to protect from falls. It also holds the rubber camera "door" in place. If you wanted to use the rubber without the reinforcing plastic, this rubber camera door would simply flap around, so I don't recommend that. The only thing I don't like about he plastic backplate is that it is hard so laying it on a flat surface such as a table will cause it to slide. The only thing that prevents sliding is the rubber camera door which also causes it not to lay perfectly flat. I sometimes lay the phone case down so it won't slide. The rubber case fits nicely into the holster.



- The holster fits a 2 inch belt, so it's a bit loose on my belt, but it would be virtually impossible for it to fall off and due to it's wait and snugness it only moves if I move it myself, so this is a non-issue for me. The phone goes face into the case and you sit the bottom of the phone in the case then lift the "hinge" at the top which hinges back down over the top of the phone to hold it in place. There is a lock on the back side of the hinge that will prevent the hinge from opening if you lock it. This is good for very active people or if the case could get caught on something opening the hinge causing the phone to fall out.





I read another review of someone cutting all their rubber doors off because he could not open them without finger nails. I don't have long nails either, but the camera door is easy to open, and the door above the headphone jack and the charging (USB) port can be easily opened without nails be simply pinching the pliable rubber which cases the door to 'pop' open. Because of this I'll keep my doors to protect from dust, dirt, and if a liquid were to splash it could not easily land into these ports which could fry the phone.



There is also a plastic screen protector which isn't the greatest quality, but if you are able to roll it on smoothly, it will protect from most light scratches and smudges. ZAGG.com has the best shields in my opinion, but after spending so much on this case I decided to try this protector out first. Seems to be ok so far and it fits pretty well. I got no bubbles by "rolling" it onto mine. Don't remove it from the plastic backing completely. Roll it off the backing and onto the phone at the same time starting with one corner and going to the opposite one.



Also a small note, if this phone were laying in a thin puddle of water, it should survive with the rubber case because it gives the screen a few millimeters of separation on the front side which should keep it out of liquid, and the back is raised even more, so unless it is submerged a drink spilled near it on a desk should not harm it.



Pros:

- Very sturdy case

- Very snug fit

- Increases grip on a phone that is very difficult to grip (for me) without a case

- Protruding volume/power buttons are very easy to press but not really easy to accidentally press

- Multiple protection levels (light to rugged)



Cons:

- Expensive

- Only able to use it in the holster with both cases on it, the first case fits but is very loose and may fall out.

- Very large and bulky on an already large phone. May not fit well in some people's pockets.

- The kick stand is a bit difficult to get to especially with the rubber case if you don't have fingernails.

- Will not fit an extended battery (this is not advertised, just a note)



All in all, this is an excellent case. It protects my phone better than any case I've ever had and I hate spending money on cases, but if you really need the protection this is the case to go with. If you can do with a little less protection you can go with the other Seidio case which is the internal hard case only. But I think this one will handle the shock of a fall much more easily.



Sorry the lengthy review, but I'd rather be thorough and give all the information I was looking for when I purchased mine. Hope it helps you. Seidio CONVERT Combo for HTC Thunderbolt - 1 Pack - Retail Packaging - Black'


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Camcorder Accessories - camcorder accessories, battery


This is one of the reason why I bought Sony camcorder (CX550): It has long life battery which is SO important when you are out there shooting video all day long and have confidence that your battery won't run out on you. This would make a great back-up battery, lasting for more than two hours of HD shooting. It is also extremely useful when using video light with the camcorder. Sony NPFV70 Rechargeable Battery Pack (Black) (Retail Packaging)

After initially charging these batteries (2) they worked once for a short time. The second time I tried to use them they gave an impossible time left of approximately 1300 minutes but lasted only a few minutes before they would not work and were dead. I know it is not my charger because my old battery performs without a problem. I feel like I was ripped off and will not buy from this vendor again.

The Sony NPFV70 is an excellent choice to power my Sony Handycam DCR-SR68. I used it at the Atlanta Aquarium most of the day to film our vist to all the sites at the Aquarium. I never had to worry about having to change the battery. We were ther for approximately 6 hours and it held up for all our recording. I am really satisfied thus far with my purchase.

I put it in CX110 and now never have to worry about running out of battery. I have been using it for two weeks and stil shows 4 hour+ left. Also this is not one of the duplicate product. It is original sony product.

I bought this for my Sony HDR-CX350V. It has 3.5 hr use when full charge. And it has 3.5hr use. With this and the standard battery, I don't need to bring charger for a few days vacation. I don't ever run into low battery situation.

This is a Sony branded battery and performs well. It's about twice as thick as the standard NP-FV50 battery that comes with the camera (Sony HDR-CX110). This thickness essentially increases the length of the camera but it doesn't really seem to overbalance it due to the weight. I've only gone through a few charging cycles but no problems so far. - Camcorder Batteries - Camcorder - Camcorder Accessories - Battery'


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