Monday, 25 April 2011

Not Recommended - shipping, shipping scale


I purchased this scale when my old manual one broke. After doing some research, I felt this one would be the best for my money and I wasn't wrong. If your looking for a good scale that you can move easily, work with a battery (which is included) or plug into the wall - I think you'll be happy with this one. The only thing is it doesn't register or "know" when much less than 4 ounces is on it. However; this isn't an issue for me, but felt it should be included for those that it may matter to. The digital readout is nice as you can mount it on the wall or move it out of the way with larger packages. Simple to set up and use. 330 Lb Digital Shipping Scale

I wanted a heavy duty scale that didn't cost a fortune, so I got this scale. It's not a space hog which is nice, and is accurate after performing a few weighing tests with it.



Pros:

- Relatively small but can weight up to 330 pounds.

- Display is not mounted on the scale so you can place large boxes and see what the weight is (that was the problem with my old scale).

- It displays pounds as 1.4 pounds (decimal format) as well as pounds and ounces (2 pounds, 2 ounces). It also displays weight in Kilograms

- Has a tare function

- The weighing area is large enough that a big box could be placed on it and the cable to the display is long enough that the display can be moved out of the way of big boxes.

- Came with a good warrenty





Cons:

- The back light in the LCD screen is a bright blue when the scale is weighing (when not weighing, it's the normal black on gray LCD color)

- When the scale is "off" the LCD displays the time. That's okay except for it will wear down the battery eventually.



Overall, great scale, glad I got it.

I bought this scale because of the great reviews here on Amazon. Bad move. Unless of course I got a lemon. All I can tell you is that this scale is consistently wrong. I bought it for selling items on eBay so I can price my auctions and easily pack and weigh my items to print shipping labels from USPS. The problem is when I actually bring them to the Post Office I discover my scale is under weighing items by as much as 5 ounces! I can see *maybe* an ounce but that's pretty inaccurate and it's costing me money. Not a good purchase in my opinion.



Buyer beware.

This scale is fantastic. It is easy to use, accurate and I love that all you need to work it is a 9 volt battery... No plug required - although one is furnished if you want to plug it in.



Would recommend it to anyone...



Ken Beller, coauthor, Great Peacemakers: True Stories from Around the World

A well constructed scale - the remote sensor is bright and easy to read. Battery powered with an included AC adapter - the display powers the scale through the umbilical. Nice engineering - recommend this unit.

This scale is a great buy if you intend to use it for weighing packages weighing over 10 lbs. Anything less and it will be off by a few onces. Not a big deal if precise measure is not critical to your needs. However, If you ship small parcels and packages regularly then you may consider a more accurate USPS PS-100 10 lb. Desk Top Postal Scale. - Shipping Scale - Accurate - Shipping - Postal Scale'


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Online Content - netflix, wireless network


The sony S570 is a great player. The fast load system is excellent and much faster than the older 300s models. The setup was easy (it walks you through each step) I use the wireless N router and the speeds are awesome. Seamless integration with our Netflix account and the ability to watch Youtube videos is a great addition to what the player can do. Great 1080p picture and good upconversion of dvds. Do not be afraid of this player. If you have a netflix account or would like to watch youtube videos on your TV- this is your player. Also on a side note- you have several other choices besides Netflix and youtube. You have Amazons video on demand service and several other free video services. Sony BDP-S570 3D Blu-ray Disc Player

A week or so ago I replaced my Sony BDP-S300 Blu Ray Disk player with a new model, the BDP-S570. The S570 is one of Sony's newest players, and in the middle of their consumer line as far as model lineup. It was amazingly low priced at $249.



I decided to upgrade from the S300 for two main reasons. First, the load times on the S300 are excruciatingly slow, and second it cannot bitstream the newest audio codecs so I was forced to use its on-board decoder and analog output. With my new Emotiva prepro I wanted to reduce cable complexity and use HDMI only.



I started doing some research into the newest crop of BRD players and was convinced I would probably get the Oppo 83. But a few reviews on CNET and elsewhere said the S570 had "the fastest load times ever tested" and they ranked it as faster than and 83. It also has some of the new whiz-bang stuff like wifi, SACD compatibility, Netflix and Amazon streaming, Profile 2.0, 1Gb internal memory, HDMI 1.4 and 3D capability. So I looked up the Sony and found it was half the price of the Oppo, and decided to go for it. I figured that for $250 if I hated it I could send it back or pawn it off onto someone else.



Impressions of the Sony S570:

If you are an equipment snob like me and want your gear to feel substantial, like a quality device, this machine is NOT for you. I thought the box was empty when it arrived. The machine feels like it weights a few ounces (actually it weighs 2Kg or about 4 1/2 pounds.) Upon opening it, I was even more disappointed. this thing is super cheap feeling - you know how some plastic feels "good" and other plastic feels "cheap" and flimsy? This feels cheap. The buttons on the front are almost repulsive little Chiclets about the size of the buttons on my cell phone and remind me of some kind of toy made by Coleco. The disc tray feels like I will break it if I push it in. At least the remote is pretty nice so I won't have to touch the cheesy buttons. If just feels cheap. The power cord is molded into the chassis. The chassis is a non-standard size, which always drives me mad. It is almost a standard rack width at 17" wide, but it is only 8" deep, meaning it is too shallow for any other piece of gear to sit on top of it. I had to rig some rear "feet" for my DVR to sit it on top the Sony. Initial impressions were not good at all and I thought I had made a mistake buying this thing. At least once it is in the rack it doesn't look cheap. The all-black front is not as nice as the blue tinted plastic on the S300, but it looks like it belongs in a good equipment rack. Just don't touch it.



The connectors on the back feature a single HDMI jack, component and composite video, stereo analog audio (that goes with the composite video), Ethernet, digital coax and optical, and USB. There are no multichannel analog audio outputs if you need these, and I found it odd that it would offer legacy video outputs but force anyone using those to only use digital audio or HDMI for high-resolution audio. The USB connector is interesting as it allows the user to connect a memory stick (and the promise later a hard drive) for storing downloaded video. There is also a USB connector on the front and the machine can display a variety of digital image formats and play back a variety of digital audio formats directly from the USB connections, or via its networking capability. So while I probably won't use it as such, the machine has the ability to serve as a media hub. That's pretty nice.



I plugged it in and connected via HDMI to my pre-pro. The remote codes were in the Harmony database. I fired it up and went through the very logical and intuitive setup routine on-screen without having to refer to the owner's manual. I connected it to my network wirelessly (it has 801.n wireless built in) and had it check for a firmware update. There was one, so before I could try it I let it download and update which took about 15 minutes to complete. After it rebooted, I started exploring.



The user interface looks exactly like the PS3. This is not surprising since this box is pretty much the PS3 without the gaming capability or any on-board hard drive. It was intuitive and easy to navigate. I went to the setup screens and went through all the settings to see if I needed to adjust anything. Then I popped in a Blu Ray disc (Up.)



Wow. I was shocked. Where the old S300 would give me several "loading" screens and I could almost walk the half mile to the nearest Starbucks, get a latte and walk back before a disc was ready to play, this thing flashed the screen a couple of times and boom, it was ready to go. It was literally the fastest load I'd ever seen, faster than the CD player in my car can load a CD. Very impressive. The picture quality was also outstanding, as I expected. The sound, however, was not right.



"Up" has a dts-HD soundtrack, and the Emotiva processor told me the Sony was sending it multi-channel PCM. Hmm. I went back into the setup screens and it said dts was set to output as dts, but there did not seem to be any settings associated with the HD codecs. Hmm again. So I stopped the disc and thumbed through the owners manual. No mention of anything special I need to do. Time to hit up Google. Nothing obvious came up. Back to the owner's manual and I notice in the troubleshooting section a problem called "Dolby True HD and dts HD bitstream does not work." Aha. It seems one must set a user setting called "BD Audio Mix Output" to "OFF" and then the high def codecs will bitstream. Oh really? So I did this, and boom the Emotiva told me the sound track was dts-HD. There is no where other than this troubleshooting guide that mentions this, and the setup information says the "BD Audio Mix" function has something to do with the secondary audio tracks.



So, if any of you purchase this box or it's siblings, be sure to set this function to "OFF" if you have a pre-pro that decodes the new codecs.



After enjoying "Up" I tried the Netflix streaming function and cued up "The King of California." It came up on the screen surprisingly quickly, and the video quality was not HD but acceptable for casual viewing. It did seem to have to re-buffer too often, but perhaps adding a nice big 32G memory stick to the rear USB port will help this.



Next I tried playing back an SACD (Madman Across The Water.) The S570 outputs SACD as either Multi-PCM or Multi-channel DSD. I had set it to DSD, but the Emotiva will not accept a DSD input. The Sony detected this via the HDMI handshake and output the music as multi-channel PCM. It sounded pretty darn good.



Bottom line, my bias against cheap-feeling gear was wrong and I love this box. I didn't think I'd ever use the Profile 2.0 BD-Live features or something like Netflix streaming but I was wrong, I had a good time checking it out. I still think I'll never use the 3D features but who knows. I am happy I bought this and feel it is one of the best bargain buys I have ever made for my HT.



If however it really is as cheap as it feels and it breaks down after a few months, I'll be sure to let everyone here know. - Streaming Video - Blu-ray Player - Wireless Network - Netflix'


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Mobile Library - awesome, kindle


I have owned both Kindle 1 and Kindle 2, so I'm already committed to the basic idea: e-ink reading in a slim form factor with excellent connectivity to a large selection of books and subscriptions. I have come to rely on my Kindle experience, and it has seriously enhanced my reading.



The DX was not an obvious upgrade for me, but two features put me over the edge: the larger screen, and the native PDF reader. I now have the DX in my hands, and can report PROS, CONS, and NEUTRALS:



PROS:



-- the larger screen is a definite plus. I use the larger type size on my Kindle 2 (older eyes), and at this type size I get far more text per page on the DX. This makes the whole reading experience more book-like (and should be a boon to people who buy large-print books.)



-- the screen is also sharper and crisper than my Kindle 2 in a side-by-side comparison: the text is darker, and the contrast is much better, making for better visibility overall.



-- on a side note, the larger screen also makes it possible to read poetry on the kindle, even at large type sizes. On earlier Kindles, the smaller screen cut off lines, so that you would lose the sense of when the poet ended the line. On the DX, you can see the whole line exactly as the poet meant it, with the cut-off in the right spot.



-- the PDF reader works as advertised, and is extremely convenient. PDF documents appear on the DX exactly as they do on a computer screen. Moreover, you can drag and drop your documents directly to the device using the USB cable (or use the for-a-fee email if you absolutely must.) The only downside: at least for the documents that I've used so far, I cannot adjust the type size as I can with native Kindle documents.



-- screen rotation also works as advertised: it operates as a mild zoom on both graphics and text and offsets slightly the downside of not being able to adjust the typesize on PDF documents. One nice design touch: the four-way navigation stick introduced on the Kindle 2 is rotation-sensitive, and will move as expected relative to the screen rotation.



-- more of the device space is devoted to the screen, while the white plastic border around the screen seems to have shrunk, both in general and compared to the proportion of screen to plastic on the Kindle 2. I like this (but see below about the keyboard).



-- storage: I like the increase in storage space, and don't mind the lack of an external storage card. I can see some people having trouble with this, but only those folks who either a) must regularly carry around PDF documents totalling more than 3.5 GB of space or b) must have nearly 3500 books regularly at their fingertips. I fall in neither category.



CONS:



-- price: it's expensive, as you can tell pretty quickly. If you value the larger size, and the native PDF reader, these features may justify the roughly 30% premium you pay for the DX over the Kindle 2. In truth, the DX SHOULD cost more than the Kindle 2, and a 30% premium isn't unreasonable. But, for my money, Amazon should drop the price on the Kindle 2 to $300 or so, and charge $400 or a little less for the DX. Still, I bought it, and will keep it at this price.



-- one-sided navigation buttons: all of the buttons are now on the right side, and none are on the left. I'm a righty, so I shouldn't complain, but I found myself using both sides on the Kindle 2. Lefties have reason to complain, I think.



-- One-handed handling: I often read while I walk, with my Kindle in one hand, and something else in my other. Because of the button layout, this will be more difficult on the DX.



-- metal backing: I miss the tacky rubberized backing on my Kindle 1. When I placed my Kindle 1 on an inclined surface, it stayed in place. Not so my Kindle 2 and now my DX. This is not a complaint specific to the DX, but it's still there.



NEUTRALS (i.e. things worth noting):



-- weight: the DX is heavier, noticeably so. This is only an issue if, like me, you regularly use the kindle with one hand . . . and even so, it's still doable.



-- keyboard: the keyboard has 4 rows, and not 5: the top row of numbers from the Kindle 1 and 2 has been merged into the top qwerty row, so that numbers are now only accessible with an alt-key combination. The keys are vertically thinner too, so that the whole keyboard is no more than 1" tall (compared to over an 1.5" on the Kindle 2). At the same time, the keys themselves are a bit easier to press, a bit more protruding than on the Kindle 2. For someone with big fingers (like me), this will be a slightly harder keyboard to use, but only slightly.



That's all I can see. Overall, the pluses outweigh the minuses for me, and I'm satisfied with my purchase. I can now think of using my DX for work documents on a regular basis, because of the PDF reader. The screen size and screen rotation make the overall reading experience more immersive.



Overall, the DX feels more like text and less like device and comes closer to the stated goal of the Kindle: for the device to disappear, leaving only the joy of reading. Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device (9.7" Display, U.S. Wireless)

This review was written back when the DX first came out and--as has been brought to my attention--needs to be updated a bit. I will indicate where things have changed for the better within the body of the review:



I owned the K1 and then the K2 and love them both, so I was really looking forward to the DX. My plan was to use the DX at home, and keep my K2 for carrying all over creation with me. It wasn't long, though, after my DX arrived the day before yesterday before disappointment set in.



Don't get me wrong, there is a LOT to like about the DX:



1) Pictures are awesome on it, if the publisher formats them properly.



2) Those who complain about darkness of text on their K2 (a problem I've never had, btw) will be thrilled by the DX's very dark text.



EDIT: LIKE THE KINDLE 3, THE DX NOW SPORTS A NEW E-INK DISPLAY THAT HAS MUCH BETTER CONTRAST, SO TEXT & PICTURES REALLY "POP."





3) The ability to rotate the screen is great. Gives you a closer look at things like maps and charts.



4) The browser is a bit faster than on the K1 or K2, though that isn't saying much--it is still very clunky to use.



EDIT: THOUGH STILL CLUNKY, THE BROWSER *HAS* BEEN IMPROVED FOR EASIER USE. BUT STILL DON'T PLAN TO DO A LOT OF WEB SURFING WITH IT.





5) But web pages look pretty good on the DX.



6) It holds 3500 books.





BUT.....the DX just isn't all that. It has drawbacks that are really making me consider sending it back before my 30 days are up:



1) First and foremost, while it is true that it natively reads PDFs, it is really only a PDF *viewer*. You can't change the font size on PDFs, links will not function on them, and the ability to magnify pictures doesn't work on them either. So you better have LARGE fonts on your PDF before you load it. Looking at the PDF in horizontal mode helps a bit, but not by much.



EDIT: WE NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO ZOOM IN ON PDF DOCUMENTS, WHICH HELPS IN READING THEM--BUT IT WOULD STILL BEHOOVE USERS TO USE LARGER FONT SIZES IN DOCUMENTS BEFORE CONVERTING TO PDF FORMAT.







2) The DX is too big to hold comfortably. It's not really all that heavy, but it is top heavy and you feel a pull on your hands. And that pull is really evident if you try to use the keyboard while holding it--you practically have to lay the DX down flat, it becomes so difficult to type.



3) They merged the number keys with the QWERTY keys (losing a line of keys). What development genius thought it would be helpful and an "improvement?" To go to a location within a book you have to click Menu, choose "go to," then click the Symbols key, choose the numbers you want, then close Symbols before you can choose "location." Whew! Or you can click Alt + the letter button at the top that corresponds to the number you want. Joy.







4) Before my DX came, I really didn't think this would bother me at all, but I have to say: I really HATE the fact that the "next page" button is only on one side. I mostly use the left hand button. And yes, with the DX's rotation ability you can turn it upside down, placing the "next page" button on the left side.... However, when you do this, the button is so high up that you have to slide your hand (not your thumb, your whole hand) up in order to turn the page. May sound nit-picky, but it is truly a PITA to break off reading to do it. Not only that, but having the keyboard at the top makes it even more top-heavy than when it is right side up!



5) when you rotate the DX so that it is horizontal, the "next page" button is either at the bottom or the top--in either case you can't just flick your thumb and change the page. Again, a PITA.



6) If you leave the rotation feature on "Auto" when you are not using your DX it drains your battery, so you must remember to turn the feature off when you stop reading.



7) Still no folders. An organization nightmare three times bigger than that of the K2 (which itself had increased the same problem on the K1): the possibility of storing 3500 books but only being able to sort them by author, title, and "most recent first."



EDIT: AMAZON HAS NOW GIVEN ALL KINDLE USERS THE ABILITY TO CREATE "COLLECTIONS." THIS LETS YOU ORGANIZE YOUR BOOKS BY GENRE OR WHATEVER YOU LIKE, SO THAT'S A BIG HELP. HOWEVER, FOR SOME STRANGE REASON, UNLESS YOU RESORT TO FIXES LIKE PUTTING SYMBOLS BEFORE THE COLLECTION NAMES WHEN IN "VIEW BY COLLECTIONS" IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ALPHABETIZE THEM! I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS GETS FIXED IN THE NEAR FUTURE WITH A SOFTWARE UPDATE.







I will be fiercely debating with myself in the next week or so, on whether I really want to keep the DX. It is so disappointing. It has the potential of being a really great e-reader...but as it stands now, it isn't. It's OK. But for $489, it should be a lot more than merely OK.



EDIT: I DID END UP RETURNING MY DX THE FOLLOWING WEEK. THE PRICE HAS SINCE DROPPED--IT NOW COSTS $379--BUT IT *STILL* ISN'T ALL THAT. - Ebook Reader - Kindle - Awesome - Kindle Dx'


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Iphone 4 Case


This is an actual review for the bumper itself, aside from the price... The bumper does a decent job of protecting the phone -- it keeps the back of the phone off whatever surface you place it on, and my phone has not yet scratched (I've always kept it in a pocket separate from my keys). It may provide a decent amount of protection in the event of a fall, but I haven't dropped it yet, so I have no real way of knowing. It's relatively classy and detracts the least from the iPhone's design.



MY MAIN COMPLAINT IS... the openings for the headphone and dock connector jacks are too small. Thus, like the original 2G iPhone with the recessed headphone jack, only Apple headphones and those specifically designed for the iPhone will fit in the headphone jack. Also annoyingly, any non-Apple dock connectors (even relatively small ones) will not fit through this case. This will be especially of concern for anyone with a car stereo adapter, as they generally have non-Apple dock connectors. Even the old Apple dock cables (the ones where you had to squeeze to release) do not fit. Extremely annoying...



I think I might try using a Dremel tool to make the openings bigger, but this will surely mar the case and may even break it. Apple iPhone 4 Bumper - Black (MC597ZM/A)

Ordered this case from apple for 29 dollars. The case has 1 major flaw. Your old dock cables won't fit. The opening is only wide enough for the new slim cables. I had to take a razor and cut the bottom opening wider so my older cables would fit. Save your money for a better thought out case.

Not the real Apple bumper:

1. "Apple iPhone 4 Bumper - Black (MC597ZM/A)by Apple" Its not made by apple, it came on a plastic bag without any brand.

2. "With metal buttons for volume and power" It doesn't have metal buttons, they are cheap black plastic buttons.

I could have bought this bumper for 1 dollar on the street.

Do NOT buy it!

Just like the iPhone 4 itself, Apple has integrated a design that looks great but is functionally worse than what was available before. The problems with the antenna on the outside lead you to buy the bumper. Like all the previous reviewers note, none of the stereo jacks work, and only the slim dock connectors fit. Also, it is not compatable with the iPhone 4 dock adapter for the Universal dock. Therefore, I have to take it out of the bumper in order to work properly with charging, syncing, and usage in the car. Too bad, because it looks nice. Buyer beware.

It is not good from the sellers to increase the price of the ( iphone 4 bumper ) from 30 to 50 or 55 $ ... if they want to gain profit they should just increase the price to 5 or 10 $ maximum but not nearly the double ... I think these sellers increased the price in to double because they know that some of the iphone 4 users who faced a problem with the reception have found the solution by using the bumper ... apple well release an update ( ios 4.01) that will fix this problem and I hope that it will work, so that it will prevent us from buying something cost 55$.

The actual case isnt bad at all. It looks great and works like it should. My only issue is the headphone jack being too small to fit almost all plugs without pushing really hard. But please don't waste your money and buy it for any price over $29. It retails at Apple for that price and should not be priced at nearly $50.'


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Dual Screen - car dvd player, divx


9" screens are big enough for comfortable viewing and the picture quality is good and goes up bright enough for daylight use. Setup is pretty easy. I suggest buying some wireloom or small tie wraps to secure up the cables and route them AWAY from kids feet. The power cables are very light-duty and will likely break at the monitor connector if kicked in the wrong way. The system is simple to use for basic functionality. It plays many different disc formats including DVD+/-R. And it plays them well (no sputters even on kid-used discs). Disc loading is a bit clumsy (a side load slot would have been better) and useful buttons such as the DVD Menu one, are on the top of the unit when installed. It makes it impossible for a kid to find without knowing where it is beforehand. Easy to remove and store (good for hiding the monitors on short notice). Lastly, you may want to buy a longer video/audio cable between the two monitors. Mine was barely long enough to route the wire safely away from the feet. Philips PET9402/37 9-Inch Dual-Screen Portable DVD Player (Black) - 1080p - Car Dvd - Divx - Car Dvd Player'


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Multimaster - tools, multimaster


This bosch multi-x use tool is exactly that. I do remodeling/ finishing/framing and light cabinet building on site and install. This tool has been used much more than I had originally thought. I've used it for drywall cutting(it makes very nice straight cuts with relatively little dust flying everywhere). I've used it for flush cutting, it will cut through a 2x4 if needed. It works great where it's to hard or awkward to use a sawzall. The detail sanding pad works great and is very nice for tight spaces or small areas. I wish there was a vaccum attachment for this though...?



Also the blades are very nice and are quite durable. I'm anxious to see bosch release their own blades/attachments soon. (A rep just said that they should be released next week. Dec 8th? ) Also he said they would be priced from 10-40% LESS then the compareable Fein attachments!! Thats about time.



Another thing. I tried to use the new Dremel's sandpaper on the bosch, but the Dremel's sandpaper are too small. They don't work well at all. I think the Dremel's other attachments will work fine though.



I think i would actually give this a 4.5 star if i could because there are a few shortcomings.



1. The battery life is short. maybe 5-10 minutes depending on how hard you're pushing this tool and how high the variable speed is. Also when maxed out, this tool does make a good amount of noise and has some vibration. I've used it often dialed about halfway up. Its quieter and less agressive but usually plenty of power. Also, a bosch Rep told me that the 12 volt max batteries are exactly the same as their 10.8 volt. I just picked up the 10.8 volt impact driver because i needed more batteries to keep this tool running. They are interchangeable and seem to work perfectly the same. I think that the battery option and freedom of cords far outweigh the downside of short battery life. (As long as you have more than 2 batteries!!!)



2. My multi-x has a hard to turn off switch. It may just be mine, because in the store the floor model was just fine.. But its bothersome.

( I bought mine in a store. )



To summerize this, I am very happy with my purchase and can't believe how i did certain things before having this handy tool. If you're serious about being efficient on the job, and are looking for a new favorite tool, you can't go wrong here.



***EDIT*** I would definately not go more than 4 Stars due to the battery life issues and no charge in cold weather. I may be looking to the Fein Multi master Top kit down the road.... Bosch PS50-2B 12-Volt Max Multi-X Carpenter Kit

I took a long time in the store to decide between the Fein and the Bosch. Ultimately, the cheapskate in me won. The significantly lower price of the Bosch and its blades and the feel of the tool in my hand were the deciding factors. The tool feels nimble and can easily be held in one hand.



Bosch has far less choice in blades and attachments than Fein, however, it comes with an adapter so you can use any other manufacturer's attachments. Out of the box it works with the Dremel blades.



For my project I had to cut the bottom of a partially encased 4 x 4 post that had been eaten by ants. The wood is redwood. It took multiple cuts to do this, but the Bosch made it through. Before completion, I exhausted the first battery (5 minutes) and put it in the charger. The battery had become so hot from the cutting that it wouldn't charge. It needed to cool down first. That means that you cannot reuse it within the advertised 30 minutes. I plugged in the second battery and resumed cutting. After 10 seconds the battery popped out and kept popping out. The vibration of the tool had broken the tabs on the battery that hold it in place. By holding the battery with one hand I could finish the cutting of one post. It did the trick, but not as as smooth as I had hoped.



I packed it all up and returned it. I've ordered the Fein and am waiting for it now. Too bad, because on paper the Bosch has a lot going for it. Probably great for small jobs or sites with no electricity. I think the battery is far too small and too low in power for this tool. Even discounting the broken battery - that may be incidental - I can only give it two stars because of the short battery life and long wait for the recharge.



Update:

I received the Fein corded version FMM 250Q today and used it on the second post. Well, what a difference. The Fein is much more powerful, quiet and vibrates far less. Cutting out 12 inches off the sill and through the 4 x4 post was very easy. With the Bosch it felt like a struggle, with the Fein it was fun. Moral of the story: You get what you pay for.

I found this gadget to be excellent for what I wanted it for. Battery life is fine, but using the supplied batteries out of the box the first gave out after les than 5 minutes of cutting foam in place insulation. The second completed the job. Cutting green board the battery that initially had the low charge gave out in a bit less than 15 minutes, the other battery lasted a bit over ½ hour. Trying the short battery again it lasted 35 minutes. So the batteries ability to be fully charged increases with the number of charges--weird



Fein versus Bosh: I feel that there are valid reasons to buy the Fein over the Bosch. They are:

1) Accessories--the Fein has a lot more and some are impossible to fake. (BTW the new star accessories are NOT COMPATABLE with the Bosch!)

2) Corded; more powerful and faster cuts particularly in heavy materials.

3) Very good dust control system.



Bosch over Fein:

1) Fein is 2x the Bosch cost and if you get the dust remover 3x.

2) Cordless and in some cases the dust removal system can't be used due to space.

3) Fein Star connect is unique and there are no alternate sources for accessories.

4) Fein much more of a production to setup, not really suitable for small jobs.



The charger works on the older 10.8 batteries and the new 12 V so in a pinch you can use the 10.8 batteries from your old tools--short life though.



Conclusion/last thoughts: If you do renovation/remodeling for a living get the Fein and the Bosch. If you do heavy remodeling get the Fein. Otherwise unless you must have a unique accessory (or the dust collection) get the Bosh. (I can buy a lot of dust masks and throwaway paper overalls for $400.)



Projects.

I did several projects so far;

First tearing out code drywall (2 sheets of ½ back to back) and green board (concrete board used for steam baths, saunas etc.) and miscellaneous stuff.

I was unsure of using the multi tool as I felt that I could do as well with a sawzall but I was wrong. The Bosch did much better faster in walling where the Green Board had been installed and then the screws sealed over. A friend with a Fein (he does this for a living) came over and gave me a hand and we were able to strip a bathroom with a 6 ½' wall and two 12' walls and a closet in ½ a day. The Fein did about 2x the work that the Bosch did but that's given a more skilled younger operator and a wired tool and allowing for the dust collection system; which is excellent. The Bosch did very well and I had no real problems with battery life. I was surprised at how easily we could cut the screws without damaging the underlying structure and get rid or the various drywall and green board chunks. (Some of the walls were load bearing with 2x6 on 14" centers.)



I used the wide wood blade to remove a bunch of foam in place insulation that got out of hand during an emergency repair last year without having to remove siding. Did a great job.



A friend installed a bunch of shelves with auger point stainless steel screws that were just a bit too long and wound up with the ends of the screws protruding between 1/8 and ¼" above the top of the shelves. I used the metal/wood blade and was surprised to find that it made nice flush cuts that were smooth and only needed a little touch up paint.



Update:

Used the sander and it works better than expected. I don't see a need for a small linear sander or specialty sander if you have this or the Fein. A large rotary or belt may be an eventual purchase.

The grout blade works very well and will reduce the time to retile a small shower from around a week to a couple of days.



Other considerations:

The case is nice and roomy with space for 2 batteries (so you can carry 3 one in the tool), and a box resembling a standard card file 4x4 ¾ x 6 ¾ (HxWxL) with dividers for accessories. And it has room for another as well. You can leave an accessory tool attached to the multitool if you desire.

SAFTY Issue. You need to remove the battery when changing accessories. The other Bosch tools I have have trigger locks but this doesn't and could cause serious injury if switched on while changing accessories.

The tool doesn't sound that loud in many materials but if used for a long time it will produce hearing problems. I hit a section of dry wall over metal studs and the resonance was loud even with hearing protection.



Summary: battery life is OK and this is a great tool for the price. If you need better buy the Fein at 2x to 3x the price.



Weird things to do with the tool: The metal blade does a bang up job slicing the very crusty French stile bread that is hard to slice without messing up the crust.

Does a great job on those user hostile bubble packs that are hard to open even with a razor knife.



(BTW it appears that some unscrupulous dealers on the `net are selling these with the 10.8V batteries--you are safe with Amazon and affiliates--which have a short charge life in a 12 V tool). - Bosch - Tools - Multimaster - Dremel'


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String Trimmer Accessories


I somewhat agree with the guy from Vegas that this is a waste of money, EXCEPT that this is about the only way to get extra spools for your Black & Decker weed whacker. Note that you can buy a spool of 600 feet of .065 line from Amazon (Desert Extrusion brand, price is $8.80 for 600 feet in March 2007). Then, with the bulk line, plus these 3 spools, plus the spool that came with the weed whacker you can have up to 4 spools ready to rock and roll at minimal cost. Unlike the guy from Vegas, it takes me more than 2 minutes to hand-wind a spool, but not a lot longer, it's pretty easy to do, my main advice being I find it better to not try and wind more than 25 feet onto a spool even though it presumably can hold 30 feet of line. Everytime I wind more than 25 feet I get a lot of jams until the line gets those extra few feet chewed off. Hope this helps. Black & Decker AF-100-3ZP 30-Feet 0.065-Inch Line String Trimmer Replacement Spool, 3-Pack

What the other reviewers fail to mention, maybe because they failed to try, is that the AFS on the trimmer continues to work flawlessly with hand wound string, and at less than 1/4 the cost it's seems like a huge waste to buy the pre-wound spools. It only takes 2 minutes to rewind a spool, so even when I do run out in the middle of a job, I just look at it as a 2-minute break from yard work. Of course, if your one and only concern is convenience, you may be looking at the right product. Be aware, if you've had trouble with rewinding trimmers in the past, it may be because you're using old line, which tends to get brittle over time. Buy some new line and try again. If you buy the three-pack of spools three times, you just paid for your trimmer again.

Thanks for reading,

Adam

ps. Two stars for effort, but the cost is just ridiculous.

The factory replacement spool for the GH400 Trimmer/Edger is the way to go. I have been very pleased with the easy to load and use spools. I have had bad luck with other trimmers, but this one is great with the factory replacement spool.

I have owned several trimmers, those with long heavy cords to drag along, others with gas/oil mixtures that never worked quite right. Then came the Black and Decker auto feed system. I think it is fabulous! You just plug it on a charger and it is always ready for use, the spools could not be simpler to pop in. I highly recommend this product. Thank you Black and Decker!'


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Overpriced - sims3, expansion pack


I own every single Sims game, and had owned all of the Sim City series as well. With that said, let's move on to the review of EA's latest product, The Sims 3: World Adventures. I had high anticipation because I am used to the massive amounts of new things we got with the Sims 1 & Sims 2 expansions, which were offered at much lower costs. However, do not let this deter you. While you may not get a ton of new items, you do get adventure as promised. The pros:

1. You do get to travel, and there are goals when you do so. I didn't care for the way the Sims 2: Bon Voyage, didn't really give you a goal. It was go to a new place, relax, stay for a huge amount of time and leave. World Adventures gives you goals, while allowing you to visit various places if you would like. And in time you can buy a vacation home and spend more time there. You have to build up your "visa" to have stays longer than 3 days in each location, and you do this by completing adventures. I had a great time wandering around the maze like tombs, and avoiding torching myself.

2. There are indeed a few more items, and they have country themes. In the past few games we have really only had Asian oriented items; I love decorating the house with flaming chandeliers like the ones seen in the tombs.

3. I have not found all of the new social interactions, but so far there have been about three.

4. Basements! Yes you heard right, you can actually have basements to your house now; not only that but you can build "tombs" under your home.

5. A few new traits and music tastes.

6. Your sim, when they learn a new song, may come home singing- which I find very cute.



Cons:

1. As with any EA game that just came out, there are glitches. The first time I started up, my sim was no where to be found. The plumbob was deformed and I couldn't preform any actions. I uninstalled it, the problem still remained. So I uninstalled the base game; that fixed that problem. Then I couldn't get skills or buy skill books. This was apparently a conflict between the new patch (that is required it seems.) and game mods and some custom content. I removed by mods and custom content; now the game runs like a charm.

2. The loading time is much longer than with The Sims 3 base game. I have plenty of memory, a new graphics card and plenty of RAM. I am above the required specs with everything, but only slightly. If you are working with the bare minimums or just a little above, it may run a little slower.

3. I have noticed (it may be my computer) that some of the graphics are not as clear, such as a blurry pixelation of my sims eye sockets.

4. Still no memories.

5. Some of the new features have been hard for me to find, such as the collection for photographs (which is a nice new bonus).

6. Toddlers & pregnant women cannot travel. I assume this is because it would be unsafe for them to be caught on fire, but it still stinks leaving them home.

7. Some people have been having a lot more problems, such as the game not loading, codes not working and games not saving. I have personally not had any of these problems.



I will update this as I continue to play; but so far the adventures have made getting the game worth it. I really enjoy having the goals and feeling like I'm achieving something for my sim. The Sims 3: World Adventures

I just came online after angrily quitting the Sims 3: World Adventures. When I first bought the game it was a nice change to be able to go to different parts of the Sim world. It was a welcomed change. However, that was before I discovered all the glitches and bugs this expansion pack introduced to my Sims 3 game. I deeply regret buying it.



A few things that have gone wrong since I installed it:



- If a Sim has been in an area too long (ie Egypt) that sim will out of nowhere have a family located in that area. My sim girl was in Egypt a lot because the mummies and tombs were fun to me. After a while I looked at the family tree and she's somehow already married to an old man and they have a kid together? What the?! I can't break up the marriage so she can't marry anyone ever. (See Picture I Uploaded)



- My sim guy "went steady" with a girl from China. When he got home, the girl disappeared so now my guy can't marry anyone because it still shows that he's in a relationship with this girl. I can't reach her by phone or go to China because she vanished.



- There is a car stuck outside my sim's homes and I can't do Move Objects On to remove it.



- If my Sim asks a foreign sim (from China for example) to get married, the game glitches so that they marry but the Chinese sim doesn't move in. I can keep marrying them but they never move in, it just glitches and sends them flying around the house.



- Lastly, the glitch that made me upset the most is that I was in Egypt exploring tombs when all of a sudden the game glitches and nothing, I mean NOTHING, is clickable anymore. I can't use my cell to get out of there, I can't make my sim walk anywhere because not even the floors are clickable. I just said forget it and quit the game.



These glitches have ruined the game for me. It was a big mistake trying out the game with my favorite family. Now they're all messed up and I cant do anything to fix it. This expansion pack was MAJOR FAIL. I advise you NOT to get it and only do so when *everything* is fixed. Save your money until then! The game itself is pretty fun if you're looking to trying new things and introduce new challenges for you and your sim but like I said, it's better to wait until its problems are fixed.



Update 7/14/10: Might I add that since writing this review I've had to restart a new game from scratch 3 times. I'm not sure if it was because I uninstalled World Adventures, or because the Sims 3 game is so full of glitches that crash the game itself but the game won't load up on my laptop anymore. I'm left with two "games" I regret spending money on. - Sims3 - Sims - Pc Game - Expansion Pack'


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Wheeled Cooler - collapsable cooler, wheeled cooler


We recently spent three days visiting San Francisco and stayed in a hotel which furnished a fridge and microwave. We carried our food with us and it stayed cold and fresh during the hours we spent traveling on public transit getting to our hotel. The only problem we had was with the two carrying handles. It would be so much nicer if the handles could convert into one handle so that the cooler could be carried in one hand while the other hand carried a second travel bag or suitcase. Getting on and off buses and climbing up stairs would have been so much easier with a single handle. Columbia 50 Can High Performance Rolling Cooler

Cooler was great for the beach. Only drawback is there's no single handle on the top to carry across the sand. Having 2 handles on the sides made it extremely difficult to carry across the sand when you also were carrying other stuff. We took rope and tied to both side handles to make a strap to carry. Made it much easier. Other than that it was great!

This item keeps everything cold and refreshing even on a hot day. Took it to the beach and the ice and drinks were ice cold even though the temperature was over 95 degrees. Took it to a tailgate and the same result. Cost is reasonanable and it is better than those costing more.

I bought several of these as wedding gifts for our groomsman. 3 of them have already had the wheels literally melt off. The design allows the wheels to rub against the support housing and eventually melt the whole assembly. Be careful not to touch them if you feel some rolling resistance. I burned one of my fingers pretty bad after touching one of them! It failed shortly after....

The cooler is the right size but lacks the extra-pockets space these usually come with. I use mine for a portable refridgerator/home-base while at work and this model has but one large pocket. The top and sides are totally wasted.

This collapsible cooler has a lot of space so you can carry lots of items. It also keep things cool far longer than I expected. Rolls easily, although I wish it had a wider wheel base. It is well made. It stores easily, but because it is soft it tends to sag when it is not full.

Cooler does exactly as described. We have not owned this very long. We have used this cooler once on a 3-day trip. Number one concern is of course "leakage" and this one doesn't leak. We filled the cooler with ice daily but at the end of the day there was still ice remaining. We placed the cooler in the back seat of the car, then it went inside the hotel room at our destination. The weather was not overly hot as the high was in the 70's but the important thing is that it didn't leak. A plus for us is that the cooler folds pretty compact for storage when not in use. It has velcro tabs on the sides (near bottom) that keep the cooler folded flat after you compact it down. And when driving on a road trip it's convenient to just reach thru the small opening on the top to grab a bottled water. (Don't have to unzip the whole top).

When the cooler first arrived, I thought its design was great. However, the very first time we used it, one side of the handle pulled out completely and no matter how we tried to reconnect it to the sleeve, we couldn't get it back in. We've returned the cooler. I've never had to return anything before, but Amazon made the return process very easy.

Purchased this cooler in late May 2011 to use at the Chicago Air and Water Show in August. After just this single use one set of wheels, possibly defective since the unit was manufactured, froze up and would not rotate. A closer inspection revealed that the wheels were rubbing against the wheel mounting bracket since the wheel shaft was misaligned in the bracket. Needless to say, I am extremely disappointed with this product- especially since it carries the Columbia name, which I have found to typically be very reliable and well-made products. Don't waste your money on this item......although as a cooler it functions fine, without the capability to "roll it" I might as well have purchased a cooler bag......at least then I would have had a shoulder strap with which to carry it. - Cooling - Lawn - Wheeled Cooler - Collapsable Cooler'


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Ipod Speakers - clock radio, ipod speakers


I purchased this alarm clock for my 14 year old. We have tried numerous other alarm clocks for her, even the ones with the bells on top that clang. She has slept through them all, sometimes even when they go off for 30 minutes near her head. This year she started high school and has to get up much earlier. The iLuv has woken her up much more quickly than any other alarm clock! I no longer have to get up and drag her out of bed. I would recommend this for sound sleepers! iLuv iMM153BLK Dual Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker for your iPod - Black

Here is the rundown:



Pros:

+Docked flawlessly with my iPod nano 5g.

+All buttons worked.

+Ability to have auxiliary input.

+Wake up bed shaker is a nice touch. (and it has a very long cord)

+Alarm is a beep that gets louder over time (and can be used in concordance with the bed shaker)

+Can customize both alarms to incorporate different alarm types (ie. Shaker and beep, shaker and playlist, etc)



Cons:

-Sound was absolutely unbearable with any bass (even with ipod EQ settings set to bass reducer)

-Wake up bed shaker is not as strong as I hoped it to be.

-Product "feels" cheap (thin plastic, cheap buttons).

-Time setting is clumsy and difficult, why not just have it sync to the atomic clock (my $15 walmart clock did that)

-There are two bass "holes" in the back that appear to do nothing (I don't hear anything coming from them)

-Many comparable docks have remotes included. This does not.

-The screen does not look like it does in the image. It has a bright blue backlight.



Bottom Line:

This is great if you want an alarm clock with multiple alarm features that will also charge your iPod. You should not get this if you want to listen to music on it.



Why I gave it 2 stars:

I got this so I could listen to my iPod while I go to sleep. The sound quality is so unbearable that I stopped using it. It still has nice alarm features, but is overpriced for what I wanted.

A great concept let down by a few design flaws.



My intent for buying a new alarm clock was two-fold:

1) To enable me to set an alarm which would wake me, without disturbing others

2) To have a way to dim the clock so it would not disturb my sleep with too much light in the room.



Having this connect to an iPod Nano was a bonus.



The first thing that impressed me from the specs on this alarm clock was the bed shaker. Now, take note, this says Bed Shaker - and it truly is. Anyone sleeping on the same matress will feel their skull vibrating almost as much as yours, even when you place the vibrating disc under your pillow. 9/10 points for effort - 4/10 points for implementation



The second thing that persuaded me to this model was that it appeared, from reading through the reviews that the brightness on the clock was settable from 0 (no backlight) to 9 (bright enough to read a book by). This seemed great as this would allow me to have the backlight off for sleeping and adjust it if/when I needed to read the clock... However, the implementation of this is a fatal flaw for me with this product. Let me explain in detail:

a) The brightness change requires you to set a new overall brightness level; so if you are at 0 you click the Dimmer/Snooze button and it goes to 1. To turn the light off you have to click the button another 9 times to cycle back to 0. This is awkward, though is way surpassed by the loud clicking made by the cheap switch which wakes anyone else not wearing earplugs...

b) Insult is added to injury with the design of the Dimmer/Snooze button. Imagine you're sleeping with the backlight off (Dimmer 0) and the alarm occurs - you hit the button to increase the brightness, but it's a joint-function Dimmer/Snooze button... So, the alarm snoozes - and no matter how many times you hit the dimmer/snooze button again, to turn the brightness up to see the time, nothing happens. It appears the the clock is in "alarm mode". The only way to see the clock is to fumble for the alarm off button, turn off the alarm permanently and then hit the Dimmer/Snooze button again to now increase the backlight on the clock to level 1.

I know, and apologise, if this appears like a rant - and maybe my unit is faulty as the Dimmer 1 setting is incredibly bright and disturbing to sleep.



On the brighter side. The iPod functionality works well, even on the new iPod nanos, and the speakers are ok - definitely not hi-fi, but for a bedside table to listen to music whilst reading a book, they are adequate.



Anyway, please take the review as is, and if you we looking to an alarm clock with similiar prerequisites steer clear of this one. I wish/hope that these flaws are corrected and welcome any feedback to highlight better alternatives.



Hope this helps, - Alarm Clock - Ipod Speakers - Ipod Clock Radio - Clock Radio'


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Battery Packs - lithium-ion, 18 volt


I have owned a set of Makita tools with the LXT batteries for a couple years now and I have noticed absolutely zero power loss or any other problems. I use them quite regularly whether building concrete forms, decks, remodels, etc. I can think of three things that may be happening to the batteries of those who have commented on bad performance or longevity; (1) Occasionally, batteries can be bad from the factory (I have yet to own a milwaukee tool with the new "V" or "M" series battery that holds up past a few months. I have both V28 and M12, and have had ALL packs replaced) (2) It is possible to have a bad charger which is damaging the batteries itself, or (3) Perhaps the users are taking them all the way to the point of stalling and complete discharge, and for that the batteries are truly not made to do. It is best that once you notice the battery pack is wearing down, to grab a fresh one and put the discharged on the charger to cool down and refresh. Also, if the batteries are being stored for most of their life, it is best to keep the charger plugged in and rotate batteries through it to keep everything active and refreshed. Lithium batteries have computer chips and sophisticated circuitry, allowing them to constantly be charged without damage. Ni-Cad on the other hand are not supposed to be charged over and over again because they typically have memory effects and lifetime charging limits. It is best to mostly, not completely, discharge a Ni-Cad before replacing back onto the charger. Because a consumer only has ultimate control of this last variable, it is a good idea to read the owners manual and find out what the manufacturer thinks is best operating practices. Only those who are using the batteries and tools know how they are being treated, and you may very well be doing everything right and not fall into this third category. Being that my kit is from a couple years ago, and my newest battery packs (purchased just for continued use because I have many LXT tools) were purchased last year sometime, it is possible that the newer batteries are of a lesser quality, and that would be unfortunate. What I can say is this; I own many Dewalt tools, which I have only had to replace a couple Ni-Cad battery packs in the past 5 years. (Dewalt tools are mostly made in Mexico) I have owned MANY Milwaukee tools in which their Ni-Cads held up pretty well, but their Li-Ion line is absolute crap. Several years ago when their tools were still made in the US, their quality was impeccable. Their tools are now made completely in China. (Yes, many of the Makitas are also) I own several Bosch as well, and their batteries and tools are right up there with Makita's quality. As far as Skil, Black and Decker, and any other cheaper or knock-off brand goes, I would personally never purchase them. For one, you are supporting China, and secondly you would be purchasing a tool that is undependable. Hitachi has an excellent warranty, and makes excellent air nailers, however I'm unsure of the quality you may find in their power tools, both corded and cordless. I hope this was helpful. Makita BL1815 18-Volt 1.5 Ah Compact Lithium-Ion Battery

Really, these batteries provide seemingly endless power. They hold their charge for weeks with very little loss. I can use one battery for drilling and driving throughout an entire (moderately sized) project. They are extremely lightweight and charge in twenty minutes or less usually (in hot weather it takes longer). All three of mine slide on and off easily, with no issues of binding or falling off. With all the praise comes a VERY important caveat. DO NOT run these batteries into the ground. The instructions state that as soon as you notice a loss of power, stop and charge. If you over-discharge Li-Ion batteries, you can seriously degrade the life of the battery. These batteries are 1/3 cheaper on Amazon.com than at the home centers, so buy from here! Also, only the cells themselves are made in Japan, all other parts are made and final assembly is in China.

I love the drill but the battery life is a real problem. I had both original packs replaced under warranty when the charger reported them bad. Now one of the replacements is flashing bad on the charger. These have been cycled maybe a dozen times. I'll be complaining to Makita and also reporting this on the various woodworking groups I support.

I replaced a 14.4 Milwaukee NiCad with a Makita LXT and noticed that my old Milwaukee NiCads outlasted these in terms of longevity. Run time is solid, but lifespan is short. Two dead after one year, I'm only a homeowner. I've only done a few lengthy jobs such as putting cement board down in a 10x20 room, and building a deck with these, in addition to the other basic tasks of drywall, and other light construction needs. Love the light weight though. Now, I need new ones. Somewhat disappointing.

I went ahead and invested in a pair of these batteries despite the mixed reviews, figuring I'd at least get a year out of them with the warranty. So far, they've performed just fine, even on tools that are supposed to only use the BL1830. I mostly use them on the BHP454 drill (note: this is one of the tools that's keyed for the 1830 pack) and BTD141 impact driver when I'm not going to be using them for long, so the decreased runtime doesn't bother me. I also use them on the angle grinder and recip saw (after removing the little tab on the tools) for light work in tight spaces. I wouldn't want them to be my only batteries, but they're a great addition to a couple of the larger batteries if you have a few tools that can use them.



These slim packs are very handy on the drill, impact, and flashlight- the lighter weight and smaller size are noticeable, especially with the smaller (BDF/BHP452) drills. However, buyer beware when it comes to using them on the 'heavier' tools, as they are keyed for the larger batteries because they can draw more current than these smaller batteries can provide without damaging the cells. So you probably shouldn't slap one of these on your circular saw and go ripping 2x12s all day, or you'll kill the pack very quickly. Makita isn't trying to screw you into buying more batteries, they're trying to make sure you don't kill your batteries.



Another note, considering how many complaints of defective packs there are: don't run these batteries down to nothing, and try not to store them fully charged. Running them into the ground is a sure way to damage the cells, and I've read estimates of up to 20%/year capacity loss for a fully-charged pack, compared to as low as 2%/year for a pack stored @ 40% charge.



And of course, like any cordless tool/battery purchase- shop your options before buying batteries separately. I got the BHP452HW kit for only $50 more than 2 batteries. That's a cheap, easy way to have a spare drill or driver and charger for around the house, or to sell to recoup the extra cost.



I'm knocking off one star because Makita doesn't do a good job of letting people know that these slim packs only work on certain tools- and not very many, either. That's been a complaint for years now, and it's still not mentioned anywhere in their literature or website- even my local Makita dealer didn't know they weren't compatible with all LXT tools. It's not like it's standard practice- Bosch's and Milwaukee's slim packs fit their entire lineup, AFAIK. - 18 Volt - 18v - Makita - Lithium-ion'


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2009 Amazon Frustration-fre


I lift weights regularly and started to get callouses on my hands, so I went seeking some gloves. I purchased these based on the good reviews. They are great, but I'm giving them only four stars because there is no sizing chart available. I had originally ordered these in a large because I thought that would be a safe bet: I'm 5'8," taller than most women I know, and based on my wrist size I have a "small large" frame. And I have to buy household gloves in a large. Well, these gloves in a large where too big, and of course when I went to order some in the next size down, they were back-ordered & I had to wait nearly a month, further callousing my hands. Once they arrived, I found them to be a great fit & quite comfortable. They in no way hinder my grip on the weights, they're cute, and and a portion of the proceeds goes to breast cancer research. A good buy, would definitely recommend. Saranac b-grl Women's Luxe Fitness Glove (Black, Small)

Over my 20 years of weightlifting I've tried many gloves and believe me, these are the best! They are comfortable, form-fitting without being too snug, have the right amount of padding in the palms, & move with me. Basically they feel like a second skin with protection where you need it-(not like Harbinger or others that rub & constrict in the wrong places). I work out to look good and these gloves both work hard and look good too. The price is right as well! And to think even at that price they donate part to charity- thats pretty cool. Definitely 5 stars.

I work out often and find gloves to be a necessity. This and the Core are the best gloves I have ever worn. The fit is great and I really like the styling. The gloves are washable and hold up well - would reccomend this and the core to all. B-grl has a great story behind it (check out the website) not the least of which is their support to find a cure for breast cancer! I have 3 freinds who have bought the b-grl fitness gloves and all of them love them - best glove ever worn - I suggest it to everyone!

I bought these to use for yoga. My hands get sweaty during downward dog and I slip a lot, so my instructor recommended buying some training gloves. I saw other reviews and thought I'd be okay, but seriously BUY A SIZE SMALLER. I'm 5'9" and the large is just too big. My hands stay in one place on my yoga mat, but the creases in between my fingers are getting hurt from swimming inside the gloves. I would say that the quality of the product is high, but unless the fit is right the whole thing can go wrong.

I needed some gloves to protect my hands during my weight lifting workouts. These gloves are perfect for that task! They are very comfortable and the terry cloth thumbs are great for alleviating sweat. These gloves are also adjustable, which is a nice feature.

*** edited Dec. 2010

I have been using these gloves 2-3 times a week for weight lifting for a year now, and they still look great! I've washed them twice, and they have handled that as well. I'm back to get another pair simply because I am tired of waiting for these things to wear out, so that I can get the medium! ***



I've been using these gloves for about 4 weeks, and I love them. They are easy on/off, and really help eliminate barbell chafing. I had been using a nice pair of leather gloves before, but they really made my hands sweat, and were hard to get off. This pair breathes very well, is easy off, and can be washed. Although the padding is average, it just seems to be better placed than most other gloves I have tried. I consider my hands pretty large for a girl (I wear a size 9 ring) so I got the large, but I wish I had gotten the medium since these are way too large in the wrist. These are very stretchy, so if you are wavering between 2 sizes, I would go down.

First of all, they do run large. My hands are fairly ordinary in size and the small fits me perfectly.



But the reason for the low rating has to do with their quality. I opened the box, detached the gloves from their packaging and put them on... only to discover that the stitching was such that two of the fingers aren't completely attached as the stitches are coming undone. They seem like great gloves otherwise, so I'm going to try to wear them and see how it goes and repair them as I need to. But what a disappointment - I don't think it's too much to ask that products have better quality control than that!

Love these gloves. I got the black. I usually have to get a large in women's gloves, but in these the medium fits great. They are very comfortable, not too thin, and not too bulky like other gloves I have worn. I would highly recommend.

I've been looking for glove to replace my old ones and believe it or not that's not easy. I went to a huge sporting goods store and wasn't impressed by anything they had. I finally settled on a pair of Nike glove for $15. That was a waste. After 15 minutes of use I had to take them off. They were cutting off my circulation and digging into my skin between my fingers. It wasn't that they were too small (i have small hands and got mediums). If I would have gotten bigger gloves, there would have been too much bunching in the palms.



I decided to go to Amazon, though I hate buying something like gloves when I can't try them on first. I figured I'll read some reviews and take a chance. I purchased the b-grl gloves because they were not too masculine and they were well reviewed. I have to say that I'm glad I did. These are very comfortable and don't cut into my hands at all. I would definitely buy these again.

I originally ordered a large because I have long fingers and usually have to buy large gloves. I had to return and get a medium instead. Return process was easy, no RAC required.



Gloves are soft and flexible and do a decent job of protecting my hands from new calluses.'


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Excellent product, no problems with quality. And this may be just the ticket if you must have a 2/2 inch sticky note. However the name company, purchasable on Amazon, offers a set of 4 pastel colors in a 3x3 inch size for less. This 2x2 is a 400 count, and the 3x3 is 200 count but less than half the price. So if size is not important, buy 2 3x3 in place of 1 2x2 and save 17 percent.



The best part of these Avery home and office note tools is the new BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION coupon. I am a retired public school teacher. MOST SCHOOLS COLLECT THESE COUPONS. They mount up quickly when several hundred kids and their families collect. They can make a difference in the budget of a school, REALLY! Although no longer saving them for my own school, now I save them for my grandchildren and their schools. The grandkids love to get them from Grandpa and Grandma. Classes have competitions to see who collects the most BOX TOPS for EDUCATION points. Then in the end, it is the students who win/win with the items purchasable from this program. Lots of products carry the BOX TOPS coupons. Save them for your local school.



Hats off to Avery for caring about the children. Avery Sticky Notes Cube, 2 x 2 Inches, Assorted Bright Colors, 400 Sheets (22547)'


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