Sunday, 21 August 2011

Kindle 2 Screen Protector


As some other commentators pointed out, this screen protector is easy to apply - especially after watching a video on the manufacturer's site. However, two things made it really unsuitable for me: screen glare (the most important disadvantage) and the fact that the screen does not match the Kindle 3 screen - there are gaps wider then 1mm which for a "premium" product is not too good. Even worse: out of the two screens I received in the 2-pack, one was not rectangular (very tight fit on the bottom of the screen and 1.5smm gaps on the top.

So... if the significantly increased glare and precise fit are not too important for you, you'll appreciate the ease of installing the screen. Otherwise you should look elsewhere.



Follow-up comment:

I have been contacted by the Grantwood Technology and received their new anti-glare screen for Kindle for free - this is a good indication an excellent customer service and the sign that they genuinely care about their products' quality. The new screen is a vast improvement over the previous model. It seems to be just a little bit more difficult to apply (as it is a bit more rigid then the old one) but not by much. The fit is much better and the glare is vastly reduced - making the new screen a really good protector for my Kindle. I did not like the old product but the new protectors are so much better that I can recommend them without hesitation. Grantwood Technology's 2-Pack Premium Anti-Glare Screen Protector for NEW Kindle 3 and Kindle 2, (6" Display)

I was in two minds: #1: the kindle is supposed to have this awesome anti-glare screen, and I don't want to do anything to get in it's way. #2: I am a clumsy, galumphing nodwiddy that wrecks my precious, precious electronic devices. It's bad enough what I've done to my ipod... and I love books even more than music. Whatever to do? I bought a cover, but it has little things inside to hold bits and bobs, and what if they should damage my screen?! I can't have that... so I waded through all the reviews of screen protectors, and found my fears weren't unfounded. Almost every screen protector had bad reviews, and glare was the worst of them. I was sad.



Then I came across this one, claiming it would not cause glare. I extended the olive branch of trust and purchased... the price being reasonable, and if it didn't work, I would bring the crushing power of the internets upon them and give them a bad review. Unnecesary. Simply: this product does what it says it will. I put it on, and I see no difference in the screen appearance. There is no glare. You don't know it is there. It fits well - and for someone with two left thumbs, I had a pretty easy time putting it on. My faith in humanity is reinstated. Or at least the humanity selling electronic device accessories on Amazon.

This review is for the Grantwood Technology Screen Protector for Amazon Kindle, 2nd Gen. My friend purchased this sceen protector for me as a gift. The application process was simple and flawless. I only had two (2) air bubbles, which disappeared by themselves after a few hours (no pressing, squishing, or herding air bubbles around - which is good). HOWEVER, this screen protector increases the glare significantly. I now have to hold my Kindle almost parallel to my sightline to see the words! If I hold it perpendicular (like a normal book), I just see my reflection. It's like a mirror. Horrible. Forget reading outside or in any bright light conditions. Applause to Grantwood for ease of application, boo for readability afterword.

I installed a fair share of screen protectors on various items, but never one to my complete satisfaction; to which I attribute mostly my shortcomings -- not the product. When I ordered this product I expected a thin film akin to the cell phone/mp3 player type. Not at all! I ordered 6 to give myself a chance. First I carefully read the instructions (simple and explicit). Following the instructions exactly, the screen laid down like it was in love with the Kindle. One very small air bubble appeared on the starting edge of the screen that easily pushed out with a fingernail massage. After a week, no further bubbles. That was it! The screen material is much sturdier than those that are applied to cell phones or MP3 players. I haven't yet experienced any glare problems in sunlight noticed by others.



It'd be nice to credit this installation to my skill; even at age 82, I'm handy with most things involving finger dexterity. Instead I'm a real "klutz" in this particular area. This product ramped up my ego just a little bit.

These Screen Protectors are a perfect fit for my new 6" Kindle. The best thing about this product is that it came not only with written instructions, but also with a web-site to a video link where I could actually SEE how to properly apply my screen protector. Never having done this before, I so appreciated this added feature. I was able to apply my screen protector successfully on my first attempt!

Thank you Grantwood Technology. You have a return customer in me.'


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Sport Headphones - sport headphones, headphones


I have been in search of a pair of headphones for running for about a year. I have tried primarily earbud style designs. I have not tried in-ear designs because I do not like the sound isolation provided by in-ear. I feel this is a safety issue for running. The earbuds I have tried simply lack bass. Even though the specs of the earbuds I have tried show a frequency response down to 20 Hz, there seems to be a bass roll off.



The MDR-AS20J have very good bass. They have 13.5 mm dome type drivers as opposed to typical 9 mm drivers of earbuds. What also helps with the bass is the clip design. The clip design pushes the bud firmly but gently in the ear which helps with the bass response. Other earbuds slide out slightly which has a dramatic effect on bass.



The MDR-AS20J stay in place while running. You literally can just forget about them. They will not budge. The cord is also very light which helps with the bouncing of running. The MDR-AS20J are very comfortable for me though they are not adjustable. Some users may have fit issues.



These headphones have a very low impedance (16 ohms). That means just about any device can drive them to very high volumes, and at normal listining volumes, they will take less power.



These headphonse are weather and sweat resistant. Another important consideration for running.



These headphonse sound great. They have a balanced sound that does not over or under emphasize any frequency range. I used to watch movies in bed with a pair of high quality home headphones. The MDR-AS20J can hold ground even with my flagship headphones. I now use the MDR-AS20J for home listing in bed simply because they sound really good and they are so comfortable. You can fall asleep with them on as opposed to large headphones that get in the way.



I would give these headphonse about 10 hours of break in before judging them. CNET gave an OK review of these headphones. I doubt they let them break in. When you first get them, there will be slight distortion in the midrange which results in a muddy sound. This will go away.



You cannot go wrong with these for under $20. Sony Mdr-As20J Active Style Headphones with Soft Loop Hangers (Black)

I have been enjoying the Sony MDR-AS207J headphones since April and have not been happier with a pair of clip-on/in-ear headphones. Earbuds (like those included with most mp3 players) do not stay in my ears, even with the addition of optional size adjusters, especially at the gym, so after several years of purchasing earbuds of every brand and type I resorted to the less comfortable but terrible sounding MDR-J10's until this model came out. The soft rubber is flexible and comfortable, and because it goes completely around the back of the ear, the headphones stay in place. I where mine everyday, going to work or class, and run with them several times a week and they actually stay in place every time, something no other in-ear headphone has done for me. Some other advantages to clip-ons vs earbuds is that these clip-ons do not block out ambient noise, so you will be safe when out and about. They are comfortable, even after several hours, and I have even worn them to bed several times. Also these headphones sound really really good, especially for $20 headphones. My hearing is not great after years of working around power tools, but I was pleasantly surprised by the sound quality, especially after the dismal MDR-J10s. While the sound is not comparable to a pair of high-end, noise canceling headphones, I find it rather comparable to the Sennheiser PX100s, which are a mid-range headphone. So for everyday use when out and about you cannot go wrong with these. Save the audiophile listening sessions for something nicer. After 3 months of heavy use, these headphones show no wear or frays in the cord coating, and have held up to sweating in 90 degree weather and moderate rain. Speaking of the cord, I have found the length (which is pretty standard) to be perfect. I have enough cord to allow me to place my iPod in any pocket when walking around, and have not found it to be inconvenient when at the gym or running outside. The cord is too long for use with armbands unless you wrap it or use an armband with a cord holder (like the Tune Belt Open View Armband). After 20+ different pairs of earbuds and other in-ear headphones of the last 2 years, I have never been more pleased with 'active' headphones. They will fit your ears and stay in place in virtually any activity and the price is so low I actually purchased several pairs just in case they stop manufacturing them.

These work great as far as staying in my ears securely (something the ipod buds I have do not do). The sound quality is not as good as my ipod ear buds, but I was loving them for working out in the gym until they started to crackle, and then shocking my ears. I read about headphones doing that in other reviews (not necessarily for these), but couldn't imagine what that would be like until it happened to me. I'm going to try to exchange them, and I hope the new ones will be better, because otherwise, they are awesome. I only used them lightly for a couple months, and never outdoors. They never got wet or sweaty, so I'm not sure what happened. Also, I have very small ears and these fit great and are comfortable. - Running - Headphones - Sport Headphones - Sports Headphones'


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Adapters - hdmi to dvi, cables


With this adapter I was able to use a old, but well working, Apple monitor with a new PC that only had VGA and HDMI video monitor options. A DVI to HDMI adapter is what I needed and this product works as specified,I would recommend it. DVI 24+1 (DVI-D) Female to HDMI Male Adapter

I was kinda wondering how it would put out and what kinda quality it you have converting cables like that. But, It worked GREAT. If you are looking for a cost effect way to get HD with a cable you already have without spending a lot of money. This is the way to go. Thank you for the great buy. As a regular Amazon customer, I recommend to anyone.

I bought this adapter as a way to connect my PS3 to my lcd computer monitor. I already had the DVI cable, so this was the last link in the chain. I was pleasantly surprised when my PS3 allowed me to output a 720P or 1080P signal to my monitor. The 1080 wasn't the most ideal, since my monitor doesn't support that resolution natively, but it still worked. I just keep it on 720 and I've had no problems.

It does exactly what it says! I used this to connect my DVI Samsung monitor to my HDMI laptop. My DVI cable is 18+1 pins so I wasn't sure if it was going to work, but it worked flawlessly. Thanks for the great product!

My Asus has an HDMI port and I have a few year old SAMSUNG 22" LCD. It only has DVI and VGA on it so I needed a converter for the DVI. I tried the VGA but for one reason or another that port does not work on my laptop... no worries since I never planned on using that anyways. overall this product worked as expected and quality is not an issue. If you need to convert a DVI to HDMI this is the trick. I found countless HDMI to DVI but that is not going to help me. to explain the connections in terms few understand this is a female DVI and male HDMI connector. Many I found out there were the opposite. the female DVI connection is the same that you would find on a video card or a monitor. the male DVI is the connector that you would find on the actual cable. the male part is always the one with the pins. the female is just where the pins go in. It can be confusing to many.

Unfortunately, this bargain priced DVI adapter just wasn't worth the time or money. The HDMI male plug is cheaply made and literally broke-off the adapter the very first time I plugged it into my DVD player and attempted to unplug it. I returned it for a refund and purchased a similar Monster brand adapter for only a few dollars more.

I saved myself a lot of money buying this converter. My new laptop has an HDMI output (male) and VGA output but my monitor was having problems with VGA. The monitor supported a DVI input and came with a DVI cable. Using this converter, I was able to plug it into my new laptop and now I get great resolution. It's very bright and crisp. If you have the same set up as I do, I'd recommend the $3 to try it out. Well worth it for me.

Just when computer geeks around my city could not help me hook up an external monitor (some were suggesting that I purchase more expensive hook ups) I thought of searching for myself on what the HDMI was all about and found exactly what I was looking for less than ten dollars and fast delivery too. WOW! Because of your kind of serves, I got an HP laptop to recognize a Mac monintor. WOW! Thank you so much for making this poor college student so happy, for less than ten big ones.

Well, my main reason for buying this it's because i got the wrong cable before however all I needed was this just to convert it :) so now I'm able to view my laptop screen on my plazma screen yeaaa so all and all it did the job needed. Works well as expected - Adapters - Hdmi To Dvi - Cables'


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Inversion - inversion equipment, back pain


I just recently purchased the Ironman Inversion System - nice, very nice!



This review is in five parts:

1. About the inversion system

2. Assembling the Ironman Inversion System

3. Assembly Steps that deserve comment

4. Broken or missing parts

5. Health Warnings (added because I didn't see this anywhere until I read the manual).



About the inversion system



This is not my first inversion system; I have a Stamina Inversion Therapy Table where we spend our summers. I purchased that unit from Amazon in May 2007. If that model had been available, I would have just reordered it. Since that unit is no longer available, I had to search out a new inversion system.



The Ironman is better than the Stamina in several ways. Number one is the capability of locking the bed at desired angles.



1.) I like this when I'm in the inverted position because you can move your arms without the inversion system moving safely but annoyingly at the pivot. Also, because of my back problems at times when my back was really hurting I would lay on the floor with a pillow under my head. I thought I would try the Ironman locked in the horizontal position and by golly it works! I put my feet into the heel locks just as a safety precaution. Then I rotated the bed to the horizontal position and locked it. It is more comfortable than the floor but stiff enough that it works. I have also tilted it just beyond horizontal when my back is hurting. It feels good but I still have not decided how long to stay in that position.



2.) The foot holder is a lot more comfortable than my Stamina. It is mounted so that the orientation and position of what they call the "Heel Holder" is just right.



There are some minuses.



I like the head rest but this one is not adjustable. Ironman should fix this. I removed one bolt and rotated the headrest to an ideal position for me.



The Ironman folds up but it is big and heavy. If you have to put it away this inversion system probably isn't the unit for you.





Assembling the Ironman Inversion System



The Ironman Inversion System comes in a big box and it is heavy. The UPS guy brought it into my home and put it in the room where I wanted to set the unit up. I am an engineer and when I opened the box it scared me and I am fearless. I got my electronic camera and took several pictures of the opened box and even marked all the Styrofoam blocks in case I had a problem with the unit. As it worked out, I didn't have anything to fear. Every piece was wrapped. The screw, bolts, nuts and washers came mounted on one piece of cardboard held in place by shrink wrap plastic. Where possible they made sets by putting the nut and the washers on the bolts. Also on that board were the tools you need to put the unit together.



The part I was most concerned with - mounting the bed to the frame - turned out to be quite easy because it was designed for assembly by one person.



Regarding assembly; allow two hours. You have to take all of the parts out of the box before you find the manual at the bottom of box. When I looked at the manual I was comfortable everything would go together. The front and rear leg assemblies including the pivots were already together. I had to add the bed headrest, the boom that mounts the heel holders; these kinds of parts. Assembly is not a cake walk but if you follow the directions and are comfortable with a wrench in your hand, you should be able to assemble this unit.



Lay out the bolts in an area convenient to where you will be assembling the unit. Organize the bolts in the same relationship as the picture on Page 6 of the Manual. Do not disassemble the nut and the washer. They will be the right parts in the right quantity for each assembly position.



You can assemble the unit using just their tools. Although these are metric size nuts and bolts, the following are my tools that I used for assembly:

A 1/2 in. and 5/8 in. open end wrench

A Phillips screwdriver with a #1 and a #3 bit

A 10mm socket (3/8 in will work)



Assembly Steps that deserve comment



Step 1, Putting on the four feet - The directions do not refer to the F and the B decals on the feet. Put the F feet on the front and the B feet on the back.



Step 3, Place the bed into the frame - just as the picture shows. Insert the two #43 bolts with one washer on each side as shown in the instructions. Tighten lock nuts finger tight (they will just start). You will have to wiggle the bed to get the holes to line up. Don't worry; they have plenty of play. Then insert the two #44 bolts with a washer on each side as per the directions and put the nylon nut on finger tight. This way you will have everything loosely assembled before you tighten anything down. Tighten the #44 nuts and bolts a little at a time alternating between the left and right bolt. Then tighten the #43 bolts in the same way.



Step 7, the instructions have an error. The washer is shown on the nylon nut side but it should be on the bolt head side. The nylon nut side has a very nice hex retainer for the nut built in. Position the lock nut in the retainer then tighten the bolt.



Step 8, Screw #80 - fasten snug and back off about ¼ turn.



Broken or missing parts



One little plastic part was chipped. No big deal; everything would work but thought I should get a replacement. How easy this was! I called the phone number shown on the manual; pushed the button for service and my call was taken by a human being. He started to ask for the order number but when he knew it was ordered from Amazon he asked for my zip code and was able to pull up my record. He told me I would receive the replacement part by mail. Note: if I have a problem I will amend this report.



Health Warnings from Manual



Do not use this equipment without your physician's approval.

Do not use this equipment if you have any of the following

conditions or ailments:

Extreme obesity

Glaucoma, retinal detachment or

conjunctivitis

Pregnancy

Spinal injury, Cerebral Sclerosis, or acutely swollen joints

Middle ear infection

High blood pressure, Hypertension, Recent stroke or

Transient ischemic attack

Heart or circulatory disorders for which you are being treated

Hiatus hernia or Ventral hernia

Bone weaknesses including Osteoporosis, Unhealed fractures, Modularly

Pins or Surgically implanted orthopedic supports

Use of anti-coagulants including Aspirin in high doses. Ironman ATIS 1000 AB Training System Inversion Therapy Table - Ironman - Back Pain Relief - Inversion Equipment - Back Pain'


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Siding Nailers - nail gun, siding guage


This nailer is like a german sports car. It's got power, performance and handles like a dream. The single most important feature for a good siding nailer is the ability to accurately dial in the depth that the nails are driven. For cedar, or cement board siding the depth of drive is crucial. This nailer lets you adjust the depth of drive with absolute accuracy. You can flush nail all day long and you almost never have to pull your hammer out to set a proud nail. In addition, this nailer is light at 4.6 pounds which is also important when your using it all day on a ladder or scaffolding. The other feature that I love is that the nailer is extremely well balanced for a coil nailer. Most coil nailers are nose heavy because they don't have the stick housing to counter balance them. This nailer is not nose heavy and just has a great feel in your hand. Of all my tools, this is one of my favorites. I have not had a single jam and I've fired thousands and thousands of nails with it. This is a high performance tool, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who has any amount of siding to put up. It's a time saver, and truly a joy to use. Hitachi NV65AH 2-1/2-Inch Coil Siding Nailer

I am a DIY'er. I bought this nailer to install Hardieboards on my house. This tool saved me a huge amount of time over a hammer.



However, I am not a pro and here is what I found challenging:

1. The depth gauge was fairly easy to use but after a while I found that I had to just nail in a course and quickly hammer the nails home. Call it user inexperience (which clearly was the case) but I ended up under-driving rather than over-driving on purpose.

2. If you don't watch the plastic nail strap or cut it off frequently, it could twist around and foul the tool, requiring a stop to fix it.

3. It comes with the "automatic" trigger function: Hold the trigger, push, and nails will pop out until you let go. I found that difficult to work with: I can see how that would be useful for roofing, but for Hardie Boards, it made me pay too much attention to trigger pull/release, rather than paying attention to quality work.



Why 4 stars and not 5: Because the single-trip (one pull, one nail) mechanism doesn't come with the tool. I had to order that from a Hitachi dealer (referred by Hitachi themselves when I called) and it cost an additional $60-$70. Porter Cable, for example, will provide a different trip mechanism for free for their finish nailers (or at least they did when I bought one). This should have been included, or at least the price not so excessive, for such small and few parts.

I've done a lot of siding and I've tried a couple of different siding nailers but I always come back to the Hitachi NV65AH. These are workhorses of siding. I shoot an average of 1200 nails through these a day and the only problems I've had involved drops from scaffolding. What amazed me is how few problems I've had. After being dropped from 18 feet up the gun developed a slight leak. Not even enough to put it out of service. Considering how much dirt gets on these, from setting it on the ground or hanging from my belt into the dirt, I expected more problems.



The light weight is a big deal too. Most of the other siding guns I've dealt with are at least a pound heavier. Doesn't sound like much but this tool is almost always in my hand. A pound makes a difference.



The only reason I didn't give this five stars are the plastic sheeting keeps falling off, I keep getting new ones because the wire tends fly off when driving nails through Hardi plank (inevitably hits me in the face) and you can't get a rebuild kit for these, at least I haven't been able to find them. Hitachi's website says all work must be done by a certified Hitachi repair person.



Yes the price is high and I wouldn't suggest buying one for one house, rent if you can, but if your work is construction your not going to go wrong here.

I shot one box of 4800 2 1/4" ring shank galvanized nail through this gun the first time I used it. Oiled it often and kept clean as possible. There was the occasional miss where the nail had fallen out of the coil but it was harmless. Depth gauge worked well and was easy to adjust. This gun is lightweight, the Senco is a beast.

I just got done putting 11 squares of cedar shingles on my old farmhouse and the Hitachi nailer never let me down. An occasional jamb but that is all. But I only recommend the Hitachi nails. I was driving 2 1/2 inch ring shank stainless nails.Nothing but a great tool. I also sheeted,framed interior walls and flooring. Great all around and great for the homeowner,Thanks Hitachi.

Very lighweight, yet rugged. Adjustable drive depth a real asset when installing Hardipanel, or any James Hardie fiber-cement product. Get the real hot-dipped galvanized ring-shank nails from Hitachi (don't accept plated imitations!), stock number 13385 for 2 1/2 inch, and you can install Hardie as fast as you can cut it!This gun also good for fence building, and for attaching any "one-by" material to "two-by" substrates.

Excellent for quick and speedy installation of siding. Nails Hardie siding like it was pine. Make sure you adjust for correct length of nails or you will constantly be cleaning misfired nails. Some nail brands shoot better than others. Overall nice and handy tool.

Hitachi has a great nailer but they absolutely, positively need to include the single shot upgrade kit at no extra cost as this gun fires multiple nails far too easily and jams like you wouldn't believe. It's a great nailer as far as feel and weight but do yourself a favor and install the single shot nail kit.



Hitachi, shame on you for not building this into the gun or offering the upgrade at no extra cost.



As it stands now, I'd recommend to others to look at the Makita coil nailer as the best choice and then the Porter Cable as the second choice. - Hitachi - Nailer - Siding Guage - Nail Gun'


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Womens Althetic Gloves


I have nothing to compare these gloves to since they are my first pair. They are super cute (I have the black and pink) and wash and dry with no issues.

I do have a little trouble getting them off after working out since there is no strap, but its not a big enough issue for me to really care about. Harbinger 149 Women's Pro Wash & Dry Weight Lifting Gloves (Black/Pink, Medium)

These gloves are just what I have been looking for: soft and supple but enough protection to keep my hands soft like a woman after a workout suited for a dude. And you can throw them in the washer-- perfect. Love them!

i bought these gloves for my girlfriend and the only reason i purchased these is because they were pink. comparing the other gloves i saw i think this had the best palm design. i knew that if i had bought her a glove with a thick solid palm padding then she wouldn't use them since she already has a hard time gripping the pull-up bar. another downside is that these gloves don't have a wrist strap. my girlfriend always has a hard time getting these off and i end up having to help her to pull them off. if you are looking for function over form then you should consider harbinger's flex fit gloves. these have a better palm design which makes it much more comfortable then traditional weight lifting gloves. they have a flex fit 134 for women and a flex fit 138 for men. i have the 138 and i love them. they are the most comfortable gloves i have used so far.



pros: cost, pink, good flex, OK palm design, durable

cons: difficult to get off(needs wrist straps)

overall: good gloves but you should take a look at harbinger's flex fit 134 and 138 for a better choice.

Pros:

Cute neutral gray color with lavender accent stitching

Small size fit my hands perfectly

Inexpensive enough to lose

Durable. These lasted me a year of lifting weights at least twice a week before the finger stitching came apart



Cons:

There's no padding under the ring and little fingers (only on the fore and middle fingers) and I developed minor callouses in these areas. I would buy another exact pair if only it wasn't for this.



Neutral:

These were my first pair of weight gloves and I didn't mind the lack of a Velcro strap since removing the gloves was never a problem for me. These are washable, but I didn't find the feature all that important.

I ordered these because i had a pair of Harbinger Gloves but the medium was to big for my hands. So i got the small and it now fits a little smaller. Easy to put on but after a nice sweaty workout... the gloves become difficult to take off. (guess thats the idea?)

El envío fué bastante rápido!!! y los he estado usando a lo largo de estas semanas, todos los dias para entrenar!!! De excelente calidad, muy buen precio! muy cómodos!! Los recomiendo.'


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sata power cable adapter - sata power cable adapter


I got these to replace a combination data/power cable. These were much higher quality. The only suggestion I can make is to buy more than you think you need. I bought 2 so I could have a spare. I ended up using the spare to replace one already inside my PC because this product is better quality than what I was using. Wish I had bought 4 now. SATA Power Adapter Cable

I had a hard drive give up the ghost. Yes, I have backups of my data, so I didn't really lose anything important. What I found is that my clone's were corrupt. That really set me back. So I had to reload my OS, add all the patches, add all of my software . . . what a pain.



So, if you're still reading this sob story, you gotta know that I was a little stressed for a few days. I surely didn't need to worry about cables, too.



First I went to Best Buy. They didn't even have -this- Molex to SATA cable, and the SATA drive cable was $20! (it didn't even look as good as the one I got here at Amazon)



So, -this- cable comes, I plug it into the drive and into the power supply. The connection is snug, and to be honest, I didn't really think about it again until today. I should have bought a second as a backup in case I ever want to mount another drive. - Sata Power Cable Adapter'


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Finish Nails


I bought this combo mainly for its price. I shopped around but Amazon was the cheapest I found it. I was putting an addition on my house and it worked great. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is there was a bad seal which I fixed for 2 bucks. Bostitch SB16-1.25-1M 1-1/4-Inch by 16 Gauge Bright Finish Nail (1,000 per Box)'


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Wide Angle Lens - digital camera, compact


...is one you'll have with you. The nice thing about the Canon ELPH series is they easily fit into your pocket, are well built/designed, don't cost a lot, come with a boatload of features, and take great pictures. The SD1300, the latest in the ELPH line continues in that tradition, adding considerable additional sophistication and sacrificing some useful functionality in the interest of cutting cost.



It is a small camera and carries with it the baggage that comes with the convenience of having to carry so little baggage. (sorry, couldn't resist) None of the issues raised, given that they comes as part of the convenience trade-off made me consider anything other than the 5-star rating this camera deserves.



- Many of the functions are only accessible through menus, sometimes several levels deep. The good new is the Automatic and scene modes are pretty good (as long as you spend a few minutes reviewing what they really do). This camera is not intended to be used in aperture or shutter priority, let alone full manual.



- The battery life might be shorter than you expect. That's a trade-off for having a camera that's small and light; you get a battery that is small and light. One thing you can do is get a spare battery. That is good advice for any camera. Another thing that will help is to keep the display off as much as possible. That means using the monitor as little as possible. The "sad" part is that Canon chose to drop the optical viewfinder in this model. That means a camera that is simpler and less expensive to make but will go through batteries quicker because you must use the display when taking picture.



- The camera response is a bit slow for effectively capturing children and pets. The trick for doing that is to either have a great sense of timing and a shutter that reacts instantly or a reasonably fast ( > 4x / sec ) burst mode. This camera has neither.



Some other suggestions that apply:



- Use the lowest ISO available given your requirement for either aperture or shutter speed. To avoid getting technical, higher ISO always introduces higher noise. At issue is when it becomes noticeable. In newer dSLR cameras you can get over 1000, maybe well over depending on the camera, before the noise becomes noticeable. For this camera keeping it at or below 200 is a good idea.



- Don't use in-camera sharpening. Digital pictures will almost always benefit from sharpening but you are better off doing it with a photo editing program. Computer-based algorithms tend to be more sophisticated and you can better judge the results on your monitor as opposed to the camera LCD.



- If you want more vivid colors and have the choice use sRGB instead of Adobe RGB. While you get fewer colors they are distributed over a wider range. They are also render better on computer monitors, many commercial labs, and any other place your pictures are likely to show up.



Finally, I've found the Caselogic QPB-1 Compact Digital Camera Case (Black/Gray) is just the right size for this camera. It's semi-rigid so you get a fair amount of protection but doesn't add a lot of bulk. It's made even better by using one of these, Nite Ize SB1-2PK-01 Size-1 S-Biner, Black, 2-Pack, to secure it to a belt loop.



BTW, I feel that honest, effective reviews can take the place of first-hand experiences that are lacking in online shopping. I've always appreciated the help I've received from other reviewers and work hard to return the favor as best as I can. I hope you found this review helpful and if there was anything you thought was lacking or unclear leave a comment and I'll do what I can to fix it. Canon PowerShot SD1300 IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Silver)

I will try to share some things I have discovered about this camera, these are just my thoughts, I hope they might be of help .



Some things I am compairing to a canon SD1200 and the SD940, SD1400.

I do not use the viedo enough to judge that part of the cameras.



** No SD memory card included with this camera **, see below



* Some will miss the eye viewfinder that the SD1200 has.



* Some will miss the HD 720p in the movie mode that the SD940,SD1400 has, The SD1300 has 640x480 at 30fps like the canon SD1200, G11 and S90.



* The SD1300 has ( no optical zoom while recording video ) just digital zoom.



* There is a date feature on the SD1300, see below



* The flat button arangement is the same as the SD1200 all but the (( Power Button )) on top is larger and easier to turn on and off, I like that ( but be careful ) it does not come on in your pocket, purse or in your soft camera case.



* I have not had any trouble using any of the buttons even with my big old hands. The flat buttons on the SD1300 are a ( tad larger than on the SD940 and SD1400 ).



* The menu screens are large and very easy to read and use.*



* You get a 2.7inch very clear LCD screen that has a (very good and wide viewing angle in all directions).



Note > when your LCD screen is set to a lower brightness you can push and hold down the display button for 1 second and it will go to the brightest setting and do that again and it will go back to the lower setting...



A 28mm x 112mm lens, a little better than the 35 x 105 on the SD1200 ( But no view finder on the SD1300 ).



* The SD1300 is very easy to use and small enough to carry every place you go for those spontaneous grand kid pictures like the SD 1200 was .

Just a very good basic camera.



* I like that the mic for the video is in the front of the camera instead of being on the top (where I put my finger) like the canon SD970 and others, it picks up less finger movement noise being in the front.



** Timing and Performance** ( Using program mode )> Very fast start up time of just over 1 sec.

I can not tell any difference in shot to shot or flash shot to shot times between the SD1300 and the SD1200 using them in the program mode, which is ( 2secs with out the flash ), and 3 to 4secs with the flash on, (( up to 6secs for full flash recharge )).



(Update > Some of review sites(C-NET) are getting around 2.7 to 3 seconds for the SD1300 between shots with out the flash so I grabed the two cameras and tryed the two again(SD1300 SD1200) with and with out the flash on and I had the same results both ways, ((I used program mode)) both times and they would focus and recharge the flash evenly also...)



Shutter lag is good for a canon point and shoot but if you ( pre focus ) that will help even more. To pre focas > > Push shutter button down half way untill camera beeps and green square apears on LCD screen,picture should be clearly in focas at this point, if not let up on the shutter button and repeat the steps again. these steps will also help take a good clear (in focas) picture, just something for you to try if your having trouble getting your picture.





I never tested the continuous shooting( but see my battery test) but canon says it is 0.9 per sec where the sd 1200 is 1.4 shots per sec, if that is important to you. UPDATE > The 1200 does seem to be faster, quicker than the 1300 in continuous mode, how much I dont know but you can tell the difference...



* (Battery) I did test the battery (NB-6L same battery as SD1200) by using continuous shooting mode ( with the flash on ) and got well over 400 pictures and it was taking ( 1 picture every 2 seconds or less in the continuous mode( flash on ) if that helps you out on the continuous shooting part, and when I turned the flash off it seemed to do prety good coming from a newer small canon point and shoot world.



* (Battery life). In real life I get around 300 or more pictures with some of them using the flash, your still need a second battery for a backup.



* The battery has a little larger capacity at 1000mAh in the SD1300, were as the canon SD940 and the SD1400 is a smaller capacity at 760mAh if that matters to you.



** A nice backup battery is a (power2000) for canon NB-6L (1200mAh)$19.00. I have used them for years.

I really like the battery charger that comes with the camera, it is small and charges quickley, about one and a half hours the very first charge and then one hour or less there after...

Some set back the brightness of the LCD a couple of notches to save some battery. I think your new battery will do better after the first couple of charges.



* 10/30/2010 At the Columbus zoo we shot 350 pictures and a lot of them with flash on with one charge...



** Very good image quality keeping the iso at 200 and below.

I am getting about the same image quality as the SD 1200 which is very good for this small size point and shoot camera.



* As point and shoots get better we often try and compare them to digital SLRs ( speed,noise, ISOs, picture quality ) but because of the point and shoots very small sensors and craming all those mega pixels into them it is just asking to much of the little cameras....

Fewer pixels mean there's more room on the sensor and the individual pixels can be made larger to gather more light, making the camera better able to record low-noise images in low-light situations.



This is just me, but I like using the program mode and 100,200iso best and I try not to use the auto mode indoors ((auto works good outdoors in good light though, Lighting is everything. Indoors alot of times auto seems to want to use a (very high iso)(and sometimes no flash) to get low light photos, but this just results in more noise, which makes your pictures look noisy grainy or snowy looking on larger prints,(or the yellow tint that some are talking about).

* I use program mode and set the iso indoors to (( 100iso ))in good light conditions or ( 200 iso ) in poorer light indoors for the best image quality indoors with out all noise in the picture. Again auto does good outdoors in good light but keep your eye on the iso in auto indoors...



* Portrait mode does better indoors than auto in keeping the iso down. It uses 200iso and below. not bad...



*They also have taken away the supper fine quality option for the last couple of years , you just have fine and normal now, I miss the supper fine option...



The more I use this camera the more I find myself useing ( 100iso in program mode ) in good light conditions indoors or outdoors). Again indoors you might have to use 200 to get the picture you like...



** Just a side note, before judgeing the camera and your picture quality on your computer or camera screen get some pictures printed out, why I say this I thought the pictures that I took at the rest home were just ok, but I took them to the store and had 8 by 10s made and they look so so much better, you can see these pictures on this site under (view and share images on the SD1300s home page). I wish you could see the printed ones...



* A lot of the review sites blow there pictures way up and look for defects, your likely to only make 5x7 or 8x10s and not see (what they see).

If you are going to make larger prints or need a better (low light camera) and still stay in a point and shoot you could go with a canon S90, S95 or the bigger G11, G12, but (much more money I know)! Just keep the iso down at 200 and below and you will do fine...)



* The SD1300 seems to have a nice sharp lens even at the telephoto end of the zoom.



Highlights sometimes tend to blow out in very bright sun (direct light source) as with all small cameras(small sensor) this size, you can see this in some of the pictures I posted on this sight for the 1300. ( But to be fair my G11 does this also ).



I do not use I-Contrast in the program mode while shooting, some times in play back I will try it but I am not a big fan of it even then, it will brighten the picture up in dark areas but seems to increase the noise a little, again this is just me alot of people seem to like it and have good luck with it see what you think...

In auto mode you have no controll of I-Contrast and can not turn it off or on...



* I just realy like the colors in the pictures that the canon cameras produce, again thats just me thinking out loud.



Not much problem with red eye in pictures useing the SD1300 unless in a very dim lit room and there are some times when it can not modify or fix it in red-eye correction,

I have many small newer canon cameras and it is no worse or better with red eye than the rest of my newer cameras with red eye correction.



The SD1300 has a touch more style, larger LCD and a little more virsatle lens than the SD1200, but the 1200 is also a very good camera.



The SD1300 does have a weak battery door cover like the SD1200.



*No Memory card * You do not get a (SD Memory Card) with the camera, they just do not include a card anymore, just be aware so you won't be with out one.

A 4gb card ( class 4 or class 6 ) would be a good place to start (if your going to use the movie mode any at all ).

You could get by with a 2gb ( which is good for about 632 pictures ) if not using the video mode much.

A 4gig SD card would be good for 1,231 pictures.



* If your new to this digital camera stuff remember to low level format the SD card first thing.

( Save your pictures first, doing this will also erase all your pictures. )



* I have used the SD1300 for about 12 months now and is holding up very well.



* There is a date feature on the SD1300, it shows up on the right side at the bottom of the picture.

You can see it when reviewing the photo...

Push menu button and scroll down, it is the very last idem there, You have 3 choices,(off), (date), (date and time)...

When you go to take your picture your screen will have the word (DATE) on the screen above the iso reading, right side at bottom so you will know it is on...



* I carry my camera in a little phone case that has a belt clip not a loop for fast & easy on and off the belt.

* OK, your right I could lose it that way...

I definitely recommend picking up a small camera case for protection, watch out for cases using velco,the velco likes to grab ahold of you camera strap and not let go.



I also like theLowepro Apex 20 AW (Black) CASE it has room for spare battery, sd card cable, cleaning cloth). It has a little rain coat also. Good for hikers and backpackers.



The Lowepro Napoli 20 case is very nice but no room for spare battery on this one and could let dust in case, not fully inclosed.



** Casecrown ( SD1300IS 12 MP Digital Camera Carrying CaseCrown Black ) < I like these alot > Canon PowerShot SD1300IS 12 MP Digital Camera Carrying CaseCrown Compact Travel Case (Black)

Canon PowerShot SD1300IS 12 MP Digital Camera Carrying CaseCrown Compact Travel Case (Crimson) < < See my reviews on these if you have the time > >CaseCrown Protective Compact Travel Camera Case (Grey) for Canon PowerShot SD1300IS 12 MP Digital Camera



Be carefull of some of the canon cases, the metal magnet catch on the flap might or could scratch the cameras LCD screen takeing it out or puting it in the case (just my thoughts).. I am sure alot people like them and have good luck with them, this is just my opinion, The canon case I have (Canon PSC-55 Deluxe Leather Compact Case) has no room for a spare sd card or spare battery if that would help you any.



These are very nice and roomy cases, with alot of storage > Case Logic DCB-302 Compact Camera Case (Black)

Case Logic DCB-302 Compact Camera Case (Gray)



One more case to look at Case Logic QPB-201 EVA Molded Compact Camera Case (Black) Only one zipper on this one and xtra battery seems to slide out of case a tad to freely .



* In the menu mode I set the I S mode to continous.

The display overlay to grid lines(the grid lines help me take straighter pictures, you may use it for the 1/3 rule also).

I set review to 2seconds,

AF-assist beam to on,

Review info to off,

Lens retract to 0 seconds.

White ballance to auto, if this would be of any help to you.

I like using continuous shooting mode alot also.



I like to set the AF (auto focas) frame

to center (some times) instead of face AiAF and just shoot (focas) on what ever that I am shooting , this is found in the main menu setting, Again this is just me dont take this advice to the bank but check it out if you want or have the time...



I posted some pictures on this site ( see > View and share related images on main page ) for the SD1300, to give you some idea about how your pictures would look (color - sharpness - moving shots - iso noise in pictures - zooms - modes - cropped pictures), if that would help.



* Please look at everybodys pictures to see what you think before you buy the SD1300.



(( Please if mine pictures are not helpful vote them down and I will delete those, I need to delete a lot of them, please help me out here, Thanks...)



If you have any questions I will try to answer them the best I can, no camera is perfect...well not many.



My favorite SD point & shoot was a canon SD550, SD850, SD880, I thought the SD1100 and SD870 were very good looking cameras but never had a chance to use one of them, what was your fav canon SD...



I mostly take pictures of bear in the Smokey Mountians (CADES COVE) and love chaseing the grand kids around taking their pictures. ( And this year the Outter Banks NC ).



Update 2/3/2011 > The new replacement camera for the SD1300 is being called a Canon PowerShot ELPH 100 HS 12 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 4X Optical Zoom (Grey)

Comes in 5 colors (Blue, Silver, Grey, Pink and Orange)

Note one of many changes is that they did change the battery used to a NB-4L 760mAh from the NB-6L 1000mAh battery if that would be any of help.

Many other interesting changes also,some are good and some not so good , Alot of bells and whistles on this one, check it out... - Compact - Canon Digital Camera - Point And Shoot - Digital Camera'


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Electric Snow Thrower - toro snow thrower, snow blower


You only have to look at this 25 pound wonder to know its not a heavy duty snow blower. So don't think it is going to do the job of a huge gas powered rig.



Having said that - I have a 50ft two car wide driveway. It flings 5 inches of snow off that driveway in 10 to 15 min. I love it. I cant wait for more snow. It should have no problem with a foot of snow. its like a high powered snow vacume



You just plug it in and go. No gas, no spark plugs, no oil, no tune up. I am often done before the neighbor has cussed enough to get his gas monster (with head lights) running. I have full confidence in this rig.



I liked mine so much I purchased one ...for my brother...I have read people who are concerned with the power of an electric. The Toro has plenty of power and higher RPMs than a gas thrower. No blower works great in all condition. However in the snow we have had here in northern NJ it has no problem throwing snow 20 to 30 feet. I highly recommend this thrower. It is better than throwers in its class that and a little larger. But its not a match for a big rig. I have read some complain about small wheels. The wheels are just fine thank you! This blower will blow snow like crazy but It is not up to punching through the plow wall. I break up the plow wall with a shovel then blow it away. I calculate several inches of snow on my driveway weighs about 40 tousand pounds. This blower moves almost all of that and saves your back and heart for having fun in the snow.



Good Job Toro! Very convenient Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025

I live in NYC and I just used this snow thrower during the last nor'easter, in which we received 6 inches of snow. I just got home from work and there were my three neighbors: Mr. Nosey and Mr. and Mrs. Know-it-all half way done shoveling their driveways. "A lot of snow we got, eh, Crab. You got your work cut out for you!" With that the three of them started to smirk. Little did they know I had a secret weapon: The Toro 38025 1800 Power Curve Snow Thrower which I had sent to me under the cover of darkness away from their prying eyes. Tired, cold, hungry and scared, I plugged that bad boy in and off I went. Within 30 minutes, I plowed my driveway to concrete while my snoopy neighbors were still digging away. I guess I got the last laugh. There was no hassle,no fuss, no gas, no oil, no spark plugs. It's also light weight and I was able to lift it and plow a snow drift. It's so small and compact that it takes little space inside my house. Just a caveat: you should spend the 10 extra bucks for the 100' cord. My only regret is that I should have bought the Toro last year!

I've been using this snowthrower for 5 years now, and it works ok, but has definite limitations. If you have a driveway that's longer than 30 feet, then seriously consider buying a gas-powered one. To me, the hassles of using this snow thrower is balanced by the relatively few days of heavy snow where I live, and also by my dislike of maintaining gas-powered tools. Recommended with reservations.



PROS:

- Lightweight and compact, so can be stored in shed easily.

- Electric, so virtually no maintenance.

- The electric motor is surprisingly powerful.

- Simple to set up and use.

- Works very well with dry, powdery snow.

- Quality construction, and zero problems in past five years.



CONS:

- Lack of torque and lightweight plastic construction means that it cannot handle compacted, icy, or wet snow. (This is when you feel like junking this tool.)

- There should be a mechanism that 'locks' the electric cord connection to the thrower, so that the cord doesn't keep disconnecting.

- The handle should retract and telescope for leverage and also to facilitate storage.

- The tiny plastic wheels must have come from a toy factory. They provide no traction and are merely useless appendages.

My neighbors are jealous. This is the little red engine that could. I've used it for 2 winters now in the Northeast with no problems. My driveway is 50' long x 20' wide. The sidewalks add another 25' on either side. I use extra long extension cords with no power loss. It takes less time to blow off my driveway than with a gas-powered, manly Ken snowblower. It cleared last winter's blizzard (the New Year's blizzard with knee deep snow) in less than an hour. Even though this little blower vanished into the deep snow, it blew it all out into huge mounds. Sometimes the cord is a hassle, but not enough to force me to buy a he-man snowblower. It is light enough that I lift it by its top handle to blow off the front porch. Because of its lightweight, I lift it to blow out what the city plows in at the end of my driveway by taking 'bites' out of the snow mounds kindly left at the end of my driveway. Before, I would call the city to come back and plow out what they plowed in because I had to do it all by hand (which they would do, I love my hometown). This Toro handles both light and heavy snow well. Assembly took 10 minutes for this Barbie, meaning a couple of bolts and snap-on parts. Instructions were crystal clear (pictures, no words needed). Wheel freezing is a problem, so I retrofitted some small knobby wheels on it, et voila - traction and problem solved. Light enough that it hangs from a hook in the garage. Thank you, Toro!

I have carpel tunnel syndrome and RTS, so I can't shovel. A snow blower was an obvious choice, but I was also concerned about a big vibrating machine. The lawn mower vibrations hurt my wrists also. I was on a mission to find a light, easy to use, powerful snow blower when I came across the 38025. When I received it, I'll admit I thought it may have been a bit cheaper in construction than I wanted.But in the month that I've had it, I used it about 8 times, and it has *far* exceeded my expectations. It is light enough to lift and use that even my tired wrist don't complain. It is quiet enough to have a conversation while using. It doesn't smell since it's electric. And it has more power than I expected. I'm extremely happy with it and would recommend this to any one with the following caveats:It's only 12" tall, so if you get a lot of snow, you either have to go out ever 8" of snow fall and throw it, or get a bigger machine.The power cord can take a bit of getting use to, and the connection to the machine is a bit untrustworthy. But fix both of these with a extra long bright power cord, and some tape to hold the correct plug on.I' - Electric Snow Thrower - Snow Blower - Toro Snow Thrower - Toro 1800'


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Book Recommendations - new zealand travel, trips and journeys


I finished Elder's wonderful and rewarding New Zealand travelogue this morning over coffee in Fremantle and I enjoyed the account of his journey from Stewart Island in the far south to Cape Reinga in the far north thoroughly. This book is the best kind of travelogue because the writer presents a reasonable look into the country being visited-its foiables and its positives. This is not to say that the description is tedious and overly factual, after completing the book the reader is left satisfied with as reasonable an account of his journey as is possible given the two month time frame allowed for its completion.



I enjoyed Elder's observations about the nature of Australian life as opposed to Kiwi life: its origins, its developement and why, although geographically close, we are so different particularly when seen through the eyes of a visitor. From my perspective here in Australia I found his observations valuable if perhaps overdrawn.



I also found many of his thoughts about the huge differences between his native New York City and the life he found in New Zealand interesting. New Zealand's distaste for tipping and litigation is matched only by our own, however Elder's negative comments have fallen on my deaf ears. As a leftist I also found his conclusions on page 209 as to why New Zealand works so well also fitting our life in Australia: health is taken care of, as is education, old age and unemployment. Politically speaking, if a country as small as New Zealand can accomplish these civilities with its few natural resources then the question must be asked why can't other richer countries. Although coming from, as Elder points out, vastly different bckgrounds our two countries have adopted similar governmental parameters with similar positive results.



Elder's anecdotes about all the pieces of Kiwi culture that he encountered are wonderful reading: people running homestays, fishing guides, airplane pilots, adventure operators and guides-in short, a reasonable look at Kiwi society. We all realize that it is virtually impossible to encounter the totallity of a society on a holiday but Elder presents us with as complete a picture as armchair travellers will find and for this I reccommend the book very highly. You will have a most satisfying read. Straying from the Flock: Travels in New Zealand

I have always wanted to go to New Zealand, after reading this book it almost feels like I went along on the trip with Alexander Elder. He did a great job of describing the country and it's people, the good and the bad. I also really liked how he included bits of historical facts about each location he visited. The photo's on his website that corresponded to each chapter where also a great bonus.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in knowing more about New Zealand.

As a New Zealander who has gained a great deal of wisdom from Alexander Elders trading books I had to read this. I expected some combination of travel and trading like Jim Rogers books (`Investment Biker' and `Adventure Capitalist') which I didn't like that much.



But Elders book is much better, focussing on New Zealand, its people and history. `Straying From the Flock' compares favourably with Bill Bryson's Australian book `Down Under'.



It has to be said though that Bryson has a unique line in self deprecation and is content to accommodate the eccentricities of people he finds. It's these qualities which make his books often so funny. But as a trader Elder has well developed decision making abilities and often moves on before people's eccentricities (often just bad service) really begin to impact on his experience. Elder prefers to dwell on the positive and he obviously loves the country having made many trips here.



It's not to say that Elders book lacks a sense of humour. Both authors `suffer' from a heightened awareness of threats to their personal safety. For Bryson this typically is a morbid fear of exotic wildlife like snakes in Australia or bears in Appalachia. But as New Zealand lacks both, Elder substitutes a lack of guards rail on roads and walking tracks; it's just not as amusing.



Elder is also dismissive of bungee jumping, paragliding and other activities which he perceives have a lack of safety standards. Each to his own but the biggest threat to life here is tourists' occasional inability to adapt to driving on the other side of the road.



This book should appeal to tourists with time, money and a sense of adventure about meeting people, sharing food and wine. It's for people who travel to learn about themselves by exploring the differences in others. It is not a guide for those who want to experience extreme sports activities or for those content to view NZ from a bus eating McDonalds. Trust me, it does taste the same.



With photos this could have been a great coffee table book but in its current form it is well produced and cheap. Photos from Elders travels are accessible from his website which is a nice touch.



One last thought, Elder with a traders sense of timing made his trip to New Zealand when the exchange rate 40 US cents to the NZ Dollar. The exchange rate is currently 71 cents. - New Zealand Travel - Australia - Trips And Journeys - Travelogue'


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Stanley Bostitch - electronics, stanley


I bought this pencil sharpener for use at home. We are a large homeschooling family, so as you might imagine we go through pencils pretty quickly.



Unfortunately, the sharpener only worked on about half of the pencils I tried. The others were all sharpened so unevenly that they were unusable. The wood went all the way down to the point. I tried 20-30 pencils of all different types, including quite a few brand new ones.



I contacted Bostitch customer service, and I was informed that the PENCILS were defective, not the sharpener! But the pencils are not sharpened symmetrically. One side is slanted much more than the other. I tried every one of the different sized holes, pushing up on the pencil, pushing down on the pencil, using more pressure, etc., and nothing worked. Customer service informed me that I could send the unit back to them at my expense, and they would send me a replacement. But as I have no confidence that another unit would work any better, I don't want to spend any more money on this, and am returning it to Amazon. Stanley Bostitch QuietSharp Executive Electric Pencil Sharpener, Black (EPS9V-BLK) - Stanley Bostitch - Stanley - Electronics - Electric Pencil Sharpener'


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Analog-digital Watch - casio divers watch, analog-digital watch


This model has been out for a long time. I like the look of the black more then the white or gold. The reason the watch loses one star is because the band. It looks great, but the rubber will wear out and break in about a year. The replacement band that Casio offers looks close the orginal, but not exactly the same. I lost one of these, and another was stolen. So the fact that I am on my third is a statement to how much I love this watch. I have been wearing it since about 1993. Casio Men's AMW320R-1EV Marine Ana-Digi Dive Watch

I agree with the other reviewer who said you would need to find a vintage dive watch to find one this big. The watch has a nice, large casing and an easy-to-read face for those of us who have a hard time seeing things that are near. I've had mine for a month now and it has not lost a second. The digital display is a little small, but I don't use it much anyway and will probably only do so on the rare occasion that I need to set an alarm.



For the price, you can't beat this watch. It is water resistant and appears to be a real workhorse though replacing the band may be a challenge each year (also mentioned by another reviewer). For what it does, this watch is better and cheaper than anything out there.

In daylight, this watch is HOT. Looks perfect.



At night, forget it. I mean it. When you wake up or go to bed, if it's your habit to look at your watch, you won't see it. Like, not even a glimmer of light off a hint of steel. NOTHING. Nada. Zippo.



The reviews are true. The dayglow sometimes glows during the day and you wish it would glow at night. If you shine a light on the glow paint it will glow for about 20 mins, and then zippo, nada. Nothing. And this is NEW, out of the box. And I've heard flies louder than this alarm. The alarm is way weaker than the watch looks.



Too bad. It could be a perfect watch with actual luminesence and a shockingly loud alarm.

This is a watch that typifies the statement: It is what it is. Great watch, takes a beating, has dual time zone capability. For the price: Good.



BUT: NO LIGHT! Liminous markers are weak. Battery gets drained quickly.



Buy it, but know what you are getting. A good reasonable "beater watch".

I bought this watch back when it was a new design, about 18 years ago for $128. It has never let me down, never broken, on it's third (or fourth) battery and about that many straps. I've traveled the planet, dived in three oceans with it, it has gone through multiple crashes, been dropped off the roof of a three story building, years of flying and constant pressure changes, all the banging of using it during Habitat Builds, showers, skiing and still my clients who are "serious" watch collectors ask about it because they like the style (I use a Kevlar Band which dresses it up a little). If I told them it was a Brietling, they'd be impressed.



Now I buy these for Missionaries on the edges of civilization in Africa and the Philippines. They have the same thoughts as I do about this tough, yet elegant line of watches.



You can't do any better for the money. My wife keeps trying to buy me a watch - but I'm attached this this thing and it is tougher than a hammer. - Dive Watches - Analog-digital Watch - Casio Divers Watch - Watches'


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