Friday, 16 September 2011

Porter Cable Floor Nailer - cleat nailer, hardcore tools


This was my first attempt at installing hardwood floors. Purchasing a nail gun was a top priority. The market is limited but the few nailers out there all come with high marks. I chose this particular model based upon the few excellent reviews on this forum. The gun sits easily and quickly each time. The different types of nails/staples/ cleats receive their own praise. This Hard Core nailer is a tough find and I have not been able to find anyone that stocks it, other than Sterlingtek on Amazon. The gun has worked flawlessly, and comes in a complete package. Just tapping the gun is enough, no need to slam. Works great each time and have installed about 1000 sq feet without a single problem. Great purchase and was jumping for joy at the price, it was a lot cheaper then the ones at our local Home Depo or renting one. Pneumatic 2 in 1 hardwood floor nailer for HARDWOOD FLOORING 1-1/2-Inch to 2-Inch Hardcore Tools®

This tool is worth every penny. Not only does it do a great job, it's a great price. We put in about 850sq feet of hickory floors and never had a problem. Shipping was still quite a bit, but considering the price of the gun you are still getting a great deal. You do have to make sure you old the gun down or the staple or cleat will stick up, but that is a user issue not an issue with the gun. My husband used it on most of the floor, but it was even easy enough for me (his wife) to use. Would reccomend this for any type of user!!!

I am a wood-turner that until now has never installed hardwood floors. I had the occasion to help with an installation at a dance studio and decided from that to install a hardwood floor on an addition I had planned. While searching for a pneumatic floor nailer I found this one, and after reading the reviews decided to give it a try. I was happy I did. It performed much better than the one we used for the studio and at a portion of the cost. I would like to also mention the delivery time was great. I saved more than what it would have cost me to rent one for the job and I have it to help friends and family. What a deal. - Hardwood Flooring Nailer - Cleat Nailer - Floor Nailer - Hardcore Tools'


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Iphone 3gs Case - defender, iphone case


<Rave>I've always been a case freak. Every gadget I've ever had HAD to have a case. Ah, but this is a case like no other! How, you ask? What makes it so different from, say, that pricey leather case, or that silicon sleeve that fits your phone like a glove, or that bulky metal supernerd box that feels like you're carrying a mini-casket? Well, this case is all those rolled into a sleek, functional but very cute package! You want protection for your baby? You got it. Your baby will feel soooo protected and smothered in two layers of a snug embrace of muscle (hard smooth plastic) and shock-absorbing skin (silicon rubber). And every single port is accessible to your probing fingers...



If you buy a Zagg screen protector and plaster your baby's gorgeous face with it, you can remove the original film that comes with the case no problem. Cleaning the rubber is a simple matter of a rag moistened with water. Also, if you can get the holster with this, do it, it's great, I use it all the time now.



</rave>



I love this case almost as much as I love my iPhone. But as with everything else, there are caveats. The charger port is VERY snug, so only the original type plug will fit. If you buy another brand that's boxy in shape rather than the elongated oval we're all so familiar with, you'll have to disrobe your iPhone from the limpet-like attachment of this case to be able to charge it. Also, access to the mute slider switch on the side is a little tight and might require the tip of a long fingernail or the tip of a pen or something narrow.



I think this item is a bulk-packaged, meaning it might not come with retail packaging. OtterBox Defender Series Case for iPhone 3G/3GS (Black/Pink) (Bulk Packaged)

I absolutely love this cellphone case. I have tested it put by dropping and throwing it and it's great. I only had one problem I have after market sync cables so I had to sand down the bottom part of the plastic case to make it large enough for the after market sync cable which was an easy fix. I love it so much I went out and bought ones for my family.

I got my Otter around first of February. About 2 months later, the "skin" just "swelled" and became "floppy." It wasn't mishandled in any way. I liked using it on it's clip. I don't know if taking it in and out of its clip made it stretch or not. But, it's became horribly bulky and cumbersome. Fortunately, Amazon is giving me a refund, and I'm ordering a new one thinking/hoping it's just defective. When I first got it, it fit like a skin. Loved it. Why did it stretch? I went to a place that sells this, and they've never seen it do this before. Therefore, maybe mine's defective. I'll try it again.

Good, solid case for the iphone. I got this mainly to protect the phone from my 7 month old son who wants to put everything in his mouth. I have managed to drop in on the asphalt with no effect on the phone or case. The only problem is that it makes it a bit more difficult hit the keys near the edges when texting. This is more of an annoyance than anything else. If you are looking for a solid protective case, this is the one.

This case is awesome! I love the protection it provides. Both my husband and I have this case for our phones (different colors) and we both love it. We know that if the phone falls, or our toddler gets to it, the phone will be safe. It also provides a better grip surface than the iPhone has on its own. It is a great case, and I'm glad I was able to find it on Amazon, since nobody else seemed to have the color I wanted.



Unfortunately, I could only give the case a 4 star review. One of the main issues I have is with dust getting in under the case, and screen protector. Another problem is that the screen protector doesn't fully adhere to the iPhone screen (which is fine), rather only to a portion. Because of this there is a portion in the middle of the phone where the screen protector portion has clung to my phone's screen, and there are air bubbles. This problem causes some heinous glare issues at times.



Other than the screen issue, this is a phenomenal phone, and I recommend it to everyone I know, even if they don't have an iPhone. Amazon also has the best prices I've been able to find.

I purchased the OtterBox Defender case almost a month ago. If you are looking for sleek and slim, this is rather bulky. If you are looking for something to protect your phone from the bumps and drops that can come from an outdoor or active lifestyle, this is perfect. I purchased it for the extra layer of protection for my phone, so the increased bulk was expected. I find it actually easier to hold on to and prefer it with the case. The only problem that occurred with the plastic faceplate rests on the touch sensitive screen. I would continually get a "No SIM card found" error message. Simply cutting out the plastic faceplate appears to solve the problem. It is a perfect case for the iPhone. - Defender - Iphone 3g Case - Iphone Case - Iphone 3gs Case'


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Campbell Hausfeld - finish staplers, staplers


Questionable quality. I've had the gun just over a month and found it easy to use, lightweight, nice balance. I was fairly impressed. Then it just quit working, I'm guessing a seal ruptured somewhere inside b/c it just leaks instead of firing.

If I could get hold of someone at customer service I would find out what is wrong for sure, but they don't answer the phone, even during their limited office hours, and seemingly don't respond to their email. I'm sure it's still under warranty, but probably won't be by the time I finally get hold of someone.



UPDATE:

The leak was apparently the result of a seal getting dry on the shelf and coming unseated. It was a quick DIY fix. Since then, I've been using it regularly without any problems or complaints. I'd change the rating to a 4* if I could. Campbell Hausfeld 3/8-Inch to 1-1/4-Inch 18-Gauge Narrow Crown Air Powered Stapler: Model CHN10399

The Campbell-Hausfield air stapler arrived in perfect condition and works

like is supposed to do. I could not ask for a better product or at better price

James

Campbell Hausfeld CHN10399AV 3/8-Inch to 1-1/4-Inch 18 Gauge Narrow Crown StaplerExcellent product! Performs very reliably - jams infrequently to not-at-all. Would recommend this stapler on a par with any of the more "popular" brands.

This Little beauty is way more than I expected. I've only had it a short time but it is seemingly well made, performs very well and has features like the depth adjustment for the amount of penetration into the wood, which allows for proper use on both soft and hardwoods, and a very ergonomic soft grip handle. I highly recommend it. I don't think that, for the price, it can be beat.

I am very pleased with this product. I used it very easily for installing carpet cove base on a remodeling project. Now that I have it , I have found many other uses for it. The product is good and the price was right. I reccommend. Edw.J.

This tool will serve it's purpose so long as you are willing to compromise quality for value. I already own a Stanley/Bostitch framing nailer, a DeWalt 15 gauge finish nailer, a Porter Cable 18 gauge brad nailer, and a Bostitch 23 ga. pinner, so I have some basis for comparison. I was disappointed with the Campbell Hausfeld in the following respects, even considering that it's a third the cost of the competition:



1. The case is flimsier plastic than the Porter Cable or DeWalt cases. When pressing the three allen wrenches to get them back in their special slots, the entire case lining compresses as if it were no thicker than a soda bottle. The gun does not quite fit down in the molded recess made for it. All hard cases are a problem in that there is not much room for fasteners, but the box of 1-1/4" staples that came with this one does fit inside.



2. There are no stampings on the tool. There is no serial number. The model number and "date codes" appear on adhesive labels that are applied after the fact, suggesting that perhaps this tool came off the line some factory in China that puts out no-name tools for several buyers to use their own name plates. Campbell Hausfeld does not list this model on their Web site.



3. The bottle of pneumatic oil that came in the case is extremely flimsy, and the top flew off when I tried to squeeze a few drops from the bottle (even after poking a hole in the nipple) sending 30 wt oil splashing across my workshop.



4. The depth of drive adjustment had to be set to it's maximum limit, and even at that not all of the staples were driven flush when driving the 1-1/4" staples that came with the tool through 1/4" birch plywood into 5/4 poplar. With a healthy 80 or 90 PSI from the compressor's regulator, all my other pneumatic fastening tools would countersink the fastener and the depth adjustment has to be backed away from it's maximum position.



5. The staples that came with the tool do not bear any brand name and do not appear to be galvanized like other brands.



6. The tool leaks air from around the trigger during and after it fires, which may be a cause of the power problem in #4. Unless CH will send out a new 0-ring repair kit I intend to return this tool.



On the plus side, it did come with a fitting for the air hose which is worth maybe $2.

While I was expecting a reasonably good tool, I was a bit surprised with the overall high quality of the tool. I believe it would win in a head to head competition with most of its more expensive competitors. - Staplers - Finish Staplers'


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Underwire Bras - panties, underwire


I ordered the black "RACHEL" Go2 Panty by Lipo in a Box based on the nice picture and the good reviews on the site. I received it very quickly, three days after I ordered. Upon opening the package, I was immediately disappointed with the overall look, quality and scratchy feel of the lace. I would have bought it for $5, maybe, but for three times that... absolutely NOT. Decided to keep it as I did not want the extra trouble of a trip to the post office to pay additional shipping fees (it was not eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping) in order to return it.



However, I regretted the decision when I wore it for the first time. The fit is poor, to say the least. The reason may be that the small size is somewhat big on me. I ordered my normal size, a size 5 (I am 103 lbs). The back seam burrows in my rear bum as I walk, forcing me to 'assist it out' once in a while (if you know what I mean), to relieve the uncomfortable feeling. Due to that fact, I would never be able to wear this with jeans/pants; and whenever I wear it with skirts/dresses, I have to go to the ritual of assisting it out (not fun!!). In summary, a wasteful expense on an item that I would hardly wear.I was going to give it one star but my husband said it looked sexy on me when he saw me wearing it. Therefore, one star for the quick shipping and another one because it looks good (even tho it does not feel good at all) when I wear it.



Hope this review saves some of you, a little money and time. "RACHEL" Go2 Panty by Lipo in a Box Black 6 (Medium)

This is my second Go2 Panty (I also have the "SARAH" Go2 Panty by Lipo in a Box, Ivory, Black or Animal S-XXL). Lipo in a Box makes a really great pair of panties, and this is no exception. I got this in Coral, Size 8, and am very pleased with how flattering they are and how comfortable they are.

These do look nice. The only problem is they push the fat up and over the waist band. I find this happens a lot with shape underwear. They work well where there is coverage but then the push the fat other places. There is no replacement for weight loss and exercise unfortunately. - Panties - Go2 Bra - Underwire Bra - Underwire'


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Noise Cancelling Headphones - earbud headphones, in-ear


Recently my old Sony In ear headphones stopped working and so I decided it was time to move onto something higher end for use with my Zune. When it comes to sound, I have always preferred the best sound I can get for the money, as I have practiced when picking receivers and speakers for my home theater systems as well.



This is the first product from Klipsch I have bought but I knew of their quality before hand and that is what drew me to this pair. They definitely lived up to their name with these. I'll start out by saying that the headphones have absolutely amazing sound reproduction quality, though it doesn't have the huge bass "punch" in my head like my Sony's did, it is very balanced. Perhaps this is due to the fact I didn't put the headphones under a burn in period yet, so I will update once I have done that. The bass that currently there though is still very good and it compliments the very good mid and high ranges. In comparison, I have tried many other friend's headphones before and this is by far the best ones I have listened to thus far.



Second, the noise isolation is superb, I can barely hear anything when I have them in, so though this is very good in noisy environments, I wouldn't suggest taking strolls around with them in or running alone, otherwise you will not be able to hear anything around you.



Third, these headphones are extremely comfortable, even after prolonged use with them, you still only can tell they are in your ears because the music is playing haha!



Overall these headphones are amazing for the money, I would recommend these to anyone. 5 Stars.



UPDATE 3/9/11



After putting these headphones under a sufficient burn in period, I have noticed a good increase in bass "depth" and punch to my music, which makes these headphones all the better! I have let my friends use these over the past few months as well and they all tell me that they are absolutely blown away by the quality of these headphones. It gives a new meaning to just listening to music, its more like being surrounded by it, or as if you are in the studio while the artist was recording. Klipsch Image S3 Noise-Isolating Earphones with Patented Oval Ear-Tips (Rebel Red)

Before I write something about the produce, a bit about my affiliation with sound. I am a guitarist, have performed on stage for small scale events in my country and hence I have done a lot of sound checks, adjustments on consoles etc. Additionally, I am fond of good quality music. But who isn't, right?



So I was trying to find a substitute to my over the head Sony MDR series phones, as they are too heavy to carry around in streets while walking and besides, in Chicago winter, your head is already covered beneath layer(s) of stuff.



I ordered these after researching for about a couple of months. When I received the package, I was excited. I opened the pack (which seemed at least 10 times bigger than what was required to pack them), and connected it to my Laptop right away.



First reaction: Shi! I waisted my money on this!. In audio terms, great mid, shrill type highs and totally third grade lows, and volume levels were lower than what I was expecting.



But I was still hopeful so I thought I should give some exercise to the Diaphragm of the phones and put them through the Burn-in process, which I did, by playing Bassy music for about an hour and a half (or less).



I tried them again...



Second reaction: Money well spent. The Lows were good, not too loud, but balanced. mids were, as usual, good, but I must confess, I think there is an extra bit of balancing required for the highs, which apparently are a bit more than required.



I am not sure about comfort as the plastic buds may fit different ears differently and one out of three sets should fit properly. Go ahead, take em out an experiment. I am sure you will find a comfortable size. Unless you have uniquely shaped ears.



Overall, I am enjoying my music (the one that I recorded with my acoustic guitar) and I would recommend this for anything less than USD 30.00



4 stars because obviously, there are better earphones out there with far more balanced sound and better quality and I personally don't have enough reasons and of course, money, to buy all of them.



Rest of the things seemed good and I like the pouch, although it doesn't have a lot of utility for me personally. At any given day I would choose better sounding earphones vs nice packaging and a pouch. Thankfully, didn't have to make a choice here. A good for money deal!



Just a personal thought : Try twisting'em inside your ear to know which position gets the best sound delivered. I personally like to place them in my ears in such a way that the wire goes over my ears. I think I can get more quality tone then.

The sound is fine, whatever. It's on par with the similarly priced Sonys. The main thing is that there's a lot of cord noise if you walk or run with it. The flumping will nearly drown out the speakers at normal volume. Not recommended for active use, but great for sitting quietly and not moving.

Overall, i think these headphones are great. they sound great, have good bass, and are very comfortable. one issue i have: the thin cables transmit a lot of noise, say, when they rub against your sweatshirt. My brother has the image S4s. no doubt, the S4s sound better, but he was really surprised for the value i got for half the price. For half the price i'd say i got at least 7/8 the sound. all that's missing is the clarity that the S4s offer. - Earphones - Klipsch Image S4 - In-ear - Earbud Headphones'


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Shoe Strap Punch - belt punch, leather tool


This is a good leather hole punch. It is made sturdy so you do not have to worry about the handles or head of the punch bending like some of the cheaper models. This works great on belts but if you have some horse tackle, saddel or the like you would like to use it on it may not be the best choice since they have thicker leather than a belt usually. The only down side to this leather punch is that there is a small black bracket that holds the punch wheel in place while you punch a hole in your leather. Well, this is a soft metal so it bends if you punch into heavy leather. If this was a solid latch instead of sheet metal it would be an awesome leather punch. Good news is the latch has a screw that lets you remove it and bend it back into shape but my guess is this will break eventually if you use it a lot. If this bracket is bent they you do not get a clean hole cut into your leather. The thicker your leather the greather chance this will happen. Leather Hole Punch Tool, Heavy Duty

This is an amazing, light weight, easy to use leather punch. I have used it to make additional holes in belts as well as holes in plastic crafts. You can easily change the size punch for different size holes. I'm glad I found this one!

The tool worked as designed however there is a fairly flimsy little piece of metal that holds the selected bit in place. After punching 1 hole in 4 or 5 belts the little metal piece broke rendering the tool useless.



Other than that "single point of failure" the tool is sturdy and very easy to use.

When the punch arrived, one of the tubes wasn't even there. The others did not come in vertical to the anvil and would not have done a very good job. The only good thing I can say is that I didn't even have to return the item to get a full refund. I just tossed it in the trash. I then ordered the C.S. Osborne punch and that has been great. Buyer beware.

When you try punching through leather with this tool, the punch wants to move to the next punch setting. It is a flaw in the design of the locking wheel. I guess they wanted to make it simple for people switching punch sizes, but that easy switching is a detriment to the punch. The punch will move off center, so when appling force you are not using all of the punch bit making it difficult to get a good accurate hole, or get a clean hole for that matter. I am not punching anything more than leather belts, FYI. I would recommend buying a fixed punch style, and save your money by not buying this model. I have a suggestion for a modification of this tool, but of course suggestions don't come free :)

I bought this just to add some holes on some simple leather belts. I have 2 belts that I wanted to add 2 holes on each belt. First of all, the hole puncher does not make clean holes. I tried using the correct size hole puncher first but noticed it would not cut through. Then I tried using the smallest hole punch size in order to start the hole and then I gradually began using the bigger sizes, until I reached the hole size I wanted to use. The hole puncher in the various of sizes are very dull which makes the cutting of the hole very difficult. I ultimately added the holes I wanted in the 2 belts but it wasn't pretty in the end. I had to use a sharp cutting knife in order to clean up the hole debris that was left after using the puncher. Also, the hole puncher was not completely aligned with the flat metal head which causes the hole to be slightly offset when punching down on the tool. The red sleeve also came loose on one side while putting slight pressure on the puncher. Lastly, the metal locking mechanism that holds the puncher in place broke off which makes the hole puncher wheel completely loose. I bought this here on Amazon because of the better than average reviews I read here. As for me, I completely disagree with most of the positive reviews for this hole puncher. This tool did not work for my simple needs and it may not work for you too.

This item is a great tool, it's also good how it looks,the way it feels aslo the way the item works.

This item is the right tool for the job, it also makes nice hole for your belt and the dial also turns easily to helps you pick the right size to want to use .

I bought this tool to punch holes in a few belts I had. An excellent tool that does the job well.



There is even a safety latch on this punch that prevents its jaws from opening, so that fingers do not get caught accidentally. A really nice design. As I did not expect any such safety mechanism, it took me a couple of minutes to figure out how to open the punch wide enough to insert a belt between its jaws. For those like me, here is how you release the safety catch:



Rotate the different sized punches until the brass colored surface on the other jaw is in between two punches. Then, hold the punch in one hand and press the punch in a few millimeters. With the other hand, rotate clockwise the little latch that is located near the part where the two jaws cross over each other. Now the jaws will open wide. - Leather Tool - Hole Punch - Belt Hole Punch - Belt Punch'


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Camera Filters - camera filter, 52mm


These are advertised as multi coated, but they are not. Not that one would expect good multi coated filters at that low a price point. Under normal lighting conditions the filter works fine, but at low light conditions the reflective nature of this filter (due to poor multi coating) potentially ruins the picture.



I wish it was not advertised as multi coated. Zeikos ZE-FLK52 52mm Multi-Coated 3 Piece Filter Kit (UV-CPL-FLD)

For the cost, these filters do a great job. I don't own really expensive filters, but I know quality when I see it. Each filter consists of metal ring construction. The UV haze is glass, and I believe the circular polarizer filter is glass, and the florescent filter is plastic. Each filter installs on each of my lenses easily and seem to work great. I did loan the CPL to a friend who used it on a Canon telephoto. She found that with that filter on that lens the photos were out of focus. She was shooting mid to late afternoon outside so perhaps with that filter it was throwing off some settings in the camera. I've used them on manual and auto lenses without encountering that problem. Get them, especially if you're a budget-conscious buyer.

Based on some of the positive reviews here, I bought this 52mm kit from amazom.com. Big mistake. I tested the CPL filter on my Nikkor 50mm f1.8 (on a Nikon D90). The base reference was my Tiffen UV filter. I took about 20 pics of varying turns of the CPL filter and ALL the pics were worse off than the ones taken with the Tiffen UV filter. The pics were blurred and reddish. I have another CPL (of a different brand) on my wide-angle zoom and that was a fantastic CPL filter. The sad part about this is I also ordered a set of 67mm Zeikos filters from amazon.com before this review. Those have not yet arrived. I'm hoping that the 67mm is better. I'll post my review once I get those.



But as far as this 52mm kit, forget it. Save the $ and move on to another brand.



2010-08-09 UPDATE: I received and tested my 67mm Zeikos CPL filter on my Nikkor 18-105mm lens. Pics were slightly better than those with the 52mm. But neither kit is acceptable. I'm returning the 67mm kit too.

The previous reviewer pretty much said it all. However, I really don't think that you can blame missed focus on these filters. In any event, my Sony a350 focuses just the same with or without the filters.

When I got my first slr these were the filters I bought. I suppose they are fine for starters since they are ridiculously inexpensive. When I got them I only had a vague idea of what a polarizer is supposed to do and I really didnt know the difference between my polarizer and a more expensive polarizer. As I learned more, I discovered that this polarizer barely does its job. Im still not sure how to use the florescent filter. It pretty much just makes everything purple, but maybe Im doing something wrong. The only filter I use now is the uv filter. I keep it on my lens all the time to protect it. Many photographers say that you shouldnt use uv filters because all they do is put more glass between the you and the subject which gives more opportunity for glare. If they want to give me a few hundred bucks, then sure. However I cant afford to ruin my lens. Anyway, the uv filter does its job and the polarizer helped me further my knowledge so I do not regret purchasing these.

Good packaging and came with a case. UV and CPL are the ones I used. Not sure if I will ever end up using the FLD. I wish this was a combination of UV, CPL and ND instead of what it is currently. The results from the CPL were good. UV does not do much other than protecting the lens from stray contact and dust. FLD is pretty much useless. Additionally the threads on these are not the best so they squeak a little bit while screwing them on to the lens. Feels like you are forcing them on. Not sure if they are multi-coated. Well they are definitely not multi-coated if multi-coating and multi-reflective-coating were the same thing.

You are better of buying a separate UV and a CPL which would cost just about the same given the useless FLD in the kit and poor quality threads.

I'm using these with a Panasonic GH1 lens (45-200mm). They all work great, and the pictures don't lose any sharpness. The polarizing lens works correctly when you rotate it. Even if you don't need the filters, use the UV filter for a protector. Great buy, pick these up.

This filter set is rather decent for how little it costs! It's great to have these three kinds of filters so you can play with them, and it's a really great price. Buying just the UV filter alone costs half as much as this set of three.



NOTE: THIS WILL NOT WORK WITH YOUR CANON XSI KIT LENS (You probably need 58mm filters). - Camera Filters - 52mm - Camera Filter - Lens Filter'


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Skype Headset - headset, skype headset


After doing research for a good headset to use with Rosetta Stone Language Program (and only finding one reference to it in reviews), I settled on this headset for use with a Mac. I had already purchased a number of Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 headsets for my students' use, and they seem to be working fine, also, but Microsoft hates Apple, and so, according to the Rosetta Stone people, they made their headsets incompatible with Mac. (Why?)



This headset was about double the price of the Microsoft offering. It seems to provide excellent vocal clarity, a must for voice recognition. I also tested it with Skype, and likewise, the vocal clarity is great. I did not use it for music or video gaming (it has a three way slide switch allowing one to choose between phone/voice apps, gaming, and music, apparently changing equalization - treble, bass, in different ways.)



Some have complained about the comfort aspect, and I would guess that one's head size would have an impact on this. I did find some pinching of my ears, so to speak, probably augmented by the fact that I wear eyeglasses, but it wasn't so bad that I can't adapt. I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars only because of this comfort aspect. Logitech USB Headset H530 with Premium Laser-Tuned Audio (981-000195)

Hello, about 4 months ago I bought this apparently state of the art headset to maximise my skype sound quality whilst benefiting from a good sound when gaming or listening to music.



Whilst it worked it was great, pity that one moment to the other it stopped working.



How is this possible? easy to explain: the message I get on my pc when I insert the USB is "USB device not recognized" so I went on the logitech forum hoping it was a driver issue, and....it wasn't, the H530 only uses windows pre-existing drivers.



On the other hand I found an endless list of customer with my same problem.

Many of these like myself had tried extracting and reinserting the unit, unistalling it from the device manager screen and re inserting the device, reboot of the pc and I even tried it on my laptop.



I decided to digg deeper and I saw logitech's support team answers(lame, very lame)"change it","it's a hardware problem" explaining that in their opinion improper usb insertion or extraction is the likely cause of this failure.

Now, my non-friends@logitech, I have used many and I mean many low quality cheapy usb devices which lasted me years and never gave me any problems or surely none of this kind.



This H530 unit is not even receiving power(blue light off). And I am really disappointed with the product 50 thrown to the wind, yes cos I need it on a daily basis and I now have to go to the nearest shop to buy a different one.



Rubbish





Definetely, do not buy or be disapppointed when it brakes after a few months

I previously owned the Plantronics .Audio 655 USB Multimedia Headset, but those were unbelievably uncomfortable. The Logitech set is significantly better. I can use it all day and barely notice. The ear cups are just the right size and the band isn't too tight. I use these with Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 and all of my VoIP software. I will also occasionally use them to narrate video. I'm generally pleased with the quality of the microphone.



I would have given this a 5, except I think the price is a little too high given that they claim to have "laser-tuned" sound while the sound is only average. You aren't buying yourself anything an audiophile would brag about. I take these off and use regular headphones when I want to listen to high-quality music. Regardless, this is my favorite headset I've owned.

Best feature: there's a red light on microphone when it's muted. I've only accidentally muted myself on two occasions (with over a year of use) and was immediately alerted on both occurrences by the red light.



I love that the volume control and mute button are both on the ear piece, so you never have to flounder around on the cord looking for the stupid buttons. The cord length is perfect.



I do wish that the piece that fits on top of the head was a bit narrower (I have a small head), but then it probably wouldn't fit the majority of users.



As an added bonus, it's held up really well. I drop the thing almost daily and have rolled my chair over the cord numerous times without any issues.

There's no doubt in my mind that the H530 has great sound. With three options to switch around from (Calling, Gaming (I believe that's what the joystick is) and Music), the H530 really shines through it's ease of use and impressive sound.



What's bothered me is the comfort of wearing it around your head. I know this bothered a few other users as well, but in general I think it's only if you wear it for a extended period of time. I regularly make long skype calls, so it's really been a concern for me. The padding on the top does seem to be solid in terms of comfort, but the phones on the ears can be tight sometimes. When I was wearing this thing for the first few days, I started getting headaches, but it was more of a external pain from the phones.



How I've compensated is to add my own padding (like a handkerchief) on top of the padding to put less strain on my head. I'm not sure whether this is just from my experience, but in contrast to the sound you're getting for this price, it really isn't bad. - Skype Headset - Logitech - Headset - Headphones'


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Interconnects - camcorder, flip video


After reading several recent negative reviews who claim to have not received the product advertised I was hesitant to order this. After checking StarTech's web site and confirming that they did make the product advertised, I went ahead and ordered 3 and received the product advertised. It is 6 inches and it has USB type A male on one end and USB type A female on the other end, which is what you want most of the time for an extension cable. It is rated for USB 2.0 and so far works fine for me. And a good price at that. Perhaps too short for some uses, but just right for others. 6in USB 2.0 Extension Adapter Cable A to A - M/F

These are a "must-have" especially for musical instruments using USB memory sticks for storage. They allow for connecting the stick to the USB port without worry of damage to the stick from it's normal protruding position, as memory sticks can often come into contact with other equipment when being transported or moved. It's short so the media is retained flexible so it's added protection for both the memory stick and the USB port on the device. I recommend this for anyone who uses a device which depends on USB driven memory sticks. Think of it as a little insurance for the device & the memory stick.

I ordered 2 of this item. Clear AV sent me two 6 inch USB extension cables that have male connectors on both ends. The picture & technical description on this page is for a 6 inch USB extension cable that has a male connector on one end (type A) and a female connector on the other (type A).



After several exchanges of email, Clear AV was adamant they sent me the correct product, and offered no exchange, only a refund. Are the description & picture on this page wrong? Did they send me wrong item and weirdly won't admit to it? Clear AV has a really good rating overall with transactions, but I was dumbstruck by the dismissive tone of their emails to me, and the seeming lack of interest in correcting their mistake. And in fact after several searches on Amazon I could find no 6 inch USB extension cables offered by Clear AV that have male connectors on both ends.



These cables are quite cheap, and even with shipping (if you get several) they are cheaper than buying them at a retail store, at least where I live - which makes it all the more frustrating. If Clear AV had just admitted to sending the wrong product and offered an exchange I'd be annoyed but I would still buy from them. I won't purchase anything from them again.

USE: This 6" USB extension cable is perfect for making awkward USB ports easier to use. I have two plugged in to the side of my monitor.



QUALITY: The female end is good enough, but not as sturdy as I might have liked.



DIFFERENT COLOR: Unlike the photo at the time of this writing, the actual product I received is black. I like black better than beige, but the seller should not use the wrong picture.

I bought a Mac and the USB ports are on the back of the monitor. Kind of a pain to get to-- have to move the Mac forward and rotate to use. A friend recommended this USB extension Cable (A-a). I bought 2 six-inch cables. Definitely easier but I will probably wind up getting a longer cable because the six-inch cable barely clears the space between the underside of my Mac and my desktop so I still have to reach around but at least I don't have to move the Mac. (I realize I sound lazy-- but moving the Mac moves all of my papers and items on my desk too ;-D). I forget off-hand what the next size up is... 10 inches or more would be better.

Some "Extension" cable! With TWO MALE ends, you CAN'T extend any USB cable. Period! This is what this cable has, TWO Male ends. This cable SHOULD have an A-Male end AND an A-Female end to properly perform as an EXTENSION cable of any sort. Sure would have been nice if it had been clearly indicated that this "extension" cable ONLY had TWO A-MALE ends.

I use this tiny "extension cable" to prevent the USB connector on my expensive x-ray sensor being worn out. I figure that I can just replace this cable instead of send the sensor for repair if the connector is bad. it works great so far. The price si very reasonable. I recommend you have this cable if you have expensive USB devices with cables hard-wired in.

Why buy such a tiny extenstion cord? My Altima came with a USB port inside the armrest/center console. After a bad experience with a USB port on my desktop computer physically breaking and shorting out the whole PC, I am determined to minimize wear and tear on the car's USB port. This short cord allows me to do the plugging and unplugging on the cord, and not the car itself.



This cable works perfectly, and arrived quickly in a nice padded envelope. Order with confidence. - Usb - Flip Video - Usb Extension Cable - Camcorder'


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Power Toothbrushes - philips sonicare, toothbrush


A few years ago - in my quest to find an electric toothbrush per my dentist's instructions led me to stand in front of the products meticulously comparing one vs. another, did it do this that and the other, price point, etc. Oral B won for 1 reason, price and I had a coupon at Costco and their replacement heads were cheaper. That was a few years ago. I was under the impression that all electric toothbrushes were created equally. Although my teeth's health improved, there are still issues. My last cleaning was very intense at the dentist.



My Oral B is almost dead - it's been 2 years, the battery will hold for a couple of days, but not over a week like it used to. The search for the next toothbrush started.



Surprisingly, I didn't have a hard choice with picking Sonicare. I see the demo/advertising whatever at my dentist. I also knew I wasn't happy with OralB - because my teeth didn't feel clean, and I knew that it was definitely not getting into all the contours of my mouth.



My first use with my Sonicare

I felt like a light bulb exploded in my head. It was ridiculous how clean my teeth felt, as if I just had them cleaned and polished at my dentist. How is that possible with only 1 session? Was my Oral B that bad? Maybe this was a fluke. A few more days went by, my teeth stayed with that smooth clean feeling. It's been a few weeks and I'm hooked.



What's so different about it - the brush head for one. Oral B has a circular head, it spins with use. With the Sonicare, it oscillates back and forth, mimicking real tooth brushing motion. There are contours of the brush so it gets between the teeth. The bristles are stiff to clean my teeth but gentle enough to get into the gums w/o causing bleeding. Oral B brush heads were rough and painful.



This product is great for small mouths, hard to reach areas/crevices and for sensitive teeth.



I like that it has options for sensitive and regular or whitening. I like that it's timed so I know I'm doing the right amount. The toothbrush will shut itself off after 2 minutes. It'll be good for kids too, so they're not doing a swipe and say they're done.



I'm very impressed with this product, very glad I got it and can't wait until my next dentist appointment. I've had it for a few weeks and notice not only are my teeth cleaner, but they are truly whiter.



UPDATE:

I've had it for a few months - went for my cleaning and my dental hygienist noticed my teeth/gums were improving. She asked me what I did differently and told her I switched toothbrushes. HA!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE my toothbrush!



UPDATE 10/6/2010:

Went for my cleaning yesterday - OMG! Can we say miracle? The dental hygienist was super happy to see my gums are getting healthier, when they do the measurements I've been getting mostly 4's (1's are ideal, 5's are no good), but this time, they were at mostly 2's with a couple of 3's!! My gums/teeth and mouth are overall getting better with each visit. My dentist is happy with my progress - so am I!! the least amount of dental work, the happier I'll be.

I've written multiple Amazon reviews for Sonicare toothbrushes that I've purchased (been a user for almost 20 years) and I've had nothing but good results and solid service from Phillips.



My only caution is to check the price before purchasing. You can do better than the $169 price currently listed.

We (our family of six) have had sonicare tooth brushes for over the past 5 years. My husband and I usually buy the new model for us and give our four boys the old one with a new tooth brush head. What I especially love about this new model is that you can sanitize it. Also even if you don't get the sanitizer it will not get as dicustingly gunky like the old ones. The old ones have places for bacteria to hide up inside the tooth brush head. This new model does not! I am usually the one cleaning the tooth brushes and it can be gross when you turn the old tooth brushes upside down & run hot water in them. All kinds of snot comes out! Also my dentist always recommends sonicare. We hope to buy four more new tooth brushes for our four boys when we can afford it!

I never gave much thought to owning a toothbrush that cost more than $7. I'd always used manual brushes until about 10 years ago when a cousin recommended a Crest SpinBrush Pro, Soft Bristles (Colors May Vary). I remember the difference being night and day from the manual to the mechanical; my teeth felt twice as clean as they ever had. Well, if the SpinBrush made my teeth feel twice as clean, the Sonicare makes them feel almost brand new.



As stated above, normally I'm not spending more than $7, thus it would take some extraordinary circumstances. Well, while on vacation and staying at my mother-in-law's place (you read that correctly, a vacation and staying at the in-laws while they were there! They're awesome people! I'm lucky that way.), my mother in law informed us about the Philips Sonicare Essence Power Toothbrush that she purchased. She raved about it but I'd heard plenty of people (dentists included) rave about various pricey products that I made do without. Then she let us use her travel set with our own brand new heads (Obviously!). Well, folks, the proof is in the pudding or brushing, I should say. 10 minutes after I'd brushed that first time I was on Amazon here looking up prices! It was/is the most amazing feeling when you finish brushing with these Sonicares. My teeth felt like they do when I leave the dentist after a cleaning! And that's how they feel every day now! For a month straight my teeth have felt continually cleaner and have been getting whiter! I love this thing and will never be without a Sonicare!



Concerns & Why I ordered the Healthy White version over the Essence:



I'm environmentally conscious. Thus the size of the replacement heads for the Essence seemed like a waste to me. There was way too much plastic in the heads that I didn't feel good about. The heads for the newer models (Healthy White included) are significantly smaller; see also planet friendlier.



My other concern was/is the gap between the head and the actual handle of the brush. Yes, there is a gap where things (bacteria etc) may "grow". This system comes with a built in UV Sanitizer that takes only minutes. I honestly don't know how long it takes (except to say that it's under 10 minutes) because I simply start it when I'm done and it's ready for the next time.



The Advanced Features were the other reasons I ordered this version. This product, in whitening mode, gives you Four 30-second intervals and at the end of the fourth interval it gives you two 15-second intervals to concentrate on the teeth you want whitened (usually everything that can be seen during your smile). I LOVE THE TIMER! The intervals make me 100% more efficient than I was.



Money is tight and we had to make some serious adjustments to be able to afford such a device (including cutting a few extras out of our vacation) but we have not regretted it once! This device has already saved us a couple whitening treatments and will probably save us a few extra dentist bills down the line. Do yourself a favor and make room for this in your budget. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! - Sonicare - Power Toothbrushes - Philips Sonicare - Toothbrush'


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Pandigital - android tablet


I'm a big fan of this product. I have yet to run out of battery life, even using the wifi to surf for a couple of hours. Yet, it is a bit heavy. But, it is a GREAT alternative to an iPad. The web surfing is perfectly fine if the wifi connection is a good one. The screen resolution and color is better than most tablets at this price and size, 800x600. As far as Refurbished product, item comes in a sealed retail box and all accessories are brand new, just like new product. I can not tell if it is refurbished. PanDigital 72-70FW 7-Inch Tablet Computer - White (Remanufactured)

Everyone gets scared with Refurbs? But Why? The manufacture personally inspects this item before it is shipped to me! About this item: For one the box is a brand new manufactured box. It does say remanufactured in small letters at the top, but was almost hidden! I really needed something that was on the go convenience that was a reasonable price (I cant afford and I-Pad)! But I really wanted my email and facebook at the tip of my hands (on a bigger screen than my phone) ;-). Someone told me about this item so I'm telling you! The connection was fast, screen is clear and the item is useful for multiple uses. Although it has very little internal memory there is a slot to add more memory. It is a bit heavier, but for the price, convenience and look the item was well worth the purchase. Also for the girls with nails, most touch screens make you use your finger tip, which with long nails can be hard, the Pandigital lets me use my nail, which helps me out a lot.

I am loving my PanDigital Remanufactured unit. I originally bought this with another eReader (around $120) in order to compare them side-by-side. I am an educator and need some web-enabled devices for the classroom that's portable and easy to use. An android wifi tablet is the perfect solution.



Here's why I am keeping the PanDigital:

1. I like the look of the white frame around the pandigital.

2. The remanfactured unit is already upgraded to the Android 2.0 OS.

3. The resistive touchscreen is responsive to both my touch and a rubber-tip stylus.

4. And the battery life is great: when I'm not using it, it is not consuming any power and the wifi automatically shuts off in sleep mode.

5. The time to recharge back to full from 55% is relatively quick, just a couple of hours if memory serves my well.



Things that could be better:

1. Oh it would be wonderful if it was running Android 2.2 and then I can fully interact with flash websites. But this is a low cost alternative to the latest and greatest Android device.

2. I was able to download the Amazon Appstore (for the free apps of course) but as of yet I have been unsuccessful in finding ones that will download and install. I ended up going to a 3rd party website to get the Kindle app that would download and install.

3. And I wish it came with it's own carrying case or sleeve as the other eReader I purchased(and returned) did. Otherwise, I ordered up CaseCrown Faux Suede Case (Navy) for Pandigital Novel Digital Book Reader (PRD07T10WWH7), I've had other cases from CaseCrown and they do a nice job.



I'm thinking of ordering another one while they are in stock and the price is still low. But maybe I'll let you grab one first. And buying it through (Tormart via) Amazon is definitely the way to go for both cost and shipping. I showed the website to my students, so hurry and get yours before they do.



Cheers - iShar

This item is a nice, inexpensive way to keep in touch when away from home or another is on your main computer. It works nicely and allows you to research when hooked to a secured WiFi. It is still rather new to me and I have yet to find a good app that will allow more widespread use. I highly recommend this product.

I wasn't expecting much from this tablet but it's been disappointing. I just wanted something to open word docs and spreadsheets and do minimal editing. the response time is too slow. Service and shipping were good though. - Android Tablet'


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Pandigital - android tablet android tablet Pandigital - android tablet

Kindle Reader - ebook reader, kindle reader


When I wrote this review last August, there was only one Nook, which is now called "Nook First Edition." It continues to be available, but there are two new Nooks. The Nook Color was introduced last fall - it's basically a tablet computer, and runs the Android software that is popular on many smartphones nowadays. It's twice as heavy and costs twice as much as a Kindle, but compared to other tablet computers, it is a very good value.



And now (early June 2011), a new e-ink based Nook is coming out. It's called the "Nook Simple Touch." It is just now starting to ship, so obviously I don't have one and can't tell you anything about it that you can't learn by reading online reviews. But the reviews are very favorable, so if you're considering a Kindle, you should take a look at the new Nook Simple Touch, too.



But the Kindle is nonetheless still a compelling option. It's a mature product, very well designed and easy to use, performance is very zippy, it's competitively priced, and no e-ink based reader has a better, more readable display than the Kindle, not even the new Nook Simple Touch. Also, the Kindle universe is quite extensive: the Kindle store is great and has many thousands of free e-books as well as good deals on most other e-books, and once purchased, you can read your Kindle books on nearly any device you own (computer, phone, tablet), not just your Kindle. And there are tons of great cases and other accessories for the Kindle.



So, while my review compares the Kindle to the older Nook, I'll leave it here because it has a ton of information about the Kindle, a great e-reader that deserves your attention, and because the original Nook continues to be available. That said, I urge you to NOT buy the original Nook. It was a respectable e-reader when it came out in 2009, and still had some value when I wrote about it in August 2010, but it is clearly inferior by today's standards.



------------ my original review --------------



If you're trying to choose between a Nook and a Kindle, perhaps I can help. My wife and I have owned a Nook (the original one), a Kindle 2, and a Kindle DX. When Amazon announced the Kindle 3 this summer, we pre-ordered two Kindle 3's: the wi-fi only model in graphite, and the wi-fi + 3G model in white. They arrived in late August and we have used them very regularly since then. For us, Kindle is better than Nook, but Nook is a good device with its own advantages that I will discuss below. I'll end this review with a few words about the Nook Color.



First, reasons why we prefer the Kindle:



* Speed



In our experience, the Kindle is very zippy compared to the Nook. Page refresh speed (the time it takes a new page to appear after you push the page-turn button) was WAY quicker on Kindle 2 than on Nook, and it's quicker yet on Kindle 3. Yet, I read a whole book on the Nook and didn't find the slower page refresh to be annoying - you get used to it, and it's not a problem.



For me, the more important speed difference concerns navigation - moving the cursor around the screen, for example to pick a book from your library, or to jump to a chapter by selecting it in the table of contents. On Kindle, you do this by pushing a 5-way rocker button, and the cursor moves very quickly. On Nook, you do this by activating the color LCD touchscreen (which normally shuts off when not in use, to conserve battery). A "virtual rocker button" appears on the screen, and you touch it to move the cursor. Unfortunately, the Nook cursor moves very sluggishly. This might not be a big deal to you, but it really got annoying to me, especially since my wife's Kindle was so quick and responsive.



In November 2010, Nook got a software upgrade that increases page refresh speed and makes navigation more responsive. I returned my Nook months ago, so I cannot tell you if the Nook's performance is now equal to the Kindle's, but Nook owners in the comments section have convinced me that the software update improves the experience of using the Nook. If performance is a big factor in your decision, visit a Best Buy and compare Kindle and Nook side by side.



* Screen contrast



You've seen Amazon's claims that the Kindle 3 e-ink has 50% better contrast than Kindle 2 or other e-ink devices. I have no way of precisely measuring the improvement in contrast, but I can tell you that the Kindle 3 display definitely has more contrast than Kindle 2 or Nook. The difference is noticeable, and important: more screen contrast means less eyestrain when reading in poorly lit rooms.



In well-lit rooms, the Nook and Kindle 2 have enough contrast to allow for comfortable reading. But I often read in low-light conditions, like in bed at night, or in a poorly lit room. In these situations, reading on Nook or Kindle 2 was a bit uncomfortable and often gave me a mild headache. When I got the Kindle 3, the extra contrast was immediately noticeable, and made it more comfortable to read under less-than-ideal lighting conditions. (If you go with a Nook, just make sure you have a good reading lamp nearby.)



* Battery life



The Nook's color LCD touch screen drains its battery quickly - I could never get more than 5 days out of a charge. The Kindle 2 had longer battery life than the Nook, and Kindle 3 has even longer life: in the 3 months since we received our Kindle 3's, we typically get 3 weeks of battery life between charges. (We keep wireless off about half the time to save battery power.)



* Weight



Nook weighs about 3 ounces more than the new Kindle, and you can really feel the difference. Without a case, Nook is still light enough to hold in one hand for long reading sessions without fatigue. But in a case, Nook is a heavy sucker. The new Kindle 3 is so light, even in a case, we find it comfortable holding in one hand for long reading sessions.



Reasons some people might prefer the Nook:



* In-store experience



If you need help with your nook, you can take it to any barnes and noble and get a real human to help. You can take your nook into the coffee shop section of your local B&N store and read any book for free for up to one hour per day. When you take your nook to B&N, some in-store special deals and the occasional free book pop up on your screen.



* User-replaceable battery



Rechargeable batteries eventually lose their ability to hold a charge. Nook's battery is user-replaceable and relatively inexpensive. To replace Kindle's battery, Amazon wants you to ship your Kindle to Amazon, and they will ship you back a DIFFERENT Kindle than the one you sent (it's the same model, for example if you send a white Kindle 3, you get a white Kindle 3 back, but you get a "refurbished" one, NOT the exact one you sent them). I don't like this at all.



However, several people have posted comments here that have eased my concerns. Someone looked up statistics on the Kindle's battery and did some simple calculations to show that it should last for 3 or more years. Before that happens, I will surely have upgraded to a newer Kindle model by then. Also, someone found some companies that sell Kindle batteries at reasonable cost and have how-to videos that demonstrate how we can replace the battery ourselves. Doing this would void the Kindle's warranty, but the battery will probably not fail until long after the warranty expires.



[update June 2011: The batteries in the Nook Color and Nook Simple Touch are not replaceable, but the battery in the original Nook is.]



* ePub



Nook uses the ePub format, a widely used open format. Amazon uses a proprietary ebook format. Many libraries will "lend" ebooks in the ePub format, which works with nook but not kindle. However, a free and reputable program called Calibre allows you to translate ebooks from one format to another - it supports many formats, including ePub and Kindle. The only catch is that it doesn't work with copy-protected ebooks, so you can't, for example, buy a Kindle book (which is copy protected) and translate it to ePub so you can read it on a Nook.



* Nook's color LCD touchscreen



The original Nook has a small color LCD screen on the bottom for navigation. This could be a pro or con, depending on your preferences. It makes the Nook hipper and less drab than Kindle. Some people enjoy using the color LCD to view their library or navigate. I did, at first. But after two weeks of use, and comparisons with my wife's Kindle, I found the dedicated buttons of the Kindle easier and far quicker to use than the Nook's color touchscreen. I also found the bright light from the color screen distracting when I was trying to read a book or newspaper (though when not in use, it shuts off after a minute or so to conserve battery).



* expandable capacity



Nook comes with 2GB of internal memory. If you need more capacity, you can insert a microSD card to add up to 16GB more memory. Kindle comes with 4GB of internal memory - twice as much as Nook - but there's no way to expand that. Kindle doesn't accept memory cards of any type. If you mainly use your device to read ebooks and newspapers, this shouldn't be an issue. I have over 100 books on my Kindle, and I've used only a tiny fraction of the memory. Once Kindle's memory fills up, just delete books you don't need immediate access to; you can always restore them later, in seconds, for free.



A few other notes:



Kindle and Nook have other features, such as an MP3 player and a web browser, but I caution you to have low expectations for these features. The MP3 player on the Kindle is like the first-generation iPod shuffle - you can't see what song is playing, and you can't navigate to other songs on your device. I don't like the browser on either device; e-ink is just not a good technology for surfing the web; it's slower and clunkier than LCD screen technology, so even the browser on an Android phone or iPod touch is more enjoyable to use. However, some commenters have more favorable views of either device's browser, and you might, too.



* ebook lending



If you have a Nook or a Kindle, you can "lend" an ebook you purchased to someone else with the same device for up to two weeks. The Nook has always had this feature. The Kindle just got this feature as of December 2010. Most but not all purchased ebooks are lendable, due to publisher restrictions.



* PDF support



Kindle and Nook both handle PDF files, but in different ways. When you put a PDF file on your nook, nook converts it into an ebook-like file, then you can adjust the font size, and the text and pagination will adjust just like with any ebook. But you cannot see the original PDF file in the native format in which it was created. Kindle 3 and Kindle DX have native support for PDF files. You can see PDF files just as they would appear on your computer. You can also convert PDF files to an ebook-like format, and then Kindle handles them just the way the Nook handles them - text and pagination adjust when you change the font size. Unfortunately, some symbols, equations, and graphics get lost or mangled in the translation - even when viewing PDF files in their native format on the Kindle. Moreover, the small screen size of the Kindle 3 and the Nook is not great for PDF files, most of which are designed for a larger page size. You can zoom and pan, but this is cumbersome and tiresome. Thanks to commenters who suggested viewing PDF files in landscape mode on the Kindle (I don't know if you can do this on Nook); this way, you can see the entire top half of the page without panning, and then scroll down to the bottom half. This works a little better.



SUMMARY:



Nook and Kindle each offer their own advantages. We like the nook's user-replaceable battery, compatibility with ePub format, and in-store experience. But we strongly prefer Kindle 3 because its performance is zippier, its higher-contrast screen is easier to read, and it's smaller and lighter so it is more portable and more comfortable to hold in one hand for long reading sessions.



* Nook Color



Everything I wrote about the Nook in this review applies to the original Nook (which continues to be available), not the new Nook Color. To me, the Nook Color is in a different product category than the Kindle or original Nook. Nook Color has an LCD screen, like an iPad or most computer monitors. That's a big disadvantage for people like me, who get headaches from reading a computer screen for long periods of time. Amazon's Kindle product page has an informative section on e-ink vs. LCD displays.



But many people don't have problems reading from computer screens, and the Nook Color is getting glowing reviews in the press and by owners. For the money, it offers a lot of functionality such as a good web browser and the ability to play games and watch movies. But keep in mind: it costs a lot more than the Kindle, it weighs nearly twice as much, it doesn't come in a 3G version, and (unlike the original Nook) the Nook Color doesn't have a user replaceable battery. Kindle 3G, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 3G Works Globally, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology - Ebook Reader - Kindle - Kindle Reader - Kindle 3'


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Kindle Reader - ebook reader, kindle reader kindle 3 Kindle Reader - ebook reader, kindle reader

Kindle Devices - kindle devices, new kindle


Having been a little overwhelmed by the choices between all the new Kindles and which one to get, I ordered this new basic $79 Kindle first to take for a spin. So far, I like what I see. I also own a Kindle 3 so that's the only device I can really compare it to at this time (I think a comparison between other tablets and this Kindle is meaningless, this device is all about content and delivery):1. Form-factor - Compared to the Kindle 3, this Kindle feels more compact, lighter and easier to hold. My hands wrap around this better than K3. Reading books for a few hours at a stretch will be easier on this device compared to the K3. It is the lightest such device I have used compared to all previous Kindles and other tablets.2. Screen - I personally like the fact that there are no keys on the device and that keys come up on the screen when you need them. Delivers a better overall reading experience. However, navigating through the on-screen keyboard with the 5-way controller can be taxing if you need to do a lot of searching, and you might miss the full physical keyboard. I hardly search on the Kindle itself, I search for books on my laptop so this is a non-issue.3. Price! - At $79, you can't go wrong. Compared to buying paperback or hardcover editions, you will recover the cost of this in a matter of a few months because most Kindle content is priced cheaper than print editions (and you get it instantly, and can access it wherever you are). Not to mention all the free Kindle downloads available in the catalog.4. Display - almost the same E-ink display at the K3. No glare no reflection. You can sit in bright sunlight and read it just like a book. Page turns seem a lot faster on this compared to the K3. Screen size of the Kindle 3, this new Kindle, and the Touch is exactly the same in size.5. Wi-Fi - this can be a pro or a con (no 3G) depending on a user's personal preference. If you travel often and would like to be able to download content anywhere without worrying about getting a wi-fi connection, you're better off sticking with the K3 or waiting for the Touch/Fire. For me, 3G is not a major issue.6. Text to Speech and Audiobooks - These two features are lacking in this device. I personally have never used these features on my K3. If you listen to audiobooks or TTS or music on your Kindle, again the K3/Touch/Fire might be better options.7. Storage - this device can store 2GB which they claim is approximately 1400 books. For me, that's a massive storage capacity and it will be years before I get close to that capacity. Again, if you download books occasionally and have a moderate Kindle downloaded content on your device, 2GB is plenty. Of course, think ahead and see how much you would expect to download in the coming 2 years (I am assuming the device will be outdated and replaced within this time-frame).8. Battery life - too early to tell but Kindle battery life tends to be great. Specs state that the battery life of this device is 1 month compared to 2 months for the Touch or K3. 1 month is plenty (Android phones need to be charged every hour!). At least I know that if I'm going on a long flight, this device won't need charging if I charge it up in advance.9. Power adapter - this Kindle does not come with a power adapter, only a USB charging cable. You can either buy it separately for $8-10, or use your existing USB power adapter. Any USB adapter would work with the charging cable (previous Kindle versions, Apple's portable devices, and most HTC phones, come with a standard USB power adapter that would work for this device). There are also plenty of $2-3 adapters available here if you search for USB chargers.Bottom line - the choice between this basic Kindle, the K3 Keyboard, the Touch, and the Fire is really a personal preference. This device itself is meant for the minimalist Kindle user who, like me, reads say a 2-3 books a month, wants a device comfortable to hold, and doesn't need any fancy bells and whistles on the device. I guess it depends on what you use your Kindle for. If it's just the basics, this is the perfect device to get.In my humble opinion, the choices:(i) If you have a DX or an old Kindle version, or if you don't have a Kindle yet and are an average book-reader, this is definitely the one to get - baseline model that is affordable and is a pure e-reader.(ii) If you have Kindle 3 and don't really need an upgrade, I recommend sticking with the K3, it's a better device than this one in terms of features. If you do need to upgrade, the Touch is probably a better option because of all the additional features, at a small incremental cost.(iii) If you're looking for the loaded full-on Amazon content experience with access to all the apps, streaming audio and video, and playing the "strangely therapeutic" Fruit Ninja, wait for the Fire!I sincerely hope this review helps you decide whether this Kindle is right for you. If you are still unable to make a decision, it may be worthwhile to wait for the Touch and Fire to be released, and see the reviews on those devices before making a final decision. Kindle, Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display - includes Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers

First off, I received my new Kindle this morning. I previously owned the Kindle Keyboard, but actually really didn't like the keyboard or the way the buttons were pressed together. I'm not a fan of touch screens so I bought this one.There are a few things to know about this particular Kindle that can help you decide if it's right for you...Here is a list of things to know about this Kindle.1. You'll be using an onscreen keyboard with the 5-Way Controller. This is not a problem for setting up WiFi and a little writing but if you are an avid note-taker or do a lot of writing with your Kindle, you might want to opt for the Kindle Keyboard.

2. NO AUDIO - If you are planning on listening to audiobooks, Mp3s, or Text to Speech on your Kindle, this is not the device for you. There is not even a headphone jack, so there is absolutely no audio support.

3. 2GB! This device has 2GB of storage, which is half of all the others... if you seriously need to keep over 1,400 books or so on your Kindle, you should opt for one of the others, all of which have 4GB. I only keep a hundred or so books on mine and the rest are up in the Amazon Cloud waiting for convenient download.

4. There's no 3G version but the WiFi works just fine.

5. There is a shorter battery life. Amazon reports the battery life is only one month of reading, compared with the others that clock in at two months. If you are going to be away from electricity for over a month, first of all RESPECT!, second of all, you may want a Kindle that has the 2 month battery life.

6. It's lighter than all the other versions. It weighs in at just under 6oz (170g). The closest competition is the Kindle Touch which is about 7.5oz.

7. It has 5 buttons on the face at the bottom. In the middle is the big 5-Way Controller button as found on other Kindles. There are two small buttons on either side of this. On the left side, from left to right are the "Back" button and the "Keyboard" button. The "Back" button is the same as on other Kindles. The "Keyboard" button calls the onscreen keyboard onto the screen. On the right side of the 5-Way Controller are (again, from left to right) the "Menu" button, and the "Home" button. The "Next Page" and "Previous Page" buttons are the same as on other Kindles.

8. Because of the above 5 buttons, I find it much easier to use than the Kindle Keyboard. On the Kindle Keyboard, the "Back" button was right below the 5-Way Controller, and I accidentally hit it on more than one occasion.

9. On the bottom there is only the mini-USB port, the charging light, and the On-Off Button.

10. There are not a whole lot of covers available for this Kindle yet. (Amazon's won't be available until the end of October.)As for reading, and as a pure reading device. It is awesome... in fact, without the keyboard, audio, and other features I don't need. This is actually the best one for someone like me who just wants to read. I've already successfully transferred my library, downloaded books over WiFi, and borrowed library books through the Overdrive Library eBooks System. My only small point of dissatisfaction is that there are so few good covers and accessories right now (though there ARE some available that look pretty good).All in all, I believe this is the BEST of all the Kindles currently available. Only consider others if you:

a. Really want the touch screen version.

b. Need audio.

c. Need 4GB

d. Need a big Kindle DX.

e. Take a lot of notes or do a lot of writing that requires a keyboard.

f. Prefer the design of another version.

g. Need more than a month's battery power.Hope this helps someone make a good decision!(Brief update: I love this Kindle, but right now the scarcity of good, inexpensive covers for it is a little troubling. The Amazon made leather one with light won't be available until November or so and there are currently no inexpensive ones to use in the interim. I'll just have to use it gently for a month or so.) - Kindle Devices - New Kindle'


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