Guy Low Price Electronic: 7 Oct 2011

Friday, 7 October 2011

Neoprene Case - kindle 3 covers, kindle accessory

At first, the idea of a Kindle 3G case with a built-in light sounded really great, until I realized two things:

1) our family already has an iPad, an iPhone and an iPod Touch for when we want to read in the dark, and

2) though I wanted the new Kindle 3G protected, even from rain, I didn't want it any thicker or heavier in the case than necessary, and still wanted to do my reading without it in a case.

With us already having a Belkin zippered neoprene case for our Kindle 2 US, I also knew I'd rather avoid the need for a zipper this time. (The zipper works fine, but it's one more thing to mess with when getting the Kindle out of or into its case.)

Though it looks a bit strange in the product photos, the angled sides of the BUILT sleeve case are perfect for both holding the Kindle 3G in its sleeve case, and making it easily removable from the case. The slightly-rounded top and bottom add protection, and give you an easy place to grab the case while pulling the Kindle 3G out, or putting it back inside.

I particularly like the soft slightly-furry microfiber liner, as it both protects the screen, and will help keep it clean. I also like the floral pattern of the outer case. My wife thinks it's "girly", but I'm a gardener, so it looks fine to me.

Highly recommended! BUILT Neoprene Kindle Sleeve (Fits 6" Display, Latest Generation Kindle), Shadow Flower

Exploring the variety of covers and sleeves available for Kindles kept me occupied while waiting for delivery of my first Kindle. I knew I wanted to read it "naked" so a sleeve made good sense. I wanted something that was KISS (keep it simple stupid), provided solid protection in my travel pack, bike rack and backpack as well as purse, but didn't add unnecessary weight or size. One of the delightful features of the Kindle 3 is it's small size and weight. Putting a heavy cover or sleeve on it seems to defeat that feature, t so this is a winner. The neoprene provides cushioning and protection without added bulk and weight. Don't worry about the lack of a zipper. This sleeve holds my baby snug and tight. It's not going anywhere unless I pull it out. I like that I can wash it to keep it clean. The bright colors and patterns help prevent loss and make it easy to spot inside dark bags. The blue microfleece lining is so soft. I bought the garden print which is retro fun and the Verso light in turquoise which matches the blue in that print & the fleece perfectly. Stylish, colorful, effective, practical combo with little added weight or bulk.

Was really excited that BUILT has partnered with Amazon to offer a sleeve for Kindle 3.0. I own several BUILT products (lunchboxes, laptop case) and appreciate the quality and materials. This neoprene sleeve for the Kindle is excellent: Kindle slides in tightly, and is open on the top for easy access to my Kindle, the Scatter Dot design is cool, and the inside feels like a cozy fake fur coat. Highly recommend!!

I thought I'd give this thing a shot. I was concerned about adequate protection from screen impact, but so far this thing's been great. I've dropped it off my desk in the case at least twice, it bounces!

First time I saw that, I was sold.

Things I would trust it for:

* Dropping on floor

* Looking cool while carrying it

* Keeping it dry in the rain

* Unplanned and short encounters with my toddler

* Tossing the kindle blindly into my van in the morning, hoping it lands on the passenger seat but not sweating it if I miss

* If you're a professional athlete, you could probably carry it on your person for most sports, like basketball, soccer, tennis, and obviously bowling (well, if you suck at bowling as bad as I do, you may want to keep conveniently hurled objects like kindles out of arm's reach, but it stands a good chance of surviving even a disgruntled hurl down the lane in this case)

Things I would not trust it for:

* Carrying it while playing hockey, rugby, baseball (in case it gets hit by the ball), jousting, martial arts, duels, or pretty much anything that used to be done on American Gladiators (TM)

* Deflecting bullets from people wanting to steal your kindle because it's awesome

* Dropping it into a puddle, pool, lake, pond, or ocean

* Dropping it from an aircraft, or tall building

* Letting your toddler play with it deliberately. As toddlers have a superhuman innate ability to destroy anything they choose to, this is not a good idea in any case.

* Blindly tossing your kindle down a flight of stairs, hoping it lands on the bottom steps

So that being said, you know where things stand.

For my 2nd gen Kindle, I had a hinge cover, a snap-on cover, and a zip around cover. All of them seemed bulky, which defeats the purpose of having a slim e-reader. I got this one for my new Kindle and I LOVE it! It fits like a glove, it's super lightweight, and it's machine washable! - Kindle Covers - Kindle Accessory - Kindle 3 Covers - Kindle 3'

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High Capacity - photography

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bottom line: If you need AA batteries for a long hiking trip, then L91 is obviously your best choice. For most other situations, I recommend using low self-discharge NiMH cells for lower operating cost. E2? AAA Lithium Battery Retail Pack - 4 Pack

The Energizer L92 Lithium AAA cell is a fantastic power source. For high-drain applications, it offers great advantages over ordinary alkaline cell and rechargeable NiMH cell. However, it is also very expensive as a disposable battery. So it is important to recognize the strength of L92, and use it only in applications that give you the best results. Otherwise you'll be wasting your money.

According to data sheet published by Energizer, the capacity of this Lithium AAA cell (L92) is 1200mAh. This number remains nearly constant with load current. In comparison, the ordinary Alkaline battery (such as the Energizer E92) is also rated as 1200mAh, but only at a very light load of 25mA. At a heavy load of 500mA (typical for a P&S digital camera), its capacity is reduced to about one-third. The difference gets even greater at low temperature. At zero degree C and 500mA load, the L92 can provide about seven times more energy compared to the E92. This is where the marketing claim of "Last up to 7 times longer" comes from.

When used in a digital camera at room temperature of 25 degree C, the L92 is more likely to last 3-4 times longer than alkaline. This is enough to justify its price, which is also around 3-4 times higher than alkaline. However, in low-drain applications (such as smoke detector, wireless mouse or remote control) alkaline cells will last just as long at a fraction of the cost.

The L92 also contains much higher energy when compared to rechargeable NiMH cell such as the Sanyo Eneloop AAA. This is partially due to its higher terminal voltage of 1.5V, which is 20% higher than that for NiMH.

Energy stored in eneloop AAA: 0.8Ah * 1.25V = 1.0Wh,

Energy stored in L92 : 1.2Ah * 1.5V = 1.8Wh (80% higher).

Higher terminal voltage for L92 is especially advantageous in digital camera applications, because your camera flash will recharge up to 20% faster. On the other hand, it may create problems with some applications such as unregulated LED flash light. Higher than expected voltage will make the lamp burn brighter, but the excessive heat may also cause the lamp to burn out quickly.

Bottom line: If you need AAA batteries for a long hiking trip or for emergency standby, then L92 is obviously your best choice. For most other situations, I recommend using low self-discharge NiMH cells for lower operating cost.

[Updated on June 8, 2011]

Note: Amazon has moved two of my previous reviews (one for Energizer Lithium AA 4-pack, one for 8-pack) under one page. Therefore I have to update my review to add some new information - or else I look like a fool who says the same thing twice.

=== New information follows ===

There seems to be some confusion about those Energizer Lithium AA batteries. Several people have bought those batteries under the assumption that they are rechargeable, only to be disappointed later.

Despite the name 'Lithium', those Energizer Lithium AA batteries are very different from the commonly known 'Lithium-ion' rechargeable batteries. Namely:

- They are single-use batteries (NOT rechargeable like Li-ion)

- The terminal voltage for each cell is around 1.65V (compared to around 3.7V for each Li-ion rechargeable cell)

The two types of batteries are not compatible. If your camera accepts AA cells, then you should use those Lithium AA cells and not Li-ion rechargeable battery. Alternatively, you may explore other rechargeable battery options, namely:

1. Low-self-discharge NiMH AA cells, such as Sanyo Eneloop or Sony Cycle Pre-Charged. Those have a operating voltage of 1.25V per cell, so some cameras (especially those that use only two cells) may not operate correctly on those.

2. Nickel-Zinc rechargeable such as PowerGenix AA. Those have higher terminal voltage of 1.65V, same as that of Lithium AA cells. The down-side is that the higher voltage may cause some older cameras to burn out, and the NiZn cells themselves have very poor lifespan.

No matter which rechargeable option you pick, remember that they each need their own special charger. Choosing a good charger is the key to longer lifespan for rechargeable batteries.

I recommend most people to try eneloop cells first. They are the most reliable among NiMH batteries. If it doesn't work well for your camera, you can still use those celll in other appliances such as flashlights or Wii remotes.

Finally, it is a good idea to keep a set of those Lithium AA cells as backup, or in case or emergency. They can be kept in storage for ~10 years! - Photography'

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Ipod Accesories - accessories, ipod accesories

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I bought 2 of these short cables for use in connecting my iPod to the stereo in my car and in rental cars that have auxiliary inputs but no iPod integration. No matter what I am trying to connect, different iPods, different cars, the connections are problematic and require a lot of wiggling to get just right so that any sound actually gets transmitted. Avoid these. Buy from a different vendor. 3.5mm Stereo Male To Male Cable 1 ft.

This short patch cable is functional and works as intended. But would it have killed the manufacturer to use a heavier gauge wire? It feels cheap in your hands because the wire gauge (diameter)is so small. Probably no line loss due to shortness of the cable. Plugs are large and easy to grasp. Just can't get over the small diameter of the cable.

Ive only had this cord for 30 days and already doesn't work. It has come apart at the end of the cord going into the plug. It lives in my car and is almost never touched so I don't think over use is the issue but just a poorly made product. It worked great for the first 30 days though.

Works OK, but the connection is poor. Any slight wiggle causes the right channel to fluctuate. A firm press back into the jack combined with a careful removal of my hand causes it to work well until the next time it is wiggled.

I have a number of other cords that work much more reliably with the same devices.

I brought this cable for my car so I could listen to my ipod. This length is perfect for the driver and the front passenger to adjust the ipod. People in the back won't be able to reach up and change the song or what not.

No problems with it! Works great! - Accessories - Cables - Ipod Cable - Ipod Accesories'

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Iphone 3g Charger - chargers, usb adapter

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Pros:

Very good quality and works great to charge my ipod and plug in my fm transmitter. Very good price.

Cons:

Can't do the two at the same time without the annoying hum due to the ground loop.

Overall: Definitely worth it. 2 Port USB Car Cigarette Lighter Adapter Dual Plug for iPod MP3 Players Charger - Color White

It worked great until it started falling apart repeatedly (it only took a couple of months of very rare use), and eventually it was responsible for a blown fuse in the car. At this point I'm not sure I want to risk using it, for the sake of the electronics, and the car.

This does just what you think it would and is of a better quality construction than what I expected for the price. I don't think I'll need another one of these for a while but when I do, I won't hesitate to buy this again.

I bought this adapter because it was the cheapest one available on Amazon. It worked great for 2 months then just quit working. I looked for a fuse or reset on the adapter but I couldn't locate any. So I went back online and bought the same adapter again. This time it only sadly worked for about 1 month or so. This time I spent a few extra bucks on a "Scosche" adapter. You can immediately differentiate the quality, craftsmanship, and materials between the two. I've had the "Scosche" USB adapter for almost 5 months. So I say in this case YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

this charger makes a noise that is not noisy but loud enough to bother me. it did not charge my blackberry curve 3g. it charged my ipod nano 5th generation once, then fried my ipod nano (luckily i was able to reboot my nano). i tried to charge my nano the second time and nothing happened.

so bottom line, don't buy this product.

I primarily purchased this item as the "last resort" for needing to charge my iPhone when encountered with a low battery level while driving in the car. I won't put it through any vigorous use and in fact have only used it once. It works fine......seems very capable to handle being stored in my Jeep's center console when not in use. The price was excellent (<$8 incl S&H) At 25% of the cost of most car chargers I don't see how you can go wrong. - Usb Adapter - Iphone 3g Charger - Chargers - Pda Car Charger'

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Highly Recommended - battery testers, battery

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One of the problems with most (less-expensive) battery testers is that they only check for voltage remaining in a battery. Even an 80% used battery can show nearly full rated voltage, and it is only when a load is placed on the battery that a true assessment is possible. Our college AV department goes through lots of batteries for DVD remotes, wireless mics, etc., and the other cheaper testers were not providing accurate results. This unit (and its big brother model) use an electronic circuit to test the battery for approximately two seconds under an electrical load. While doing this, the LED's light back and forth, and then the tested capacity is displayed. I highly recommend this unit for consumers and professionals alike. it is easy to use and very accurate. If you use a lot of button cell batteries, or lithium batteries (either AA or specialized camera/camcorder lithium ion batteries), you should probably purchase the larger ZTS MBT-1. The MBT-1 costs over twice as much and is larger in size, but consider that model for most versatility. Mini Multi-Battery Tester

I like the concept behind this tester, and it performs reasonably well; however, I have encountered two problems that made me give it only three stars. First, I agree with the one reviewer who suggested testing a battery more than once. I have found that to be confident of a reading, you need to test at least three times, because its readings are not always consistent. I have had it give me a zero reading on the first try and 100% readings on the second and third tries. Second, I have no confidence whatsoever in its readings on C123 batteries. I tested three batteries which came out of three separate cameras and got zero readings on all three. Since the batteries were still functioning well in the three cameras, I became suspicious. I have an old Radio Shack analog tester which does not have a specific setting for 3V batteries, so I set the tester for 1.5V. Each battery made the needle fly to the farthest point on the scale, so I figured there had to be more than zero juice in the batteries. When I put the batteries back in their respective cameras, each of the cameras' battery strength indicators showed a full reading for the batteries. Consequently, I do not have any confidence at all for the tester's 123 readings. It has worked well when testing AA alkalines and NIMH batteries (again, as long as I test three times). Although I like the tester, I would hesitate to recommend it because of the problems I have encountered.

This battery tester has already paid for itself. If a toy (or electronic gadget) is running slow, I remove and test all the batteries. Each time I found that some of the batteries still had 80% life in them, while others were dead. Before I had this tester, I would replace all the batteries. Now I can replace only the dead ones. It is great!

While more expensive than many battery tester, this unit appears to be more accurate. It is easy to use, well made, and tests a wide variety of batteries. I especially like the separate terminal for NiMH rechargeable batteries as I use these frequently and don't always remember when I last charged them.

I work in a theatre where we go through a ton of AA and 9V batteries in our wireless microphones and wireless clearcom beltpacks. At the start of each show, all of them have to have fresh batteries even though the old ones might not be completely dead. It's nice to be able to check the life of the used ones so that they can be used for rehearsals or in other devices. It's a great way to save money and prevent waste! Great product!

I had a little battery tester for many years that just gave up finally. It was simpler, and had a spring-loaded slot which tested all cylindrical batteries. And it had an easy two-spot tester for 9-volt batteries. It was all self-contained, nothing to break off, etc. This device requires that you use an attached probe at one end of the battery while pressing the other end against a designated sensor. It's not exactly difficult, but more difficult than it probably needs to be. This is more along the lines of a simplified version of a "multi-tester" that an electrician might use, except that it has only one probe, not two. Still, having a probe on an attached line is another thing that can break off or fray. I'm happy with it, but I think it could be engineered to produce the same (or equivalent) results in a more consumer-friendly way. I thought about a 3, but it does its job very well, and my quarrels are with design, so I went with a 4.

I bought this battery tester about a month ago and have used it countless times. When a toy doesn't work, I'm not sure if it is the toy or if the battery is dead. The battery tester gave me an accurate reading of how much life was left in the battery. I couldn't recommend this product more!

I'm constantly amazed at the frailness of rechargeable batteries. The manufacturers claim an almost infinite life for these expensive little pieces of "green" technology but as a newspaper photographer, I keep finding them failing at the most awkward moments. The Mini Multi-Battery Tester finds those batteries that just aren't up to the task before failing at some critical time. Huzzah for the ZTS Mini Multi-Battery Tester! - Chargers - Highly Recommended - Battery Testers - Battery'

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Dewalt Replacement Batteries - dewalt replacement batteries, rechargeable batteries

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I own/run a low voltage company in St. Louis. We pre-wire houses for phone/TV/networking, install intercoms, security, and central vacuum systems, and home theatres as well. We currently have 20+ DeWalt 18volt cordless tools and at least that many batteries. We are constantly asked by carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and competitiors how the tools hold up.

We can drill 100+ 3/4 holes on one battery every day with no problem. We can drill 10+ 2 1/4" holes with a DeWalt self feed bit on one battery. The recip saw, the circular saw, the angle grinder, and the flashlights all work flawlessly. We even have the vacuums so we can clean up after ourselves.

Now the old batteries (all black) last about 1 year for regular use. We have a few new batteries (yellow top) that are a little over a year old that show no sign of slowing down.

We have found that when it is cold they do not last as long. Also the charge needs to be in a semi warm area (not in a garage). Also, the battery needs to be drained most of the way before charging. Repeated recharging of a half dead battery dramatically reduces the life. But any battery manufacturer will tell you that. DEWALT DC9096-2 18-Volt XRP 2.4 Amp Hour NiCad Pod-Style Battery, 2 Pack

I'm hearing a lot of complaints about the batteries. Face it, the batteries are based on NiCad technology. NiCad are not known for infinite shelf-life, has a memory, and absolutely hates to be placed on a charger for extended periods of time.

Now knowing all the good and bad things about NiCads, these batteries are absolutely no different than you will find in any other system using NiCads. If you don't understand the why your batteries are dying off so quickly, it most likely can be explained by researching the things to do and not do to NiCads.

I've beat the hell out of the tools and the batteries and still manage to get an excess of 2yrs of service out of these batteries. If you open one of these up, all you find is a series of sub-C NiCad batteries in them. Count them up and just go price sub-C NiCad batteries with the same Amp-Hr rating. You will soon fine that even if you tried to replace the batteries into the existing battery case, it is still cheaper and easier to buy replacements.

Rechargable batteries of any technology do NOT have infinite life. With absolutely following standard practice care of the battery type, you can extend this life to the theoritical max. That is hard to do on the job site when you need to get the job done quick. I use the 15min. charger, which is great but at a significant cost in service life of the batteries. You are never supposed to charge the batteries while they are hot. This means if you run it down at the job site, you shouldn't be placing them into a rapid charger. You should have enough spare batteries to get you busy while letting a natural battery rotation occur that insures they are cool when you charge. Slow charging extends the life of the batteries as well by getting internal temperatures lower. You should never leave a NiCad on a charger. You should run down the NiCad battery before charging to help avoid memory.

You can mention any battery technology and there are do's and don'ts. I've had Lithium Ion batteries in a cell phone last less than 1yr.

It all depends on your battery usage habits. Once you understand what you are supposed to do to extend the batteries life, you can usually figure out pretty quickly why you are not getting the life you expected.

Good solid product. I'd buy them again without hesitation. And I have yet to see any group of cordless tool manufacture's use a standard battery interface so that you can use the same battery in different brands of cordless tools. So being locked-in to a particular cordless tool manufacturer is a given.

This is all the price you pay for being cordless. The only way around all this is to pull out the ole 50' extension cord.

IMHO

If you expect to buy these new in the package, you will be disappointed. ToolKing offers cheap prices by reselling you returned merchandise (I suspect)from their retail stores. I received my batteries used, you can tell by the brass connection points being ruffed up, and not in their original packages. One of the batteries takes forever to charge and this may be why it was returned. I also ordered a charger (not in the orig Package) where they were nice enough to place a crappy ToolKing inventory sticker over the vent holes. You know, the kind that peels off flake by flake. They dont return emails or phone calls. I was ripped off, so beware!

I wasn't going to bother to write a review for a couple of replacement power cells, until I saw some of the other opinions, here. I am very pleased with all the DeWalt equipment I use. The batteries do a fine job of powering everything except the circular saw - that one lacks guts.

I used my original power cells for a couple of years before they died of old-age and recharging. I am confident that they lasted for the number of rechargings that DeWalt promises. I followed the guidelines, and only occasionally hit the reconditioner button on the charging cycle. The people who get such short lives out of these power cells may not be bothering to use that feature of their DeWalt charger.

Yes, I am pleased with these replacements. They work well, and are the genuine DeWalt parts. Yes, I've had a really good experience with these power cells. Yes, I'd recommend them.

I have used Dewalt 18 volt tools for several years and a 24 volt saw for the last 3 years. Out of 5 18 volt batteries only one died after 2 years of use and it was used when I got it. The 24 volt saw has only one battery and it works as good as the day I bought it. These tools are used almost daily and I dont do a good job of taking care of them. - Dewalt Replacement Batteries - Rechargeable Batteries - Battery - Dewalt'

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Cordless Soldering Iron - soldering, soldering guns

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I purchased this kit online because I'd wanted a cordless soldering iron. Regular soldering irons are fine if you are always doing a lot of soldering, but I typically only do minor repairs requiring 2 or 3 joins or splices. With this unit I don't have to wait 10-15 minutes for the tip to heat up, nor do I have to get out the extension cord to do some soldering in the field.

There was an unanticipated benefit to this unit, which is using the heater tip. We've started using heat shrink tubing to cover the ends of multi-conductor cables where the outer insulating jacket has been stripped off. This gives the cables a nicely finished, professional look. Most of these cables are inside panels where 110v AC power is not readily available, so using a heat gun would require getting out the extension cord, lugging it to the panel, etc etc etc.

I've had this kit for 3 years now, and we're still finding new uses for it. I'd rate this as a highly recommended tool that belongs in every tool kit. Blazer SI-100 Excalibur Multi-Purpose Butane Torch and Hot Air Soldering Kit

I bought this for use as a high-powered small torch, but it really only functions as a soldering tool. For that function it seemed pretty powerful and easy to use, but I never actually used it for that purpose. I returned it to get a true torch.

I had difficulty getting the element hot enough to solder. Thought it was because I couldn't get enough butane in the unit due to lack of correct tip on the can of butane I bought. So I have some Blazer butane sent to the house (not inexpensive with shipping) and the unit won't pass butane now.

I love the idea of this thing, and I did get to use it a few times, but I don't believe the quality of the unit I received is good. Unfortunately I bought one for my dad as well. Hope his holds up better...

I'll find out about their customer service / warranty next week.

I use this butane torch as part of my everyday job as an aircraft mechanic. Most commonly, I use it to shrink heatshrink, as well as solder every now and then. (I tend to only use this instead of a regular soldering iron when I am in a tight or inaccessible spot).

This torch is exactly the same as the one in many other sets; they all just have different names on them and, accordingly, different pricetags. This was the cheapest one I could find, which is what drew me to it. I am not at all disappointed. I go back and forth between the hot blower tip and the soldering tip; changing between them is very simple and straightforward.

I have not used the knife or chisel tips, so I can not speak to how well they work. - Cordless Soldering Iron - Soldering Guns - Soldering - Soldering Iron'

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gift idea - gift idea, shawl wrap

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Bought this together with the purple and I was very impressed. I live outside of the US and got in delivery in just over 1 week. The quality was amazing, very soft and warm. This colour was a little darker than i expected but still goes with the tone...The purple was very rich and royal looking. I plan to purchase the other colours. Elegant Turquoise Reversible Paisley Pashmina Silk Shawl Wrap

I wasn't sure what the quality of the item would be, considering it was so inexpensive. But, the reviews were great, so I tried it. I think it is beautiful! I got the teal color, really nice. It is very long, but not as tall as I'd like it to be. It is really soft, nice quality. And it was delivered in a day and a half! So quick! All and all, I really like it!

I bought this for myself, the purple one for my mom, & few more for gifts. Now I have to order more. Not all colors are vibrant as shown in this picture but turquoise and purple & peach are the best colors.

I ordered the sage and turquoise and both were MUCH darker than the pictures. It was not what I was expecting so I was a little bummed. I was going for something brighter. The turquoise is very pretty, but I would call it more of a teal. The sage looks to me like more of an army drab/olive green. Still pretty and rich looking, again just not what I was expecting. The quality and price are great, the rich colors are a few shades darker than the pictures.

The price is perfect. It arrived quickly (I also ordered the sage). I was in love as soon as I opened it. The colors are vibrant and it is really warm. I wear one almost ever day. Mostly as a scarf, but when I'm outside it wraps around my arms/shoulders perfectly. I like the turquoise one more then the sage, but even that one is still beautiful (color in picture is off from what I actually received).

Basically. These rock. Warm. Fashionable. Great price. Guaranteed to get compliment after compliment. Oh, and I'm totally buying more. Best accessory for a woman's wardrobe.

This pashimina shawl was opened as a Christmas gift by a guest from another country. She put it on and never took it off - she loved it. The color was stunning and it is a fantastic value for the money. We'll be buying more of them in different colors. - Shawl Wrap - Gift Idea'

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Ihome Clock Radio - ihome clock radio, clock radio

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I have searched hard to find the "perfect" iPod alarm clock. For me, the iHome iP9 comes closer than anything else I found, but it does have some very annoying flaws.

In my opinion, the best features are:

* The alarm can be set to wake to a random song on an "iHome" playlist on your iPod. Only Sanyo seems to have a product with a similar feature, but I think theirs looks REALLY ugly.

* The backlight dimmer has 7 levels of brightness and can even be turned off.

* You can adjust the snooze time from 1 to 29 minutes in 1-minute increments.

* The alarm volume (for radio and iPod) gradually increases for "gentle" waking.

* The sound quality is quite good for such a small unit.

The things that annoy me about the unit are:

* The alarm set buttons are located directly behind the snooze bar, and hitting one of these buttons resets the alarm when the alarm is sounding. While the snooze bar is very big and has a bump that you can feel with your fingers, I fear that I will accidentally turn off my alarm one morning when just trying to snooze for a few more minutes.

* There is a beep when setting the alarm. While this offers audio confirmation of your alarm setting actions, it can be annoying if you are trying to set the alarm when your significant other is sleeping.

* The dial controls are cool in theory/aesthetic but are not so great in practice. It can be more time-consuming to use these to set the alarm time and other settings when compared to conventional buttons and a system where one sets the hour and minute independently. Also, the dials are mechanical (unlike an iPod) and lack an indent or other means for providing traction. So, your finger can slip, making them not so easy to turn. For this, I found a simple work-around: I stuck on each dial a small, round, self-adhesive, clear plastic bumper (something you can find in any hardware store). This makes it much easier to turn the dials, but it does not get around the fact that dials are not always the best interface.

* Personally, I find only the dimmest and off settings for the backlight to be of any use. Perhaps, the other backlight settings would be needed if the unit is placed in direct sunlight. However, I find them too bright, and it is very slightly annoying that I need to press the dimmer button to cycle through the 6 other "on" settings each time I turn the backlight off. While definitely better than some competing units whose backlight is always way too bright (e.g. the Sony ICF-CD3iP), even the dimmest setting can be rather bright in a totally dark room.

For me, the positive outweighs the negative when evaluating this unit as an iPod alarm clock. While not my primary usage (and paling in comparison to a dedicated home stereo), I found the sound on this unit to be surprisingly good when using the unit as an iPod speaker system for casual listening in a small room. iHome iP9 Speaker Dock with Clock Radio for iPod and iPhone (Black)

I had been reading about the IP99 for months but was unwilling to pay well over $120 for it. When I happened across the new IP9 for $79.99 in a local warehouse that starts with "Cost" and ends with "co", I thought I would give it a try.

The sound is slightly improved over my older IH5 and IH6 radios -- which is to say excellent for the money -- and so far I haven't heard the slightest GSM buzz. The iP9's 3D effect is richer than the Sony ICF-C1iPMK2's "Mega Xpand" feature. The overall sound of the iP9 is slightly warmer than that of the Sony but otherwise comparable. The Eq option is a big plus.

The one advantage the Sony has is that it supports an iPhone from the back via and adustable block. That somewhat negates the need for a dock insert. This is a nice convenience for people with an iPhone shell that is small enough to fit in a universal dock as you may not have to remove the shell to dock the iPhone securely. You NEED an insert on the iP9 as you would on any device with a universal dock on top and nothing substantial behind the dock. Fortunately, the iPhone insert iHome includes seems to work as well as an iPhone 3G Universal Dock Insert from Apple... and it's black! The iHome website currently states that the IP9 does not ship with an iPhone 3G insert but perhaps iHome wised-up.

The dual alarms work in a similar manner to the Sony. The 2-5-7 day setting is a plus. I have not used the snooze feature though it is supposed to be configurable. Our dogs do not allow us to snooze, in case you were wondering. At night, one big advantage for the iP9 is that the dimmer allows you to turn off the backlighting entirely. As anyone with a Sony will tell you, their dimmest setting is way too bright. The iHome's numbers are also a little larger.

I have read about some quality problems with the IP99 and am hoping that the IP9 is as solid as the IH5 and IH6 clocks I have had for a few years without any problems. The iP9 seems to be built more solidly than the Sony, particularly with respect the buttons. The dials take a little getting used to, but if you're tying to adjust the volume in a dark room they are much easier to adjust than the tiny Sony volume buttons, which have an annoyingly loud click. I also give the iP9's remote an edge because it includes a few more functions.

In summary, the iHome iP9 is a solid performer with an excellent attention to detail that puts it ahead of the Sony ICF-C1iPMK2, despite its more iPhone shell-friendly design.

First of all, THIS IS THE ONE TO BUY IF YOU HAVE AN iPHONE, because the other model just doesn't have sufficient shielding to work with the iPhone. You will have constant buzzing and interference due to the iPhone constantly polling.

Now to the review. The product comes nicely packaged and protected, and with good instructions. Set up is simple, even setting the time, which is just a selection of a time zone if needed. Mine came perfectly timed (it has a battery backup for it's internal clock) and so I just selected my time zone and I was done. Most of the setting are intuitive, except perhaps turning off the alarms if you don't want them to ring the next day... But, read the instructions (I had to finally turn to them as I couldn't work it out... and you know, turning to instructions is the last thing any man wants to do!:-)))))

In function the unit deliver acceptable sound for what is basically a clock radio. And being able to access all your favorite music on the iPod or iPhone, with a remote control no less, is great. Even the alarm works well, with a gradually increasing volume (and irritation... exactly what is required to pierce my slumbering brain...). And being able to wake to radio, MP3, or buzzer is great. The dual alarms can be set for 5 or 7 day setting, so that if you don't have to get up quite so early on the weekend, you can...

FM & AM reception are acceptable, and the tuner has pretty good lock and definition (stays on station, and doesn't pick up much "bleed through" of stations that are close to each other on the dial...). Finding a place to hang/hide the antenna cables can be challenging...

Answering the phone while in the cradle works fine, but isn't the greatest sound.

So, great sound, great time keeping, great access to favorite tunes, great that it charges the phone whilst in the cradle, and it looks good too. So why do I say "almost" does everything? Well, the one think I would change would be to fit a small light sensor, and have it maintain one illumination setting for day and one for night (illumination level of my choice of course). It does have plenty of graduations of light intensity, but it seems I am forever adjusting the illumination, from the bright setting for day, and one of the night... Setting them once as a preference and having it automatically set to that selection as needed would be wonderful...

Anyway, it's a nice solution to keeping your iPhone by the bed, and charging it without cables everywhere. And it does it all whilst looking good, and performing other tasks... Pretty good value if you ask me...

BrianB. - Clock Radio - Ipod Dock - Ihome - Ihome Clock Radio'

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Touch Screen - 2610, garmin

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We owned a Garmin Nuvi 760 for years and were very happy with the unit. Solid features and solid construction. Had no plans to upgrade till the unit was stolen from a rental car. I considered other manufacturers but kept coming back to Garmin. Reviewed their products, relative features, and written opinions, did my feature and cost comparisons and settled on the 2460LMT. Why?

1. I wanted the larger 5" screen. When you are driving your attention should be on the road. Larger features are easier to read and understand. Even the difference between a 4.3" and 5" unit is important and helps when you are driving in an unfamiliar city.

2. The voice command feature allows you to operate the unit hands free. The voice recognition performance of the unit is excellent and the menu structure is thoughtfully formulated. This is a great feature.

3. The routing/navigation feature-sets are the most current available since this is a new unit release. The auto zoom on the map is a nice addition. The lane assist feature that Garmin implemented is also very helpful when you are in heavy traffic in an unfamiliar city.

4. The construction of the unit seems solid. Having dropped my 760 onto the pavement on occassion I was very concerned with the vulnerability of the glass screens on the 3760 and 3790 units - an issue reported by some users. If you are going to own a GPS (or cell phone) you are going to drop it, so having a durable unit is important.

5. The Garmin touch screen has good sensitivity, good brightness and contrast, and limited glare (a bigger problem for capacitance type glass screens like the 3760 and 3790)

6. This unit has bluetooth for hands free calling - as did my 760. This is a nice feature that allows you to keep your hands on the wheel and attention on road - where they belong.

7. I chose the LMT variety because I travel often for work, and all over the country. The lifetime maps and traffic are a great deal compared to buying a unit and then paying for map updates and a travel subscription. Map updates do matter. If you are buying a GPS, buy one with the lifetime maps and save yourself some money.

8. My old unit had MSN direct for online traffic, weather and gas pricing and I had purchased the lifetime access. MSN Direct is ceasing operations on Jan 2012 and only two current production Garmin units have a comparable feature using a different service provider - called NuLink. If you buy the NuLink unit, after the first year you have to pay an annual subscription fee to continue your online access. I didnt want that hassle and so picked the LMT for the lifetime traffic. As noted elsewhere, this comes with pop-up adds that appear when the vehicle is stopped. These are small banner ads that appear at the top 20% or so of the screen. They are far less intrusive than I feared when I read the alarmist horror stories written in some reviews. I spent last weekend visiting/driving in Chicago and my travel was not impeeded by these adds. The traffic alerts are clearly presented and understandable - but note that they are limited to major Metro areas. So you should look at the coverage area map link from the Garmin web site to ensure your city is covered if this is important to you.

So to summarize, this is a well built and very functional unit that matched my needs and performs better than I'd hoped. Certainly 5 stars.

And my final thought. Be sure to register your GPS with your manufacturer and use the locking feature if available (e.g. Garmin-lock). This will prevent a thief from ever being able to use your unit if it is stolen. Garmin nüvi 2460LT 5-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime Traffic

I have owned many Garmin products from the old Street Pilots to this 2460LMT. I comes in a nice sturdy body and t won't fall apart if you drop it. The customizable Main Menu is great. Up to 15 icons if you wish. I put the Voice Command there as I think it is one of the greatest strengths of this unit. Only in certain circumstances do you have to type except for particular addresses.

One of the tings I really like is the lack of the word "re-calculating" if you decide to go a different route. That used to drive me nuts. Now the unit looks and quickly moves to change the route. If you dislike the route you are taking, just press the "Detour" icon and it will re-route the entire trip. However, it may take you a way, you would not want to go, just out-of-the-way roads.

Voice Command works perfectly and is very helpful very quickly.. Best feature.

I will keep this unit and highly recommend it.

I loved my old Garmin Streetpilot 2720. It is old though and I wanted to upgrade to traffic and a battery. After about 2 years, and several GPS units later, including Garmin, TomTom and Megellan brands, all the units I tried drove me crazy with all having some of the features I wanted but none having all.

The Nuvi 2460LMT has pretty much ALL the features of the old Streetpilot plus more really cool stuff, like voice activation. Now I don't even have to touch it to make it work! OK you will spend $300.00 but you will be happy I think. I spent $250 and was very disappointed with all the GPS units at that price point from 3 different manufacturers. I think the extra few bucks gives you such a big upgrade, you get so much more value at $300 than you get at $250.

Be aware, if you look online at the Garmin manual, it covers the 22xx, 23xx and 24xx series. I initially ordered the 2360LMT and was very disappointed, and returned it instantly. The features that I needed and wanted are NOT in the 22xx and 23xx series yet the manual does not tell you specifically which are in and which are not in each series. Nether does the Garmin website provide enough detail.

What I like:

Voice operation works wonderfully.

Loud clear voice, Garmin excels here.

Wonderful screen, auto zooms with speed, the faster you go the more ahead it shows.

Touch screen is excellent.

Very fast in everything it does.

Customizable main menu screen.

Advanced Avoidance feature - lets you avoid a specific road or location on a route.

Loads of useful features.

Lifetime maps and traffic.

Cons

Lots on menus that can see you searching for a feature you want to change but once you get it set up you will be ok.

Traffic is free but uses ads to pay for the service. The ads are a little bigger than I would like to have seen but are done in such a way that they are not overly intrusive. They are not there when you are moving or using the menus, and well I'm not paying for the traffic service so I'm happy!

My recommendation is this - if you're a GPS junky, sales rep, professional driver, or like to speak to your GPS, spend the extra on the 2460LMT, it's a great upgrade over the units a few bucks less.

I just ordered a second unit. My wife insisted on the upgrade after playing with my 2460LMT when we went out to dinner tonight. - 2610 - Bluetooth - Gps - Garmin'

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Smoke Alarm - brk brands, smoke

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I ordered this to replace the 9120B with battery backup and ordered in a hurry. This model is the SAME THING without the battery backup. Since I was replacing the one in the kitchen, and the only one of that floor. I just put the 9120 in one of the bedrooms and put the old 9120B downstairs (for some reason we have 5 upstairs and only 1 downstairs). It will be alright and saved me $30. It fit fine in the 9120B slot and activated my other alarms all over the house when I tested it. BRK Brands 9120 Hardwire Smoke Alarm

My house came wired with about 12 of these with the battery back-up. Since the 9 volt battery is supposed to power the entire system when electricity is lost they must be replaced fairly frequently. They test at about 8.25 volts when required to be replaced. I have purchased a couple of these non-battery units to replace the ones in the cathedral ceiling that requires a ladder to replace and will invariably start chirping at 2am on a cold winters morning. I have also replace the one in our unheated attic which suffers the same fate.

As long as I can get to the unit I'll stick with the battery back-ups but for those hard to reach places these electric models as a better choice.

These BRK smoke alarms have issued alarms twice now, which lasted several hours each and resulted in lost work time. Initially, two of these would beep every minute and nothing I tried would stop it, so I had them replaced, and then these seemed to be OK, but almost every night we would hear a 1 second alarm. Then 2 weeks later, the alarms went off steady and nothing we tried would silence or reset them. We even had the gas company come out to check the gas applicances for CO2, since 2 of the units also had the CO2 detectors built in, but everything checked out fine, so I just started unplugging the units until the alarms stopped. A few days later, the remaining 3 alarms that I still had connected started another false alarm and eventually stopped. I don't have time to put up with issues like this, and it can result in not even believing your smoke alarms, when it may be a real fire! I only purchased these because they were plug compatible with the First Alert, but I will have to rewire the plug and purchase a better quality brand.

After 10 years with another brannd, we were looking to get rid of the pesky batteries. These fit the bill, were inexpensive and easy to install. I'll take the chance that a fire will start when the power goes OUT while I'm sleeping. I'd have to get hit by lightning, or a meteorite, both unlikely but sure to wake me. 8*)

I bought one of these because it was easier than getting the landlord in to replace a defective smoke detector. It plugged directly into the old wiring, but the mounting ring was a slightly different size than the old smoke detector. Not a big deal, it still only took me five minutes to install. This communicates with the others in the house, just like the old one (i.e., when one signals smoke, they all do).

Note that this one does not have a battery, so you must have house power to it. I'm not saying that's bad or good, it just depends on what you need (in my case, I was happy to not have to worry about a battery).

Bought 4 of these to install in a clients home. Was having trouble finding 120vac alarms without battery back up. These were mounted quite high and would have been nearly impossible to change batterys twice a year. They worked great.

After reading all of the positive reviews, I bought 6 of these smoke alarms for my home. Installation was very quick and easy. My husband installed all 6 (according to the instructions) within an hour. It has been two weeks now, and EVERY DAY at random times during the day (3am, 4pm, 9am) for no reason at all, each smoke alarm BEEPS. The sound is piercing and has woken us up in the middle of the night on several occasions. We've read the instructions and even contacted the company about the erratic beeping and were told that it "may happen from time to time." Unfortunately, we threw out the boxes, so we cannot return the alarms to amazon. If anyone has sleeping children, I suggest you buy a different alarm.

This is an excellent smoke alarm if you don't want battery back up and don't want to have to replace batteries at 3 in the morning. We have a back up generator so we never needed battery back up. The alarm is easy to install and does what it is suppose to do.

Be warned. When they say no more than 12 alarms don't try to use 13, and no more than 1,000 feet of wire between the first to last. I tried to install a thirteenth alarm and they all went off. Then I tried to install one over 1,000 feet away and they went off again. The instructions were absolutely correct. When I called their customer service people they answered with a live person and he told me exactly what the instructions said, no more than 12 and under 1,000 feet or wire. I am happy with the alarms but if you need more than 12 and one or more has to be over 1,000 feet away you will need a different type of alarm.

This smoke detector was a replacement for an earlier model that we had whose emitter had decayed to levels where the detector would periodically go off. Replacing it with the newer model was not too difficult. It required my removing the old mounting ring and placing the new ring that was custom for the replacement model. This took perhaps 10 minutes at the most.

How do you rate a smoke detector that doesn't do smoke detecting? You can periodically spray some artificial smoke in its direction to see if it will go off. I suspect that perhaps only 1 household in 10,000 or more does this regularly. The bottom line is that I don't know how well it is working. It isn't going off any more because of the depleted radioactive source used to activate the alarm. I have to depend on the testing laboratories who rate these things for the pluses and minuses.

All in all, I have a new detector that seems to be working replacing the old one and an increased sense of security which may or may not be juustified. - Brk Brands - Smoke Detector - Smoke Detectors - Smoke'

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Random-orbit Sanders

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The 5yr warranty and extra sanding disk plus a case make this sander a great value. This sander runs very smooth and quiet compared to the sander being replaced. The switch is located properly varaible speed dial is smooth. Very important my hand doesn't cover the upper motor vents when operating it to prevent overheating the motor. Unfortunately some of the other sanders were designed poorly.

The dust bag connector is designed better and is more secure than other brands that vibrate loose. It's not difficult to remove either. My vacuum hose fits well on the sander too. (My vac fitting is rubber.)

I read physically compared the comfort and design of many random orbital sanders in stores. I read reviews and complaints about many sanders. Most complaints were about vibration, poor quality dust cannisters/bags.

Finally I decided to read the sanders specs, warranties, weight, amperage for effeciency, orbit size myself. I even looked at parts breakdown of each sander to avoid expensive repairs resulting from complicated designs. I read somewhere that heat eventually destroys hook & loop. Most replacement pads cost $20-$30 depending on Mfg. I will prob use PSA discs since they can be a bit cheaper and buy a favorite backup pad before sander models change. Milwaukee 6021-21 Random Orbit Palm Sander with dust collection bag

I recently purchased this sander and so far I am loving it. It has a decent amount of power and the handle has a nice feel and balance. The variable speed is great for different applications. A big plus for me is that this sander is also ready for direct hookup to a shop vac -- just twist and pull on the dust bag to remove it and plug your vac directly onto the back for a near dust-free sanding experience.

Milwaukee brand pulled me to this Orbit Palm Sander. Good brands mean good quality ... it is (5-yr warranty). Nice Case. Not heavy, but heavy enough. Very Well balanced and feels exceptionally comfortable in operation. With attached shop-vac, its clean and that's nice. Powerful motor with variable speed (use most generally at top speed) is handy. I like the soft shut-down and the long cord helps free up the operation. A quiet system for an orbit sander and minimal vibration. Does not fatigue ones hand.

I looked them all over at Home Depot and Lowes and was impressed with several and not so much with others. But in the end, good review comments, nice options, good specs, and a respectable price favored the Milwaukee. It's even better than that in operation. Recommended.

I bought this sander about 4 months ago. I am in the middle of building our dream house and since I am a woodworker I am doing the trim/finish work.

The sander has plenty of power and relatively smooth running machine but there are three issues that I have with it.

First... The sanding canister is a sewn cloth bag. It does collect a lot more dust than the other brands that either have porous canister or a filter canister (Bosch for example) but the cloth bag has a gap where it was sewed together right near the end of the canister. Rather hard to explain but this gap allows a significant amount of fine dust to spray back into the air. Now, it did connect easily to my shop vac and with that connected dust was virtually non existent.

Second.... There are two air vent holes on the left side of the machine that blow motor air out. If you are sanding a side of a cabinet for example the air blows directly in your face. Couple that with some fine dust blowing out of he canister and your eyes will hurt.

Three.. It seems that the pad on my machine takes off (spins up full speed) once it is lifted off of the material. I don't remember if it did this when it was new but I am thinking it did not. After only about 4 months of use I feel that it should not do this.

It's no surprise to anyone who has used sanders, but it is often overlooked; good sandpaper makes a huge difference. The two best sanders I have tried this year are the Bosch and this Milwaukee. I bought this one because it was on sale and the price was so attractive. Glad I did!

It works very smoothly, with little vibration. Even after marathon sanding sessions, I can still feel my fingers well enough to play some piano or guitar. The dust collection is great for a passive system; even better when attached to a shop-vac.

Tip: ANYTIME you sand painted or finished projects, use the vacuum. Finishes are full of stuff you definitely DO NOT want to breathe. The same tip applies to any project assembled with urea formaldehyde resin glues. That stuff can put you in the hospital. Formaldehyde is only safe for people who are already dead. ;-)

This sander is lightweight, starts smoothly and is easy to control. You can press a little without damaging a surface. Like all orbital sanders this one works better when you let the weight of the tool do the work. It is easy to "land" ( like an airplane ) so that you don't get divots. It is easy to to "take-off" without gouging your work-surface.

My wife appreciates how quiet it is, especially since I often work in the garage under our bedroom. The hook-&-loop sandpaper disks change quickly and easily. The bag is a trifle hard to evacuate. Here again, your shop-vac is your friend. Even when I sand outside, I still use the shop vac to remove as much dust as possible from the bag. That makes a BIG difference in dust-collection performance. That's true for any sander, but is especially so with passive collection systems.

I've only had this sander for a few months, but it shows the famous Milwaukee durability. So far, I've used it to complete nine fences, one custom cabinet, three pairs of speaker-cabs, refinished two garden benches, a pair of big game-boards and an antique piano bench. No problems so far. This machine works as advertised and is almost as smooth-quiet-fast as the Bosch for less money. I am very pleased with the performance at any price, and at the price I paid (fifty bucks), consider it a great value.'

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Mac Webcam - mac webcam, laptop

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You cannot beat it for the price. I am far from an expert of webcams, but this thing was easy to setup, the picture is pretty good once you focus it (turn the knob around the lens)... The mic seems a little weak, but I sit kinda far away and it works ok now that I raised the level on it to max. I would defiantly recommend this to anyone, especially webcam beginners. I may even purchase a couple more for my family members. Logitech Webcam C200

I helped my brother setup this camera, it was a snap.. It works great with Skype, the audio quality is excellent. The price cannot be beat.

Not sure what some others expect from a VOIP application, but this works as expected.

30 frames/sec, 640x480 - Works fine.

I bought this webcam to use with Skype to talk to my family in Australia. It does a GREAT job and is perfect for this use. The sound quality is just like talking to someone sitting beside you. The price is right and does the job. Don't expect movie quality...but for talking to people around the world it's all you need.

I just wanted a cheap webcam to connect via Skype to see my new grandson. This seemed to fit the bill. The installation went okay but the video was all distorted with vertical waves and ghosting of my image. I tried all the webcam settings in the software with no luck. I also did a software update at Logitech. No joy. Eventually I contacted Logitech help desk who guided me though some Windows video changes which cured the problem temporarily until I rebooted the PC and then the problem returned. Must be a Win XP thing.

I've had absolutely no problems with this, fits my 23" Asus monitor perfectly, integrates seamlessly with Win7. I'd just like to point out that, apparently when I chat on Skype with others, after the conversation, Skype gives them a message along the lines of: "Wasn't that high quality webcam great? Don't you wish your webcam was as good as that?" I find this hilarious :D I like my "high quality" webcam.

If you or someone is receiving this product as a gift or for general use, then this product does the trick. Easy to install, VID software is step by step to install and the quality and microphone work just fine if you are using it to chat with family. Taking a picture is good quality. If this is your first time experimenting with video conferencing then use this product first. In expensive to get and as you use it more you realize just what more in quality you want to purchase next. It is very durable and performs just great when using Skype too.

Installed on XP with SP3. Plugged it in and let it search for drivers. Found Logitech E2500 drivers and installed. Then update loaded from Logitech site. Works much better in low light than my 5 year old logitech USB web cam.

I love this webcam. For the price, you can't beat it. I bought one as a gift, then bought another one for me to use and then another one as a gift! I like using Skype for the conferencing part as the webcam software seemed to have issues. The picture quality is not superb, but I think it's good for the price.

The C200 is inexpensive and is easy to install. However, those who have experienced the higher end Logitech webcams will be disappointed with the lack of automatic focus and the resulting marginal picture. Its hard to find the sweet spot to get an image that appears to be in focus. - Laptop - Skype - Mac Webcam - Logitech Webcam'

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