Thursday, 13 October 2011
Skullcandy Headphones - ipod accessories, skullcandy
Note: These have an excellent, no-hassle warranty. Skullcandy will replace them for any reason, whenever - just go to their website, register your product, and fill out the warranty form.
Firstly, I want to mention a few important tidbits that I think you should know.
1. Pay attention to the L and R on these earbuds, which can be hard to see. Do not reverse them, as doing so can affect fit and sound quality.
2. Don't assume you know which gel size will fit you best; make sure you try on all 3 gel sizes that come with these, as using the wrong size can dramatically decrease sound quality and comfort. For myself, I automatically went with the smallest size because my ears are small, but those made the earbuds sound like cheap garbage. It wasn't until I tried the next size up did I get the full quality of sound that these are designed for. So pay attention to this, since it really matters.
3. These have a straight plug, not an L-shaped plug. So you will need to be extra careful as a straight-plug design increases the amount of pressure both on the plug, and the headphone jack of your player. This leads to frayed wires or a loosening of the headphone jack, or both, which ultimately lead to the classic problem of only one side having sound.
4. The cord is long - measures approximately 4 feet, 5 inches.
5. Burn-in works with these. Slightly.
Now, as for the build quality - I'm impressed. They are not cheaply made ear-buds, despite their low price. The wires are nice and solid, and feel very well made - not flimsy or plastic-y. The silicone gels (tips that go in your ear) are very soft and pliable, and even have the Skullcandy logo engraved on them. Nice touch.
They feel good, too. Really good. Both the material, and the way they fit my annoyingly small ears. And they don't fall out constantly, although I do sometimes get the sensation that it's getting sucked into my left ear.
And yes, these come with 3 different size gels.
Sound is great. These handle bass extremely well for mid-tier earbuds, and highs aren't so shrill and piercing as with other comparable brands. Some of this really depends on your player, too. Even between iPods, sound quality does differ.
As far as functionality goes, I find I am able to run with these with no problem. The wires do not get tangled, and you can easily adjust the split in them with an attached slider (that has 'Skullcandy' written on it in the corresponding colour), which I find very convenient. I do not hear this thumping sound that others claim to hear from wire-movement, so I can't confirm that.
The only things I dislike are the straight plug, and the lack of a case. Otherwise, I am thoroughly impressed with Skullcandy. The craftsmanship, the quality of sound, and all the little extras that Skullcandy does that really lets you know that they are paying attention, and that they care about their products and end-users.
Worth every penny. Skullcandy INK'd Earbuds S2INCZ-058 (Rasta)
Purchased the headphones about a week ago and I'm very pleased. I previously had the JVC Marshmallows and loved those headphones, but one of the earbud sleeves came off and the new JVC's are designed differently so I decided to give these a try. They produce very clear sound with solid bass. I was also surprised by the fit on the silicon caps that come with these. I have a difficult time finding silicon caps that will stay in my ear so I usually stick to foam, but these headphones came with three different sizes of caps and the smallest size fits and stays in without a problem. I will also say that I bought the Comply Foam Tips recently and am currently using those on these headphones (since I already had them) but once these wear out then I will stick with the silicon tips that came with these headphones because they will probably last longer. All in all, great purchase!
I purchased my Skullcandy Ink'd ear buds almost two years ago, and now that I need to lay them to rest I thought I would write a review on them.
First off, don't think that they are cheaply made because mine broke. From what I have been reading, two years is a good deal of time to have working headphones, especially at the low price of under 20 bucks! If I have to say, I provably contributed to the heavy wear of the jack that plugs into my computer (it is in the front of my laptop, so when the computer slides close to my lap the jack gets pinched).
Construction:
--
Being my first pair of non-stock earphones, I don't really have much to say in terms of construction, but as previously mentioned they lasted a helluva long time, so that should carry some weight. Speaking of weight, these buds feel light, but not so much that they feel cheap. Even after a couple of years the wires are intact, and I have had no problems with them up until a couple days ago (one ear bud stopped working, probably due to abuse). The only problem I would say has carried any weight in this department has to be the the fact that the rubber coated wires make a noticable sound through the buds when tapped or rustled (almost sounds like a heartbeat). This could probably be fixed with some comply foam tips instead of the stock silicone ones.
Sound Quality:
--
I listen to a variety of music genres through these things, and I can safely say that the sound quality is great across the spectrum. Anything from the highs and mids from classical to the deep undulating bass from dub-step can be heard clearly. They might not hold in a battle against some $100+ buds, but for this price they are awesome.
All in all, I am rating the Ink'd buds a 4/5, only because of the sound producing wires (see 'Construction'). If I could give it a 4.5 I would. - Headphones - Ipod Accessories - Earbuds - Skullcandy'
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Camera Mount - camera accessories, compact
This mini tripod is very sturdy and has any feature that you might reasonably require. I can see no reason at all to pay the extra money to buy either of the two higher-priced versions of this tripod unless you really need a pan handle or a ball head. Sunpak MINI-PLUS Mini Tripod with 3-Way Panhead
These things are Great! The head isn't the best, but look at the price and, besides, you can mount your own ballhead. Small enough to fit in your camera bag, set it down on a table or a rock, or use it as a chest pod. Don't go anywhere without one.
I purchased this for my daughter and she loves it! She has a 35 mm sized camera and we were concerned that it would be able to hold the weight. From what she has communicated, it hasn't been a problem at all. I would recommend this to anyone.
Besides doing outdoor photography, I also take close up pictures of jewelery which my wife and I sell on the internet. This is exactly what we needed for such work. Its sturdy, and will hold my Cannon XSi Rebel with its large lens. Well worth its price.
Great quality! Can't ask for much more considering the price. Better to throw this in the camera-bag and have it at all times than do without a tripod at all.
Holds my Canon T1i with a Canon 55-250 mm Lens w/o a problem.
Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD (Body Only)
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
This is a great addition for my camera. This sturdy and versatile tripod is a quality made piece. Very portable and can adapt to about any angle easily. Very glad to have it, received it very quickly too.
Sunpak MINI-PLUS Mini Tripod with 3-Way Panhead
This little guy is perfect for back pack,fanny bag,or larger purse.It's 3-way adjustable head has a spirit level to keep cameras on focus.It extends(with legs,centre post extended)to about 24 inches.It fits nicely in a fifth size Crown Royal bag.
I use it when I'm hiking or at the creek for both video and still cameras,and my Sharper Image 10x25 camera binoculars.
It is a very good buy at the price,and will give excellant performance.It will allow up/down,tilt,and swivel positioning of camera.The adjustment screws are well built and easy to use.
The legs are solidly built of aluminum,as is the centre post.In the field,it can be adapted to uneven surfaces by adjusting the leg length.It is quite stable with the centre post at any height.It has a screw mount for camera/binocular use,and a spring loaded pin for video cameras.
For the money,it is a bargan,if one doesn't require pan arm.Equal to much costlier mini tripods.
For the price, this little tripod is excellent. It's sturdy and well made, I didn't expect this quality for that little money. I think it will last a few years even with the camping and hiking wear and tear. - Camera Accessories - Photography - Travel Tripod - Compact'
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Mittens
I adore them! They look so gorgeous. I've wanted a pair since freshman year, but I just never bought them. Now I did and ahh, they are amazing! The only drawback is the hair falls off a lot and it slips down my legs unless I bring it above my knee a bit and fold it over. However, they're made the cover boots, so maybe that's why they kept slipping down (I was only wearing creepers, which are just normal ankle-length shoes, if you don't know). But still, very nice! Faux Fur Boot Sleeves (Black/Fur;One Size)
My aunt got these for me as a Christmas gift. :) They're just as good as the designer boot covers They aren't really soft,wish they were. They get real dirty if you walk outside, so they need to be well-kept and brushed a little so they don't get ratty.
These shoe covers lasted me a long time! Though the fur gets a little gross, brushing them can prevent this if you take care of them. The fur isn't super soft, but it gets the job done! Buy these if you want boot covers that are durable and at a decent price!'
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Indoor Tv Antenna - hd antenna, antenna
First, I live in a suburban community approximately 14 miles SW of most of the TV transmitters in my region (according to [...]). So my review is probably best applicable to anyone who lives in a suburb outside a major city. If you don't fit this category, then please take my review with a huge grain of salt.
(actually, everyone should take EVERY review of these TV antennas with a grain of salt)
So after the official switch to DTV, we continued to use an amplified rabbit ears with loop antenna...with horrible results. We would have to continually turn and extend/retract and kick and scream at the antenna just to try to get a decent picture from one channel. And when we wanted to change channels, the same chaos would ensue again. Finally, fed up with the loop antenna's performance (and more importantly, someone broke one of the ears while adjusting!) I went to the local big box store. There were many non-amplified models available, but I felt that an amplified antenna was necessary for my home and chose this model simply as it was the cheapest amplified antenna available.
Set up is as easy as it gets. The cable to your TV/converter box is already attached at one end to the antenna, so you just plug in the other end to the amplifier, which in turn is plugged into the tv/converter box. If you want to attach the stand to make the antenna stand upright, then make sure to feed the cable first through the stand before attaching. The amplifier is powered by a small AC adapter, so you'll need to plug that in too. There is no on/off switch or power adjuster for the amplification.
After the hookups, you'll probably have to play around with the antenna to find just the right right spot and angle. Let me repeat that: the right spot AND angle. This was quite an event for me. It took me a good hour to find the perfect spot and angle to achieve close to perfect results. And I say close to perfect because with the final optimal placement, I can pull in all my local channels cleanly with the exception of one. My placement is a bit funky, I had to place it a little distance away from the tv next to the window. Also, I had to make sure the antenna cable sits on top of the antenna, sort of like a teeter-totter, in order to get the optimal results. Other than that one channel not coming in, I no longer have to fidget with the antenna anymore!
As for the amplification, in my case it made a huge difference! Without the amplifier plugged in, I probably picked up about 20% of the channels available..all with poor signals. The amplifier does help the antenna pick up most of the remaining channels while also enhancing the signals of the original channels.
Granted, I still cannot achieve 100% tv perfection that a monthly subscription to cable/satellite would give me, but investing a month's worth of cable for ALMOST 100% perfection is worth it. Terk FDTV2A Omni-Directional Amplified Flat Digital HDTV Antenna (Black)
Reviewing an antenna is difficult. I could tell you about which channels I get easily with the Terk FDTV2A (ABC, FOX, MyTV, CW, PBS) and which channels I really don't (CBS, NBC), but you don't live in my apartment, so that doesn't do you any good. What I can tell, you, however, is that this antenna doesn't seem to pick up any more channels than the other antennas I've tried, the RCA ANT1500 (returned to retail store) or Amplified Monoprice Antenna (currently in guest room).
None of this is to say that the Terk FDTV2A is bad antenna, because it's not, but it's certainly no better than other things out there on the market. The Terk is definitely the best looking of the bunch, and I really like the included stand, which gives you more flexibility in setting it up. The antenna feels well-made and solid, the cables appear to be of a good quality. I'm reasonably happy with my purchase, even though it was more expensive than others, but I'm not blown away.
The one thing I really don't like about the Terk FDTV2A is that none of the cables and cords can be easily replaced. The coaxial cables are integrated directly into the both the antenna and amplifier; you can't just unscrew the cable from either and replace it with something else. The power cable (AC adapter) is similarly integrated into the amplifier. If you wanted to use a custom length of coaxial cable (in my case, I would have like to use shorter cables), or damaged the AC adapter and needed to replace it, you're pretty much out of luck, save for taking the unit apart and rewiring it. If you needed to lengthen the coaxial cable, you could use a female-to-female barrel connector, but I assume you would start degrading your signal at some point. This whole design seems to create an unnecessary rat's nest of wires behind my television.
I also looked at the Terk FDTV1A, which seemed to be the same antenna, but slightly larger. I don't know if a larger antenna would pull in more channels or not, so I went with the smaller FDTV2A given my limited space. I'm sticking with what I have... something different might yield better results, but at this point, I'm tiring of trying out antennas and just want to park myself on the couch and enjoy some television! - Indoor Tv Antenna - Indoor Antenna - Antenna - Hd Antenna'
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Indoor Tv Antenna - hd antenna, antenna hd antenna Indoor Tv Antenna - hd antenna, antenna
Laptop Holder - laptop accessories, laptop cooling pad
This is one of the few laptop coolers where the fan blows air directly on the computer instead of trying to suck the hot air away from the computer bottom, and it is highly effective! I have tried the Antec, Targus CoolPad (original model), and a couple of others, all of which suck the hot air instead of blowing directly on the computer bottom. Targus recently came out with a newer two-fan, non-suck (ie. direct blow) 4-port USB cooler which also cools great (bought that one too), BUT it sounds like a jet plane taking off. The noise is absolutely intolerable. I exchanged it for another, but the noise was the same. The Belkin F5L001 has one VERY quiet fan blowing directly onto the computer bottom, and does a great job. I have no complaint with the build quality, and the tilt door seems to work fine. One thing that MUST be noted (as a caution) is that if you do not use the built-in tilt stand (a little door that folds down from the cooler body), then the fan air intake will be blocked, thus possibly damaging the fan and/or preventing airflow for cooling. If you use the cooler on a flat surface, you MUST use the tilt stand. If you use it on your lap, use the tilt stand also, or position your legs/clothing in a way to allow good airflow to the fan intake. I was surprised this was not a caution item in the instructions, and I think failure to abide by this caution is probably the reason for some of the failures/complaints in the reviews on this product. I can't comment on the longevity of the cooler, but so far it seems to run in a relaxed fashion, IF you keep the fan intake clear. In summary, I have about $150 worth of various coolers, and the Belkin is the best by far. Whatever you do purchase, make sure it is a blow-cooler (blows air onto the bottom of the PC, rather than a suck type. After all, how do you cool a hot piece of food on your fork, or a hot liquid etc.? I dpn't suck the heat away, I blow it away. Thermal dynamics seems to confirm blowing is the most efficient, and I don't understand how the engineers decided on the suck type. The Belkin is Excellent! Good luck. Belkin F5L001-BLK Laptop Cooling Pad (Black)
I've had this Belkin laptop cooler exactly 3 1/2 months. And from day one until yesterday , it did a reasonable, although not perfect, job of keeping my laptop cooler.
However -
This is a noisy cooler, and, from time to time, the fan has stopped dead. But the real problem came when the port for the connector popped out. It is nowhere to be found, so this cooler must go back to Belkin. Meanwhile, I'm suffering a very hot laptop.
Now I realize that a $30 cooler is not the high-tech equipment that you expect to deliver outstanding performance.
But, really -- 3 1/2 months of use, and then Splat? Even from the least expensive peripheral, I would expect better performance.
On the positive side, the design allows for air circulation by lifting the laptop away from whatever surface you're using. And, when working, it does reduce the heat my laptops produce. So it's not entirely useless.
Two stars!
Update: January 18, 2007
Belkin's replacement cooler arrived today. While I was out the cost of shipping, the replacement itself was provided quickly and at no charge. So far, it is working well. We'll see how long this replacement lasts.
UPDATE: February 3, 2008
The fan on the new cooler has stopped --- dead. So, I've gotten approximately three weeks service from this new one.
Not a good omen.
I will return this one for a new one, but the shipping on these coolers is adding up to more than the actual cost of the product, so this will be my last try. If the third cooler fails, I will ask for a refund.
I really like the design of this cooler, so I am very disappointed that the quality is so poor. Amazon will not allow me to change the stars, but if I could I'd change my rating to one star!
I've had the Belkin laptop stand for about two weeks now, and I've been pleasantly surprised at how effective it has been at channeling the heat away from my laptop. When I opened the box and examined the stand, I thought it looked too flimsy to do any good. Now, I find that I use it all the time. True, the flip-out part does little good and I don't use that, but even when I forget to plug in the fan, this stand still keeps my laptop cooler than before.
My laptop's temperature sensor also tells me that the stand is effective. Prior to getting the stand, the sensor ranged from 44 to 51 degrees (Celsius), depending on what I was doing. With the stand, and with the fan running, the temperature usually stays in the high 30s.
I wish Belkin had recessed the plug and provided a channel for the wire, because I occasionally get it tangled with the laptop power cord. But for the price, it's a good investment. - Laptop Accessories - Laptop Cooling Pad - Notebook Cooler - Laptop Fan'
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Ear Phone Extension Cable - adapter, headphones
I own a pair of Sennheiser HD-555 headphones. What I didn't realize when I initially bought them was that the HD-555 terminates to a large 1/4 inch plug. It came with the standard straight adaptor to a 1/8 inch plug, but I was concerned about putting stress on the headphone connectors on my devices. The Grado Prestige Mini Adaptor Cable alleviated my concerns wholeheartedly.
The Grado adaptor cable is surprisingly long and built like a tank. I measured it at 10 inches long! It's nearly an extension cable! But seriously, both ends are sufficiently strengthened and the cable is high quality. They even include a fairly large vinyl pouch to store the adaptor.
Why do you need the Grado vs. el cheapo from say, Radio Shack? You probably don't. I'm of the mindset that nearly all cables perform about the same and that most people cannot tell the difference. But if you own good quality headphones, do you really want to chance the adaptor degrading the sonic quality? Grado guarantees no degradation while using their adaptor.
If you own nice headphones and need an adaptor, consider the Grado's. If you are using a straight adaptor, you may be adding stress to your audio source board, which may damage it over time. You can get less expensive adaptors (Hosa) or more expensive ones (Cardas), but I think the Grado's are just right. Also, this baby is Made in The USA. Grado Mini Adaptor Cable - 1/4 Inch to 1/8 Inch Plug
More expensive than I would have liked to have paid, this adapter is extremely high quality and saves my much more expensive headphones from stress on the plug. I'm glad I bit the bullet and bought it as this relatively minor cost is far less than replacing my headphones.
As always with Grado products, the quality is awesome.
I, like many of the reviewers, own a Sennheiser headphone. The reason we had to buy an another adapter was because the one that comes with the headphone is not a cable, but a regular plug-in like the 1/8 to 1/4 adapter which puts too much weight on a headphone output. Later I realized Sennheiser were selling adapters like this Grado one with a SEPARATE purchase. Ayo forreal? Why couldn't they just include THOSE adapters on HD555 and HD595 headphones? Frustrated by their decision I decided to buy Grado's adapter instead of Sennheiser's, and so far with 6 months of use I have no complaints. Very sturdy and works perfectly.
I got this to replace the adaptor that was included with my Sennheiser HD-555. The extra length of cable gives nice flexibility, so unlike the adaptor included with Sennheisers, you don't have to worry so much about the plug snapping off.
There isn't really much to say on this - it's pretty simple. It's sturdier than most. Gold plated to prevent corrosion... The fact that it has a short cable between the 1/8 inch plug and the 1/4 inch plug means that you aren't putting undo strain on your headphone jack.
Flexibility allows better, longer lasting connections. Hold it and you can feel the quality. Not a cheap mass produced Radio S---k or WalM--t knockoff. If this what you need then this is the one to get.
This is a simple product. What makes a simple product a good or a bad version? Build quality! This was not designed to save the manufacturer money while producing the product. This adapter cable was designed to be sturdy and functional. The materials used are top notch. I am delighted to have purchased a product that was designed to last.
I was surprised by the build quality of this adapter. So glad I didn't order the one from Monster. Have this hooked up to Sennheiser HD555 cans and iPhone4. This adapter fits my iPhone4 with installed tpu case. - Adaptor - Ipod - Adapter - Headphones'
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Printer Paper
This paper is very thin and low quality, which surprised me based on what they are charging for it. This is the kind of paper that will jam in your printer and/or start pulling 5-6 pages at a time if your printer is even slightly warn. I work in IT and we would occasionally run into this cheap type of paper when someone doing the supply ordering was trying to save a buck. Paper this thin causes constant problems in printers, especially ones that get used a lot. I have a laser printer, and I can't even imagine trying to use this stuff in and inkjet.
The generic printer paper I get from my local computer store is better quality, for only $2.99. The $5.99 version is much better than this stuff. For $6.99 I really expected better quality paper. I cannot believe how thin and flimsy this paper is. It's almost as thin as lens cleaning paper. I only recommend it as a last resort. HP Multipurpose Copy/Laser/Inkjet Paper, 96 Brightness, 20 lb, Letter Size (8.5 x 11), 500 Sheets (11200-0)
It's hard to find a lot to say about paper. But as paper goes, this is good stuff. Clean, crisp and bright, just the right thickness. Perfect for all your printing and copying needs. Oh, and nicer-looking than the paper you steal from work. heh
I recently bought a new printer and I got a ream of this paper as a promotional item at the time I bought my printer. I am very impressed. In fact, this multipurpose 92 brightness paper by Hewlett Packard gives you something to sing about! I use this paper with my inkjet printers; and I can use it to make signs to tape to my front door indicating to delivery people which doorbell to ring!
The paper is not expensive for all that you get; and it almost never jams in my printer at home. Nevertheless, I always fan the paper to make sure that it doesn't jam. After I fan the paper to make sure two pieces of paper aren't stuck to each other, then I place it in my inkjet printer.
In addition, this paper can also be used in laser printers, copiers and plain paper fax machine. Each page is a clean cut 8 ½ inches by 11 inches. Great!
This paper never "goes stale," so stock up on it if you can catch a sale on it. Moreover, this is excellent paper that avoids ink from smearing as it is printed on the page. Great!
I feel terrible that some people have not had a good experience buying this paper on the Internet. I would recommend that you shop for this carefully.
Use it in good health!
There is absolutely nothing wrong with this paper,if you are just into basic printing and photo copying documents for record keeping etc., then this is a perfectly economical way to do so. I have two printers, one is an epson cx9400fax, the other a lexmark z2420 compact portable and this paper works just fine in both. Here are a few tips to remember in order to get the best from your printer, 1. locate your printer in an area away from excess moisture and dust 2. store your paper in a cool dry place. 3. fan the paper before loading. 4. always load less paper than the recommended number of sheets (it's less pressure on the mechanism ) 5. load paper correctly into the printer, don't just jam or throw them in and last but not least, clean your printer periodicly, if you follow these basic steps you'll find that your printer will last longer than you expect, even if it's a cheap one ! Good luck y'all!'
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Cast Iron - cast iron, grill pan
The day I got it from Sur La Table I went and bought two New York Strips to break it in. They were text-book picture perfect with an external sear with blood red rare interiors. Incredible for seared steaks or burgers. Preheat on high heat for at least five minutes before cooking. Get it smoking hot before you put the meat on the grill. Juices from deglazing or rendered fat can easily be poured off with the two pour spouts to make sauces or reductions. And it is oven and broiler safe. You will not be sorry!
This pan is da shazzizo. Really.
HEAVY cast iron, with a glossy enamel exterior and a rough black enamel interior. It really doesn't need seasoning, as the enamel doesn't rust or stick. Preheat it until smoking hot, add a seasoned steak, leave on for a minute or two, rotate 90 degrees to get those great crosshatched grill marks, flip and repeat, then put into a preheated 450 oven for 4+ minutes, depending on how thick the steak is and how rare you want it.
Seriously foolproof steakhouse good steak, every time, as long as you don't over cook.
The same technique works really well for fish as well. Whatever you cook the sear and blast method works great, and it's easy to make pan sauce.
Although I give this five stars, be warned that it's not easy to clean. Forget trying to get it back to factory condition, ain't gonna happen. However, because the cast iron isn't exposed, but instead your dealing with black matte enamel, you can use dish soap and a scrubbie to get the worst, then leave it on medium heat to dry.
I use this pan constantly, particularly in the winter when it's not so much fun to grill, I'm giving my Alaskan brother one for his birthday. However, even in the summer months it still sees a lot of use.
This and my 9 qt. dutch oven get the heaviest use, and the biggest bang for my cookware buck.
Heavy is the word for sure but good quality cast iron usually is heavy to allow the cook to use the amount of heat needed to sear steaks, etc. The person who said you need a good hood vent is right on because I have to put a towel over my smoke alarm or it will be going off without doubt. I always have to open the back door to let the smoke out but it's still necessary to use the towel over the alarm. As for cleaning after a few time of soaking then using a scraping pad I realized that I could use my bamboo wooden spoon's edge to knock off the residue. It is amazing how well the wooden utensil scrapes off every bit of the residue and doesn't scratch up the surface. I would buy this pan again if I needed a grill pan, it definitely is better than the stainless steel Viking grill pan I purchased. I have an induction stove so I have to use either stainless steel or cast iron.
Smoke concentrates in the grooves between the ridges, which enhances the taste of seared steaks. You can make the grill marks as light-brown or black as you want. This sure beats trying to grill outdoors in the middle of winter, and the results are delish.
If you don't have a strong hood fan, you may have to open some windows and close bedroom doors, this thing can get generate as much smoke as grilling on the barbie.
For water-softening of burnt residue, pouring water into a searing hot enameled pan might crack the enamel due to differential contractions of rapidly cooled enamel and iron. A safer technique is to let the pan cool for a good 20 minutes, then pour in water and reheat the stove, letting the water low-boil for awhile, e.g. 30 minutes. You can use dishsoap or not. I just pour the soapless water out and wipe with a some paper towels. I don't worry about getting it spic and span, a little gray-browning of the last towel is okay with me, I treat this like my seasoned cast iron skillets and woks.
I have tried all types of meat on it and the pan worked wonderfully. But, as soon as any marinades are added or anything with sugar, the high heat burns a layer on the pan. It takes A LONG time to clean and scrap. Oddly enough, it cleans better dry than soapy. I have found that if I use a set of disposable wooden chopsticks (not separated), I can scrap off the burnt residue without worrying about scratching the pan. I have to add that my husband really likes the meat that I cook on this pan. I bought it because he only liked to cook meat on the grill. I thought it would be healthier with this pan. It is. I love it.
My wife and I recently moved into a new building that doesn't allow us to have a normal grill on our balcony. We were forced into cooking our chicken breasts in a frying pan or baking them in the oven. Neither option was satisfactory since they generally product rubbery, flavorless chicken.
After a suggestion from a friend I took a chance and bought the Staub cast iron grill pan and I love it. It is extremely easy to get juicy chicken that is well browned without drying out the skin. All it takes is a little seasoning and a light brush of olive oil and you're good to go. If you want to get fancy, you can hammer out the breasts a little in order to make them a more uniform thickness.
One of the great things about cast iron is how well it holds and transfers heat. This pan doesn't require you to use a high temperature, medium to medium-low works fine as long as you give it about five minutes to pre-heat.
The two complaints I've heard the most about this pan are cleaning and the weight. So the pan is definitely heavy, but since I don't move it around too much that really doesn't bother me. As for cleaning, I haven't found it to be that bad. I've found that the trick is to clean it when it is still warm. One thing I've had success with is pouring scalding hot water into the pan directly after turning off the heat. This deglazes the little bits that might have otherwise stuck to the pan, so clean-up becomes a two-three minute job. - Grill Pans - Cast Iron - Grill Pan'
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2 Way Radios - adventure, motorola
These 2 way radios work great over a 1/2 mile radius (our most commonly used range). Apart from the initial 16 hour charge, they work right out of the box (actually one of those pesky clamshells you have to cut open) without having to read the instructions. Each unit comes with a rechargeable battery pack and a removable plastic belt clip, and share a charging base station with 2 slots. If the battery goes flat, you can use 3 regular AA's instead. There's a button to ring your team before talking, and if you don't like the sound, there are 2 more options to choose from. There is also a socket to plug in an optional headset.
Motorola is honest enough to prominently display on the package that in urban areas, the 16 mile rating translates into a 1 mile working range. However at this distance, with many buildings only 2 storeys high, and on a channel that transmits full power, I can hear the other set transmit but not well enough to understand what is being said.
I actually bought them for my son. My experience with kid versions of electronics is that they cost almost as much, are not as well made, and end up in the land fill very shortly after. However, the electro magnetic radiation warning in the instructions did give me pause. We've ended up using them on channels that work at half power. My kid loves using them. The only down side is that his fingers get tired pressing the 'Push To Talk' button after a while.
i'm pleasantly surprised that this entry level offering is not a stripped down product. I've dropped one radio on a wooden floor already, and it survived without a scratch. The battery cover didn't even come off. I highly recommend them to any casual user. Motorola Talkabout MC220R 16-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair)
Exactly what I wanted... I only use these on occasion for car drives where I need to keep a bunch of people gathered and organized en route to another place or just for a drive. The range on these is awesome and the whole time I had to communicate with the other walkie talkie from this set I could hear him perfectly. Other two-ways were on our channel in the group with varying ranges, and my set was by far the best.. For the price you can't beat it.
These are exactly what i wanted, the have an awsome range, and i can here everyones voice very clearly! I mainly use these for camping, but they are also good for my sons airsoft wars! I think that it is well wot=rth the $33.00! GET TWO!!! It comes with a rechargable battary, and a stand to plug them into to charge! they have 23 channels, and you can scant to see if anyone ealse is on one of those 23 channels, as long as someone is talking.
Great, I strongly recccomend these for communication over ares between 5 ft, and 16 miles!!!! Though like all walkie talkies if they are too close together they make a high pitches buzzing sound(0-4ft)
As another reviewer already pointed out channels 1-7 and 15-22 on this radio are GMRS ("General Mobile Radio Service") frequencies, and require an FCC license. Channels 8-14 are FRS ("Family Radio Service") frequencies, and can be used legally without a license, but are lower power and shorter range. The GMRS license is expensive ($75, i.e. more than twice the cost of the radios).
Not only are you required to have a license, but you must ID legally on the air by transmitting your callsign (issued with the license) every 15 minutes during a long transmission and at the end of all transmissions (FCC rules part 95.119).
I doubt more than 5% of the people who own and use these radios have a license, and I've never heard one ID on the air (for the record, I do have a license, callsign WQIH229).
Got these for a trip in which my wife and I would be traveling in separate cars. While we do both have cell phones, the instant nature of the walkie talkies is a much wanted benefit. Overall, I'd say they performed admirably. The only instance where we lost communication was when my wife's mother inadvertently turned the volume down on their radio. I'd estimate that at times we were 4 to 5 miles apart, and on an open interstate the reception never faltered. There was some static at longer distances, but we could still hear each other. We've tried them in the neighborhood, and with her in our hi rise building, and me 3 blocks away inside a drugstore, we were still able to communicate.
An added "bonus" in the screwed up world in which we live, is that if there is some sort of man made or natural disaster, these will offer an added method of communication. Hate to think about that, but it's true.
Pros:
Ease of use
Decent range
Good, loud, clear speaker
Good battery life
Peace of mind
Nice feature set.
Cons:
Transmit button is awkward to use
Belt clip is weak plastic
Advertised range is unrealistic, though they do note that it will be about a mile in an urban area.
Takes a long time to charge.
No included wrist strap, though I think there is a place for one.
Volume button is too easy to move accidentally. Detents would make it much more functional.
Overall, for $40, I'd say these were a pretty good purchase. Will try them again on an upcoming camping trip at the beach and see how far apart we can get straight down the beach. - 2 Way Radios - Walkie Talkie - Motorola - Adventure'
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4 Port - hdmi switch, hdmi
I was in the market for a 1x4 splitter for a 108i source to a Sony LCD, Onkyo SR-607--> Samsung DLP/Optoma HD20 and to an Integra DHC 9.9--> Samsung UNB7000/Sim2 D60. I started with a Monoprice's best 1.3b ATC 1x4 splitter and had compatibility issues with the Integra-->Samsung/ Sim2 setup. Then I tried the HD Trinity splitter from CECmpass which worked intermittently and most of the time required the Onkyo->Samsung DLP to be turned on at the same time for it to lock/sync the signal. Finally, I tried this splitter and it works like a charm with my pickiest Integra DHC 9.9 setup right out of the box. I have been experimenting with HDMI setups for over a year now and I have paid heftily(over $200/-) for 1x2 splitters last year. 2009 is the year to take the leap to HDMI splitters as the price is right and I cannot recommend this splitter enough to everybody out there. This is the splitter to get for the best compatibilty with the pickiest of recievers or TVs. After a month of frustrations with various incompatibilities, I have finally found my holy grail of HDMI splitters. Hope my experience helps others who have similar setups as mine. ViewHD 4 Port HDMI 1x4 3D Powered Splitter Ver 1.3 Certified for Full HD 1080P (One Input to Four Outputs)
This product is excellent. It is incredibly simple to use and works perfectly. I connected a second HD TV in my game room with a 50ft HDMI cable, also bought through Amazon at a price 75% less than at Best Buy. Amazingly, there is no drop off in picture quality. I would highly recommend this product.
Driving three TVs with cables of 6', 50' and 65' works perfectly.
I've paid $[...] for two way splitters that couldn't drive 50'.
The "instruction manual" is a joke.
Each language gets two 3" x 3" paragraphs of text.
Shouldn't need it though. There is nothing to set.
Keep in mind this uses a "Wall wart" power supply.
They never show these in the pictures.
It's a small "wart" as they go.
When plugged in, it extends off to the right or left.
Prongs aren't polarized, so right or left is always possible.
This arrangement means it won't block the outlet above or below. A+
========================================
Question
When driving two TVs, one of the blue active output
indicator LEDs flashes and one does not.
Does anyone know why ?
Doesn't have a problem, just curious.
This splitter works great. It shipped quickly and the price was right. I'm using it on the output from my Dish Network 722 receiver, with a 3 ft cable connecting to the nearby living room TV and a 50 ft Insten Super High Res. Gold HDMI cable to a nearby bedroom TV. The picture and sound over the 50 ft cable are indistinguishable from the living room TV. I was unsure whether to try the 50 ft run but the price of both this splitter and the cable (from Amazon) were great and Amazon's return policy is great so I went for and am not disappointed. The only down side is that output 1 of the splitter can only feed a stereo audio signal to the A/V receiver on my main surround system in the living room, and I cannot get Dolby Digital as before. This is not the splitter's fault but just the way HDMI works. Since splitter output 2 is connected directly to TV 2 and can only take a stereo signal, then all splitter outputs will provide only the stereo audio. I may fix this later, either by adding an HDMI-compatible A/V receiver (and speakers) to TV 2 or by moving the splitter to the output of my main A/V receiver.
I used this to run 3 Samsung 1080p sets from a single HD Digital Cable box. The length of run to the 1st set was 50ft; the 2nd was 25ft; and the 3rd was 15ft. Everything looked perfect on all TVs at the maximum resolution of 1080i/720p. It has a LED's to indicate it has power and connectivity if you need to troubleshoot. You can't hook it up incorrectly since the input is on the end and the outputs are all grouped together on the back. It is a little awkward to situate because of this but I had it hidden in a cabinet so it didn't matter. It is heavy and feels sturdy although it comes in a super generic box with hardly any documentation. Power supply is common - if it blows out, a replacement should be easily found locally.
Overall, it provides a solution and does exactly what you think it will.
I purchased this "used" from "J & R Galaxies". It was advertised as "used and tested and repackaged" and for that came with a price reduction. When I obtained this splitter, it appeared to be new. It was perfectly packaged and worked perfectly. I am using this as an HDMI splitter for my home. I have a "Time Warner" cable box with only one HDMI output. I wanted to send that HDMI signal to another TV in my home. I used this powered splitter with a "Media Bridge", 3' cable from the cable box to the splitter and then a PTC, 100', amplified cable run to another TV. This splitter is advertised as "powered" and did indeed come wtih a 5 volt power supply which I of course used. The 100' cable has an amplifier in it as well. This "View HD" splitter has been working perfectly for about a month now. It transmits BOTH video and audio (as HDMI should) perfectly. The 100' cable run is through my basement ceiling and runs the length of my house. There is about a 3 to 4 second delay between channel changes with this powered splitter AND the 100', amplified cable run. I suspect that is because the HDMI signal must need to be synchronized if going through amps. I tried this without the 100' cable using another 3' cable from the splitter to a TV and that dropped the delay in channel changing to about 1 or 2 seconds. That does not bother me but if you are a "channel surfer" and expect to rapidly "click" through channels, this might be a problem for you. I suspect this would be a characteristic of any amplifed splitter/switch or cable. After shopping for a 4 port splitter, I found this to be an excellent value and it works perfectly for me. I have not tried this with a full 1080p, HDMI signal, only with by cable box output but so far, it works perfectly for me. - Hdmi Cable Splitter - Hdmi Switch - Hdmi - 4 Port'
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Photography Equipment - digital slr, battery
Excelent Battery! I recommend it for all Olympus SLR Digital Cameras. I am using it on my E300 and you can take a lot of pictures in one day. I have 2 batteries because of outdoors shoots and this is really enough. Olympus BLM-01 Lithium-ion Rechargeable Battery for C7070, C8080, E1, E300 & E500 Digital Cameras (Retail Packaging)
When I bought my Evolt E-500 it came with a genuine Olympus battery, and I bought a knockoff to use as a hot spare. Admittedly they are new and performance will degrade over time, but in identical conditions the genuine Olympus lasts up to 500 pictures and the knockoff barely 300. I bought a second Olympus battery and have more confidence going out into the field.
I knew that I would need a backup battery for my Olympus E500. This is identical to the battery supplied with the camera. I wanted to use an Olympus battery after reading some BAD reviews of knockoff replacements. The battery seems to have plenty of reserve power even though the E500 has a full color display that does all functions instead of the 2 displays that most dSLR have (one usually is a low power LCD display for exposure settings). I only have long term experience with NiMH batteries with a point-n-shoot so I really can't make a final review of the longevity of Lithium-Ion batteries. Laptops seem to lose holding power over time. So far I'm happy, but if something goes bad, I'll update my review
Here is an update (10/05/08), I upgraded to a Olympus E3 which uses the same battery. No problems! I'm very happy with the longevity of the battery. It may be my imagination but it seems that the E3 is a bit more efficient on battery power which is confusing because it has both the color and a monochrome LCD display.
A trip to Europe requires a backup battery; so I purchased this as I didn't want to run out of battery in the middle of the day... Between my original battery and this "back up" I took over 1200 pictures and that required a recharge of each battery once on an 18 day trip. One might say "not bad" as a matter of fact it is outstanding as I didn't always remember to turn the camera off between locations and or shots.
I purchased two secondary brand batteries for my Olympus C5060 camera. The price was very good and I thought I was getting a good deal. These batteries lasted one month and then started to indicate low battery after two shots.
I have purchased an Olympus BLM-01 and I am getting very good performance.
Beware sometimes the deal that looks too good to be true usually isn't
I was pleasantly surprised how long this battery lasts. I bought a second one for backup just in case I needed it during a wedding shoot. I never had to use the second battery and that's after taking over 1200 pics for 8 1/2 hours. Great product as far as I'm concerned.
There are much cheaper alternatives even with higher energy capacity, but according to reports this one is more reliable, including in extremely cold weather. Nicely built and packaged, exactly as the one included in the camera. - Battery - Photography - Digital Slr - Camera Accessories'
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Backpack Cooler
I ride my bike 18 miles to work every day so I needed a pack like this to keep my lunch cool and fresh. This pack does accomplish those two goals adequately. I use a blue ice pack to keep things cool and do not have any condensation problems with it at all. My lunch stays cool for hours.
To address the rigidity problem that others have mentioned I solved it by taking one of those "road spam" signs (you know the ones at intersections made of corrugated plastic that promise to make you slim, rich, etc?) and I cut it down to size, bent it and slipped it inside the pack. That takes care of two problems! Works great and highly recommended.
Two things on my wish list: I wish it came in a smaller size since I'm carrying only one lunch and it would be nice if there were some reflective strips sewed onto it for night riding. I had my girlfriend add those. All in all it's a great insulated pack. Picnic Time Zuma Insulated Cooler Backpack, Red
Our family really uses this bag. I bought it in Luray while visiting my parents and it was well worth the money. I am a celiac and my son has severe food allergies, so we always have to carry our food everywhere. I can fit two frozen icepacks, and lunch for four and it will stay cold for hours and hours. The top part carries my sons diaper wallet, in a ziploc, and fruit or special crackers or whatever else we have. The only problem I have is when I use the bag and don't fill up the bottom with something. The sides aren't rigid which allows it to expand, but it would be nice to have a wire frame or something to keep it rigid when I just want to use it for two people and a diaper bag. I would recommend this bag for people with food allergies, people who like to picnic, and families who like to go out to museums and such and take along their lunches.
We ordered this bag for a recent trip to Disney World. We were able to put 8 bottles of water with ice in the insulated bag. We also carried ponchos, towels and snacks in the top portion. I would have rated it a 5 star but the bag gets a little flimsy when the top portion is not loaded. Otherwise, this is a great product.
I ordered this right before my family and I took off to Disney world. We used it on a daily basis while in the park, it was perfect to put drinks in and they stayed cold. The straps were comfortable and it was easy to carry. We were able to put drinks in the bottom cooler part and snacks in the mesh bag at the top. The zipper portion on the front was used for phones, cards and money. It lasted through all 4 days at the park with no issues.
We've taken this bag on two trips so far and were SOOO happy we had it both times! The insulated area is perfect to keep snacks and a large water bottle (or even lunch if you want).
It's very comfortable to carry since the straps are padded. My husband loves this bag, as do i :)
Note it only has 3 areas that hold anything (the cooler area on the bottom, the non-cooler on the top half, and the small zippered pocket in the front bottom).
I like this cooler pack. The cooler is a really good size, perfect for a day hiking or at the beach. There are a couple zip pockets for your personal effects as well. The mesh portion holds alot of stuff and the clasps are adjustable, so you can really stuff it full. I fit a towel and some dry clothes in it. The majority of the space goes to the cooler, which I like. Confortable to wear.
I have to walk a long way from my car to my desk, and needed something that did not throw me off balance, while keeping my lunch/drinks cool. I use this 6 days per week.
Sometimes it is difficult to load the cooler area, when the top is already loaded, since it will not stand up well. Don't know of any way around that problem. Otherwise, it does the job as well as my hand carry cooler, but more comfortably.
It seems well made, the zippers, straps, and carry handle are all sturdy. Good for business, as it does not attract attention. Both the top and the cooler portions are generous in size, but if you don't cinch down the top's two closure straps, things can fall out when you take it off. Despite the netting over part of the top (well made). it doesn't get wet when I use an umbrella.
There is a seam, which in the picture, appears to be another zipper; it is not. The zipper for the cooler is obvious from the picture. The cooler portion could easily take a couple of 10" laptops instead. The top portion is smaller. I don't recall the measurements for aircraft overhead storage, but I think if you don't put too much in it, it should fit.
Cooler = GREAT. No Cardboard or anything to hold it up means that its really hard to get things out especially if you use the top layer. If you do get this bookbag, I'd advise you to get some support cardboard or something hard and slip it in the bottom portion.'
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Vga To Hdmi
They should have a disclaimer letting you know that VGA to HDMI is not possible simply through a cable. VGA is an analog output, whereas HDMI is a digital output. Without some kind of converter between the two it doesn't work. So a cable that has VGA on one end and HDMI on the other end will not do what you think it will do.
I'm sure there must be some use for this cable, but I don't know what it is. Don't buy it if you're trying to convert VGA signal to HDMI signal. VGA to HDMI Cable, 6 feet
Ok, so I'm really not all the tech savvy, so I figured it'd be really easy to just get a cable that runs from my laptop to my pc ready tv... someone told me that all I needed was a VGA to HDMI cable. This is wrong. VGA is an anolog signal plug, whereas HDMI is digital. VGA is also graphic signal only, so your sound will have to come from your computer speakers. You will also have to reset all of the video settings on both your tv and pc to make them agree with each other.
If you are not very good at fiddling with these settings, i'd recommend you stick with what you've got... or pay the few extra dollars and get a tv conversion box for your pc. That will save many headaches.
VGA is an analog medium. HDMI is digital. A VGA to HDMI cable will never work unless your video card provides for digital output through the VGA port. You must use a converter box to convert the analog VGA signal to a digital HDMI signal.
People I believe you have the wrong idea of what this product is for. I use it to connect my HDTV box (cable) to a VGA computer monitor for video only. For audio, I hook the audio outs on the cable box directly into a receiver (stereo) for sound. This is what his product is mainly for. Not from your pc's hdmi output to vga.
Don't buy this cable unless the following is true:
1. your computer video card supports analog to digital conversion, all the way to output. Warning: very few computers will actually do this, primarily high cost systems.
2. you actually have a conversion box that will accept analog signal from your computer, and then convert it to a digital signal that it sends to your TV. If you don't have a converter, this cable is worthless to you.
The solution:
1. Buy a converter.
2. Use a VGA to VGA cable. This will allow you to transmit the video. Then have a separate audio cable to connect your computer to your TV for sound. This will get the audio/video to show up on your HDTV. Be forewarned however, that since you are still dealing with only analog, the picture quality will be less than you may be used to on your digital HDTV. It is not the fault of the TV or the computer or this particular cable. It is just a compatability problem.
I hope this helps.
i was told this cable would work to hook my computer up to my TV in order to use my HDTV as a monitor. It is the wrong cable! The cable you actually need is a VGA to VGA cable. This is used for an entirely different purpose! It is used to hook a non-HDMI component (such as VCR, DVD, Tivo, etc) to your HDTV. I'm sure the cord works wonderfully for that purpose, but I was mislead as to it's function. I hope this review helps others not to make the same mistake.
I was under the impression that this was a VGA to HDMI cable. I tried it on the tv's of my complete immediate family and their computers. Does not work. I finally took it to a local electronics store to see if they had a similar cable. They informed me that this was indeed a DVI cable spliced to VGA. I had my hopes way up to have them coming crashing down.
This in no way reflects upon Eforcity. All they did was sell me a product that they were unaware was poorly manufactured. I've bought this identical cable from 6 different companies & I've reached the conclusion that this type of conversion just can't be done. I've bought cables & adapters. Nothing works. I thank you Eforcity for trying to meet my needs but I do believe that you had no way of knowing that this product wouldn't work.
I made the mistake of listening to the girl at best buy who said that I needed this VGA to HDMI cable to use my TV as a monitor. It doesn't work because they are two different signals. Don't make the same mistake I did. If your TV doesn't have a VGA (PC) port, and you have a desktop, you can't use your TV for a monitor.'
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