Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Image Editing - adobe, photography
When Adobe first released the public beta of the original Lightroom, it seemed like a desperate attempt to compete with Apple's Aperture which Apple seemed to be using to target Adobe's flagship creative tool, Photoshop.
Upon using the beta, however, it became apparent that this was a tool that Adobe had been putting a lot of thought into and while the decision to offer the free public beta may have been an attempt to stave off possible Aperture defectees, the development of the software itself clearly was more than that.
Adobe's new tool would come to herald in a nondestructive editing and organizational workflow that simply would never be possible in the full version of Photoshop without seriously jeopardizing functionality and workflows for existing users.
Today, Lightroom 2 takes that original concept to the next level. Boasting even more powerful non-destructive editing, tighter integration with the full version of Photoshop and a revised and even more streamlined interface (Adobe listened), it is well worth the upgrade price.
If you don't have Lightroom yet and are wondering why you would buy it when you already have Photoshop, ask yourself this: Do you have a digital camera and do you take a lot of pictures with it? If so, does taking them all into Photoshop for adjustments seem time consuming? Does the added storage for saving originals and adjusted copies seem excessive? Do you wish that Bridge acted more like a database than a browser and maybe had the ability to keep track of files even when they weren't available (external or networked hard drive that aren't always available for instance)?
If so, Lightroom may be the tool for you. Will it replace Photoshop? No, but an easy way to think of it is as a tool for dealing with many images that need global adjustments with a few touch-ups where as Photoshop is the tool you'll turn to for composite images and major touch-up/cleanup.
Can you do what you need to in Photoshop without Lightroom? Of course - Photoshop is the top of the line Swiss Army Knife of image editing. Will you be able to work as quickly and efficiently in it as you would Lightroom? Seriously doubtful. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Upgrade [OLD VERSION]
I am not a professional but I have alot of photos I need to keep organized. I used iPhoto, but between it and Photoshop, there were some steps that just slowed down the process. Basically Lightroom is a combination of an organizational application with basic photo editing capabilities. It integrates well with Photoshop for more advanced editing. For my family snapshots though I rarely have to edit outside of Lightroom.
Navigating:
==========
Basic key commands:
G - Grid view, thumbnails of your photos
E - Loupe, highlighted photo fullscreen
D - Single photo in Develop mode
C - Compare, see two photos side by side, nice when you are looking for the perfect shot.
Command+Option+5 - Web module, I use this frequently to upload behind my site, via Lightroom's ftp upload option.
Command [ or ] - rotates image CW and CCW
Organization:
==========
I am an organization obsessive, especially about my family photos. I have all of my photos on an external drive and LR is pointed to them. There are basically two types of "folders" in LR Folders and Collections.
-Folders
are just that, they refer to the physical folders/subfolders on your hard-drive and reflect the same structure in LR. If you have a folder named 2008>January>01 on your hard-drive, it will be so within LR. When you import into LR you can choose to 1. add photos without moving. 2. copy them to a new location. or 3. move them to a new location.
-Collections
are "virtual folders" within LR and these actually do not move the photo physically on your hard-drive. This is nice because you may have some photos you want to print, you just drag the thumbnails into a collection folder and you don't have to worry about it floating around somewhere on your computer. (when you actually delete a photo in LR it gives you the option of removing from Lightroom only or remove it from completely from your hard-drive) A new feature of LR 2 is the addition of smart collections. There are many options of smart collections, I use them to collect top rated photos. Here is how. You add a new smart collection which takes you into a little sub menu, where you can set how this folder collects photos. I have one called "top rated" which any photo from my folders rated 4 or 5 stars goes into this collection. So where you can drag and drop your favorite photos into collections you can also set these parameters and LR will do the organization for you. Love this feature. You can set smart folders my rating (0-5 stars) color label, dates... and a couple more options I haven't explored yet. As you can imagine there are countless different ways of making these...
-Importing
I basically plug my memory card into my computer and LR asks if I want to import. I have it set to create a physical folder on my hard-drive and import there. So my photos are organized on import. At this time there are options of renaming the whole set of photos with a custom name for example "las vegas 2008 vacation_etc......jpg"
Editing:
==========
This is basically the photoshop part of Lightroom, you have basic editing tools in the Loupe (E) but you need to go to Develop Mode/Module (D) for more advanced editing. You basically have control of color in LR, for example, white balance, hue, temperature, tint, brightness, saturation, curve...etc There is also allowances for Lens correction, noise reduction, sharpening, etc. You can do cropping in develop mode as well, which is very simple.
A couple of new tools in LR 2.0, I have only started to play around with are Spot Removal and Adjustment Brush. Spot removal tool comes up like the stamp tool in photoshop, where if you have a spot of dust or a pixel you want to get rid of. This is a two step tool, where you first choose the spot you want to remove, (say a dark spot on someone's cheek) next you choose the area of the photo you want to replace the spot with (a clean area of the person's cheek) and voila the spot is gone. The adjustment brush is nice to have because you can overexpose, underexpose, adjust the contrast, brightness, saturation with a brush tool. This is something I didn't expect out of LR so I will definitely be exploring this tool.
You can also edit in Photoshop pretty seamlessly out of LR. You can edit the original (100.jpg will be the one you will be editing in PS) and see the effects back in LR. Edit a copy in PS (100-edit.jpg will be created in your hard-drive and see it next to the original in LR. Also Edit in PS with LR adjustments, any edits in LR will be exported out into PS.
One thing to keep in mind is that any edit done in LR are NOT HARD EDITS. Meaning, you do not affect the original image until you export that image out of LR. The edits are stored in LR until you do an export out into PS or into a folder on your desktop. Until then all photos can be restored back to their original state.
-Presets:
This is a fun part of LR. Lightroom comes already with some basic presets, which instead of remembering all the steps you took to edit one photo, you can save these steps into "presets". So in Develop mode you adjust the, hue, curve, temperature, detail, saturation..etc. of a photo, and you can save it as a preset, call it "preset outdoor" or something and then you can apply this preset to one or dozens of photos at once. Voila. There are lots of free presets already out there. (do a google search. the flickr lightroom group is a good source for learning) You can also cut and paste the edits of a particular photo and paste in onto a group of photos as well.
Web Module:
==========
This is also fun too. Basically you enter in your web ftp info into LR and tell it to point to a subfolder on your site. (www.website.com/gallery1) and this is where you upload the galleries too. LR comes with a few prepackaged galleries and flash galleries, you select your photos, choose the web template, edit the template (background color, type etc. and upload. and it's really that simple you have uploaded a gallery behind your site. Obviously you need to learn the basics, but before I had to upload with a ftp client, create the html etc.
All in all, Lightroom really is a fantastic tool. I am still learning alot about it. And I know there are people who prefer Aperture and I will try it out to compare, but LR just felt right for me. Try out the 30 day free trial, test out as much as you can, It is not a cheap program but if you are as excited about this stuff it really is a great tool. Cheers. - Image Editing - Digital Photography - Adobe - Photography'
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High Definition - dvr, tivo hd
If you're a Tivo owner with a HD Tivo, then chances are you've come to the right place. This drive is the right choice for upgrading your capacity. It is the ONLY brand that is supported by Tivo, your warranty will remain in effect, and it is a painless install.
This package is the right enclosure, the right eSATA cable, and most importantly the right drive. This drive is NOT a standard PC drive. It is specially designed for 24/7 spinning, low noise, PVR use.
Note that 1TB should give you over 165 hours of HD, not the "60 hours" in this listing. Also note that most Tivos don't recognize drives over 1TB, so spending more won't help you.
If you really want to get into the details of upgrading your Tivo storage, look here: [...]
All my info is current as of Spring 2009. Things change. Western Digital My DVR Expander 1 TB eSATA External Hard Drive
Those that live in the NY/NJ area and have Cablevision know that they changed most, if not all, of the regular channels to HD channels. So our DVR has been filling up faster than usual, and there is no way around it. Most of the popular channels are all in HD. So for the past month or so, my wife and I have been looking for a solution. Our DVR was always 70-80% full and we were constantly erasing stuff. I found the Western Digital My DVR Expander, and it was the solution to our problem. I called Cablevision customer support and asked them if it was compatible with our DVR. They said yes, and that it was actually the only one compatible, meaning that you can't just get any eSATA drive and plug it in. The My DVR Expander is formatted to function just like your DVR. I did read somewhere that only the 500 GB version is the only one compatible with the Scientific Atlanta Explorer, but the Cablevision customer support tech did not mention that.
It took one day to receive my package after ordering, AMAZING! I looked up the installation instruction on the Cablevision website and they were identical to the instructions that came with the drive. "Power off cable box, plug in the power cord for the DVR Expander, connect the eSATA cable, power on DVR Expander, and power on cable box, follow on screen instructions to format the drive." Simple right? You would think that, but I did not get the on screen instructions, so I knew something was wrong. I checked to see the about of space used, and it was still 85% full. I started to get a little frustrated, but I decided to try it again, thinking maybe I did something wrong. Followed the instructions again, and still it was not recognized. Now my frustration was starting to show, especially because I bought another one for our bedroom. I called Cablevision tech support, and spoke to high level tech guy. I explained the problem, and he said he doesn't understand why it wasn't working. He first said that maybe my DVR Expander was defective and to take it back. I said I can't do that. Then he came back and asked me if I had the 500 GB version or the 1 TB versions. I told him I had the 1 TB version, then he said that he checked with his supervisor and that this version is not compatible, and sorry for the inconvenience. Now I was furious, but I did not give up. I decided to try my own SIMPLE installation. With both the DVR Expander and the cable box powered on, I just pluged the eSATA cable to the back of the cable box, and VIOLA!!!! The on screen instruction came up asking to format the drive. It took less than one minute. I checked the space used, and I was delighted to see that it was only 10% full! The installation should have taken less than 2 minutes. You don't even have to wait for your cable box to reboot, which takes like 5 minutes or more.
Overall, I am very pleased with it so far. I've had it for two weeks now, and everything is working fine. I put my ear next to it, and I could barely hear it running. It has never gotten too hot, and I have it set next to my cable box in my entertainment center. If you are a cablevision customer, this is such a great upgrade, and it works fine. If you are having trouble, feel free to leave a comment.
When I saw Western Digital had come out with a 1 TB model, I decided to take the plunge and hoped it wouldn't exhibit the quality problems that plague so many new models. When the hard drive arrived, I connected to my HD TiVo with the included eSATA connector. Unfortunately, TiVo did not recognize the external hard drive despite numerous tries. After a bit of troubleshooting, I determined that the eSATA connector into the back of the My DVR Expander wasn;t making a solid connection. Nothing a little duct tape can't fix, right? I then enjoyed a wonderful month or so with the hard drive and was able to record over 100 programs in both HD and SD formats. Can't stay awake for the Tonight Show? No problem. I could record every night and not have to worry about running out of disk space.
Then a more serious quality problem emerged. Shortly after the disk space filled up, my TiVo froze in the middle of a program I was recording. Nothing I did could get it to restart. After a long phone call with TiVo technical support, together we identified that the DVR Expander had caused the meltdown. The only way to use TiVo again was to disconnect the hard drive (and lose ALL those recorded programs) and reboot without the external hard drive. What choice did I have? Fortunately, the drive was still under warranty.
I called Western Digital customer support, who assured me a new unit would be shipped in 3-5 business days. After a week, I checked its status on the WD website and read a notice explaining there were delays and it would be another 2 weeks. Another 2 weeks passed and I called again. The customer rep explained they were experiencing manufacturing problems with the new 1 TB model and were out of stock, but he would try to expedite my replacement request. Another 2 weeks and another call. This time the rep tells the problems are so severe, the company hasn't been able to make a single good unit since I first called and he could not assure me delivery "in any reasonable time frame." Holy Cow! So naturally I ask for a refund. The rep refuses my request for a refund because it's against company policy. So now it's been almost three months, I'm out the price of the hard drive and some recorded programs, and am on an indefinite wait for a replacement.
If you're willing to gamble, the 1 TB model is a great product concept and chances are your unit will work fine. If not, you might want to wait for Western Digital to work out the quality bugs or go with their tried-and-tested 500 GB model instead. - Esata - Tivo Expander - Dvr - Tivo Hd'
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Christina Applegate - holiday, james gandolfini
I laughed almost the whole time. At times I even had tears in my eyes from laughing. What is wrong with everyone, this movie is freakin hilarious. It is a light hearted, slapstick, funny Christmas family film. Some of the lines were so funny that we still quote them. Hopefully, people will read this review and give this movie a chance. It IS funny. If you are looking for a serious "It's A Wonderful Life" then ok this is not for you. But if you are looking to laugh at some of the Christmas cliches that we all know and love this movie is for you! Some things in this movie are very silly but come on...Christmas Vacation is a great movie. I would rank this with that movie! Enjoy! Surviving Christmas
When life's not going exactly the way he wants, Drew (Ben Affleck) decides it's time to go back to his childhood home for Christmas and recapture the magic and idyll of his past. The only problem? His relatives don't live in that house anymore, so reliving his glory days will be much more complicated than he expected. First, he must convince the family (headed by James Gandolfini and Catherine O'Hara) who call the place home to humor him.
We bought this movie last year when it first came out and found it absolutely adorable and very funny. Keep in mind what it is, it is an endearing movie about how incredibly lonely Christmas can be if you don't have family to share it with, it was certainly not intended to generate oscar buzz. Ben Affleck was, as always, outstanding. I just love it and will definitely watch it agaim this Christmas. Happy Holidays!
I've been watching the movie constantly on HBO. I think the movie's problem is that it isn't a family movie (a couple of scenes push it out of that genre) and it's too cute to be an adult movie.
Give the movie a chance. The characters really grow on you.
I am absolutely done watching Ben Affleck movies. He has to be the worst actor earning a Hollywood mega-million paycheck over the past decade. I made it through "Jersey Girl" only because of Liv Tyler. However, "Surviving Christmas" (2004) was just torture. James Gandalfini was okay, but does he ever play any role out of his "Tony Soprano" character? Christina Applegate (who is her agent and when will she be in a great movie?) was good, but it just looked like she wasn't into this movie. I like Catherine O'Hara a ton ("Best In Show", A" Mighty Wind", "Home Alone", "Beetlejuice" and the old SCTV), and she was simply over the top in some scenes (in a garrish way) and dare I say I didn't like her acting in this movie. Affleck's acting is pitifully canned and he just isn't convincing. ** FACT: This movie has the shortest period of time (less than nine weeks) between its theatrical debut and release on DVD/Video than any other major release film in Hollywood history. *** FACT: The production was shot without a complete script. Per Gandolfini, "much of the film was improvised". What's that tell you? This movie should've ended in the first 20 minutes when Gandolfini's character hit Affleck's character over the head with a snow shovel. 91 minutes of pure drudgery.
I'm not a a big fan of Ben Affleck or anything but I thought this was a fun movie with an original story.
I have a hard time understanding the really low reviews others have given. Certainly I wouldn't expect it to bring in Oscar nominations but it was enjoyable. I rarely write reviews, but the negative reviews compelled me to add my opinion. This must be one of those love-it-or-hate-it movies because the ranking on Amazon is in line with other places, including IMDB.
Look I know since Gigli peoples faith in Ben Affleck have been shaken,but the truth is,Gigli and Surviving Christmas arent bad at all. They are ninety minutes of funny stuff that help you get your mind off the crap that happens in a day.Just the day I saw Surviving, I was having a lousy week at work.Me and my friend went to see this and we came out laughing,and for just a little while I felt better.If a movie can do that,maybe it isnt half bad.Not every movie needs to be an arthouse masterpiece. - James Gandolfini - Ben Affleck - Holiday - Comedy'
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Occupational - wrist weights, exercise
These weights are easy to use - they use velcro straps and can be placed on the ankles or on the wrists. I am very pleased with them and have been using them ever since they arrived. I am small-boned and often have trouble with items being too big but these have enough adjustment to make them comfortable. TKO Neoprene Wrist/Ankle Weights, 2 lb. pair, Blue
These worked great for about 3 weeks, until the fabric right next to the sewn-in Velcro began to rip and leak the inner pebbles on both weights. Unacceptable quality, they should have at least lasted me 6 months.
If you're looking for something to add a little more heft to your routine, skip these and spend a bit more money on a product that will actually keep up with your workout.
My wrists and ankles are very small, but I had no trouble fastening these around my ankles with the velcro straps. The only complaints that I have is that they are too bulky to really be worn on the wrist and that if I wear them too tightly, the metal hook cuts into my skin and leaves a bruise so I have to wear thick socks or wear two socks at once to make sure that doesn't happen.
These weights are very comfortable, but that's about all they have going for them. The material the weights are made from is very thin and tears very easy. My weights lasted about 2 weeks before one of them started to leak sand. You'd be much better off buying a set of more expensive, adjustable weights as the time these last just makes them not worth the purchase.
These are definitely not dainty weights...but they hold strong and in place through rigorous runs and plyo workouts. I've tried other brands made especially for women and they didn't hold up (velcro came loose, wiggled around) I have fairly small ankles and they fit snug. I would not recommend these as wrist weights as they're too bulky. - Fitness - Wrist Weights - Exercise - Weights'
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Digital Camera - tripod, bogen
The real choice is between the three section model (pro 3) which is lighter and less money but longer when collapsed. I went for the compactness of this four section tripod and it has proven a good choice. Compared to other carbon tripods this one wins on functionality and quality for the money. The ability to shift the center column to horizontal, upside down and all ways in between is tremendously easy. So too are the locking catches that allow you to spread the legs to different angles with a push of the catch. My only complaint is the lack of spike feet. Instead the legs are terminated by cheap rubber caps that will wear out quickly when used on irregular hard surfaces outdoors. I was unable to find alternate feet that are available for 16mm diameter legs of other Manfrottos (the bottom legs are 11mm on the pro4). Hey Bogen you got to fix this for that much money. Manfrotto 190CXPRO4 4-Section Pro Carbon Fiber Tripod without Head
I chose this tripod because of its light weight and very small size when collapsed. I travel a lot and was looking for the best combination of lightness, compactness, and versatility in a tripod that would still fit in carry-on luggage. I have not yet flown with it but I will update this review when I do.
I don't often get the happy experience of a product exceeding my expectations, but this tripod does. To the extent that something as simple as a tripod can be loaded with thoughtful little details, this one is. The center section has an unobtrusive hook for hanging things off the tripod (like a weight to give more stability, or your camera bag) and an equally unobtrusive loop for tying things to the tripod or vice versa. Almost everything is adjustable--tension on the leg sections can be adjusted with an included key that snaps onto one of the legs for storage. The center post switches from vertical to horizontal in literally a second or two. It seems to be the product of a long learning curve informed by real-life experience. Working with other tripods I have frequently thought, "Boy, it would sure be nice if this tripod did X." The 190CXPRO4 does X, and Y and Z to boot.
A word on stability. This tripod is about as sturdy as it is possible for something in its class to be. It makes all the cheap photo tripods I've ever used look laughable. That said, it is still an under-four-pound skinny-legged thing with no spreader or chains, so don't expect the same level of solidity you'd get from a surveyor tripod. On the other hand, good luck finding something this sturdy that folds down to 20 inches and weighs less than four pounds, or something this versatile at any size. Just be aware that there IS a tradeoff involved.
With a big ball head and five pound spotting scope perched on top, damping times from vibrations are in the 2-3 second range, which is not just acceptable but darn near miraculous considering the scope+head outweigh the tripod by a factor of 3 to 2. When I'm trying to observe the fiendishly skittish hummingbird in the tree next door, it's very nice to be able to just pick up the whole rig with one hand, walk across the yard, plunk it down and be back to observing in less time than it takes to write.
Recommended not just for photographers but also birders and amateur astronomers looking for exceeding lightness, strength, and versatility in a grab-n-go setup.
Bogen-Manfrotto 190CXPRO4 4-Section Pro Carbon Fiber Tripod without Head
After months of researching tripods the choice came down to the Manfrotto 190CXPRO4. The flexability of the Manfrotto system coupled with the ability to customize to a configuration that suits any shooting situation is perhaps the best feature of the product. The equipment is engineered using the best materials under the closest tolerances. I shoot both a DSLR (Nikon D300) and Medium Format (Hasselblad) film camera. This Tripod and the choices of heads allow you to lighten your load and customize your platform to fit your gear. Price will keep buyers to serious photographers or professionals.
These sticks are small enough when folded (just under 20") to fit inside a rolling luggage cart (overhead storage on the plane) but sturdy enough to hold everything but the heavier teles. Carbon fiber is a must if you plan to lug around your tripod - this set is very light (3lbs.) but has a rigid feel. It pays to spend an extra hundred and get good material.
Of course there are better legs out there. These sticks are made for eager amateurs and professional hopefuls - aluminum is just too heavy to carry all day, even though they're generally only another 1 or 2 pounds heavier. That little bit makes all the difference.
This set has some nice features, especially the center column, which can be used for very low shots. Kick the legs all the way out, mount your camera and you've got quite an interesting perspective, very close to the ground.
I also like the flip levers - not a fan of the twist locks. These levers are well-built and look like they'll take years of abuse.
The only thing preventing a 5-star review are the feet. I don't think they're "cheap" as others have called them, but they're pretty basic rubber bottoms, nothing more. Bogen/Man sells "all-weather" shoes for the Pro4 but no spikes, at least none I've found yet.
That said, I was on the sand in Myrtle Beach for a week and this tripod had no problems negotiating that or the mud in the marshes. I bought this on a Wednesday and by Thursday night it had been exposed to salt water, mud, sand, early-morning dew, fog and then strong sun for 8 or 9 hours - not to mention tons of bugs.
For the price I doubt you'll find any other 100% carbon sticks with a center column that rapid-shifts for portraits.
[....] - Photography - Photography Equipment - Tripod - Bogen'
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Cell Phone Car Charger - motorola, droid x
First things first: IF (and that's IF) you get the genuine OEM Motorola charger listed here, the SPN5400/P513/89143N, it works great with modern smart phones like the Motorola Droid, The Incredible, The Google Nexus One, etc. Basically, if your phone has a micro USB connector (and almost all of the newer generation smart phones do), then this is the charger for you.
That said: Not every seller is selling the right item. There are lots of reports of people getting the wrong charger (I've had this happen myself). Your best bet: Amazon, who not only IS selling the correct charger, but has the best price, when you factor in shipping, provided you qualify for free shipping from Amazon (either with Prime, or if your order is > $25).
The Amazon-as-seller listing for this charger can be found here, at least at the time of this review. Search through the sellers to find Amazon. Their price, if you get free shipping from Amazon, is the cheapest, or close to it. And you are guaranteed of getting the correct item, brand new, retail.
OK, that said, here's the rest of my review:
There are so many sketchy sellers selling phone chargers out there, that it can be a bit scary. The problem is that if the charger is poorly made, the output of the charger can be out of spec and can, in some cases, fry the phone you connect to it.
For that reason, when it comes to phone chargers, you should stick to name brands. (They are all made in China, but the name brand ones are usually subject to stricter QA).
When I found this charger on Amazon, SOLD BY AMAZON, I jumped on it. It's a MICRO USB car charger, made for Motorola and sold under the Motorola name, in retail packaging. The rated output is 4.75-5.25V and 950mA.
This charger should work fine with most any phone that uses the MICRO USB connector. The key number to pay attention to is the second one, the rated amperage. This is the MAXIMUM amount of current that the phone can request from the charger. A typical USB port on a PC provides as little as 100mA, and few provide more than 500mA. So this charger should charge your phone faster than when it's connected to a PC. A few phones out now can use up to 1000mA. But that just means they CAN use that amount. If 950mA is provided, they'll still charge, just a bit more slowly.
Note that the amperage (second number) merely tells you how much the charger CAN supply, if requested. The phone itself is responsible for asking for the current. That is to say, if this charger can provide 950mA, but your phone can only use 300mA--no problem. Your phone asks for 300mA and the charger provides all of what is requested. If, on the other hand, your phone can use 1000mA, this charger will provide all it can, which is 950mA--a wee bit less than the max asked for. That's also not a problem; it just means your phone will charge a little bit (not much in this case) more slowly. The rated voltage for this charger is presented in a range of 4.75-5.25V. The "ideal" voltage for a USB charger of any type if 5V. And most chargers for home use are rated right at 5V. But car chargers work in a noisier environment and thus you have the range. This is where a cheapo charger can really do damage, as some of them are poorly regulated and can provide voltages that are WAY out of spec. Again, when you can get a name brand charger from a seller you can trust (Amazon) for such a reasonable price, it's very foolish to consider the cheapo no-names.
This is an excellent quality name brand travel micro USB charger at a price that beats the no-name junk from third party sellers. What's not to like?
BE SURE TO ORDER IT FROM AMAZON AND NOT ONE OF THE THIRD PARTY SELLERS, as some of those have been known to make mistakes with respect to what they ship relative to the listing. I can confirm that Amazon is shipping the P513 /89143N /SPN5400 charger, as pictured.
One last note: This charger is alternatively sold as the P513, the 89143N OR the SPN5400. These numbers all refer to the same charger. A different product number is assigned depending on the channel through which the charger has been sold. But they are all the same. Motorola Vehicle Power Adapter micro-USB Rapid Rate Charger - Car Charger - Motorola - Droid Charger - Droid X'
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Step Aerobics
A tape of this nature is long overdue! While I am aerobically fit, I was always intimidated in step class, feeling like I have two left feet and struggling to keep up. This step tape enabled me to learn the basics - at a slow, comfortable speed and in the privacy of my home. Gin Miller is a wonderful instructor who provides very clear directions, repeats moves until you master them and is very encouraging. (Who better to teach this than the inventor of step aerobics?) If you ever wished you could learn stepping, at your speed and minus the embarassment of a class, then this is definitely the tape for you. Everybody Steps - A Guide to Step Aerobics
I love this DVD. I'm overweight and a bit klutzy, and was always afraid to try step aerobics.
But this DVD really puts me at my ease. Gin Miller is fantastic. She is so encouraging and friendly, and her directions are so clear, that I really enjoy using this DVD.
What I like best is that different segments are aimed at different levels of exercisers. Right now, the first few segments are all I can do, but as I grow into it and become more fit, I will be able to do the later segments as well. In other words, this DVD is appropriate for all levels and you won't grow out of it!
I have to laugh when Gin Miller encourages the audience because her enthusiasm is charming ("Let's do double step touches, now. Want to??")
Gin Miller is excellent. She's funny and smart and is a good, effective instructor. Her manner is so informal and relaxed, that her dvds are easy to follow. This is a great dvd.
It's geared mainly for beginners - the choreography is basic and low impact, but you are going to work up a sweat. She explains all the moves really well, so if you are a beginner, you'll know the moves even if you haven't heard them called that before. You start with basic steps, and by the end of the workout, you will have progressed to full combinations and be a pro.
This is a good length workout - about 40 minutes not including warm up and cool down, but even if you are a step novice, you'll still burn fat and have fun. Gin knows her stuff and is very motivating without being pushy.
This DVD is great for those who have never done step aerobics and want to get the basics down before heading to a step aerobics class in a gym for the first time. But if you are at all familiar with step, this DVD will bore you to death with excessive amounts of step touches, basics, and knee ups. There are no challenging moves and way to much explanation for anyone who knows step.
This was just what I needed to help me break in the step I got for christmas! Easily taught me the steps in one workout. I will do it only a couple more times and then step up to a more challenging workout though...this doesn't get my heart pumping enough but I would never be able to follow any of my other step workouts without first having done this one! Great and perfect for first time steppers!
Thank God for this DVD! I have been working out for years, but have never done much aerobics because I am terribly, terribly uncoordinated! I bought a different step aerobics DVD and had the same experience I have in step classes - totally confused and frustrated. This video, however, REALLY starts you at the very beginning and teaches the most basic moves while still getting your heart rate up. If you have been discouraged with other step DVDs or classes, START HERE and after one or two attempts you will not feel like a complete moron anymore when it comes to stepping.
Gin's instruction is so well paced that it is easy to follow but not boring. Even though it is slower than what I am used to, I still work up a sweat. It is refreshing to be introduced to stepping moves by their respective names. This is the tape I will turn to first if I ever stop exercising for a while.
If you are trying out step aerobics for the first time, then you NEED this DVD. The instructor does an excellent job of teaching you at a comfortable but sweat-breaking pace. The workout is broken down into 10-minute increments, so you can increase as you get better. Not for anyone who already knows how to step.
5 stars.
Gin Miller's Everybody Steps is the perfect exercise DVD for those who are either starting out with the step or are getting back into it, like I am. I am 51 years old and currently 85 pounds overweight and this is the perfect DVD for me and just what I was looking for! I can successfully get through the warm-up period, Segments 1 and 2, then the cool-down period in 30 minutes and feel that I've had a great workout. In time, as I lose more weight and become more fit, I look forward to getting through the whole program. I highly recommend this DVD!
I had a lot of stepping experience, but hadn't really done any for about 2 yrs. Since I was so out-of-shape I decided to get some beginner step DVDs while updating from VHS to DVD.
Gin does a thorough job of demonstrating step moves, but surprised me with the pacing. Even doing basic stepping, she is on and off the board so fast I was afraid I would start tripping trying to keep up. I compared the pace with some more advanced step workouts had have gotten since, and they actually are easier to keep up with then this one!
Good workout to learn basic moves, but you better be in good shape!'
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Kids Mp3 Player - car dvd player, dual screen dvd player
I received delivery of this product yesterday.I immediately went to the instruction book to learn how to set it up. First problem--the cable between the 2 units ( for simul play) is extremely short. The car power cord is also short. I have a mini van & these cords are going to be strained.I will try to buy some after market cables. I could not make the 2 units display a single dvd picture. after a long try, I looked for a customer service number . There is not one anywhere in the package. I went to amazon who got me in contact with a sylvania service rep. She explained to me that the only way to do this is via the unit"A" remote control & a small button labeled "in/out". Two mounting assemblies for the car are provided in the form of velcroed straps. AGAIN, The only insruction on this was a 2" by 2" picture in the side of the box.
The picture on the units is excellent; controls seem to be good; but their insructions & customer service access are sad. Sylvania SDVD8791 7-Inch Twin Mobile Dual Screen/Dual DVD Portable DVD Player - Car Dvd Player - Dual Screen Car Dvd Player - Dual Screen Dvd Player - Dual Dvd Player'
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E Book Reader - ebook reader, barnes and noble
I went from the Sony Reader Pocket Edition (which I really did like) to the Nook after the Wifi only version came out and I do not regret the move. I love everything about the Nook and BN reader store. The Nook is bigger than the Sony Pocket Reader and after reading the Nook for awhile - I just could not go back to reading something on the Pocket Reader. I like the fact that you can enlarge the print up to extra extra large and choose between several font styles. I like the clock at the top of the reader so now I don't have to waste my morning reading time on the porch by constantly running in to check the clock in the kitchen to see when I need to get ready for work. I like the fact that you can look at the covers of the books when you want to pick out what you want to read next. I like that you can add so much extra space to your device (the Pocket reader only accepted 150 books before freezing and acting up). I really like the fact that you can preorder ebooks which will just download to your device when they are available. I like the fact that the power cord is $14.99 so I can buy extra (one for home, one for work) - where Sony Reader's power cord was almost $30.00. I like the fact that I can install my own new battery when the time comes and not have to send my reader off to have it done for me. I like the fact that if there are any questions about the Nook, I just have to go to a nearby B&N and get the help I need instead of wasting time with emails only to receive vague answers from the techs. All in all I think this is a wonderful device - exactly what I wanted. I usually read about three to four books a week and being able to carry my whole library with me is great! I would definitely recommend this product. Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook Reader (WiFi only) [ Black & White ]
I've had my Nook for about 2 weeks and love it. Before I purchased it, I spent weeks researching the differences between the Barnes and Noble Nook and the Kindle and other ereaders. I chose the Nook because I can read .epub format books on it; something you cannot do on the Kindle. The Kindle only supports .pdf files and ebooks in the proprietary Amazon.com format. That severely limits the number and type of ebooks you can read.
With the Nook, I have borrowed free ebooks from my local library and within minutes downloaded them to my computer and then transferred them to my Nook. AWESOME! In addition, unlike the Kindle, I can read free ebooks available from Google.
The only thing I don't like about the Nook and the Kindle is that neither one of them has a back-lit screen so, at night or in the dark, you have to have alternative ample light. So I either turn on a lamp or use the small, clip-on light I bought at the local RiteAid for about $10. It works just fine.
So far, I have had no problems navigating my ebooks; everything works smoothly and the pages turn quickly. I'm enjoying the convenience of being able to travel with 30 books and audio-books at a time. I also have some music loaded on my Nook so I can listed to it while I read. Lastly, I'm glad I bought a case for it because I pretty much take it every place I go so the hard case prevents the screen from getting scratched or broken.
I'm very happy with my purchase.
I have been an Amazon fan for a long time. My first attempt at owning a Kindle resulted in two failing devices for which I eventually obtained a refund.
My birthday is today; my brother asked me what I wanted two weeks ago and I told him the Kindle. Unfortunately at that precise moment Amazon was right in the middle of rolling out the new Wi-Fi only Kindle and all models were unavailable. So, I went for the barnes & noble nook Wi-Fi only.
Considering my previous experience with the Kindle, I tried not to get too excited. I went on the net to read reviews of the nook and was fearful. I read that it was buggy, that it lagged when you changed pages, that the touch interface was not all that responsive.
All of this was wrong; the page turns are quick and do not interrupt the flow of reading. The touch interface is very nice and I like seeing my book covers in color. When you choose the Cover Flow, your books slide by with the touch of a finger and you simply tap on the book you want to read at that moment. This was surprisingly helpful when I went to make purchases on the B&N Store. I know you don't judge a book by its cover, but how many times has a nice colorful packaging led me to a book I wanted to read, uhm; many times. I was really intrigued with the "swipe" page turn that you used the touch screen for, however this did not seem to function correctly on the store model or on my own nook. Strangely, after a period of time, it now works perfectly. A representative told me it simply had to adapt to my touch...I don't know how much I trust that statement, however when she turned a page on the display nook it responded to her very well. (Perhaps it was a learning curve?)
Side-loading documents: Wow, if you have any epub or pdf documents all you have to do is side load them and voila. I do recommend a free program called Calibre, which organizes your books, helps you edit the tags, add a color cover, or convert to epub. Pdf is not very easy to read on the nook, but if you convert to epub it goes smoothly, unless there are alot of photos or images, which lessens the accuracy of the conversion. Calibre has even converted files like, Word-Doc, Html, Palm, etc. Calibre will let you pick and choose books to upload to the nook directly from the program; in other words it 'sees' the nook.
Drawbacks to the nook: The battery life, that nifty little color touch screen eats the battery power like mad. B&N claim that you get 10 days, cut that in half. I do not know if this is because I use the touch screen to do my page turns or not,(the other option being the side buttons) but I am leaning toward, maybe? LCD screens notoriously use power; but using the page turn function does not require the back-light to be on, so I am not sure how it is eating up the battery so badly. It is honestly not that much of a problem for me. I am around my computer so much that it is unlikely a day will go by without it being attached to the CPU or an outlet next to my bed. I have gone almost four days with not re-charging; and I could see that little power icon decrease at least to slightly more than half in that time.
Oh - and that nifty little cover flow on the color screen. Don't expect it to work for Your Documents. (There are two libraries, the B&N purchased books and your side-loaded books or documents.) Also there is no way to sort your documents to your specification so you either sort by author, title, or the date you loaded them, very annoying if you build up a nice library; which is highly likely considering you can add an SD card to your nook and increase memory to 16 maybe 32 gigabytes. Speaking of which with that ability to increase memory, it would have been nice if the MP3 Player interface were a little more sophisticated. An interesting ability is to play an unabridged audio-book and read the book at the same time. I am not sure who would do that, but then again I understand spoken Spanish more than I am capable of reading it. This might be useful to me in that area, if I can find the matching audio-book/ Spanish-book. (Nuance in foreign language is often lost in English translation.)
Never having owned a functioning 3G eBook-reader, I never really missed it with my home Wi-Fi. I have discovered several places close to where I "haunt" which have AT&T free to my nook. I already have a huge collection of books lined up for me to read... so feeling a "need" for the 3G seems unlikely. I have always done this, collected books that line up, ready for me to read. (By the way... the in store B&N Wi-Fi connection has s*cked at every B&N store I have been to. Amazingly Border's free Wi-fi worked better, I just couldn't buy through the B&N store. I had to go to my smart phone, buy the book, and it uploaded.)
So how do I feel about my nook; I absolutely love it! To be fair however, had I received a functioning Kindle, I would have felt the same way about it, I am certain. I think the Kindle has deficiencies with the lack of a touch/color interface and the side loading documents ability. However, that screen kills the battery as I stated. The reason for liking the separate touch interface is that you don't want to touch your e-ink screen; I don't see how Sony's all touch interface e-reader is going to be popular when you are smudging your read screen all the time, though I must admit I would like to try one out.
The nook is comfortable in all sorts of positions, laying in bed, on the couch, holding it next to you; even laying it away from you and increasing the font so that you could read without holding it. I highly recommend a reading light, especially if you had grown accustomed to reading LCD screens in the dark (my kindle program on my Android phone.)
It is rather frustrating, I would have preferred a Kindle simply because I was impressed with Amazon customer service when my Kindle malfunctioned.
I do recommend the nook. It would be nice if they would lessen DRM restrictions so I could buy books from Amazon or any other place for that matter.
Sincerly
R - Ebook - Barnes And Noble - Ebook Reader - E-reader'
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Bad Service - bad service, chainsaw
First day out of the box and about 20 minutes into cutting and it started to sputter and stall, eventually would not run. Next day same thing all over again. Seemed to lack power for it's size as well. My prior experience several years ago with Husqvarna was very positive. Since I purchased this chainsaw I have heard of the identical experience from mulitple sources. My impression is that they are not what they once were. I plan on buying a Stihl. If you do decide to purchase this chainsaw I highly recommendd that you do so from a shop that also does service/repairs. Mine may just need a simple adjustment but I purchased it from a large chain hardware store and it will not be a simple process. Husqvarna 435 16-Inch 40.9cc 2 Stroke Gas Powered Chain Saw (CARB Compliant)
I have a number of good chain saws of various sizes and brands, but the smaller 16" gets the most use for felling even rather large trees and cutting firewood simply because it's lighter and easier to maneuver than the larger saws. After my 39year old Homelite finally wore completely out, I was spooked away from a new one by many not-so-whoopee product reviews of later models. By the same product reviews, I was drawn to the Husqvarna 435 that was generally rated pretty good across the board in all categories. It tried to start on the first pull in choked position, and instantly lit up on the next pull after choke was opened to normal position. After normal warm-up time, it runs and idles perfectly while showing plenty of torque during my past two weeks of using it to drop and cut-up a number of both live and dead/seasoned-out oak trees that were up to 18" in diameter. It quickly cuts through live wood and hardened dead wood like hot butter. Quickly starts either from cold or hot restart and runs/cuts beautifully in any position. Great saw - I couldn't be happier with anything else.
This is my first chainsaw, and I am glad I went with Husqvarna after having such a great experience with one of their weedeaters.
I got the 435 over the 235/40 for the bigger engine with 3 piece crank. I also did not want the toolless chain tensioning, as I saw too many negative comments on it on the web. Not much to go wrong with the simple bolt on the 435. The engine idles and runs like a champ and with very little vibration transmitted to the user. No problems starting cold or hot. Hot simply required one pull with no choke. It has plenty of power to take down the 8-10" limbs that I cut during my first use with it. The factory supplied chain cuts great and i didn't need to adjust it during or after the first use. I am very satisfied with the 435 and look forward to many years of service from it!
This is a fine chain saw, right up to the point where you want to get a new chain. The local Husqvarna dealer doesn't carry Husqvarna chains and doesn't have a cross reference for other brands, such as Stihl. The replacement chains sold in Lowes, where we bought the saw, don't list the model 435 on any of the boxes. The Husqvarna website doesn't list a chain for this model. A phone call to Husqvarna customer support reached a rude rep who's only response was "you must take the saw to a Husqvarna dealer". He wouldn't discuss the subject at all. I sometimes buy replacement chains for other chainsaws online, but can't find a 16" chain for the 435 anywhere. Save yourself a lot of time and trouble by staying away from Husqvarna chainsaws. If you insist on buying one of these, you'll have to take the saw with you when you want a replacement chain so dealers can measure the chain thickness, number of links, etc. so they can sell you another brand.
After doing researches and checking the product in Lowes, I decided to jump in for the saw.
Got this from Baileys. After putting the same brand engine oil mix, the same brand chain saw oil, I hoped it was smooth start comparing my existing electric chain saw. I was wrong completely. The saw is very difficult to start. I gave it almost a hundred times try, strictly following the procedure on the machine and manual, the saw started only four times. Two of them just stopped right away. But once it started, it is powerful though. Finally my arm, my fingers are sore and tired. I had to go back to my electric chain saw to get job done.
I have to return this stupid, stubborn chain saw back to the seller.
I ordered my 16" Husqvvarna 435 after 70 mph straight line winds winds brought down half of a large pin oak in my front yard. One limb that split was 28" in diameter. My order arrived quickly and the 435 performed really well going through limbs up to 15 inches in diameter with no problem at all. The larger split limbs required two cuts. The 435 started easily every time. I did need to keep the fuel and chain oil topped out, but I needed the breaks given the 90+ degree temperature and high humidity. This is a great little chain saw and met my needs. It handles easily. Oh, I saved money buying it through amazon.
so far so good! Starts easy; saws through hard and soft woods like a knife through butter. Granted, it's brand new - I'll update this if anything changes but I couldn't be more impressed with it the 4 or 5 times I've used it. - Bad Service - Husqvarna - Chainsaw'
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Audio Cables - digital cable, low cost
Screw the bad hype about this product!
I bought a cord half the length and at 5 times the cost of this one and this one works just as great or even better. Idiots claiming it falls out....well then, quit kickin your stuff around! Seriously, what the heck are you peoples doing for it to fall out?!?!? This clicked in BETTER vs the shorter cable (phillips) I purchased at a name brand store!
Product came as pictured with the protective tips that stay attached to the cord after removal. The shorter more expensive Phillps cord i bought? Those tips weren't attached to the cord and have disappeared. Weak. Eforcity Black Molded 12 Foot Digital Optical Audio TosLink Cable for CD, D/A Converters, Dolby Digital DTS Surround sound receivers, DVD, MiniDisk players and recorders, Pro Audio cards
It's less than $5 including shipping! Why are you still reading? I've had this for about 6 months and have had absolutely no problems with it. Honestly, I had such little trouble with it I forgot all about it. That's why my review has been postponed so long. On to the review. Here's my setup: I have all my accessories plugged into my TV (PS3, XBox, VCR) and have this cable going from my TV Audio out into my 5.1 surround sound DVD player. The sound is great (kills those annoying VGA red/white cables). Sure, it COULD fall out... if you are constantly sliding your TV around. But if your TV and surround are stationary, you will have no problems at all. Surely you have $5 lying around. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.
This cable works. My cable came almost exactly as shown in the picture, albeit the tip covers were not connected to the cable as is shown in the picture, but as separate easy-to-lose caps. It's got 2 male fiber optic ends, connected by 12 feet of cable. The ends plug in and have a reassuring and positive "click" into both my xbox 360 and logitech z-5500 system, which is sure to not wiggle loose. Sound obviously comes out of all speakers on my 5.1 surround sound system. No issue there, as it's transmitting digital data. I have no clue what, in a home theater environment, could possibly add interference to a fiber optical signal? A star erupting in your living room?
One thing to mention is that the cable part is quite thin (maybe 3.5 or 4 mm in diameter). The only downside of this that I could see is that it's probably easier to destroy the cable if you were to accidentally place heavy furniture over it, but I don't see this being an issue for most people. On the flip side, it's quite easy in stringing from my xbox, out of my TV unit, and to my 5.1 receiver without having to move my TV or TV unit, since the cable is thin and flexible. Some thicker cables, like HDMI or super-shielded fiber optic cable, can be troublesome and require you to move your TV unit in order to actually bend the cable behind your TV.
I'd definitely recommend this cable over more expensive alternatives.
I couldn't believe the price of this 12-foot TOSLINK cable. With shipping, it was still under $6 and it arrived in a huge hurry with standard shipping (Priority Mail - got to me in one business day!). At brick-and-mortar stores I have shopped and at competing internet vendors, the price was in the $20 to $50 range.
The only issue is that the ends aren't quite big enough so the cable won't stay in the Optical S/PDIF socket. There is a ten-second fix: simply cut out a 1-inch square of the plastic bag it came in, fold it over once (so it's double-thickness), punch a little hole with a small screwdriver in the middle of the area and stick the optical end of the cable through this. Then, stick the assembly in the S/PDIF socket. The plastic acts as a shim and makes for a really tight, reliable connection that won't ever pull out by accident.
It works greaaaat!!!! and the price is awesome!
Total POS, The cable is cheap cheap cheap. Wont even waste my time trying to get a replacement or refund. On this one you get what you pay for. Literally self destructed in my hands. The sleeve aroung the optical calble broke when inserted into the port. And no this was not the shipping protector.
Though I've only had this for a bit, it's done the trick of connecting my computer to my surround sound system. I've used a DVI-to-HDMI cable to send the video signal to my a/v receiver (and then to the TV), and this optical cable did the trick for getting the sound there digitally (as my receiver wouldn't mix a digital video feed via HDMI with analog sound). So far so good, and much cheaper than many alternative cables. Eforcity cables have solved my problems without breaking the bank, yet again. - Digital Audio - Low Cost - Digital Cable - Toslink'
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Compact Digital Camera Case - compact digital camera case, accessories
I've used 4 different Canon made underwater cases -- none have ever failed. So when I saw the first review, I for some reason thought they might be right -- but no, this case is just as solid as all my others. Took it down to 80 feet on several different dives, no leaks, no problems.
My only gripe with the case is because the S95 is more complicated than the standard point and shoot -- the knobs are a little difficult to figure out, especially underwater. You can use the large dial which is a little clunky on the left side of the case. You cannot use the little wheel option to navigate quickly through your menu choices (the S90 lacks this little wheel).
I've used the flash in the case and it works surprisingly well for macro shots. Obviously, not so hot for underwater landscapes. If you aren't a pro and just enjoy taking your camera with you for your dives, then this is your case. I was surprised at how much better my photos looked compared to my previous cameras/cases!
Cheaper than the Ikelite version? Yes. Are you getting what you pay for? Yes. Does it do what it promises to do? Absolutely. Canon WP-DC38 Waterproof Housing for Canon S95 Digital Cameras
Works pretty well. I can see two flaws. Obviously the flash won't work that great because the barrel lens of the case will shadow it for part of the picture. The other one is kind of minor, but you won't have access to the main dial button, I mean you won't be able to turn it once the camera is in the case. Could be annoying if you're used to use 100% of the feature of the camera. - Compact Digital Camera Case - Housings - Camera Accessories - Accessories'
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Ebook Reader
For anyone out there who is considering whether or not to make the leap and purchase the iPad 2, this review is for you. If you're still debating between the iPad 1 and the iPad 2 check out my review of the first generation iPad right here on Amazon to see a discussion of its strengths and weaknesses with a number of people commenting (both positively and negatively) over the past 11 months.
Let me begin by saying this upfront, I don't work for Apple, I don't own Apple Stock, and whether you buy an iPad, Xoom, a laptop or a pad of paper and pencil I don't get anything for writing this. I'm not an Apple "fanboy" although I can give credit where credit is due and lately Apple has deserved a lot of credit for some of their products.
Physical Characteristics
The iPad 2 is absurdly thin. More importantly than it's thinness is its tapered edge which feels more natural in your hand. One of the biggest complaints about the original iPad was it really wasn't tremendously comfortable to hold for long periods at a time. For a tablet device designed to be held, that's a pretty big deal. Apple really has done an amazing job of cramming everything into an even smaller space than before and the difference is really noticeable when you're holding the device. In addition to the tapered edge, Apple managed to reduce the overall weight of the iPad 2. That might not seem like a huge deal to most, especially when you consider the weight difference isn't tremendous when you're already under 2 pounds, but I spend a good part of my day holding the iPad in my hands and the weight difference is surprising by the end of the day. The first generation isn't heavy by any means, but the iPad 2 outshines it.
New and "Improved"
Apple doubled the RAM in the iPad 2 from 256MB to 512MB. What does that mean? For most casual users, probably not a whole lot. There is a performance bump that everyone will see the effects of in things like loading times for webpages that are open in the background, but 256MB was sufficient for most daily use and games. If you're planning to use your device for some of the more graphically intense games the iPad 2 does offer a better method of graphics processing that'll help deliver faster images with fewer jerky movements. If you're just playing Angry birds and reading e-mail you're not going to know the difference.
The screen is the same for all real purposes. It is technically a "new" part in that it isn't identical to the old, it's a bit thinner and more efficient, but it's the same resolution. The Glass is thinner though, and this amounts to a fair bit of the weight loss from one generation to the next. In playing with the device it seems surprising but despite feeling lighter it actually feels more sturdy in your hands. I still wouldn't suggest dropping it, but if it were to fall the iPad 2 certainly feels like it might stand a better chance to survive. Try not to drop it though.
The addition of 2 cameras was expected. Some were a bit surprised to see the first generation released without the cameras. Whether it was for a price point consideration, or a means to get people to upgrade, Apple held off until iPad 2. The cameras do a reasonable job, but they're not going to replace a dedicated digital camera, or really even the camera on your phone for most still images. The cameras do a substantially better job with video, and FaceTime is probably one of the best reasons to get the iPad 2 over the original iPad. For those who might not be familiar, FaceTime is Apple's face to face conferencing system, kind of like Skype, or if you'd rather, kind of like the Jetson's TV/Phone. With the push of a button you can be having a face to face chat with a loved one just about anywhere in the world (provided they're on a wireless network at the time). FaceTime doesn't work over 3G natively (it can be used over a wifi connection created by a 3G device however) so you're not going to be able to use it in your car anytime soon. This is probably a good thing though. It is incredibly easy to use and if you know other people with an iPad 2, iPhone 4, or Mac it's a lot of fun.
Smart Covers aren't really "smart" but they're really very useful. Not only do they provide a stylistic enhancement of the device, but they serve a practical and functional purpose of doubling as a screen protector and stand in 2 configurations. You can find them in a variety of colors and from third market suppliers, and it's a safe bet that more will be out soon to capitalize on the magnetic sensors in the iPad 2. It's unfortunate that this same feature can't somehow be retrofitted to the iPad 1, I wouldn't have thought a case would be a compelling reason to consider a product over it's competitor, but these covers are really so useful it's hard to understand why they've not been there since the beginning.
Multitasking Support
One of the biggest knocks against the iPad when first released was the lack of native multi-tasking support. Jailbreakers added the feature quickly and Apple soon realized it would be a requirement for any future device's success and released an OS update that included the feature. The iPad 2 capitalizes on that progress and takes it a step further with the increased RAM enabling more open applications to be suspended at once, and the time to open or close an application has improved as well. That said, even the first generation managed to open and close apps faster than most people would be used to on their computers, so while this is an improvement it's more akin to showing off.
Apps
One thing that Apple has clearly the advantage in for the moment is app availability. The App store has close to 70,000 iPad specific Apps, all of which will work on the iPad 2. The new cameras will undoubtedly see this list expand rapidly, as will the inclusion of a gyroscope for gaming and motion based uses. There are also a substantial number of professional applications ranging from document creation to photo editing and vector drawing. Chances are if you can dream it, there's an App for that (and if not you might want to get started on one to fill in the gap). The Android market is making a strong showing, and ultimately it'll likely be a strong competitor, for now it still has a ways to go, but any potential buyer should consider the strength of the application market before buying a tablet.
Pros:
Weight. Seriously. The minimal weight of this thing is by far the most impressive feature about it in my opinion. It seems to defy physics and logic that so much could be in such a small space working that hard for that long.
Battery Life. From full to dead my iPad 2 went just over 11 hours with the movie Robin Hood showing twice during that time, the screen at half brightness, wifi turned on, an Angry Birds marathon and a good portion of a book in ibook. That's better than a work day and that's constantly on.
Books. This is definitely a Pro, but reading itself could go either way. The great benefit to the iPad is having access to Google Books, ibook, Nook, and Kindle. This allows for some comparison shopping and price competition (although for the most part they're all usually about the same). Reading in the evenings in bed is great as the back light means you don't have to worry about keeping others awake, but the glass screen causes some glare trouble when trying to read outside or near a sunny window. If you're an avid outdoor reader the Kindle might still be your best bet.
Cons:
Still no dedicated USB support. While there is a camera add-on that allows for certain USB devices to be used there is no option for mass storage. Some of the Android Tablets allow for this and if you find yourself wanting to use your tablet as a standalone storage device this might be something to consider. The device can read from certain flash drives though, but is largely limited to photo and video files. Jailbreaks offer solutions to this, but those come with their own issues as well.
Still no dedicated SD card slot. This is troublesome on two fronts. First, if you want to import pictures from your camera you have to have an adapter which is just one more thing to carry around. Second, the lack of expansion means you're limited to what you purchase in terms of storage. I purchased a 32GB iPad last time and never filled it up completely, so for me capacity wasn't an issue. If you want to be able to have your entire movie collection with you though... you may want to consider whether the iPad 2 can meet your space requirements.
HDMI output. Really this is a Pro and a Con. The iPad does allow for HD output over HDMI but again it requires an adapter. All of these adapters are additional purchases for features that some tablets offer built in. This can be a pain, but then again if you're not likely to ever use HDMI Output then you're not paying for something you won't use.
No Flash Support. This is becoming less and less of an issue as the internet and web developers are moving away from Flash for many websites, but there are a lot still out there relying on Adobe's Flash to run properly (including a lot of web based games). Before you pick a tablet consider what kind of websites you frequent and try and determine if they are Flash driven or not. If they are you may really want to consider something from the Android offerings as it is expected that they'll have at least some Flash support.
If you're in the market for a tablet device the iPad 2 should definitely be on your short list. If you're uncertain it is always best to go and play with these things hands on first if you can. Best Buy is a good place for that, so are Verizon Stores since they have the Xoom and 3G iPad. Don't get pulled into the hype and mania that comes with an Apple release. They're exciting and new, and they're impressive enough to warrant some excitement, but it will die down and there will be other products that prove a strong competitor to the iPad 2. If you're looking for right now though, this is probably your best bet. I gave the device 4 stars, as I did the iPad 1. I did this in contemplation of the features offered by competitors that are absent from the iPad, most notably the requirement for adapters for USB/SD/HDMI. While these features are there, they aren't as convenient as in other tablets. With that in mind I firmly believe that the iPad more than makes up for this in usability, reliability, and design and in those areas far exceeds its current competitors. Apple iPad 2 MC769LL/A Tablet (16GB, Wifi, Black) NEWEST MODEL'
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