Guy Low Price Electronic: 3 Mar 2009

Tuesday 3 March 2009

Inexpensive Mechanical Pencils - 0 9 mm, drafting

I bought this as a filler to get the free shipping. My first .9mm pencil, i must say its a fine pencil, tough to break and good for filling in bubbles.

Its high quality. If you press hard the lead wont go back in, so it holds strong unlike some other cheap mechanicals. Theres a cap for the eraser making it look like a pen. BIC Velocity Mechanical Pencil, Refillable, Thick Point (0.9 mm), 12 Pencils

I love these pencils. My kids must too, cause they keep disappearing from my desk! They have 0.9 lead, which means I don't break the lead all the time. They write smoothly, and don't "catch" on the paper. Nice grip, too. If I can help it, I won't use anything else.

I have found that this pencil is the best pencil that i have ever used! The 0.9 mm lead is tough and strong, so it does not break unless you put a lot of force onto it. I write hard, so this pencil has come to my liking, because the lead is hard to break.The soft grip relieves pressure on my fingertips, and the eraser comes with a cap on it, so nobody will see all of those dirty black marks from erasing, and the pencil looks nice and clean.This pencil lets you have the ultimate writing experience!

Over the years I have used literally hundreds of different mechanical pencils. These things have been around for years and years (actually, their history is pretty interesting), and new ones seem to pop up every year; always better than the old ones; or so they say.

Well, I still use a lot of these things even though I prefer wooden pencils. Of all the newer mechanical pencils, I have found this Bick Velocity to met my needs better than the rest. I recently started using them and have been extremely satisfied.

I use these primarily for note taking while playing on the computer, reading or watching movies. I have found that with even my heavy hand that I get fewer lead breaks with these pencils than with others. These pencils are like writing with a number 2 wooden pencil and they go on quite smoothly. The metal extra tip gives them the increased support so that you do not have the breakage that you find with so many writing instruments of this sort.

They have a very comfortable grip, the lead is easily extended or retracted and the eraser works quite well. While the cost here on Amazon is a bit harsh, this should not distract from the pencil itself as they can be bought at most discount and office supply stores.

For a general use, workhorse type mechanical, I certainly have not complaints about this one.

I really like the thicker lead since I tend to write with more pressure. The lead hasn't snapped on my yet and I've been using it every day for about a month now. It does get confused for a pen quite frequently though!

I read the reviews before I purchased this. Biggest complaint has always been the lead breaking easily. This is like using a no 2 pencil. Thick lead even though it says 0.9. Writes like a number 2 pencil without the sharp point you get when you sharpen it. But it doesn't break every time you apply a little pressure when you write. Grandson who is 11 likes it because it didn't break on him. I write myself little notes while on the computer with scratch paper. The paper gets oil on it from your hands when you tear it to make the scratch pads. Most of the cheap ink pens won't write on it. This pencil keeps writing and not breaking. My constant companion when on the computer and internet. Pencil is a decent size for someone with arthritis. Bigger than a pencil but not fat like one you would use with arthritis. Lead advances without falling out or breaking. - 0 9 Mm - Drafting - Mechanical Pencil - Bic'

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Sony Blu-ray Player - netflix, streaming video

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I just purchased two of these - one for myself and one for an out-of-state friend. I'm using mine with a Sony Bravia 1080p flat screen; my friend is using hers with an older 30 inch CRT TV (4:3 aspect ratio) until she gets around to taking her flat screen out of its box.

I was thinking about getting a unit with built-in WiFi, but before making the purchase(s), I did some research online and heard (read) some horror stories about streaming via WiFi that were, let's say, somewhat less than complementary (glitches, disconnects, freezes requiring reboots, etc.), so I decided to purchase this unit BECAUSE it didn't have WiFi (why pay for a feature that I'm not going to use?). I already have a Sony BDP-S370 (using it with a Samsung flat screen) and like it a lot; I would have bought two more of them, but they weren't available directly from Amazon when I ordered, so I got these - I prefer buying from Amazon for their returns policy. Also, the BDP-S380 supports 'vudu' AND it has an on-screen digital throughput speed readout (in Mbps) which appears when streaming is starting up - both welcome additions!

My setup took about 15 minutes from the time I opened the box until I was watching discs, Amazon VOD, and Netflix (the only ones that I've set up so far). I connected the BDP-S380 to my TV via HDMI, and my LAN via Ethernet cable and everything just worked (of course, I had to set it up for my Amazon and Netflix accounts, but that took less than five minutes each). After going through the on-screen quick start menus, the unit told me that there was a firmware upgrade available, so I told it to do it, and a few minutes later, it finished and turned itself off (normal when upgrading firmware).

My friend's setup took a bit longer, since she had never set one up before and I couldn't see what was happening while I tried to talk her through everything (from memory). She connected to her TV using the (supplied-in-the-box) AV cable. Because her TV was 4:3 aspect ratio, some of the menus didn't display legibly, which is probably what made things take a bit longer. Anyway, we got everything working properly within about 20-25 minutes.

One thing of note I would like to mention is this: all BD players manufactured after 01/01/2011 have DRM firmware which prevents HD signals from using any output other than HDMI. For me, that was no problem since I was using HDMI; since my friend was using AV, everything was displayed on her TV in SD (not really a problem since that is all it's capable of displaying anyway, and she'll be using HDMI if she ever sets up her flat screen *:^).

I'm very pleased with this unit (and so is she). Its outputs are crisp and solid, its user interface is staight-forward and easy to understand, and its physical size, shape, and appearance should fit in anywhere.

Definitely a 5-star device.

======

NETFLIX Note (04/15/11):

It seems that Netflix is no longer limiting selections to your Instant Queue! There is now a choice entitled "Top Picks For You" -- also, you can now press "Options" on the Remote and when you select "Categories >" you will be presented with a Category list from which you can search and select movies! Yay!! Sony BDP-S380 Blu-ray Disc Player (Black)

I purchased this to replace an older blu-ray that had trouble commuinicating with my receiver. It was first gen and I couldn't wait but it still had some bugs.

So far at playing discs this has been awsome, the sound and the picture quality couldn't be better. The load time is much faster than with the older players.

If you're looking for streaming then I think we need to give these guys a couple more years to work out the bugs. Before I purchased this I bought the best rated top of the line model that was supposed to be the best at streaming and I was dissappointed. So I waited six months, bought this and the streaming is a little improved but do not expect to sit through anything uninterupted from Netflix or Hulu. So I still default to my labtop for anything streaming.

Anyway I will not return it as I am very happy with the way it handles my blu-rays.

I really like this player. I've had it about a month now and can't think of anything I dont like about it. It's nice and quiet. Great picture, seems to upconvert well enough. It loads very quickly even with the "quick start" turned off. I have it hard wired to the internet so I have no wireless problems to speak of. Its slim, sick and shiny; goes great with my Sony Bravia LED. I have a PS3 so the whole Netflix "in queue only" thing that others have complained about doesn't bother me. The other internet apps are basically a rehash of whats already on my Bravia. But, Oh Well. I bought it to play Blu-Rays and that it does just fine. This player actually replaced a Samsung BD-C6500 that I had in my possession for less than an hour before taking it back to the store. It was scary awful. Seriously. Overall, I am very satisfied and actually will be buying another in the near future for my bedroom. I have no problems giving this 5 stars and would recommend it to my friends and family. If your looking for an inexpensive, quality, entry level Blu-Ray player, look no further, you just found one.

Boy am I behind times. Finally, a way to watch TV the way you should; when you want to and what you want to watch. Yeah, I'm talking about the "streaming video" feature of this player. Not only is the DVD quality great, but the streaming is awesome! After just 30 minutes of trying this player out, I returned my cable box, canceled all my channels, and for a fraction of what I was paying for cable, that I never watched (due to such lame channels) I'm watching all the programs I want, either via NetFlix or even better, via Amazon's Prime service. To anyone wondering if the Prime is worth it, I can say, YES. Not only do you get free two day shipping, you get a ton of free streaming videos. Movies, TV shows and the such, and many are in HD.

Some may say "what does this have to do with the DVD player", but if you read the description, you will find that this is way more than just a DVD player.

The only fault I have about the player, as of now, is that the remote is so darn small!! Yes, I have fat fingers and the "home" button and the "arrow down" button are so close together that I often hit the home key trying to scroll down and hence, I have to start all over again. ARG!

Other than that, again, WOW!

OH yeah, I forgot.... my first month's savings on cable will pay for the cost of this product...

I recommend this to anyone that is tired of paying outrageous prices for cable when what you really like to watch is either free or really cheap via the Internet and a device like this.

Update 06/12/11.. Beware of replacing your cable with Netflix. Seems they are the masters of "bait and switch". Yes, for three weeks, the streaming was great, now all they will stream me is very LOW quality. Even if I choose a HD movie. They will blame it on your ISP, even Sony, but if you Google them, you will find that they "down stream" all their video, and not just in Canada.

Buyer beware of Netflix if you want to use them to stream video. As of today, Amazon's Prime still streams flawlessly! - Streaming Video - Netflix - Blu-ray Player - 1080p'

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Satin Nickel Doorhandles - satin nickel doorhandles

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In one word....."Yes."

I lived for decades in a home with door handles and then purchased a home with doorknobs. I found doorknobs to be very utilitarian and not much more. On the other hand, by comparison, I consider doorhandles to be functional luxury. All the doorknobs in our home have been upgraded with Kwikset doorhandles. If you've never lived with doorhandles, after being installed, you'll find doorhandles quickly become a functional necessity as opposed to being considered an upgraded luxury. Why? Because of the ease in opening a door when in possession of a full armload of goodies. This, of course, is in comparison to the difficulty of trying to operate a doorknob while in possession of the same aforementioned armload of goodies. :)

Important note: there are three grades of door hardware of this kind; ANSI Grade 3, ANSI Grade 2 and ANSI Grade 1.

The benefit of upgrading from Grade 3 to Grade 2 is a "very" noticeable difference in both look/feel and build quality. To me, there's no point in going to a Grade 1 unless working in a hospital where orderlies are going be running into the doorhandles with a food cart on a regular basis. The difference in look/feel between a Grade 3 and a Grade 2 is night-n-day in that the Grade 2 product has a totally solid, well made, happy feel vs the light fluffy look/feel of the Grade 3 product. So in your search for a replacement or upgrade, if you can, what ever your choice of product might be, I highly recommend spending the extra few dollars for Grade 2 products. Doing so, you'll be rewarded with the daily personal pleasure and satisfaction (pride), having and using a Grade 2 door handle brings to the table. FWIW, if swapping Kwikset for Kwikset, swapping out old hardware and installing replacement doorhandles in existing cutouts is a breeze. All you need is a medium size Phillips Head screwdriver and ten minutes of your time. Once installed, you'll find these doorhandles have a very solid presence coupled with a satin-ee smooth feel; very nice.

A word to the wise, this is a satin nickel product and your "out-of-sight/out-of-mind" door hinges might be made of brass.

Maybe I don't get out often enough but if you missed it, I love these doorhandles. I'm sure there are many other manufacture makes and models of equal or better quality out there; read that to mean more expensive. But if you're curious regarding this particular make and model of doorhandles, you won't be disappointed if you choose to buy them.

Hope the above is found helpful.

:) Kwikset 730TNL 15 CP Tustin Bed/Bath Lever, Satin Nickel

Very comfortable, practical & with lovely finish. I installed them myself on doors opening both directions, & had no problems. The handles are so easy to use, tho you can catch a belt loop if you like to close the door with your backside...

Love the look, quality, and feel of the Kwikset Tustin lever locks. Simple to install with the left or right interchange of the handles. No need to know if the door is left or right, simply install and switch the handles in about 30 seconds if you need to reverse them. Nice product. Highly recommended.

I purchased this item to replace previously installed Kwikset locks. The locks were originally installed by the builder over 20 years ago. The new locks fit perfectly into the holes and mortises of the old locks. The installation was fast and easy and gave the house a more contemporary look. I would highly reccommend them for anyone especially if you are replacing older kwikset locks.

This Bed/Bath lever is good for bed/ bathrooms. It uses a universal key ( looks like sardine can opener key). The main issue I have with this product is I ordered 4 pieces (satin nickel) and they have various finishing colours. One is satin nickel (dull finish), one is satin nickel (bright finish). The remaining 2 are uniform.

Also 2 of them seemed to be stocks because there is a bit of corrosion in the mechanism. A spray of WD40 did the magic. Nonetheless, good buy.

I bought two of these; one for my bedroom and one for the bathroom. I have never installed doorknobs or levers before and the instructions were not very helpful; however, the Kwikset website has many installation videos and one showed how to install these exact levers. After watching the video, installation was quick and easy. I had to switch both levers for left hand doors and that was easy, too. Now they are both installed and they are beautiful and solid. I'm very happy with them. Highly recommended!

The picture doesn't show how pretty these REALLY are. Heavy construction and look SOOOOOO nice on our 6 panel oak and pine doors!! I've seen the exact same ones advertised for $50.00 ON SALE so these are a fantastic buy. Easy to install. I've had MANY compliments and they work great for kids - no knob to try to grasp hold of. Would buy this brand and style again if I ever ended up moving. - Satin Nickel Doorhandles'

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Motorola Xoom Screen Protector - xoom, motorola

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These are so much better than the Invisible Shield it isn't funny. Fit is absolutally perfect and installation literally took seconds. Shield is kind of a hard plastic making it much easier to apply and it was very easy to get air bubbles out as I was installing. Each shield in the package was individually wrapped and came with its own installation card which is made of thin cardboard as well as its own cleaning cloth which means three of everything. Matte finish though not fingerprint proof wipes clean with the swipe of a shirt sleeve and does a good job of reducing glare without reducing screen clarity to a great degree. Finger glides easily over the screen protector without the jumping and binding of the helicopter blade protection stuff other people use. If you need to protect a helicopter buy them, if not buy these shields. You will be much happier. As the reviewer before me said, the stylus listed was not in the package. I'm assuming there was a typo and they have not corrected but I wasn't expecting it at this price anyways. Only complaint I have was the shipping packaging. They came in a plastic postage envelope without any protection, not even a cardboard slip. There was no damage to mine but knowing the postal system, there could have been. HandHelditems(TM) Motorola Xoom Anti-Fingerprint, Anti-Glare, Matte Finishing Screen Protector (3 Pack) (Free HandHelditems Sketch Universal Stylus Pen)

Wow! I feel like I can finally fully enjoy my Xoom for the first time since I bought it!

These Luxmo screen protectors for the Moto Xoom are almost perfect! They completely wash out all the awful glare and mirror-like shine produced both the Xoom's screen (AND the Verizon screen protector for the Xoom).

They are identical to the "feel" of the anti-glare screen protectors that are sold by B&N for the Nook Color (if you happen to own one of those too).

Absolutely no fingerprints are left behind...Now I can ditch the little cloth I constantly keep at hand to wipe my screen!

As for the size, they're literally cut to fit edge to edge of the screen of the Xoom, with just a small opening at the top for the camera. So when you're applying it, you don't have much room for error. Although, surprisingly, this screen protector was pretty painless to apply. I was able to get mine on in the first try, without going through the entire pack of three...(which is something I was fully prepared to do, being I am not very good at applying screen protectors).

My only complaint is that this item was described to come with a free 'Sketch Universal Stylus Pen' and I did not get one. To be honest, I was so excited over these screen protectors I didn't really mind too much.

I am completely satisfied with this screen protector. Application was simple and it looks great. I chose to use the "wet" installation method as opposed to slapping it down and hoping for the best. If you've ever installed window tint or large stickers you know that it takes patience and extreme care to get it done right the first time. I expect this screen protector to get a lot of scratches in a very short period of time because it's just not a very high quality material. Scratch prevention was not as much of a concern as limiting the glare, which this does very well. I can now use my Xoom outside, in sunlight, with minimal reflection.

Order did not contain: HandHelditems Sketch Universal Stylus Pen. As other reviewers have mentioned, if you are purchasing this item then don't expect to receive one either. The seller really should update their listing if they don't intend to full-fill the entire order.

Without a doubt this is the best I have found: Amazon.com: HandHelditems(TM) Motorola Xoom Anti-Fingerprint, Anti-Glare, Matte Finishing Screen Protector (3 Pack) (Free HandHelditems Sketch Universal Stylus Pen): Cell Phones & Accessories .. Minimal fingerprints, SUPER EASY application, no loss in sensitivity nor resolution. Some of these applications from other vendors tend to make the screen fuzzy or "soft". While there is no way to actually remove glare without losing some definition - this is most definitely the best. They send you THREE (3) applicants for $13.99 + SHP.

Would recommend to anyone looking to stop looking at themselves in the reflection!

All i can say is wow! What a difference this protector makes. Super easy to put on, i had no trouble at. Downside is it didnt come with directions. However they sent me a free little touchscreen "pen" that plugs into the earphone jack when not using. Recommend this product for a cost effecient way to protect you screen.

No matter what you do, you get bubbles or specs of dust. Of course, they didn't send me a reasonable set of instructions till I complained the first time around. Then the sent me another set and emailed instructions. I was OK with that but then I still couldn't get em to apply right. The second time around I nearly got one to work for me. Bottom line: These things are just to hard to apply. Get something else. Spending more might even be worth your time. Especially if you can get someone else to apply them for you.

I'm off to Best Buy right now to see if they will do that for me.

Jim C.

P.S. Oh, and don't expect a refund. They won't give you one.

The protector cuts out the glare and reduces finger prints for sure. I don't think the install was too bad for a screen this size, but I felt it made the screen look fuzzy or like it had one giant consistent smudge over the whole thing. I will try a different on to see if it is better.

This screen protector did everything it described, anti-glare, reduces fingerprints (still can see some when xoom is off). One thing that wasn't described was this screen protector attracts so much dust and lint that afterwards my screen looked dirty. I, of course, have to give credit to the makers that they didn't try to toot it as anti-static.

I'm not the greatest when it comes to things like this and I went through all three protectors in less than an hour trying to put them on in an acceptable way. I even went to the bathroom and turned the hot water on, as was suggested on a xoom board. It still didn't work. At the end I just got frustrated and left the last one on.

I did like how it had the little cardboard to squeeze out the bubbles, took like another 20 mins to do, and I still have some little bubbles. This was an o.k. screen protector but I'll be looking for a better one, hopefully one that is anti-static. - Xoom - Xoom Case - Motorola - Motorola Xoom Screen Protector'

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Rockwell Sonicrafter - fein multimaster, flush cut

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I didn't even know this tools existed until I saw the infomercial on TV. I install interior carpentry for a living and really sat up on the couch when I saw how easily it cuts existing baseboard and door casing without tearing up the wall or beating it up with a chisel. However, I couldn't justify the obscenely high price of the Fein for a tool I thought I would rarely use, so I bought a cheap knock off version just to test it's versatility. In the one week that I had the El Cheapo before it quit, I used it to cleanly cut fascia board, T&G flooring, T-111 siding, and casing. It seemed like every time I turned around I found a new use for it. OK, now I was convinced I couldn't live without one, time to upgrade. After checking the reviews and actually handling the competitions versions at HD and Lowes, I decided to go for it get the Fein. Hands down this tool looks and feels way better than anything else I checked out. The quick blade change feature on the Fein helps justify the price, as my other tool required frequent stopping and tightening with an allen wrench. So far it has performed smoothly and competently. On the other hand I was really shocked at how cheap and flimsy the case is. What where they thinking when they designed that thing? For a couple bucks they could have designed a case more worthy of the tool. I'm used to the rugged Dewalt cases you get everytime you buy one of their tools. The price of the Fein replacement blades is also off the scale. I suggest you try Versa-Tool brand which are a good quality blade at 1/3 the price. Overall, I am pleased with the tool itself, and know from past expierence that the sting of the high price will fade over time if the tool holds up as expected. Fein FMM 250Q Select Plus MultiMaster Oscillating Detail Sander Tool Kit

This tool is the best thing since sliced bread there are so many things you can do with it, to start get over the sticker shock, if you get one and figure out how to use it you will love all the things i will do from drywall cutting to grout line cleanup for tile removal the cost is spendy for the different attachments but well worth the money if you work with your hands at all you will LOVE THIS TOOL! Thanks for making my job easier! With fein MultiMaster your next project just got easier too.... - Fein Multimaster - Fein - Multi-max - Flush Cut'

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Desktop Replacement - stand, aluminum

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This is a beautiful, space saving laptop stand. I do love it, but NOT for the machine I intended. The description says any laptop over 10" - but I would not recommend it for 17" machines. The width on this stand is fixed - not adjustable. We are now using it for my little 13" machine. Originally, we intended to use it for our 17" laptop, but it really isn't deep enough to support the machine - nor wide enough - very precarious. Much of the weight in our 17" resides in the back. With the front clips installed on the stand, the back of the laptop hangs over the back edge and teeters off. I would not feel comfortable using this without front clips.

Great stand, but I wouldn't recommend it for any laptop over 15"

Otherwise, the quality is great, as is the case with most Griffin products.

Amazon is great - fast shipping and I strongly recommend Prime. Griffin Technology GC16034 Elevator Laptop Stand

I was looking for a laptop stand that allowed me to use my laptop as a desktop replacement. This stand is simple, nice looking, functional and contrary to a review I read, stable. I suppose, there might be a laptop with a super slippery bottom that might allow the laptop to fall if it is bumped by accident, but honestly it is hard for me to envision any laptop falling or sliding off the stand on it's own. I am currently using the stand with my Sony Vaio 15.6" laptop. In any case, let me return to my review:

1. The stand lifts the laptop monitor up to a height that is the perfect height for me.. the top of the monitor is just below eye level.

2. The design of the stand allows it to not have any side rails so that any keyboard, no matter what size, can be stored under the laptop freeing up the maximum desk space when the laptop is not in use.

3. The stand is very sturdy and stable. The stand has a very slight angle forward to counter-balance the monitor screen and expose the laptop keyboard to the user. The high quality rubber on the solid metal bracing provides a sturdy and stable base for the laptop. As I stated earlier, I can't imagine this falling or slipping off the stand unless the table is not stable or if it is accidentally knocked off or yanked off by a cable, but this is true of most stands. There are plastic little tabs that stick up on the front of the stands for a super slippery laptop with a near zero frictional coefficient. ;)

4. The laptop stand looks cool. The laptop floats in the air. I have a cable that connects to the second monitor and a USB cable for additional storage, but other than that the stand, laptop, second monitor, wireless keyboard, and wireless mouse create a very functional, cool looking, and clean desktop.

I shopped for a long time for this stand and am very pleased with it. Oh, the amazon price was substantially lower than what I saw this stand for elsewhere (or even with other vendors on Amazon.)

I hope this is helpful.

Rich

I've owned this for 4 years, and for the most part it's been great. I logged on today to replace it. My MB Pro 13 inch has fallen off 4 or 5 times now when I've walked away from my desk. The most recent time it fell onto a concrete floor. At that point I decided it's worth it to replace this stand with the M-stand which has a lip to prevent your machine sliding down. It's served me well, but that costly flaw means it's not worth keeping.

I recently purchased this in Sydney, and though I can't confirm what you'll receive from Amazon, I can confirm from other reviews that the latest versions of this Griffin product come with plastic clips on the end which precent the laptop from ever sliding off the stand.

Overall I'm very happy with the quality of this product. The two aluminium struts feel substantial and have a decent, have generous rubber pads for feet, and I'm seeing some decent operating temperature improvements on my 2010 i7 15" Macbook Pro - probably a drop somewhere around 5 degrees Celsius for the toasty CPU temperatures. There's only the slightest wobble when the Macbook is touched (as can be expected), but as a stand to keep the Macbook alongside an external monitor it's great. It raises the laptop to eye-level, and leaves a little space underneath to maybe put an external hard drive, router, or whatever else you might fancy with your newfound desk space. All for a decent price.

I'm not giving this product five stars, only because I'm not so keen on the look of the plastic base unit, and I wish the plastic clips had been integrated into the original design so that the aluminium simply curved upwards. While it's fantastic that the whole unit is detachable and therefore easily portable, I just find the clear acrylic looks a bit tacky. From a functional standpoint, I'm pleased.

This stand looks great, works well (MBP 15") and was easy to assemble (just snap a couple pieces together, very obvious what goes where). It's stable enough for the computer to rest on and helps a lot with heat dissipation. I wouldn't plan to put much underneath it though as the legs will get in the way a bit, though a couple textbooks might fit well. Also, it's just not stable or solid enough to accommodate typing. The entire unit shakes and the screen will be all over the place even for a light typer. Perfect for a keyboard or external monitor setup though, or even just a charging station.

Bought this stand to prop up my laptop to be level with my external monitor. The stand looks really nice and stylish. One downside is that I think the stand is a tiny bit too high. Nothing to really complain about though. Below the laptop is an area where you can put some things under it. I have my speakers remote and external usb hub placed there.

Somehow, through no fault of my own I became the IT guy at my agency. Apparently, my ability to find the answer to a tech question on Google is vastly superior to that of my co-workers ;-) So anyway that also means I'm the guy who buys stuff on Amazon. I've bought 14 of these so far and they work great with everything from 13" MacBooks to 17" MacBook Pros. They work so well that I bet they'll even work with a PC. See ya' later, off to go buy number 15. - Laptop - Apple - Aluminum - Stand'

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Mapping Gps Navigation Software

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It is more convenient to use a detailed full screen mapping program like this than any internet map or hand held gps device when planning a route. It is not as convenient to use while driving unless a passenger is willing to hold your laptop or netbook, and you will need a compatible gps receiver like DeLorme's Earthmate to use your computer as a gps device.

This 2011 edition is not as updated as it should be. The last previous edition I own is 2003. I ordered but had to return Street Atlas 2008 because it was not at all updated in my town. The 2011 edition finally included my now 5 year old street, an extension of the 8 year old street that still wasn't on the 2008 version. Unfortunately, my part of the street is just named Local or Rural Road, as are some of the other streets in my neighborhood. A major connecting road in my town is still only drawn for half of its three mile length, even though I emailed DeLorme about that omission back in 2008. Also, two streets in my development are misspelled, leading to search problems that had to be worked around by correcting the spelling in the search window. Since they pride themselves in using their own maps, DeLorme has to take responsibility for errors and omissions. My little TomTom GPS that is now over a year old has more up to date maps.

This is the first time I bought the Plus version, which gives the added ability to find 120 million businesses and people, which it will map to various degrees of accuracy. Some of my friends and family it had, others it didn't. As with my TomTom, it is sometimes so far off that you will not be able to find your point of interest without asking a local for help. The included phone book in the Plus version, however, gives you the address to work with and thus another way to program your destination and find it on your own using either Street Atlas or your small GPS device.

Overall, Street Atlas is an easy to use program for planning routes and a good supplement to the window mounted gps that I travel with. Each fills in the blanks in the other. When I last traveled through a wildlife refuge, my TomTom showed none of the unnamed streets that crossed each other. Street Atlas showed all of the roads so that I could navigate.

Netbook owners can use your desktop computer to transfer the DVD's to a flash drive that you can then attach to your netbook for program installation. Alternately, you can also download the program through DeLorme for List Price. Street Atlas USA 2011 Plus

I have used MS Street and Trips for years but thought I would try Street Atlas USA 2011 Plus. I installed the software and searched for my suburban residential home which is 17 years old. The Street Atlas USA search couldn't even find my street much less my house number even though I could scroll the map and view my street. As a second test, I searched for my daughter's 35 year old suburban residential home and Street Atlas USA placed it about a half mile from the actual location. Now, MS Streets and Trips may have problems in outlying areas and with a couple of towns having very unusual addresses, but finding basic addresses such as mine or my family's has not been an issue. I had hoped Delorme would be a step up from Microsoft or, at least, on par. I was not expecting such a step backwards.

We are long users of Street Atlas. As a full-time RVer, we use multiple map programs, but keep coming back to Street Atlas for most of our use. After several years, we decided it was time to upgrade. Larger type makes it easier for the "Navigator" to read while traveling. We particularly like the split screen with up close and higher level showing at the same time -- easier to understand what is ahead. The Radar feature allows us to be aware of upcoming locations on our designated path. Just a well designed map program. With this version, we did find that set-up is much easier if you use the DeLorme brand GPS plugged into the USB port. That unit also seems to find satellites faster.

We've used DeLorme for years, and have seen the changes come and go. While this product is a bit more complicated to get used to than other mapping software, it's EXCELLENT for mapping out a route, getting information on places, finding how long to get somewhere, and changing routes.

I just got back from a 12,000 mile trip around the country using De Lorme Street Atlas Plus and the GT-40 as my GPS, and I was able to navigate easily in the mountains, downtown city areas, and around the country. I could change my route as I went and be rerouted around the massive flooding in Memphis, TN area. Asking it to "find" rest areas, truck stops, restaurants along my route was simple and accurate. "Find" an address is simple to use, and has always found "the place" accurately for me.

Since I travel with a tablet notebook it's easy to just load up Street Atlas and be off on my trips. I also like the fact that they upload changes in roads rapidly, AND they ask for input on road changes or mistakes from the users. Love the voice activated for traveling alone, too.'

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Cordless Nailer - nailers, cordless nailer

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This latest offering from Paslode is the next iteration of their venerable cordless framing nailer (IMCT). The unit has addressed some issues that existed with the original design and has added some new features. Some people found the firing rate of the previous design to be a little slow so this new nailer does fire faster. The nose of this nailer actuates in more positions and with less pressure than the older model making the nailing process a little easier when toe-nailing in tight areas. The fuel cell has been redesigned so that it is a simple drop in as some people apparently had issues with the fuel cell not mating properly with the metering valve; I never experienced this myself. This unit holds more nails per load and the rafter hook has been redesigned so that it can actually be hung on a rafter as the older style was to narrow. Finally they redesigned the combustion chamber with the intent of increasing the time that the nailer will operate reliably before needing to be cleaned. I have no reason to doubt this but it is too early for me to tell if it has been achieved.

All in all the unit itself is a nice redesign that fits well in the hand and addresses a few deficiencies with the earlier design. However this offering does bring a whole new and in my opinion a show stopping issue to the table. Paslode management has decided to package the fuel cells for this product with the nails. This mean that they must be purchased together so if the cell runs out, is defective or you lose a fuel cell you have to get more nails. This also does not bode well for those who have stocked up on nails. The fact that the redesigned fuel cells are not compatible with the older units is a problem in itself and forcing customers to buy nails with the cells just adds insult to injury. Paslode claims that this will ensure that the customer has enough fuel for the lot of nails but i think there is an ulterior motive lurking.

In my opinion Paslode is showing very little commitment to the customer by selling fuel cells only with nails... I think their true reasoning for this may be to ensure that you buy Paslode nails. In addition, in terms of space there seemed no practical reason to change the fuel cell design other than to ensure that it was not compatible with older guns. The "drop-in" installation could of been achieved by redesigning the nozzle and slot retaining backwards compatibility. I am sure that someone at Paslode is planning on sun-lighting the older red fuel cells forcing owners of the older Framing nailer (IMCT) to upgrade. Sorry Paslode this is not the sign of a top company that supports its loyal customers... I hope that the management at Paslode see fit to offer the new cells both separately and for a reasonable price. I also hope that they find a way to ensure that older framing nailer's will continue to have fuel available. Homeowners who may not use the guns very frequently expect that their purchase(Expen$ive) of a commercial quality tool would function for a very long time, let's not let them down. Paslode CF325 902200 Cordless Framing Nailer

the gun works like a charm! toe nailing is greatly improved with this gun because of the new tip that you can change depth with your hands. I used this gun all day for framing a big deck, went through half a box of ACQ 3 1/4" nails and every time I pulled the trigger the nail drove home, not one miss fire. when gun gets hot it still keeps working perfectly (new stainless O rings) the fuel cell is easier to load and unload. Much improved over the previous 900420 cordless Paslode framer. The only reason why this gun gets a 4 star is because you can't buy the fuel cells without buying a box of 1000 Paslode nails. New orange fuel cell is different than the red fuel cells and you can't switch the cap of the fuel cell. they say that you should be able to drive over a 1000 nails with one fuel cell, well from what I've experienced with the 900420, if you don't have the perfect weather conditions (like 15 degrees) your fuel cells don't last that long and you need to keep an extra cell warm in your pocket, so while the one in your gun is getting too cold to work, you can switch with the warm one in your pocket. If they start selling fuel cells separately I will change the 4 star rating to 5.

I recently purchased Palsode's new and improved CF-325 cordless framing nailer when my 10 year old Impulse bit the dust. I like the rubberized hand grip which helps in keeping the gun under control as my hands are dripping with sweat, which is almost all the time down here in southern most Key West, Florida. (hot, hot, hot). I can toe nail like a dream with this gun. The gun hanger has a cool improvement, as it will hang off my tool belt or when switched around can hang on joists. Very handy. The new fuel cell set up keeps the fuel cell firmly in place so that it does not dislodge while firing, like in the older gun. The door for the fuel cell compartment is much beefier with metal parts, rather than just plastic. The depth setting is a breeze as you can do so by hand rather than having to break out the tools. I have gone through 4500 nails with no problems. I was very frustrated trying to find replacement fuel cells. None of the lumber yards in the Keys had heard of this new gun, let alone sell fuel cells. My only complaint is a ditto on the previous reviewer in that Paslode is not selling fuel cells by themselves. You have to buy nails and fuels cells toghter in a combo pack. I had plenty of nails from Home Depot and did not want pay the shipping fee for more nails just to get fuel cells. I hear that Home Depot is going to be selling the combo packs and the new gun in about 1 month. Fortunately, I was able to buy separate fuel cells on ebay and get back to nailing.

I am a DIY person who enjoys framing. I purchased the CF325 last week for a job building a stage in our church where I could not use a compressor. Opened the box, read the directions, inserted the fuel cell, loaded a rack of the largest diameter (.131") X 3-1/4" long Paslode nails and in less than 5 minutes, from opening the box, I was nailing 2 x 6 framing members together and a 3/4" OSB floor on top. On the second lowest setting for nail depth, it drove them perfectly, just slightly below the surface. No need to readjust going from 2 x 6 framing to nailing down the 3/4" OSB subfloor. You can justify the small cost of the fuel cell against the time to position an air compressor, it's operating and maintenance costs, and the hassle of the air hose. This tool is amazing. I could not believe how fast the whole job went. Outside in the winter, keep a second fuel cell inside your jacket where it can stay warm. As they lose pressure from the cold air, just rotate them back and forth. Takes only seconds. This tool, if it holds up as well as others seem to indicate, can revolutionize framing. - Nail Gun - Cordless Nailer - Nailers'

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Electronic Learning Toys - flash cards, mathematics

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I went to an educational store to find this toy for my daughter who was having trouble learning her multiplication tables. It is exactly what I was searching for. Drills are leveled so the first one is for essentially step-counting by number, say, 4 or 6, etc -- up to 9. They learn the multiplication set this way and then proceed to the second level where that particular "times table" is randomized for practice.

PERFECT!

My daughter has suddenly started passing her multiplication tests. She is so happy: she said to me "this is the best present ever" with a big beaming smile. Giving a child the tool for succeeding is about as good as it gets!!

I agree the muting function is pretty priceless too! Though it can hinder one's speed a tad so I tolerate the noise sometimes.

I agree the smiley faces get in the way of completing each round of 10 questions quickly, but you can just compensate for that -- in terms of the time that the machine provides for each round (also a terrific feature), you can just adjust; try aiming for a personal best rather than an absolute one.

And then there are many more levels above these two "drill" levels -- things get progressively harder, and are a wonderful prealgebra tool too.

Plus the device is a calculator.

About as good a purchase as I've ever made! Thank you thank you thank you to this company for producing a tool that has really tangibly improved my child's life. You cannot imagine how anxious her inability to master this expectation had been -- and how much clearness this device has given in her life! Educational Insights Math Whiz

I just got this toy for my 10 yr old who is still not all that with his flash cards and for my first grader to start doing flash cards. Its great it works on so many different skill levels that my 6 year old uses it for begining addition facts and my ten year old then uses it for his timed multiplication and division tables. Its like killing two birds with one stone. And they both love the smiley face for rewards and my ten year old loves that it shows the time it took him because he is always trying to beat his last time.

This product was highly recommended by a school teacher in the UK as a great teaching tool. It was well received as a gift by the children and their parents. An excellent math teaching tool that the children love. It is portable, user friendly and has something for those on many different levels, so much so that one father, an engineer, loves to play the game by himself when travelling and is equally enjoyable to his 7 year old son, as well as a game that they can play together. Math Whiz is a tool that creates a friendly math experience which can be used for many years as the upgrading levels will remain a challenge.

Math Whiz replaces flash cards with a nifty digital solution, that doesn't need to be shuffled. The Math Whiz provides problems at various skill levels, it includes subtraction, addition, division, and multiplication. It is a great way to hone basic skills, improve speed, and accuracy, and move up step by step at your own pace. It's simple and to the point, making it suitable for adults and kids alike. An adult can use this without feeling they are using a kids toy, just mute the sound.

The only downside is that congratulatory text, and a quick smiley face can hinder answering problems rapidly, instead you must wait a second for the smiley or frown to leave the screen before you move on to the next problem.

With the help of "Memorize in Minutes," my 4th grader was able to master her times tables, but she has always been incredibly slow. Her teacher would always tell me that she's great in math, but it just takes her forever to recall her multiplication facts. I was at my wits end trying to help her get faster. We tried flash cards, repetitive work sheets, nothing helped -- and she HATED it.

So last month we started using the Math Whiz and it's been great. There are different levels so you can work on one fact at the time (eg., the 6s) or mix them all up. (They even go into double digits). We have been working on one multiplication fact at a time and have made a game with breaking her record and getting faster and faster. In only a few weeks, she can do each math fact in under 20 seconds, which is phenomenal for her. On her lastest math test (where they are multiplying triple digits together, she was the first one done in her class (and got them all correct!) This has never happened before.

The other great thing about Math Whiz is you can use it for a variety of ages and abilities. There's also addition, subtraction, and division, and you can make the problems as easy or hard as you want. So my youngest is using it for addition. Both of my children are not at all competitive and don't like working under pressure, but for some reason, they enjoy competing against themselves with the Math Whiz and trying to beat their old time.

If your child is having trouble with math facts, I recommend looking at the "Memorize in Minutes" book. The teacher's edition is available through Amazon (or if you just need the student book, check out www.multiplication.com). Then when you get the math facts down, the Math Whiz is great for improving upon speed.

This is the most useful educational toy I have ever purchased. Highly recommended!

I have an 8 year old and an 11 year old. I ordered this and the Math Shark. The Shark is about twice as much, but both of my children prefer the Shark. The Shark appears to be more challenging and cover a wider range of problems. If your child is over 10 I would choose the Shark. If not, this is a good value. I give this 4 stars because of the value proposition. The Shark would get a 5 star rating.

My 5-year old just started Kindergarten, but LOVES math (which they will only really cover a little of sometime this year). I bought this for him after his first day of school (he's "earned" a toy, and the one he planned on wasn't available). He choose this instead. He loves it. Its easy to use, even for one not too accustomed to computers, etc. He has had trouble with other electronic toys that try to get him to answer in X seconds, but loves that this tells him how long it took him, but doesn't pressure him to get it done in a certain time. The progression from easier to harder on the levels is great. He was "way past" some early levels, but he could do some mid-levels and still be challenged. We even discovered he could divide while he used this toy, though we didn't really know that before (other than 4 divided by 2 or such). He loves this toy so much, he took it to show and tell at school.

I would highly recommend for either kids struggling to remember things like times tables, or kids who just love doing math problems and want to be continually challenged. I'm sure this toy will last my little one for a long time, as there is so much to learn with it. Oh... he also loves to use it as a calculator. Its amazing how many things he finds to "calculate" in everyday life! - Electronic Learning Toys - Flash Cards - Educational Toys - Mathematics'

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Skin Care - skin care, scrubs

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I've never really had an acne problem, but I have a terrible blackhead problem across my nose. My pores are rather large so it makes the blackheads easy to see.

I bought this because I thought the little scrubber was neat. I'm terrible to give in to gimmicks and figured that this would be another one I'd be disappointed with.

I love the scent, and the scrubber is very gentle so it doesn't irritate my super sensitive skin. After using this for about two weeks I've noticed a huge difference in my blackheads.

My face looks much clearer and I no longer feel the blackhead 'bumps' when I touch my nose or the skin around it. I'm very happy with this cleanser. L'Oreal Paris Go 360 Clean, Deep Exfoliating Scrub,Natural Apricot Beads, 6-Fluid Ounce

When I first got this facial cleanser, my first through was that the rubber scrubber, while a nice addition, felt like it would fall apart quickly. To my surprise it didn't- it has been going like a champ. The scrubber is great and really helps you get your face nice and clean. The cleanser smells nice with a hint of apricot, but it isn't overpowering. It is nice and ex foliating without being too harsh on your skin. This is great for an everyday cleaner if you don't have any skin conditions, but from my experience, it really doesn't do much to clear troubled skin. Overall, I do like this, but for my skin, I need something to help clear up my skin too. This cleaner does do everything that L'Oreal says it will- clean, reduce appearance of pores, and won't over dry- for that, I have to give it 5 stars!

Another thing I have done is use the scrubber with other cleansers- which works better than using my hands.

I struggle with blackheads. I've tried everything you can name that's a cleanser from gels to masks, you name it. I was so freaking happy though when I used this tonight. about 75% of my blackheads were gone!! I almost cried, it was so weird. I was not expecting it, but it was great. I still had some left, but anything that helps. Before I was using those stupid Biore Strips that got like two blackheads... Yeah.

I bought this for the nifty scrubber, and fell in love with the product. I think it smells more peachy than citrusy, unlike the other commenters. It works as well or better than the pricey stuff I used to get from the esthetician.

When your lips are dry and flaky, use the scrubber--without cleanser--on your lips to keep them smooth.

I saw the commercial and thought...hmm...that sounds good. I love the little scrubby thing that comes with it. It really massages my face and scrubs off the dry skin. The fragrance is very interesting. It smells kinda fruity with a hint of medicine of some sort. It works great though. Will definitely buy it again.

At first, I was hesitant to give in to all the "hoopla" surrounding this product, but I needed a good exfoiliator so I decided to give it a try. I'm glad that I did! When I use this scrub, it leaves absolutely no trace of oil or dirt left on my face, and my skin is left soft and smooth afterward. I'm a true fan, and I would definitely buy this product again.

So this solves a couple of peeves with scrubs.

1. No too watery/too thick problem. Some scrubs or scrub/cleanser combo are too watery and don't really scrub, or disappears after a few wipes. Some scrubs are so thick it's like a paste and stuff fall off instead of stay on your face to be scrubbed. This is soapy scrub, but with the pad, you get long lasting scrubbing power.

2. No harsh scrubbing. It always feels ineffective and not penetrating enough if I gently scrub with my hand, so I usually put too much force and end up with a red/slightly hurting face. Well, the pad is the magic. Even when you don't apply a lot of force, the rubber of the pad help adjust the force so the scrubbing feels gentle but firm. It doesn't hurt but it feels penetrating.

The only thing is that it's a bit drying (I have combo skin), so use it along with that moisturizer you like but a bit too oily on you.

I was pleasantly surprised by the results. The scrubber is very effective and make sure to exfoliate with your hands after. I no longer have tiny bumps on my forehead, which I haven't been able to say in about 4 years. Worth trying! - Loreal - Scrubs - Skin Care - Cleansers'

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Michael Chiklis - tv series, dvd set

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Happy they finally released this series in full! Dvds come in sleeves, very cheap but no biggie. ***I paid [...] for the complete series*** Amazon has been switching the price from $68 to [...]. So wait it out if it's $68. I'm on season 3 right now, I miss these old plots and not all this new crap on csi with the same old story. The Commish is my favorite old time drama tv series. If you are thinking of buying yet never watched an episode, you will not be disappointed. RUN TIME is 73 hrs....enjoy! The Commish: The Complete Series

The fact that I finally have the ability to watch seasons 3 and 4 and the movies for The Commish almost makes up for the cruddy packaging...almost. Really Mill Creek? REALLY? I mean, I'm grateful they agreed to put out the series. I'm grateful its such an affordable cost, all things considered. I'm grateful I get to see episodes I'd thought lost to me forever. Heck, I'm even grateful there aren't a billion annoying extras I never watch anyway. But the little paper sleeves all stacked together in a pile so you have to sort through them to find the right episode is EXTREMELY annoying. Mill Creek, just FYI...I'd gladly have paid a bit extra for a better package. But the alternative is no Commish at all...so I guess I'll live with it. FYI to all: I hear Mill Creek is going to package ALL their sets like this so...just a heads up...

I have been waiting a long time for the complete series. I am happy it is finally here.

All 17 discs are in paper envelopes!!!! Bad! Very bad!!!!

I will be buying a cd wallet to store my DVDs in-

The picture isn't all that great on some of the episodes-

I wish they had spent a little more $ to make this a better product-

But I got my Commish, so I will take what I can get-

Did I mention I HATE the paper envelopes?????

*I have taken a picture of this DVD series and added it to the Amazon product images on this page*

I watched this show as a kid, and found seasons 1 and 2 on Netfilx to watch. My husband and I watched them and wished so much we could see the rest of the series. Now we finally can! We started over from the beginning and are almost done with season 2, and about to start season 3.

The only real mentionable flaw I have found so far is on disk one of season one. If you select "play all" at the menu instead of starting each episode manually, it actually starts you at the last episode of that disk instead of the first one. So I would suggest manually selecting each episode to watch, or you might find one out of order. They may even fix this flaw in the future, so it may not happen to everyone. I ordered this series the day it was released, so it may have been a mistake in the first batch that was produced.

The price on this items fluctuates a LOT right now. As many other reviewers have said, watch to see if you can pick it up on sale.

I was thrilled to find this complete series DVD-box with the reasonable price in Amazon. You can buy the separate seasons in stores but the total value of the series will then be more than this complete series -box.

I had not seen all the sesons of the Commish before, and therefore, it was really interesting to see how the character develops during the seasons. I think this was a great series and I wish that Michae Chiklis would come back to do some more similar series, like the Commish and the Shields.

I'm so happy that this fabulous early 90's TV series has finally been released as a complete boxed set. It's a detective drama with a definite twist. It's set in a small town, but definitely avoids the cuteness that might have befallen a show with Michael Chiklis' type of character. The crimes are solved every week with cleverness rather than violence, and we've never been disappointed with any episode.

Love it!

This is one great series that is both amusing and heartwarming. Highly recommended and you will not be disappointed with the acting and storylines. Of course, there is the quality of the images that are soft-- I wish they could be sharper but at least the complete series is here without waiting another 10 or 20 years. Here's what you get:

1. All 5 seasons of The Commish on 17 single-sided and episode labelled disks.

2. Paper sleeves in plastic case-- cheap, but it works for me and beats many of those hard plastic designs.

3. 73+ hours of great entertainment along with extras.

Not bad for about 30 dollars. If you enjoyed Michael Chiklis in The Shield, you'll love this as it is his younger time.

I am really glad to finally get all the seasons of The Commish, was beginning to think no more were going to be released. I had already bought Seasons 1 and 2, but I don't even care that I had to buy them all over again in this set. I do wish the other seasons had come out separately but I guess one can't have everything.

I have watched 2 disks so far, and the quality varies. Some shows look fairly sharp, and others look more like VHS instead of DVDs. So if you are looking for HD-quality, this set is not for you. If you just want to enjoy The Commish again, then get this set.

I love this series! It was unique for its time and even today it still holds up. The commish is both quirky and dramatic and yet for a crime fighting series it manages to be warm and family oriented. I am so happy to see it finally being released in a complete series pack! I have waited a long time to own this series and now at long last its almost here!

Finally available on DVD for an excellent price (though apparently it fluctuates a lot). Yes, it's a Mill Creek release with their standard paper envelopes. I like these actually because the case is less prone to "break" and create little plastic bits that can scrape the dvds.

Unfortunately, the video quality is pretty bad and appears equivalent to a VHS recording. But more annoying is that the first episode I watched on disc 1 was "edited." At the end of the episode Tony asks a bunch of suspects to "sing". I recall the original scene actually having them sing. Instead here it just jumps to him smiling and saying guys, escort these gentleman... etc... so their actual singing is "cut". Based on the number of discs and the number of episodes per disc, it's probably safe to say a lot of the episodes have bits and pieces cut out of them.

Oh well. We will probably never see a better release, so I guess we'll have to settle.

Despite all of this I'd still give it a 4/5 stars just because it's all the episodes of the Commish! Love it. - Boxed Set - Great Show - Tv Series - Dvd Set'

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Microsoft Mouse - ergonomic, comfortable

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I will be the first to criticize Microsoft when they add onto bloatware, release software which is not yet ready for market, and on and on......and yet I will also give credit where credit is due. The Microsoft Optical Mouse 3000 is an excellent product and a great value.

The Microsoft Optical Mouse 3000 is simply a well designed mouse and dollar for dollar, it is very hard to beat. Initially, I went to the office supply store to find a cheap optical mouse as mine kept on getting jammed with crud.....I had seen some optical mice advertised as low as $6.95. But once you see them in person, and feel them in your hands, you soon realize exactly **why** they are only $6.95. The 3000 feels nice in your hand, and has features built in for this price range which are, quite frankly, surprising. One is the 5X zoom feature- keep your hand on the mouse and click a button on the side and voila! Instant 5x magnification of a small area around the cursor. Very nice. You will probably not always use it, but it is a nice function to have at hand. Another very nice feature(which you most likely will use) is the lateral scroll with the wheel. No more clicking and dragging on the elevator to move left and right.....simply push the wheel left and right, and you will scroll in that same direction.

Again, Microsoft has its shortcomings and I will be the first to say so. But I will also give credit where credit is due.....and for the money, this mouse cannot be beat. Buy it. Microsoft Comfort Optical Mouse 3000

Like many people I tend to use the middle button quite a lot to open new tabs in my web browser. If you are one of these people, look elsewhere, because the Comfort Optical Mouse 3000 is awful.

It takes quite a bit of effort to actually depress the mousewheel, and when you do, it doesn't always register as a mouseclick (despite a fairly audible sound when you do so). I don't know if it's a driver issue or a hardware issue but it sporadically happens with every Comfort Optical 3000 on every PC in our company. Other Microsoft mice on the same PCs using the same drivers work fine.

I miss my old "Dove soap bar" Microsoft Mouse 2.0. That said, this mouse is the latest in a long line of good, basic, classic mice. It is the symmetrical design that, well, I prefer, and it has the benefit of having a larger scroll wheel than some of the newer pointing devices on the market. Unlike previous MS mice, this wheel does not have "click gradations," so you may have to get used to the "free" scrolling action.

But overall, the size is good for an average man's hand, the buttons large with positive feedback, and the click action of the scroll wheel is near effortless. Both vertical and new, horizontal scrolling is handy in some larger applications. It makes scrolling in Excel on both axes (up/down, left/right) PARTICULARLY convenient.

The addition of the third, thumb button can be used for any number of very useful functions, programmed with the IntelliPoint software. The long list includes a magnifying pane, double-clicking, page navigation in Explorer and Internet browsers, Show/hide desktop, and a rather interesting "Gaming toggle" to which you can program two sets of keystrokes. It can also be clicked to boost precision, to exert extra-fine control of your cursor movement; users of Photoshop, Windows Movie Maker and large screen resolutions (1600x1200 and up) will really appreciate this toggle.

If you're looking for a simple, affordable mouse for your desktop, or to travel with your laptop, it's hard to find as good a mouse, at as affordable a price. Last bonus: it looks nice, not garish.

In March 2005 I bought an Apple G5 and nearly two years later the only thing I can say that was cheap about it was the mouse: no right-click and the clicking for cutting and pasting on my website stopped working. Additionally, it started to make a creaking sound, another sign of cheapness.I didn't want to spend 50 bucks on the "Mighty Mouse" so I took a chance on the Microsoft 3000 at half the price. Following the instructions, I did not put the Microsoft 3000 mouse into my USB port until AFTER I downloaded the included software, which took 5 minutes or so. The results have been excellent. More mouse comfort, easier gliding motion, right click function, magnification function. The 3000 has proven to be a more than worthy upgrade for my iMac G5.

The middle button (mouse wheel) needs to be clicked just so to get the click to register. The click is incredibly heavy. Operating the wheel tilt feature requires so much force, it's almost unusable. This is a repetitive strain injury waiting to happen.

Occasionally, while performing click-and-drag operations, the mouse will "unclick" before the button mechanically "unclicks". This makes dragging files around very exciting. Who knows what folder they will wind up in!? I had the same problem (worse, actually) with a Microsoft Explorer Mouse I tried a month ago.

This mouse does not work on my desktop (other optical mice work fine), and *requires* a mouse pad. I haven't seen that problem since the laser mice from the 1980's!

Do not buy.

When my previous mouse started to give me problems, I chose this mouse.

It is simple to use, with very smooth operation.Like its name, it is comfortable to use too. The controls are simple.

I also like the look of it, I was looking at a very flashy red model, then decided on this one instead, as it's very reasonably priced.

I am very happy with it and would recommend it to anyone replacing their mouse.

One of the buttons on my mouse stopped working recently, so I needed to get a new one. I didn't have any particular mouse in mind for my purchase. I just wanted a basic working mouse. The reviews on this mouse were pretty good, so I bought it in spite of a few bad reviews that concerned me. I should have listened to the bad reviews. I'm a computer engineer and I spend all day on the computer, so the mouse matters a lot although normally the standard Dell or Logitech mouse does just fine.

The scroll wheel, ahh that scroll wheel. You don't realize how important the scroll wheel is until it doesn't work correctly. The scroll wheel is extremely hard to turn on this mouse causing my brain to trigger a "there's something wrong here" reaction every time I turn it. I have probably 5 different mice in my office, since I have a lot of computers and I can use any of them without really noticing much of a difference, but this one is grating. It feels like someone has their foot on the brake while you're trying to make it move forward. It's so annoying, that I'm considering taking it apart to try to find out what is causing such a high level of friction when turning the mouse wheel or just outright throwing it in the trash. What a waste of a good mouse. Everything else seems to work fine besides this unforgivable flaw. - Ergonomic - Microsoft - Comfortable - Usb'

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