Guy Low Price Electronic: 4 Mar 2009

Wednesday 4 March 2009

First Day Of School - office supplies, pencil

I am an office supply nut. I order imported pens from Japan, know all different paper sizing and weighting measures, and own more than a handful of no-staple paper binders. I offer this as my credentials to evaluate this mechanical pencil.

I cycle between using a mechanical pencil or a modern gel ink pen as my daily writing implement. When I saw the Japanese version of this product, I jumped at it, making it the most expensive mechanical pencil I ever owned (I said I am a nut, not that I am a _rich_ nut). This is an "Americanized" version of the same thing. As with many foreign imports, the resulting mass market product is a bit bland and not quite as nice. Plastic housing feels cheaper (compared to metal on the Japanese version), rotating mechanism is a little bit noisier (compared to silent: it is hardly noticeable), and the pencil is a touch bulkier in my hand.

The plastic is a touch too slick (it doesn't feel properly gripped, like it might pop out of my hand) but otherwise it is comfortable to use (haven't used it for long periods yet). The rotating mechanism works, just as advertised. It makes it easy to write tiny little messages. The 0.5mm lead really does feel like 0.3mm most of the time and I never have a slanted edge that cuts through the paper.

So, 4/5 for not being quite as nice as the one I have been using, but again 4/5 because it is affordable and the mechanism really does improve the writing experience. Honest. uni-ball KuruToga Twist and Turn 0.5mm Mechanical Pencil Starter Set (1751934)

I've had this pencil for about 3 weeks now. I'm taking calculus and chemistry this quarter so I do a lot of math and thought this would be the perfect pencil for the job. The kuru toga engine is neato and keeps the tip sharp always. However, after just a few days I noticed stress cracks forming up the clear plastic grip area. Today It broke off right at the base of the clear plastic grip. Its ruined.

Honestly, it felt kind of cheap from the beginning. I was pretty unimpressed for 10 dollars. I'll be keeping my metal zebra from now on.

The kurutoga mechanical pencil has actually been out for a while in Japan. I've ordered a few about two years ago. When I first used them I took notice of the clear grip. As you press the pencil and lift it up from the paper, the kurutoga logo revolves around the barrel's axis, confirming the lead actually rotates.

This pencil will not work as advertised if you write in cursive, and you must lift your pencil between letters or numbers in order for it to work. This was engineered to how you write in japanese, but translates decently to writing in english or other languages. I found this most useful when I was in either japanese school or in calculus class.

The nanodia lead has also been out for a few years. It is great lead, hands down. Its slightly stronger than normal lead; however, it takes longer to wear it down. A full pack of 40 leads lasted me for about one and a half years in school.

The only reason I gave this pencil 4 stars instead of 5, is that the mechanism that rotates the lead can get worn out if you mess with the end of the pencil. Also, you must replace the eraser before it becomes flush with the end or it will become extremely difficult to insert lead.

That said, this is a great mechanical pencil that keeps a uniform thickness.

DOWNS: The first time I started to write with this pencil -I'm not kidding- I felt all the plastic creak and give way under my grip -and I'm a female, physics student; I work in a precision lab all day and I do not have a heavy hand. This pencil simply won't fly with me and the amount of "pencil work" I do all day.

This pencil's engineering might be new and innovative but it's production is weak, cheap and I really expected more out of world renowned, Japanese precision and quality.

If you want, this pencil in a non- plasic, High Grade, high quality (metal) form, do a search for "Uni Kuru Toga HG" and you'll see what I mean. 'comes in at least 2 colors, blue and black body.

UPS: That being said, I'm totally sold on the lead. I got this pencil because it's apparently one of the most celebrated mechanical pencils on Amazon and because I was interested in its revolutionary lead design. And yes, this "Uni-ball Diamond Infused Lead" is TOTALLY worth all the hype and price. I LOVE IT. It does stay sharpe longer; it does provide a cleaner, clearer script and it is very firm and does not break easily. The lead is an Epic, super Win.

MORE DOWNS: But as for the pencil it's self, no way; it's a total Fail. Again, the pencil is all plastic and has no weight to it. It does have that interesting "Twist and Turn" engineering (to keep the lead fresh) but it's value gets lost in all the plastic. Oh, and did I mention the eraser *rolls eyes... -if you can't call it an eraser- It's soooo small and weak! A total after thought, as in, "Hay guys you think we forgot a vital element to this pencil? *crickets chirp.... OH YEAH!!! The eraser!!! ...it's an embarrassment.

Did I mention that this pencil made of mostly plastic?

I must add that I might be a bit spoiled because for the last year or so, I've been using the GraphGear 1000 family (.3mm, .5mm, .7mm and .9mm) of mechanical pencils made by, Pentel from Japan. These are my true lab partners! I use them and love them. They have better weight and balance; have better erasers; have retractable tips; are longer and are all, super sweet metal alloy. -and they will be even better now that I will be re-filling them with "Uni-ball Diamond Infused Lead".

The Kuru Toga engine is a really great idea. I've used it for several days, and I've yet to face some dull lead. The tip stays nice and sharp.

However, what makes this pencil a dealbreaker is the overall design. I felt that uni-ball has really cheaped this one out. Maybe some people will appreciate the design, but I for sure don't. The pencil does come with an eraser, but the eraser is extremely small; it's smaller than the standard eraser that comes with the wooden pencils. Secondly, there is no grip, at least as far as I'm concerned. There is a little circular ring at the bottom, but it's impossible to use it as a grip. It's way tot small and is positioned too low on the pencil. Finally unlike most premium pencils, which have metal clips, the Kuru Toga pencil has a plastic clip. The clip broke off of my pencil within a few days of use.

The bottom line is: If you absolutely NEED a Kuru Toga engine, buy this pencil. Otherwise, avoid it. It is definitely not a premium pencil, despite its price, and I advise others to find a different pencil to use. If uni-ball had put some more thought into this pencil, it could have been a hit product. - Uni-ball - Pencil - Uniball - Office Supplies'

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Gas Fired Nailer - gas fired nailer, cordless nailer

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I own 2 of the Paslode finish nailers, a straight and an angled nailer. Both have worked extremely well and are extremely reliable and consistant. It is lightweight enough to use overhead without difficulty, as I did nailing crown-molding, and powerful enough to drive into solid oak when woodworking.

I did have some difficulty with the Paslode brand finish nails in that they are fairly soft and can deflect off dense surfaces like OSB. I ran into this problem when installing an oak hardwood floor, as when you run out of room for the floor stapler up against a wall you have to use finish nails. The nails would sometimes go through the oak tongue, bounce off the floor and back up through the face of the oak. Decreasing the angle of penetration was enough to cure this. Paslode 902000 16 Gauge Straight Finish Nailer

This is an excellent product which has already made my life easier (putting up siding); it makes project assembly far faster, more accurate and most importantly more fun. The technology is significant and futuristic in that such a small fuel container can fire so many nails with such force. One should be aware that the device is loud and emits exhaust from the spent fuel with every shot - which is to be expected and has to be taken into consideration with indoor use (need good ventilation). But its performance outweighs all this in my view, along with amazing portability even compared with the CO2 driven devices.

I don't own one of these but I've had several occasions to rent one and use it for finishing up the trim in my house after putting down new flooring. I have no complaints and only glowing recommendations for this tool.

I hate power tools I have to plug in and this tool was so convenient because it had no cord and isn't pneumatic. Many people complain that you have to purchase additional gas cannisters for the Paslode nailers but I think that's a minor inconvenience because it drives the nails to the right depth all the time and I never encountered one jam all the times I've used it.

I plan on purchasing one used when the price comes down a bit. I may get lucky or hopefully they'll come out with a newer model and the old ones will be discounted. If they do, I'll snatch one up because I can find many uses for it.

Nothing but impressed with this nailer. Have not had any problems with this unit at all, having shot many 2 inch nails. The air compressor gets to rest finally, thank goodness. No more lugging it up stairs or in the truck either. The exhaust smell reminds me of firecrackers of bygone years but is not a problem. It should be noted that I also bought the 18 guage after shooting the 16 guage for a few months. It's more convenient and quicker not having to lug the compressor and hose around. No problems sinking nails, just push the tip all the way down on the surface to be nailed.

I love the Paslode cordless products. I've been using a cordless framer for over a year with no problems. I used the finish nailer years ago working as a finish carpenter, and loved it then. Now that I'm on my own working as a Cabinetmaker, I love not having a compressor and hose to deal with...just grab and go--in the shop or in the field. Get yourself one of these!

THIS NAILER IS FANTASTIC! JUST CHARGE UP YOUR BATTERY (TAKES ABOUT 2 HOURS FOR FULL CHARGE) AND PLUG IN A FUEL CELL AND SOME 16 GA NAILS AND YOUR GOOD TO GO. BATTERY WILL LAST FOR 4000 NAILS AND FUEL CELL LASTS FOR ABOUT 1200 NAILS. COMES WITH NICE CASE AND BATTERY CHARGER, BUT YOU HAVE TO BUY YOUR FUELS CELLS AND NAILS SEPARATELY. WHOEVER DESIGNED THIS TOOL IS A GENIUS. THE DEWALT NAILER WITH 18 VOLT BATTERY WEIGHS JUST OVER 8 LB., BUT THIS PASLODE WITH A 6 VOLT BATTERY AND FUEL CELL WEIGHS JUST OVER 4 LBS. GET ONE AND YOU'LL BE LOOKING FOR THINGS TO NAIL!!

.

My husband uses this item and said the following about it:

"This is truly the very best cordless nail gun on the market today. It's perfect for either the professional carpenter or for the weekend DIY woodworking enthusiast. It weighs under 5 pounds when fully loaded with the battery, fuel cell, and the nails. It is easy to operate and it is rare that it jams, and if it does, it clears easily. I highly recommend this item and now that I've found the Paslode line, I know I'll be picking up a few more to add to my arsenal."

This nailer is easy to maintain and operate.

It saves so much time working on projects that would be near impossible to do with a hammer. I've used this to install complex wall and ceiling trim, wainscoting and just general use. Excellent product. - Finish Nailer - Cordless Nailer - Tools - Gas Fired Nailer'

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Zulma - hdmi, zulma

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This product is exactly what I was need to easily connect my HD Sony camcorder to my plasma. Excellent build quality, excellent image quality and audio fidelity. What more is there? It's a cable! It does it's job well. Gold Plated HDMI to HDMI type C Mini cable, 1 M / 3.28 FT

This cable is super cheap HDMI to HDMI Mini Cables perfect for Flip Video cameras. You can plug them directly into your TV and it looks perfect. If you bought one from Best Buy for $70 you just wasted a lot of money.

It works fine, it can be used in your dvd, media player or something like that, I don't recommend it if you have a videogame console like a PS3 and a full hdtv with 120hz, but is so good for many other places

I bought mini hdmi cable for my Nikon D300s for $2.50. I really did not think it would work. Now I see there's lot of choice. I had the cable for two months. Works flawlessly.Just to think what I paid for my 1st.hdmi cable! $70.00! Buyers can't go wrong with these cables and what do you lose anyway.

It listed for $0.01 plus $2.98 shipping. Even though they only ended up spending $0.78 to mail it to me, it was still a massive bargain compared to the $50+ cables they sell at Best Buy, etc. It does the job just fine, and now the HD photos from my Canon PowerShot SD 960IS look phenomenal on my Sony Bravia HDTV. Why pay more?

Oh, and it arrived 4-5 days before the estimated delivery date... sweet!

What a bargain. I was searching for an HDMI to mini HDMI cable for my Flip MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Black) and came across this item. Since it is offered below cost I decided to take a gamble and buy it. Am I ever happy I did. It is constructed of quality materials and does it's job. I can easily now watch my videos from my Flip camcorder on my LCD widescreen TV. Don't waste your money on those over-priced brands. Trust me, you will not be disappointed. - Hdmi Cable - Zulma - Hdmi - Mini Hdmi Cable'

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Graph Paper

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VERY happy with this purchase. My son attends a gifted school, so while he is only in 3rd grade we are already in the advanced Math era. However, 9 yro boys are rough on all things paper, exclusive of intellect... this helps keep his binder neat and tidy. The paper is REALLY, REALLY WELL MADE. Nice, thick sheets and a VERY reinforced (it is lined outwardly with plastic on front and back... it's really great stuff!) margin. This paper will keep throughout the school year, and likely the summer beyond. Very pleased with this purchase. A good paper to buy for projects/assignments that must be kept, not necessarily worth it for daily homework use, however. Expensive, but worth it's cost in regards to specific purposes like Binder-keeping. Five Star Reinforced Filler Quad Paper 100 ct (17016)

I hate how ordinary graph paper seems thinner than regular notebook paper and perpetually tears, no more! This stuff has a decent plastic coating the entire length of the spine of the paper making it nearly impossible to rip through it while trying! I use it frequently for work and would not switch to anything else. The paper also has sufficient density so that I can write with liquid ink on it. It does not feel cheep in your hands.

This paper is great. The lines are light, not bold and blotted like many other papers.

The reinforced binding edge is the best feature though. This paper will not break out of your binder over the semester. All the regular "non-reinforced" paper will though.

It costs a little more for this paper... but if you are looking for something that will last, then the cost is a minor consideration.

This is just a pack of paper. It is good quality, but nothing spectacular. What I did find great was being able to order it online from Amazon instead of fighting the back to school crowds. I wasn't sure I'd get quality paper ordering online, but this is very good.'

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Drill Battery Pack - rechargeable batteries, cordless drill

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Pwr+ 9.6v 2000mah Battery for Dewalt Dw9061 Dw9062 De9036 De9062 Dw9614 Dw050 Dw050k Dw902 Dw926k Dw926k-2 Dw955 Dw955k Dw955k-2

After reading reviews of a variety of batteries, I decided to order this one as a replacement for the well-worn battery that originally came with my DeWalt DW926 3/8" cordless drill. Coincidentally, the new one was delivered just as I had stopped in mid-project and put the old one on its charger, and I was pleased to discover that the new one already had enough charge on it to finish the job at hand! So far, it's been holding a charge well and recharged quickly the one time that I had to put it on. I am going to order another as a backup when the old one reaches the end of its useful life. Something to keep in mind when you choose a replacement battery: this particular battery is a Ni-Cad, but some are nickel-metal hydrides (NiMH). Be sure to check the label on your charger to see whether it's labeled for NiCd, NiMH or both. Pwr+ 9.6v 2000mah Battery for Dewalt Dw9061 Dw9062 De9036 De9062 Dw9614 Dw050 Dw050k Dw902 Dw926k Dw926k-2 Dw955 Dw955k Dw955k-2

Ordered 2 batteries for my Dewalt 9.6v Drill (DW9062). Small box arrived 5 days later, well packed.

The batteries fit perfectly and look to be the same quality construction as the OEM batteries. They are a little taller than the OEM's (i.e. if the drill is sitting upright, it is a little taller, maybe 1/2 inch.) Hopefully this will translate into more capacity. Both arrived with a charge.

I needed a replacement battery for my Dewalt power drill and received this spare high capacity product from Amazon. It has met, and exceeded, all my needs. I highly recommend it. It was delivered fast and ready to go. Just a final charge was needed to bring it to its rated power. An excellent product. - Cordless Drill - Rechargeable Batteries - Dewalt - Battery'

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1080p - 120hz, 1080p lcd hdtv

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I had been happy with the set. The picture quality is very good but not the best I've seen. I agree with other reviews it's a bit soft for my taste but it works well in the room it's in. I'm not a gamer or a big sports fan so I haven't noticed any pixel lag. It does a very good job with HD content.

I wanted a monitor not an Internet appliance because I expected it to last many years. It's hooked to an LG Blue Ray which is Internet capable and a TiVo.

It was delivered in July and on Oct 2 it refuses to power up. LG customer service was helpful on the phone but of course no service on the weekend as a matter of fact you can't even schedule service on the weekend. And parts and labor warranty (2 years) does not include the $75 charge for "diagnosing the problem".

I gave it 3 stars because a single failure on an electronic device is not a big deal. I hope that after this repair it's reliable. If not I'll report back. I'm also curious how many other owners are experiencing issues like this. I expect reliability from $1,000 products.

Well 6 days later, it's fixed. The local repair people (Videosonics Lab in Torrance - [...]) were great. No charge, despite what the LG service people said. They also said they have a lot of business repairing LG TVs, they said Sony, Samsung and Sharp are much more reliable.

My next TV probably won't be an LG. LG 47LD450 47-Inch 1080p 60 Hz LCD HDTV

I bought this set 2 weeks ago. I choose it because it as a better image quality than Samsung, Sony and other Sharp models, with no reflection on the panel.

For 700 $ this TV is a deal. Crisp images, deep blacks (dont pay for LED or 120htz those are nothing but gadgets) I watched the football game yesterday and it blows me away !!

Highly recommended.

purchased this for the den in our house. after reading reviews saw lg coming up on top many times. decided to go for it the price was right. it looks incredible in the den, love the picture. the controls are easy, which is always a plus. i purchased a 26' lg for my bedroom as well. quite pleased !

I did a lot of research but in the end I'm very pleased with my purchase being a college student with not a whole lot of money this was a great bargain! The blacks could be a little darker and the image a little sharper but all in all i am very pleased, my parents have a 50" samsung plasma 720p and this has much better color accuracy, sharper image, easier to use and i payed $150 less for mine! And you cant even tell the difference in size they look identical in size. easy tv setup the menu is simple and makes navigating a breese. This tv looks great people will assume i payed double if triple the price. Im estatic! cant beat the price for just below $650! shipped to your door in less than 7 days!

The LG product has exceeded beyond my expectations It took months to research, It was LG or Samsung I have more knowledge about the LG they have good products and fair prices, I own two LG dvd players one which I've owned for 4 year, I recently bought the Blue ray dvd player I love it along with the LG 47450 LCD I would say to those that are not interested in having the latest model however the best price I would say buy this one. I'm sure the newer models may have all newer features but you will pay more when this flat screen shows a good clear picture sound, and easy to set up. I wanted to get the New LED LCD. Sure it maybe better but I was looking for the price and the quality as well. When the prices go down I will consider the newest later. Over all LG is great for the pice and quality, I also own a LG moblie phone.

We love this tv! I agree that 60hz does not matter. This has an incredible picture. The size is great too and for the price- you just can't beat it. This is our first lcd and it is awesome.

The delivery service was great. I tracked it with amazon online and then the company called me the morning of to give me a time to deliver. We are extremely satisfied. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a great tv for a really good price.

I found this TV on amazon $100.00 less than Walmart (right before Thanksgiving) and LOVE it! Picture quality (once we figured which

input to select with our cable, which took a couple tries)is crystal.

The screen size is perfect for our family room, no side distortion,

two friendly men delivered it and took out of box for us to inspect that there was no damage. Set-up was easy...for $650 and free shipping, this WAS A STEAL! I have read a lot of reviews and based my decision on them, so far I am glad I got the LG.

So far I've had this TV a week and I'm very impressed with the picture quality. I still can't believe the quality of this TV for how low the price was. I was a little worried it wouldn't live up to my expectations not being LED and only 60hz but honestly the difference is not worth the money. I actually find the 120hz TVs to have an annoying home film look to them anyway when watching blu-rays. I have the new Apple TV connected to it along with my Xbox 360. I haven't noticed any ghosting yet like others have mentioned but I also haven't watched any blu-rays on it. High-def content on the Apple TV looks amazing. Also it's worth mentioning that the VGA port on this TV supports full 1080P resolution. This means you can hook up your old non-HDMI Xbox 360 and get full 1080P resolution using the xbox 360 VGA cable. If you want to play sound through the TV's speakers using the VGA input you will need an adapter though as there is only a 3.5mm sound input.

I haven't had this TV very long but so far it is great. I had to replace my panasonic rear projection tv because the lamp keep going out every 4 to 6 months. I thought it was a great tv till I got this one. It was so easy to set up and being I had no help this was a big plus. It is light in weight which I could pick up and put the base on and sit it on the stand. Programming it was a breeze. The manual is on a disc which you have to download on your computer to read. Wasn't impressed with that. The picture is great and the remote has information on it for what is playing and what will play next, which the panasonic didn't have. This is a plus for me as do not have cable. Over all I love this tv and right now would recommend it. Hope it last longer than my panasonic. - 1080p Lcd Hdtv - 120hz - 1080p - Lg'

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Paslode Nailer

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I have had framing guns from Bostich , Senco and Hitachi. This is my favorite so far. I still Have the Hitachi. Earlier this year I needed an O ring for it . No one locally carried the part ,so I ordered it. In the mean time I had to get another gun. Tools of the trade rated the Paslode #1 in Two different tests. One last year and another one recently. I already buy the nails it uses for my impulse gun . It seemed to be a good choice so I thought I would try it out. I am very well pleased. It is a well made tool. Very solidly built and it performs flawlessly. It has more power than I expected (always a plus). You will appreciate the rubber grip and the adjustable exhaust as much as I do. Add the easy depth of drive adjustment and you have the best nailer on the market. An added bonus is the nails it uses. They are collated with glue and paper. This combo is the best I have seen . Drop them get them wet , whatever it won't matter. They stay intact , unlike the other gun nails that use paper , plastic or wire collation. They are very tough and that is very good for us. If you can use clipped head nails in your area don't waste time on another nailer. Buy a Paslode. Paslode 501000 F-350S PowerMaster Plus Pneumatic Framing Nailer

When I started framing we had an older silver looking Paslode gun that felt like it weighed a ton (chuckle), and a brand new one that felt like you were using a finish nailer (it was light in comparison). Both guns shot nails extremely well. In fact, they were more dependable than the other brands that were available on the jobsite (Hitachi & Senco).Since somebody decided to liberate me from my Porter-Cable FC-350, I decided to go back to my beginnings and purchased this Paslode gun. I do not feel that my choice was flawed at all.You've got to make sure that your pressure and the depth adjustment are in tandem or you will have overdrives or stand-offs. This is the case with any nail gun though.I'd always recommend Paslode guns to anyone who would ask. Besides, I'd rather use paper collated nails too.

I have used and owned all kinds of framing nailers. This one is the berries! Read ToolPig's review. And Hey! Guess what? Paslode makes full-head nails to shoot from this gun. Surprised? I was.You can not beat this gun for performance, price, or utility.Just wish I could get paid for saying this.

I purchased this air nailer several months ago but only in the last 2 weeks have I put it through its paces by building a 30X14 boat shed. I went through several boxes of nails without a jam. The gun is well made and easy to use. Double firing is not problem and in those areas where I had to really reach out I installed the single shot trigger in a few seconds and went about my business. The company sends the single fire trigger free when you return a card included in the box. Reloading is a dream and the nailer fits the hand very well. I have only 2 complaints: One, the gun is louder than I expected it would be and is louder than most other brands I have used. Two, I emailed the factory with a question and apparently they have better things to do than email a customer back because I never heard back from them . . . very poor public relations I think. Overall, a well made air nailer.

I BOUGHT THE PASLODE POWERMASTER PLUS WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT IN THE FALL OF 1997 AND HAVEN'T BEEN DISAPPOINTED SINCE. THIS GUN IS VERY VERSATILE AND THE LIGHT WEIGHT MAKES IT A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH. YOU CAN USE IT FOR FRAMING, DECKS, SUBFLOOR AND ROOF SHEETING WITH EASE. IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF A FRAMING GUN THAT IS COMPRESSOR POWERED THIS ONE IS BY FAR YOUR BEST BET, YOU CAN'T BEAT THE PRICE EITHER. GO OUT AND BUILD SOMETHING WITH ONE!!

This was my first framing nailer, and I lucked out with a good one. It can get right between studs on a 16" OC. I have never had a problem with it. The gun is powerful -no problems sinking nails. - Comfortable and well balanced. It is a little loud and has some recoil, although not as much as my full-head nailor. No jams so far. The light weight won't wear you out either. I don't think you can go wrong with this gun.

As the owner of a professional custom wood crating shop, we fire 1000's of nail monthly. This is by far the worst product we have ever used. It came miss firing and not firing from day one. Our supplier thought we were crazy, but upon checking w/ the factory it was discovered to have a Paslode known problem. (The old nieve corporate mentality - getting the customers $$ and worry about it later)It was updated and repaired several times, but continues to not fire and blow air either from the head or trigger (apparently from poor fitting internals). We can not deal with this piece of junk. It's headed to the dump.....

I recently purchased the Framemaster 400 and am very happy with it's performance. Of particular note is the gun's light weight; very strong driving power and, it's versatility. I have used the gun for both internal and external framing, and to fix decking. I recently purchased the Paslode no mar tip which is perfect for those jobs were you don't want to mar the timber - eg decking. I intend to purchase the attachment so that you can hang the gun on rafters and joists. I run a small 10cfm direct drive compressor (it's light and small) which seems to have no trouble keeping up with the gun. The gun also has depth adjustment at the tip - very handy !There is a good range of nails available, both galvanised and bright, at fairly reasonable prices.If I had to find a a fault, it is only that (and this may be unique to Australia) that the gun does not come with a case.

My company builds several houses each year and many decks each spring and summer so I work my framing gun hard. This is the third brand of nailer I have owned and with this one I finally got it right. I almost bought this one last time I purchased a gun and always wished I had. The guys I worked alongside all winter long in extreme conditions had paslodes and they worked in the cold and sand while my dewalt needed new o-rings twice. I have always enjoyed the balance and low recoil of this gun and it toenails better than any other gun. Now that they added the wonderful rafter hook, this gun is priceless, and it is the least expensive on the market. Paslode also makes a roundhead nail for this gun for those of you in areas where code requires that. What a winner. 5 stars for sure.'

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Computer Cables - no good, rca cables

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This MAY be for use with a special device that has a USB port on it which INTERFACES with your computer, but THIS IS NOT FOR PLUGGING UP TO YOUR COMPUTER.

***** >>>>>>> DO NOT PLUG TO YOUR COMPUTER <<<<<<<<< *******

Do not be fooled by the little "box" in the middle of the cable which some might believe is an analog-composite-video-signal to digital-serial converter. It is not.

I disassembled the cable to see what it was, and it is merely 3 RCA connectors going to the USB port. That's all! This can damage your USB port and/or the audio/video device you plug it into. Here's why, and here is the PINOUT of the cable:

* The ground of the RCA connectors is also the ground of the USB port as well as the Data ground (D-) on the USB port!

* The "Right Audio" composite pin is actually the +5 Vcc on the USB port! This will inject 5 volts into your video/audio device if plugged in!!

* The "Left Audio" and "Video" composite pins go to the Data positive (D+) on the USB port!

Again YOU WILL FRY YOUR USB PORT AND/OR YOUR VIDEO DEVICE if you plug this cable in and connect it up. 3 RCA to USB Cable

It is absolutely an amazing deal, just perfect for watching vhs tapes or dvd's on your monitor (which is what I am using it for)FREE SHIPPING is another nice perk. Whatever you are using this converter for it is worth it(exept if you are trying to use it to connect your laptop to your tv because its only supposed to be able to input not output) So don't listen to all the reviews that say this is a horrible product because it didn't connect their laptop to their tv. Great product, Great deal, and Great seller!

the reason you can't use it for connecting laptop to tv is because of the direction of travel of the information. your laptop's video OUTPUT does not go through the usb ports, it will go through either and s-video connection or a serial port. this cable is for input to laptop, not output from it. so connect dvd player, vcr, camcorder, etc. and you're fine. so, yes, the people who are complaining about not being able to use to connect to tv's are indeed foolish, know what you're doing, people, do some research first. if and only if your tv has rca outputs, which most do not nowadays, then you could use it to record what's on tv, but easier just to connect to your cable box or dvd player or something. - Rca Cables - Computer Cables - Junk - No Good'

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Charlotte

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My 2 yr old daughter got this toy for christmas from an aunt. She's kind of into animals now so she's played with it a bit. But its a bit frustrating to her that the deer "mask" doesn't fit on well and keeps falling off. The "coats" are tied on or buttoned on, and it's a bit advanced for her so she ends up asking me to do it for her everytime. And she kind of looses interest after handing it to me. Probably good when she starts to learn to button and tie. For now it's good for reinforcing her learning her animals. My 4 yr old son likes to play with it, good for imaginary play. Though he gets frustrated with the "mask" not fitting right as well, and the antlers don't stand up like in the picture, it keeps falling forward because it has to be folded forward to flip the mask for the other animal. PlanToys Dress Up Animals

Got these for my 4yo daughter for christmas and she loves them. She does struggle with the button a bit and asks me to tie the tie part, but I think they will be good motivators to get her learning these skills. She loves changing their "skins" and then uses them for imaginary play. I think they are absolutely adorable, unique (great "dress-up toy" for kids who aren't into dolls) and well-made.'

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Office Supplies - reading supplies, labels

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These flags are useful for a variety of marking tasks, such as indicating important passages or places you want to copy. The flags apply easily and remove easily, just like regular Post-It Notes. I have left these flags on for a long period of time, perhaps as long as a year, and have seen no effect on the paper marked.

There are two difficulties with these flags. First, there are only four colors and if you need to do something like a term paper or other similar research where you need more than four categories, you have to add a designator to your flags. I have made a cross reference and indicated A on blue = Topic #1, B on yellow = Topic #2, C on red indicates Topic #3, etc. The other difficulty is that there is little room to write on these flags, so they are more useful for indicating than writing. I have also used regular Post-It notes as flags when I need to make a note about a particular passage.

These flags are also useful if you want to mark other things, such as unread books on the shelf, the location of various types of recipes, or to remind yourself that there is an item to be taken care of (such as flagging a tool that needs returned to the garage toolbox). You are limited only by your imagination.

I have one set of these flags available because even though I use them only occasionally they are very handy to have when I do need them. 3M also makes a variety of other flags and though I would probably use them from time to time, I have found that these flags and regular Post-It notes handle most of my routine needs. Post-it Small Flags in Dispensers, Four Colors, 35 per Color, 4 Dispensers per Pack (683-4 )

This is my favorite size post-it marker. I use them when I'm reading so that I can go back to passages that I want to remember or write down in my book journal. I mark passages that I want to copy or xerox. I use them for passages I want to read to my husband or use in class. Basically, they are good for everything book-related.

I have also used them to mark places on maps while I'm traveling. There are probably 100 other uses for them that I haven't even thought of but I'm never without them.

Thank you Post-it. These little things can be seen sticking all over the various books I like to start, but never finish. As a previous commenter states, they don't stick to the page and have had them in books for years, only to have them unstick and stick again with about half the sticking power as before. In other words, still useful after all that time. The only ink that the tip will hold is a sharpie. Pencil's are too hard to show through and gel pens will smear all over you when you eventually rub the thing while opening the book. I really like this size because it prevents me from having to cut the much wider ones in half. Due to my cheap-skatedness, I end up cutting these strips in half too (Cue rolling of eyes). I have one itty-bitty gripe about these things, and it's the very last strip that has this other non-stickable strip connected to it. Why?! Why not just make that strip stickable too? It's not like a roll of labels that start getting stripes on it to signal the end, or the beep on a printer as the ink nears it's end-life. Just put a little of that magic glue on the back of that thing and give us 36 per color! Yeah! Every time I pull out that last clear non-stickable, I'm forced to wonder why. Half the time I end up putting a tiny piece of scotch tape on the end of that bad boy and sticking on my book anyways, just out of principle. That being said, 35 per color is advertised, so 35 you shall get. I may have taken it too far. The bottom line is, these have become very helpful in my quest to finish at least half the books I start this year and are highly recommended.

I keep these in my desk for standard uses -- marking places in the phone book that I want to find easily, etc. I also bought a set for each of my twin 10-yr-old granddaughters. One got these primary colors and the other got the bright color dispenser. While they use them for the common purpose of flagging pages, they also use them on their computer screens to mark the exact place they need to hit again with the curser while playing PC games such as Nancy Drew (sometimes we have to use them to mark our place on a Nancy Drew cheat-sheet when we need a little extra help.) The dispensers are very handy, store conveniently and the flags pull out one at a time. - Reading Supplies - Labels - Sticky Notes'

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Coupon Organizer - trading card sleeves, sleeves

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I bought these after buying a different brand at a local retailer and these are by far superior. I use the sleeves for coupons rather than trading cards and they are incredibly durable, and even cheaper per unit than the cheap-o ones I bought before. I couldn't be more satisfied and HIGHLY recommend them. Ultra-Pro has me sold, I won't consider another brand for this product. MLB Ultra Pro 9 Pocket Pages "Silver Series" (100 pages)

I purchased these baseball card pages to hold coupons in my coupon binder. As another reviewer mentioned, the quality is miles above what a particular discount store sells. The pages are durable and the seams hold up well even when I have to store a stack of multiple coupons in a slot.

This is a 3 part review. The first is to rate the product for it's quality and how it was intended to be used (card collecting). The second part is for those of you looking to organize your coupons or craft/jewelry items. The third part is a warning about different kinds of plastics and the importance of choosing the right kind.

USING THESE 9 POCKET PAGES AS HOLDER FOR CARDS & COLLECTIBLES:

I've worked in the antiques and collectible business for many years and Ultra Pro is the product all professionals and serious collectors use. They have different grades of pages, "Silver" (this item) being one of the better ones, specifically because it is "non-pvc" plastic (acid free). But all of Ultra Pro's products and pages hold up to regular use and are high quality. Ultra Pro's Platinum Card Game Supplies Ultra Pro 100 Nine-Pocket Pages is slightly better (and more expensive) only because the plastic is a little thicker. If you don't plan on taking the items in and out of the page over and over and over then Silver is all you need.

Although the description of this item states "card game supplies", 9 pocket top load pages are perfect for housing collectible trading cards of all kinds, including traditional sports cards (baseball, football, hockey, etc). Also good for Pokémon and similar cards.

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USING THESE 9 POCKET PAGES FOR COUPONING, JEWELRY & CRAFT ITEMS:

I tried using these pages to hold my coupons in a binder. I found the 9 pocket pages not to be practical for this. The reason is the pockets are a bit small for quick picking and gathering of coupons. When I want to get my coupons I don't want to have to struggle to get them. These pockets are made "tight" on purpose so the collectible cards don't easily fall out. Well, that "tight" fit also keeps your coupons in tight, and I found that makes them hard to retrieve easily and quickly. Also, most coupons are much larger than the cards these pages were made for, so if you want to put a coupon in the pocket you often have to fold the coupon. When you fold your coupon you cannot see all of the info on the coupon at a quick glance. And as any good couponer knows, accessing/picking, gathering, storing, and assessing/viewing your coupons quickly is important.

I find the same problem when I tried to use these 9 pocket pages for small craft items and jewelry. I once tried to use these pockets so I cold display jewelry items in a binder, but it did not go well. If the item is something a bit bulky (like a piece of jewelry or crafting parts) then the "tightness" of the pocket (intended to keep cards from falling out) creates a problem holding jewelry and tiny craft parts. Although if you're going to house jewelry or craft items long term you really do want the non-pvc archival quality pockets. You just need to realize this size pocket is intended to hold one or two thin cardboard cards only, it really isn't intended for larger or thicker items. The pages will hold up, but the item (thicker or uneven craft item or jewelry) may not lay properly or fit well in the pocket.

For bulky items with odd shapes you should consider using hard plastic boxes. Make SURE they are the clear hard plastic type, not the pliable milky or opaque plastic because the milky or opaque usually are not archival qualit and are not good for long term storage, regardless of what they are marketed to be used for. How can you tell the difference? One way is to push on the box. If it has any give to it at all it most likely is not archival quality and is not to be used for long term storage for ANY item. If it is very hard, with no give, and is very clear (like glass) then most likely it is not acidic and will be okay for long term use. When it comes to food items there are numbers assigned to plastic containers. Some are more toxic than others. But the data from researchers and health & safety groups changes regularly so please see my note below about using plastic to hold food items and collectibles.

But if you insist on using pages in a binder I recommend larger pockets, even if the bulky item is very small, because you want to be able to get your fingers (at least 2 fingers and your thumb) in and out of the pocket, possibly deep at the bottom of the pocket, to retrieve the part or jewelry item easily. This is unlike taking a card out of the pocket, when the card can easily be accessed at the very top.

For couponing and other items that are not cards, I recommend 3 pocket pages. 100 Pro 3-Pocket Dollar Currency Collecting Storage Pages or 4 pocket pages. 20 (Twenty Pages) - BCW Pro 4-Pocket Page (3.5 X 5 Cards, Postcards or Photos) Four pocket pages are usually used to hold post cards and photos (do not use them for this reason unless they are non-pvc type). Three pocket pages are made for holding collectible paper money. Three pocket pages are usually not archival quality (because collectible paper money or "notes" are never place inside the 3 pocket page w/o first being housed in a archival sleeve) but that's okay because you really don't need archival acid free plastic for your coupons. Bottom line, you don't need non-pvc or expensive brand pages for your coupons. You just want pages that have good welds and won't tear. I've used both the 3 pocket and 4 pocket pages mentioned above and so far they are holding up fine. If I run into problems with them (if they tear) I'll be sure to update this review.

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ABOUT PLASTICS FOR HOUSING COLLECTIBLES (and food):

When using any pages or plastic holders to house collectible items it is extremely important to get what is called "non-pvc" acid free pages/plastic, or "archival quality" pages/plastic. The reason for this is that any other kind of plastic (soft Polypropylene) will eventually excrete an oily gaseous acidic chemical that will ruin your cards (or anything else you put in the pages) and make them worthless. This leeching of acidic chemicals takes time, months or years, but once it happens irreversible damage is done to the item.

The chemical found in pages that are NOT described as non-pvc is what allows the plastic to be pliable and soft. That's why non-pvc & archival quality plastics seem harder or crisper, less easily bendable; they don't have this acidic chemical that makes plastic pliable, or they have much less of it. This chemical is put in the plastic to help it bend and that chemical is what comes off the plastic over time (in a gas form) then attaches itself to the nearest thing - the item you placed in the pocket page. When the gas chemical attaches to the item it becomes sticky and slimy. This is extremely evident if the item you house is made of metal or hard plastic. After a while you can actually see a yellowish or green film on the item and you can feel the sticky slimy oily chemical. For paper or cardboard items you will notice a discoloration and possibly notice a slimy tacky feeling. Ether way the chemical is corrosive and as I said, ruins any thing it gets on. You can't really see it happening day to day because it's such a slow process. But it does happens and one day you'll go look at your collection and find it's discolored and ruined. Even if you try to clean the chemical damage off your item any professional will be able to see the damage with a loop, so you won't be able to clean the items and sell them to a dealer.

So, NEVER buy any plastic to hold collectible items or items you will house long term unless the plastic is described as "non-pvc" or "archival" quality. If the sleeve, page or bag is described as "soft" then most likely it is NOT archival quality.

As a side note, this acidic corrosive chemical (pvc) is found to some degree in food grade plastic bags and pliable food containers. For this reason NO FOOD items should ever be held long term (more than a few weeks) in a soft plastic bag or pliable container and you should NEVER microwave your food in these containers. You also want to stay away from BPA containers when storing food and collectibles. BPA-free is best if you must use plastic.

All food grade plastics are assigned a number; 1 thru 7. With some believing 3 and 7 to be the worst. For more info on these numbers and what they mean please do an internet search for EcoVillageGreen or plastic recycling numbers. No plastic is really 100% safe for food items but BPA-free is the best. Please be sure to educate yourself on using plastics before you use them with food items.

To be safe, always use glass for long term food storage and microwaving. Yes, you would think the FDA would not allow this kind of plastic to be called "food grade" but that's a whole other issue for another day.

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I hope this review helps you save money by allowing you to make an informed purchase. Happy collecting and couponing to you!! - Coupons - Sheet Protectors - Trading Card Sleeves - Sleeves'

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