Rechargeable Batteries - nimh, eneloop

Visit Store Now !!

[Updated Oct 24, 2008]

My original review on the Sanyo eneloop NiMH cells was written nearly two years ago. Since then, I have learned a lot more about the characteristics about eneloop and other low-self-discharge cells. So it is time to clear up some inaccurate information I wrote about eneloop's self-discharge rate.



1. I was told that the Sanyo eneloop cells were not 100% fully charged when they leave factory. This makes sense because new cells are fast-charged in the factory to save time. In order to avoid problem with heat and gas built-up, they cannot be charged to 100%. I have tested some eneloop cells that were manufactured 20 months ago, and they still maintained about 70% charge. On the other hand, cells manufactured 6 months ago contain about 75% charge. This confirmed that the discharge rate is much lower than I previously estimated.



2. The self-discharge rate of eneloop (and other LSD cells) is not linear! My own testing showed that a fully charged eneloop may lose 10% of its initial charge during the first month of storage, but in the second months it may lose just 2-3%. The rate becomes even slower after three months. In fact, my 5-month self-discharge test using various brands of LSD cells gave nearly identical results as my previous 3-month test.



3. When an eneloop cell is freshly charged, its capacity actually measures at about 5% higher than its rated capacity (2100mAh vs. 2000mAh). In my previous tests, I used measured capacity as base to calculate the percentage loss. This results in apparently higher percentage loss. Had I used the rated capacity as base value, the self-discharge rate would be about 5% lower.



Based on the above revelation, I believe Sanyo's claim about eneloop (maintain 85% charge after one year, 80% after two year) to be accurate. Therefore the title of my previous review ("The News of LSD Has Been Slightly Exaggerated") has to be replaced.



Over the past two years, I have tested several different brands of LSD cells available from Amazon.com, including Rayovac Hybrid, Kodak Pre-Charged, and Duracell Pre Charged. They have all performed very well - practically no difference from the Sanyo eneloop. So the bottom line is: just pick which ever brand of LSD cell is on sale, and you can't go wrong.





[Update on April 21, 2011]

- After testing and using various brands of LSD cells over the past four years, Sanyo eneloop cells have proven to be the most reliable and consistent of them all. I now have to recommend Sanyo eneloop over all others brands.



- Recently Amazon started to offer the SANYO NEW 1500 eneloop cells, at around 25% higher price. In my testing, the improvement of the new eneloop over the original is hardly noticeable. So you'll have to decide whether it is worthwhile to pay the extra cost. Sanyo Eneloop 4 Pack AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargable Batteries w/ Charger

[IMPORTANT NOTE]

My original review below was written back in 2007, when the Sanyo eneloop first became available

through Amazon.com. Part of my initial estimation about eneloop's self-discharge rate turns out to be inaccurate. Please see my other Amazon spotlight review for updated information.



[Original Review follows]



According to Sanyo, the new eneloop LSD (low self-discharge) NiMH batteries can maintain 85% of its original charge after 1 year of storage. This claim is slightly misleading, because it is based on simulation test at 20 degree C. At higher temperature, the self-discharge rate is likely to be much higher.



I have tested five of those AA cells (details are given in my review for the eneloop 4-pack). The average energy loss is about 26% after less than 6 months of storage, based on manufacturer date codes. This self-discharge rate is about 3 times higher than what Sanyo claimed. However, it is still 6 times lower than that of ordinary NiMH batteries. Therefore I'm in the process of replacing most of my existing rechargeable cells to the Sanyo eneloop.



Thanks to lower self-discharge rate, you'll discover a lot more applications for eneloop cells in your house, such as in clocks and remote controls. Do NOT use those cell in smoke detectors, since their discharge voltage profile is very different from that of alkaline cells. Also, don't use them as emergency flash lights batteries in your car, because the higher temperature during summer time will probably nullify the advantage of LSD.



[Update on Jan 13, 2007]

I have tested six new eneloop AAA cells, dated "2006-06'. The average residue charge is 589mAh, and the freshly charged capacity is 827mAh. This implies a self-discharge rate of 29% in 7 months, which is consistent with the rate for AA cells (26% loss in 6 months).



[Update on Jan 29, 2007]

The Rayovac "Hybrid" rechargeable NiMH batteries are now available at Walmart, priced at only $[...] for 4-pack of AA or AAA cells. It is also advertised to have low self-discharge rate, but not as low as that for eneloop. The eneloop is supposed to retain 85% charge in 12 months (when stored at 20 degree C), whereas Hybrid is supposed to retain 80% charge in 6 months (no mention of temperature).



[Update on June 3, 2007]

In my 2-month self-discharge test using four different brands of NiMH cells. Hybrid and eneloop came up neck-and-neck!



Room temperature: 60-62 degree F (16-17 degree C). All capacities measured are average of 2-cells.



- Sanyo eneloop 2000, purchased Jan 2007.

Initial capacity measured: 2070mAh

Capacity after 62 days: 1796mAh (-13.2%)

(Note: my previous result for eneloop showed -18%, but I repeated the test and it did better this time)



- Rayovac Hybrid 2100, purchased Jan 2007.

Initial capacity measured: 2155mAh

Capacity after 62 days: 1859mAh (-13.8%)



- LaCrosse 2000, purchased Jan 2006.

Initial capacity measured: 1902mAh

Capacity after 62 days: 1417mAh (-26%)



- SONY 2300, purchased Sep 2004.

Initial capacity measured: 2210mAh

Capacity after 62 days: 1309mAh (-41%)



So neither eneloop nor Hybrid did as well as advertised, but they are still significantly better than previous generation of NiMH cells. So you can't go wrong with either brand. - Battery Charger - Eneloop - Battery - Nimh'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Rechargeable Batteries - nimh, eneloop battery charger Rechargeable Batteries - nimh, eneloop

Latitude Wiper Blades - rain-x, latitude wiper blades

Visit Store Now !!

Reading some of the other reviews, I think some people are installing these incorrectly. The symptoms they describe sound like the first set I bought, which was for my girlfriend's 2008 Nissan Rogue. When I installed the driver's side wiper (the longer of the two) it didn't make good contact with the windshield and would have left huge streaks. There is a way to adjust how the wiper sits by fiddling with the mount. Once I did that (per the included instructions), it worked like a champ. I just put a pair on my 2010 Xterra, and didn't have to do anything special...they worked great from the start. It sometimes pays to read the instructions.



As far as the blades scratching the windshield, the only thing I can think of that would cause that to happen is if they forgot to take the plastic cover off the blade. I can't see how someone might do that, but the blade itself is pretty flexible, so I have no idea how it could scratch auto glass.



For me, these have been great, and the price on Amazon is very reasonable. I think I saved about $6 per blade by not getting them at the local auto parts store. I think this should be one of the items that Amazon lets you "Subscribe" to, so you could have them delivered every six months or so. That would certainly help me to remember to change my wiper blades! Rain-X 5079280 Latitude 8-In-1 Premium Graphite Coated Wiper Blade - 24"

These wipers are fantastic in the rain, especially when brand new. They do not squeak or smear while removing all water from your windshield.



In the snow, they are not that bad, if you park your car in a garage anyway. The problem with these blades is that they do not hold up well in cold weather, especially when coated with snow and ice.



I've had these blades on my Blazer for about 7 months, and during the fall they were great. Once the bad weather started to come (Buffalo, NY) the snow and ice began to build up on the blades while parked outside. The design of these blades includes plastic end caps that keep the main blade strip from moving. But when water has collected inside the cap and it freezes, the expanded ice loosens the cap and it eventually falls off. After that, the blade will slowly ease its way out from the holder slot. If you do not slide it back right away (every day or during the drive) it will ruin the blade when it wipes. This results in the wiper not being able to get a clean wipe in thick snows or sleet on both strokes. I regularly get a big wet icy patch in the middle of my windshield due to this.



I have been looking for the perfect winter wipers for a long time, and these are not them.

The Rain-X Latitude wiper blade promises advanced visibility through simplified design. Gone are the springs and hinges that conventional wipers use to try to keep the blade on your windshield. The Latitude is basically a floppy graphite-coated blade that molds itself to the shape of your windshield, promoting more uniform contact, pressure, and as a result, visibility.



I've been using mine for several months now and have always been pleased with their performance. They're definitely quieter than any other wipers I've ever used and they do eliminate those annoying streaks of rain/ice/salt that can form when conventional wipers start to break down.



Installation was supposedly simple, but the mounting clips that were provided were ill-fitting. Plus, they're made out of lightweight plastic that felt very cheap - I was afraid that I'd break them while trying to fit them to my car's wiper arms. I finally gave up and had my mechanic put them on since I had a routine appointment coming up anyway.



My only ongoing concern is how long they'll last given the plastic mounting clips and the soft, delicate feel of the blades themselves. I'll update this review if I run into any trouble, but so far so good.

When I received these wipers I was pretty excited about the design. They are basically a sturdy curved flexible one-piece body with a graphite rubber wiper blade attached. They curve that is build-in seems to be a good solution to replacing all of the little metal springy parts that make up a conventional wiper - fewer parts to catch ice or snow.



I installed these on my '03 Tundra and found that when the curve of the wiper was pushed into the curve of my windshield it failed for about 1.5" of wiper on the far right of the passenger window wiper. This small portion just floated over the window - in some places wiping - in most places just skimming the water, not really touching the window.. This was also happening to a lesser degree on the driver's side. The result is unsatisfactory, as the missed water tends to cause running before the wiper cycles again. I switched sides and got the same results.



I am going to try to intentionally deform the wiper end that is not contacting the window but I'm afraid the verdict is in for me. These may work just fine for your vehicle but '03 Tundra owners, consider yourselves warned.

In cold weather one wiper worked in one direction of sweep then did not "flip" over and change direction for the opposite sweep. This caused a chattering and rappid skipping.



The other wiper simply did not make complete contact with windshield.



These might work in a warm weather climate.

I had Bosch wipers on my VW Passat and they never really cleaned off the windshield well. I've had the 20" Latitudes on for two month in a typical New England winter (rain, snow, sleet, more snow) and they've worked like a charm. I would recommend them over Bosch, they are more substantial and look cool too.

So, this was my first attempt at the "contemporary" wiper blade design and I have to say I was extremely disappointed with the Latitudes. Right out of the box they were streaking on me. The driver side wiper was leaving a huge smear patch in the middle of my line of sight. They were very quiet, but just didn't seem to hug the windshield at all. I have since moved to the Bosch Icon's and they are a far superior product in my opinion. - Wiper - Latitude Wiper Blades - Wiper Blades - Rain-x'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Latitude Wiper Blades - rain-x, latitude wiper blades rain-x Latitude Wiper Blades - rain-x, latitude wiper blades

Lithium Battery - battery packs, lithium-ion

Visit Store Now !!

I have owned a set of Makita tools with the LXT batteries for a couple years now and I have noticed absolutely zero power loss or any other problems. I use them quite regularly whether building concrete forms, decks, remodels, etc. I can think of three things that may be happening to the batteries of those who have commented on bad performance or longevity; (1) Occasionally, batteries can be bad from the factory (I have yet to own a milwaukee tool with the new "V" or "M" series battery that holds up past a few months. I have both V28 and M12, and have had ALL packs replaced) (2) It is possible to have a bad charger which is damaging the batteries itself, or (3) Perhaps the users are taking them all the way to the point of stalling and complete discharge, and for that the batteries are truly not made to do. It is best that once you notice the battery pack is wearing down, to grab a fresh one and put the discharged on the charger to cool down and refresh. Also, if the batteries are being stored for most of their life, it is best to keep the charger plugged in and rotate batteries through it to keep everything active and refreshed. Lithium batteries have computer chips and sophisticated circuitry, allowing them to constantly be charged without damage. Ni-Cad on the other hand are not supposed to be charged over and over again because they typically have memory effects and lifetime charging limits. It is best to mostly, not completely, discharge a Ni-Cad before replacing back onto the charger. Because a consumer only has ultimate control of this last variable, it is a good idea to read the owners manual and find out what the manufacturer thinks is best operating practices. Only those who are using the batteries and tools know how they are being treated, and you may very well be doing everything right and not fall into this third category. Being that my kit is from a couple years ago, and my newest battery packs (purchased just for continued use because I have many LXT tools) were purchased last year sometime, it is possible that the newer batteries are of a lesser quality, and that would be unfortunate. What I can say is this; I own many Dewalt tools, which I have only had to replace a couple Ni-Cad battery packs in the past 5 years. (Dewalt tools are mostly made in Mexico) I have owned MANY Milwaukee tools in which their Ni-Cads held up pretty well, but their Li-Ion line is absolute crap. Several years ago when their tools were still made in the US, their quality was impeccable. Their tools are now made completely in China. (Yes, many of the Makitas are also) I own several Bosch as well, and their batteries and tools are right up there with Makita's quality. As far as Skil, Black and Decker, and any other cheaper or knock-off brand goes, I would personally never purchase them. For one, you are supporting China, and secondly you would be purchasing a tool that is undependable. Hitachi has an excellent warranty, and makes excellent air nailers, however I'm unsure of the quality you may find in their power tools, both corded and cordless. I hope this was helpful. Makita BL1830 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Battery

Really, these batteries provide seemingly endless power. They hold their charge for weeks with very little loss. I can use one battery for drilling and driving throughout an entire (moderately sized) project. They are extremely lightweight and charge in twenty minutes or less usually (in hot weather it takes longer). All three of mine slide on and off easily, with no issues of binding or falling off. With all the praise comes a VERY important caveat. DO NOT run these batteries into the ground. The instructions state that as soon as you notice a loss of power, stop and charge. If you over-discharge Li-Ion batteries, you can seriously degrade the life of the battery. These batteries are 1/3 cheaper on Amazon.com than at the home centers, so buy from here! Also, only the cells themselves are made in Japan, all other parts are made and final assembly is in China.

I love the drill but the battery life is a real problem. I had both original packs replaced under warranty when the charger reported them bad. Now one of the replacements is flashing bad on the charger. These have been cycled maybe a dozen times. I'll be complaining to Makita and also reporting this on the various woodworking groups I support.

I replaced a 14.4 Milwaukee NiCad with a Makita LXT and noticed that my old Milwaukee NiCads outlasted these in terms of longevity. Run time is solid, but lifespan is short. Two dead after one year, I'm only a homeowner. I've only done a few lengthy jobs such as putting cement board down in a 10x20 room, and building a deck with these, in addition to the other basic tasks of drywall, and other light construction needs. Love the light weight though. Now, I need new ones. Somewhat disappointing.

I went ahead and invested in a pair of these batteries despite the mixed reviews, figuring I'd at least get a year out of them with the warranty. So far, they've performed just fine, even on tools that are supposed to only use the BL1830. I mostly use them on the BHP454 drill (note: this is one of the tools that's keyed for the 1830 pack) and BTD141 impact driver when I'm not going to be using them for long, so the decreased runtime doesn't bother me. I also use them on the angle grinder and recip saw (after removing the little tab on the tools) for light work in tight spaces. I wouldn't want them to be my only batteries, but they're a great addition to a couple of the larger batteries if you have a few tools that can use them.



These slim packs are very handy on the drill, impact, and flashlight- the lighter weight and smaller size are noticeable, especially with the smaller (BDF/BHP452) drills. However, buyer beware when it comes to using them on the 'heavier' tools, as they are keyed for the larger batteries because they can draw more current than these smaller batteries can provide without damaging the cells. So you probably shouldn't slap one of these on your circular saw and go ripping 2x12s all day, or you'll kill the pack very quickly. Makita isn't trying to screw you into buying more batteries, they're trying to make sure you don't kill your batteries.



Another note, considering how many complaints of defective packs there are: don't run these batteries down to nothing, and try not to store them fully charged. Running them into the ground is a sure way to damage the cells, and I've read estimates of up to 20%/year capacity loss for a fully-charged pack, compared to as low as 2%/year for a pack stored @ 40% charge.



And of course, like any cordless tool/battery purchase- shop your options before buying batteries separately. I got the BHP452HW kit for only $50 more than 2 batteries. That's a cheap, easy way to have a spare drill or driver and charger for around the house, or to sell to recoup the extra cost.



I'm knocking off one star because Makita doesn't do a good job of letting people know that these slim packs only work on certain tools- and not very many, either. That's been a complaint for years now, and it's still not mentioned anywhere in their literature or website- even my local Makita dealer didn't know they weren't compatible with all LXT tools. It's not like it's standard practice- Bosch's and Milwaukee's slim packs fit their entire lineup, AFAIK. - Lithium-ion - Lithium Battery - Battery Packs - Makita'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Lithium Battery - battery packs, lithium-ion battery packs Lithium Battery - battery packs, lithium-ion

Spinning Rods - ugly-stik

Visit Store Now !!

I am lucky to live in hawaii where the fishing is awesome. I decided to start kayak fishing about a year and a half ago to get to the bigger fish. Well the fish are a lot bigger than I thought they would be so I upgraded from my trusty 8" Ugly Stik to this Ugly Stik Tiger. I am very glad I did. This weekend I put it to the test when I hooked into a 20.5 lb Ulua (giant trevally)! The action of the pole was perfect. I matched it to a Penn 850 ssm with 30lbs test and it is the perfect combo for inshore trolling. I highly recommend this for any angler who needs the sensitivity and strength to land the big ones. I will never fish with anything else. Shakespeare Two-Piece Medium Action Ugly Stik Spinning Rod, 7-Feet

I have several of these rods in various lengths and strengths. From the little 4'6" ultra lite that I keep in the truck to the 9' medium action for river fishing, they all perform incredibly. Plenty of backbone to set the hook and fight big fish and all with a sensitive tip for the most picky bites. For the price, you can get more rods instead of having one "do-it-all". Mine are paired up with Pfleugger president reels (sizes match the rods). My oldest one is 8-9 years and the newest one was this spring; 5 in all. I even give these as gifts to friends and my son has taught his friends to fish and they bought Ugly stix. You really can't go wrong. My truck rod even had a duffel bag of DeWalt screwguns sit on it for almost a week with no affects to it at all. When I first saw it bent over I thought it was a goner. My oldest and favorite rod.

What a great rod. An all-around great value. It's practically unbreakable, plus the 7 foot length allows me to cast farther with lighter baits. I had an 80 lb. sturgeon on my other rod and had no problems other than my reel fell apart before I could get it in the boat. I highly recommend these rods!

The rod was portable, and had good action. I expected it to last for years. After three months, I noticed a crack on the tip top ring, then the round bearing ring separated from the metal ring. Perhaps it was because something heavy landed on it, or I might have collided it with something, or it was a defective rod. I went to the local fishing tackle store and put a new tip top on, and it has been working like a charm.

I mistakenly left my fishing rod and reel at a campsite in Colorado. Since I live more than 1,000 miles away I asked the campground keepers to donate the equipment to a local youth group, and I proceeded to look for another rod and reel.



This time I came up with the Shakespeare UGLY STICK, 7' medium. I paired it with a Pflueger President XT Spinning Reel and found them to be a great match.



I am no "expert" so I really cannot comment much on the differences (if there are any) in the "pro" rods as compared to the "economy" sticks. I easily rate this rod 5 stars because it does all I expect from it, and then breaks down into two pieces for transportation and storage. I couldn't be happier, and it didn't cost me an arm and a leg, either.

BECAUSE I DID LIKE THE ROD I GOT IN THE MAIL I GIVE IT HIGH STAR RATINGS..BUT BEWARE...THE ROD IN THE PIC IS NOT WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE

IT IS INDEED AN UGLY STICK THE DIFFERENCE IS THE HANDLES ARE NOT AS DEPICTED........AND THE HANDLE IS WHAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION WITH THIS UGLY STICK.....SO BEWARE THE ROD ON THE PIC IS NOT WHAT YOU WILL GET.....ALL SPECS MATCH BUT THE HANDLE IS THE DIFFERENCE WHICH SORTA KINDA BOTHERED ME BUT I STILL LIKE WHAT I GOT..... - Ugly-stik'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Spinning Rods - ugly-stik ugly-stik Spinning Rods - ugly-stik

Trivia Games - board game, family game

Visit Store Now !!

Wits and Wagers is a game that is endlessly playable and enjoyable even though you never get the right answer (at first). The appeal to Wits and Wagers is that it is a trivia game with a slight angle. There is one simple rule: no one knows the answers to the trivia (and they're not supposed to).



Of course I was intrigued to hear that there would be a Wits and Wagers Family. I immediately wondered what would be changed and how would the game be similar? I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy. Luckily for me, I met Dominic Crapuchettes, the designer of Wits and Wagers Family, and got a preview copy to play with my gaming group and to try out with families and younger gamers.



My response is really a combination of my reaction to the game and my fellow gamers' response to playing the game. All of us had previously played Wits and Wagers, so W&WF was easy to teach and easy to play. Overall, we had a very good time.



First off, I think that if people haven't played the original Wits and Wagers, they should buy Wits and Wagers Family first. W&WF is easier to play all around. Instead of a cloth placement with odds listed on the sides, unmarked poker chips with which to bet and insane questions to answer, W&WF uses simple mechanics which showcases one of the best trivia games I've played.



Here's my four main comments about W&WF (and then a couple notes after that):



1.) The game is pared down to an easy 4 step process. The question was read. We all wrote down the answer we thought was closest on our individual boards. We then placed them in ranking order from the lowest answer (behind the board already marked 1) to the highest answer. Then, we used our meoples (which we all loved compared to poker chips) to place our "wager" for the right answer. We could put both our meoples in the same place or on different boards. The big meople was worth 2 points and the small one is worth 1. The board that gets closest to the right answer (without going over) gets 1 point. Simple!



2.) The way of keeping score was just like the board from Say Anything (another staple with my gaming group). I wish the board had a few more spaces for each player because the maximum amount of points you can get in a round is 4. A player needs only 15 points to win, making some games pretty short. The scoreboard is easy and clean, leaving players with no room to make mistakes. Just easy math and easy counting. Great for families and kids.



3.) My gaming group was mixed on how quickly the games went. Some were excited to play another round while other felt like it was just enough time spent. The rounds in W&WF are shorter than Wits and Wagers, but the attention span for kids and families will suit the game just right. After playing once, typically you want to play another round immediately, which goes just as quickly as the first. And that is just fine with my gaming group.



4.) Some of the questions allowed many of the same answers to be written down by multiple players. I've noticed that this has upset some players as noted in previous posts. I understand why this was done, though, and think that it will work great with families and kids. What might be obvious to some players is not so clear to others, so some of the basic questions were fun to answer. It was hilarious to see 6 full grown adults, half of whom did not know how many feet were in mile! Having questions that are sometimes harder to remember (for adults) but are things that kids are learning in school is a great way to keep education going long after the kids are out of school. It also is a way for families to kindly tease each other when they don't know an "obvious" answer.



The only thing that W&WF needs to do is come out with an expansion pack of questions because there are a limited amount of questions that come with the game. I see those cards being run through (with my gaming group) very quickly. Compared to how many questions came with Wits and Wagers, W&WF has a very small, select amount of questions available. I know this is one thing that Dominic has posted that he will do, so I'm looking forward to those new questions!



I also think that W&WF should make writing boards and meoples for more than 5 individual players. I know the rules state that players "team" up when the count exceeds 5, but it is fun to play by yourself and make your own choices. The game should be made for 7-9 individual players at least. Perhaps that is a revision or expansion that could come out with the new set of questions... Wits & Wagers Family

Wits and Wagers Family takes the original game and simplifies it in almost every way possible- while at the same time retaining its charm and challenge.



Changes from the original include.



-WW features permanent betting chips that some players think they can lose. WWF replaces these with Meeples that are easier to keep track of.

-WW ends after 7 rounds. WWF goes until one player scored 15 points.

-WW's betting payouts (3 to 1 etc) can exhaust the chips included with the game. WWF lets you win at most 4 points per round (1 pt for your small Meeple, 2 for your big Meeple, 1 pt for contributing the closest answer), which removes the need for chips and extra components.

-WWF includes questions that are appropriate for the entire family. My wife has taken this to school and played it with middle schoolers, who loved it.



On the downside, we still wish that the caps to the erasable markers contained an eraser. It would be nice to not have to find napkins or paper towels for each team whenever you play.



All in all, this is a great addition to your family game shelf.

When I first heard there was a family edition of Wits & Wagers I was more than a little surprised. Of all the games in my collection this seemed like one of the more family friendly ones, and I've been playing it with my nephews since they were fairly young. So it seemed almost unnecessary to create a special edition for families. Still, Northstar Games has yet to strike out with me, so I had to give it a shot. But was it a useless republishing of the same idea or a brilliant change of pace? Read on...



What do you get with Wits & Wagers Family? In the box are the rulebook, a score sheet, a pack of question cards, 1 minimum answer board with the number "1" on it, 5 dry erase markers, 5 player answer boards in 5 different colors, 5 small meeples in the same colors, and 5 large meeples in the same colors. (For those who aren't aware a meeple is a little wooden piece that is shaped like a person.)



How does Wits & Wagers Family work? Each player is given a marker along with an answer board and the 2 meeples that match the color of their board. The "1" board is placed in the middle of the table. Then one player reads a question from one of the question cards. All questions have a numerical answer, so players estimate what they believe the correct answer might be and write it on their answer board.



When all players have their answers written the answer boards are lined up under the "1" card from lowest to highest. Players then place their meeples on 1 or 2 answers that they believe are the closest to the correct answer without going over. Then they look at the correct answer on the back of the question card. One point is scored by the player that wrote the answer which is closest without going over, one point is awarded to each player that placed their small meeple on that answer, and two points are awarded to each player that placed their large meeple on that answer. You continue with more questions until one player has scored 15 points, and wins the game.



What does Blott dislike about Wits & Wagers Family? My minor complaint with Wits & Wagers Family is the reduction of the number of players. Although the game can easily be played as teams, it would have been nice if we wouldn't be forced to break into teams even with 6 players. But my bigger complaint about the game is some of the questions. Put simply, there are some questions in the game where players will know the answers. I often sold people on Wits & Wagers by describing it as a trivia game where you don't have to know trivia, but when people know the answer in Wits & Wagers Family it starts to bring this awesome game system down to the level of the common trivia game. My wife, a trivia game hater (but a Wits & Wagers lover,) complained after our first game because every player except her got a couple questions exactly right. She said that this gave her the same "I feel stupid" embarrassment that she feels when playing a game like Trivial Pursuit.



What does Blott like about Wits & Wagers Family? I love the introduction of simple scoring to the game. In the original version I spent more time counting out chips than I did actually playing the game. This also makes it so that all players totally "get" the scoring. Some people, who aren't into gambling, would struggle with how a 3-to-1 bet works and so they would just rely on a banker to make that calculation for them. The removal of the betting mechanism also takes away the chances that one question will swing the balance in one player's favor. Since they can get a maximum of 4 points on a question it will take several questions for even the most knowledgeable player to win. And, finally, the questions are an amazing variety. They range from things that kids will know well, to things that teenagers will know well, all the way up to things that adults will know well. They run a nice spectrum and many of them are very interesting facts too.



Who will enjoy Wits & Wagers Family? This is an ideal family game. The questions are varied nicely and kids will have just as much chance of winning as anyone else. However, those that loved the strategic edge they found in Wits & Wagers might be disappointed in the changes made for this new edition. The strategy involved in playing the odds is removed. But, clearly, this game is focused towards a different audience. The great new scoring system will make this game more enjoyable for people just looking for a fun party game to play with family and friends. If ever there was a game that should be advertised over the Monopoly, Life, etc. for "family game night" it is definitely Wits & Wagers Family.



Any parting comments about Wits & Wagers Family? Something must be said about these components. First of all the player boards have some cute art on the back which gives each color meeple its own personality. And these boards are really thick, almost too thick, if that's possible. Northstar Games continues their mission to make every component dry erase compatible too, so the erasable score sheet is really nice. A few people complained of issues with the dry erase markers in select copies of Northstar's prior games, but they clearly have a new distributor because these ones work great! The question cards are much smaller for this game. They only have 2 questions per card, but there's enough that you can play a number of games before repeating questions. The question cards even come in a little tray that you can pass around the table, which is a nice addition. All in all, I think that Wits & Wagers Family is a high quality game that simplifies/improves scoring from the original. I have had nothing but positive reactions to the game from almost everyone I've played with and, despite our complaints, my wife and I really do enjoy playing it. In fact, there is a good chance that I will take the questions that I love from the original game and pack them in this box so I can play with the new components/rules. I liked the changes that much! - Family Game - Party Game - Board Game - Fun'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Trivia Games - board game, family game board game Trivia Games - board game, family game

Shoot Digital Cameras - kodak easyshare, digital camera

Visit Store Now !!

I'm impressed with the picture quality and the ease of use. I can expand a picture to wallpaper size on my monitor and not get pixilation. It has several settings but can be used easily right out of the box. The online manual (downloadable in PDF)is easy to understand & comprehensive. The attached instructions are pretty basic. I don't like that it has a proprietary USB cable, though spares can be had off Ebay for less than $5. Also a person can remove the SD card & upload from it directly. It will take up to a 32 GB card according to the manual. I can get around a 100+ photos on a 1 GB card. Battery life is OK, takes 2 AA batteries.

I'm not a real camera buff, I just wanted a point & shoot camera. This fits the bill perfectly for me. Kodak Easyshare C182 Digital Camera (Blue)

I purchased two of these camera(s) for my (9) and (10) year old for Christmas and they love them. I can't believe the beautiful pictures this inexpensive camera takes indoors and out. The video quality isn't horrible, but I have seen much better...plus there is no sound when you play back your video on the camera. However, sound is captured so when you transfer your pictures and videos to the computer, there is sound during play back. The 3.0" LCD screen is georgous, and allows you to see the true image quality immediately. Plus the camera runs off of AA batteries which is completely convenient....purchase with confidence.

Excellent camera! Very nice red glossy finish, superb picture quality, Smartphoto technology: features that finds your face and adapts to the lighting of the scenery and much more! Very easy to use, very portable (smaller than a large hand) and what else must I say? Oh yeah! The price is a must buy! Best camera I have had and I HIGHLY recommend it

This is a good camera for the price. It's lightweight and compact. Picture quality is good and it has good features. The only thing that I dislike is that you have to replace the batteries quite frequently. I bought rechargeable batteries, but was disappointed that there is not a charger that fits this camera. Also, if you put it into video mode and play it back there is no sound on the camera. You have to download it to a computer before the audio can be heard. This is my first digital camera so now I will know in the future what features best suit my lifestyle. All in all, a good first time camera.

I am an advanced amateur user of expensive film cameras for many decades and purchased this as a gift. I am blown away by the quality of these digital images. This is a really nice camera and easy to use - small and compact, too. Although the camera has various settings, the automatic feature on this camera will try to automatically select the setting appropriate for the scene (i.e. backlit subjects that you don't want to come out dark, come out perfectly exposed). I can honestly find nothing wrong for a camera in this price range. And, don't let he price fool you - you get a very good camera with additional settings (should you need them) for a GREAT price and can you believe it even comes with a tripod socket! Kodak has done a nice job with this camera...kudos to them! And, Amazon has great prices - keep up the good work Amazon and I will return.

I was searching for the perfect replacement camera b/c I had accidently dropped mine. I knew I wanted to go with a Kodak camera but there are so many versions. What did I do? I ordered a few that received good reviews and tried them out for myself. Needless to say, this one was a keeper! The pictures are clear and the lighting gets it right everytime! Those were the two things I was looking for, clarity and proper exposure. And with this camera you get both! The amazing thing also was the price! Turns out, this camera was the least expensive out of all the others that I have tried and returned. Go figure!!!

I got this camera and it was very easy to download pictures to your computer. Of course Amazon price is excellent at $95.00. Most places are $119.00. One thing I have to say ,always carry a extra pack of AA batteries if your going to take alot of pictures.Glad to see Kodak have a product thats as good as Nikon and Cannon.Regards Marshall

Although this camera is not designed for children, I bought it for my 4 year old grandson for Christmas. I was able to get in on Amazon at a price not too much more than cameras that ARE designed for children. Those children's cameras are quite sturdy looking, but they had so few mega-pixels and the viewer so small, so I decided to give this one a try. He took to it right away! The little grip area helps him to hold it and he's able to reach the buttons. He has taken some actually pretty amazing pictures with this camera. It goes through the batteries pretty quickly, but he's taking photo after photo after photo much of the time he uses it. Not sure how it would do under more "normal" use. I got a wrap around always on case for it that fit nicely and helps protect the camera.

I bought this camera to use for my work in the home improvement business. I didn't want to spend a lot of money and wanted good photo quality and a large video screen. I needed an SD card to work with my laptop, and AA batteries so that I could use my NiMH rechargeables. I also wanted a thicker body, to make the camera easier to handle while on the job.



This camera had all of the features that I wanted, plus it has a great price at Amazon. I believe that the 3" screen is an exclusive feature in this price range.



I saw several reviews mention short battery life. This didn't matter much to me, as I always carry spares. But in the 3 weeks that I've had this camera, I've used it every day, taking over 300 photos without having to recharge or change the batteries yet. So far, I can't find anything wrong with this one!



I got a Lowepro Rezo 20 case for this camera and it's perfect for my needs. The interior is exactly the right size for the camera, and the front pouch has room for 4 spare batteries and a spare SD card. The belt loop is ideal for use in the field, and it comes with a shoulder strap (which I haven't used).



Amazon sold me the camera, case, and 2GB SD card for less than $100, which included shipping. You can't go wrong! - Kodak Easyshare - Digital Camera - Digital Camera For Kids - Point And Shoot'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Shoot Digital Cameras - kodak easyshare, digital camera digital camera for kids Shoot Digital Cameras - kodak easyshare, digital camera

Exfoliating Facial

Visit Store Now !!

I purchased this item on a whim, as I've heard from lots of other people...more like high pressured sales, in the middle of the mall, after repeated "no's" and the price being reduced tremendously, I decided, so what...try it, your not spending your mortgage on it, if it works...great, if not....toss it. So I used it at home with results that appeared to be fantastic, and in defense of the product, my face did feel softer, however, after closer examination of the so called "dead skin" I investigated further and realized that it wasn't skin at all, it was a rubbery type material that I assume is produced with the circular rubbing motion of the product. I would compare it to removing glue off of something and it balls up....So fair warning, check the "exfoliation coming from your face" I can bet you too will find that it is NOT DEAD SKIN afterall! Further, after using the produce three or more times, it appears that my skin not only still remained in tact after use, the skin remaining didn't like the product at all and had an adverse reaction by creating a bumpy rash on my forehead and cheeks....Also, check your prices you can pick up all the items from this brand on ebay for drug store pricing... Swisa Beauty, Dead Sea Facial Peel, 1.01-Ounce

Nothing against the seller but the product is not what it says yes your face will feel great and what not but i got curious about the "dead skin" i was rubbing off in the circular motion and I am serious when i say it is not all dead skin.....i am no scientist but im no dumb ass either so i rubbed it on my mirror and did the circular motion and low in behold the latex gloves i had on had the "rubber substance" on it and NO it was not something from the gloves oh and the mirror i used also contained this "dead skin" hmmm wonder how the hell that happened......my advice if you think what mine or any other negative reviews are not true purchase the one on amazon to save ur money you wont find it cheaper and yes the mall hustlers are looking to make bucks they have families to feed too and that way u wont be pissed about 15.00 dollars of crap......but uve been warned happy buying

Reasons why I think this product is a rip off: 1. I paid $55 for this and a moisturizer that the sales lady claimed were organic. They are not. 2. It peels the 'skin' off my couch. 3. I used it several times on my right leg but not my left. The right one looks great right when I apply the product, but both legs look similar after I rinse with water. 4. You put this stuff on as a gel, and rub it in. Suddenly it solidifies, and right at that moment solid debris forms. Suspicious. Rub longer and the skin-like solid stuff turns to crystals. Skin does not turn into crystals. 5. Real skin peels cause a sensation on the skin. You can only leave them on for a specific amount of time. You could leave this stuff on all day and night and it would not burn your skin.



Now I'm not saying this is a terrible product. Didn't cause a rash or break me out. Seems to moisturize and make skin look good for about 2 seconds. I prefer my current moisturizer, though. It works better, is organic, is relatively cheap, and I don't have to deal with debris on my skin. Won't be buying this again.

I read the great reviews of this product and decided to give it a try. I used to have looooots of blackheads and the pores on my face specially the T area particulary my nose used to be big and black. I have used this product for 5 times, my pores shrunk and 70% of my blackheads are gone. I also noticed my face is not as oily as used to be. Really recomend it!

I have been using this product daily with my morning routine for about 6 months--what a difference!!! It peels away what seems to be skin almost instantly, and you are left with luxuriously soft skin. I have been buying it from the kiosk in the mall unitl recently and I feel robbed. After thirty minutes of bartering and threatening to walk away...I could not even come CLOSE to what Amazon sells it for. Basically is half of what I have been buying it for.



I am too, somewhat skeptical about what the actual clumps are being removed off my face. It might be the product accumulating itself into balls when in contact with skin. But, I am still in love with this product nonetheless and highly recommend buying it (from Amazon, of course!)'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Exfoliating Facial Exfoliating Facial Exfoliating Facial

Kwikset Door Handles - keyless deadbolt, satin nickel

Visit Store Now !!

Started with my front door and added these levers all around my house. They look fabulous, feel great in the hand, and function flawlessly.



Here's a tip, I used the Satin Chrome outside - instead of a coated finish like the satin nickle - it is actually solid chrome that is brushed then to get a satin finish (so it looks nearly identical to the satin nickle) but stand up much better to the elements (doesn't rust) and sharp keys that would otherwise scratch the satin nickle or brass finish. I use satin nickle everywhere else in my house and the satin chrome on the exterior door is standing up beautifully! (Worth the extra few bucks). Schlage F10ACC619 Accent Passage Lever, Satin Nickel

I was hesitant due to the price point as I can usually purchase this type of door lever for around $10 but not with the Schage name of course. I needed to match a Schlage nickle finish for an outside door were it would be noticeable and so I made this purchase. I have to admit the fit and finish is worth the price. Very smooth action and perfect finish...comes with several plate options for the latch...

I installed these knobs (some were the lockable privacy ones) in 3 apartment units two years ago. All have worked without a hitch and still look great.



These knobs are half the price (or less) than a lot of comparable looking lever knobs. So what's the diff? Two things I've noticed.

1. The levers are a bit shorter than most of this design. That doesn't bother me at all. I think they look fine and the tenant feedback we've had is that they look great.



2. They're kind of lighter weight - hollow feeling. I don't know what the actual construction is. But they feel less solid and have less heft than (much) more expensive knobs.



But I'm buying knobs for my own house now and I'll probably buy these.



I got mine at Wal(l)*Mart. Not on their website but at the local store. They didn't have many in stock and several of the boxes were open. I ended up having to order them, so Amazon would've been easier anyway - and close to the same price.



One other note: I've read a lot of complaints online about Satin nickel finishes flaking off on OTHER lower priced products ( I've seen some comments about Hdepot house brand glacier bay stuff), but so far so good with these Schlage knobs.

Product was well made and easy to install. It comes with both a square and rounded door plates - this eliminated any handwork when replacing my standard builders issue knobs. Took me 2-3 minutes a knob.



Best bang for my buck house upgrade yet! - Satin Nickel - Lock - Keyless Deadbolt - Deadbolt'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Kwikset Door Handles - keyless deadbolt, satin nickel lock Kwikset Door Handles - keyless deadbolt, satin nickel

Alarm Clock - docking stations, clock radio

Visit Store Now !!

Got this for my son to use with his iPod touch. The first unit worked as a clock radio, but would not connect with the iPod at all. After a quick and painless replacement from Amazon, the replacement unit worked fine with the iPod - for about 6 months. Now it's doing the same thing as the first one, refusing to charge or play from the iPod.



Once is a fluke, but twice is a pattern. It's too late to return it to Amazon, and I don't want to spend about half the original purchase price to ship it to the manufacturer, just to get another potentially defective unit. I'm going to write this one off and look for another alternative with better reviews. iLive Large Display Clock Radio with Docking and Recharging for iPod (Black)

The clock has adapters for several model IPOD models, it charges the IPOD, it integrates the IPOD to all its functions,(alarm, sleep etc.) and to boot, the radio part of it gets good reception. It is a good solid product.

I thought the price was a good value for my sister and I. I am enjoying it very much at work. It is just the right size for my desk and loud enough if need be and I can use my headphone also. So I am in seventh heaven and thanks for having items everyone would like.

Almost everybody who sells an iPod/iPhone compatible accessory has been infected by Apple pride in their products, i.e. high cost. But this is one of the better values. The sound quality isn't great, but it's not bad--after all it's just a clock radio at heart. The controls are well placed and intuitive. I got it because I can't stand the omnipresent blue lights on every other iPod docking unit illuminating my bedroom like an airport runway. The unit's display is amber and has a hi/lo switch. It charges the iPod family and allows a significant degree of iPod functionality while docked. The only real quirk is the alarm. When set to awake to the radio, if I don't turn it off after a minute or so, the alarm buzzer gradually comes up in the background. Maybe that was intended, because it sure works to get me out of bed.



UPDATE: When I got my long-awaited Verizon iPhone 4, I wondered whether I'd have to give up the convenience of charging it bedside and use the included cord somewhere else. Not to worry. When I plugged in the phone I got a message on the screen indicating the accessory was "not optomized" for the iPhone and that I may experience some loss of signal strength. I didn't notice any loss of bars in the corner and the phone charges perfectly with no other issues. I lucked out.

Maybe I was just unlucky but I got a unit that had faulty display segments so I couldn't really tell the time. The clock resets if you remove the mains power EVEN if the backup battery (at least that's what I thought it was for) is installed. I guess it works fine with an iPod BUT if you have an iPhone, this is not at all a good choice. The phone even warns "this accessory is not compatible" and ask you to switch to airplane mode effectively turning off all phone functions. If you don't, it makes horrible interference noises in the middle of the night even if you turn the volume down to zero. The controls still work to play back and stop music but there is no visual indication as to what is going on (let alone what is playing etc). The radio is very primitive with a dial (no digital search). The sound quality of the speakers is just like what you would expect from a toy or cheap radio you had in the 80s.



The only good thing I can say is it takes in many types of iPod models via multiple docking plates that it comes with, and without any, you can even connect one that has a cover (some docking devices can only take plain iPods without any cover around it)



Overall, you get what you pay for, but given the not entirely bargain price it's not worth it IMO.

i got this alarm clock for my iphone since it's pictured on the amazon listing AND the box it came in.

it does NOT work with iphone, you cannot play music with your iphone because the radio waves and the phone waves interfere and create an irritating, high-pitched static noise. - Ipod Dock - Clock Radio - Docking Stations - Ipod Alarm Clock'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Alarm Clock - docking stations, clock radio docking stations Alarm Clock - docking stations, clock radio

Butane Stove - camp stove, compact  stove

Visit Store Now !!

This stove is really cheap, really basic, but works surprisingly well. You can't reduce a two burner stove to anything less than what is provided with this set, it is the absolute minimum -- burner, platform, connection to gas.

No case, no wind screen, little control over the level of flame, but for the low price, it works fine. I used it everyday on a week long camping trip and had no problems at all, heats a pot pretty quickly, didn't notice an leaks, very easy to set up. Once when it was windy i had to use the cardboard box that it came in as a windscreen since it doesn't have a flip up top/ windscreen like the more expensive coleman models. Texsport Two Burner Propane Stove

This little range serves our needs perfectly. We mostly cook over the campfire, but in the morning, we just want to hurry up and get some breakfast in us! It's ridiculously quick and easy to use, the flames adjust well, and because it's no frills, we reclaim a bit more packing space in our little car. (We always amaze people who drive in giant SUVs how we camp much more comfortably with a fraction of their cargo space!)



As far as blocking the wind, I manage okay by the modifications I make on the spot with my camp kitchen and tin foil. It's not the prettiest thing in the world, but I actually get more skillet space out of the deal verses what I would get with traditional ranges that come with built-in wind blockers. (There's that, and I use the foil later for wrapping potatoes and such, so there's no waste.)

This stove worked great for me. I made coffee and bacon and eggs every morning and it worked without fail. My only small issue was the propane tank needs to sit on the table as well so it takes up more space than u think. besides that great product for the price.

I bought this to use along with my Coleman stove for cooking at camp. The quality isn't great and it's smaller than I thought it would be, but for the price it's not bad. The burners are hard to adjust and it doesn't work well when it's windy, unless you built a windscreen around it.



If your looking for a stove that's small and light, then you may like this. Otherwise, spend another $30 and get something better. I doubt this will last for many years like a quality stove will.

I was suprised with how well this little stove works considering the price. I have used more expensive stoves, and prefer this one. It is a decent build quality and looks great. The most important thing in my opinion with stoves like this is the flame control; this delivers. The knobs give you a lot of control over the amount of flame (heat) you are cooking with. I use it to perc coffee and it is perfect for that, allowing you to turn the flame way down after the perc begins.

I use this stove on sea kayaking trips because it packs beautifully in a sea kayak. Since it is so basic, just the gas piping held together by the green body, it is a little vulnerable to normal wear and tear. I saw on another site a product review where 5 users liked it, 5 said it broke after a trip or two. I would not take this stove backpacking, and I'd be careful with it on a canoe trip. Boy Scouts would probably be hard on it. But in the rigid confines of a sea kayak bulkhead, it is safe. With normal care, it's unlikely to be damaged during use in a camp kitchen. And I always take two stoves. This same stove is available in a single burner model.



The lack of a wind screen can be corrected by taking 3 ft. or so length of aluminum foil (I used heavy duty aluminum foil#, fold it in half length wise, and then fold it up until it is essentially a square. When in use on a windy day, unfold the foil and position it on the windward side of the pot. (Don't unfold it completely, just until it is opened to the full length but still folded in half length wise. You knew that.) The wind holds it in place nicely. Again, in a sea kayak, the folded foil is easy to pack safely in a hold. A little harder to pack in a canoe dry bag, tricky I suspect in a backpackback. I have two such wind screens, one for each burner as needed, and they have lasted many years.



Good luck, Doug Swope - Camp Stove - Camping Stoves - Compact  stove - Butane Stove'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Butane Stove - camp stove, compact  stove compact  stove Butane Stove - camp stove, compact  stove