Panasonic - 3d, 50 inch

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To preface this I have had 2 P50ST30s (one replacement because of the problems I will talk about below) and Amazon was awesome with the whole return and replacement. One of the best companies I have dealt with. This is a very long review as I would like you to understand what you are buying beforehand.



ALL VERSIONS OF PANASONIC 2011 TVs ARE EXHIBITING THIS PROBLEM.



I was excited when I first set up my TV and took the time to age the phosphors in the TV for 150 hours by running slides (a step that can be skipped but the phosphors degrade in the first 100 hours faster than the rest of it's life). I set up the blu-ray player and after dialing in the settings it looked awesome. Then the brightness fluctuations happened.



The best way I can explain brightness fluctuations ( Fluctuating Brightness or FBr) is will be a leap in lighting. When you have a dark scene the whole picture will darken some to give more detail to a shadowed area. It is necessary to give great picture quality in any plasma. Normally what will happen is that it will gradually fade into darker or lighter, this TV does it all in one step. A drastic comparison would be a pitch black room where you turn a light on vs turning a dimmer light on gradually. What you see on the screen is picture that will switch from dark to lighter. It is most noticeable when you have 2 scenes switching back and forth (think dialogue between 2 characters where it switches between ones face to the other) and one scene is darker than the other. You can easily see this in the movie Hereafter around minute 40.



This problem is exacerbated by a delay in the video processing of the switch between darker scenes and lighter scenes. In almost all video they will have scenes cut and pasted together. When this happens the lighting usually will change for various reasons. When the scenes cut from one to another this TV will take about 0.5-1 second to process the lighting difference to adjust to give more detail to shadowed areas. Given that it does it in one leap as mentioned above, it severely distracts you from watching the movie and enjoying it.



Darker Movies will usually bring out these symptoms to it's max. When I went to watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, I came to the point where I started counting the fluctuations instead of watching the movie. I counted 56 total in one watching. My wife didn't watch HP with me but she commented on it while watching Castle a few times, then more and more on other shows.



The reviews are definitely favorable as it has a great picture quality without doubt. Most professional reviewers mention fluctuating brightness problem, but gloss over it. Why they did I am not sure. It seems that some sets show this dramatically, while others don't. My first one (the one I counted 56 fluctuations on for HP) I would say was very bad compared to a slightly less worse one that I got the second time around. I re watched HP on the second one to see if I could just enjoy the movie, got to the point I started counting again and only counter 32 which were more tame but still easy to spot without even looking for them. To make sure it just wasn't me seeing things because I knew when they were, I made (yes she wasn't to happy about it) her watch Tron with me. We first started Tron in 2d and she saw it some; then I popped in the 3d disc and she was pointing it out in every other scene.



I placed a complaint with US Panasonic as this was unacceptable, trying to explain it the best as I am now. I was walked through changing multiple settings (CATS off, trying all modes, changing contrast and all other settings, using 3 different HDMI cables along with composite and component cables) with nothing relieving the issue. Their response was that this is a feature of the TV and that it was working properly. Some of their exact words in the email I later received were " the picture dimming (fluctuating brightness) is negligible and should be considered within the TV's design specification."



In Spain a gentleman Documented this for Panasonic to prove that something was wrong. If you would like to see how bad this is; there has been a video posted by a member of a great forum for high def junkies that shows this instance (Google " VT30 hereafter " and it will show in the youtube vids) if you would like to see exactly what I am talking about. The TV here was the VT series which is Panasonic's flagship model and cost well over $1,200 of this TV.



Since the posting of the above video Spain got a firmware update to 1.520. The same person posted the exact same scene with the same setup which you can also view by clicking on his name or clicking on it on the right hand side. It eliminates this problem, since then Europe Panasonic have acknowledged that there is something that they are looking into (circumventing saying there is a problem). But US Panasonic calls this a feature that is working as intended. Unlike US Panasonic which I have opened 2 cases with them about this problem, one for both TVs, and just receive it's a feature of the TV which is working properly...



I am hoping that this is heeded as a warning to many as I feel terrible about Amazon being outstanding in it's Customer Service trying to rectify what is obviously not their fault. I am a man that researches any large purchase to the T to try to avoid these problems. I weighed my options and since the professional reviewers either made no mention of this problem or said it was a minor problem; I decided to buy this Panasonic. I post this in hopes that those that do their research won't feel gypped as I do.



If you would like to read more comments a Facebook page was created in hope that it would have an effect as it did with Sony. It is on facebook under "My 2011 Panasonic TV is Defective".





UPDATE 7/26 : Various Panasonic emails have said that there will be an announcement this Wednesday 7/27. Also a A reliable higher up in Panasonic NA has said that there is a FW that will be aimed at fixing "panel dimming" very soon (this term has a different meaning then Fluctuating Brightness, but all other FW fixes in Europe that fixed the FBr were released to fix another problem). This could or could not be a fix to the above problems, but hopefully putting 2 and 2 together means we will be getting a FW fix this Wednesday. Whether this is a fix to the above problems or not remains to be seen. Since I published this report it has been confirmed that all European models are now shipped with the Firmware that fixes FBr, while here in NA it hasn't been addressed. Here is to hoping for a statement Wednesday.



*UPDATE* 8/6/11 : First there has been no true announcement from Panasonic NA as of yet. But after getting all the data collected and sent forward to the engineers (yes many people that owned the TV put in this work), the engineers were able to replicate the problem. Since then there is now a patch. This is not a Firmware update, instead it changes other "software" in the TV like the EEPROM. Since it is not strictly a Firmware update they cannot simply have your tv download it from the internet like normal. It REQUIRES, at least as of right now, a tech to come out to install it on your TV.



Note that this fix has been confirmed to be loaded on TVs coming from the factory now. When this change occurred I cannot tell you neither can anyone that you can talk to, so please do not hound amazon, Panasonic or any other retailer. I assume the earliest we will see TVs with this update will be very late July produced TVs if not August. If you decide to buy a TV from Amazon please just allow them to come out and patch the TV instead of sending it back. If you send it back Amazon has to eat the shipping and this is one company that tries it's hardest to help the customer. So please do not make them eat the cost or else they WILL eventually have to change the policies they have. It may take a few weeks to get the rep out, butit is worth it to allow amazon to keep its very lax and customer happiness driven CS.



Now onto the results :



I have had this patch on my TVs for 2 days now. I compiled a list of FBr material that was bad during the data collection phase before we passed this on to the Panasonic Engineers so I had a list prepared to test this afterward to see if it was fixed or not. Running through 20 of the worst scenes over 6 movies (Harry Potter Deathly Hallows 1, Tron, Casino Royale, Hereafter, Battlefield LA). In these movies I saw not 1 noticeable FBr ( I say noticeable because FBr is in the driving mechanism of this TV). I noticed only 1 instance of a small FBr in the movie The Rite, but it was under extreme circumstances (dark background to near white background with a shadowed face in a scene change). Besides that I also watched some streamed video (Master Chef, True Blood, Band of Brothers etc) and got the same results of no FBr. Gaming (Fallout 3, Dragon Age Origins and Gears of War 2) was also the same, no FBr.



Overall it fixed the problem almost completely, if not completely. This patch surpassed my expectations and Panasonic owned up and fixed a glaring problem. There have been 3 forum users that have this fix and posted about it. They all report the same thing.



If you have purchased this TV or any other Panasonic NA ST30, GT30 or VT30 and have the problems mentioned above please call 1-800-973-4390. This is Panasonic Concierge and this is the number that was requested to call by the engineers. Tell them you have Fluctuating Brightness. Low end techs have been sent a memo regarding this. Many are now receiving emails to set up appointments.



Because of this fix I have amended my score of the TV. For this price this TV is amazing. I reserved 5 stars for the Pioneer Kuro (the gold standard), 4 1/2 stars for the VT series and dk8000. This TV 4 stars is an undervaluation, but it is all I can do on here. Honestly it would be 4.25 taking into account the above TVs superiority. I cannot express how happy I am with this TV now that it is fixed.





****UPDATE 8/22/11****

They have a limited amount of panasonic qualified techs that can install the update via SD card and will NOT give out the SD card for local non-panasonic techs to install as it has proprietary software on it. To alleviate the problem they send a new a-board to local techs that has the patch preloaded. The tech can then come out and install the new a-board under warranty claim (all free to you).



It is a simple procedure and only takes 15 minutes. This a-board replacement doesn't void any warranty as it is done by Panasonic under Panasonic's warranty by a qualified tech.



*WARNING* the a-board swap AND the SD patch will wipe your calibration and the ISF day/night mode (ISF day/night is only available if you have the TV calibrated and the tech turns it on in the Service menu), if you had one done. If you decide to do either of the fixes I would suggest buying a backup program (like controlcal) to save your settings. You can then reload them after the patch. It has been noted by calibrators that after either of the fixes that you will get close to the same results with the old calibration, but they say you will need a touchup to gray scale and colors to be as accurate as possible.



From good sources it has been said that any August build TVs should have the fix pre-installed. Unfortunately the build date isn't on the outside of the box in the US. There is another way to check if it has been factory installed though. The 3-6 numbers in the serial number designate whether it has been fixed or not. These 4 numbers need to be 1215 or higher for the fix to be pre-installed. It will look like : xx1215xxxxxx .



Again if you order from Amazon, or any other online type store, they have no direct control on what comes out of the warehouse and you CANNOT request that it is an August build as they have no control on what goes out. If you want to be sure of what you get, you should buy local and specifically state you will only buy it if it meets those criteria.



The fix is easy enough to get that you should feel comfortable ordering this product. Don't order this product and expect a 1215. Instead order this product expecting to have the tech come out. You may get a set pre 1215 that has no FBr as about 50% of the people report that they have no problem without the patch or you may get a 1215 build, but you should go into it expecting what you will most likely get. Then anything else is a bonus. If you don't feel good about buying the TV and possibly getting a FBr one then I suggest not buying from online stores.



To those outside of the US. Panasonic divisions are completely separate as they use different components, different firmware etc so this fix is for US only. The US division is sharing this info with EU, Canada, Australia etc to try to get this problem fixed with those TVs also. The other countries are still in the beginning stages so don't expect them to be exactly where the US is as the other countries have to test, document, confirm, create a fix (using different components/software mean they just can't copy/paste the US fix to theirs) and then test the fix. I cannot give you an update on outside of US, but I would suggest that you make your voice heard by opening tickets and speaking out about the problem.



Lastly for those that do have the TV or those that are willing to buy the TV and get the fix after. Call up Panasonic Concierge at 1-800-973-4390 . Allow them to walk you through the steps they have and try them as it is possible that it could fix your problem. If they walk you through that and you still see the FBr they should have received info on how to push it to the next level. To make sure here is the Document that they can look up regarding this issue :



Service Hint ('A' Board replacement to fix the 'brightness fluctuation" in the ST30/GT30/VT30).

SH-B34-11-03-REV



A majority of this info is me simply condensing what many others have done to get this in place. Thanks go to the great people of highdefjunkies.com especially 3 in particular, D-Nice for his initial findings and universal knowledge; AVjunkie and Gotchaa who helped consolidate/voice our problems to the techs. Panasonic VIERA TC-P50ST30 50-Inch 1080p 3D Plasma HDTV - 3d - 50 Inch - Panasonic - Hdtv'

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Stability Running Shoe - mens-brooks, overpronator

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Best shoe I ever found. I've had 15 pair of Brooks Addiction in 15 years. Wear out a pair a year walking. I have straight not curved feet and this straight lasted shoe is the only shoe I can wear anymore. The super thick soles absorb all shock, and the shoes are light as a feather. Brooks Men's Addiction 9 Road Running Shoe,Silver/Twilight/White,8.5 D

I don't wear sneakers very often, but was a little tired of the cheap $20 department store shoe. Visited a specialist store (in Australia) and paid $199 for a pair. They are really comfortable and suit my slightly inward rolling foot. With the $AUD being so good against the $US I thought I'd take a look at Amazon, and unbelievably the EXACT pair was $100 cheaper in the US. Given they are so good, 2 pairs was always going to be a good idea.

They arrived in an identical box to that I got from the shop. Great, comfy, and (compared to Aussie prices,) really good value, even with the extra delivery costs.

I began to wear Brooks shoes in the late 1990s after I had a nagging foot injury. I loved the Brooks Beast because I am a bigger guy but still enjoyed jogging and other athletic activities. During the 2000s, my Beasts began to be less and less durable - especially in the heel. Brooks Beasts would wear out in the heel for me far before the rest of the shoe - although you cannot continue to jog or workout or really do anything in a shoe with a worn out heel leading to discomfort, blisters, etc. I switched to the Brooks Addiction the last couple of times I have purchased shoes and they work great - far superior to the Beast in heel wear. Although I do not jog as much as I used to, they are also comfortable and durable all around. If you are having the same problem with heel wear in the Beast, you might want to give Addiction a try.

I am a male with narrow feet. Footwear manufactures must think that all men have fat feet because it's almost impossible to find narrow sizes. I found the Brooks brand of athletic shoes about 7 years ago and surprise- they come in NARROW sizes. I buy a new pair of running shoes every year and have pretty much settled on the Addiction style. They feel great, they look great, and best of all they fit my feet w/o having to wear thick socks. The sizing on these shoes is true to fit, unlike NB where the sizes run large.

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I fully recommend these shoes, whether you have skinny feet like me, or fat feet like most men. You can't go wrong with Brooks.

I have a flat feet and been using brooks shoes for last 10 years or so after trying more famous brands. Addiction 9 is good fit for me and is kind of upgrade on Adrenaline series. My running on road is now even more comfortable and stable.

This was my first pair of Brooks shoes and I am impressed. The quality is easily noticeable compared to Nike. I enjoyed the fit of size 16 B but ultimately had to return them because they run a tad small in length. They felt more like 15 1/2. I find Asics and Mizuno to run a little longer. Mizuno actually runs a little narrower in the D width which is good for me because I have narrow feet.

I first bought Brooks Addiction shoes more than a decade ago. I had gone to Phidippides on Ventura blvd in So Cal (Encino, IIRC). The guy at the store watched me run and suggested several different types of shoes to try. Addiction were the best of the lot by far.



Since then, whenever I need new running shoes, I simply go with Brooks Addiction. I ordered these through Amazon and they are perfect. The size of my foot for walking shoes is 9 1/2 E and the size for the Brooks Addiction that works best is 10.5 D - I really don't understand why the sizes are not the same, but that is case, FWIW.



They have great stability and really reduce ankle pain. I am overweight (250lbs) and somewhat short (5'8.5") and these shoes are great for me and my body type.



For those of you considering buying running shoes, see that you are fitted by someone who knows running and has watched how you run. Some reviews for this shoe on Amazon say that they are terrible and tell people to stay away from them. That could very well be the experience for that person - different body types, running styles, etc, enter into this equation. But for me, they are the best running shoes ever and I can order them online with no qualms.



p.s. The version I bought is Brooks Addiction 9 (for men). I consider them to be as good as, or possibly better than, Brooks Addiction 8.

This is my 5th Addiction purchase. This shoe comes in narrow sizes which I like. I have put many miles on Addiction 8 shoes and have found them to be very durable and comfortable. I use them on treadmills and road, during marathons, and training for shorter distance. I ran on the 9s for the first time yesterday and they were perfect right out of the box ($100). The straight last and moderate pronation/stability control work great for me. I do use orthodics in these shoes too without problems. I plan on buying more 9s and then the 10s! - Mens-brooks - Overpronator - Running - Flat Feet'

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Emergency - emergency light, lanterns

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I bought and tested a couple of different lanterns to use for emergencies. This one was the best value.



While it has only 4 LED's, they are bright, and the design is such that the light is diffused well. The handle has a clever "snap-on" feature that lets you clip it onto things, very handy.



The light is not extremely sturdy, but for the price it should be adequate for most uses. I plan to buy 4 of them and keep them around for blackouts.



It uses four "AA" batteries, which are often featured at discounted prices (much less so for "AAA" or "D" size). Home Depot recently had a 60-pack (yes, 60-pack) of RayoVac alkalines for $8.80. So powering this is inexpensive. Dorcy 41-1017 4 LED Mini Lantern

This was a great little light through Hurricane Irene. Don't buy it expecting a 100 watt lamp, it's more like a set of really bright night lights, but it really came in handy in our dark basement during the storm. Also, just to let buyers know, the pic is of a blue light and the one we got was purple.

I bought two of these while experiencing a power outage. They worked great for that one night; a few weeks later, neither would turn on. I swapped the batteries for fresh ones, but no luck. Since the lanterns are terrific when they work, I exchanged them for duplicate ones, only to have the duplicate issue. These lanterns suck.

I think this is just the cutest little lantern I have ever seen. It is not, however, the brightest. But, it suits my needs. I can read with it and go from room to room. I use it for power outages. I have a larger led lamp that lights a bigger area, if needed. I also think it is very well made and sturdy. For the price you really can not beat it. Only reason I gave it 4 stars is because it only has on and off switch, no hi or low. - Camping - Emergency Light - Emergency - Lanterns'

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Charging Station - charger caddy, valet

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This charging station looks nice and holds several items. It is stury and well made. The only downfall is that is it really difficult to plug items into the power strip which has to be inside first. This is because the back is not open but has a slot in the back and there is an opening on the top under the removable tray. I have very small hands and it was a very tight fit through the slot or the top opening to plug items in. Once done, though, you don't have to mess with it again and it is so much nicer than having devices and cords all over the counter. Lipper International 812 Bamboo Charging Station

It's a pretty box. But it doesn't hold all the cables that need to be hidden. What you have to remember when buying something like this is, apparently, that the chargers don't plug straight in, they often take up two spaces on a surge protector. You put the surge protector inside the back, and although it may have 4 plugs you can only use two of them because of the hangover of the chargers. It's not working for me.

Very good looking and perfect addition to my bamboo collection however it is not very functional. First it was hard to tuck in a surge protector in the small space in the back even though I bought the exact same one it recommended. Second, my electronics do not hold as nicely as I would like since they have to be somewhat tilted because the chords are attached at the bottom not behind them where the holes are located. Still very nice looking and workable I think.

My husband and I really like this charging station! The iPad fits nicely on it's side at the top of the station and our other devices fit great in the slots. We are very happy with this purchase! I love that it is bamboo and matches the rest of my kitchen.

Ordered this station and it works great. Order the cord to go with it, some of the phone chargers are awkwardly shaped and I had to work with it a bit inside the area for the plug ins to make it fit using a cord from IKEA. Looks great and I like the little container at the top for stuff.

I needed a stand to hold our cell phones next to our new Panasonic cordless phone base that has Bluetooth to connect cells to land-line phones. For the price (less than $25), this works well and looks good on the kitchen counter. There isn't a lot of space for power supplies/chargers, but I managed to get three inside by using an extension cord with three outlets and small chargers (such as those that come with Motorola phones or Kindles). It's too small for a power strip or for more than one or two larger chargers.

Most of the charging stations are black or mahogany in color but are cheaply made and finished. This one has some style and was a no-brainer for my wife for that reason.

As others have said, space is tight and a power outlet strip will not fit along with the huge chargers for today's cell phones and tablets/GPS units. The "octopus" multiple extension shown on the Amazon website is overly heavy-duty for this station but it works! If you can find a similar multiplier made of 16-gauge "zipcord" (typical extension wire) thickness it would also work (I could not find anything like this).

Very satisfied. - Charger Caddy - Valet'

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Coconut Oil - coconut oil, good fats

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Penetrates skin and reverses wrinkles. I spent $15 back in May. I keep it refridgerated and fill up mini bottles for travel or use for when I wash my face. It also helps other oils to be absorbed in the skin like anything with an SPF in it.



I use a Clarisonic sporadically and do microdermabrasion a couple of times a week. I am at bare minimum for skin care. I also feel very comfortable with little or no makeup on my face. I put on eyeliner just because.



It is liberating to be confident in my own skin! Organic Hemp Seed Oil - 8 oz - Liquid - Good Fats - Coconut - Coconut Oil - Cooking'

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Chordless Phone - cordless telephones, dect 6

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I purchased the SL82558 base unit with 5 handsets at Sam's Club, then later added 4 more handsets (SL80108) from Amazon. I spread them out in various buildings around my ranch. The furthest building from the base unit is about 200'. It works great, even at that distance, clean and clear. I do not yet know what the distance limit is. The intercom and call transfer features are handy and easy to use. The units are compact, and the buttons are easy to read and press. Adding additional handsets to the base station is simple. I do not use the answering machine capability, so I won't comment on that. My only wish is that the handset would display the time-of-day. That would be handy in all the outbuildings and rooms without clocks. It's a fine cordless phone in my opinion. I have no complaints. The base units on Amazon are AT&T SL82218 DECT6.0 Digital Dual Handset Answering System (Titanium and Carbonite), AT&T SL82318 DECT 6.0 Digital Three Handset Answering System (Silver/Gray), AT&T SL82418 Four Handset Answering System, and AT&T SL82558 DECT 6.0 Expandable Cordless Phone with Digital Answering System - 1 Base, 4 chargers, 5 Handsets AT&T SL80108 DECT 6.0 Digital Cordless Expansion Handset (Titanium and Carbonite)

Great Telephone System. Very simple to set-up and use. We have six of these phones through out the house. When you program a number into one phone all of the phone are programmed. Great system. All Pros and no Cons.

I love these phones.. The slim design is much better than my Panasonic system was. The only thing I miss about my Panasonic phone is the privacy button. With this (ATT) you can't have a private conversation without worrying about someone picking up an extension line. If they could add this to the system, it would be perfect.

The phone was received very soon after I ordered it and was delivered in new condition. I have been using it now for a few weeks and find it has everything I wanted. I previously had an AT&T so many of the features were the same. Overall, I am pleased so far.

I bought a total of 5 phones: 2 expansion 80108's at Amazon, and 3 in the base phone set from Target. Two of 5 were dead on arrival, completely unusable! One from Target, one from Amazon. This was a giant pain but after several phonecalls and failed attempts at reprogramming the phones, AT&T sent me 2 new phones. (They did not cover my $15 shipping cost.) The phones work just fine and seem to deal better with microwave interference than my last cordless, but there is clearly a problem with quality control at AT&T.

It a great system--we have 7 phones on the system--great range as welll as ease of operating. On the down side the system does not allow each phone to have a name--just a number. Also the time of day does not appear on each phone. I would recomment the system

great phones We have a 3 story solid brick home We always had trouble with cordless phones until this set of phones I can be in the basement and my wife can be on the top floor and we can chat with out the can you hear me know deal.

Just like the base phone system that I purchased via Amazon this add on from a different on-line retailer was a very easy transaction. The product performs exactly as described in the literature. The price was great and the delivery was very timely. - Cordless Telephones - Att Cordless Phone - Dect 6 - Dect Cordless Phone'

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3 Handle Shower Faucet - kohler, bathroom sink faucets

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I sent KINGSTON BRASS, a three sentence email, asking them for a replacement part number on June 16, 2011 for this faucet, that I had recently purchased from AMAZON. I wanted the part as a spare. The original email was resent on June 26, 2011. As of July 2, 2011, there has been no reply. I was going to purchase three other units but without customer service, I will look for another product. Kingston Brass KB231 Magellan Tub and Shower Faucet with 3-Magellan Handles, Polished Chrome - Oil Rubbed Bronze - Kohler - Bathroom Sink Faucets - Kingston'

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Heart Necklace

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My girlfriend loves the pendant but when she tried on the chain she almost broke it. The chain is way to small not like advertised. Now I have to buy her a bigger chain but can't complain to much since the price was great. Sterling Silver & Created White Sapphires Journey Heart-Shaped Pendant w/18" Chain

I recently purchased this as a small, sentimental care package item for my girlfriend who is out of state for work. I figured it was cute, she'd open it, smile, and it would be a cute reminder that sat atop a dresser or jewelry box. I feared the chain, as with most silver jewelry of this price range, would be cheap or tacky...or that the stones would be super-glued in...BUT...



After seeing it on her and the smile on her face after she received it I will say that this is absolutely beautiful for anywhere near this price! The chain length is even perfect! Hangs perfectly and DOESN'T CATCH IN HER HAIR! (I know that's important to any woman with long hair) :)



BUY IT! This is the perfect gift to give to anyone who likes pretty things and doesn't need it to be diamond encrusted!

Sterling Silver Journey Set(Pendant and Earrings) w/ Created White Sapphire and 18" Box Chain





I purchased this necklace not expecting to much from a online piece of jewelry but I was so pleasantly surprised when this beautiful piece came in. The chain is not at all cheap it is a nice solid chain and pretty at the same time. The pendant is stunning not at all cheaply made solid nice shine to the silver and beautiful stones in it they shine in the light so nicely. I would recommend this piece to anyone even considering it.'

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Adjustable Laptop Stand - adjustable laptop stand, bed table

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Very versatile and light. The product could be sturdier, but then it would not be as light (portability) or easy to change the setup (versatility). There are several models of this product but I chose A4 because it is 1" wider and it has a rubber pad along the horizontal bottom that touches your laptop. There is another model that has a cooling mechanism (and no rubber pad), but the dual layer setup of this model can take care of the cooling. I was surprised to see the hollow core (that's what "dual layer" means) - for aesthetic reasons a closed edge would look nicer, but this allows heat to escape. Changing the angles is not as quick as I thought since you have to press the button in while simultaneously changing the angle. But this is probably preferable to buttons that pop out, since part of what makes this great is you can actually pack it up and take it places since it's so streamlined. Despite these observations, it's hard to see how they could come up with a better design, all things considered. I hope they have other model wider than 10.5" to fit most laptops from top to bottom (the side-to-side width of 19" is great). The actual flat surface from top to bottom is only 9.75" because the remaining 0.75" is the rubber edge. My laptop is still stable enough on it. One reviewer said the 19" is wide enough to write notes on the side, but I find that doing so takes away some stability. Again, that's the tradeoff of less stability and more lightness. Probably I would prefer a little more stability but still think it's a great product. - Adjustable Vented Laptop Table Laptop Computer Desk Portable Bed Tray Book Stand Multifuctional & Ergonomics Design Dual Layer Tabletop up to 17"

This was purchased primarily for use while sitting up in bed. It has performed without failure now for around 6 months supporting a heavy gaming laptop. Although the adjustable locking leg joints at first appeared too fragile, they have never failed. The front supporting edge of the surface is rubber with this model A4 and has fit my laptop perfectly.



I bought another model with fan before but he front supporting edge of the surface is metal and has slightly abraided the front edge of my laptop; I added some self adhesive padding to the edge to prevent this.



I would purchase again and recommend it with the caveats as noted.

For some reason the unit I received was a completely silver model. This is OK but I would have preferred the advertised gun-metal color. It is very shiny, more so than my Macbook Pro. There is also no rubber pads where the hands rest as described by other reviewers here. I am OK with that as well because it was not mentioned in the official description either. The unit came with a box with the instructions printed on the outside!? It seems to be plenty sturdy enough.

I've been using a laptop for 10 years, and over the years, I've used many different lap desks. Until now, my favorite was the iRain model, but after extended periods of use, the metal stand on that one digs into my thighs. This desk does everything I want a lap desk to do: It raises my computer to the proper angle, it provides for airflow underneath so that the computer doesn't overheat, and most importantly, it keeps the laptop from resting on my legs so that I don't overheat.



I love the versatility this model offers; with the three "elbow" joints each having multiple adjustments, no matter where I work--in bed, in my easy chair, on the floor, you name it--the desk can be positioned at just the right height. It's sturdy and solid, and can also double as a writing desk and/or bed tray for dining, which will be important when I have surgery at the end of the week. The gunmetal color is attractive, too. I'm guessing I'll get years of use of from mine, unless my college-aged daughter comes home and steals it.

This is one of the best investments I have ever made. I say investments because it has to do with my productivity. My back goes out often and this laptop table allows me to stay in bed and continue working. It also allows me to use my laptop anywhere in my house, couch, floor, bed, etc.



Great product!

I love this product. I use my laptop on all around the house (on my couch, on my bed, etc), so this really helps keep my lap cool. I can position it on my couch such that my arm is in an ergonomical position, and I can prop my leg up on the coffee table without affecting my laptop. Now, I can even use my laptop on my bed as I lie on my back.



The only complaint I have is the difficulty in configuring the desk. Each joint is completely independent so you have to adjust each side separately. The joints have angle labels, so you can at least make sure that they line up, but it definitely takes two hands and flipping the desk over a few times to set it up.

This thing was exactly what I needed. I was working from home while recovering from surgery, and could easily work from bed or from the couch without having a heavy, hot laptop sitting on my lap. It can be used in many different configurations so it's very versatile in terms of height, angle, etc. It is lightweight but sturdy enough for what it needs to do. It is certainly a handy thing to have around, even if you're not recovering from surgery. I anticipate getting a lot of use out of it and I definitely recommend it.

don't know how we ever lived without this item! Great for using laptop in bed- especially with all the talk of brown skin discoloration from using laptop on your lap. Very sturdy and versatile. Can use it anywhere- can use it to read on - even eat on- many positions. Love it

I use this to read in bed at night. The iPad is simply too heavy to hold up with one hand after a while. I bought a slip on cover for my iPad and put two pieces of velcro on the upper and lower regions of the cover and on the laptop tray which securely holds my iPad at any position I want. My iPad is actually facing downward velcro'd to the table top. The table is well made, the adjustments are well engineered and work great to get the most comfortable position possible to read for hours. - Adjustable Laptop Stand - Laptop Table - Bed Table - Notebook Stand'

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Soldering

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I'm always looking out for inexpensive artisan supplies that are comparable to professional types. This makes the cut. Sure you could get a variable temp. burner, but you'll put in at least $150 from the start...plus extra for tips. This burner is perfect for the beginners to the advanced type. The only flaw I've found is that it takes some practice to get lighter burn colors (achieved by quickly dragging the tool with less pressure)if you are trying to achieve different values. There are plenty of great tips that come with this burner as well. One thing that other less expensive burners lack is the heat guard (metal ring below the tip) and rubber/plastic finger comfort (it's black on this model) that your non-burned fingers will thank you for. I'm a big fan of this product's function and price. Walnut Hollow Creative Versa-Tool

I did not purchase this item on Amazon, but I wanted to leave a review. I purchased this item 2 days ago at JoAnn Fabrics. I used it for the first time yesterday. I practiced wood burning with it for about 20 minutes and it got so hot I couldn't hold it. I turned the tool off, let it cool and decided to try a different tip, as it comes with several different tips/points. I got some pliers (as the directions state to use) and attempted to remove the tip. The tip had melted into the tool. I tried and tried, but could not get the tip out of the tool. I contacted the company yesterday and have yet to hear anything back. Needless to say I'm just a little unhappy about paying $16.00 (originally $29.99, but I had a 50% off coupon) for only 20 minutes of practice. BUT I must say that while it was working, it did a good job.

For whatever reason I've always wanted one of these, so I bought one from another retailer. I love it! For the price, I don't think you can beat it. It comes with several different tips that can be used for woodburning, leather etching, and even soldering. I've only used it for woodburning so far. I need more practice, but the tool works great. The guard keeps my fingers safe and it's comfortable to use even though I have a habit of pushing down too hard which makes my fingers sore.



The only thing that I think would be a nice feature (not even sure if more expensive ones have this) is a button or something that would let you change tips without having to wait for cooldown. When I wanted to change tips and got impatient I used some pliers to screw loose the tip, but that might be damaging if you do it too much.



All in all a great tool that I'll find many projects for.

My 14 yr old daughter bought this and absolutely loves it. Everyone is amazed at the work she could do within days of getting it. It gets really hot. Be careful but its what makes it so good to work with. There are so many attachments, the possibilities are endless. My woodworking father is also very impressed with it.

I bought this on impulse because I'm a tool junkie, and haven't used it yet. I plan to use it for woodburning, but can imagine all kinds of uses for it. I like the fact that it can stamp on wood.



Very pleased with the condition of the product and the time it took to arrive.'

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Gear - Electronics - Batteries - battery, cordless phone

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The battery worked as good or better than the original battery. The battery actually changed -- it was probably upgraded by panasonic. I tried generic batteries and they did not work well. This battery works well. Panasonic 3.6V NiMH Rechargeable Cordless Telephone Battery (HHR-P402A)

These batteries are fantastic !

What I'm pissed about is the $150 i've spent on replacement bateries over 2 years in the 6 handsets I have. Why has panasonic waited so long to come out with a replacement battery that will hold a charge ?

The only thing worse than dealing with my past battery problems would have been if I had given or thrown away my phone systems just before these NiMH batteries came out.

I have (2) Panasonic 2-Line cordless phones and use them all the time in the home office. The past two years have been lame with unreliable batteries and I bought the last GE one at Circuit City and I almost was ready to throw it all out until I found these new batteries. DUH....1000mAh and its awesome....real phones now. Thanks. Steve Walker, Computer Consultant.

The battery is excellent. It would allow me to use the cordless phone to talk for a long time. The same battery is sold in some store for more than twenty bucks. So buying it at Amazon for nine bucks is a good deal.

This is an excellent choice -- lasts much better even than other NiMH packs. Just remember to charge it fully, then leave it off the charger until the charge indicator begins to fall off. Then recharge it fully again, even if you use it from time to time during that process -- about ten hours in the OEM charger. Sitting constantly on the charger eventually kills rechargeables, even lithium or nickel metal.

This battery keeps it's charge much better than the original that came with my Panasonic hub system. Well worth the $10.00 for not being cut off after 30 minutes of talking. I'm going to get another today for my other headset. Make sure you charge it the full 15 hours before use.

We have a Panasonic telephone system, KX TG-2740, that constantly needed recharging. We were ready to get rid of the system and not bother with Panasonic anymore. Then, I saw these batteries advertised at Amazon and bought them. The problem is remedied. Wish we had known about these batteries from the beginning. - Cordless Phone - Battery - Panasonic Cordless Phone - Panasonic'

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Chick Lit Mystery - bundle, female sleuth

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I thought these would be fun, but between the bad grammar, the typos, and the totally ditsy "heroine" I was really put off. She lies, cheats, doesn't have an ounce of sense in her head. I kept thinking that they'd get better, but unfortunately, at least for me, they were a total waste of time and money. High Heels Mysteries Boxed Set (Books 1-5)

all were a fun read. i enjojed the characters and the plots. typos were a problem. the typos would have never passed through an automatic spellcheck. i felt whoever oked the printing didn't care and was sloppy.

I've been a Gemma Halliday fan for years. How exciting to get a full box set of all the High Heels mysteries! If you like Stephanie Plum, you'll love Maddie Springer. Light, funny, and romantic, with perfect whodunnit twists.

I bought these on kindle because of the price (publishers note this remark.) These books were not bad. They had a sense of fun and a bit of slapstick. You kind of have to join the author's world which is not quite the real world, but that's ok as the author does seem to live within the rules of that world. I only read 3 (or maybe 2.5) because they did get a bit trite. This is not high literature, but a fun bit of fluff. Some bits get tiresome (how often can the heroine and her boyfriend fight before it becomes and obviously dysfunctional relationship that we all know really shouldn't be...)



I plan on reading the rest in the future. I just couldn't do them all back-to-back.

This set was great! I agree with other reviewers about the typos, but you get over it quickly. If you like reading Janet Evanovich and the Plum series you'll like reading this. The character on this reminds me of Stephanie Plum and is quite humorous.

i started reading them not even a week ago and i'm almost done reading all five, I haven't been able to put the books down. There's a lot of humor in it, plus i love the romance side of it, plus the character's are great, i'm in love with the character of the leading man, can't wait to see if they actually end up together! - Female Sleuth - Chick Lit - Boxed Set - Bundle'

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Yoga Mats Strap - yoga strap, yoga mats strap

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I like that the straps are adjustable, I have a thick mat; and the straps work fine. The buckles appear to be a little on the flimsy side, but they haven't broken yet (I've been using it for about 2 months now). Bought 4 of them for stocking stuffers for friends/family who do yoga. About what I expected for the low price. (Price/piece)GOGO™ 32 inch Yoga Mat Harness Strap, Yoga Mat Carrying Strap (Just Strap, Not Mat!)

This strap is plain, functional, and works just fine - as I expected. I like the adjustable straps that go around the mat. If I want to roll my towel up in the mat to carry home, I can adjust the strap and do that. Seems sturdy and with appropriate use should last a long time.

It's just a canvass strap with ajustments for mat width and strap length. Simple, easy to use, and worth the price. I am a bit concerned how well the clasps (that go around the mat) will hold up over time, as they're made out of pretty cheap looking plastic. Otherwise, it's pretty good.

I really wanted a way to carry my yoga mat on my walk to class, or on my commute via public transit. I didn't want anything big or bulky, since I already have a gym bag. This was exactly what I needed, and just the right price.

This is exactly what I had been expecting when I placed my order. It's easy to use and I have no complaints. I carry my 1/4 inch thick mat using this strap (and I double fold the mat before rolling it so that it stays clean which makes it twice as thick!) and have had no issues. Works great! - Strap - Yoga Mats Strap - Yoga - Yoga Strap'

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