Guy Low Price Electronic: 5 Aug 2009

Wednesday 5 August 2009

Portable Dvd Players - philips dvd player, multi-region

A decent player....you can't be expecting much with a portable DVD player..

Where it stands out?

1) It comes with a 110-240V charger - so that makes it really "portable"...I mean you use these not at your home but when you actually travel..

2) It can be made region free...so double points on portability!

Region free hack:

1. Turn on player.

2. Open disc tray.

3. Wait till 'Open' appears on screen

4. Type 9 6 5 3

5. Press up or down button to reach REGION option

6. Press OK button

7. Scroll UP/Down to TEST0 , press OK

8. Press setup again to exit

3) Battery life is longer

4) Gives you some extra inches of viewing than the rest

5) Plays both NTSC and PAL DVDs. I haven't tried that but the specification on Philips' site says

"Video disc playback system: NTSC, PAL"

Check it out: [...]

Though the caption says black color but the white looks smart...so I am happy with that.

Overall a decent player....serves the purpose for what it is meant for....please don't compare the sound or picture quality with a home theater or LCD....it's not that. Philips PD9000/37 9-Inch LCD Portable DVD Player with 5 Hour Battery, White

I've owned this player for a little over a week now and, since it had no reviews here on Amazon, I thought I'd write one up.

I bought this as a bedroom DVD player to replace an Insignia player that was showing its age.

The description says the player is black, however, go by the picture in the listing. The outside is a matte off-white color and slightly textured. The inside is black. The screen is a huge 9 inches (the majority of players I looked at had 7 inch screens) and the video quality is very good. Audio is quite good as well. I have the player on a night stand next to my bed and have no problem hearing anything. It isn't listed in the product description but the player comes with a mounting pouch for use in a car. I don't intend to ever use the player that way, but, I wasn't expecting the pouch so it was a nice surprise when I opened the box. The box says the battery will last 5 hours; I can't really comment on that since I keep it plugged-in. Though I'm sure I'll be happy for those 5 hours during power outages.

Now for the minor quibbles:

When the player is on there is a rather large, bright green light on the front of the player (it lights red when the battery is charging). It doesn't interfere with watching the screen and I got used to it after a few days.

I really wish players like these would have a button on the remote (or on the player itself) for switching between 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios (my very first portable DVD player had such a button and I've missed it in every player since). If you're a stickler for watching programs in the correct aspect ratio (like myself) you have to go through the settings menu to make the change. A single button would save several steps.

I also wish that all the manufactures would add volume controls on the remotes.

The AC adaptor was also a little on the short side (probably three inches shorter than the cord for my previous player). It's a minor annoyance only.

Overall, I'm very happy with this player and would give it 4.5 Stars.

This player (PD9000/37) is a region free portable 9" wide screen Divx DVD player. It works off the box very nicely. Most control 'switches' and ports i.e power, dvd open, ear phone etc are on the sides. The control buttons (play, stop, forward, menu etc are accesible when you open the screen. The outside is white and when you open it's black on the inside.

The screen is very nice and playing of discs was flawless. I checked DVDs, VCDs and some Divx home videos. All of them played well. If you pop in a divx disc with avi files, it will list directories and/or file and you can highlight the desired file and click play. you can do that with the remote as well. The audio quality is okay. The volume level is fine indoors, may need to use earphones when viewing outdoors. The 9" screen is really better than the 7" ones. Pretty good battery life too.

Worth the purchase!

I bought this to use for trips, it does exactly what I need it to do. I think the audio and picture quality are great. Its very durable and doesn't skip when it falls to the floor of the car- we usually just put it on top of a duffle bag to use it so both girls in the captains chairs in the second row can see. I have no complaints, I think its a great dvd player.

I took a chance on ordering this player because there was no reviews when I purchased it. When I received my player it was white on the outside and black on the inside. When I went to watch a DVD during the day while riding in the car the screen was to dark. When I adjusted the brightness and contrast it only made it worse. The disc menu on my player doesn't work. After I watch a DVD and hit disc menu it stops playing the DVD and says hit any button to continue. This unit is all plastic which makes it light weight. There is a button on the remote to change the brightness from normal to high to dark so you have three options on the remote only. Like I said, even adjusting the brightness and contrast I couldn't get the unit bright enough for my liking. The power cord is very short and thin. I am returning my unit because of the disc menu malfunction and I am going to try a different brand player. For the money that you pay for this unit it's not a bad player, just not what I am looking for in a portable DVD player.

We've had this dvd player a few months (after trying several others when a fantastic one - Polaroid, no less- we'd had for several years finally wore out). We've been more pleased with it than any others we've tried, but we did have a problem with a very dark screen recently. My five star rating is mostly for Philips customer support... I called about the problem; the tech asked a few questions then said, "OK, if you give me your address, I'll send you a replacement." I had no idea this was even a possibility when I called and was very pleasantly surprised by the cheerful way in which Philips volunteered this product replacement. It's worth the purchase - and I don't even mind problems - when a company stands by its product. - Highly Recommended - Multi-region - Philips Dvd Player - Car Dvd Player'

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Household Supplies - political humor, amazon oddities

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Won't way in on the racial stuff, its light hearted and fun, I don't see a thing wrong with it.

Anyway, the product itself has one major shortcoming, and it has to do with the way the piece itself is designed. All of Obama's "hair" is on the top part of the chia pet, with a rather large amount of neck and base that you do nothing with.

The issue is that by the nature of the clay, it constantly sweats and loses water. But, if you have used a chia pet before, you know this already. The problem comes in that the hair goes all the way to the top, and if you don't water this thing almost hourly, the top will simply not stay wet enough for the seeds to grow.

Mine ended up looking like Larry off of the three stooges. Chia Obama Handmade Decorative Planter, Determined Pose

The water does not stay in the top part of the chia, so even with repeated fillings, only the seed on the lower half sprouted! I'm going to try another round of it, but it's really not designed very well.

For crying out loud! I don't see any racial connection here, I think it's a great collectors item....it's a Chia Pet!

You guys need to Ch- Ch-Ch-Change your way of thinking. There are more important things to think about.

I think this is hilarious. People are acting as if it's a secret that Obama has kinky hair or that is somehow a bad thing. It's not. Anyone offended is waaaaaaaaay too sensitive and basically has too much time on their hands. The fact that we have a black President is reason alone to lighten up. I've got more things to be offended about than a Chia head.

Gave this to my son for his birthday and it was his favorite present. Funny as h---. However, he cannot get the "hair" to grow on the top of the chia's head. Has anyone else experienced a void there?

Before purchasing Chia Obama, I was dying of cancer, my car was due to be repossessed, and my wife wanted a divorce. Since buying Chia Obama, I am considered cancer-free, I won the lottery and bought a Hummer, and my wife and I are in love now more than ever. Chia Obama is the real hope and change, despite having no actual plan behind that!

This is definitely a conversation piece. Other than that, it functions like any other chia pet. A little tough to get the gel/seeds exactly where you want them, but really, who cares? It is pretty funny.

Purchased this as a gift, and liked it so much I probably will pick one up for myself. It doesn't make any difference if you are a supporter of the President or not -- the fact that such a product is available shows that freedom of expression is still alive. If you want to look at this as celebrating the President, great. If you want to look at this as poking fun at him, well that's fine too. I'm grateful that I live in a country where I'm free to make that choice. - Chia Pet - Amazon Oddities - Political Humor - Barack Obama'

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Maternity Support Belt - maternity support belt, maternity

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I am now 5 weeks out from my due date and i am having alot of back and hip pain- more than with my first pregnancy. I wanted something that would help out with the back pain and support my belly as it continues to grow. I had several picked out on amazon but decided to go with this one. I am glad i did. It arrived earlier than expected so i was pleased with that. I opened it up right away and put it on since i was going to be doing alot of walking. It works great! since i have started wearing it my back and hip pain have decreased alot! I work 10 hours a day still and have a toddler as well so this is a huge help since i dont have time to be in pain. I can also use it after i deliver as well which is a plus since i wasnt aware of that when i bought it. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because it bunches in the back when i wear it. Its kind of annoying to have to fix it. It also doesnt breathe very well and I am sweaty where the band was when i take it off at the end of the day. It is also a little bit bigger than i thought. I ordered a small/med bc i wear a size 8 and i feel that, although it works, i could use a bit more compression. It is also a nude color with lace detail vs. the black one in the picture. Overall i am glad that i bought this and would recommend it to others. Boppy Maternity Support Band - Small/Medium

I bought this support at Babies R Us and it's pretty good. I read the other reviews and after looking at all the maternity supports that are out there, I'm not sure what people's expectations are. It's not a miracle worker, I don't know how you can expect for it to completely alleviate the weight of your belly. I personally thought that for a product that claims to only "provide gentle abdominal support" and help to "ease" back pain, it does exactly what it says. No, it will not make you feel like you aren't pregnant anymore. No, it will not take away ALL of the ligament discomfort. But it does what it says... provides support and HELPS make you more comfortable. For the price, I think it's completely worth it. It does have velcrow that you need to line up, which I don't think is rocket science. Yes, the velcrow has some serious cling to it, and it can scratch you, but when you line it up right, it has a great grip and you don't have to worry about it coming off. If you don't buy the right size, such as if you buy one too small, the velcrow might not be completely covered when you close it and it will scratch you. Simple solution.... go to the store, try it on, and buy the right size.

I like to cinch mine tight , even though it creates a slight (very, very slight) muffin-top effect in the middle of my belly. I don't mind, because it's more comfortable to me. I don't wear it directly on my skin, I wear a camisole under it and then my shirt over it. I feel like it might not be that discreet, but my friends said that they didn't even notice until I said something. Again, for the price of comfort in my third trimester, this is acceptable to me. My advice-- spend $25 bucks and buy it to "help" make you more comfortable.

I was so excited to try this as I am having a lot of 3rd trimester lower back pain, but it was a huge disapointment.

It is no support at all. It doesn't feel any different on or off. Also, it would be impossible to line the velcro up straight.

I bought this band hoping to relieve some of my back pain during pregnancy. It does help some. It's not big and bulky, which is nice. My biggest complaint is it's hard to line up the velcro and if you don't get it lined up just right it will scratch you or dig into your leg or hip. The band also tends to roll up/fold if you move around too much while you're wearing it.

I'm still pregnant so I haven't tried it post-pregnancy like it advertises also.

This support band is useful when walking especially when using a lot of stairs. I only wear it to commute to work via train/subway however. Not sure if recommended to wear for long periods of time though.

I got this when I was 6 months pregnant and it worked well, taking the stress off my back and helping hold my belly in place while I worked at a job that kept me on my feet. It needs some adjustment, however, if sitting or constantly squatting, leaning down, or twisting. Now at 8 months, even if I am only standing, it bunches up under my stomach causing some cramping and makes my back sweat. Not useful at all. I will try it again for post pregnancy support. At $25, I expected more.

got this product because I wanted something to support my growing baby belly--I feel most of the weight in my lower abdomen, so having a little extra support there makes things more comfortable. When I first tried it on, it was a little too big to fit, but after a few weeks of growing more, its starting to fit nicely. I am predicting that it will be great for the last months of pregnancy. I bought the M/L size. Wish I would have bought the S/M size instead.

Bought this when I was 24 weeks pregnant because I was having bad round ligament and back pain. Using this has helped ease my discomfort and makes me feel more supported when I'm on my feet for extended periods of time. You have to be sure to get the Velcro lined up just right otherwise part of the belt will be poking your skin. Not so comfy. Otherwise, a good product for a good price.

I wore this when I was pregnant with twins. The support that the doctor ordered was tight and uncomfortable. This support is very comfortable and did not make me hot. It did not give me tons of support...which to get...you have to wear one that is very tight and restrictive. I would definately recommend this one!

This is a great item to have if you have to do a lot of standing. I work in the medical field and it's wonderful, it's also great when I go out shopping. The fit was a bit big, but it's wearable and I'm sure I will grow into it over the next two months! - Maternity Support Belt - Maternity Belt - Maternity - Maternity Support'

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Concentration Camp - concentration camp, drama

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2008 was a very big year for films adapted from books, with several reaching the high acclaim of Academy Award nominations. One adapted film that didn't get much recognition, however, is The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, based on the novel by John Boyne.

The film opens with the following quote emblazoned on the screen: "Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights, before the dark hour of reason grows." As the quote suggests, this is a sort of coming of age film, and over the course of 94 minutes,those in the audience slowly watch the innocence of children unravel before their eyes as the reality of what is taking place becomes more and more illuminated.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is the story of a family living in Berlin during World War II. The main character, an eight-year-old boy named Bruno (Asa Butterfield), spends his time in Berlin playing with his friends and reading adventure novels. His father, brilliantly played by David Thewlis (most will recognize him as Professor Lupin from the Harry Potter franchise), soon gets a promotion, however, and Bruno, his parents, and his sister move to the German countryside where his father will take up his new position. Unlike their time in Berlin, Bruno's parents are careful to keep their son close to home, and Bruno, an explorer and adventurer at heart, is confined to the small fenced area surrounding their house.

From his bedroom window, Bruno can see what he thinks is a strange farm off in the distance. He notices that the "farmers" act strangely and wear strange "pajamas" while they work. Later, he notices that the smokestacks on the farm give off an absolutely wretched stench when they are burning. By now, of course, the audience knows that what Bruno has seen is not a farm at all, and that his father's new position is Commandant of the nearby concentration camp.

The naive Bruno manages to escape from the grounds of his home and is finally free to explore the woods behind the house. Not paying much attention to where he is going, he happens upon a remote part of the camp where he meets another eight-year-old boy, Shmuel (Jack Scanlon), confined by a different kind of fence. The two become friends, and Bruno sneaks away every chance he gets to go and visit the only playmate he has found since moving away from Berlin.

This is an interesting film on many accounts, the most fascinating being the changes that each member of Bruno's family undergoes. His father, a seemingly reluctant, "political only" Nazi at the beginning, devolves into a hardened, harsh man. Bruno's sister Gretel (Amber Beattie), encouraged by a handsome lieutenant working with her father, falls victim to the Aryan propaganda so much that her room is soon filled with posters of the Fuhrer, much like young girls today would adorn their walls with images of the Jonas Brothers. Finally, there's Bruno's mother (Vera Farmiga), who is the antithesis to the growing Nazism in her family. At first she is happy for her husband and the success he has as a soldier in the German army. However, as she learns more about her husband's new charge, and the truth is revealed about the camp, she becomes bitter and angry.

And then there's Bruno. All the signs are there. Bruno comes across every hint he possibly could as to the truth behind the "farm" where his friend Shmuel lives and works. Yet he remains utterly oblivious. Caught between the two stages of "sounds and smells and sights" and "the dark hour of reason," the filmmakers show the great price of failing to deal with the world around us.

Much of the criticism that I've read regarding this film deals with the supposed overextension of innocence to both child characters. Many critics cannot grasp the idea of an eight-year-old child not understanding that the "farm" is really a horrible work camp, that the "pajamas" are prison clothes, that the mysterious disappearances that Shmuel tells of and the smoke from the chimneys are the results of the systematic slaughter of the camp's inhabitants. That may be a fair criticism, but I think it misses the greater point that the filmmakers seem to be making.

Bigger than a child's loss of innocence, Bruno seems to be a representation of Germany, perhaps even humanity, itself, and the failure to deal with the evil right before one's very eyes. So many Germans claimed the innocence that we see in Bruno, saying they had no knowledge of the Final Solution to the Jewish Problem that Hitler and his SS were carrying out across the European continent. Even today, despite all the existing evidence, there are still those that deny the Holocaust happened, not wanting to acknowledge the great evil of which humanity, perhaps even their neighbors and family members, is capable. More than anything else, this film shows the great price humanity pays for such utter naivete.

All in all, this is a very well done film. The story, though slow in the beginning, is engaging, thought-provoking, and, in the end, heart-wrenching. It is well-acted, especially in the performances of the young boys, and the bright colors and airy score provide a sort of bizarre juxtaposition to what is happening on screen.

The DVD includes the typical bonus features of deleted scenes and a feature-length commentary, as well as a featurette entitled "Friendship Beyond the Fence." The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

After I read the novel by John Boyne and heard the news that a movie adaption was currently in theatres, I was slightly scared that the film would be too extreme and dramatic for me, because I don't do well at all with films that scare me or make me sad- and thinking about the plot of the book, I knew watching a movie version would tear me to pieces.

But, as it happened, my school went on a field trip to see the movie a few weeks after I finished the book, and I ended up having to watch the whole movie through and write a report comparing and contrasting it from the novel. And guess what?- I sobbed like a baby in front of all my friends.

Although the last parts of the movie are very sad and deeply patronizing, it is overall a very good adaption of the book that caused so much controversy among young readers like me(I'm 15 by the way). - Innocence - Drama - Historical - Concentration Camp'

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Avoid - case, violin case

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This was a Christmas gift and within two months the zippers were broken and the handle fell off. I do not recommend this at all. I contacted the seller to see about a replacement and they only have a 45 day policy. I recommend buying locally! ViolinSmart Oblong Violin Case 4/4 Full Size (Burgundy)

The handle on this case broke off on the 8th day of use. Could not be reattached because the screw holes were stripped. Purchased in July but not used until school started after labor day. Vendor wouldn't even discuss return/repair. - Violin Case - Case'

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Great Value - exercise, fitness gear

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I bought this product because I was ready to move up from my 20lb weightvest. The MiR is top quality, delivered quickly, and I was using it within minutes of it being delivered. As far as doing PT with it, I haven't had any issues with the vest with one exception. At times, the vest (front panel) feels like it is going to flip out/off when trying to do pushups with your feet elevated. I'm thinking that MiR should add velcro to the space between the top and bottom panels on the front, as well as velcro to the outer fabric on the weight panel areas so that users can have the choice (based on the exercise they are doing) to configure the vest velcro straps as securely as it can be. Other than this, the vest performs excellent in all sorts of drills/exercises: burpees, plyo jumps, pullups, chins, ring dips and pushups, etc. Overall...an awesome investment! Highly recommended. (Weekly Special Sale - 30% Off/5 Days Only !) New! MIR 50lbs Short Adjustable Weighted Vest (One Size Fits All. Weights Included.)

I ordered and received the MiR 60Lbs Short Adjustable Weighted Vest. It arrived quickly. The vest itself is way too narrow to fit me - and I'm only a 42 chest. The one-size-fits-all claim by the manufacturer is NOT realistic: while it adjusts for length, it can't be functionally adjusted for width, since the load bearing straps are anchored in set locations and will center on that plane... which, for me, concentrated the weight way too close to my neck. There is no angular contour in the vest, and even trying to angle the velcro joint makes no improvement. So, instead of bearing on my bones in the shoulders, the 60 pound load hung from my trapezius muscles which is uncomfortable for any length of time, and not the proper or healthy way to support weight on the shoulders. My present (old and worn Ironwear) weight vest has 40 pounds in it, but remains comfortable.

The materials MiR used to construct the actual pockets which hold the weights are a strong webbing, but the material used for the body of the vest is actually quite thin woven polypropylene, and the foam inside is thin junk. The sewing of the pockets to the vest is a single line with no bar-tacking or reinforcement. Overall materials and construction may look good in pictures, but in your hands is obviously inferior. I really don't know how this product got so many positive reviews.

The return was not easy or inexpensive either... My local post office would not permit a flat rate box to bulge even a little, unlike the post office in San Jose which MiR uses, so I had to ship back using Priority Mail which costs 4 times as much. Since I had fallen for MiR's gimmick of giving me a second vest for free but paid huge nonrefundable shipping costs for that, the total cost of the return was very high... over nine-ty all included.

I recommend staying away from this company's products, and instead looking at other brands, preferably with the product in your hands BEFORE you buy. The XVest appears to be a better bet, and has multiple sizes, but I have not examined one in person yet.

I bought this just last week and I have been doing the stair master with 38lbs so far for 10 min on 60 steps per minute. I will work up to the full 50lbs for 10 min. I am training to be a Firefighter in Arizona. I do think it is a good vest. It doesn't move around on me nearly at all and you can change out the weights and use it for different exercises. I use around 30lbs when I go on an hour mountain hike. The only thing that needs to be improved is the Lower Torso strap. Sometimes the strap is hard to manage and it doesn't feel that secure. Maybe some belt loops with the ability to use a real belt are in the near future? Overall I like the way it sits on the shoulders and the distribution of the weight is good too. They are selling 30 pound vests at Wallmart for 99.99 and when I saw this 50 pound for this price, I knew I had to get it.

I purchased this vest and it arrived in about 8 days which I am happy with considering I live overseas and it was shipped to a APO address. The weights are excellent quality along with the vest itself. The only issue is that the clip on the strap broke as soon as I put it on to adjust it to my size. The good news is the strap does have Velcro on it so it should hold until I replace the clip.

Looked like a nice product. I have tried it out and found it to be very comfortable considering the 50 pounds your lugging around and it does and act exactly how it is described. If it ever breaks (I hope it does not) i would buy the same one. Also, MiR was extremely fast in getting my order out to me.

I was very impressed with the quality and comfort of this vest compared to other weighted vests I have used in the past. The length is not at all restrictive, like most vests out there, and the vest sits comfortably (relatively speaking - it is 50 lbs!!) on the shoulders. A waist strap keeps it secure even while working out at high intensities. Very satisfied!

Received the MiR Vest in the mail less than three days after placing the order; cant beat that for expediency!

The vest is great due to its fit for comfort and appropriate length and adjustable weight to allow for various workouts!

Sturdy construction. Weights easy to remove/replace. not suited for longer workouts at higher weights as it is very uncomfortable on the traps. Needs more padding. Better suited for shorter workouts. - Fitness - Weight - Exercise - Fitness Gear'

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Leather Tow Sides Belt - kenneth cole reaction belts, leather tow sides belt

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I bought this belt to replace a Wal-Mart $12 belt that was coming apart. This belt is noticeably nicer quality and the buckle does not rattle as much as the other one, but still rattles some. I had a nice belt from Men's Warehouse that lasted me years, and I would say the quality of this belt is comparable to that one.

The brown is a little lighter than I wanted, but still nice. I think it's lighter than the picture makes it look. Most reversible belts have the buckle screws and the imprinting on the brown side, but this one has it on the black side. But really it makes no difference since the belt covers it. The buckle finish looks very nice (my favorite part of the belt) and it doesn't look like it will peel or flake. The belt material itself is soft but firm. The picture looks like the brown side might be a course leather, but it's very smooth and the stitching is not very thick.

I bought the 38" and the length of this belt is about the same as the 38" Wal-Mart belt, if you are looking for comparison. I am about a 34" waist and the 38" belt wraps maybe 20% around my waist past the buckle, which is perfect for me.

Update March 7, 2011: I have been wearing this belt nearly every day for a year now, utilizing both sides. I think it still looks as good as the day it arrived. The leather looks perfect. The buckle finish is great. The mechanics are flawless. Seriously, I'm amazed at the durability of this belt. The buckle has not shown any signs of breakdown due to reversing it. I have had belts in the past where the buckle has come loose from the belt due to the pressure involved in reversing it, but this belt has no such issue. I would buy another one in a heartbeat, but it doesn't seem like it will ever wear out. Nautica Men's Reversible Belt,Brown/Black,38

I was hoping this would be a much softer leather. It's not. This is a very rigid belt with not a lot of flexibility. The photo makes it look like this belt bends easily; it doesn't. If you like a more sturdy belt then this might be really nice.

i also think the sizing is a bit off. I would rather have gone with a smaller size and used one of the last 2 holes instead of my size belt on the 4th hole.

I was not pleased with this belt. I bought it for my husband since he wanted both a black and a brown belt in one, and when he reversed it to the black color the material started to open up on the edges on his second use. I was disappointed and so was he. I was really hoping this was a nice product.

I'm holding the belt I received right here next to my non-calibrated LCD monitor at work, with the same impression that I had at home: the belt I received is darker that what's pictured, and has a purple hue to it (my wife came to a similar conclusion, saying "a bit of blue").

I also can't help but notice that the light-colored stitching in the Amazon photo is dark on the actual belt. Not black, mind you, just a dark brown punctuated by black stitching holes.

I was really hoping that this belt was true to what I see on my monitors, or even a touch lighter as one of the reviewers noted (though, in fairness, another reviewer said "darker!"). I suspect both could be correct, and there's just some color natural variations over successive production runs.

Between this and a recent jacket purchase on Amazon, I'm learning my lesson that I need to see these colors in person to judge accurately (in my defense, that supposedly blue coat I ordered was most definitely grey!!).

The belt is a bit more than 1/8" thick, and though it appears supple in the tightly wrapped coil as pictured, it actually quite rigid and even springy when squeezed while wrapped into a more typical 6" coil. The edges are completely black, with the exception of the brown stitches being slightly proud of the brown face and therefore being visible when viewed from the side, and the black side is entirely without visible stitching. The buckle is of good but not great weight (I've seen better, I've seen worse), and the "keeper loop" that the free end of the belt is tucked into is just a tiny bit thin with a bit of a sharp interior edge to it (that could eventually scrape the finish of the belt).

If I was purchasing this belt to wear with jeans or casual clothes, I'd probably keep it. But trying to match the hue of a pair of shoes I wear to work, I'm afraid, missed the mark by a good amount -- probably due as much to the color accuracy of my monitor as anything else. I hope Amazon doesn't think I'm abusing their return policy! I'm going to have to go pay extra at the store for this purchase, just to ensure I get the color I want.

...and just a quick that my 3-star rating is not based on the color disparity, but on my impressions of the overall quality of the belt & buckle compared to other belts I own.

High quality, durable leather make this nautical belt a classic and permanent addition to your wardrobe. Reversible from medium brown to black adds extra versatility. The brown side, which is shown in the picture, has an elegant stitching pattern that adds some class. The black side is stamped with the size near the buckle, not a feature I liked much, but when the belt is on, the extra that goes through the buckle and metal ring cover any unsightliness. I wear this everyday to a variety of free lance jobs that I do, from class rooms to board rooms, paired with jeans or a suit, this is a classic and versatile look that won't fade with time.

I purchased this belt for my husband for Christmas, so he hasn't worn it yet but it is well made and with the added bonus of it being reversible, I know he'll love it. He had one years ago and wore it out. I'm sure he'll do the same with this one. - Leather Tow Sides Belt - Kenneth Cole Reaction Belts'

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