Guy Low Price Electronic: 13 Aug 2009

Thursday 13 August 2009

Hdtv

I wasn't even in the market for a 3D TV, but when my Sony HDTV blew yet another bulb, I decided it was time for something new.

Initially, I planned on getting one of the new Sharp 60" Quattron models, and headed to a nearby big box store to check out the selection. Picture quality was most important to me, where I was willing to accept a plasma if it blew me away, but I was definitely siding towards LCD or LED. I wasn't too shocked to find that while plasmas were nice, they weren't "that" nice, and settled in to the Sharp.

On my way out, I thought I'd check a couple of the 3D displays, just to be 100% sure I wasn't making a purchase I'd regret as soon as 3D content became more widespread. I looked at a couple of Panasonic models with active shutter glasses, and found that the 3D looked acceptable, but the glasses weren't comfortable on my head or to my eyes. A DirecTV rep all but insisted that I look at a high-end Samsung model connected to a DirecTV receiver, and I immediately noticed that getting the thing to display 3D apparently required messing with the DirecTV remote, the Samsung remote, and continually re-syncing the active glasses. "No, thanks." I thought.

Then I noticed an unloved LG display, with a bucket (yes, an actual bucket) of scratched passive glasses. No way was this going to look good, but it wasn't like I didn't have a few minutes to spare.

I was absolutely blown away. By far, the best 3D experience I've seen. Standing about six feet from the screen, there was a scene from an IMAX documentary where a fish seriously looked like it came out about halfway between where I was standing, and where the TV was. And I could see parasitic fish on the nose of that fish, moving around. It was incredible, clear, and I knew it had to be pretty expensive. Much to my surprise, it was in the same league as the Panasonic models. I had to have it.

Doing more research online, I saw that Amazon's price was even better (better, in fact, than a national warehouse club sells the non-3D version of this TV for). I ordered on a Monday, and scheduled my (free) shipping for Thursday afternoon. The delivery people came 15 minutes from the start of my four-hour delivery window, with no hassle at all.

Out of the box, the picture quality on this TV is pretty awesome. Better than I remembered it being in the store, for sure. But, I did notice that motion seemed really... weird. I wasn't sure if it was my satellite receiver, or the TV, but things just didn't seem to move naturally. After spending some time adjusting the dejudder and deblur settings, I was able to make the motion normal. But then, I figured, I might as well calibrate everything. Using a combination of the calibration feature on the Life Blu-Ray and recommended settings on various forums, I was able to achieve an absolutely stunning picture. Seriously, this thing looks like it cost hundreds upon hundreds more when it's calibrated.

1080i / 1080p content looked absolutely brilliant. SDTV, on the other hand, isn't the best I've seen. It's certainly acceptable, and arguably on the better side of what's commonly found on LCD / LED models, but I'd probably consider getting something different if most of your viewing is going to be sub-DVD quality content.

Then it was time to break out the 3D. I snagged a copy of Tron: Legacy (Four-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD / Digital Copy) and spent most of the movie sitting with a dumb smile on my face. The picture quality and depth were outstanding. Don't fall for the "active / passive" hype. Watching 3D content with the LG's passive glasses is certain to please anybody who can see. And going back to my memory of the Samsung set, when the LG detects 3D, a box pops up that tells you to put your glasses on. That's it. No messing around endlessly with modes to get it working.

I then decided to play with the 2D-to-3D function on some HD channels and standard Blu-Ray discs, and was actually pretty surprised. More often than not, the TV seems to process the image as you'd expect to see 3D. It's not something I'd want to do all the time, but I have to say, watching Moulin Rouge! [Blu-ray] with 2D-to-3D was actually pretty awesome.

The built-in applications were kind of a mixed bag. Getting the TV on my WPA2 wireless network was pretty simple, and the Wii-inspired remote worked better than I had expected. The Netflix and Amazon On Demand apps were both very solid -- arguably better than what you'd find on a Roku, and miles ahead of the ones built in to my Sony Blu-Ray player. The other apps were less than impressive. Bringing up the weather app is more time consuming than just tuning to the Weather Channel, for example. The included web browser is fine for "Hey, look what my TV can do" showing off, but you're probably not going to want to fire it up to look at IMDB in the middle of a show.

All things considered, this is probably the best value around. While I lost 5" of screen real estate over what I planned on buying originally, the difference in picture quality alone was a decent tradeoff. Getting 3D was gravy, to say the least. Unless this thing sets my house on fire, I'd be hard pressed to recommend anything else within a couple hundred dollars. LG Infinia 55LW5600 55-Inch Cinema 3D 1080p 120 Hz LED HDTV with Smart TV (Included: Four Pairs of 3D Glasses)

I have to say I was really impressed by this set when i first saw it being demoed. I love 3d but have never wanted to own a set because the active shutter 3d makes me dizzy and sick after about 10 minutes of watching it. The passive 3d offered by this system is great. No sickness, little to no eye strain and a great 3d image. People have complained that the way the 3d is created halves the resolution, this is not noticeable at all with 3d blu-ray. I did notice lining in the image when i was very close to the tv, closer than I would want to sit comfortably. One complaint I have, though it is a small one, is that 3d gaming is noticeably lower in resolution. I have only tried this with one game(killzone 3) and only with this 3d format so cant really compare weither the other 3d format(active shutter) offered would be better for gaming. Still an amazing gaming experience regardless.'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Firex 120-1072b Replacement - home safety, smoke alarms

Visit Store Now !!

My home was built in 2001, and it was equipped with Firex 120-1072B units in each room wired for interconnectivity. One of my units began to sound randomly even when there was no fire. I tried changing the battery, but I still had the same results. So after searching online, I found that the Kidde i4618 is the current replacement model.

After purchasing the model, I was hoping that I could use an adapter between the wiring in my Firex unit and the Kidde. However, I found that I was mistaken in what I thought I had read. I am about as unhandy a man as they come, and I really wasn't looking forward to rewiring for the new unit. The hardest part of the process turned out finding the correct breaker as mine are not labeled. At least for my house (please know that yours may well be different), the smoke detectors were on a dedicated breaker. Once I found it and switched it off, it was very easy from there. I removed the two screws from the bracket of the Firex unit and then uncapped the wires. The Firex wires were easy to remove. I rewired black, white, and red as indicated and put the yellow caps back on to cover the wires. Then it was a simple matter of screwing in the new mount, connecting the wire, and twisting the Kidde unit into place. Once I flipped the breaker back on, everything was back to normal.

There is one nice thing on these new units. The battery door is on the face of the unit rather than the back. The old Firex unit has the battery in the back, and it was a pain to replace the battery. Another nice improvement of the Firex unit is the power connector is much easier to plug and unplug without being insecure.

So if this is the replacement for your old Firex smoke alarm, don't hesitate to get this one from Kidde. I'm pleased with the results, and I think you will be too. Please feel free to ask questions in the comments section below. Kidde i4618 Firex Hardwire Ionization Smoke Detector with Battery Backup

If you're looking to replace existing FireX detectors, I'd buy the i4618 detector in the Item 21007582 pack vice the 21007581 pack because it comes with the FireX to Kidde adapter KA-F. This makes your replacement a simple install and you don't have to disconnect any wires.

All in all the "hush" button and easy install make this a thumbs up from me.

We moved into a house that was built back in 1985. Along with a multitude of other little fixes and updates that needed doing, I noticed that the upstairs smoke detector was looking a little loose on the ceiling. Upon giving it a twist, the bracket broke, and the detector subsequently hung in a jaunty, festive way from just the wires. And I noticed that this was the ORIGINAL smoke detector, dated from 1985. Okay, there's another thing needing replaced.

Installation was a breeze - cut the power, pull the old one, match the correct wires on the harness (white/white, black/black, red/red), screw in the new mounting bracket, plug it in, lock it in place, turn the power back on.

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ / BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!

Oops! The 2010 model smoke detector didn't want to play well with the other 1985 smoke detector that I hadn't even noticed downstairs, and they were both going off simultaneously. Okay, swap that one out too, and... blissful silence, and a comforting green light shines from each one.

Trust me: if I could install this, ANYONE can install this. I can't even hammer a nail straight.

I purchased 5 of the detectors to replace ones in my home that were 10 years old. The installation process took about 5 minutes to install a new wiring harness and mounting plate. Each one went in extremely easily. I like the feature of this detector that has the battery accessible without having to take the detector off the ceiling. I would definitely recommend this product for anyone replacing a wired plus battery group in their home.

I had to replace smoke dectors that were more than 10 years old; I needed ones that would work with the orginal purchase without making electrical changes. The printed descriptions helped me make the right choice. I had my electrican install and test them and they are working.

I am impressed because the two large home improvement stores didn't have the model I needed in stock; one couldn't guarantee a delivery date. The prices offered were competitve; thank you Amazon.com

Wow, thanks for all the other great reviews. I too would have never guessed that I obtained the necessary skills to replace all my failing, old/outdated smoke a alarms myself. Fortified with the encouragement I found here, I managed to replace five in my house. . .all by myself. Everything went well - they are very easy to install. I actually bought mine on eBay for a fraction of the cost here.

Too sensitive doesn't begin to describe these alarms. Not sure what set them off but there was no, and I mean absolutely no smoke present but the oven was on. Open the door, the alarms go off. Wave in front of them like an idiot for a few minutes and they turn off. Repeat this about every 5 minutes until dinner is done.

Bah. If it wasn't a rental I would replace instantly

I purchased 3 of these to replace the Firex detectors that were over 10 years old and no longer worked correctly. I am no mr fix it by any means, but after reading the reviews here. I decided that I could do it myself and I did. Just make sure you turn off the correct breaker. Get a screw driver and go to it. It comes with the correct kit that you need to change out the old units for the new ones as far as fitting to your ceiling. The only thing that I would have like to seen is the wires stripped a bit further than they were. But its not that big of issue. connect the colored wires, put in the new adaptor, and you're there. If I can do it, anyone can do it. Thes detectors are a lot better than the one's they replaced easy to get to the battery when it comes time to change it out. - Firex 120-1072b Replacement - Smoke Detector - Smoke Alarms - Home Safety'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Green Laser - red laser pointer, laser

Visit Store Now !!

Ordered two of these lasers through Amazon. I've only had them for a few days, so I can't comment on their longevity. The pointers feel sturdy, not cheaply constructed, and have rubber for easy gripping. The beams are surprisingly bright. Very satisfied so far :) 5mw 532nm Astronomy Powerful Green Laser Pointer - Black

i bought this item at a great price! I was a little sceptical becouse of that reason,but when i got the laser it worked great! I was amazed i could point out stars in the sky (it looks like it goes all the way to the stars it's real cool)and tell my son the different star constelation's!! he loved it all he wanted to do for the next couple of days was go outside and point at the stars!! so is this worth your money i say how do you put a price on moments like that!!! totaly worth the money iv'e already bought another one for my son!

After I opened up the first one I purchased I was impressed in the daylight, it floored me at night. I promptly bought one for each of my brothers for Christmas and 8 months later one of my brothers commented that the laser was the coolest xmas gift ever.

The picture they advertise with looks enhanced and likely is, but the actual pointer delivers - especially with fresh batteries on a dark night. It's so bright it's almost painful to look at in a dark conference room. I can easily see the laser dot on trees/buildings well over 1000' away. It literally looks like it shines to the stars.

I've had mine for a year and it still works great, hard to believe it's so inexpensive. I love it for educating others on the stars. Strongly recommended.

I remember 15 years ago when red pointers had become popular in school, this pointer puts those to shame.

I bough the item for my pitbull since he loves chasing laser lights.This one actually lets me see where it is at 100 yards so i know where he is running to in my yard.I have found it to be good as a toy to shine on my street as people walk by and have no idea where this bright greed dot is coming from lol. - Red Laser Pointer - Green Laser - Laser - Green Laser Pointer'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Parsifal Watch

Visit Store Now !!

Its my wife's favorite accessory now and her first watch, people give admiring glances in the lifts and at meetings. The blue sapphire is very eye-catching, distinguishing it from other watches. It goes well with smart casuals and formals, a great first watch! It's quite petite and looks classy and dainty. Raymond Weil Women's 9640-STG-10081 Parsifal Watch'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Stripper Crimper - irwin, automatic stripper

Visit Store Now !!

This is a tool that after one project I wondered how I worked without it. Getting a perfect strip on a wire with regular wire strippers is frustrating for me. So much so that typically a knife was my preferred method, it was just as fast and yielded similar results. Now all that has changed. This tool is, upon first use, a sort of magical instrument. With a squeeze of the handles wires come out perfect and the project gets done faster. After using this tool for some time now I can say I still love it but it isn't perfect(what is). Sometimes a second squeeze is needed as it doesn't strip perfectly every time on the first pull, no big deal. It is also heavy. The solid construction of this tool makes it a workstation tool not a "on the belt" carry with you. Regardless the time savings with this are considerable and it still earns 5 stars. Irwin Industrial Tools 2078300 8-Inch Self-Adjusting Wire Stripper with ProTouch Grips

bottom line: this irwin self-adjusting wire stripper did not work well with the 24 awg stranded wire i tried it on. however, it worked beautifully with 22 awg solid core wire.

this irwin stripper works by gripping the wire with two clamps, the left one for holding the wire and the right one for stripping it with a sharp edge. as you close your grip on the handles, both clamps lock down on the wire. when you completely close your grip on the handles, the two locked down clamps then come apart, stripping the wire. at least in theory.

the problem i had with the irwin stripper is that the clamps did not provide enough force to hold down a thin 24 awg stranded wire. as a result, the insulation becomes partially pierced by the stripper and stretched a bit without being completely removed. if you manually press down on the left clamp before completely closing your grip to strip the wire, then the insulation will come off, but you also make a dent in the wire, exposing a little part of the wire away from the tip.

there is a swivel knob to micro-adjust the irwin stripper for thin wire gauges. however, even with the micro adjuster at its tightest, the clamps are still too loose to really work with 24 awg.

i also tried this irwin stripper with 22 awg solid core wire, which worked exactly as it should. just beautiful. i really really wanted to like this product, but i bought this stripper to work with the thinnest wire gauge it is spec'd to handle and things just didn't work out. it's not a bad product for thicker wires though. irwin should advertise these wire strippers for 10-22 awg rather than 10-24 awg.

If you do any kind of wiring, whether installing a ceiling light in your house or tinkering with tiny circuit boards, you need this. I had one for years, and finally managed to break it. Thinking I could do without, I used various cheap wire strippers until I finally couldn't take it any more, and then ordered a new one of these - or at least I thought I did. Look closely before you buy one. There's a very similar-looking product that claims to be "automatic," but it's not. Instead, it has a series of grooves for different wire sizes, so you have to know what size wire you're stripping, and fit it into the right groove. That one is a piece of junk.

This tool is the one you want. The jaws on this one automatically adjust to the wire size, grip the insulation, cut just down to the wire, and then yank the insulation off, in one smooth motion. You don't need to know what size wire you have.

In fact, you don't even need to see the wire. I just finished connecting a new light circuit, and part of the job required splicing some wiring in a very cramped space between some ductwork and the floor joists. I could either see the wires or fit my hands in to touch them - not both. Reaching in with this tool, I fed each wire into the jaws, felt that it was in the correct position, then squeezed the handles. When I pulled my hands out and took a look, there were my perfectly-stripped wires waiting to be spliced.

This is my second one (wore the first one out). This one actually seems to be better built and the part that failed on my last one (wire stripping blade) is cast into this one as a solid piece. Very comfortable to use.

It does the job, and does it well. I am an Electrical Engineering student who buildings a lot of circuits. Having a stripper that selects the proper wire gauge automatically saves a bunch of time.

Buy it.

I could not believe how nice this tool stripped the #14 wire I tested it on. What it does is grab the wire with one set of jaws, then the other edge with a little knife like burr, for lack of a better word, nicks just the insulation and pulls it off the wire when you squeeze the handles. After a lifetime of using every other way of stripping wires, this tool is like magic.

Like other reviewers, I've tried everything out there (including my teeth) to strip wire... I've done my share of knuckle banging, finger cutting, and everything else you can imagine trying to strip wire for electrical outlets, recessed lighting, ceiling speakers, etc... I decided to give these a try (why not, I've used everything else and if they didn't work, I'd toss them just like many tools before it)... what a pleasant suprise... They work great and take just seconds to use... I get a clean strip 95% of the time (the other 5%, I have to run the wire stripper on the wire twice cause the first attempt didn't fully remove the insulation and only happens sometimes on heavy gauge wire)... No more using wire cutters (trying to delicately twist side to side on the insulation without actually cutting the wire), manual wire strippers, utility knives, and even my teeth... I'd pay double for these if I had too... I just wish I had found these years earlier~~~~

This tool save my a lot of time and headaches. I had to install a new multimedia system (tv, cable, game console, rv, surround sound), and boy this made my job a lot easier. Although, this tool is a lot more them the average wire striper it is by for worth the extra money. - Irwin - Automatic Stripper - Wire Strippers - Stripper Crimper'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Lcd Hdtv - 40 inch hdtv, samsung lcd

Visit Store Now !!

Did a lot of research on TVs before I decided to get this one. Was not excited about the 120hz TVs; do not like the soap opera/camcorder motion. I was debating if I should get the internet options with the apps on the other models, but I have a PS3 so it wasnt worth paying for the extra features. So I got this 60hz LCD and I have no regrets! The picture this TV produces are amazing, especially on Blu Ray. I watched my New Zealand vacation videos on it and it really brings out the colors and makes my video look even more movie like. Avatar looks amazing on it as well. I got it for $640 and worth every dime. Samsung LN40C530 40-Inch 1080p 60 Hz LCD HDTV (Black)

Upon breaking the LCD panel in my previous Samsung TV, the LN4065F, I sent myself to Amazon in quest of a new TV. I wanted another Samsung, since their build and picture quality are topnotch, but I also wanted something relatively entree-level as a cheap means of replacing my older TV.

The Samsung LN40C530 delivers in both apartments, and with astonishing results. At under 700usd, this set provides an excellent picture with extremely rich colors. There is no problem with backlight bleeding or color inconsistency either. Compared to my older TV set, this one has more of a semi-glossy screen with some matte properties. Most people would view a semi-matte screen bad over a very glossy screen, but the matte elements in the screen do a great job of ensuring the colors this panel provide are very deep and saturated. Having a very high contrast ratio helps a great deal of bit with color reproduction as well. At its default settings, the picture's a a bit too sharp, so setting sharpness down to around 30s will produce more desirable/natural pictures. Compared to my older TV, the sound seems to be lesser, and not as deep, so I manually had to go into its equalizer and raise the lower hz rates up a little to produce satisfying results. This is fine for most people, but ones who play games under game mode for lower input lag are forced to use default audio, so they should think twice if sound is a big issue to them.

This TV doesn't boast any of the newer technologies we see today in higher end TVs-- such as 120/240hz, or led backlighting with or without local dimming-- but this TV doesn't need them. Almost all signals are capped at 60hz, and it's up to the TV's motion estimation interpolation to render false frames (which can sometimes lead to unwanted artifacts/effects) True 120hz won't be taken full advantage of until everything is broadcasted at a native 120hz rate. led local dimming seems nice, but this TV already is very bright, and shows no signs of backlight bleeding (blacks could be a little blacker, but that can usually be fixed by setting HDMI black level to low-- if wanted) Besides that, there's little reason to be a stickler for very deep blacks if the TV shows no sign of backlight bleeding/clouding.

In terms of build quality, for a sub 700usd TV, the LN40C530 looks and feels like a 1500+usd tv. The bezel is small and compact (as well as a slimmer depth than my old TV: 3.1inches compared to 3.8inches), while Samsung included a row of touch sensitive buttons on the bottom right-- very akin to Sony PS3's power/eject buttons. One thing I am a bit disappointed in is the lack of Samsung's trademark lighting effect on the bottom center of the bezel, but the blown glass-like design of the clear plastic under the bottom bezel looks very nice. Even though Samsung says this TV doesn't come with a touch of color feature, you can make out a very faint amount of red accent in the very bottom of the TV. The remote is another letdown for me, as the general look to it is very cheep compared to my older model. Thankfully, the older remote works on this new TV as well.

As for the general consensus: If you're in the market for an entree level HDTV with amazing picture, you need not look further than this great piece of kit Samsung has introduced.

I haven't bought a television in 13 years and I wanted to make sure I got one that would last me at least another decade without breaking the bank. I did my homework and waited patiently for a price dip on a Samsung, which all the reviewers say are the best. I picked this one up for just over $600 and I'm so happy with it! Personally, I'm not interested in the technology race--I just want great picture quality and a set that is reliable and easy to operate. That's precisely what this is, with a fair amount of bells and whistles to boot.

Visually, this TV is excellent. The colors are vibrant and on-target (no purple cast like I've seen on some lower-end LCD TVs) and there's no ghosting. Like with any high-resolution TV without an expensive upscaler built in, regular definition sources (e.g. older DVD players and game consoles) look a little blocky. You can fix this with a fancy upscaling circuit like you find in the more expensive A/V receivers, but otherwise it's something you'll find on every TV.

The audio is pretty good for built-in speakers. It certainly has more bass than our old tube TV did; built-in amplifier technology on the TVs has advanced considerably over the past 5 years or so. The volume control seems a little odd, though, in that when it's quiet you have to nearly double the numeric volume before it's noticeably louder. I wonder if it might be using a linear scale instead of a logarithmic one (decibels, for example, are logarithmic). Still, decent built-in speakers; if you want really nice sound, you'll want an external receiver (which is probably true of any built-in TV speakers anywhere). It has optical and analog audio out if you want to plug it into a cheaper stereo instead of finding a more expensive receiver unit and speakers, which is nice (the analog is in the form of a stereo miniplug (headphone jack), which you can either plug in directly or get an RCA jack Y-adaptor for most stereos).

One of the HDMI jacks has a stereo miniplug linked to it for audio input so you can plug your DVI-capable computer in and pass the audio in through the analog jack (since many computers have DVI, which is easily and cheaply adapted to HDMI but does not carry audio content). This is a nice feature if you have a media PC or plug your laptop in for photo shows, etc.

One thing I wasn't such a fan of was the menu system. Samsung has always made nice TVs, but I feel their menu system has always been a little clunky (my old roommate had an older model and it was almost the same). This machine is at least pretty responsive when you push the buttons, unlike older ones which were a little sluggish, but the menu system goes far too deep and doesn't seem particularly well organized. I still can't figure out how to turn off the dynamic contrast scaling; the menu says it's off, but black screens full of white text (like the credits after The Office) cause the contrast to adjust up and down, making the text a different brightness on each subsequent screen depending on how much white text there is. Minor quibble, and it probably does improve the picture on the show itself, but still.

And, like most LCD TVs these days, it takes about 5 seconds to turn on or off, which is puzzling for people when they hit the power button and nothing happens instantaneously. This isn't unique to this TV or even Samsung TVs, of course, but if it's a surprise to you, don't panic.

My chief complaint about the menu system is that you can really only select from a handful of preset names for each of the sources; items like "TV", "Game", "DVD", "DVR" and a few other assorted oddities. I have a PS2, an XBox and a Wii; I guess I name them all "Game" and hope I can remember which input goes with which? I also have the new AppleTV (which is wonderful), but the closest category that fits it (to my mind) was "IPTV". This is somewhat superficial and not at all a dealbreaker, but it does occasionally confuse the less technical members of my household. Given that it would have been trivial for their software engineers to add an option for specifying a custom name, it's a little disappointing. I think I actually remember being able to do that on my old roommate's older Samsung TV, but maybe I'm misremembering.

Last complaint: No S-Video input. I'm probably part of a sub-1% group that finds this annoying, but I have several older game consoles which provide S-Video out and not component out, and their composite looks terrible (specifically the Super Nintendo). I suppose I'll just have to wait until I get a real receiver, most of which do have S-Video inputs (and better upscaling). I think I was just more surprised than anything else, since this is the first TV I've seen that doesn't have any S-Video inputs.

All in all, I am 100% happy with this TV, and I can't say I've ever seen a modern-day HDTV with a reasonable menu system. Make sure you measure your space before you pick the size, though! I did, and 40" is the perfect size for us; my wife thought it sounded way too big, and we almost went with the 36" (which would have looked oddly small in the space it's in). Eyeballing it is a good way to wind up with a TV that's too big (won't fit or overwhelms people at the viewing distance) or too small.

And, of course, if you're looking for bells and whistles like 120 Hz (I don't really watch anything that takes advantage of it, so it seemed like a waste of money to me), you'll need to pick a higher-end model. - Samsung Lcd - 40 Inch Hdtv - 40 Inch - Hdtv'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Easy To Use - exercise, cute

Visit Store Now !!

Purchased these Reebok 2 lb Wrist Weights for my wife to replace her nearly 8 year old Nike 1 lb wrist weights. She loves them! the wrist weights are just a tad longer than the Nike wrist weights (thus it will fit people with bigger wrists), the construction looks similar to the Nike (appears very sturdy and should last just as long). As others have pointed out the actual color is lime green not purple as shown in the main picture (however, my wife loves the lime green trim with black color). Cost of these wrist weights are almost 50% less than a Nike wrist weights from Nike's web site! My wife loves them so much her walking partner has asked me to order her a set from Amazon as well. Reebok Thumblock Wrist Weight (4-Pound Set)

I'm really good at complaining about the lack of tone in my arms and horrible about working out, so I decided to get these wrist weights as a motivator to "accidentally" exercise. I wear them around the house for about an hour a day, and after one week of wearing them while doing regular household tasks (cleaning, cooking, etc) I'm already seeing a difference! The fabric is soft & non itchy, putting them on & taking them of is super easy, and they're cute enough to go check the mail or mow the lawn in without feeling like a dope if your neighbors see you. The design reminds me of early 90's rave-wear, and part of me wishes I would've had them then, because my arms would be rock hard now. I love them so much I've already ordered a backup pair for myself and a pair for my best friend. Thanks Reebok!

These are exactly what i thought they'd be. The thumb hole keeps the weights in place and the slim design keeps them tight on small wrists.... great for revving up any cardio workout. Although the material isn't necessarily "sweat wicking" i haven't noticed any smell and after hundreds of uses the velcro still holds strong and the material looks brand new.

I was excited to try these wrist weights because of the thumb-holds, and because it looked like they were designed for women. (They show a woman on the packaging, so that's likely the case.) Granted, I have relatively small wrists, but these weights were absolutely enormous on me. I cannot imagine how these would fit most women's wrists comfortably. Even with the velcro pulled as tightly as possible (to the point were only small pieces of the velcro were pressed together), they still slipped all over the place. So disappointed!

I wear these wrist weights during my Zumba class to really work my biceps, and they do their job very well. Unlike some other types that only wrap around my wrists, these have thumb holes that allow them to stay in one place without sliding all over as I move my arms up and down and all around. Not too bulky either, and neoprene cover work well with sweaty skin. For the price, these can't be beat!

Looks like they've put the correct photo of the lime green/black weights since I last read these reviews. The "wrist" weights I tried on at Walmart slipped right off my wrist. These fit my small-boned wrists with only the last inch of velcro (out of the 2 1/2 inch long block) holding it sufficiently to my wrists. Comfortable, soft material with a little stretch. I do wonder if they stretch a little if they will be too big for the velcro to catch, no longer enabling them to stay on my wrists. The thumb lock starts to hurt after several minutes of wear, but you don't have to use the thumb locks. Definitely can feel they're working. Surprisingly, they are quite fat on your wrists. For example, I had to remove them to type this. I think this is about as good as you're going to find as far as wrist weights. I saw these at Target, BTW.

I purchased these wrist weights less than a month ago. I used them primarily to make the boxing workout on Wii Fit Plus a little more intense. I thought they would stay in place well because of the thumb hole, but the velcro came undone maybe a half dozen times as I was punching. I could live with that because they stayed on most the time, but a few days ago one of them burst open as I was punching and little beads sprayed everywhere.

Maybe it's not meant to be used that way? Maybe punching is more than it was designed to handle? But I certainly wasn't going crazy with my punches and I would have imagined any well designed wrist weight would have been up to the task. I was quite disappointed.

These are nice enough looking wrist weights, but at 2 lbs. each, they need to fit much more snuggly on my wrists! I already have another pair from a different vendor, and those have room to go even more snug for a smaller wrist. These Reebok Thumblock wrist weights wouldn't fit any wrist smaller than mine and I don't think I have a particularly small wrist! This should be noted in the advertising of the weights and/or various sizings need to be offered.

Every time I go on a walk or am doing chores around the house, I wear these. It's an easy way to get in a little extra arm workout without having to go out of your way to lift weights. What sets these wrist weights apart from others is that you still have the use of your hands, which is nice.

Now, wearing these and not doing any additional weight training is NOT going to turn your arms from flab to fab in a week. But it will offer a little extra resistance to daily activities which adds up.

Four stars because my mother tried them out and they were too big on her. She also mentioned the thumb piece rubbed uncomfortably.

I've been using this product for about two months now. The obvious advantage is that adding extra weight to your arms increases the exercise intensity and calorie burn. I wear these when I run and it has helped me build speed and endurance.

While I like this product a lot and use it daily, it runs way too large for most womens' wrists. It helps to wear terry cloth tennis bands around both wrists and then put the weights on. Otherwise, the weights shift around quite a bit.

Overall, I am satisfied with the product. If you're looking to turn a casual exercise into a more rigorous one, I recommend getting these. - Dance - Cute - Easy To Use - Exercise'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Based On The Little House Books - laura ingalls wilder, little house on the prairie

Visit Store Now !!

Cynthia Rylant does an excellent job of filling in the gaps for us in the little written about time of late 1875 through 1877. Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote very little about those years when she would have been about 8 - 10 years old. They were years of some strife and hardship on the Ingalls household, and this is probably an important time and book to add to your Little House Collection, a time that probably shaped and had quite an influence on her life.

This story looks like it would be read before "By The Shores of Silver Lake"

Due to hardships and events beyond their control Ma and Pa Ingalls had to pack up their wagon and their family several times during those years, and we learn of other people that touched their lives in some way. Selling the farm and deep in debt, moving to the city and working their fingers to the bone before they could settle down once again. Some of the stories, you will no doubt know from the Little House TV series, and although this book takes nothing away from that wonderful show, you will learn that they happened just a little differently and in different places. The birth and too short life of baby Charles Frederick, the coming of baby Grace, working at the hotel, and meeting another branch of the Ingalls family.

Laura's love of traveling West to the wide open country and her love of books and reading become apparent at her young age. And through all the strife, the family never lacks in love and spirit.Her wonderful with relationship with her family, but especially Pa, shines through here. You are taken from smiles to tears and in the end, just like the TV program, you are left with a big grin and maybe even a new outlook on life,

The book is recommended for 3rd through 7th grade, and I agree this would be a great read for that age group.It will certainly leave young readers hungry for more. But I have to say, that all ages will love these stories and for those especially that love the Little House series, "Old Town In The Green Groves" although not written by Wilder herself, will give you the same great feeling and will fill in some of those "lost years" for you.

It's a fairly fast read, not too long, and you will probably wish there was more.

Recommended for all to take another journey of love with Laura, Mary, Carrie, Ma, Pa and Jack the Dog!...Enjoy the read...Laurie Old Town in the Green Groves (Little House) - Childrens Books - Little House On The Prairie - Little House - Laura Ingalls Wilder'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Carrying Case - carrying case, hard drive case

Visit Store Now !!

Luv this case. Perfect fit for iomega & cords. Inside only slightly padded, however - pretty thin padding, but feels memory-foamish & better to have thin memory-foamish padding than thin cheap padding. Even tho has thin padding inside, the outside makes up for this because it's rubbery & substantial, plus the little square bumps all over the outside of the case actually provide great shock absorption. Have been using this case for nearly a year now in backpack bumping around the globe with absolutely no harm to my hard drive. The case with my hard drive in it has even fallen out of my backpack to the ground a number of times with no harm done to the hard drive at all. Note: this is not a thin case. Slightly bulky but still small enough to be comfortably portable. Wish it came in colors, I'd get another. Highly recommend. Iomega Portable Hard Drive Carrying Case 34477

I think it is important to have the right case for your portable hard drive if you are traveling with it and for protection in the home too. The Iomega case fits the hard drive snugly with added support for the plug. I like the strap across the insides for added protection and the stylish outer layer adds even more shock protection. This is a must-have.

I recently received an Iomega Prestige 500 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive and wanted a portable case to go with it. I was between the Case Logic Compact Portable Hard Drive Case and the Iomega. The Iomega seemed to offer more protection and I figured it would also fit better since it was made for Iomega drives. I was wrong.

Unfortunately, the Iomega Prestige drives are smaller than most of the older drives. When placed inside the Iomega case, there is about a 1 inch gap, length-wise. Additionally, the stretch strap that should secure it is of little use as it barely even touches the Iomega Prestige drive.

I was however, impressed with the build quality and construction. The zipper glides smoothly and the exterior material feels soft and well cushioned. Also, the mesh pocket easily holds my USB cable. I have an older and larger portable hard drive that fit inside the case perfectly, so I am keeping it for that drive.

For older and larger portable hard drives, I think this case is perfect. Unfortunately, if you have the newer Iomega Prestige drive or a similarly sized drive, this case is just too spacious.

I have the 320GB and the 500GB Iomega drives and this case just ROCKS! It looks cool and is very padded and protective. The black matches the drives color and inside I can not only store a drive but also the USB and power cords as there is a pocket with mesh netting. Really isn't much else to say other than it does what it is supposed to for a great price and that means everything these days!

I bought this case to protect my eGo Blackbelt external hard drive when I carry it in my backpack alongside my notebook computer and other electronics and stuff. While it is solid, well built and made to fit the HD -- an elastic strap secures it in position --,I found it takes up a bit more space in my backpack because it's thicker. I used a neoprene sleeve for a previous HD and quite liked it (even though it didn't offer the same level of protection, my old HD was never damaged), but decided to go with the Iomega carrying case this time around.

One thing I do like about this Iomega carrying case is that it has a little pocket on the other side, where I stash the HD's USB cable.

I recently purchased an Other World Computing Mercury Elite-AL Pro Mini hard drive, which seems slightly larger than most portable 2.5" hard drives from other manufacturers. The drive dimensions are 5.5" x 3.8" x 1.1". I tried about 5 or 6 different cases, none of which were large enough, except this one. Don't be fooled by the inner dimensions advertised for other cases. The reality is that all of the other cases I tried were smaller than advertised. The drive fits just perfectly in this Iomega 34477 case -- quite snug. In fact, maybe a bit too snug to put a USB or FireWire cable in the case with the hard drive. But for me that's OK -- I can simple put the cable in my laptop bag or in my backpack. So if you are looking for a case to protect your Other World Computing Mercury Elite-AL Pro Mini hard drive, this is the case to get. And it's a great price too!

Gonna buy three more. These are convenient to carry and I need many of them as I have a good number of hard drives used at both home n work. I have a carry-loop attached to it so that it is further mor easier to carry. It appears shock proof too... it did slip off my backpack-pocket a couple of times but the drive did not get damaged.

I purchased this to protect my Iomega eGO ext HD. While slightly thicker than my toshiba ext HD cover, I appreciate the extra padding and nonslip surface without the extra weight. There's some wiggle room so there's plenty of space to stash another 2-3 USB memory sticks comfortably. All in all, a sound purchase.

Love this hard drive case! It has an elastic band that holds the hard drive in place and a mesh pocket that keeps the cord tucked away when you open the case. There is even enough room in it for me to keep my Blackberry sync cord! - 500 Gb - Durable - Hard Drive Case - Carrying Case'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Potty Training - potty training

Visit Store Now !!

My lab mix has been marking occasionally over the last few years but within the last few months really started having accidents in the house. I put this on him when we received it - at first he did try to take it off, but after we told him no, he left it on. I put it on him when we leave the house. It's only been wet twice since we've used it, I actually think it's stopped him from going in the house. I do sometimes put a pad it in if we're going to be gone all day. Great product - I may buy another one to have a backup. Belly Bands for Male Dogs with Incontinence Problems - Print

My male dog seems to enjoy marking my bed corners at night and has been randomly marking my house. I put this on him and get to relax. I must admit I put in it a woman's pad for absorbency otherwise her turns yellow. lol. It works great and he doesn't seem to mind wearing it.

These belly bands are great. I have a Pomeranian that wears these when we are not home, he has anxiety when he is alone and wants to mark his territory. We do not buy the replacement pads for these, I just buy a huge bag of Kotex feminine pads for women (extra long and super absorbent) they work perfectly, change them for every use. I have three belly bands for my pup and I am going to buy one more. Note... wash these out by hand in the sink (maybe once a month or so) (the extra long pad keeps them dry and clean for a long time), the washing machine may be too ruff on them. Their not cheap but well worth it! A life saver for us!!!!!!!

We walk our yorkies, they have a dogie door and an indoor "pee pad" system but I still find I need belly bands. They are great for hurricane prep when our dogs can not relieve themselves outside. They are especially helpful to prevent marking when my females are in heat. I also use them for my "little ole man", Bentley, that is 16 and can not get out the doggie door and forgets to use the "potty pad" back-up. I cut up a sanitary napkin, and insert half of in the band. The band does not have a place to hold it but if you just use the slightly adhesive on the pad, it stays in place. (use pads for med or light thickness) The belly bands can be used to deter marking,incontinence,hurrican prep and accident prevention. The smooth and flexible material is great. Velcro can be scary to a little dog but on these pads, the velcro works without a hitch. My yorkies have very long luxurious hair and these belly bands never cause matting or tangles. In my opinion, the flexible band is superior to any elastic band out there. Make sure you order the correct size because the width of the belly band relates to the circumference. They are perfect for yorkies and small dogs with similar builds. Special note: do not underestimate the determination of a male dog when a female is in heat. These bands are not enough to prevent them from mating, however... I buy preemie and newborn onsies from Walmart for about $3 and they have snaps at the crotch then I put a female diaper pant over the onesie and her halter over the onesie to prevent disloging of the females protection system. I find for yorkies, the preemie size fits best for 3 to 5 lbs and the newborn for 5 to 10 lbs. You can place a preemie diaper on your female yorkie under the preemie onesie if she is still in the bleeding phase. This system works if you really want to prevent mating and I make sure my males are wearing their belly bands too. Good Luck.

I have 2 male yorkies and they are the worst when it comes to marking on every corner in my house. I bought them a diaper from a different manufacturer and the diapers kept leaving a mark on their bellies so I went on the Internet to look for a different kind of diaper. I found Playapup and it was the best find I could have come across! Playapup's bellybands are perfect they don't leave marks on their bellies and my yorkies don't seem to mind them. The soft neoprene and nylon/lycra fabrics were a great idea because they are easy to wash. Big Big Big fan of the Hawaiian print, I got a red one and a blue one. Thank you Playapup for making my life easier :o)

The company that I got this belly band from is OUTSTANDING to work with. I placed and order and never received the product, so I contacted the company and they sent another belly band out and I received it within days along with a self stamped envelope for the first order if I ever got it, ( still waiting on that one to show up). I would like for the band to get a little thinner as it goes around my dogs hips, only because he was injured and has a plate in his hip. The band sits right on the plate and causes him a little discomfort. I would suggest this company and product to anyone!!!

I have an 80 pound male collie who is paralyzed and incontinent. I had trouble finding a band that would fit and did not care for the fabric with elastic ones. This was perfect and hand washing it is very easy and did not require the dryer. I will get them again.

This product is of very good quality and is easy to use. I can't say that my yorkie likes it very well but it has helped our relationship tremendously as he's not peeing on the carpets anymore. It is also helping with potty training since he seems to be learning how to hold it better. I think a poise or depends pad works better than a women's sanitary pad since they are meant to absorb the volume of a full potty. If your dog is just marking a panty liner or women's pad might do. The addition of the pad and the amount of fur your dog has makes a difference in the size that you need. My yorkie was shaved when I began using and now it's getting tight because of the thickness of the poise pad and the hair that is growing in. I will definately order another because it does take time to wash and dry and it does take on the potty smell if there is overflow. Overall I'm very happy with this product and because I'm not cleaning up potty spots all the time I'm spending more time with my pup and I love him even more! - Potty Training'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Kindle Freebie - dougs kindle, fiction

Visit Store Now !!

Everything Heather J. Sprinkle says about this book is correct, but:

-- The plot is very good. You get two first contacts for the price of one.

-- The writing gets better as the book moves along. About halfway through you stop noticing the poor phrazing, etc.

-- The shifts in perspective are handled very well. They flow togetehr and you're never left wondering where you are.

-- The plot is not very predictable. Well, maybe in retrospect, but that doesn't count. As you're reading you want to know what will happen.

-- I like to think that the inherrent racism and sexism is because of undeveloped writing skills and the author trying to affect a 1950's space opera ambience.

Stick with it. I'm glad I did. To The Stars (The Harry Irons Trilogy)

I enjoyed this book so much, that when I reached the last page, I had to just keep going and buy the next book in the trilogy. Space opera at it's best, I became attached to the characters and want to see what they do next! This is fast-paced, fun reading, an adventure story with all required elements thereof, and told masterfully! I really like the fact that I felt happy while reading it. There's nothing ugly or offensive. There is playfulness and humor, with vividly portrayed imaginary places.

Reviewed by Shar... I am not a SF junkie but this book was great. The book grabs you right away and never lets up. I like romance books, but I have to say that this book is one of the best books I have read in a long time.. and I read a lot! Thomas Stone developed his characters very well, including the alien ones. The action in this story keeps you breathlessly waiting to find out what is going to happen. I had everthing I could do not to page ahead (shame on me for such a thought). Well worth the read. It will keep you on the edge of your seat. This book would make an awesome movie ( I do love sci-fi movies ). And there was even a little hint of romance, but the action part of the characters was the best. It's what SF is about.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Like a lot of folks who search the free books we have all come across some real dogs. Not only was this book written well (I remember only two typos), it had a fun and engaging story that successfully tied all the lose ends in an acceptable conclusion. And yes, good enough that I purchased the second book.

Trying to write this review without giving any of the story away for anyone who has not read it yet.

I really like this story, so much so I bought the other two books to the trilogy. The author did a good job creating personalities for the characters and as a result, some of the characters I liked and was engrossed in the story wanting to see what happens and hoping they make it through the challenges they faced. The other thing I liked was that almost all the characters had good points and bad points in regards to thier personalities just like people in the real world.

For me, the author seemed to have found the right balance of action, conversation, and discription without over-using any of the three, so I didn't have to skip past pages that I get bored with as I've done with reading other books.

The action parts of the story were very good and kept me gripped to the story wanting to tell the characters to, "look out!" or "run!"

I think most people will enjoy this book and I recommend it, especially at the price it is at. If you like it, you can buy the other two books. If you don't like it, then not much lost costwise.

Readers, please take note of a few words the author should have considered while writing this book. I'm sorry I couldn't like this book more; I realize it must take an awful lot of time to write and publish, but some attention must be paid to the following for a really top-notch, or even easily readable book.

1. Thesaurus. The use of which would prevent the author from over using words. For example: when the author wishes to inform his readers that a character is a genius, he won't have to say, "Character X is a genius." or have another character say, "Character X is a genius." over and over until the reader starts muttering under her breath, "Yeah, I know already."

2. Exposition. This concept differs from "explication," which is when an author tells the reader something. Exposition is when an author shows the reader something and should be used as much as possible. Constant use of explication where exposition should be used makes the reader feel as though there is a barrier between him and the action.

3. Sexism. Usually I'm the last person to complain about sexism -- especially in a science fiction book, since sci-fi generally appeals more to males than to females it's very common for there to be a tilt toward sexism. Yet in this book the only positive female character is a wealthy, perfect-bodied blond whose only real talent is a positive attitude! By contrast, the other major female characters include an ambitious career driven Russian, an aggressive and not overly bright black woman, and a computer who is willing to dump her masters for humans because she thinks humans are better predators. (Like a gang moll in an old gangster movie "trading up."_)

4. Racism. Oh, yeah, the black woman. You know, it wouldn't be a problem to have a negative character who is also black, but the author doesn't just mention her race in passing, he throws it in the reader's face again and again while describing her character as aggressive, manipulative, selfish, and finally, stupid. He makes sure the reader knows she got her position not by merit, but by "affirmative action," before treating her to the inevitable grisly death.

I won't be reading any more of this series, because, while some of the ideas were interesting, the execution left a lot to be desired.

Wow, what a great book! When I was a kid I read all of the Heinlein young adult series of books many times over and "To The Stars" is pretty close to that type of story.

As far as readability goes, it does start off reading a bit "clunky" but by the middle of the book it flows quite nicely. Some claimed sexism/racism/ismism but I disagree. In any given book, not every character gets to be the hero; and not every author has a polished editor.

I'll definitely buy the next in the series. - Science Fiction - Dougs Kindle - Fiction - Adventure'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information