Child Suitcase

Visit Store Now !!

This luggage is very cute and a good size for packing a little girls stuff. The only thing I didn't like about it was that it has only two hard walls. One on top and and one on the bottom. The two sides of the bag has only plastic walls. It is probably because the side walls are a little curved-in to copy the butterfly shape. This bag does not look as much attractive when it is not full. I wanted to give it as a gift and I had to fill it up with shipping plastic wraps so that it does not look collapsed and wrinkly. Stephen Joseph Girls 2-6X Rolling Luggage, Butterfly, One Size

We bought this for my daughter (3 1/2) to help with trips to grandma's and such. We haven't used it enough to comment on the durability, but it's spacious and my daughter loves it. She used it to pack up all the toys she acquired during our visit. In the future, it could be great for both clothes and carry-on activities. I like some of the smaller pockets, too. So far, big thumbs up.'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Child Suitcase Child Suitcase Child Suitcase

32 Inch

Visit Store Now !!

If you're looking for a 3D internet connected TV, then this is the one to buy. This TV is probably the best overall value out there right now. Picture is incredible and sound is adequate. By "adequate" I mean that the sound is good enough if this is a TV for your room. If this is a TV is for a family or entertainment room, you may want to buy external speakers just to improve the overall quality of sound.



The internet connectivity and available apps is really nice. If you are a Netflix or Hulu+ user, this will be extremely convenient. There is plenty of apps for sports updates too.



3D is a really nice touch to the TV. I've tried a few things in 3D and can say that you really will get a solid 3D experience from this TV. However you can't be sitting anywhere you want to. The manual comes with a diagram of "optimal 3D viewing". From certain side angles you won't get the 3D viewing.



The only major issue I've had with this TV is when using a PS3 to play video games. Ghosting (motion blur) can be an issue as well as awkward pixelations and lag when viewing in 1080p. Vizio support was more than helpful with this. They recommended changing the output settings on my PS3 which ended up fixing the problem for the most part.



Overall I highly recommend this TV for anyone who is looking for the most advanced TV tech available, while still being able to afford it.



**UPDATE 5/14/11: PS3 Settings to Reduce Ghosting and Eliminate Lag**



After playing with a ton of combinations of settings I found the following PS3 settings to work best while gaming in 2D. These settings were based on MLB 11: The Show because that particular game had the worst ghosting issues out of my games. Other games, may not need these settings. The TV settings listed below are absolutely necessary to have. It will eliminate any lag that you might experience.



PS3 Settings:

--Go to 'Video Settings' and set '1080p 24HzOutput (HDMI)' to OFF.

--Go to 'Display Settings' and change 'Video Output Settings' to 720p. To change this setting you have to choose 'Manual' when it prompts you to choose.

--The only other setting (which I'm not positive I actually changed or if this setting was default) was in 'Game Settings'. I have 'PS Smoothing' set to OFF.



TV Settings:

--TV Settings: Hit 'Menu' on your TV Remote and go to 'Settings'. Make sure the 'Input Source' is set to whatever input your PS3 is using. Go to 'Game Mode' and choose 'ON'. This eliminates all lag while gaming which was a huge problem initially. VIZIO 32 Inch Class Theater 3D LCD HDTV with VIZIO Internet Apps

The impressive thing about the Vizio E3D320VX is the way it is packed and the attention to detail. They give you a full sized Phillips screw driver to install the base, and eight stainless bolts when you need only six. The remote batteries are Mitsubishi alkaline, not some cheap "heavy duty" items. Both the panel and the glasses come with Vizio supplied cleaning cloths.



The TV is easy to set up, and the remote has a rubberized alphanumeric keyboard on the back side, making data entry easy. The two supplied 3D glasses are of the passive, polarized variety, with the premium one contoured and the basic one flat. (However you might want to liberate a pair of Real D 3D glasses from the movie theater if you wear glasses. Both of these bend in at the temples to hug your face. The Real D 3D glasses accommodate glasses better.)



The 3D and 2D pictures are both great as is the TV off-air picture using a Terk HD digital antenna here in the NYC area. The 3D (using a Panasonic 3D player) is bright and truly 3D. (The TV indicates with a dialog box that it has detected a 3D source and asks if you want to switch to 3D.)



It has a built-in wireless Wi-Fi receiver (not an expensive extra like my Panasonic plasma) and is easy to connect using the alphanumeric keyboard on the remote.



I am still exploring the various extras. But things look good so far!



ADDED 5/21/11:



A recent Samsung ad tells the difference between the active 3D TVs that they sell (both LCD and plasma) versus passive 3D TVs like this Vizio (and some LG models). Yes, they are correct that there is a minor "venetian blind effect" (light horizontal bars), particularly on white block text, but it is not really visible when you are watching a movie. (In truth, each eye is seeing a 1920x540 image simultaneously on a passive TV whereas each eye sees a 1920x1080 image with active glasses (in succession, one eye at a time, as the L and R lenses switch on and off).) But, with the convenience and cost of passive glasses ("free" at the movies), and the cost of the Vizio TV itself, the Vizio passive "Theater 3D" is very, VERY nice if not absolutely perfect.



ADDED 5/30/11:



I've watched Avatar 3D, How to Train Your Dragon 3D, and Megamind 3D on the Vizio and enjoyed every minute.



This Vizio TV has RCA audio out whereas many panel TVs do not. (They have only optical audio out.) I output the sound to a pair of Audioengine 2 - PC multimedia speakers - 30 Watt (total) - 2-way - satin black and an Audioengine AS8 - Subwoofer - 125 Watt - black in the bedroom without a receiver, so the RCA-out audio is a necessity.



Reflecting on the CONS in another review: (1) Yes, the boot-up is slow for a solid-state device, but may have to do with the fluorescent lighting panel behind the screen rather than the LCD screen itself. (2) I do not get any buzzing at all. (3) The compact remote is a plus to me. The small buttons are no problem if you are used to the keyboard on an iphone. The rubberized alpha-numeric keyboard on the back is a plus as are the direct-connect Netflix labeled button (and others) on the front of the remote.



Keep in mind this is a $500 3D set.



ADDED 8/13/11:



This passive 3D TV does not seem to work in conversion mode with the newer players that convert 2D -> 3D, specifically the Panasonic 310. The 2D and 3D images are perfect, but the 2D -> 3D conversion results in a flickering image that is 3D but hard on the eyes. The same 310 works well in conversion mode on my 600Hz Panasonic plasma. Perhaps the problem is that the 32" Vizio is 60Hz. In any case there is an apparent incompatibility problem. If I learn how to prevent the flickering I will report back.'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

32 Inch 32 Inch 32 Inch

Block Chef Sets - block chef sets, knife

Visit Store Now !!

We received our first set of Chicago Cutlery knifes (didn't include steak knifes) 30 years ago from my husband's aunt as a wedding gift. They had wooden handles. We still have them! They're still sharp and I still prefer the paring knife over every one I've tried. In fact I even bought a second paring knife - just in case!



On a lark when I saw this set, 18 piece Insignia Steel Knife Set, on the Deal of the Day (almost two years ago) I bought it for my husband for a Christmas gift. He's gotten into cooking and I thought it would look nice setting out on the counter. I think it may have been his favorite gift and one we use constantly. The knifes stay very sharp - still haven't needed sharpening two years later! We never put any of them in the dishwasher (per manufacturer instructions) and they have never needed polishing (other than hand drying) or any other care.



Everytime we use the steak knifes with guests they are amazed at the sharpness of the blade. They don't need to be serated. They sliced through everything.



My nephew is getting married in just a few weeks and I've decided to ignore his wedding registers and buy him a set like ours. I know he and his new wife will use them for years! Somehow seems fitting to pass on the tradition. Chicago Cutlery 18-Piece Insignia Steel Knife Set with Block and In-Block Sharpener

These are our daily use knives, particularly the paring knife, and steak knives. We've owned them about four years.



They are beautiful, clean up well, but occasionally do need to be polished when water or rust spots appear. We don't dishwasher the chefs or carving knife, but we do dishwasher all of the other knives.



Stainless steel doesn't sharpen to as keen of an edge as some other high carbon steel knives, but then the high carbon knives discolor more readily. That is the trade-off.



As a result, for heavy veg prep, we'll grab the Global chefs knife. For raw meat, we prefer the Shun. At the dinner table. for roast or turkey carving, the Henckles outperforms the included knife.



The scissors come apart for easy dish-washing and sanitizing and cut chicken bone with some effort. They stay sharp though, we've assaulted many a double walled cardboard box with them and haven't deemed it necessary to sharpen them yet. The honing steel is about all it takes.



In hind sight, while we've collected particular knives for particular work thus obviating the need for the two largest knives in the set, we'd still buy this just to have a matching counter top set.

We had no idea how bad our knives were until we purchased this Chicago Cutlery set -- my husband promptly cut himself simply by handling a knife the way he was accustomed to. If you are someone who isn't willing to spend $1000 for a high end set but you still want decent knives, these are a great option. Prep is no longer a big chore and the scissors are the sharpest I've ever owned. Worth the money compared to other similarly priced sets and I expect to have them a long time due to the built in sharpener.

I really like these knives. I've been making do with a totally crappy set, biding my time until I could afford a high-end set. I haven't quite arrived at that time, however, and I just couldn't take using my old set anymore (I cook a lot). I saw these in a store (for under $100, so do some comparison pricing before you click the order button), pulled up the reviews on this site, and went with the purchase based on the overwhelmingly positive reviews here. I'm so glad I did. These make a world of difference in my daily life. I can't say how they compare to the really high end knives since I've never used any, but compared to other well known brands with similar pricing to the Chicago Cutlery, these are superior. Plus, the look nice, they feel great, and they wash up well (hand wash and dry only). I haven't had them long, but I intend to take excellent care of them and keep them sharpened, and I have faith they will hold up. Overall, this is a very good purchase if you're considering other brands in the same price bracket.

For years I've been using a cheap knife set. I got sick of taking forever to cut vegetables (and of always having my knife slip rather than cut), so I decided to get a more expensive set of knives. I've been skeptical for years of getting expensive knives because I'm not really a fan of washing dishes/utensils by hand.



Anyway, when they arrived my first test of them was to cut up an onion. The difference was night and day. Usually -- I diced the onion in probably no more than 15-30 seconds, tops (after peeling it). The cuts were so smooth and proper that I didn't even cry while I was cutting it. And as for washing these knives -- if you're prompt about cleaning the knife right after usage, it takes only a little bit longer to do it by hand than it would take to put a cheap knife in the dishwasher. And the built-in sharpener is convenient and easy to use.

The knives are super sharp (literally!) and well made. I am not listening to other peoples reviews any more., These knives are so much better than our last crappy Cuisinart set. I love them and I take care of my knives washing them by hand only and drying them by hand. They rock and the blick has a lovely woodsie smell.

I've been looking for a knife block set that is in a reasonable price category since I cannot afford the best of knives. Well, after much research and hemming and hawing, I found it! This set is exactly what I've been looking for! The feel of the knives is perfect for my hands, and they are SHARP! I have to keep this in mind when doing my cutting/chopping because I've already cut my finger in the process! Goes to show how I had gotten so used to working with less sharp knives, even though I tried to keep my old ones in good shape! You can only sharpen bad knives so much before they are ruined. Also, I love having the sharpener right in the block although I do have a good electric honer/sharpener that I'll use once a year or so. Anyway, I highly recommend these knives, especially the shears. Love how they come apart for cleaning, have a bottle opener added as an an extra perk, and are pretty heavy duty. My husband loves the steak knives. As for any rusting or marks, not sure what other people are doing to these knives, but this is not an issue at all. Like anything stainless steel, you have to wash them by hand and dry them! I would never wash my knives in the dishwasher nor would I leave them soaking in a sink. - Knife - Knife Block Sets - Block Chef Sets - Insignia'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Block Chef Sets - block chef sets, knife knife Block Chef Sets - block chef sets, knife

Wireless Door Chimes - cordless doorbell, doorbell

Visit Store Now !!

The unit is loud enough to be heard at least a room away and the flashing light is a nice touch. It set up and worked O.K. It states on the package the 100 foot range will be diminished by walls. It failed to send a signal 35 feet to the rear of our house. Seems to be effective for about 25 feet when transmitting through exterior and interior walls. Honeywell RCWL105A1003/N Plug-in Wireless Door Chime and Push Button

I bought 2 of these having read the reviews on Amazon for this door bell & other makes & chose this unit as I know the Honeywell brand I thought Honeywell would make a good product. I live in Florida so we spend a lot of time outdoors. We needed 2 units so we could plug one inside & one outside the house by the pool. The distance from the door to outdoor pool area is less than 25 feet. The unit including the bell pusher is well built but you have to use the 2 sided tape to stick the bell pusher to your door frame or door. If you need to take it off (as I've had to do-see below) it leaves a mess & it takes some time to clean the residue of the tape/glue off. Screws are provided if you wish to make a more permanent fix but there are no pre- drilled holes in the bell pusher- presumably to stop water getting in if you use the tape instead.

The system seemed to work OK but now it only works intermittently which is more annoying than it not working at all. The other days I was waiting for a UPS delivery that had to be sent straight back - ie I needed to refuse delivery. Guess what? UPS did their typical- rang the bell & left the box on the step! Grrrrrrrrr!! The bell didn't work. Not UPS's fault but I was mighty unhappy with the door bell!

My front doors are steel plated hurricane doors but the signal does go through them- when it feels like it! I've tried the bell fixed to the door & to the frame. Sometimes it works but more often than not it doesn't or it may after several tries. People only ring once, wait a while (unless your a courier that is!) & ring again. They don't know your bell systems not working! It usually works on the 3rd or 4th try but no ones going to ring that many times!

I'm returning them to Amazon asking for replacements. I like the units (far better built than others I've seen) & I hope I've just been unlucky with a faulty batch (they're made in China). I hope they accept them back because the (usually impossible to get in to) bubble pack was thrown away before we realised the problem. If you buy this unit I recommend you keep all the packaging in case you need to do a return.

When I get the 2 replacement units I hope they work & I'll post an updated review.

I wish someone would come up with a wireless door bell that has a "sender" unit that you could attach immediately inside the door frame on the inside of the house (connected by wire to the bell on the outside). There must be a Boffin out there that could come up with this- I'd buy one!



UPDATE



Amazon very quickly replaced both units- even without getting toe old ones back first! Another reason from buying from this great customer focussed company. The new units work perfectly. I must has got 2 from a bad batch- which leaves a question mark over quality control. To date we've had no problems with the replacement units.

I have been using this door bell for a few months now and I have been very happy with the performance. And the flashing light feature is great for anyone who is hearing impaired. I agree with the other reviewer that pre-drilled screw holes would have made the install a little easier.

The ringer works great and as advertised. Loud, and wireless! However, this ringer allows two methods to mount it on a wall. It comes with either screws (where you can screw it in a wall) or it comes with this two sided stickie (wehre you can stil it to the wall). The sticker did not work that well for us. It fell off the same day which did not bother us much, in fact we were half expecting it. I then proceeded to get my drill out and was ready to screw the bell to our outside wall. However, looking everywhere I did not see a place to put the screw through. I was shocked. Am I really supposed to make my own hole through the actual unit, not knowing if I am going to damage anything? I found that hard to believe. Like a typical man I was doing this without reading through the instruction manual. I swallowed my pride, fished out the booklet and looked through it for the instructions in how to use the screws. I found the area and saw that there in fact is supposed to be an area to screw it through. Now either our unit does not have this hole or this is a giant overlook by the manufacturer. I think it is misdesign or hopefully it was just the unit I bought. Oh well, I purchased some gorilla glue (reviewed separately), glued it on a piece of wood, and screwed the wood into the wall. Improvisation! Although, the bell it self is great! - Doorbell - Door Bell - Cordless Doorbell - Wireless Doorbells'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Wireless Door Chimes - cordless doorbell, doorbell cordless doorbell Wireless Door Chimes - cordless doorbell, doorbell

Playstation 2

Visit Store Now !!

I also played this game in the PC originally, and finished it. I HAD to. It ruined a semester of college for me, it's that addictive. You'll start playing, and 4 hours will literally pass by unnoticed. The combination of 1st person play, A.I., the ability to make choices that control your gaming experience, the intelligence and suspense of the story line and character development, and the sheer scale of the gaming enviornment make this the greatest game I have ever experienced. And yes, you don't simply play this game, you experience it. As much as I love Grand Theft Auto 3. it doesn't hold a candle to the intelligence and story line that Deus Ex offers a gamer. What you may find pathetic though... is I miss this game. I loved it so much, I MISS it. I've never found waiting for a sequel to a game so torturous in all my life. I miss this game so much, I plan on buying it for the PS2 and enjoying it again. Here's hoping I don't ruin another semester. Deus Ex: The Conspiracy

After HalfLife, Red Faction and Sons of Liberty I hardly expected to find another good FPS - instead I found THE FPS! Deus Ex is one of the very few games I recommend buying. Unlike most games, which can be finished in a couple of days, Deus Ex goes on and on, 24/7, and isn't pre-determined - it might be the only game that can be played totally differently by different players. Also, the graphics are great. They don't look all that impressive at first glance, but during gameplay you notice little details and even if you play for hours straight, you don't get that queasy feeling, usually associated with FPS's.There's an unbelievable amount of weapons and gadgets, but you have to choose which ones you want - you're limited to a certain amount of weapons on you at a time, which makes the game more interesting.Bottom line - YOU MUST BUY THIS GAME!

Having played the PC version of DEUS EX until my mouse hand was reduced to little more than a gnarled nub, I thought I was going to have a hard time remaining objective about the quality of the PS2 port. Often when a popular PC game is ported to a console, it loses its soul in the translation (see GIANTS: CITIZEN KABUTO). Ion Storm proved my fears to be unfounded. They've done a wonderful job with this one, including a flawless implementation of the PS2's controller that sees every single button used, and used quite well. The control is similar to other first-person games on the system; look with the right stick, walk with the left. The augs and skills are managed with the circle button, the inventory is managed with the square. Toggle crouch with the L3 button, reload with the R3. After about a half hour the control scheme becomes second nature. Beautiful.Most of the maps have been redone in order to take advantage of/compensate for the PS2's hardware capabilities/limitations. Some levels have been streamlined and improved, yet others feel cramped, and it becomes obvious that the developers were trying to squeeze every ounce of processing power out of the system, and make every one of its 32 Megs of RAM pull more than its own weight. Some textures aren't as sharp as they could be, but the lighting effects are awesome and the NPC animation is first-rate. Load screens are frequent (moreso than in the PC version), but they're quick. For those concerned about violence in video games; in a testament to the depth of gameplay, it's entirely possible to finish DEUS EX without killing a single person. For a challenge, try it on "realistic" difficulty, with auto-aiming off, playing non-lethal. Give this one a go if you're a fan of conspiracy-based first-person shooter-sneakers with heavy RPG elements. Haven't found any games like that for the PS2 yet? Buy DEUS EX: THE CONSPIRACY. It'll keep you busy for weeks.

This is one of the most exceptional games of this era in terms of plot and character development. The only begging thing sometimes is the music...now to the good parts. First, the AI of both the Mac and PC side was tricky -- sometimes exceptionally brilliant and sometimes NOT. Next, one gains skills (augmentations) along the way to further the character's development. This requires the gamer to put at least some thought into the character. Third, each kill can determine what happens next...friend or foe or somewhere in between. This adds some complexity to the plot. Fourth, this plot is basically a mixture of the X-Files conspiracies ranging from Roswell to the Illuminati, and like the X-Files, there are betrayals and breaks of trust everywhere along the way. Lastly, some of the weapons are exceptional -- like the Dragon Sword.Word of caution: Some of the AI gets really humorous at the end -- when the enemies start running into closed doors while you watch...and they keep on running...=)

After playing a PC demo of this game when it first came out a while back, I decided on a whim to buy it for PS2. I played a bit, then got wrapped up in the carnage of GTA3. I picked Deus Ex up again about a week ago, and I have yet to get a decent nights sleep since. Part shooter, part mystery, the violent types will love the myriad weapons and opportunities to kill and destroy. The stealthy types will love crouching in the shadows and sniping. This game has something for everyone, and should be included in every serious game collection.

There is only one word to describe this game.....AWESOME!! I rented it at first not knowing what to expect, but when I got home I wasn't disappointed. It has some serious plot and a very addictive style to it. The game will never let you down and is a definite contender for this year Game of the Year and the year just began.

When I play this game I can't help feel slightly disappointed by the fact that the PC version is so much better and that it is just a cheap port created because the developers felt like squelching more money out of the innocent people that are you and me. However, with that 'truth' aside, this game is an absolute masterpiece and no matter how rushed together this game is, it is still better than about 99% of games on the market today.



Graphics: 6/10

The graphics on the PS2 version of this game are only just above average. At first glance they look and feel smooth and textured. But, if you zoom into any of the objects in the game then you will realise that they are made up of pixels about the size of football pitches. As for the smoothness, it only takes a small gun battle with about two or three enemy soldiers and this game begins to freeze and ju... jum. p, jump.



Sound: 10/10

This is what first 'Wowed' me about the game, the music is incredible and is worthy of a Grammy any day... well actually, I wouldn't go that far, but it's still great. The music changes appropriately with the mood of the game e.g. if you are in an intense sneaking area then the music won't start blaring out some kind of heavy rock like in some games. The sound effects are top notch and the guns don't sound whim perish either.



Game play: 10/10

This is where the game really gets its place in the gaming hall of fame for me because it gives you so much choice and you can choose exactly how you play the game. You can upgrade your weapons using things like scopes, laser sights, silencers, extended mags and faster reload mods etc. You can also improve your character with character modifications. These include melee weapon skill upgrades, defence upgrades and rifle upgrades etc. In addition to this you can use special augmentation canisters which allow you to do a lot of things such as increase speed, increase jump height and reduce running noise etc. you choose which of these you use because, ultimately, its these choices which affect the way you play the game. Aswell as upgrading you're character, they're many routes you can take through the game and many different people you can talk too and different sides you can take. These choices also affect the outcome of the game. This is all very important because there are three different endings to choose from. Never before have I seen a game that has such diverse and dynamic game play as this.



Lifespan: 10/10

The first thing I noticed about this game was the fact it had no multiplayer. This was a down draw for me because it's usually the multiplayer, which keeps you going back to a game. However, the actual game is so long, it will take you ages to complete and, not only that but once you have completed it you will want to complete it again and again differently. The game also has a training mode, which will take away about, ewwww, 10 minutes of your time. Now that can't be bad can it?



Overall 10/10

Apart from the graphics this game is spectacular and well deserves all the hype it has received. It has won over 50 game of the year awards on the PC and deservedly so. Just remember, graphics don't make a game so go and buy this now.'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Playstation 2 Playstation 2 Playstation 2

Airport Extreme - wireless n, wireless router

Visit Store Now !!

Ah jeez, what can I say. I can do most anything with a computer, Apple or PC, but when I try to configure a network, gremlins keep any of it from working. When my Netgear "lost its settings" spontaneously, they were kind enough at technical support to offer to fix it for me for 99 bucks. When I declined they offered up that I might go to their website for support tips. But I had spent too many hours when I first bought that router, I was done. So I purchased this router and it is just like other reviewers have said: plug it in, stick in the disk, answer a few simple questions, and it's done. THIS is how consumers LIKE computers to work. Bemoan the higher price tag if you want, but I will pay a little extra for things that just do their dang job and don't aggravate me NEEDLESLY! Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station (Simultaneous Dual-Band) (MC340LL/A)

This review is going to mention a number of products--because a wireless network is all about infrastructure and integration. I purchased the AirPort Extreme to pull a number of other devices together, so I hope shoppers considering it will find this kind of review useful.



Since 2001 I have used the original AirPort (graphite), the AirPort Extreme (2003) with modem, and a host of Netgear and Linksys wireless routers to set up 802.11x networks at work and at home. The latter work well in their applications, and this review is not intended to knock any of them.



Apple M8209LL/A AirPort Base Station

Apple M8799LL/A AirPort Extreme Base Station with Modem and Antenna Port



But at home, I'm not a masochist. I want my networking system to work with my gear, and I don't want to spend hours setting it up and more hours dealing with changes to my system.



When we replaced our home theater system after an equipment meltdown (thankfully insured), I wanted to add a Logitech Squeezebox to the receiver, streaming music from a ReadyNAS Duo. The problem was that the older AirPort Extreme was in our office at one end of the house, and didn't have the range to reach the family room where the Squeezebox receiver is located.



Netgear ReadyNAS Duo 2-Bay (Diskless) Desktop Network Storage RND2000

Logitech Squeezebox Duet WiFi Internet Radio



My first thought was to add an AirPort Express as an extender--plug it in at a suitable halfway point and allow it to extend the network. This was only half the solution, because the most recent AirPort Express is an 802.11N-centric device, and it proved to be nearly impossible to set up a stable Wireless Distribution System (WDS) with the older AirPort Extreme.



Apple Airport Express



The solution turned out to be recognizing that, gradually, all of the wireless devices in our home now support at least 802.11G, and our computers all support 802.11N. On AirPort devices that also support 802.11N, it turns out that Apple has developed a much simpler way to link AirPorts in an extended network.



The new AirPort Extreme arrived two days ago. Installation was classic Apple: open, remove plastic cling wrap, and plug in. Using AirPort Utility, I entered the new base station and network passwords, and needed to reset my cable modem to allow it to recognize the new MAC address it was feeding. (I should also note that AirPort Utility allowed me to view the settings of the OLD AirPort while I was setting up the NEW AirPort.) Installation took a grand total of 12 minutes, including slitting the packing tape on the shipping box.



The second step was setting up the AirPort Express. This involved setting a base station password, naming it, and then following the three step procedure in the Help menu for "Extending a Wireless Network." The steps are: Click a checkbox in the AirPort Extreme's settings to "Allow This Wireless Network To Be Extended," choose a popup menu item in the AirPort Express's settings to "Extend a wireless network", and tell the AirPort Express which network it is extending along with password.



Once settings are saved, the network is extended. Using the 802.11N standard still involves a small hit in networking speed, but because of the greatly increased throughput it's not as large a decrease as in earlier versions.



This kind of configuration would have involved multiple instances of changing IP addresses, network SSIDs, and finger-crossing with other routers. (Believe me, I've done it successfully, and I plan for a two-hour session, even with known configurations.)



With the AirPort Extreme and Express, it just happened. My Squeezebox is now happily streaming music to the receiver, TiVo is receiving streamed programs from Netflix with (almost) no rebuffering--a huge improvement--and both my spouse and I are happily living in the 21st Century!



TiVo TCD652160 HD Digital Video Recorder

TiVo AG0100 Wireless G USB Network Adapter for TiVo Series 2 and Series 3 DVRs



As I said at the top, I don't want to spend hours tearing apart and troubleshooting my network at home--home is for relaxing and enjoying time with friends and family. The AirPort Extreme is ideal as one building block of that equation.

Purchased from a military exchange.



BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT:



REQUIRED:

Management Utility requires a downstream computer running a recent version of Windows or OSX.

NOT DESIGNED TO BE MANAGED FROM A LINUX CLIENT.



PROS:

-No integrated web server for modifying device settings (must use AirPort Utility)

-Manual Setup option includes all of the necessary tools to secure your network

-Integration of External Hard Drives via integrated USB Port is SUPER easy (just plug it in)

-Supports USB Hubs for more drives/printer sharing (I haven't tried this)

-Supports Full US 101 Keyboard Character Set in Passwords/Pass Phrases

-Works great in a "Double NAT" network environment



CONS:

-Only three integrated "downstream" ethernet ports

-Only one status light for system health





EXCRUCIATING DETAILS:



NETWORKING:

I purchased this router to better secure my mixed-platform network and aid our family's transition from WinXP to Mac. I ran the initial setup from a "Wired" PC and went immediately to the Manual Setup. Transition of all of my network devices from my older subnet to the new subnet was painless once I got over my own boneheaded mistakes. Throughput on the wireless side of my home network was increased significantly (as advertised) vs. my older Linksys Router. I've retained the older subnet to support some WiFi devices that can't support the latest security protocols. Despite the Armageddon like proclamations about "Double NAT-ing" I've experienced absolutely no problems with our internet enabled devices accessing the internet.



AIR DISK:

For me this was mostly painless, but there are some limitations worth noting. AEBS does not support NTFS, however this is a non-issue (keep reading to see why). AEBS supports FAT32 and HFS+ (FAT32 is grossly inadequate for modern hard drive sizes and hard drive image archival).

PLEASE NOTE: If using an AirPort Extreme Base Station, even for a Windows environment, I recommend that you get a disk preformatted for HFS+ (Mac OS Extended). This will give you all of the advanced storage capabilities of a modern file system and the AEBS comes with software that will translate the HFS+ disk into FAT32 for your Windows PCs. SOME LEGACY SOFTWARE (in my case Ghost v9) will self-impose a 4GB file size limitation (part of the FAT32 specification), but Windows itself will roll with it.



TIME MACHINE WITH AIR DISK (I no longer recommend use of this undocumented feature):

There is a procedure for enabling an AirDisk for use with Time Machine. It's a NON-SUPPORTED/UNDOCUMENTED FEATURE of the AEBS. The process is very simple and requires no advanced knowledge (just a normal ability to follow instructions). I won't list the process here because this is a product review ("google" Time machine and AirPort Extreme). However, don't call Apple for help with this as it's not officially supported.



(UPDATE APR 2011) - This will work for a month or two, and then unexpectedly quit. Further examination indicated a progressive build up of file system errors due to the way Time Machine interacts with target volumes (most likely the WHY behind Apple's decision not to support this feature). As a result, I quit using the AirDisk with Time Machine workaround and I now use a FireWire drive connected to a Mac as our Time Machine target.



OVERALL:

I think this is a great product for any networking environment that includes Macs. This solution should also be considered in Mixed Mac and Windows environments. The features on this router are optimized for the OS X operating system, so those utilizing a Windows only environment should pay close attention to the FAT32 limitations of the AirDisk feture. - 80211n - Wireless N - Wireless Router - Apple'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Airport Extreme - wireless n, wireless router wireless n Airport Extreme - wireless n, wireless router

Henry Red Allen - drama, film noir

Visit Store Now !!

MOVIE:

Terrence Malick is one of the greatest filmmakers alive, and after Sergio Leone he is my second favorite director of all time. In his career that spans almost 40 years he has only made four feature length films. What I love about Malick's films is that they are poetry; they break all the conventions of filmmaking. When you sit down to watch a Terrence Malick film you are readying yourself for an experience. The way he examines human nature in every single one of his films is extraordinary. Every one of his films also deals with man's impact on nature and he slowly erases the lines between sanity and insanity. His directorial debut was with Badlands starring Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek; a haunting story of lovers on the run from the law. His next film is still undoubtedly one of the most moving pieces of cinema ever created, Days Of Heaven.



Days Of Heaven tells the story of Bill (Richard Gere) and Abby (Brooke Adams); two young people in love trying to make ends meet and find work. The two go around pretending to be brother and sister as to protect themselves from the outside world. At the beginning of the film Bill gets in a tussle at the steel mill and accidentally kills his boss. Now Bill, Abby and Linda (Linda Manz) hop a train to go work on a farm to harvest wheat. The story is told through Linda's perspective. Linda is the real sister of Bill and she is barely a teenager. It's interesting that Malick lets the story unfold through the eyes of an innocent child; I think it gives complex situations in the film a simpler point of view. As the story unfolds and they work on the farm Bill finds out that the owner of the farm is dying of a terminal illness. The farmer is played by Sam Shepard in his first major role. Bill hatches a plan for Abby to get the farmer to fall in love with her. That way when he dies he will leave all his assets to her and they will become rich. As can be imagined after a full year passes the farmer is still alive and tensions begin to grow that leads to an inevitable climax.



The number one aspect of this film that garners so much attention is the cinematography. The story goes that Nestor Almendros started the picture but about a fourth of the way through he had to leave due to a prior commitment. Cinematographer Haskell Wexler came in and shot the rest of the picture according to Almendros's standards, but in the end didn't receive any credit on the film. Almendros went on to win the Oscar for Best Cinematography that year. All quarrels aside one can't deny the brilliance of the film's photography. Every frame is crafted with absolute detail that in some cases will give you goose-bumps. They shot most of the film during "magic hour"; that twilight period right before the sun sets. It creates a perfect backlight that if framed correctly can create haunting silhouettes. It seems as if there is always a ring of fire on the horizon that is slowly getting closer, which it in fact does. During the scene of the locust plague a lantern breaks in the wheat fields and the entire farm erupts into flames. It symbolizes rage in the characters as tensions mount, but I don't want to spoil anything for those who want to experience the film for the first time. All in all this film is a visual feast that will stay in your mind's eye.



Since the film is extremely light on dialogue it relies on two major elements. Cinematography being the first thing I discussed and Ennio Morricone's score being the second. Morricone's incredibly dark and foreboding score is a haunting masterpiece. It underscores the human conflicts being depicted in the film and of course has tragedy spelled out plain and simple with the tone right from the beginning. The first time I saw the film I cried because of the subtle power of this Oscar nominated score. The haunting elements of it will resonate with you for quite some time, and honestly this score is the major source of emotion in the film. It accentuates Malick's themes perfectly.



So, what is this film ultimately about? One could spend all their time writing about a Terrence Malick film and every word could be wrong and right at the same time. His films need to be experienced, because it is absolutely impossible to try to describe how his films affect you. In my head I saw this film as an exploration of love and how human nature is a flaw that can allow our emotions to consume our rational side. If you've seen The Thin Red Line, Badlands or The New World then you should have a good idea of what Days Of Heaven will be like. It's a surprisingly short film at only 94 minutes, especially if you compare how long his last two films were. Thanks for sticking with me for this entire review/analysis. I really like to do more than the average critique when it comes to important films like this.



SPECIAL FEATURES:

Audio Commentary:

Since Terrance Malick is the most elusive filmmaker ever (not a single interview ever?) the commentary track features editor Bill Weber, art director Jack Fisk, costume designer Patricia Norris, and casting director Dianne Crittenden. This is a fascinating track that really delves into just how much detail can be found in every single frame of the movie; a must for film enthusiasts.



Audio Interview With Richard Gere:

An interview conducted in 2007 just for this release. Richard Gere examines how he came to doing the movie. He discusses how he really wasn't into film but rather theater. However, he saw Badlands and was immediately interested if Terrence Malick was directing. He does ramble a bit, but he does offer some insight. The fact that it's a 22 minute audio interview set to stills and footage of the movie makes it kind of a bore to sit through.



Video Interview With Sam Shepherd:

This 12 minute interview from 2002 is an interesting look at how Malick got Shepherd into acting. He talks about how he was more into writing at the time, but he decided to do it just for the hell of it.



Video Interview With John Bailey:

Bailey was Nestor Almendros's camera operator and this is by far the most interesting interview on the DVD. It's a 20 minute interview and it is incredibly in depth. He uses a lot of lingo that may go over the head of casual viewers. He explains in detail all the techniques they used and it really opens up a lot. It's a really fascinating interview that uses visual examples throughout as he talks.



Video Interview With Haskell Wexler:

Wexler was the cinematographer who took over for Almendros and in the end received no credit for his work on the film. In this 11 minute interview he explains his relationship with Malick and how he came to take over for Almendros. It's a great first hand account from the man himself.



41-Page Booklet:

The booklet contains an essay by Adrian Martin and a chapter from Nestor Almendros's autobiography.



VIDEO:

When you buy a Criterion DVD you are paying for perfection. This remastered version was supervised and approved by Terrence Malick. The original 1.78:1 aspect ratio is maintained exactly with absolutely zero flaws in the transfer. The new high definition transfer was created from a new 35mm interpositive struck from the 35mm A/B roll original negative. Thousands of instances of dirt and scratches were removed and the resolution is magnificent because they mastered the DVD at the highest bit rate possible. I just wonder when Criterion is going to make the move to Blu-ray?



AUDIO:

A brand new Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track was created for this release. The old track was tossed and this new track was remastered at 24-bits from the original 4.1 magnetic tracks. Every effort possible was implemented to reduce clicks, hiss and crackle. This is fantastic, I love Criterion so much.



BOTTOM LINE:

Days Of Heaven is one of my favorite films of all time and I certainly think it's Malick's best. The film will overwhelm you with its visual power and you certainly won't forget it. Criterion has done a great service by remastering this film and I can only hope that Malick's other films will eventually get the same treatment. Days of Heaven - The Killing - Drama - Film Noir - Henry Red Allen'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Henry Red Allen - drama, film noir henry red allen Henry Red Allen - drama, film noir

Seann William Scott - seann william scott, action

Visit Store Now !!

Well, I wasn't expecting a great deal from this film. In fact, I probably wouldn't have seen it at all if it hadn't gotten surprisingly good reviews. The Rock was pretty forgettable in 'The Scorpion King', although not terrible, but he puts in a great performance here. Tasked with the retrieval of a wayward son, he ends up in a three (or four) way hunt for a mysterious golden idol, along the way enountering everything from homicidal gold miners to jungle rebels to packs of angry monkeys. It is one funny movie, and the action scenes are great. Most importantly, the cast has both charisma and quality, and the dialogue isn't nearly as stilted as you'd expect in a typical action film. You can tell they all had fun making the movie, perhaps because it was actually filmed in Hawaii. Regardless, you should check this out even if you have doubts about it, because it will win you over. The Rundown (Full Screen Edition)

This movie is truly Rock-solid; the inimitable pro-wrestler turned actor admirably struts his stuff here in terms of sheer muscular star power and heavyweight charisma, and proceeds to turn the Amazonian jungle upside down in the process. This is certainly no dramatic masterpiece, but all of the cast are excellent in this incredible action movie, especially Christopher Walken, doing a turn as a witty yet egomaniacal villain who simply isn't prepared for the consequences as `Beck' (the Rock) arrives on his doorstep in his part of the jungle to retrieve the errant son of a gangster he is indebted to. The murder and mayhem that ensue make up two hours of first class entertainment as we find Rock against the world, and the world getting the worst part of the deal. The movie is wonderfully photographed, and the comic moments flow from the opening sequences, when Beck step into a crowded bar to retrieve a debt from a pro football player. The ensuing madness is so well choreographed and played out that it is entirely believable despite the fact that it is strictly super-heroics that the character Rock plays has to deliver to punch, elbow, and drop-kick the whole offensive line of a pro football team in pursuit of his man. Likewise, the bar-room fight scene that sets up the rest of the movie once Beck arrives in Brazil is a study in athletic make-believe, so far out it is both fun and amazing to watch, as long as you can suspend your critical faculties long enough to not laugh out loud at the silliness of some of the supposed stunts. But the Rock never disappoints, and he always entertains! Indeed, like some of the better early Schwarzenegger movies (e.g. `Predator'), the wit and winsome qualities of both the characters and the plot are indeed quite entertaining despite the fact we all know who is going to win, and thus have very little doubt as to how things will progress as the tale spins along toward its conclusion. Also, one can see that Rock is rising very quickly to fill the action hero void once held by Arnie and Sly Stallone. He has a lot of screen presence, and is a joy to watch in action. What's more, he seems to handle himself very well, and is quite believable on the screen, which is no small feat given the cartoon-like aspects of the story line. All in all, a great action flick, and one you will likely want to include in your video library. Enjoy!

I enjoyed this movie on DVD and it is even better on HD DVD. Great picture quality with the lush jungle scenes and lots of bass in the soundtrack.



The movie is also very entertaining with lots of action and humor. The Rock plays a goon that has been sent to retrieve his bosses son played by Seann William Scott (a.k.a Stiffler from American Pie). The interaction between them is hilarious. The great Christopher Walken plays the bad guy and he is his classic self. His awesome dialogue (I wonder how much was ad-libbed?) and his pants pulled up to his drooping breasts add the finishing touches to this terrific movie. I think this is the Rock's best movie and a sequel must be made!

There is no such thing as a nice action hero. Good thing The Rock learned early and beat up a bunch of football players who gave him troubles. He even gave one of them a Rock Bottom through the floor! "The Rundown" is about a bounty hunter (The Rock) who has to find that noisy "American Pie" guy in South America. There he meets an evil tycoon man who likes free labor. Throughout the movie, Beck falls off a cliff, gets thrown into the air buy some jungle warriors and his privates are smashed on tree branches. He even has to avoid these monkeys trying to seduce him. Then towards the end, Beck picked up two shotguns and started blowing up the village! The genius director even put Rosario Dawson in the movie to make it that much better! This is one of the best action movies of 2003 and it even has Arnold Schwarzenegger in it! Yes! Passing the torch has never been so monumental! Excellent!

What Can I say. This is definately not Oscar Material but what it is, is a Damn Good Action/Popcorn Flick that has some Serious Eye Candy on HD DVD. If you want to see the Amazon Rainforest like it was on your bedroom window This movie will give you that thrill and entertain you in the process.

This is one that the whole family can have fun watching. The cast of this movie play off each other in a near flawless way that leads to believablity of their respective characters. The action is just enough to keep you interested without over doing it.



The story could use a little work, but hey they can't all have gems for scripts.



A fun little film for a couple hours away from reality.

Man...this film had it all...action, an actual storyline that you could follow and eve more action. This is the second film that I have watched that THE ROCK has headlined, and I just absolutely loved them both!! If you are looking for something that will keep you interested and wanting more of the same...this is the movie for you!! Glad that I chose THE RUNDOWN...you will too!! - Action Adventure - Seann William Scott - Christopher Walken - Action'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Seann William Scott - seann william scott, action action Seann William Scott - seann william scott, action