Guy Low Price Electronic: 27 May 2010

Thursday 27 May 2010

Dell Battery - dell laptop battery, laptop batteries

When the battery first arrived I installed it in my Dell Studio 1558 laptop. The battery worked very well for the first 4 recharge cycles and then at bootup I started receiving the following message from my BIOS -

"The battery cannot be identified. This system will be unable to charge this battery."

The statement is correct, the battery will no longer charge and is useless. Thankfully I bought this from Amazon.com and I can return it and get all the money back. I would highly recommend Amazon.com because of their outstanding return policy which you can't get many places anymore. Thank you Amazon. 11.10V,4400mAh,Li-ion,Replacement Laptop Battery for Dell Studio 1535, Studio 1536, Studio 1537, Studio 1555, Studio 1557,Compatible part number of Dell:312-0701, KM958, WU946

I have a Dell Studio 1537. This generic battery does not lock in appropriately -- I had to tape it to prevent it from falling out from the base of the laptop. Initially, the battery worked great (held its charge for several hours before requiring a recharge), but after a few days of using it, it stopped charging and was no longer compatible (computer no longer recognized it?). I had to return it. Got a full refund including shipping. Amazon has a good return policy. I bought the authentic Dell battery from the Dell website instead.

Works better than the original battery that came with the computer - Dell Studio 1535.

Computer now runs longer than with the original battery by about an hour.

(edit) STILL working fine on 11/19/2010

I reviewed this battery when I got it and it was working, said I liked the seller. BUT when it failed to charge, I tried to return it, and have still not gotten the replacement. I hope they contact me to straighten it out, they are really hard to reach.

This battery's life is steadily declining and I've only had it for a month. When it arrived it held a charge for just under 3 hours--which wasn't thrilling, but I dealt with it. Now fully charge it lasts, if I'm lucky, 90 minutes. Major disappointment. And it's too late to send it back.

Followed instructions to the letter for setting up this battery. Worked fine for four days then failed. Will not take a charge. When installed in laptop shows 100% charged on laptop display and meter on back of battery. When AC power is disconnected .... you guessed it no power at all. I'll look for a local battery provider where I have some recourse. - Dell Laptop Battery - Laptop Batteries'

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Hand Wraps Boxing

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Alot of people who have written reviews, in my opinion are not realizing that these gloves are not being sold as a replacement for boxing/bag gloves.

These gloves are meant to be used a quick and easy alternative for HAND WRAPS, as in that tape/ace bandage looking thing that you see boxer's on TV wrapping their hands and wrists with before putting them inside of their boxing gloves.

They ARE overly tight and overly snug but that is to prevent injury to the small bones in your hand and also from spraining your wrist.

Two problems, the gel is to large to fit in some boxing gloves. And the stitching is somewhat weak , and since your buying this online ... I recommend going to your local sports goods store and try on the sizes and see what is good for you, that is what I did. Also over time the gloves break in like a baseball glove and become more comfortable and less overly tight.

Remember NOT A BAG GLOVE, NOT BOXING GLOVES Everlast EverGel Hand Wraps (Yellow, Small)

I got these wraps as part of an Everlast set that also included a pair of Everlast boxing gloves. I've only had them for two months and use them primarily under my gloves and on my Century Wavemaster boxing bag. They provide nice wrist support and are easy to get off and on. I see them holding up well in the future.

Since there is no mention of sizing on the package, I did an internet search for how to measure your hands to buy these gloves, and this is what I found:

To determine correct size, measure the distance across the lowest knuckles (the knuckles you punch with) of the 4 upper fingers (all the fingers except the thumb). Measure by laying knuckles flat on a ruler. How to measure your hand:

Size Measurement

Small 3" - 3 1/4"

Medium 3 1/4" - 3 1/2"

Large 3 1/2" - 3 3/4"

X-Large 3 7/8" +

Hopefully that helps you pick out the right size!

I was so excited to receive this item. I paid for 2 day shipping. I got it and the first time I tried to put them on the mesh on the top of the glove tore at the seam. My hands are large, but not huge and these are the XL size. They don't have a larger size. The gel was nice when I was hitting the bag with them so if your hands are smaller and you won't have to work hard to put them on, it might be a nice purchase.

THESE ARE NOT GLOVES FOR HITTING A HEAVY BAG!!!!! I have read reviews that say that these aren't strong or well made for bag gloves...That's because these ARE NOT bag gloves, they are gel hand wraps. You use these for extra protection for your knuckles and wrists. You put these on and then you put your BAG GLOVES ON OVER THEM....sorry for repeating myself but I just want to clear. anyway great product if you use them correctly. You may need to buy your heavy bag gloves one size larger than your actual size so these fit under them. My wrists and knuckles feel great after a hard workout on the heavy bag much more support than classic hand wraps.

The gel is very nice. Unfortunately these are not made normal and seem to be narrow for their size. Also, the stitching is not the best. The first time I put mine on, the stitching holding the netting on the back side of the glove, gave loose and I had to re-stitch about 1 inch of it. Not a big deal to me but they should make them strong enough that you dont have to do that. Other than that, the design is pretty cool. These are just not very well built. They are made in china so what do we expect. Should have gone for some more expensive gloves.

I read reviews of a few different gloves and went to the store to try them on and get the best fitting ones. I didn't plan on buying this particular pair, but I purchased these because they were the only brand in stock which fit me. So far, they have worked well, but the stitching doesn't look very well done. There are vents in the palm which keeps the moisture down some. They are comfortable and provide good, sufficient cushioning for light bag work (i.e. a cardio-kickboxing class.) For serious heavy bag work, as other reviews have stated, these are only meant to substitute for hand wraps.

On sizing, I am a woman with small hands, and a men's medium fits me great. My husband, who has what are normally considered medium hands, says these are too small for him. Even if you buy them on-line for a better price, I definitely suggest trying them on in the store.

Overall, I am relatively satisfied. Depending on how long they last, I may or may not get a different brand next time.

My other experience is with normal cloth handwraps, such as the Everlast 4455-3 3-Pk. Hand Wraps, so I'm comparing the Gel Wraps to the cloth ones.

A different reviewer said that these are still hand wraps, not boxing gloves and I agree with them. I tried using these for the heavy bag, and my knuckles would bruise, since these wraps don't have enough padding.

So these are definitely not a replacement for gloves - they are meant to go inside regular boxing gloves.

The main reason I bought the gel wraps is because I would bruise up my hands on the speedbag without wraps, and it takes quite while to put on the cloth ones, so I wanted something more convenient that would protect my hands while using the speedbag.

These certainly do the trick and I'm happy with the purchase for that reason. However, here is some additional information that other people might find useful:

Pros:

- super easy and fast to put on and take off

- they fit fine into my boxing gloves

- I have large hands, and size Large is snug

- I do like the gel padding, but I can't say that I have noticed any differences between gel and cloth other than as a space saver.

In between:

- Unlike cloth wraps, which you layer onto your hands, these fit so snug that they can pull your hand out of the proper position, so you have to constantly keep your hands in mind. But while boxing you should keep your wrists and hands in mind anyway right?

- These wraps don't absorb nearly as much sweat as the cloth ones, so your hands are pretty gross after a good workout. It's not that big a deal for me, but may be for others.

Cons:

- The finger openings are too tight for me, especially on the thumbs. If this persists, I will probably cut them open a little bit to make room.

- After prolonged use (30 - 45 minutes) certain other parts on the gloves leave red lines on my hands and wrists.

Conclusion:

I like them, especially for the price and I'm happy with my purchase.

I just hope that the wraps will morph to fit my hands better. If they don't, I'll have to make some adjustments on my own, and there is no guarantee that the wraps will last.'

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Ryobi - battery packs

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Ryobi makes some of the best cordless tools in the world. Unfortunately, they also make the world's worst rechargeable batteries. I've bought several of these batteries and they have all died in well less than a year. I was fortunate enough to find an off-brand 14.4 battery that fits my Ryobi tools, but now it looks like those are no longer available, as I can not find them anywhere. I have a suspicion that the short battery life has something to do with the "Smart" Ryobi battery charger. If you have some other means of charging the batteries, you may want to give that a try. Ryobi 1314702 14.4 Volt Battery Pack

I owned two Ryobi combo sets which I purchased one 9 years ago and one 10 years ago. Had a total of 5 batteries. 2 died a couple of years back and the remaining three just died. I was looking to see if new batteries where worth buying, but at $25-$45 each (depending on where you look) it is hard to justify. I doubt I would get that much life out of new Ni-cads. Ni-cads take some babying to last, allowing them to fully discharge and not leaving them on the charger too long. Rechargables typically die after a number of charge cycles rather than after a certain period of time.

Li-ion technology is much better - Battery Packs'

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Pool Filters Hayward Replacement C1200 - cartridge filter cleaner, pool filter cartridges

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Amazon is sending this item out Pleatco PA120 Replacement Cartridge for Hayward Star-Clear Plus C-1200, 1 Cartridge instead of the correct one. See other review for confirmation. Customer service was inept and is now making me return existing item. They are unable to confirm that they are able to ship or even have the correct item. I have spent $5k in the last two years on Amazon and at this point I'm not sure I ever want to do business with them again. Don't buy this. You will not receive the right item! Hayward CX1200RE Replacement Cartridge Element

I received a Pleatco brand filter, not Hayward as advertised. The price was good, it is a working replacement, and it looks to be good quality so I'm going to use it anyway to avoid the hassle of returning it. However, I thought people should know that it is not a Hayward brand filter.

I normally use off-brand replacement filters but decided to use the Hayward brand this time. The product appears to be constructed better than the off-brand filters. Only time will tell whether or not this is true.

Like others I ordered the genuine Hayward item

like others Amazon sent a generic make. I had to install this because of time restraints but I requested and got a refund on the price diference. They assured me the page and description would be all sorted out immediately. Its now 2 months later. the heading changed mostly... still says by Hayward and the description still says its a Hayward ... Its a shame that a simple things get by and drops a good reputation

I specifically wanted a Hayward Brand filter! No where in the description did it say it was not a Hayward Filter. It just said Hayward Replacement Filter I could have bought a Pleatco Filter for $10-$15 less on other sites. Now that they want me to review this item, all of a sudden it says Pleatco Replacement for Hayward. That was NOT how it read in the original description. The filter iteslf is fine, it's just that I could have bought a Pleatco filter for much less!!!

Looks like other people complained as now the description says Pleatco replacement for Hayward, not how I bought it as Hayward Replacement Filter!

I too receieved the Pleatco filter instead of the Hayward filter and, call me lazy, but instead of having to ship it back, I accepted the credit for the difference between the Pleatco that amazon sells and the Hayward filter I was supposed to receive. My original filter lasted four years, so I hope the Pleatco will do the same. I told them this was a repeated problem and the lady on the phone promised to notify the proper people to correct the problem.

I purchased this filter to replace a worn out Unicell filter and was very impressed with the quality and immediate difference in water clarity. Great price too, a local pool store quoted almost twice the price I paid for this one for an original Hayward filter. - Pleatco - Cartridge Filter Cleaner - Pool Filter Cartridges - Pool Filters'

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Belly Dance Hip Scarf

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My black belly dance skirt arrived as predicted ( approx. 3 days ). My purchased item was exactly as the one I saw on screen, only better !

It is gorgeous..the material and gold coins used are of high quality. I am very pleased. Black Chiffon Dangling Gold Coins Belly Dance Hip Scarf

Loved it, taking a belly dance course, made extremely well.

Please remember not everyone is small, some of us are a little heavier than should be, so if you could make them a little longer-wider(larger hips) that would be fantastic!!!

The photo must be on a mannequin or a small person, the description was accurate but not very detailed. Not a lot of coins, but still pretty and will be a good practice scarf, particularly for the money. I am pleased overall. I am a average to small build person and this would look sparse on an average person. I am also pretty short and it is not very long on me (doesn't even go to bottom of rear), so if an average or tall person wore this it would look very short on them. Seller had great service, and it was a great price. Stitching lacking and looks like it will fall apart easily, but for the price and for the one performance I needed a black and gold hip scarf, this is perfect. I hope I am pleasantly surprised and that it lasts. I do like that it is lightweight as it will not slip down while dancing.

Although I already own several bellydance skirts, I felt the need for a black one. This skirt is different than my other skirts. First of all, my other skirts were about $20, and this skirt was only $3.99. The quality is about the same as my other skirts. One thing I like about this skirt is that the ends are tapered, which makes it easier to tie around my waist. I've had no problem with it falling down (as I've had with my other skirts) while I am dancing. I would highly recommend this product.

I was really pleased with the quality and fit of the Belly Dance Skirt. I am full in the waist and hips and was concerned that the skirt might not fit right or flow well. I am happy to say it works as it should and makes my Shimmy Workout so much fun.

I got this for less than a dollar (not including shipping) and I am VERY impressed! I have several belly dancing skirts from Egypt, and this was ALMOST as good quality as those (almost, but not quite). The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is because it seems a little flimsier than my other skirts, but considering how much I paid for it, this was one amazing deal that just can't be passed up.

I have just started learning the art of belly dancing, so I just wanted a cheap practice skirt to help me "get into character." This skirt is so much more than I was expecting! I expected a cheap skirt that I could use for practice for about a month before I would have to break out my sewing kit. However, this skirt is much sturdier than I expected! I'm about at the one month mark for using it, and I have yet to get out my needle and thread, and by the looks of the skirt, it will be a while before I have to do anything like that!

My only regret is that I didn't get 2! You won't be sneaking up on anyone wearing this, but don't let that stop you from wearing this to the club. I thought it would also look great with one in front & another in the back over a peasant skirt. Made very well, the beadwork is symmetrical, secure and the coins fall perfectly. Definitely not just for belly dancing!'

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Training Fins - scuba diving, swim gear

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I bought these for my 5 year old daughter to use in our pool. We had another pair of fins that hurt her feet. These fit great and are very comfortable. She wears them the entire time she is in the pool. She loves them. Having these fins float is an added bonus. I placed another order today for the smaller size for my 3 year old son. FINIS Jr Floating Fins (Size: 11-1)

I ordered the blue and green flippers for my 3.5 year old little boy and the sizing was the perfect choice! He was so happy with them he wouldn't take them off much around the house for two days, he even ate dinner with them on the first night! My son wears a size 11.5-12 USA toddler size and will be into a size 1 in no time flat. I expect these to fit then as well due to the slight bit of room they have. They fit snug on his feet where they should be snug like around the ankles to prevent rubbing and seem to give his little toes room to wiggle just enough. I appreciate the aesthetics, clean lines, and solid high quality construction. The material is firm in places yet soft and flexible in others, and despite being worn around the house for play in addition to being used in the pool, they have not shown any signs of wear or damage whatsoever. I cannot recommend these highly enough to parents of young children! Quality materials, durable for excited toddler play, easy to use and keep on during use and effective in the water. I answer questions when I can, so please feel free to ask in the comments section of this review!

Yours,

Jemoiselle

My kids love these flippers. One of the main reasons I purchased was that they are buoyant and float when kids drop them in the water or if they come off. Helps find them faster when leaving the pool. I highly recommend. Great value for the money.

My son is over 3 1/2, tall for his age, and the blue-green fins (size 8-11) fit just fine with some room to spare. I think he will still be able to wear these next summer, as well. They are pliable and light-weight and easy for him to maneuver. They weren't really floating for us when he slipped them off to "see it float" - they sort of stayed somewhere in the middle of the water between the bottom and the surface, but that isn't really important to me. What I needed was a good quality pair of fins that weren't going to fall apart in two weeks, that were easy for my little kiddo to use and these are it.

My 4-year-old begged for flippers (to be like his dad, a scuba diver) - so I settled on these after reading the other positive reviews. I am more than satisfied. The fins are very durable and attractive. They fit my son's feet well (he wears an 11 in a regular shoe; I bought the 11-1 size in the fins), coming off in the water only occasionally. What has surprised me is how much more confident he feels with them on! They have made a real difference in his willingness to venture into deeper water and his ability to pay more attention to his overall form when swimming. Great buy - absolutely recommended.

These fins were everything they claimed to be! My daughter is 5 yrs old, and wears a toddler size 10-11 shoe. We purchased fin size 11-1 and they do not fall off at all - I was really surprised since I bought them a bit on the big side. She is just learning to swim and having the fins is fun and motivating for her (fewer frustrations in the process of learning). And the fact that they float is great, making them easy to get on/off in the water.

I bought these for my 6 year old and they have been great. Love that they float in the pool. They have helped his swimming and confidence to travel into deeper water as he knows that he can swim faster to the edge of the pool while wearing these fins. Very pleased with the quality, color, and fit of these fins. - Scuba Diving - Fins - Training Fins - Swim Gear'

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Jointer Blades - jointers, jointer knives

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In the past I would use a dial indicator to adjust my blades with marginal results and many hours of adjustments. With this thing adjustments are very quick, but results are still marginal. So either way I am getting marginal results, but I am saving myself a lot of time. If you are good at precision machine adjustments and want super precise results then this is not for you. If you are satisfied with a 3 to 4 thousandths deviation then this is quick and works to that point. Just to clarify I am a complete amateur and don't have the patience for precision adjustments, so this is good enough for me. Rockler Magnetic Jointer Jig - Jointers - Jointer - Jointer Knives - Shaper Blades'

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Speakerphone - answering machine, cordless telephone

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I have always been happy with Panasonic phones. However, when the buttons on it started to not work reliably, I did not like the Panasonic that I bought to replace it. This phone works just fine, and has, for me the added advantage of being able to be wall mounted relatively normally. All of the current cordless answering system phones that I looked at were mounted on the wall on hanging devices that stood virtually at a right angle to the wall. This phone, though not a flush mount, hangs and appears most normal; that is, protudes from the wall less than all of the others. The phone works fine, programming relatively intuitively. If you are looking for a wall mounted cordless with an answering system, you will probably find this to be the best one you can find. AT&T DECT 6.0 White/Grey Digital Cordless Answering System (EL52109)

Bought this unit for a little more than the cost of the battery to replace an old 2.8ghz cordless phone. The AT&T Dect 6 has a very long range that was clear when I went over 100 ft from the house to check my well [I live in a rural area]. The sound is crystal clear. My only minor gripe is that when the power to the house goes off for a second, the date/time erases from the phone and has to be reset.

After 13 years of satisfactory service (without even replacing the battery), our previous AT&T answering machine finally died. When we bought our old machine, Consumer Reports gave AT&T top rating. Today, Consumer Reports still puts AT&T answering machines at the top of the list. This model lacks some of the features of the models rated in the October 2009 issue (it allows for only one portable handset), but its basic features are the same. Both the answering machine and the cordless phone work simply and well. Best of all, it costs only $35. We paid $150 for our old machine in 1996. The price of electronic equipment really has declined!

...if, like me, you need a phone to hang on the wall of the kitchen or hallway, this isn't the best. It's advertised to be convertible from desktop to wall-mount. Like so many contemporary phones -- most, in fact -- the base isn't a true wallphone dock. it sticks out too far into the space to be a decent corridor phone, and the tenuous balance of the handset in the base is an invitation to brush against the phone and guess how many pieces of the handset will fly off when it hits the hard floor below. That said, the phone itself is very well designed, with easy to read buttons and labels, and for the most part it's simple to program and operate...much more so than most of the others on the market. Sound quality and range are better than I've seen on previous AT&T phones.

Well, the other reviews made this seem like a good phone....

The sound quality isn't great (though better than the phone it was replacing). But even when it's not static-y, there's often an echo, where I hear my voice echo back at me. There seems to be no rhyme or reason; sometimes it echoes, sometimes it doesn't.

Also, the design of the memorized/stored phone #s is poor. There's no quick-dial number associated with the stored #s. The stored #s are stored in no particular order - not alphabetical, not in order of entry. If I want to call a stored number, I just have to scroll up through the whole memorized list to find the one I want. Pointless.

There's a delay between the time you press a button and when it registers with the phone as pressed.

This is one of the best phones I have ever purchased. Sound is loud and clear. It is small and compact so not to take up alot of counter space. I absolutly love the speaker phone on the handset especially when you are on hold for a long time. Easy to set up and use. I didn't have to look at the manual at all.

I bought this AT&T DECT 6.0 EL52109 cordless phone and answering system at Sears for $34.99. I have been using it for six months and am very pleased with it.

It was very easy to set up and I did not have to use the manual very much at all. The manual is complete and easy to understand.

The phone has all the features that I need. It has a directory that will hold up to 50 phone numbers for quick dialing and and it also has a call log where you can scroll through the past 50 phone calls that you have received. It has call waiting, caller ID, and the handset speakerphone is EXTREMELY handy to have. The answering machine on the base works very well. It has a capacity of 99 messages or 14 minutes of answering time. There is no time limit on how long a message can be, just that it will hold 14 total minutes of messages before it reaches its full capacity. It has 10 different ring tones to choose from. It is easy to access the answering system from the handset or from a different phone number.

The clock on the handset seems to lose about a minute every two days. The chain dialing feature can be a little cumbersome, and the orange light on the screen could be a little brighter for me, but those are the only drawbacks that I have found and they are really minor.

The reception is very clear and the handset works well even outside the house. I have the stand set up on a table in the living room and cannot comment on the wall mounting feature.

I just wish that I had bought the model of this phone that comes with the extra handset. Sometimes an extra one can be real handy. But, all in all, I am very pleased with my purchase and can give this phone a very high recommendation. - Cordless Phone - Cordless Telephones - Cordless Telephone - Answering Machine'

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Classic Shaving - feather, safety razor

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Feathers have a reputation for being the sharpest blade, but also the one that lends itself to the most nicks, the one that requires the most skill to handle. So far I've tried three blades - Merkurs were dull and gave an awful shave as well as a number of nicks (due to me trying to shave closer and applying pressure and taking many passes), Derby's are excellent but do tend to irritate my skin a bit after I've gone against the grain. With Derby's, I have to do a number of passes to get a good shave, so irritation is unavoidable. The Feather I just shaved with gave me a great shave just by going with the grain. I would probably be happy enough with that on most days, but surprised that I had no nicks given that I'm a relative newbie to DE shaving and Feathers are supposed to be like samurai swords, only to be handled by the masters, I then decided to go against the grain for some extra closeness. The only nick was on my neck where I had a big razor bump (or a pimple?) and the blade, true to its reputation, just lopped it off. It's not a total wrecking machine though -- I do have some very little bumps around my chin area but it didn't lop those off.

A good measure of irritation comes from what I do after the shave. I have a problem with ingrown hairs, so to prevent those I recently learned to apply 10% glycolic acid cream immediately after each shave. Applying the acid after shaving with the Derby's leads to an incredible amount of stinging, so ridiculous the pain that I end up laughing like a lunatic in an effort to bear it. I applied the acid after the shave with the Feather, expecting the worst, but surprisingly there was only some mild stinging. Some aloe on top of that and I was a happy man.

They say that every man is different and there will never be a consensus on the best blade, but I'll throw my hat in and say the Feather is the best blade. And you'd think it would have to be, since it is indisputably the sharpest, which implies that it shaves as closely as another blade with less pressure -- and isn't that the formula for less irritation? 10 Feather Razor Blades NEW Hi-stainless Double Edge

I've spent the last few months trying various blades: 7 AM, Derby, Astra, Merkur, Gilette Swedes (these *were* my favorite), Sharp, and several other brands. The Feather blades win hands-down for me. They are the sharpest and best at keeping their edge that I've used.

Though as others have warned, be careful or you'll wind up with your fair share of nicks. But if you pay attention, you'll get a very close and satisfactory shave.

By far the sharpest of the blades I've tried, the Feather will give a startlingly close shave. As the other users have pointed out, that sharpness is double-edged: you must pay attention to what you are doing, and you cannot hurry too much. Careless dragging of this blade will leave your face looking like a crime scene. A careful shave will produce a delightfully smooth cheek.

If, like me, you are switching from the crud in the drugstore, you may wish to start with a blade that is not quite as sharp, like a Merkur, before you tackle this one.

Five stars reduced to four for the shipping costs (yes you can do better if you look).

Blades -should- be sharp. After I got a DE razor in February, I switched to Feather on my third shave. I never looked back; it's a very sharp blade. This can mean fewer passes and less irritation. On here and some forums, the danger of being sliced open and mercilessly nicked are hyped. Sure, if you shave against the grain the first pass and scrape the blade quickly across your face, you're asking for burns and bumps. But we all know that's not how you shave.

Just switched to DE safety razor a few days ago, though I have years of experience with cartridge-based shaving (Gillette Fusion). The Merkur set I bought came with a Merkur sample blade. It was good but not great. Today I tried the Feather. When shaving with the grain, I thought "this thing is not working, it feels smooth as silk." But boy was it working. It puts the Merkur to shame. I'm not sure I'll try anything else.

Update: I've been trying the Merkur and the Feather for a while now. I can testify to what many say about Feather: it took me a while to get the hang of it and avoid irritation or cuts. The Merkur is far more forgiving in this regard, perhaps because it's just not as sharp. A tough trade-off--I think I'll stock both.

I purchased these blades (along with some Derby blades) a few days after receiving my Merkur long-handled safety razor.

Because of new job opportunities, I had to return to shaving after growing out and wearing a full beard for over a year. I dislike conventional shaving so much that it was one of the several reasons why I've grown out my beard in the past.

When deciding to shave off my beard again, I promised myself I would make shaving more enjoyable than I'd experienced with those useless cartridge and electric razors I've wasted my money on. Of course, my research led me to wet-shaving with a double edge safety razor.

I was apprehensive to use these blades at first. I'd read so many reviews about these being "ninja sharp" and "not for beginners" I was willing to wait patiently as I retaught myself how to shave. I was developing my technique and getting comfortable with the Derby blades all while the Feathers sat on the shelf.

Finally, after a 5 or 6 shaves with the Derby, I put a Feather Hi-Stainless.

It was the best move I've made since I started shaving again.

These blades are so sharp, so smooth, so effective at cutting through my beard. Just to double check, after about 2 weeks using the Feather blades, I tried another Derby blade to see if I could get comparable results. I simply couldn't. After 2 or 3 dragging, tugging, pulling cuts with a (new) Derby blade, I put back in the Feather and may never use another brand of blades again.

Don't be put off by the "not for beginners" hype and paranoia surrounding these blades. On your first ever day of learning how to drive, did you wrap your dad's car around a telephone pole at 90 mph? Probably not. Take your time, focus on your technique, prepare your face and your lather, and you'll be ok. I haven't cut myself once with these blades.

One comment said these blades rusted. They don't rust. Feather applies 2 very generous dabs of wax to the blades to hold them onto the wax-paper wrapper, and after the frequent rinsing and reacting with your shaving soaps/creams/oils, the WAX on the outside of the Feather blades starts to oxidize/change colors, and it can be misconstrued as rust. The wax doesn't affect the shave at all.

These blades are very high-quality and I'm glad I started using them to shave. They've been a very good investment and I will continue to use them for as long as I can. - Classic Shaving - Safety Razor - Double Edge - Feather'

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Salt And Pepper Shakers

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Searched high and low for replacement shakers. Found this pair on Amazon, checked out the seller's web site and am very happy with my purchase. They are a great size and the pepper shaker actually has enough holes for the pepper to come through. My hubby is a pepper freak and he is very content with this product. They also are really cute and I have had several compliments on the pair. Classic is what they are. Yellow and Green Retro Salt & Pepper Shaker Cans

I had been looking at these salt and pepper shakers for a while - at a higher price. I ordered them from this supplier at a lower price. As it turns out, it was good that I didn't pay very much for them. They were smaller and had a different finish than I had expected. The supplier was very prompt in sending the item and they packed it very well. However, the top rivet on the salt shaker was broken. Because I bought them for a reasonable price, I did not return them. I believe the supplier did their best to get them to me in the state they were represented. I would order products from them again - just not this product.

As a collector of unique s&p shakers, I love these more vintage look ones. I actually use these in my kitchen while I'm cooking. Love the old-fashioned look to them...reminds me of my childhood in my Mom's and my Grandma's kitchen. Good looking, durable, good value.'

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Middle School - organizer, school

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I purchased the Notebook Reference Student Planner: Second Edition for my daughter who is entering middle school next year.

Approximately 1/4" thick, it has 3-ring binder holes so it can be placed in any 3-ring notebook. Made for grades 4-8, this could also be useful for high schoolers as it's essentially a book that allows for a student to write down their schedule and homework assignments. In addition there are places for photos, contact numbers, emergency info (contacts, allergies, etc...).

I like that it's setup by month (beginning in August... ending in June) with weekly assignment sheets (Monday thru Friday) that include the headings: subject, assignment and a place to check it off when complete. Study tips and quotes are found on each page too. Room for 'notes and reminders' as well as 'activities and events' are opposite each week's page, and could supplement the area allotted for homework assignments.

In the back is a large 'yearbook' section. This seemed unnecessary to me as it's space to glue in photos of friends, but no autographs.

This is followed by sections with reference materials on the following: U.S. Presidents, US government, Facts about our 50 states, US time zones, US Historical Facts, US and Canadian info (including the Pledge of Allegiance...), World Time zones, Timeline of inventions, All around the world... roman numerals, seven continents, seven seas... greek gods..., birth flowers, chinese zodiac, horoscope signs, birth stones, colleges (ivy league, pac-10, Big 12...), Periodic Table of the Elements, Weights and Measures, Conversions, cooking conversions, Sign language, health and safety tips.

An inexpensive way to keep your young student organized with some basic reference info. Now if you can just get them to use it! Student Planner, Grades 4 - 8: Second Edition (Notebook Reference)

I used this planner for my daughter. This is one of the best planners we have had. Now they are getting this planner for the entire school!!

I recommend this highly. It is very simple, easy to use and generic where you can start from the begining and there is no waste. Even if you started using it in the middle of the year.

After several blunders and misinformation on the part of the USPS, Amazon hastened to get me this planner in a timely fashion. I am glad that they did. The planner is very detailed, and has so much interesting information. I bought it for my granddaughter who, sometimes, cannot always remember when assignments are due. This is just right for her. It is compiled with so much facts and in such a manner to hold her attention. I like everything about it. Whilst I have your attention, I would be remiss if I did commend Amazon Customer Care Specialists on the time and effort they put in to replace this planner - mislaid by the Post Office. Their prompt response to my complaints could not have been better if it were a high priced item that was mislaid. Amazon told me to donate the first mislaid planner when it eventually found its way to me. Thanks, Amazon for caring. By the way, the planner is designed for all age groups. Treat a child to one, it will be appreciated. - Organizing - School - High School - Organizer'

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Accessories - slingbox, gadget

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Well, I've only been using it for about 2 days now and I must say that I am pleasantly surprised and 99% satisfied! (1% is lost on the fact that only one computer can use it at a time.)

The quality is top-notch! I thought it might be pixelated, jerky, or buggy - but it isn't. It flows and runs like a regular TV. It just feels like you're watching TV.

Let me also mention all of the features that it has:

* You can watch TV with a full screen and either have the remote on the screen, or not.

* You can hit a button and it will automatically dock to one side of the screen and re-adjust the size of your other windows. And then, you can even fine tune and adjust the size of that window.

* If you just want it to be on your screen and not be docked, you can do that and adjust that screen size as well.

* You can also create a list of favorite channel icons, so all you do is click onto your favorite channel's icon. If the icon doesn't exist - you can create your own!

* It also works with channels like HBO On Demand and with TiVo as well (however, I don't have TiVo).

* If your workplace has a firewall, you can access your home computer using your home computer's IP Address.

This product is HIGHLY recommended! Sling Media Slingbox Classic

Ground-breaking technology. This device allows me to watch my Chicago cable TV service while in Paris. It converts the TV signal into an internet transmission. The image is only about 4 x 3 inches in size on my higher density 1680 by 1050 notebook screen but looks very clean and highly viewable. Sound quality is excellent. Transfer rates ranges from 400 to 700 kbps.

Another feature of this product is that it can be used as an internet based remote control. I have one in my mother's senior home apartment. It enables me to view her apartment, view her electronics, and send remote control signals to her electronics whenever she gets stumped. I'm sure there are many other ways to apply this unique technology.

SlingMedia is an exceptional company. The initial release of this product brought rave reviews -- uncommon for release 1.0. They did not rest. Since then, they have released new versions which further enhanced the SlingBox.

I'm impressed with the concept, the technology, the product, the execution, the installation, the enhancements, the updatability, the reliability, the quality of the support, the people from top to bottom. The staff members are very active on avsforum.com. Great attitudes.

While Tivo enabled me to watch TV when I wanted, this product allows me to watch TV where it was otherwise impossible.

This may be the best consumer electronic product of 2005.

Update 15 Nov 2005: Wow, it happened! Time Magazine named it one of the "Best Inventions 2005" in November 21st 2005 issue.

Update 9 Jan 2006: Won PCMag 2005 Technical Excellence Award\

I'm in no way affilated with SlingMedia. I'm just a SlingBox fan boy.

I was amazed. On my home network, streamed very high quality (though small picture, since the TV signal is actually less than 640x480), and when I went wireless, the quality dropped (as expected), but it kept up with audio, didn't break up. Really amazingly well designed wizard to configure.

I want to follow up on my first post about the SlingBox. After my review I was contacted by Blake the CEO of Slingmedia asking me if he could have his support Manager give me a call to discuss my problems. After explaning my story to Larry Lane he asked me if I would give the box another chance. He told me that if I ran into more problems that the box can be sent back no questions asked. I decided that since the CEO of the company can reach out to me as a customer that Slingmedia was concerned how they treated their customers! (How many CEO's reach out to the average customer??).

Larry worked with me personally in setting up my new unit to make sure things went right. After the initial set up I still had a few viewing issues. Larry and his team worked with me on the issues only to find out these issues were due to my router. To make a long story short I replaced my linksys router with a Netgear 624A. My entire network seems to be working much better and the slingbox is GREAT!!!!

I cant say enough how wonderful Blake/Larry and their team was! Without the email from Blake I can honestly say that I would not have a slingbox today or in the future. The people running the company are terrific and have completely changed the way I look at their product! I strongly recommend the product to anyone! The technology is amazing! I cant wait to the summer to sit outside on my deck, get some sun and watch the NY Mets play some baseball!!

Thank you Blake and Larry!! You and your team are great!

My friend explained Slingbox to me, and at first I just didn't get it. Then one day it hit me: I could be in a hotel room, get on my laptop, control my Tivo or cable box via remote repeaters, and watch the streaming video sent from my house. That was when I realized that the way I watched TV was about to change again (since I got my Tivo) and I couldn't wait.

I got a Slingbox as quickly as I could and have absolutely loved it. With the help of the great Dell Inspiron 700m laptop, I've watched and controlled my home TV in the airport, hotels, coffee shops, in my bed, at work, and even had a friend's wife catch up on her O.C. in Singapore! I've docked the SlingPlayer viewer while working on my desktop at home. After watching from work a couple of times, my boss bought one and streams the news all day - he's hooked.

The Slingbox looks great, is exceptionally easy to set up, and the software works very well. I'm really impressed with the picture and the dynamic streaming based on bandwidth. Make sure you've planned how you're going to add it to your network- I used the netgear Power over Ethernet bridge to connect to my network from the living room, and I'd recommend it if your TV is far from your network (easy setup, high bandwidth, and no extra radio waves going through your body).

As a Slingbox owner, I highly recommend this product, especially if you've been thinking about getting a TV tuner or Video card with tuner support- this is a more flexible alternative, and SlingPlayer viewer software can be installed on multiple systems.

P.S. Desperate Housewives was only used for the purpose of alliteration. It is not an admission that I watch it. I did actually watch T.V., although not South Park, from Switzerland, and it worked flawlessly! - Tv - Remote Viewing - Gadget - Slingbox'

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Sound Bar - sound bar

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After a lot of research on Speaker system in general and about this product, I decided to give it a try. So far I am very happy with the purchase. I live in an apartment with living room size of around 20x20. So adding a high end true surround sound system (as many experts would suggest) was not in my plan. So I decided to get a soundbar system (which many experts frown upon), for the compact, portable and decent sound which was sufficient enough for my Apt. I am already a Sony TV/BD player owner and so the first choice was this product. It is very easy to setup. And the biggest draw for me this product (other than being Sony product to match with my TV/BD) was it has 3 HDMI inputs. In its class, I believe this is one of the products that gives 3 HDMI input which is good enough to hook up my Cable, BD & Media player. All the Cable, BD or PS# etc. HD output goes into the receiver and there is one output to TV HDMI in. So you don't need to change TV input, only the receiver input changes. Also there is a optical cable provided to connect the TV audio output back to receiver in case you use another component connected directly to TV instead of the receiver. Also once the reciever is turned on, the TV audio is automatically muted and the vice-versa, which is a very convinient feature, say if you like to just have TV speakers and not the big sound from this system when it is real quite. The wireless subwoofer setup is very easy, didn't have to configure anything. It was plug & play. Only issue is the wireless subwoofer needs power, so even its wireless, you still need to put it close to a power source. Another advantage I saw using this is if you are Sony TV/BD owner, you could use Sony Bravia to configure it as unified remote. This is very convenient and have instructions in manual to configure it. But I am a Logitech Harmony One remote user and haven't tinkered with Bravia. Logitech configuration was very easy with this product being listed on their system. The subwoofer I thought didn't have that big an effect at first, but when I increased the treble & bass, it seemed to be alright. Again this is not a true surround system, but still the sound ofcourse will be much better than TV speakers for sure. It also depends on one's room configuration since I read (on AVS forum) that you need furniture or other objects for the sound to reflect upon to get some sense of surround sound. There are multiple sound modes available - Movie, Music, Std, News, Sports etc. which enhances the sound output accordingly which I truly like. Have seen an instance where the picture/sound had mismatch, but you have an option to do an Audio Sync in the system. Once you turn is on, haven't seen it after that. The best experience I had has been watching BD movies. Truly enhances the sound quality and able to see the full vibrancy in this mode compared to others. Overall I am very happy with the product and would recommend. Of course the decision to get a audio-system depends on so many factors from the budget, size of room, existing system etc and once you jump into audio expert forums like AVS, they can bring in more clarity with their advise. Sony HTCT550W 3D Sound Bar Home Theater System with Wireless Subwoofer

As usual another great Sony Sound Bar; Excellent value for the price; Loaded with technology to handle all the latest multichannel audio technologies Dolby, DD+, DDTrue HD, DTS etc. and 3D pass-through.

After reading the mixed reviews I was a bit nervous about installing this sound bar. However, now that I have it connected and configured correctly with my new 3D TV, I couldn't be happier. I found I can crank-up the volume on the sound bar and experience deep sub-woofer bass to very respectable levels aka, really loud and punchy with the ability to hear all the intended sound-track goodies.

Pros:

Really big sound with deep sub-woofer punch ( not bad at "simulating" surround-sound affects)

Quick & easy setup. As already mentioned below it truly takes longer to unpack it than to connect to your TV and blu-ray player

Attractive slim sound-bar design with a wireless sub-woofer (note: SW needs to be placed near an AC outlet--other than that you can move the S/W around the room as you like)

Handles all the latest multichannel audio technologies that come with your blu-ray disks to include all the different Dolby Digital and DTS audio signals

Three HDMI ports and one HDMI out; so you can easliy pass all your equipment through the Receiver, includes and optical port as well

Cons:

Because it's so easy to setup--I think some may fail to read the manual resulting in a less then optimal configuration and sound affect

I went to two local retail stores to hear this system before I ordered it from Amazon. It sounded horribly weak with no bass in both store demos UNTIL at the last store I asked if we could adjust the AMP menu settings.

If you use something other than high-speed HDMI cables I don't think you can experience all this system has to offer

(I agree with below reviewer comment) Separate Receiver may cause issues for wall mounted TVs

Here's what I found worked for me:

Use newer standard HDMI high-speed cables only--that means newer 1.3 or any 1.4 ( 1.4 includes ARC support) HDMI cables ( not expensive HDMI cables just the new high-speed cables).

Turn off the Linear pulse-code modulation (LPCM) on the Audio Out on your Blu-ray player or game system. Instead select "Bitstream" for Audio Out on the devices you connect to your Sound Bar.

Your satellite, cable, or over-the-air box/signal may not broadcast Dolby Digital or DTS sound tracks some of the time depending upon the program (don't blame this on the sound bar). During these broadcasts you may experience lower quality sound. (Use a blu-ray player and blu-ray disk to test this systems sound capabilities)

Take time to understand the AMP menu on the receiver. Read the manual ;-)--this is where the right settings make all the difference between a lousy sound-bar experience and what you expected when you bought this sound-bar.

And finally, Turn Off your TV speakers when you want to use this system. If you leave your TV speakers on and use the sound bar at the same time then you might hear that horrible "thin" hollow sound I heard some complain about

Try these Amp Menu Settings on the receiver ( decrease the SW or Bass if these settings sound too low/deep for you):

Level: CNT +4, SW +6

Tone: Bass +5 or 6, Treble +3

Audio: Dual Mono: Main/Sub

Other Receiver settings:

DRC: Off

Sound Field: Movie

Note: For really BIG sound--try increasing the master volume +15 on the Receiver (independently) before you sync the TV volume with the Receiver Volume. - Sound Bar'

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