Guy Low Price Electronic: 13 Jun 2010

Sunday 13 June 2010

Complete Series - anime dvd, black cat

What can I say? This is one hell of a anime series! As one of probably only a few handful of people left who doesn't actually download or watch anime online, I was browsing Amazon looking to add some more anime to my collection, I ran across this one. It seemed interesting enough, so I thought I'd give it a try. Let's just say, when I sat down to watch it, (please excuse the awful pun, 'cuz I just can't help myself) it sunk its claws in & damn if I didn't end up wasting an entire Saturday in front of my TV because of it. Very few anime series have had that effect on me.

Train Heartnet (aka Black Cat) is an eraser (assassin) for Chronos. He is number XIII. He does what he's told, when he's told & thinks nothing of it. That is until he meets Saiya & it causes him to rethink his beliefs & way of life. Sven has the misfortune to keep crossing paths with Black Cat. Eventually they team up as partners to end the evil that is Creed Diskenth, his group the Apostles of the Star & other various villians. I really don't want to get too detailed in my review, as I don't want to ruin it for those who of you haven't seen it. Let me just say this: The story line is GREAT, the action is AWESOME, the heroes are heroic, the villians are deliciously villianous (Creed is an especially sick & twisted evil piece of work)& you will laugh your ass off (or, if your sense of humor in no way resembles mine, chuckle heartily) in several places. This is an anime that both guys & girls will enjoy.

This collection consists of four DVDs with six episodes on each disc, housed in a clear plastic DVD case that is a bit thicker than a standard DVD case. The discs are arranged as two on each side with the discs overlapping a bit. It's NOT my favorite set up, but I suppose it could be worse. Textless beginning & ending songs & trailers are the only "extras".

In short, I loved this series so much that I went back on Amazon & ordered the first run individual DVDs with the starter box. I definitely recommend this series for those who are just getting aquainted with anime, are fans of action anime, or those who just really don't have a lot to do & just want to take it easy & spend the day watching an really good anime. Black Cat: Viridian Collection

He's one of Chronos' Numbers, an elite assassin who's known for the XIII branded on his chest.

Kentaro Yabuki had a pretty cool idea when he used that for his manga "Black Cat," chronicling the ex-Number's adventures as a sweeper and his attempts to save the world from his former partner. But the anime is a mixed bag -- the overall story arc is scrambled up enthusiastically, but it's full of action and wild comedy (the white cat and his kisses!) and some thoroughly likable anti-heroes.

Sweeper Sven Vollfield is about to nab a notorious gangster when Train Heartnet, the notorious "Black Cat," bursts in and kills the man and escapes before anyone can react. Elsewhere, Train reluctantly befriends a perky young sweeper named Saya, who starts to make him change his views on killing and subservience. Just in time, since he's been ordered to kill a human bioweapon -- a little named named Eve, who Sven is determined to protect.

So Train breaks away from Chronos, declaring that he won't serve anyone. The Numbers attempt to kill him, and his ex-partner Creed attempts to lure him away -- saying that he plans to rule the world instead of Chronos. And to get Train, he'll kill the person Train holds dear.

Months later, Train is roaming with Sven and Eve as a sweeper, hunting down assorted bad guys for cash (but not killing them). Unfortunately Creed's "Apostles of the Star" is giving criminals Tao water that gives them superpowers, and organizing a deadly company that is nearly unstoppable. But the mad Creed is still determined to have Train at his side. The Numbers and Train are both determined to hunt down and take out Creed before he can hurt anyone else, but the Apostles of the Star may be too strong.

"Black Cat" deviates pretty drastically from its original manga -- the over-arcing storyline is scrambled up and parts are removed, the characters are given bucketloads of angst, Train's motivations are dumbed down, the moral greyness is wiped clean, and the entire start of the series is radically different. And due to some random filler episodes (Train and Eve help a bunch of homeless kids?), the last fourth of the series unravels as it tries to cram way too much into too few episodes. And it even adds on an extra anime-only arc at the end, which is hideously anticlimactic and out of place -- and changes the grand finale drastically.

Despite those flaws, "Black Cat" is a colorful action anime. There are brilliant acrobatic fight scenes, using weapon ranging from unbreakable guns to invisible swords, corrosive skin to a razor-sharp floating scarf. The battles can get so explosive that one episode has an entire castle crumbling out from under the characters, but there are long stretches of contemplation and flashbacks. And the entire series is graced with shadowy, elaborate animation full of glowing roses, dark rooms, moonlit rooftops, harsh sunsets and rainy duels. Even dark nights include a luminous soft light.

There's also a lot of angst in here, and a dark undertone runs through most of the series' characters -- even the perky ones have something unpleasant in their lives. Fortunately this is offset by a healthy dose of comic relief, usually from Sven or Train ("Everyone's in a panic over a stupid pet lizard, DAHLING!"), and some straight-faced humor from Eve due to her limited experience with... well, just about everything.

Train is a hero with a mildly split personality, since he seems to be either the angsty abused-killer-since-he-was-six gunman, or a delightfully goofy bounty hunter who can easily eat his own weight in food and milk. Sven serves as a good counterpoint -- an ex IBI agent with a magic eye and a perpetual ulcer over their bills. And the quiet, solemn Eve quickly grows from a "killing machine" to a naive little girl experiencing the world for the first time, along with enough books to overflow a library.

Creed serves as a pretty creepy villain -- he's megalomaniacal, arrogant, and has a massive gay crush on Train based on his prowess as a killer. The Apostles and the Numbers are patchily characterize, but some of them stand out -- the elegant and smart Charden, teenybopper Kyoko, the flirtatious Jenos Hazard, and the beautiful master of disguise Lin Shaolee.

"Black Cat" pads itself with filler (Train's background takes seven whole episodes?) and then rushes through its ending, but it's still an enjoyable action anime. - Dvd - Black Cat - Nanotechnology - Anime Dvd'

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Laptop Mouse - logitech, mouse

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I actually bought this elsewhere, got a nice price on it. I would never consider a long-receiver USB-type wireless mouse for a laptop. I can just see them getting hooked and broken over and over, so it was important to have a tiny receiver like this. I admit I've not tested the range. I have not tested the battery life (only a few days old). However, this thing's receiver is awesome; I know it will not break due to its small stature.

The mouse itself was found fine on Windows Start 7 and also XP Home edition on two computers. It's a bit more sensitive than my older USB plug in mouse so I pulled down the pointer speed in control panel.

I generally dislike mouses/mice (?) of this shape as it is stub-nosed and quite tall. That is my main complaint about it but I knew that going in so I cannot ding it a star and it is otherwise a large enough mouse not to frustrate my hands--it is not a tiny, pitiful "laptop"-sized mouse.

It has a button on the bottom to turn it off. If left on the red tracking light underneath is constantly shining, but I intend never to turn it off as I think that light pulls very little power (I hope) and it ensures quick wake ups. Wakeup time is about a second if the mouse has been left for a while--this won't bother you. Responsively it seems fine. I've not tried it with gaming. I hear that USB-based wireless mouses are a touch faster than bluetooth, for what it's worth.

It takes a single AA battery (comes with a duracell), which means replacements should be most readily available and an AA vs AAA or 2XAAA ensures decent battery life without spending any kind of real money on battery replacements. I imagine it would work with a rechargeable nimh but I have not tried it.

As I will use this mouse every day, if I do not come in to update this review in the future you can rest assured that I either got run over by a truck or the mouse continues to work as stated.

EDIT: Feb 9/10. The battery died on this a couple of days go, so with pretty regular use (3-4 hours/day) and never turning the thing off it got about 6 weeks, which I think is certainly acceptable. Logitech Wireless Mouse M305 (Dark Fleur)

I have only had this 1 hr., but it's great so far. I have tested it on three different computers (3 yr. old Dell Insipron w/ Vista, 2 yr. old Dell Inspiron w/ Vista and new Acer netbook w/ XP. Just plug and play with all three. Gotta love the tiny USB receiver (can't break off). The size is on the smallish side but seems fine for me and the wife. It works on our shiney wood desk and jeans; haven't tested anything else. It worked from about 4 ft. with the receiver on the the far side of the computer. (If I am any further than that I can't see the screen anyway; heck who am I kidding, I couldn't see the screen from there.)

I looked at the Microsoft 4000 which is a little bigger and feels a little nicer to me, but I got the M305 because I'm cheap and it was on sale for $10 less.

Update 3/1/10: Still works great. We took a three week trip with the laptop and it was really convenient to just leave the receiver in place when packing up the laptop.

I own three of the Logitech M305 wireless mouse...One in each laptop...I just leave the very tiny USB transmitter in the USB port of the laptop..It is so small, it will not move around in the port like the longer transmitters..This mouse has an easy off an on switch...They are available with cool graphics too...They are compatible with XP Vista and 7 and you can use them on jeans, a blanket, or really any surface with NO sluggish drag...I love this product***** UPDATE....I JUST BOUGHT THE NEWEST MACBOOK PRO...THEY WANTED $100 DOLLARS FOR THEIR MOUSE...I PLUGGED THIS BAD BOY IN AND IT WORKS JUST FINE FOR $15.00

Pros:

1. Easy set up. Turn on machine, Insert battery (included), plug in receiver, turn on and go.

2. Comes with one AA battery, tiny USB receiver and instructions in English.

3. Slider on the bottom opens front casing to insert battery, similar to the V220, except that the battery direction is much more clearly marked.

4. Easy on/off slider also on bottom.

5. Handy storage space for receiver inside battery compartment.

6. Small and portable

7. Wicked cool pattern, matching wireless K250 keyboard.

8. Indicator light for low battery situations.

Cons:

1. May be a bit small for large hands

2. Pretty basic in functions (but has everything most people will ever need)

3. Receiver is NOT a unifying receiver.

4. Battery cover a little tricky to remove without practice.

Summary:

A compact, basic, portable, easy to set-up wireless mouse ideal for laptops. Combines the size and design of the V220 mouse and the USB storage compartment of the VX Nano Laser mouse.

Addendum:

This is billed as being paired with the Wireless Keyboard K250, so I'm reviewing them as a matched twosome.

Pros:

1. They make a handsome couple

Cons:

1. They don't get along and are headed for divorce court, because they don't have a unifying receiver in common.

Notes:

After driving myself crazy for a few minutes, and downloading unnecessary software, I discovered that the M305 mouse does not have what it takes to work with the unifying receiver, and therefore you'll need to plug in BOTH receivers to make the mouse and keyboard work.

Apparently you'll need the M705, Performance Mouse MX or Anywhere Mouse MX if you prefer having only one receiver for both mouse and keyboard.

Amanda Richards, July 17, 2010

I have been using Logitech products for quite a number of years now and have yet to be in the least dissatisfied with any item. This mouse, the Logitech M305 Wireless Mouse is no different. It does precisely the job I paid for it.

This is a workhorse. There is nothing particular fancy about it; it simply works the way it is suppose to work, and works well.

The design fits my hand perfectly and is quite comfortable. The plug-in nano-receiver is quite small. I use this particular mouse on my lap top; the one I travel with and do my work on the job with. The nano-receiver is plugged into the SBU port (I am currently using a Dell Inspiration which is several years old) and that is where it stays. I need not worry about removing it constantly. As the receiver is quite small, there is little to no chance of it being broken or accidently chipped off despite the fact that my lap top takes quite a beating.

This mouse uses a single AA Battery. I have been using this since last December 2009 pretty constantly and have had only one need for a battery change. I always carry a couple of extra AA Batteries with me as I despise using the computers touch pad for the type of work I do.

The scroll function works quite well but if you are looking for the superfast scroll feature you need to look at another model. I personally don't need or want that particular feature. I have tried using this mouse on just about every surface you can imagine from desk top, to my leg, to the floor and everything between. It always works and works smoothly

Please do take note. This is not a high tech mouse of the sort a serious gamer would be happy with. I handle the ones my grandsons have on their computers and they are in a world of their own with adjustable weight, high speed this and that's and to be quite frank, I am sort of afraid to touch the things for fear of having my hand either being evaporated or transported into another dimension. No, this is a work horse of a mouse with limited features; which is precisely what I needed and wanted.

Set up was absolutely nothing. No programs were needed, not down loads were needed. You just plug in the little bitty chip thing and you are ready to go.

The price here is quite easy on the pocket, something I loved about it, and you actually get quite a bit for your money, something which is becoming quite rare now days.

I have absolutely nothing to complain about in reference to this product.

Don Blankenship

The Ozarks - Laptop Mouse - Mouse - Netbook Mouse - Logitech'

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Unlocked Phones - android, htc

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I almost cried when I returned the Motorola DROID A855 Android Phone (Verizon Wireless) to Verizon due to connectivity problems but now I am glad I ended up with the Google Nexus One Unlocked Phone! This Nexus One hasn't failed me yet; it has strong 3G connectivity with T-Mobile and strong Edge connectivity with AT&T. The phone is gorgeous (AMOLED display - Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode) and amazingly fast (snapdragon processor) and fun (Android 2.1 interface enhancements)!

I love the droid platform that you can customize and aren't stuck with the rigid iPhone experience.

I love Google's turn by turn navigation which usually works for me by voice command such as "Navigate to Fry's Electronics" and it will give me choice on screen of which two locations in my city do I want directions to? I touch screen my selection and it starts telling me how to drive there. I have found Google's Navigation better than Garmin in that it gives a better gas-saving route and tells you the turns before you get to them rather than after you already passed them. I do prefer hard keyboards which Nexus One doesn't have so Verizon's Motorola Droid wins out there! I was hoping they had used the money saved on no landscape keyboard to put in BETTER microphones and really fix the Voice Command making typing obsolete, but no. However, Swype and other keyboard apps can improve your virtual keyboard experience. The phone has been dissected and the parts apparently come to $174 in change and the rest is Google's profit.

Another reviewer said low battery on Nexus One, to fix that, just download free app Advanced Task Killer and shut down running software that you don't need running and it will last longer. Also, you can make it run edge instead of 3G which will save on battery. There are a lot of settings you can easily adjust to conserve your battery life. Battery life for the Nexus One is as follows: 10 hours of 2G talk time or 7 hours of 3G talk time; 12 days of 2G standby time or 10.4 hours of 3G standby time; 5 hours of Internet use on 3G or 6.5 hours on Wi-Fi; 7 hours of video playback and 20 hours of audio playback. According to FCC radiation tests, the Nexus One has a digital SAR of 0.867 watt per kilogram.

Also, another reviewer said that low privacy due to syncing with his desktop, but you can turn off syncing in your settings if you don't want them to sync. The syncing is actually one of the features that I think appeals to most Android/google fans.

I love the Amazon ap and being able to scan UPC codes to do comparison shopping and read Amazon reviews!

The 3D AMOLED screen is breath-taking. The interactive wallpapers are fun.

I bought the Nexus One unlocked from Google for $529 plus tax. I have always been impressed with how innovative google is but the experience of buying a phone from them is horrid. I would not do it again. They are not providing any customer service other than to tell you to call TMobile about the service or HTC about hardware questions. Google will not provide a customer service telephone number even AFTER you have given them almost $600; there is no customer service on the packing slip or anywhere to be found. They have a help forum where supposedly you can get help from other CUSTOMERS but they themselves will not help you out. TMobile CSRs say they will have this phone available for sale in their store by the end of January and I would definitely recommend buying it from them instead of Google. Also if you buy it from Google, TMobile insurance against damage, loss, theft, etc is unavailable; the only insurance you can get on the Google phone when you buy from google is from square trade which has a deductible and is limited in what it will cover. I do really like and use the UNLOCKED status of the phone and don't know if TMobile will be selling it unlocked as that is something new to be offered in USA. It is so great for traveling abroad; just pop in a prepaid SIM card from that country and you are ready to roll without roaming fees! I suppose if TMobile doesn't sell it unlocked you just need to go to the same little bit of extra trouble to unlock the phone so you don't end up having to turn over the farm to TMobile/AT&T for roaming fees!

I received my phone 01/08/10 and am thinking it is a definite keeper but I am still playing around with it and learning it. Nexus One is FUN! It is pretty! It is fast! It is so enjoyable I have almost forgotten the awful Google buying experience.

UPDATE jan 17 2010 - I brought my Nexus One to the AT&T Kiosk and the guys there both said WOW, I was happy with my iPhone 3GS when I woke up this morning but now I want one of these! I explained it was only on EDGE and not 3G but they said that the snapdragon processor made up for it that you notice the speed lag only in downstreaming video or megafiles. they volunteered that AT&T is "in no hurry" to get the Nexus One running on their 3G network since they can not sell the phone and all the retail profit is going to google; they are putting their efforts into their next new phone which I think they called the Elite.

Google now has a couple of employees on their help forum attempting customer service but failing. Google has made its fortune by advertising mostly and acting like any actual interaction with their customers will give them the cooties, so I guess it is too late to change. Offering the phone unlocked when brand new is really great and may be lost if only sold by the carrier. So Google if you are listening here is how you can go into the phone-selling business without getting the cooties - partner with Amazon and Wal-mart (retail and online). These retail giants have proven records of consistent great customer service. Let them sell your unlocked phones for you and collect a profit for providing customer service and you get to continue to rake in the big bucks without having any actual contact with your customers and not tarnish your reputation when people experience what it is like to interact with you rather than admire you from afar. The retail store with the best customer service record in cellphones though is Best Buy; let them sell your phone unlocked and customer satisfaction will soar!

Another reviewer said he didn't know why people would buy it here for more than what google charges but the answer is crystal clear - one google is not selling to many countries yet and secondly amazon will provide customer service and won't charge a re-stocking fee.

I am really enjoying my Nexus One and am thinking it is the KEEPER

Feb3, 2010 update

This phone really shows off YouTube! Their HD concerts and other clips are stellar to watch on this phone! Watching theater previews on the movies app (free) is a fun experience. The picture is HD and the sound quality is best with ear phones.

While there are fewer apps than iPhone, there are more free apps. How many apps does one need anyway? I try to keep my phone light so it is ripped and ready to fly fast!

There is a great silicone coating making the nexus one almost impossible to scratch! There is a great YouTube video where someone is intentionally trying to scratch the nexus one screen as well as the back with their car keys and can't! : )

I got a computer in my pocket and I am lovin' it!

UPDATE Feb9,2010 Now there is a Google Nexus one Customer Support number 888-48Nexus (888 486 3987) so might be worth a try to purchase from Google! Maybe they have seen the light!

Also software update released earlier this week includes MULTI-TOUCH that so many people seem to really like!

UPDATE Feb16,2010 Google Voice is fully integrated on this phone so using it for texting in or out is as easy as the regular messaging icon. But Google Voice has free text messaging so you can have your carrier block texting using their system and save the $10-20/month or whatever your carrier is currently charging you for texting.

UPDATE April24,2010 I purchased the car dock and am loving my N1 even more! You can use your phone with a Bluetooth headset while it's in the Car Dock; when you dock your phone for the first time, you'll be prompted with a dialog box to select the dock's audio settings. Just uncheck the "As speaker phone" option, and your phone will be able to pair with a Bluetooth headset. To change these settings later, go to Menu > Dock settings while Car Dock is running.

UPDATE May31,2010 I guess the Nexus One is no longer available on google's website and will soon be sold in stores where you can pick up, touch, and play with before shelling out big bucks. I am still very happy with my Nexus One! If I was to choose again today the smartphone right for me, I would choose this one again. My son just terminated iPhone Friday and got the HTC DROID INCREDIBLE Android Phone (Verizon Wireless) from Verizon and that is probably the best choice for him as he wanted to leave AT&T and go with Verizon. The incredible is made by HTC like the Nexus One that I enjoy! I love the open android platform and think he will fall in love with it too. He has only had it a few hours but already is saying how cool it is to be so integrated with google unlike his iPhone. I prefer my NexusOne as I can stick an activated GoPhone SIM card in there and it works; I don't have to sign a 2 year contract for overpriced service like my son did! He had to pay AT&T money too to get out of his iPhone contract. I'm on wifi most of the time and just pay for AT&T service when I need it and I am free to do something else if I ever decide to do so!

I found this review comparing cameras between htc nexusone and htc incredible: The Nexus One takes better pictures than the Droid Incredible. How is that possible?! you say? The Incredible is 8MP, thats a whole THREE MORE MEGAPIXELS you say. Well, I think it boils down to the megapixel myth: the common belief that more megapixels equals a better camera, which isn't always the case. There are a wealth of other factors in play here, the lens, the flash, the CMOS sensor- all of which can contribute to better overall image quality.

Also Engadget compared cameras on Incredible and N1: With all this talk of the Droid Incredible ousting the Nexus One from Verizon Wireless, having a better multitouch implementation, and just being newer and shinier, you might think this comparison of cameras is just mercilessly piling on the pain for the original Googlephone. After all, the Nexus One and its 5 megapixel sensor came out a good few months ahead of the 8 megapixel Droid Incredible, so surely this battle would be over before it's even begun? Not so fast, says Android and Me, whose diligent testers have put the two HTC handsets through a side-by-side shootout. As it turns out, the Nexus One rather swept the contest in both naturally and flash-lit shots, while the Incredible habitually exhibited a blue hue in less than perfectly lit photos. Both cameras were adept at taking excellent daylight photos, as is to be expected, but the devil is as usual in the details -- and you can find all of them at the source link below.

YouTube has many short videos comparing nexus one to incredible or droid just type in nexus one vs incredible or type in nexus one vs droid or whatever phone you want to compare to. Basically NexusOne and Incredible are very similar. N1 one is a little bigger. Incredible has more plastic. incredible has track pad while N1 has trackball; both light up. Incredible has HTC sense which gives you built in widgets; N1 uses google android widgets but you can download all the other widgets to N1 so the difference is really only that the incredible comes pre-loaded with the widgets through HTC Sense. N1 has less storage. Incredible has an enhanced micro usb. one might think since the Incredible camera has more megapixils that it takes better photos than N1 but that doesn't seem to be what reviewers comparing photos taken side by side are saying! The Incredible gives you 7 homescreens with leap feature whereas N1 has only 5 homepages but really I am not using all 5 of my pages yet and plan on never doing so as how many apps does one need really? I like to keep my smartphone trim and fast! N1 has longer battery life than Incredible which may really be significant as short battery life is one of the major complaints for N1 and Incredible's is shorter; some say it is the HTC Sense that eats up the battery life so maybe incredible users will be uninstalling it, if THEY CAN!

The other night we were out eating crab buckets at a very loud rowdy restaurant and we decided to go shopping afterwards but didn't know how to get to the mall from here so I pulled out my N1 and really didn't think it would work with all that noise, but i spoke navigate to xxx and it got it 100% perfect! My friend's jaw dropped and said How did your phone do that? My phone won't do that! (she has a G1). If you get the N1, you'll be hearing that a lot "How'd your phone do that? mine won't do that...."

To other reviewer Shunundo - i agree with you that speaker quality is tinky and really need to use with earbuds or bluetooth. If you have trouble seeing in sunlight, adjust the settings and see if that helps. the phone has automatic brightness, it has a light sensor built in, when you are in bright light, the brightness lowers, and raises when in the dark. You can disable this and customize the brightness level by going to Settings>Sound and Display>Brightness. AMOLED screens are not the best choice if you are a lifeguard in the sun all day but prettiest for normal lighting day and night. Also did you know you can turn your N1 camera flash into a flashlight without rooting it? there are SEVERAL android apps for that. I agree with you that wifi is the best way to go and I am on that almost all the time for speeds as fast as my desktop!

UPDATE - On the wireless settings, there is an option for "Tethering & Portable Hotspot". Once you turn on "Portable Wi-fi Hotspot" you can tether any wireless device. Saw someone at the park on July 4th with the iPad, and 2 iPod Touches tethered to N1 ~ this completely blew all of us away as the 3G connection was lightning fast for all 3 gadgets! N1 wasn't rooted.

UPDATE 7/20 My phone updated to Froyo 2.2 seems like weeks ago and my son's incredible hasn't updated yet; he is still on 2.1 and really wanting 2.2. I've heard Nexus One owners are always going to get preferential treatment from Google over their other android customers.

UPDATE 10/10/10 - I am still lovin' my Nexus One! It just keeps getting better and better and I have not had a single thought about switching to anything else!

UPDATE 8/18/11 - I AM STILL LOVING THIS PHONE I was getting some error messages about insufficient HD and decided to upgrade my microSD card instead of deleting photos. It came with a 4GB class 4 MicroSD card but is upgradable to 32GB. I purchased a PNY 16GB class 10 card from Amazon for about $20 and now my phone is almost instantaneous on everything. I can not imagine ever going with anything other than android when it comes to a phone. No one can beat google navigation! I did decide on a HP touchpad when it comes to a tablet but I am also VERY interested in the new android Hollywood tablet with a QUAD processor coming out by Amazon preset with amazon shopping.!!! I just love that this phone just zips through everything!!! Amazon's android app store can not be beat either. Google Nexus One Unlocked Phone with Android--U.S. Warranty (Brown) - Smartphone - Android - Google - Htc'

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Love For The Wild Life - pixar, blu-ray

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This is the first Buddies movie I have watched, so I can't compare it to the others. The first thing I have to say is that the puppies are adorable, the kids are charming, and the set is colorful. The second thing is that (at the risk of sounding picky) this movie is basically a remake of the Disney movie Hocus Pocus with a few minor changes, different actors, and of course adding the puppies. Hocus Pocus has always been one of my very favorite holiday movies, but I am genuinely shocked that Disney produced this Buddies movie with basically the EXACT same story line. Were they short on writers or short on creativity? If you have seen Hocus Pocus, you will be amazed at the similarities. The story opens in a big old house in the past, just 75 years ago vs. 300 years, and sets up the whole story for present day Halloween in a small town. Instead of three witches who are brought back to life by a candle, it's a warlock brought back to life by a mirror. Instead of sucking the life out of children, the warlock needs the souls of 5 puppies (not as scary as it sounds). People are turned into little talking animals, just like Hocus Pocus, and the warlock wanders the streets filled with trick-or-treaters searching for his stolen spell book (sound familiar). All of the town's clueless parents are at the town Halloween dance and don't believe the children when they come looking for help. Seriously, I think they must have used the same script and just replaced the teenaged children with this younger group (more akin to the Goonies clan) and the Buddies. The children seem to be the main characters is this movie, with the Buddies as an aside. I really expected this movie to be more centered around the puppies. Okay, now that I have complained enough about the fact that Disney took a major shortcut by copying Hocus Pocus, I have to say I am at least glad that they copied a GOOD movie and that it was their OWN movie that they copied, not somebody elses. I also have to wonder if it's possible that they did this intentionally because the story from Hocus Pocus was so successful and felt that it was worth redoing for a slightly younger set. Guess I can't blame them for that. Don't get me wrong, this movie can't compare to Hocus Pocus which had an all-star cast and was overflowing with humor. Spooky Buddies is obviously intended to give us an opportunity to watch some adorable little puppies in cute costumes outwit the bad guys with the help of some equally adorable kids. They were successful in doing just that. The opening of the movie is the scariest if you are concerned about your little ones, but the rest of the story lightens up and of course has a happy ending. So why did I buy this movie? I have 10-year-old grandchildren who have several of the other movies and loved them and were eager to see this one as well. I like to have movies for all the holidays on hand for sleepovers, so I bought this one for Halloween. They haven't seen it yet, but I'm pretty sure they will enjoy it for a number of reasons. First, the children in the movie are their age and that is always a big plus when it comes to whether or not they can connect with the characters. Second, the movie is just scary enough to make it fun (after all, it is Halloween) but not scary enough to give them nightmares. It may be a little spooky for really small children. And third, everyone loves adorable puppies. I will try to do a follow up with "reviews" from my grandchildren after they see it. Spooky Buddies (Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo in Blu-ray Packaging)

We have all the movies in the series and this was the least favorite. Our 4 year old was scared by several scenes. We pre-ordered this months ago in Blu Ray. I wish we had waited and just rented it.

Hi. Just picked up this movie today. The cardboard sleeve has a 3-D overlay that has the dog in the middle at the top changing into a "Spooky" dog, really neat. There is also mention of the next movie "Treasure Buddies" coming out.A fun movie for the whole family.

My two year old twins loVe buddy and marly the puppy years. But lost interest in mins on this movie. Thankfully that was the case because I was about to turn it off. Too scary for small kids and hardly saw the puppies.

The first 5 minutes of this movie had my 7 year old in tears. It was way too scary and while we watched for 5 more minutes to actually see the buddies and see if she may like it... she was too freaked out and didn't want to watch them anymore. Do NOT get this movie if your kids get a little scared at spooky things - it will not be enjoyable for them at all! - Halloween Movie - Pixar - Blu-ray - Ttdgtt534323423'

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Photo Printer - pro 9000, canon

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I Just got this printer from Adorama today (via UPS) and this thing is incredible. Im a professional photographer and this printer prints lab qaulity prints super fast. I made sure I used Photoshop to print some test pictures )4x6 on Canon Photo Plus Semi Gloss and it matched exactly what was on my screen. As a matter of fact the prints look better than whats on my screen...I had to do a double take. I no longer will be using the lab to order prints for my clients (only wedding books), Im printing them all myself. The speed is also amazing. The only thing I dont like thus far is the noise of the print head when the printer starts up and before prints start printing. When the picture prints its pretty quiet though. I will update my review after about a week after i dump a few hundred more prints for my clients.

***** Update #1 ***** : Ok Now I've had this printer a few weeks and I've printed a few hundred pictures in a variety of sizes (4x6, 5x7 , 8.5x11 and 13x19) and this is a must have printer for those wanting to print their own professional lab (and better than lab quality) photos. This bad boy is very fast and the print quality is just absolutely superb (I use Canon Photo Paper Plus Glossy , Ilford Galerie Smooth Pearl, Ilford Galerie Smooth Gloss Paper and Ilfor Printasia 13x19 paper and Canon Photo Paper Plus Glossy II 13x19). I've shown my photographs to a variety of clients, potential clients, freinds and family and they are blown away by the quality of the prints. When I tell them I printed them myself they are like "What?, No way" and then they asume I must have spent a whole lot of money on the printer...which is wrong ([...] after rebate from amazon/adorama).

Pros :

Fast - This printer spits out a vibrant and full of color 13x19 glossy print in under 3 minutes 30 seconds.

[...]

Quiet - I can print at all hours of the night and not worry about waking anyone up. When Im in the next room with the door open the printer prints so quiet I cant even hear it and have to come check on the print job to make sure it didnt crash since I cant hear any noise in the next room..lol

Quality - Prints professional quality prints on a variety of papers in many different sizes.

Paper - You ARE NOT limited to Canon papers as you can use a bunch of other manufacturers papers. My Favorite thus far is Ilford (cheap from amazon and is basically identical to expensive Canon paper).

Ink Usuage - Good on ink, Not really an ink guzzler. I printed dozens and dozens of 4x6's and even a bunch of 8x11's and 13x19s and the ink kept going and going, until I finaly started running low (after many prints had been printed). Also I now use The Continuous Ink System , so ink is now dirt cheap. Costs something link [...] per cartridge (estimated - all I know is I pay [...] for and 8 pack of about 880 ml's of ink which is over 80 cartridges (no joke, visit fleabay and youll see tons of them)...Save money and Dont buy Canon Ink Carts and you will save at least 50% right off the bat).

Cons :

B&W printing - Prints mediocre black and white prints. This is no secret and I knew this before I bought it. I dont care about black and white prints just color so its all good for me.

Size - This is a big mamma-jamma. You will have to dedicate a space to this thing because of its width.

CD Printing - The US version of this printer does not print to CD's at all and there are no hacks that enable the CD printing feature (Like with the Pixma Pro 9000). If you need CD printing, just print to photo quality CD labels.

Overal: This is a fantastic buy. If you need professional quality color prints done in house you will surely love this printer. Canon outdid itself with this model... The price is steadily falling too. Especially after the [...] rebate.

***** Update #2 ******

DO NOT USE OR BUY THE CONTINUOUS INK SYSTEM FROM SUPERjetUSA With THIS PRINTER:

I bought the continuous ink system from superjetUSA off ebay and it worked fine for a short while and then it leaked ink all inside my printer. All 800+ml's. It was a huge mess and it caused me to use many hours of my valuable time and waste dozens and dozens and dozens of pieces of plain paper/photo paper to clean out the leaking mess. Then SuperjetUSA refused to give me my money back and kept telling me to do this and that and email them pictures of the mess. It took me weeks to clean it up and there is a still an ink mess in my printer. ONLY USE INK CARTRIDGES (stay away from the Continuous ink system) FROM A GOOD SOURCE. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

I've had this printer for months and it continues to be an awesome printer. No complaints. I made almost the entire printer purchase price of the printer back within only a few weeks of having the printer..thats how good the prints are.. THE CANON PIXMA 9000 MKII is an awesome investment. Canon PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II Inkjet Photo Printer (3295B002)

This is a truly wonderful printer. The prints are amazingly crisp and accurate and vibrant. If you can imagine it, capture it, see it: This printer will print it for you. What I see on my LCD computer screen is what I get on the print. Extremely easy to install and use. If you just want to crank out a bunch of 4X6s for your family or print large art prints, this printer does it with ease: The "make prints of photos" software function makes this a breeze. It leads you through easy steps to making your prints and shows you images all along of what you are planning to print (instant previews all the way through) until you finally commit the "print" button. I love this SW. It's quiet. It can take a large stack of photo paper so you can select what you want to print and walk away.

The print quality is astonishing. It's just as good as anything you'll get from a photo lab. And at the price of this printer?! Amazing. I haven't made 13X19s yet (that paper is on the way) but everything I've printed has knocked my socks off. This printer opens up whole new avenues for my photography. I alsways looked forward to someday having a color darkroom. Well, now I have it, without all the space used, the chemicals stinking and going bad in their bottles, and BETTER print no-fade life.

[Update 11-Aug-2009: I've made several 13X19 prints now and they are luscious. Just eye-popping. It makes you want to just print off all your favorite shots at 13X19 RIGHT NOW! But what would I do with them all ... Bottom line: Print quality knocks your socks off. Everyone to whom I've shown the 13X19s has been suitably impressed. They clearly show the limitations of the film/sensor and lenses, not the printer. Wow.]

The only negative on this printer would be size: It's big. But, I don't really see how they could have made it much smaller, since it accommodates 13X19 inch paper(!) It has all sorts of clever panels that fold open when you need them to print larger papers, etc., and they fold away to keep the overall size smaller, unless you need them. For all the paper sizes I am using: 4X6, 5X7, 8.5X11, and 13X19, the paper hopper is the vertical one, which means the footprint required by the printer is much smaller than would be required by a horizontal paper feed. It's also much easier to access and load than horizontal feed would be. Nicely engineered and thought-out.

I have been mostly using the premium Canon glossy paper (well worth it) but also some Kodak glossy paper. All results are excellent. Here are the papers I've been mainly using:

Canon Glossy II 4 x 6 Inch Photo Paper Plus Glossy 400 Sheets (2311B031)

Canon Photo Paper Plus Glossy II 8.5in x 11in 20 Sheets (2311B001)

Canon Glossy II 13 x 19 Inch Photo Paper Plus Glossy 20 Sheets (2311B026)

I love this printer! Best thing I've bought for photography since my first digital SLR.

My computer: Dell Dimension 2400, 2GB RAM, Windows XP Professional

[Update 11-Sep-09:] I wondered a little whether this printer would do as well with documents put together in MSWord, Publisher, etc. Good news: The results are just as good. Wonderful printer.

[Update 1-Oct-2010:] I have been using this printer for a long time now. I've gone through at least 2000 prints (no kidding) and I continue to love this printer. It is honestly amazing (much better than photo processes. One of the beauties of digital is that you only have ONE LENS to worry about. After capture, exactly what the CCD records can be displayed or printed.)

This update is to report my experience with some non-Canon materials in this printer. The Canon inks (and papers to a lesser degree) are expensive; and we all know this is how the OEMs actually make their money: By selling us supplies. Tempted by the prices, I've tried some other materials. I am now using nothing but Canon inks and paper.

I have used some of the after-market inks sold on Amazon. They worked OK; but the prints just didn't have the snap and zing I was used to. But the show-stopper was this: These after-market ink cartidges constantly (constantly!) clogged, or, if they didn't clog, they produced fine streaks in any areas of the photo with large, constant tone (sky, still water, bokeh areas). These were particularly obnoxious in bokeh areas and sky. I tried all the trouble-shooting and nothing worked consistently. I've (literally) thrown all these away and use nothing but Canon ink now -- with perfect and completely consistent results. I also used some Ilford paper that was OK; but the price difference just didn't justify going away from the Canon Glossy II papers (see links above).

My bottom line: Use nothing but the Canon inks (especially) and paper. They really are worth the money. I had to learn this the hard way.

[update on 4-Apr-2011:] I have now used the profiles on the Red River paper site and, along with some adjustment in Lightroom and help from Scott Kelby's books, I have gotten very nice results with the Red River papers. Well worth a try! Sitck with the Canon inks though.

I'm using the brother HL-2170W wireless laser printer for most print jobs and the Canon PIXMA for photos only. A great combination of printers.

Brother HL-2170W 23ppm Laser Printer with Wireless and Wired Network Interfaces - Canon - Large Format - Photo Printer - Pro 9000'

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Easy To Assemble - highly recommended, stationary indoor bike

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I received this bike for a Christmas present. I had asked for it specifically after reading favorable reviews. (and, of course, based on the price!) It was pleasantly easy for my husband and I to put together and I jumped on it right away. The bike is quiet, the seat adjusts from very high to very low, even lower than what I need (I am 5'2"), and it feels sturdy. The battery powered screen has a place for your pulse, calories burned, time, miles, and speed. This bike is quiet enough to sit and watch tv while riding and you can hear your show just fine. My butt did get a little sore from the seat, but I got used to it. The bike is easy to move around with the wheels, however it does stay in place once you put it down. I recommend to anyone looking for an affordable exercise bike. Stamina 5325 Magnetic Resistance Upright Exercise Bike

First - all these consumer bikes are made by the same company in China and branded. I've had 7 in the past 10 years from different companies. Reebok, Stamina, Sports Authority house brand, Target... it doesn't matter. They're all the same basic construction, come with the same little shrink wrapped tools, the front and back supports go on the same; I can put these together in my sleep. You can even interchange the parts. The only difference are the computers.

They will all die in 1-2 years if you use them every day.

I use mine 20 miles a day - it doesn't matter if it's a $150 model or a $700 model, they die in under two years. Pulse monitor? Rusts out or breaks in ~4 months. Straps on the pedals? Break in 3-9 months. Plastic drive belt? Minor damage in 6-9 months, fatal damage in 12-24 months that requires replacement, since you can't fix them. These things even come with a warning that if you actually try to use them seriously you could suffer 'severe injury or fatality.' They're cheap consumer crap and they expect you to stop using it and turn it into a clothes rack.

So you might as well get a cheap one with good features and expect to replace it. This one works well enough and is quite quiet, but is lacking several features you'd expect for a $200 model (and I should have checked for first):

* Worst of all, no pedal straps. If your foot ever slips, the pedal goes upside down and you need to come to a halt and resync. After one night of this I just took the pedals I saved off my old ones and used them instead.

* You can't see your speed and distance at the same time.

* The timeout before the computer resets everything if you don't pedal is quite short compared to other models. Need to rush to the kitchen or computer or phone? Better hurry, or at least remember how far you'd gone.

* No drink holder. A little thing, but you'll need something else for your water bottle.

* The base is on the narrow side (there seem to be two common sizes), so if you get serious it rocks from side to side a bit compared to the wider ones.

* If you're 6'(I am) or over, the seat adjusts fine, but the handlebars are then very low. The configuration pictured is for a midget or child.

So this will work for a year till it breaks, but I've had a $150 model from Sports Authority that was much better, and next time I'll remember again what to look for.

I needed a stationary bike after a total knee replacement surgery. Decided on this item due to v.good reviews it received on amazon.com. Received the bike in beginning of Dec.'09 and I love it. It works for me well. It's well designed and built. Manual is clearly written and there shouldn't be any problem(s) with assembling this bike.

I purchased this bike cause I needed a heady duty one (handles up to 300lb body weight) and one that just plain works well with a basic electronic console. The instructions are easy to understand, the console has 6 programs, calorie counter, heart rate monitor, speed and distance and elapsed time. There are 8 resistance levels as well. The bike is solid and built very well and I am impressed since it is a $200 bike but seems built like a $400 one.

I recommend this bike to anyone who wants a well constructed, very very quiet and basic bike that works as it should.

After opening the box, the number of bolts, washers and screws were less than described in the manual. I called customer service and they responded that some assembly is already done and that's why there aren't as many as shown in the manual. So I put the bike together and it was fairly simple. Only one washer didn't match (regular washer versus curved) ... that didn't really matter, it worked.

The performance of the bike is everything I expected it to be. Very quiet which I love! The resistance levels provide a good workout. Note the programs that come with it are more geared toward how fast you are pedaling and it does not control the resistance. You control the resistance with the knob. This is a good product for the price.

I purchased this bike based on price range and reviews. The other reviews were dead on and I'm very grateful for their input. The bike was easy to put together and is very quiet. It's nice and sturdy for both me and my husband. I'm very happy with my purchase. It was exactly as advertised.

The Stamina 5325 does what any exercise/stationary bike should do. I am 6'/255lbs and while I feel this bike holds/supports me no problem, it is a bit wobbly if I ride at a faster pace. Nothing that I worry about, but does concern me for the length of the life of the bike. My wife is much smaller and has no issues. We both agree the seat is fine, but not overly comfortable. Height adjustment is excellent.

My other minor gripes, you have to put it together(which I knew), but it was about 30 minutes of work. It was not necessarily difficult, but there were some steps that were "tricky"(getting the resistance adjuster cord to connect). The peddles are slightly small, and at higher rates tend to flip on you, and they are not double sided, nor do they have straps or a place to attach straps. Also, I was comparing to less expensive bikes, and I am not sure how you can get much cheaper and still feel like you got a quality product. I bought this bike wanting something to give me a good work out, and I feel it does that, but some of the assembly did not make me feel like it was the strongest construction. You are paying a little more for the heart rate monitor, which does seem to work, but I don't use all that much. With that being said, at the $200 price point, I WOULD buy this bike again. I know if sounds like I am complaining a lot, but I am just providing information that I did not see people mention in previous reviews.

If you have a little more money to spend, I would see what an extra 50-100 can get you in features and quality, but I feel that this bike is what you paid for... I would say this bike is good as a starter/light use exercise bike that will make you glad you did not pay more. - Stationary Indoor Bike - Highly Recommended - Upright Bikes - Stationary Bike'

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Hitachi Wide Crown Stapler - wide crown stapler, makita

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As a DIYer, and not a builder by profession, I was looking for a medium crown stapler (MCS from now on)of reasonable quality and price- not necessarily the top of the line that will last me through decades of constant use. The Makita matched these criteria well in my search through the reviews of MCS. I was even looking at reconditioned ones and the new Makita at Amazon beat most of the name brand tools - even as a new item.

The other criteria I wanted was quality, and at least in the reviews I found online and not just at Amazon, this one got good reviews. So far, and I haven't put too many staples in for the particular project I purchased this for, but has performed beautifully - no jams as yet, it's light enough to be reasonable (and I'm a woman using this for soley overhead work at this time), and the hook for hanging it on a belt as come in very handy.

The only downfalls I've found, and again, these don't affect me that much because of my DIYer status, are the depth adjustment which requires the use of an allen wrench (fortunately stored on the tool itself) and the loosening of a screw to adjust - unlike my PC finish nailer which just has a small nob to turn with your finger for depth adjustment. The other downfall is there is no case - in my opinion one can be easily built or for the pro, you could easily hang this in your truck amongst other tools. Neither of these downfalls were involved in my 4 star rating however. I just did not feel I could give 5 stars having only put in a limited number of staples as yet.

After I finish my project, I will likely put an update of this review online.

Update 12/21/10 I have completed my project which was replacing my front porch ceiling with tongue and groove finished boards. All overhead work and never had a problem with this stapler, no jams, only two misfires which were my own fault, and no sore shoulders. Two thumbs up (and all ten fingers intact) for this stapler. Makita AT1150A 7/16-inch Medium Crown Stapler (16 Ga.)

I own a siding coil nailer from Makita and that gun is great, so with that in mind, I took a chance and bought this gun about a month ago. I have used it fairly extensively on multiple projects (cedar clapboard, T&G beaded ceiling, cedar shakes, railing spindles, a bird house and I plan on using it for a porch floor) and it has performed without a hitch, not one jam. It isn't an air hog nor does it have any trouble shooting/driving a 2" staple... to date, that's all I've shot is 2" staple. It's light and easy to use... well balanced and fits the hand well. A well engineered gun.

We will see on the durability aspect of it, but if it's anything like the other Makita gun I own (2 yrs and counting) I have nothing to worry about.

I give 5 stars for the gun and gun performance...

I give Makita less than that since most of us (those who use these type of tools on a daily basis) don't need another pair of (cheap) safety glasses, and I suspect that most people who own pneumatic guns and such have plenty of oil. While those things are nice... I'd rather see a selectable trigger like the coil nailer has... and a case wouldn't hurt either.

I digress... the gun is great and well worth the cost. I initially paid $187 and change for it when I first purchased it and have watched as it's dropped almost $60.00. Luckily for me, it's been within the 30 day window allowing me to receive adjustments. $187 and change is a lot to pay for this gun, $130.00-ish is not... it's a steal. I'd buy it again in a second.

UPDATE: 12-14-08 Gun still going strong and performing without a single hitch... this gun has yet to fail or disappoint. I also see that me getting it for the $130 is indeed a steal. Oh well... still a great gun though. - Wide Crown Stapler - Air Stapler - Lithium-ion - Makita'

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Mountain Biking - cycling, hobbies

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Buy it before you buy your bike. The book begins with a bunch of info on how to pick a good bike and more importantly, how to pick a good bike shop. If you stick with the sport you will quickly outgrouw this book, but it covers the most important basic skills and even includes advice on racing. A quick read. I finished it on the first day, but it's worth re-reading after you gain more skill, as everything will make more sense.Given that you've read the book you'll learn way faster on the bike than poring over the book. In fact, it's probably a good idea to take this book and some 2x4's out to a grass field with some rolling hills and go for it. And remember: if you're not falling you could be learning much faster. Mountain Bike Magazine's Complete Guide To Mountain Biking Skills: Expert Tips On Conquering Curves, Corners, Dips, Descents, Hills, Water Hazards, And Other All-Terrain Challenges

This book is great fun. It manages to avoid the patronising 10 page filler on why Mummy thinks you really should wear a helmet, and the incomprehensible comparison of the crank end twistor setting downplate angle of 1.72 degrees versus 1.83 degrees (a major controversy at the 1984 Boot Hill Lower Upper Mid South Dakota championship eliminator resulting in several fatalities after a discussion in the bar got out of hand). And it has very amusing cartoons. These (inter alia) explain to newbies that going headfirst over the handlebars can result in 'Pain and misery', while not doing so results in 'Happiness and success', oh yes, this cartoon also explains about hopping over logs, but since my preferred style leans more to 'Pain and misery' it's nice to see this perfectly legitimate method of riding recognised in print (even though it is labelled 'Wrong').Despite its 'Expert' label in the title, most of the chapters are written by people at least remembering what it was like NOT to be able to do things, and so the explanations really resonate with the new-and-not-so-good. The opening of Chapter 10 about Wheelies as basketball players is, in my view, a classic of gonzo sporting humour, and deserves to be read widely. (But I'm not going to quote it!)I should say that this is probably the most enjoyable book I have yet read on mountain biking, and recommend it to anyone who likes doing inappropriate things on expensive, delcate pieces of metal which usually involve the removal of bits of skin and limping for a week or two.

I initially bought this book for my fiance who says I sound condescending when I try to teach her something and ended up enjoying it myself. I would describe myself as an intermediate(Only because my conditioning sucks) to expert rider. I found the book to be entertaining and it helped point out some things I was doing wrong, such as ride preparation, and some things I want to do better such as long climbs and how to pace them and keeping motivation. I find the book is pointed towards experienced trail riders who might be just a beginner to slightly more extreme conditions such as climbs, descents, drops, corners, logs, etc. or want to learn proper form for traversing said conditions to become more of a finesse rider(Of which I am not).I find the caption on the cover is a little misleading. It might make one thing the book is specifically aimed at experts, which it is not. Insted of saying "Expert Tips...", I think it should say "Tips From Experts...". In my opinion this is a book most riders right from beginner to expert should be able to learn something from. They try to keep the tone light and even comedical times. This makes it enjoyable to read. It's broken up as such to keep it interesting and allow you to skip the sections you're not interested in without missing anything that might be important. I can't wait to give it to my fiance to see what she thinks. Highly recommended!!!

The book is a bit outdated by today's standards but still presents a few good tips aimed squarely at the beginner. An updated version with a greater emphasis on current trends (the plethora of clipless pedals and the proliferation of full-suspension rigs, as well as the concept of cyclocross) would probably help to advance the level of content just enough to entice beginners and those in the first year or two of their riding development.

The author combines humorous anecdotes and informative directions. It gives every reader the sense of the author relating to his audience. I found the tips to be very useful and makes the most complicated sound easy. I give it 8 out of 10.

This was a good book once you're able to visualize riding as you are reading it. After 4 months of singletrack, after a break of several years, I found it really helpful. The diverse articles were easy to read and not annoying as some other books.

Be sure to read the excellent Nealy book if you are just starting out though.

Mountain Bike!: A Manual of Beginning to Advanced Technique

This book is a collection of articles from Mountain Bike Magazine dating from the early to mid 1990's. As such, the illustrations depict the ridiculous bikes and outfits that were high fashion at that time (A painful memory for me personally). This gripe aside, the instructional quality of this book is just lackluster. The topics are not organized in a logical manner. The reader must wade through the banal prose of magazine filler to get to any useful tips. There is a dearth of practical illustrations and the instruction is just generally unhelpful. A novice rider might make some use of this book, but for all abilities there are much better instructional resources out there. I would strongly recommend Brian Lopes's book, Mastering Mountain Bike Skills, over this one.

I bought this book as kind of a manual of how to handle a mountain bike. As such it is not a good book. What you do get is a number of short chapters convering everything from beginners to to racers. Read a chapter and you will pick up some ideas of how to handle your bike. I wish the book was more structured. I've given it three stars because I have not found anything better, but this is really a two star book if that better book is published.

I also bought Mountain Bike Like a Champion and I'm giving that book exactly the same review. The coverage is the same.

If you know a better book PLEASE leave a comment. - Cycling - Hobbies'

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Dewalt Router Guide

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This is quite a fixture for your Dewalt router. I use mine on the DW-621, so I use the thinner set of rods and extra set screw knobs that come with it. It has a thicker set of rods for the 3hp routers. You rough-adjust it by sliding it on the two rods that fix to the base of your router and locking the set screw knobs. You can then "fine tune" it with the center knob and lock the set screw knob on it. The large picture above will make these explanations clear to you.The dust collection works okay; I have a small hose adapted to my shop dust collector, but it does take some getting used to, dragging a hose around with your tool. The construction of the fixture is very heavy-duty; it should last a long time with continuous use. DEWALT DW6913 Router Edge Guide with Fine Adjustment and Vacuum Adaptor

I purhcased this a few weeks ago from Amazon. I played around on scrap while getting the hang of it. It is easy to setup and use. I used it making some fluted trim and the vac port worked ok when working near the edge but hooking the shop vac directly to the Dewalt plunge router worked better. All in all well worth the money.A fellow woodworker

I received the edge guide a few days ago and used it to complete the mortising for the hanging brackets of my daughter's bed that I recently completed. I felt that the setup was a snap and it is easy to use. Prior to using the guide I made a few practice cuts so that I could get a feel for the adjustment and accuracy of the edge guide. Given how inexpensive this edge guide is, I believe it works great and have no complaints.

I have used routers for over thirty years. And during that time I have used edge guides at times. This edge guide is better than most for two reasons. First it has a fine adjust to get precision cuts. And second it has a dust collection which connects to a shop vac to clear the work area so you can see what you are doing. I have used it on several projects now and am very happy with it.

The flex compromises the accuracy. This solution is probably OK for the weekend warrior, but if you make your living as a finish carpenter, you might want to look elsewhere for a more accurate solution. It is a shame since the DeWalt plunge router's base (model DW621) is smallish compared to other routers out there. It's overall stability would have benefited from a more stable edge guide. Some instructions included in the box would have been nice too!

The face of the edge guide that touches the workpiece is a problem on the unit I got.

It has two pieces, basically split vertically in half if the router is also vertical. One of my pieces is bent slightly towards the workpiece, or perhaps one piece is bent slightly away. It still works, but honestly is my most disappointing purchase as far as quality goes; not good for very accurate cutting.'

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Water Resistant

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I ordered this watch because I needed a second hand watch for nursing school. All the watches I own cost well over 200 dollars and I did not want to risk ruining any of my watches during clinicals at school. This watch serves it's purpose and, the only downside is the band, it's made out of some plastic like material, but I purchased a leather band for 5 bucks at a yard saleband I still came out with a cheap sturdy watch. Casio Women's LQ139A-1B3 Black Casual Classic Analog Watch

This Casio women's watch is comfortable to wear and keeps dependable time. I prefer a low profile watch, and this suited me just fine. The price plus the size, easy-to-read face and accurate timekeeping makes this watch an excellent everyday or work watch.

This is a great watch light weight and comfortable. I love the fact that it is simple yet classy enough for me to were to work or out for the evening. It is especially great that it is water-resistance. As a mother on the go I am always running from here to there and putting my hands in dish water, washing machine, even bathing the cat etc. and the fact that I dont have to stop to take off the watch and put it in a safe place away form water is the best of all.

This is a cheap watch so I did not expect too much; however, this is the first "water resistant" watch that could not handle the shower!... it is very light weight so I forgot to take it off before getting in the shower and after the third time that happened, the watch stopped working... not even worth the cheap price!'

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