Yoga Accessory - hot yoga, yoga towels

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I own both a Manduka towel and the Yogitoes towel and here's what I wish I would have known: The Manduka feels softer than the Yogitoes, and certainly is more versatile, since it can be used as a regular towel or even a blanket. They both feel pretty stable (can't avoid all slipping of the hands in down dog) when wet, but the major difference is that the Maduka has a tendency to bunch up more than the Yogitoes on my yoga mat during practice. The nubs on the Yogitoes do help a lot to grip the towel on the yoga mat to prevent slippage while you're jumping up to the top of the mat or performing a lunge. Caveat: I have a Gaiam yoga mat, so I'm not certain if the Manduka towel works better with the Manduka yoga mats. I have the pink Manduka - it's quite lovely and I haven't experienced any bleeding in the wash (unlike my purple Yogitoes!). But the bunching issue is really annoying, and for this reason alone, if I need another yoga towel, I would go with another Yogitoes.



UPDATE: I've since purchased a Manduka yoga mat, and the Manduka towel is MUCH better paired with the Manduka mat. In fact, I can't use the Yogitoes towel with the Maduka mat because the nubs do not grip the smoother surface of a Manduka mat very well. So in deciding which towel to purchase, bottom line is it will depend on the surface of the yoga mat you have. Yogitoes towel for your "normal" yoga mats (typically $10-$30) made of soft rubber and has a slightly nubby surface area. Maduka towel for the Maduka mats, where the surface area appears much smoother because the rubber is denser. Manduka Standard eQua Towel (Thunder)

Everyone I know who has a mat towel has one made by Yogitoes. I agonized for months over whether I should buy a Yogitoes or this. Yogitoes has those little rubber bumps on this one side, but did they really make that much difference in terms of grippiness? I use a Manduka mat and love it so I decided to take a risk and go with the Manduka towel too. I'm pretty sure it paid off. This towel feels great, you can really tell it's high quality. It's a little slippy when it's completely dry but, once damp, it provides incredible grip. I've never used a yogitoes towel so I can't make a comparison but I'd certainly recommend this one to anyone looking.

I practice heated vinyasa, so this was great considering how much i move (a lot!) and sweat (I lose about a pound and a half if I don't drink!) throughout the class. It does wrinkle ever so slightly throughout class, but not enough to be a distraction. It's more or less slip proof, but you do have to spray it down pretty generously with water before you start. In fact, the towel dries out so rapidly in the heat I have to get it uncomfortably damp at the beginning of class--but just at the spots where I put my hands and feet in downdog. However, for the price, it was well worth it--you can get two of these for the price of one yogitoes towel, and use it as a regular towel. Plus, it's a little larger than the yogitoes standard and I do appreciate the extra room.

After slipping and sliding on towels during rigorous vinyasa classes and home practice on my Jade Harmony mat - to the point where I had to constantly reposition 4 mini hand towels to my hands and feet in downward dog, to no avail - I finally caved in and bought one of these towel dealies. I went back and forth between all the options on Amazon - the Gaiam, Kulae, Yogitoes, Manduka...and in the end, decided to go for the Manduka because of reviews (noted people mentioning "quick air-drying" and no color leaking during washes) and the fact that it is significantly cheaper on Amazon than any of the yoga stores I've visited.



If you've been debating getting a towel for your yoga practice - and you're a serious yogi who can sweat a ton in classes - put it off no longer. This towel is fantastic. I can't say enough great things about it - it stays put, it's big, covers the whole mat, soaks up your sweat so there's no puddles of wet on your mat (yech), and is indeed quickly air drying. It's comfy and adds an extra layer of cushion between you and the floor (although not too much cushion for those who like to "feel" the floor) It didn't slide once during an extremely sweaty class (seriously, everyone else without yoga towels had gross puddles of sweat streaming all over the floor and mat - ew). The color and feel is soothing and even luxurious. The only possible semi-negative thing is that this towel seems to emit heat when you are lying face down (ie preparing for salambasana or locust/bow pose); it seems to echo/radiate your body heat. This to me was a very teeny trade-off for the many pluses and benefits, since I'm hot anyway regardless of whether there's a towel or not.



It also doesn't seem to soak up smell, so a simple water rinse and squeeze gets it pretty dry for next class. However, I have not washed it several times so cannot comment on its durability or continued sweat-soak ability. Will post later as an update.



You can put this on your mat in the beginning or once you get sweaty - either way, it seems to stick. A wonderful buy at a really good price on Amazon. couldn't be happier with my manduka towel!

I was unsure whether to buy this towel or the one from Yogitoes (Yogitoes Skidless Premium Mat-Size Yoga Towel). I prefer this towel -- it covers the mat better and has a slightly better feel. The difference is fairly small.



I was initially intrigued by the nubs on the Yogitoes towel, but I think they are a little bumpy and don't provide that much extra. The size of the towel makes the difference between the two.



Both towels are better wet than dry, but I still use this even at the beginning of my practice.

After doing a lot of research & finding myself torn between the Yogitoes & the Manduka eQua towel for Birkiam yoga, I decided to buy 1 of each. The Yogitoes is a bit more expensive (about $48) & Manduka about $37. The Manduka is very thin like a chamois, which was described by others this way, but one thing people didn't mention, is that LIKE a chamois, where you touch it when wet it leaves a little dark mark before it evaporates. Well, in a hot yoga class when you are sweating up a storm, the least attractive thing is wet hand/foot marks on the towel (call me whatever you like, but c'mon no one thinks that's a 'nice' benefit of a yoga towel.) Also, I found this one slipped MUCH more than the Yogitoes with the nubs. The Manduka was downright slippery. Granted it did not bunch up like a beach/bath towel, but like a chamois, it has an almost suede-like feel and during a couple of back-laying posture, I actually could slide my back up & down the mat - in a bad way. Anyway, as much as I wanted to like it, I hate it. - Yoga Towel - Yoga Towels - Hot Yoga - Yoga'

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Elliptical Machine - schwinn, exercise

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This is one great machine. It is very smooth,very stable and extremely well built. It took me a little over two hours to assemble and the assembly directions are very clear and well labeled with one exception. In the assembly directions, it calls for six #B screws when it is obvious they meant #A screws because they were the only ones left in the assembly process. I was worried that I would not be able to assemble it without help but had no trouble assembling it myself. For the money, I don't believe you could get any better quality even in a more expensive machine. I have very bad knees but this workout actually helps them and gives me an excellent full body workout. I recommend the Schwinn A40 to anyone. Schwinn A40 Elliptical Trainer

I'm quite happy with this machine and have already made significant strides toward my New Year's resolution of working out more often. Some notes:



- It does have a short stride length. I'm 5'3" and I actually wouldn't mind a longer stride length, but am okay with this one. People with longer legs may find themselves a bit cramped.



- The console is bare-bones. I find it difficult to read in low light, and have sometimes thought I set up a program only to discover after my 30-minute workout that it's still waiting for me to press the start button after having input all of the settings.



- The built-in reading ledge is actually perfect as a perch for my 10" netbook. I've happily watched Netflix episodes while exercising away. I don't think I could read a physical book, because there's no lip to the ledge and I'd have to hold the pages spread open, but magazines should be fine.



- I go barefoot inside my home, but can't get away with it on this machine, as there are significant indents on the steps. I ended up getting a pair of Vibram Performa shoes to get a close-to-barefoot feel without causing deep creases in my soles.



- When I'm at a running pace, the machine still feels stable but I can tell it's noticing the larger shifts in balance. I'm about 120 pounds; if you're significantly heavier, you may find it to be a bit more precarious for higher speeds.



- I can actually grab the back handle/base, lift (which tilts the machine), and pull this around without throwing out my back or anything like that, so if you do need an elliptical that you can move (short, non-vertical distances) around your house, this one may work well for you.



- It does run on batteries, but you can buy an AC adapter from the manufacturer's website.



I purchased this from a local store and had it delivered pre-assembled, so I can't comment on that aspect.



Overall, I'm quite satisfied. I wouldn't suggest it for serious runners looking for an indoor alternative, but if you just want something relatively inexpensive and don't need fancy features, this should fit the bill.

The trainer came pretty fast, but unfortunately, one part was distored. First I contact the company. It was a terribile experience, because they didn't have any parts available for replacement, cuz it's a new model. I called three times, the wainting period starts from one week to threee months. Each time, you got a different answer. The last time, they told me that You had to wait for 2-3 months for shipping from other countries.



Finellay, I called amazon, they replace the whole unit without any delay. Perfect! Amazong's customer service is far much more better that Schwinn fitness.



I'm 5'6", the stride is too short for me. I get used to those gym models with 24"stride,they burn more calories than this model. And I doubt the accuracy of the calories counter of this model.

I am a 22 year old small female, 5'4'' and 114lbs and I put this together my self in a little over an hour. Very simple! ( The hardest part was getting it out of the box, should have seen me on the floor both feet on the ends of the box trying to pull it out!) It weighs only a couple pounds less than me.



PRO's- Stable, not too space consuming, and a great workout.



CON's- Just for looks fan, barley puts any air out, Pulse grips are incorrect, and frame was a bit bent when received.



All in all I would buy this machine again for the price.

OK, to begin, I am commenting after only using the Schwinn A40 a few times so time will tell as to whether it still gets a positive rating from me, especially as to how the console holds up.



First, the order/set up. I bought this on Amazon using Prime and had it in two days....sweet! I took everything out of the box and checked to ensure all was there....which it was. The parts are easy to identify and marked either "R" or "L" which really helps on assembly and the directions are easy to understand as well. The hardware (screws, bolts, washers, etc.) comes on a cardboard sheet with each item lettered (A-B-C, etc.)and a drawn image of the item underneath. This is handy should you mix any up and in my case saved me time from a factory mistake. Somehow the metal Ex4 washers were put where the plastic Px4 washers were and vice-versa. At first I thought that the factory had not included the Ex4's but a quick comparison to the drawings answered that question.



The actual assembly was a breeze albeit around two hours as most reviewers have mentioned. It is a one person job although putting on the foot pedals is a lot easier with two. The fact there are two wheels on the front made it easy to move from the open area I assembled on to the room where it was to be used. Lift and push/pull is a lot easier than having to pick the trainer up; a definite two person job.



In my case I put the trainer on a carpet because that is where I need it. I thought from some of the other comments this might be a problem but it wasn't. The trainer is solid when you're using it, no wobble, and I didn't even have to adjust the feet for stability.



Second, are the accessories starting with the console. I took the advice of a previous reviewer and used an AC adapter that I had lying around instead of batteries. It works like a charm and I would suggest you not buy one from Schwinn; the can found for a far cheaper price at dozens of places.

Regarding the LED on the console it got a lot of negatives from other reviewers and after using it I see why.



The "readabilty" factor is not the best due to small, non-bold fonts and no backlight. Unless you have a good deal of light and a good pair of reading glasses (for some of us) it is difficult to make out many of the read-outs. Schwinn could dramatically boost the reviews on this trainer by making a more user-friendly console. That said, the built in programs themselves are more than adequate for our needs.



My last comment about the console deals with the heart monitor. It works by holding your hands around the sensors, a pair on each side of the console. When exercising I found it to be cumbersome trying to get the right grip on the monitors and getting close enough to read it while still pedaling. Schwinn should put these on the handles so you don't need to break stride just to see how your heart is doing.



Finally, the performance. I was somewhat concerned about the reviews as to the stability/performance factors some reviewers complained were poor due to their own height and weight. However, after using the trainer I can safely say it works for me.

I am a male, 5-11, 185 pounds, and the trainer handled my usage without any problems at all. The stride is just about right and the "flow" (arm movement with leg motion) suits me fine. Of course, like any new piece of exercise equipment, you need to get the "feel" of your machine and the A40 is no different. This is especially true if you have never owned an elliptical. (Think "patting your head while rubbing your belly" awkwardness at first)



As for the workout itself it is perfect for what I want: to build up cardio-vascular strength and lose a few pounds at the same time. The first program in the A40 is "Course 1" which, even after setting the minutes to only 10 and level to its lowest setting you are feeling the effects out the gate. For me that says I have a lot of latitude to increase the duration/difficulty of my exercising.



Overall, after a ton of research on these ellipticals I settled on the Schwinn A40 and so far am glad I did. For me it seems a solid machine, developed in mind for those who don't want to hassle driving to the gym, but do want a challenging workout out home. - Schwinn - Elliptical - Exercise - Affordable'

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Apple Power Adapter - apple charger, apple power adapter

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I received this charger 2 days after I ordered it; it shipped well, but immediately, straight out the box, the light began to flicker.

Within 15 minutes of use, it completely stopped working.



I called apple and got a replacement. You should try that. Unless you like sending packages back and getting refunds. 60W AC Power Adapter Charger For Apple MacBook Magsafe

I got the charger in the mail and it worked alright for about one day, and then started to malfunction. I would have my laptop on my lap, with the charger plugged in, and if I shifted my body or moved at all, it would stop charging. I kept having to unplug, and plug it back in for it to work. Before too long, (about a week and a half) it just stopped working all together. Just enough time had passed where I couldn't get my money back. How lovely. They are sending me a new one in the mail, but I've had to go to the Apple store and buy a new one for $85 because I needed to use my computer! Now I'll have two chargers. Great. This has all been one big headache. I should have just shelled out the $85 for a name brand product to begin with.

This worked great for two weeks, then got so hot you couldn't touch it. I was using my computer in bed one night, and sparks started to come out of the wall outlet. Not safe! I will stick to the Apple Store

Originally I had this plugged into a relatively new surge protector that sat on the floor and didn't notice anything wrong for a week or two. Then I brought it to a friend's house and plugged it into the wall only to see sparks shooting out of the charger! I've had the charger four months and now that I can no longer return it, it has stopped charging my computer even plugged into the surge protector. Not only that but it sparks when I move it, even just slightly. The tightness around the prongs and gravity of the surge protector being on the ground seems to be what was keeping it from setting my room on fire. I can no longer safely keep this product in my residence hall. I know it hurts, but spend the money and buy a new charger from Apple. It's not worth potentially burning down your house. Also, there is no way to add an extension to this charger cord.

I thought the price for a genuine Apple AC adapter was high, so I took a chance on this Brand X replacement. Big mistake! Not long past the 30-day return period, it started to work only intermittently. I had to jiggle the plug in the outlet to get a connection. Now, after less than four months of use, it does not work at all.



I wasted $22.00 on this, and ended up purchasing the genuine Apple replacement anyway.



Lesson learned.

There is a serious design flaw in the plug that connects to your computer. The cable is too small for the connection reinforcement--you know, the little rubber part that surrounds the area where the cable (wire) goes into the plug. Since the cable is too small in diameter for the reinforcement tunnel, the reinforcement does not work. IT DOES NOT KEEP THE WIRE FROM PULLING OUT OF THE PLUG. This is why they break either immediately, or very soon after the 30 day period. Like mine did. I realized there was a flaw, and used electrician tape to build some reinforcement, which helps. When it actually pulls out completely, I'll use shrink wrap to build a proper reinforcement, and reconnect it correctly. If you don't want to do that, just go buy one with the appropriate connector design.

I ordered this adapter two times and it sucks! The first time it wouldn't charge unless the computer was turned off, so they sent me a second one. The 2nd one worked for about a month before the cord near the magnet ripped! I do not move my adapter around so there should be no reason why it got so worn out so quickly!! Do not get this item!!

I ordered two days ago this charger, and not only IT IS NOT AN APPLE ITEM, but its broken and DOES NOT CHARGE MY COMPUTER. I've been conned. Absolutely UNVELIEVABLE that Amazon backs these guys. I will be expecting feedback from the seller! Because I wont even make the trip to the post office to return this. I EXPECT MY MONEY BACK!!!!! - Apple Charger Macbook - Apple Charger - Magsafe - Apple Power Adapter'

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Wire Stapler

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T75 staples are UL-listed for fastening NM-B (Romex) cables. The simple design involves few jams. There are a lot of misfires and it takes a bit to get the hang of tilting the stapler lead edge forward and pressing hard just as the kick hits.



But this is WAY better than buying two-part plastic-metal staples or hammering in 'hard' staples across EVERY joist (as required in NEC). This stapler reaches places hammer-and-hard-staple cannot, although sometimes you just have to resort to screwing in a UF strap, if the clearance is too small for either.



Up there with the Klein 14/2 // 12/2 NM-B jacket stripping wire strippers, I rank this among the indispensable hand-tools of the residential electrician. Arrow Fastener T75 Wire and Cable Gun, Fits Wires up to 1/2-Inch

Being a diabetic and having very little feeling in my hands this tool works great. Using the hammered in staples I would drop 3 or 4 staples before finally driving the staple in. This stapler cut my wiring time by 2/3rd's.'

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Wire Stapler Wire Stapler Wire Stapler

Electric Powered Ride-ons - gizmos and gadgets, electric powered ride-ons

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My son recently received a Power Wheels jeep that had been in use for over 3 years before he got it. The batteries had not been charged as specified in the instructions, and they died shortly after he started using it. The jeep couldn't run on concrete, much less on grass.I replaced both existing batteries with these, which incidentally are a different colour from the picture, and the jeep now runs fine on most surfaces.It requires 18 hours charging time before you can use the batteries, so be prepared for some impatience before the vehicle can actually be used. You have to charge them after each use, and also once a month if the vehicle is not in use, at 16 hours each time.Tech support from Fisher Price is non-existent in my part of the world, where 800 numbers are not accessible, because their site doesn't have a customer service or tech support e-mail address listed. I needed important information, because I learned that the model I have was recalled for electrical problems, and I wanted to see exactly which parts needed to be fixed to solve the problem.I'm sure that these batteries will last a long time with proper care, but wish the tech support was better Power Wheels 6-Volt Rechargeable Battery

This toy battery does not fit all Fisher Price riding toys even if the picture looks like it is exactly the same. Verify the battery amps NOT just volts by calling the Fisher Price toll free telephone number. Fisher Price customer service representive will be able to assist you with a local purchase option. Amazon will not accept a return if it is incorrect for "safety reasons". Verify and re-verify before purchasing.

After many failed attempts to find the right charger for the lil' quad, I finally came across a website to get the right one. Go to 1-800-sunbeam.com. It is the type A for the toddler series. Hope this helps some of you.

I bought this battery to have on hand for when my daughter ran the other one that came with her barbie jazzy jeep out. It's working out really well and it's sure nice not hearing her nagging about her battery dying and not wanting to wait for it to recharge.

Let me first state, the picture for this product is the newer fixed battery, which was replaced for certain power wheels based on a lawsuit in which a child was severely burned.



My warning is to make sure your old power wheels are not using the older batteries. the new battery as pictured has a thick black battery connector, the old ones where white and much smaller.





In my case, the barbie power wheels were recalled some time ago. A neighbor gave me their child's old one, whose batteries were from 1995. I took the 1995 batteries to a local authorized dealer, and he immediately said you will need to exchange the batteries and charger due to a recall.



Long story short, you are buying the newer, fixed batteries, which may not fit your old charger. If this is the case, I suggest you find an authorized dealer and have them replaced (batteries are not replaced for free)

There was ABSOLUTELY NO REASON to buy this battery other than THIS WEBSITE promoted it to be needed in the long run for this toy. The battery that was delivered WAS NOT compatible with the product we bought and the return AND delivery was and is a nightmare. When Toys R Us was contacted they admitted that you did NOT need this EXTRA battery and MANY MANY times the battery shipped is NOT compatible with the toy. (...)

If you have any power wheel and your kid(s) love it, then you know you need to keep one backup around. I certainly needed it. Nothing worse than the kids are happy playing and the car goes real slow and then dead.



Amazon's price for this battery is around $10 cheaper than retail stores locally. It's a no-brainer for me.

Nothing against Fisher Price, we have enjoyed their toys for years. I was extremely frustrated by my purchase however. We were trying to get a Power Wheels unit working again this spring after the winter. We weren't sure but felt it was the battery so we purchased a new one. As it turns out, it wasn't. The battery was brand new and Amazon said it would be too dangerous for them to allow us to return the product. SO, before you purchase from them be sure this is the issue otherwise you will be stuck with it. I'm sure it was in their fine print somewhere, but they refused to point it out to me.

It says you need to charge at least 18 hours before you can use it.

When I plugged it into charger it said like it is charged already, same effect with second battery.

Strange...



As well I cant understand why it says you need to charge before every new drive,

it should contain memory and based on its ni nature it is better to uncharge 100% before starting new charge at least 3 times. - Electric Powered Ride-ons - Gizmos And Gadgets - Battery - Fisher Price'

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I Like It

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I purchased this locked to replace a Fannie-Mae lock on a home I purchased and found it to work exact as stated. The installation was easy (just make sure you order the correct handle direction: Left or Right) as it replaced a knob lock without a deadbolt and took only 15 minutes. It takes four AA batteries and comes with two keys that appear to be laser cut. The key hole cover you see in the picture is magnetically attached and your back up keys have magnets in them that are slightly stronger, so when you touch them to the cover, it sticks and comes off on the back of the key. It turns easy and locks solidly. Some older doors may need some slight adjustment to get it perfect, but I had no issues at all.



Combo is 3-8 digits and when the first key is pressed, the numbers all light up with blue background so you can see them. For the $70 bucks I paid for this lock, it is the best by far I have installed. Electronic Keyless Door Lock Set - Polished Nickel (Left Handed)

I got this lock at a better price than other locks found that do about the same. (+2 stars for low price).



Installation wasn't hard, it's just a door latch, but still took more time than I'd expected. The holes are slightly larger than normal for a personal residence inside door. I had to spend around an hour boring out the two holes (one for latch, one for handle) to make them slightly larger (-1 star). If I didn't have the right tools, this would have been a major pain and it was still quite tricky.



The instructions state, correctly so, that batteries in cold weather don't work well. Since it's a battery powered lock, assume it can't be used outdoors in the winter.



The key fits in and turns easily, and unlatches as you'd expect, BUT ONLY WHEN NOT INSTALLED. Once installed, the key part just doesn't work. The latch won't catch and open. I think it relies upon some internal movement that is not sliding/working well once installed. I think I could fix it with some lube and maybe filing a little bit, but didn't. Now, as long as the batteries don't run out unexpectedly or the electronics don't break, well, I probably won't need the key. What irks me here, is if I really need the key, then it may not work. (-3 stars for non-functional part).



Once the holes were bored larger and I was ready to install, I still had to lube a few pieces to get it to fit together. Generally it's constructed only medium quality.



There is no support number, no material at all inside the instructions or the box that gives any details about who to contact for any support or replacement parts (-1 star).



In terms of how it looks installed, it looks pretty good. Seems to work fine with digital pad. The lock will relock itself (meaning the latch in front won't work) after a few seconds from the time it was unlocked. The inside part has no lock or any interface at all except the handle to open the door. Generally I like the simplicity of it. (+1 star).



So due to various factors, overall I deducted 5 stars for what's lacking and added 3 for the good stuff. Starting at 5 stars, deducting all five, but adding 3 back gives it a 3.



I may post more later after I've got some use out of it. This is used on an in home office door so it will be used nearly every day.



If you are only looking for best price, you may be satisfied. If you are particular, I'd recommend going for a more pricey model like a Schlage.

I bought 2 of these door locks for my business because we get at least 10 solicitors who love to roam through our office without permission. Ever since the install, they've been great at keeping salespeople out of our office space.The install was quick and easy and the price is great for what you get. I really thought these werre going to be lower quality due to the low price but they were actually really solid. I recommend these door locks.

The key fits in and turns easily, and unlatches as you'd expect, BUT ONLY WHEN NOT INSTALLED. Once installed, the key part just doesn't work. The latch won't catch and open. I think it relies upon some internal movement that is not sliding/working well once installed. I think I could fix it with some lube and maybe filing a little bit, but didn't. Now, as long as the batteries don't run out unexpectedly or the electronics don't break, well, I probably won't need the key. What irks me here, is if I really need the key, then it may not work. (-3 stars for non-functional part).

Great. The handles are very functional and work well. They are stable strong, and can take the daily abuse of our factory environment. Programing a code seemed to be fairly easy, and we will most likely order a few more.

I ordered one of these locks in February and installed it. It worked for a while then quit working. I contacted the seller through Amazon and they offered to stand behind the product. I returned it and they promptly sent me a replacement. I have ordered another and now have two, one of which I use on my home office door. This company really satisfied my purchases with this product.'

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Sony Camera Case

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I have been searching for a good, pocket-able travel zoom camera for a few months and have looked at a number of different models including the Fujifilm 550exr. I settled on the Sony for its specs and the reputation that Sony has for making state-of-the-art cameras. I have to say I have not been disappointed. I am most interested in the out-of-the-box image quality since I know that on most occasions my approach is to take a series of shots without too much fuss and let the camera do most of the work for me. This is certainly the case when I am traveling since I am usually trying to get the most of the experience I am having rather than focusing too much on tinkering with camera controls.



So I compared the images from the HX9V to a Sony NEX5 and to an older Panasonic. I used the IA settings on all three cameras. I have to say I was very pleased with the results. The HX9 gave consistently good images from its Intelligent Auto and Superior Auto modes that in some cases came close to the shots from the NEX5. Where it could not compete (and this makes perfect sense because of the different sizes of the image sensor) was in low light. Not that the HX9 didn't have pretty good low-light capability, but it just could not pull the shadow details of color clarity of the NEX5. What was always interesting to me in comparing the images was how sharp and crisp the images were from the HX9. Moving closer to the pixel level it was apparent that this came at the expense of overall smoothness of the image, particularly in shadows and at the edges where images elements came together. However, in many cases, the overall visual detail and contrasts in the shadow areas of pictures taken in daylight was surprisingly good and rivaled the NEX5 for clarity. Where things got a little ugly was in the shadow areas of images taken in low light. But overall, I was very impressed with the flexibility of the camera and how balanced the photos generally were.



So here is my check list of pros and cons:



Pros:

- Stunning display with beautiful color and resolution

- very crisp images with vibrant color

- great zoom, good sharpness at all levels of zoom

- nice menu system, easy to use. Great display makes menus seem even better

- good controls (except for on/off button which is a little too flat/small)

- lots of fun and useful image and shooting options

- smooth and easy image scrolling in playback

- nice feel to body, very well constructed, scroll wheel and buttons have a quality feel

- nice options for multiple/burst shots of image to increase image fidelity/clarity



Cons

- a little chunky for a true pocket/travel camera

- don't like the in-camera charging method. What's the benefit in that?

- slight lag in zoom/review of in-camera images

- Extra sharpness of images comes at some cost to smoothness Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V 16.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Still Camera with 16x Optical Zoom G Lens, 3D Sweep Panorama and Full HD 1080/60p Video

From my personal experience in the last 2 weeks since I received Sony's HX9V camera:

Overall I am happy with my purchase and consider that Sony's camera is competitive compared with similar offerings available from other manufacturers (see below).



Pros

- Wide angle lens and optical zoom (16x) are great: 24mm to 384mm in 35mm film equivalent

- Excellent clear display (3", 921k)

- Great panoramic mode - you sweep the camera around in one motion and it makes a single photo. You can sweep up and down too if the focal length doesn't change too much.

- Generally good photo quality for a pocket megazoom camera.

- Can easily fit in a jacket pocket or squeeze in a trouser one (camera is 4.2 x 1.4 x 2.4 inches ; 8.6 ounces)

- Video stabilizer is exceptionally good and quality is decent too

- GPS records your location

- Reasonably quick start-up for photo shooting - about 1 second

- Works fine with the 16 GB SDHC Class 10 card I have (I believe Class 6 works fine too)

- Auto backlight correction helps to get details with difficult lighting

- Background defocus mode can produce some dramatic results.

- Reasonable battery life - about 240 photos and some short videos.



Cons

- Slow to change between photo modes or video/photo mode - about 7 seconds - you may miss the moment!

- Colors can appear too saturated on the display

- Colors can also be a bit saturated on the photos, but using 'P' mode and 'natural' colors helps. Also, reducing color saturation in the 'P' mode can help reduce yellow color in low light.

- Photo review zoom in is slow to get going.

- GPS can be a bit slow to find you and it only gives lat/long info, not location name as some other GPS camera systems do.

- Flash can be a bit bright leading to overexposure if objects are close with a dark background. (also happened with my last 2 point and shoot digital cameras by other manufacturers). Slow sync flash can help, but camera needs to be held very steady to avoid blurring.

- Video start button is a bit small but works ok when you get used to it.

- Pop up flash can be annoying. You have to remember to hold the camera differently to avoid having your finger on top of it. Also, whenever you ask someone else to take an indoor photo, you have to warn them about the flash and how to hold the camera.

- Video is great but eats up your memory card! High quality fills 16 GB in less than 1 hr. Might be worth getting a second 16 GB card or a larger card if you plan to do much video in the high quality setting.



From reading reviews, alternatives compact ultra-zoom cameras I considered buying were:

- Canon PowerShot SX230 HS - high photo quality, 14x optical zoom, 3" 460k display, more manual controls, but it also has a pop-up flash, is a bit slow start on start-up and has a short battery life. Wide angle lens is 28mm equivalent, so not as wide as the HX9V's 24mm.

- Ricoh CX3 - High photo quality (not over-saturated tendencies like Sony, nor grainy tendencies like Panasonic), excellent macro mode, 10.7x optical zoom, 3" 920k display, 10 megapixel, but no manual controls and cannot zoom beyond 2.8x during filming.

- Panasonic ZS10 (or TZ20) - 16x optical zoom, 24mm equivalent wide-angle, quick start-up, 3" 460k display, GPS gives name of location, flash is not pop-up (good), but photo quality is average, battery life is not so good and worse with GPS on, the touch screen only does some functions while other have to be done with buttons in a strange mixture.'

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Don Rickles - tim allen, computer animation

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Cowboy doll Woody is Andy's favorite toy, and as part of that comes the privilege of being the leader of all the other toys. His world is suddenly turned upside down when Andy gets a Buzz Lightyear action figure for his birthday. Suddenly, Woody finds himself in danger of being replaced as Andy and all the toys flock to Buzz. Worse yet, Buzz doesn't know he's a toy. He thinks he's the real Buzz Lightyear. But when the two toys get lost a couple days before Andy moves, they'll have to work together to get home. Can Woody work with Buzz when they don't have the same goal?



I can't believe it's been ten years since this movie came out. It's had an immeasurable impact on the animation field and movies in general. At the same time, its flaws are evident. The humans look as plastic as the toys, and the fur on the dog is laughable. Computers have come a long way in ten years.



Whether this movie was any good or not, it would have been an important milestone. Fortunately, it succeeds on an entertainment level as well. The story is masterfully told revealing plot points and character equally. The movie is extremely funny as well; with lots of jokes for the adults in the audience and some classic lines I quote all the time. Plus it introduces us to a Pixar staple, the climax that will not quit.



Pixar has released great DVD's from the start, and this two-disc set is no different. The movie is transferred directly from the digital files, so the picture is perfect. Sound is wonderful in two separate 5.1 surround tracks. Many of these extras are from the Ultimate Toy Box release of a few years ago, and they are well worth having. The commentary is very informative. The deleted scenes are interesting, but it's obvious why they were deleted. The new features looking back at the movie from ten years later are wonderful as well.



This is a ground breaking movie that is just as much fun to watch as it is historic. I hadn't watched it in quite some time and was reminded just how fun it is. I've got to watch it more often. Toy Story [VHS]

"Toy Story", the landmark movie that ushered animation into the computer age, is still a bona fide family classic- and funny as all get-out to boot. This superb package brings it all back, both the movie itself and an Al's Toy Barn full of bonuses.

First things first- the movie looks and sounds fantastic!

I don't have one of those flashy home-theater outfits, but this digital print shows off some great color, with the various toy characters in pristine, bright glory. Sound master Gary Rydstrom upgraded the soundtrack to the point where you can hear the click of the tiny toy soldiers. Best of all, you don't need a 50-inch screen or ultra-Dolby amp to enjoy this newer-than-new view.

The movie, of course, introduced a new, innovative animation outfit called Pixar to the world- and what a job they did on this first feature effort! Woody and Buzz Lightyear, of course, are icons to kids of all ages, but all the other members of the "Andy's Room" community were great- and funny. Mr. Potato Head (voiced by Don Rickles), Rex the dinosaur (Wallace Shawn) and even the little green Army sergeant (war-movie vet R. Lee Ermey) are just a few of these classic inanimate objects turned flesh-and-blood- well, almost- characters.

The storyline- a combination of buddy comedy, toy fair, sci-fi flick and domestic sitcom (to name a few elements) is, in its own way, as multi-layered and satisfying as the most mature adult dramas. From the moment all the toys come to life when Andy's away to a great exit line when the toys learn about his latest surprise gift, you're drawn in to this unusual world that's as striking now as it must have been a decade ago.

Disc 1 has both the movie and a new feature with both the Pixar team and a few others (Chris "Robots" Wedge, George Lucas, Roy Disney) offering their views on what "Toy Story" did to transform the entire animation genre. It's Disc 2, however, that has the goods- a couple of dozen features, clips and art galleries that literally break down the walls and give both the kid/family core crowd and the animation scholar a remarkable look at how much effort goes into this sort of film. The fact that Pixar and the CGI form themselves were in their infancy at the time only enhances just what great craftsmen these people are.

After an entertaining coffee-talk session involving Pixar's "four horsemen"- the core writer/artist/director/geeks who helmed every future project up to "The Incredibles"- we can check out everything from sequence development, sketch to full-on; galleries on characters like Woody and Buzz set to music; a multi-language sequence (from Finnish to Chinese to Turkish!); even Randy Newman's original piano-and-voice (and he's a fantastic piano player!) demo score. Nothing- I say, nothing- is out of place.

"Toy Story" is simple enough to be an ideal choice for a "child's first movie" yet sophisticated enough to give the serious cineaste plenty to study. It's as witty as the best literate comedies and as warm as an old-style family saga. It proved that top-drawer stars could also be great voice actors, and it entered a child's world with a fresh, not-so-"kiddie" angle. It balanced off sweet little Andy with mad-scientist Sid (his mutant monster-movie toy creations are a show in themselves)

in a great show of kids with personality. And it established Pixar as the flagship of animated features- again, it's incredible that this was their first!

"Toy Story", the super-deluxe edition, is a must for any animation buff, family with kids, or just about anyone who loves movies. I'm already on line for the upcoming (New Year's) "Toy Story 2" set, which will give its equally-great sequel (dare I say the "Godfather" and "Godfather II" of animation?) the format it deserves. With any luck, "Toy Story" will be one of the best-loved movies ever, to infinity...and beyond! - Tom Hanks - Tim Allen - Computer Animation - Pixar'

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Playstation 3 - lg, plasma tv

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I've had the LG 50PK550 and the LG BD570 for almost 2 weeks now and all I can say is WOW!

Over the past 7 years I've upgraded tv's 5 times with my firt being a panny plasma and then 3 lcd's 2 LG 1 Samsung and now the PK550 and none have ever impressed me half as much as this unit, it has great blacks(I think they rival panasonic's blacks) absolutely no motion blur or artifacts and the picture quality is the most vibrant and clear I've seen in a while...

I tested 4 movies and here are the results

Ong Bak 2 - bluray - awsome pictue no blur or artifacts great sound



Disney's Up - bluray "same as above"

(and just if anyone wanted to know here's little on the BD570

Ip Man - 720P MKV DVD - awsome picture no blur or artifacts & great sound

Chocolate - 1080P MKV 120GB HDD - "same as above

I would totally recommend this tv to anyone looking for good quality at an affordable price as well as the BD570 they make an great combo set

Oh yeah just in case here are my settimgs

(keep in mind I'm no professional calibrator)

LG 50 PK550: Just scan, energy saving off,pic mode: expret2,contrast 100,brightness 33,H Sharp 50,V Sharp 50,color 62,expert control: D Contrast off, noise reduc off,gamma high, black level low, color gamut standard,edge enhance off

LG BD570:User setting: Contrast 2,brightness 0,Color 1, Sharpness 2,Noise reduction 0 LG 50PK550 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

Well, I got my pk550 on tuesday. So far, i'm in love. Watching blu rays on my ps3 is a new experience. I want to go through all my movies and watch them again. The panel is just sexy. For my ps3 for blu rays, I use cinema mode (obviously recalibrated) and the picture is so smooth and crisp. My brother noticed right away how smooth and real the movement was. For my xbox 360, im using Game Mode (recalibrated as well). I've been playing mass effect 2 and it's way more vibrant and rich. I have no issue with IR or burn in. As long as you set your tv to Orbiter and do a "color wash" every so often it cleans away any IR in a matter of seconds.

I was very nervous as this was my first plasma and i read about burn ins and IR. But after only 3 days and doing research I feel more confident in the tv and plasmas in general. I just do the "color wash" mode sometimes when im gone to break in it/speed the break in process up. If im playing a game that has a HUD on for a while, ill pause the game, and do a quick "color wash" for about 10 seconds and set it back to orbiter and keep playing. Now, this may sound annoying, but honestly, it's not. You get used to it and get real quick at using the tv.



Also the pk550 has a load of calibration options. I love that. Anyway, it's a great tv, def best bang for you buck for a 50" 1080p plasma. This is my first plasma and it's an LG. I have much more faith in plasmas now. Especially lg. Pick this set up!!

***I returned a Samsung UN32C5000 and bought this one (see review of the Sammy here on Amazon)***



I purchased this set from somewhere else (Dad has a retiree discount) so I got it cheaper, but otherwise would had no problem buying from here.



I only had the set for a few days, but I really like it so far. I'm doing a break-in period for the set (not really necessary, but helps age the phosphor evenly) so the settings are a little low right now, but still fantastic. I watched two BD movies so far(The Hurt Locker & StarTrek) and they were awesome to watch. Colors were vivid and the detail kept my eyes popping out. lol I don't know if I ever could be happy going back to DVDs again. lol



**Note on plasma Tvs: Burn-In has not been an issue with plasma TVs for quite a few years, but you may still get some Image Retention. I have seen very little IR on this set, and what did show up quickly went away. I wouldn't even consider it an issue.



I know Samsung has been having problems with loud buzzing sound coming from their plasma TVs, and a few heard it from other manufacturers as well(including LG), but I cannot hear any buzz coming from mine. I even held my head up to the TV and the only hum I heard was the mini-frig in the room. :)



The screen is very uniform in lighting. Probably my only wish would be for darker blacks. My set is not calibrated yet, so I know it will go darker than it is now. It's not bad mind you, but you can tell where the black bars end from a movie and the black bezel begins, which would disappear with the darkness of the room.



**For the Gamers: As far as I can tell, there is very little lag or none at all. I tried a couple games (ie GTAIV & Crackdown) and got into a Semi-truck. What I would do was pull the right trigger as fast as I could to go into reverse which causes the back-ups lights to come on with the beeping sound. Even closing my eyes I would hear the click from the trigger at the same time as the reverse beep. The controls even felt the same coming from a computer (TN Panel) monitor.



Just to point out, this TV does have a glossy screen. My complaint with the Sammy was they stated it eliminated reflections, but it was mirror like. The reflections are not as bad on this set and at least I knew about it ahead of time.



So overall I am real happy right now with this set.



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Encrypted Neuron

I was actually forced to buy this TV. We wanted a 50" plasma that would fit our 47" entertainment center in the family room. I really wanted a Panasonic plasma since I love the 65" Panasonic that we have in our theater room. But this LG was the only 50" that fits in our ent center. I could not be happier with the LG. The picture is stunning in all AV modes. We bought it at Sears and they threw in the LG BD550 which is also excellent. I have to say the PK550 picture is on a par with the Panasonic plasmas. Blacks are excellent and colors are beautiful. I tried the Picture Wizard for calibration and found the pre sets to be dead on. We have had the TV for about a month and have used all the AV modes for general viewing, sports, and movies. Everything looks great. My only minor complaint is that the TV's virtual surround sound is not as good as I expected. But I have the TV connected to a Pioneer Amp and it sounds great. Besides, the important thing is a TV's picture. I highly recommend this TV for anyone looking for a beautiful television at a reasonable price. - Plasma Tv - Lg - Plasma - 50 Inch Plasma'

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Cordless Drill - 18v, hammer drill

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I had an XRP that I used for 10 years and it was a great drill and it still runs but the case cracked on it and the drill tries to split in two when I use it. So i decided to order this one and I know De Walt has had some quality issues in the past but they have been fixed with this model. I have actually broke paddle bits with this drill. and the all metal chuck and shaft is great for long term usage. Bare-Tool DEWALT DCD950B 1/2-Inch 18-Volt XRPHammerdrill/Drill/Driver (Tool Only, No Battery)

I own a different model DEWALT cordless drill which I use regularly and really like. The DEWALT drills are built for rugged use. I purchased the DEWALT DCD950B 1/2-inch XRPHammerdrill/Drill/Driver as a backup drill and one for drilling into concrete or brick. I read reviews before purchasing where folks who purchased this same model had difficulty with the drill operating regularly. Upon arrival of my drill, I quickly pulled the trigger a few times and all seemed well. It mostly sat for a couple of months until yesterday when I needed two drills for a floor project where I didn't want to have to keep changing bits. Well, my newer hammerdrill worked sometimes and sometimes not. When it failed, the work light would go dim and the motor would not operate. If I turned the mode selectors and kept pulling the trigger, I could usually get it to start operating again until the next failure. This was quite aggravating. The good part was when I called Amazon.com and explained the problem, they immediately shipped me a replacement and expedited the shipping so that it will arrive in one day (tomorrow)! You can't beat that for good service. I can only hope that the replacement drill doesn't have the same problem. Thanks Amazon.com!

I purchased the 950 as a second 18V Dewalt cordless to support my work in homebuilding/remodeling and furniture making. I already have another 18V Dewalt and this gave me the added hammer drive feature plus a second drill/driver. I have had the older one for some 6 years. It is a work horse although a bit heavy when you use it for extended periods especially overhead. The new 950 is a work horse as well and is made a bit sturdier with the metal drive train. It too is heavy. Neither drill/driver disappoints in terms of power. I have 4 batteries and only the non XRP batteries wane in heavy use. By the way I just learned that I can use the new Lithium batteries with either drill driver. I think this is a great design consideration on the part of Dewalt! Certainly this will lighten the unit in use. I will have to wait and see regarding balance when I purchase the Li ION batteries.



The 950 has one LED to light the way and it is a handy feature but I do notice that in some areas the shadow the head casts makes the light somewhat less effective.



I had an unpleasant experience with the first 950 I ordered. I was using it to install a storm door, i.e. light duty.I had freshly charged batteries and within just a few screw installs it would not operate upon trigger actuation. The LED would light but the drill motor did not turn in the low speed setting. I found that switching to the second or third speed setting would allow normal operation, even if I switched back to the lowest speed. Needless to say I sent it back. A new one arrived very quickly and seems to be OK although I did experience the same event once more (one time).



So why did I rate this as a 4 star you say? Primarily because it is a workhorse and I expect it to hold up as my other unit does. I find the hammer drill feature to be the answer to driving deck lags and drilling into concrete for TapCons. I also like the fact that I can swap in/out Li ION batteries and finally the price was right.

I have used Dewalt power tools for about 12 years. I like the torque of their 18V. drill/drivers. I just bought a pair of replacement batteries for my "older" equipment and this drill appeared on the Amazon site. I needed a hammer drill so I picked it up. Less than a $100 is a good price for the drill.

I got this drill in the 9 tool set, and the only tool I use more is the impact driver. I used this to drill 1/2 holes in locust and I had to put my leg against the drill, because it has so much torque. The chuck is great and I've never had a bit slip. It's so strong, in fact, that when I was drilling those 1/2 holes, the chuck dug in slightly to the bit, leaving 3 small lines in the solid cobalt drill bit.



My only complaint is that it won't go into 1st gear sometimes, but running it in 3rd and them going to 1st seems to fix that problem.

This is a great price for the Dewalt Hammerdrill. Cost me $69 bucks for a new trigger on my current drill, so for not much more, I now have a new one as backup. Great since I already have a bunch of batteries and chargers and just needed a drill. Thanks guys!

This is my second 1/2 inch 18v DeWalt hammer drill. The first one is now 10 years old, has a cracked case, the gears are whining, and the smoke is threatening to get out of the motor; altogether not too bad considering the work that drill motor has done in its life. I smoked two different corded drill motors on one project and completed the project easily with the battery drill. I have some critical projects going and saw the deal on the bare tool and jumped at it. The new one is superior in every respect. More power, better balance, only a couple ounces more weight. The chuck is infinitely better, the gear change is smoother, and the torque controls are easier to use. I can drive 3-1/2" wood screws in high gear with no issues with this one; the last one struggled in mid-gear. I think this one will take more abuse as well because the design of the frame was changed to better distribute the forces of turning a bit and bouncing off the concrete from the top of a ladder as well. Considering the fact that I was very pleased with the older drill motor, the new one is exceptional! - Hammer Drill - Cordless Drill - Cordless - 18v'

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