Guy Low Price Electronic: 28 Oct 2010

Thursday 28 October 2010

Pneumatic Stapler - pneumatic, upholstery

I purchased this Surebonder 9600 stapler to use for completing an exterior remodeling job involving a lot of aluminum trim. I considered electric staplers but I needed the ability to finely regulate the striking force to make sure that the staples didn't shoot all the way through the aluminnum as well as that they didn't end up getting only partially sunk. Electric staplers don't provide very good regulation compared to an pneumatic/air tools. This stapler worked great. Worth every penney of its ridiculously cheap price. As far as I know Surebonder is the only company making an air powered stapler that is compatible with standard Arrow T50 fine wire staples. I highly recommend this product. Surebonder 9600 Pneumatic Narrow Crown Stapler with Carrying Case

So far I am happy with my 9600. It works great on many surfaces. But do not buy the staples with it. The ones Amazon advertised to go with the 9600 are surebonder 300-38-5m 3/8-inch 22 gauge upholstry staples. They DO NOT FIT. Amazon change your ad!!!! F.Y.I. go to a home improvement store and by the Arrow T-50 staples. They FIT and work great and are available in multiple lengths as well as light duty to heavy duty, Arrow also makes a rustproof staple!

Got this redo the seats on my jetskis. Works great. No more pushing like crazy to compensate for the kickback on electric staplers. I redid one seat w/ an electric and had probably 10% bad inserts. The seat base is pretty thick plastic and the staples loved to turn if you didn't give it major push when firing, but even then sometimes wouldn't go. No worries with this guy. Did a big seat and didn't have a single bad insert. Just hold this in place and let it rip, no upper body workout required. I've probably shot about 700 staples and it hasn't jammed yet or let a staple turn strange (except when I had bad angle, basically my fault). I'd definitely buy this again.

Surebonder 9600 Pneumatic Fine Wire Staple Gun with Carrying Case

Picked this up for 28.60 shipped. I loaded standard, easy to find, Arrow T-50 narrow crown staples in and set my compressor to 100 psi (max it's rated for) since that is what my roofing gun likes to run at. This way I can run both guns off one tank setting on the roof. I sent two drops of pneumatic gun oil down the inlet. I also added a ball swivel connector (Lowes or Amazon) so that the hose flops around more freely off the gun. I then ran 200 staples through it into very old and hard fir and some super old oak at an unrealistic pace (fast as I and it could go) and it only fired a blank twice. What a great little machine. I need to restretch Harley seat leather on a plastic pan so I tested it on an old plastic pan with perfect results.

I'll add to this review for durability ratings after I've done an entire house roof with felt and batt insulation later this year, but with it's compact and sturdy construction I think it'll be fine for those applications. I have a lot of expensive quality tools, and this inexpensive little gun is going to probably turn into one of my favorites because it'll remind me that now and then you don't have to break the bank to get something that works the way it should. Great buy.

UPDATE: ONE YEAR AND ONE HOUSE LATER. This tool has never let me down and has been used extensively. It spent a lot of time on the roof getting tossed around. Insulation is a breeze - a standard hammer tacker is just too brute force around insulation. Bunch of other little projects. Tough little guy. It has jammed only once in thousands of staples and it was due to the air pressure being much too low, not the gun. If you shoot a blank, its about 99.9% certain you didn't have the little tongue depressed all the way.

Only one problem - this thing shoots staples so quickly and easily that you tend to blast through more staples than you need to.

UPDATE 21Mar2010: Still banging staples, and a pleasure to hook up to the hose. What a great little gun. Did that Harley seat modification and it worked fine sinking staples in the plastic seat pan. Have had three 'all-stop' jams in not less than 20,000 staples. One was the previously mentioned low air pressure. The others give the same result (a little piece of staple stuck on the firing pin). It is very obvious but it takes a little operation to pick that little wedged piece out of there. A non-issue really as the jams were simple to clear and who knows why the staples exploded... did they hit a nail, or was that particular staple a reject? I'll take one of those jams every now and then for a roughly thirty dollar gun, and 20k staples.

I am a DIYer and using this stapler to install insulation in the basement ceiling. The stapler is light and compact, and has worked perfectly well for me, no misfires. I have Milwaukee and Senco nailers, both high quality, and this stapler has so far worked as well as either of those, for a fraction of the price. The company has also re-worked their instruction manual so that it is now written in comprehensible English. The Arrow T50 staples I used worked just fine. Perhaps the only down side to this stapler is the capacity. It is so easy to use that I have fired more staples than the job might require, towards ensuring the insulation stays where I installed it. While Surebonder has a similar gun with greater staple capacity, at a slightly higher price, I am happy with mine despite having to replenish staples more frequently.

Update 11/24/08:

After approx 3,000 staples, the unit crapped out. I was 97% complete with a project stapling insulation to the basement ceiling and the unit seized and would no longer staple. Fortunately I had the old reliable Arrow stainless steel manual stapler to finish the 100 or so staples that completed my project. The Surebonder was great while it lasted, making my job so much easier, but 8 days and 3,000 staples later, I have an ungainly paperweight rather than a pneumatic stapler.

After advising Amazon of my plight and being told by them to go away, and contact the manufacturer, I had little choice but to do just that. I contacted the manufacturer to advise of my problem, and to my delight, they responded right away with an offer to repair the stapler. I was surprised at Amazon, but the manufacturer made up for it with their handling of the situation. Kudos to them. - Pneumatic - Stapler - Upholstery - Power Tools'

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Ipad 2 Screen Protector - ipad 2 screen protector

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After lots of shopping around I found this to be the most economical iPad 2 bundle available, and although I'm glad I got it, there is certainly room for improvement.

Although the package arrived promptly and with all items listed, the items were not as high quality as I would have hoped. I realize that screen protectors are generally a challenge to correctly place (this ones directions were especially weak) but even upon doing so it was an awkward size that interfered with using the silicone sleeve. Additionally, it showed scrapes sand fingerprints IMMEDIATELY, so I'm tempted to 'go bare' with my new iPad 2. The stand up case seems alright, although it's not the sturdiest thing I've ever seen. I can't speak to the chargers yet, haven't used 'em, but I am grateful that there are several USB connectors (oftentimes bundles only come with one to be shared between the wall, car, and computer charger). The silly LED light doesn't come with a battery and I'm not entirely sure why it's included in a bundle for a lit electronic device?

This seemed like a better investment than Apple's $40 smartcover, which doesn't even protect the back... and I know I'll get lots of use out of the assorted chargers and cases, but if you're a stickler for only the finest quality goodies for your Apple toys (and you're willing to pay) you might look elsewhere. DigitalsOnDemand 15-Item Accessory Bundle for New Apple iPad 2 2nd Gen 2G Tablet / Wifi 3G model 16GB, 32GB, 64GB (2nd Generation)

Digital On Demand sells the best bundles on Amazon and offers outstanding customer service. This is my fifth purchase from them and there bundles keep getting better each time. I order this bundle for my new IPad 2 and recieved within two days. All the cases fit perfect, especially the custom leather case. Beware of other sellers trying to duplicate Digital On Demand bundles, because they are not the same. I love my IPad 2 bundle!!

This is a great bundle for the ipad, the only item that dont work is the pen, maybe because of the screen protector, but if they give you a screen protector and a pen you should be able to use both at the same time... everything else was perfect.

All of the accessories worked! All though I think the charger cables are two thin,and could have been made a lot thicker in width. The charger makes crackling noises when you charge something up, but like I said al the accessories were their. This product gets a. One thumbs up!

Well packaged.

Most cases not compatible with zagg skin.

Folio was a welcome surprise that I like the best. Nice soft pleather (or real, I don't know), which is padded and firm for good protection. This case makes it worth it alone.

Wish corners were better protected and not exposed, but case does extend beyond the corners to compensate somewhat.

I bought this package after I got my IPad 2 from Apple Store, and I have to tell u the truth, I have never ever seen such fabulous package. I mean there is every thing u need here, I really loved it and never found such package in any where else :)

Thank you Digital On Demand, U Rock :D - Ipad 2 Screen Protector'

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Sony Home Theater - youtube, sony home theater

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Works great! Haven't tested a 3D movie yet, but the sound is amazing. Easy to hook up. The S-Air really works without a glich. Goes great with my Sony setup: XBR60LX900 3D HDTV with active shutter glasses and the PS3 (to include 3D Gaming - wipEout HD is awesome!). It has two HDMI inputs and one HDMI output, perfect for me - PS3 and DirecTV box connect to the HTS, then the HTS connects to the TV. Now the only slight problem is that the device is a bit slow to remote commands when switching inputs, e.i. HDMI1, HDMI2, FM Tuner, BD player... and to the Menu (PS3 type). Other than that... simply amazing! Sony BDV-HZ970W Blu-ray Player Home Entertainment System [3D Compatible]

I bought the Sony Blu-ray all in one system to replace a 10 year old Pioneer AV system. I loved the Pioneer system, but after ten years I had to turn up the volume considerably louder than I had to in when I first bought it and the lights on the player wouldn't light up anymore. I also bought a 60 inch Sony Bravia TV and wanted a system that would benefit from compatibility of Sony components.

One thing that surprised me with the Sony system was the base box did not have a plug. I couldn't believe the base didn't require it's own power. Over all the sound is good, but as good as I remember my Pioneer in it's hey day.

The good points:

*Easiest stereo system to hookup. The wires are color coded for each component and the directions do a great job on how to set up the system.

*It works seamlessly with my Sony Bravia TV. The TV remote controls everything, sound, Blu-ray player, and TV without needing to do anything.

*Works great with the Apple TV version 2. It comes with the Sony brand internet option for Netflix, but I prefer to use Apple TV. Instead of buying the Sony cradle for iphone/iPod Touch just buy the $99 Apple TV and use Airplay. It works great.

Addition Info added 5DEC2010:Bought S-CN5000 and SS-F7000 to replace center and left/right front speakers and boy what a difference it makes.

*Sound is easy to calibrate with included Mic.

*Design, I really like how the components look like the obelisk in 2001: A Space Odyssey. The Blu-ray player looks sharp, it is easy to read alerts when needed otherwise not intrusive. Very Zen form factor.

*Blu-ray player does a nice job up-scaling DVDs.

*Two HDMI inputs, since my TV has 6 HDMI inputs the two on the system are just gravy. The system produces great surround sound even if the components are plugged into the HDMI ports on the TV and not on the Blu-ray/AV receiver.

*The wireless back speakers are a really awesome touch. It is nice not to worry about the speaker cables running from the TV to the davenport.

Things I wish were better:

*Sound, I wish I bought better speakers and since speakers use a unique clip format, I am not sure if I can upgrade the speakers. (I may be able to hook up better speakers by just using the speaker wire that came with the system, the clip into the system is a unique clip but the two ends of speaker wire that go into the speakers looks like plain old speaker wire)

*The Speaker stand doesn't look sturdy but it is.

I love the system but I am having buyers remorse. I wish I would have bought the Sony SA-VS350H 5.1/7.1-Channel' Home Theater Speaker System (Amazon sells the speakers at nearly half off) and a Sony AV receiver. I don't own a single Blu-ray and I am content with the HD quality on Apple TV although no where near as good as Blu-ray. Over all I gave the system 5 stars for the design, perfect integration with my Sony TV, and makes Apple TV awesome.

I've waited to review its 3D performance to write this review. Turns out, it's awesome!

Sound is very solid, esp from those tiny speakers.

I've tried 10+ HD audio blu-ray movies and they sounded just great.

Its 3D video OUT is good enough not to affect my samsung 7000 series 3D plasma performance.

The 2 things I would complain about:

1. It's really slow. load disc, or go to menu, etc... just slow.

2. The digital audio cable input, has a weird requirement of only being used when video is coming from the TV channel. So what about other devices?? I've got around the problem by tricking the receiver -- having another device sending the video to the TV, and then the digital output directly to this receiver's digital audio input. and then use the TV input channel.

This is my first home theater system and I simply love it. Set up was easy except the wireless internet, but I still ended up using wired connection for internet for good speed. Speakers sound great. Blueray player is good. Netflix, youtube, pandora all work great after I got the wired internet. System recognized the new version of software and the upgrade was smooth and took roughly 15 minutes. I didn't try the 3D yet.

I had to enter the following settings manually to connect to internet using wireless adapter provided with the system.

Subnet Mask

Default gateway

Primary DNS

IP address

To get these settings, open your laptop, Click Start > Run, type "cmd" and hit enter. It will open the command prompt window. In the window, type "ipconfig" and hit enter. Then look for the above settings. For Ip address, take the setting from the laptop and change the last digists and make sure its not already taken by your other laptops or desktops, for example if your laptop is using 192.168.1.2, use something like 192.168.1.22 for the home theater. Once I entered the settings manually, I was able to connect to my router, but the signal strength was too low and so the system kept disconnecting all the time. But note that I have a wireless g router which is almost 3 years old, ofcourse it still works great for my laptop. May be if you have a Wireless N router you might get a better signal for the home theater reciver.

Anyway I ended up moving my modem and router to the living room, I used a splitter to split my single coaxial cable so that one can go to cable box and the other one can go to the modem. And I connected my modem to the router and a ethernet cable from my router to the home theater. This time I chose Auto option for the network settings and the speed is good. - Wireless Speakers - Home Theater System - Sony Home Theater - Youtube'

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Cookbook Stand - large book holder, bookstand

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I've tried a few bookstands and this one is the best. Previously I'd used a Fellowes 21140 Booklift Copyholder(Metallic Silver). The page holder on the fellows bookstand popped out of it's socket easily. It was less expensive but significantly lower quality. The page holders on this bookstand reach out on to the page and apply pressure, so it works better with differently sized books. Turning pages is still very easy. It's also more aesthetically pleasing. I like the minimal design and the absence of logos. The transparency is actually somewhat useful when my desk is messy and I'm searching for something. Overall I'm very satisfied. IHD-105 Transparent / Clear Book Stand (Bookstand / Bookstands / Holder / Cookbook / Music)

Over the years, I have bought and tried a dozen different book holder/stands. But I was never quite satisfied -- never found one that would serve all my needs. Until now ...

FINALLY. My search is over. I love this stand, and am glad that I decided to order and try one more. If this one ever wears out (doubtful), I will definitely order another!

PROS: Large size, ability to position at multiple angles, the stand won't slide away on smooth surfaces.

BEST FEATURE of the IHD-105: the flexible page holders that can hold pages in place extending from a fraction of an inch to about 2 inches out.

I've had different kinds of book stands, but this book stand is simply the best. It is very sturdy unlike others that are made out of flimsy plastic. I have never written a review before, but for this book stand, I believe that everyone should benefit by considering buying it rather than the others in the market.

I am a law student with a neck injury. This book stand has been a lifesaver because it allows me to read while maintaining a painless neck position. It holds both soft cover novels and VERY heavy law books without any difficulty. I love the metal page holders. It is very light and easy to carry around from class to class.

I've ordered two of these, one for myself and then later one as a gift. The product is sturdy, holds a hardcover 1200+ page book without problem, and attractive-looking in an unobtrusive way- basically everything I was looking for in a bookstand. It also has no problem holding a laptop as well, elevating the screen for use with an external mouse and keyboard. For the money, you would be hard-pressed to find a more useful stand for your books or laptop.

The first was shipped to the wrong address (my error) and when I contacted the seller, they did everything they could to fix the delivery address, and called me twice to confirm that I had been able to receive it. I'm extremely impressed by the follow-up and personal attention they gave me in trying to resolve the issue. The second one I purchased a few days before Christmas and it was shipped extremely promptly, and arrived on the 23rd (this is with standard shipping). Overall, both the product and the company deserve 5 stars- I was very pleasantly surprised with both.

Though I feel kinda dorky with a lucite bookstand, this is the greatest bookstand ever. It accommodates my everything from my 800 page law books to my 100 page hornbooks. I fold it up and put it into my laptop bag too - its very portable.

I don't use it for cookbooks, but if it can handle my huge law books, I have no doubt it could handle large cookbooks. Also, you can wash it easily because its plastic. Highly recommended.

You get essentially what you see (or don't see, since the stand is transparent). One thing I didn't know when I purchased this product is that the ledge upon which the book sits and to which the page-holder arms are attached folds flat against the back board. This makes the whole thing a lot more portable than otherwise it would be. I've thrown it in my backpack several times.

One thing I don't like is that the little rollers that are at the end of the page-holding arms are designed in such a way that they only roll on thicker books. This isn't a deal-breaker--you probably didn't even realize that this product had rollers on the end of the arms--but if they were going to put them on there, they should have made them a tad more functional.

Most of the rest of the design on this product is terrific. The rubber o-rings that keep the stand from sliding work very well (and are essential).

This is a great stand. My church purchased a Diversi organ last year, which is a great organ but does not come with a stand, like a normal Hammond organ does. I wanted to find something that would match the organ and was strong enough to hold a hymnal.

I came across this stand after much research and it has turned out to be a great purchase. It's transparent, so it matches anything you put it on. It is pretty sturdy, and has strong page holders to hold the book open.

The stand also has small rubber rings on the bottom which adds just enough friction to keep it still when quickly scanning for a hymn to play. I highly recommend it!!

After going through all the other bookstands available on Amazon, I decided that this was the only one I wanted to give a try. And I wasn't disappointed. It's sturdily constructed of fairly thick plexiglas, with metal hinges, fittings and page holders. Every detail has been considered, from the rubber gaskets that line the prop in back, to the small rollers that tip the page holders, allowing you to roll them over the page surfaces smoothly.

Most thick programming manuals and cookbooks will fit the frame easily, although as with any flat bookholder, you'll have to open the book flat, which might not do the spine any favors.

When the holder has a trade-size book in place, you won't even see the plastic. If you're thinking of buying a wooden bookstand, save your money for one that will always hold the same massive OED or other largely decorative tome. This is the bookstand to get if you really need a working model. - Bookstand - Book Holder - Book Stands - Large Book Holder'

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Combination Smoke - home safety, smoke detector

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Purchased five of these for use in our personal home with the intent to buy more for rentals if they performed well. Really liked the idea of having a voice warning that tells what the problem is and was thrilled at how easy the installation was...for about 48 hours.

About two days after initially installation, started getting a "beep" but no voice indication of low battery/other. We always keep spare batteries in stock so decided to replace the batteries with fresh ones and problem seemed to go away. Temporarily.

A few days later the alert goes off again which of course, signals ALL of them to go off as they are interconnected. This time it indicates a dead battery. Odd since we replaced them but figured our batteries may have been older than we realized. Went to the store and bought all new batteries - replaced in all five units.

A few nights later - about 2 in the morning - we get a full fledged alert with the 'WARNING -FIRE!" screeching through the house. After peeling ourselves off the ceiling, we took down the one main culprit and figured that one may be a lemon. Since we have five in the house, we still felt it may be an isolated problem...EXCEPT

The Next night we get yet another screeching alert...."WARNING - Carbon Monoxide". It should be worth mentioning to note that we had NO fireplace burning and do NOT cook or heat with anything other than electricity. In fact, nothing was running whatsoever.

At this point, we're exhausted from several nights of interrupted sleep and all of these are going back. The good news is the interconnected portion works. The bad news is the constant false alarms will leave you likely to take them down in order to get a full nights sleep.

In all our years of smoke alarms these have given more false alerts in just a couple weeks than the past 20 years combined. SKIP~! Kidde KN-COSM-IB Hardwire Combination Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarm with Battery Backup and Voice Warning, Interconnectable

Replaced a 10 year old BRK Smoke Detector...This Kidde is Great! Hookup took less than 5 minutes, just replaced old pigtail connector, with the included Kidde connectors. The Kidde base feels more sturdy and the sure-lock twist design guaranteed a perfect fit. The Kids love the "voice" warnings (test mode) for Fire & Carbon Monoxide...I also love the visible 120v power indication (green light). Did I mention that Amazon.com has the best price on this unit...yeah, pick one up!

The product is a great idea to combine both detectors in one. The voice portion that sounds is quite clear as to whether it is smoke or carbon monoxide. In addition the installation was quite easy for the do it yourselfer. Lastly, it was delivered with a battery installed...what a novel idea!!

For those concerned about previous mfr date issues with reviews, my units were manufactured within 45 days of my purchase date -- which is actually extremely reasonable. I'm guessing that wherever these are manufactured, they are taking a boat trip at least once before hitting a warehouse to wait for me to purchase.

I recently replaced my 10 year old BRK detectors around my entire house. I installed the Kidde PI2000 dual sensor detector in each beadroom and a Kidde KN-COSM-IB smoke and carbon dioxide detector in the hallways in the basement, first and second floor hallways.

I researched first alert, brk, and kidde, mostly because I could see them at my local big box hardware store. I chose Kidde becuase it had more features for the wired-in detectors than both first alert and brk. First alert appears to have focused their current lines on battery only units and wireless communications. Brk also had limited options in dual sensors or combo CO detectors in a wired setting. Since neither first alert or brk could supply both a photo sensor/ion wired unit AND a dual CO and smoke wired detector that communicated together, I chose kidde detectors. I wanted them all to communicate and mixing and matching product vendors makes communications between the units impossible.

There are no pretty dual detectors that exist on the market. These are nice and boring and don't draw attention. They have a working hush button. That's a new feature that I appreciate. I haven't ripped one of these off the ceiling once yet to get them to stop their alarms.

I've never done a smoke or CO test. I'll let the experts run those tests. My only tests are using the test button. But it works as identified and is loud. The voice alarms in the COSM unit is good for the hallways and will supplement the normal alarm well. Children are reported to respond faster to "Fire!, Fire!". I've been know to sleep through my daughter's baby monitor on one of her bad nights... There's no way I'm not going to hear both the voice and the piercing alarms

DIY info:

Since I was replacing an existing AC wired solution, I wanted to continue to have the security of both AC power and battery backup. The best feature by far of this wired in solution is that all detectors are wired to communicate together. If my basement CO detector goes off, then the other two CO detectors also sound with an alarm and a voice indicator. When any of the smoke detectors trip, all detectors sound, and the hallway units voice alert "Fire!, Fire!". This connection between detectors will ensure that I know in the middle of the night if I have a fire in the basement... My house is well soundproofed between floors.

In replacing the existing brk wired in units with the Kidde detectors, I had to remove the existing collars and wired in "tails" since the existing ones were not compatible with the Kiddes. You can buy an adapter to convert from the BRK style of tail to the Kidde, but I considered that a waste of money. In my house, all of the smoke detectors are on the same electrical circuit and rewiring the tails and installing the detectors was a matter of ensuring the circuit was off, removeing 3 wire nuts, removing the existing tail, then twisting the new tail into the existing leads and putting the wire nuts back on. less than 3 minutes of work.

THe collar was easy to replace. A cordless screwdriver to loosen (not remove) the 2 J-box screws, twist and pull the brk collar off, add the Kidde collar, then tighten the screws.

All in all less than 5 minutes per detector... replaceing 7 detectors took less than an hour of work and I made sure to test each one for communications with the other units.

For the single detector that I have close to the peak of a cathedral ceiling I replaced the nice alkaline 9v that shipped with the PI2000 with an Ultralife Lithium 9v... they are made specifically for smoke detectors and are claimed to at least double the lifespan of a alkaline up to 10 years.... I'll let you know in ten years if its true. In any case I don't expect to have to change that high detector's battery for years now.

Remember that smoke detectors have to be replaced every 10 years.. units that detect CO will have to be replaced after 5yrs... its a chemical based sensor. - Kidde - Home Safety - Smoke Detector - Combination Smoke'

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Reading Supplies - office supplies, reading supplies

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I just wanted to clarify for prospective customers that this is a great value pack, especially for those who need it to use as place markers for books and such. However, before buying this, know this - the Value pack that Amazon ships you is not 280 page flags plus 48 arrows, BUT instead 200 page flags plus 48 arrows. I have notified and asked Amazon for a replacement and they still shipped me the wrong product, which means they don't have the product advertised. If you're okay with this, then it shouldn't be much of a hassle for you. Post-it Flags Value Pack, Assorted Colors, 280 Page Flags and 48 Arrows of 0.5 Inch per Pack (683-VAD1)

I just got my Post-it Flags pack in the mail and have used it already. I'm a book marker. When I come to a passage or a paragraph that I want to get back to I mark it with a highlighter or a post-it note. These post-its are the regular kind and also contain arrow markers which I like. Sometimes, I do not want to mark my books permanently and post-its are the way to go. In any case, if you're a book marker like me, I highly recommend this set of post-it notes.

Let's face it, the flags with the arrows are entirely useless. Unless you over-highlight, the flags with arrows on them are too large to be of any benefit (and if you do find them useful, perhaps you should change your highlighting habits). This product, still, is of infinite boon to the student.

Fast shipping from the seller, these flags are priced very decently. They could be better, because this is the same retail price you'd be paying for them at a grocer or bookstore, but the 40% markup is always annoying. This company could charge $1 less for this product (minimum, they could probably charge $3 less) and still make a profit.

PS: apply your flags to the top of your book! If you put them along the long side, you cannot put the book into a bookshelf! - Office Supplies - Markers - Post-its - Reading Supplies'

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Survival Knife - folding, smith and wesson

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The blade is very sharp, and strong. I have been pretty ruff with this thing and the edge hasn't gotten a knick in it that required enough work to remove to say so. The opening mechanism on this knife is about as close to an automatic as you can get. Just push down on the lever and it flicks open or with a flick of the thumb on the stud. It opens very fast. Faster than any of the SOG's that I have(Flash, Twitch, Trident, Pentagon Elite). The size is perfect for one hand operation, open and close it in less than 2 seconds. It is very well made and quite substantial, being heavier than many other knives that I have which lends well to the glass breaking stud on the end. I prefer the lever lock mechanism on this knife to other systems as it is easier to close one handed requiring less and more natural movements. I also have the tanto blade version of this knife and it is top knotch as well. These knives are worth substantially more than their asking price, in design, quality, and durability. Smith & Wesson SWMP5LS M&P Linerlock Knife with 2nd Generation MAGIC Assisted Open and 40% Serrated Drop Point Blade

To start, I would like to say this is a fine peice of sharpened metal. I mean, EXTREMELY, sharp. Now, I have only had it for a little while, so I'm not sure on how well it will stay sharp over time or how well it keeps up, but straight out of the box, it is fantastic.

Pros:

Very Sharp

serrated blade for those that want one

"Open Assist", but dont cut yourself like I did

Has a lock, so it wont open on accident and stab your leg

Grip is awesome

Cool rugged look

Cons:

Very Heavy, if you cant cut someone with it (if you had to) you can always throw it at them!

I bought this knife roughly a month ago, and I can say with some confidence that this is one of the best knives u can get out there when balancing price and quality. This knife should cost over a hundred, maybe more. Incredibly sturdy, i am very rough with this blade and handle, and thee only negative effect so far is that the black has scratched on the edge of the blade itself. Expected. and the scratcing is minimal. Remains as sharp as the day i bought it. ive dropped this thing tens of feet on to stone, metal, wood, and it remains perfectly unharmed. aside from functionality, it simply looks elegant. Almost all black, tastefully curved, it would be great for a collector even. Very easy to use, becomes second nature after a bit of use. Buy this, u will not be disappointed.

I loved the knife when I first got it. It was sharp beautiful. I played around with it a bit at first but did not use it much. I did notice that the release on the side of the knife and the locking mechanism were made of plastic and that worried me.

Summer came around and I started my summer job working on boats. I chose this knife to bring with me every day. I soon noticed that the locking switch did not want to stay locked. It would unlock randomly in my pocked or when the knife was clipped on my belt. Within a month the opening switch on the side broke and stopped working, and shortly there after the lock stopped working all together. Plastic has no business being a part of a knife unless you are using it to spread cream cheese.

I now have a semi useless and unsafe knife.

I would recommend this knife to anyone looking for a knife for light use, but if you are looking for a knife that can withstand any amount of abuse DO NOT BUY THIS KNIFE!

I recently purchased this knife from Amazon looking to replace another knife that was under preforming. I looked at a number of different manufactures and models and decided on this one for a number of reason; The S&W MAGIC deployment system looked impressive, the build looked very sturdy, it had the largest blade out of the M&P series I could find and according to other reviews from various websites it was in general a very well made knife and 30$ was a steal. I've only just got it, but I'll give you my initial reactions to it. Before I get into the knife specs I'd just like to say the shipping was amazing at the very least, I got it with the free super shipping and was expecting to have to wait because I bought it on a Sunday, but it arrived the next day. I was very impressed.

Pros

-Solid, its a rather heavy knife, but not too bulky and seems well built, like no screws are going to come loose on me which has been a problem in the past.

-The safety lock is very nice, it has enough retention to stay in either the open or closed position (which is a problem with some of the other models) without slipping but moves smoothly back and forth. It when in safety if the knife is closed it won't spring open, but if the knife is open and the safety is on it acts as a secondary lock keeping the blade open.

-The MAGIC assist system is fantastic, the blade flicks right open using either the ambidextrous thumb studs or the finger trigger (although I prefer the trigger). It closes easily and is above all FAST, it's about the closest thing I've seen to a switch blade while still being legal.

-When the blade is open there is no play side to side or back and forth and the locking bar is stable. It's not as centered as I'd like but it holds the blade securely which is the most important.

-The blade came rather sharp, not razor shave-your-arm-hair sharp, but slices quite nicely.

-The handle is comfortable, fits nicely in your hand and the finger wells let you either hold it back towards the end or choke up on it. It also has rubberized grips that gives it a nice feel.

-The clip is pretty stiff but slides on and off a belt well. Its positioned for right handed people and so that if it were hanging the blade would open down pointing to the ground.

-Overall a stylish and attractive knife in my opinion.

Cons

-The steel (4034) isn't the highest of quality, it's still stainless and I don't know how well it'll take an edge yet, but it's about the only knock on an otherwise very well made knife and it isn't much of one.

The knife also features a glass breaker but I have no idea how well that works

For me this was an excellent purchase and I'd recommend it to anyone else whose looking for a heavier tactical knife. I'll try to update this review in a bit after I determine how well it sharpens.

UPDATE: The knife takes a nice edge fairly easily and keeps it relatively well. - Knife - Folding - Magic - Smith And Wesson'

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Baume - baume, mercier

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I'd spotted this model from Baume & Mercier at a local Tourneau store a few months ago, and fell in love with it. It's very heavy, thick, has automatic movement (no battery, never needs winding - it auto winds with the movement of your hand/wrist), and the strap's clasp is absolute quality.

With the $[...] price tag I was a little put off. Knowing that with a little hunting, I could definitely find this for less (I bought my old B&M through watchclick.com for significantly less - but they don't carry this model yet) - after much internet research, I resorted to coming back to old faithful, Amazon - which is where I do most of my shopping as their prices, returns policy and customer service are unmatched.

I found it here for just under $[...].

Shipping was speedy, and the watch came in its authentic hard wooden case with limited warranty details and instructions. All legit.

I'm very happy with the watch, and even happier I got it for a grand less.

[...] Baume & Mercier Men's 8733 Classima Chronograph Strap Watch

I splurged on a gift to myself on my (round) birthday last year, and I love, love, love this watch. I know how silly it is to give "things" names... I only did that with my iPhone and my watch. Ms. Noir I even wear at night, and after 8 months of calling her mine, I am still amazed of her elegant beauty. The watch is a masterpiece of Swiss watchmaking, and it will remain a classic. The only other watch that could steal "her" show is the IWC "Portugese"...but I'll wait for a little bit... :) Highly recommend this watch; it is worth every single cent... - Mercier - Baume'

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Tomtom One 3rd Edition - 3rd edition, tom tom one

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Christmas is here again and that can only mean one thing...the GPS market is introducing new toys for consumers to play with. What we have here is the newly updated TomTom One (3rd Edition) which is the exact same dimensions and weight as the regular TomTom One ( 3.8" x 3.2" x 1.0" and 6.1 ounces ) with added features and of course newly updated Tele Atlas maps.

Lets start with the basics, for consumers looking to upgrade from the prior released TomTom One, the cosmetics of the product have changed slightly. The thin black plastic that outlined the screen has been replaced with the ever popular color silver. This gives the TomTom One a new space-age look that may appeal to some people while others (myself included) will find the new look cheap and clichéd. The SD card slot on the bottom of the unit has been replaced with an RDS-TMC antenna connector which is used for traffic reports. The antenna itself does not come with the unit and is available separately for roughly $129.00 but I find this accessory unneeded and pricey.

Moving on to the interface...needles to say the TomTom One (3rd Edition) borrows heavily from past TomTom operating system software so anyone who has used TomTom products will have a decent idea on how to maneuver around the already user-friendly interface. They have managed to add a few extras to the touch screen interface such as a "Help Me" button which when pressed opens features such as "Phone For Help" which displays emergency numbers for the current location (such as and typically 911) "Drive To Help" which show you the quickest way to the nearest police station or hospital and a "First Aid Guide" which is provided by the British Red Cross.

Also included in the safety features is an option to sound a custom alarm if any of the following occur:

1. When approaching a school or church

2. When driving faster than a set speed

3. When driving faster than allowed

A nice addition to the TomTom One (3rd Edition) is the ability to make your own map corrections. For example the city I live in recently shut down an existing department store and rebuilt a Super Center about a mile down the road about 3 months ago. Because of this recent change the Points Of Interest database had to be updated. I simply used the "Map Correction" feature to edit and move the existing Point Of Interest to its correct location on the map. Very convenient. The "Map Correction" feature also allows users to (Un)block A Street, Reverse Traffic Direction, Edit Street Names, Add Missing POI, and Report Other Errors.

Without say the TomTom One (3rd Edition) has been preloaded with the best maps on the market. The unit now runs on USA and Canada maps version 705.1481 provided by Tele Atlas. When compared to other GPS products on the market I've personally found that TomTom products have the edge when it comes to accuracy and map detail. The TomTom One is even polite enough to warn me when there is a toll road on a calculated route and then has enough courtesy to avoid it if I so desire, I've never gotten this kind of respect from my Garmin Nuvi 200.

The only down side to the TomTom One (3rd Edition) is its battery life. Even with all the upgrades we still only have a 2-hour battery charge that leaves us dependent on the cigarette charger in our cars. Oh well, can't win `em all.

For consumers interested in purchasing their first GPS unit the TomTom One would be perfect if not only for its quality then for its simplicity. Other units might come close but I've found that the TomTom One delivers time and time again.

What's in the box? I'm glad you asked:

- The TomTom One (of course)

- (1) Car Charger

- Documentation Pack (Quick Start Guide, Installation Poster, Accessories Catalog, and Warranty/License Agreement)

- (1) Windshield Mount

- (1) USB Cable

- (1) Adhesive Disk For Windshield Mount (for mounting the TomTom to your dash) TomTom ONE 3rd Edition 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Vehicle Navigator

I replaced a Magellan 4040 with this. The Magellan had text to speech - wide screen - blue tooth and AAA guides. Cost much more.

In my opinion the inexpensive Tom Tom beats the Magellan hands down, even without text to speech.

Text to speech is a great concept but seems to strain the processor to the point that it would sometimes forget to give you street names OR directions. Very bad. I had 2 Magellan's ( I thought first was defective and returned it ) and both would do this. I would much rather hear "turn right in 500 feet" than no instructions at all. Many times I was blocks past my turn before Magellan would announce it. Not good.

Both Magellan's got flaky on me as well. One would need an occasional reboot for a frozen screen, the other would occasionally tell me I had reached my destination when it was still miles away.

Tom Tom has been rock solid.

Tom Tom NEVER misses a turn voice command. They are quite detailed as well unlike Magellan. Magellan says "turn right at Blair Street" where Tom Tom says "turn right in 200 feet than make third left".

POI in Tom Tom is way better in my area than Magellan. It had an espresso stands that only opened 4 months ago near me! Of course results may vary depending upon where you live.

Voice is loud and clear, map colors are changeable, interface is very customizable.

Also Tom Tom guarantees a free download of the latest map for your unit at purchase. Garman and Magellan have very vague policies on that and may charge you for the latest map.

I have owned both Garman C220 and Magellan 4040. I will be most likely be purchasing Tom Tom from now on....

I have been using this one for only 2 days, but having used previous GPS (Garmin Nuvi 350, Mio C310x and Magellan 4050), I can say my navigation experience has been very good so far.

I agree with other reviewers that even without text-to-speech, the voice directions in combination with looking at the map will work just fine. My first trip today went smoothly with the following caveats:

1-When you make a wrong turn (which I did intentionally to test the device) , it tries very quickly (within 5 seconds) to re-direct you in the correct direction. However, unlike the other devices I have tried, it does not notify you that it is "re-calculating" . I personally don't believe it is a big deal as long as it does a good job at putting you back on track.

UPDATE 11/27/07: Even though you do not get a "re-calculating" voice

indication, it does put a message on the screen (2 seconds long) to that

effect. I personally think this is fine since I used to hate having

to hear the "re-calculating" over and over again on some of the other devices I have tried.

2-When driving through side streets, the unit does not display the name of the next street to turn to on the top right corner. It will display the names of major highways and routes only. For example, if I am supposed to turn right to Memorial road in 100 yards, it will not display that street name, but just verbally tell you to tun right. I find this to be a major nuisance, since, in the absence of text-to-speech, I want to READ which street i am supposed to turn to next. I have not seen any other reviewer complain about this. So I hope this is not just my own device. I have been having some technical issue with the TomTom Home 2 software when attempting to download the latest maps, which I will explain below, but I believe this to be unrelated to the side street names issue. I am planning on calling customer service to inquire about this. Having said that, even with the missing side street names, I am still able to follow the screen (the trajectory is clearly marked) as well as the voice guidance without missing a turn.

UPDATE 11/27/07: I called customer service and they confirmed that the device does not show the next street to turn to if it is not a major highway. I just could not believe this device would not show you the next street: any other GPS in the market does so. So I decided to play some more with the features, and discovered that this option DOES exist. All you have to do is go to navigation options under preferences and select the option to display the next street to turn to . It worked. I can't believe it was that easy, yet customer service did not even know this was possible?!

TomTom Home 2 issues:

When I try to use the TomTom Home 2 software to download the latest maps, I consistently get an "internal server error" which prevents me from moving forward with the download. I will call customer service to inquire about this, so I am hoping that there is a quick fix for this. I don't have any issues when downloading other items like POI, voices, and safety cameras....

UPDATE 11/27/07: This is a TomTom web server issue due to high download demand after black Friday. I was able to download the maps successfuly after talking to customer service.

Map Share :

Map share is a great idea, I have tried it , and it is very useful. But Tomtom literature that came with the device indicates that free Map sharing with/from others is only good for one year. So Map Share is not free after all?! Is this an indirect way of getting you to buy updated maps?

UPDATE 11/27/07. Customer service mentioned that there is no one year limit to using Map Share. So I hope they are not bluffing....

Final thoughts:

My 4 star rating is based on the assumption that the couple of issues mentioned above will get fixed . Even with those issues, the device itself is a very solid GPS navigator. It does not give you the frills of a Nuvi 350, but the price difference between those two is in favor of the TomTom. It is so far a keeper.

UPDATE 11/27/07. Based on my 11/27/07 updates, I am happy I made the purchase! I am also growing fonder of the device as I learn about its features (zip code search, intersection search, longitute/latitude search, powerful POI search options, ....). Plus, the TOMTOM Home 2 software allows you to get the latest maps for free (first 30 days). That in itself is extremely helpful. One of my friends bought the Magellan 4050 with Voice recognition only to return it because his own house was not on the map (plus Magellan does not advertise free map updates). The Map Share feature is also very valuable as it is equivalent to a freeware map update software. - Tomtom - Tom Tom One - 3rd Edition - Tomtom One'

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Avery - name tags, name badges

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These name badges are junk. I love Avery products. The software templates are great and can be used in WORD to pull names from an excel file, and are extreemly flexible. You can for example make a column for first name in the excell spread sheet, and then in the avery template, make this 72 points, so their first name stands out. However, the hanging name badges are too thin, the corners break off, and the pre-pounched holes are not punched well. You feed a string through the holes that has a metal end on it and it is not easy to punch trough the plastic (via the pre-punched holes). Once you get the string through the hole, you have to tie a couple knots so the string does not come back out (i.e. the metal piece does not work). Avery should punch a smaller hole, and it should be better punched.

I am in charge of registration for an upcoming conference for 300 people. I am just glad that I got the hanging name tags early to try them out, so that I can return these to the store and find some better ones. I do not want to tie 600 knots! Avery Top-Loading Hanging Name Badges, 3 x 4 Inches, White, Box of 50 (74520)

The strings are nicer and they have new tips that are easier to feed in the holes and unlikely to slip out. The plastic is a nice medium weight in my opinion. I wish they'd include an extra sheet of the inserts. Surely I'm not the only one who has to re-do one every once in a while.

Had some trouble with the Avery template. (Can't remember what, I've already blocked it from my memory) - Hanging Name Tags - Name Tags - Name Badges'

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Dark Side Of The Moon - documentary, david gilmour

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If you are a fan of Dark Side of the Moon (DSotM) then you will love this disc. The feature runs as long as the actual album and gives insight into the development of each song. It's amazing to see the Floyd seperately playing bit pieces of each song. What is amazing on this DVD is Alan Parsons and his explanations and demonstrations of all the details we have grown to love on this disk. The bonus material rocks just as hard. Over 10 bonus tracks including additional interviews, insight and music. Pink Floyd is the best!!!! Classic Albums: The Making of The Dark Side of the Moon

For the most part I was happy with this DVD, and in actuality I would give it a 4.5, but even with the slightly flawed parts, there were some that were simply so stunning that I can't help but give a 5.The best parts belong mainly to Richard Wright, who offered a very interesting look at the music itself, and his composition process. Furthermore, he gave wonderful demonstrations of parts of "Breathe", "The Great Gig in the Sky", and "Us and Them". Even though some may notice that he can have a slightly tentative interview style at times, this does not diminish in any way what he is saying--in fact, he is actually the most engaging narrator of the four. His piano demos, especially the one for "Us and Them" are moving, to say the least (I do wish he'd sung, because he really does have a beautiful voice, but that's all right--his playing was truly graceful). One very nice thing about the way the demos are done in this DVD is that they are often blended in and out of the original recordings. Quite frankly it amazes me that Richard Wright and David Gilmour are able to play demonstrations that have an original twist to them--and yet they can be successfully be blended to the originals.I will admit that there were a few sections that grated on my nerves, and the culprit was usually Roger Waters. Once in MOJO Magazine, Nick Mason said that the bassist made the most "dreadful demos", and his attempt at "Money" was a strain to listen to, to say the least...I probably will return to that bit as infrequently as possible! On my first listening I also found that Mr. Waters went on a bit much, and I didn't really have the patience to want to listen to it, as I thought the musical aspects were by far the more unique and interesting feature of this DVD. The thematic aspects have been discussed numerous times in interviews.Finally, I'd like to add that some customers' failure to read the description of the DVD and understand in advance what one is purchasing is no excuse for a poor rating. Such a rating says nothing about the quality of the DVD as what it is intended to be--a documentary, not a live concert or anything else. Please, before you buy this, KNOW what you are purchasing! But if you are interested in a documentary about The Dark Side of the Moon, I think you will be very satisfied.

After watching this documentary on the making of the Dark Side of the Moon, one question kept popping into my mind: Why can't these two legendary musicians (Waters & Gilmour) put aside their differences and reconcile? It has been over 20 years since the bitter split of Pink Floyd, yet we, the fans are left with little to no hope of ever seeing this band reform and play their classic music just one last time. Alas, I digress, the DVD itself is a fascinating look into the making of the Dark Side of the Moon album, track by track. All four members are featured in extended interviews giving their memories of making what would become one of (if not THE) greatest rock albums ever recorded. Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Richard Wright look like old men, wait a minute, they ARE old men; nevertheless it is shocking to see the then and now pictures of the band. Roger Waters has some very lucid memories concerning the meaning of his lyrics for Time, Brain Damage and Money. David Gilmour not only speaks of the recording and mixing of the album, but he also plugs in and plays some classic Dark Side tunes. Richard Wright, as well, plays some of The Great Gig in the Sky and Us and Them while opining about how he discovered the chord progressions that would become history. Nick Mason is scattered throughout the film but certainly states that this was the best that the band had ever gotten along. Was this the creative apex of Pink Floyd? It certainly was the most democratically made Pink Floyd album with all four members getting their ideas through, as opposed to the later years (The Wall and The Final Cut) where Waters basically ran the show. Some other points of interest include an extended interview with Alan Parsons who was the session engineer and mixed the album almost perfectly. Throughout the film, Waters speaks of the duality of man and of empathy and how the world is sorely lacking it today. Mr. Waters, why can't you show some empathy for your former band mates and legions of fans around the world and put the Floyd to bed properly? Highly Recommended to any classic rock fan, but an absolute must for Pink Floyd diehards.

This 55 minute documentary was produced without consent of the band, its management, or thier record company. Because of this, it is ALL interview and contains no background music nor live clips (contractual reasons I assume). The bulk of this tape is comprised of large chunks of a wonderful documentary (Omnibus, BBC) aired in November of 1994. The other bits and pieces are of varying quality and DO give this tape more of a bootleg feel.Bottom line: if you're a Floyd fan you'll find something of interest here and there, but if you can, track down the Omnibus special. It's widely available in most bootleg circles and is FAR superior to this tape.

Being that Dark Side Of The Moon is my favorite album of all time, I was very excited to hear about the release of this DVD. I absolutely love it. This DVD tells the story of Dark Side of The Moon from it's creation, to it's aftermath with live performances, acoustic performances, early demos, music videos, rehearsal tapes, individual tracks from Alan Parsons mixing board(very cool), and in depth interviews with band members. My only complaint is that they did not even mention one of my favorite instrumental tracks from the album entitled "Any Colour You Like". Why it was forgotten in the DVD baffles me. The sound mix is not in 5.1, but it's one of the best stereo mixes i've ever heard. Hearing Roger Waters explain what the song "Time" is about then hearing David Gilmores' amazing guitar solo was worth the money alone. Thank you Pink Floyd for releasing this DVD and making an album that changed my life! Don't hesitate, buy it now! - David Gilmour - Dark Side Of The Moon - Documentary - Classic Rock'

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Blackberry Charger - belkin, electronics

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After reading the reviews on this product the actual shipment was delayed 2 months. I should have known this was a product with issues.

The good news...it arrived and works OK for charging an iPhone 3G and a Motorola Bluetooth headset.

The bad news...It does not work for a Blackberry Bold 9700 and apparently other devices.

The really bad news and the reason for this review...Belkin's customer support is a disaster.

The unit comes with two short micro USB cables (one typical of cameras and headsets and one that matches the Blackberry adapter) but no explanation as to why. The micro usb cable works fine for the Bluetooth headset. The other cable that fits the Blackberry does not charge the Blackberry and if used requires the Blackberry to be reset by removing the battery.

Tucked into the minimal documentation is a slip of paper I originally missed that indicates a Belkin website for a special cable for the Blackberry Bold and other devices. I went to the site, ordered the free cable and in short order got an email reply from Belkin that my order was received.

A week later no cable. Multiple calls to the 24x7 customer support ended up being disconnected or routed in a circle. The chat option failed with three different Browsers. A email request for customer support required multiple tries to get past the required support description before it was accepted. Again an immediate email indicating reply with 1 business day. FIVE DAYS later an email comes indicating that the cable order was unrecognized, the issue was closed, and a recommendation that I call customer support! This smells like Belkin is still unprepared to support this product on any front.

Being a glutton for punishment I tried customer support again. After ignoring the instructions (none recognize their new Conserve line of products) and finally got a person that transferred me to another person that started to help. 30 minutes later after forwarding the email (from Belkin!) that said my cable was ordered I ended up with a promise to fix and a return call. 24 hours later , no replacement order, no call back.

Whatever Belkin was doing from the time the product was announced and the two months later they shipped; it wasn't telling their customer support organization about it nor was it testing it with common products.

BUYER BEWARE

UPDATE 3 WEEKS LATER: More calls to Customer Support and more emails back indicating no such cable order; I gave up and ordered the cable again. At this point the original packaging is long gone and it does work well on two devices. Surprise...A customer support call back after a disconnect resulted in a promise that the cable would be shipped immediately. I asked for a confirmation email. No email as promised but the free cable arrived...Good news... the cable works and the Blackberry Bold now charges.

The next day another box arrives from Belkin... I now have a bag of 10 of these cables. I can't wait to see what's on my doorstep when I return home this evening! Being a good citizen I called the Belkin RMA number to offer to return all of these extra cables...SNAFU...long time on hold..Raj tells me I called the wrong number; Don't think so but OK; Raj offers to transfer me... click click click... back to Raj! Raj suggests I wait an hour and call back after their phones are fixed...SIGH...I think not.

UPDATE 4 MONTHS LATER:

Since we use this product daily and I have had no contact with Belkin's abysmal customer support since the initial review, I've decided to revise the overall product review due to Belkin's startup woes and comment on the device itself.

We are a no land-line house and this cleans up the clutter & cable mess on the counter. With the right cables it has been happily charging ipods, iPhone, Blackberry, Motorola Bluetooth headset, and misc guest cell phones that use the universal USB adapter. The only thing to be aware of is that small devices charging on their own that draw little current and are completely empty (like the Bluetooth headset) will eventually trigger the auto-shutoff feature and not get a full charge. iPhones and Blackberrys don't have this issue.

New bottom line...buy it you'll like it...unless you need any customer support...but that's true of many companies these days! Belkin Conserve Valet F7C008q Energy-Saving USB Charging Station

With the Valet, it does what the product description says it does: it charges your personal electronic devices (PEDs) and then shuts off to save on the costly "sippage" that traditional charges take from your monthly light bill. However, this is problematic if you're like me, and enjoy a fully charged cell phone in the morning when you're ready to roll out for the day.

Typically I leave my phone plugged in overnight on my nightstand so it's fully charged in the morning. The Belkin Valet charged my phone in probably under an hour, and then shut off, allowing my phone to drain nearly empty by morning (the useful "20% battery remaining" message popped up as soon as I went to check my overnight emails). This isn't Belkin's fault by any means, as the product does what it's supposed to do, but I wanted to make potential buyers aware that if you plan on using this device to keep a fully charged phone overnight, seek another product.

The Valet has moved from my nightstand to office desk where it has successfully corralled the usual tangle of white USB chords.

I am currently charging my iPad2, an iPod Touch, and my DroidX phone. This charger only provides 500mA output, which is the same as most USB/USB 2 output amperage on your computer. So if you try to USE your iPad while it's charging, it's going to say "Not Charging"...because it's not. The charger can not provide the power to run the iPad and charge it at the same time...just like the USB port on the front of your computer can't. However, if you put the iPad to sleep (close the smart cover), then when you plug it in, you hear a small "meep" that says "I'm charging!" Leave it there, and it'll be charged in a few hours, just like if you used the front of your computer. If you want to be able to charge your iPad and use it at the same time, you'll have to plug it into the wall. Only there is enough juice provided to run it and charge it at the same time. My other devices seem to be charging fine.

I wish there was a way to order extra cables from Belkin. They provide a mini-USB and a micro-USB. I would love one (or two) small 30-pin adaptors so I wouldn't have to wind the iPod and iPad cabling around the charger. But it's a small gripe. I have extra cables, so this isn't much of an inconvenience. I don't plan on continually taking the cables on and off of the charger. - Belkin - Electronics - Charger - Energy Savings'

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Notebook Computer Stands - document holder, book stand

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This is the 4th or 5th Portabook I've purchased. I recommend them to massage clients and give them to friends and family. The Portabook is lightweight and easy to pack into a backpack along with laptop. It holds books, papers and lap taps easily. A set of coated rubber bands holds large books or a laptop keyboard in place. Using the Portabook relieves neck and shoulder pain caused by looking down at papers and books. It can also be used to hold a laptop at an angle that is easier to viewing the screen. However, it's best to plug in an extended keyboard in this setup or you ave to type with your arms up to your shoulders!

We only broke one Portabook after 2 years of constant use. For such an inexpensive and lightweight product 2 years of use is pretty good. I highly recommend the Portabook if you want an easy way to hold books and papers at an angle while you read. Portabook Message Board and Multifunctional Book and Laptop Stand (Light Gray)

This product is very versatile, which is why I like it. The message board erases well, and it supports books/laptops sturdily. However, keep in mind that the rubber bands (needed to hold a book on the stand) are not particularly convenient if you turn the page frequently.

Even though this is my third Portabook Message Board and Multifunctional Book and Laptop Stand, I will always buy a new one because I love it. Metal and wood stands are too heavy, and other plastic ones don't have the straps.

I've owned this for over a year and use it to hold my leather-bound study Bible. I like the fact that it is adjustable and folds flat for easy travel portability. It's light-weight, but very sturdy. I would buy this over a wooden holder any day. Great price, great product.

i'm using my 2nd portabook now, after wearing out the previous one (it cracked at the "bendy" part after 2 years of daily use). but, i think it's been improved over the 1st version: it feels like it's now made of somewhat heavier or sturdier plastic, (but still very lightweight). a really fantastic way to make your laptop more ergonomic and comfortable. a MUST for bad back/neck/shoulder, etc. and the design is quite simple & elegant really. i've never seen a better one, for this purpose - yet... - Laptop Holder - Neck Pain Relief - Book Stand - Document Holder'

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