Construction Tools - toddler, tool set

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I bought this toy for my two year old sons birthday, along with a take apart toy truck. This tool set is AWESOME!! He absolutely loves these tools they are great for motor development and they are quiet durable. There are all sorts of fun things in this set a drill which he takes everywhere, a saw, a flashlight that is surprisingly bright,goggles that are super cute and i love how the box states they are not intended for actual protection for your eyes LOL. There is a tape measure and a level. This toy was worth the price simply because my son loves it sooo much.. Couldn't ask for a better toy set for a toddler who loves tools and mechanics just like his daddy! Highly recommended... Black & Decker Junior Drill Play Set w/ Carrying Case

I purchased this toy for my son when he was 2 and he loved it. He is now 4 1\2 and still plays with the drill and flashlight. He brought this toy to a recent family function and my 2 year old nephew decided he had to have one also. So I bought another drill set for my nephews 3rd birthday. He loves it! My sister in law said he plays with it all the time and that it is his favorite toy. I think its a great gift for 2-5 year olds. It has also helped my son and his step dad bond. When my husband is drilling so is my son.

My son loves this toy set. He uses the drill and light often and sometimes uses the googles. The batteries seem to last a fairly long time and it's nice that you can change the battery pack from the drill to the light. We left the plastic in the case so it's easy to put away and carry around.

my 3.5 yr old, LOVED this set until the light went out - I replaced the batteries, but no luck - found out that the bulb went out and cannot be replaced, atleast not that I have found a way...horrible! $30 for something that worked for 4 days!

So my 16 month old loves tools just like mommy and daddy use, so I knew he would love this drill. But, just like daddy's Black and Decker set there is only one battery pack, so you can not use the drill and the flashlight at the same time. So just like daddy, your child can be totally annoyed having to change back and forth. Why did Black and Decker not think that you might need to see with the flashlight while you are drilling something? So when my son is playing I have to switch the battery pack back and forth every 5 minutes, because he is too young to figure out how to do it himself. I like the drill that came with the Step 2 tool bench better, since it actually drills screws and goes forward and backward.

My 2 year old daughter received this for Christmas. She immediately started "fixing" grandma and grandpa's staircase with the drill. She insisted that everyone try on the goggles. The only problem is that there is only one battery pack and the flashlight and drill both need a battery back. She can't change the battery pack yet on her own so we have to do it for her.

My son got this tool set for Christmas. He thought it was the greatest toy ever. He played with and loved the drill for 5 days before we got batteries. Once we installed the batteries, the drill proceeded to work for about 3 minutes before it stopped "drilling". This effectually made the drill the worst toy ever, because he knows what he's missing.



If I had it to do over, I'd never put in batteries and I'd have a happy little boy.

My son is 2 1/2 years old and loves lights and is always playing with my drill. He loves this toy and loves changing out the battery to switch between the light and drill. The only thing that would make this toy better would be if it had two batteries instead of one, but then he wouldn't have had to learn how it comes apart and go back together. Seems pretty durable but he only started using it at Christmas. Either way, it would still be worth getting. - Toddler - Black And Decker - Tool Set - Construction Tools'

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Adobe Photoshop - lightroom 3, lightroom

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I have been using LR since v1. The last 2 revisions have brought significant improvements.

With v2 the standout benefit for me was the local adjustments brush (that alone made the upgrade a no-brainer.

With v3 I wasn't as eager to buy another upgrade - UNTIL I tried it out and noticed that after "updating" views of my images to use the "2010 process" the difference jumped out at me (particularly those at ISO 800+).

The higher ISO RAW files from an Olympus E-1 and E-300 suddenly looked demonstrably better (same with files from my E-3).

Noise reduction in Lightroom has always been less-than-stellar and I've been saving my pennies to buy a "real" noise reduction program for ~$100.



I am SO glad that I held off buying a separate noise reduction program until after I tested LR3 - I was about to pay just about the same price as the LR3 upgrade just for a noise reduction program!

IMO, the noise reduction now integrated into LR3 is the BEST that I have yet seen.



Another tool which I've pined for was a USABLE watermarking tool. FINALLY it is here!

Thanks Adobe (even though you really should've had this in there from the get-go.



There are a number of other tweaks that I've noticed (with a smile) - a bit of a speed increase (thanks to true 64bit support), a little more power in working with Black & White renderings and the lens profiles are fantastically useful (for me).



If you are on the fence as to whether you really want to buy this upgrade or wait for the next version just answer the following questions:

1 - Do you shoot primarily in JPG? The image processing engine won't mean as much to you.

2 - Does your camera already have excellent high-iso noise characteristics? This upgrade won't be the revelation it was to me.

3 - Do you not really care about watermarking? One less reason to upgrade.

4 - Are you running on a 32bit system or with <4GB of RAM? You won't see much speed improvement.



If you can answer yes to questions 1 & 2 above then this upgrade is probably not for you.



Personally, the noise reduction and watermarking were what enticed me and then seeing the new RAW processing is what made me click the "buy" button.



Now the only features I'm wishing for are soft-proofing, content-aware fill (I can dream can't I), a clone BRUSH (not stamp) and direct DVD burning. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Upgrade

I've been using Lightroom since the beginning - ordering Lightroom v1 immediately upon it's release and absolutely loved it. It's not a complete replacement for photoshop (it does a LOT of the stuff Photoshop does, but not a lot of the selective editing/power you get in PS).



After using the Lightroom 3 beta for the past few months, I knew I needed to get this upgrade.



Unlike Photoshop which is more of a "One image at a time" program, Lightroom brings your whole collection of photos into the application, allowing you to quickly navigate through them, tag/flag them (by stars, for example) and make quick edits to either a single photo or the whole set. This is the most important thing as if you shoot a few hundred photos and need the SAME settings quickly applied to each of them (white balance, for example) it's just a few clicks away. Lightroom also uses a non-destructive editing system, which means you can make as many edits to photos as you want, and the original is still untouched (you don't "save" over your photos, you create new versions once you've edited them how you like).



The built in presets, and ability to create your own/download others online, is a huge feature. Need a black and white high-contrast look with a vignette? You can find it. Need a HDR look? You can find it. Just about any "look" you need, you can either create or find online as a preset (most free).



With Lightroom 3 there are some obvious upgrades/changes:



One of the nicest is the noise reduction - take those ISO 3200 photos and make them look like ISO 200. The feature is much improved over Lightroom 1 and 2, and of course you have full control of the strength.



Faster (at least for me). It was never too slow to begin with, but seems to have gotten even faster in V3 (Windows 7, quad-core)



Lens Correction - great for those super-wide lenses!



Watermarking - I believe this was in LR1, but the current version is VERY nice. I'm usually one to avoid watermarks, but the ones on LR3 can be classy and non-obtrusive.



Tethered shooting - now you don't need to combine multiple programs and set up a "ghetto" tethering solution - it's built in!



Flickr upload built in - a nice feature for those that use the service.



Video importing - unfortunately you can't edit the video, but it's nice to have it in the same spot if you do both photo and video (like most HD DSLRs and almost all point and shoots do now)



Slideshows - you can now export them as video (even HD), with music!



New print options - I don't use these, but I'm guessing some people do. If that's you, you have some upgrades here!



Ability to create galleries for your site (either basic HTML or Flash) - This is the same as Lightroom V2 (but an upgrade for those who went from v1 to v3)



Selective editing brush - Same as above, nothing new but something not available in Lightroom v1







Overall it's a great system, especially working with hundreds or thousands of photos at once! A must-have for all photographers, professionals or amateurs. I'd like to see the ability to add effects/filters and edit video files in the future, but this is a PHOTO application so I won't hold it against them! Can't wait to see the new updates coming out over the upcoming months (Adobe has been very good about adding new features in same-version updates (like 3.1, 3.2) which come free. - Lightroom 3 - Photography - Image Editing - Lightroom'

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Ipad 2 Smart Cover Partner - ipad 2 cover, ipad 2 smart cover

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By shear luck, I got my iPad 2 the day after it came it out. Clearly I was not the only to recognize that the groovy "smart cover" only protected the front. Unfortunately, it took weeks for the after-market covers to really start showing up. And when they did, companies were charging $27-$39...for what is essentially a piece of plastic. I just couldn't do it, and held out for more options.



Then this little item appeared it. I ordered the smart cover companion on the 04/22 (at the time it was $9.99!). It arrived by 04/25, even though estimated arrival was 04/28 - 05/03.



The "installation", if you want to call it that, was a breeze. It snapped right on, and once on, there was no give or play.



The case I ordered is crystal clear, not even a logo, which in my opinion is perfect since I didn't want anything obstructing the design of the iPad itself.



I was so excited about my iPad 2, I was this close to shelling out $40 bucks for a product that, given the simplicity of the design of ANY given snap-on shell, could not conceivably do the job any better.



Well done, Exact-Deal. Bravo. Smart Cover Partner Snap On Slim-Fit Case for Apple iPad 2 - Crystal Clear

I bought this for my mom as a Mother's Day present. She has an iPad 2 and loves her Smart Cover, but it left the back of the iPad unprotected and we quickly found that Apple's aluminum is dismayingly scratch-prone. With a bewildering array of products on the market, I chose this one based on the Amazon reviews. It turned out to be EXACTLY what my mom wanted.



Description: It's made of a hard, smooth, transparent plastic that snaps on tightly to the back of the iPad 2. There are generous cut-outs for all the ports, cameras, buttons, etc., and the Smart Cover hinges.



Good points:

- Perfect fit. Snaps on and stays on, but also easy to remove when necessary.

- Specially designed to work with Smart Cover with no modifications; it protects what the Smart Cover does not.

- All ports and buttons remain easily accessible; you don't need microscopic fingers to reach into tiny gaps.

- Transparent (and pattern-free), so you can see the Apple logo and anything you have engraved on the back. This also makes it aesthetically neutral, so it will match whatever other accessories you have and will never go out of style.

- Adds minimal thickness and weight to the iPad.



Less-good points (subjective):

- As an owner of the heavier first-gen iPad, I personally prefer a "tackier" grip on the case that makes it easier to hold on to without sliding out of your hands. This one is still a bit on the slippery side, but it's easier to hold than the iPad itself. (And if you fold back the Smart Cover instead of removing it, you won't have the slippery iPad problem anyway.)

- Though the case protects the iPad from scratches, it isn't scratchproof itself. After months of heavy use, I imagine it will get pretty scuffed and will be unattractive.

- The case is held on only at the corners, and the lips don't extend beyond the narrow aluminum rim of the iPad. There's nothing wrong with this, but if you have a transparent protective film placed over the screen, this case will NOT help to hold it down around the edges as some cases will, so the film will be more likely to peel off.



Not sure:

- Based on the thickness and design of this case, I THINK you should be able to use your iPad with most dock-type products without having to remove it. But we don't have any docks to experiment with.

- The plastic seems durable, but the case has not been subjected to any (inadvertent) stress tests yet. The lips that hold the case to the iPad are quite small (at the corners only) and if one or two of them broke, the case would be functionally useless.



Overall:

This is exactly the product we wanted, at a very reasonable price. It's well-designed, well-engineered and is the perfect companion for a Smart Cover.

The right cover at the right price. I wanted something to protect the back of my iPad, but it had to work with the smart cover. This case is perfect. It's totally clear, snaps right on the back and fits perfectly. No modifications required for it to work with the smart cover. It's thin enough that it doesn't add bulk, too.

I purchased this item thinking that for about $14, if it sucked then I wouldn't care. When I walked out to my mailbox 3 days after I ordered it there was a padded envelope waiting for me (from Exact-Deal), and I started thinking, "great these guys shipped it in this dumb envelope so I bet it's all messed up." I couldn't have been more wrong. The item was in pristine condition, the padded envelope was perfect to protect the item in transit and it fits the iPad 2 perfectly. Installation took about 3 seconds and my smart cover compliments it perfectly. Purchase this cover, you won't be sorry. It's just as good as the Belkin one my buddy bought from Best Buy for $39. Now my iPad is ultra-pimp and ready to bring on all challengers... like a NINJA. - Ipad 2 Case - Ipad 2 Cases - Ipad 2 Smart Cover - Ipad 2 Cover'

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Car Chargers - cell phone

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I bought one and really liked it so I got two more, one for each car.

LESS THAN A YEAR LATER ALL THREE HAVE BROKEN!



I only used them randomly so it isn't as tho they were high-use items. On one the housing on the fitting broke open, another had a bad connection in the wires, and the third the attachment simply did not fit my phone (same piece that fit in the other two sets.) It is a great idea and I really like the design of it but save your money, it is a stinker! Today I threw them all away and bought a standard car charger. Cellet Universal Retractable Car Charger With 7 Different Connectors

Okay, I should've listened to the warnings before I bought it.



I bought this to charge my iPhone 4 while driving from OK to NY 3 weeks ago, so I can use my TomTom GPS on the phone.

Yeah, that didn't happen.



First, it did not charge at all while TomTom or Pandora was on. It worked for a few minutes while I was at a rest area and my phone was simply plugged in.

Then, it started not charging at all after 6 hours into driving. I stopped at a gas station and left my car on so I could charge the phone. Nope, that didn't work. My phone died soon.



The plug-in part became weaker and less "fit" as I kept trying. Now, it doesn't even stay in. If I held it at just right angle and strength, it would charge the phone on and off (5-10 seconds interval).



Who can do that while driving?



Can anybody recommend a reliable car charger for iphone please?

This charges both my personal phone with the Samsung adapter and my work HTC phone with the micro-USB adapter. I just keep the other adapter in a little compartment in my car when not in use. When I'm in the car I'm usually charging one of them (free electricity), but when I'm not, the retract button is a great feature.



Someone else gave this a 1-star review because it wouldn't charge an iPhone. If you have something as picky as an iPhone, feel free to spend triple the money on a charger at the Apple Store. Also, someone else gave it a 1-star because the housing broke. Keep in mind that some people can break anything and do break everything they have.



The charger works. Buy it.

I wanted an affordable charger that charges our mobile phones and apple ipod, when we are on the go.



This takes care of the purpose pretty well...and I am pretty happy that all the research was worthwhile.

I rarely need a car charger for my cell. So this will not get a lot of use from me. I did use it once to make sure that it worked. The retractable cord is great. I only used one of the connectors. This product worked well. I don't have any complaints and I'm happy to have in my car. - Cell Phone'

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Kindle Accessory - kindle accessory, kindle covers

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I've noticed that like myself customers have been concerned primarily with two things regarding the new lighted case from amazon. These are: 1)The weight and 2) The uneven lighting. My review will briefly discuss these two things.



1)The Weight - The lighted leather case is a nice weight, sturdy and comfortable to hold. In ounces it is about the weight of the kindle itself however don't let that concern you. With the case on it feels like a medium sized paperback, however it is far much more comfortable to hold. It's easy to hold the case open like a book (nice for couch and table type reading) or to fold the front back and close it with the bungee so that the bungee doesn't hang around (this is good for bedtime reading).Closing the front back with bungee keeps the case folded in position and you don't have to worry about it bothering you. BTW THIS CASE FOLDS BACK 100% - Very comfortable. In sum very comfortable to read with the case and very sturdy.



2) The uneven lighting - Amazon's pictures don't do this case justice. The light hits the ENTIRE screen. Yes if you look closely it's brighter in the top right corner then in the bottom left but Amazon's pics make it look the top is lighted while the bottom is dark. There is good light all over the screen. Trust me I'm fussy about these things - the lighting will not bother you, your entire screen will be lighted and it is extremely pleasant to read in the dark.



*Final Thoughts - Great case, good quality, works well, kindle feels very secure and protected (I would feel comfortable slipping this case into my backpack or suitcase and I think it would sustain some mild impact). Lastly hinges are a non-issue, casing of the kindle will not get damaged with normal or even slightly aggressive use. You could damage the kindle by trying to pull the back of the case but you'd have to really force it to cause any sort of damage to your kindle. The hinges work fine and should not be a concern to any case user.



Update 1st December 2010:



Have now been using the case for 3 months. Leather still looks impeccable. Some people expressed concern that the bungee cord might loosen with use. I have not experienced any loosening so far. Quality of the product has proven outstanding. I've occasionally spilled or messed the cover, just a wipe with a damp cloth has cleaned it up, and the case looks like new. Have to admit I enjoy the feel of the case in my hand, there's just something great about taking your kindle to a coffee shop in this case, it just looks and feels so classy. Also with regard to the hinges: I have had no scratches on my kindle or any other issues, so I remain convinced that the hinges are a non issue. Kindle Lighted Leather Cover, Apple Green (Fits 6" Display, Latest Generation Kindle)

I was hesitant to buy this cover mostly due to the pictures in its listing, which seem to show a light that doesn't even extend to the opposite corner. The fact that I have not been impressed with the Amazon's Kindle covers in the past didn't help. I went ahead and purchased it because the cover I wanted isn't available yet and I don't like to take my Kindle out and about without a cover. Now I am glad that I went ahead and bought it.



PROS:



1. The light is much better than I thought it would be. Using it in a darkened room I found that the light did the job very well. In a pitch black room, it performs even better. While the screen corner opposite the light is a bit dimmer than other areas, there is no problem reading the page at all.



2. The light gets its power from the Kindle itself, through the gold-plated hinges which attach it to the cover, so batteries are a thing of the past. When your Kindle goes to sleep, the light will go out as well. It will also turn off when you slide it back into the case.



3. The cover is slim, well-fitted and very easy to attach and detach using the hinges. The inside has good padding. The leather outer surface has a nice pebbled texture with the exception of a smooth area along the edge of the front. While stiff enough to protect the reader, the cover is slight flexible and the front easily folds behind when reading so you can hold your Kindle with one hand if you like.



4. A great plus is that the cover has an elastic cord that fits into a groove on the front of it. This holds your cover closed (unlike the original Kindle 2 cover that would flop open in your purse & let things slide into it) and easily distinguishes the front from the back--important as many owners of the Kindle 2 cover accidentally opened it from the back, which could cause cracking along the Kindle's spine.





CONS:



I haven't found any, really. The light Is a bit hard (stiff) to pull out of the cover, but then you wouldn't want it to be flopping out when you don't want to use it so that is more of a Pro than a Con.



The one concern I do have is about pulling the light in and out--I wonder if whatever wiring or conductor that is used to get the power from the hinges to the light will eventually break. But that is something to find out down the road. Right now, the more I use this cover, the more I like it. - Kindle 3 Covers - Kindle Covers - Kindle 3 Case - Kindle Accessory'

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Ink Cartridge - printer, pixma

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The best of printing ink and printers for home use - Canon. Highly recommend these cartridges as replacement in your Canon printer. I, like the previous reviewer (who erroneously rated a non-OEM product (refill) in his review), have not had good luck with refilling or using non-canon products. Highly recommend this OEM genuine Canon ink. Canon PGI-225 BK/ CLI-226 C,M,Y 4 Pack Value Pack (4530B008) in Retail Packaging

I want to help offset this review below which is clearly not for this ink but for an ink refill. I just got the MG 5220 today and the photos are absolutely beautiful. I can hardly see any pixels or dots when I print photos. It seems to be doing a find job so far.

As I am using this ink one cartridge at a time when I need to replace the one that has run out, I can't comment on the whole package but so far so good. This is the first time I have owned a Canon printer but after the problems with my last HP All-In-One, I decided it was time to change brands.

The Canon ink is bright and works very well with my photos. It IS EXPENSIVE but so are most printer inks these days. Amazon prices are about the best I have found for genuine Canon ink.

I have always stuck with OEM ink, because the results and reliability are worth the extra cost to me (plus printer manufacturers are making it increasingly difficult to use non-OEM solutions).



However, it is beyond dumb to see the combos that Canon is offering for the new line of ink jet cartridges. If you want to save a few dollars by buying a combo pack, you either get this one which does not include the Black or Gray cartridges, or you get Canon CLI-226 BK,C,M,Y with PP-201 50 Sheets Combo Pack (4546B007) that doesn't include the Pigment Black or Gray cartridges, but includes 50 sheets of Canon paper that I do not need (I already have plenty on hand). It make no sense to not offer at least a 5-cartridge refill kit, since all of these Canon inkjet printers require 4 colors plus Pigment Black (not all utilize Gray). The only rationale would seem to be that Canon gets to line its pockets a bit more than it should.



I also have to knock off a star because the new cartridges are opaque, which may have been done to thwart refillers but also prevents users from checking the ink level themselves.



No wonder so many users go to such lengths to use non-OEM or refill solutions.

Set up was a cinch and it prints beautifully. After three HP printers in succession that all had carriage jams on initialization, I decided to try this Canon, my first one ever. I am so pleased!! I did not need a fax, so the scan and copy features were fine for me.

What can I say? It's Canon ink, therefore it's too dang expensive, and the cartridges are too small, but - - they work better than most refill inks.

The printers are less expensive because Canon sticks it to you on the cost of the ink to run the darn things!!!!

Don't like the new ink cartridges. They are opque black cases that domn't let you see just how much inlk is left to use. The old ones were translucent.???? Much better! Now ther is no way of telli g if you have used all the ink in the cartridge before having to spend another $50 -60 bucks on more ink. What are they hidding???? - Printer - Pixma - Ink Cartridge'

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Dvd Media - blank dvd media, dvd media

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In case you are wondering why some people have no problems and others can't use them, in most cases its how burner supports them. Note that the TDK gray -R disks are CMC MAG AM3 media



Bought 100 pack and a new Samsung sh-s182/Sony DRU-830A 18x burner. disks were unburnable at any speed other than 4x and the burner could not read my burns using Fuji Disks. Exchanged the burner for a Liteon SHM-165P6S and it burns the TDKs at 16x with only 1 coaster out of 60 burns (and I was encoding a video and d/l at same time). Looked at the firmware of both drives and found that they support certain media and not others.



NEC, Sony, Samsung DO NOT like TDK disks, Lite-On loves them. Lite-On firmware supports them the other's firmware doesn't list them.



Likewise there are disks that the Samsung/Sony burn fine but the Lite-On chocks on. And it depends on which model of the drives, some Lite-On do not like them and some Sony's do.



While there are some off brand disks that are poor, TDK is not among them. However, which burner and model of burner you have makes a big difference. Before buying disks do two things:

1 - check which disks your burner's firmware supports

2 - check how those disks have performed with your burner: club.cdfreaks.com and www.hardware.info both have extensive results posted by users on media and burners. TDK 4.7GB 16x DVD-R (100-Pack Spindle)

I had used TDK DVD-R blanks many times before so I ordered this without hesitation. To my complete shock, these DVD-R discs, made by Ritek of Taiwan for TDK, were completely unusable in various DVD burners: Matsushita, NEC, Toshiba, Sony, etc. I tried over a dozen blanks in these burners, using different DVD burning programs on different computers (and a set-top burner), and not a single disc was usable.



Avoid this TDK 100-pack like a plague.



I bought a 60-pack Playo DVD-R spindle at Staples and every one of the 10 or so discs I've burned had absolutely no problems.

I have used several brands of blank media and have tried to avoid this TDKs becuse of a bad review posted a long time ago. Recently, and because I had no choice, I had to order some of these and found them to be the very best I have used. I burned several at 16x using a NEC ND-3540A just to see if they could stand that speed and all of them turned out very well. I am burning them at 12x now but that just to be safe.

Before trying these I had been using Verbatim but these are way better.

Oh, and the price is just the icing on the cake.

Initially when I read these reviews, I thought.. eh, must be people who do not know how to use their dvd writers.. I thought TDK was a brand you could trust. Personally I always loved their cassette tapes and blank cds.



Well, after using about 15 discs, 5 were bad. During ther burning process everything seems to be fine. Play it back and you will know what I am talking about. All the errors are in the same spot and you can visually see it.



Where the TDK logo is on the disc, when you flip over the disc, you can see that the burn screws up right there. (Kinda looks like someone put a slim cigarette out on that spot)



STILL, giving TDK the benefit of the doubt, I tried with my other DVD writer. Same exact problem.



I own a SONY Writer and an NEC Writer..



I do not blame the drives anymore..



Usually when I purchase blanks I really shop around and go with generic brands with great ratings, but due to the matter of convenience, I used amazon to make this purchase figuring a few more dollars for a name brand, I won't lose... I was wrong.



Just buy another brand, this one is not for you.

I have used these TDK DVD-R discs regularly in the past and never had any problems with them. At the time the media ID was either TTG02 or TTH02 which are rated as "first class media: almost flawless burns with 95-100% reliable results".

However, to my disappointment my last spindle of discs had the media ID: CMC MAG AM3 which is "4th class media: pathetic garbage media, landfill material, about 0-50% success rate". This is the same media code as Staples house brand dvd-rs which I bought for $3.00 for a 50 disc pack during their sale.

Because it's impossible to know what media code you'll be purchasing and the trouble of returning opened media - I suggest staying away from this product. For the same price get TY's or Verbatims and know that you'll have a disc that will burn flawlessly and will outlast most others.

TDK makes a very reliable blank DVD-R that can handle up to 4.7 GB of data. Moreover, these blank DVD-Rs are capable of recording data at speeds up to "16x." The video I record onto these lasts forever. I have used these as discs to record video both with and without audio.



The DVD-R discs are compact and easy to store. While the discs are still blank, store them in the circular case on the spindle that they came in. After your record video onto them, I would recommend storing them in slim jewel cases instead of paper sleeves. It's just better protection for your DVD-Rs that have information stored on them. Don't store these discs, used or blank, in rooms that become very hot; this causes damage to any brand of this type of disc and you could lose your recorded video over time.



There are three caveats that many other people note about any brand of this product: before you buy these make sure that your DVD burner drive can burn the TDK brand of DVD-R without any problems; otherwise you run the risk of getting way too many coasters at best in exchange for your money. Second, there's the "recording speed" issue. When you are burning the video onto the blank disc using computer software, don't be surprised if you see that the data is burning at a rate slower than "16x." This can happen if your burner doesn't have the capacity to burn faster, or it may be a quirk. I am not a professional so I cannot be certain of precisely what causes this phenomenon; but I assure you that the extra minute or two (tops) that you wait to get your DVD-R completed is worth the wait.



In addition, DON'T write on these using Sharpie ink pens. The ink can seep through the top coating of the DVD-R disc and slowly but surely compromise your data--ouch! If you need to label the discs, label its jewel case using a post-it note.



Overall, TDK blank DVD-R discs store video reliably over the years and I believe that if you make sure your burner can handle these they will be very useful to you. An extra minute to burn the data onto the blank disc is well worth it in the event that it doesn't actually burn at "16x" speed. - Blank Dvd Media - Dvd Media - Movie - Dvd'

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Dualshock 3 - playstation 3, playstation 3 controller

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Well folks, now that the dust has settled from the Sony vs. Immersion lawsuit, Playstation 3 owners are finally able to feel the vibe again!



I purchased this controller today and I knew the only way to properly road-test it was on the game that made the Dualshock famous, Metal Gear Solid. After booting up the game, I walked down the hallway and got spotted by a guard. As he shouted, "WHO'S THAT?" the controller jumped in my hand - and I knew this was a smart purchase. As the guards shot at me, I felt the feedback of the bullets, just as I had 10 years ago on my Sony Playstation.



I picked out another old school Playstation game, Tenchu: Stealth Assassins. From Ayame's blades to Rikimaru's sword, each sword swipe and jump had excellent feedback.



Okay, so my Playstation games worked out. But what about my Playstation 2 library?



I popped in God of War, knowing I had to feel the swing of the Blades of Chaos. The controller vibrations felt a little lighter here, but the vibrations still occurred at the appropriate times.



Then I chose Incredible Hulk Ultimate Destruction. Who better to test a vibration controller than the Sultan of Smash? All the power jumps and smashes had the vibrations intact, but they still felt a little on the light side.



All right, so far I was two for two with my Playstation and Playstation 2 test subjects. But what about my Playstation 3 games? Could I possibly hit a trifecta?



I put in Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and I decided to jump right into a heated firefight. The controller gave me feedback while shooting weapons and getting hit by enemy fire, but I knew my purchase was justified when Drake was near death: I FELT THE DUALSHOCK 3 PULSING IN SYNCH WITH DRAKE'S HEARTBEAT. It's one thing to hear that noise and know he's near death, it's quite another to feel the pulse in my own hands.



Okay, so the feedback on the older games was there, but a little lighter than I remember. The reason? Well, when I decided to go wireless on my Playstation 2 system, I bought a Logitec Dualshock controller. It turns out, that controller takes two "AA" batteries, and the vibration motors inside the controller handles are slightly larger than the ones in the Dualshock 3. That's where I felt the difference.



The Dualshock 3 vibrations may be slightly less than the Logitec controller, but it doesn't require the purchase of batteries.

The Dualshock 3 may be slightly heavier than the SixAxis, but it doesn't take up any extra space at all.



Sure, the price is about $15 more than the SixAxis, but it's a worthy upgrade for the Playstation 3 gamer who kicks it old school as well as new school. The only other drawback is the lack of an additional USB cable - but we can use the one that came with the system itself.



So what's the final verdict?



Order it, plug it in, charge it up, and get ready for the inevitable downloads from the Playstation Store to make the older PS3 games Dualshock 3 compatible.



I wouldn't recommend a feedback peripheral without providing my own feedback...



Enjoy! DualShock 3 Wireless Controller - Blue

I was already extremely happy with the Sixaxis controller, but I could not resist getting the DualShock 3. Not only do you get the rumble, but also, it feels much better in your hands, even for those games that do not use this feature. The rumble function is fun, but on top of that, it helps with gameplay, because "feeling" what is happening provides a lot more feedback than just watching how your character or car reacts to the environment.



The biggest surprise of all was that the rumble works with PS 2 games in the PS 3 system. I am currently playing through "God of War", a game which had the rumble capability in PS 2. I thought that it was unlikely that I was going to get this feature with this new controller in the PS 3, but it worked perfectly.



I know that having to buy a new controller and basically discard the one that came with the system is not the ideal situation, but I have to say this product is really worth shedding the extra bucks.

The Playstation 2's highly regarded DualShock 2 controller was considered by many to be the best videogame controller of all time. So when you've got a winning design there's no need to change anything. However, because of a legal battle with Immersion over rumble technology, Sony was forced to offer their Sixaxis controller without rumble. The Sixaxis had the same Dualshock design but it felt too lightweight and cheap. Thankfully the lawsuit has been settled and rumble has come back to the Playstation.



For the most part, the DualShock 3 is almost identical to its PS2 precessor. But it has all the features of the original Sixaxis controller in addition to rumble. The controller is still wireless, can be charged by plugging it into your PS3 (or PC), rumble is compatible with all PS1 and PS2 games, and the PS3 supports up to 7 controllers at the same time via bluetooth. Rumble in the DualShock 3 seems more responsive in regards to the location of its vibration depending on which side you get hit on during the games. I don't know if this is something in the design or if it's the developers doing it for the games but I welcome it.



All in all this is currently the best designed controller on the market right now. The PS2's DS2 was incredible so "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" applies here. I'll be enjoying rumble in my PS3 games from now on. - Dualshock 3 - Playstation 3 Controller - Video Games - Playstation 3'

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Patch Cable - cat5e, cat5

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This 100ft cable is a good cable, it is good for running through the walls to hook up a Xbox 360 or PC to a router. The only reason I gave it four out of five stars is because the cable was made with poor connectors. The cheep connectors that come with it correctly lock into the Ethernet port but are slightly too small, which allows them to come loose and disconnect from the internet. As long as you are not moving the computer or Xbox while you are using them, then this cable will work fine for you. If you need to be able to move something while using it. Then find a better cable. WHITE 100FT CAT5 CAT5e RJ45 PATCH ETHERNET NETWORK CABLE 100 FT

We needed a nonobtrusive ethernet connection for a room distant from the modem. This fit the bill perfectly. It was far less expensive and more compatable in length and color than could be found at any computer solutions source in our small community. I used the standard shipping method and it arrived far sooner than was quoted. Thanks bunches from those in the house for whom wireless was ineffective.

The requirements for a CAT5 cable call for single twisted pair wires to cancel out electromagnetic interference : [...]. Each of the four pairs in a Cat 5 cable has differing precise number of twists per metre based on prime numbers to minimize crosstalk between the pairs, on average 6 twists per 2 inches.



This product does not have twisted wires and that makes it, by definition, NOT a CAT5e cable, not even a CAT5.



Since it's a patch cable, it does use stranded wires, which also means, as another reviewer observed, that you cannot cut it and put new connectors on it, since the flexibility of the wires make it hard to push it all the way in.



On top of that, I don't think the wires are copper, since copper is not supposed to look silvery (see picture).



But wait, it gets worse - I don't think it's 24 AWG cable either. Of course, since it's stranded it makes it a bit more difficult to measure it, but as far as I can tell, the diameter is closer to that of 26 AWG than 24. My caliper read 0.42 mm; 26AWG is 0.40mm, which is closer if you account for the stranded wires, while 24AWG is supposed to be 0.51mm.



All these factors are bad enough by themselves, but if you add that to the length of the cable, it makes for an abysmal quality item.



Out of the box this cable only connected at 100T speeds, gigabit connection was not possible.



On the plus side, the wire is pretty flexible, which in theory should make for really good wiring around the house, but running untwisted cable over a 100ft is just asking for trouble.

Hey, a cable is a cable, Right? The big difference is the price. The only one I could find localy was over $80. These cable are high quality and cost under $20. I am definitely pleased with the way it is working.

This would've been a fine cable but it arrived with a big gash through the rubber casing and it did not work when tested.



After searching the cable we found the open area and located a spot on one of the wires where it had been sliced in half. I repaired the wire myself and closed the rubber with electrical tape but if you don't know how to do this kind of repair you would be stuck with a non working cable. Also, now it doesn't look very nice but luckily that does not matter for my application.



Other than that is an OK cable. The rubber is supple (perhaps too soft to protect it!) and it works fine as long as none of your wires are sliced in half. If you receive a non damaged cable I'm sure it would be a good value at this price.

Just steer clear of these cables. I bought several of these cables as a relatively cheap way to wire some rooms in the house for Internet access. You get what you pay for.



First of all, as another reviewer stated, this isn't even cat5 cable. None of the wire pairs are twisted. Wire pairs are twisted to reduce crosstalk. Twisted pairs are part of the cat5 spec. No twisted pairs = no cat5.



Second, the wires are probably 26AWG, instead of the 22AWG or 24AWG required. That means that you can't cut the ends off these and expect to wire the cable to a wall jack. The wall jacks I use require a punch-down tool to push the wire into a couple of metal pins. The pins typically cut through the rubber sleeve on the wire and make contact with the wire itself. Since these wires are thinner than required, the rubber is never cut sufficiently, resulting in inconsistent contact.



Third, the connectors on the end are just crap. They are small, so they move around in the RJ45 port on switches, routers, or computers. This causes any connection you might have to drop in and out. Also, the pins on the connector are smaller than on a known good cable connector. The pins are about half the width of a good cable, again resulting in bad connections.



Fourth, the wires are not copper. Reading up on cheap cat5 cables, I see that copper-clad aluminum is being used in cheap wires. Copper is used in wires for a reason. It conducts the signal much better than other materials while still keeping a good price point. The copper-clad aluminum will pretty much rule out using these cables for gigabit ethernet connections. You'll be lucky to get 100Mbit connections.



Luckily, I only ran a couple of these wires before discovering all of this, so I don't have to do too much work to rewire those rooms. The price on these cables was too good to be true and now I know why. Don't waste your money. Buy some better quality cables. You'll spend more up front, but you'll be happier in the end. - Ethernet Cables - Cat5e - Networking Cables - Cat5'

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Bike Accessory - bike seat, child carrier

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I just installed this seat today and took my 3 year old out for a short test ride before it started raining. While I don't have experience with day-to-day usage yet, I would like to comment on the instruction manual for those parents considering this product and hopefully the manufacturer will read this, too. In short, the manual is unclear from step 1 onwards. There's no explanation of what a "seat stay" or a "braze-on" are, so if you're unfamiliar with these terms, you may have difficulty with installing this seat. More and bigger illustrations would be appreciated. It took me about 2 hours, mainly because I had to take the rear wheel of the bike off because there's not enough room between the smallest cog and the inside of the dropout. The manual also mentions a CG (Center of Gravity) hash mark that's supposed to help with alignment, but I couldn't find it.



One side note: I almost bought this seat from craigslist. "Almost" because the seller was honest enough to tell me that she doesn't have the installation manual anymore, and warned me about the installation difficulty.



I went to various bicycle shops to check out 3 different child seats (Limo, Taxi and one whose name I don't remember) and like this the most. Despite the comment above, which is just a one-time hassle, I still think this is among the best seat on the market. Time should tell whether it's worth the price. I also considered the iBert Safe-T Front Mounted Child Bicycle Seat, which I couldn't find in any local bike shop. One salesperson told me they don't carry that product because they feel front mounted seats are just not safe for children. Most accidents are head-on collision and children are better protected when they sit behind an adult. CoPilot Limo Bicycle Child Seat

I was given a bike seat as a hand-me-down (another brand..). Didn't like it due to safety reasons so I decided to research online the best child seat while also minding price as much as possible. I narrowed it down to this one seat.



PROS:

1. Very sturdy - seat mounts to a free mounting rack that is supplied. It fastens securely to the mount and is also tethered to the bicycle seat bar as well. Very smart idea.

2. Secures infant very well - your child is secured down by the ribbon that goes over their chest as well as the horizontal bar that further secures them in the seat. There are even velcro ties if you want to tie down their feet if need be.

3. Free bike rack!

4. Interior of seat is very well cushioned for easy riding for your child.

5. Literally seconds to remove the seat. Don't be concerned it requires a few steps to accomplish this.

6. The seat is quite high - so as to keep your child safe while riding.

7. Middle of the road price.



CONS:

1. Shoddy supplied screws. They easily will strip if you are not careful. I actually discarded mine and used some other ones that I had that worked (same thread and length).

2. Instruction manual leaves a lot to be desired.



IN SUMMARY:

If you are looking for a seat that is safe and secure, not too costly and is great looking then I highly recommend this child bicycle seat.

My son enjoys riding within the carrier and I feel that he is safe within it. It is easy to install, easily detaches from the bike, and is sturdy. I would recommend using a helmet that is flat on the back for toddlers.

Today, after clipping a bush on a bumpy sidewalk, I lost balance and my bike fell on it's side with me on it and my 13 mos old in the Co-Pilot. I struggled to gain balance, but couldn't and took the brunt of the fall on my knee and my poor twisted back. After a panic, I jumped up and quickly assessed my toddlers condition. There she sat snuggly in the Co-Pilot, with her pink bunny Giro Infant Helmet (which I also highly recommend) without a clue that anything was wrong. The seat's lap bar and harness held her in place and not a single inch of her came near the pavement. Thank God! She just looked at me like I was crazy. LOL!



So despite a funky installation manual and some tweaking to accommodate the bike I had, this product is worth every penny. Its' comfy, quality, safety and ease of use are worth 5 stars. I hope no one else has to learn that the way I did though! Ha.

I bought the CoPilot Limo after spending hours and days researching both front mounted and rear mounted bike seats. Once it arrived I was so excited for my husband and I to take our daughter on her first bike ride. However after spending some time trying to figure out the instructions we began to think the seat was not compatible with my husbands bike. After calling the 800 customer service number our fears were confirmed. I was quickly told that if our bike had a quick release seat and/or a rear suspension the seat would not be able to be mounted. My husband's bike has both. My complaint is....it would have been nice to know this BEFORE I purchased the seat. I did not see this information disclosed anywhere, maybe I missed it. It's probably a wonderful bike seat, but we wouldn't know since we are not able to use it. - Baby Bike Seat - Toddler Bike Seat - Bike Seat - Child Carrier'

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Optoma - dlp projector, 3d ready

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We received this recently, and after testing it out we're very happy with the picture, menus, noise level, and brightness, particularly for the price. We test drove a video in 1080p on the projector, and it's great, so probably good for home theater use. That said, we're using it as a work projector most of the time. If you're just doing PowerPoint, probably not necessary. As a collaborative tool, though, particularly in productivity apps like Excel, the 1920x1080 is very helpful.



Customer "technical" support/service is poor. They didn't know their product, so when trying to troubleshoot the problems with keyboard emulation/control through the USB cable, they were unable to be of any help (quick summary--the functions are not working, so am currently unable to use the remote to change slides, for example. Suspect driver issue with Windows 7 and Macs, which were both tested. Function not that important, anyway, just an extra feature). The simple solution of course is to simply pass me through to an engineer who knows the product, but that didn't appear to occur to them. Perhaps this is a problem with native English? Seems to be an issue with technical support these days more than desired.



If it weren't for poor customer support related to keyboard emulation problems, I'd give it 5 stars. Vivitek D950HD 3000 Lumen 1080p Data and Home Theater Projector - 720p - Dlp Projector - 3d Ready - 1080p Projector'

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Heavier Runners - running shoes, mizuno

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I have been using for a few years now motion control running shoes from another manufacturer but have been still plagued with pain should I push too hard or run too frequently. I had resigned myself that my days of nice 5-12 mile runs were over until I took a chance on these shoes. I have been using them now for a few weeks and they have been fantastic! The pains I have been experiencing have almost completely diminished and I have been able to run longer and longer distances. The shoes are very comfortable and really make a difference. I have however only given them 4/5 stars as, they run very small - I normally wear size 11 shoes and 12 in running shoes. The 12's in the Mizuno are a tight fit, so I will be ordering the size 12s. Mizuno Men's Wave Renegade 4 Running Shoe,Silver/Surf the Web/Dress Blue,11.5 D

This is the style I ran a marathon in. Since I made it I love this shoe even more!

I hate running but it was for charity. This style of shoe was recomended to me by runner shop.

I will stick with this style as long as it is available!



Fast shipping thanks Amazon!

Having extremely flat feet, I have struggled to find a shoe that felt right. After trying a few other brands over the last couple of years (New Balance, North Face, etc...),I had given up. I even started experiencing slight lower back pain, hip pain, heel pain and arch pain when going for long walks. I knew it was due to my flat feet. I did not want to get fitted for orthotics just yet. So, I purchased a pair of these shoes, and I no longer have ANY pain when walking for long distances. I would highly recommend these shoes for extreme overpronators.

These are great looking shoes. They came a day early and feel great. They are designed to keep you from walking/running on your arch. I have flat feet and walk on my arch. I hadn't thought about whether or not my ankles hurt (a regular occurrence with my old shoes) until I was asked to post this review. For me they feel great!!

I recently purchased a pair of Mizuno Wave Renegade 4.



I used the previous Wave Renegade 3 to run about 10 marathons and for one full distance Ironman triathlon, and I found the Wave Renegade 3 to be an excellent shoe for a large runner with wide flat feet. Unfortunately, the Wave Renegade 4 is too built up around the heel and rubs my ankle bones. Also, it has an band of elastic that is supposed to hold the tongue of the shoe in place, but this band is less comfortable than a traditional shoe tongue. I was very disappointed with the new Wave Renegade 4 and returned it. I hope Mizuno will correct the problem with version 4 being too tall around the heel in its next iteration of this shoe while retaining the good platform underneath the foot.



I have purchased all versions of the Wave Renegade over the years. Just in case one of the designers from Mizuno is reading my feedback here a summary of my experience with this shoe:



Version 4 - Bad. I bought 1 pair, but couldn't use it. Too tall around heel, rubs ankle bones.

Version 3 - Very good. I bought about 7 or 8 pairs.

Version 2 - Bad. I bought 1 pair but couldn't use it. The toe was too narrow.

Version 1 - Very good. I bought about 5 pairs.

Nice pair of tennis shoes! However I have the feeling that they are not as supportive as other tennis shoes in the motion control categorie such as Brooks Beasts. To put it in a different way, this version of the Wave Renegade is not for clydesdales -such as myself-. On the other hand, they are really comfortable and light. - Running Shoes - Neutral - Mizuno - Jogging'

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Multi-gemstone - multi-gemstone, amethyst

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Had a similar problem as previous reviewer alluded to, but the wearer was given them as a gift and only wore the earrings once before a stone was lost. Of course, it was just past the time limit that Amazon accepts returns, so they are junk now--very disappointing. Don't waste your money, these earring are cheaply constructed so the stones will not stay in the settings. Platinum Plated Sterling Silver Multi-Gemstone Hoop Earrings (0.7" Diameter)

They were nice, until about a week after wearing them one of the stones came out. I would like to note there the same ones I received as a gift that someone bought from JTV. Would not recommend, or if you end up buying these check the stones!

These hoop earrings are really fun! With 5 different gemstones (peridot, blue topaz, citrine, amethyst, and garnet), they match just about everything. They are very comfortable, colorful, and sparkly. They are made well, plated with platinum, and have my favorite "huggie" clasp, which adds to comfort, looks and security. These are a must for your jewelry collection.

Purchased these along with a matching necklace as a Christmas present and was not disappointed. They are not to big or too small and sparkle so pretty. The quality of the earrings are very nice. I got them for a super price so was fearful they may look cheap but was pleasantly surprised when I saw them.

I ordered these earrings for my sister for Christmas and we are both pleased with them. Nicely made, colors are beautiful, and she has pierced ear problems and can't wear "cheap" earrings, so these were perfect.

I BOUGHT THESE EARRINGS TO WEAR WITH A MULTI-GEM NECKLACE I GOT FOR CHRISTMAS. THEY LOOK GREAT WITH THE NECKLACE FOR TIMES WHEN I AM WEARING SPORTY CLOTHES, ALONG WITH A SOLITAIRE GEM POST IN ONE OF THE COLORS IN THE OTHER PIERCED HOLE ABOVE. NICE SIZE, WEIGHT, AND GOOD CLOSURES, CLICK TIGHT. - Multi-gemstone - Gemstone Earrings - Amethyst'

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Multi-gemstone - multi-gemstone, amethyst multi-gemstone Multi-gemstone - multi-gemstone, amethyst