Guy Low Price Electronic: 20 Dec 2010

Monday 20 December 2010

Battery Cell Phone - motorola, bargaincell

The battery on my Motorola W385 recently died. I headed to the local Verizon store and they offered to upgrade my phone or charge me $40 for a new battery. I really like my phone and didn't want to upgrade, but I certainly wasn't going to pay $40 for a battery.

I did some online research and decided to purchase the battery directly from Amazon. Buying directly from Amazon didn't offer me the cheapest price, but it was less than 1/2 of Verizon's and I felt that Amazon would stand behind the product if it didn't work.

I will admit that, when it arrived, I had my doubts as to the quality of the battery because it was in a tiny clear plastic sleeve with only a barcode on it - not anything resembling a professional retail package. However, it charged right up and has been holding its charge for days at a time.

Fast shipping and a battery that does its job. Thank you Amazon! Motorola Li-Ion Battery for Motorola W385, Z6m, Z6tv, W385, W380 (Black)

We purchased this battery to replace the original one in my son's phone.... because the original battery was only lasting about a day on full charge... when it was new - it could last about a week between charges... Got the "new" battery - it too only lasts about a day... As my son only uses this phone for emergencies - it's not the phone use killing the battery... my guess is I got a "new" 3 year old battery. Unlucky I guess.

I purchased this battery for my W385 Motorola phone because the original battery has been getting old and does not hold charge like it used to. The battery arrived in seemingly new condition, but when I tried to charge the "new" battery, the phone would insist the battery was already fully charged and then die as soon as I removed it from the wall. Even after I left it to charge for several hours, it just died as soon as I unplugged the charger. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY BUYING A DEAD BATTERY.

The battery works great, the phone doesn't need charging for days now. The wide price range for this item from other vendors on Amazon was intimidating so I went with the "name brand" vendor- Amazon itself.

When I initially got this battery, I was actually considering returning it. It charged VERY quickly, but then the battery died within just a few hours of use. I actually removed the battery and replaced with my old one until I had time to test it again without worrying about not being able to use my cell phone. The second "trial" ran much more smoothly and the battery seems to be in working order now. It was very strange...

I was actually hesitant to bother purchasing this due to all the negative reviews claiming that it either didn't work, or performed worse than their older batteries. Still, seeing as my old battery only lasted 20 minutes or for 1 text, I figured I really didn't have much to lose, especially when it's at $3.

It arrived in simple packaging (at first I thought it was going to be a letter), which surprised me. When I opened it up and pulled it out, I immediately noticed all the scratches along it; I was not very assured at this point. So I continued along and replaced my old battery with it and set it to charge for the - supposedly - first time.

I waited until it was fully charged before I turned the phone on and began using it. About 2 hours later, it was at half, and at around the 5 hour mark, it was out. Not a good first impression at all, but I figured at the very least, it was doing better than the 20 minutes of my previous one.

So I repeated the procedure in that I waited for the battery to be completely dead, charged it back to full, and then fully drained it another time (doing this twice is the recommended procedure before getting any of these batteries to work at their 100% capacity).

And surprise-surprise! I was quite pleased with the result. After the first two cycles were over with, this battery lasted about 4 days of use before needing another charge. However, it hasn't stayed like that as right now I'm averaging about 2 days. Now, this is nowhere NEAR the capacity of a fresh and truely new battery. However, for a 3 dollar replacement, I can't really expect more. There is a reason why the real new batteries tend to cost 25 to 40 dollars.

I'm giving this -1 star because it really isn't 100% new. I was prepared to give it 3 stars, but I have to admit in that I'm greatly pleased with the results when considering the price.

Finally, If you truely want a new battery, you're going to have shell out more cash. As I said, there is a reason why you'll find them so much more expensive in other places. However, if your old battery is practically worthless and you just want a cheap one until you get a new phone, these batteries definitely deliver. - Battery - Motorola Cell Phone Battery - Bargaincell - Motorola'

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Kodak Klic Li -ion Battery - kodak klic li -ion battery, camera batteries

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The camera goes through battery like crazy, so I got a spare one and I keep one charged at all times and it has came in handy several times. If you have this type of battery I highly recommend that you have a 2cd one. Its well worth it! Kodak KLIC-7002 - Camera battery Li-Ion 600 mAh

I purchased this as a spare battery for my wife's camera for our trip to Europe. It worked great, one battery would last most of the day so she needed this to keep taking pics. The only problem was she lost it somewhere inside the Vatican Museum, so if you find it....enjoy. :-)

I'd had the original battery from my Kodak in the camera for a good 4-5 years and it finally wore down to only being good for about 5 minutes between charging. Compared to that, this replacement battery looks like gold. I have yet to see how it stands up against being left on the charger when its done charging, but that review would be years in the making.

I had a hard time finding this particular camera battery in stores. I found it on Amazon Marketplace quickly, and at a good price. It was shipped to me at a lighting fast speed, and it was exactly what I was looking for!

This battery works well for so long as it's able to hold a charge. Memory issues arose after only a year of use, however, and I had to purchase a new one. I love my camera, but it's power supply leaves something to be desired. - Kodak Camera Battery - Battery - Camera Batteries - Kodak Klic Li -ion Battery'

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Charger - charger, cable

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This was a perfect solution for my needs, one 30-pin connector provides only for charging and the other 30-pin connector for syncing and charging. I often use an iPad or iPod not linked to my computer/iTunes so the second power only connector is ideal as I can charge two devices simultaneously and do not have the annoying messages regarding the devices being synced to a different library. Dual iPhone / iPod Splitter Cable. Charge up to Two Apple Devices At Once From a Single USB Port

My husband and I keep this in our kitchen and it allows us to

charge both of our iPhones simultaneously when we walk in the house.

With our iPhones and iPods, having a good quality multi-cable is very

convenient. Thanks!

I think the people having problems with this cord are hooking it up to an inqdequate power supply. It is not the cord's fault it is the fault of the power supply.

Can't beat the price compared to what you would pay in the stores for a piece of wire and some plastic bits.

Amazon delivered on time, as usual.

I received my new dual sync cable today and am happy to report that it works just fine. Quality of the cable may be slightly less than the original Apple cables... seems like I just may need to connect and disconnect carefully. However, the connections do work fine and I was able to charge both my iPhone 4 and iPad with both the charge and sync cables... and the one designated sync cable successfully synced both phone and pad. Biggest downside for me is the cord length which is shorter than you'd expect for a specialized cable. Other than that, glad I went ahead and purchased and ignored some of the other bad reviews which I see now were false and probably made by more technically challenged individuals :)

I was really excited to get this because having an iPad and iPhone I really wanted to reduce cord clutter. After about 5 min of charging both devices suddenly start going nuts. Charging, not charging,charging then not. It's as if you plugged and unplugged super fast. Needless to say the chirping and vibrating gets your attention. The USB charge adapter gets very hot so I am assuming this is the problem. Might work ok if you were just plugging into a computer USB port. Did not try or want that. - Ipod Cable - Charger - Cable - Iphone'

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Camping Griddle - propane grill, camping grills

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Well, I'd have to say this product does do what it was design to do - it cooks eggs, bacon, and pancakes fine. But, there is a major design flaw as far as I'm concerned. When you cook something with lots of grease (e.g. bacon), the grease just runs off the sides through the holes (visible in the picture) into the body of the grill with the burners are. It then ignites creating a turbo cook mode! I was able to turn the gas off completely and cook the entire meal off bacon fat. As 'green-friendly' as this maybe, I really didn't care for the approach. What a MESS to clean up!

If you only plan to cook eggs or panacakes, it works fine. Just make sure you have it PERFECTLY level. I lost an entire egg through one of the side holes due to a little slant. You can imagine what my stove looked like after this breakfast ;-) Coleman RoadTrip Cast Aluminum Accessory Griddle

We just bought the Road Trip Grill to add to our camping arsonal. We love it, but in attempting to use the griddle accessory, we found a major design flaw. It has slot-like holes all around the inside of the lip. So when the description says "great for bacon", I would not reccomend that unless you like grease fires in the morning with your eggs. We couldn't figure out why it was made this way, but I probably won't be using it for that again.

This is a must have for camping. We don't eat bacon, so haven't had the problems of other users. We have used it for eggs and pancakes, but my favorite is grilled ham and cheese sandwiches on an overcast beach day. Pam spray makes clean up as easy as wiping it down with a paper towel. These are light and easy to store, we bought the RoadTrip rolling case and the griddles can be stored in the grill when you use the velcro straps to hold the grill closed. I store the heavier grills in the inside compartments of the case and everything is kept together.

Some people have expressed problems with using the griddle plate for bacon. We used an original blue Roadtrip which had water in the grease catcher. We learned to line the pan with tinfoil before adding the water to make cleanup easier. We cooked literally a pound of bacon at a time without fire problems with water in the lined pan.

We now have a red RoadTrip LXE which isn't designed for water in the pan. We also line this pan with tinfoil for cleaning purpose. When we use the griddle plate for bacon we line the LXE pan with tinfoil and don't punch the drain hole through. We then add water to the lined pan and cook our bacon. Later when everything is cooled down we put a can under the drain hole and punch the tinfoil through to drain the water from the pan. No problems yet with flame ups when we use this method. FWIW. AP

The BBQ comes with one grill and one griddle, if you intend on using it as a BBQ, you'll quickly need a 2nd grill to make the whole stove-top a grill surface. These grills are aluminum and while they move the heat very quickly, they also don't carry it as long or as even as the iron version. The upside is that they're lightweight and relatively easy to clean. One downside, upon my first use and being careful, some of the teflon already started coming off the top edges...I seriously doubt they'll last very long, so be extra super-careful and don't let anyone near them with anything but a soft-plastic or heat-tolerant rubber.

When I first purchased this grill and then for the next year or two I also thought it was terrific. Then things started to go haywire.

The lock that keeps the top fastened to the bottom was poorly designed. It eventually loosened and now one either had to hold the two pieces together or put an elastic ("bungee") cord around it or it will comes apart.

Next, the grease cup caught fire. If that wasn't bad enough, it is located right by the propane cylinder. We were able to extinguish the fire before it heated the propane bottle but not before the grease cdup melted.

THEN, while pre-heating it, the center of one of the grills completely melted through. I read the instructions before using te unit and I recall it saying not to COOK with the lid closed. I have absolutely no recollection of it saying not to PRE-HEAT with the lid closed. Net result: Another grill for $33.

As I can't readily locate my instruction manual, I'll need to find one online or somewhere to see if there is a warning about that. If so, then it's my fault. If not, then Coleman has a potential disaster on it's hands.

In any event, I've reported it to the Consumer Product Safety Commission after having gotten no satisfaction from Coleman other than them saying "the lid isn't supposed to be down."

If you buy one, make sure EVERYBODY who uses it knows that under no circumstances ever put the lid down while the flame is on. Most people who grill a lot are used to following the cooking instructions of always pre-heating--don't do it with this grill.

This product would be better if it didn't have the open slots on the side for (bacon) grease and pancake batter to drip through; it would save on the clean up. Would prefer a solid design with maybe higher edges to prevent run off. - Camping Grills - Coleman Grill - Portable Grill - Propane Grill'

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Bluetooth Car Kit - t305, motorola t305

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I was looking for a replacement for my bluetooth headset when I started looking at bluetooth speakerphones. After doing some research, I was looking for the following:

* No installation - I wanted to use it in multiple vehicles/locations

* Reasonable price

* Trusted brand

* Good sound quality

* Easy to use

I am happy to report that the T305 does a good (sometimes great) job of satisfying my requirements. Here's a look at how it has performed:

Setup - Upon opening the box, there are really two things to do: insert the visor clip which is easily secured and use the car charger that comes with the unit. While the instructions said that charging could take up to two hours, my unit fully charged in about 30 minutes. Once complete, simply power on the device, and it automatically enters pairing mode. I was able to find it with my LG VX-9900 (see my review) with no problems at all.

Use - Coming from a background of using headsets, I must say that I cannot imagine going back. I really like not having anything hanging on my ear (and sometimes inserted in my ear depending on the headset). This model also seems geared toward the people who use headsets because the operation is very similar. One nice thing is that the power button is separate from the multi-function button. With my 9900, I am able to initiate voice dialing from the speakerphone and with the 9900 set to auto-answer, calls are automatically transferred after 2 seconds. The volume controls on the sides are easily accessible and operate similar to most headsets. I never have to touch my phone at all so it truly is hands-free.

Call Quality - All of the above is meaningless if the calls don't sound good, right? Well, have no fear. The call quality for both parties is better than any headset that I have ever used - and I've used six different ones over last 2 years. Some of this has to do with positioning. In the Texas heat, most people have their AC on a high setting. Unfortunately, most headsets are positioned directly in line with the air flow. However with a visor clip-on of this speakerphone, this is not the case. Add to that the noise canceling technology, and the people on the other end hardly know that they are on speakerphone at all. On my end, the volume is more than adequate. It's really a simple matter of physics - the speaker is bigger here than it is on a headset.

Cons - So what's the catch? As I mentioned earlier, the device only ships with a car charger. I ordered (rather cheaply) a wall charger to compensate for this. While it was annoying, it wasn't the end of the world. Others have mentioned the flashing blue light. I have to admit that the first time I was driving in the dark, it was initially distracting. However, I got used to it rather quickly, and I don't notice it anymore. I would compare it to getting a new car that has a loud turn signal. You notice it a lot at first, but you learn to tune it out. Also, it does not have a display, but then again, neither do headsets. Finally, I use it in a similar manner to a headset. I take it with me when I get out of the car, and I power it off between uses. It's not an integrated speakerphone so it isn't tied to your car's power supply like more sophisticated (and expensive) models. None of these are deal-breakers for me.

Bottom line - If you are looking for a good alternative to bluetooth headsets, and you intended use pattern will be similar to that of a headset, then this is what you are looking for. It has great quality, and it's easy to use. Motorola T305 Bluetooth Portable Car Speaker

Pros: Good sound quality for each side of the conversation. Good battery life, easy recharging, simple to use. Basically perfect except for my cons..

Cons: Huge blinking blue light is annoying at night and invisible during the day. Sometimes it take a second for it to answer a call when you click the answer button. I guess the solution for that is probably to wait a few seconds after answering before saying "hello". This flaw also demonstrates itself when using VZ Navigator, because it cuts off the first word of driving instructions. This flaw might be from my MOTOKRZR phone and not from the T305, but I don't have any way to know which end causes it.

Another reviewer stated that the "on/off" button is too small. When I first read that, I didn't know why it matters. I now know. At least with a MOTOKRZR (and I'd assume other phones), the speaker on your phone will be inactive when it is connected via Bluetooth to your T305. With 150 feet of range, it actually stays connected if you are 150 feet from your car. Therefore you have to turn it off every time you get out of the car, or else you won't be able to hear calls you receive on your phone. It isn't a huge deal, and something you can get used to, but Motorola should have either made the on/off button more accessible or cut the Bluetooth range down to about 15 feet.

Overall the best handsfree solution for talking in the car. The light thing is my biggest annoyance. I would buy again. (I updated this post after about a month of use) - T305 - Bluetooth - Speakerphone - Motorola T305'

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Salt And Pepper Shaker - pepper shaker sets, neat design

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I have been looking for some unique salt and pepper shakers for awhile. These fit the bill perfectly! They are just the right size, about 3 inches high. Not only are they absolutely adorable, it's totally easy to see which is salt and which is pepper. They are cute without being over the top cutesy. I am extremely happy with them! "LOVE AND HUGS" SALT & PEPPER SHAKER SET *GREAT GIFT IDEA FOR FRIENDS, LOVED ONES, WEDDING, ETC"

I had bought these as a gift and am rather disappointed. There is a link to an external site that amazon has on this page for seemingly the same product with the same pictures and all, but that one shows these as being made of ceramic. Be advised that these are cheap plastic shakers with very noticeable plastic seams on them. The holes of the pepper shaker do not look big enough for "normal" pepper and the salt ones look to big for salt so you'd get too much. They are really light weight and I'm afraid that if my sister uses them too rough or clanks them on the counter they'll break. Also doesn't help that now the listed price is less than half what I paid a week ago ($11).

My suggestion is if you're going to buy these and they are listed at more than $5 don't bother. The shipping estimate is 2 pounds and these things according to the packing label are only 5oz. It's very misleading. I paid $5 in shipping for it to come in a plastic baggie with the cardboard box (got crushed in delivery).

I do not believe I was sent what this amazon ad was originally for though judging by that the original price is listed as $60 it can't be for these things since no one in their right mind would pay $60 for these plastic things.

I agree with the last reviewer - I got a bunch of them in Thailand in several colors for gifts for everyone and they were less than a dollar. Try eBay or somewhere else before overpaying!! Also, the salt holes are big so be careful how much salt is coming out.

I ordered mine off etsy for about 12$ + s&h (it was at the time cheaper). I got the ceramic shakers and I keep them in my kitchen as decoration. Though, I do set them on the table when we have company-having multiple shakers is always handy. I find the flow of salt/pepper to be fine, unless you enjoy copious amounts of one or the other on your food, it should be adequate. They're great for decoration, easy to fill & are a feel good piece for your kitchen or dining room table.

The salt and pepper shakers are really cute. They came packaged in a mailing envelope. Thankfully they weren't broken, if they would had been packed in a sturdy box it would had been more giftable. But, they were cute anyway.

I don't know why a lot of people its saying that got the PLASTIC Shakers. Mine is NOT PLASTIC! Mine are ceramic, cutes and adorables shakers.

I had to buy more as gifts because they are cute and affordable.

The ones I got were from safetraderla.

PERFECT GIFT!

The actually item looks very different from the picture. As the review suggests, it's NOT made of ceramic and the plastic looks cheap. The design is interesting but I don't think it's a good idea for a superior gift. And don't bother if it's over 10 bucks-you will regret it.

It's was really good set, that perfect match to my kitchen stuff. But it came broken. May be not enough or bad pa'kagine. And may be it was very fragile that haven't to send like shipping.

But I still want to say thanks! - Neat Design - Fun Gift - Pepper Shaker Sets - Salt And Pepper Shaker'

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Battery Operated - clock radios, sony alarm clock radio

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What I like about this alarm clock: doesn't take up much room on my nightstand, the time is preset at the factory so all I had to do was set my time zone, the alarm doesn't jolt you awake - it starts out slow and quieter gradually getting faster and louder, you can choose how long you want your snooze to be, and it is so easy to figure out - I first saw this item at Target and was able to figure it out right there while displayed, quite a few of the others baffled me.

Other info: only one alarm time can be set Sony ICF-C218 Automatic Time Set Clock Radio (White)

I kept having a problem with my 10 year olds forgetting to set their alarms at night or forgetting to reset the clock after an electrical 'hiccup'. Anyway, I bought them each one of these clocks so they'd never have to fuss with the time again. Let me say that part works GREAT! However, they both like to fall asleep listening to music which they have on a very low volume. The 'sleep' feature allows them to set the timer to 90/60/30/0 minutes till shut-off. Since they fall asleep to a low volume music, they are not able to set the wake-up alarm to 'radio'. They'd never hear it. So we set it to 'buzzer'. The sound is not a buzzer. It's a very pleasant beeping which is not that loud at all. If you wake easily this should not be a problem. My two DON'T wake easily. I still find myself having to wake them up. My next move... a foghorn blown from the sofa where I sit drinking my morning joe and watching the news. :)

This clock is just perfect in our beach house. Actually, I have now bought 3 of these since they are white with our white furniture. They are small and they aren't so bright at night that it is bothersome. I would recommend these clocks. My daughter even wanted one to take off to college with her because of the size, radio and dim light at night.

After 1.5 years and lots of use, I can say that this radio is a terrific value for the money. It is well designed & attractive with a relatively small footprint. Has a pretty good instruction manual that is easy to follow. Glad I got it. Recommend highly.

I like the idea that you can fall asleep to the radio, have the alarm set on "buzzer", which is actually a gentle beep that gets louder and louder and more insistent till you turn it off. I find I cannot ignore this alarm clock. I couldn't imagine sleeping through it as you can hear it down the hall! (And like many people, who wants to get up from a deep snooze???-no choice with this one.) Never be late or hurried again!

The radio is actually fairly high quality with good sound and quite simple to tune to reception.

I guess an alternative to this effective alarm clock would be a sledge hammer poised to drop on you at the appropriate time. I think I'll take the beeping.................

This is just right for what it is....it works just fine, does what it is supposed to do. Sound is fine for casual back ground music and talk radio. Not a replacement for a Bose system or anything like that, but quiet acceptable at a very reasonable price.

The numbers are large and clear, which is great if you're myopic and trying to figure out what time it is in the middle of the night. The interface is relatively straightforward and has some nice features so you don't waste time noodling around with setting the alarm or tuning a station. The battery back up ROCKS- you don't have to reset it when the power fails. My one complaint is that it's a bit too bright: it glows more than I'd like. For the price, though, it's a good deal.

Sony ICF-C218 Automatic Time Set Clock Radio (White) We purchased this clock radio because of it's large time display. Works great. Exceptionally easy to set up. It arrived already programmed for the time. It required only a minor modification to conform to our time zone.

Display is unnecessarily bright and all the dots make verifying that the alarm is set a dubious process. The am radio does not come in very clearly, though not sure if that is a hardware issue. On the plus, it's small and compact and I like that it tells the date. Beep function of alarm is loud enough for me and gets progressively louder which I also appreciate.

I will try to be as specific as possible. Please keep in mind that I have MS and as such , sadly my right eye is 20/400 so legally blind in that eye. I needed a clock which had numbers I can actually see from a distance away.

==Time Illumination: The numbers are tall and glow very slightly green. I can see them from the dresser, which is about 5 feet away.

I can see them enough to be able to tell what time it is (although blurry due to my right eye) The numbers do not glow too brightly. In fact seem just enough. I can also see what time it is with the lights on.

==Radio: I really could care less about the radio but had a quick listen. The sound is OK and what I would expect for a radio of this size and price.

==Alarm : The alarm is a clear tone which gets faster as it goes off. To turn off the alarm one must use a very small dial which is a bit awkward when one is not awake yet. It would do better with a button but it seems that the dial thing is a setting for also having the radio on or whether the alarm is on. Still would prefer a button but whatever. It is easy enough to turn that little dial once I have some light on. The alarm setting also has options for using the radio to wake up. Something I won't use, as I prefer the tone. The tone is not too loud. Just enough to prod me into wakefulness.

==Setting the clock: Seems a bit complicated. One must look up their time zone and set that. It seems alright after that. I needed the directions for setting the alarm time as well. But once set seems fine. I've only had the clock for a few days so don't have a long or large history with it.

Overall: I have given this clock a 4 star. One star off for the awkward alarm dial thing that one must use to turn off the tones once you are awake. - Alarm Clock - Clock Radios - Clock Radio - Sony Alarm Clock Radio'

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Playstation 3

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Crysis 2 is a game that I am sure many people were anticipating, and also skeptical about. While the first game had some hard core graphics it clearly was more of a visual benchmark than game at times. Going forward Crytek has made some changes to the formula, most for the better, and produced a high quality game that will not disappoint both fans of the original Crysis and FPS gamers in general.

GAMEPLAY - Single player

Right off the bat Crysis 2 doesn't hold much back. The campaign starts quickly and holds its pace fairly well throughout the near 12 hour SP campaign. If you played the MP Demo for Crysis 2 you will feel right at home with what changes have been made to the suit controls, as well as what to expect visually from the game and the AI itself. This game comes across as a solid shooter. During the campaign you will have many tools at your disposal to dispatch your foes including a variety of weapons, suit powers, environment items etc. The suit powers are very stream-line on the console version, having been mapped to your controller. Running automatically enables speed, while thumb buttons controlled the Armor and Stealth. You have the ability to customize your weapons load-out via unlocking mods you find throughout the campaign as well as upgrading your suit via contact with Alien DNA.

What impressed me the most about Crysis 2 was not actually the graphics, but the thought put into the gameplay. While enemy AI can be pretty stupid at times (I played on SOLDIER difficulty) the game gives you plenty of methods in which to tackle areas. You could stealth past everyone; stealth assassinate everyone; RAMBO your way though; use strength to toss enemies about or perhaps pick up an object and smash em with it. While the campaign has a typical "Linear" aspect to it, the variety at your disposal makes tackling the areas feel fresh each time and just a blast to change up your gameplay style.

Multi-Player: I have not tackled MP that much but from what I've played, expect your typical formula for MP in Crysis 2. If you played the MP demo then you would have an idea what to expect really. What I did like was the "custom class" concept where as using your unlocks you can create a unique build for Multi-Player. A nice little concept that keeps the MP feeling fresh I think.

STORY/SOUND

Okay.. this is Crysis we're talking about so don't expect a riveting storyline like RPGs might bring to the table. The storyline isn't bad though as you could tell there was an effort put in to make a normal storyline here; It kind of is just enough to keep you occupied during cut-scenes and give you a good reason to go forward essentially. ** SOUND in this game is just awesome! I thought Killzone 3 had some wild sound effects, Crysis 2 pretty much takes the cake! The weapon sound effects are very quality, including the nice echo effects when firing rounds off in an open quiet area. The voice acting is 'average' I'd say. Not bad but not award winning acting either. The sound track this game has is mind blowing!! The tracks are very epic and will have your blood pumping from start to finish with how good the music sets the tone.

GRAPHICS

The graphics are stunning especially for a console game. Are they the best...hard to tell but then again I really have not seen a game best this game graphically. On the PC however this game is just insane. Running it at 1920x1080 w/ full setting will just blow your mind. Once you see it on the PC it becomes quite obvious that the console versions had stuff held back. Even with the graphics toned down they still do look great, but there are some small hickups. I found a few times the frame-rate chugged a little bit in high volume areas especially with fires or explosions. There is also some texture flickering going on in certain spots that are hard to ignore, also accompanied by texture pop-ins. For the graphical level this game pumps out I am not surprised though, especially once you see how large some areas can be. The alien design this time around I enjoyed. They had a lot more detail put into them and a better variety as well.

REPLAY/LENGTH

For the campaign, on soldier difficulty, it took me about 10-11 hours to complete. I was not rushing though the game and I mixed it up between stealth and Rambo style. I could see this campaign being about 11-13 hrs for people who LOVE stealth killing, or as short as 8 hours if you simply run past certain areas without bothering to fight. This puts the Length of the game at a decent length. There is plenty going on in the campaign and I could find myself playing through the campaign a few times more as the gameplay really lends itself to creativity/variety (a bit like Bulletstorm just without the Skill-Shot system). Throw in some decent MP that has some longevity to it and you got yourself a game that could easily last you well until the next big shooter hits the market.

OVERALL (93% 9.3/A-)

I gotta say this game is just the complete package. Having played Bulletstorm, Killzone 3 and Crysis 2 there is a clear line between all three games. Crysis 2 for me, falls in the category of a fantastic, long SP campaign with a solid MP setup. The gameplay has great variety to it and, in my opinion, worth revisiting a few times. The multi-player is quality, clearly not just *tacked on*, and it brings a lot of fun to the table making for even more variety in the game itself. I give Crysis 2 a 93%... It is a game well worth playing and adding to your FPS collection

**NOTE: Killzone 3 and Crysis 2 are both fantastic games. I scored KZ3 a 91%. While I feel Killzone 3 has a better overall MP element (for the PS3), Crysis 2 feels like a more complete package due to a better SP-Campaign(in my opinion). Graphically I feel Crysis 2 is better but also contains more graphical glitching

**NOTE: The PS3 version ran almost flawless for me (except for rare FPS drops and the graphical hick-ups). I wouldn't worry to much about performance when it comes to 360 vs PS3. Get the game on whichever system you feel more comfortable with. Crysis 2'

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Stationary Bike - stationary bike, exercise bike

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The Schwinn A10 is a relatively new product, and is the new iteration of the much more reviewed Schwinn Active 10. It has improvements over the former, but also commands a higher price as of now. Whether or not Schwinn will eventually phase out the Active 10 for the A10 is unknown to me.

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PACKAGING:

The bike was in a large box which had a shipping weight of 65 pounds. All of the components are placed into two foam molds, which were very secure. The condition it will arrive in will most likely vary depending on the carrier and how they treat it.

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ASSEMBLY:

Each component is wrapped in a plastic bag, and the console comes in its own box inside the package. Assembly instructions are provided, along with two User's Manuals, in both English and Spanish. All necessary tools and fasteners are supplied***. If one did not have trouble taking the components out of the package, it should be easy to assemble alone, otherwise additional help may be required. The heaviest individual part would be the mechanical component housing which needs to be angled slightly upwards in order for the stabilizing bars to be attached on the bottom. Remember to connect the console to the base before attaching the support.

***During assembly, it became clear that the supplied hex key did not fit several of the bolts. A standard 5/16 hex key works fine.

***One of the four capped nuts for the stabilizers was unthreaded. A trip to the hardware store was required to obtain a metric M8x1.25 nut.

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USAGE REVIEW:

The bike is powered by 4 D-cell batteries (unsupplied) which had cost around $6 locally. An optional AC adapter can be purchased from Schwinn for $15 + Tax, S&H. As of current usage, it is unclear how long a set of batteries will last. The electronics shut off after 5 minutes of non usage, with no manual way to turn off.

The final assembled dimensions of the bike at the base are:

--27.5" from front to back

--16.5" at the front stabilizer

--14" at the rear stabilizer

--47.5" high at the handlebars

***Note that the bike is trapezoidal in shape, with a narrow base and wide top.

The bike seat post has a wide range of adjustable heights, done so by a twist knob that is inserted along a series of holes on the post. At 6' (184cm), I can comfortable ride the bike, and there are 2 higher positions and 5 or 6 more lower ones.

The bike seat itself is adequate. Having not rode a bike in over 7 years, I was fine at the end of a 20 minute ride with just minor soreness as expected.

***IMPORTANT NOTE: This bike seat attachment is nonstandard. If you plan to change it, you will need to buy an adapter, which will cost around $20 + Tax, S&H. Look for a 3-bolt bike seat adapter on the internet.

A bottle holder comes standard, it is plastic and works fine with my 28oz Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Water Bottle. The top of the console also doubles as a book holder, but depending on your handlebar setup, it may limit the width of the book or magazine you wish to read.

The pedals come with straps and feel very solid. Shoes are recommended when using the machine.

The fan that is in the center console is an asthmatic 60mm PC case fan. It does spin but provides no measurable airflow.

There are a total of 8 resistance levels which vary gradually. The console has 6 setups and 1 free/manual mode for user controlled resistance, which is the Quick Start button. The predefined modes work by displaying a set of 10 columns with the variances in resistance, and with each column representing 1 minute. After the user selects the amount of time and the starting resistance level, the program will adjust according to the setup. The manual mode lets the user change how long the machine stays at a particular resistance level.

The console also has a contact heart rate monitor. Just place your hands on the contact areas and it will display the measured heart rate. I cannot vouch for the accuracy, but it does at least work.

During operation, there is a noticeable but unobtrusive hum from the mechanical movement. However, changing resistance levels on my machine has a a very minor ticking noise. This seems to be coming from the small motor in the front of the housing. Whether or not this is a problem or is part of the normal use is unknown to me.

====================

PERSONAL OPINION:

I am an adult male in my early 20's. I am 6' tall and weigh roughly 175 lbs. I purchased this machine to help improve my health and allow me to exercise at my leisure and in the comfort of my own home. So far I have been happy, as a 20 minute session feels like a nice workout. Even though there were some assembly issues, I am overall very happy with this piece of equipment. If there are any drastic changes to that opinion, I'll be sure to update this review. Schwinn A10 Upright Bike

This upright stationary bike is great. I was transitioning from an old "friction" based old fashioned bike and the resistance is so much smoother with the A10. There are enough programs / resistance levels to make training interesting and is a great alternative to the gym cycles.

The only minor negatives to the bike and is really specific to Amazon is that the recommended "Schwinn Pillow Top Cruiser Bicycle Seat" is not compatible with this bike as far as I can tell. I emailed Schwinn/Nautilus support and they confirmed this being the case and they have no alternative seats to recommend. I'm a novice cyclist and after 30 minutes on this bike, my crotch area gets pretty sore (more so than my outdoor bike). I was hoping the "Schwinn Pillow Top Cruiser Bicycle Seat" would fix this but can't be used. The only other gripe is that the Fan is pretty pathetic and if you (or your 3 year old) accidentally leave the fan on, it will drain the "D" batteries in a few hours.

So in short, I'd definitely recommend this product but be warned about the seat. - Stationary Bike - Schwinn - Stationary Indoor Bike - Exercise Bike'

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Home Theater Receivers

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I am very happy with this receiver and had no problems with set up. My system is fairly simple but it replaced a Pioneer receiver with no HDMI inputs, so it is nice to be up with the times. I went ahead and upgraded to a Sony BX37 Blue Ray player as well. I went from cord all over the place to 3 HDMI cords: (FIOS to TIVO), TIVO to receiver, Receiver to TV, Blue Ray player to receiver. I had a box of old optical, analog and component video connectors left! I especially like the fact that the TV still gets picture and sound even with the receiver in Standby, and that the receiver and blu ray player can be operated from the same remote. Many options for surround sound etc. so I am just scratching the surface. Very nice value for the money:) Sony STRDH520 7.1 Channel 3D AV Receiver (Black)

I was originally looking at Pioneer and Denon before this Sony caught my eye. For the price and the features, this thing seemed like almost too good to be true. Fortunately, it's a solid product. It may lack some of the higher end bells and whistles (S-AIR, AirPlay, etc) but for a solid 7.1 system for a living room, it's awesome. It drives a set of Sony 7.1 speakers very well and offers very clear, dynamic sound. This may not be the best choice if you have a huge living room, but I barely tap its power before it gets more than loud enough for my condo. All in all, it's an excellent product for an excellent price here on Amazon.

What can I say, it's a Sony receiver. I replaced a ten year old Pioneer unit with this, and I am so pleased. My rats nest of wires has disappeared now that I only need one HDMI cable running up to my TV. The sound is good through my Bose speakers, and the setup was a snap. I saw that there were a lot of adjustments I could make to the sound setup, but the default sounded great to me and I haven't adjusted it. One thing I like is that it seemed to detect how many speakers I had plugged in and configured itself to work with them. Very nice.

It's a Sony, so it will last for years, and the HDMI and 3D capability make sure it won't become obsolete for a good while.

I have had this receiver in place for about one month in extensive use with my home theater system and Panasonic 50 inch plasma. I am very pleased with the features and performance of this unit. It has ample connection options and all the power I could want for my application. The ability to fine tune output to match our speakers and the listening area is a definite plus which significantly contributes to our home theater experience. The unit has far exceeded my expectations and I believe it was a good value for the money spent.

The manual shows that you can assign analog composite or component video signals to an input channel. It does not say that there isn't a converter inside to put those signals onto the HDMI output (check page 52 of the manual). You will need to buy a $40 external converter to make HDMI to input to the receiver. This is a major failure that's undocumented. Getting my inputs into a single HDMI for my TV was the reason for my purchasing this receiver.

The receiver functions fine otherwise. The main speaker output terminals use a strange connector that I dislike, but may be more common in today's audio products.

Just installed the Unit. Installation was pretty straightforward. I am pretty impressed with the performance so far, this is coming from a person who has used Pioneer VSX 1020K for more than an year. I have hooked this up to Polk Audio 5.1 speaker system and the sound quality is very good.

I will include detailed comments after a month of use, but in the meanwhile I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a decent receiver

Worth twice what I paid for it. It can do anything you ask it to and do it well. I got it to one half volume before my wife made me stop. Power is super. Clean, clear signal and a joy to listen to.'

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Usb Serial Adapter - linux compatible, rs232

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Finally - an adapter that really works with windows 7 and 64 bit - and so reasonably priced - bought one from Staples that said it was windows 7 compatible for $40 and it didn't work - I use this to hook my laptop to my embroidery machine - so excited that its working!! Plugable USB to RS-232 DB9 Serial Adapter (Prolific PL2303HX Chipset)

This is a very good Serial-USB adapter. Not much than can be said about it except that it installs easily and works flawlessly. Installing the drivers one time from the provided DVD enabled every USB port in my machine to recognize the adapter immediately. This is important to me because I own another brand of Serial-USB adapter that requires the drivers to be separately installed on each USB port to be used, which is a real bother.

I would definitely recommend this product to anyone having a need for a Serial-USB adapter.

I needed a serial port to talk to the door security system at the fire department and the adapter we had before would not work on the new 64 bit Win7 system. After looking around, I found this adapter and it works fine as long as you install the latest driver ([...]) and reboot before you plug the cable in the first time.

I recently purchased a used handheld GPS (Garmin eTrex Legend). Great price but with the downside of requiring a serial connection. Garmin was offering a serial to USB cable for $89. Got this one instead and the unit works great! Thanks for helping keep my good deal a good deal.

I had purchased a laptop with Windows 7 and without the RS232 connection and needed one to upload information into my electronic organizer. The laptop recognized the installation CD and then the adapter plug on its first time. I had no problems with the install or using the electronic organizer.

I bought this to connect a lab equipment to the computer. I guess newer computers sometimes come without a serial port nowadays. The operating system on the computer was windows vista, and it was easy to install the driver from the cd that came with the USB to serial adapter. I have not had any trouble getting it to work.

I just wanted to state that this is a perfect USB to Serial Converter for use with the Linux OS. I had been looking for a USB/SerialConv and noticed that this one, and this is key, has the Prolific PL2303HX Chipset. Which, for most newer Kernels, is plug and play. I would have liked to seen a review like this when I was checking the item out but was pretty sure on the chipset. So I thought I'd give a review in case other Linux users are wondering. Anyhow, I took it out of the box, plugged it in, and had a ttyUSB* device show up in # dmesg. I didn't use the CD at all. The CD is for winDoze users. Worked great with Novell SuSe and Debian. Price? Just right! Ok folks, have fun...

The product does what it says it will do, in my case I did need to install the supploied drivers (Windows XP). However after the install I just powered off the machine, plugged in the device and restarted. Now I am able to select that port for my device that requires COM4 communications.

I connected this device to a 32 bit Windows 7 machine. Windows tried unsuccessfully to install it but the device popped up a window and asked if I wanted to download the drivers. Now the device comes with a CD but I figured I would get the drivers off of the net and thereby get the latest ones. They downloaded and installed inside of a couple on minuets. I just had to unplug the adapter and plug it back in and bingo. It is now connected to my Uniden 780XLT scanner and it works perfectly.

And by the way I love Amazon Prime... - Usb Serial Adapter - Rs232 - Linux Compatible - Adapter'

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Neoprene Sleeve - ipad, ipad case

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I wanted something simple to protect my new iPad 2 when I put it in my bag, this cover does the trick! It's cheap, durable and the essence of simplicity. Fits my iPad 2 with or without smart cover on. What more could you ask for? Kensington K62911US Reversible Sleeve for Netbooks, Fits 7 to 9-Inch Netbooks (Black/Gray)

While some reviews might lead you to think otherwise, this is not specifically an iPad sleeve. It's a generic netbook sleeve (it even says so on the tag) that has found new life with the release of the iPad. It fits the iPad pretty well, although a little tight if anything. I'm not personally a big fan of these slip sleeves but the price can't be beat.

It's an unlined neoprene slip sleeve from a reputable company. If that's what you want and the price is right for you, you'll be happy.

Bought this for my ipad 2 because of the positive reviews... It does fit but not perfectly.

I think it's a bit small for the iPad 2. Just a few mm off...You def have to do some pushing and tugging.

The price was a bit insane so let's start shoving it in!

Fits both my iPad and my Netbook well, nice package, basically wet suit material, or very similar (which is fine). After only a week, however, the stitching that goes around the flap that pulls over whatever you have inside has come untitched in the middle and is coming unstitched all the way around. Waaaaay too early for that to happen. I'm an office guy, I haven't had this thing on a construction site. Unfortunate.

UPDATE - 12/2010. The above is correct, but maybe an anomaly. I restitched that little stretch that came undone (maybe it was my fault that it came unstitched in the first place), and I use the thing regularly with my iPad. Great piece of gear. Easy to put on, take off, great protection. Would definitely recommend. I'm going to up my review from 2 to 5 stars.

I bought this sleeve for my ipad based on the reviews here, and the low price. Personally I find this sleeve too tight a fit for the iPad, it's a struggle to get this thing on and off. I just want the iPad to slide out easily, but I have to tug and pull at it. I guess it depends on what your needs are, but it doesn't work for me. Maybe I'm just lazier than the other folks!

I had recently purchased an iPad and quickly realized that I would need some form of protective cover for it to prevent scratches or even worse damage. The price of the "official" iPad cover seemed a bit too high, as were the prices of most other iPad covers. I was looking for the best function/price balance and came across this product. After reading several reviews that indicated that even though this sleeve was designed for net books it works well with an iPad, I decided to give it a try. It turns out that this really is a perfect iPad cover - the iPad fits it perfectly and it's very easy to get it in and out thanks to the reversible cover. I also tried to use it with my Acer Aspire One AOA150-1447 8.9-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, XP Home, 6 Cell Battery) Sapphire Blue and in fact it did fit in quite well, although it required a bit of work to stretch it and get it in. In my opinion this sleeve is better suited for iPad than for netbooks, but it can certainly work for both.

The biggest draw of this sleeve is its price - at $5.50 when I bought it (with free shipping) it is by far the most affordable option out there for protecting your iPad or your netbook. If you want a no-frills protection for your gadget that does the job right this is probably the best option that you have.

It fits the iPad. If you have a netbook that is slightly bigger than the iPad, it is unlikely to fit it easily. That being said, the fabric does stretch fairly well. For a 10 inch netbook, however, it is unlikely to fit.

The reverse color, grey, is rather pale and I can't think of anyone who would want to use it. - Netbook Case - Ipad Case - Sleeve - Ipad'

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Usb Card Reader - sd card reader, sdhc

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Update: 4/18/10 After hundreds of uses I decided to buy another card reader when I gave this one away to a friend who had tried to download HC cards with a regular reader. I purchased the one linked below. I like it a lot better. It has a better feel for inserting and removing the reader into the computer and the SD card into the case. I recommend the Secure Digital over the Zeikos reader.

PQI USB 2.0 SecureDigital High-Speed (SDHC) Card Reader

I was a bit worried that it would be junk because of James review but I figured it was only $3, what the heck. I did not experience any of the problems that James did. My reader fit properly into the USB slot and performed properly. I like that you can put the cover over the back of the card reader and protect the SD card. I have used it with SD and SDHC cards without a problem.

If you have a question please leave a comment.

UPDATE: I have been watching the price of this card reader change by the day. At the time I wrote this review it was only $2.97. Now it is $4.97. I wish I ordered more.

12/20/09 Now it's $5.97. Still worth the price.

Update: 1/31/10 I am still using the reader almost daily and have not had any problems with it. I am concerned that I see so many bad reviews. Is it possible that I got a good reader and so many others got bad readers? My review is based on my experience. Please consider other reviews since the seem to be so many negative reviews now. Zeikos USB 2.0 SD/SDHC/MMC Flash Memory Card Reader ZE-SDR5

Great little reader for full-size SD/SDHC cards. Fast USB 2.0 high-speed reading and writing. I also like how the little LED on the reader will go out after you successfully "eject" the card, so you know it is safe to remove.

The dust cap over the card slot can be put back on with the card installed in the reader, making it look more like a "flash drive" than a card reader, and also avoids accidentally removing the card while reading/writing (the card is held in with just minimal friction).

I have tried this on a number of machines, with both SD and SDHC cards. A couple of laptops did require the use of the (included) extension cable because the reader would not otherwise fully insert into their recessed USB port.

Purchased several of these readers, none showed the problems with "the metal male end" reported by the other reviewer.

I was a little reluctant to buy this card reader after reading some of the reviews. However, for the price, the very small risk made the purchase well worth it. When reading through reviews, I try and read between the lines and filter out what I feel could be biased.

Anyway. I bought two of these, one to carry in my camera bag and one to keep handy at my desk. I simply insert my SDHC card in the reader, plug the reader into my USB port and my pictures instantly appear. No problems, no hassles and this reader operates at a totally respectable speed. Would I buy them again? You bet!

These were at such an unbeatable price when I ordered, that I decided to buy 3 as the reviews were good. I haven't been disappointed either! I do a lot of amateur photo and video, so I am constantly loading SDHC cards into my PC to transfer files. These card readers are fast and very reliable. I haven't had a single issue with them at all and they will even serve as a handy external USB "micro-hard-drive" one day when large capacity SDHC cards fall in price and I have upgraded.

Update 07-09-2010:

Well, the party couldn't last that long. One of the readers that I had bought has now mysteriously failed. It wasn't dropped or misused in any way, it just ceased to read any cards. I am now wondering about the quality of these. Hopefully it was just a freak occurance.

NOTE: I would give this a ZERO STAR RATING if I could

This chip worked 4 times. I was using a 16gb scandisk SD card.

On the 5th time, using the USB extension it opened to a folder on the desktop which was all in code.

Then it flashed the message that it was removed improperly which could cause problems etc.. except I had not removed it.

I ejected it and put it in without the usb extension and it said memory card could not be read.

I put the chip back in my camera and it said the same thing and would not allow me to reformat it.

It made the card unreadable to any reader OR my camera and I lost all photos and cannot reformat the card, which is basically now lost.

I put a new 2gb chip in my camera, took some photos. It downloaded them twice.

The third time it did the same thing as above, ruined another chip.

Two unusable chips later, I have thrown this out and will buy a more expensive reader with five stars.

I bought this for convenience so I don't have to connect the camera to the computer. It worked OK at first but was quirky, now it doesn't work at all. Its not worth returning because the price was so low. I guess I'll have to use the camera until I can find another one. - Sdhc - Camera Accessories - Usb Card Reader - Sd Card Reader'

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