Sunday 20 February 2011

Macintosh - apple, macmini


We've already put these new minis thru the paces here at Macminicolo and they're great. A few things to know:



-The RAM on these minis is VERY easy to upgrade. This machine comes with 2GB but can be upgraded to 8GB. Just twist off the bottom with your fingers and replace the RAM. (Literally, no tools required.)



- If you're looking to use the Mac mini connected to your TV, you'll be glad to hear that it now comes with HDMI. Nearly every current HDTV should have HDMI and it's a great fit.



- Speaking of TV watching, the new GPU (video card) is great. A wonderful upgrade.



- This Mac mini was reduced in power consumption AND the power brick is now internal instead of the big external one from before. That makes for a cleaner looking hookup.



- We use all our Mac minis as servers here and they're great. They run 24 hours a day and have no problems.



- This machine still has the IR capability so it can be controlled with the Apple Remote or one of the Harmony remotes with no problems.



All in all, a good upgrade. Apple Mac Mini MC270LL/A Desktop

The Mac Mini was updated on June 15th 2010. There are some upgrades and minor changes between the 2010 Mac Mini and 2009's model, detailed below.



UPGRADES



HDMI audio/video output (HDMI version 1.3 and supports up to 1920-by-1200 resolution and multichannel audio.) Allows you to connect the Mac Mini to your HDTV easily.



Nvidia Geforce 320 M integrated graphics processor. More powerful than last years Nvidia Geforce 9400 which was in the 2009 Mac mini. Useful for content creation.



320 gb hard drive - Last years base model had a 160gb hard drive.



Secure Digital (SD) memory card slot - Useful for transferring photos and videos from Cameras.



Unibody aluminum body.





STANDARD FEATURES - from last years model (minor changes noted in brackets) are



Core 2 Duo Processor ( 2.4 ghz - up from 2.26ghz )

2 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 Ram

8x slot-loading SuperDrive DVD burner



Mini DisplayPort video output with support for up to 2560-by-1600 resolution

Combined optical digital output/headphone output

Four USB 2.0 ports (1 less than the 2009 Mac Mini)



One FireWire 800 port

Wi-Fi - 802.11n specification; 802.11a/b/g compatible, Bluetooth 2.1 and Gigabit Ethernet -10/100/1000.



Software included is OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard and the iLife 09 suite of content creation tools. A 1 year warranty on parts and 90 day telephone technical support is standard.



As one can see, not much has changed. Apple is still using outdated Core 2 Duo processors while the rest of the computer industry has moved on to using Intel's "i" series of processors and it's still shipping the Mac mini with 2gb of ram which is completely inadequate for multi-tasking effectively.



However, whatever little has changed, is for the better.



Apple has finally acknowledged that people connect their Mac Mini's to HDTV's and use them as media centers. So it's added an HDMI port to the machine. This makes hooking up your Mac mini to a HDTV really easy. No Blu-ray drive though.



It's also included an SD card slot at the rear (Which also supports SDXC cards) - so you can transfer your photos / videos / data directly from an SD card without having to connect your camera / card reader to the machine.



Also, new in this year's Mac mini is a removable panel on the bottom of the Mac mini which allows you to easily upgrade the ram. This is a welcome addition considering that accessing the ram slots in earlier Mac mini's was a tedious and time consuming process. And since the Mac mini only comes with 2gb of ram, a ram upgrade should be one of the first things you choose to do. Kingston Apple 4GB Kit (2x2GB Modules) 1066MHz DDR3 SODIMM iMac and Macbook Memory (KTA-MB1066K2/4GR) for [...] currently. The operating system STRUGGLES with multi-tasking when there's only 2gb of ram present. Note to Apple. Stop skimping on the ram. Thanks.



Unfortunately, there are some negatives too.



First up is the power supply unit. In the 2009 Mac mini, the power supply was an external power adapter, which meant if anything went wrong with it, you'd take the adapter for servicing, not the whole machine. However, the power supply unit is now inside the June 2010 Mac mini. This may look better / cleaner from a design / clutter point of view but it also means that if it ever malfunctions, instead of the power adapter, you'll have to take your Mac mini in to an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Store Provider and leave it there for repairs which may lead to more downtime.



The SD card slot is at the back of the machine, and reaching behind to insert a card gets tedious fast.



Also, the machine is STILL not designed to not let users access the hard drive easily (or without voiding the warranty). This forces the customer to be dependent on Apple for servicing, replacing or upgrading the hard drive. Considering the amount of confidential data customers store on their computers, they should be allowed to take out the hard drive when they need or feel like instead of being forced to take their machines into an Apple store if there are any issues. This is definitely a privacy / security risk for many customers and Apple should address this in the next iteration of the machine.



Also, because of the closed design of the Mac Mini, Applecare will always be a requirement, since you can't replace anything in the machine if something goes wrong except for the ram. Power supply goes bad - no Applecare - pay Apple big money. Hard drive dies - no Applecare - pay Apple big money. So Applecare becomes a $ 150 requirement to protect yourself from Apple's exorbitant repair costs. It's like a hidden cost, You don't see it until you realize you're probably going to need it.



The price has also gone up by $ 100. Cost is an important aspect to consider. If you decide to upgrade the ram and also need to purchase a LCD monitor, keyboard and mouse, once you total it all up, the Mac mini will end up costing almost as much as a Macbook(which is more portable) or the entry level iMac (21.5 inch screen, 4gb of ram, dedicated graphics and bigger hard drive). If that's the case, you better off examining those machines as purchase options instead of buying a Mini.



The Mac mini is a capable machine for general tasks such as watching videos, working on documents, listening to music and surfing the web. It's small and occupies very little space. It's also very energy efficient which is good for the environment and your energy bill. I would have loved to rate it 4 stars but I can't ignore Apple still including only 2gb of ram which is inadequate for multitasking, not including a Blu-ray drive, STILL not allowing customers to access the hard drive AND increasing the price by $ 100.



If the issues mentioned above don't affect you in any way and you want a small, power efficient and capable machine (After upgrading the ram) the Mac Mini may be the machine for you.



Hope this helps!



NOTE - Mar 18 2011. The Mac Mini is now extremely out of date compared to other computer makers current products. C2D processor, 320 GB 5400 rpm hard drive, 2 gb ram (stutter stutter). In 2011, these specs for $ 700 + $ 150 Applecare = very bad value for money.



Forget about the superficial things like how small it is. Instead buy a $ 700 dollar HTPC(Home theater PC), Excluding the operating system (which is always a matter of personal preference) you'll get a lot more bang for your buck with regards to hardware. IF you must buy a Mac Mini, wait for Apple to update it so that the hardware will justify the cost. - Mac - Macmini - Desktop - Apple'


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Impact Driver Accessories - makita, drill bits


After about a month of ownership and use with my Makita BTD141Z Impact Driver, this product gets a mixed review.



High Points:



1. As others have mentioned, the variety of bits provided is relatively complete. Multiple lengths of the main driver sizes are appreciated.



2. The case provided is compact, which is appreciated by anyone having to carry tools onto a job site or find room in a toolbox.



3. The case's exterior locking mechanism is secure. I've never had mine open unexpectedly.



Low Points:



1. When using the black bit extension with the small 1" bits, my bits release from the extension rather than the fastener head after I drive a screw. This slows jobs dramatically, especially when the bit drops from the fastener and lands in grass. Further, the extension is impossible to quickly remove and replace within the case.



2. I have had many issues with bits breaking. My 2" #2 Phillips bit broke on it's first screw, and the head on a Robertson twisted off quickly, as well. I accept that bits wear out and need to be replaced, but these bits have worn much faster than my old Dewalt set, which wasn't even "impact rated".



3. After a few uses the tabs within the case that are meant to hold the bits flat (so they don't fall out) have begun to wear out. The spade bits now swing out and release when I open the case if I'm not very deliberate.



Overall I believe this kit has potential for a homeowner using a regular (non-impact) drill/driver, but would not recommend it to a frequent user or the owner of an impact driver. Makita T-01389 62-Piece Impact Drill-Driver Bit Set

I have a Dewalt bit set that I've broken enough bits with, or lost that a replacement was due. When i saw this set show up on Amazon, I immediately put it on my wish list. This fills a perfect need for the Impact Driver and Drill set I already own from Makita. I do lots of small and medium home projects, and this has most of the bits you will need. If they added a a few hole saw bits, it would have everything, but otherwise complete. The bits are sharp and true unlike some cheaper sets which have a noticeable wobble in the smaller diameter pilot bits.



Update: 4 months after "weekend warrior" projects, I have yet to experience any of the issues listed by other users. However, as I am not driving through hardwoods as an every day carpenter or doing exterior pressure treated woods, this may be the reason why. Also, Impact driving (when you should be using the drill) a small a 3/32 bit is going to break the piece no matter who makes it. Ive broke many small good and bad bits by just twisting the drill off plane a few degrees. The metal heats up, bends, then snaps in short order. Its why groups like Kreg is in business with their pocket joinery jigs. To keep delicate bits running true and remove much of the user error. Metal does break from fatigue.



The high points remain. Quickly switch from drilling small pilot holes to driving screws for common household needs. Hang drapery rods or blinds, remove and replace light switches and cover plates, install new hardware pulls and knobs on kitchen or bathroom cabinetry. I've also used it to drive sheet metal screws and other self tapping metal screws of all sizes you might find in the home. I had to replace some sheet metal elbows to fix some rattling and poor airflow related to use of my vent fan in the kitchen over the cook top.



Perhaps the expectations I have were always intended for home related jobs. Swinging an 18volt+ cordless with expensive Carbide bits and carbon steel is just over kill for a non trades person. I'm not doing basement and bathroom remodels with these bits. If you need those bits, they typically cost you a couple bucks per bit, and last a very long time with proper use. Heck, I have a hand-me-down Milwaukee 1/2 drill with some old (20 year+) 1/2 shank carbon steel bits. I only use that on rare occasion when I have to run Romex through ceiling joists for something like a new ceiling fan.



The point is. Small jobs with lots of odd size screws, or softer materials, this works perfect. For some of the harder jobs, tougher materials, with lots of repetition, just test it and take your time. If they don't work, get the right tool for the right job... and don't forget as the user, do it The RIGHT way.

I bought 2 of these sets one for home/personal use and one for work use.

I am a big believer in Makita - power tools and own many to this day- this was the first bit accessory kit I have ever purchased with the Makita name on it and sadly enough I must say I am very disappointed with it already.



I have been using this kit at work for about 2 weeks now with my 18v cordless drill/driver and 18v cordless impact/driver.

I would not recommend using these bits with the impact driver. I completely shattered my bit extension today at work while using it in the 18v impact driver with the 5/16 hex bit.



Another issue I have had with the kit already is the inside of the case. The little plastic hinges that hold the bit holders secure in place so things don't move around have already broke and my bits are all over the place every time I open it.



The only Pro I can list at this time for this kit is it does have a nice assortment of bits, other than that I would not suggest anyone waste the $27 on it. Buy the Dewalt kits, they have proven to be much better than this one.



***Update*** Another 2 weeks of use - I have found that all of the bits are made out of a very inferior metals. I have snapped many of them now including tips breaking off the screw driver bits like nothing I have ever seen! If I could give this item 0 stars I surely would at this point!! Garbage! Do not waste your money on it. Worst purchase I have ever made in the tool department! - Impact Driver - Makita - Impact Driver Accessories - Drill Bits'


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Iphone Charger - iphone charger, usb power


This supposedly has 1 amp per port. This is false, it does not. I have a Droid X and a Droid 2 in the house. It will not charge them both at once. They each require 850ma. It will however charge one of the Droids and one dumb samsung phone requiring much less current. This device is nice, but I wish it really pushed out 1A per port. It would work great for those who simply need to charge one smartphone and one device that requires less current, e.g. a bluetooth headset. A minor setback for me, but others may not be in the same boat. Griffin PowerBlock Dual Universal Charger for MP3 Players and USB Devices (2Amp - 1A per Port) (Black)

Some of the earlier reviewers complained that the charger is not powerful enough to recharge combinations of certain USB devices with higher than average power consumption. I wonder if they used the previous model of the PowerBlock. I tested this charger with all possible combinations of the three USB devices I use most: Kindle 3, BlackBerry Curve 8530, and iPod Touch 64GB. In all combinations I tested, PowerBlock worked fine charging the connected devices quickly.

I bought this PowerBlock Dual Universal Charger to run my HP Multimedia USB powered speakers but hoped to be able to run my iPad as well. The iPad uses a 2.1 amp charger and the USB powered speakers requires 1 amp.



I connected both the iPad and speakers to this charger at the same time and they both worked fine. I watched a video on the iPad while listening to the speakers at a high volume to determine if the charger can handle it. It not only handled the load without any problems, but it also charged up my iPad to a full charge.



I discovered that there are two versions of this PowerBlock Dual Universal Charger. This one provides 1 amp per USB port and the other one produces only 500 ma per USB port. The good one advertises the 1 amp per USB port capability, while the other one does not. Also, this one shows the 1 amp per USB port on its packaging and on the unit itself. By all means get this better one, not the less capable one, as it can handle more devices.



I travel a lot and needed a small lightweight USB charger that can power my USB speakers, which saves weight and space. This can help avoid paying overweight charges at the airport which can be quite expensive (some portable speakers have a heavy power supply or built-in rechargeble battery that you must carry around). Also, I like the fact it can handle an input of 100v-240v so it can be used in any country.



Update: My daughter liked this charger so well that she got one for herself to power her iPhone and HP USB Mini Speakers. These mini speakers produce great sound from the iPhone, and this charger will power the mini speakers and charge the iPhone at the same time.

When you receive this item, inspect the package carefully. What was sent to me (from Amazon) was actually the 1A (2x 500mA) version. The outer box was labeled as such (in the fine print), but the part number sticker on the box matched the SKU for the 2A version listed on my receipt. I took a gamble that it was a transitional packaging snafu and opened the box anyway. $17.30 down the drain.

I do not have any of the problems that other reviewers have listed due to a lack of power. My kids each use one of the connections to recharge their iPod Touches (4th Gen); we charge both of them at the same time. It works as it is supposed to, it is convenient, and the price is low. I am very happy with it.

I was concerned that the PowerBlock would not charge an iPad 2 and an iPhone 4 at the same time. The iPad requires 1.1 amps but the PowerBlock claims 1 amp per USB port. The iPad doesn't seem to care and charges fine, even while charging an iPhone 4 at the same time. That's all I need so 5 stars. It is a bit big but so is the Apple 10 watt charger and it only has one USB port.

I was looking for a power block that would allow me to charge my iPad 3G 64GB and Kindle 2nd generation at the same time. I will mix in my iPhone 4 at times as well. This block does all those things just fine and works as promised. The only thing is that it's footprint of course is a little larger than just a single power block for example that from Apple. I would recommend this for my uses as an item that works just as it should.

I've used this at work almost every day since mid-October 2010 with no issues.



I use one or both USB ports to charge an Android phone (2 or 3 different ones since I got it) and Motorola S7-HD stereo bluetooth headphones. I appreciate that the green LED power indicator is not death ray bright like some wall chargers but is plenty large enough and oriented in such a way (along an edge) that it can be seen from 2 sides.



If I had one nitpick, it is that some edges of device are relatively sharp. Being that this is a folding travel charger, I would use caution when letting this thing jumble around with items you may not want to get scratched.



That said, since I purchased this, I've gotten another as a gift for my brother and am considering getting another for myself next time I travel (so I don't have to remember to bring the one from work.) - Usb Power - Iphone Charger - Nano Charger - Ipod Charger'


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Computer Accessories - otterbox, ipad


After my wife bought me an iPad and I cradled its sleek aluminum and glass body in my hands, I knew that finding a protective case for it was of paramount importance. But rather than jumping into the arduous task of researching the dizzying array of available iPad cases, I already had an idea where to look: OtterBox. My wife and I have both protected our iPhone 3GS's in the company's iPhone Defender cases for over a year and have been very happy with the results. Even after numerous accidental drops, our Defender-clad iPhones look like new underneath their "armor".



And fortunately, a quick check of the OtterBox web site revealed that the company did, in fact, offer a Defender series case for the iPad. Nearly ninety bucks and just over a week later, I am happy to report that OtterBox's Defender case for iPad is everything I had hoped it would be. At $89.95, this case is certainly one of the more expensive iPad case options available, but in my opinion, it is well worth the investment. I do have a minor quibble with the included instructions, but it is far outweighed by the product's overall quality, sheer durability, and style.



Contents:

The iPad Defender product includes a black high-impact polycarbonate shell, a separate black polycarbonate shield, a silicone outer skin, and a self-adhesive protective film. Other items include a microfiber cleaning cloth and a stiff scraper tool for applying the protective film to your iPad screen.



Packaging:

After opening the box, you find your Defender case nestled in a recyclable cardboard tray, along with a packet containing instructions and the other items included with the product. The utilitarian packaging does not quite provide the unboxing experience you'd have with an Apple product, but it suits its purpose well. Fortunately, the packaging is devoid of any unnecessary plastic or other packing material, so it's as environmentally friendly as possible.



Instructions:

Rather than providing written instructions in English and other languages, OtterBox included numbered illustrations printed inside the packet. One set of instructions illustrates how to apply the protective film, while another set illustrates how to remove the silicone skin, open the case, install the iPad, and close the whole thing back up again nice and snug. The packet also includes illustrated instructions for the company's other iPad case (the Commuter series), but they are clearly labeled as such and will hopefully not confuse any Defender purchasers. I really wish OtterBox had also provided written step-by-step Defender installation instructions, instead of relying solely on illustrations. Even well-executed illustrations (which these certainly are) can sometimes be difficult to understand, and I feel that even a sentence or two for each illustration could have provided better clarity. A web URL printed inside the packet gave me hope that more detailed instructions could be found on the OtterBox web site, but unfortunately the instructions for the iPad Defender case were not yet available on that web page at the time of this review. I'm certain that OtterBox will be rectifying this issue soon.



Installation:

By far, the most tedious part of installing this case is applying the self-adhesive protective film to your iPad's screen. The illustrated instructions do a fair job of expressing the necessary steps, but the film application could really be helped by accompanying written steps. As I applied the protective film along with its backing and used the scraper tool to smooth out bubbles, I started to get worried because the tool seemed to snag a few times, causing some small kinks which only got worse as I continued trying to gently scrape them to the edge. Fortunately, once I removed the backing from the protective film, I found that the kinks were not in the film itself, but rather in the disposable backing. Whew! The protective film ended up looking nearly perfect on my iPad screen. Removing the silicone skin, opening the polycarbonate case, inserting the iPad, and closing it all up again proved to be much easier.



Product Use:

First and foremost, the Defender case seems to achieve its primary purpose -- protecting your iPad -- very well. When you're not using the iPad, you should clip the polycarbonate shield over the iPad screen to provide maximum protection. The shield grips the edges of the case snugly, to help ensure that it doesn't inadvertently get knocked off. And when you're actually using your iPad, the shield has a retractable built-in stand which will set your iPad at a nice viewing angle for desktop or tabletop use. Or if you don't need the stand and want to hold the iPad while using it, you can simply clip the shield to the back of the case. Doing so will add a little more heft to an already-hefty iPad and case, so you can also just leave the shield off during handheld use as well. To help protect the various iPad ports, the case features integrated silicone plugs which are easy to open and close as necessary. The case also includes a removable access door to allow you to charge your iPad or mount it in a standard iPad dock. However, I did not test the iPad dock capability for this review.



Style:

Let's face it -- you're not going to buy this case because you're fashion-conscious. You're going to buy it because you (like me) want to provide the very best protection for your iPad, without locking it a vault. That notwithstanding, the OtterBox Defender case for iPad is still an attractive case. The iPad Defender is an imposing-but-stylish black polycarbonate and silicone suit of armor which, like its iPhone 3GS Defender little brother, provides a round protected window on the case's backside to clearly display the Apple logo. When the removable shield is used as a iPad stand, four small black silicone pads provide a secure footing on smooth surfaces. Both the silicone skin and the polycarbonate shield feature subtle checkering at the top and bottom edges to improve grip -- a nice touch.



Summary:

The Defender for iPad is likely the best protective case you can get under a hundred bucks. I already feel more comfortable lugging my iPad around, knowing that it will be able to stand up to just about anything I can throw at it (figuratively speaking, of course). With the Defender series case for iPad, OtterBox seems to have covered the bases quite well, offering a well-rounded combination of protection and stylishness. Otterbox APL2-iPAD1-20-C4OTR iPad Defender Series Case - Otter Box - Otterbox - Ipad - Case'


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Holsters


Delivery was lightning quick. Even got a comp l.e.d. key ring light. The product fits the phone but it really stretches it from the slide base/qwerty for it to fit properly. I don't trust it on my new phone for fear that it will make the fit get worn and loose. May fit a lot better with some personal mods like shaving down the locking tabs to make a more comfortable fit. Perhaps a case made by HTC would be the best bet. Premium Clear Hard Snap-On Cover Case for HTC Evo Shift 4G (Sprint)

It latches on with the thin plastic hooks. One of the top hooks broke the very next day. It seems to break all by itself, I didn't hit the phone or dropped it. For the price, it doesn't even make sense to try to return it back.

This case is completely clear, not frosted, and fits perfectly. The case snaps around both pieces of the device without getting in the way of the sliding mechanism. I'm a klutz and have dropped my phone several times now and this case has held up great! Not cheap or brittle feeling at all. Would definitely purchase this case again.

Cover around screen was hard to get on at first. Just put the corner that was giving me the problem on first and it went right on. Slide was little stiff at first but after half a day it is sliding much better. Ordered this one while waiting for the Otterbox to be released. Handhelditems

Shipped fast but remover tool was not included in package :('


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Outdoor Survival - emergency, outdoors


The saw is made in China.



There are 86 cutting teeth ,and the teeth thickness is only 0.04 inches (using a caliper to measure).

The cutting portion of the saw is about 18.5 inches in length.

The description states the metal is of "spring steel", which it is not. It seem to be made of a softer steel of unknown type.

The saw became dull after cutting 4 braches about 1 1/2 inch thick. Average cutting time to cut through a 1 1/2 inch branch is about 2 1/2 minutes when the saw is sharp, and cutting time increased to 3 1/2 minutes with the saw dull.

The size of the handle straps are small and tight fitting on larger hands. The straps are showing wear after using the saw six times.

The pouch is made of nylon with a vinyl lining inside and button snap to keep flap close. The button snap does not hold tight and the flap opens easily.

Overall this product works but may not last very long. SE Portable Camping Hand Chain Saw, Cloth Strap Handles

It's a little lighter than I thought it would be but it seems to work well enough for everyday carry and it keeps your pack light if you're using it for a survival kit. They must have made some changes according to another review because the pouch seems large enough and has a protective coating on the inside. Mine didn't come that sharp and I'll have to sharpen it myself. I tried it out on a limb and it cut right through without any problems.

Finally used this today to cut up some wood. Did the job just fine. Cuts clean. Minimal work (pending on size of wood you're cutting) Two thumbs up. If and when this ever reaches the end of it's life, I'll be sure to buy another. Thanks for a great product!

Took this thing out of its package and noticed right away its SHARP!!! I havent used it yet but sure it will do the job! It comes with a little pouch with a loop for a belt. However, getting it into the pouch took several trys of wrapping that sharp little thing into a small enough circle!! It will fit, but if your in a hurry its not gonna happen. They could make the pouch a little bit bigger! - Outdoors - Emergency'


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Small Tv - tv, compact


I bought this TV because I had a spot under a hutch on my desk that I wanted a TV and this was the only size that would fit. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of sound and picture from this little TV. It works great and can't beat the price if you need a small TV.



The only thing I might add is that the actual TV was black instead of silver like the ad showed but personally I would have preferred black because that's the color of my monitor and laptop also on my desk. Curtis 13.3" LED TV HDMI Input 720P 1080I (ATSC TUNER) 500:1

Needed to replace the small (tube) TV in the bedroom and this was the perfect choice.

Picture quality is amazing. Visual capabilities can be changed to suit your tastes. Nice selection of inputs (including a USB port) --and closed captioning!



A couple of drawbacks (if you are picky): headphone jack is a little hard to get to since it is tucked away in the back. Speakers are not the best (in fact, they are pretty bad), also located in the back and not on the front as depicted in the manufacturer's photo. Both of these problems can be resolved easily with a nice pair of small external speakers with a front mounted headphone jack.



Also note: small Comcast DTA remote control is not compatible with TV.

What a nice TV for the money. Bought this Curtis for under $100 on sale and so far we have no regrets. This was purchased for our kitchen and fits it nicely. Our kitchen is not very big which makes the viewing angles acceptable. The sound is adjustable but tinny, with plenty of volume. It has many nice features like the video options and settings, timer, favorites. The channel auto-scan works well. Nice remote control. We have it connected to our cable and the picture is clear, bright,and sharp on the HD channels. We will be trying out broadcast reception when we get an antennae. If you are looking for a cheap small TV this is one to consider. It does everything it says it does, with more features than you'd expect. Obviously you get what you pay for so you can buy better TVs. If you are looking for Toshiba, or Samsung performance, buy a Toshiba or Samsung TV.

Many of the small, low end monitors are cheap and poorly made. I needed a small monitor to fit on my basement work bench for an occasional computer use to program radio repeater systems and also display video from my video camera security system. Also small and light enough to use as a spot monitor when reaiming/refocusing security cameras..



After extensive reading of Amazon reviews on a number of monitors in this class, I chose this one.. Been in use for about 3 months and so far works great!..

Overall I'm pleased with this television. I was looking for something small to put next to a computer monitor. The picture is crisp, though the view angles are not that great, but I wasn't expecting a $1000 television in a 13" package. The worst trait of the television are the built-in speakers which sound so tinny an awful, even at low volume. I didn't mind much as I use the headphone jack to tie into my desk's sound system, but for others this may be an issue. I like the VGA input and actually found use of it as a second non-essential monitor. One gripe is that they decided to place the VGA port directly over the spot where the stand enters the television, so it's impossible to get a VGA connector to actually fit within this space as they tend to be large with thick cables. I had to purchase a separate $10 90-degree adapter to get it to work.



I find the remote frustrating. Button placement is strange, and the actual buttons themselves confusing. In order to change inputs, the remote is required and needs the use of an on-screen menu which makes universal remotes like the Logitech Harmony line impossible to use.



In the end, it's a good television for the price and size.

Product is exactly as others described: clear picture, useless remote, ear-piercing audio...but the size is perfect for the shelf in a rarely used guest room and a pillow placed behind it muffles the sound to a less jarring level (no manual adjusting of the sound made any perceptible difference). Got what I expected but hoped that the other reviewers were just picky. They weren't.

I needed a small TV in my computer room, to check DVD's made on my Computer.

Space was tight and a 13" TV was as much as I could go. Walmart does not

stock their 13" TV and it would take 12 days to ship. I bought the Curtis

and it has all the inputs and outputs necessary for connecting cable,DVD

player, etc. the only drawback is the Audio is a little tinny, but that is

expected with a tv this size. Very satisfied, would recommend, especially

for the price. - Hdtv - Compact - Small Tv - Tv'


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Kindle 2 Screen Protector - anti-glare, kindle accessory


As some other commentators pointed out, this screen protector is easy to apply - especially after watching a video on the manufacturer's site. However, two things made it really unsuitable for me: screen glare (the most important disadvantage) and the fact that the screen does not match the Kindle 3 screen - there are gaps wider then 1mm which for a "premium" product is not too good. Even worse: out of the two screens I received in the 2-pack, one was not rectangular (very tight fit on the bottom of the screen and 1.5smm gaps on the top.

So... if the significantly increased glare and precise fit are not too important for you, you'll appreciate the ease of installing the screen. Otherwise you should look elsewhere.



Follow-up comment:

I have been contacted by the Grantwood Technology and received their new anti-glare screen for Kindle for free - this is a good indication an excellent customer service and the sign that they genuinely care about their products' quality. The new screen is a vast improvement over the previous model. It seems to be just a little bit more difficult to apply (as it is a bit more rigid then the old one) but not by much. The fit is much better and the glare is vastly reduced - making the new screen a really good protector for my Kindle. I did not like the old product but the new protectors are so much better that I can recommend them without hesitation. Grantwood Technology's 2-Pack Premium Anti-Glare Screen Protector for NEW Kindle 3 and Kindle 2, (6" Display)

I was in two minds: #1: the kindle is supposed to have this awesome anti-glare screen, and I don't want to do anything to get in it's way. #2: I am a clumsy, galumphing nodwiddy that wrecks my precious, precious electronic devices. It's bad enough what I've done to my ipod... and I love books even more than music. Whatever to do? I bought a cover, but it has little things inside to hold bits and bobs, and what if they should damage my screen?! I can't have that... so I waded through all the reviews of screen protectors, and found my fears weren't unfounded. Almost every screen protector had bad reviews, and glare was the worst of them. I was sad.



Then I came across this one, claiming it would not cause glare. I extended the olive branch of trust and purchased... the price being reasonable, and if it didn't work, I would bring the crushing power of the internets upon them and give them a bad review. Unnecesary. Simply: this product does what it says it will. I put it on, and I see no difference in the screen appearance. There is no glare. You don't know it is there. It fits well - and for someone with two left thumbs, I had a pretty easy time putting it on. My faith in humanity is reinstated. Or at least the humanity selling electronic device accessories on Amazon.

This review is for the Grantwood Technology Screen Protector for Amazon Kindle, 2nd Gen. My friend purchased this sceen protector for me as a gift. The application process was simple and flawless. I only had two (2) air bubbles, which disappeared by themselves after a few hours (no pressing, squishing, or herding air bubbles around - which is good). HOWEVER, this screen protector increases the glare significantly. I now have to hold my Kindle almost parallel to my sightline to see the words! If I hold it perpendicular (like a normal book), I just see my reflection. It's like a mirror. Horrible. Forget reading outside or in any bright light conditions. Applause to Grantwood for ease of application, boo for readability afterword.

I installed a fair share of screen protectors on various items, but never one to my complete satisfaction; to which I attribute mostly my shortcomings -- not the product. When I ordered this product I expected a thin film akin to the cell phone/mp3 player type. Not at all! I ordered 6 to give myself a chance. First I carefully read the instructions (simple and explicit). Following the instructions exactly, the screen laid down like it was in love with the Kindle. One very small air bubble appeared on the starting edge of the screen that easily pushed out with a fingernail massage. After a week, no further bubbles. That was it! The screen material is much sturdier than those that are applied to cell phones or MP3 players. I haven't yet experienced any glare problems in sunlight noticed by others.



It'd be nice to credit this installation to my skill; even at age 82, I'm handy with most things involving finger dexterity. Instead I'm a real "klutz" in this particular area. This product ramped up my ego just a little bit.

These Screen Protectors are a perfect fit for my new 6" Kindle. The best thing about this product is that it came not only with written instructions, but also with a web-site to a video link where I could actually SEE how to properly apply my screen protector. Never having done this before, I so appreciated this added feature. I was able to apply my screen protector successfully on my first attempt!

Thank you Grantwood Technology. You have a return customer in me. - Kindle Accessory - Screen Protectors - Anti-glare - Kindle Screen Protectors'


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Home Recording - microphone stand, home recording


I had purchased 2 of these microphone with stands for my two daughters for Christmas. I couldn't have been more pleased with a product.My daughters love them and use them atleast every other day. I wanted to buy them a micrphone and stand that would hold up and I am so glad I saw these. Other kid microphones with stands would cost 39.95 each and up. This was an unbelievable buy and the sound quality is great, very sturdy. Their not kiddie looking either (they look like a professional micrphone and stand) so they can be used for a very long time to come. And no problems at all with the shipping... they were packaged very well and shipped in perfect timing. I'd give this company 10 stars if I could. AWESOME PRODUCT FOR KIDS AND US ADULTS!!!!!!! Nady Center Stage Microphone with On/Off Switch and Stand

My daughter is 7 and loves to perform. We have gone through two of the plastic microphones for kids and they just brake easily. This one is sturdy and I am impressed enough with the sound. We ended up buying a karaoke machine to use with it so she could play her CD's and sing. She feels older because it's an adult version looking mic. It is about 32" off ground (the shortest it can be and you can lean the mic down so a smaller child could use it) and then extends so an adult man could use it. It's versatile and fun.

My daughter received this mircrophone for Xmas. She absolutely loved it. Sturdy stand. Unfortunately, the mic and mic cord had a loose connection and it stopped working. Requested return info online through Amazon and it was shipped back at Amazons cost. A new one was shipped out almost immediately. I was very impressed! My daughter has new one and it works great!

The product is great quality and the kids love it. The only caveat for non-tech savvy folks like me is that the product information said "you just plug it in and it's ready to go". What I failed to understand was that I needed to plug it into an amp, which we did not have. We are lucky that our neighbors play in a band, so they had an old amp we could have. Also, we still have not figured out how to get the mic stand/tri-pod legs to stay in one position.

I purchased this mic stand specifically for Rock Band. The microphone fits perfectly into the stand and the added mic clip helps manage the cord very well. My only big disappointment w/ this stand is that the adjustable metal pole can protrude into the ground. This causes the hollow metal pole to scratch the floor/carpet! This occurs naturally as you're holding the mic when it's on the stand. Tightening the lock helps for a song but it'll always slip down to the ground scratching away. If you know this in advance you can take preventitive measures. I wish I had known.

First, you need an adapter to use this mic with Rockband (try a company called Blockhead). With that said this mic and stand is great. It is very adjustable and is neither too light nor too heavy. The mic has an excellent response and is built much better than the ones I purchased from Bloackhead. I saw a comment from someone about the quality of the audio from it, but I have not had any issues after consulting the manual that comes with it. By keeping a bit of space between you and the mic you will find the sweet spot. Just don't try to eat the mic when you use it. Great product overall. I am very happy and I am recommending this to all by buddies who play Rockband and already have an adapter.

Santa brought this microphone for my 8-year old Christmas 2008. He loves to play with it. The cord is really long, which is good. I bought also from Amazon a Starcaster 15G amplifier which is perfect for this microphone. We have some good home performances now!

I bought this microphone for my 6yr old daughter for her birthday. Wow, was she ever happy to receive it. We had to buy an amplifyer to hook up the mic. Once everything was hooked up and working, she said that she felt like a rock star. She is in the basement singing ALL the time! We have not had any problems with the stand or the mic itself. The product is well made.

My daughter wanted a "real" microphone for her birthday. We got her this and it has been a hit since day one! Unless there is a way to extend the stand that I haven't found, it is the perfect height for kids! To go along with the mic we did buy the Starcaster 15G Guitar Amplifier to go with it. I am not a pro on musical equipment but both items are meeting our



Starcaster 15G Guitar Amplifierexpectations.

This is a GREAT microphone for aspiring little rockers!! It looks like the ones young rock stars use on stage, microphone comes off of the stand so that the "rock star" can parade around the "stage" and really pretend! Plus, it doesn't cost an arm and a leg - My daughter and I are very pleased!! - Mic - Home Recording - Microphone Stand - Amplifier'


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Dect Cordless Phone - dect cordless phone, answering machine


Our Panasonic phones were suffering from heavy, ungentle use. We were happy with Panasonic, but we decided to try this similar and comparably priced Vtech set instead. Mostly we liked its appearance. The two sets are very comparable in appearance and ease of use. Set-up was equally easy. However, here are three features Panasonic had, that the Vtech units do not have:



1. Panasonic had an easy-to-reach menu item to directly access my messages at my phone service provider. Vtech lets me turn off the phone-base messages, but then I have to set up a directory entry to reach my provider-held messages or dial them each time.

2. Panasonic let me set ring tones for anyone on my directory ... not the Vtech units.

3. Panasonic offered the option of caller ID voiced aloud from the base unit.



Small differences, but I would have stayed with Panasonic had I known these were not available with the Vtech set.



Still, the Vtech set has one feature better than the Panasonic. It has a quick and easy way to alter phone log numbers to whatever format we need to call back or put them in our directory. Our state uses area codes that are not geographically determined. So, every call has to have at least 10 digits and many need a one added for long distance. Vtech flips through the options to let us pick the one we need ... very nice. Vtech DECT 6.0 Black/White Expandable 4-Handset Cordless Phone System with Digital Answering Device and Caller ID (CS6229-4)

I purchased this system from Office Depot two weeks before Amazon dropped the price by $[...]. For the $$, this is an excellent system. It has been replaced by a newer model that has an orange backlight - but is otherwise identical to this. The newer model is about $[...] more, so this is a steal.



For cordless phones, the top of the line is Panasonic - period. You will find that all Panasonic systems are about 30%-40$ more than Vtech. The newest Panasonic DECT system has a very nice feature - they are powered by AAA rechargable batteries, which are found at any store. Typically, replacement proprietary batteries cost about as much as a new phone system...



The Vtech is a completely disposable system - cheap enough that when it finally breaks in a few years, you might as well buy a new one.



However, the Vtech has several completely useless "features":



1) when you turn off the ringer on a handset, it will not ring for any reason until you turn it back on. This means if you happen to misplace a muted handset, you can page it, but the LCD screen will merely light up - it won't make a sound. Every other system - including the Panasonic - will audibly page a lost handset even if it is muted. Panasonic goes one step further - if the battery is dangerously low on a muted phone, it will still give you an audible low battery chirp. How many times have you used the paging feature to locate a lost handset? With Vtech, you better not have it muted! Pure stupidity.



2) Panasonic has a unique ringtone for intercom paging than for incoming telephone calls. This is very useful. If my Vtech is rining, I don't know if it is an outside call (probably for my wife), or if my wife is trying to page me from another room. Vtech allows you to set a ringtone, but uses the same tone for paging and outside calls.



3) I just discovered this, and would change my rating to 1 star if I could. It is unforgivable in the year 2009. The Vtech has no battery backup on its base unit. It doesn't even have a battery compartment. If you have a power outage - even a brownout - you lose time and date. Your messages and outgoing message is saved, but really...no battery compartment? Every answering machine I've had up till now has had one.



Vtech Pros:

* Choice of many ring sounds

* Shared phone-book (store a number on one handset and all other handsets have it as well)

* Answering system displays number of calls

* Good talk time



Vtech Cons:

* Rediculous inability to locate a muted phone!!

* No battery backup - even a momentary power outage will lose time/date

* No unique ringtone for intercom calls

* Proprietary (expensive) battery

* Ni-Cad battery (most phones have at least Ni-Mh)

* Upper buttons (speaker phone, talk, hang up, flash) are not backlit

* Backlight is not very bright. Funky domed number buttons are hard to read because domes act as magnifying lens.





In contrast, the only con with the Panasonic is that it has a shorter talk time than most phones. It has a signal boost for clearer sound, but it drains the battery lilke crazy.



EDIT: As I write this review, Costco just started carrying the 4-handset top of the line Panasonic DECT system (KX-TG6444T) - they literally added it today. The display is HUGE, and easily readable. They are asking $[...], which is $[...] less than Amazon and everywhere else, but still $[...] more than this Vtech equivalent. Frankly, I think you'll be much happier with the Panasonic.



2nd EDIT: I added two more very nasty cons to the Vtech - no distinctive ringtone for paging, and no battery backup. For many, I think the absence of a battery backup will be a deal-breaker. There's no excuse for not putting an empty battery compartment in an answering machine these days.



Spend the extra bucks on a Panasonic. It's light years better. - Cordless Phone - Recommend - Dect Cordless Phone - Answering Machine'


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Speech Recognition - nuance, voice recognition software


I am an instructor for Dragon NaturallySpeaking, but I do not work for Nuance.com. I work for a healthcare software company. I primarily deal with the medical editions used by Pathologists in clinical laboratories.



Here are some pointers for those who have not used Dragon, but are thinking of purchasing.



1. Don't skimp on a headset. Visit Nuance.com. Click on Support > Hardware Compatibility List > Dragon NaturallySpeaking > Headset Microphones Current. While it is possible to use a wireless microphone, if you are just starting out, go with a wired, such as a Plantronics DSP-400 (Amazon has this headset for $[...]. It seems cheap, but it is a very good headset). If you can hook the headset up via USB instead of mic in, you will get better recognition accuracy. Additionally, you don't need an internal sound card if you are connecting via USB as the headset comes with its own external sound card.



A good wireless headset will be expensive, and they do not have as good of recognition accuracy as a wired headset.



2. Once you have your headset, connect it to the PC, and install Dragon. It is a straightforward install.



3. You will have to go through an audio and quality check, and then go into General Training. I recommend doing one of the easier readings. You can always go back through and do additional general training. My BIGGEST piece of advice here is speak with your normal voice. Some of my students seem to want to over enunciate, or speak with a different voice during general training. That is only going to set you up for a difficult time when you begin dictating.



4. After your general training, I highly recommend going through the Tutorials. You should be given an option to do this after your general training. If not, you can get to them through the Help Menu on the Dragon bar.



Note: At some point, you will be given the option of having Dragon scan your email and documents. Nuance recommends this, but I don't. You can always have it scan your documents later via the accuracy center. Additionally, I never recommend letting Dragon scan your email. What it is going to do with these actions, is to learn your writing style. Rather than letting DNS do this at setup, move a bunch of documents you have written to one folder, go to the Accuracy Center, and let DNS scan the entire folder.



4. Dragon has some shortcut keys. The number keypad + key is used to turn your mic on and off. The number keypad / key is used to put your mic to sleep, and wake it up. You can go to Tools > Options to change shortcut keys.



5. Remember that while you can do a lot with Dragon, you will find that your best usage comes with using Dragon, the keyboard and the mouse.



6. Set up some Custom Commands. Visit [...] to learn how to set up Custom Commands. There is a book by Larry V. Allen called Scripting for Dragon NaturallySpeaking that will help you out with Advanced Scripts.



7. When you begin dictating, Dragon WILL make some mistakes. It does not help if you yell at your microphone. You will have to continue to train your profile as time goes. If Dragon makes a mistake, resist the urge to delete the mistake and start over. I use this analogy with my students. Think of it as a new puppy. If a puppy makes a mistake, you don't get rid of it (at least you shouldn't), you should correct its mistake. The same goes for Dragon NaturallySpeaking. Use the command "Select That" to have DNS highlight the word, and bring up a menu of possible alternate choices. If the correct word is not there, use the command "Spell That" and then spell the word such as: a m a z o n



8. My last tip concerns the Acoustic and Language Model Optimizer. You can get to it through the Accuracy Center, or the Start Menu. Run that after about two weeks of use, and again on a monthly basis. This will fine tune your profile with all corrections and training.



Enjoy Dragon NaturallySpeaking. It is a great piece of software. Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Standard [OLD VERSION]

The real cost of this software is much higher than what you originally pay. Nuance customer support is a disaster. This software will not work on Windows Vista 64 bit without the upgrade and it may cost you more than $30.00 to get the upgrade. You can not contact the company without having your credit card charged.



Speech recognition would be very helpful since I am disabled and typing is painful. I originally purchased Naturally speaking 9 before the warnings were posted that it didn't support all versions of Vista. Lost money. Since that didn't work, I had wait to buy version 10 and get the update.



I ordered and received Dragon Naturally speaking 10. The software box was unopened and the box seal was intact. I opened the box to get the serial number so that I could download the 64-bit update that I need for Windows Vista. I registered on the Nuance site but it would not let me download the update because the serial number was already registered to a different email address. The software envelope is sealed.



I can not contact Nuance to find out who registered the software because Nuance charges your credit card $9.99 every time you contact their support by email. If you call them its $19.99 You can not send them an email or talk with someone without registering a credit card and agreeing to have it charged. The software will not work on a 64 bit version of Windows Vista without the update.



Nuance has already created problems by not supporting Vista until recently. Version 10 does not support Vista. You must download a 1.2 GB file after registering. This is a huge file. If you have problems it will cost you to contact them, $19.99 for phone, $9.99 to email them, then they will charge you another $9.99 to ship you a CD of the update.



This is shameful but that's normal for this company. - Voice To Text - Voice Recognition - Nuance - Voice Recognition Software'


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Playstation 3 - playstation 3, thermal compound


When my power supply blew I thought I would take the chance to re-seat my heatsink as well.

I installed it several years ago using an older type of arctic silver and I noticed temps were running much too high. I assume the older stuff hardened and then the heatsink was nudged and wasn't making a good connection anymore.

Re-seating it with this compound lowered temps significantly and it seems to be high quality stuff. Arctic Silver Matrix Thixotropic Premium Thermal Compound-2.5G (MTX-2.5G)

Recently I rebuilt my mother's computer and I had some artic silver 5 left over. I decided to use the rest of it on my ol' 60gb PS3. I opened it up, cleaned the old stuff off, applied some thermal paste, and put it back together. I heard in various forums that the heat sink doesn't sit well on the processors and more than the usual amount was needed. I tried that and didn't like how soon the fan would kick in. I opened it back up, removed some so that it would be the amount you'd normally put on a cpu, and put it back together. Much worse; so bad I wouldn't even play it for fear I was going to see flames.



Bought a tube of this stuff, went to apply it and it wouldn't even come out of the tube. After squeezing til my hands were red, a bunch of it shot out. It looked like gum and it wouldn't spread. I know people are on both sides of the fence about spreading it, but what I did was apply the heat sink and removed it to see it's spread. Then I actually attempted to spread it and it kept peeling off the processor. I had to push it down and form it out like gum.



Surprisingly the fan takes longer to speed up than with the original artic silver. I figured this was a better choice becaause it looked similar to what Sony used. However, I'm wondering if it's supposed to not be adhesive (literally peeled it off my finger) or if mine was dried out.

I noticed that the consistency was not good. One portion was nice and soft, and others were hard. Was almost scared to use it. Not sure is it gets old or temperature can affect it?



Probably will not recommend or buy again

I'll try to be fair. This is good stuff. It's really thick and just seems to do a wonderful job transferring heat! Xbox fans quit spinning up so high. Really good product. Wish I could buy again.

Here's where I don't like it one little bit. It doesn't come out of the tube! I poked the hole in the end, and tried to press it out. Harder and harder I pushed until... Flooof!!! it all came out at once. Maybe I did something wrong, but I've used a few different thermal pastes before and none of them were this hard to use. This one would have been my favorite because of the thickness, but it simply cannot be due to the fact you can't get it out.

this matrix thermal paste works better than the artic silver paste. the artic silver is just to thin but the matrix is thicker and it doesnt burn off the chip as fast as aritc silver. i use it to repair xbox 360's and i havent had any come back saying it doesnt work anymore. so this is the best thermal paste ive seen.

I'd go with a different tip if I was designing this personally. But when you're getting this as part of a free shipping deal, this is a great little tube of thermal compound for a current job or few or just to have as a personal backup when you only sometimes work on computers.

After applying this to my BFG Geforce 9800 GT, it ran about 17 degrees cooler! (BIG difference)



I was having trouble with my card overheating, and I though it might have been my Power Supply, as the minimum suggest PSU for the 9800 GT is 400 Watts. I was using a 350 Watt. After replacing my PSU the card still ran hot (about 105 degrees Fahrenheit!)



I took the cooling case of the card and I thought it may be the thermal grease, so I bought this and applied it. The card now runs at about 88 Fahrenheit in FurMark. Still not GREAT but a good improvement from 105! The geforce 9800 GT is known for overheating due to its single slot form factor.

Contacted this seller on a bad tube of this stuff (IT CAME OUT THE WRONG END) even after shoving a tack in the front BEFORE the first use. No custermer service at this place. PCI Micro, I hope they make this right. I will say this is no reflection on amazon or artic silver (bad products happen) Its the sellers responsability to back what they sell with good customer service (a dying trate). - Playstation 3 - Thermal Compound'


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Battery Backup - back up, apc


I've used Cyberpower UPS for years as I live in a suburban area subject to frequent blackouts lasting from several seconds to several days. I use Cyberpower UPS to keep my TiVo functional, keep my FIOS modem / wireless router running, and keep my iMac bittorrent server running. I've never been disappointed in Cyberpower's products and the single time I needed warranty service it was rapid and complete.



My brother has multiple handicaps and uses his laptop as his primary entertainment point. Recently his area (not far from my home) has begun suffering blackouts of several minutes to several hours duration. He asked me to select an UPS to keep his DSL modem / wireless router running. Of course I turned to Amazon and selected this model from Cyberpower.



The Westell's wall wart consumes around 7 watts. When this arrived, I charged it for 8 hours then pulled the plug with a 15 CFL lamp on the backup outlet. An hour later the lamp was still lit and the UPS wasn't indicating pending shutdown.



As to the green claim, it stands up. I am a 56 year old tech geek and purchased the P3 International P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor from Amazon back when it was introduced. I used it to measure the watts drawn while charging then in battery maintenance. This unit does consume far less power maintaining the battery as compared to the standard CPS425SL.



Some of my Cyberpower UPS are more than 7 years old and only now are needing their batteries replaced. Battery replacement is simply removing 6 or more screws from the bottom of the UPS models I own, opening it up, unplugging the old battery, then reversing the process to install the new battery. It takes less than 5 minutes from the time I unplug it from the electric outlet until it's plugged back in and ready for service. Please be sure to observe all safety precautions when replacing the battery.



I also own UPS systems by APC and recommend them also. They offer higher output with less runtime and I use them for my quad core systems.



For the more than 2 hour to multiple day outages I purchased an ETQ generator from Amazon and a Reliance Controls transfer switch. I recommend these products for extended outages. CyberPower CP425SLG UPS Standby Green - 425VA/255W 8-Outlet RJ11 Compact Design

I had a power outage during a lightening storm. When the power came back the PC that was connected to the (3 month old) Cyberpower UPS/Surge Protector stopped working. I applied for a refund for the cost of the PC, under their equipment warranty. They made me fill tons of paperwork, made me spend 40 bucks on a diagnosis from Geek Squad(who confirmed that my motherboard was fried). After all that hassle, and mailing them the old UPS back, they claimed that their UPS had functioned fine, and refused to pay me anything. The way the refund process is setup, they can pretty deny anyone a refund. Not only does their equipment not handle a lightening surge, their equipment warranty is not worth anything.

Unit works as advertised but unlike me, pay attention to the 255 watt maximum. I glossed over that important point to my regret; I've ordered another unit with 500 watt capacity. My system quickly overloaded the 255 watts and it turned off. I have a system with quad core, multiple LCD monitors, external hard drives, etc. This unit is for basic systems with one monitor.

I recently had the power fail, and this UPS kept my modem and wireless router running for a while. Unfortunately, it beeps every half second when the power goes out, and there's no way to silence it. Other than that annoyance, it works great, and would get 5 stars.

If you graph power problems - power surges are rare. Why? The utility doesnt want to be sued! What they have lots more of are called a recloser. The recloser works on their 12,500 volt lines and above and it's purpose is to clear a fault on those high voltage lines. The way it does this is by opening the 12,500V circuit for exactly 1 second then closing it again. It will do this 3 times in a row before opening for good causing a power failure - at your house you will see your lights flash for 1 second 3 times in a row before a power failure hits. This is the most common event on the power lines that will hit your house.



Now a surge supressor will shut down your computers when the power quits as well as your other equipment. So everything gets on/off cycled 3 times which is a great way to kill high end electronics, yet the surge supressor lets these momentary outages go right through.



The same thing happens with the monster power conditioners (all models) - see during that one second opening of the recloser they have no power to condition - so again all your expensive equipment gets the on/off treatment 3 times in a row.



Now with an uninteruptable power supply such as the cyberpower (or any other UPS) those 1 second outages are filled in with the power "made" by the UPS's batteries. They don't use much power for 3 one second outages, but during those outages is when your unit's batteries supply power and make things normal for the equipment downstream. In fact, in most cases the power is restored by the recloser and all you hear is a couple clicks while the unit fills in for the missing voltage providing power and preventing data loss.



It's ironic that you can spend over $1000 for a "power conditioner" that can't do this, but for 1/5 that price get a device that protects against the bad power at the same time as the no power condition. These are great friends during storm season since if the power does not return you have time to shut down your important work and your computer, or if you have an autostart generator, your ups will keep things going until the generator kicks in (they take 5-10 seconds to warm up and start)



Anyway you look at it this device provides more protection than items costing 5x more. - Back Up - Apc - Uninterrupted Power Supplies - Computer Power Backup'


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