Saturday 2 April 2011

Balance Ball Chair - stability ball, tko


I'm 6'5" 270 pounds. So when I looked into stability balls I was really concerned with whether one would support me. So far, so good. I got it yesterday, blew it up in a few minutes, and sat on it (hesitantly at first) for over an hour. Then worked out for about an hour. It seems very durable and able to maintain my weight without a problem. The exercises on this thing are super effective, as I can feel today. The ball is just right as far as size goes.

Someone complained about the pump, but I found it efficient. It's like a huge syringe. It worked fine. It only took me a few minutes to pump the ball up and that was with my one year old hanging on me so he could mess with the ball.

If something happens and this product fails in some way, I will immediately update this review so that anyone who's concerned can know. So if you don't see an update, the TKO's going strong. TKO Anti Burst Fitness Ball Set 75cm

I have two exercise balls -- one for home and one for work.



This is the ball that replaced my office chair at work. I sit on it daily, frequently bounce on it when no one is around, and it has rolled around my floor with coworkers a couple of times. I've only inflated it once (the initial time) in the time I've had it -- over three months!! I weigh about 130lb (+/-) so I don't add a *ton* of constant weight on the ball. It has lost *some* air (it's not perfect after all), but it's still very firm. (I will probably re-inflate it this week or next.) Three additional bonuses about the ball: (1) since it's a dark color it doesn't pop out at people as they walk by me at work; (2) it's neither sticky nor overly smooth; and (3) it's anti-burst. The ball has a good texture that keeps you in place but doesn't pick up lint/dust. Some balls seem to attract it. Also, if you've seen that episode of "The Office" ([...]) you can appreciate the importance of an anti-burst ball. I haven't tested out this feature (and don't plan on it!), but I am glad that it is there since ANY stability ball can be popped.



The exercise ball that I have at home (GoFit) has lost air much quicker and I don't use it 1/10th as frequently! When I replace my GoFit, I'll definitely go with another TKO!

The thing that "bothered" me a bit was that there was little to no info on this website that had "height recommendations". The Ball had it on the side and it suggested this size for people over 6 ft tall.



That being said, I really didn't want to go through the hassle of returning it. At 5'8", I'd prefer to take my chances. I was pleased with the size and quality of the ball. It is nice and durable. Mine came with a hand pump and while my friends had a good laugh while I inflated it, it works fine for me now.

I am a proponent of fitness and the intent of my review is not to tout the benefits of using this product. As an active individual, I decided on this item to add dimension, that I thought needed, to my routine. I also intended to use this ball as a supporting structure (chair) for my writing assignments and such. Having used "fitness balls" in the past, I selected this item on reviews. I was disappointed.



This company delivered the product as promised. No issues here.



After inflation and initial use, I was satisfied with the product for the first few hours. Then I noticed that the ball began to lose pressure. I was not successful in trying to find one leak. My product has multiple leaks from the vulcanized seam. I only found them after submersing the surface area in soapy water.



As I am overseas now, with the product, a return is more effort than worth.



Had the product worked (held air pressure), I would have been satisfied.

i do not know if my defect was a one-time issue or a common problem. All I can offer is caution in your purchase.

I purchased this largest of the fitness balls (75cm) eventhough I am 5'9". I am a physical therapist and am very familiar with these so called "Swiss therapy balls" as they are used extensively in my profession. I wanted the largest ball for personal preference, although the 65 cm ball is the recommended size for my height. If you want the ball for doing wall squats (ball against the wall and behind your back) or for lying over on your back to stretch your back into good extension without feeling like your head (or hair) is trailing on the floor, then you may want to size up as well. There are many other exercises that are better accomplished on a ball that is a bit larger as well. Also, it has been my experience with many of these balls that it can be difficult to get them blown up to the full stated cm circumference. The instructions in the packaging tell you to NOT use a automatic tire pump, and to use ONLY the hand pump and inflator tube/pin provided. It is a challenge to get the air into the ball this way (with the hand pump) after it is approx. 80% of its stated size, and I don't mean just this brand ......... all of them are that way. Also, if you know you are not going to blow it up to its full size it will have a bit softer feel which is another attribute I was looking for. When they are blown up to their full stated size the "anti-burst" balls can be very firm and some find that uncomfortable. The TKO ball is a nice, sturdy ball. The material is very substantial and a bit firmer than some therapy balls especially if it is fully blown up to it's stated cm size.

I actually purchased two of the fitness balls for my mini horse to play with in the pasture. He plays with it all the time, kicking it around like a soccer ball. Sometimes he actually picks it up in his mouth, and it has lived up to it's claim of anitburst. So far it has survived month's of rough play with only the occassional replacement of a plug. I was able to order extras from the manufacturer and they were very easy to deal with. It takes a licking and keeps on.......... - Stability Ball - Tko - Fitness Ball - Exercise'


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Home Safety - combination smoke, smoke alarms


I spent a good amount of time in the fire safety aisle of a local store, reading packages and comparing units before selecting this particular one to replace an aging smoke-only alarm. This one has two different-sounding alarms (3 beeps for fire and 4 beeps for carbon monoxide) and runs on 2-AA batteries. The batteries can be replaced without taking the unit off the ceiling and the compartment won't close without batteries in it. I installed it by myself in just a couple of minutes with a pencil, drill, hammer and flathead screwdriver. It has several features I chose not to use, most involve locking systems to prevent tampering, but it is nice that they are offered. Also has a photoelectric sensor claiming to prevent false alarms from food smoke and shower steam. I think it's a great value for my family's safety.



**(12/20/08)**I would like to amend my review. A week after installing, the alarm started "chirping" 3 times at irregular intervals (once at 4:00am Sunday, then Tuesday at 1:30pm). I changed the batteries after a third incident (again in the early morning) and it was fine for another four days. The next time I took it down and noticed the back indicates the 3 "chirps" is to replace the alarm. I have had the thing less than a month and have to replace it already?!?!? What a CROCK!



**(12/22/08)**I called and spoke to a rep from First Alert on the phone who explained to me the unit runs a self-test every 90 seconds and if it fails, the alarm 'chirps'. He asked me a few questions and promised me a new unit in a week to ten days.



**(1/14/09)** I received a new unit in the mail today, hard to install with my fingers crossed.



**(3/3/09)**Another malfunctioning alarm, at five o'clock in the morning. I am through with this junk!! Buy only if you want to replace every 4-6 weeks. First Alert SC05CN Battery Operated Combination Carbon Monoxide/Smoke Alarm

I needed to replace a couple very old smoke detectors and decided to upgrade to a smoke and carbon dioxide detector. One of the problems with old smoke detectors is they use 9volt batteries which also are difficult to replace as well as expensive. This new First Alert dual smoke and carbon dioxide detector uses 2 AA batteries and has a separate battery compartment which allows you to replace the battery without taking the detector off the ceiling. Cheaper batteries and much easier to replace them. The cost at Amazon was only $30 and nicely cheaper than anywhere. All-around good service from Amazon. Very satisfied customer here.

I have rental properties and I decided to upgrade all units to have monoxide detectors. I decided on this unit because it is a two in one device and it used double AA batteries instead of the nine volts. My tenants keep complaining that these devices keep beeping. I looked on the back and 3 chirps = bad detector. I took a few of them down, put up the old ones and brought them to my home. They have not chirped since. Something about the other place is making these detectors fail.



Another thing is that I did not notice this but there is a 5 year life on these detectors and then they will chirp without any choice but to replace them. So even if yours works at first, you only will get 5 years out of it. I bought a total of 7 of these that cost me a few hundred and now I need to look for replacements. I wish I left all the old smoke detectors in.

Of course, First Alert is known for quality products, but this device is better yet. Very easy to install, easy to maintain (uses double A instead of 9 volt), relatively inexpensive and sounds an alarm shrill enough to wake up my 10 year old dog. Buy it!

Bought and installed one of these in my upstairs hallway.



Within 3 months of installation, the alarm began intermittently emitting the "3 rapid chirps" alarm, which means that the entire unit is bad and must be replaced. Extremely unreliable!

Like many other reviewers, the four that I bought are having intermittent spells of the dreaded "three chirps". Not sure what brings it on, but it seems to invariably happen in the middle of the night. Extremely annoying.

I bought two of these last year. Within a few months, we started getting false alarms. Three chirps in a row. Sometimes they would stop on their own. Other times, I would have to take them down, take out the batteries, and hang it up again later.



Each time, I tested the batteries. Each time, they were fine. I ever replaced the batteries a couple of times, just to be sure.



Don't buy these. They'll drive you to drink.

One month in place and have same 3 chirp problem. Company sending replacement, but now I expect problem to recur. Very disappointed because I bought 2 devices based on Consumer Reports recommendation for effectiveness. My model is SC501CN. Bought 4 smoke detectors too (SA302CN) and think one or two has same chirp problem. - Co - Carbon Monoxide - Combination Smoke - Smoke Alarms'


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Photography Equipment - photography, computer backpack


Almost just right..., April 10, 2008

By Brett Despain (Draper, UT USA) - See all my reviews



Still looking for the perfect bag...this one comes very close. I own a Lowepro Compurover AW and a Tamrac Adventure 9 bag. The Compurover is too heavy and you have to crack it open like an egg to get to the Camera compartment. The Tamrac is the perfect size, but you have to take the bag off and lay it on the ground or your lap to open the camera compartment, otherwise you risk spilling out all of your gear! Not good.



This Fastpack 250 intrigued me because the side access pocket allows access to your camera quickly without taking the backpack off. Guess what? it works. You really can get your camera out quickly while still wearing the bag.



I bought this as strictly a travel bag. I'm a pilot so I needed a medium sized bag that I could fit in the cockpit while carrying my 40D and 3 L lenses. I also need the top compartment of the bag to carry a few snacks, water and other supplies.



Okay here's the breakdown.



Pros:

1. Slim design, fits in cockpit and on top of my roller suitcase with ease. Also fits very nicely in the space underneath your seat in an airliner.

2. Side camera access in a serious advantage. I considered the sling packs, but I like the comfort and security of having a full backpack. The sling packs are uncomfortable after a while and hard to position to get your camera out without twisting up your clothes or coat.

3. It's lightweight and comfortable to wear. Significantly lighter than my other two bags.

4. Not as pricey as my two other backpacks. I paid less than $90.

5. Side pocket fits a good sized Nalgene water bottle.

6. Medium size and all black color doesn't shout "Camera Bag!" while wearing it.



Cons:

1. No all weather cover flap. A major oversight if you ask me. I took the one off of my Tamrac to use with the Fastpack.

2. No chest strap. I think it needs one.

3. It's almost a little small. I wouldn't go any smaller than this bag because you'll be leaving something home that you'll want later.

4. It needs a side or bottom strap that you can attach a monopod to. I'm thinking of having one sewn on. For now I've attached a carabiner to the top handle and strap on my monopod there.

5. Outside pockets are really worthless. They are sewn in flat and don't have room to expand. You can get a few filters and a flash card wallet in them but that's about it.



Like I said it's not perfect, but I'm giving it four out of five mainly because I like the overall size and design of the bag as well as the convenience of the side access camera pocket. Lowepro Fastpack 250 (Black)

Lowepro quality and organization evident. This bag will NOT do or haul EVERYTHING but meets my needs for now. I have several digital camera bags(my wife might read this so i'll leave it at that) and i needed a bag to carry a "loaded" Canon 70-200 2.8 L II IS on my 7D body. The bag does this well with the hood still backwards but the remaining lenses can't have on hoods in the lower compartment. This bag flew with me as my "personal item" and my carry on suitcase to Phoenix for a Grand Canyon (yes, i went down into the Canyon with it minus my Macbook), Joshua Tree NP, and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.



In the bag: Macbook 17", 7D,5D, Canon 70-200 2.8 L II IS, Canon 100mm Macro, Canon 24-105mm L IS, Hoods for these 3 lenses, Domke Protective Wrap, Canon 1.4 extender, extra caps, extra flash cards, camera manual, extra eye cup, lumquest soft screen, cleaning cloths and lens pen, Op/Tech Rainsleeve, case with circular polarizing filter, battery charger, spare battery, 4G flash drive, Dazzle USB to download cards, Petzl Tikka XP headlamp, sunglasses, hat, bandana, nylon shell vest, 2 bottles of water, snacks and gum. I attached my parka shell below the back safety panel.



I kept everything together and carried it all with me into the field and room and car. When I removed the long lens i placed it in the upper pouch and could work quickly removing the camera body and smaller lenses together especially when hiking for a while. I did fall over once while leaning over from a kneeling position shooting macro because i never used the hip strap and the pack shifted. The pack was very stable in the field and in the airport and plane.



Now i'm putting the 5D body with macro lens or 24-70L in the upper pouch and leave long zoom on the 7D.



Oh, my wife said the blue bag matched my windblock jacket and was pretty! This bag does not look like a camera bag so extra safety.



FINAL WORDS-can carry like a sling bag(i have one) or backpack with/without computer as good daybag without bringing it "all" with you. durable & tough- i'd put it backwards on a rock or dirt often & it's not even marred. cleaned up well from debris after going through tight places. maybe this will help you to choose the right bag for youself the first time, but you'll wind up with another as your gear changes.



Hope you enjoy the quality, comfort, reasonable price and the real reason you need this bag...to take YOUR images and EXPRESS yourself......SHOOT! My equipment changed but not my bag! Just back from Finland & Estonia 10/2010

I was considering the Lowepro slingshot 200 and the Fastpack 250, and boy am I glad I went with the fastpack. Here's a quick side by side comparison:



1. Camera storage compartment: pretty much identical between the two models.

2. Ease of Access: Much easier and more comfortable for the fastpack; just let go of the right strap and swing the bag around. The slingshot swings around and ends up on your chest, pretty awkward feeling/looking; the fastpack ends up near your left waist, allowing you to suavely draw your slr.

3. Size: the fastpack is bulkier than the slingshot, though not by much.

4. Price: the same for both models.



Other random fastpack 250 notes:

1. Laptop storage compartment: the zipper opens along the side, not around the whole backpack.

2. Cellphone pocket: my samsung t-629 fits very snugly.

3. I use this bag for school, storing a slim folder in the laptop pocket, and a couple of 8x6 books in the top compartment. - Photography - Lowepro - Computer Backpack - Camera Bag'


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Kindle 3 Covers - kindle covers, kindle accessory


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



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



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



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



Update 1st December 2010:



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

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



PROS:



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



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



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



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





CONS:



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



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


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Carpenter Jeans - carpenter jeans, jeans


Thank you Carhartt.

Almost perfect in every way.

They should be in the Smithsonian.

The same style and quality for decades.



My only suggestion to buyers is be willing to send the first pair back in order to get the right fit. They have kind of an idiosyncratic fit and you've got to get a feel for them.

Shipping was quite fast. Carhartt Men's Washed Duck Work Dungaree, Moss, 34x32

I have alway's liked this product, but it look's to me like all jean makers have decided if your overweight,your ass just had to have fallen off,I still like these jeans but please add just a little more room in the seat please. - Jeans - Denim - Carpenter Jeans - Mens'


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Battery Aa Rechargeable


The battery will work fine for 2-3 seasons provided you keep it charged.

My kids have enjoyed these for years, A new battery will last most of the day, and I do have hills. By the third season the charge won't hold very long.



The quickest way to ruin lead-acid batteries is to discharge them deeply and leave them stand "dead" for an extended period of time. When they discharge, there is a chemical change in the positive plates of the battery. They change from lead oxide when charged to lead sulfate when discharged. If they remain in the lead sulfate state for a few days, some part of the plate does not return to lead oxide when the battery is recharged. If the battery remains discharged longer, a greater amount of the positive plate will remain lead sulfate. The parts of the plates that become "sulfated" no longer store energy. Batteries that are deeply discharged, and then charged partially on a regular basis can fail in less than one year. Power Wheels 12-Volt Rechargeable Battery

THIS WAS A BUST. I purchased this to replace the original battery that came with my daughter's Barbie Jeep. The original battery lasted about 3 years and worked very well before running out of juice. I read several reviews that concerned me saying that the replacement battery went dead very very quickly. Well, that's exactly what happened to me . . . I read and followed the instructions closely, in terms of how long to charge initially, and then subsequent charging as well. We got about 3 charges out of it, and that's it. I ended up throwing away the Jeep, and I'm taking this battery and the original battery to the dump, where they have a station to recycle old batteries. Amazon cannot take this product back . . since it is a hazardous material (acid), but, kudos to them, they credited me the purchase right away. I don't know what to tell you on this one . . . it could be the batteries they have are old shelf batteries; it could be something wrong with our Jeep itself. . . BUT . . . if it can happen to me (and others that I read about), then it can happen to you. We're going to purchase an upgraded vehicle from here and not fool around with replacement batteries anymore. GOod luck.

I have bought four of these batteries. I feel like a fool after reading so many bad reviews. Please look for an alternative. Out of the four batteries I have not gotten 20 hours of use. It is sad that a company as Fisher Price would sell such a mediocre product. The ride on is nice, please look for an alternative on replacing the batteries.

This battery was great for about two charge cycles...I charged it 18 hours the first time like the instructions said to do. Jeep ran great for about the expected two hours or so...Charged it again that night for 14 hours...ran great again...The third day, I charged it for 14 hours again and hooked it up to the jeep and NOTHING ...I followed all of the instructions to a T. What a piece of JUNK. Power Wheels should be ashamed of themselves for selling such an awful product and doing nothing about it.

Product worked one time (just fine) and then never worked again. Called/wrote to get an exchange and company stated that there were no exchanges or refunds on batteries. Very very lame. Still working on getting money back or exchange of product. Buy at your own risk!

After charging the battery twice, it lost it's charge. My son received a ride on for Christmas and the first battery went out within 3 months and I had to buy him a replacement. We followed all the directions on how to long charge it, etc. and still - dead. Second one in 4 months. It's too much money to keep replacing the battery so my son can ride the 4 wheeler with trailer. Poor kid.

We bought this to replace the one that came with the ride on toy. The original one was dropped and sustained a small dent in the side of the battery and it never seemed to hold a powerful charge again. This one works fine. Would suggest being careful with the battery since they are not terribly durable!'


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Trouser Pressers - iron, irons


Have had the Pants Press for about a month now. It arrived well packaged, was very easy to assemble and works very well! I used the free-standing set-up but it also came with hardware to mount the unit to the wall. For a guy who likes to look neat and pressed, but hates to iron this is the way to go. Save money on drycleaning bills as well. Over time I believe this product will pay for itself! Give it a try, you'll love it! Corby 7700 Pants Press

This item has already more than paid for itself in my time and/or cleaning bills. In the morning, I can drop a pair of pants into the press and then set it for 15, 30, or 45 minutes. When they're done, I pull them out and they look like they've been professionally pressed. They only press the legs, so you won't get creases out of the seat of the pants, but that's hardly a concern with a pair of pants off of a suit.



It took me a few tries to understand how to lay the pants completely flat (I would have pressed-in wrinkles in the beginning b/c I didn't understand what was REALLY flat inside the press, and what just looked flat), but now it takes less than 30 seconds to get a pair of pants aligned properly and in place for pressing. My advice is to avoid having the pants legs too far towards the bottom of the press, and also to make sure that the material on the inner leg is flat, which you can tell by smoothing out the seams and pulling it tight towards the creases.



Great item and I would highly recommend.

The Corby 7700 is a very gentle pants press. It never reaches a high temperature and therefore it requires about 30 minutes to press my wool pants. It also doesn't get so hot that it will set a stain. I have installed mine onto my closet wall with the included mounting kit. It takes up much less "real estate" this way, and eliminates the cheap feeling plastc feet and also the jacket hanger, but as it's in my closet with my jackets that doesn't matter. The unit is made in England and seems well thought out and well constructed. A larger "cubby" for keys, wallet and change wouldn't have been amiss, but perhaps I cram too much stuff into my pockets. It's a very capable product at a reasonable price.

Received as advertised. I have used one of these Corby Press's (this is my third one in 20 years) daily. It work's quite well.



The only negative is that in 20 years, I have had two of these Corby Presses fail to work (I guess they wore out) and was forced to buy another one. It is unfortunate that the electronics that Corby uses do not have a better long term working life. The company should invest in better electronics.

The product works well enough, however I have been unable to find a way to get it repaired. I would be satisfied with parts but appearently replacement parts are also unavailable. I first contacted Jerdon at 1-800-223-3571 they are the USA distributers, no help. I then contacted the factory customer service in England, they also said there was no way they could get it repaired nor do they have access to parts. Too bad! I will never buy a Corby product again

I have used this same pant's presser for years. Then it finally "died," and

I have been looking for it in catalogs. Then, Eureka, I thought enough to look on Amazon.com and low and behold they carried it. I'll once again

have crisp pants without shelling out extra money to dry cleaners.

T. Powell, Florida

Works well on all dress pants. On Khakis which are thicker cotton it does not work that well. If you iron the Khakis normally then you can keep them pressed between washes. But all wool and nylon dress pants press very well.

Nice looking. Somewhat difficult to smooth out legs so as to not get wrinkles pressed in, expect that a little more practice will improve this. Would have liked a bit bigger storage tray and a place to place belt (hook for instance). - Pant Presser - Iron - Trouser Presser - Irons'


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Playstation 3 - 2009 amazon frustration-fre, ps2 cables


The product summary doesn't mention it, but the box these come in DOES state that it's for use with Playstation 3 and Playstation 2.



I actually bought these for use with my Playstation 2 and was not disappointed. The difference between the output on the standard cable and this cable on a 61" HDTV is enormous! God of War looked blurry before, but now running it in progressive widescreen mode (480p) the difference is like night and day. Gran Turismo 4 outputs to 1080i and is amazing!



If you have HDTV and a Playstation 2 get this cable, don't worry that the product description doesn't mention playstation 2, the box does. PlayStation 3 Component AV Cable

The PlayStation 3 Component AV cable is really for two types of customers: those with a PS3 who have a first generation HDTV and those who have a Playstation 2 with a HDTV.



If you have a PS3, then your best bet is HDMI. It's all digital and provides the best clarity. In addition, it is only one single cable for video and audio as opposed to 5 separate connections. There would be no point to buy this cable for your PS3 and HDTV unless you have a first-generation HDTV that does not have a HDMI or DVI input (if you have a DVI input, you can buy a cable or adapter that allows HDMI to DVI connections).



If you have a Playstation 2, this cable is great to use for 480P (progressive scan output) or for usage with Gran Turismo in 1080i mode. Component is also noticeably clearer than S-Video or Composite out. If you don't have a HDTV though, the difference with component versus S-video or composite is not nearly as noticeable and may not be worth it.



Now onto the Sony component cable itself.



Pros:

- excellent quality

- the cable is very flexible and routes easily. It doesn't remain in a twisted or coiled form like some other cables

- the component jacks go easily into the TV. They are sized great and go in easily. I've used Monster-branded component cables for the PS2/PS3, and they require too much force to go in and out of the jacks. It felt like it was putting too much undue stress on the TV jacks.

- the MultiAV connector goes in very tight into the PS2/PS3

- cable rubber / plastic is high quality and doesn't feel sticky or smelly like some other cables.



Cons:

- the packaging is over the top. Sony used heavy thick clear plastic as the box. It's difficult to cut open, and an environment disaster. This item is a perfect candidate for Amazon's Frustration Free packaging.



P.S. If you have trouble getting output with this cable, make sure in the PS2 setup, the component out is set to CYPbPr rather than RGB. The catch-22 is that you can't see the screen to set this with the component cable already plugged in. However, all PS2s come with the basic composite AV cable, so you should use this to set the component out first before plugging in the component AV cable.

I didn't realize that the one I have on my PS2 would work on my PS3 when I ordered this.



I was so impressed by the quality that I kept it and am currently using it (as opposed to using the PS2 one that I already had).



Well made - does the job. BUT if your TV supports HDMI use the HDMI NOT this...

I was pretty ignorant of the difference a component cable could make. When we bought an much bigger HDTV, the PS2 games looked really awful on it. All washed out and grainy. Of course some people in the house felt the answer was a PS3 but I couldn't bring myself to drop 600 on it at this time so...for 20 bucks I ordered this cable. I was shocked at how much clearer and crisper the picture is on the games. It's not HD but its not too shabby. For a savings of 580 I can live with it for a good long time and so can the whiny tech obsessed males of the household. It was worth the money and I recommend it.

I was concerned that I would lose some picture quality using component cable instead of HDMI. That was not the case.. the picture looks great! And the BlueRay picture is awesome. Was quite surprised how well the PS3 upscaled regular DVD's to HD.

Using the RCA cables that came with the PS3, I hardly noticed a graphics upgrade from my PS2. My HDTV does not come with HDMI input so I was a little disappointed that I would be forced to use these. But it really didn't matter. You can use full 1080P just like HDMI cables. The flickering disappears when you use these. The picture quality is incredible using component cables. You can see more of the screen when you set the resolution to 1080P vs 480i, which is important for the Playstation store. Do yourself a favor and get these.

I actually bought these cables to upgrade the picture on my PS2 (these cables work on both PS2 and PS3) to play it on my new HD TV. Wow, what a difference it made going from s-video to component cables. The picture is so much clearer and the colors seem nicer. I recommend these cables to anyone who wants to upgrade to better video quality on the Playstation 2 and 3. The quality of this product is top-notch. - Component - Accessory - 2009 Amazon Frustration-fre - Ps2 Cables'


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Blank Dvd Media - dvd media, dvdplusr


I've used to have good success over the years with Verbatim quality and they used to be worth the extra few dollars. Sadly this is no longer the case, you may need to look elsewhere, I am disappointed.



This purchase from November 2010 shows the discs are now made in India, so even though they have the same product code as the ones that used to be made in Singapore or Taiwan, they are not up to the same standard.



They have a very heavy chemical "stink" to them. The few discs I have leftover from the previous Verbatim purchase have no such smell.



During burning, there are several "pauses", even at only 8x - again, only on the ones from India and not Singapore/Taiwan, with the same burner.



"Disc Quality" scan by Nero CD-DVD Speed shows many more errors on the India made discs vs Singapore/Taiwan discs.



So perhaps Verbatim sold off the rights to use their name for another manufacturer or perhaps the India factory is not up to par, but I am upset that I wasted money and trust on this purchase. Verbatim 95098 4.7 GB up to16x Branded Recordable Disc DVD+R (100 Disc Spindle)

Having brought approximately 5 or 6 hundred of these disks and in all that time only finding 1 of them to be bad; it is easy to recommend them. I have purchased many different brands before and none of them can compare. Buy these!

EDIT: This review applies to Verbatim 95098 specifically!



Bearing in mind that some media and some optical drives just do not get along, I would say that these discs (manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corp.) are the closest in quality to the cream of the crop (Taiyo Yuden) that I have come across.



The thing to remember when buying blank DVD media is that brand name means little: you want a good manufacturer. For instance, I have burned some TDK media for a friend and noticed that one batch was manufactured by Ritek and another by CMC Magnetics.



I strongly suggest checking this page before you buy:



[...]



Be sure to check out the freeware tool DVD Identifier, as well, so you know who is manufacturing your media:



[...]





Hope this helps to cut back on "coasters!"



EDIT February 2011: Not sure why Amazon removed my links to websites that review and rate CD/DVD/BD media after they had been up for quite some time. I suppose a quick Googling will suffice....

I haven't written a review on Amazon in years, but I want to for this product because I am so disappointed in it and I want to corroborate what others have said about the "Made in India" discs.



I've had great luck with Verbatim media in the past; I've burned many DVD-Rs, CD-Rs, and Dual Layer DVD+Rs--and I've had virtually 100% success with them. I also have burned a few other brands (Maxell, Sony, a few Memorex) and have had very good results with them as well.



I was sure these (16x DVD+R) would be of great quality like the others, but these are honestly the worst discs I've ever used.



I haven't even finished this spindle (I have around 15 or so left), but I have already had about 20 bad discs. They seem to burn OK, but then cannot be read. I tested the bad discs in multiple players, so the players cannot be blamed. I use a good quality burner (Lite-On), use good software (K3b or GnomeBaker), burn at half the rated speed (8x for these 16x discs), and other discs (including other Verbatim products) *after* these ones have worked fine--so in my opinion, this particular media is the problem.



In fairness, the majority of these discs have actually been successfully burned. However, even if every remaining disc is good, this spindle will have a failure rate of 20%, and that is way too high. It's a waste of resources, time, and money.

Exactly which brand/maker of DVD+Rs works best for you depends on your DVD drive. I know from many reviews that Verbatim DVD+R 8x and DVD+R 16x work wonderfully with NEC 35xx drives; I have been using that combo for 1.5 years now and never had a single coaster or issue reading the data back in.

I've purchased things from Amazon before but I read some reviews about packaging and Amazon's practice of sticking air pillows on the sides instead of using peanuts underneath (the old fashioned way). As a result, many Amazon customers have reported getting spindles with a few cracked discs on top due to corner impacts during shipping! AMAZON SHOULD NOT SKIMP ON THE QUALITY OF PACKAGING IF IT WANTS TO KEEP CUSTOMERS! Some items are just too delicate to use a air pillow on the side.



I wound up buying them from Newegg instead who has a very high, well respected reputation, free shipping, and was selling the spindle for the exact same price. You just have to pay a little tax. The extra tax was worth it knowing the ITEM IS PACKAGED BETTER. A shipping box filled with a generous amount of peanuts, and the spindle buried inside. That means Newegg cares more too as far as I'm concerned. You can collect the extra peanuts in a big trash bag to use when you ship your own packages.



By the way, my Panasonic DVD recorder and LG Burner read and burn the Verbatims perfectly. - Blank Dvd Media - Dvd R - Dvdplusr - Dvd Media'


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Rechargeable Batteries - nimh batteries, nimh


[Updated Dec 24, 2008]

I was only half-right when I boldly proclaimed that "Duracell Pre Charged AA are rebranded Sanyo eneloop cells" in my original review. It turns out that the first batch of Duracell AA cells I bought from Amazon are made in Japan, and those are identical to eneloop (both mechanically and electrically). But lately I bought some more Duracell AA from a warehouse club. Those are made in China, and they are identical to the Rayovac Hybrid.



[Original review follows]



Judging from similarity of technical specifications and physical shapes of (+) and (-) terminals, I am convinced that the Duracell Pre Charged AA is actually SANYO eneloop AA underneath a different wrapper. Therefore all the good things you heard about eneloop apply to Duracell 'Pre Charged', too.



My own testing has shown that the capacity of eneloop AA cell is slightly above the claimed 2000mAh, and it is able to retain at least 85% of its charge after 5 months in storage. The Rayovac Hybrid AA starts with slightly higher capacity at 2100mAh, but it 'only' retains 80% capacity after 5 months. For all practical applications, both are equally good. Just pick whichever brand (Sanyo, Rayovac, or Duracell) is on-sale, and you can't go wrong.



One small problem with the Duracell 'Pre Charged' cell is that: it looked too similar to the well-known 'Copper Top' alkaline cell. So there is a good chance that people may mistaken it for a disposable cell. Personally, I prefer the distinctive-looking white case of the eneloop cell. Duracell Pre Charged Rechargeable Nimh AAA Batteries, 4-Pack

[Updated Dec 21, 2008]

I was only half-right when I boldly proclaimed that "Duracell Pre Charged AAA are rebranded Sanyo eneloop cells" in my original review. It turns out that the first batch of Duracell AAA cells I bought from Amazon are made in Japan, and those are identical to eneloop (both mechanically and electrically). But lately I bought some more Duracell AAA from a warehouse club. Those are made in China, and they are identical to the Rayovac Hybrid (see my scan in the Customer Images section). Note that the Rayovac Hybrid AAA has an average capacity of about 780mAh (compared to about 830mAh for eneloop AAA), so is not as good a value.



[Original review follows]



Judging from similarity of technical specifications and physical shapes of (+) and (-) terminals, I am convinced that the Duracell Pre Charged NiMH cell is actually Sanyo Eneloop underneath a different wrapper. Therefore all the good things you heard about eneloop apply to Duracell 'Pre Charged', too.



My own testing has shown that the capacity of eneloop AAA cell is slightly above the claimed 800mAh. The Rayovac Hybrid AAA is usually cheaper, but its capacity is slightly below 800mAh. Both brands are able to retain at least 85% of their charge after three months of storage. Just pick whichever brand is on-sale, and you can't go wrong.



One small problem with the Duracell 'Pre Charged' cell is that: it looked too similar to the well-known 'Copper Top' alkaline cell. So there is a good chance that people may mistaken it for a disposable cell. Personally, I prefer the distinctive-looking white case of the eneloop cell.

Pros:

-For a rechargeable battery, these batteries does not need to be charged before you use it for the first time; right from the packaging into your gadgets.

-They last a long time.

-Does not need special charger. You can use your existing NiMh charger.



Cons:

-You can confuse them with regular Duracells and mistakenly thrown away after losing charge.

-This later technology is still expensive.



I also like Eneloops by Sanyo. But they are not easily available at your local stores.

I have been using these for a few months in my camera, Logitech Harmony remote, and in my Wii remotes and they have been great.



However, I was looking at batteries at Walmart today and noticed their new stock of Duracell Precharged batteries are being made in China and no longer have a white cap. They shoved the Japan made white cap batteries to the back of the shelf. This makes me think they are no longer Eneloops. I am a little nervous to buy another set of these as the only reason to make that switch in my opinion is to save money yet charge the consumer the same. This usually leads to an inferior product. The originals I have are made in Japan.



Anyway, maybe the battery review guru of Amazon will do a little comparison test of these new China made precharged batteries vs the Japan made batteries that seemed awfully similar to the Eneloops. I really hope the new version stands up to the old.

Pros:

-For a rechargeable battery, they do not need to be charged before you use it for the first time; right from the packaging into your gadgets.

-They last a long time. I use it everywhere, portable speakers, Wiimotes, toys, Panasonic, Dect 6.0 phones, 2-way radios...

-No need for a special charger. You can use your existing NiMh charger.



Cons:

-You can confuse them with regular Duracells and mistakenly thrown away after losing charge.

- It has been several years and still the price hasn't really come down.



I also like Eneloops by Sanyo. But they are not easily available at your local stores. - Aaa - Nimh - Battery - Nimh Batteries'


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Natural Medicine - natural medicine


This is a short informative book with lot's of testimonies about the benefits and uses of Coconut. If you want a synopsis on the broad specturm of coconut, this may be a good place to start. I'm thankful for Coconut!



The book "Virgin Coconut Oil" is a short one on only 91 sides but informitative for especially persons who wants to get the first information about coconut, and don't know if it's good or bat. In the book there are many letters, e-mails, from persons telling about how it solved problems when the startet consuming cocos, cocos water or cocos oil.



I bought this book after, in this year, first having bought and read "The Coconut Oil Miracle", and then "Coconut Water for health and healing", finding that cocos are the best thing to get and therefore wanted to read more about it.



And this year I came to these books about cocos after first having read nearly one hundred books abouth foot and body for being healthy, all bought by Amazon, as I live in Thailand and here we nearly don't have the same kind of books written in english (or danish). In all the previous bought books nearly nothing was written about coconut. But when I in one book read that fat from cocos was maybe not as bad as we was told in 1960s, and in many cases still are told, I bought the first book written by Dr. Bruce Fife. And then found that all from the cocos are the most helthy we can get. Our doctors says that it's best if my wife don't eat or drink anything coconut as she has to high a cholesterol. And that's totally wrong, which I allso can se in 10 books about cholesterol.



But again, for the health it's good to read this book, and the other, about cocosnut.



With regard Gert

Very interesting book, and eye opening to a easy approach for natural cures. It is the body that cures itself we just need the tools to help it. This is just one of many ways to help our bodies to heal itself.



Regards,



MW - Natural Medicine'


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Cell Phone Headset - wired headsets, hands free


I've been using this headset for the last two months and am satisfied with it in general. I do sometimes get complaints that the sound is not too loud, however they usually say it is acceptable. The over-the-ear design is pretty convenient for me, I like how simple it is to place it on the ear and the way it sits. My wife finds it less comfortable to combine it with her glasses. I like to give it four stars as I'm more than half-pleased with it and I wouldn't agree with other reviewers saying it is horrible and useless. Plantronics M220 Mobile Headset for Most Phones with Standard 2.5mm Headset Jack - Audiovox, Blackberry, Kyocera, LG, Samsung, Sanyo, Tr?o

I used this earpiece for over a year and it finally gave out. I found it on amazon for a very good price. I have always had good luck with plantronics products. It really cancels out the surrounding noise. I have used other earpieces before this and they all had some kind of flaw.

I find that it's easier for me to hear through the phone's handset than the headset earpiece, but others have told me that the sound when I'm talking to them is better when I'm on the headset. I'm most comfortable when I'm not moving around while I'm wearing it, I don't like to wear it more than a few hours, and I have yet to figure out how to wear it in my left ear--the directions are pictoral, and not particularly helpful.



But I bought this for convenience more than anything; it does what it's supposed to, and I'm not sorry I bought it.

Purchased this for the mrs. Overall it performs well, but as a receiver of her calls with this headset, I do hear a tin can echo.

She has been happy with it, saying it fits well, callers voice is clear, and she likes having the mic closer to her mouth.

Even with cell volume on maximum it is hard to hear, everyone hears me fine. This is such a well know brand I was really disappointed with this updated version of my old headset which I leave in the car due to heat and cold. I should send it back, I have fallen back to the old headset which is 4+ years old and is just better quality.

It's comfortable, light, affordable, and simple.



Best of all, the noise reduction is phenomenal. I was in the car with my window down on the freeway next to a truck. It was loud in there, but the person on the phone reported that he could hear me just fine but couldn't hear the noise. WOW!

I bought this for my mother to use with the cordless phone system.



The quality is nice and the sound is good on both ends.



She cannot get the fit right, I have worked with her and we cannot get it to adjust properly. Her hair will knock it off occasionally.



Works fine for me but she cannot use it as I intended.

I bought two of these headsets, one for my daughter and one for myself. I really like the clear sound and comfortable fit of the headset. They even sound clear in the car. Both of us have been pleased with our purchases. I have some trouble hearing in crowds, separating noises and such. This headset truly does a great job and my conversations are clear as a bell. It is comfortable to wear as well. Works for me! I highly recommend the headset.

This is the first headset that I've used that didn't come with the phone. Usually the ones with the phone are earbuds with a dangling microphone. This clearly has a better mic than those. People don't even realize that I'm driving down the highway. The earpiece sound is not great, the phone earpiece is better, but the sound is good enough.



The biggest complaint I have about this is that it is really uncomfortable. When I use it, I'm constantly adjusting it. There are probably better headsets out there, but this one is just adequate. - Wired Headsets - Hands Free'


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Cable - cable, midi interface


The plugs on these MIDI cables have a good firm fit and solid electrical contact.

The cable itself is soft and flexible, has about a half-inch bend radius.

I use these cables to connect my MIDI controller keyboard to a synthesizer module.

Haven't had any problems, seems to work perfect. 5 Foot Long MIDI to MIDI Connect Cable

The item only works when plugged in a certain direction. You would think you could plug either MIDI to MIDI end in, but it must be in a certain direction to send/receive MIDI properly. My friend and I use it to link up our computers' external soundcards, and as my computer is the host and his the slave, it only works if the cable is plugged in that direction.

Unless you're one of those crackpots that thinks Monster is worth the money, buy this without hesitation. The quality is good. Nothing to complain about. And the shielding cable seems fairly thick. It was a few dollars cheaper than the same thing at Best buy. Recommended.

This product works. I needed a cheap, midi cable and this product delivered. Connections feel solid especially for the price. I wouldn't call this thing highest quality but it definitely isn't cheap. Cable has a good thickness and feel to it as well. I already purchased another. I would definitely recommend to others

Not much to be said. It's a MIDI cable, and it works just fine. The quality seems about right for the price. I ordered it from Amazon because of their quick shipping and good return policy in case it was needed--it wasn't as the cable works as it should. - Midi Interface - Cable'


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