Guy Low Price Electronic: 2 May 2011

Monday 2 May 2011

Stretching - heels, high heels

These shoes are sexy and fun. I actually found a pair of panties at Victoria's Secret with the same red corset ribbons to match! I am normally a size 9 but ordered a 10 and they fit fine so they do run a bit small! But they turn heads and are comfortable for heels! 5 3/4 Inch Sexy High Heel Shoe Corset Style Platform Evening Shoe Size: 11

They do run a little small though I wear a size 10 bought the size 11 and they were just fitting me...I think if I had gotten the 12 it would have been perfect! All in all I love the shoe and can't wait to wear them out!!! - Stiletto - Heels - High Heel Shoe - High Heels'

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Blackberry Storm Battery - battery, cell phone battery

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i recieved the product in a timely manner. although when i put the battery in my phone it would not accept a charge. After trying to charge the battery for two days with no luck i gave up. ive tried to contact the company and have got no response back. I would advise any one not to buy lthis battery. BlackBerry DX-1 Original Li-Ion Battery for BlackBerry Curve 8900, Tour 9630, Storm 9500 9530 and Storm2 9550

There's a reason why these OEM batteries are so cheap, it's because they've all come from phones that have had some kind of moisture damage and the RED line indicator on the side of the battery is activated. My original OEM battery out of the box is all white, indicating no moisture exposure. Am yet to see how this affects battery life.

1) Looks fake

1a) Came in a heat sealed plastic baggie

2) Battery Sticker is nothing like the original battery sticker

2a) You can see glue around the edges of the sticker that makes it look like it's not a self adhesive sticker

2b) It was already peeling off

3) 1/2 the charge lost within 4 hours

3a) Wifi was not on, Bluetooth was on but no usage via Bluetooth

3b) with no activity except a 3 minute call and 1 try at a QR code scan

Conclusion: I feel it's a counterfeit battery. No wonder some batteries overseas come with a Holographic Sticker.

Disclaimer: This review is solely based on my personal experience with the so called DX-1 Original Li-Ion for BB Curve 8900 etc. that I bought from the seller Buying It on Amazon.com

I bought one of these very low priced batteries becauses my year-old battery was not holding a charge for a full day. The battery arrived in a plastic bag, with no way to verify that it was new. I have used it for a couple of days, and it discharges even faster than my original battery.

I was looking forward to receiving those batteries since the original one in my BB wouldn't last a full day.

I finally received them but my BB Storm 9530 constantly reboots when I put when of those batteries in.

I don't know if there's a compatibility issue or if I got faulty ones but I wouldn't recommand those to anyone...

Item did not arrive after being ordered but contacted seller and got it a few days later. Works as good as the batter that came with the phone and only cost a few dollars (opposed to the $50+ the Verizon store had them priced at)

Update after 6 months of use - battery does not hold a charge well any longer. Still rather pay a couple of dollars every 6 months than $50 for a better battery. - Blackberry - Cell Phone Battery - Battery - Blackberry Accessories'

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Wireless Remote Outlet Control - remote outlet, remote controls

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This isn't a reflection on Amazon, or Target where I purchased this product. I bought 2 sets at the end of 2008. Each package had a non-functioning receiver. I put the two defects in one package and returned it. The set I kept and used worked to specification until a few months ago. The transmitter 1 On button (most used button, for bedroom floor lamp) began to fail, requiring several presses to operate and today it quit working entirely. I'd already researched Woods Wire/Coleman Cable and realized I wasn't going to get far with any warranty request. I disassembled the remote and confirmed a bad switch with a multimeter. I opened the defective switch (destructive, no reassembling it) and observed some material transfer from the center contact to the switch 'dome' contact that may have been preventing current flow. I unsoldered the switch and replaced it with a switch from an answering machine keypad. It worked better than new because the replacement switch was better quality to start with. Two other switches on the remote were intermittently displaying a weak LED, they were failing also. I replaced all six switches and the remote works better than new, the crisp click of the replacement switches provides better tactile feedback and they work every time. I understand mass production and low cost products to meet competitive price points but it's unfortunate that the manufacturer didn't spend another 50 cents and assemble a reliable product that could last more than a year. Perhaps the newest units are 'upgraded' and my experience is not typical. From a use perspective, I love having a single remote on my nightstand to control 2 lamps and the rear surround wireless receiver for a Samsung theater without getting up. From a quality/durability perspective, you may want to look for competitive products. Woods 13568 Indoor Wireless Remote Control Outlet, 3-Outlet

Although I just opened the package and set up my system today - controlling three pieces of electronics gear - I thought I'd clarify at least one recommendation on the package that is repeated on the instructions inside.

The statement on the package says "To improve performance, it is recommended that remote outlets be positioned at least 8.5 feet apart." That was a surprise to read and would have been a deal breaker for me. Fortunately, in my experience, they work fine at closer distance. I have the three receivers all clustered together and there is no interference among them. Everything works fine. Perhaps that's why Amazon chose not to mention the recommendation on its web page.

Incidentally, the receivers/outlets are bigger than I expected. They measure 4 3/8 in.long x 2 1/2 in.wide x 2 in. deep.

Purchased this item and Woods 32555. Use it to control lights in the house plus garage and it has performed as advertised. Have not tested a max distance for control but as of now, I can turn on the bedroom lights at a distance of about 60 feet through no less than 5 walls and the garage from about 80 feet by line of sight. When first plugged in, the red ON light blinks and you will need to program the unit just by pressing the appropriate ON button 1, 2 or 3 depending on which unit you have plugged in (I marked each unit to correspond with the appropriate on and off buttons). If you remove it and move to a new location, this procedure needs to be repeated. Make sure the item you want to control does not exceed the voltage and wattage rating of the unit. This item is rated at 15 Amp max, 1875 resistive 5A, 625W Tungsten 3/4 HP. If you need a unit with higher capacity, take a look at the Woods 32555 however it is a single control unit only.

Don't have much time to do this review.....but the nitty-gritty is:

1) One of the 3 plug-in units was fine

2) Two of them were defective

3) Both defective units "rattled" when turned over, moved around in my hand

4) I had to see why.....the quality of the "insides" is just plain scary

5) I'm really not an "alarmist," but to be honest, for safety reasons, I would absolutely avoid this product.

6) One of the defective plug-ins had a "BLACK-wire" screw that fallen-out inside the casing.

7) The other one--both wire-holding-screws had fallen out (BUT THE CURRENT-CARRYING WIRES WERE STILL SURPRISINGLY TOUCHING THEIR RESPECTIVE PLATES).

8) I would consider these a dangerous "spark-->fire" hazard.....and I'm surprised (and glad) that no one has had a serious issue with these (at least so far).

I'm going to order another set of the "cheaper ones" also available on Amazon.

Sorry Woods....but, dang.....if you can't figure out a way to secure the electrical wires that will withstand "shipping"....you shouldn't be making these at all. And Woods, please feel free to call me if you'd like to speak to me in person about this...I give Amazon my permission to divulge my home number to you.

Amazon...you might be wise to have someone take a direct look at this product...to make sure you're comfortable selling it.

IF SOMEONE PURCHASES THIS....UPON ARRIVAL....JUST GENTLY SHAKE OR "ROCK" THE PACKAGE BACK-AND-FORTH....IF YOU HEAR ANY RATTLING.....SEND IT BACK!!!

JUST BE CAREFUL WITH THIS ONE.

These outlets worked OK for about 4 months. Now they will not turn the radio or lamps on but they will turn them off so they are useless.Putting in a new battery did not help and you won't get any help from Woods.

These handy little plugs are fantastic! I've been able to use them indoor/outdoor and the remotes work great through floor and both interior and exterior walls. I'm not sure if there were ever instructions; if there were, I must have thrown them away. I say this because I was confused as to which remote buttons corresponded to which outlet. There are (3) on/off buttons & (3) receptacles... so I assumed that each of the receptacles was on a slightly different frequency and were pre-programmed to work with one of the buttons... NOT SO! It is actually kind of cool how flexable they are. When you plug one of the receptacles in, the red light on it will blink until you press one of the (3) "ON" buttons. Once the receptacle recieves a signal from one of the "ON" buttons, it programs to that specific number. So you can have one on each of the buttons, or if you'd like, you could have 2 on 1 and just leave one of them open. I'm guessing you could get multiple packs of these and string 5-10+ outlets and just need one remote if you program them as such...pretty cool!

I used these for xmas this year to control the lights outside and i'm using them for baby monitor equipment now...I can't tell you how handy it is to have these around! One of my best purchases of the year! - Wireless Remote Control - Remote Controls - Remote Outlet - Wireless Remote'

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Cloth Diapers - swim diaper, pool diaper

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We have a few of these in different sizes and styles, and we also have a couple other non-disposable swim diapers. These ones are definitely better - fit is nice and snug all around, whereas the other ones don't stay snug at the waist and can slip down. Swim diapers are NOT made to hold pee, which did surprise me the first time I used one (actually the other kind we have), but I learned that is the way they are designed. So since then I just don't switch my kids into them until they're ready to get into the water. Any pee is taken care of by the chlorine in the pool; the diaper's job is to contain any poop, which would be a huge issue if allowed into the pool water. Between my 3 kids, they've pooped in them maybe 3 times (thanks to my policy of only using them when needed), but each time they performed exactly as needed and were easy to take care of - and we are not cloth-diapering people here, so these are the only non-disposable diaper products we've used. When I realized we didn't have a swim diaper in my youngest's size, I of course purchased another one of the Finis diapers. FINIS Girl's Swim Diapers (Pink Bubble, Large)

Firstly I just want to mention that my daughters swim class only allows re-useable swim diapers as they are more sanitary. Swim diapers are not meant to absorb anything just contain poo until you can get out of the pool to dispose of it properly. Urine is sterile and not harmful to other people (kind of a gross thought but true) makes me appreciate chlorine a little more.

Anyways I have tried a few re-useable swim diapers and this is my favorite one. The sizing seems to be a little on the big side based on weight so when in doubt go a size smaller. The good thing is they will grow into the next size up if you do buy the wrong size. I like these because they seem to be comfortable and if I am running late for swim class they are stylish enough to pass as cute swim bottoms. I really like the feel of the fabric. They feel more like a swimming suit than a plastic hazmat suit. This last point may not seem like a big deal but my daughter's swim class requires all kids 4 and under to wear a swim diaper regardless of potty training. So for it not to look or feel like a diaper to a potty trained kid is a big deal.

As for its contain-ability I only once had it tested and I noticed right a way and we were out of the pool as quick as we could be. So it was not much of a test.

As silly as this may sound if you think your kiddo may have pooed while in the pool make sure to lift the kid out of the water before you check their diaper for treasures regardless of whether or not you use re-useable or disposable swim diapers. This is the most common reason for actual pool contamination.

I can't believe I didn't discover these until my 2nd child was already one & a 1/2. We bought this for my daughter before we took a beach vacation - it was perfect, and we used it all week. It held in what it needed to when it was necessary. I loved it as an alternative to packing all the disposable diapers, and we will use it all summer and not buy those disposables ever again. I did buy a size up and thought that was the right call. I think this is a great alternative to those yucky other diapers.

Our community pool requires actual swim diapers for hygienic reasons. This diaper was serviceable for holding bowel movements (It is not suppose to hold urine), but it was a little snug for her 2T size (She's average 50th percentile in height & weight) & I suggest getting one size larger. I had researched many different brands and this one was recommended by a friend of mine who has 2 children and uses cloth diapers on the daily basis. The fabric does not fill up with water and weigh the children down when swimming, like the disposable swim diapers. My pediatrician also recommended against disposable swim diapers for safety reasons.

This works great. I'm glad I read that this isn't supposed to stop pee so I didn't mind it when she went and it went through the diaper. I just waited to change he into her swimsuit until we were at the pool. It was perfect!

small: 3-6 months 9-15 lbs

medium: 6-12 months 15-22 pounds

large: 12-18 months 22-28 pounds

x-large: 18-24 months 28-33 pounds

xx-large: 24-30 months 33-38 pounds

3T: 36 months 34-41 pounds

4T: 48 months 38-45 pounds

I bought the 3T on others recommendations to buy a size up. Daughter is 30 months/30 pounds and it seems a bit big (it EASILY fits over a regular diaper), at least she can grow into it!

These swim diapers are definitely worth the money. They work great, and are so much more environmentally friendly and easy on the wallet than disposables. They have paid for themselves over and over. They are very durable and cute.

Dont like it much

If you buy it, make sure you get one or two size UP then what you THINK will fit your kid.

the less expensive just plastic underwear worked better for us, which i put over regular swim diaper.

got these, put on once to see how it fit. and then never tried it again.

for me it was a waste of money - Pool Diaper - Finis - Swim Diaper - Cloth Diapers'

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Programmable Timer - plug, appliance timer

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This unit lasted about one winter. Too much heat was generated at the point where the male power plug (from the space heater) attached to the timer's female plug. Reportedly, excess heat can be generated if the plug is not inserted fully. But even when the plug is inserted fully and flush with the female plug, the male plug can work its way out gradually. In this case, the plastic case melts slowly and the unit stopped working -- which is better than having a fire. Separatelly, I find the pins to be very inconvenient and easily misplaced. Intermec has a superior model which had sliding tabs instead. [Intermatic TN811C Programmable Lamp and Appliance Timer.] That said, for the cheaper price, I'll be buying another unit. Intermatic TN311C 120 Volt Heavy Duty Grounded Timer

I've had this timer a couple months now and it works perfectly. It is very accurate and easy to use. I'm very pleased with it. I've had several other models in the past and this is the best of the bunch by a wide margin. UPDATE: 6/2/11: I've used 2 of these every day for 18 months now and have had no problems. They both still work perfectly.

I'm sure this product works some of the time, but ours worked for 24 hours and then never worked again. At first I thought we put the pins in wrong, but it actually stopped updating the little clock. I ended up returning it and spending $4 more for something that sounded like it might actually work.

Easy to use and works as expected. I'm using it to remove power from our Bunn coffeemaker during the night to save a little electricity as the Bunn keeps the water inside it hot all the time its powered.

I bought two Intermatic Time-All Model No. TN311 from True Value Hardware in Moab, Utah. I tried to use them last night but they didn't work. The circle does not revolve so that the off and on settings don't advance and do anything. All they did was to get hot so I unplugged them after an hour. I was afraid they might cause a fire. I went back to the store today and they opened a new package. I asked them to plug the new ones in while I left the store for about an hour. When I came back they gave me two of them (my original two or the two new ones?) and said to try them out but that if they didn't work properly they would give me an upgraded version. The two the store gave me today also don't work. The store said there were no safety recalls but I know they did not check on this. The items were used with a 3 prong grounded outlet. The circle can be turned by hand so that none of them are frozen into position. Apparently the motor in them is defective, missing, or not connected. All of the timers will turn off and on a lamp if the circle is turned by hand.

I have used these timers since February (now April) on a daily basis. Sometimes the little mechanical/plastic tabs do not turn the lights on or off. It misses about once per week. If you need your timer to reliably work, order a digital timer that is not mechanically based. - Home - Programmable Timer - Appliance Timer - Plug'

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Language Experience Approach - evan-moor, grammar

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With educational and testing standards getting more and more difficult, it is nice having a tool to provide students with practice with language arts skills. These Daily Language Practice sheets give 1st graders a daily dose of basic editing (adding capitals, basic spelling errors, punctuation). They also include a variety of other activities including sorting words, yes/no questions, rhyming words, and other fundamentals. The Friday sheet always has a different and more lighthearted activity. There is also a Daily Math Practice book and I xerox them back to back and use them as bellwork. Both are half-sheets which are completed in about 10 minutes. Highly recommended! Daily Language Review, Grade 1

The books offers a review for many skills children should know. It's a usefully tool to begin class with and have children review what they know. There are questions for each day of the week for a 36 week school year. It has helped my students review concepts they have learned.

I have used extensive grammar and language texts with schoolchildren. And they would hate it! Now I use this book

and it is rather quick, efficient, and to the point.

The children enjoy their sessions as they learn.

You can have them practice handwriting as well as grammar and punctuation. It is really great.

This workbook alternates from being overly repetitive to suddenly introducing new and advanced language concepts without using a gradual introduction. I took the time to fill in where the book was lacking, but my child and I found the inconsistency wearing. In addition, considering that I paid more for this workbook than any of the others I ordered, I do not recommend it.

This book is organized by day of the week (M-F) for each lesson. The lessons progress nicely at a very good pace, just a bit ahead of my daughter's 1st grade curriculum. It serves as both a review and daily practice for her. The lessons are also self-explanatory so my daughter can do the lesson all by herself and have me check it. At the end of each lesson is a progress table to show how many (problems) the child has done correctly. Overall a very well organized and fun book. I highly recommend it.

If your kids are naturally strong in language skills, this is probably a great review for them. My kids are not. They love math and science, but language... no. I started them out with these Daily Language Review books, and that was a mistake. These books don't actually teach any one skill. Each day has a few different activities: spelling, punctuation, grammar, whatever, with just a few questions of each. So for a kid who has strong language skills, this would be great, not too much boring repetition. My kids, however, need each skill thoroughly outlined and instructed and practiced. This book was frustrating and mind-boggling to them.

I purchased this for my classroom as we don't use an English curriculum I thought this would be a good substitute. It IS! The students really learned a lot and it gave them great grammar practice. Highly recommend it, whether as a supplement or as an English curriculum for younger grades.

I had purchased this same resource book for Grade 2 and loved it. I needed something for students a bit less advanced and purchased Daily Language Review for Grade 1. It's perfect for my students! It provides great skill practice and reinforcement and has a wonderful layout. I would definitely recommend this book to other teachers! - Evan-moor - Grammar - First Grade - Language Experience Approach'

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Blu-ray Player - 3d, samsung

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Good:

Quick Boot

Plays the content it advertises

Looks sleek and has the newest collection of Samsung Apps

Bad:

Not sure if it's because this is new but the Hulu Plus & Netflix apps stutter uncontrollably. I brought this player to replace an excellent earlier Samsung model which never had this problem. It is so bad that a video could go 10-15 minutes without audio or out of sync. Sometimes the video will play in slow motion with no audio. I thought it was the apps' fault so I pulled up Netflix on my earlier Samsung blu-ray player and had no issues. Also pulled up Hulu Plus on a Sony blu-ray player and did not have the same issue. I have a 17 Mbps connection (actual speed not advertised) and the part that drives me up the wall is that Hulu Plus ads work perfectly on this player. Again, this must be the player because my other blu-ray players do not have this issue and the website does not either.

I have AV receivers and a nice home theater setup so since most blu-ray players play content very well and just bitstream audio to my receiver, the main difference will always be apps and this player was a dissapointment. Samsung BD-D5500 3D Blu-ray Disc Player (Black)

Owned it for about a week so far. I read the other reviews and have not seen or experienced any of the same issues they have had with regards to apps and disc playability. There were however two firmware updates that I downloaded automatically after bootup and installed - these probably fixed the issues that others have seen. So far it has been a great player with fast loading and nice apps. It interfaces well with my Samsung HDTV and have only experienced good things with it. I tried many different Bluray discs including Avatar and have had no problems. I would recommend.

I set the internet functionality up before trying to play a Blu Ray, and it worked nicely.

Then I tried to play Blu Ray edition of Kick Ass, and the player went into a coma. After 5 minutes I powered it down

and then upon startup ejected the disc that has always played flawlessly on my PS3.

Thinking this might be a bad disc I tried Avatar.. this required me to go and find a thumb drive as the

movie needs 2 mb of storage to play and the player has no on board memory.. so I did so and after messing

about for a while with no results gave up. The third disc I had just rented from Netflix and it did play after a comparatively

long load time compared to the 3 year old PS3 I ended up watching it on.

Pros : It started up quickly, internet was easy to set up, Netflix looked OK, but it's still better via PC.

Cons : unit was very hot after only an hour, no cooling fan. 2 of 3 randomly chosen discs would not play, slow to play time

on the one that did. How about putting a few Meg of memory on the board.. it'd cost next to nothing and no one would need to hunt down a thumb drive to see Avatar..

I got this player from Costco on the way home this evening and it's going back tomorrow. At 159$ you do seem to get what you pay for.

The old PS3 has outshined this machine.

Did not get as far as testing the 3D, as the TV arrives tomorrow and I'll do a little more research into a better player.

I just received this player from Amazon three days ago. There are certain features of this product that exceed my expectation.

1.The Blu-ray disk reading is very fast. This is compared to the Panasonic DMP-DB60 Blu-ray that I had previously. This one is almost 10 times faster than the Panasonic DMP-DB60. I am very pleased by its fast reading capability.

2.You can connect a mass storage device to this machine to the USB port. I initially thought the USB ports were for small storage devices such a flash drive or thumb drive, like many earlier version Blu-ray/DVD players. But after I tried to plug a 500GB external hard drive into it, all the multi-media files on the drive were quickly recognized by the player. The reading was fast. I was pleasantly surprised by that.

3.Besides its high quality video output, the audio output is also very powerful. I connect this player to my "Logitech Z-5500 THX-Certified 5.1 Digital Surround Sound Speaker System", which is the best PC audio system that I have had so far (perhaps the best in the market). The sound is much more powerful than if the PC output is used. I had to tune the volume down by 1/3 of the normal level so that it won't shake the wall too much.

4.It plays many video formats and supports many codecs. It's the first Blu-Ray/DVD player that plays mkv video file that I've seen in the US market.

Please note that in order to have the subtitle of a video file to be read by the machine, you have to make sure the file name of the subtitle (with the extension of .sub or .srt) must be the same as the video file name. I didn't do that earlier. After I tried to play several video files, I figured it out myself, which made me more pleased with this product. I changed my rating from 4 stars to 5 stars.

I bought this player along with "Samsung UN55D7000 LED TV", which has several USB ports by itself. After a few days of use, I realized that the USB capabilities of this Blu-player and the TV are overlapped. But I was still impressed by the new technology. - Samsung - 3d - Blu-ray Player - Blu-ray Disc Players'

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Exercise - fitness, exercise

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I've purchase 4 of these Deluxe Xertubes with the UItra Heavy Resistance (purple) and the quality is very good. The handles are nicely padded and firm and there what appears to be a high quality crimp holding the band to the handle. I had bought another brand (not on Amazon) and returned them after this attachment came apart after only several weeks, so this attachment is a critical quality feature for this product. There is one con on this product though that prevents me from giving it 5 stars. There is a considerable amount of resistance variability in the four units I have purchased even though they are all the same resistance level. This is noticeable when using two bands, one of each arm for instance, at the same time. SPRI ES503DR Deluxe Xertube Ultra Heavy Resistance (Purple)

I use the purple xertube for supplementing my workout regimen everyday. Only bought it a few months ago and the tube seems really durable. Read some comments where people were claiming that they actually snapped the tube after only a few months. It is impossible to break this tube unless it is already damaged. I use the tube to work my legs and upper body and I've noticed the results: more rebounds, steals, and blocked shots on the basketball court. Also have more upper body power to get more jump shots off. Highly recommended. Check out Barry Lovelace's youtube video to get an idea of how to use these things to increase your vertical as well as strengthen your core.

haven't had any issues with these bands, and I love the padded handles. only complaint is that they are a little on the short side, which makes some workouts involving both arms at the same time a little difficult.

I own a number of Spri bands. I also have Bodylastics and GoFit. The Spri bands are of consistent high quality and dependability.

I use the blue deluxe and purple deluxe for special exercises. I can't get a full range of motion from them in some exercises but I like to use them when I'm pumping to failure in certain exercises, like the bench press. For the bench press, I prefer the model with the protective sleeve. That way I can put it under and around the bench.

Spri makes a great band and they're certainly a leader in the field. Their customer service is good and they'll replace a bad bad without question and at no cost to you. If you buy on their site, however, they're slow to ship.

This band is great for many exercises. It is heavy. So men as well as women can use it. And I mean it's heavy. You might want to invest in both the blue and the purple if you're looking to go heavy.

The foam padded handles are the most comfortable handles on any strength band I own. You'll love them. This really is a deluxe band.

I read a lot of reviews by P90x people who snap their bands --- any and all bands. I've no idea what they do to them but the average person doesn't snap their bands. I've owned and used Spri bands for over 20 years and have yet to snap one. Of course, all companies have a defective band now and then. Should that happen with Spri, getting it replaced is -- well -- a snap.

Highly recommended.

-- Susanna K. Hutcheson

I have used the purple band as a part of the p90x regimen for a little over 6 months now. It worked well, but I started noticing "stretch" marks, whitish discoloration and ultimately it snapped at about about two inches below the handle. Not exactly "deluxe" quality of the materials. Don't expect it to last a long time if you plan on using it frequently. - Fitness - P90x - Resistance Band - Exercise'

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Point And Shoot Camera - canon, powershot

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I decided on the Canon A495 as I wanted an inexpensive camera to carry around in my purse for unexpected shots. This is a good camera for beginners - it's not DSLR quality but it's easy to learn and use; it's not my camera of choice for my shots that I want to look really professional, my Panasonic camera is for those...but for those of you who just want a good basic camera from a well-known camera company, this one should fit your needs well.

Are you trying to decide between the A495 and the next model lower, the A490? Here are the differences:

· The A495 has a Face Self-Timer feature. You can focus on a group of people, and before the camera takes the shot, run over and get into the picture yourself, with your face being detected, too. Of course, you would also need a tripod or a place to set the camera down.

· The A495 has two (2) additional Scene Modes: Poster Effect and Super Vivid Color. Nice to have the additional scenes, but how often will you use them? I plan on making some art for my living room walls with the Poster Effect scene, so I opted for the A495.

· The A495 will focus on up to 9 faces (or areas); whereas the A490 will focus on up to 5 faces (or areas).

You have to decide for yourself if you would be using any of these additional features to save yourself a few dollars by going with the A490 instead of the A495.

PROS:

· Easy to use straight out of the box - I didn't need to read the manual to start out, but I recommend reading it to learn about all the features

· Fairly durable, even though it's made of plastic

· Powers up ready to take a picture in about a second

· 2.5" LCD screen is large enough to see clearly

· Takes great close-up (macro) shots

· Program mode lets you change some settings like exposure compensation, ISO, continuous shooting, metering mode, etc.

· Larger than an ultra-compact camera, so it's easier to grip and avoid dropping

· Uses AA batteries, and I'm surprised I got over 400 shots from my rechargeable batteries (the alkaline AA batteries included did not last long) - so I recommend rechargeables

· Takes surprisingly good video with sound (not HD) and can be directly uploaded to YouTube (this is part of the included software)

· The ZoomBrowser photo editing software has always been a favorite of mine, I use it with all my cameras, no matter what brand they are. I like this more than Picasa.

CONS:

· Recovery time after taking a picture is SLOW, and even worse if using the flash (approximately 3 seconds w/flash) - this is normal with a camera that uses two AA batteries. It's still better than the Nikon L20, though.

· No optical image stabilization - but this is rare in any camera at this price point

· No optical viewfinder - again, hard to find now in any camera, but if you want one, check out this Canon: Canon PowerShot A1100IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5-inch LCD (Silver)

· Battery door is flimsy, I have to be careful when closing it so the hinge doesn't break, and if not careful, the batteries fall out when removing the SD card

· Slightly on the bulky side, won't fit easily in a shirt pocket, should be OK in a pants pocket

I would have given this camera 5 stars if it wasn't so darn slow on the recycling time after taking a photo. It flashes "busy" on the LCD screen and it is frustrating when you are waiting to take another shot.

NOTE #1: This camera does not come with an SD card, so pick one up when buying the camera as you will not be able to use it right out of the box otherwise. This camera will accept SDHC cards up to/including 32 GB.

NOTE #2: The PSC-500 genuine Canon case Canon PSC-500 Deluxe Soft Case fits this camera perfectly, but there is no extra room for spare batteries. It's a snug fit, but it's well padded too.

NOTE #3: For those of you looking for a camera that can put a date stamp on your pictures, this one does. You have your choice of date only or date and time - or none at all. Canon PowerShot A495 10.0 MP Digital Camera with 3.3x Optical Zoom and 2.5-Inch LCD (Blue)

The overall quality of this camera is good, however, I have had nothing but frustration since I began using this. First of all, with nearly every picture that you take using the flash, following the actual picture taking, the LCD display goes black for several seconds and gives you a message that it is charging the flash.

Second, the camera will take its time focusing in and finding the right levels of focus and clarity for the picture that you are trying to take. When it does allow you to take your photo, a review of the photo on both the LCD and later on a PC will often reveal that the picture you just took is blurry and out of focus.

In conclusion, this camera is too much high maintenance for a simple point-and-shoot camera. I have two small kids, and when I want to catch them at a particular moment to take a picture, every second is essential. Between waiting for the flash to charge and then the camera to focus, and then followed by pictures that come out with little quality, the money spent on this camera is not an investment in memories as it should be, but rather an investment in frustration. - Point And Shoot Camera - Canon - Digital Camera - Powershot'

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All In One Printer - all-in-one, canon

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I bought the Canon imageCLASS MF3240 about a month ago, and so far it has exceeded my expectations. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who is in the market for a multifunction device without the need to print in color. If you prefer getting your digital photos printed by an online or in-store photo processor, a laser multifunction is usually the way to go -- since it's a lower cost per page, it's faster, and the output is better quality than an inkjet.

APPEARANCE/CONSTRUCTION:

You can tell that it's a sub-$200 machine by the construction. Don't expect the same kind of solid feel that you'll get from a much more expensive piece of equipment. A few of the plastic parts feel a little flimsy, like the paper tray. But they all seem to work fine, and I don't have any concerns about durability. Unless you're really tough on your office equipment, you should be ok.

The MF3240 isn't the sexiest looking multifunction out there (if you're looking for a great looking device, try the Canon PIXMA MP830, which uses inkjet technology so you can print in color too). In fact, it kind of looks like a cooler sitting on the desk. But the buttons are laid out logically on the keypad, and from the investigating I've done into a lot of different multifunction devices, the footprint on this one seems to be a reasonable size.

PERFORMANCE:

So far, so good. If you're really a stickler for the highest output possible -- if you need the most crisp, darkest text and flawless images -- this probably isn't the machine for you. Don't get me wrong...the output is very good, borderline excellent. But you can tell that it wasn't printed on a $1,000 heavy-duty laser printer.

This baby is fast! Total time for the first page to arrive in my hand after clicking the Print button (including warmup time) was 13 seconds. It's considerably faster warming up than my old HP laser printer.

It's not the quietest machine I've ever heard, but I wouldn't call it too loud either.

It has a toner saver mode, but I'd call this an annoyance. You're supposed to be able to set the toner saver either directly on the printer control panel or through the printer driver. I've tried a number of times to set up two profiles: one that uses toner saver and another that doesn't. It works sometimes, but other times it'll end up in the wrong mode. Even when I get it to work, I don't notice much of a difference in output between toner saver mode and the regular mode.

I've also been having a minor problem with the fax. I have the MF3240 hooked up to my phone line, and a phone extension hooked into the fax machine. The fax machine is set in Manual mode, so it shouldn't do anything unless I take action on my own. But I've had one or two phone calls on the extension that's hooked up to the fax where the machine hangs up on the person I'm talking to after about 10 minutes! If I can't get this problem to stop, I may end up getting a splitter for the phone line and hooking the phone extension into the line separately.

SOFTWARE:

It comes bundled with a light version of OCR software. I tried it once, and it seemed to recognize every single word on the page I scanned. I was quite impressed -- much better than older versions of OCR I've tried (although I must admit this is the first OCR software I've tried in at least 6-7 years, so I'm sure the technology is much better now).

It also installs a piece of software called Canon Multifunction Toolbox 4.9. This is the most pleasant surprise I've experienced with this printer so far. It allows you to click one button, go through a couple simple settings, and then get a scan and go straight to an e-mail, or straight to a PDF, etc. The smartest feature is that it allows you to pick a target file size, and it'll adjust the resolution to achieve that file size. So it eliminates trying to scan something and then finding out the resulting file is 20MB, then needing to go back and re-scan it at a lower resolution before you e-mail it. You simply pick your target file size (let's say 1MB) and the software will scan your document at the proper resolution to achieve that file size. Very smart!

OVERALL:

Amazon has even knocked ten dollars off the price since I bought it...now it's going for about one hundred fifty bucks...so it's an even better value today. This is a very good multifunction device for light/moderate home or home office use. Given the chance to do it all over, I'd definitely buy the MF3240 again.

UPDATE 9/2010: The Canon Multifunction Toolbox software doesn't work with Windows 7. It's not a huge problem, since you can still use all the main functions of the machine. But you will lose a little functionality, such as the one-touch scanning capability. Canon imageCLASS MF3240 Monochrome Laser All-in-One Printer

Pros:

- Inexpensive (I paid $155.99/free shipping here at Amazon which is amazing considering all the functions I get from this solid machine)

- Good computer printing... it does what a b/w laser printer is supposed to: great on text and ok on graphics. It does a comparable job as my previous HP LJ1100 laser printer. Internal paper tray which holds 250 pages is an improvement over my HP.

- Appropriate scanning result. Good for document archiving purpose. I tried to scan an old color photo and print it in another color inkjet printer. The result is beyond my expectation.

- Copier does what it is supposed to. Pretty easy to operate and configure different settings.

Cons:

- FAX function in general is a dispointment. First, if I connect the printer with my phone (i.e.,in-line or serial), the printer "wakes up" from idle mode whenever I pick up the phone. I have to use a splitter to avoid this nuisance. As a result, I pretty much need to set it to Manual mode for FAX. Also, as other people mentioned, there is no auto feeder for FAX. Fortunately I only use FAX occasionally.

- A little too loud for my taste. I have seen many other models that are much quieter than this.

Bottom line:

If you are like myself who does not use FAX that frequently, you will love this unbelivable bargain. It does everything I used to get done at Kinko's at $156! - Canon - Multifunction Printer - Laser Printer - All-in-one'

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Big And Tall - pants, cargo

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I purchased these pants for a safari trip to South Africa, and after two weeks of climbing in and out of safari viewing trucks and hiking through bush (where it seems like almost every plant has thorns), these pants are still in great condition. Dickies Cargo Pant 36x32 Olive

Well, the pants are nice. One ill point is that the pants seem to have been cut a little off. When sewed together they had to have been forced on one pant leg. This forced sewing cause the pant leg on one side between the legs to have a permanent twist. When ironing you have to work around this so as not to cause a ironed wrinkle.

Otherwise: Good color, the twist does not seem to bother my son.

Other draw back is: There are never enough of my sons size for order and companies do not provide a more varied color range. Surely, there can be more colors for the guys over 42 inch waist.

What can you say about Dickies cargo pants? They're comfortable. I love cargoes for the extra storage (obviously), and I'm always happy to find a pair that looks good and fits well. These run just a tad small around the waist, so if you're squeezing into regular 36s you may want to go ahead and get a 40. The length is just right, however. I have two pairs of these, in black and khaki, and I prefer the khaki. The black pair is just as comfortable, but the color is beginning to fade after just a few washes. All in all, though, they're a great pair of pants. - Mens - Levi - Pants - Cargo'

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Laptop Cooling Stand - targus, notebook cooler

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I have a 17" macbook pro, so it's a behemoth of a laptop. And Apple's all aluminum enclosure sure looks slick, but man does it conduct the heat. You really don't want the thing on your lap w/o a stand, because it gets really red hot.

This is the 45h cooling stand I've had for this machine, and already by far the best. The previous two had three important issues - first was that they were small - designed for 15" notebooks, so there was a lot of overhang on mine. Annoying, but not the end of the world. More important was the fact that the power cable plugged into the edge of the stand and could be detached. Since I use my laptop on my lap, that connection tended to get bumped around a lot, and eventually the connection became so loose that the fan would only work intermittently and required fiddling to get going. That's why I replaced both of those - loose connection, no fan, no cooling.

This stand is a huge improvement.

First of all, the power cord is molded onto the stand, so I can't jar it loose like I could on the other stands. Plus, it's halfway up the back of the stand, so it'll be much harder to bump around anyway. So I shouldn't have the same issue I'd had in the past.

Second, it's huge. It fits my 17" laptop perfectly. No overhang. Obviously, this is really only a stand for a big laptop. If you've got a 15", the stand will be bigger than your machine.

Third, the wedge shaped cooling gives it a huge amount of space to pull air in from the sides. Like I said, I use my laptop on my lap. Previous models pulled air in from underneath. But since it was sitting on my lap, there was minimal airflow available. Now, since this one pulls in air from the sides, it really cools things off fast. Since I've had it, the laptop's internal fan has come on only once or twice. it used to come on all the time, even when the old stand's fan was working properly. So the cooling is top notch.

I have two complaints -

There's no power switch, so I need to unplug it to turn it off. A minor annoyance, but it'd be nice to have one.

And as others have said, the rubber bumpers to hold on the laptop are pretty lousy. I lost one within the first two days of getting the stand (I have no clue where), and they didn't do that great a job of holding up the laptop anyway. The laptop would tend to slide down the stand, even just during normal use, let alone when I moved it around. So that was unacceptable.

The fix was just to attach several rubber stick-on picture frame bumpers. Available at arts and crafts stores for about a buck for 16 or so, and 4 seem to do it. I had some sitting around from a previous stand that had the same issue. You will want to add your own bumpers.

But once those are on? it's a fantastic product. Highly recommended. Targus Lap Chill Mat AWE55US (Black with Gray)

the chilling mat is awesome. my laptop is a 15 inch dell studio. and when i put it to work it gets HOT! so hot that my finger starts to burn on the mouse pad. so i definitely need something to keep it cool. i thought that my last chill mat did a good job. but this one is phenomenal. its 17 inches so i have extra room for my laptop. it has a very comfortable fabric underneath which is great for me because i always have it on my lap. it's slanted which is great. the usb cable that has to be plugged in for it to come, on is coming from the back of the chill mat so i don't have to worry about pulling it out like i did my last one. and after using it all day i felt under my laptop and it was actually cold. this is great and well worth the money paid for it

I have been thru 3 of the $20 duel fan cheapos, they were worthless. I have had this unit for over a month, it runs perfect, and handles my HP Pavilion DV9000, a very heavy large 17" laptop. I paid $40 plus shipping, and it is worth every penny. 5 stars all the way.

Very quiet fans seem to do a good job at keeping things cool. Comfortable enough on the lap. The one little problem is with the design of the little rubber bumpers that mount in the vent holes on the top to serve as non-skid spacers for your computer. They can pop in and out of the holes so you can move them around to fit your individual computer's footprint. That's a good thing, but they pop out a little too easily and I've lost one from each of the two Lap Chill Mats I own. Luckily, I found and reinstalled them both. Now I keep a wary eye on these guys.

Over all this is a great cooling pad. It fits a wide screen 15in perfectly!

Pros:

Fan intake design (it drawls air in from the sides, you can put it on a bed and not worry)

Looks great

Light

Comfortable to have on your lap a LONG time.

If you want to, you can store excess cords inside the pad!

Cons:

Cannot move the fans

was OK to good for 3 months and then stopped working. the construction is such that you can't troubleshoot/repair in any practical way.

fans are fixed, so if the notebook's heat isn't where the fan is, then you need to move the notebook around and hope. not great. it did adequately reduce the temp on my notebook for the 3 months it was working but it could have been much better imo.

it does have a nice design for use on desk or lap... comfortable on lap. that's about the best feature.

the grips that are supposed to keep the notebook from slipping came off after about two weeks- two of the four, anyway. So my notebook ended up sliding around on the mat quite a bit.

For the $35-$40 that this cost, I recommend that you try something else. - Laptop Fan - Laptop Cooling Pad - Notebook Cooler - Targus'

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Professional Audio - audiophile, audio-technica

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Does what I expected it to do. No complaints. Not a stunning piece of technology, so hard to heap praise on it, but it functions as best it should. It was overpackaged and should have shipped for less money, though. Recoton CW1521 Audio 1/4" to 1/8" Stereo Adapter

I agree with the review below me, its hard to heap a lot of praise on this piece, it does what you expect to. It seems pretty sturdy. looking inside of the 1/4'' hole, there doesn't seem to be anything complicated inside. but heck, it works flawlessly

i used this as an adapter for my guitar. i can play my guitar now through the computer with amp software. :D

i agree with the reasonable price,

a small price to pay to record/play guitar on your computer

I bought this for one reason only- To plug into my iPad so I can run the audio from music making apps to my guitar's amplifier. Works like a charm and is the proper size and fit. Would also be useful for headphones with the larger connector.

As another reviewer pointed out, the picture in this listing is a monaural adapter, showing only one band around the plug, where stereo plugs have two. I took a chance that the written description was accurate -- that this was a stereo 1/4" to 1/8" adapter. I needed it right away, so I had it overnighted.

What I received was not only a monaural, not stereo, adapter, it wasn't even a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter. What I received was a mono-to-stereo 1/8" to 1/8" adapter.

With this kind of uncertainty you might want to opt for a different item with a clearer, more consistent listing.

ok so im pretty sure i was looking for an adapter with a 1/4'' female to 1/8'' male... in other words, so i can plug my bass guitar into my computer... however i got a 3.5mm (1/8'') to a 2.5mm adapter... so... this sucks... - Audio-technica - Best Value - Audiophile - Audio'

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