Guy Low Price Electronic: 26 Jun 2011

Sunday 26 June 2011

Michael Jackson

I am truly struggling this evening with the news of Michael Jackson's untimely death and to be candid with anybody reading this I simply can't stop thinking about it. How sad. I was shocked beyond belief and my heart also goes out to his family and his children.

We get terrific music from Michael Jackson here; he's at the top of his game on every track. The selection of songs is quite good and the sound quality on this album is excellent. I like the artwork, too.

"Billie Jean" starts the album off with one of Michael's greatest hits--ever. "Billie Jean" has a great beat for dancing that's catchy as well; and Michael's excellent diction enhances his performance all the more. The musical arrangement is perfect for Michael's vocals and "Billie Jean" just plain sounds great. "The Way You Make Me Feel" has a pop flavor with just a slight twist of rock thrown in for a good effect; I really like "The Way You Make Me Feel." Those extra vocals make the number stronger, too. Listen also for another fine Jackson tune, "Black or White." "Black or White" is remarkably catchy and I could never tire of hearing Michael Jackson perform this song; he does it without ever letting go of a superfluous note! "Black or White" is memorable, too--this music is all THAT good.

"Rock with You" impresses me greatly; it has a softer pop flavor to it that it easy on the ear yet still quite good for dancing--and that's quite a feat! "She's Out of My Life" is clearly a masterpiece even if the lyrics aren't all that happy; Michael sings this with all his heart and soul. "Bad" is very strong; it's also great for dancing even today and Michael sings "Bad" faultlessly--awesome! "Bad" has great percussion and the beat is really something. In addition, there's another gem in "Man in the Mirror." I have fond memories of when "Man in the Mirror" was first released; I ran out to buy the 45rpm record and I played that record so much I must have worn the grooves off the vinyl!

"Thriller" is the title track from a blockbuster album if there ever was one; "Thriller" is a big, big highlight of this album. It's got an excellent beat and Michael does this one to perfection--and beyond! "Beat It" has another good beat and Paul McCartney joins Michael Jackson for "The Girl Is Mine," a softer pop song. "Remember the Time" takes the listener for a turn into a different type of ballad altogether; and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" still sounds just as good today as it did the day Michael first released it! "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" is another Michael Jackson song I love to hear and after a prelude to "Heal the World" we get the full version of this tune; and it leaves me stunned with its natural beauty.

Despite the fact that Michael is no longer with us, he will live on forever through his music and his artistry. I highly recommend this album for his fans; and this also makes an excellent starter CD for people just discovering the singular talent of The King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson Greatest Hits HIStory Volume I

I always wanted to buy a MJ album, and when History was released back in 1995 as a double cd, I didn't buy it. It was expensive and I was only interested in the first cd with the big hits, not the second which had only new material. Well, they have finally released the first cd of big hits seperately and I'm extremely happy!I can't say that I'm a big MJ fan, like I said this is the first album that I own by him, but one can't deny that he's truly one of the all-time greats. This cd is full of classics, only a couple of other artists have as many hits (Beatles, Elvis, Whitney, Madonna, etc.). I love all the songs, the only complaint that I might have is the exclusion of "Smooth Criminal", and to a lesser extent songs like "Leave Me Alone". But it's understandable because if they put everything on this cd, then nobody would buy his older albums. So it's okay, the cd contains a lot of classics so it's no problem that a couple are missing. In my opinion, this is a cd that should be in everybody's collection. If you want to buy a MJ album, this is the perfect choice!

Basically, I simply can't see the need of this re-release of the first disc of the HIStory set - HIStory was certainly a release no-one should miss, and even if the second disc contained several missers or mediocre songs ('Smile', 'Chieldhood', 'Come Together', 'This Time Around', '2Bad') it did contain a fair share of classics proving that Michael has - or had at that time, Invincible might certainly question this - not lost his touch as the King Of Pop - take songs like 'Scream', 'They Don't Care About Us', 'Stranger In Moscow', 'Earth Song' and 'You Are Not Alone'.Instead, I think Michael should have waited a couple of years and grapped the opportunity to release a double CD with ALL his greatest hits - because there are SO many fantastic songs NOT included here - let me mention: 'Off The Wall', 'Workin' Day And Night', 'Human Nature', 'Say Say Say', 'Liberian Girl', 'Dirty Diana', 'Smooth Criminal', 'Leave Me Alone', 'Jam', 'In The Closet', 'Who Is It', 'Give In To Me', 'Will You Be There', 'Dangerous', the above mentioned HIStory songs, and from his recent Invincible release 'Cry' and 'Speechless'.All of these songs are masterpieces, and many of them MUCH better than some of material included on this CD, even if all these songs are excellent.I've seen listed - with no details - a forthcoming Cd and DVD combi-release titteled #1's - let's see what this brings, but probably not a complete collection of Michael's best works, unfortunately.

I'm a big fan of Michael Jackson, and I'm very pleased with this greatest hits album. It has all of my favorite Michael Jackson songs from the '80s including "Beat It", "Bad", "Heal The World", "Black & White", and "Billie Jean". "Beat It" is probably my most favorite Michael Jackson song...I just love the music video. If you are a fan of Michael Jackson then you must get this collection of his greatest hits from the early years of his career. Awesome CD! The King of Pop is here to stay!'

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Anusara Yoga - yoga, yoga mats

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As a background, I have been doing yoga for more than 15 years and have used many different mats, both personal and studio mats. I am spoiled by the Manduka Black Mat, which for me is the best there is. I do different styles of yoga, Iyengar and Vinyasa mostly. I bought the Eko mat hoping it would be a good light weight alternative to hauling the Black Mat to class. Unfortunately, it is nearly useless. Yes, there is the smell, which I know goes away, I have another rubber mat (Jade) which had that smell but no longer does,. The Jade is also far superior to the Eko for practice, btw. My main complaint is although the Eko mat is touted to be sticky, it only feels sticky and in actual use I find my hands creeping forward in down dog (I am at least an upper intermediate yoga student and do not have this problem with any other mat.)I find this mat to cause a sweat to form under my feet, which makes them slip. I have washed the mat to the manufacturer's specifications, let it dry indoors - but if has gotten worse, not better. I am disappointed and will have to find another alternative. Manduka makes a great mat, but I really don't like the Eko - other than the obvious green factor. The mat also has a hardness to it that is unlike anything I have ever used, and it does not feel welcoming. Manduka eKO 71-Inch 5mm Yoga Mat (Acai)

I just got my mat in the mail yesterday, and from the moment I put it on the floor it was love at first sight. What a wonderful mat! I've never owned a Manduka before, but I have owned two other mats (the standard Harmony mat by Jade and another eco mat, the Earth Elements by Hugger Mugger). I was dismayed when my Earth Elements started getting abrasions all over the place after using it for less than a year (daily). So I sadly looked at other options, not thinking I'd find anything better (Prana and Gaiam make almost identical mats to the Earth Elements). Then I read about the Manduka eKO and decided to try it. Boy am I glad I did! What a great mat. It was sticky even right out of the packaging, lays super flat, and I feel incredibly grounded despite it's very generous 5mm thickness. Also, it's a bit wider and longer than regular mats, which is very nice. I've used it twice already, and I am never going to use another mat! Plus, it's 100% totally environmentally friendly, unlike the Earth Elements (made out of TPE). I'd much rather spend $65 dollars once and have the mat forever than have to buy a new mat every year because my mats keep breaking down! I highly recommend this mat.

I just started yoga, and this is my first mat so I can't really compare it to others. I started trying Ashtanga yoga and was having some difficult with the poses on the floor/towels/carpet. Once I got this mat, everything really starting working and now I'm loving yoga and also loving this mat.

I'm very happy that after much research and reading reviews I picked this mat. It was more expensive than I wanted to spend on my first mat but from other's advice, it was better to buy the best mat possible than have a collection of 3 or 4 cheaper mats that really don't match up to the quality and performance of the Manduka mats.

Yes it was smelly in the beginning, but after about 2 weeks or so the smell is gone. I'll admit it was pretty bad in the beginning. All I did was leave the mat unrolled on the back of a few chairs to give it as much air flow and air contact. It's fine now.

Yes it's heavy, but I don't travel with it so the weight is not really an issue with me. I don't mind folding it up and moving it from room to room.

I LOVE that it lays perfectly flat - right from the start. No curled edges/ends. It does want to unroll, but some Velcro straps works just fine for storage. And again, IT LAYS FLAT!!! Again, I don't travel with it so maybe the unrolling issue is a problem for transportation.

I love that it's sticky. Being new at this the stickiness helps me keep the poses and prevents me from cheating or being lazy and dragging my feet from pose to pose. I have not had any slipping problems.

I do strongly believe that this mat has helped me appreciate and enjoy yoga more. I started two months ago and hopefully it will be a lifetime of yoga with this mat. A big thanks to the Manduka company.

One more thing - I live in NJ and I got this mat with the free super saver shipping the FOLLOWING DAY! Thank you Amazon!!!

This mat has pretty much fallen in line with the comments I read before buying it, but a little work and a little patience has really paid off. 1)It stinks badly at first but I tried using the apple cider vinegar and then letting it lay open in my garage and that took care of most of the smell. 2)To my disappointment it was slippery on the hands when doing downward facing dog. That was one of the major reasons for me wanting a new mat. I spoke with other people in the class who have Manduka mats and they said it takes a little time but eventually that would go away, and, thankfully, for the most part it has. Now, I use a towel when I first start class but soon after I am working towel-free. Based on the progress I've made, I assume eventually I will not need one at all. 3)It is heavy, there isn't much that can be done about that. I figure I am going to work out so why cry about carrying around a few extra pounds before/after class. 4)5mm provides enough cushion for the knees. With my other mat, I needed to reinforce the cushion with an addition mat. I no longer need a second mat during my practice which I love. So, I was nervous when I first got this mat becuase it seemed to live up to all the bad stuff people had been saying about it, but after a little patience and perserverence, it is my favorite mat, and since it is a Manduka, I will get the pleasure of using it for years.

I purchased black Manduka ecoMat this spring, and truly wanted to love it - many other reviews were great. Unfortunately, my own experience has been anything but. First, there is a problem of smell that would not go away. I live in a city apartment, and kept the mat unrolled for already over four months. Despite that, the smell still remains. It makes it difficult to concentrate during my yoga practice, and relaxation becomes as exercise in pondering why am I subjecting myself and my fellow students to breathing rubber fumes. Second, there is an issue of cleaning the mat - even mild soap or diluted shampoo leave streaks on it, and drying the mat by hanging it over my bathtub railing leaves more lines on mat's surface. Finally, it is the surface of the mat itself, which is relatively harsh (not as bad as sandpaper, but getting dangerously close to that zone). Perhaps, because I have relatively dry skin to begin with, the mat scrapes the palms of my hands and my feet. I have read about the smell in the reviwes, but did not expected it to be so long-lasting and toxic, and have not seen the problem of harshness of the mat's surface addressed by anyone else. In fairness, it appears to be well constructed and the cushion is great. And yes, it is also *very* heavy - Yoga Mat - Manduka Yoga Mat - Yoga - Yoga Mats'

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Exercise Pants - bella, yoga pants

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I love this pant! I had first tried the top stitch pant which fit my body a bit too big because I am built very narrow with thin thighs and have a small bum. I called the company and they recommend this pant for my build and what a fit! Very figure flattering, great quality and comfort and THEY ARE LONG ENOUGH!!! This pant fits tighter in the bum and hips and thighs which, for me is great. This company has different fitting pants for different figures and heights which is a God send! The customer service was great about doing the exchange and I ended up buying more pants and the same style in shorts. I highly recommend this company! They named the company well. Call them if you have questions about what would fit your body, they are very helpful. Oh, the flared bottom fits over your tennies which is much more attractive than the leg bunched up on top. I'm in love with this pant! 5021-PR-M-29 Flared leg, fold over waistband yoga pants - Medium (4-8) - 29 inch inseam (short), Periwinkle waistband / black pant

These pants fit as they should. I love to wear yoga pants when I do cardio, so I got this pair to replace some others that had worn out. I have to say that I do not know why they are as expensive as they are...after just 4 washes the seam came undone on the inside of the lower left leg. This is after regular wear and nothing unusual done in the pants...also in an area that doesn't even touch the leg, so I am baffled as to why this happened other than they weren't sewn properly to begin with.

I hand-stitched the seam back together, but I am really disappointed that I paid $50 for a pair of pants that I had to repair so quickly after purchasing. Until now, I have worn Bally Yoga pants that were MUCH less expensive, and they lasted at least 4 years before showing any signs of wear.

Other than that they function as they should, but I will not be buying another pair of this brand. - Cheer - Yoga Pants - Dance - Bella'

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Ipod Cable - ipad, ipod cable

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I purchased this longer cable so I could talk on iPhone while keeping it charging but the cable doesn't work. I plug it in and I receive NO response from my iPhone. I tested cable with 2 other iPhones as well and it doesn't work! I tried AC adapter and 3 different PCs (USB ports). The cable is physically undamaged yet doesn't work. 6 Foot Long USB Data Sync Cable For iPod, iPhone 2G 3G 3GS, iPad, iPhone 4, All Models Compatible

This cable arrived on my doorsteps faster than I promised, and I was excited. When I opened it, it was as long as promised, and looked to be exactly what I needed. I plugged in my ipod, and everything seemed fine. A few hours later, I noticed it was not charging. I unpluged it, and was still at half battery. It look a lot of wiggling for the cable to charge my ipod again. I tried a buddys iphone, with the same problem. Now, after about 2 days of ownership, no amount of wiggling seems to make it work.

When my shipment first arrived I was upset to find that I had received the 3 foot cables instead of the 6 foot. After an initial difficulty contacting CablesOnline, they were very forthcoming and very easy to deal with. Within a week, they sent the correct cables at no extra cost and gave me the first set of cables for free. I recommend both the product and the seller.

I agonized over which, if any, of these cables to purchase. There are so many negative reviews and comments on the 6 foot USB iPhone connector cables. But I decided to take a chance and I'm happy to report they all work just fine.

I ordered from the seller Shivser, but when I checked out, the seller name displayed as Tavas. The return address on the box also said Tavas. Because of all the negative product reviews, I wanted to order with a seller whose orders were fulfilled by Amazon.com so if the cables did turn out to be defective, the Amazon.com return policy would apply. I also decided to order four cables, just in case some were defective, I would have a better chance of getting one that works.

All four cables are new, 6 feet long, white (all what I ordered), and they sync AND charge just fine as far as I can tell. I tested all four cables on both an iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS.

All four cables were just a little tighter connecting to the iPhone data port than I'm used to, but as far as I'm concerned, that's a positive, not negative. It seems my phone is always falling off my nightstand and getting disconnected. Hopefully with a tighter connection, it will not get unplugged as easily.

It remains to be seen how long it takes to fully charge the phone from a nearly empty battery. Some reviews claim the phone appears to charge, but doesn't really, or charges sloooooowly. We shall see and I'll keep everyone posted.

And finally, I ordered using the Free SuperSaver Shipping and placed my order on Tuesday, March 8 at 10pm. By the next morning, my order had already shipped. The estimated delivery date was March 14-18, which would have been 6-10 calendar days. Much to my surprise, it arrived just 3 days later on March 11th! This has not been my experience with all Free SuperSaver Shipping offers, so I'm very happy to have received the cables so quickly.

Love this cable! I've had it about a month and its definately worth its weight in gold! I travel alot with my job and unfortunately there is rarely an outlet close to the bed. My phone is also my alarm, so it is imperative that its close to me through the night. Problem solved with this cable. Of course it's great at the house too. I bought one for my overnight bag and one for my house. It works great for syncing too. My computer recognizes my iPhone 3GS quickly, transfers quickly. No complaints really. Also surprising is the build quaity. Nice, thick, and sturdy! Definately would recommend to anyone.

I ordered this six-foot USB cable to use with my iPhone and iPad. The first picture on the amazon product page for this cable has what looks like a generic connector that you plug into the iPhone/iPad. That's the type of connector that looks bigger (fatter?) than the slimmer connector that you see on the current real Apple cables. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the cable that I actually received had the connector that was just like the ones you see on the more current real Apple cables. See the picture that I posted at the top of this product's amazon page for the cable that I received.

I bought this cable from amazon marketplace seller 'The OEM Shop' for under three dollars with free S&H. I received the cable very quickly in five days. I do NOT work for 'The OEM Shop' or for Amazon, but I mention the name of the seller because very few people seem to mention the name of the amazon marketplace seller who they bought a product from in their reviews. These cables are "generic" and it is often difficult to tell which seller sold the product that the buyer is either complaining about or praising in a product review. Also, a lot of buyers don't seem to realize that they can select a particular seller and not just take whoever is the seller who may be appearing as the "default" seller on an amazon product page. I don't know what determines who is the "default" seller, but I'm guessing that Amazon comes first if Amazon has the product in their warehouse(s), but if not, then maybe the other sellers are possibly rotated as the "default" seller on the page, and so on and so forth. Anyways, I think it is worth mentioning who is the particular amazon marketplace seller is in a review - especially if the product is generic like this cable and if there are a lot of sellers who are selling the product via the one single amazon product page.

Anyways, the cable that I bought is indeed a nice long six-foot cable. It looks like the real thing. And it was new. I was able to charge my iPhone and iPad by using this cable when connected to a charger plugged into the wall. And I was able to sync my iPhone and iPad with iTunes on my macbook. The cable was also able to charge my iPhone via the USB on my macbook. For my iPhone, I've tried charging with both a real official apple power adapter and also a generic power adapter - and both worked. (Of course, for my iPad, I had to use the 10w charger that came with my iPad because you can't use anything else when charging from an electrical outlet in the wall.) I will be using this nice long six-foot cable for whenever I want to charge my iPhone or iPad for like when I want to use my iPhone or iPad when I'm in bed or if I'm sitting elsewhere like at the kitchen table and if I want to save the battery for later. (I would be keeping the shorter original cable that came with my iPhone/iPad for use with my macbook for syncing the iPhone/iPad.) I'm happy with this purchase and with this cable. - Ipod Cable - Cable - Iphone - Ipad'

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1080p - panasonic 50 inch plasma

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With SONY and JVC no longer manufacturing their phenomenal high-end CRT HDTVs, and Pioneer out of the Plasma business, the pursuit of picture quality is not as simple as it once was. Rest assured, however, that there are still a handful of manufacturers (i.e. Panasonic, Samsung, LG, ...) still investing in Plasma technology, because LCD is a giant leap backwards in terms of picture quality. When Pioneer - the previous undisputed leader in picture quality - left the industry, they sold their Plasma technology to Panasonic. While the amount of Pioneer technology (if any) present in Panasonic's current line-up is a matter of debate, most critics will agree that Panasonic currently holds the crown for picture quality.

Viera Size Segmentation (VT30 vs. GT30 vs. ST30)

------------------------------------------------

I was in the market for a VT30 this year... however, in the United States, Panasonic's size options are quite restrictive. In Europe, all lines of plasma from the X up to VT are available in 42", which is the perfect size for me.

In the United States, each of the 3D model lines has a different starting size:

VT30: 55" - 65" (Industry leading black level, less buzzing, better speakers, 96 Hz mode for 24p, ISF calibration, ...)

GT30: 50" - 65" (Better black level, +1 HDMI port and VGA input, THX certified)

ST30: 42" - 65" (Entry-level 3D TV)

S30: 42" - 60" (1080p 2D plasma, worse motion clarity than ST30 and no 3D support)

X3: 42" - 50" (720p 2D plasma)

Unfortunately, I can barely fit a 50" TV where I have my GT30. I made the conscious choice of buying a TV slightly larger than I would have liked, because the GT30 buys you THX mode (which does a _really_ good job with skintones), an extra HDMI port, and a slightly lower black level than the ST30.

Picture Quality

---------------

Getting back to picture quality, I have a SONY Super Fine Pitch FD Trinitron (CRT) set in my bedroom that I use as a benchmark for image quality.

The GT30 does not have the pure black level or white performance of the CRT (or even many local dimming LCDs). However, color accuracy and black gradiation (i.e. being able to see fine details in shadowed scenes) are actually better than my calibrated CRT.

Unenhanced motion clarity is indistinguishable between the two sets, and the GT30 earns a lot in this respect when it comes to displaying 24 fps material (48 Hz mode causes flickering, but even with simple 3:2 pull-down, the TV displays 24p video well).

Panasonic has added a more advanced Motion Smoother this year, with two levels - it creates artificial motion enhancement similar to LCD 120/240 Hz, and therefore has limited appeal.

Physical Appearance

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Typically I do not care about the physical appearance of a television (which is why I still prefer high-end CRTs to flat panels), but the design of this TV is definitely worth mentioning... compared to last year's GT25 model, this TV is lightyears ahead.

The bezel has been shrunken on all sides of the panel, and the depth is equally impressive. Were it not for the speakers, and clunky stand, this TV would be about an inch deep. As a result, the television requires "break out" cables to attach analog audio/video devices, and the total number of analog inputs has been reduced to 3 (Component, Composite and VGA D-Sub). This does not bother me at all, since the only analog device I have connected to any of my TVs is a Nintendo Wii. The extra HDMI port more than makes up for it.

I would also like to give kudos to Panasonic for putting the power button on the FRONT of the TV this year (it was on the side last year).

Long-term Value (Viera Connect)

-------------------------------

Viera Connect is a promising new feature for 2011, that is essentially an evolution of Viera Cast.

Consumers can look forward to a growing software base in the future (as Software Engineers like myself develop software for the new open platform). The beauty of this new platform is that it operates independantly of official firmware release schedules. This is important, because firmware updates for aging products are few and far between - 2010 and older Viera models will likely NEVER receive support for Hulu, etc...

With this TV, two or three years from now, consumers can still download new or updated Viera Connect applications from the Viera Connect marketplace. Another thing I found nice about Viera Connect's marketplace, is that you can buy TV accessories (such as 3D glasses, SD cards, etc...) directly from software built-in to the TV, and rest assured that the product is compatible with your particular model.

Sound

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Sound quality leaves room for improvement. This being the second-to-highest model from Panasonic, lacks the sub-woofer and higher quality speakers found on the VT line.

Adding insult to injury, US Viera televisions do not have analog audio out, so to improve the audio quality you must connect them to an A/V receiver (which also draws a lot of power) that supports optical S/PDIF.

In future years, I hope that Panasonic will consider improving the sound quality on the GT line.

Power Consumption

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Power consumption is good, but definitely not great. This is the only performance measurement that local dimming LED backlight LCDs come out on top in. That said, Panasonic has redesigned the construction of their panels this year, to improve phosphor response time (reduces 3D cross-talk), and improve luminous efficiency. Remember that this TV uses tinted 3D glasses, which darkens the picture... so brightness is important in 3D.

As a result, brightness is up, and power consumption is down vs. last year's model. Unfortunately, one consequence of the new design is "fluctuating brightness," which occurs when the TV transitions from a bright scene to a dark scene - in extreme cases, it can take the TV multiple frames to recognize the change in brightness and adjust its image processing. This was irritating at first, but I hardly notice it anymore.

Plasma Buzz

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On a final note, I have noticed a lot of people complaining about plasma buzz. I feel obligated to point out that the buzz is especially bad within the first 100-200 hours of operation, and decreases somewhat over time.

There are a number of factors that play into the buzzing, including altitude, viewing distance and picture settings. Granted operating altitude is not easy to change, but the buzzing can be reduced by sitting farther from the TV set, and dialing down the contrast setting (buzzing is directly related to how bright an image is).

A lot of people have TVs too large for their viewing distance and have contrast set way too high, and only ever realize it when plasma buzzing or dithering becomes a nusiance.

Pros and Cons

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Pros:

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Plasma image quality

* Pure black level is not as good as CRT or local dimming LCD, but...

images with light and dark areas really shine

--> No blooming between nearby light and dark areas (LCD)

--> No image geometry warping related to brightness (CRT)

* Excellent motion clarity without artificial techniques like 120/240 Hz

THX mode

* Accurate skintones

* Almost no picture setting tweaks required to get exceptionally good image quality

Consistent black level

* Panasonic claims that the black level will not rise after 1000+ hours of operation with 2011 models, due to manufacturing changes.

Power consumption vs. Screen brightness SIGNIFICANTLY improved over 2010 models

* In fact, it is so good that the 50" GT30 actually qualifies for Energy Star 4.0

Viera Connect

* New in 2011, free/paid applications can be downloaded through the TV and the selection of applications will grow over time.

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Cons:

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Viera model lines segmented by size in the US

* Could mean buying a TV that is too large

Average speaker quality on ST30/GT30

* US Viera models do not have analog audio out

--> Requires a dedicated power-hungry A/V receiver to improve on TV's speakers...

Power consumption

* Improved in 2011, but still nowhere near local dimming LCD performance

Fluctuating brightness

* Movie enthusiasts may find the delay in bright image processing frustrating...

--> I have found the issue has almost no negative impact on gaming performance, or general TV viewing.

Netflix Performance

* Given the state of the Netflix app on Viera Connect as of June 2011, audio noticably stutters...

--> Mitigated by the fact that Viera Connect will allow users to download an updated version of the

Netflix app whenever the bug is fixed.

Calibration

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For those who are interested, I have had my GT30 professionally calibrated in THX mode.

If you do not want to shell out $300+ to schedule a calibration on your set, but still want the best picture quality possible, the most important thing you can do is dial the color setting down to around 45. The default THX settings over saturate colors, and if you become used to the over saturated colors, you will never appreciate the advantages of a properly calibrated THX mode. Also, do not use C.A.T.S.! If you have a viewing environment that has varying levels of external light, you would be much better off maintaining two sets of picture settings. In my case, between night and day, all I need to do is adjust my contrast from 60 to 45. C.A.T.S. can detect differences in brightness, but it messes with more than just the white level.

You may be tempted to set the Black Level setting in "Advanced picture" properties to dark because it looks more natural, but this causes black crushing (loss of detail in dark video). Try to learn to live with lighter blacks (this can be especially difficult if you are used to high-end CRTs) and you will begin to appreciate the amazing black performance of Plasma technology. Panasonic VIERA TC-P50GT30 50-Inch 1080p 3D Plasma HDTV - Panasonic 50 Inch Plasma'

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Accessories - roadster, car speakerphone

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I am really not sure what is up with the bad reviews(1 star). Regardless of the bad reviews, I still purchased the product and to be honest I think it is great. People seem to complain for absolutely no reason. Don't compare a device to another device. This is not a comparison review. The product delivers as advertised.

This is my first motorola product I purchased from amazon.

-Quick delivery +

-Easy pairing. What a breeze for any non techies out there. +

-Speaker phone works great. + Everyone I spoke to so far had no clue I was on speaker phone. Its loud too except if the volume is on full blast it can be slightly distorted. Simple fix(don't put it on full volume)

-FM transmitter works fine. + Here is where I don't get some of the reviews. What do you expect? Dolby Digital, THX certified sound coming out of your car speaker from this device? You don't even get that from your handheld phone. If you find a clear FM channel and play around a bit, it will come in fine. Not 100% clear but what do you expect? Its a FM transmitter people. I think its perfectly fine and once again, nobody said they heard anything strange on the other line.

-Synch multiple devices. + This was really cool. I had two cellphones in my car and the device knew to switch back and forth between the two when I hit a button on either phone. I remember my old BMW which had bluetooth couldn't do this. I had to manually switch back and forth. So annoying while driving. This device did it no problem.

-Not sure about battery life since i've only had for a week but its seems fine. It would have been nice using mini USB charger instead of some strange connector from motorola.

-Haven't tried motospeak(speech to text) yet sorry.

Only Con: The buttons on the device aren't the best. I hit a button and doesn't seem like i'm even hitting it. FM, +, - buttons in particular. No big deal. You shouldn't have to hit buttons often anyway. I changed from 4 stars to 5 because this is just being too picky. If I could do 4.5 stars then I would but I can't so 5 stars it is.

If I were you, I would definitely purchase it. Its a sleek little device and not bad for under $80 bucks. Works like a charm. Don't listen to the rest of these people that gave 1 star reviews cause they are used to their old devices or are just whiners by nature. LOL. Works as advertised. Motorola Roadster Bluetooth In-Car Speakerphone (Retail Packaging)

I am surprised that The reviews here are not good but I don't agree with them.

This is the best speaker speaker. I also bought the Jabra cruiser2 few weeks back. I would say this thing beats the crap out of it. Best thing is the connect and disconnect of phone when I get in/out of car. Jabra used to be connected all the time when I parked my car in garage. This one disconnect right after I get out of the car and connects back. Very cool, It has some motion sensor to it. Battery is excellent too. I was able to stream music from my phone to my car speakers thru FM very clear (interms of FM). - Motorola - Roadster - Car Speakerphone - Hands Free'

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Droid Incredible - droid incredible, incredible

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I love my new HTC Incredible smartphone, but was not crazy about how I had to be careful about power management all the time. Turn this off, that off, remember to turn them on. A couple weeks ago, I went on a hike with the My Tracks GPS pathing software running and within a couple hours was down to about half capacity.

Last week, the Innocell arrived. As other commenters have noted, adding this battery to your phone definitely adds to the heft and bulk. On the other hand, this can be a good thing. With the camera lens set back and more case to grip, I've stopped photographing my left forefinger. I also think the lens is better protected from scratches, too.

As for the replacement back cover, it feels exactly the same as the OEM one, as far as materials go -- no sense this is a cheaper cover or not meant to belong on the phone. It snapped in as securely as the original and has the same matte non-slip feel to it.

Using the JuicePlotter app, I've noticed no abnormal heating of the battery when charging or using it.

The instructions recommend several charge cycles before the battery achieves maximum efficiency, but I'm only getting around to doing that now -- and have discovered this thing just won't quit. I have left WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, G3 and synchronization all turned on, have been using the phone normally, made a few calls, went on another 4 hour tracked hike, watched a few YouTube vids, showed off Google Maps at a friend's house over dinner (an hour or two of heavy GPS-ing and mapping demo-mode), did some browsing, monitored the local weather... I took it off the charger last Thursday morning. It's now Monday evening and I still have 16% charge left. That's nearly four and a half DAYS, without even conditioning the battery or making the least attempt to conserve power.

I'm very happy with this battery.

On update, 8/1/10: The 4 1/2 day capacity for me wasn't a fluke. Second go, I took the phone off the charger the morning of July 27th, used it normally the next few days including a GPS tracked hike. WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth all left on, screen brightness on automatic. The phone didn't pester me to put it back on the charger until late last night, July 31st.

2nd update: 8/6/10: More than five days since last charge, 30% capacity left.

3rd update: 8/22/10: Deliberately exercising this battery the last few weeks, the most I've gotten out of this battery has been 7 days, until it started beeping for the charger; at that point it was around 12% by time I heard it. On a couple heavy-use cycles (lots of talking, GPS tracked hiking, on-highway navigation, photography, non-G3 coverage areas, extra data usage, YouTube viewing and web-surfing while bored in a waiting room, that sort of thing), I have yet to go less than 3 1/2 days. Average for me has been around 5 1/2 days between charges.

4th update: 11/15/10: It's been nearly four months since I got this battery and it's still running like a champ. Most of the time, I go about 3-4 days between charges, not because the phone is out, but just because it's convenient. I continue to be very, very happy I bought this battery. Seidio Innocell 3500 mAh Extended-Life Battery for HTC DROID Incredible (Black)

Yes it will make your phone bulkier. Yes it will make your phone heavier. And yes it might take time to get use to the size increase. But... it is still worth it!

As you know, the stock battery for this phone is not good. There would be days where the battery wouldn't even last for 12 hours. I heard about this Seidio battery and I debated and debated about whether I want the extra bulk or not. I finally decided to order it and I have no regrets. Even with heavy usage, this battery will last 2-3 days before needing a charge. It's such a relief not having to worry about conserving battery. Afterall, we all bought this phone to use it's awesome features, right? So why spend the day fearing that the battery will die before you get home from work or school or road trips? I now can confidently use GPS, navigation, bluetooth, 3G, etc...

Oh, and I actually like the extra bulk in the back because I can also grip the phone better. The higher ridge in back is pretty comfortable for my hands. Another good thing about the bulk is that now when I set the phone down on its back, the camera lens is NOT laying against the surface anymore. With this bigger Seidio battery cover, the camera lens is actually protected and won't be touching against any surfaces like it used to do with the stock battery cover.

In conclusion, I've had this battery for about a week now and I'm certainly glad I bought it, and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to use their phone with extra peace of mind.

I just got this battery two days ago. After charging it over night, I used it very heavily throughout the day yesterday from 9am-12:30am, more than 15 hours of heavy usage with wifi, 3g, video, web browsing, texting, and more, and I ended up with more than 50% of the battery left over by the time I went to sleep. I decided to shut the phone off over night and leave it off the charger to see how it would do today. I turned the phone on when I woke up this morning, and with less usage than yesterday, but still occasional browsing, texting, and wifi/3g turned on, it still has above 40% juice. I honestly think I could make it more than a week with this battery if I needed to, it has unbelievable capacity, and it will only improve over the next few days.

As for the new back, it is slightly bulkier, but this is really only a slight problem when the phone is in your pocket. When holding the device, it is much more comfortable than before. The ridges of the new back cover conform well to your fingers when holding it, and gives a little more to grip on to, all while resting comfortably in your palm. The back also gives the phone a cool new look from behind, and better characterizes the phone as a "droid."

The camera lens is now protected which is a huge plus because the previously exposed lens was starting to get scratched when I placed it on a surface, an issue which I no longer need to worry about. Both LED flashes are well encapsulated, with only the bulbs themselves exposed (something I couldn't tell for sure from pictures that came as a relief when the package came).

The new back also fits well on the phone, and snaps right into place without issue. The hole for headphone jack (which was encased with metal on the old back) is now only surrounded by a cut-out in the material (no metal). However, headphones still fit well into the jack and connect. I actually found that this new design without the metal greatly improved the reception of the FM radio, a feature of the phone that I was previously having issues with. The FM radio app went from useless and unused to an app that I can now use.

I also found that, if leaned on its side, the phone is supported by the back. With only a little assistance from nearly any object when placed behind the phone (in order to keep it from falling over), the new Seidio back sets up the phone in prime position for viewing the screen, which could become very handy for video streaming and watching, an option has now become possible without worry thanks to the amazing new battery life! a 2-in-1 deal.

Even without the new powerful battery, I would prefer the new back because of all the great features and improvements it has. The only very slight issue with this product is the boxy design and extra thickness, but it really is a very slight issue, and is made up for by the protection and convenience it gives you. The battery under the hood is a beast and will allow you to bring out all the great features in the phone without worrying about it dying.

Seidio has done a wonderful job here. Awesome product. - Incredible - Seidio - Battery - Droid Incredible'

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1-line Corded Phones

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I'm amazed by the number of people these days who own nothing but cordless phones. Now, I like cordless phones; they're an indispensable part of modern life. But, unlike a simple phone like this Trimline, most cordless phones don't work when the electricity goes out. This phone requires no battery or AC power, and has a lighted keypad, and a ringer on/off switch--all of which make it a nice bedroom phone for emergencies. The sound quality is good, and the volume is adjustable. AT&T Corded Trimline Phone with 13-Number Memory (210)

I have two. I was pleased with the first one for a year and a half, but now the ringer works only when it is in the mood to. I have tried reprogramming it and double-checked that the ringer is switched on. Some days it just won't ring. The second one, I picked up a few weeks ago. It would be great if that one would allow me to dial the number nine, especially since the one number I want to be able to dial quickly from any phone is 9-1-1. I am not happy. Also, sometimes when it's on touchtone, it will only dial via pulse, so when I tried to do telephone banking, I had to run to another phone. No amount of toggling back and forth will get it to switch over to touchtone.

I was suspicious about the quality of this phone when I noticed the tricky marketing ploy: the phone has the AT&T logo - from the old American Telephone & Telegraph from which we could expect better quality, but AT & T has licensed its logo out to "Advanced American Telephones." These "American" telephones are made in China likely under the sorts of working conditions that would explain the shoddiness. I miss the days of quality manufacturing.

BTW, when I went to request a return number from DynaDirect (the company that ships this product), I was not pleased that the form that needed to be filled out was not a secure form. It asked for way too much personal info not to be an https site. I can't return the phone since after a week I threw out the box only to then discover that I had not yet dialed a number that contained a nine in it.

I recently bought this phone after several two more expensive models failed; his telephone by AT&T and Lucent works better than the other phones I bought when I had to get a new phone for my home. The construction of this telephone reflects great engineering; and it's very, very reliable for a price that's very inexpensive these days for a phone. Yes, it is corded; but when all you really need is a basic phone this really does the job. Besides, the fact that this is corded means you'll never misplace the cordless handset!

The phone has back lit buttons which are desirable for those of us who are elderly or in any way sight impaired. The buttons could be brighter but the back lighting does improve upon no lighting. The phone offers well known features including "last number redial," too. The phone has a mute feature, adjustable ringer volume and more. These functions never disappoint me. It also has a small knob that lets you switch between touch tone and pulse (rotary) dialing. I use touch tone dialing as most people do. I am particularly impressed that a phone in this price range even has a twelve number memory feature for speed dialing. Cool! However, as another reviewer correctly notes, when you program the phone to remember frequently dialed numbers, you need to actually dial the number--so hang up fast if you don't intend to speak with that person at just that moment! I don't care for that so I will take off one star for this.

If you want to take a nap without the phone ringing, just turn the ringer off by using the knob at the base of the phone. That's an incredibly useful feature!

I highly recommend this telephone for people who merely want a basic, inexpensive phone that still has a few "frills" to like including memory speed dialing and mute. The extra features give you all you truly need to make this a well constructed telephone at a rather inexpensive price. Sure, the back lighting for the buttons on the phone could be brighter; but overall this is still quite a good phone for the price. The phone takes up little space and it can even be wall mounted to completely save counter space in a kitchen or any other room.

I bought this phone as it seems to suit my needs: an inexpensive, basic corded phone. However, problems emerged as soon as I opened the box.

The cord attached to the phone is permanant! It cannot be removed. My phone needs to be about 12 feet from the nearest wall jack, so I bought a longer cord, since the cord that comes with the phone is only seven feet in length. However, to my surprise, the cord that is attached to the base is permanantly affixed to the phone. It does not plug into the base of the phone for easy removal like all other phones I have owned. I had to buy an adapter to go with my long cord and plug the seven foot cord into the adapter and then plug my long cord into the other side of the adapter.

The phone has three ring volume settings. However, the button to adjust the ring tone volume is easy to press by accident. I have accidently turned the ringer off many time without realizing it.

The volume on the phone's speakers is terrible. In order to hear on the phone at all, I have to turn the volume up to the third setting. Then I am only able to barely hear the person I am speaking to.

This is a CHEAP phone, both in price and quality. Do not buy this phone, you will be disappointed. I would not want this phone if it were free. I don't mean to be so negative, but I hope others do not waste their money like I did on this phone.'

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Griffin Technology - ipad accessory, apple

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My iPad has been "naked" around the house since I first got it. The portfolio style case I bought at the Apple store quickly came off as it robbed the iPad of its slim easy-to-handle demeanor. I just got this reasonably priced sleeve and its PERFECT for quickly storing the iPad between frequent uses. Now, I worry less about a drink spilling on it or other household hazards when not in use. The little pull tab works well to extract the snuggly fitted iPad from its sleeve. An excellent alternative to a permanent skin or portfolio type of solution. Good protection, slim fitting, easy to insert and remove your iPad. Griffin Elan Sleeve for iPad - Black

I got this sleeve today. I have a IPad 2 Verizon version with an Apple Smart Cover (plastic). The sleeve fits pretty good with IPad 2 only. Very smooth in and out. When I first time tried to put IPad2 with smart cover, it felt quite tight. I had to push to put them in the sleeve. However, after a few times loading and unloading IPad2 with smart cover, the sleeve got a little bit relaxed and there was no problem! Now it is very smooth to move the IPad2 with smart cover in and out the sleeve. If you are looking for a reasonable cost and compact sleeve, this is a good choice. The cover doesn't give you the feeling of those high quality leather which may cost over $80, but it is decent made.

I got this sleeve hoping that the iPad 2 plus the smart cover would fit together in the sleeve, reasoning that if it was designed for iPad 1, which was significantly thicker, then this sleeve might fit my purposes. For the most part this turned out to be true. The iPad plus smart cover do indeed fit in this sleeve. It is a tight fit for sure, and it is not as easy to slide it in and out as I should like it to be. However, it works and since it is leather, I am hoping that over time it will stretch a bit and fit perfectly. After some time using it, I will update this review to indicate how that turns out.

As for the the sleeve itself: so far I like it a lot. It is thin but provides a good amount of padding. The stitching is good and the leather feels nice and looks great. I feel like I can slip my iPad in this, and tuck it under my arm, and even if I were to drop it while carrying it around--even if on concrete-- it should provide sufficient protection to prevent shattering or denting.

If you have an iPad 1 I am sure that this would be a great sleeve. The iPad 2 fits fine naked, and even with a smart cover, though it is a tight fit. If this is what you are looking for in a case, I think that you will be happy.

Update: I have been unsing this sleeve for about a week now, and the iPad is now much easier to get in and out. It seems to have expanded a bit and so the fit now is more natural--still snug but not overly so. It is still not perfect, because the material of the smart cover and the inside of the sleeve tend to cling to each other, but that is just a minor thing.

If you want to use this in conjunction with a smart cover and and iPad 2, then I don't think you will go wrong. I am thoroughly pleased.

This sleeve is best for people who travel a lot; the fit is a bit too tight for taking the iPad out too often without getting a bit annoyed, but it also makes the iPad feel safe. The device isn't completely protected, as the top of the iPad is only coved by the small flap used to secure it, but that should still protect the device from most physical damage. Also, for obvious reasons, the sleeve doesn't work with a case.

I'd recommend this sleeve for anyone who uses their iPad naked and plans on traveling with it often, or just wants something to protect it in-between uses. Compared to other sleeves/cases, $25 is rather inexpensive, and the case certainly feels high-quality.

I wanted something that wasn't too bulky and fit snug against the profile of the ipad. I did extensive research of all of the covers, sleeves and portfolio types of cases. I never did get a chance to see the Apple case in person, but based on the cost and the unfavorable reviews, I decided to pass. I then came across the Elan Sleeve from Griffin here on Amazon. Although there was only one review (a positive one), I decided to give it a try. And I'm glad I did. While the material is not real leather, it looks and feels high quality. My ipad fits very snug inside of it and I really like the method used to remove it from the case - by pulling up on the strap and having the ipad slide out effortlessly. Given the discounted price on Amazon and the free shipping, this is a great solution for protecting your ipad when not in use. Highly recommended.

I purchased this item last Thursday and it arrived the following Thursday (yesterday). It fits my iPad2 with the leather smartcover like a glove! It is perfect. The leather will likely stretch a bit over time, but that is not likely to be an issue.

I do like the stitching on the cover and the flap that keeps the iPad securely inside. This is exactly what I was looking for so yesterday, I ordered a second one just in case something happens to the one I have. If you are looking for a perfect fit with no give and a stylish/sleek little "envelope like" sleeve, this product fits the bill. - Case - Apple - Leather - Ipad Accessory'

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Hot Yoga

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For anyone who has ever been in a yoga class and felt the frustration of slipping and sliding all over their mat, this is the product for you! Yogitoes not only keeps you from sliding but it also stays put on your mat! A must have for any yoga practitioner. Springburst yoga mat towel - yogitoes skidless groovy collection

I love my yogitoes! It keeps me from slipping during hot yoga. I washed it twice like it said and the first time I added vinegar so the colors would stay bold--it worked!! The only thing I have had to adjust to is the wild print. At first it made balancing more difficult for me but now it's fine:) Worth the money!!

I thought my friend was crazy when she said that she had purchased a $70 towel for yoga. When I looked it up here on Amazon, and saw that it was only $48, I thought why not. Now I can't imagine how I practiced without it. It puts an end to having to continuesly readjust your hands and feet, as it eliminates sliding (especially with hot and power yoga). You do have to spray it with water beforehand so that it sticks to your mat, but it seems as if 90% of my class uses yogitoes, so now they put out community water spray bottles. I'm extremely satisfied with my purchase, and Im actually contemplating on ordering another one!

I placed this item on my Amazon birthday wish list and received it as a gift. I absolutely love this yoga mat! Prior to using this mat, I was using bath towels during Bikram yoga. This towel fits my mat perfectly--same width and everything--and has little rubber dots on the bottom to hold it in place. I definitely recommend this product. The only con is the price, which is why I asked for it as a gift!'

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Narrow Crown Stapler - finish staplers, narrow crown stapler

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I've used many brands of nail guns with various prices and qualities. The Hitachi Narrow Crown Finish Stapler definitely one of the best considering the low price. Light, and easy to use, it also has a switch for single shot or bump action which is wonderful. Most homeowner will feel much comfortable with single shot and able to check how many staple left with exposed rail. With a short practice, most people can gain most of the control of this staple and use it with ease. It has no problem driving 1 1/2 into wood and I felt it doesn't use much of air pressure as my compressor stay quiet longer than some other nail guns with similar capability.

The only thing I don't like is the kit does not come with sample staples and lubricant. It is not that I don't have them at home but it means the case does not design with designated places for those. minus one star for that. Hitachi N3804AB3 1 1/2-Inch 18-Gauge Narrow Crown Finish Stapler

One thing I will add that the other reviewers did not mention is that this stapler packs a heck of a wallop. The power of this lightweight unit really amazed me.

The truth is, I did not know what to expect. I have never owned an air-powered stapler or nail gun. I planned to use this Hitachi stapler to put up kraft-faced insulation, and then later use it for trim work. Yeah, right. I loaded it with 0.50" staples. They went right through the paper tabs on the insulation and kept on going into the studs. I had to look hard to find them because they had been sunk so deeply.

I turned the air pressure down to 70 PSI, which is the minimum operating pressure and set the stapler's depth adjustment to minimum. No dice. Too powerful! I went back to using my Arrow T-50 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Special.

I decided to get to know this little monster better. So I ran a test to see what it could do. I loaded it with 1.50" Senco staples and fastened a piece of 7/16" Oriented Strand Board (OSB) to some wall studs in about five seconds. Extremely impressive! I showed my science project to my wife.

She said, "Very nice. Now take it down. It looks terrible stuck up there."

I tried to pull the test piece off the wall with my bare hands, but it would not budge. Then I tried to pull it off with a 22 oz. framing hammer. That didn't work either. Finally, I had to use a 3-foot long pry bar. Geez, talk about embarrassing.

My last futile effort involved trying to recycle the test piece of OSB by attempting to extract the 1.5" staples I had shot into it. I won't tell you what happened except to say the OSB went into my woodstove, staples and all.

Here is a tip: Whatever you staple with this Hitachi stapler is forever.

UPDATE, October 2010: This stapler is still going strong. I have put up 1536 sq. ft. of 3/8" plywood using the stapler and have done various other jobs with it. I have run nearly 3000, 1 1/2" staples through the unit and have not experienced a single jam or other malfunction.

As for maintenance, all I have done is cleaned the unit with compressed air and sprayed some WD-40 on its moving parts. Of course, the stapler gets five to eight drops of air tool oil before each work cycle.

The Hitach is a nice looking tool, light weight, and it is cool. When loading the bolt draws back and locks. Staples fit over the rail tightly, but slide smoothly, release button is easy to operate and positive (not sloppy).

The stapler needs at least fifty pounds of pressure, but will sink the 1.25 inch staples perfectly into pine at that setting. It uses little air, so the compressor isn't called on much.

In "automatic" bump mode this gun will shoot all day. I was stapling 3' lengths of chicken wire to a wooden frame. The gun has never jammed.

As much as I hate manual staplers, I love this tool!

It is a joy to use, and accurate. I highly recommend this tool.

This stapler drove all staples under the surface. The depth adjuster is not designed correctly and will not hold the stapler far enough away from the material. If you always want to drive 1/16th under the surface, this is a good stapler. But, if you want to drive just flush or just to the surface, you will have to put a spacer under the foot. I tried another Hitachi, and it had the same defect. I bought the Porter Cable and it works flawlessly. Amazon refunded all of my money including return shipping. I find it very rare to get a better deal than Amazon anywhere on the 'net.

These narrow crown staples are wonderful. They deform when they go in. That's why they hold so very well. Plus, they do not split your workpiece. PLUS, they are very inexpensive per each. I even used them to fasten cedar to cedar -- which doesn't always like nails.

This Hitachi stapler itself is everything the other reviewers say it is -- except that there is actually a little room in the case for enough staples to do a small job. Much nicer to use than the old stapler I wore out.

When you buy it, you might consider getting a selection of different length staples.

We needed to purchase another stapler for our custom cabinet shop. Wanted something durable, but light weight. We have had Hitachi brad guns for years and never had any issues, so for less then a C-note we got this unit.

Fits your hand well, easy to load and easy to use.

It has plenty of power pushing 1 1/4 staples into hardwood without any problems. It will be interesting to see how this unit holds up in the long run, all indications indicate no reason to be concerned.

Only negative that I have found is that you can't load two full clips of staples - the magazine isn't long enough.

Picked this up today from local big box store (as a replacement for a Bostich, but that's another review). I was going through the manual and when I tried to adjust the staple depth, the wheel that's supposed to turn got stuck and never moved again. I'm taking it back tomorrow. - Narrow Crown Stapler - Staplers - Finish Staplers - Staples'

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Hiking Pants

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These are great travel pants! They're comfortable and durable, and they are easily hand-washed and hung up to dry overnight. I enjoyed wearing them at full-length and as shorts. (The shorts length is an appropriate length for travel - falling at about the knees. They're cool enough for warm weather, but modest enough to not draw attention to you as a tourist.) At 5'6" and 140 lbs, I ordered the size 8, which had a little more room than I needed. But the drawstring waist allows you to adjust the pants, and the size 6 was snug enough that I worried about fitting into them if I gained any weight. (If you feel fairly certain that your weight won't fluctuate or if you don't mind the expense, I would probably go with a size 6.) The pants are also flattering and stylish enough to wear out with friends when I'm at home. I would recommend these. prAna Women's Monarch Convertible Pant,Black,6

Love these pants for hiking or just running around town. They are super comfortable and fit great. I always pack these for a trip as they pack and wash easily and are great no matter what kind of weather I run into during my travels.'

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115-piece Tool Kit - good value, tool kit

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Most of the tools within this kit seem to be fairly decent quality and nothing from the description seems to be missing. This kit includes most of what you will need in an electronics tool kit. However, read the description as the image is misleading of the contents. Actually, looking back at the description, I can't see that it would be of much use since they only put the tool product codes and do not list the actual tools! For your convenience, here is the list as written in the included documentation (expanation in parenthesis):

C-400 Tool case

ET-10 IC puller

LF-99 Lead-free solder

SE-1 Solder erase kit (straight probe, angled probe, scrapers, wire brush)

SH-1 Soldering iron stand

SP-4 Solder sucker

SR-2B Deluxe soldering iron

ST-1 Side cutting pliers (wire cutter)

ST-2 Long nose pliers

ST-30 Deluxe wire stripper

ST-5 3/16" Slotted screwdriver (flat head)

ST-6 #1 Phillips screwdriver

ST-20 Goggles

ST-75 11 pc. Nut driver set

SW-3 Solder wick

TL-8 Precision screwdriver set

MMK-60 Meter MTG kit (2 velcro disks to secure a multimeter to the case. NO METER INCLUDED)

I haven't had a chance to test the soldering iron or included solder, but the goggles and other tools seem to be of a high quality. The soldering iron stand is quite low quality but will do the job if you add some weight to it. The case has a durable, rugged exterior and locks as advertised. However, the inside is very poor. The included slats for partitioning the space are essentially hard cardboard with foam glued on, making the longer slats give quite a lot in the middle. The foam on some is not evenly alligned such that one side will have a long insertion tab and the other won't have one at all, making for a very unstable wall. Finally, the foam along the case walls that the slats slide into is very easy to tear and does not provide much structure.

Furthermore, the included "Double-Sided Pallet" does not match the picture! It has no velcro straps as shown holding the precision screwdriver set and the calculator, and instead has two small pockets that won't fit anything close to that size. I don't really know what they mean by "Double-Sided" either considering that there are no pockets on the back. The pockets along the bottom are smaller than shown here and will not fit the nut driver handle or the nut driver heads as shown. I could barely get the solder sucker in one of the pockets, though it likely wont stay there as it took a lot of work to get it secured and is a very tight fit. Thus, you will definitely be using the box more than the pallet for easy tool access.

In conclusion, I'm not saying don't get it, but know what you are buying first. They need to list the actual parts that are included rather than part numbers, update the image to reflect the true end user experience with the ACTUAL pallet, and should not include a multimeter and a calculator in the main display image. Perhaps include them in a supplemental image that is more clearly showing an expanded kit. Obviously I wasn't expecting a digital multimeter to be included for $100, but I was expecting an accurate representation of the product. Deluxe Electronics Tool Kit - Home Repair - Tool Kit - Tools - Good Value'

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