Ipod Accessories - audio splitter, computer cables

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I would recommend this product. I am using it to hook up a small form factor PC to my audio receiver in my basement. It works great for Windows Media Player, to play my enormous playlist on my home stereo (my selection isn't really that big, just kidding). However, with the advent of downloadable movies, this will be great for use when I want to watch a movie on my home theater without having to worry about how I am going to play it. The sound is great. Belkin PureAV Miniplug to RCA Y Audio Cable (7 Feet)

Bought this cable together with a couple others of similar quality to completely re-do the audio cabling of my main gaming and recording system. Wow, what an improvement in sound quality. I am running a splitter from the 1/8th stereo sound card jack -- on one side I amd going to a dedicated subwoofer and from there to a set of Roland computer monitors, on the other side to a rack mixer that feeds inputs into a Fostex digital multi-track. Was using cheap RS cables before. This cable replaced the piece that went from the sound card output to the subwoofer input. Highs (cymbals, high-hats, etc.) are MUCH more noticable now and the "punchy-ness" of the bass (kick drum) has improved substantially as well. Just wish I hadn't suffered with bad cables for so long. RECOMMENDED if you want/like/need fidelity from your computer audio.

I bought this cable to replace the cheap cable linking my laptop to my amplifier. I crossed my fingers as I replaced the cables, hoping this Belkin cord would help minimize the radio interference issues I'd been having (I recently moved to a mountaintop that's home to a lot of high-power radio transmitters and the hippie jam band station was quite audible). This cord was an obvious step up in terms of build quality over the cheap RadioShack cable I was using and it did in fact prove a lot more resistant to radio interference. I didn't expect a great boost in audio quality, but I got it. This is an excellent product; well-built and more than worth its price. And no more unwanted Phish! I'd pay ten times the price they're asking to accomplish that.

This is my first review at all in Amazon.com. I bought the Cable locally and not by amazon. The purpose of buying it is to connect my iPod through my car A/V cable. I tried the video cable but I don't use video when driving so after the old cable wear, the logical selection is Y Audio Cable. I choose this cable after comparing it with other one which have a more expensive price and better style. However I go with this because of the price. It works perfectly and the sound quality amazing, even on high level of sound.



The feel of the cable is great and you can feel about the quality of it, but the cable is too long for my use, however I can't say that as a negative side.

I use this cable to connect my iPod to my home stereo. The cable is well made and I expect it will last as long as I will need it. You can buy more expensive cables ever ones labeled for specific use for iPods but why waste your money?

This cable looks great and functions even better. It is exactly what I wanted for a price that I was more than happy to pay. I use the cable to hook my iphone/laptop up to my receiver so I can take advantage of my surround sound.



Pros:

-looks good

-sturdy

-excellent sound quality

-great price

-perfect length for what I needed



cons:

-none so far



Buy this.

I use this product to connect my MacBook Pro laptop or my iPhone 4 to my Yamaha AV receiver to play my music library. I am pleased with the length of the cable (7 feet) and the firm connection which ultimately facilitates excellent sound quality. It is excellent value for money. - Audio Splitter - Computer Cables - Belkin - Ipod Accessories'

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Accessories - lighters, accessories

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I purchased one of these about 10 years ago, it worked flawlessly lighting cigars, soldering wiring terminals and lighting an outdoor cooking fire or two. I lost it one day and purchased two more. The replacement has been working for five years, and I sent the other to a friend who needed one. Now mine went through the washer, so it is a little harder to light, but still works. I just ordered another. Blazer PB207 Butane Refillable Torch Lighter - Clear

Upon receiving this small pocket torch I was very happy with the way it performed. Exceptionally hot flame and seemed to be working fine. A short time later it wouldn't even ignite. I wish that I could say that it was over-used or abused and therefore it failed but unfortunately this isn't the case. After light usage, the torch simply won't work. I used the best gas available for these to no avail. I enjoyed it and was very pleased at first but having stopped working in such a short time I have to say that although this is a good idea, it simply doesn't hold up.

First of all this is torch lighter will work almost forever. The flame will get hot enough to solder, even melt a penny. The tank will even hold enough fluid to burn for an extended amount of time. The only real draw back is the lighter is not wind proof. Even the smallest breeze will easily blow out the flame. So if you plan on a purchasing a lighter that you will NEVER use outdoors or even under a fan, then this is a good choice.

excellent product, would recommend this for any cigar smoker..Works better then those high dollar good looking lighters. I would diffidently purchase another when the time comes to replace mine. Had one years ago and it was always dependable until I dropped it one to many times.....Money well spent!!!!!

When I first seen the price of this lighter I was a little weary, I have bought other expensive lighters and they really do not work as well as one might be led to believe. I must say the Blazer works fantastically. Lights in wind and as long as you get descent fuel it will keep working. Really a great lighter not just for your smokes but small projects which may require a little torch.

I've known about these since the early 90's, and had one for 10 years. My old one developed a small hole in it, so it would'nt hold butane anymore. The piezzo still works,after 1,000's of lights. If there is anyway to send it back to the factory to get a new butane reservoir, I would. In the meantime,I purchased a new one.

I was looking to buy another PB207 so I came to Amazon, as I bought mine about ten years ago from an online welding supply house. To be honest I was amazed at the poor reviews. The quality of the product must have went south as I use this lighter on a regular basis with no issues. Once in a blue moon I need to click it twice to light. Overall it has been very reliable for lighting cigars indoors and now all most always outdoors or in my truck. I use Savinelli butane all of the time as it is has been my "go to" fuel for over 20 years. I smoke a pipe and use a Savinelli "Old Boy" with an angled flame. I do not sell lighters or do I have anything to gain by my positive comments other than expressing my good luck with this lighter. I guess the only thing I do is always make sure it is full of fuel I have never let it get less than half full. I have the clear model with no child safety feature.

I've had mine for over 10 years, it still works. Lights with the first click every time. Not sure what is going on with these bad reviews. The bottom is hard to unscrew? You don't have to unscrew anything, just press the compressed lighter fluid can nozzle into the hole and it fills right up. When I bought mine it was about twice as expensive. I would say this is a really good deal.

My first Lighter was purchased about 8 years ago and it still works. I purchased my 3rd Micro Torch because I think these are solid and well worth the money. I gave my 2nd lighter to a young G.I. that went to Afghanistan. I have no doubt he will return with stories of this serving him for a variety of purposes. If I could afford to send each one in his outfit this lighter I would gladly send them with no reservation. This is a solid lighter and well worth the money. My first lighter eventually lost the screws but it still lights every time I use it. I have to hold it tight but the piezoelectric still sparks and the flame still lights hot blue. I would recommend this to anyone that needed a lighter to depend on. I don't care for the safety feature on the new ones because I have to show people how to use it every time they borrow it. However, I know how to use it and would still recommend it to anyone wanting a lighter that will last for years. Although it is not wind proof, it is wind resistant and it burns hot from day one to year 8. I have had more expensive lighters that get clogged jets or just plain quit, but not this one. Buy it and you won't be disappointed. - Accessories - Lighters'

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Air Tools - staplers, air tools

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I nabbed one of these after my positive experiences with Bosch's new brad nailer, and am pleased to say it works every bit as well as its brother in every regard. It's light as a feather, packs tons of power, and generally just feels much more hardy than the equivalent Hitachi gun. Jam clears are tool free (though I haven't experienced a jam yet, so I can't say how easy it is to use in practice), the exhaust port is freely rotatable, and the set depth can be fine tuned right there on the nose.



While I'm greatly satisfied with my purchase, I still have to dock Bosch a star for failing to include the coupler fitting I'd venture a good 99% of users will need to actually slap it on the end of their air hoses, and I'm just not crazy about the way the triggers on these models are held in place by a tiny rubber washer of questionable longevity. Only time will tell how well they hold up, but something tells me I'll be special ordering a handful of the things long before the internal seals die on me. The dark blue cover that sits under the magazine and keeps the follower's springs from jumping out is also made of a somewhat flimsy bit of plastic, but the way it's put together, I don't think it's likely to get broken unless subjected to the kind of abuse that rarely takes place in a finish carpenter or upholsterer's shop. Still, it really should have been metal, or at least ABS plastic. Bosch STN150-18 18 Gauge Narrow Crown Stapler

...Bosch came out with airtools... I have been thru PorterCable, Bostich, Stanley, Senco but none of them measures up to the Bosch Stapler! I use it in my cabinet shop and a stapler can finally keep up with my production! It is especially great that you easily can see how many staples are left in the stapler... I will get the other tools as well when my existing ones give up. I love Bosch...

This tool has great ergonomics, sinks staples consistently, only lacks a trigger lock as far as features go, and is just nice to use. And while other top load staplers (like the Hitachi) have the release and catch for tool-free jam clearing sticking out on the front of the gun, Bosch put the release and the catch just behind the nose of the gun, relatively out of the way. Really smart. But, the catch seems much wider than needed and limits how close you can get the gun when the body of it is parallel to a wall or other obstruction (much less of an issue than the bump on the front of the gun though).



The body and nose of the gun are about as long as they are on other staplers, but much narrower, so far so good. But the bump on the plastic cover just below the depth setting dial keeps you from getting closer than 1/2" or so from obstructions when the body of the stapler is perpendicular to the wall. Like when face stapling flooring against a wall. A little too close for comfort when you want fasteners to be covered by base or other trim that will be installed later. With my older Bostitch stapler I'm able to get much closer, @1/4" or so away from the wall.



Finally the plastic magazine cover that holds the staples in place is thin plastic. Unlikely to survive even one fall from @3'.



In short, this is a great gun in a lot of ways, and it's almost there but I personally feel that these design choices really keep this tool from living up to its potential.

This staple gun fails miserably! The deepest I can get the staples to sink is only "nearly flush" with the workpiece! This is with the gun settings at deepest sink and "Turbo Action" employed.



Of all the Bosch tools I have bought and used without the slightest problem this one is a real disapointment.



The newly engineered firing mechanism sounded wonderful. I will wait a couple more years before I think about buying another pnuematic nailer from Bosch (so they can get the bugs worked out). This stapler is being returned. - Air Tools - Staplers'

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16gb Sdhc Memory Card

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I received this item as a gift since I love taking pictures and HD video. All of that can really eat up space quickly, so I was glad I got a SDHC card.



I've used many other amazon basic items like HDMI cables and other electrical cords, and they've all served me well, so I didnt worry about a amazon branded SDHC card. For all I know, they're probably made on the same assembly line as a big brand name card like SanDisk or PNY.



Write speeds, they're quick. My old camera used to make me wait 2-3 seconds after taking a photo, and waiting for it to write on my old old SanDisk 2GB SD card. Now after using this, instantly, I can shoot more photos and videos without needing to wait for it to write to the card.



Read speeds are pretty quick, all my pictures and videos showed up within seconds. My old Sandisk would make me sit there for a minute or two while it read each image and created preview icons for them in windows.



I highly recommend it to anyone who's into photography or just likes to shoot tons of videos/photos. I tend to copy everything and save it on my computer when the card starts to get full, but if you're the type of person who saves it all on SD cards for a long time, you might opt to get a 8 or 16GB card instead. AmazonBasics 16GB Class 4 SD Flash Memory Card

The card certainly has capacity to spare, even shooting RAW files. However, like many of you I enjoy taking photographs at sporting events and that is where the difference between a class 4 card and a class 6 card (which I have several of) shows up.



The slower writing speed on the class 4 card, and slower transfer speed when off-loading the images to my computer, is disappointing ~ enough so that I will sacrifice capacity for enhanced speed when making future purchases.'

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Vista Compatible - external floppy, sony

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Recently I found myself in desperate need of a floppy drive. I needed access to a file that was on an old 3.5 inch Floppy. I had somehow never gotten around to transferring it to CD. This little portable floppy drive saved the day! If you are running XP or Vista, you just plug the drive in to an available USB port and you are ready to go. Both my laptop and desktop recognized the drive immidiately.It's a 2X drive, so it reads and writes fast. The drive comes with a stand so you can set it on your desk either flat or virtically. It also comes with both a black and a sliver snap on cover. My only complaint is the USB cable is hard wired to the drive and it is very short,(2 feet).

I'm rediscoverring tons of old games, fonts and programs I had completely forgotten about. Retro computing! What was once old is new again. Sony External USB Floppy Drive (MPF88E/UA/181) Sony External USB Floppy Drive (MPF88E/UA/181)

I was hesitant on ordering a floppy drive via internet. I was very impressed with the speed of service! The installation was incredibly easy. I had no complications whatsoever. Two thumbs up with this product.

I had a laptop which required me to remove the CD if I wanted a 3.5 inch floppy drive. What a pain! This external floppy drive pluges into the USB port and I was fully functioanl using CD and floppy drive functions without the cumbersome effort to switch bays. Worked smoothly. Well worth the money the first day.

Like most technology "old-timers", I have a collection of floppy disks going back more than a dozen years, but the newer computers often don't even include floppy drives anymore. So, without even knowing if these kinds of products existed, I simply searched Amazon for "USB floppy drive", to see if someone had invented a nice modern version of the standard drive I need to move and copy files from my old media - and viola'! I found this one and ordered it...



It works beautifully. The convenience of modern USB, merged with support for not just 3.5" floppy disks for several other formats as well (and cross-platform support for Windows and Mac) -- all makes for a great product, which simply works! Plug it in, insert a disk, and your PC or Mac will "see" it immediately. Moves files very fast, and gave me no trouble whatsoever. I'd definitely recommend this solution, as the easiest way to give your new computer or laptop that ability to handle almost any floppy media!



PS: It includes two color plastic covers, so you can have your choice of colors, or just leaving the nice case as is (I use black, of course - since I'm a super-geek :) - Usb Floppy Drive - Sony - External Floppy - Usb External Floppy Drive'

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Travel Clocks - avoid, travel clock

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This clock fulfills all of your travel needs. I spent a half hour slogging thru the dozens of Amazon travel clocks to find this one. I can't believe no one else has reviewed it. I refuse to trust wake up services. When I have to leave for the airport at 4am, I want my own reliable alarm clock to wake me up.



My old digi-clock of twenty years just pooped out. I liked it cuz it was digital (no ticking sound), small (size of pack of cigarettes, EZ time set and inexpensive at $10+. The EZ time set is the most important feature for me. I hate those clocks that one has to run thru 23 hours to change the time back by one hour. This clock allows one to +/- just one hour (or minute). It is essential when cruising in the Carribee or Mex Riviera where the time zone changes almost nightly.



We don't wear wrist watches any more and it is nice to whack the clock in the middle of the night to see the time. Is it almost time to get up at 6am or can one roll over at midnight? Elgin Folding Travel Alarm Clock, Black

I needed a travel clock with a snooze function. I also didn't want those strange knob-controls to set the alarm and time.



The only thing I dislike is that the clock opens only to a 90 degree angle. Reclining slightly further would have made more sense, as I don't care to contort my body to see what time it is.



However, I agree with the previous reviewer - just get this if you need a travel clock, its the best one offered on Amazon.

My first impression when I got this clock was that the time-setting buttons and sequences are not at all intuitive. This means I will have the carry the little instruction sheet with me when I take the clock on a trip. I also would have preferred a more common battery type like an AAA or AA. Other than that it seems to perform it's intended function.



I am updating the review I posted above since I've had a chance to use this product for a year or so. I now use this as my everyday alarm clock and I am very happy with it. I use it often enough that the time-setting buttons are now pretty familiar to me. The best thing is that the batteries seem to last quite awhile, unlike other alarm clocks I've had. I am just changing them now for the first time.

I bought this clock to replace my beloved Westclox travel alarm that was a clam shaped little clock that was faithful to me for some 15 years.



I'm online right now because of this clock. Can't continue to use it because it drives me nuts. Time to replace it.



Pro: It shows time, day of the week, and date of the month.



Con: If you look at it too hard, it tips over backwards. If you touch it, it tips over backwards. Most of the time, I just keep it closed. The snooze alarm only gives you four extra minutes. Ultimate betrayal - once in a while, even though the alarm is set properly, it just decides not to sound its alarm. That's when I want to smash it!

I wasn't expecting this to be a great clock, especially for $12, but this is the worst clock I have ever owned. I read a review about this clock that the programming of it is counter-intuitive. That didn't even bother me that much. However, as the clock is sitting there open, all the numbers would just disappear. It's as if it were shutting off or going to power save mode, but it would do this about 10 seconds after I opened its face.



When I would push the light, the screen would just flash 88:88 as if I was pushing so hard on the light and it was forcing each block of numbers to light. I tried setting it 4 times. Each time I would set it, it would be set for about 10 seconds, then go into that "power save mode" and when I got it back up it would flash 12:00 am. And it takes about 5-10 minutes to set everything. So after doing it 4 times, I gave up.



I'm hoping the one that I have is a factory default. If not, I could not imagine a terrible clock like this ever selling. Buyer beware on this "nice priced" travel clock.

I gave this to my husband for Father's Day since his old Scientific Oregon alarm clock was falling apart. He says it's great. I guess my only complaint would be the batteries it uses - I would prefer that it used AA or AAA bateries.

If you're a sound sleeper and need a loud alarm clock, this one just won't do. The alarm is very high pitched and scarcely louder than a watch alarm. I knew the first time I tested it that I'd sleep right through it.



It makes a decent windowsill clock in the kitchen, though. That's what I'm using mine for now.



I ordered the Equity by La Crosse 13012 Twinbell Alarm Clock for waking up.

I went to the Amazon.com site to explore the vast amount of travel alarm clocks that they offer. My first impression after reading the reviews was that there are many to choose from but that they all seem to be, shall we say, lacking. Having said that, I picked one in which I liked the features and plunged in. I loved the design of this travel alarm clock because the blue bar to press in order to illuminate the clock is big and in the front and it lights up in a blue color. If you can't find that button and can't read those big numerals you would have to be blind lol When I received it I just loved the design and ease of setting it. Then the problems started. When I closed the lid and reopened it the time was no longer correctly set. It always went to 12 midnight. After fiddling around with it to find the problem, it seemed that the cover that slides over the batteries doesn't hold the batteries in so that the batteries make a constant connection. I gave it to my husband to jerry-rig it by putting a layer of something in it to press the batteries against the connectors (it doesn't have springs to function in that way). It worked for a while but then crumbed on me again. My husband took another look at it and was out in the sunshine and noticed that three of the four screws on the bottom were missing. They are tiny and painted black so no one noticed it before. Naturally we thought that was the problem so he headed down to the electronics store not far from us that he frequents and and found three screws to put in it. You'd think that would work, but no. So he put a band of plastic in place with the two screws that are on the same side as the battery compartment and slipped another smaller band under that so there was pressure on the battery compartment. NOW it works. Whew! The only reason I didn't send it back was because I love the design and according to the reviews it's six of one and a half dozen of another. And hubby was willing and able to give it a go. Sad but true, like it says in large lettering on the back, "Made in China". Chinese POS and everything seems to come from China. BUYER BEWARE. - Travel Clock - Travel Clocks - Avoid - Alarm Clock'

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Ipad Accessory - ipad cover, ipad

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When I first ordered this case, I didn't pay any attention for the fact that it is made out of silicone. So it is a soft(rubbery) case. I've gone to Fry's, Micro Center, Best Buy, and Apple Stores but I couldn't really find one that I particularly like. I wanted something like Speck case for macbooks, which are hard cases. But when I saw the deal Amazon had for this case at $9.95 (original retail price $39), I though I may as well try it out. From the pictures, it looks like a hard case. But when I did receive it, I found out that it's a soft case. I was really disappointed.



BUT (a big but heh), once I manage to fit it to my iPad which fits snugly. I ended up liking it and I was so glad that I had the case. The gloss of the silicone makes it look very chic. The design in the back is quite nice as well. I like the transparency of it. You still can see the apple logo in the back. And the best part of it is it fits so well that it doesn't seem to add much thickness to the iPad itself. It makes the iPad grips better in your hands.



Although it may not give the maximum protection if you drop it. It does give enough protection to the back if the iPad which is the part that scratches the most. The glass part of the iPad (which is the same glass as iPhone) is very durable itself. So, in my opinion the case gives enough protection for it to be light and easy to handle. You may want to consider to buy an iPad sleeve if you travel with it a lot. Other than that, I think this case works and looks fantastic.



PROS: chic, snugly fit, doesn't add much thickness to the iPad itself, looks great and feels great, easy to put on and take off

CONS: soft case (which can also be good), doesn't have front coverage/protection



ps. I uploaded several pics to show what the case looks like when it's on the iPad. The pics also show how it fits around the volume control and the charging dock. You can see how the iPad doesn't look bulky at all with the case on.

I purchased this case from Amazon because of the low price and to give me some time to find a better one for travel. The fit and grip that this case provides are great. It doesn't provide that much protection from drops or anything major, but I use it around the house and it's perfect. The biggest benefit in my opinion is the added grip that the hard silicon feeling material gives. If You're typing with the iPad on your leg it stays in place much better than without it.



If you are putting the iPad in a briefcase with other stuff this case might not be the best, but for casual use it's perfect.

We went through at least 10 cases and screen protectors for the iPads in the house. Some are great, others not.



This is a great buy, and my personal favorite. Let's break it down really fast for would-be purchasers:



Pros



Fit: Fits snug and perfect, all ports easily accessible, hole present for speakers, moulded perfect for all buttons.



Material: Great! A little more rubbery than most silicone cases, so this is like a cross between a hard case and a soft case. The material grips well, but isn't "sticky". This helps it sit on legs or a stand better, but isn't so rubbery as to be annoying.



Look: Great! The semi-clear material allows you to keep that apple aesthetic while protecting the iPad. This is the best looking case we found. It is a very snug fit and is rather thin, so you get protection without adding a lot of bulk.



Screen protector: CHECK IT OUT! We went through four brands of screen protectors. Anyone who has tried knows this can be tricky. They get bubbles, lint can get under them, and they're a pain to apply. This one was THE BEST. It went on fast and easy, and looks perfect. It was the only one to do this. (see tips below)



Cost: A GREAT Value



Cons



None that we can tell. The model I got has a hole cut out for the Apple logo. This could result in scratching in the future, but I'm not sure that's a big concern.





Tips for a perfect screen protector application:



To get the best application, clean your iPad and work surface well with a damp lint-free cloth. Use canned air to spray off any add'l lint. Apply the screen protector SLOWLY from the home button end upward, removing the backing as you go to minimize lint/trapped air. Once it's in place, use a credit card and/or cotton swab to patiently brush out any air. Do this BEFORE removing the top protective layer, since the removal of air can scratch the film if you do it after the upper protective layer is peeled off. Look things over carefully with the iPad turned off. If there is any lint or dust trapped, NOW is the time to peel the layer up and remove them. It is impossible to do this after both protective films are removed, and you will ruin the screen protector. If things look good, very slowly peel off the top layer, making sure not to pull too hard so as to allow air back under the screen protector. Viola - with a little patience you'll have a perfect application! Do you need this? YES! One of our iPads has lived in a relatively tame home office only environment. It has never been dropped or anything, and there are some minor scratching. Whatever Apple - this spendy toy NEEDS screen protection. - Silicone - Ipad - Ipad Cover - Ipad Case'

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Donkey Kong Country - wii, video games

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I don't normally write a review before I've beaten a game but after several hours of play I've got to say Donkey Kong Country Returns is grand. I've been playing it since the midnight release. Where do I start? It's like slipping on an old glove. I didn't even have to read the manual. The graphics are gorgeous, the controls are great and for once the motion controls didn't feel like a gimmicky addition. Rare just got owned!



Many hours of my misspent youth involved playing Donkey Kong Country on the SNES, whether alone or with a friend, I remember playing that silly Mine Cart Madness level until I had it memorized. All I can say is the people at Retro Studios must've loved DKC like many of us because they just knocked it out of the park with this one. They took everything I loved about the first DKC; barrel craziness, lots of enemies, easy and accurate controls, and beautiful scenery; and magnified these things by a factor of 100. This is just the kind of sequel I've been waiting for, for years. Retro Studios didn't reinvent the wheel, they duplicated and polished the wheels and then stuck it on a Ferrari. Let's break it down shall we?



Story

Who cares it's DK! No seriously though, gone are the kremlins, now we're up against this mask thing a-la Crash Bandicoot. This mask thing steals your bananas, and now DK has to get them back... Donkey Kong Style. The classic DK humor is here, and the cut scenes have that DKC feel to them. Which are very well done by the way.



Controls

The controls are great for a platformer. I seriously had no problem slipping right in. They are tight and responsive. The motion controls are easy to learn, and actually make sense. For instance to do DK's trademark ground pound is just a matter of shaking the Wii Remote and Nunchuck up and down, in - you guessed it - a slapping type motion. Plus they give you multiple options for controls. (No GameCube controller though.)



Graphics

Beautiful. Seriously. Bright and vibrant background with colorful and original enemies. DK and Diddy have never looked better. The detail in the respective character animations is awesome. The Wii is definitely getting put through some paces with this game. Everything is crisp and sharp. Nothing to complain about at all.



Music/Sound

Yeah, those rocking jungle beats are back. Remixed in all of their glorious detail. I let it set on the start menu for a few minutes and just rocked out. XD The sounds also are very good. DK's deep roar and chest beating sound great, and Diddy's little squeaks and enemy deaths are clear and are recreated well.



Levels

You start out in the jungle just like the original DKC, except on steroids. You also have an over world view of the island also like DKC. But these aren't just clones. Yes the barrels are here, and the cool secrets that were scattered around all over DKC make their appearance too. Which was really cool. (That's another thing Retro Studios nailed on the head. All of the secrets.)

You have the traditional K-O-N-G letter finding, as well as puzzle pieces which unlock what seems to be some really cool stuff, coins (like DKC 2 and 3) which you can use to purchase alternative paths among other stuff, bunches of bananas. The list goes on. But it's all there for you to find on purpose or by accident. (Don't tell me that my friends and I are the only ones who used to swap secret locations around as though they were status symbols?) Oh and tons more Mine Cart levels. There's one on the first world even. Thank you Retro!

The checkpoints make their way back here too. That's right, just like in the old days. You die before the checkpoint you go back and restart the level. I smiled a little inside.



One weird thing though. I was the only one at Wally World who showed up at Midnight to get this. Surely I can't be the only one who was excited enough to drive 20+ miles to get it. It just shocked me because I really expected a long line. It was so worth it though. I'm not embarrassed to say I own a Wii now XD.

Any way, enough nostalgic gushing. If you're a DKC fan (forget that horrible N64 thing) this really is a must own. No joke. Maybe now I can finally retire my SNES cart... Nah. XD Donkey Kong Country Returns

I always make sure I play a game all the way through before a leave a review about it since many games grow on me over time, and some games are very exciting for a week until you realize the replay value is non existent. Many of the reviews for this game and others are given on release day or the next day! Leaving a hasty assessment of the game. It was a difficult journey but I have finally completed the game and can give it a fair and honest review. To get 2 things out of the way before I start the review I want to say that this review is coming from a game developer and very looooong time fan of the Donkey Kong Country series. Needless to say I was extremely excited when I heard the announcement of this title at E3 and it became my most anticipated game of the year. I was also very pleased to hear that the game would be developed by retro studios who are held in very high regard with their Metroid prime series. But has the Return been a good one?



For the most part.....Yes.



The best part of the game for me was retro studios decision to keep the same difficulty found in the original games. THE GAME IS TOUGH! Collecting every puzzle piece and KONG letters for the game is a daunting, but very enjoyable task! Is that not hard enough for you? Try and get a gold medal on every level in Time Attack! Time attack is a spped run mode that will make the most hardcore of players squeeze the controller with frustration. This will keep you coming back for more for a very long time.

It is difficult for me to determine if this game will be too hard and difficult for the younger or casual gamer, But I think its safe to say much fun can still be had here from the younger or casual gamer just trying to play through the levels.



The Graphics and art style for this game is top notch (which is to be expected from retro studios) I would say a step above New Super Mario Bros which this game takes heavy influence from. That being said I dont get the nostalgia of the original donkey kong country games when I play this game. But yet again I wasnt expecting that to happen with this game. Dont get me wrong, the graphics and aesthetic are great but when the original donkey kong country games came out the visuals were revolutionary! Still to this day nothing matches the looks of that game, and I can give this game a free pass on that topic.



The game also gets increasingly fun as you progress through the game, the level design and level interaction are great! It is also good to see a return of mine carts and even Rambi!



Now on to some of the cons of the game.



Co-op is horrible. I never expected it to be any good especially since I heard it would be very similar to New Super Mario Bros. But Kirbys Epic Yarn gave me hope since the co-op in that game works great and is fun and not aggravating. Sadly to say the co-op in this game is nothing but frustrating and pointless. Me and my wife much rather play one player and take turns everytime we die or get to a checkpoint. This is the most critical aspect of the game for me especially since the 2 player mode in the original games worked Perfectly! The ability to switch characters on demand with select allowed you to work with each others abilities. I dont mind nintendo wanting to add these new co-op modes to there games, but they should really add a CLASSIC 2 player mode as well and the player can choose for themselves. Like mentioned earlier, the only game that got this right was Kirbys Epic Yarn.



The decision to give the game motion controls without the choice of opting out of them was also a very poor decision. This has been one of the most heated debates with the game. I dont believe this totally breaks the game like some reviewers think but I also dont think it makes it better. It is MUCH easier to perform a roll with push of the button then a control waggle. Its simply not as responsive. The option to have full classic controller support would have been an easy and welcome inclusion to the game (hint hint for game sequel) And for those who fully support the waggle roll for this game, have you tried completing the time attack levels using the roll? to obtain a gold you must roll almost the entire level leaving you with very sore and awkward gameplay.



My final cons are with the bonus levels and characters. The bonus barrel levels are extremely repetitive. They cycle through the same 4 or five throughout the entire game.

Its also unfortunate that rambi is the only animal friend in the game which you can ride. One of the best things about the originals are the variety of animal friends that can help you on your way. This game only has one. And he doesnt appear very often.

Both of these flaws are obvious time restraints from the developer, if this game wasnt trying to meet a christmas release I believe most of these problems would have been taken care of, and we would have been left with a near perfect game.



Now after all that being said the game is still a FANTASTIC gaming experience. Even though the flaws are many, the pros are great as well. I am very glad for this game purchase and I will be playing it for years to come. I really hope Nintendo is planning on releasing a sequel to this game! - Nintendo - Wii - Donkey Kong Country - Video Games'

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Video Converters - laptop or pc to tv, laptop to tv

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~ INTRODUCTION ~

I got this product to be able to watch video from my computer on my tv. After a bunch of research, this product seemed to get the best reviews, esp for the price, and overall I agree. Once I finally put it together and tried to use it, I found a few nuisances that you should be aware of, especially if you are a NTSC (e.g., U.S.A. users).



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

~ PRODUCT DETAILS ~



First off, just to be clear, the item that shipped is a Manhattan PC TV Converter Model #150095 (UPC 766623150095)



The product is shipped decently packaged but there's nothing in there that can't handle a little rough and tumble anyway. It includes:

- the converter, which is just slightly larger than a cigarette pack

- 1 yellow video rca cable

- 1 usb power cord

- 1 vga cord

- 1 instruction manual, which is alright. It's not 100% clear on everything but the essentials are there.

- Note: there is NO S-video cable provided.



On one of the short end of the converter, there is a VGA-in port.



On the other short end, there is the plug for the USB power cable plus a pair of jumper switches labeled 1 & 2.



On one long end, there are all the output ports. You have one each of video out, s-video out, and VGA-out.



On the opposite long end, there are buttons to adjust settings for the converter. There are buttons for "LEFT", "RIGHT", "DOWN", "UP", "MENU", and "ZOOM".



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

~ SETUP NOTES ~



I recommend that the first thing to do is to check that the jumpers are set for your needs (noted very simply in the instruction manual). If you are an NTSC (e.g., U.S.A.) user, be sure that both jumpers 1 & 2 are both down.



Next, plugging in the wires is pretty straightforward. The long side contains all the output ports and the single vga end is the input. I don't think it matters but I plugged in the black vga head to the converter and the blue end to the computer.



Once it's all in, turn on your components and check that it works. It didn't take me long to get up and running but be sure that the jumpers are set properly.



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

~ IMAGE QUALITY ~



The image quality isn't too bad but it seems that it might depend partly on your computer and the TV.



Please note that it is UN-LIKELY that you will be able to do things like edit documents or surf the web unless you drop the resolution from your computer quite a bit. At 1024x768 (the setting I have on my computer), the image projected onto the TV is too unclear with the text way too small for you to be able to do any kind of reading. If you really want to use your TV for reading such find details, then it's more likely you'll need to buy a TV that can take regular VGA signals without conversion.



You can play around with image quality with the on-screen preferences but it doesn't seem to improve the quality too much. The menu that comes up provides options to adjust horizontal/vertical size, brightness, contrast, hue, saturation, sharpness, and onscreen display background. In reality playing with these won't affect image quality clarity too much and it's difficult to know where along a 0% - 100% scale that you are adjusting a setting since there is no bar to indicate that for each of the settings. For example, I can't tell whether I've hit 30% or 80% saturation. I just have to guess where along that scale I am at.

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



Reminder of the most important point...



!!!! For NTSC (U.S.A. users), be sure that the jumpers 1 & 2 are both down. My converter came set by the factory with both jumpers up, which won't work on US TV's. !!!!



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



Recommendation: This product works for my goal of watching videos/movies on my TV. Just be sure to check your setup before thinking it won't work. I got a few scrambled screens before I finally got the thing to show up properly but since then, the product works like a charm. Don't expect perfect image quality. I'd estimate the quality compared to my computer monitor is probably around 75%. The conversion from regular VGA to a TV is not an easy or perfect conversion. Nonetheless, if you just want something that simply works, this will do and as such I can recommend this product.



Price paid: ~$45 + shipping Videosecu PC to TV Converter VGA to RCA S-Video Mac Computer Laptop to Composite Video Switcher VGA2TV 1L7

I just purchased one of these VGA to NTSC >("Never-Twice-Same-Color") "scan converters" to set up a secondary computer system for home theater VIDEO internet streaming. I'm a well seasoned electronics engineering tech and do a fair amount of experimenting with audio/video, etc. I've tried several different (and MORE expensive) brands and types of scan converters on the market in the interest of obtaining the best overall VIDEO picture quality. This unit works EXCELLENT!

PROS: this unit has ALL the "necessary" setting adjustments to allow scan size, posistioning, color intensity (saturation), tint (hue), anti-flutter (flick) and sharpness control. Overall the unit (and I imagine it's "clones") performs excellent especially for VIDEO usage. Using an "S-Video" hookup with a decent TV receiver renders the best overall picture quality although the 75 ohm "composite" RCA output works as well as expected for any composite video signal. ALL adjustments have decent and usable range--better than many others on the market. If used for fine computer graphics/text it performs ok if computer resolution is set at it's lowest settings and/or DPI is increased. NONE of "any" these so called VGA to TV "scan converters" on the market will ever approach HI-DEF or the fine resolutions obtained from a real computer monitor due to the frame timing/scan rate conversions from VGA necessary to properly feed an NTSC signal to a typically slow "interlaced" TV receiver/monitor, however this unit DOES work "very acceptably". This unit (and most others) power from the 5 volt source of the computer's USB port which makes for a neat, quick and easy hook-up.

CONS: when the computer shuts down so does the 5 volt source to the scan converter thus losing the "touchy" flick & sharpness settings which are probably the most important settings of any--at least in my situation. Depending on where these settings need to be on the individual users TV's and computers and where the scan converters default settings end up at power up/down, may or may not be of issue. The best and easiest approach to remedy this "pesky" problem is to "constant" feed the scan converter's power source with a separate,small, 5 VDC/500mA plug in AC "cube" type power supply such as found with many common consumer items. Be "certain" it is 5 volts DC @ 500mA, of proper polarity and well filtered. I'd rate the overall performance of THIS scan converter of *8 out of score of 1-10. - Pc To Tv - Video Converters - Laptop To Tv - Laptop Or Pc To Tv'

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Plastic Cleaner - headlights, meguiars

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I bought this stuff all skeptical and thinking it'd maybe give my headlights that wet, still scratched up look that some products give them.

Well I'll be darned if it didn't shine them up like new! Never noticed there was writing on the headlamp before. With this stuff the Infiniti shows right up. No more haze, no more embarassment, and no more cloudy nights.

Don't believe me? Check out the pic I uploaded under "customer pictures".

It's frickin amazing! Meguiar's G12310 PlastX Clear Plastic Cleaner and Polish -10 oz.

I have a white 2007 Acura TL Type-S with a 3M clear bra. I was in-between moves for a few months over the winter, and didn't have any of my detailing equipment with me at the time.



When we finally got settled, the clear bra was a nice shade of brown compared to the bright white of the paint. I tried most everything I had in my garage to get it cleaned off, but it wouldn't come off. Klasse All-In-One did the best of everything I tried, but even then, it still wasn't clean.



I did a search for what people have been using to clean these, and a few people recommended this product. I ordered it figuring it might work okay, but wasn't expecting much for the $7 it costs.



I taped off the seams of the clear bra so I wouldn't get the Plastx on the paint. Then, I put the Plastx on an orange pad and used my Porter Cable to buff it along the clear bra. It was unreal how quickly this stuff took out the dirt on the bra. I did 1/2 of the bra, and immediately grabbed everyone in the vicinity (wife, neighbors, etc) to come look at the amazing new look of my car. Everyone was impressed.



Last night, I used it on the headlights of a neighbors 1998 Honda Civic. They were almost opaque from years of being out in the sun and on the road. I taped off the paint surrounding each light, and spent ~3 minutes on one light. Stepped back to look at the difference between the two, and it was amazing. Just then, my neighbor stepped into the garage and was blown away at how much "newer" the headlight looked compared to the other one.



This is really great stuff, and it worked excellent on the two items I've used it on so far. I'll definitely be recommending it to everyone I know, as well as buying another bottle once mine runs out.



Good work, Meguiar's!!

Before this product, I was using Meguiar's 2 part plastic polishing kit on almost everything- from CD's, computer monitors, watch screens, gps, etc. So after one of the bottles (meguiar's 10) ran out, I decided to try this product, as it was advertised as a one step cleaner-polish. While it did do the job of cleaning things up, I found that the polish portion of PlastX did not necessarily fill in the fine scratches quite as effectively as the standalone Meguiar 10 polish. Not only that, but the protective coating wore off after a few months, returning the headlights to it's post sanded haze.



So bottom line is, only use this kit if you plan on doing plastic restoration on a continual basis. Otherwise, I would definitely recommend Meguiar's 10 + Meguiar's 17 as a more potent, long-lasting combo.

My Toyota Matrix is going on 7 years old since I purchased it new. The headlights I noticed were not very yellow but were starting to get a haze. I researched many products and was just about to purchase the 3-M kit but felt that my headlights were not that far gone yet. When I went to my local auto store looking for products to clear the headlamps I saw this Meguiar's product and decided to try it. I was a bit skeptical but after one application to one headlight I was amazed comparing it to the untreated headlight. I wish I had a picture to show you the difference but both are showroom new and you can clearly see the bulbs! I gave each headlamp 2 applications but no difference to one.

I bought this after reading all about the other products & reviews many that seemed to take a lot of work needing a buffer and intense work. I received this product last week for my 2000 Maxima SE that "had" quite cloudy and a mild yellow Film over the headlights and side parking light lens. I took a damp sponge outside with me with the intent to just try it out. It took all of a minute to do one headlight! I wiped on the white fluid with the sponge in a circular motion and removed it with a soft microfiber cloth. It was unbelievable how fast it took to bring my headlights back to new.

The Body shop I used to repair a small parking lot hit and run told Me I needed to replace the whole headlight assemblies at a cost of $400, his cost! He said the damage is caused by moisture seeping into the interior of the headlights! He may be right about some headlights but he was either lying about mine trying to make some more cash or didn't know what in the H*** he was talking about.

For some of you that may have severe filming with dark yellow like on many of the 15 year Old Ford Taurus's I can't say if this will work for you as well but I will try it on some friends cars and update my review. I wish I had taken a before and after picture. I difference a few minutes of wiping this product on my headlights made was amazing. Later that night I went out for a ride. I started getting people flashing their highbeams at me like the good old days believing I had my high beams on which was quite common when the headlights were clear! Sorry for rambling on but for under $8.00 I was so excited something so Cheap lived up to its advertising. My Car has been maintained since I bought it new in late 1999 looking like new except for the horrible looking headlights I thought needed replacing. It wasn't until I watched a episode of the PBS show Motorweek that I realized my "problem" might have a cheaper answer. This was IT! Highly recommend!!

I just used this stuff on my car's headlights. They are now so much clearer and my headlights now appear brighter. I did not use the suggested applicator. I just got an old non-scratch kitchen sponge and used the scrubby side for a minute or two.

My father tried it on the back window of his convertible and it work well too.

I highly recommend this product! - Plastic Cleaner - Meguiars - Headlights - Cleaner'

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Sony Radio - ipod, sony

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Installed this in my 95 Ford F-150, Sound is vastly superior to my factory radio, receives many more stations in either bands. Customize-able equalizer will suit many tastes. Built-in amp is more then sufficent for my pickup. Blue display looks great on my dash, plus has many more features you can discover.. Satisfied with this purchase. Sony CDXGT340 MP3/WMA Player CD Receiver (Black)

You can't go wrong with a Sony. This radio does everything I wanted it to do, which was play my ipod. Least expensive one I could find on the market and it plays great. Extra bonus feature is when the ipod is playing my retractable antennae is down without needing to purchase an additional switch. Was $30 more at Best Buy, and $60 more at a car stereo place. Don't forget the harness and dash kit necessary. Easy installation. No regrets.

Alright, first of Im not beth, Im her son, and I dont have an amazon accoutn so i used hers. Anywas, I was looking for a new stereo reciever for my 2000 Nissan Xterra. The OEM radio was absolutely crap. Bad reception and sound quality, plus it played only a few CDs. If you put in a CD with a few scratches or scuffs, or one that was just very old (I have several CDs in good condition, but they are 10+ years old) then the OEM stereo would not play them.

So I did some research, compared stereos etc and found this one. By far this has some of the best sound quality Ive ever heard in a car stereo, and that is through OEM speakers as well (will be buying Sony Xplod 6.5 inch speakers and Xplod 6x9 speakers).

The CD player plays pretty muc anythre ing that hasnt been shattered or microwaved, and it will pick up on the track yoau left off when you turn off the car/switch to radio(or auxilary). The Custom EQs are also a bonus, providing different sound combinations for your tunes. After finding your favorite Eq, you can also individually tune the sound on different levels (low, mid, high, sub, and other special EQ settings, as well as being able to switch between mono, stereo, and 2 "surround" settings). In the back there are input/output ports for extra speakers and subs, as well as auxilary ports for the HD radio and Satellight radio.

The radio also supports a Radio Data System which I find to be pretty awesom. It shows the station number, station name, song, and artist. Plus, it has a "smart tuner". Press a button and you can scroll through differnt genres of stations (rock, pop, rap, r&b, soft rock, soft r&b, news, talk, eclectic, jazz, etc.). Select which genre you want and the radio will automatically tune itself to the different available stations under the selected can genre.

On top of that it features custom settings that can further improve whatever your trying to do (such as the demo mode or whatever else you can think. It has so much stuff it took me about 5 minutes to get through the whole menu).

On top of all the kool high tech whatever-ness, it comes with a remote and beeps at you when you turn your car off to remind you to remove the detachable faceplate so no one will break into your car to steal your new amazing Sony Xplod stereo.



The only downside I find is that you cannot actively turn the thing off. To make it stop plying music when your driving is to either turn the volume down all the way or remove the faceplate. However Im sure this isnt the case (come on its a Sony), however I am still figuring it out. Also, Im not sure how to make it tell the time when your driving with it on. Im sure this is simple operator error, however Im llisting this as a bit of a downside since it doesnt come programmed to have the clock automatically display itself. imsure I will figure it out though. Also, as I said above the menu is very very very big. It has alot of stuff to scroll through, and it is easy to get lost. Not something you want to mess with when driving.

The stereo here is a serious competition system. The basic interface (finding a station, putting a CD in, scrolling through songs, etc.) is simple, but the menu can be a bit hard to navigate as it is so big and has soooo many options. Overall if you want a very high quality competition sound, this is the system you want. Its very good (better than other more expensive systems) and it has a very nice price tag. if your technilogically challenged then you may be turned off by the large menus and extremely versatile sound settings, but overall if you want an AMAZING system this is it! Dont look anywhere else.



*Tip: if you want to keep a uninterrupted sound coming from the system when driving with passengers, do not leave the remote in the backseat. My friend has fun with it. A little too much fun.

I needed a stereo unit to replace my old one in my 2002 Accord because the CD player had broke. Installation is as expected, you obviously need to know what you're doing.



My only complaint is that the unit has an anti-theft reminder function. The unit will play a series of three beeps about three different times through the cars speakers after the car is turned off. While this is useful for some people, there does not seem to be any option to disable this feature. Even though this is well-intentioned, it is pretty annoying. What I do now is just press the release button anytime I turn off the car, but leave the face plate alone. The plate will then stay in place but be disconnected (and I'm confident it won't fall off and break). - Cd Player - Ipod - Sony - Mp3'

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Russell Athletic

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These pants are a lightweight cotton jersey. They feature straight hemmed legs - no elastic around the ankles. The sizing is generous, as are the pockets. The waistline is elastic and also has a hidden drawstring inside the waistband. I got them to use a part of a costume but they would be an excellent summer lounge pant or work-out pant. Russell Athletic Men's Cotton Performance Open Bottom Pant, Graphite, Large

They were exactly what I was looking for, I did not want elastic around the ankle. I needed sweats that were not to thin and not to thick. They were for my grandfather and he is very particular. They were just right! Good quality.

My husband loved these pants but he only had 2 pair. When we found that they were available on Amazon, we ordered 6-8 pr. and now he just LIVES in them! They're very comfortable for him, durable and easy for me to wash and care for. Highly recommended.

I called the Amazon rep. I just got my pants and the Oxford color is 58% polyester and 42% cotton and the Graphite color is 50% cotton and 50% polyester.



I was looking for 100% cotton track pants and were disappointed.



So the description of the pants which says 100% cotton is wrong and is to be corrected.

This product indicates 100% cotton. When received I discovered it was 50/50 cotton/polyester. Since i am allergic to polyester, I had to return the item/s as I ordered 2 pair. I have not heard from the company yet in 6 weeks for a refund. Do I pay shipping on a poorly described item?



I hope not....

I just received these sweatpants 2 days ago and have worn them twice. I was looking for some light-weight, comfortable sweatpants with pockets, which is what I received. The fabric is soft and the picture provides an accurate representation of the item. The pants seem sized larger than expected (in both measurements), although it's possible they would shrink to the given size in the wash.



Sadly, I forgot to include the basics, like quality of build, in my criteria. The first time I wore these sweatpants, the drawstring disconnected from the back of the waistline. After that, I was able to completely remove the drawstring from the waistband. I wish I could say that I unduly stressed the cord, but I was basically just re-positioning the waist.



I will not be going with the same item again.'

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Grex Staples

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When I opened the vendor's box, there were hundreds of little pieces of staples. Amazon probably attributed to some of the damage by placing the vendor's box into too large of a shipping box with 2 pieces of "air" packaging.



I returned the item (mostly in a plastic "baggie") and ordered another brand (Surebonder). They arrived fine. GREX GNS18-12 18 Gauge 1/4-Inch Crown 1/2-Inch Length Galvanized & Coated Staples (5,000 per box)'

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