Guy Low Price Electronic: 1 Aug 2011

Monday 1 August 2011

Blackberry Storm Charger - accessory, micro usb

Many reviews of this product point out that it can be used with devices other than the specified Blackberry models.

This is true, but be careful!

This charger is rated with an output of 5v at 700mA. Many devices ship an OEM AC adapter outputting 5V at 1,000mA.

I'll be using this with a Sprint HTC Evo 4G which normally uses a 1,000mA adapter. What it means is a slightly longer charging time for the battery. More than likely not important for the vast majority of people, but a few might object for one reason or another.

Build quality on this Blackberry branded adapter is moderate. Mine has a distinct rattle.

Design is okay. Folding prongs, compact wall wart body, long attached cable with a microUSB connector.

Overall a tremendous value, especially if you have Amazon Prime, but double-check the specs on your device to make sure 700mA output will work for you.

Jerry BlackBerry Folding Blade Micro Charger for BlackBerry 8900, Storm 9530, Tour 9630, Torch 9800 (Black)

I just wanted to clarify for people, these are standard Micro USB wall chargers - no weird brand-specific extensions. I got two of these for my Samsung Moment and they work fine, besides the fact they say BlackBerry. This was the best deal out there for wall chargers I could find.

This item is available from several different sellers. The highest price (but eligible for free shipping so it makes up for it) is from Amazon -- so if you're looking to receive the exact thing you see pictured here, I'd recommend going for the Amazon one. Other reviewers may be reviewing this item purchased from different sellers.

When sellers set up their item, they can choose among the current listings and just indicate that they are selling that thing. It's entirely possible that they choose the closest similar thing, and don't get it exactly right.

I ordered from Amazon (figuring they know what they're selling and have a vested interest in listing things accurately) and I received a Blackberry branded charger, and the blades were indeed folding.

There are so many sketchy sellers selling phone chargers out there, that it can be a bit scary. The problem is that if the charger is poorly made, the output of the charger can be out of spec and can, in some cases, fry the phone you connect to it.

For that reason, when it comes to phone chargers, you should stick to name brands. (They are all made in China, but the name brand ones are usually subject to stricter QA).

When I found this charger on Amazon, SOLD BY AMAZON, I jumped on it. It's a MICRO USB charger, made for the Blackberry and sold under the Blackberry name, in retail packaging. The rated output is 5V and 700mA.

This charger should work fine with most any phone that uses the MICRO USB connector. The key number to pay attention to is the second one, the rated amperage. This is the MAXIMUM amount of current that the phone can request from the charger. A typical USB port on a PC provides as little as 100mA, and few provide more than 500mA. So this charger should charge your phone faster than when it's connected to a PC. A few phones out now can use up to 1000mA. But that just means they CAN use that amount. If 700mA is provided, they'll still charge, just a bit more slowly.

This is an excellent quality name brand travel micro USB charger at a price that beats the no-name junk from third party sellers. What's not to like?

This is original blackberry equipment and works perfectly. I understand through my research that there's some imitations on the market that don't perform very well. The price on this item is outstanding and so is the product.

Let's face it: you can never have enough chargers for your Blackberry. If you're like me, your battery runs out at the most inopportune times. It's a MicroUSB charger, so it'll charge not only your Blackberry Bold/Storm/Tour/Torch, but it should work for most Android phones. This also charges my Kindle as well.

Also, check to make sure you are buying directly from Amazon instead of a third party seller. It'll reduce the risk that you'll get some bad knockoff.

Overall, you need to have one as a spare. This is my third charger and to be kept at the office just in case.

I bought this charger as a "spare" to keep at the office. I was pleased to see that it was identical to the OEM charger that came with my 9650. Amazon's price and shipping service beat all other competitors. Thank you Amazon.

The ones I got did have folding blades and were OEM by RIM. The sellers that Amazon used for me were The OEM Shop and SFPlanet. I use them for my Kindle 2 (and would work with the Dx model too) and they are perfect, and inexpensive. - Micro Usb - Accessory - 9530 - Blackberry Tour'

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Wireless Keyboard And Mouse - wireless keyboard, wireless mouse

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I have been a software developer for over 15 years and the last 5 or so I have developed neck problems from looking at the monitor at different angles. Recently I got a job that requires me to bring my laptop to the client site everyday. After weeks having bad neck strain I figured I would try something that may help. I came across the X-Stand because I needed something portable that I can stick in my laptop backpack. The X-Stand did the trick not only in portability, but my neck strain is gone. The product would work well for people who also need a permanent stand since it is built to last. LapWorks X-Stand Notebook Riser, Collapsable & Portable Laptop Stand For iPads, Netbooks and Widescreens nortebooks, Folds Compactly, Adjustable Laptop Stand, Laptop Desk Stand, Laptop Stand, Laptop Table, Notebook Stand, Laptop Computer Stand and Desktoip Typing Stand

I purchased this item for an HP Pavilion dv9000t 17" widescreen laptop. I'd been looking quite a long time for some sort of portable riser or cooling pad that would work for my laptop, but its size coupled with HP's silly design choice of putting the air intake on the underside of the laptop made it difficult to find many options. This stand however works very simply, elevating the computer without covering up the vents, allowing much more air flow and lowering my machine's usual running temperature by around 5 or 6 degrees Celsius. The stand feels quite stable when it's holding my laptop and is of sturdy aluminum construction, yet folds up compactly to take up a negligible amount of room in my laptop bag.

Given the way so many modern consumer-grade laptops seem overpowered and under-ventilated, not really engineered to last more than two years or so, this stand feels like a simple and convenient way to help my poor machine breathe easier and prolong its life. I've had the stand for several months now and continue to be very pleased with the purchase. - Wireless Mouse - Wireless Combo - Laptop Cooler - Wireless Keyboard'

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Dashboard Mount - vehicle mounts, dashboard mount

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I just got this new mount for my TomTom unit and I am extremely pleased. It is a huge improvement over what came with the unit. First, a lever that allows you to pull a vacuum in the suction cup for greater hold. Second, it is very adjustable allowing you to get a perfect position no matter where you choose to mount the unit. I recommend it highly.

An additional note after a little use:

I made a very slight modification and glued the round piece that attaches to my TomTom to the plate it joins with. This gives the mount even more stability but the full range of motion of the mount is maintained. ARKON TTEP115 TomTom EasyPort Windshield / Dash Mount

I just ordered the ARKON TTEP115 TomTom EasyPort Windshield / Dash Mount to replace the easy mount that came with my TomTom 540m. I ordered it because I mistakenly thought the easy mount that came with the TomTom didn't work. However, I had a suspicion that the issue may be "operator error" rather than the easy mount TomTom provided. After all, the easy mount is delivered with thousands of TomToms--why would the Dutch deliver an inferior mount? As it turned out, it was operator error. The mount that comes with TomTom GPS is rock solid--you just have to figure out how to use it. The trick is to: place the easy mount firmly on the window, give a hard turn to the left (you may hear a click) and THEN turn the locking ring to the right. You will get a rock solid, tight, etc. seal. It took me about 30 minutes to stumble upon this solution. So, I have a good backup mounting device with the ARKON TTEP115 TomTom EasyPort Windshield / Dash Mount but, the easy mount that came with my TomTom 540m DOES INDEED WORK.

The TomTom 540 is a great GPS and comes with an adequate window mount. It does not have a lot of flexibilty, but once you figure out how to mount the suction cup on angles (not just up and down) and rotate the GPS, it fits in any car.

I bought this mount so that I could leave it in my car and take the TomTom mount with me when I travel. This mount has a tremendous amount of adjustabilty, and there are no concerns about it coming off the glass.

The cruxt of the issue is the extent of the arm. Maybe the TomTom 540 is just too heavy for it, but it tends to vibrate while drivingbecause it is cantelevered out there so far. It doesn't drop or slowly lower down; in that regard the mount is strong enough. It's just a vibration issue. It's enough to make you car sick if you are trying to read data (street names, time to arrival, etc.)

If you rest the GPS against the dash, or against the A-pillar (side of the windshield), it takes out the vibration. Since it blocks your view to mount any GPS in the middle of the windshield hanging in free space, perhaps this is a non-issue. For me it is an annoyance, but there is a work around.

This product works just as described. It has never fallen off my windshield, very versatile, and is very sleek. It came fast in the mail and I'm very satisfied! If you are considering purchasing this gps holder, get it, it will be the best decision.

This mounting system is way better then the one that came with the Tom Tom.It is rock solid and does not come unstuck and fall on the floor. Tom Toms EZ Port came loose countless times before it came apart and ended up in the trash.Bought another Tom Tom mount and the same thing happened.Tom Tom could learn a lot from Arkon about what is and what is not a good mounting system.

I like nearly everything about my TomTom XXL 550T 5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Lifetime Traffic Edition), except the mount. It folds flat, which is nice, but it kept loosening and falling off no matter how much I clean it, spit on it, etc. So I bought this mount, and what a world of difference. This mount is so much easier to use and holds the heavy unit solidly at any angle. We have 3 vehicles, so I keep removing it and switching it between them - it's been stuck and unstuck dozens of times and still works great.

Great product! bought two units. One for each car. Well made plastic product, with excellent suction. Used stick on base disc for eash mount. A small vibration due to weight of five inch screen on my TomTom, but nothing extreem. Easy adjustability, and secure attachment to unit. Lever suction activation is much easier than twist type found on stock mount. Very good value for the money. Looked all over for aftermarket dash mount, and was glad I found this unit...

The same mounting device has been used by TomTom for years has been a total failure. I recently purchased a TomTom XXL for myself and one for my husband. These devices are big and continue to fall off the windshield repeatedly. What a piece of junk mount the original piece is. The Arken mount is EXCELLENT. Sturdy hold and suction. TomTom needs to change the design. People shouldn't have to buy a new mount on top of the price of the GPS (though I'm glad it's available!) Who knows, maybe they're in cahoots with this company making a small fortune selling replacements! Either way, I highly recommend it if you don't feel like having your GPS come crashing down while driving on the highway.

For the price, this is a great windshield mount. The suction cup has never lost hold of the windshield, and on the roads I drive, that's quite a feat! I only have two minor issues with this mount.

One; the long arm is nice for bringing the GPS closer to you, but it also amplifies any vibrations. On any but the most glass-smooth road, my TomTom can be difficult to read due to the vibrations. The larger your GPS, the worse this problem will be.

Two; the EasyPort socket doesn't hold as firmly as the original TomTom one. My TomTom never fell out, but it made the vibrations worse. I remedied this by just putting a couple small strips of gaffers tape on the flats of the mount that rest against the speaker.

Other than those two faults, this is a great product, and I'm not at all disappointed in my purchase. - Dashboard Mount - Vehicle Mounts - Tomtom - Arkon'

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Art Education - art history, 1001lists

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The very title of this book will probably offend serious art lovers as well as the cover art that strains to imitate Magritte. But don't be fooled by the packaging in this case. This is a fine little volume that covers an enormous variety of paintings through time and is designed in a format that places one painting per page (though the page are not large) with an accompanying commentary on the painting, the artist, the historical content and some astute remarks by a staff of well informed writers.

Ancient paintings as well as contemporary paintings are in this collection of 'must sees' and actually each of the selections could well qualify for the designation of the title. What the book does not do is provide a travelogue to guide the reader to the locations of each of the works, but it does present a survey of great art, succinctly distilled in well chosen word descriptions, that proves t be a valuable introduction to the works considered by many to be the great moments in art history. This would be a fine book for young or new art lovers, a volume that would interest those who fear the magnitude of the realm of art history here made accessible - like cliff notes! A great idea for a gift - for other and for your own library. Grady Harp, September 07 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die

The concept behind this book is an intriguing one: If you had seen most of the best paintings in the world, which 1001 would you recommend that others see if at all possible? My initial reaction was that there probably aren't 1001 paintings that I would recommend to everyone else.

With that perspective in mind, I first read through the book to identify which paintings would be on my list. I came up with 72. Almost all of those were on my mental list when I started reading the book. I was also missing about 100 of my favorites, but few of the artists were omitted. So if I had been new to paintings and became familiar with the 65 artists who did the 72 paintings, I would have eventually uncovered almost all of the other 100. That experience confirmed my impression that this book would be of most value to those who have seen relatively few great paintings and want to get a sense of what they like.

The images were quite well done for such small reproductions. Most paintings are represented on one page (a few are two to a page) with the minimum size being about one inch by two inches. But the printing was done well enough that you get a decent idea of the painting. I have seen more than 600 of these works in person and found that the reproductions often looked better than the originals: So don't be too disappointed when you see the real thing. Naturally, others look at lot better in person: You cannot capture the Sistine Chapel's paintings very well in a small image, for example.

The nice surprise for me was to find that the book contains works from private collections, several of which were new to me. This made me feel like I was visiting a blockbuster traveling show, especially when the works were by some of my favorite artists.

One of the most impressive aspects of the book was its equal emphasis over 1400 to the present with some representation even earlier than that. As a result, you get a good cross-section of different styles among Western artists (other artists are underrepresented, as they are in major Western museums).

Those who want to travel to see these works will be pleased to see that their locations are noted. There is a missed opportunity to index the works by museum to make trip planning easier. But most good museums today have extensive online catalogs of images that you can scan to plan what you want to see in advance. Simply jot down museums you should visit, but haven't been to yet. Then go online to see which art there will appeal to you.

I would love to see someone take this same concept and apply it to each century of paintings, sculptures, and graphic art.

Take a good look!

An enormous, beautifully compiled collection of artwork whose title I couldn't agree with more. Filled with easily digested insights into some of the greatest artwork in history, this almost 1000-page book is great for people only mildly interested in art or for serious art-core types.

The pictures are lovely and there's just enough text to get you interested in someone new (or old) at every turn.

I bought this book based on the reviews here, I thought the book was pretty good.

My main problem was with the size of the images. Someone here said most images are one to a page, or two to a page... and that the smallest images are an inch by an inch.

I'd expected all the images to be a lot bigger. Many of the images, maybe even 25% - 50% weren't much bigger than an inch by an inch. This is a real problem if you are looking at the book as an artist and want to see how the brushstrokes were made a little bit etc. at least on some of them. But the images were too small for this, and no detail views were shown (except a very smalll number at the start of each section).

I found it really hard to look at all the small images and take in the painting properly too. Many were just too small for me.

I'd rather have had less white space and 30% bigger images, this could easily have been done without sacrificing much text or design quality. (The cover art was awful too!)

I also bought '1000 Masterpieces of European Painting: From 1300 to 1850' at the same time and this book was so much better at having larger images and showing details than this book (despite the book being far SMALLER and having far less pages than this one too!). It had a nicer feel too, the arrangement of the images and text was far less uniform than in this book and therefore much more interesting. It did have less white space but was actually far more elegant despite this.

The selection of images seemed very good though (despite the bad graphic design of the book) and it was well-made. It weights an absolute TON but then it would! - Art Education - Art Guide - 1001lists - Art History'

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Rechargeable Batteries - lithium-ion, 18v

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Part to answer the earlier reviews , when I researched this battery when DeWalt announced it, the FAQ at that time stated " these batteries have the same amp hour rating as our Ni-Cad XRP packs, they will NOT give you longer run time in the tool vs. a new XRP ni-cad battery. The advantages they offer are increased lifespan (2000 charge cycles for lithium ion vs. ~800 for ni-cad or less if you abuse them, lighter weight, and longer "hold" time - if you charge this battery and not use it for a month it will still be charged, ni-cad will be near dead from internal losses which is common to all ni-cad batteries.

When I first got these batteries I was a little dismayed at the mismatch at the old tools bases, as I used them more over the last year I started to appreciate the different shape as a quick way to identify the "good batteries", one year and hundreds of charges later I love these batteries, in the drill you won't notice a huge difference, but in the higher draw tools like the circular saw and angle grinder the Lithium batteries give you full performance from the full charge of the battery, with ni-cad you get a few good cuts with the saw and then you have to slow down because the saw is slowing down, with the lithium you get full rpms throughout the charge of the battery until at the very end the battery protection kicks in and shuts the tool down. This is to prevent the user from discharging the battery to the point that it damages the battery (idiot proofing), which would seriously reduce the life span. DEWALT DC9180 18 -Volt Lithium-Ion Battery Pack

I'm a sheet metal worker, (tin knocker)if you will and I've got no regrets about this batteries. Yeah it doesn't match the shape at the bottom of the old batteries but it is lighter an actually last me longer than my old ones . Now if how it looks is what worries you and not how it works,then maybe this isn't for you. Lets face it , is a tool not fashion... I personally bought the impact driver cause my job requires a lot of screwing of sheet metal screws on 24 to 18 gauge steel and these batteries last me about four days without the need for another charge...compare that to maybe two full days with the regular ones, that's a long time if you count that we hold almost everything with screws... so we screw all day basically and, yeah, the don't warn you when they are about to "die" but that is a good thing cause you always work with the full power of the tool or no power at all. I know I killed an old battery just trying to get the last little juice off of it and when I tried to charge it again, it wouldn't. So this feature actually doesn't let me burn it to death. It works with all my 18v tools; my recip. saw, my spot light, my fluorescent light, my hammer drill driver, my jigsaw, and my double cut shears... hope this helps in your decision...

I love this battery and the fact that DeWalt made it compatible with nearly all of their other 18v tools. That alone should earn it a place in the power-tool hall of fame, if there is such a place.

The price gave me sticker shock, but I also know a bit about what goes in a lithium battery - it's not cheap, not to mention that it needs active electronics for care & feeding of the cells if I'm not mistaken.

Speaking of which:

BATTERY-SAVING TIP: Keep your Forward/Reverse switch in the middle OFF position to prevent accidentally draining the battery if the trigger presses something in your toolbox.

If you already have DeWalt 18v tools (and you got out of the stock market before it tanked), this addition is a no-brainer. Yes, the aesthetics of the old/new socket-battery-mating aren't perfect, but then, the lithium batteries are totally different batteries. What's important to me is that it works - and in that, it excels (so far... I haven't had 'em long enough for any of 'em to fail)

I've posted a few reveiws about batteries from Dewalt and other manufacturers, so after having a couple of these new 'nano' batteries for a while now, I think I can post an honest review.

They are very good batteries, but you have to know what you expect out of them.

Runtime between charges is about the same as the XRP dewalt nicad battery. When we use this battery on the same job as an xrp nicad, they hold a charge for 'about' the same time.

The strength of this battery is the longevity of it. An average xrp nicad dewalt battery will last us almost a year before we have to buy a new one (used almost every day). Our crew bought a set of Makita Lithium batteries and tools, and they only lasted us 4-6 months before needing to get replaced. However, these new dewalt batteries are almost 1 and a half years old and still running strong.

So from our experience, you won't get any more 'run time' before needing to charge this battery than you do out of the old fashioned XRP batteries, but you will more than make up the extra money on these batteris in overall 'long term' battery life over the XRP nicads, and they last a LOT longer before needing to be replaced compare the the Makita lxt batteries.

I almost never review products, but this battery from DeWALT inspired me. I have used their products for years and loved the longevity and reliability... however their batteries have never impressed me.

The battery runs at full power and lasts until the last drop.

You can swap it between almost any of their 18v tools.

With the old NiCad batteries if you left it sitting for a few days between uses you would have to recharge the batter before use. This is not true with their lithium battery you can leave it sitting for weeks and it will still be as fully charged as it was when you left it.

I have been using these with my other DeWALT tools for months now only had to recharge the battery 3 times

I am able to use my impact hammer 6hrs without stopping.

I would defiantly recommend this battery to anyone who uses a DeWALT product. - 18v Battery - Lithium-ion - 18v - Battery'

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Micro Four Thirds - camcorder cases, camera bag

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After searching through several other digital camera bags (that were either way too small or way too large) I found the Lowepro Edit 100 for my Canon G10 digital camera. It fits the G10 with neck strap in the main pouch and has plenty of room for an extra battery, memory cards, etc. Very lightweight and the shoulder strap is comfortable and sturdy. The main compartment can be zippered securely or can be left unzipped with the flip top velcro down (for easy, safe camera access while wearing the bag). I highly recommend this for the Canon G10. Lowepro Edit 100 Camcorder Bag (Black)

I read the reviews and bought it anyway for my Panasonic HDC-SD60 "coke can" camcorder. Yes it fits the camera and the charger in the main pouch but BARELY. I have to wedge in the charger and potentially scratch the camera. I wish I didn't need it this weekend or I'd send back and order the Lowepro 110 which would've been perfect. I could barely find another spot to squeeze in the extra battery I bought. Unless you ABSOLUTELY need something super, super compact, I would recommend the Lowepro 110 for anything larger than a point and shoot compact camera like a Canon PowerShot. Overall though, it is a great little bag if the size works for you.

I was struggling to find a good usable case for my Olympus E-PL1 micro four thirds based camera. I wanted something to protect it when I toss it in the car or in larger suitcases. This case is well built and fits the camera body and kit lens perfectly. There's about an inch of room with the 20mm pancake lens on it. It can fit the camera + lens, spare battery, spare memory cards, and lens caps just fine. When I travel I'd have to carry the charger and 2nd lens separately but that's fine.

It's well built, sturdy, and perfect for what I want to use it for. Get one if you're looking to tote your micro four thirds camera around!

After reviewing the various camera bags recommended for the Canon Powershot G11, I came across the Lowepro Edit 100 and found it to be almost ideal for my needs to safely store, carry and quickly access the camera. It may be a little bit larger than those recommended by Amazon, but I found those that were recommended were not able to store the cameras carrying strap and an extra battery. This is ideal for me.

I bought this bag because it is nice and small. However, it ended up being a lot more versatile than I thought. Although small, this bag still carried my Sony DCRSR82, my still camera, and extra batteries and chips for both! It's a great bag!

The Lowepro camcorder bag is sharp, compact, well constructed and portable. Many pockets for smaller odds-and-ends. However, be aware it is small; a bag that will fit under the seat of your car or in a larger glove box. There is sufficient room for the camcorder only in the main pouch, little else. This might be a decent gadget bag for a small digital camera (e.g., Coolpix, Powershot, Cybershot); however, if you're looking for a more comprehensive, versatile gadget bag for camcorder or other photo equipment, I suggest you search on... this isn't it.

I bought this bag for my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 12.1MP Digital Camera with 18x POWER Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD.

It is quite a tight fit, but I managed to find an optimal position for the camera in the bag which allows for fairly easy access.

The bag is light-weight, well padded and has some zips and pockets for holding (small) extras. I especially like the side flaps which can hold a slim mobile phone. Would have been nice had the sling strap been padded. - Camcorder Cases - Canon G10 - Accessories - Camera Bag'

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Hd Antenna - winegard, hd antenna

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I'm about 38 miles away from Sutro Tower in San Francisco, and I had

been using a small indoor UHF antenna which worked quite well:

Philips PHDTV1 Silver Sensor UHF/HDTV Digital Indoor TV Antenna

But it couldn't bring in ABC or NBC, which are both on the high-VHF band.

I tried some indoor VHF rabbit ears, but still no go.

So I bought this FV-HD30 and mounted it outside on my patio, attached

to a 5-foot Radio Shack antenna mast. I have a clear line-of-sight to Sutro.

I also got the Winegard AP-8700 pre-amp, because of a 40-foot cable

run, which is then split and routed to 3 TV Tuners:

Winegard AP-8700 Preamplifier High Gain Low Noise 19 dB UHF 17 dB VHF for HDTV Antennas

The TV tuners are HDHomeRun's, which work great with Windows 7:

SiliconDust HDHomeRun HDHR-US Dual Networked High Definition Digital Television (White)

Well the antenna + preamp solved the problem, ABC and NBC now come in

strongly, and all the UHF channels are fine too. Highly recommended!

When you are assembling the HD-FV30 antenna, a deep (1.5" to 2") 7/16" socket is helpful.

I made my own cabling, using Belden 7915A Tri-Shield RG6 cable, and Thomas&Betts

Snap-N-Seal compression connectors. Winegard FV-HD30 FreeVision HDTV Antenna

**The Bottom Line

For my situation this antenna works as advertised - pulls in signals for UHF and high-VHF channels. What exceeded my expectations was its ability to pull in a pretty weak signal in the high-VHF range (NBC on channel 12). This antenna is great, it's small and light and works pretty well for me. There may be other alternatives out there but I liked that I didn't have to get 2 antennas specific for either UHF or VHF frequencies.

**The Details

For a year I've been happy watching OTA DTV using an Insignia-DXA1-APT set top box, 20 feet of cable and a DIY DB4 UHF antenna mounted outside our apartment. It worked pretty well (could get 29 channels) but I got no signal from NBC. All other channels are really strong. According to [...], KNTV-DT NBC (Channel 12) is on the high-VHF band and is transmitted from a tower about 6 miles away and should come in with a noise margin of 37.2 dB. There are hills in the way of a clean line to the San Bruno tower so it is no wonder I couldn't get it. I tried a bunch of antennas indoors and outdoors including my DIY DB4, rabbit ears and an amplified indoor RCA antenna (ANT1650) and never got a signal from NBC. With a strong desire to watch the Winter Olympics, I had to try to get NBC in my lounge room but I really thought it was unlikely. I bought the Winegard FV-HD30 based on what I read on the Winegard website. I had no idea what to expect as there were no useful reviews and no specs listed by the manufacturer about gain for specific frequencies. I swapped my DIY DB4 antenna out for the FV-HD30, and voila, 32 channels! NBC is one of them. The Winegard FV-HD30 works and I'm very happy with the result.

I mounted this small lightweight antenna on the side of our deck. It's about 16 feet above the surrounding ground but still has to pull the signal through quite a few medium size maple trees. The signal is great right now, I hope it does as well when the leaves come out. We get excellent reception of all twelve of our local channels(3-21)which are about 27 miles away. As specified by [...] I pointed the antenna to 321 degrees and got instant great reception on our 46 inch Samsung. I ordered this from Winegard Direct and am very happy with the packaging and speed of shipping(which was free).

WINEGARD Model FV-HD30 HDTV Antenna - This antenna is working fine for my location. In use now for about 3-months. It is the best of a variety of antennas that I've tried in the $10 to $100 range. Just about everyone's location/conditions vary in such a manner that one person's situation cannot be of absolute value to another. Antenna elements are made of aluminum mounted in a plastic housing. The only drawback about this antenna is that it is not of adequate quality for long-term outdoor installation as some reviews, photos and web sites might lead you to believe. Inadequate outdoor quality due to some components made of steel with minimal to possibly no corrosion protection. Probably ok if you live in a desert climate with very very low humidity. Most vulnerable part (and probably very difficult to find a proper fitting replacement) is the transformer that converts the 300 ohms (spade connectors) to the 75 ohms coax cable. Both the spades and threaded cable connections are either raw steel or at best zinc plated. All Fasteners are also minimally protected steel. You could play with silicon caulk to seal some of these parts after assemble but this is not always a for sure solution. In my opinion it would be best to install indoors or in similarly controlled environment. - Tv Antenna - Indoor Antenna - Winegard - Hd Antenna'

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Awesome - awesome, greeting card paper

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I have always been pleased with the Avery Greeting cards I've received from Amazon until this time. The cards smell as if in an old storage place and the seal on the envelopes are stuck already. I'm very displeased with this order. I needed the cards when I ordered them, or I would have sent them back. I noticed a date on the card box as 04/28/11, which is way passed when I ordered them, if that makes a difference?

K Avery Half-Fold Greeting Cards for Inkjet Printers, 5.5 x 8.5 Inches, White, Box of 30 (8316) - Greeting Card Paper - Awesome'

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Reusable Swim Diaper - swim diapers, samantha

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I have found the product wonderfull....

I thought I would help other buyers by adding some info on the product....

Small 10-18lbs, Medium 18-22lbs, Large 22-25lbs, X-Large 25-30lbs, 3T 30-38lbs, 4T 38-46lbs, UPF 50+, PVC Free Eco Friendly, 100% Polyester..... HAVE FUN SWIMMING iPlay Swim Diaper - White, 12 Months

Maybe this is a good product? I guess I will find out in 6 months or so? I was suspicious when I ordered this when the size chart was for generic Amazon "baby" sizes, but took a chance anyway. That was a mistake. Now I have a swim diaper that won't fit till my girl gains a good 6 pounds. WTG Amazon.

Here is the size chart from the actual product tag:

Small: 10-18 pounds; 6-months

Medium: 18-22 pounds; 12 months

Large: 22-25 pounds; 18 months

X-Lrge: 25-30 pounds; 24 months

Wonderful product. When our neighborhood pool started requiring a swim diaper and rubber pants for any child under 4, I was a little anxious as our 2-yr old was already potty trained and was worried about all the layers and her being confused about wearing pants now. I love how this product is all-in-one so she just can wear these under her suit. Not terribly bulky, washes well and you save money buy not having to buy the disposable swim diapers. Bought another pair for my 6-mo old as well.

I used these diapers with my son for 5 months last year, in both swimming pools and a fresh water lake. He weighed around 25-28lbs and wore 18mo sized pants for most of that time, so the Large fit perfectly - you Have to have a snug fit in the legs. They are a bit sheer when wet, but the padding in the crotch area make it still ok to use w/o swim trunks over them if you forget them.

Most important - THEY DO HOLD IN POO! Between my husband and I, we had at least 3 big poos over the summer - and the diapers NEVER LEAKED POO. That being said, because you have to peel the diaper down off the kid, it is almost impossible to get the poopy diapers off w/o a bit of a mess. But at least you don't have to worry about causing a health crisis/shutting down the local pool b/c of a poo leak.

They wash easily, and even survive a few accidental runs through the dryer. We took swim lessons 2-3 times a week, and only needed 3 diapers to get us through the summer.

One last note - don't change into the swim diaper until you are ready to get in the pool. Like all swim diapers, they are designed to hold in the poo, not urine. So if he wets himself on the way to the pool wearing the swim diaper, everything is going to get soaked.

We bought this swim diaper after borrowing a friends Wee Wave swim diaper, which we loved. I liked this one because it was white, and didn't have any silly patterns on it. It fits my 20 lb daughter well, especially around the legs. She has used it a lot, as my parents have a pool, and we are staying here for the summer. My only complaint is, the whole diaper isn't lined as well as the part around the crotch is. But, it has kept in several potentially disastrous, ummm, events, shall we say. On the whole, it has been a great buy.

We bought this swim diaper along with the Bummis and Flap Happy brands for my 12 month old. This swim diaper definitely is the best in terms of padding/absorbancy, sizing, and leak-proofing.

The other two brands, in comparison, just have mesh linings whereas the iPlay has something similar to a cloth diaper lining inside in addition to the mesh, plus elastic around the top & legs. I thought the outside of this diaper was going to just be regular cloth like the Flap Happy brand, but it's actually more like a water resistant shell. I really trust this diaper on its own in the pool versus the other two.

There is also a really cute little blue accent tag at the top.

I do like the styles/patterns of the other two swim diapers (black sharks on the Flap Happy and blue clown fish on the Bummis) but this diaper seems to be the best quality and leakproof, which is what really matters.

This diaper does the job of preventing pool accidents, and in white it is unobtrusive under all of my daughter's swimsuits. I'm a little confused by the review that said the small (10-18lbs) was too small for her 14lb. baby. My 7-month-old is currently 17+ pounds, and the small still fits fine, although I just ordered the medium for her to move up to soon. Note that the diaper is supposed to be tight around the legs and waist; it wouldn't keep anything in otherwise! I will say that I have a fairly tall baby at 28 inches, so if yours is more of a chunk, I suppose you MIGHT need to size up.

the swim diapers them selves are great. the sizing is not accurate. my daughter is 13 months and about 20 pounds and the large size were too small on her.

the good news is that when i called amazon to let them know about the size issue, they refunded my money no questions asked. amazon rocks!!!!

This is hands down the best swim diaper we have ever used (and after 3 kids I have used A LOT of swim diapers). It doesn't leave red marks on my son's legs and completely contains messes. I love that I can just toss it in the wash with all the swim stuff and don't have to find a trash can as I leaving the pool. The inside is a soft cotton terry instead of netting. A++ product!

LOVE this swim diaper, I don't know why we didn't do it sooner! We use cloth diapers (fuzzi bunz) and overall are happy with those. I used Huggies swimmie diapers for the pool, figured it was more sanitary in case of an accident, but always seems to give the boys (now ages 2 and 6 months) a bad rash, probably the chemicals mixed with chlorine. So finally bought these last month and am so happy! So worth every penny and they will save us in the long run, too. We haven't had a big pooh in them, but I have no doubt they'd work just as well as any disposable. I bought four pairs so we'd have an extra for each kiddo while at the pool just incase. I wash them on warm with the boys' clothes and then line dry, they do great! They do run pretty small I'd say, I was surprised. We got medium and they fit both a kids well (17lbs and about 20lbs). Our two year old is VERY small for his age and he'll probably be in a large soon. I'd highly recommend them to any one, it's a great alternative to the cost of disposables, plus it's easier on a kiddo's bum, AND it's more green. Can't go wrong. - Samantha - Swim Diaper - Diaper - Swim Diapers'

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Digital Photo Frame - digital photo frame, ipad case

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It was Father's Day, I couldn't think of anything else to give my "better half" on His special day, so I simply gave him the best that I could think of.. an iPad!

Woh! He loves it! Got crazy with it right away! So, suddenly it crossed my mind to protect his precious gadget 'cause it looked so delicate. That's why I searched for different kinds of iPad case here in Amazon. The original iPad case cost $50+, i think that's too much for just a case.. then i saw this 14-Item Accessory Bundle for half the price. A case with extras!?! Why not try it, so i ordered this item. It was fast! We got the items just after 2 days we ordered it with regular shipping. Wow! it's really 14 items in 1. Very useful things!

My husband are now using the black case, it's not fancy but it's nice. You can adjust the stand when you watch movies or reading books or playing games or whatever. There's 2 extra cases, the rubberized one for protection too & the case for display (if you want to use your iPad as picture frame on top of your table, it's cool!). So for me the cases are okay, not the best materials but a good one (if you're not picky). You'll have extra charger for home & car (which cost a lot too if you buy it separately). Extra earphone & converter for two. Nice! Both of you can listen at the same time with separate headset. A pouch to put these small items. Light for reading, it's handy. The "fish bone" like that you see in the picture (i wonder what it is before i bought it?!?), it's for the headset or wire.. it's a cord wrap. The other wires are for computer/charger connection. And last is the "screen protector" (1pc), it's good but when we put it there's little bubbles. So be careful when you put the screen protector because when we remove it and put it back there are more bubbles. So, I wish there's 2 more extra "screen protector" so that you can replace the one with bubbles, now i need new screen protector. If there was extra screen protector with this bundle i'll rate this 5 stars.

I recommend this item to you. It's very nice and very useful extras. And it cost half the price of the original case. For $25.00 you'll not regret getting this item(s). Enjoy! DigitalsOnDemand 15-Item Accessory Bundle for Apple iPad 1st Gen 3G Tablet / Wifi model 16GB, 32GB, 64GB (1st Generation - Old Version)

Let's face, it is partially my fault! All those items for that price, too good to be true; and you know how the saying goes... Lets deconstruct the mystery box: iPad cases are of poor quality and probably dangerous materials. The smell of them!! On top of that they did not fit the iPad. Next, the headphone splitter never worked, the fish thingy too small to hold anything, the film protector so difficult to place properly, this one was even worse and of poor quality, as well. What worked? The electrical adapters do look cheap, but i tried the wall unit and it worked fine. The night lamp works and the stylus, it also worked.

So, i would suggest you pass on this mystery box offer...

I am so excited to have gotten this set.

Shipping: I had it expedited, so I don't know how big of a difference that makes. I ordered it the evening of the 11th and got it on the afternoon of the 14th. The packaging is nice and small: very efficient.

Soft simple case: I didn't realize that the squishy case had a design... Way cute. It goes on easily and feels great to hold. The only issue is that the flaps do not sit flat on my screen. It is as if it has been stretched out slightly; this may be from putting it on.

Clear case: love it! It fits snugly and does not fingerprint. The stand is easy to set up and allows you to use you iPad either straight up or un landscape view. It has a hole in it, I think to pit over a nail and hang onto a wall. This is a neat feature, but I doubt I will ever use it. The case obscures nothing, and I cannot wait to sit at my desk instead of on the couch to use it. FYI it seems as though once on, the stand has no intention of coming off.

Portfolio case: relieved. I was worried that this was not going to be as nice as i hoped. It exceeds my expectations. It smells of leather, which I like because that is how new things ought to smell, but I already don't notice anymore, which I appreciate even more. It doesn't obscure any of the screen. The charging port is wide open, which I heard was an issue on some other covers. Here, it is easy to hook up while in the case. The iPad is securely in place thanks to a strap in the upper right-hand corner. The only problem is this touches the power/sleep button and the screen orientation lock. It touches them, btu it does not push them. For me, this is no big deal; it just looks odd. The stand is quite stable. It has a light magnet to keep it shut, which I like as opposed to a strap. Also, it is a bit odd to fold the front flap back, but I think it is something you can easily get used to, much like a very soft binder that bends backward.

Screen protector: alright. My dad helped me install it, so there are no bubbles. It would have been nice to be able to do it on my own. It is absolutely clear. I wish it was a privacy screen. It would have been a good idea to get more of them. It feels weird to me. I left the plastic on that came with my iPad, and I preferred that. This is a little too smooth/slippery for my preference. Also, it fingerprints :/ I had hoped it would not, but it is easy to clean.

Other: The fish is only large enough for ear phones. I had hoped to use it for my charger cord. I prefer the wall charger that came with the iPad, but I am very happy to haven car charger and retractable charger. The reading light is great, but I don't think you need it for the iPad. I love that the ear phones have extra covers; I always rip them. The felt case is the perfect size! I have all charging pieces, the fish, and the two black cords in it. It has a pull tie and a long string to put around your neck or something.

I hope this was thorough enough for you! I don't plan on buying anymore accessories for some time, and I am not worried about that. This is a great beginner case. Eventually, I'll probably get a new case ( when they are cute and cheap and multi- functional) and I definitely want a privacy screen. For me, this was well worth it. - Case - Fishbone - Ipad Case - Digital Photo Frame'

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Third Generation Kindle - kindle accessory, protector

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OK, seriously, I had been looking for weeks for a practical, reasonably priced Kindle 3 cover that I could read from with ease and has a nice enough appearance and this finally appeared. I am on a very strict budget and thought that if it did its job, even if it didn't turn out so great, it wouldn't be a big deal and it would hold me over until I found something I liked better. I was going crazy having to leave my Kindle at home because I was not risking injury by taking it out with me without a case! This came in yesterday and I couldn't be more pleased! It looks and feels nice, it is very well constructed and my Kindle fits perfectly. I even shook it over a soft surface to give it a test run and it held up perfectly. I can fold back to front cover to read with one hand without damaging the material and the front pocket can hold a little notepad for those of us who prefer taking hand written notes. I highly recommend this to EVERYONE who is appalled at the unreasonably priced Kindle holders that are on the market right now. If you are concerned about style, I'm sure some fabric stickers would pimp this out very nicely ;)

I DID want a cover that I could read out of with one hand, hold a note pad AND zipped completely closed for ultimate protection, but no such thing exists right now for the K3. The screen protector will give added protection, and I'm sure you can buy/make a simple sleeve that this case could fit into if you do extensive traveling or are just very cautious.

VERY happy! :D And BTW, for those of you as thorough as I am, this IS for the Latest (3rd) Generation Kindle. CrazyOnDigital Kindle 3G 3rd Generation Leather Case with Screen Protector

If you can give up on leather and fancy-attached lights, buy this cover!

Cover

-----

Fit:

Fits my Kindle 3G perfectly enough to not give room to shift. The listing photos do a great job of showing off how this is constructed, with two non-stretchy strips supporting the Kindle on the bottom corners, and two snappy elastic bands to keep the reader snug. Once secure, there's about 1/8" extra cover all around the Kindle, which should provide a little protection against scratching the corners and sides or against dropping the thing. I wondered if I could slip a silicone sleeve around the Kindle body, to protect the sides, and then tuck them into the cover, but I'm not sure there's enough room.

The Kindle keeps in place even if I hold from the cover at any angle and shake. I can't say the same for my Kindle 1 original cover, which did the job fine but barely clipped onto unit and left a lot of room for the Kindle to flap about. In contrast, I was confident from the first few seconds tucking my Kindle 3 into this cover that the reader will be held securely in place, no slipping, sliding, or tipping out.

I have not seen the official Kindle 3 cover in action, but I'm leery of the cover only hooking onto the plastic side of the reader (at only 2 points), then folding the front cover back like a paperback, which I'd be afraid would snap either the cover hooks or the Kindle hook-holes.

Another reviewer noted that the bottom strips holding the Kindle 3 down obstruct the "shift", "back", and "directional" buttons. The pictures show this pretty accurately even if they're hard to see, so while the buttons aren't actually covered, the strips do slow down button presses just a bit. The shift and back keys aren't use very often, though, so that's not an issue. The directional button is still usable with thumb presses, and even without the cover I preferred to use my nails for the direction button anyway, a method which is little affected by the cover. If the negligible effect on the buttons is still too much to bear, the straw hack given by the other reviewer seems easy to do, and given the sensibility of the design, there's about 1/8" to lift the Kindle up and away from the bottom strips affecting the buttons.

Feel:

The cover basically doubles or triples the thickness of the Kindle, which actually makes the thin reader much easier to hold. Since the magnetic closure just flaps around when it is open, I clip it to the front cover when it is folded back, even though it does make the right side 6x thicker than the Kindle. The upside is the front cover doesn't flap around, making for a solid thing to hold. And even with this, holding with either or both hands is still very comfortable.

The total weight with Kindle and cover feels like a thin hardcover novel, although, in the shape and size of a thin softcover novel folded back, it's still very nice to hold. If I'm lying down, I can still get a usable hold, with access to page turn buttons: I make the shape of a "W" with my index fingers up and thumbs touching, then rest the bottom of the Kindle against my palms, have my thumbs centered just under the display, and index fingers centered on either side of the display. The rest of my fingers press against the back. In that way I can balance the Kindle without tiring out my thumbs.

Materials:

The cover is made of leatherette material, although it still looks classy even up close. The material is comfortable to hold and textured to give decent grip as long as your hands aren't too moist. I can't say how it will hold up to normal wear and tear, stretching, rubbing, and scraping, but this may be the only real difference between these value cases and most of the $40+ cases using real leather. CrazyOnDigital "branded" their logo on the back bottom spine corner, but it's not very visible (say, 0.3" by 1"). There is no weird chemical smell or anything, which I've gotten from some fake leather.

The inner lining is some kind of cheap-ish fake suede, but it's still comfortable to run my hand against. Plus, there's only a small area where my hand is in contact with it, because of the front cover inner pocket which is covered in the same leatherette material as the cover.

The stitching seems really good, it's really hard to see where the stitches meet, and they are spaced regularly and follow the curves of the cover pieces. Everything is securely stitched together, although the main one-piece leatherette of the cover halves is only stitched on the outside edges, so that the material puffs out a little in the process of folding the cover back. It's fine once it's done folding back, no kinks, pinching, or anything.

The stiff board in the cover (front and back) is probably cardboard similar to that used in medium-duty office/school ring binders, suitable for stability and protection, but I wouldn't bend it. The spine is flexible with no cardboard. Likewise, I wouldn't put too much pressure on the front cover centered over the display area (don't go poking things anywhere in the vicinity of the display). Good enough for a bag, possibly even full sandwiching, but no jabbing or bending.

The magnet clasp snaps definitively into place and is strong enough to pretty much require a direct lifting of the clasp to open it. It adds thickness a bit like a knob on a door, but it seems like a very good tradeoff for securing the cover without resorting to more expensive or clumsier designs.

Other:

All the fiddly bits like power control and USB port on the bottom of the Kindle is accessible without removing the Kindle.

This covers up the speakers on the back of the Kindle, but even leaving the factory packaging plastic on the back (why peel it off?) you still have a lot of slack to turn the volume control up. You could also use headphones, or, if you're like me, stick to using the Kindle for old-fashioned reading and leave the music and audiobooks to mp3 players.

I'm wondering why there's an inner pocket. It adds a bit of thickness, not to mention it makes the front cover a bit uneven. I understand doing leatherette instead of fake suede when folded back, but then why not make the whole inner front cover leatherette? I worried it would put some pressure on one side of the display, but as the pocket rests against the main Kindle body, I can ignore it. I just won't be putting anything in the pocket.

Mailing bag

-----------

Not really a part of the listing, and may not be the case for everybody, but if it is, this is probably the next most useful thing to the cover in buying this listing. My cover was shipped in a tough, flexible, document mailing pouch, 8.5" x 11" sized and flat. It's disposable/recyclable #04 LDPE plastic, but I plan on reusing it instead!

It just so happens this bag fits the covered Kindle so that with one fold, the bag folds down to about 8.5" x 5.5" x 0.75" with little slack! With a little trimming and maybe modifying with glue or some small hardware, I plan on making a proper flap with an elastic loop or velcro to keep it shut. I might even have enough room to add some extra stiff plastic or cardboard inside the bag to add more protection for the display.

This way, I have a water-resistant and unassuming sleeve for the covered Kindle, and it'll even have my name and address to boot!

Screen protector

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

I've used protectors before, and I know there are anti-glare (which is like the Kindle's finish, good at diffusing strong light sources so you're not blinded with spots) and clear (like your phone's screen, great for colors and clarity but very reflective). This comes with a clear protector, and since putting that on the Kindle will undo the anti-glare of the Kindle screen I decided to leave it off.

I'll keep the protector for other electronics, so it's still useful, but if I ever want to protect the screen from scratches and smudges, I have another place to buy anti-glare protectors.

Besides, I've had my Kindle 1 since release, and the worst its screen has gotten is dusty and occasionally smudged from brushing my fingers against it. A good cover, clasped shut, is still a very suitable way to protect the display when not in use!

Wrist band

----------

Pretty much the same ilk as the ol' Livestrong bands. Besides CrazyOnDigital branding, it says "Hope", "Faith", "Courage", "Strength", and is as lime-green as the photo. I have no idea what cause it'd be for, except to remind you that you may just be crazy on digital yourself. If it was stretchier, I'd be tempted to use this to wrap the mailing-bag-diy-sleeve.

Currently I am of the opinion that this is just a waste, a small blemish on an otherwise great package that might have otherwise been a few cents cheaper.

Final notes

-----------

I believe this type of cover is among the best values for protecting the Kindle 3 short of buying water-resistant pouches or zippered cases. Personally I'd be most interested in a hard plastic slide-cover like those found on calculators, but I haven't seen any yet--feel free to steal the idea, for this or future Kindles/ereaders.

Particularly, this entire listing, with the screen protector and possibly useful mailing bag, is among the best prices I've seen. Amazon's other listings are for $30+ items, probably leather (if it's worth it to you). The popular e-auction site has this same-designed cover for a couple bucks less but comes only w/ the cover, although you can find it in other colors besides CrazyOnDigital's lovely black. I've also looked at auction photos of the slight variations on this type of cover, and the design that CrazyOnDigital sells seems the most sensibly secure, strong, and minimal/thin/compact.

Mine shipped from the San Francisco area to Southern California, and order to arrival was about 4 to 5 business days via USPS. - Protector - Kindle 3 Cover - Kindle Accessory - Case'

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Cordless Phone - expandable multi-handset, dect

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This review covers the KX-TGA641 handset used by the KX-TG6431, KX-TG6432, KX-TG6433, KX-TG6434, KX-TG6441, KX-TG6442, KX-TG6443, KX-TG6444 and KX-TG6445 cordless phone sets. The KX-TG644x "keypad/speaker phone" base is not discussed here.

DECT Security Breach: as of this June 6, 2009 writing, it remains unclear how secure is the Panasonic KX-TG64xx series - specifically the KX-TGA641 handset. Poorly designed DECT hardware is at risk of being eavesdropped . An updated DECT standard uses CAT-iq which may enhance security. On May 8, I emailed Panasonic support asking if this product set is subject to the "DECT hack" discussed throughout Internet forums and if CAT-iq is implemented. On the 18th I sent another and this time I received a case number: 26512122. On June 1st I inquired as to when I might expect an answer. The silence is deafening. (June 9 UPDATE: this is their reply... "The KX-TG6433 is using Panasonic unique DECT protocol for the communication between the base unit and the handset. This unit has higher protection against eavesdropping than standard DECT even without CAT-iq protocol.") And this is Panasonic's "Security Code Statement" on the FCC Web site: "This cordless telephone system has more than 1,000 billion combinations that are provided by the following means: Provided with 128 bits for security codes. When shipped from the factory, the security code is decided by the manufacture. It is memorized in a memory IC. Base and Handset knows each other's security code information." The "DECT hack" requires a modified VOIP card and a laptop running Linux and in some cases the use of a back-end PBX server - most of which is beyond the means and reach of your usual wannabe snoop. I conclude this phone is quite secure enough for average personal and business use. Regardless of the make, model and technology of the cordless phone(s) you own, privacy critical conversations should be done on a hard wired set.

The Review: To begin, the manual is awful. Useful feature information is buried in verbose paragraphs instead of outlined bullet points. A highlighter pen is required! The most egregious instructions are for Programmable Settings which are done via either of two methods, the nice scrolling menus or "Direct Commands." The latter is keyed in at the main menu as a pound followed by three digits, such as #302 to record a greeting. Quoting page 20: "Direct command is the main method used in these operating instructions." So, twenty seven pages of instructions for direct commands and two pages for the menus. Now, where are the scrolling menus? On the handset. In your hand. All the time. From now on. Where is the manual with the three page chart of direct commands? Hmmmm. I cannot fathom this idiotic bass-ackwards scheme. On the bright side, once you've scrolled through the 35 or so menu screens enough times, you'll be more than well versed in their usage. Note: the "Initial Settings" menu contains sub-menus for much more than settings that are, well, initial.

One of the big selling points for me is the use of regular old AAA NiMH batteries. My triple handset KX-TG6433 replaces three stand-alone sets that used different, proprietary and expensive battery "packs." No more! However, one caveat... discussed further on.

The LCD screen is informative, big and bright with large, easy to read fonts. The keypad is quite nicely illuminated although lighting of the three soft keys is absent. You can choose any color back light for the screen as long as it's blue.

The handset ear piece audio is crisp and clean, free of digital artifacts while listeners on the other end can hear me well. The speaker audio for the handsets and base is dinky but usable in a quiet environment. For extended hands-free conversations I use the KX-TCA60 headset. (Update: that broke after about a dozen uses. I now use a Plantronics.) This is also one of the few phones I've ever used that I can cram between my neck and ear without jamming any buttons.

The KX-TG64xx series is loaded with all the usual bells and whistles and lacks for nothing in my experience. Most everything I became used to in all the phones I've had over the ages is here, and then some, all fully integrated. (If I had to quibble, I would want a flashing LED on the base to indicate the presence of messages listened to but not deleted.) All the fancy schmancy services you pay extra for at the phone company are recognized and operate well. Answering System messages can be accessed and manipulated from any handset and from outside phones using a three digit remote access code. Most settings migrate across all handsets meaning that if you change/add/delete something on one, it's done on all. Others, like rings tones and volume, affect only the individual ones. Now that I'm past the "return for exchange" period, I decided to buy a fourth handset.

Finally, this phone talks. My favorite is Talking Caller ID. When the phone rings, I don't even have to raise my head from my recliner pillow to look at it. Now that's living! On the down side, the KX-TGA641 handset strongly resembles my Logitech Harmony 550 universal remote. I often find myself shouting "Hello" into the remote. Or trying to change channels with the phone. When did life get sooooo complicated??

From the "Why on Earth did they do that?" department: the charger does not recognize fully charged batteries. When I first unboxed my KX-TG6433, I took the six 650 mAh AAA batteries and ran them through my MAHA C401FS charger. This would not only save time and effect a nice conditioned charge, but the MAHA diagnostics would warn of defects. Imagine my surprise when all three handsets alerted with a flashing battery icon and a "charge for 7 hours" message. With fully charged batteries! Similarly, if at some point you remove the batteries in a handset to read the label in there (serial number, FCC ID number, etc.) or for whatever reason, you are greeted by the same scenario. And even though fully charged, the batteries will be COOKED for several hours to the degree the handset becomes... too hot to hold! So, here's a hot tip (heh heh) - don't pre-charge the AAAs and don't remove them unless they need to be replaced.

That and the manual aside, this is a good looking, feature rich, convenient and affordable cordless phone system. Now that I'm beyond the menu system learning curve, I'm expecting years of comfortable and easy use. Panasonic Dect 6.0 Additional Digital Cordless Black Handset (KX-TGA641T) - Expandable Multi-handset - Cordless Phone - Dect - Dect Cordless Phone'

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Laptop Stand - laptop cooler, logitech

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My computer would get so hot while I watching movies or television shows on my computer that it would literally burn my leg. I didn't even want to think about what it was doing to my computer! I'd been looking around for laptop coolers for some time, but the reviews on most were not exactly promising. For a while I almost bought the Belkin cooling pad, but there were several complaints about the location of the fan making it prone to being blocked (which is the problem I have with my computer's fan already!). Then I came across the Logitech N100 cooling pad, and based on the positive reviews and rear air intake designed, I finally decided on this one, and man am I glad!

The first thing I noticed about the pad was how light it was. You won't believe it until you lift it yourself. It weighs next to nothing. It looks nice, too, and will complement any computer. It's plenty big enough to fit my 15.4 inch widescreen computer, and would probably easily fit a computer a couple inches wider. My computer didn't slide on the surface, and it's easy to move the computer while on the pad. They both lift easily together. The curved design leaves a nice area for air to come in under the laptop (one of the main reasons my computer got so hot while on my lap was because there was no space for air to get to the bottom) and it leaves a way for heat to escape. The genius part, however, is the rear air intake. It draws air in from the back, not from underneath the cooler. This is especially effective when I'm laying in bed. I can set the cooler on my plush comforter and air can still get in!

Immediately, I was pleased with the USB cable. There's a place on the bottom of the cooling pad where you can sort of thread the cord through so that it stays tight and isn't all over the place and in the way. So I threaded it through in the direction I wanted it and plugged it in. Then I waited...And waited...And waited. Nothing. Or so I thought. It was so quiet that I thought it wasn't working, and I had to lift my computer to check to see if the fan was moving! It was.

Now, some people have made a comment about the power of the fan, and I will agree with them that it is fairly low-powered. However, that's not really a problem. Because of the design of the cooling pad, only minimal air is needed. My computer fan has not kicked on since I've had the cooling pad. At the most, my computer will get slightly warm, but even then it's nothing compared to the burns I used to get from it. And it's probably a bit unreasonable to think that a machine doing as much processing as the standard laptop does is never going to get the least bit warm.

Overall, I'm immensely pleased with my purchase. It was worth the wait and the price to end up with a light, aesthetically appealing, nearly silent, and highly effective cooler. If you're looking around and haven't made up your mind yet, I'd recommend you give this one more than just a passing glance. Logitech Notebook Cooling Pad Green Accent (N100)

I wish I could give this thing two separate ratings but since I can't I went with 3 stars. I'd give it 5 for design alone. The placement of the fan and its intake are great. I never have to worry about the intake being cut off by my clothing when it's on my lap, a problem I had with my previous laptop cooling pad was a Belkin F5L001 Laptop Cooling Stand. I have also written a review for the Belkin pad.

I'd give it 1 star for the fan. The fan is extremely quiet but that is because it does not move a great deal of air. Since the air flow is very low, it is not adequately cooling my own laptop. While the 2 star reviewer states that the fan is overkill, I'd like anyone reading this to note that laptops vary between manufacturers and models. How hot your laptop gets will vary depending on make/model and even how you're using it. This pad may be good for you if your laptop only gets uncomfortably warm.

Unfortunately, this is not the case with my laptop, an older Macbook pro (that I suspect may be on its way out) that gets skin searingly hot to the point that it interferes with the functioning of the laptop. An efficient and working cooling pad is actually a necessity for me. If I could put the fan from the Belkin mentioned above, into this pad it would be perfect.

I had low expectations for this, since I haven't had great experience with cooling pads. They only sort-of work in terms of heat dissipation, and tend to be noisy (or become noisy as the parts wear in).

This one has so far been a very surprising change from the past. It's very quiet, I'm not sure if what I hear is just my notebook, or the pad as well. So I was even more sceptical about the cooling, but it fooled me. So far, my hot-running Dell XPS has been running much cooler, even when I'm doing something cpu-intensive like playing chess.

So try it, you might really like it! (The price is a bit steep, in my view, but I guess you get what you pay for.)

Note on size: this is about 14.25 x 11 inches, large enough for a 17-inch laptop perhaps. - Laptop Fan - Laptop Cooler - Logitech - Notebook Cooler'

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