Guy Low Price Electronic: 9 Aug 2011

Tuesday 9 August 2011

Batterytender Charger Battery - battery charger, schumacher

As my title states, this charger handles all four main types of large batteries: Lead Acid Auto Starter batteries, Deep Cycle Marine, AGM and Gel Cell. You select battery type and size and it takes care of the rest. When you first hook up the clips to the battery and plug in the charger, selecting battery type, it tests the battery and gives you the volts available as well as the percentage that battery is currently charged! Many times I've wanted to know that. You then select battery size and it starts charging. If you select 15 or 10 amps, when the battery is fully charged it goes into a maintenance mode automatically! You can leave the charger running forever - and it won't over charge the battery. Also - if your battery is damaged by sulfide build up, it detects that and runs a cycle to clean the battery and give it life again if it can. Wow. I wonder how many batteries I've replaced that could have been revived or kept alive by this charger?! This is going to save me a lot of money.

I purchased a new 850 cc amp deep cycle battery to use as an emergency power source for my amateur radio equipment (I'm a net control storm spotter for the National Weather Service Skywarn network). This brand new battery tested at 95% charged - so I fully charged it (while using the radio) and it worked fine. Charged up to 100% and went into maintenance mode automatically. Took the charger to the farm and connected it to a dead tractor battery. Showed 11% charged and began building the charge immediately. Was up to 15% in about 7 minutes when I had to leave. I'll have to update this review later to let you know if it was able to salvage that poor battery.

I know of no other chargers that test the battery, charge all types of batteries and can safely be left on to maintain them as well. Go check out the cost of Gel Cell battery chargers - and you'll find this is a deal.

BTW, if you forget to turn it from 'test' to 'charge', after 10 minutes or so this charger will automatically charge up the battery and keep it maintained for you! How easy is that? Schumacher SSC-1500A Ship 'n Shore SpeedCharge Charger with included 75-amp battery clamps

As others have noted, the percent-charged reading can be grossly misleading. My experience is that when it shows 100%, you can expect to continue charging for another couple of hours before reaching full charge. Other than that, this charger works well. The biggest consideration with this product, however, is life expectancy. While this charger comes with a five year warranty, you are unlikely to get anywhere near that before it dies. This has been my experience with several Schumacher battery chargers. Unfortunately, there is almost nothing in the way of comparable items by other makers to choose from.

I bought this charger to replace a 15yr. old manual charger that finally gave up the ghost. All I can say is that chargers have come a long way over the last decade and a half. This charger was about 1/3 the price of the one it replaced. It's easy to use and does a great job. I would prefer metal construction rather than the plastic, but given the price, that's a minor complaint. The fan is a bit loud, but I don't sleep in my garage so I don't see that as an issue either.

I've used this charger several times. Most recently to revive the battery in my wife's mini van. It was drained to less than 6v when my kids left the interior lights on. In the past, this would have been a death sentence for the battery, but the SSC-1500A was able to recharge it without any problems. It's been over 2 months and her car starts just fine. Considering it's winter in Alaska, that's no small feet for a battery that was drained as far as her's was.

The SSC-1500A was also able to breathe new life into a portable jump start battery that had recently started refusing to accept more than a 50% charge with it's included wall wart. I hooked the SSC-1500A's clamps to the portable batteries clamps, started the charge and left it overnight. The next morning the portable battery was back to full capacity.

I'll say it again, great charger for the price.

Purchased through Amazon the SSC 1500A charger arrived well packaged and in a timely fashion, as promised. My car battery was almost out of juice, having only enough to dimly illuminate the interior lights. Easy to hook up and get started at a "medium" size battery setting . The blinking yellow light came on, indicating that the battery was being desulfated. Left it on overnight and the next morning the "BAD" message was on the indicator panel. Car wouldn't start. Disconnected the charger for a few minutes, reconnected it and started over with same setting. Same yellow blinking light. came on. Left it for 24 hours and came back to find yellow blinking light still on. Checked the 'percent charged' indicator and it was at 19%. Car wouldn't start. Disconnected and reconnected again, this time increasing the charge rate to 15 amps by selecting the "large" battery setting. Came back 8 hours later and the "BAD" message was again on, and the percent charge was still 19 %. "

Highly annoyed and ready to send it back at this point, decided to keep trying as felt no way the battery could be bad. Reconnected, at the same "large setting and sat down to watch. Yellow blinking light stayed on for about 15 minutes and then went steady (unblinking). Percent charged started moving up and I was elated. Left and came back 6 hours later. The % charged indicator showed 60%, but the "BAD" indicator was on, along with the red light which indicated the same thing. Decided to try to start the car anyway. Started on the first crank with a strong burst from the starter motor. Left the engine running and got out of the car to find the % charged indicator moving steadily upward until it stopped at 72% about 5 minutes later. Turned of the car and left to let the battery become completely charged. Came back an hour later, " "BAD " message on again and battery 60% charged. Now totally peeved, disconnected the charger, vowing to return it. Opened the car door to put some stuff inside and noticed the interior lights were shining brightly. Car started up immediately and did so several times in a row. Two weeks later and it still starts up immediately. Problem solved---but obviously after a big hassle.

I think the issue must be in the microchip sensor or the circuitry of the charger. Probably does not effect every unit sold but definitely a good sign of poor quality control. I will still return the unit and if there is a hassle, I will let you know. - Battery Charger - Automatic Battery Charger - Schumacher - Battery Chargers'

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Battery - nexus one

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Though this battery gets 4 stars on Amazon and it's specs are identical to the original battery, it doesn't last quite as long. In my experience it discharges in about 3/4 of the time it took for the original under similar circumstances. Nevertheless it will have to do as none of the other alternative batteries seems to be doing any better. I wish I could get an original replacement. 1400mAh PowerGen Premium Quality Li-ion Battery for HTC Desire / Bravo / GOOGLE Nexus One

Works perfectly, battery life is back to normal. It's fun telling iPhone owners how many seconds it took to put the new battery in + how little it cost with free shipping to boot

Be aware that it'll take your phone a while to calibrate to the new battery. If you are impatient Google 'Android Battery Calibration'

So far so good, seems to hold a charge better than the 13 month old OEM battery it replaced. Came out of the box with a 0% charge which I thought was odd, typically I see a new battery shipping at anywhere from 40%-60% charge but that's just from my limited experience buying replacement batteries. Charged fine, works fine, fit the battery compartment fine, no complaints.

When I purchased this battery, I was very happy. It had capacity that was slightly larger than my debilitated HTC OEM battery (1.5 yrs old) and I was using it interchangably. Unfortunately, the battery just stopped working yesterday. It will not hold a charge and the phone will not turn on with the replacement in.

I have been using the battery for a month and three weeks on a Nexus One.

I bought my Nexus One used, and the battery life left a lot to be desired. I searched around for a bit and found this battery, it is the best reviewed battery for the Nexus One on Amazon. I was also pleased to see that the seller responds to issues with the battery by commenting on the review.

Anyways, I unpacked the battery and out of the box it's giving far better battery life than the stock battery. I am following the procedures given on the manufacturer's website, and hopefully the battery life will improve even more:

"It is highly recommended that new battery packs need to be fully charged before using since they usually maintain a discharged condition with very low capacity.

To reach the optimum performance of a new battery pack, please circled (fully discharged and recharged) it three to five times."

It would be nice if they included the same instructions on the packaging. At any rate, it could also help if you reset your battery statistics after getting a new battery. When the battery is 100% charged, you can wipe the battery stats in your custom recovery, or use the free app "Battery Calibration" by developer NéMa. I recommend doing this before and after the 3-5 charge circles.

I have had my Nexus One for 14 month now and charged it almost daily during this time. I noticed that the battery is starting to degrade and that it no longer lasts for a full day when sync and Wifi are on. So I ordered this battery as a replacement. After going through about a dozen charge cycles with it, I can report that it lasts 4-8 hours depending on use, which is about half the time of the 14 months old original battery. This seems to be in line with what other buyers observed. I switched back to the old battery. I suppose I could use the new one as an emergency backup battery on longer trips, but without an external charger that is more of a hassle than a benefit, so I ended up not using it at all.

New and fully charged, this battery's capacity is worse than the original Nexus One battery I'm replacing after more than a year of daily use.

If some sort of conditioning voodoo is required to get it to perform optimally, then this process should have been performed at the factory so that the battery would arrive ready to use.

On the upside, this battery is crazy cheap, and at least it doesn't pretend to be an OEM replacement like the many fakes on the market. - Nexus One'

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Black And White Photography - photo printer, printer

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I have used the Epson R1800 (and the smaller R800) for several years and when it wasn't clogged it printed beautiful prints. The heads finally just clogged up and I was forced to get another printer. I have used other Canon products for decades so biased toward their products. I thought the Canon would be better on the clogging, and I haven't had it long enough to judge that yet. So far I am somewhat disappointed with the printer. There are two limitations so far that are signficant for my use.

I'm more interested in matte papers and fine art papers, and really don't print glossy. Getting used to this printer has been somewhat frustrating. I had been using Epson Presentation Matte and getting really nice prints from a relatively inexpensive paper with good dark blacks and good shadow detail. Duplicating that with Canon has been a challenge. I haven't been able to determine yet if it's the profiles or the printer. My next step is to try custom profiles. I have tried several brands (Ilford, Moab, Harmon) and their suppled profiles and for some of them the blues have a purple cast, and the blacks and shadow detail are muddy. The Canon fine art paper is very nice and matches well with color, good deep blacks and shadow detail(see limitation in next paragraph). So I have yet to find an acceptable photo matte combination.

This printer has a maddening limiation for fine art papers. Canon has decide to disable the ability to print on either end of the paper (requires a 35mm margin on each of the long ends, about 1.3 inches) so you can't even print an 8x10 out of an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper. When I called Canon I got a run around and no sensible explanation except the engineers decided to disable the function of the printer and no workarounds. So while the image quality of the Canon fine art rag is very good, it is very expensive to use because of this limitation (which requires you to use a much large piece of paper to get the size print you expect because of all the wasted paper, 13x19 piece of paper to get an 8x10 ). I have since found other reviews mentioning this limitation, and I sure wish I had seen it before purchasing. I don't know if you can fool it with custom profiles.

In general it has required far more work to try to find paper combinations than I ever experienced with Epson where the profiles and papers just seemed to work. I'm still hopeful that I can find the right combination with some customer profiles, but right now the jury is out. Canon Pixma PRO9500MkII Inkjet Photo Printer (3298B002)

I'd say this printer is currently the best in it's class for print quality. Not by a lot, but it's noticeable if you look. I don't think you'd go wrong with a competing Epson, or the Canon 9000. The Canon is built a little better, and the [9500] prints are the best you can get this side of a larger printer (the Image ProGraphs are occasionally better, but not by much).

Addressing some of the "issues":

This is a professional/prosumer photo printer. Use decent paper, use profiles, and expect it to use a lot of ink. That's what it does. That's what they all do. 'Art' paper delivers fabulous results. If you're using Costco glossy paper, this isn't the printer for you. Don't use cheapo refill cartridges either-you're wasting your time and money if you do. If you're not [mostly] printing photos, this isn't the printer for you. Remember, the printer is just an ink delivery device. It's the ink and paper that you're looking at in the end-and that's what you're paying for in the end as well. ie: good paper and good ink are worthwhile.

Ink tanks are all similar size in this printer size range. Sort of imposed by the size of the printer. Higher capacity would probably add six or eight inches to the width of the printer. They have to fit somewhere. If you print a lot of larger format prints, it's probably worthwhile to move up to a 17" or 24" printer (which are much bigger, but also have larger ink tanks. Canon IPF 5100 is a fabulous printer).

Print speed isn't very fast. It's precise and slow, and it prints really well. Faster prints would require reduction in quality or bigger printheads (and a bigger printer).

Print quality is NOT dull. It's vibrant if you use compatible papers with ICC profiles, and print accordingly.

Yes, there's a 35mm border imposed on Fine Art Photo Rag. My understanding is that it's there so that the print heads and paper rollers can guarantee flatness and optimum head speed and things like that when it's laying down ink. You can get satisfactory results on it without the border if you profile it using a different paper setting. It's thick stuff though, so you need to make sure that the head height is appropriate as well.

The Canon 9000 is dye ink, the 9500 pigment ink. The 9500 has gray and matte black ink. The pigment ink is more archival. Dye inks do pretty well these days though. The 9000 is a lot cheaper. I figure because it has smaller heads, fewer ink tanks, and because it doesn't need to add in a 'mixer' for the ink (the 9500 shakes the ink to keep the pigment in suspension). The Epson purges ink like mad. One of the main reasons I moved to the Canon. The 9500 makes better prints too.

For most people's prints that I've seen, a $99 printer is all they need. Four to six colors seem to do it. Those are made of plastic, and are disposable after a couple of years. They do great prints for what they are. If you want mechanical and image quality, the 9500 is great printer. A few dollars a print in the end. Maybe 50-60 8x10's to break even over pro lab print costs?

If it sounds like you're the sort of person who's willing to pay for this quality, the 9500 mkII is certainly worth checking out. If you're not, try looking at the Canon ip4820 or the Epson Artisan-they're both nice enough printers, and they're a lot cheaper (and only letter size prints). Epson R3000, 2880, or 1900 are all worth a look if the Canon doesn't thrill you. (3000 has bigger ink tanks). Or, move up to a better printer. Canon IPF printers have a 12 color system, and they print really well. The HP Z3200 is a nice 24" printer too. Epson's print well, but do seem to waste a lot of ink in cleaning. Really, almost any photo printer made these days does a pretty good job. I find the Canon worthwhile to own, and I'm very happy with what it prints. - Inkjet - Photo Printer - 13x19 - Printer'

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Toddler Play - portable cd player, boombox

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Pro:

1. Tiny

2. Tiny

3. Cute

4. Decent radio reception even with very short antenna

Con:

1. Puny sound (but it's a tiny, inexpensive stereo...)

2. IT HUMS. In radio or CD mode, there is a moderate/low pitched hummming sound that comes through the music. Even when you're not playing a CD, there's the hum. I thought it was just me, since I'm very sensitive to hums, but my wife (who doesn't care) noticed it, too, without my pointing it out.

I MAY keep this boombox because it's cheap and cute, but the hum really does irritate me. COBY CX-CD241 Portable CD Player with AM/FM Radio

This is perfect for casual non audio-phile indoor/outdoor use. I bought this to have some tunes outside while myself and a few other workmen are restoring a barn on my property. It is exactly what I needed. I wanted something I didn't mind getting a bit messed up (paint splatters, dings, etc). It's small, lightweight, inexpensive and very functional. The sound quality is decent (especially outdoors with other ambient noise) and though it definitely doesn't have some cooler features (shuffle, etc), it works great for what I wanted it for. I was worried after I read some of the reviews (after I purchased it) that it didn't come with a power cord, but mine did, so I was very happy I didn't have to go out and find one that fit, though I imagine that wouldn't have been that difficult at Radio Shack or some other type of store. All around, I'd say it's a 4 stars for what it is. If you're expecting amazing indoor sound, I'd rate it lower, but it's obviously for pool-side or kids room style use. And if you rate it on what it's meant to be used for, it's decent.

I just needed a small cd player for my baby's bedroom. This product bis just perfect if you don't need or want anything too sophisticated. It definitely does the job really well. I'm very pleased with it

It's little, it's portable, and it's cheap...exactly what we needed. No, the sound it not spectacular, but we weren't looking for audiophile quality. My wife wanted a way to take her music with her around the house and even into the backyard, but she didn't want to use an mp3 player with headphones because she may not be able to hear our little daughter. This little player was perfect. It's tiny, lightweight, and round and verges on being cute. And when it's not roaming the house it sits on the bathroom counter and provides shower tunes. And if it dies in a few months, it was cheap enough to replace without much remorse...

We purchased 6 of these for our elementary school classrooms. The trigger that pushes down the sensor that tells the unit when the CD lid is closed seems to be microns too short, and you have to slam down the lid to make this sensor actually sense. Sometimes it will think the lid opens while playing a CD, which is a nuisance. If you need it for the radio, this should do the trick, but if you want to play CD's, you could probably find something better.

The buttons does not work after a month or so. The sound is very tinny... but that's what you get for a small cd player. However, the buttons not working is really bad thing--you cannot use the play button properly--have to press it several times and then maybe it works.

Do not buy it... - Boombox - Cd Player - Portable Cd Player - Portable Cd Players'

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Touchscreen - blackberry, smartphone

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I just purchased the Torch to replace my heavily abused Bold 9000 (still one of the best blackberry devices ever created). I also have a Curve 2 (Verizon) for work. I have been using Blackberry devices for over 4 years now and upgrade regularly when new devices become available. First the good:

The web browser has been improved by leaps and bounds. It was without a doubt Blackberry's weakest feature and although it isn't as good as say the iphone's or andoid's browser...it is still darn good. My friends with Blackberry Bolds and Curves can't help but drool with envy every time I pinch to zoom and scroll my web pages...all with a nice refresh rate.

The multitouch screen is a great addition. Again..not as pretty or nearly intuitive as the iphone's or the droid's...but a great feature to add to a blackberry. It's fairly responsive and not like that garbage that RIM/Verizon released in the Storm. Actually sometimes it's too responsive. Regardless, it's nice having the extra screen real estate to work with.

Media management - it's great to not have to wait 2 weeks for a half dozen of your photo thumbnails to pop up. Enough said!

Solid Design - it feels like a tank (unfortunately weighs as much too). I dropped the phone from about 4 feet (it was actually flung out of my hand by my very inebriated friend) and it survived without a scratch or a hiccup. This fall was incurred with no case or protection on the phone mind you. The screen was still in sms mode where it was right before it was ejected from my hands. The slider feels very solid as well. I hope it stays that way.

SMS Messaging now uses the same bubble format as BB messenger. This is a very welcome change. It's nice not having to scroll three pages to make sense of what somebody was responding to. In addition you can actually preview attachments such as photos in SMS mode. The same applies for emails. No having to download an attachment to see a preview.

The camera is a great improvement as well. It takes some nice pictures and the flash is actually semi-usable. To be honest I think this LED is the brightest flash I've seen on a phone. Now I just need to find a flashlight app.

A keyboard! I know it's small and a slider but it's so nice to be able to type with one hand and not have to rely on a touch screen QWERTY all the time. The phone feels very natural in your hand even with the slider open. The on screen keyboard is acceptable in horizontal mode and no more difficult to use than the iphone's or android's but it's very tough to type in vertical mode since it's ridiculously narrow. You are still able to easily get out simple sentences without having to slide the phone open though. The darn auto correct is handy but sure makes a mess of sentences at times.

There are a slew of other improvements but these were the ones I thought made the most of an impression.

The Bad:

The Torch is snappy but it's disappointing Blackberry didn't bump up its processor. If I'm not mistaken it still uses the same proc that's in my Bold 9000. Don't get me wrong...the phone feels quicker than most Blackberry devices but why not join the 1ghz party like the rest of the big boys?

Apps - if you're looking for apps this is the wrong phone. The app store is mediocre at best. Plus why do I have to pay 2-5 times as much for an app on my blackberry than what I paid to get it on my iphone? Hopefully the apps will improve with time.

Learning curve - the phone has a little bit of a learning curve and OS Six feels...well not complete. I wonder some time how engineers and testers miss the easy stuff. For example...to move an icon you can actually press and hold it to select options (a la iphone)...but you need to use the trackball to move it instead of just moving it on the screen with your finger. That to me feels half-@ssed. I actually ran into that issue with another item on the phone but it escapes me. Maybe I'm just being picky. Also selecting missed calls bring up a menu when you use the command button. Up pops up delete - email - text - view contact - forward - add notes - switch application - help and full menu. Unfortunately 'call back' was not one of the options. It confused me for a little while but all you have to do is to press the green call button to call back. (Thank you for all the input from my fellow Amazon reviewers!)

The menu options are vast and sometimes require several strokes to get to what you want to do. I like having a million options believe me...just not at the "touch screen" level. Also the application icon menu is nice but very busy and difficult to navigate at times. I will probably get used to it...but they could have made it a bit more intuitive.

In addition, I've noticed that some program options don't work. For example, when I try and change my contacts to sort by last name it reverts back to first name. I've noticed the same with the option to view my calendar by month instead of day. I change it but it reverts back to default. I don't know whether or not it's just my phone or all the 9800's but hopefully the issue will be corrected with the next OS update.

I have also discovered a slight glitch which may be isolated to my phone. Highlighting and selecting a text message sometimes brings you to the wrong text conversation. It takes a try or two to get it right. Be very careful or you may suffer from sent-the-wrong-message-to-the-wrong-person-insert-foot-in-mouth syndrome! (Update: Corrects with soft reset ALT-Right SHIFT-DEL)

Overall...it's a really good phone - i just don't LOVE it. Yet. Good call quality. You tube videos don't stutter like they used to. I have a web browser I can actually USE. Touch screen. So I'm a little disappointed the menu is not more like my iphone. Then again I'm a Blackbery kind of guy. And that's why my iphone is next to my night stand for a late night bejeweled session and not in my pocket.

Anyway...sorry for the long winded review but I just wanted to give everybody an honest idea of what the phone is like. I rely on Amazon a great deal for reviews and I hope this helps you.

UPDATE: The latest software update/build has corrected most if not all the quirks and glitches mentioned above. If your phone doesn't have the latest software you should update it immediately. The new build not only corrects many issues but it also makes the phone somewhat smoother/faster. The slider spring eventually gave out. Even though it's tougher to open and close now I can't believe the phone has actually survived some of the drops it has endured. Still wish it had a faster processor. I have discovered that the mute button is poorly placed on the touch screen since it activates almost every time I answer the phone and bring it to my face. Regardless, the phone has spoiled me...I can barely stand using my Curve at work. BlackBerry 9800 Torch Phone (AT&T) - Att - Smartphone - Blackberry - Torch'

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Ryobi 12 Volt Battery Charger - ryobi 12 volt, cordless

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I was very disappointed with the Ryobi batteries that came with my portable drill. Whenever I really needed to use it I found the battery completly dead. It would take all day to recharge it and then it would only hold the charge for a few hours. The same happened with the other battery that came with the unit. It's too bad that a lousy battery ruined a nice Ryobi product. Ryobi 1311148 12V NiCd Battery Pack for HP1202M and SA120

I've tried for years to keep batteries and chargers working for the Ryobi drill, but to no avail.

Finally trashed the Ryobi and went with a Dewalt and "what a difference."

Sell or trash your Ryobi system and go with a real, trouble-free cordless drill.

This is a product that I will never purchase again. I firrst thought it was my charger and after purchasing the charger found out that it was the battery. After purchasing a new battery and conditioning it for 4 days thought all was good. Went to use the drill yesterday no power and as of now have it on a charger. The battery is not charging!!!!!!

I would NEVER buy another Ryobi product!!!!

Bought a Ryobi SA-120 drill with two batteries included in case. Both batteries failed to hold a charge after about 6 months of very light duty use. Charged the batteries overnight and they went dead after about 10 minutes of drilling. Went out, bought another Ryobi battery and sent previous two to the e-waste center. This new battery was properly charged up and removed from drill housing when not in use. These Ryobi batteries will actually drain on their own within a few days. Back to the charger for another eight hour charge. The battery is acceptable if you remove it it from the drill and keep it on the charger full time. This is ridiculous. I have a $10.00 no-name lithium ion drill/driver from Costco that never seems to run down on power. These Ni-cad battery tools are on the same path to extinction like the dinosaur. My next drill/driver will be a Makita DF330W with the keyless chuck. Ryobi's Ni-cad powered tools are a complete waste of time and money. Makita's Lithium-ion powered tools are the way to go. A little more expensive but worth it in the long run.

I have two tools that use this 12v battery which is the only reason I even considered buying another one after the first two batteries that came with the tools all failed to hold a charge. I might as well have flushed the money down the toilet...the 12V battery I just bought is no better than the other ones. It won't hold a charge for more than a day and then it goes south. Frankly I think I would be money ahead if I just threw the tools away (I thought about giving them away but why dump this junk on someone else?)

...this is a discontinued battery pack, so maybe they've been sitting on the shelf for several years?

My original battery pack is 5 years old, holds very little juice. So I bought this replacement pack on Amazon. The brand new pack (out of the box, charged overnight) performs barely better than my 5-year battery.

I let them charge for 10 hours (as instructed) before initial use. The first use I was doing some fairly light work installing a door frame. They were completely dead within 20 minutes.

Ironically, I have a 9 volt Makita cordless drill that went dead at the same time as my Ryobi. I decided to buy new batteries for the Ryobi (not the Makita) because it's 12 volt. But (get this).... the Makita was purchased in 1997! And it was remanufactured! So the Makita batteries lasted 13 years. I don't even know how to begin understanding the different quality in batteries.

I've read that you should zap/recharge NiCad - perhaps someone out there who has done this can share your experience. But I'm sorry I blew $25 in this battery pack - I should have put the money towards a new cordless drill.

There are no good chargers available for this battery...so you get stuck with a useless commodity. What good is it without being able to charge the battery? It makes it a decent paper weight....but useless in any tool you may have. - Cordless - Ryobi 12 Volt Battery Charger - Ryobi 12 Volt - Poor Design'

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Educational Psychology - cognitive science, educational psychology

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If you are a teacher, like myself, you have doubtless been inundated by advice about teaching to multiple intelligences, active (rather than passive) learning, teaching students to think rather than memorize facts, etc. If so, then you can't afford to pass up this book, which will provide a very helpful guide as to why some of these well-intentioned ideas are wrong, and what it means for you as a teacher.

Dan Willingham's Why Don't Students Like School? is a book applying findings of cognitive psychology to the world of education. Sound a lot like Eric Jensen and his wildly popular book Teaching With the Brain in Mind? Well, unlike Jensen - who educators hear a lot about - Willingham is a PhD in cognitive psychology (while Jensen, who has a bachelors in English, is "working towards" a PhD from an online university, while making his real living as a motivational speaker). Long and short: Willingham is the real deal and I move to suggest that this book infinitely deserves more popularity amongst educators than anything Jensen has written.

Willingham's basic theme is that, despite everything you've heard, nothing works to increase student ability like factual learning and practice. In fact, one of his first ideas is to point out that what seperates the excellent student (or adult) from those performing less well is their ability to recall facts. The more facts you know about your subject, the more you can understand your subject because of significantly less energy spent on fact recall or retention. With facts learned to automaticity, more time can be spent on higher-order concept learning, and once that becomes automatic....etc.

While that may sound mundane, think of how many times you as a teacher have heard the idea of "rote memorization" and "regurgitation of fact" denegrated. Of course, Willingham is not advocating the strawman position that teachers do nothing but drill, drill, drill and enforce memorization of text passages. (No one actually holds that position!) What he reminds us, though, is that the critical thinking we hear so much about teaching our kids simply CANNOT happen without giving kids the requisite background info that must be employed to think critically. (One cannot critically reflect on whether the revolutionary war was justified without some big factual understanding of Colonial American and Empirial Britian, for example.)

Another big idea in educaiton that Willingham works to dispel is the idea that we all have different learning styles - auditory, visual, kinesthetic, etc. Cognitive science, in fact, has shown the opposite: with minor variation, we all learn very similarly. While I may have a better memory for visual phemonena than you (who may be better at remembering sounds), we remember IDEAS not through the media in which they were delivered, but by...thinking about them. When memorizing words and definitions, we are not being asked to memorize sounds or visuals, but ideas, and the fact that I am an auditory or visual learner does nothing to predict what presentation method will help me memorize the best. (The amount I studied, of course, will.)

I don't want to give the impression that Willingham's book is about bashing education icons and maxims. It is not It is a book for teachers designed to bring up ideas we may not have thought about, and to suggest how to apply these ideas to our classrooms. Each chapter is focused around a question ("Is Drilling Worth It?" "Why is it So Hard for Students to Understand Abstract Ideas?") and gives a detailed, but engaging, answer. At the end of each chapter, the author makes several concrete suggestions for how the answer can shape how we teach as well as reccomendations for further readings.

All in all, this is one of the single best education books I have read, and cannot wait to share it with fellow educators. As mentioned, I sincerely hope that this book becomes as widely devoured as those by Eric Jensen and Howard Gardner. Willingham offers a valuable and very constructive counterpoint, especially to Jensen's "brain based ways of learning." Why Don't Students Like School: A Cognitive Scientist Answers Questions About How the Mind Works and What It Means for the Classroom

Factual knowledge must precede skill. Rote learning and memorization are valuable teaching strategies. Teaching to "multiple intelligences," "learning styles," and individual student interests is a waste of time. Is this really a cognitive psychologist talking?

The answer is yes, and Dr. Willingham should be knighted for flouting some of the most persistent lies about what constitutes "best practice" in the classroom these days. I just attended the ASCD's national conference in Florida last week, and while there was much blathering about brain research, teaching to the "whole child," and professional learning communities (the latest cult movement among education bureaucrats), there was precious little discussion about substantive teaching. In just 165 pages, Dr. Willingham presents more useful information than I've managed to glean in ten years of teacher-training, and he does so in a user-friendly, non-dogmatic style that can be read in one sitting.

Most useful are the nine organizing principles, which are both memorable and quotable (like any smart rhetorician, Willingham begins with his most startling fact: the brain is designed not to help us think, but rather to help us avoid thinking), the quick lists of classroom implications at the conclusion of each chapter, and the bibliographical citations categorized by "less technical" and "more technical." Rather than using cognitive research to justify some hotly promoted fad or gimmick, Dr. Willingham presents the most consistent research findings, all of which tend to confirm things that the best and most experienced teachers already know to be true--e.g. the effectiveness of using narratives to dramatize and illustrate important concepts, a "best practice" that's been around since at least the time of Christ.

In the current professional culture of education, searching for honest information about cognitive psychology--that is, information free of commercial or ideological bias--is like searching for a fast-food restaurant that doesn't use trans-fat. Thanks to Dr. Willingham for delivering the goods. - Pedagogy - Cognitive Science - Educational Psychology - Teaching'

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Book Light - booklight, led book light

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The power in my house goes out on a regular basis, so I finally figured out that maybe getting a book light or two would be a worthwhile investment. After reading the reviews, I decided to get both a Great Point Light-Flex-Neck and a Multi Flex from Fulcrum. Each has its pluses and minuses and which one is better for you depends on what you want to use it for.

The Fulcrum light is brighter than the Great Point and covers a larger area. The switch is also much easier to use since it slides. On the Great Point, the top presses down and it's hard to get it to stay on. Sometimes it switches off for no apparent reason. It's either a poor design or I got a defective unit. The Fulcrum also takes 3 AAA batteries, which fit into the base, making it both heavier (about 2 1/2 ounces compared to about 1 1/2 ounces for the Great Point) and as a result making the clip a lot bulkier as well. The Great takes lithium batteries, much lighter, but also harder to find.

The Fulcrum is too heavy and too bulky to make it easy to attach to a paperback, and if you want to attach it to any book and hold the book up to read, it gets heavy very quickly. Its brighter light and greater weight and area make it a good choice for when you want to set a larger and heavier book on a table or for attaching to a very sturdy and prominent back rest, plus the easy availability of AAA batteries means you probably have a spare set around when the ones in the Fulcrum run out or at least you can grab replacements at the grocery store. The Great Point is better if you want to attach it to a book you are holding up to read, or to a paperback, or for when you want a little less light so as not to disturb a partner in bed. In any event, since they are both better than reading by candlelight both suit my needs, but one or the other is probably going to be better for most people depending on what you want. Or spring for both so you always have a spare. At this price, you could just about afford one for every room. Fulcrum Multi-Flex LED Task Light, Silver

I have gone through about ten book lights, and I think I like this one the best. My previous one was the type that clipped to the spine of the book, which I was not crazy about, but it did shine a better white light on a larger portion of the page then all my previous lights. Then it disappeared one day. I am sure I will find it months from now in the bottom of one of the kids toy boxes.

So I needed a new light and looked to Amazon. I found this one that had some pretty decent reviews, so I bought it. I am glad I did. The lightweight body clips to the back cover of the book ( or to a bunch of pages on a soft cover book ) the flexible gooseneck is very thin, but holds its position well. The LEDs give off a bright, white light that easily covers both pages fully on even a large hardcover book. No more dark corners to contend with. The base is small ( holds three AAA batteries ) but large enough to sit flat on the base if I do not want to clip it to the book.

Overall its a good book light that I am happy with.

***update 2/14/2010*** This book light has functioned flawlessly for over 2 1/2 years of almost daily use. I just had my first problem with it. The light started flickering and I would have to tap the head (part with the light) to get it working again. It happened for three or four nights in a row. I was seriously upset because this is my favorite book light and I really did not want to have to replace it, and this thing has seen some serious book time.

Well I looked at the head and there is one small screw on it. So I laid it out flat on the table, removed the screw, then took the cover off. There is a small metal slide and I figured the bent piece was not making contact, so I bent it just slightly, and it works again. I did that 1 minute repair three weeks ago and everything is working great. I look forward to another 2 1/2 years of service on this great little book light.

I have a drawer full of book lights. This is by far the best. Long flexible neck that stays where you put it. Enough batteries to keep it going. Wide, evenly dispersed light with no hot spots. It will even light a book with large pages. This is it.

Face it trying to put a light into a bed is always going to be a problem. I have stepped on this light, slept on this light, fell asleep with the light on and this light works almost flawlessly. It gives a nice even light that you could position easily as needed. There is very little overspill. The LED is a little "blue" but it is not distracting in anyway. Well, after 6 months of nightly use and abuse it has finally started to flicker when I move the goose neck sometimes. Also, the feel on the switch was never very satisfying. After looking at all of the available lights now I am going to buy the same one as a replacement.

I had a Itty Bitty for years but when it finally died I decided that a LED was the way to go. Long battery life and even light were my main concerns. I am still waiting for the perfect light but until then this is my favorite. - Led Book Light - Reading Light - Booklight - Kindle'

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Fein Multi Master Attachments

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This is one of the few multimaster accessory kits that doesn't seem ridiculously overpriced to me. The mini blades can be purchased seperately for ~$5 each compared with ~$20/each for the full size blades and they are more than adequate for most tasks, with the exceptions being flush cuts and deep plunge cuts.

The mini carbide rasp and diamond file are very useful also. The other black plastic guide that is included is a 15 degree wedge guide which can be used with the diamond file for sharpening tools and knives, it works surprisingly well. For even better results you can tape some of the 3M micron abrasive strips to the top of a mini blade and hone to a mirror finish, thus turning your multimaster into a top notch portable sharpening system. Fein 63901025060 Mini Cut and File Set

The product is handy in small areas and on otherwise difficult cuts. The cutting blade mounting, however, should be with higher grade screws. Torqueing the cheap Phillips head screws with the Fein-provided screwdriver high enough to keep the blade in firmly in place, it is very easy to strip the head of the screw.

This assortment of tools is the perfect addition to your Multi Master. It has numerous "mini" versions of wood and metal cutting blades, the diamond file and the extra coarse diamond tipped "sanding/grinding" tool.

It's great that the tools are 3/4 smaller than the original tools that comne with the tool. It's especially helpful for detail work.

I ordered a Fein 63901025060 Mini Cut and File Set thru amazon.com.

As many have discovered the Fein Multimaster is a great tool but the replacement

tips are expensive and often don't have a long lifetime. These attachments

are smaller than similiar ones and require a screw driver to fix them in place.

Fine for small work but not on any big job.

Rob

I use the Multimaster tool for many types of jobs. I have been looking for a smaller attachment for a while and when this came out I have been very pleased. While overall the Multimaster tool is a bit expensive, these tools can save you a lot of time and energy on a ton of projects.

Its a nice option having smaller blades for this tool. However unlike the dremel tool in certain applications the fein can be a bit bulky. So depending on what is being cut it negates the advantage of the small blade. Also the oscillating regular sized blade can be tough to see and manage. This characteristic makes it tough to be precise with the smaller blade.'

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Ipad 2 Leather - ipad 2 case, apple ipad 2

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It's not fancy nor expensive, but it's exactly what I wanted.

It protects my iPad 2 wonderfully, and it's a great fit. Both cameras, all controls, headphone jack and speaker are accounted for in the design, and I don't think I'll ever have to take it out of this well-designed case.

If you're like me and would rather buy a sensible case without paying the premium for an Apple logo, this is a good choice. CaseCrown Apple iPad 2 Bold Standby case (Black) for the Apple iPad 2 Wifi / 3G Model 16GB, 32GB, 64GB

Just received the Casecrown Apple IPad 2 case, and it is perfect for my Ipad 2. First off it fits like a glove, and has a very solid feel. It also turns on/off the IPad when you open and close it. I've tried several cases, including the colored cases that Apple sells, but if you are looking for real protection, your better off buying this case.

Let's put this to rest...The magnets in the cover do put the iPad 2 to sleep and wake it. That is the first thing I noticed. Don't believe me? Put a passlock on the the iPad and close the cover. Immediately open the cover, and the iPad requires you to enter the password since it was brought out of sleep.

For the case itself, it is a nicely engineered and functions as expected. No harsh smells either. I haven't found a case equal to this one in the same price range.

A+ for value. Now my $600 tool/toy can be safely transported and used.

Yoobao Executive Leather...188g....leather..........kickstand

CaseCrown Bold Standby.....226g....faux leather...kickstand

BearMotion Leather:...........291g....leather .........kickstand

SwitchEasy Canvas:...........392g...."canvas".......3 grooves

I've tested the 4 cases above with an iPad2. Each is a portfolio case. You can find reviews of each online. I found good video reviews of each except Bear.

Three of these are "kickstand" cases. That is, the cover folds back and slips into a notch (the "kickstand") which holds the cover in a certain way that creates a stand. One case (SwitchEasy) doesn't use the kickstand but instead has grooves on the inside cover which the side of the case can slide into to create a stand.

All cases had magnets on the cover that turned the iPad on/off. This function worked well with all of them. Also, none of them had any problem with the magnets turning the case off if you flipped the cover around back, as some of other cases do (I had the latest version of the Yoobao, which apparently fixed that problem in an earlier version).

The Bear Motion was my favorite. The review below goes from lightest to heaviest.

YOOBAO EXECUTIVE. A glove for the iPad that was just a bit too flimsy for me.

Pros:

Very light. By far the lightest. It is basically a thin leather glove that goes around the iPad, and then a thin leather portfolio cover. You barely noticed the extra weight/bulk.

Cons:

1. Though made well, I didn't think it lived up to the vaunted reports of "Yoobao quality" that some other reviewers mentioned. A few of the holes on top were slightly off, and I wasn't really impressed with the look of the black leather and the off-white stitching.

2. The kickstand worked, but not as well as the other two kickstand cases in this review. Because the Yoobao is so light and thin, the cover would slip out of the kickstand notch sometimes if you were moving it around in your lap or in bed. No problem of course if it was static, like on a table.

3. Most annoying to me, the cover magnets were not strong enough to keep the cover closed if you turned it upside down or just grabbed it to carry it a certain way. In other words, the flap would flap open, turning the thing on and then off again when it flapped closed. It seemed to do this every time I picked it up.

4. It offers only a very thin layer between your iPad and the outside world (not a con for me but perhaps for others). It's fine for walking into a meeting or putting in your briefcase. But if you were concerned about the iPad getting banged around and wanted serious protection, it's not the case for you (particularly with the flap issue noted above).

CASECROWN BOLD STANDBY - A well made faux leather case. My runner-up. It is very close in design to the Bear

Pros:

1. least expensive of the lot

2. well made, everything works.

3. second lightest, while giving almost as much protection as the heavier models. Indeed, I would say it's got the best weight and bulk of the 4.

4. faux leather is actually quite nice. Unless closely inspected, hard to tell it's not the real thing. It looks smart.

Cons:

1. The volume buttons are just a tad difficult to reach, you have to kind of push your way in there. (The Bear has a bit of this but it's so slight as not to be an issue.)

2. After handling the Bear leather case, you can kind of tell the CaseCrown is not real leather when it's in your hands. It's just something I noticed. You might not.

3. Perhaps because of its lighter weight and bulk, or its build quality, it's just a bit looser and flimsier than the Bear. This might not sound like much, but over time it started to annoy me. For instance, when you flipped the cover behind the iPad to hold it open, or when you put it in its kickstand to create a stand, the cover had a "looseness" not found in the heavier cases. That is, it would come off its stand, or would flop around a bit, or otherwise just feel a bit loose and cheap. Another minor example is that the cover, while it always worked to turn the iPad off when you closed it, sometimes didn't line up exactly with the edges of the screen the way it did with all the other cases. These examples may seem minor, and perhaps they are, but as I say, after experiencing the feel of the Bear - the looseness of the CaseCrown started to bug me.

BEAR MOTION LEATHER. A really well made leather case. My first choice. It is very close in design to the CaseCrown.

Pros:

1. To me, had the best overall "Feel". Fine leather and acceptable weight. The Bear is 100g heavier than the Yoobao, which to my hand felt acceptable. In contrast, the SwitchEasy is 100g heavier than the Bear and, again, to my taste, was just 100g too much - see discussion of SwitchEasy below). The CaseCrown is similar to the Bear but a bit lighter and cheaper (see below)

2. The case was sturdy and offered good protection all around. It of course offered more protection than the Yoobao. It also perhaps had a bit more than CaseCrown (because it was a bit thicker, but they were more or less comparable) and a bit less than SwitchEasy. It was light enough to carry into a meeting but sturdy enough to throw in a knapsack an feel it was secure.

3. The magnets work flawlessly, closed with a "snap" and kept it closed until you wanted to open it. Best magnets of the lot.

4. The stand worked very well. The best of the kickstand cases, probably because, again, the leather was thicker than with the other two and so everything just stayed in place a bit more.

Cons: All these "cons" are very much a matter of personal taste

1. It's probably about average weight for these things but just slightly heavier than I'd like. If I had my druthers, the weight and thinness of the CaseCrown would be what I wanted, coupled with the quality and sturdiness of the Bear.

2. It's the least "cool" looking of the 4 cases. It's just a conservative black leather case, with no real "flash". SwitchEasy is by far the coolest looking. The Yoobao might also be viewed by some as cool though I personally didn't like it so much. The CaseCrown and Bear are similar, but CC probably edges out the Bear in that the Bear is a bit thicker and boxier.

3. The leather covers almost all of the black borders of the screen. The other two kickstand cases left a bit more black exposed, which I preferred aesthetically, and the SwitchEasy leaves all of it showing (which, again, looks cool). I couldn't find anything functionally wrong with this. Although one reviewer mentioned that it might get in the way of certain programs where you had to swipe to the edge of the screen, I didn't have that experience.

SWITCHEASY CANVAS - A cool, innovative case but for me, a bit too much bulk.

Pros:

1. Exceptionally well made. The strongest and sturdiest of the bunch, probably offering the most protection.

3. The grooves worked well as a stand, though because I use the iPad a lot in bed and on the couch, I think I may prefer the kickstand system, though it really is a matter of taste.

2. To my eye, a very cool looking case, the coolest of the bunch. The "canvas" isn't canvas but some high tech material. The material and design were top notch. I also loved the way the iPad was held in the plastic shell backing so that - unlike the other three - the whole of the screen was uncovered (black border and all).

Cons:

1. Too heavy. This is of course a matter of taste. I tried it for days and really wanted to prefer it, but in the end the heaviness (and the cover issue discussed below) just started to get to me. As I mentioned above, it's just 100g heavier than the Bear but that was 100g too much. I'm a strong adult male. I carry around a laptop in my briefcase all the time. But I wanted my iPad light, and this just made it a bit too heavy for me.

2. Too bulky. Related to the above and, as above, a matter of taste. To me, just a bit too much thickness when you were actually holding it and, for instance, folding the flap back around behind it to work with the screen.

3. The cover. The cover has magnets, which worked fine, but it also has a curved extension that bends over the side and kind of clicks it closed. This extension bugged me. It didn't easily close. You kind of had to push and force it over the side (if you didn't do this, the magnets wouldn't connect and turn the thing off, and the cover would not be secured. I suspect it may have worn in over time, but I used it on and off for a week and it was always a bit of a chore to actually open and close the thing. This really got to be annoying, particularly compared to the others that so effortlessly opened and closed.

4. Since it uses a "groove" rather than "kickstand" design, you had to kind of pull part of the iPad off of the back base (where it was held by Velcro) to put it in the grooves and stand it up. Not a big deal but, again, just an added bit of work that the other cases didn't have. Over time, this annoyed me a bit.

5. I loved the material, but even with the black version that I had, I felt it might start showing stains, hand sweat, etc. over time in ways the leather and faux leather cases wouldn't. However, I'm not sure of this and so it may be an unfair comment.

SUMMATION:

I ended up taking the BearMotion because of build quality, functionality, hand feel and acceptable weight. I wish it had been slightly lighter and thinner (like the CaseCrown) while keeping its build quality/feel (which was better than the CaseCrown) - and of course if it looked a bit cooler -- but I felt for me it was the best of the lot. The CaseCrown was the runner up but ultimately, the feel and quality of the Bear won me over, beating out the slightly lighter, slightly trimmer, slightly cheaper, CaseCrown. The SwitchEasy is a great case, but just too big and bulky for me, and the cover clip bugged me. I didn't like the Yoobao's because it's overall look didn't work for me and, most importantly, the cover flap came open whenever it was tilted. The lightness was a great asset though and the protection it offered would have been enough for me if other factors had been more appealing.

Hope that helps! - Apple Ipad 2 - Ipad 2 Case - Ipad 2 Leather - Ipad 2 Accessories'

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Timer Switch - timer switch, outlet

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I bought this (3001 multi-setting) to try to solve the old problem of the wife leaving the curling iron or cloths iron on problem. She often is circling back home, calling home or just worries all day if verification of turn off isn't confirmed. I also bought the 3002 which just has 1hour and off, I prefer the 3002 (single 1 hr setting) for the intended purpose. On the 3001 you have to hit the button several times to turn on and off. You have options "HOLD", "1 hr", "2 hrs", "4 hrs" and "8 hrs". So you have to keep pushing the button until it is at the duration you want and then if you want to turn it off prior to the time remaining you have to hit the button past all the settings that are after the setting you chose. I will use the 3001 for something like the Christmas tree or holiday decorations where you might want them on for 4 to 8 hours. Simple Touch C30001 Auto Shut-Off Safety Outlet, Multi Setting

This is a good product that I use with a crockpot. The product is low priced and simple to use. You press a button to allow 1 hr, 2 hr, 4 hr, 8 hr, or a continuous power supply. The selected setting is identified with a small light. A minor issue is that sometimes a button press does not change the setting and the button has to pressed a second time. Another minor issue is that the writing showing the duration of power supply is small and difficult to read. A third minor issue is that the first setting should be the safest setting e.g. 1 hour not the the continuous power setting.

This unit does what it says, but I don't like that the first button press is 'always-on' and requires multiple presses to get the time options, and you have to hope you got the correct one, and the button is buried. I bought a Belkin unit which I like more because the first button press gets you the pre-set time, and the button is easier, and there is a half-hour setting which is what I use.

This is a good little timer I have been using it for 7 months in my wood shop to control my compresser and a hot plate. I do not have to worry about turning these tools off at the end of a work session.

Works as described. At the moment, the best price for one of these items is at SIM Supply. The same thing is sold under different manufacturer names (e.g., Woods Import, Woods, Simple Touch). Here is the same product by a different manufacturer on amazon: Digital Countdown Timer.

Here is some info on the back of the unit, in case it is helpful to you:

TM-037

E211835

125Vac, 60Hz, 15A

1000W tungsten

1/4 HP motor

UL listed, made in china

The top of the unit is warm to the touch after it has been plugged into the wall (even when nothing is plugged into it).

Mine powers an indoor water fountain (so I can turn the fountain "on" for an hour or two, and I don't have to worry about forgetting to turn it off). It's especially helpful if I want to fall asleep to the sounds of the fountain, but don't want the fountain to run all night long.

I bought two C30001 auto shut-off outlets and one controls the under-shelf lighting for my computer table and the other I use for charging my drill batteries. I needed a one-time shut-off between 2hrs and 6 hrs for my batteris. I burnt up 3 batteries already and this small timer is perfect for the job and works great. I'll probably buy another soon. The red light stays on until it automaticly shuts off at 1, 2, 4, and 8 hrs choices. It also has permanent "on" and "off" positions. I had to check the internet to find a device this nice. I recommend this to anyone that needs a preset one-time timer above 1 hr periods. So far my 2 works great after 1 month.

This is an unusual, simple, and very useful product, which can shut off e.g. a stereo 1, 2, or 4 hours after a particular timed setting. This can save energy or, for example, be used with tube amplifiers, which don't like to be on all the time.

I came across this item while looking for a digital

AC wall timer with a countdown timer feature to use

with our toaster oven. These days almost all small

appliances instruct the user to unplug them when not

in use and this seemed to be the perfect answer.

After receiving it however, i was unhappy to find that

it has a "hold" feature which is a continuous "on" setting.

Not only does it have this setting, but it's on the first

press of the button. For the "1 hr" setting, you have to

push the button twice. This sort of takes away from the whole

idea you're buying this item....to AUTOMATICALLY turn the

plugged-in device off after a preset amount of time.

This device should only have the timed settings. If the

manufacturer absolutely HAD to include a continuous setting,

it should have been the LAST button press. That way you KNOW

you're selecting it. Everyone in my family were pressing the button

once thinking that was the 60 min setting and wondering why it never

turned off. The red LED's that indicate the time chosen, are quite

visible, but the labels are not.

Operationally, it did work as advertised.

I did return it (without any problem) to Amazon and purchased

the C30002 single setting (1 hr) model. - Outlet - Timer Switch'

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Pogo Stylus - stylus, touch screen stylus

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I tried several different iPhone styluses and this one is by far the best. The rubber tipped ones are not responsive enough and require too much pressure. This velcro-tipped Pogo stylus works great. You don't need to push hard on the screen and the size makes typing more efficient than using your fingers.

There are only two drawbacks - the price is very high, but you do get what you pay for and the cheaper styluses are not as good; also the clip only works on the base unit, so you can not clip the stylus to your iPhone if you have it in a case. They shoud make an adjustable size clip so it will fit over a slim case. Ten One Design Pogo Stylus for iPhone 3G, 3G S (Black)

If you are used to the Palm Pilot Stylus, then you might have to take some time getting used to this thicker diameter stylus. The tip is made of some sort of "styrofoam" and the diameter is similar to that of a pencil erasure. The diameter itself is what takes time to get used to since it's more clumsy than precise. Overall, it's pretty effective and much better than any other stylus on the market for the iPhone. If you have a screen protector, this stylus will require a lot more pressure to use. I would say that 80% of the time it works fine, the other 20% you will need to re-press the affected area... when used with a screen protector. There is a break in period. At first use, the tip of the stylus doesn't slide as well along the iPhone screen, however, after a couple of weeks usage, the tip becomes softer and smoother to use, making it a lot easier to slide on the screen. So give it a chance and you will be very happy using this stylus. Still wish it came with a narrower tip and was much heavier. It's very light since it's just a hollow piece of aluminum. The pogo also comes with a couple of iPhone Stylus holders that I find is much more effective than the competition that use a "pen cap" approach of keeping your stylus attched to your phone. Hope this helps a few.

Well this stylus is made for the Iphone, and Ipod Touch (why not call it the Itouch?...guess that could be taken the wrong way), but me being such a maverick bought this little beast for my Ipad.

I know what you are thinking, "This kid is nuts!" well hang in there, I am going to blow your mind with this......"It works WONDERS!"

Sick of finger prints on your screen? Sick of Steve Jobs telling you that writing with your finger is possible when we all know he is completely insane? Well break away from the pack and buy one of these! You could of course make your own stylus out of a pen, conductive material (aluminum foil, anti-static bag) and maybe a touch of happy thoughts, but if you like your $700 investment like I do, spend a few bucks so you don't scratch your screen.

Break Down:

Pros:

1)Super small, Super simple, It is a Stylus and that is it, don't expect it to make you breakfast or anything.

2)Soft Soft Soft - You never have to worry about scratching your screen, I am hoping they design a chair out of the stylus material, this stuff is amazing.

3)It just works, when you use it on the screen it is just like as if you use a finger, no more, no less.

Cons:

1)Super small...I guess this can be a Con as well because I will most likely lose it, but for the price I can get a few more for safe keeping. If I am not mistaken they make a larger one specifically for the Ipad, although it did not fit as well in my case.

2)Don't expect to draw a Picasso, It is a stylus but for those who aren't informed, the Ipad will only accept something that is near finger size as a touch input device and therefore you cannot use anything fine point. ALTHOUGH: Some people have mad skill, I do not, I have seen some amazing drawings done with these but for your normal pencil artist this won't cut it.

Final Thoughts:

I really enjoy this, and I feel you will as well, like I stated before it is a stylus, and it works as such.

Something that most reviews don't say (that I saw) is this: The pogo is great for art on applications like Colors! or Brushes. It's hard to see how this stylus would be useful, with its flat tip. I didn't understand until I got it myself. But it's not that big around, so the tip is kind of narrow anyway, because the whole thing is narrow, which is a plus for painting. It works pretty well. Here's a painting I did with it using Colors!: [....]

Also, I didn't think I would use the stylus holder that it comes with, but I decided that I didn't want to risk losing this small, expensive stylus. The holder is quite nice.

I really love this little stylus, and highly recommend it.

After purchasing two Stylus pen for my iphone at 7.00 bucks ea. that didn't deliver, I was recommended the Pogo Stylus. I hesitated at first because of it's cost. I know I'm bound to lose it, but till I do, I can only say it's almost like using your finger - and I say almost, cause nothing is more precise than your finger. However, the Pogo comes very close. It slides with ease and you DO NOT have to press hard on the screen which was my experience with the prior two I wasted my money on. This is definitely a good buy.

I purchased 2 of these, 1 for myself and 1 for my 13 year old daughter. They work pretty good. You have to hold it upright, it doesn't work if you have the sylus held at an angle. So that is one thing you have to get use to.

The pen is also pretty bulky, not like your normal smaller stylus pens. I have a hard time figuring out where to put it because it will not fit in the case. You can't use the clip that comes with it if you have your ipod in a case.

All in All the product does a good job and really does what the description says as long as you hold it correctly. I'm glad I purchased them but not sure that I will use it much. My daughter uses hers alot more. Maybe its an age thing, not sure. - Stylus - Iphone Stylus - Iphone - Touch Screen Stylus'

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Circuit Testers

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I bought one of these kits about three years ago when my 35-year old Radio shack meter finally gave up the ghost. The outlet tester is worth the price of the kit alone, and the voltage tester will tell you (without even touching it) whether a circuit is live or not. My wife has decided she needs one for herself for her rental business. Greenlee TK-30 Basic Electrical Kit

I started a project to change all the electrical switches, outlets and fixtures and needed a circuit tester. This kit proved to be perfect. It has all you need to get the job done. The non-contact voltage tester is ridiculously simple to use and works amazingly well. The multimeter is great to test batteries and continuity.

The build quality is great and the kit comes with batteries included. I recommend it.'

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