Guy Low Price Electronic: 15 Oct 2011

Saturday 15 October 2011

Replacement Battery - laptop batteries

I'm not completely certain, but I think this battery lasts longer than my original battery that came with my mac. this item was a lifesaver for me, seeing as how my original battery actually expanded and the glue failed to hold it together after a point. Now i'm back to using my laptop away from the charger with a brand-now, long lasting battery Superb Choice New Laptop Replacement Battery for APPLE MacBook Pro 17" MA611J/A MA611KH/A MA611LL/A MA611X/A MA897*/A MA897J/A MA897LL/A MA897X/A MB166*/A MB166B/A MB166J/A MB166LL/A MB166X/A, Replacement for A1189 MA458 MA458*/A MA458G/A MA458J/A;68 wh

Absolutely not worth the savings. Can't hold a charge for more than a couple hours. I had high hopes after reading the other review but unfortunately I can't recommend this product. Save your money and buy the real deal.

****UPDATE*****

If I could give negative stars I would. I bought this mid-September 2010 (5 months ago) and it is dead as of yesterday, January 21, 2011. Dead as in will not hold a charge period, useless, complete waste of money. Save your money, really!

The item was shipped promptly and came faster than expected... but sadly as seems to be the case with a lot of third party uncertified apple products this battery is sub-par. As compared with the apple battery it doesn't last near as long and the time remaining indicator changes very frequently due to the random power associated with the battery. But, it works and it's much much cheaper so choose your poison.

Like many others, my MacPro battery started to come apart and get hot after 4 years of heavy use. I also didn't feel like spending about $140 ($129 plus tax) for an Apple replacement battery. So, I shopped around and found the one on Amazon. I looked at the battery specs and they are similar to the Apple battery for about half the cost. I have always been weary of 3rd party products, especially batteries. However, shipping was on time. No problems with the fit and finish of the battery when i got it and it has about an 80% charge. Looks like the old one (not as Appley) and it installs and removes with no problems. As far as performance, If I lower the brightness, I can get around 2.75-3 hours out of this battery with a full charge versus close to 4 hours with the original battery. Hey, at 1/2 the price, I'll take it. However, as many pointed out time will tell 8-12 month down the road. For the purest, this battery won't do. But if you're here @ Amazon, price matters. For me, it has been worth the price. The only reason it didn't get 5 stars because the color is a bit off.

Pay more than $120 for a battery from Apple for my MacBook Pro... I don't think so. It was only a few years old, but metamorphosing into an expanding blob, and probably a risk of a fire.

I search through Amazon's inventory came up with the superb choice alternative. About $60, it's the same animal, and might even be a little better. But now I no longer have to keep my Mac plugged in a wall.

I don't know why I waited so long. I guess it was spending money on something I just had not long before.

Regardless, my fear of this 3rd party vendor was eliminated with the prompt delivery of the exact correct item.

Back in business with my 'new' old MacBook Pro 17".

Satisfied with this purchase

So far so good, seems to be every bit as good as the Apple product at 1/2 the price. Charged it up and am working on Battery 1 hour in and with 80% capacity remaining. Fit seems good, looks identical to the Apple Battery and works like one as well. The test of time will tell, but so far as expected. PLan to check in over time.

I was a little concerned about some of the reviews here, but honestly, the reviews on apple's website for factory batteries were even worse. I figured I'd rather spend about half price and see what happens. The good news is that the battery works. Full charge capacity is 6277(mAh), a tad under spec (6400), but pretty good for the price. On first charge I ran a DVD a couple of times to see how long it would go. It lasted about 3.5 hours, so no complaints. The real test will be how long it lasts in 6-12 months, but as long as it doesn't explode like the factory one, I'm not too worried about it. The battery will never be mistaken for stock. It pops into place, but the fit is not Steve Jobs smooth. I personally don't care, but some mac folks are a bit more uptight about that sort of thing.

I'd recommend this one for the deal.

So, like many other MacBook Pro owners, I'm now a member of the my-battery-swelled-up-like-a-bag-of-microwave-popcorn club. The Apple store was no help, offering to sell me an OEM replacement for one hundred and twenty nine dollars plus tax. I took a gamble on this aftermarket battery, based on 3 out of 4 of the reviews being glowing. I'm glad I did.

I received the battery today, basically fully charged. It fits well into the case, and looks indistinguishable from the OEM battery it replaces (or at least like the OEM battery used to look, before it went all pufferfish on me). System Profilers indicates that this battery's manufacturer is "SMP," the same as the OEM battery. coconutBattery (handy free App, look it up) indicates that its Design capacity is 6300 mAh, and it arrived with a current capacity of 98% - 6128 mAh.

I ran it through one complete discharge cycle, and here's where it loses a star - shortly after receiving the "you're on backup power" message, with the power icon indicating 6% charge remaining, the laptop lost power, and when plugged in, booted up from shutdown. That's not ideal, but I'm pleased at the level of power it provides and the 50% lower price than the OEM battery. I'll update the review if anything else goes wrong, but if you're on the fence about this battery like I was, I'd recommend it, as I'd buy it again. - Laptop Batteries'

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Playstation 3 Headset - playstation 3 headset, playstation 3

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This headset for under 20 bucks is great.

Here's a couple of points to some of the bad things I've seen here..

1. It's not small. My head is 7 1/2 hatsize and that's pretty fair size. It adjusts bigger than I need.

2. The mic does only reach your mid cheek, but that's the way you want it. The days of needing the mic to reach around in front of your mouth are over. How do you people think blue tooth phones pick up your voice from up by your ear? LoL at folks.. technology people.. keep up.

3. It is plenty sturdy. It's not made of metal though. I've had mine for 5 months or so now and it's in the same shape as I bought it and that's with me and my 2 kids using it.

4. I play Burnout Paradise every night and my setup on the Ps3 is constantly among the best sounding. Period.

5. The mic again.. it doesn't touch your cheek unless you adjust it too. It's got a flex rod and can easily be bent anyway you want it. Away from your cheek or on it. lol again at this complaint.

Overall, I'd say this headset right now is the best option for the PS3. I've tried some wireless headsets and just wasn't happy with the quality, so I bought this on to use till I found a better solution.. now though, I quit looking. I'm happy with this headset and don't see the need to look further.

Will it stand up to a temper tantrum trowing child, smashing it on the ground after getting pwn'd in MGS? Probably not. My kid broke my 250 dollar Sennheiser's when he couldn't beat "Raining Blood" on Guitar Hero/extreme. Now he's the lawnmower hero. Logitech PlayStation 3 Vantage USB Headset

I'm sick and tired of people giving bad reviews on this headset.I own a PS3 and I've played COD4 for about 12 days. Many people have horrible mics that echo and make what I call "the devil screech." Bluetooth mics create that noice when they pick up background noice. I previously owned a blutooth not knowing about this one. The first problem was it echoed horribly, where as the this product has no echo what so ever. Also charging a blutooth can be a pain and turning it on and off for some can be trouble. When using this product it requires no charging and it is always paired and it is always on. The noise cancelation on this product is great. I usually always have a loud tv on in my house and my friends can't hear it any more since I've switched to the Logitech USB. Also the cord is very long so you don't have to play close to your tv if you don't want to. In short this headset is the most reliable product on the market today for its inexpensive price.

If you're looking for a utilitarian headset you can use on your PC as well as your PS2/PS3, this unit is a rockstar performer.

When I started playing World of Warcraft, I didn't want to spend yet ANOTHER $50 on a headset I could use with Ventrillo. On a lark, I plugged this baby into my PC and Voila! It was recognized immediately and works flawlessy.

I wouldn't want to use it to record a pop song, but for Skyping and like it's the perfect tool.

I'm very happy with this headset. Being a wired USB mic, it never runs out of power.

As for comfort and head-size...I'm an adult with a pretty big head...hat size 7 5/8 (or XXL)...and it's comfortable enough.

One problem, all of these devices can make your ear sore after a while from pressing against it. You can switch ears, but I have an even better solution...I make all the sound on my PS3 come out of my main speakers...including chat.

I hear better that way, and don't lose any stereo effect by having an ear blocked.

Which then means I don't need the ear part of this headset, so, for comfort, instead of actually wearing the headset, I loop it around my neck, and just angle the mic up to my mouth. Now I can play forever, in total comfort, and never run out of power.

I've read several reviews regarding this headset being a piece of crap. I've also read great reviews on the headset as well. I was a little nervous about ordering.

Well, let me tell you.....This headset is absoultely FANTASTIC! I've used the Sony wireless headset, Logitech Cordless Vantage and numerous earbud pices. This absolutely has the best sound ever!

The reviews regarding the mic only going to your cheek or the headset being small haven't applied. I guess if your head was the size of a watermelon, you might have an issue. The sound is crystal clear! My only slight complaint is the amount of pressure it puts on your head. After looking at the headset, it's just a matter of breaking in the headset to fit your head.

Though I've only had the headset a couple of days, construction looks rugged.

If you're looking for a PS3 headset and don't mind 10ft of cable (which was plenty to reach to my couch), I highly reccomend this headset. - Playstation 3 - Playstation 3 Headset - Headset - Ps3 Headset'

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Multifunction Printer - inkjet printer, printer cartridge

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Some Epson printers support multiple types of ink cartridges. For instance the Epson Stylus NX415 supports the black series 68, 69, and 88. (T068120, T069120, and T088120) They will all print the same quality. But they have dramatically different amounts of ink.

Pages per cartridge:

T068120: 370 pages

T069120: 245 pages

T088120: 170 pages

Prices per page based on current Amazon prices (as of this writing, including shipping)

T068120: 5.9 cents/page

T069120: 6.8 cents/page

T088120: 7.5 cents/page

So if your printer supports it buy the 68 series black cartridges, it'll save you switching out as much and save you money over the long haul. Epson Durabrite Ultra 69 Series Ink - Black (T069120)

It's replacement ink. It is black. But as usual with any replacement cartridge for any printer - they don't seem to last for a darn. These guys are into making money. Not on the printers, but on the consumables. Can't they give us a decent amount of INK in the darn cartridges that are RIDICULOUSLY overpriced for the STUPIDLY tiny amount of ink in them?

come on!

I don't print a whole lot because these ink cartridges don't last! I hate being limited on my printing, and I thought the Epson was going to be better on ink than the other printers I've owned, but not so. Another thing that happens is the printer won't print if the color cartridges run out, so I don't even know if there's ink in the black one. It shuts down. It won't even scan! What is up with that? It doesn't need ink to scan. It tells me to replace the ink cartridges when I go to scan....

If you print ANY amount of papers, go w/the "69" series (standard printing) cartridges & not the "88" series (moderate printing). I "hate" having to change cartridges in a short amount of print time. This size "69" lasts much longer than the "88" one - Easy cartridges to put into and out of the printer. The colors are clear and crisp. Great Product. Fast shipping.

If you buy the workforce 500, for example, just use it occasionally for copying, faxing, and maybe scsnning. Then buy a cheap laser like the Brother 2140 for printing. ($49 + $40 cartridige). That's been my approach, and I only buy maybe one ink cartridge a year from Epson. If you must use your inkjet as s printer, I notice that lexmark (I think) is advertising cheap printing costs, .5 cents per page. Epson is shooting themselves in the foot with their consumables game, maybe.

Certain printers have a unique quality that makes you buy their cartridges. (Same for Gillette electric Fusion razor.). I have a Canon 3800 photographic printer, and changing the 12 cartridges costs, ready for this? - $350. But the fact that you can print a color photo in full glory makes photo fanatics pay.

It would be interesting to know a color photo printer with cheap ink costs.

I replaced the black ink cartridge in a CX9400fax with a new Epson 69 cartridge. It worked for one print job, but the next day the printer would not recognize it. Since an Epson printer does not recognize an Epson cartridge that is specified for it, I guess both products have to be considered trash.

Ink cartridge replacement, right? Simple enough. There are a bunch of imitators out there, but i thought, hey I'll get the name brand product to make sure there are no problems. Don't bother. Bought the more expensive name brand just so i could get a ink cartridge that would print every other half inch. Weeeeeeaaaak! If i purchased this at office max or fry's, id just take it back. Damn ink cartridges! Hate...HATE dealing with this crap. Total money down the drain...

Makes you think...considering the price of the printer, ink replacement etc, is it cheaper than just going to fed ex? Maybe. More convenient? I guess it would be if the damn cartridge worked! - Inkjet Printer - Epson - Printer Cartridge - Cartridge'

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Remington Womans Electric Razor

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I bought this shaver because I'm sick of spending $10 on disposable blades and I'm thinking that I should have stayed with the disposables! This is simply horrible. I tried it on dried skin and I got cut even with the protective covering on. Funny thing was that it didn't even cut the hair!! I figured this would be easier to use that a disposable since I'm pregnant and I was WAY wrong. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON IT!!!!

Remington WSF-1000 Smooth & Silky Slim Shaver

Please DO NOT waste your money on this! I bought this shaver a while back and it's in the trash now. It doesn't even shave off your hair, it only tears up your skin. I was fooled into buying it by it's sleek look, should have done my research first. Back to my Panasonic for me!

I purchased this Shaver in a discount bin for $5.00. When I got home, I decided to check to see if this was a good deal. After reading the reviews it took a couple of days for me to get the nerve to try it! I used it in the shower this morning and was surprised to come out unscathed. I do have to admit it doesn't shave as close as a disposable razor, however I have never used an electric shaver before so that may be the norm. If you find this Shaver in a discount bin - go for it!

I have tried this shaver twice now and it doesn't remove any hair on my legs. I have not been cut by this shaver, however it doesn't cut the hairs either. I tried both wet & dry... no luck. Why would a company sell a product that doesn't even work?'

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Dewalt Narrow Gauge Stapler - dewalt, dw stapler

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I picked this tool up about a year and a half ago for about half price on Amazon. Lets be up front, my review is based on a 68.00 investment. I use the tool only occasionally and it has worked perfectly every time. The tool has no sharp edges to mess up your finish work, the weight is light enough, depth of drive is easily adjusted with a push button, the magazine opens easily and smoothly and you can view the last of the staples as you finish a strip. I wish it had a stop to let you know when you are out of staple though. Mine also came with a good quality carry case. DEWALT D51422K 1-1/2-Inch X 1/4-Inch 18 Gauge Narrow Crown Stapler

I purchased this item from Amazon and paid far less than anything from the Big box stores. The stapler came in a very nice case with all the stadard parts...it has preformed flawlessly and exceeded my expetations. After I purchased this Amazon dropped the price 10.00 more dollars which they quickly credited back what a deal. Dewalt makes great air tools I will definetly try them again.

The tool is solid and performs well in limited situations. Its narrow staple works well for attaching wood and other stiff materials to wood. I found it ill suited for attaching felt to wood. I'm not disappointed with it because I knew its limitations beforehand.

Got this from an Amazon reseller for $65 and got what I paid for. No oil in case and, most annoying, no mention of whether it needed or or not but most people said that it actually did, easy enough. It also did not come with the male air coupler. Again not a big deal, except for someone who is expecting to use it out of the box.

Shot through a couple of dozen sticks of staples with no issues until I tried using it on Hardie Board and honestly I was not terribly surprised that it didn't work as it is mentioned as being for finish work. Aside from that it shoots true and through all the ply and 2x4s l have used it on so far.

Happy with my purchase, and would recommend it to a friend.

Exactly what you expect when buying DEWALT. Well built, good ergonomics, great performance. The ONLY thing that could be asked from DeWalt is that they include a "bump" trigger in with the kit. For shooting down backer for vinyl flooring, you need to have a bump trigger. Otherwise you'll just be there all day long.

Overall, good crown nailer for the cost. DeWalt seems to be slipping in features though. This one doesn't come with the air chuck or a belt clip. The belt clip is extremely handy...would have paid extra to have it.

Product worked flawlessly. I bought it to hang wood lattice on the ceiling of my screened in porch. Super job and no complaints. You may have to play around with air pressure so you don't drive staples thru the lattice. Be sure to give it a few drops of oil along the way, especially this time of year with high humidity. I have always liked and will continue to buy Dewalt tools. - Finish Staplers - Narrow Crown Stapler - Dewalt - Dw Stapler'

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postage scale - shipping scale, weighing scale

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I am really pleased with this purchase. It saves me having to run to the post office every time I need to mail something weighing more than one ounce. I have an old mechanical postage scale and I discovered it was over-weighing everything. I threw it in the trash after getting this one. I like the fact that I can even weigh food in kilograms for my diet. 50 Pound Capacity Weighmax 2822-50 Blue Color Postal Shipping Scale, Battery and AC Adapter Included

Two problems. One, it is sold in the USA but its default setting is in KG not OZ. Called them and it can't be changed. Second, it takes several seconds for the reading on the scale to stabilize at zero, before it can be used. Too much trouble.

lately i've been running back and forth to the post office and like the other reviewer added it saved me from making unnecessary trips. it's seems to be accurate and super easy to use. you can switch measurements e.g. ounces to pounds with a touch of a button. it comes with batteries and an adaptor which is nice. i'm so glad i purchased this just in time to get ready for the holiday season and avoid those ridiculous lines!!

I own my own online business, and I offer free USPS Priority Mail shipping, so I need to ship orders as cheaply as possible. I ordered this scale so I could weigh packages at home (because its cheaper to print the postage online than buy it at the Post Office) and choose the cheapest option between flat rate and by weight. This scale has already saved me boatloads of money. It weighs packages easily, quickly, and accurately.

The scale has worked great. The thing I like most is that it keeps the weight after you remove the item. So if the item is too big for you see the weight when it is on the scale it keeps it after you remove your item.

Very pleased with this scale. It operates on a/c or a 9v battery. It is accurate, lightweight, small enough to be storred on a shelf or in a drawer out of the way. I especially appreciate the tare feature when weighing large packags.

Not sure how to rate this since I never did receive it. Amazon is using a new delivery service "Ensenda" which said they delivered but did not. A definite issue with Amazon. I ultimately got a credit and ordered an item that weighed 75# instead of 50 and for less money from another supplier. It is the same make and the item itself is good. - Weighing Scale - Digital Scale Tare Accurate - Postage Scale - Shipping Scale'

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Home Theater - component shelf, home theater component shelf

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I have a wall mounted 50" Panasonic, this baby looks awesome mounted directly below and some of my friends have stated "it looks like it is holding the TV up, kind of like a stand" for the TV.

The lower larger shelf in this kit holds my Onkyo 7.1 receiver (25lbs). The upper smaller shelf holds a DVD player, my DirecTV HD box and a center channel speaker (20lbs). My top components have about an inch to spare on the front of the shelf and my bottom receiver has about 3 inches to spare. All my connections are via HDMI which take an additional 1.5 inches in space when connecting. If you're not using HDMI, you have tons of space on these shelves for your components.

Installation was a snap for a do-it-yourselfer, a Saturday evening job for me. It comes in 3 pieces, (a top piece with top shelf, a middle piece with bottom shelf and a bottom piece- just filler I guess to make it look good) and each piece has its own metal "frame" that mounts to the wall (studs). The glass shelf's then mount to this frame with 4 hex screws. You then place your equipment on the shelves and then snap these wooden back plates over the frames. These plates completely cover any and all connections and cords and there is also plenty of room behind these snap-on plates. Once snapped-on, they do not pop-off easily.

The WAF (wife acceptance factor) at first was a 2.0, as she was concerned about safety for my 4 year old. The WAF has since gone up to an 8.0, as this baby is rock solid if bumped from the sides. My friends say "wow" and "cool" when they first saw it as it looks like my components are floating (I have all silver components) and you cannot see any cables unless you walk up and look behind them.

All in all, it is an expensive purchase when you are comparing it with the rest of the shelf systems, but the craftsmanship, ingenuity and finished looks make up for the price in the end. 4 out of 5 stars, with minis 1 star being the price. OmniMount MWFS Adjustable 2-Shelf Component Wall System with Cable Management

I installed this product right below a 46" LCD tv, with the bottom edge of the TV in line with the top edge od the MWFS unit. I can not imagine anyone (male or female) that would have an objection to this product in a living/family room. It's a great addition.

Installation is fairly easy (I chose "A" set-up). All wires or cables can be hidden inside the unit. I was lucky enough to have the power outlet in the same area where I had to install this unit, so basically all cables are hidden.

Some poeple have complained about shelf space, if you have an audio/video box that's 13" or deeper than you have no choice but to use the larger glass shelf. However most blue-ray players today are in the 8-10" range, and I think they will fit in the smaller shelf without any problems.

My only negative comment is the instruction manual; I found some parts somewhat confusing. However, it's almost impossible to screw-up the installation, even without the manual.

I have never reviewed anything on amazon, but have bought way too many things...

This product is so good, I feel guilty not writing my first reveiw for it. :)

The build quality/appearance of the product is amazing. Especially if you have a black TV/black theme in your room.

I am not a professional installer and most of the time end up putting something on backwards while attempting to follow instructions closely.

I had no problem with this product! Everything is clear, if you just take a minute to read before screweing things in.

Everything fits exactly as it should without having to strain or bend or adjust things during installation.

I wish it was cheaper, but..oh well.

I bought and installed this wall furniture last month and am very happy with it. Installation was a snap and the build quality seems good. I like how it doesn't take up a lot of wall space but still looks good. You can also get a surge protector in the back if you buy the right one. In fact I'd like to see Omnimount make a custom surge protector that mounts to the back area.

The OmniMount 2 shelf wall system is very easy to install and it looks great. It took less than an hour to figure out the instructions and complete the installation, including hiding all the wires in the cable management system. You'll need to purchase a pack of ties to secure the wires, which are not included. A few basic tools are needed to complete the install, but most people already own a screw driver, drill and level. The system is very sturdy and will easily hold three or four components. I have three components so I stacked my cable box on top of my DVD player. The cable box is light and the DVD player is vented in the rear so stacking is not a problem. The wood panels that cover the metal frame are made from plywood covered in an attractive and thick black wood veneer. The fit and finish are excellent. - Component Shelf - Audio Visual Wall Mount - Wall Mount - Home Theater Component Shelf'

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Xbox 360 Elite - microsoft, natal

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I am extremely picky about any hardware I use. Having owned both models of the PS3 and a few Xbox 360s (that I bought and sold over time) I have pretty high expectations. Personally I think Xbox live is much better then PSN which is why I jumped from PS3 back to Xbox. My big issue was the hardware. Microsoft took care of a big issue by allowing users to burn their games to the hard drive. However, the fan noise on my Xbox Elite was still driving me crazy. Now my Elite wasn't broken, my ears just seem to attune to the noise they make. It especially drove me crazy when playing games like Puzzle Quest or when browsing the dash board. In this case the PS3 fat and slim where hands down superior (hardware build wise). But like many a fans I put up with the crappy build quality for the sake of a better interface and of course my friends list.

Now onto the new Xbox 360. Let me just say that for once I am very proud of Microsoft. They seem to have taken all the complaints from users and fixed them. This is the system they should have released long ago. The very first thing I noticed is how silent this machine is. Even after running for over an hour you can barely hear the fan. I would go as far as to say it's even more silent then the PS3 slim (which I found to be louder then the fat model). The new Xbox has a strange but cool new look. I don't understand why people are complaining that it is a finger print magnet. How often do you really touch your system once it's in place? The buttons on the front are now touch sensitive instead of pressing them in, and make a cool noise I must say. I'm happy to say that even my disc drive is quite. It's almost as quite running a disc as the fans on my Elite were. There are no old school memory card ports, but they upped the USB ports to 5. 2 on the front and 3 in the back. The new 250GB hard drive is removable. There is a button on the right side vent that you can press and remove the plate. The hard drive is in a special case but it's easier to move. The only downside to this is the people that take their hard drives to their friends house, but this can be fixed by using a USB drive now.

The controller is pretty much the same as the Elites plus a couple changes. The bottom portion of the controller that was gray shaded is now a shiny black and the Xbox button is shiny chrome. All in all goes will with the package. The ear cushion on the headset is also now black instead of grey. Microsoft also has a picture of a black chat pad and wireless headset on the box for the new 360. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a black controller charger.

To close, I'm extremely satisfied with my purchase. It's a worthy upgrade and one that shows Microsoft is actually listening for once. Also for those planning to get Kinect there is a dedicated port so on the new system which will let you use the camera with one less cable. Xbox 360 250GB Console

The new Xbox 360 redesign is slimmer, quieter, sleeker, has built in Wireless N, and has a 250GB hard drive. It is not a new console, and is not any spectacular leap for Xbox. This is simply a better Xbox 360. First off, the console looks great. It is much smaller than the current model, and has a really nice black glossy finish (although fingerprints show up a lot easier). The buttons are now touch sensitive rather than physical buttons. It is also, as said by Microsoft, "whisper quiet". Unlike the current model, this one doesn't sound like a jet engine when running, and allows it to be practically unnoticed, a big plus when watching movies. It also has built in Wireless N Wifi, which adds a significant value to this console, as the current adapters Microsoft sells are in the $70-$100 range. They also added a 250GB internal hard drive, which is removable, but NOT compatible with current 360's. If you are looking to upgrade, you are going to have to transfer all of your stuff from the old Xbox to the new one using USB drives (this 360 does not have memory unit slots, just USB). The console is also Kinect ready, and includes a specific port for Kinect when it launches this November. This port supplies the Kinect camera with power and the connection to the Xbox, whereas otherwise you would have to plug in Kinect to the wall for power AND the Xbox for the connection.

Bottom line, if you don't have a 360 and want to make the jump, this is the time to do it. If you have a 20GB 360 or a console that's giving you problems (overheating etc.), I would say you should look at upgrading. If you have a fairly newer 360 model, I think you should just hold off.

I am a PS3 owner but by no means a fan boy. The only thing that was keeping me from purchasing a Xbox 360 was the unreliability of the hardware. When this new console was announced I felt it was time to make the purchase. Built in wifi, quieter design, and a redesign that supposedly fixed the previous issues with the red ring of death, were all things that appealed to my sensibilities as a consumer. So far I have not been disappointed.

First off I am going to compare the Xbox 360 to the PS3 because it is my frame of reference. Simply put the Xbox is more user friendly. Load times so far on the Xbox have been much shorter than those on the PS3 (this could be because of the games I have been playing, which so far have only been a few on the Xbox, none of which are new releases). You don't have to use a disc to play Netflix, and the Netflix interface on the Xbox is much better than that on the PS3. Not only is it easier to use, but it just looks better. Xbox Live is also much better than the Playstation Network, and even though I had to pay for the premium service the price for a year is reasonable for the way multi player works seamlessly and again it just looks better. Sorry, I like things that are functional and look pretty. It is also reasonably priced I think I paid $37 bucks for 12 months of Xbox Live ($3.08 a month, big deal). I also like the Xbox controller, I find it very comfortable to use, and to me it is more comfortable that the PS3 Controller. As far as graphics go between the PS3 and Xbox the difference is negligible, and I really don't think anyone could tell the difference unless they had the two consoles on two identical TVs side by side. One thing the PS3 does have going for it is that going through the exclusive games for that console compared to the 360, I have much more interest in the PS3 exclusives (which has nothing to do with console performance and really only speaks to my preference of games).

Now onto the Xbox 360 itself and the supposed new features. First off, the set up was a breeze, everything so far has worked right out of the box. Built in wireless set up very easily and detected my network right away. Also I have never been disconnected while playing or experienced any lag on screen. It seems to be quiet at least as quiet as the PS3 (I can't compare it to the old model Xbox as I have no frame of reference). You can still hear it sometimes but I think to expect to not hear anything coming from a device that has moving parts is ridiculous. Bottom line is that when I am in game it does not distract me which is the main issue. There is some heat coming off of it, but mine is not so hot where it worries me. I also have not had the issue of the console turning off when it gets too hot as some people have reported, although I think the most I usually play at a time is only a couple of hours compared to some who play for extended periods of time. I also have not had any issue with the system scratching discs. If you don't move the console with a disc in it you won't have a problem. Even if the system will be off, if I move it I will take the disc out as that what it says on the front of the console. I was also surprised at how easy it was to hook up the mic. Voice chat worked very well without having to do anything, I plugged it in and was chatting with my friends playing L4D. There was some feedback at first when using the mic but it went away and I haven't experienced it sense. I am very impressed with what is included in the box for the Xbox, they pretty much give you everything you need minus a game and HDMI cable, but the price of this product at $300 with a larger HDD and built in wireless seemed like a very good deal, and HDMI cables on amazon are cheap, as are many of the older games that I will start out playing. I also hooked up my 5.1 surround sound headset to the optical output and they worked right away without having to change any settings which was very surprising.

The one thing I cannot attest to with this hardware is its reliability. People have been saying they have been having issues with the hardware failing, but with any new hardware there will be a few lemons in the bunch. I also have only had the hardware for a week so it is very possible something could go wrong and I will be revising my review. I would recommend buying an extended warranty with this product. Apparently the new Xbox only has a 1 year warranty whereas the older version was covered for 3 years for the issues it has had (RROD). Also this is the first iteration of this product so I feel it is better to be safe than sorry, just in case this hardware has its own issues. Lets face it the Xbox 360 has been around for 5 years now and they were still having issues with the last generation, so do yourself a favor and protect your investment. - Natal - Xbox - Xbox 360 Elite - Microsoft'

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Camera Neck Strap - camera strap, camera neck strap

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This strap is great in those situations where you are constantly alternating between reaching for your camera and doing some activity (partying, playing with the kids, or even just giving your hands a break).

Also, its nice not to have to always look for a safe place to rest your camera.

The strap is in fact metal on the inside for strength and clear plastic on the outside for scratch proofing.

A metal only strap would eventually scratch your camera's finish. Canon Metal Neck Strap 1 for All Elph Cameras, 34" Length

This is a lightweight and super-strong lanyard-style chain for your camera or whatever which probably could tow a car and yet looks lighter and more attractive than anything else on the market. of course, the cord attaching this to the camera is the limiting factor in overall strength. But it is the right length and allows you to tuck the camera into your pocket or hang full length.

I took my digital camera with the new strap on a recent 10 day trip. The strap was great; it's not too heavy, and long enough to get a good view with the camera. Thanks for your help in finding this strap.

I like this strap, but it is too long and not easily shortened. My camera hangs down to my belt and the camera is prone to swing out and hit things. I'd rather have it shorter so the camera rests higher on my chest. I can put my neck and one arm through it and it's not too tight and sits on my upper chest. Looks goofy though. Materials, construction and appearance are five stars, but function is most important to me.

I am a "Loser"! That is, is LOSE things all the time. Cell phones, digital cameras, my Garmin NUVI 200, even a cigar lighter! So, I started wearing them around my neck. Whether you're a loser like me, a photographer, sportsman, hiker, biker, fisherman, hunter, etc. neck straps can come in VERY handy.

I generally buy Qunataray-brand wrist and neck straps, which are also very nice and have the additional feature of a screw-type "barrel" that makes detaching the strap a breeze.

On the other hand, the Canon strap is MORE SUBSTANTIAL AND DURABLE, and the 34" length provides a LOT of flexibility: if using the strap with a cell phone or digital camera, for example, you can leave the strap around your neck and still use your device to its fullest.

This Canon strap is just right for my wife's Canon A710IS camera. Thin and easy to install on the camera, even fits in the same opening along with the wrist strap. The neck strap keeps the camera fron being accidently dropped, helpful at sporting events or zoo trips. I see no negatives at all. Easy to remove if only the wrist strap is desired. Amazon marketplace seller had it for about 1/2 of Canon's official store price. - Camera Neck Strap - Neckstrap - Canon - Camera Strap'

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Small Electrics

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I have Chicago Cutlery knives. First I used the Steel that came with the knives. After about 3 years, the knives would not sharpen very well. Then I got a "set" that used 4 ceramic rods to sharpen the knives. They did a very good job, but it was a LOT of work. After using that set for about 5 years, I tried a real "cheapy" electric sharpener and returned it after one use. It just did not sharpen. -- Back to the rods. I finally decided to give the 300W a try. It works just great. The knives get much sharper than any other method I have tried and they stay sharp much longer. For my purposes, this is an excellent sharpener.

Granted, this isn't the most expensive thing in the world, but I was looking for better results more quickly than I could achieve with a manual sharpener. As the company's website claims you can have sharper than new edges, I decided to put that boast to the test with my set of brand new Henckels. Not only was the process tedious and quite demanding of technique, but I never got edges as good as factory (which were, admittedly, near razor sharp to begin with.)

The magnetic guides work OK close to the bolster, but as the blade narrows and your hand is farther from the guide, it becomes very difficult to maintain alignment. On curved blades, you have to bring the handle up carefully during the stroke while unable to see the exact portion of the blade you are sharpening. It must be done by sound and not sight. Also, while inserting the blade into the sharpener, care must be taken for exact alignment or the diamonds will grab and kick out the blade somewhat. I never detected any damage, but it doesn't inspire confidence.

I imagine that while the more expensive models with wheel type sharpeners and a different style of guide might work much better, I'm just not going to pay $100 for a knife sharpener. I will stick with my manual diamond hone. I returned the 300W.

Unfortunately, I paid twice the www.Amazon.com price from a local store several years ago, and I must say it is one of the few kitchen appliances I have been disappointed with. It takes a long time to get all the knives honed to the angles of this sharpener. Then keeping them sharp seems to take a long time and they never seem to get as sharp as one would expect. The motor heats up quite easily after a few knives and begins to smell like it is overheating. I think the product has always been over-rated. I might buy it at this price but a simple non electric works just as well at less money.

I don't normally write reviews, but this time I will as I think it might help others who have been searching for a decent and reasonably-priced sharpener. Four months ago I had about 14 utility and steak knives sharpened by an upscale store in Santa Monica. The price? $35.00. Now, I got the 300W for $34.88 all in. I sharpened the knives according to the instructions, and they came out sharper than the "professional" store job!

After investigating knife steels, oil stones, water stones,and various gadgets this sharpening device is truly a "Chef's Choice". It is easy to use, requiring only a light touch. It does a great job in sharpening your knives and does not take a long time. Another benefit is the price and better still the immediate savings when you buy the Chef's Choice 300W Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener from Amazon. This purchase will NOT CUT into your wallet !! My Henkels and Sabatiers have nice sharp honed edges. Now I think I need to buy a new cutting board.....

Several reviewers have complained that it takes a long time to sharpen knives with this gadget. Perhaps, but compared to using a whetstone, the Chef's Choice 300W is blazingly fast. Properly done, sharpening knives does take time.

It is vital to break in knives exactly as described in the literature that accompanies the sharpener. Other reviewers have said that the sharpener does not perform well on hard knives, but I am using it on hard stainless steel knives and getting a good, sharp, long-lasting edge.

I have been pleased so far with the sharpness of my knives after sharpening them with this sharpener. My only complaint is that sometimes it's hard to get the knife into the running grinder without nicking the blade on the vibrating sharpening plates. This is a good quality item.

This sharpener does not do the job as easily as stated by the info on the site. It takes to long to sharpen the knives. Matter of fact I still have not been able to put a razor sharp blade on any of my knives. I would not purchase this sharpener.

I just received it, read the instructions and then sharpened six knives in about 15 minutes. The first sharpening takes longer because the knife edge must be reground to match the sharpener. I have another Chef's Choice with three stage sharpening which adds a grinding wheel and makes the first sharpening go very fast. It is over 10 years old and is still going strong. I rarely use the grinding wheel so decided this version is more practical and much less expensive. I highly recommend this excellent sharpener.'

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Blackberry Tour - case, small

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I bought 3 on Friday Jan 7, and they arrived on Jan. 14, shipped USPS from Michigan. I was happily surprised that they came with 6' cables, not mentioned in the product description. My 3 came with 2 micro cables and 1 mini cable. So far, they work fine.

Packaging is the same as these items would be found in a BlackBerry 9300 or 9670 box - just a clear or bubblewrap bag with a label with same ASY numbers. It looks genuine to me.

Charger bag says ASY-24479-002, unit says Part No. HDW-24481-001, Input 100-240V 50-60Hz, Output 5v 750mA.

Micro 1m cable bag says ASY-18683-001, mini ASY-06610-001 RIM ASY-24479-002 USB Power Plag - Charger - Retail Packaging - Black

I used this overnight with my Apple iPod Touch. The power plug stayed cool, which inspires confidence.

I like the compact size of this plug. It does not monopolize a wall socket or power strip. Plus, it looks nice.

My plug did NOT ship with cables. This is not a complaint, just a comment regarding other reviews right here.

I purchased this as an alternative way to charge the battery for my Blackberry Curve. I must mention that the charger I received was pre-owned and I absolutely do not mind because a new one would serve the same purpose! I am equally enthralled by the compact size of the charger (it fits greatly alongside adapters and plugs that are quite cumbersome) and the portability with devices that allows battery charging via USB cable. Shipping was expeditious as well. Although its use is intended for Blackberry devices, I also highly recommend its use for devices from other brands. This is a great charger to own! :)

I purchased this due to its size. I'm a gadget guy and have lots of stuff that charge VIA USB so tend to buy these to leave all over the house :) This charges my iPhone4, iPhone3GS, and Iphone 3G. I was also curious if it would charge my iPad, and it did :) Although the iPad states its not charging, it does. I had my ipad at %40 before i went to bed and was %100 when I woke up. Used this several times with the iPad and same result (charged). I have tried other chargers as well and ones that are rated at under 1A are the ones that the iPad states that it is not charging. But it does :) I also like the fact that i can still use my other wall port due to its tiny size. I gave it 5 stars cause it wasn't meant to charge an iPad that normally charges with a 2A charger but it does and the size and price is great.

The charger charged the product (albeit it took six or seven hours) and then after the first day, the charger did not charge my BlackBerry Storm 2. I tried different outlets, and I plugged the phone into my computer. The charger did not work anywhere in the house, but the phone could charge using the computer's USB port so there's obviously something flawed with the charger. It will show the lightning bolt on the phone but it won 't charge phone even after being left there for 6+ hours. Lost a day of productivity...

This item looks like an OEM, but I cannot believe it is. It takes 5-6+ hours to charge a Bold 9780 with about 30% charge left in the battery (the original charger takes less than 2 hours). It seems like it is not generating enough power to properly charge.

i bought this to use with my iphone 4 and i must say its a great product. Its a shame that i could not find an authentic apple charge cable on amazon, but i had a spare one and i used it. Does its job for its price - Usb - Blackberry Tour - Small - Case'

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egg cookers - nonstick, kitchen

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This is a great high-quality product that poaches eggs perfectly. A pretty cool thing that the manufacturer has done is include directions on how to use the poacher with a few recipies that you can try to diversify the poacher's use. However, as you can read in other reviews, "non-stick" isn't exactly that. You really should use just a spritz of cooking spray to line the cups so that the eggs come out with ease. If you don't use any spray, you'll find it a bit challenging to remove the egg without damaging it. Demeyere 4-Cup Egg Cooker/Poacher

My wife and I have had 2 egg poachers in the past, but this one is by far the best. Since it is mostly used by the two of us, we decided to buy the 4-egg model... If I knew that it was going to be such a high quality product I would have bought the larger model for when we have friends or family... You will not go wrong with this product... I would give it a 5 star rating.

The Demeyer 4-cup Egg Cooker/Poacher is well made and makes excellent poached eggs. Other reviewers suggested using a little oil/butter/cooking spray in the cups to keep the eggs from sticking. I have done this and have not had an egg stick yet.

Chuck Braden (bradencookbook.com)

The Demeyere 4-Cup Egg Poacher is the real deal. Metal cups with a non-stick surface. The poaching system is removable, so the heavy pan and glass cover can be used for other cooking needs. I swabbed little vegetable oil in each cup and used a small spatula to help remove the poached egg from each cup.

Not cheap, but, as others have said, you get what you pay for.

The Demeyere is definitely worth the price.

I am one of those people that firmly feel you get what you pay for. In this case, my beliefs let me down. This is an excellent pan, in constant use, and we have had no problems with it whatsoever. The pan has been in use for some time now and there has been absolutely no warping as you usually see in less expensive cookware such as this. The dishes are deep enough to handle larger eggs and the clean up is a snap. Like another reviewer here, we did fined that if we added one minute, more or less, to the poaching time which are included with the directions, the eggs turn out much closer to our taste. I have owned several of these pans over the years and this one is by far the best. The worse two I had, which were horrible, I gave to my sister. She cannot cook hot water anyway, so no real harm was done. When I gave them to her, she actually thought they were to make stove top cup cakes. I did not tell her differently. I certainly recommend this product.

I really appreciate the consumer reviews so I will add my own. This product is really solid in construction and works like a dream. I was considering a cheaper egg poacher but the reviews lead me to this one. I use this poacher 3-4 times per week with the same results - perfect poached eggs! The cups are coated, but I use a small amount of cooking spray and the eggs slide right out. If you are on the fence regarding which egg poacher to buy, in my opinion you absolutely cannot go wrong with this one.

Works well, as advertised. Was able to load some cups, then later load others for various degrees of firmness for different people. Would like to have a little larger cup size, as eggs are rather deep instead of muffin size. Clean up is easy, and smaller size means easier storage. - Nonstick - Egg Poachers - Egg Cookers - Kitchen'

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Notebook Hard Drive Enclosure - hard drive enclosure, drive enclosures

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When you buy something like a hard drive enclosure from a second-tier manufacturer for such a low price, there are certain expectations: shoddy workmanship, poorly translated manual, baffling packaging, poor design, etc. I'll confess I had those expectations, but I didn't expect it to matter -- I wanted this enclosure for one-time use, to clone my Macbook's current drive onto a new (higher capacity) drive before installing it.

However, the enclosure I received couldn't be more different than what I expected. It came beautifully packaged in a box with a nice little manual (with pictures and clear English), a carrying pouch, USB cable, installation screws, and even a screwdriver! As other reviews have mentioned, the included cable is a y-cable to allow a high-speed drive to draw power from 2 USB ports if necessary. This is the kind of thoughtful packaging you expect from high-end consumer electronics, not a cheap one-time-use drive enclosure. The enclosure itself is solid aluminum and just barely bigger than the 2.5" drives it's designed for. It has a sleek, simple design and flawless construction -- there's no flex to it at all and not a single rough edge.

After (easily) installing the drive within the enclosure, there's still no feel of flexing, and shaking the apparatus gently produces no noise or sense of movement. All seems very snug and secure (there's a padded foam cushion inside one end of the enclosure to help with this).

When I turned it on, the drive loaded up flawlessly. There was a small vibration noise, but considerably less than you would expect from (for example) a hard drive fan in a PC case. The enclosure became warm to the touch over time, but not hot, which I took as a sign that the aluminum was conducting heat away as desired.

All in all, I couldn't be more pleased with this enclosure, especially given the low price. I don't remember the last time I was so pleasantly surprised by an electronics purchase. Vantec NexStar TX 2.5-Inch SATA to USB 2.0 External Hard Drive Enclosure

Not much to say about hard drive enclosures. This one works well and it is cheap. Very slim design, looks nice, easy to install and the fact that it's aluminum means no fans are necessary. The aluminum casing keeps the drive cool at all times. I used a 7200rpm drive in the enclosure to transfer a large amount of files and the enclosure never heated up at all.

Also included was a little screwdriver, 4 screws to secure the drive and a nice vinyl pouch to store the enclosure in. The included USB cable utilizes a Y-type end adapter (2 USB-A connections opposite the mini-USB plug), this is so that the drive may draw extra power from the device you're connecting it to. I just use one of the USB plugs and it works fine on my laptop.

One issue to address is the fact that this enclosure was meant to also work for slightly "taller" 2.5-inch drives, so normal drives will not fit so securely inside. You can hear the drive rattling inside if you shake it. This is easily remedied by simply folding up a piece of paper and wedging it in the small space between the drive and the enclosure. This won't affect performance or harm the drive at all, and will completely fix that (minor) issue.

Overall a fantastic enclosure, especially for the price.

First let me explain why I needed this product. I had a 3 year old laptop which stopped working and was out of warranty, so I went and got a repair estimate for the laptop which turned out to be much higher than I'd expected. I decided to part it out but kept the hard drive because it was fully functional and had ample space which would be ideal as a portable USB HDD. I didn't own any portable HDDs but have always considered getting one for transferring large DVD movie files. I searched around for a quality aluminum enclosure that didn't break the bank which is where this Vantec comes in.

When looking for an enclosure for the hard drive I decided to go with Vantec because they have a good reputation for external enclosures. I own one of their DVD drive enclosures and have been very happy with it. I used it as a portable DVD burner. When I went looking for a hard drive enclosure I wanted something simple but of good quality and low cost so I ended up with this Vantec model which fit the bill perfectly.

This model is simple..very simple. It has a single green power/activity LED and one mini USB jack. The exterior design is very nice and the enclosure itself is made of aluminum so it helps cool the hard drive inside. The enclosure comes with a USB Y cable that has two fullsize USB jacks but for my use I only needed to plug in one. If you're using a power hungry highspeed HDD then you may need to use two USB ports to power it. Assembly was equally simple with only two screws. A small screwdriver is also included.

One thing to note is that my HDD slightly rattled inside the enclosure. It wasn't a deal breaker but I didn't like the rattle so I came up with a simple fix by sticking 4 very thin double sided pieces of foam tape on the 4 corners of the HD inside of the enclosure. This cured the rattle. The tape I used was about 1 - 1.5mm thick and I only peeled off one side of the tape in order to stick it onto the HD. I left the other side covered so it wouldn't stick to the inside of the HD enclosure.

After assembly I plugged it into my computer and started transferring about 75GBs of data without any problems. The HD stayed very cool and the transfer was very fast. All in all I'm very happy with this product and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for something that is simple, low cost, stylish, of good quality and performance.

The Pros

Comes with a case, small screwdriver, and looks to be well made for the price

The Cons

Does not fit a 1tb 2.5 inch drive that is slightly larger height.

Could not find anywhere on the description where it states this limitation and some of the reviews on this product led one to belive that it would fit one of the slightly thicker 2.5inch drives (because of stating the extra height and loose drives for conventional drive heights)

I give 3 reviews, because this information is very simple to define, and to state by the manufacturer, which is either an intentional or ignorant oversite.For users who are using the smaller drives (like a 320gb drive), then ths is a good buy, and would recomend it.

This oversite of description seems to be in common for a number of cases, and i will continue my search for a case for this drive. - Hard Drive Enclosure - Hdd Enclosure - Drive Enclosures - Sata'

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