Guy Low Price Electronic

Monday, 27 October 2008

720p Projector - 3d ready, home theater

I bought this projector 3 weeks ago from Amazon. Delivery was prompt and on time. The projector came in the usual Optoma box but without a carry case. Of course I knew that, but one would have been nice anyway. I had already printed out the manual (at work of course) from the Optoma website.

Set up was easy enough but a little time consuming as the settings where totally off. I believe everyone using this projector primarily for home theater will and should set the bulb to standard. The extra lumen will come in handy however when using the 3D glasses to view 3D content.

Once calibrated, picture quality was very impressive for a 720p projector. Blacks were black enough, color and shadow, rich and detailed. The projector does a good job (imo) of scaling 1080p content. I have two Blu-ray players and the projector showed Blu-ray content a lot better with my Philips player so like everything else the source is important.

Overall I'm very happy with my purchase. Couldn't convince the wife at this stage to let me spend the extra money on a 1080p projector, so I was already looking at the HD65. I was encouraged by what was being said by the very early adapters that had pulled the trigger on the dedicated AV forums (God bless them). Early veiwings included Iron Man and Transformers, and Walle and UP for animation, all in Blu-ray on a 72" 16:9 screen and I'm truly impressed. The harshest critic is too, the wife. Picture is as good, if not better, than my Sanyo 42" 1080p plasma. I'm English; my wife is American so were now looking forward to the World Cup being shown in 3D. By the time the tournament begins hopefully the price of active shutter glasses will have fallen enough so were not passing one pair around the room to everybody.

If you have bought this projector from Amazon just post a review good, bad or indifferent. I was compelled to do so because for a long time the only one posted nearly caused me to pass on the HD66. $700 is a lot of money (to me at least), so I utilize reviews all the time without giving back. This was my first one ever, hope it helps. Optoma HD66 2500ANSI Lumens 4000:1 3D-Ready DLP Home Theater Projector - White

Very nice projector, good colors, brightness and black levels. This is not going to compete with a $2k projector, but for its class, it does a really impressive job.

I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because out of the box, the settings make the image look quite poor, complete loss of detail in faces, skin tones are definitely off. After some quick calibraiton, Specifically:

- I turned down the bulb to standard

- turned "Brilliant Color" way down

- reduced the contrast to about 42-45.

- I also turned down the brightness to 43, but after doing a THX optimizer, brought the brightness back up to the standard 50.

AFTER CALIBRATION, I am VERY pleased with the colors, the black levels are good (not great, but pretty darn good) and the shadow detail is much better than what I have seen in the past.

I would recommend this projector to anyone looking for a ht projector in this price range.

(Also, as others have reported, the remote is not laid out well at all (although this would not sway my purchase decision, it is worth noting))

....but ended up going with the HD20.

This is my first projector and I use it solely for watching movies; blu-ray, DVD, and streaming HD from VUDU\Netflix. I had nothing to compare it to except for my brothers which was a Optoma 1080p projector with a throw of 15-18 feet.

I was very impressed out of the box. Blu-ray looks great @ 11' throw\85" diag. picture. Works quite well in ambient light, but really comes alive in lights off. HD stuff looks really good from viewing distance of 12'.

There is some rainbow effect, but not often at all and usually during credits. Certainly not a deal breaker for me. We watch it directly off our light gray painted wall and it looks very good. Older DVD's are blurry, but that is just the nature of the lower res DVDs. The texture of the wall and no gain gray paint will require a screen eventually.

The controls are pretty basic and simple to use. There are some advanced calibration settings that I didn't mess with.

Overall this was a very satisfying experience for the money.

However....

I felt that the 11' throw\12' viewing distance put me right on the cusp of being able to benefit from 1080p. I got the bug and started obsessing about it and decided to order and HD20 to compare it to, realizing I may take a restocking hit on the returned projector. I really wanted to see the difference because I felt that at 85" to 95" inch diagonal I could really make the hd stuff crisp.

Set up the HD20 yesterday. First run was in soft ambient daylit room with shades drawn. I immediately noticed the difference in brightness. The HD20 at 1700L vs. HD66 2500L was definitely not a good viewing experience in ambient light. Even on bright mode, the picture seemed washed out. I became somewhat discouraged, but since my gf and I pretty much only watch with lights off at night, no cable, I waited to make my decision. Fan noise a little louder on HD20 especially on bright mode.

Once it became dark outside, the experience totally changed, even with low light in the room, the image began to get brighter and clearer. I watch several HD previews off of VUDU and Up in standard DVD and Avatar on DVD.

Verdict, The HD20 really made a difference in 1080P. It just seemed more comfortable displaying it's native res than the HD66. From my viewing distance it was really really awesome. My girlfriend came home, I didn't tell her I swapped them out, and she immediately said, "Is there a screen there, the image seems really sharp." I chuckled and said no.

Final Thoughts:

If you are throwing from 12" or less and viewing from around 10' to 12' AND you want viewing in ambient light AND your budget is limited, The HD66 is a great buy. You won't be disappointed. If however, you can spend the money and you are throwing from farther than 11' AND you will be watching primarily in dark or near dark room, I would say go for the HD20. I was a bit nervous until I put UP in standard DVD in and it looked better than in the theater. It was really crisp and that was without a screen(which does help a lot, I tried the HD66 out with one.) - Home Theater - 3d Ready - Projector - 720p'

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Ipod Adapter - mp3, tools

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The green outlet light takes the battery down prematurely. I bought this recon so who knows if its normal. I had owned the Milwaukee Radio before and had better battery life. Rated 4 stars. Sound is good like the ipod docking station and yes I would buy it again. Factory-Reconditioned Bosch PB360S-RT Power Box Jobsite AM/FM Stereo with MP3 Compatibility - Mp3 - Radio - Bosch - Tools'

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Rotary Tool Accessories - 2009 amazon frustration-fre, router accessories

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This is a valuable accessory for your Dremel tool, but it does have some limitations you need to recognize and live within.

It's good at cutting dadoes and doing edging, but not in hard woods. Rotary tools work at high speed, but with low torque. They just cannot churn their way through something like oak. Even with soft woods, it's best to make deep cuts in several shallow passes.

Deep cuts will generate considerable sawdust, which falls down into the tool. I can see that this could damage the tool over time. I deal with this issue by using my regular router for extensive dust-generating work. Again, you need to live within the limitations of your tool.

As with all rotary tool operations, sharp bits are essential. The high-speed, low-torque operation means that they, in effect, shave material away, much like a dentist's drill. If you try to just grind away, the tool will bog down and/or the bits will dull quickly. Unfortunately, the best Dremel brand router bits are VERY expensive. Cheap Brand-X bits work OK, but they wear out quickly. Dremel-brand bits last longer, but they're much more expensive. There's a line somewhere, and you'll have to judge for yourself where it is.

The router table itself is solid, well-designed, and easy to use. It seems to work best if you screw it to a piece of wood or MDF, then clamp that to your workbench or sawhorse.

To me, this accessory is worth the cost, but it does have limitations that you need to consider. I'm glad I bought it, and I'd do it again. Dremel 231 Shaper/Router Table

I have been using this for quite a while, and at times, it is a lot easier to use this, to dadoes for small items on soft wood like boxes. I used it to make some boxes out of pire and I used it to do edge work and make dadoes. This is my coolest acessory for the dremel with my wood bit set.

It's good for edging and such. But it is no good for cutting groves or if you want to square up a piece to trim an edge. The dremel tool mount flexes too much and you end up with a really sloppy cut. Use the router attachment and make your own table. Do not buy this. Shame on you Dremel. I've seen better tools from Playschool.

product is a good addition to my dremel collection. ONE WARNING: tool models 400 and 800 require a special adaptor! Dremel corp will send you one at their expense-you just need to call them. other than that the accessory rocks!

I'd stay away from this one until the design flaws are fixed. Tons of sawdust from the piece you're working on will fall into your tool and render it useless. I've killed two Dremels, and got maybe a grand total of 5 minutes use out of the table.

I got this some time ago and use it with the 400 XPR (adapter necessary). I have used it mostly for edging. Works great for edging.

It lacks in performance for routing out keyholes and slots. Slots I found it necessary to do them a little at a time; start at a low depth and after each sweep raise the depth of the cut a little more until you have the depth you want.

As for keyholes, just about forget it; it's too jumpy. I use another tool I have for keyholes.

This router table works very well with my Dremel MultiPro tool. I have been making a lot of grooves and notches in wood, and the table keeps the cuts consistent. There is an adjustable fence for precise wood placement as it passes through the bit, as well as an up-and-down adjuster for cut depth in the wood. I have a very specific application for this table, and I've been able to get my grooves and edgings precise every time, which is essential for my project. This router table is a must-have for anyone who uses their MultiPro for routing applications.

I wish I didn't have to make such a vicious statement, but this thing really is poorly-constructed junk. The tool mount flexes too much to guarantee any accuracy in your work. What's worse, on the one I had the tool didn't even mount centered in the hole - preventing me from ever using any wide router or sanding bits without damaging the plastic of the table itself.

If there were an adjustment - a pair of slots of some sort - to which I could center the tool properly, I would have kept the table and given two or three stars. At least it would have been somewhat useful to me. I just don't see how a plastic molded part can get this wrong, and for that I returned it.

I don't expect too much from a rotary tool system like this, the quality is cheap and you get what you pay for - but this is ridiculous.

This is an excellent mini router table for scale model making. I use it for building architectural models and it is a great addition to my 6x4 workshop. It works perfectly fine. If you're going to use this table with Dremel 400, you need an adapter. Just call Dremel customer service and get one for free. - Woodworking - Router Accessories - 2009 Amazon Frustration-fre - Dremel'

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Ice Scoop - ice scoop, booo

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I received this scoop and was happy with the size. I removed the sticker ( a nightmare in itself) and put it in the dishwasher. I do not use any citrus type cleaners but still found the finish COMPLETELY RUINED when I opened the dishwasher this morning. Not useable... looks dull and dark... gross!!! BE WARNED! Adcraft ALS-5 5 oz Capacity, 5" Length x 2-3/8" Width, Mirror Finish, Heavy Duty Cast Aluminum Scoop with Contoured Handle

well I bought three of these scoops to use in my new glass decanters. I washed them in the dishwasher and they turned black! Worse, everything they came in contact with also was covered in black powder! So I threw them away. Never got to use them! - Ice Scoop - Booo'

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Assassin S Creed - xbox 360, video games

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First off, I loved the feel of Assassin's Creed, but hated the game play. Assassin's Creed 2 completely sucked me in and made me absolutely love the game. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood brought a big smile to my face that completely satisfied every impulse, knee jerk reaction to what I wanted from the second one.

It starts with a combination of two events. 1) Right after you defeat the Borgia pope you return to your Villa. This, of course, is where you are lead to your training sequences for the new maneuvers of the game (which incidentally is much easier to use. instead of going to your Villa to train you can simply hit Start and choose training). 2) You are taking part of the 2012 world of Desmond and your exploration of the Italy of that time, with its typical 21st century erosion on the old world. Both are fantastic. I couldn't help but love returning to the world of Ezio and exploring around. Even more so was the absolutely huge world of Rome, noticed straight away as you pan around to the distances. This is an absolutely different and way more majestic world than the world of Assassin's Creed 2. You know that although you will not travel to as many cities you will certainly explore more just by the huge size of Rome.

The graphics are amazing, touched up and refined from the last one. The controls are almost identical, allowing you to jump in to the game with ease. The added addition of the Brotherhood adds a lot despite the tendency to overuse your assassins and leave yourself vulnerable, when you would certainly want to use them. Regardless, the overall game play has improved, despite the fighting mechanisms still feeling a bit droll and not to unique.

Finally, after trying for awhile with little success I was able to get in and log on to the multiplayer server. This seems like a problem straight away because it shouldn't take 5-10 minutes to log in to a server, and then the next time you log in a matter of seconds. I found that after I waited for 5 minutes I had to cancel out and go back in in order to play. The play itself is a joy. You play anywhere from 6-10 people mixed in amidst a ton of "civilians" for about 10 minutes, stalking and hunting your prey or just straight up chasing them. This multiplayer has a much different feel than the typical slugfest and bullet ridden multiplayers of other games, simply because you literally have to get up close and personal before you can make your kill.

The campaign play is long and worth it, definitely not feeling like an add on and more so like a real stand alone game with its own merits. The multiplayer is well worth it as well, although not sure if the replay ability will get old or die down, something of which only time will tell. Add the two together and you have an absolute winner in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. A definite recommend.

5 stars.

Update: A direct comparison would show the following. AC2 has considerably more collectibles than ACB, but ACB's collectibles are much easier to find since maps are made available for any and all of them. That being said, there are a lot more side quests/missions that you can go on in ACB. When all is said and done I spent about 32 hours in AC2 and it took about 24 hours for ACB, athough there are still a lot of side quests to be completed (and clusters) and so it will take a bit more time. With game complete and all feathers, flags and treasures found, I am only at 51% sync, which shows that there are a good amount of hours left to be played. That being said I still haven't found all the feathers in AC2, and thus could still spend a lot more time there, so it is a wash. AC2 had 5 cities, plus a visit to the Vatican at the very end. ACB has just one large city, although you visit several other places on your missions.

I found that there was only one aspect that I wish were done differently which would have made the game that much better. You visit several villas when completing the quests to destroy DaVinci's war machines, as well as Firenze (sp?) and Viana Castle. It would have been so simple to make these places that you could visit and explore after you completed your mission. Viana Castle and its surrounding countryside, for example, would have been fantastic to explore and just run around. Instead you only visit it briefly and you are running and fighting the whole time you don't get to see it. Additionally, you don't get to climb up or explore around San Pietro. You see it always in the distance, then at the end you get to go up to its gates and then nothing. There is the Lair of Romulus that puts you in San Pietro but you are chasing a Cardinal at such a frantic pace you barely get to notice the huge and majestic building that would have been absolutely fantastic to just stop and hop from ledge to ledge. A simple touch to allow us to explore it after the game is compelte would have made this game that much better. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

Like many people, I enjoyed the first Assassin's Creed for what it was but felt that it was lackluster in it's mission variety and repetitive in nature. Assassin's Creed was leaps and bounds ahead of the original, and the good news is that Brotherhood is a continuation of that winning formula. Coming out a year after the previous game might make this seem like a glorified expansion at first glance, but Brotherhood is anything but that.

The story shifts back and forth between Ezio, returning home to find that war has broken out and his arch nemesis does some nasty things that warrants Ezio's motive for revenge and overthrowing him, and to Desmond in 2012 as he and the rogue scientists attempt to unravel the past in order to escape the murderous templars in the present. The plot is not overly engrossing, however it's the characters that bring everything to life and Brotherhood really excels in this area. Ezio is a compelling character a always, and the game is filled with a rich cast of colorful characters that are both new to the series and returning from the previous game. The difference in this game is that you are not supposed to run through the story on your own; you are expected to recruit assassin's to assist you througout the game and they are yours to summon whenever needed. Sadly, the AI is not spot-on and sometimes they are not as useful as you would hope, but they do come in handy when you are getting slaughtered in battle. A character in and of itself, the city of Rome is vibrant and bustling with interesting and sometimes amusing people. Beggars line the streets, prostitutes beckon you to hire them and groups of vigilantes gather in the public squares, all adding to a sense of realism that made the previous game so endearing. The bulk of the game is spent in Rome, which may feel like a step back from Assassin's Creed II, where you would travel between cities, but Rome is so vast and populous that you'll easily overlook this. The story missions are well paced and full of intense action, and the platforming segments in the shrines are fantastic as well.

The gameplay is largely unchanged from Assassin's Creed II and the free-running mechanic works as well here as it did before, so anyone familiar with the game can dive right in. Rome is a huge city with plenty of rooftops, so it's sometimes fun to just run around and take in all the sights. In addition to the story missions, there are various things you can do around town to earn money. Like Assassin's Creed II, there is an economy system here in which you purchase shops and they add to your treasury balance, which is essential for upgrading your weapons and armour. A new addition that's a nice touch are the areas of the city that are under the tyrannical rule of Borgia and his armies, and you can liberate these areas by destroying their towers and killing the captains. This adds some of the most intense and exhilarating moments in the game, since these tasks ramp up in difficulty fast. Graphically, this game is a sight to behold and it is easily on par with Assassin's Creed II. The character animation, cutscene quality and design of the city are all well done and, despite some noticeable pop-in, it provides a wonderful sense of immersion.

Like all video games, Brotherhood is not perfect and it does have it's share of flaws. The free-running mechanic is tight and responsive for the most part, but it is not always accurate. There have been several occasions where I meant to jump in one direction and I ended up going the other way, sometimes falling to my death or losing valuable seconds in some of the time-based objectives. This even happens when you are clearly facing a place where you can jump. Additionally, there is some glitchiness with your AI controlled assassins and even some of the friends you need to interact with. For example, they would get stuck in walls, stand there doing nothing or simply teleport to another area. It's not a huge problem, but it does pose some annoyances when you really need things to run smoothly. Thrown in to add a level of challenge, you can now achieve full synchronization by completing missions a certain way. For example, if you complete a mission in under a certain number of minutes, avoid losing health, or killing someone in a particular manner, you will achieve full synchronization and this will add up to achievement points/trophies. Unfortunately, some of the sequences are lengthy and it's disheartening to know that you've failed this so early into the missions. This does add some frustration, but it's hardly a deal-breaker and some might actually view this as a strength.

The last thing I'll touch upon is the multiplayer, which is something very interesting and unique. You are thrown into a large area with other players, given a person to assassinate, and likewise someone is after you. The objective is to kill your target before you get killed, and the style in which you do it will determine how well you do. For example, if you run up and knife someone in the back, you've achieved your objective and move on. But if you do it with style and stealth, you earn more points. This is a refreshing change from all of these online shooters that mainly focus on kill streaks, so being a hardcore online player doesn't ensure that you'll do well here. It's definitely something different. On the other hand, the pace will definitely feel slower to those who prefer the breakneck pace of online shooters, so this is an acquired taste. If you don't like multiplayer, you don't lose out because the single player campaign is 20+ hours long and there is plenty to keep you busy.

The speed at which this game was released certainly attracted some sceptics, however I am happy to say that Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is every bit as fun, challenging and beautifully done as the previous game. Those expecting an entirely new game with a new plot and cast of characters might be disappointed, but anyone who loved Assassin's Creed II is really missing the boat if they don't pick this up as well. Highly recommended. - Video Games - Brotherhood - Assassin S Creed - Xbox 360'

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Photography - air duster, compressed air

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Everything the other reviewers said about this product is completely correct--this product IS wonderful. Dust Off with its compressed air inside can be used to clean inside the cracks of a computer keyboard, stereo system, anything--even letting you remove dust from tiny cracks between cabinets in your kitchen! It's a very good product that will not disappoint you; and it is well worth the cost as each container lasts a good long time. I wouldn't use it to dust entire pieces of furniture because the little red nozzle is designed for blowing dust and dirt out of tiny cracks and close spaces and therefore it won't be too efficient as a duster for tables and furniture.

It's also pretty easy to remove the little red wand and attach it to the head of the bottle so that's not a concern either.

Highly recommended! Falcon Compressed Gas (152a) Disposable Cleaning Duster 2 Count with wipe, 10 oz. Can (DSXLPW)

This is a good product for many of your computer dusting needs. It dusts special areas of the computer while not damaging it. It can also be used for hard to reach dust in your car, house, etc. I use it sparingly for special applications. - Clean - Compressed Air - Cleaning - Air Duster'

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Battery Tender Jr - battery charger, motorcycle

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I have a special interest car that only gets driven in fair weather 10 times a year. The battery was always low. It was a real pain to get the charger out and hook it up (the battery is under the rear seat) every time I wanted to take it out. Those days are over. With one quick disconnect of this little gem I am on my way in minutes rather than hours. Wish I had bought this a long time ago. I highly recommend it if you have similar circumstances. Deltran 021-0127 Battery Tender Junior 6-Volt .75 Amp Charger

This item charges up your 6 volt batteries just as described without overcharging.

Once a certain voltage is hit (7.6v range), the device cuts off the full charge, and drops down to a float charge (6.7v). This has been verified using a multimeter. The status LED lets you know exactly what's going on.

I purchased the battery tender jr to recharge my daughters 6v battery for her jeep. It seemed to be a reasonable price at $25. As soon a s I got it I read the instructions and plugged it in. No indicator light came on. Not red, not green, not anything. So I left it plugged into the battery and it didn't charge. I contacted Deltran's service department and they treated me like I was an idiot not listening when I told them what steps I took and telling me to retake those steps. Then they "forgot" who I was so I had to start over with the communication and press for a replacement. Deltrans response was for me to pay to ship it - roughly $8 - and include a check for $8 to ship it back to me and maybe they would replace or fix it. Why should I pay almost as much as the new item to get a replacement for your faulty product. Their customer service sucks and I will never deal with them again.

The battery charger and maintainer is a really good addition to my garage. You get three options for hookup and the wires are much heavier than some of the others on the market. My 1930 Model A ford is happy!

Always had good luck with Deltran products. This one is no different. They'll pay for themselves with the batteries that you won't have to buy. My other Deltran charger (12V) has been in my barn for the last 5 years & still works perfectly. 90°F heat with 80% humidity in the summer, to -10°F in the winter ... still going. No chinese junk here!

Keeping the battery minder hooked up all of the time keeps my old tractor ready to crank and work any time she is needed. This is a good product that saves aggravation and the need to jump start my tractor.

This is wonderful...I don't have to worry about my 6 Volt battery getting drained in my Porsche when I go away for business. I just plug it in and leave, when I get back the battery is still charged and ready to go.

With an old car sitting for long periods of time in the garage, I'm never certain, when I get to drive it, whether or not it will start. The Battery Tender fixes that. Now, when I'm ready for a drive so is my car. No half hour effort to get the car going, I just turn the key and drive away. Its the perfect solution.

This is one of the best battey maintainers on the market. I have not had to replace a battery in my riding mower or motorcycle since using battery tenders on them. I would highly recommend them for anyone that has to store their power tools / toys in the winter. - Motorcycle - Battery Charger - Battery Tender - Battery Tender Jr'

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