Portable Speakers - laptop speakers, portable speakers

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I saw the Simplyvibe S350P speakers had great reviews and then I saw the same company had another model that has a LCD display for the same price. I decided to buy this one even though I wanted a black color. Well, I am happy that I did. When I tried it out I was truly WOW'ed by the number of things it can do.



The speakers are more than decent first off. They also threw in a ton of cool features too. It can play MP3s from SD and USB drives, plus FM stations (with auto tuning), plus a Calendar and Clock w/ Alarm settings. It's mind blowing how they can fit all of these things in a tiny speaker that's about the size of a hotdog bun. It even has like 20 language settings if you want Spanish or French?! I am glad it uses a rechargeable lithium battery and not pricey alkaline batteries.



Ok, here's the kicker (it took me a minute to figure out): It has a built in microphone so you can record voice AND FM music playing from the speaker at the same time. You just need to insert a SD card. That's just insane.



I haven't tried all the functions yet, but I am sure it has some other things that I will discover. I only had it for a day, but I had to write a review. Maybe I'll upload a video later if I have time.



For the price, I would've been happy if it just allowed me to amplify the weak speakers on my iPad and iPhone. The only Con was that it didn't come in Black color. Rarely, do I get this excited about anything I buy that's not Apple, but this product is COOL in my book! SimplyVibe SV-X6 Premium Rechargeable FM, MP3 Player and Portable Speakers (White Color) w/ DSP Bass for iPad, iPod, iTouch, iPhone, Laptops (Mac/ PC) and Mobile Devices (Lithium Battery)

I love the idea of this. It has everything I am looking for: iphone connectivity, mobility, rechargeable battery (5 hours), great sound, and fm radio. It has a few other things like SD card slot and recording ability that I probably won't use. The price is great too.

This little speaker provides a great balance of sound quality, loudness, compact size 6" w, 2.5" h, 1.5" d; light weight, versatile features, and battery life. In my relative comparison background for the X6 sound quality, I have listened to the Jambox closely; used the Saitek SD mini pop-up, and I regularly use a Logitech 715i, and Altec orbit 237 USB powered - which is great for notebook use because it is always ready with no battery and a single cord plug-in. In my opinion the X6 is better than the Saitek and orbit series and gives the Jambox a run for the money invested.



The SV-X6 is in a different class, the very-compact low-cost class - portable and easy to move around, it produces satisfying sound quality and reasonable bass response. The X6 is rugged, I have bounce-dropped it several times with no issues. It is easily tucked into a notebook accessory bag-pouch, or held in the same hand as my connected phone or MP3 player while moving around, it also fits in my back pocket for quick carry. Good for sound during a group presentation, and I occasionally use it as a speaker phone with my Motorola bravo phone's mic and line out - it works well.



Considering its size, it produces good sound quality and volume level in music and talk shows, incorporating a full range 40 mm driver with a second bass driver, 2 watts power producing more loudness than most in this class. It also has a rubber base pad making it slip-stable and non-scratching on furniture; I use it as an alarm-clock-radio, it occupies a small footprint on my night table.



What makes the X6 stand out from the other ultra-mini speakers is having a sensitive integrated FM radio, SD card reader and display for music (16 GB works fine, using 128kbps, 160 kbps and 256 kbps MP3), an alarm-clock with FM-radio/SD-card-music wake up or buzzer, and removable-rechargeable battery. Its display is small but usable, better than having none. Additional removable rechargeable BL-5C batteries can be acquired for five to ten dollars in 600 mAhr to 1020 mAhr; making X6 even more versatile, you can have a spare battery ready at the picnic or beach to continue use. I currently use a 1020 mAhr from a phone, it shipped with 600 mAhr. The user interface is a little goofy, but adequate. It has a turn-off timer which unfortunately has to be set each time it is used. Blue-tooth capability would be a great addition, though would add cost and battery drain. The X6 in my opinion is the best sounding, very small, wire-connected, multifunction-rechargeable-speaker I have used. I recommend it.



Update 2011-04-25



I decided to increase my rating from a four star to a five star rating. At our family party this weekend, folks commented on how great the sound quality is, with very good bass response, mid-range, and highs, very small, "large speaker sound from a mini-speaker" one said. The battery life using a 1020 mAhr battery (from a Nokia go-phone) has been phenomenal, even at nearly the loudest setting, outdoors it produces enough volume to project enjoyably well.

I initially bought this unit for the FM radio option it has, and am very impressed with it. The reception is great. There is an auto station search function that selects all available stations in my area. I run that function, and then delete extra stations assigned to the memory which I don't use. The station memory has survived a battery swap. The FM antenna is in the case somewhere. There is no wire or antenna rod to pull out. The antenna reception appears to be quite effective. One minor problem with the FM radio is when using the menu functions for the FM radio, it is quite easy to select the erase all stations options. I then go through the steps I use to reset the memory to the stations I prefer. It's pretty simple to do, but if the FM menu navigation was arranged a bit different, this would not be a problem.



One important thing to note: The buttons for menu navigation on this device are not responsive unless the menu screen is being displayed. Therefore, you may have to press a menu button twice when using various options. The first press will turn on the menu display, and subsequent presses will then perform the desired functions.



I thought I would try the devices ability to play music from a SD card. I placed a few MP3's and WMA files on the device and was immediately impressed with the sound quality. It was hard for me to believe that this little hotdog bun sized device could produce sound of this quality. The volume can go quite loud without distortion. The problems I found when using the SD music option is menu navigation. It took a while to figure this out, since the instructions that come with the unit are very basic. What I learned is that the buttons on the device do different things based on what the device is doing at that moment. For example, if you are playing a song you have the ability to navigate to options for random or normal song selection, equalizer settings, and replay option settings. If the music playing is paused, button presses will perform different functions (like navigating to different music folders). When using the "random" music playback setting it does not appear that it is a "smart" random option. I have noticed songs being repeated in the music folder before all songs have been played. Also, the random option seems to only work for music in a single folder. I don't believe when using the random setting the device will progress to a different folder like it does when using the "normal" setting. When using the "normal" setting, the player will advance to the next folder and continue playing music. If you wish to use the buttons to navigate to different folders, you must first pause the music playback to achieve this function. Depending on how you set up your music folder structure on your SD card, the navigation can be a bit cumbersome. But, with a bit of practice, the navigation is very useful. Since you cannot create playlists on this device, you can use folders on the SD card to mimic a type of playlist capability. One word of caution when doing this is that in order to actually switch to the new folder, you must actually select a song in that folder and then press play. Otherwise the menu reverts back to the previous song that was playing, and menu navigation must begin all over again to get to the music folder you wish to play.



The battery life in this unit is pretty good. The unit comes with a 600mAh which should play the unit for 5 hours or more when the new battery has been fully cycled a few times. This device takes a Nokia BL-5C type battery. I actually purchased two high capacity batteries ($7.00 each) from Eastmaze. The battery was shipped directly from China (I did not know this from the web site when ordering). The battery rating is 1400mAh. I cycled the battery a couple of times. To fully perform a single cycle of the battery, I use a fully charged battery until the device shuts off, then immediately charge the battery to full state again. In my experience when doing this with a new battery it will be a much better performer. I have gotten about 10 hours of continuous play time with the high capacity battery I purchased. It seems to me to be pretty amazing battery life. One reviewer mentioned that the battery life does not last overnight. I believe that may have been due to the devices menu system. If you just pause the player, the display will go blank, and it's easy to think the device is off. When turning off this device, you must hold down the "play" button until you see "SimplyVibe" display on the menu. The device will then properly shut down and battery depletion should not be occurring.



When this device is hooked to a laptop or portable DVD player the sound is just as amazing as when using SD cards.



Even though I have a few minor gripes about this devices menu navigation, I am giving it a 5 star rating due to the exceptional sound it produces for its size. Also, to charge this unit you can use any mini USB AC power adapter. I use an old Razor cell phone charger. It works great, and I believe that charging stops when full because the battery does not seem to get hot at all.



Whoever designed this product seems to know something about the science of acoustics. - Laptop Speakers - Fm - Portable Speakers - Ipad Speaker'

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Cell Phone - razr, cell phone

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The Black RAZR V3 is the wireless phone I have always wanted. It's that simple.



Before having bought mine, I would read commentary from people who would cite all of the features the RAZR doesn't have: "I could buy the (insert model number of cheaper, but still expensive phone which does 100 different things--all of them poorly) and get more for a lot less money." When I would research a model recommended by these self-proclaimed gadget freaks, I'd find that it's dimensions make keeping it in a pocket an awkward and uncomfortable proposition; I'd find that the pictures it takes are not nearly of comparable quality to those taken by even a modest digital camera; I'd find that the lo-res video it can shoot serves no practical purpose; I'd find that web-browsing, game-playing, Instant messaging, streaming television content, all suck up battery-life and ultimately make the device useless for the unlikely purpose of placing and taking phone calls; I'd find that the phone casing is composed of cheap and flimsy plastics which make me wonder how long it wll last; I'd find that little attention had been paid to how the phone's design will contribute to, or detract from, user comfort. After my investigation, I concluded that for all the money I would save by buying "Phone X" over buying a RAZR, I would still have paid hundreds too much for a filmsy hunk of cutting-edge technojunk. (Don't take my word for it. Look around on the Net for comments about the RAZR around the time of its inroduction and see the recommendations from consumers that people choose the Motorola V600 instead. Then look at the consumer reviews of the V600 on this site.)



The RAZR has a camera, a web-browser, Instant messaging capability, and a whole array of other features all of which are listed in the product description. To the extent that the RAZR does these things adequately I will offer little, if any, comment--mainly because I don't care about them. That to which I can and will attest is that the RAZR exceeds my expectation on how it serves AS A PHONE.



Using my own criteria, a wireless phone should draw and hold a signal; It's earpiece should deliver clear sound at a volume which can compete with background noise; it's mouthpiece should pick up the users voice clearly; it should be compact enough to allow for placement in clothing pockets without creating prominent bulges; it should be solidly built out of durable materials which are not prone to scratching; it should have decent battery life. And yes, anything for which I pay hundreds of dollars should be designed with aesthetics in mind: there are far too many wireless phones which look like disposable children's toys, or like awkward, all-purpose, button-riddled gadgets.



Using the above criteria, the RAZR V3, particularly the Black model, is close to perfect. The sound from the ear piece could certainly be louder, but I have yet to have a caller's voice drowned out by the noise of busy New York City streets. The people to whom I'm speaking have reported to have heard my voice loudly and clearly. Battery life could be longer, but then, the same could be said about many wireless phones which are bulkier and have larger batteries. I have used the phone on both T-Mobile and Cingular networks and found that it draws a strong signal on both; it has never dropped a call. I found the speaker phone to be loud and clear despite my expectations to the contrary. Is the much-lamented Motorola phone book program clunky? Yes it is. But the RAZR's voice-dialing works well, making it possible to avoid scrolling through the phone book if one hates it that much.



I'll try to boil it down with a somewhat clumsy analogy: Complaining that the RAZR doesn't do enough in the way of tech-gimmicks to justify its price (which is considerably lower that it was when it was introduced) is like complaining that an exotic sports car isn't worth the money because it doesn't have a cup holder, a GPS system, and DVD player like the Minivan you've been looking to buy. That ridiculousness ignores the engineering that makes the sports car a superior performer on the road, and the attention put toward making it sleek and aesthetically pleasing. The RAZR's performance has made concern over signal strength a thing of the past. and its design is unmatched--not just for it's ultra-compactness, but for the solidity of it's build. That makes it worth what I paid for it. And my inability to speak to the quality of other phones on the market put them out of consideration.



Besides, as they say, black is beautiful.



That the RAZR cannot serve as a business-card scanner doesn't trouble me. For those who need to have whichever feature-laden mobile gadget is most desired at the moment, buy a Samsung MM-A800, clip it on you belt (you'll need to), and earn yourself the right to say your phone can do just about everything--poorly. Motorola RAZR V3 Unlocked Phone with Camera, and Video Player--International Version with No Warranty (Black) - Motorola - Cell Phone - Unlocked - Razr'

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Pad - pad

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If you're looking for "10 square" graph paper, you probably have a scale you want to be precise with.



Unfortunately, the uniformity isn't really there from sheet-to-sheet. Flipping to the back side of the page or rotating, you cannot use these to span from one page to another; this really becomes apparent when attempting to digitize (scan your drawings in) and get them to line up in GIMP/Photoshop/Pixelmator.



If you're going to use a straight-edge and a sharpened pencil on a single page, the paper is fully functional. Tops Section Pads with 10 Squares, Quadrille Rule, Letter Size (8.5 x 11), White, 50 Sheets per Pad (35101)

I have no complaints on this product, nor do I have any bubbly recommendations. It's graph paper, I was happy with my purchase and we've had a lot of fun making maps for treasure hunts using it. (See my review on Maps Globes Graphs Level A - steck Vaughn) I wouldn't run out and recommend this paper to anyone over another brand, but I also wouldn't warn people away either. - Pad'

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Drive-by Applebys Philosopher - keeping america stupid, how the privileged live

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Sweet read! I tried very hard to contain myself and read thoughtfully, digesting each page, but I ended up with juice on my chin, scarfing up the entire book in one sitting! Luckily it did not leave me with a stomach-ache or bitter taste after over-indulging! Wonderful stories, beautifully connected without appearing contrived. Remarkable character development for a series of short stories. Illuminating insights into the expatriate community. A definite book club recommendation! The Civilized World: A Novel in Stories

Comprised of nine stories told from the perspective of five female characters, "The Civilized World" is a tapestry of interwoven lives that fascinates from beginning to end.



The characters include Janice, an American working in Africa for a health organization; Adjoa, a Ghanian who goes to work in the Ivory Coast to raise money to open a beauty salon back home; Ophelia, an expatriate who is adjusting to living on another continent; Comfort, a new widow, and Linda, Comfort's American daughter-in-law.



Because there are several characters and settings, the novel provides a snapshot of everyday life in Africa, both from the perspective of an insider and that of an outsider. Despite the breadth of characters, however, there is no shortage of depth, and the reader gets to know each character well. As the novel progresses the threads are pulled more tightly together until we see how interconnected these women really are.



A fascinating exploration of culture, a thoughtful meditation on what it really means to be civilized, and a touching portrait of the bonds between women, make this a thought-provoking and highly enjoyable read.

you can be comfortable with--and thoroughly enjoy--Wyss's storytelling. Plots/subplots, characters, scenes are very clearly and vividly presented, and yet you almost have the sense that the stories are happening in real-time/real-life and that nothing is guaranteed or all worked out, further along in the pages, simply waiting for you to discover it. To me, that is exciting. You are as much on your own as are the characters in trying to navigate their own paths through complex personal and social situations. But Wyss makes sure we have time to do a little sight-seeing along the way--treating us to many beautiful and provocative views of the unfamiliar (to many of us) African countries where most of the novel takes place. Looking back on the book, I am always struck by how visual my recollections are, as happens with a good movie whose most powerful images and moments file themselves away among those from your very own life, as though you went through them yourself. I can understand the previous reviewer's comment about passion, but each of the main characters in Wyss's book is whole-heartedly pursuing her desires. However, she is doing so--whether through wisdom/experience, self-discipline, wariness, whatever--with a healthy respect for things that are beyond her control or understanding. And there are many. This is a truly unique and worthy read.

Susi Wyss's novel is a quiet joy to read. Not flashy or full of action, but full of reflections of real, lived experience, recognition that while people experience a few heart stopping moments in their lives (loss of a loved one, violent crime) much of our lives are engaged with less exciting but no less important experiences and negotiations (caring for a grandchild, hairdressing, attending a wedding). The engaging aspect of the book for me is Wyss's observations of human character, through the presentation of both the everyday and the extraordinary experiences of the women in this book. The book captures both negative and positive reflections of the women in their actions and thoughts, but in the end is a "feel-good" book in that the women are portrayed with a generosity of spirit. We forgive them their shortcomings, want resolution for them, and are granted resolution in a unpretentious way.



In addition to the realistic but generous depiction of her characters, Wyss has also succeeded beautifully in bringing the setting to life for the reader. In reading, we feel the wind move, smell pungent smells, feel the brush of a butterfly, feel the spray of a waterfall. We experience the delightful, like unusual names, and the comforting, like a conversation while having hair shampooed in a salon.



Reading the book is a treat. For readers who love warm and descriptive prose, musing on human nature, Africa, and have faith in the overall though complicated goodness of people (and especially women)...I bet this will be your favorite read of the year!

This book is wonderful!! As soon as I finished it, I wanted to read it again!

You will read about the goodness in people, their daily struggles with life, how

they wrestle with their decisions and what path they end up walking down. I am left

with wanting many more stories from Susi. The added bonus for me is knowing she wrote

stories about people, places, and events that happened while she lived in Africa.

This is a five star book from page one!

Civilized World is a moving and extremely satisfying set of stories. It provides heartfelt insight into the world of African women in their homeland and America and American women in Africa and the US. Having straddled both worlds, I was particularly struck by how amazingly real the characters felt - it was like I knew them all while at the same time I was gaining new insights into people I had met in the past and maybe never really "saw." The author does an amazing job of making each story feel complete on its own yet also part of the larger whole. You can't help but feel empathy and compassion for the characters as they struggle with choices about love, parenting and beyond. This is a powerful and beautiful read - take it with you on your next trip, whether abroad on some adventure, or just to the beach! - Keeping America Stupid - How The Privileged Live - Condescending Narcissism - Drive-by Applebys Philosopher'

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Drive-by Applebys Philosopher - keeping america stupid, how the privileged live how the privileged live Drive-by Applebys Philosopher - keeping america stupid, how the privileged live

Catering Burner - camping stove, great price

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I ordered this stove with a four pack of fuel. The stove as you see it on your PC is light-weight, metal -with a burner knob to turn it high or low, and to light it. It starts something like a snapper on a propane grill. It starts every time, has a nice clean looking, and odor-less flame, and is great for tail-gate meals, any outdoor/indoor, as well as an emergency cooking source. Or even for heat. However, read the warning regarding venting. I like it, and believe it will be even more useful in the near future, so much so -that I ordered a dozen cans of fuel. Which is not all that expensive. I like that. The stove will most likely run for more than a hour on high with a single can of fuel, though I haven't tried it. For camping and all outdoor activities that require a stovetop, this is perfect, and for the price I would add a dozen cans of fuel to have on hand. I would buy one again.

JC Nature's Quest Deluxe Portable Gas Butane Stove with Free Case

The price is great, and it looks great and works great - I don't regret the purchase. However, I want to point out that the description mentions its utility in case of a power outage, and another review mentioned wanting to have a gas burner occasionally at home, since their stove is electric. I bought this with the intent to occasionally use inside, and was surprised to read in the directions a warning against use indoors due to the emission of carbon monoxide. ?!?!? I wish I knew how high the risk is. Is the statement just to satisfy the lawyers and the risk is minimal, or is it really dangerous? I think I will use it anyways and make sure the stove vent is blowing, but thought another buyer might want to know about this.

This single Burner is exactly what I was looking for. I have only electric appliances and I wanted a gas Burner for the occassional times I want to cook on gas. This works great. Out of the case it is sleek and shiny Black. The Butane cartridge is not visiBle at all.



The Butane cartridges are extremely easy to use: Line up the notch, close the cover, lock in place and turn the knoB to ignite.



This is easy to clean and store. The case is not extremely thick or sturdy(don't picture the stuff kid's sandBoxes are made of - i can't think of the name), But adequate to close and store the unit and makes it easy to carry and keep it neat and clean.



I am pleased with the purchase and was definitely worth the price.

This is a fantastic product. The fuel canister is easy to install and my stove lit quickly and without a problem. I have always cooked on an open fire on my camping trips so i am excited to give this little guy a try. It is the perfect addition to my camping equipment.

UPDATE!!!

I just got back from my trip. The stove is AMAZING! You cannot screw it up. The design will not let you put the canister in incorrectly nor will it let you insert the canister if the stove is not in the off position. Also, you cannot turn the cook top over and put it in the case with canister in it (fantastic safety feature!).

I bought this for camping initially because it took my coffee about an hour and a half to START percolating on my propane grill. With this little guy I had coffee in 15-20 mins. Then I made breakfast on it in a cast iron skillet. I just ordered another one so that I can start the bacon while the coffee is making. You can't beat the price. One thing to note: go ahead and order the butane canisters while you're at it. They're hard to find. I finally found a Korean brand at a Chinese grocery store ($1.99 ea is a great deal if you've got a Chinese grocery in your 'hood.).

I purchased this stove to use for camping. Used it for the first time this weekend. Was great! It is very light weight, has a carrying case, easy to install gas canisters, and a flame shield was great! The flame never blew out. I would recommend this for anyone who has a need for a stove for camping.

I bought 2 of these and a 12 pack of butane based on the reviews they received. I just got back from a 4 day trip and used this little stove. It couldn't be any easier to set up and use. It puts out a nice, consistent flame, and the first canister lasted for several meals and heating water for coffee in the mornings. The case is a little flimsy (as others have noted), but you don't need it once the burner is out. You'll be hard-pressed to find a better value for under $20. I think I may be putting my 2 burner propane stove away for a while.

I bought this to melt candle wax and it works better than I had hoped. To that, we ran out of gas for our grill so I decided to try cooking on it and to my suprise it worked great for that. I know it's made for cooking but I wasn't sure how well it would work and I'm pleasantly suprised. Only down side is the fuels expensive and no one carrys it where I live so shipping is a ball buster. Despite that it's totally worth every penny.

I bought it for my earthquake kit, but it's so slick and convenient I'm using it more and more. Over the summer I used it with a cast iron flat skillet to make pancakes outdoors. The flame is so finely adjustable, which I hadn't expected from what I thought was a camp stove. It's well protected from wind, so you can really deliver a lot of heat. The canister system and the ignition are really smartly designed and solid I can't say enough about this thing. Little kid birthdays in the park, I can bring it and cook up hot dogs and stiff. It's really cool. Might be my favorite purchase this year. - Camp Stove - Great Price - Camping Stove - Catering Burner'

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Childrens Literature - fantasy, jk rowling

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This is arguably the most "hyped" book in history, and if J.K. Rowling had to sneak down to the kitchen for a glass of red wine to calm her nerves while writing The Goblet of Fire (as she said she did), one wonders what assuaged her while writing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The collective breath of tens of millions of readers has been held for two years...and now...was it worth the wait? Did Ms. Rowling live up to the hype? (For that, amongst hundreds of questions, is really the only question that matters.)



The answer, most assuredly, is YES.



Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is told in a strikingly different style than the previous six books - even different from The Half Blood Prince, and, I daresay, it's a better written, better edited, tighter narrative. And while the action is lively and well paced throughout, Rowling found a way to answer most of our questions while introducing new and complex ideas. What fascinated me was this: Some people were right, with regard to who is good, who is bad, who will live, who will die - but almost nobody got the "why" part correct. I truthfully expected an exciting but rather predictable ending, but instead was thrown for a loop. We've known that Rowling is fiendishly clever for years - but I didn't think she was *this* clever.



Not since turning the final page of The Return of the King twenty-eight years ago have I felt such a keen sense of loss. My love affair (indeed, everyone's love affair, I imagine) with all things Harry began somewhere in the first three chapters of The Sorcerer's Stone, and has lasted, on this side of the Atlantic, three months shy of nine years. For all that time we have waited and wondered - was Dumbledore right to trust Snape? Will Ron and Hermione get together? What's to become of Ginny and Harry? What really happened on that tower, when Dumbledore was blasted backwards, that "blast" atypical of the Avada Kedavra curse as we've seen it when used throughout the series. So many more questions than those listed here, and so many devilishly well-hidden hints. The answers, as I hinted above, will shock and awe you.



When first we met Harry Potter, he was "The Boy Who Lived", with an address of "The Cupboard Under the Stairs". Who could help but bleed sympathy for Harry, treated abysmally - abused, really - by the only blood relatives he had, and forced to live under said stairs by those awful Muggles, the Dursleys? It was a sensationally brilliant introduction, one that ensured that our heartstrings would be plucked and enchanted to sing. He was The Boy Who Lived.



Since reading that first book, we have enjoyed Rowling's spry sense of humor - portraits that spoke, stairways that moved at any given moment, Hagrid jinxing Dudley so that a pigs tail grew from his behind, Fred and George's fantastic creations, etc, etc., etc., and more etc's. There was a sense of wonder and magic in Rowling's writing, so thoroughly captivating that the recommended age group of 9-12 in no way resembled the book's actual audience. It was common to see adults walking about with hardcover copies of the latest book, sans dust jacket (to hide the fact that they were reading a "kids" book, I suppose). It was also common to hear of eight year olds sitting down with a seven-hundred-plus page book! By themselves! If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it.



As for Harry, we admired him. He wasn't afraid to stand up for what he felt was right, even if he found himself in detention for it. He was brutally honest, and immensely courageous and loyal. Harry came to embody, at times, who we would like to be. He wasn't perfect, of course. He suspected Snape of being the one who was after the Sorcerer's Stone, and in The Chamber of Secrets, he thought that Malfoy was the heir of Slytherin. This didn't diminish Harry in our eyes - it made him more human, more real, and even, perhaps, more enviable.



Endless fan sites have been erected. For an adult to go to any of them, and find that thirteen year olds are having an easier time parsing out the books plots, subplots, and mysteries, was (for me at least) humbling, but yet also a testament to Rowling herself, and her remarkable creation. She encouraged an entire generation of young readers to read and to think for themselves.



But the time has come to say good-bye, for this is truly the end.



So good-bye, Harry. Good-bye Hermione, Ron, Professor Dumbledore, *Professor* Snape, Professor McGonagall, Professor Hagrid, Ginny, Fred, George, Neville, Dobby (and all the house elves), even Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. We will miss all of you, every character we encountered, from Muggle to Mudblood to hippogriff and owl, and everything about the world you all so vibrantly inhabit. And to Ms. Rowling: know that you have brought immeasurable joy to millions and millions of Muggles worldwide, and know that we cannot possibly thank you enough. What a tremendous gift you were given. Thank you for sharing it with us. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)

*SPOILERS: please don't read if you haven't finished the book*

After reading the seventh and final installment of the Harry Potter series, as well as many of these reviews, I simply cannot believe that anyone would rate this book with less than 5 stars. I have read reviews where people say that the ending is too "light and fluffy", or that "Harry should have died", and that the whole deathly hallows part of the plot is pointless because, in the end, Harry does not keep the hallows. Can no-one here see why JK Rowling ended the series as she did? I grew up with Harry Potter, the first book having been released when I was about 9 or 10. I cannot express how depressing it would have been had Harry died, for(forgive me for the cheeziness) if Harry had died surely there was no hope for the rest of us. Furthermore, the ending is not "light and fluffy". Harry overcomes Voldemort as his character develops, as he finally understands how to finish the Dark Lord once and for all- as he allows himself to be sacrificed for the benefit of "the greater good". The deathly hallows merely stand as the temptation for Harry to become all-powerful, to make the same mistake that Voldemort and Dumbledore(when he was young) made. His choice to turn down the opportunity to evade death not only speaks on his true character, but sets him apart from those who would try to harness this power. Even if Harry had chosen to keep the Hallows for good purposes, would he not eventually turn into the same type of tyrant as Grindelwald, as Voldemort, and as Dumbledore would have become? Yes, the hallows did appear and disappear in this one book, but because Harry chose NOT to keep them for himself, he chose the path of the pure-hearted. By this action, we truly see how much Harry has grown and matured. We also see just how different Harry really is from Voldemort, a question Harry himself had been wondering for some time.



So for those of you that bash this book for not ending in total destruction, and claim that "life is not fair and evil really does win", please remember that life is only what you make of it. Only those of us who grew up with Harry can really say just how much his life means to us, and I would just like to thank JK Rowling for this wonderful finishing piece of the Harry Potter series. - Magic - Fantasy - Jk Rowling - Fantasy Series'

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This machine says that it will punch up to 10 pieces of 20# paper. The most I could punch at one time was 8, and that was difficult. It works best with 1 to 3 pices of paper. If you have never used this type of a binding machine, be prepared to spend some time on each job. First you have to carefully stack the papers so the left edges are all even. Then you have to punch holes in 1 to 3 pieces of paper at a time. When this is done, then you have to use the machine to open the plastic comb and carefully place each piece of paper on all of the open fingers. I bought this machine for home use to help bind various sets of papers such as tax returns. The C75 worked well in peforming this function, but extra time was needed to punch the required holes. If there were any creases or staples in the paper, they had to be cleaned up so they would fit in the small opening for the punch to work. I paid $72.75 for my machine in March of 09 and now it sells for about $10 less. At this price it is a good piece of equipment if is durable enough to last a while. If you are doing lots of comb binding, this machine is probably too slow and light weight. GBC CombBind C75 Desktop Binding Machine (7704230)

I am a teacher and used the binding machine to make booklets for the classroom. I had laminated pages to bind. To be on the safe side I did only 3 laminated pages at a time. Make sure to practice, especially if you are not using standard paper sizes so that the holes line up centered from the top and bottom.

The machines works very well, it is quite solid. I have made several booklets with this, collecting/binding collections of papers that would otherwise sit in a file folder in a file cabinet. For that alone, I think this machine is worth it!!



The punch has a handy drawer which collects the "hole punches", making it easy to empty later. Also, there's a second drawer in which you can keep a variety of plastic combs/spines for binding --- this makes it much easier than going back to the supply closet to get a 1/2" or 3/4" or 1" comb.



I've taken a pile of monthly forms and spiral bound them, then they're all in one place --- I just flip the page & I'm onto the next month. I teach art to kids. Took the best ideas for sculpture & spiral bound those. Now, when I need a sculpture idea, I just pull the booklet off the shelf. Ditto for booklets on painting, collage, figure drawing, etc. Sometimes I print off PDF booklets from the internet & bind them. Even amassed all my dieting tips into one handy booklet to recharge my motivation when I need to drop a few pounds. They are handy to slip in my tote bag to read in the doctor's office, on a trip, etc.



I find that having these little booklets on hand, I use/access the material much more. In that past, the articles simply accumulated in file folders, buried in a file drawer. This spiral booklet method is much more fun.



The only difficulty I've found is that it is hard for me to line up the plastic spine with the myriad of holes in the edge of the paper --- I'll get 80% "hooked" on the spine, but 20% don't want to go on. This is not a criticism of this machine, however, as I think it would be a problem with any spiral binding machine.



Overall, I'm having a lot of fun with my purchase!!

5 stars all on this unit. Yes, you can only punch about 5 sheets at a time, as others mentioned - this is a personal binder, meaning low volume, creating the occasional bound document. If you want to work quicker, you'll need to spend big bucks. For $43 (at time of my purchase) you can't beat the ease and convenience of self-binding. To bind, simply punch your paper, then place the comb on the teeth of the binder, line up the little hook things, gently pull the handle down to open the comb, position your paper, release the handle and you're done. Unit is small and light making it easy to transport. The well designed waste tray is easy to empty. The binder in general is very easy to keep clean and store. Even if you only use it occasionally, for under $50 you can't go wrong.

I would definitely would NOT recommend this machine. I found it awkward to use. I have used other machines before without any difficulty, but this one almost got the best of me. It states that you can do 8 pages at a time, but I found that I could only do 2 or 3. Spend your money on a quality binder that will serve its designed purpose, not this one.

Except for the fact that the binder did not come with plastic binders as promised in the ad, it works extremely well. I was doing a wildlife photo calendar, and this helped make it look more professional.

GBC CombBind C75 Desktop Binding Machine (7704230) The company shipped this immediately, great company to buy from! The Binding Machine works great ~ I love the ease of use with it and it takes very little room for storing it! - Binder - Spiral - Office Supplies - Binding Machines'

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