Guy Low Price Electronic

Sunday, 22 November 2009

Photography - flip video, hd camcorder

I bought this specifically to record band rehearsals and performances. I think I might take it back because it is missing a couple of essential features, although it is quite easy to use and has surprisingly good audio quality.

When I started looking for a handheld camcorder to record music rehearsals and performances, I quickly narrowed down the field to the Sony Bloggie, the Zoom Q3 and the Zoom Q3 HD because of their listed attributes and the great reviews on these products. The Zoom Q3 was the front runner as far as audio quality was concerned (according to reviewers) but was not 1080p. The Bloggie was 1080p, but didn't have the audio rep of the Zoom. The Zoom Q3 HD had both. I finally settled on the Sony Bloggie because the Zoom Q3 HD was a little out of my price range, and because I could find it locally and I needed it ASAP.

So here's the review:

The Bloggie came in a slick little box which can also be used as a carrying case for all the paraphernalia (USB cable, carrying cord, manuals.) The device is also very smooth and slick looking, and feels substantial in your hand. The first thing you need to do before using it is plug it in to your computer. Editing software will then be downloaded into your computer automatically. (The editor is very primitive, but does the job for basic applications.) The instruction manual doesn't really tell you much--- it is one thick card, and doesn't help much at all! You kind of have to figure out how the thing works on your own. Luckily, it is pretty straightforward. Press the red button to record!

The battery came charged out of the box, which was nice. It is recharged through the USB, so you don't ever need to buy batteries.

I tried a quick little vid in my bedroom and uploaded it to my harddrive with no problem. According to the specs, there is an internal flash drive (which can't be upgraded) which allows 2 hours of recording in 1080p. This seemed to me to be a little low for what I would need it for (band rehearsals,) but close enough. I erased the test vid from the memory, and went off to rehearsal.

Since I didn't buy the optional stand, I sort of balanced the thing between two books and pressed record. It seemed to be working fine (it has a built-in video screen), so we started rehearsal. About two hours later we quit, and I went home, all excited to download the vid and take a listen to what we had done.

After plugging the camera into my laptop and opening the editing software, I selected "import." A couple of minutes later, the file had finished, and (with great anticipation!) I pressed play to watch it. Listening to the video with headphones, I was surprised at the sound quality for such a tiny camera with no external mike! The video was pretty good, too, although that wasn't my main concern. The audio quality was my priority, and the Bloggie seemed to pass that test.

Unfortunately, at that moment, I noticed that the video was only 29 minutes long! Where the heck was the other hour and a half of rehearsal? I had no idea! Gone into the ether! I never touched the camera once I set it up, but for some reason the thing quit recording at 29 minutes! Gah! What a waste!!!! I was sick. I read the (non)manual, but could find nothing about this issue.

I also realized that we had played for about 2 and half hours, so even if the camera had worked, I would have missed the last half hour because of the lack of memory.

After I got home I went on line to do some research. At some camera website with the Bloggie specs and review, in the very last footnote at the bottom of the page, it said "movie recording is limited to 29 minute segments."

GAHHH!!!! Really, Sony? Really??? Even though there is still an hour and half of memory left? REALLY???!?!!

So, what that means essentially is that if I want to record one of our shows, I have to set up the camera, then a half hour later leave the stage to press "record" again? Then a half hour later, leave the stage AGAIN to press record AGAIN?

Epic fail.

The second problem I have with the Bloggie is that there is no way to expand the memory capabilities. With the Zoom you can upgrade your memory to be able to record up to 16 hours of video! With the Bloggie, you are stuck with two hours, but in 29 minute segments.

So here is my final summary:

PROS:

Surprisingly good audio quality for such a small camera.

Good video quality at 1080p.

Simple to use.

CONS:

Unfathomable 29 minute limit on videos.

Non-expandable memory.

Poor and useless tech manual.

For my needs, the Bloggie doesn't quite cut it. However, the audio quality is very good. Still, I think I will be forced to return this device.

I'm sad!

UPDATE AUGUST 16, 2011

I've been listening repeatedly to the audio on the recording that I made with this product, and the more I listen to it and compare it to the audio I have heard online of the ZOOM Q3, the more that I like the sound from the Bloggie. I am very torn at this point on whether I am going to return the Bloggie. The sound this little camera captures is really good! I will update again as I spend some more time with it and record some more with it. I also found that, according to Sony, the reason the camera shuts off at 29 minutes is because of heating issues. Still an epic fail, though.

UPDATE AUGUST 17 2011

OK, this camera has got to go! I tried using it a second time at one of our rehearsals. This time it only got through 20 minutes before shutting itself off (must have overheated.) I tried to start it again, but it just wouldn't record again. I had to wait over 20 minutes for it to cool down before it would begin recording again. Even then, it only lasted another 13 minutes before shutting itself off again, this time supposedly for no battery charge--- even though it was fully charged when I started. All of these things are entirely unacceptable. It is really sad, because the 33 minutes of video I did manage to get have really great, lifelike sound. The sound is good! If only the rest of the camera worked as well.... *sigh* Sony Bloggie Camera with 360 degree Lens Attachment (Black) - Flip Ultra Hd - Flip Video - Hd Camcorder - High Definition'

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Excellent Product - dado blade, dado

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Let me start off by saying that I have never used a high end Forrest or Freud Dado set but this is by far the best dado I have ever used; in comparing price I can't imagine the others are twice as nice. Excellent outer blades and six tooth chippers really gives you a smooth operation with a nice flat dado cut. I tried it on a number of veneers as an experiment and it never split or separated the outer layer, I am very happy with this set. I would actually give it 4.5 stars, it misses all five because of the "case". It is just a cardboard box; that will probably get damaged in shipping. I built a case and now have a high end dado set for half the price of the better known names. Oshlun SDS-0842 8-Inch 42-tooth Stack Dado Set with 5/8-Inch Arbor

I've only used this set a few times but am very impressed with how clean it cuts. Nice flat cuts. Very well packaged though I would have liked to see it in a better built box. But considering the cost versus the really expensive sets, this is a very good buy. The blades are packaged with styrofoam between each blade. I am a cabinet maker by trade and if these last near as long as my expensive set did I'll be happy. The directions are very well done as to what chippers and shims to use for each size of cut. I may look into their other blades. This is a very good buy.

For 50 years I have endured the less then satisfactory results from my Sears adjustable dado- not that it didn't performed as advertised.

This Oshlun is like from heaven. All my dado's are letter perfect.

That plus the rapid delivery from Amazon satisfies all my needs.

I had been indecisive on which Dado stack would replace the lousy Skil (rebranded Vermont American) High Speed Steel set. I had to stick with a 6" set to go with my Ryobi BT3100-1 table saw. It was going to be either the Freud SD206, or the Oshlun SDS-0630. It came down to personal recommendation from a local woodworking club, and price.

I can honestly say, the Oshlun SDS0630, is about as close as you can get to Dado stack perfection while still holding price within the realm of reasonable cost...

Fine width adjustments with 1/16", and 1/32" chippers, combined with the nice selection of shims make fine tuning your dado to the funny sheet goods sizes easy as can be. And if you aren't sure how to set it up and adjust it, Oshlun includes a fairly straight forward instruction sheet.

The blades are clearly marked as to direction and proper position to insure foolproof installation. The chippers are clearly marked for thickness, as well as rotational direction.

This set leaves laser perfect smooth cuts, and bottoms in everything I have thrown at it, from MDF, Melamine board, Baltic Birch plywood, white oak, pine ply, solid pine etc...

The objection otherwise mentioned here to the fact that this ships in a cardboard box is not misplaced, but honestly, what we are reviewing here is the Dado set, not the storage box. If you want a solid storage case, build it. You are a woodworker right? Yes a nice case would have been a good addition, but at this price point I think the manufacturer would have had to cut back on the quality of the blades to fit a proper case in the budget. Not a good trade off. Heck, use the Dado stack to build your storage case for the dado stack! This thing honestly makes cutting dadoes precise, accurate, fast, and even somewhat fun...

I have not had this blade set long enough to give a fair assessment of long term durability, but from the way this thing is built, I do not expect there to be any problems with it holding up well.

Oshlun dado set is of excellent quality, perfectly balanced

for cero vibrations and neat cuts. The set is very easy to install and use.

Furthermore, Oshlun customer service is trully the best you can get. Recently I dropped one of the blades over

hard metal and damaged a couple teeth,... wrote to customer service about it

and immeditely got a new replacement blade. I am very impressed and pleased with the Oslum service and

very reliable products. That is why I am giving Oshlum much more than five stars.

I am using this dado set on a 10" Delta Contractor's saw. The dadoes I have cut are very smooth in the bottom and on the sides. The way the teeth are set on the outside blades leaves a small "v" groove on each side of the dado at the bottom. This seems to help prevent tear out. I am using this set mostly in plywood so the edging covers these tiny groves. I don't think they would be objectionable in solid wood either. Of course a blind dado will cure that if it's a problem. The extra teeth on the chippers seems to account for the smooth cuts. I would recommend this blade to any serious hobby woodworker. I'm not sure how it would hold up in a commercial shop setting but a great set for the home shop.

Sure, the cardboard box is cheesy, but that's not why I bought this set. I'm making a chest that requires hundreds of dado cuts. I'm an intermediate woodworker and this dado set helped make quick work of it. The only issue I've had is some tearout when cutting cross-grain dado cuts in the edge of 3/4 inch oak, but I suspect this might have been an issue with any dado or maybe with my feed rate. Maybe finer teeth would help, I don't know... but that might compromise other performance. It seems very easy to get the exact cut width I want and the set looks like it will be very durable.

Oshlun SDS-0842 blade set arrived on schedule in excellent condition. No chips in carbide teeth. Like many I have a 25 yr. old set of Sears "Craftsman" stacked blades. (There is absolutely no comparison to the new set.) I have used the new set on several projects and once set up they work just as advertised. I'm sort of hobby/pro because I do sell most of my work and I can't think of any reason to spending any extra money on dado blades. Highly recommend this set if you're looking to buy. - Dado Set - Dado Blade - Dado Blade Set - Dado'

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Programmable Timer Switch - programmable timer switch

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I bought this about 6 months ago and attached it to a table lamp in the living room with a 14 Watt CFL bulb. Twice during this period it lost the settings and had to be reset. Finally it just died. Very disappointing. GE 15089 7-Day Plug-In Digital Timer

I bought two of these timers for our screen porch lights. The directions for setting the timers were a little confusing to me, but once I figured it out, they work like a charm. Come on and off within 1 minute of each other.

This item works fine once you figure out how to program. Not particularly intuitive. Don't lose the manual or you'll never figure it out.

Mine died after about a year of continuous use. It appears that the battery died. There are weird screws on the case (head shaped like a "Y"), so you can't open it to see if you can replace the battery. Just threw it out. Seems like quite a waste.

Wouldn't buy one again.

After only a year of service, this timer did an accurate impression of an IED. The bang was quite loud and disconcerting. I discovered there is a battery inside the case, and apparently Chinese batteries (this whole product is made in China, thanks GE!) are downright un-American and want to go on a Jihad and tried to burn my house down. How this product could be sold as a safe device is beyond me. Time to go back to the old fashioned dial models...

Do NOT buy this timer unless you have good home owners insurance!

I've had one of these operating a CFL light in our home for the past week, and it works great..no flickering or buzzing of the CFL (this timer is CFL compatible, unlike the older mechanical style timers). The unit is small, quiet (no clicking of whirring of the gears), easily programmed and is energy efficient itself (draws less than 1 watt, vs 3-4 watts for the traditional mechanical timers) It has a manual override button, which is handy if you need to turn something on outside of its programmed schedule. It also has a variety of programming options (single day, weekday/weekend programing, every other day, random, countdown and some I don't remember). If the power shuts off, it has an internal battery so that you don't have to reprogram it. It claims to have a daylight savings offset, but I haven't used that yet.

I'm giving it a four rating vs a five because the instruction sheet that comes with the unit has almost unreadable small print and useless figures. In addition, the manual override feature on this timer requires that you must also manually turn it off and put the unit back into auto (timer) mode (with the mechanical timer units, you can manually override, but the units automatically go back into timer mode after 30-60 minutes.. a nice feature).

We use timers to control many of the lights and a hot water circulating pump in our house to save energy, but I was surprised to discover that the old mechanical timers themselves draw 3-4 watts. I cannot detect the power draw of this device using a Kil-A-Watt unit. With the high utility rates in our area (southern California), I estimate that it will take about 18 mos for one of these units to pay for itself when used to replace a mechanical timer. Not bad for something that is superior in just about every way. - Programmable Timer Switch'

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Kindle Devices - craptacular, ebook

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There are great. They are durable enough to wear and work in and still look dressy. I do recommend to order a size up because they are very clingy. But overall and excellent product and good for the price. Dickies Womens Plus Size Relaxed Straight Stretch Twill Pant, Black, 22 Regular

The vendor sent this well within the timeframe and in fine condition. No complaints. Bravo in fact.

The pants are classic dickies. They fit ok, a bit long in the leg for me (size 14 and 5 foot 9") so I will have to hem the pants.

In fairness I have to wait till I hem the pants for getting the fit correct, but for now, they are "ok" The color runs to a yellowish sand. For those whose skin color works with that color it will be fine. It tends to make my skin look a bit sallow not not the best for me.

I remain a fan of the metro dockers which fit me perfectly and look a bit more dressy, but all in all, fine pair of pants. More casual than I expected in look but fine.

This is my first time purchasing a pair of these pants. Most pants (even in tall sizes) are too short or fit wrong in all the wrong places. I needed a comfortable pair for work (will invest in more colors in the future. I must say that they are quite comfortable and fit loose enough (not to loosely) where I don't look like I'm going to the club while at work. :) I recommend this to any tall or curvy women out there.

With pants it is hard to judge quality in a short time-span. One needs to see how they do over time. The crotch is a little short for my liking, but still a comfortable fit. The one big issue I had was, I am on the shorter side, and these are regular length, so I knew I would have to hem them. Usually regular length requires a 1 or 2 inch hem...these requires a 4 inch hem, totally crazy!

So, if you normally wear regular length be prepared to hem these. - Kindle Devices - Ebook - E-reader - Craptacular'

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Arch Supports - back pain, arch supports

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I "sprained" my lower back really bad about a month ago. I went to the dr. and got the usual round of muscle relaxers and pain pills which were helping a lot but every time I would have to do some yard work it would hurt again. I saw a commercial for these and thought I'd try them. I can't believe the difference it makes. Less than a week after the original injury I could mow my yard without any pain at all. I have tested it by doing things with and without them in my shoes and it is really working to emliminate the pain. I'm not an expert on back pain or remedies for it but these have really helped me. Dr Scholl's Back Pain Relief Orthotics, Women's Sizes 6-10 (Pack of 2)

I walk 6-8 miles per day with my little dog. Since I have extremely narrow heels, I have a terrible time finding shoes that fit.

The only ones I've found that fit me without slipping in the heel are Nike 'fashion' sneakers. The problem is that there is basically no support or cushioning in them and after a couple of miles, my feet and back would ache.

I discovered these insoles at Target and bought more here because the price is better & there's no sales tax.

I like the fact that they are 'cut to fit'. The orthotics that can't be cut don't extend all the way to the end of the shoe and I end up with blisters on the balls of my feet from them.

These last about 4 months if walking daily in them.

As a teacher, I stand all day long. It would be nice if I could wear good shoes with adequate support for the job, but I have to look professional, so dressy flats are the best I can get. On top of all of the standing, I am constantly bending over to help students or picking up crates of heavy papers.

When I injured my back recently, I was searching for something that would support my feet better, and I found these orthotics. On the first day, I could feel the difference. Usually, my mid-back was burning by noon, but when I wear these, I go home feeling great with no pain.

Although I don't think that these take the place of proper bending at the knees or chiropractic care, they are a miracle addition to proper back-treatment methods, and I would highly recommend them. - Arch Supports - Arch Support - Insoles - Back Pain'

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Bathroom Sink Faucets

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I ordered 2 of these faucets for my Master bedroom remodel. The faucets are beautiful, very solid, and before packaged in separate boxes, they were placed in cloth bags to prevent scratching. One of the faucets, however, had a scratch on it. Customer service was exceptional!! My email was responded to within hours and I had a new one in the mail to me the next day, which was in perfect condition. I would definitely order from them again!! You won't find a better price for the quality of the faucet. Contemprary Single Handle Waterfall Bathroom Vanity Faucet, Chrome

Pros:Heavy well made faucet.Looks good.Works good.reasonable priceCons:No instructions. There was an instruction booklet but it was about other faucets by this manufacturer. No instructions on this faucet.The booklet says the the faucet is guaranteed. It doesn't say for how long it is guaranteed or where to get service. No address and no telephone number.I was surprised how noisy it is.Undersink metal bracket is not well designed. Too small and too thin. Have to be careful when tightening down faucet so that the bracket will not buckle through sink faucet hole. Also the nuts rub up against water supply hoses and bracket gets caught on the hoses and has to be tweaked when tightening the nuts.Hoses should have been for 3/8 fittings. Most home installations have 3/8 angle stop. Had to purchase new angle stops for this faucet.Faucet only. No drain, etc included.SEPTEMBER 22 REVIEW UPDATE: Vendor, WTEvergreen LLC - Amazon Marketplace, contacted me and addressed all my concerns with me and the manufacturer. In the future, specific instruction booklet will be included, adapters will be supplied to fit 3/8 angle stop, etc, etc. I HAVE now CHANGED TO FIVE STARS. Very impressed with their customer service and I would have no hesitation to order from them in the future.

First of all, I'm a french canadian, so my english might not be perfect. But you should understand my comments! :-)

Very nice faucet. I really like the fact that this model is really different than what you would usualy see in a bathroom. And the price... So cheap!

Keep in mind the base is very wide (larger and deeper than what it appears to be on the pictures). This faucet would not fit every sink. We had to switch the faucets from downstair with the one upstair because we have a sink like this one ([...]) and the base of the new faucet was too big.

Doesn't come with a pop-up drain, so buy one.

Shipping was fast and the packaging was ok.

I loved this faucets, I buy two of them and when they arrive I was surprise! It was bigger and better than I suppose !

I received itvery fast and I am very glad with the product!

I really recommend this faucet! It is gorgeous !

Bought this for our masterbath remodel project. This is outstanding! Very nice quality and looks great on our new granite countertops. Would recommend to anyone looking for something different with flair.'

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Leather Banded - leather banded, lightweight

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This is a very nice looking watch, with a surprisingly thin case (only 5mm!), but I only got to enjoy wearing it for a few months before the crystal spontaneously cracked in my dresser drawer one night. When my wife took the watch to a watch repair shop, they quoted $55 to replace the broken crystal. That's five less than the sale price of the watch - no thanks. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted, but I won't buy another one to replace the first - twenty bucks a month is a bit high for a watch rental. Skagen Men's 433LSL1 Slim Brown Leather Watch

My wife bought me this watch for our 20th anniversary. It keeps good time and looks classy. I can wear it to work with a pair of jeans and a casual shirt and then keep it on for a night out in slacks and a button down. Good watch.

I bought this as a gift for someone, and it has turned out wonderfully. It is a very slim and stylish watch and has great quality. I would definitely recommend buying it on Amazon or with another discount seller. I saw the same watch (with the same model number) for double the price on other websites.

Bought this watch after my friend (another skagen enthusiast) referred me. I think this is the most elegant semi-formal watch I've owned. It's style is really subtle and unlike all those chunky chronographs, it does exactly what a watch is supposed to do: tell time. The watch face is also big enough for the time to be easily read. Some people seem to complain how this watch breaks easily (or at least the crystal). I haven't had any problems with it (though I've only had one for 4 months so far), but I don't think I really will. The crystal looks as delicate as any semi-formal watch I've owned. Unless you work in in an industry like construction or have a tendency to bump into things, I don't think you have anything to worry about minus battery issues.

I have had this watch for a few months now and it is absolutely amazing. It is comfortable, light weight, sleek, sexy and also quite durable. It is a great casual and dress watch. I would definitely recommend the Skagen brand to everyone. They make accurate and awesome watches.

For the price of a Timex, you can have a sleek, modern work of art. Great quality leather band, great quality watch. I've received complements from total strangers. Nothing wrong with a Timex, I have several, but from a design point of view, this is heads and tails above your typical "wear everyday" watch.

Saw this watch at a major department store for $110, checked Amazon $70, checked back again later that night AND IT DROPPED TO $61... uhh... can we say "sold?"

I love my new watch. The face is actually thinner than the band! super lightweight! Stylish for dress or casual!

I bought this watch for my boyfriend and it's perfect! It is very nice, with a good and beautiful leather strap and a clear, classic, and somehow subtle and soothing typeface for the watch face. It's one of the most beautiful watches I've ever seen without being flashy but having just obvious good style. - Skagen Watch - Beautiful Watch - Lightweight - Leather Banded'

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