Easy To Use Camera - point and shoot, easy to use camera

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BOTTOM LINE:



With each generation, Canon makes the ELPH series easier to use and still get great results. Like it's predecessors, this one fits easily into your pocket (or the case I recommend toward the end of this review). That point alone may make this the best camera you own; having a $5k DSLR doesn't do you much good if you left it home because it wasn't worth the effort to lug it along.



However, unlike many other small cameras, this one does not sacrifice either features or quality. Well, it does give up on any reasonable manual control, things like setting shutter speed, lens aperture, ISO. What access you do have to that level of control is buried deep inside menus. It took Canon a while to realize that for most of us, if we wanted to fool with that kind of thing on a regular basis, we would be using a different camera. This camera is designed to leverage convenience over extreme control or nth degree quality.



DETAILS:



It is a small camera and carries with it the baggage that comes with the convenience of having to carry so little baggage. (sorry, couldn't resist) None of the issues raised, given that they comes as part of the convenience trade-off made me consider anything other than the 5-star rating this camera deserves.



One issue with all small cameras is the built-in flash. They are all underpowered and create red eye. Both problems are caused by the need to keep the camera small; the flash needs to be small and positioned close to the lens. Canon addresses it by putting in some really good noise reduction so you (actually the camera) can shoot at a relatively high ISO in low light allowing for a faster shutter speed. The result is an image that is both low noise and not blurry. And the best part is the camera takes care of all that so you don't have to. As a result you can take pictures in a well lit room without having to use the flash at all.



- The shutter response, as with any small digital camera for less that $500, is a bit slow for effectively capturing children and pets. The trick for doing that is to either have a great sense of timing and a shutter that reacts instantly or a reasonably fast ( > 4x / sec ) burst mode. This camera has neither.



Some other suggestions that apply:



Normally at this point I would put in some details about manually setting ISO or selecting a color space. However, for this camera it just isn't relevant. You are buying this camera because you want to take great pictures without having to worry about that stuff. If you do want to "take your photography to the next level then a great resource is the Confessions of a Compact Camera Shooter: Get Professional Quality Photos with Your Compact Camera.



Finally, I've found the Caselogic QPB-1 Compact Digital Camera Case (Black/Gray) is just the right size for this camera. It's semi-rigid so you get a fair amount of protection but doesn't add a lot of bulk. It's made even better by using one of these, Nite Ize SB1-2PK-01 Size-1 S-Biner, Black, 2-Pack, to secure it to a belt loop. Canon PowerShot ELPH 100 HS 12 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 4X Optical Zoom (Blue)

Just received my Canon ELPH 100 HS {orange} and I absolutely love it. The camera boots up almost instantly. Installed a 16GB SDHC class 10 card and now have 5000+ 12MB photo capacity or 60 minutes for HD video. The image stabilization at max digital zoom 4X4/16x works great! The camera easily fits in my pocket and is very light @ ~5 ounces.



The Canon's Digic 4 processor & CMOS sensor make this camera truly point and shoot. By default it automatically selects the light level, shaking, target focus, shutter speed, flash/noflash and ISO to pick the optimal scene type. Perfect pictures virtually every time when button is correctly pressed 1/2 way (1) before fully in (2) for photo shot. But be sure to get a class 10 card for the best video.



The only 2 minor problems I believe are:

1) It comes with a 700 mAh 3.7 Volt battery instead of the 1400 mAh 3.7 OEM version which doubles it run-time for 230 photos to almost 500 pictures per charge. This is easily fixed when ordering additional batteries just get the larger mAh capacity ones.

2) The CameraWindow transfer software doesn't automatically delete pictures after they are transferred. Some people like this as not to delete photos improperly transferred.(I do not). Some camera blogs suggest a quick format after transfer is the way to quickly delete photos/video after successful transfer.



However, this is the best point and shoot camera I have used and I still think it's a 5 star camera @ $199 MSRP.

I normally use a Nikon D50 which takes great photos, Im no professional but really enjoy taking pictures of my toddler. Well he broke my Nikon and I sent to see if it could be fixed but wanted to point and shoot because they come in really handy! I reviewed what felt like a million cameras, I touched them and felt them and shot pictures with them and hated every single one! I hadnt seen this one online (cause there werent any reviews) but I went to Shutterbug and they had it, I tried it out and loved it! I've had it for a few weeks and I use it everyday! Pictures always turn out amazing! Our house kinda has crappy lighting and its a major problem with pictures, this camera takes the best pictures by far! (not super grainy looking like others) I also wanted to camera that shoots video. I dont use it to shoot professional quality video but Im impressed! Alot better then my last point and shoot. Also my video does autofocus on video mode, so the other viewer might have had a faulty one cause mine does great. I wasnt looking to spend $200 but I'd do it again in a heart beat!



Pros:

powers on so quick

Picture quality

Picture speed (amazing)

low light pictures

video!



Cons:

....nada - Easy To Use Camera - Point And Shoot'

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Garmin Nuvi 650 - garmin case, leather case

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I don't understand all the glowing reviews for this case: based on the many four and five star ratings given by other owners, I figured it was a no-brainer and placed my order.



When it arrived, I was surprised to discover that the leather is coarse and thin and that there is no real padding for the Nuvi.



Basically, this is two pieces of hard plastic over which some low-grade leather has been stretched. The best thing I can say about it is that it fits the 650 snugly -- at least initially -- which is important, as one end of the case remains open (providing easy access to the headphone port and SD card slot, as well as a potential avenue for the carelessly handled Nuvi to slip out).



Do not look for a belt clip or carry strap option, either. This is simple protection of the most basic sort.



I do not expect this case to wear well; it just isn't constructed for regular daily use.



Given the price and quality of the Nuvi 600s, I expected better in a case.



BTW, shame on Garmin for not including even some flimsy basic protection like this in the box with the 650!



Unless it is important to you to get something with the Garmin name on it, I would advise shopping for a more durable and protective alternative to this case. Garmin 4.3-Inch Carrying Case

I bought this case from my Nuvi 760, I would buy it again.



Pros

+ reinfoced front and back makes for a sturdy case that protects the device from both scratches and impacts

+ very snug but easy to get in and out - hasn't ever slipped out

+ good size, it is about as small as it can be

+ soft interior to prevent scratches

+ small sleeve on the side



Cons

- It is snug enough to sometimes slide the power switch on the 760 as I take it in or out. I need to make sure it goes in with the switch down and locked so it doesn't come on when I put it in. Coming on on the way out isn't such a big deal since I usually want to use it.



Overall this is a great case, if you are careful you could call auto-power-on a feature!

First a comment on some previous reviews - This is not a high tech item, it's a protective case. Don't try to make more of it than that.



Now for my thoughts.

1) It fits my NUVI 750 like a glove.

2) The quality of construction is at least as good as any other case I've seen on the market. It also is aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

3) It slips into my shirt pocket with ease.

4) I realize that is not a form of structural armor for my device and that I still must exercise a certain amount of care to keep my NUVI from harm. It's not waterproof, fireproof, bombproof etc. It does keep my screen clean, prevents case scratches, protects it from the usual hazards of being knocked about in the console of my vehicle where it resides when not in use.



To summarize. It does what it is designed to do at a reasonable price.

Therefore it rates the 5 stars in my book.

Garmin nüvi 750 Auto Navigation System



i just picked up one of these for a nuvi 750 as the case is listed as compatible on the garmin site. stylish looking case however, the 700 series is thinner then 600 series. if you hold the case upside down, the nuvi will fall out. be caareful.

The Nuvi 250w did not come with a case so I ordered this one. It fits perfectly. The whole 200w series is the same size so any of them will fit.



It's a little expensive but it's a lot cheaper then replacing a cracked screen.

I ordered this case for my Garmin 200W. It works great, nice case - quality construction. I would not recommend this case for any 'rugged' applications. A hard shell case would probably be much better. But this case will suit the needs of most average consumers. It is durable and can be put in a bag or purse. My only complaint is I wish it had a closure tab or strap to give it extra security for the GPS to not slip out but I've not had any problems. Nice basic protective case.

This case came with my Nuvi 660. It is well worth having the case for storage in a glove box so that other items do not scratch the screen. There is a soft liner on the inside of the case. It's also a great way to protect your Nuvi if it is dropped. This is also great for the lady that wants to put it in her purse to use show off photos of your kids and grandkids to her friends. - Leather Case - Garmin Nuvi 650 - Garmin Nuvi - Garmin Case'

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Am Radio Reception - am-fm, am radio

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Apparently they are sending a totally different version of this radio now compared to what was available when many of these reviews were written.

The radio they are sending now (8-2009) is a heavy but cheap piece of black plastic with the lowest quality components possible. The sound is fairly harsh (due to significant amounts of high frequency distortion at ALL volumes) and it breaks up completely into a blast of noise and distortion with the volume is set past 3-4 on FM. It's not the speaker distorting, the problem is the tiny amp rated at 1/4 to 1/3 watt. Those numbers are fairly accurate and based on actual electronic measurements I did with a quality true RMS Volt and watt meter. While being physically large, this heavy radio has less power than some tiny radio's that I have and only 1/10th the power of a decent, 4 watt mp3/clock radio setup. Due to it's size it gets loud enough to use in a typical kitchen or living room setting but it's easily surpassed in reception, sound quality and volume by pretty much any decent quality boombox and most amplified mp3 or computer speakers. The original GE SuperRadio woofer has been replaced with an equal size but lighter and more efficient speaker with a smaller magnet and a lightweight cone.

There is a separate tweeter for clarity but the radio as a whole is easily distorted by even modest volume levels due to the tiny internal amp. Yes, the batteries will last a long, long time because tiny amps don't take much power.

They should replace the amp with a better one or change the design over to AA batteries instead of D cells since it would still run a long time even on AA's and then the radio could then be built at half the size and weight and still sound better.



The AFC button (auto frequency control) has a design flaw in the circuitry that reduces the bass response by 3-4dB when enabled.



The rotary knobs have a large amount of slop in the mechanism even when new and feel like they wont last long.



Good tuner designs can be completely silent between stations but they didn't try much on this one. It has loud noise and distortion between FM stations and the noise is often louder than the stations themselves.

Even a tiny Sandisk $29 Sansa mp3 player that I tested gets more stations and is clearer.



I own an original GE SuperRadio and have realistic expectations so I felt inclined to let people know that this is not the same product. RCA is clearly not trying much with this model since it has no relation to the original GE SuperRadio that it's based on. After reading some reviews talking about the wonderful sound quality I felt obligated to provide more detailed information from an Audio Engineers perspective and let them know that this is not the real deal anymore. I returned it. RCA RP7887 AM/FM Super Portable Radio

This is more of a Super-Radio 4 with the cosmetics of a Superadio III. This is the third version of the RCA-branded "Superadio". It's not made by Thomson Consumer Electronics as the original Superadio III was made but by a Canadian outfit called AVC Electronics. The target market no longer seems to be the USA but Canada (nothing wrong with that).



I bought one of these just to see what changes were made - I'm a radio engineer by trade and hobby.



It took me three samples before I found one radio that worked sort of properly. The first one was extremely mis-calibrated. The second one had floppy controls (the audio pots would turn 360 degrees as if their detents were broken) and dead spots across the dial. The third unit is calibrated properly on AM but slightly off on FM, particularly noticeable on the high end of the dial. A station on 106 FM appears halfway between 106 and 108.



Sound quality is not as good as the original IIIs. Audio is tinnier. The woofer in the current model doesn't have as much bass response as earlier units, even with the bass dial turned to maximum.



When turned on, it takes a while for voltages to ramp up and let the varactor tuning diodes return to the previous station that was listened to. Older IIIs would do this much more quickly. I haven't yet opened the radio to look at the circuit board, but the difference in performance suggests the electronics have been redesigned.



The most insignificant part is the slight but noticeable cosmetic changes: Printing on the top part of the cabinet is now gone. Also gone is the chrome finish on the knobs and switches - replaced by a dull-grey matte finish.



In short, I think it's seriously time to consider retiring this model line.



It's been a good 30 years (I, II and III under GE and the second version of RCA-branded III; the first version being plagued by defective tuning potentiometers) but better-quality contemporary analog-tuned and digitally-tuned radios (by companies like C-Crane and Sangean) have superseded it.



Clearly the current manufacturer (AVC Electronics) is just cruising on name recognition and not quality. - Table Radio - Am Radio - Am-fm - Am Radio Reception'

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Laptop To Tv - pc vga to tv converter, laptop to tv

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I bought this so I could play streaming Netflix movies through my laptop on my LCD TV. Device worked perfectly right out of the box. Here are the connection steps: 1. Connect laptop "VGA out" to device "VGA in" using included cable. 2. Connect device's power cable to USB port of laptop. 3. Connect device to LCD TV using included S-Video cable. 4. Turn on TV and laptop. 5. Use TV remote to select appropriate S-Video input port. 6. Set laptop to send video out through VGA. I had it working in about 10 minutes, playing a streaming Netflix movie through my laptop onto the TV. Picture quality was better than I expected, almost as good as the picture from the cable box. Device comes with a composite video cable also, so you have a choice of either S-Video or composite video (yellow RCA plug) connection to your TV. Overall, I'm very happy with ease of setup and picture quality. (My setup: Compaq Presario CQ60 laptop with Vista, and Westinghouse 26" LCD TV, connected via this converter.) Sabrent PC to TV Converter Box

INTRODUCTION:



Heads-up: Most people aren't fully knowledgeable of this particular avenue of technology, meaning that contrary to what you might hope or have been told, you can't down-vert VGA to a TV resolution without quality loss. Most of the reviews which scathe this product and others, saying the quality sucks, might be true but they're not recognizing the fact it's a limitation of the technology--not the device. Don't review a device poorly for something it cannot do.



First thing to know is, when converting any video signal into a different format, it most likely will not be perfect. When downgrading from VGA to Composite (RGB), it's even worse. You need to know this up front and expect it. Unless you buy specific hardware (for much more), or have specific software which helps down-vert the graphics, it's going to lose sharpness and sometimes clarity, and at worse the image might appear "shifty". Even the special hardware and software won't make it perfect, it merley softens edges for the most part. TV quality composite wasn't designed for the resolution capability of VGA, or even today's higher-end video output formats.



Your needs and application may vary. For simple things like watching videos or playing games (which use mostly graphics and large fonts, not small text), and certain presentation applications, this will be perfect. This will not be good if you need to browse the web and still think you'll be able to easily read small text with clarity.



PROS:



* Price for the features you get - awesome. It works as described, includes everything you need to get going. You shouldn't spend more than this



* Includes everything you need



* Intuitive/easy to use out of the box, < 2 minute setup time



* Great quality video as expected (read 'introduction' and 'my application' and 'video quality' for more details)



* Excellent for DVD playback/video/games/presentation/GUI interfaces



CONS:



* The sharp/crisp/high-quality stuff you see on a normal computer screen will not be here--because it's not possible to down-vert VGA to Composite without losing the quality. This is not a flaw of the device, it's merely the technology.



* Not good for browsing sites which use lots of text, reading documents, things of that nature--again, this is not the device, it's a limitation of the technology itself



MY APPLICATION:



I needed this to convert a low-resolution VGA output (640x480 or 800x600) into a Composite feed which could be seen on a 6.5" or 7" LCD with average quality. What this means is, small fonts like 10pt, 12pt, etc, were not expected (or needed), as it was a GUI-driven touch-screen interface using mostly graphics and large fonts. For this purpose, the output was perfect for my needs.



I had everything



VIDEO/PICTURE QUALITY:



4 out of 5. (please read the introduction to see more about video quality)



The quality is exactly what I expected, so the rating is high. If you expect this to look as sharp as a projector, you're looking at the wrong item--get a projector. On a medium-sized screen (relative to what I'm used to), 37-45", most normal text (10-14pt font, unbolded) looks grainy. 12+ size font bolded looks decent. Graphics, ones which aren't intricate and which lack detail, look great. Anything with lots of detail is going to look off. Imagine trying to play one of today's high-end games, but through the graphics ability of a 20 year old gaming system. It simply won't look right.



But if you're going for simple or large graphics, pictures, video, flash games, solitaire, web-browsing using large fonts and low-resolution, presentations, gui-interfaces, car-computers, and other stuff along those lines, you get the drift. This is perfect for playing a DVD on a computer and porting it to your TV. It's not great for trying to read a Word document with small font at a high resolution.



Something to note is the high resolution input it can take, very awesome. Something to be aware of, however, is that these high resolutions don't look great on all TV screens. You'll have to try some out to see what works best for your application. I accidentally put 1600x1200 through it and it rendered even though it said it wouldn't.



PRODUCT QUALITY:



5 out ot 5. It's compact, the device is sturdy, all the ports are firm, nothing is loose when you plug it in.



INSTRUCTIONS:



3 out of 5. The instructions were adequate but lack a lot of detail. Not that you need a lot of detail, but for some it may be helpful. I merely plugged it up and started toying with it. I didn't read the instructions until I wanted to see an explanation of all the menu items. The menu layout is very low-tech but functional, reminds me of first generation VCR's.



INCLUDED CABLES:



5 out of 5. They give you everything you need to get started, including a short composite cable.



NOTES:



* As with lots of electrical devices, I suggest having all your connections made prior to applying power. So if your computer/tv are already on, connect the VGA and composite cables up first, then plug your USB cable in to provide power. Or, better yet, have everything turned off first, plug everything up, then turn on your equipment.



* Other units which look alike and advertise they do the same, may be able to do the same, but many of the ones I reviewed on Amazon and elsewhere all had the same series of bad reviews--mostly hardware failures and defects. This model appears to have good reviews across all the websites. Pay the extra $15 for it.



* An $80 unit won't do more quality-wise than this unit will; at best it will have a better menu system, and maybe more overall features, but the quality will be the same. Unless you break the $100+ mark and get a unit which advertises boosted video signal and special firmware/software to help make fonts/edges/contrast look better, it's not worth the extra money.



* What you expect in quality of picture versus what you get, will differ compared to someone else's expectations.



* You may see a split-second flicker of the RGB bars when everything powers up the first time, but immediately following should be your VGA. This is normal, RGB bars indicate there's a composite signal but there's no video or picture to render. If the RGB bars stay "on" with your computer connected, make sure you are using the right input resolution (I suggest dropping to 640x480 and then move up from there). If the RGB bars are always "on" and your computer isn't connected, this might indicate a problem with the unit or it might be "normal" depending on how your TV renders composite signals (some will display RGB bars to let you know it has a composite connection but no input).



* Menu layout is "simple" and low-tech, but it does provide you with the features you need to make sure the image fits on screen just right.



* I didn't check to see if it loses its settings (which you can change through the menu) after power-off because it doesn't affect my use of the product.



* Some systems, usually laptops, may not immediately render the video to the screen. Try making sure your composite cable is hooked up to the TV, your VGA cable is hooked up to the laptop, and then turning the laptop on. Also try it the other way around, have the laptop on and then connect everything. Also try powering the device after the connections are made, or before, whichever works. This is due to how some electrical signals "latch" in varying computers (usually laptops with the selectable VGA/LCD options). Never had the issue with a desktop or dedicated VGA-out.



* Something to note is the high resolution input it can take, very awesome. Something to be aware of, however, is that these high resolutions don't look great on all TV screens. You'll have to try some out to see what works best for your application. I accidentally put 1600x1200 through it and it rendered even though it said it wouldn't. - Pc To Tv - Laptop Or Pc To Tv - Pc Vga To Tv Converter - Laptop To Tv'

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Ipad Case

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It protects my 12" screen laptop computer. It fills up much of the case. A 13" inch screen may fit, depending on the outside computer case dimensions. Don't think a 14" screen will fit, but I have not tried.



I put it in a soft shoulder bag which I sometimes put in the overhead bin on a plane. It protects the computer from getting squished when things get shoved around to accommodate more bags. Or, when I am last one on and have to shove my bag, with the case, into a small space. It has had a couple of accidental falls to the floor with my computer inside -- no problems.



It is a smooth surface case with nothing to get snagged so it slips easily into and out of a bag. No handles or rings for straps. Part of the smoothness is from the smooth latch, which the manufacturer describes as "easy open" or something like that. To me, it is difficult to open. It takes two hands to open and you have to push hard against the thin edge of the metal latch. Not a graceful process taking it out for airport security. Also, my latch is now squeaking loudly whenever opening or closing it. On normal hardware I would use some WD-40 but I see no way to oil this latch without getting oil where I don't want it to go.



So, while I have some complaints, it does the job for me. Pelican Hardback Computer Case with Foam - Black (1080-000-110)

Great Case, Finally i can throw my laptop in the back of my truck or in my backpack and not worry about what might happen to it... only thing i do recommend to do is to check if your case is really water tight, the first one i bought was not and i had to return it and get a new one - this one works perfect!!! Pelican did a great job again - as always.

My aluminum 13.3 inch macbook was literally bent...along the hard drive line. This case would have prevented my $1300 loss had I had the mac in it. I had to bite the bullet and get another...this time it is a mac pro but still the 13.3 inch. This pelican case with the pick-n-pluck works very well. I will not put myself in a position again to have my aluminum cased mac crushed. I rate it four stars simply because it doesn't appear to be completely sealed along the sides, however I did not purchase the case for dust protection, I purchased it for crush protection. For everyone wondering..this case DOES fit the new aluminum macbook pro 13.3 inch. I cannot speak for the polycarbonate cased macbook. Here's what I did: I left the top egg crate padding in tact. I left the bottom padding in place. I cut a rectangle in the pick n pluck that would fit the mac pro. If you leave the front and back border as is and cut about 2mm of foam on the sides it WILL fit with padding on all sides. I used regular gorilla glue to glue the cut out rectangle permanently in place. It is a snug fit and the $1200 investment is padded on all four sides, albeit minimal padding on the two sides. Gorilla epoxy should work as well but is not water proof. Hope this helps.

bought for an eeepc 900. the laptop just barely fits. the case is about 3mm too skinny for an eepc to fit comfortably. That said if you have a slimmer laptop the case is great. I am using it to keep my eeepc in while sailing. It is nice to know while rowing ashore to find an internet cafe that my laptop is safe from water'

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46-inch - hdtv, 46-inch

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My previous tv (which I sold off already, regrettably) was a Panasonic th-42pz80u. This was my first step into the wonderful world of plasma tv's & I have nothing but praise for it. I recently decided that I wanted to squeeze the largest tv I could fit into my entertainment armoire & considering how much I loved my old tv I figured it was a safe bet to stick with the Panasonic brand.



Immediately after turning the st30 on & popping in Planet Earth on Blu Ray for a test run I was extremely happy with both the new size of screen in front of me & the fantastic picture quality. I played around some more, tweaking the picture & features on my new set & decided to start watching some of my select Blu Rays that don't have letterboxing. I read somewhere that it's best to watch movies that take up the whole screen for the first 100 hours or so of a new plasma. I'm no tech head so I just do what I'm told. :p



Not long into watching "Starship Troopers" I noticed my first flicker, or fluctuation. Every time the film made a cut there was an adjustment in brightness that came a half second later. I began rewinding it over & over & couldn't believe my eyes. After the awful flickering in the beginning I continued to watch & noticed it happening throughout, though not as bad as the start of the film. I've watched a few movies since then, such as - Sin City (noticeable but not terrible), LotR Fellowship of the Ring (noticeable but not terrible), & OH MY GOD Final Fantasy: Advent Children. Final Fantasy was just unwatchable with flickering all over the place. For those who don't know, Final Fantasy is entirely computer animated which might have something to do with it being so noticeable. I would expect the Pixar films to behave just as poorly but I can't say for certain.



I started researching & discovered that the fluctuating brightness (or "FBr") is not an unusual phenomenon. Just google "panasonic fluctuating brightness" & read up on it. The forum "high def junkies" is a good place to start as they have been discussing it in depth for a while.



I haven't lost all hope yet! There has been talk of Panasonic sending out a firmware upgrade to their Spanish customers on a case-by-case basis that actually FIXES this problem! Or at least adjusts it so the fluctuation isn't visible to the naked eye. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this firmware makes it stateside so I can begin enjoying my tv. If that happens I will definitely change my rating of 1 to a 5 star. I'll be keeping my eye on that 30-day return date in the meantime, however.



********EDIT**************



After emailing Panasonic & starting a case with them I waited patiently for an email or a phone call, but after a month none came. I kept up with the community on high def junkies & eventually discovered that Panasonic had started sending local repair guys out with a new A-Board, or if you're one of the lucky few a much simpler fix was available if a Panasonic employee could come to your house. I called Panasonic to see what the status on my case was, only to find out they had closed my case without any kind of notification. Jerks. The person I spoke with on the phone was apologetic & knew exactly what I was talking about when I brought up fluctuating brightness. I was FINALLY getting somewhere. Within a week of that phone call they sent the replacement A-Board to my local repair shop & I had an "FBr" free tv!



For those curious, they did have to take apart my tv. After watching that terrifying ordeal it was just a simple unplug-this plug-in-that & they were done. VERY happy overall.



After the fix this is easily a 5-star tv in my book. I'm a little conflicted on showering it with nothing but praise, however. I didn't exactly buy this tv day-1 of it's release & it took them this long to even acknowledge there was a terrible defect in a large number of their sets.



For those few who complain about picture quality I will agree that right out of the box the picture quality doesn't really jump out at you, but after buying a calibration disc & tweaking the custom settings it really looks amazing. Easily the best in its price range.



In short - if you're on the fence about this set, don't be. If you're unlucky & get one that was built before they had this fix installed, Panasonic will handle it! Panasonic VIERA TC-P46ST30 46-Inch 1080p 3D Plasma HDTV

The Panasonic ST series sits at the perfect price point for those who are looking for a high quality television without breaking the bank. The ST series loses the THX designation and some of the advanced adjustment features of the Panasonic GT and VT series, but it allows you to get a very good television under the 50in. minimum of the higher-end series.



My experience with the television over the last few weeks has been positive. Setting up the unit is straightforward and the guide appears to be written by someone who speaks English (Spanish and French are also available). There are an ample number of connections for digital and analog services. For grins, I plugged in my cable connection directly from the wall (bypassing the cable box) and the TV pulled down 80 analog channels and 40 digital channels with excellent clarity. Initial setup takes you through everything that you will need your TV to due from labeling inputs, setting up a wireless internet connection to your home/office network, adjusting the clock, etc.



A 802.11b/g/n wireless adapter comes included with the television and can either be plugged directly into one of two USB ports or attached using the included USB extension dongle. Using the USB extender provides a clean look with no visible wires or attachments. The adapter sticks out from the edge of the television about an inch if you opt to plug it in directly. Since a final 802.11n standard has yet to be established, the adapter may have issues with your wireless network. I use a Netgear router without any issues. If you have troubles, I would recommend using a wireless bridge rather trying to find a suitable adapter, especially if you are using the TV with a Blu-ray player, game console, or any other devices that require an internet connection.



The Viera Cast service turns the television to the internet with built in apps for most of the major streaming content providers (Netflix, Amazon Video, Alphaline, You Tube, etc.) in addition to a host of apps for games, sports, weather, news, and social networking. Each time you access Viera Cast it will check for updates that must be completed prior to proceeding. Usually this takes just a couple minutes if an update is required, but can be irritating when you want to do/view something.

The image quality on this television is excellent out of the box with very black blacks and true colors. The anti-glare screen works well in most situations. I have noticed that at some, usually extreme, angles there is a good deal of reflection, but when viewed from a typical angle the result is very good. 2-D SD and HD are both excellent with no noticeable artifacts or ghosting. I have not had a chance to test the 3-D viewability since the glasses (sold separately) are prohibitively expensive and there is not enough content out to justify the price at this time. This should not dissuade a purchase, since it is now almost impossible to find a television with great 2-D viewability without 3-D capabilities.



Overall, this is an excellent television and disputably the best under 50 inches. The videophile will miss the advance color tuning options and THX capabilites, but those features simply don't exist in the current model year sub-50in televisions. - Panasonic - Plasma - 46-inch - Hdtv'

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Teamwork - business

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Teams are everywhere-in all kinds of organizations. Some work beautifully to produce wonderful successes; others are miserable failures. Why? The authors conducted research with over 6,000 team members and discovered five factors that determine a team's success: collaboration, relationships, group processes, leadership, and the organizational environment. This book is a report of what they learned, loaded with plenty of advice for increasing team effectiveness. After an introductory prologue, the book delivers five well-organized chapters that correspond to the factors of success. The first chapter explores what makes a good team member--abilities and behaviors that matter. What determines how collaborative someone will be in a team setting? The second chapter examines relationships among members of teams: what's most important, where are the greatest challenges, and how can you make it all work?In the third chapter, the authors look into team problem solving. Included are the distinguishing factors of good problem-solving teams, dynamics and processes of solving problems and making decisions, and building systems that support results. Chapter four really digs into the team leader, reviewing six key dimensions of the role. This chapter alone is worth buying this book. Following the research-based model, the last chapter zeros in on the organizational environment. The authors evaluate management practices, structure and processes, and systems in an insightful look at how the environment affects team performance. Each chapter is preceded by a one-page Snapshot that offers a valuable overview of the chapter. Two indexes and a half-dozen pages of notes add more value to this volume. Good flow, readable, and useful. Recommended as a good tool for team leaders, members, and encouragers in any organization. When Teams Work Best : 6,000 Team Members and Leaders Tell What It Takes to Succeed

When Teams Work Best: 6,000 Team Members And Leaders Tell What It Takes To Succeed by Frank LaFasto (Senior Vice President of Organization Effectiveness for Cardinal health, Inc.) and Carl Larson (Professor of Human Communication, University of Denver) is a practical, "user friendly" guide to the harnessing the power of cooperation and teamwork for increased productivity and effectiveness. Individual chapters address what makes a good team member, what makes a good leader, problem solving methodologies, and how to best promote confidence and trust. When Teams Work Best is very highly recommended for anyone charged with the corporate responsibility for cultivating business group work skills!

I had this as a text book for an organizational leadership class at the master's degree level. The material is repetitive in its chapter presentations, but the core elements are still good. I just didn't find it to be reader-friendly. For some reason the authors feel compelled to remind the reader every few paragraphs that the responses of more than "6,000 team members" form the basis of their conclusions. I understood that point based on the title and didn't need to be reminded on each page. The book reads as if someone went straight to print with their research paper, rather than making it an engaging read. By chapter 3 I no longer cared about the value of the content, I just hated the book. Seriously. You've been warned.

One of the most useful books on managing teams that I've read. It combines clearly articulated concepts with practical guidelines fo promoting more productive behaviors within my department and cross-functionally. The checklists, in particular, make this book a hands-on guide that I will pick up to use again and again.Head of Marketing-Europe, Middle East (Financial Services Sector)

This is a terrific text. Lafasto and Larson have made sense out of a lot of data in a way that makes it exceptionally readable. It reads like a conversation with a colleague eager to share key ideas that ensure success.



For anyone who teaches about teams or leads a team this is a must have book. Each chapter has something special to make the read worthwhile.



If you do nothing but read chapter two and take its message to heart you will become a much better leader and team member. Their connect model, in fact all the models, will make you much more effective, no matter what your role on the team. But then, every chapter has something special to offer.



This will become the lead text in my biopharma team leadership course.

I read this book as an assigned text for a seminary course on team leadership. As the authors explain up front (and then repeat, ad nauseam), they compiled research from over 6,000 employees to gather their feedback on their various experiences of working in teams. And that research yielded some interesting results that may help to instruct any of us who want to effectively lead teams.



There is no question that some very helpful stuff emerged from the research for this book. LaFasto and Larson make compelling arguments that teams only function well in the context of supportive and open environments. They describe the need for candor and accountability. They acknowledge the need for trust and empowerment from team leaders to team members. All of this is good stuff. But the presentation of their conclusions was utterly stale and lifeless. Rather than speaking in specifics and offering actual examples from real-life companies, everything was discussed in abstract generalities. Jim Collins has influenced millions of leaders by discussing the actual dynamics at play in particular businesses, presenting the analysis of business management in story form. It's an engaging approach, one that LaFasto and Larson would do well to consider. Instead, we are left with a million varieties of "a common response from the 6,000 team members who were interviewed was..."



My other primary critique of this book is its repetitive nature. The chapters were organized around clearly differentiated categories (i.e. how to lead a team, how to participate on a team, etc.), but that approach isn't helpful if the same conclusions pop up over and over again. Yes, team leaders need to trust. And team members need to trust. But it's numbingly bland when the same point comes up in several different chapters.



Ultimately, I think I learned some good stuff from reading this book, or at least I was reminded of some important ideas about highly functioning teams. But the book wasn't nearly as compelling as it might have been, had it been organized better and written in a more narrative style. I'm still waiting to read a great book on team leadership, as this one doesn't qualify. - Business'

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