Electronic Shop: November 2008

Sunday 30 November 2008

Outdoor Gear - backpacking, emergency kit

Okay, look at the reviews for this product, and look at the dates. It was stated some time ago that a buyer orded Quake Care blankets, you know- LIKE THE PICTURE! But that buyer got EverDixie blankets. Now, all this time I later, I paid my money for the Quake Care blankets listed in the description and shown in the picture yet I too was sent the ED ones. I haven't yet opened one to see if it's worthwhile...it sort of defeats the purpose to waste one to see if it's usable (I already know the QC product is, I've used them before).

Maybe the product I got is decent but it's not the product I was sold. Given that this bait and switch is an ongoing affair, I can see no other word to use but fraud. Did I send them back? They were $5 bucks, not worth messing with. That's probably what the vendor figures...no one will bother. So no, I didn't send them back but I will at least alert potential buyers that this vendor is knowingly, willingly defrauding buyers by sending them a different product than they agreed to purchase.

Amazon.com should ditch this sleezy, disreputable seller. And if that seller simply doesn't realize their copy is outdated, this should be the notice they need to correct it. But since they've been doing this for quite a while I imagine they just don't care. Emergency Thermal Blankets (4 Pack)

I have used mylar "space" blankets for the past 30 years for near innumerable projects. Want to make a solar oven? here's a tool to allow that. Increase the rating on your sleeping bag by 20 degrees (put the mylar INSIDE the bag), I've made emergency ponchos from them while backpacking. Ground cloths, signal devices, sun awnings (in this mode they help provide cooling), insulation for coolers, animal shelters, a lining for an incubator.

They don't have to wait around in your car or "read bag" to find uses! However, I carry them in each vehicle, I have one in each of my various (depending on purpose) "ready bags", in emergency kits made for the kids and in all the first aid kits in the house, vehicles, the ranch and other such haunts.

This little piece of plastic may well be one of the premier tools of all time.

I've played with a couple of different brands of space blankets and these blankets are of fine quality. They suffer the usual short comings of this material (tears spread easily) but on the grand scale of space blanket brands, you are getting one of the better quality blankets. For example, one of the cheaper brands I have tried experienced flaking of the mylar coating after (admittedly) rough handling. The brand being reviewed here did not suffer from this flaking. Definitely recommended.

If you are setting up a "grab & go" pack - the kind of thing that lives in your car or at your office, insurance against a manmade disaster like a terrorist attack or a runaway nuclear reactor; or a natural catastrophe like an earthquake or a hurricane - you cannot get along without these mylar blankets. You can use them as blankets, cloaks, tents, groundcloths and signal panels. They are almost weightless and as noted, very versatile. They belong in every survival kit, automobile glove compartment, and hiker's pack. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

I did not receive the Quake Kare Emergency Thermal Blankets that I ordered. Because I had read from previous reviews that BP Supplies have played Bait and Switch before, I made a screen shot of the order page before I ordered showing that I was being promised, specifically, Quake Kare blankets. These are a well known brand and of very good quality.

Instead I receive a cheap, knockoff- Ever Dixie "no-name" brand Emergency Blankets from China. I know absolutely nothing about this brand. They're going in the trash. They look very, very cheap and I sure wouldn't trust my safety to these, And as I told the representative at Amazon, this Bait and Switch is especially reprehensible on BPs part because these are Emergency supplies and someone could loose their life from using an unknown, inferior or faulty product in an Emergency. This is serious business.

For those of you who have been ripped off by BP Supplies before with their Bait and Switch, I would strongly encourage you to report this directly to Amazon. It doesn't matter if you just write it in a review that you've been ripped off. You have to speak with an Amazon rep who forwards that info to the powers that be who determine which companies are allowed to sell on their site. And if enough customers complain, BP Medical Supplies will not be allowed to sell on Amazon's site and continue to rip off people.

For those of you who have never ordered from BP Medical Supplies- STAY AWAY- THEY ARE BAIT AND SWITCH SCAM ARTISTS. I am very disappointed and very, very angry.

I have carried mylar thermal blankets along with me during my hikes to the north country here for decades. In addition to the many other uses mentioned here by others, I have used them before to actually sleep with just to experience it. And even though they are like curling up all cozy with a large plastic bag, they are nothing less than amazingly warm. Quite simply put, they enable you to radiate back as much of your own body heat as several wool blankets are capable of. However, there is one thing I feel I must add about sleeping with these blankets on a cold ground that doesn't seem to be covered by other reviewers. Remember that to keep warm, you must have as much insulation under you as over. At home, our mattress more than does the job. Out in the wilderness on the cold ground we are forced to improvise. If it comes a time that you really are in a survival situation, or just forced by whatever causes to be sleeping directly on a cold ground, remember to put as many of these thermals, (or any kind of blanket) under you as over. You would not believe the number of hikers and campers I have encountered that pile on the blankets on top of them, while putting just one underneath. And then wonder why they spent the entire night nearly freezing to death. In conclusion, one cannot recommend having these along on a hike or camping trip enough since they are so small and easy to tote along. Carrying one 4 pack of these thermals on any outdoor excursion is equivalent to toting 10 full size blankets. Something near impossible to manage in a back pack outing even if you wanted to. Considering their low cost, versatile uses, and life saving possibilities, one would be foolish not to pack them on any wilderness excursion, or include them as an essential addition in any survival kit. My own recommendation is don't leave home without them, and, buy them here on Amazon in bulk rather than at a sporting goods store, where they can easily cost you twice as much... - Backpacking - Emergency Supplies - Emergency Kit - Survival'

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Reconditioned Tools - nailer, nail gun

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This is the Cadillac of nail guns. Now that they make the offset full round head nails to go in the clipped head nail guns, you just can't beat this gun. The 100 nail magazine makes a big difference, you really notice how many fewer times you are reaching to refill the magazine. Also, the rafter hook works great. Toe-nailing tight spots is a little difficult, but I am very glad I bought this gun instead of one that shoots plastic collated nails. I was sick of the plastic pieces flying around and hitting me while I was working. The wire collated is a big improvement. Factory-Reconditioned Bostitch U/F28WW Clipped Head 2-Inch to 3-1/2-Inch Framing Nailer with Magnesium Housing

I have been using the older and heavier version of this gun for a while. When it came time to get another one I was a bit hesitant about the magnesium housing. My arm however is overjoyed. It has just as much balls as the older version. I have never had any trouble with this gun. I prefer the wire weld nails so there really was no other gun for me.

This thing is nice and light, the bottom of the magazine has a plastic cover that is pretty chewed up. It also came with a nice dent on the side of the magazine where you slip the nails into the back. This was causing the spring bottom to 'catch' and stop about 1/3 from the top of the magazine. I straightened out the metal with a pair of needle nose pliers enough to get the spring to move up and down freely.

Judging the overall condition, I'd say this unit was used at a construction site and was dropped from a good height, which broke it. The fall caused the damage to the base of the magazine and dented the side of it as well and probably broke the air hose nipple (the nipple looks new now). There are chips and scratches all over the main body.

It's a nice gun to work with, the light weight is noticable making this thing feel almost like working with a finishing nailer. Toe's in very nicely, weird angles are usually not a big problem. Handles smaller nails and large nails equally well.

The only other thing I would mention is that for a home user like me, nails aren't all that easy to find. The hardware man at Home Dpeot was baffled by my nail gun requirements, "28 degree wire collated? huh? We don't have anything like that...". Lowes didn't have any either. Ace does carry them (wierd in my opinion), but only one or two types, so you will have to order what you need. Probably better to special order them at a store than buy online and pay extra for shipping.

Have used this nailer for several months now and am very satisified.

No trouble finding nails as they are carried at local Home Depot and online from Amazon.

Pros: Works very well, no jams yet, for low volume usage a small compressor works ok, nails are available.

Cons: hard to use in tight places, exhaust will stir up a lot of dust in confined spaces, lost protective tip in about a week, falls off too easily.

I'd purchased this nailer from CPO which sold them reconditioned with a full factory 1-Year Warranty. Mine arrived and appeared like new, with hardly a scratch upon it. The only issue I'd noted was the nailer was missing the hanger-attachment which allows the nailer to be hung from a rafter when not in use. CPO assured me they'd remedy the situation, and a new attachment was sent within a few days. Overall I really enjoy the nailer, it's intuitive in its use, and a breeze to set the nails depth. It does have some kick-back, but it's not unmanagable, and I suppose it's to be expected when you trade weight in lieu of recoil. As for someone elses comments about the nailer be extinct due to Bostitch not having round headed nails... They're completely wrong! I researched this prior to purchasing the nailer, as I didn't want to buy something I couldn't use (i.e., not to code). Bostich offers round-head nails that are wire-collated @ 28 degrees and I'd purchased a box of them @ Lowes (same price as the 1/2 head, similar length). Overall, I'm quite happy, as I'd saved over $75 from our local merchants, and I have a nail gun that works like new!

I'm an avid DIY'er, not a professional so this is from that point of view. The gun showed up, looked new. Worked flawlessly. I've used it about a dozen times to build a deck and some knee walls. I have always been hesitant to buy a framing nailer, but so glad I did. I've had it about a month now and not a single issue. The only small issue I will note it the release for the nails (pull back to put in nails and then push the level to release the lock) is a bit stiff. I don't think it's defective, and it works, just takes a little doing. I really like this product and would highly recommend.

I bought this nailer before starting a large deck project. I've used a brad nailer for years, but never a framing nailer. I was totally geeked out by this thing! It must have cut my construction time in half. Nails and accessories are readily available at Lowes, Menards, etc. - Framing Nailers - Reconditioned Tools - Nail Gun - Nailer'

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Webcams - bad, cheap

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You get what you pay for. This performs as cheap as its price! When I see myself through this webcam, I feel like those old people who are going blind. I can make out my shape, but I can't see ANY detail. Piece of Junk. Do not buy! Waste of money no matter how little you spend. If I had to do this over, I wouldn't buy this for FREE! Black 5.0 MegaPixel USB 2.0 Digital Webcam with Mic

This is not a bad webcam AT ALL. I read the reviews of it as I was first putting it into my computer, scared it wouldn't work, and the major complaint I saw was "It's all out of focus and it doesn't work right!" So let's clear it up for those of you who feel ripped off: THE LENS TURNS TO MANUALLY ADJUST FOCUS. That's all you need to do. Just twist the lens. It's a great camera, ESPECIALLY for the $.01 I paid for it. Also, to whoever said your microphone didn't work, yes, you do have to plug in both pieces. One cable is for the camera, and is USB. The other (round) cable goes into the microphone jack on the computer, and is for the microphone.

I was not expecting much of this webcam, because of the price. However, I got it in the mail today and I am very disappointed. I tried it out for the first time a couple minutes ago. I cannot even see my face. Everything on the screen is just a blur. I suggest that anyone even thinking about purchasing this product should just forget about it.

This is a great little webcam. I am running this webcam with Ubuntu 10.10 and it worked right out of the package. The picture was a little blurry, but if you use the focus on the front of the webcam it has a very exceptional picture. The microphone also works very good. It works well on Skype too. :)

Good quality picture, good sound. Can't zoom in and out. Doesn't clip on top of screen but hangs. The stand has adjustable height. The microphone has separate plug from the USB plug which works fine for me because those two are right next to each other on my computer but may cause problems for you if they aren't on yours.

The camera was a true plug-n-play which was nice, I just opened Skype and it worked.

Issues:

-The webcam is out of focus, not terribly, but everything is fuzzy. It works for basic chatting but any text held up is just unreadable.

-It is also more zoomed in than I'm used to. At 1 ft from the cam you can see from the bottom of my chin to an inch above my eyebrows instead of my whole face and hair.

-The clip has no spring so it does not sit securely on the computer and the placement of the wire makes it awkward to stand upright on a flat surface.

Another review had mentioned a manual zoom/focus on the front but mine has no such option. The picture for the item has writing on the border of the lens and mine does not so it's possible I got the wrong item, but for $6 this camera will do.

[...]

For the price, this is a great little cam. Can be a little hard to get it in just the right place sometimes just because of the cord, but its not something I'd rule the camera out altogether for. Picture quality is comparable to any other standard webcam. Nice and small, you can even set it on top of you laptop screen even though it doesn't clip on. - Cheap Webcam - Cheap - Fuzzy - Bad'

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Garmin Nuvi 260w - gps, garmin

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My Prius has a rough dashboard and a windshield that slopes very sharply. Thus, the suction cup mounts are not good solutions. Fortunately, the friction mount is a great solution. It works much better than I expected. Very stable, does not slide, and lets me adjust my Nuvi to a variety of different angles. I can place the GPS anywhere on the dash or even on the center console. Also works great when transferred to my wife's Ford.

Only downside to the device is that it has a rather large footprint, but not prohibitively large. I like the fact that I can easily use this in both of our family vehicles depending on where we need the GPS.

UPDATE: Now that I have used this mount regularly since May, I have to say this is the best mounting solution I've found for a GPS or any other device for my car. It hasn't slid out of place once!! Given the rise in GPS units being stolen from cars, this mount allows you to easily stash your GPS Unit and mount out of sight and then put it back into position with ease.

2009 Update: Still using this in my Prius and my wife has one too. It's held up quite well. It IS a bit bulky to store out of the way when not in use, but still a good solution. I usually remove my GPS from the mount (a simple process) and then place the mount as far under the seat as it will go. Not perfect, but the best solution I've found to date. Garmin Portable Friction Mount

This mount works great. The selection of Garmin mounts is confusing as some are two parts and some are one. If you have a Nuvi with the included windshield mount, then this is the only part you need to buy. The included mount disassembles at the ball and socket joint and attaches to this one. I can't say it will never come off the dash if I do some really high speed maneuver, but so far it's held steady for all regular driving.

I like that it's easy to move the mount and gps unit down to the floor when I park. Yeah a thief could still see it if they came right up to my car but at least it's not obvious from halfway across the parking lot like a windshield mount is. A thief that sees an empty windshield mount is probably going to assume (correctly) that I've just put the unit in the glove compartment.

I have become addicted to my Garmin Nuvi 660 and used it for six months with a successful windshield mount. But now I have bought a new car. I discovered that the windshield suction mount left an ugly black ring on the window of my old car. (I assume I can get this cleaned up when I detail the car for selling.)

So no way was I going to put one of those on my beautiful new car. I tried the Garmin dashboard mount but shied away from the "permanent" disc. I found the "temporary" disc was just not up to the job of holding this device in place -- at least on my vehicle. I found this very frustrating. I read about the Portable Friction Mount, found a Best Buy store that had it in stock and ran out to buy it.

Though it is not terribly good looking, it does the job very well. I tried whipping around a few tight turns in parking lots and the whole thing stayed put. As another reviewer said, this lets you easily remove the thing and put it on the floor so it's not obvious. That may be more valuable than you would think. I know somebody who removed his Garmin Nuvi (and took it with him) but left the window mount in place. The car was broken into and the window mount alone was stolen. (Probably that was a pretty frustrated thief.)

Also, this will be easy to transfer to a rental car. And it will make it easy for my wife to borrow my Nuvi. Hmmm!

While the friction mount on the bottom of the beanbag is pretty darn stable even with stops, starts, and turns I sometimes would find it sliding across the dash. The solution has been to use one of those little 6x4 inch mats sold at Radio Shack or Walmart for keeping cellphones on the dash. The mat is sticky on one side but leaves no marks or glue. I have not had one slide since using the mat. I even bring the mat with me in rental cars. This gives a very secure mount that is very easy to take from car to car.

The first time I tried this mount was in a rental car for a Garmin C530, and I never thought it would stay on the slightly sloping dash of the Pontiac Grand Prix but it held firm going up and down San Francisco's hilly roads. That prompted me to buy one for my car. Essentially this mount is a bean bag with a mouse pad like rubber base but its engineered to stay where you put it and not slide around unless you move it. The good thing is that it stays put even if you brake suddenly, and if you drive in bumper to bumper rush hour traffic like me every day you'll appreciate this even more!

The advantages are:

- No sticking on windshield. This is a BIG advantage as the windshield mount starts to come off easily after a year of usage, less if you leave it in your car while it's parked in the sun. There is nothing worse than your GPS sliding off while you're driving round a tricky bend, especially if you are new to the area. Sometimes it can be downright dangerous.

- The windshield mount also alerts thieves that a GPS is in the car. A friction mount can be placed down under the car seat when you leave the car without needing to disconnect anything so that you're ready to go quickly when you come back to the car.

- The other big advantage is the ability to move it around to the position you want it. If a passenger is sitting in your car you can just slide it to their side and they can input the information while you are driving. It also makes it easy to slide it closer to yourself. Since I have the Nuvi 660 I often make calls with the bluetooth feature while driving, it is easy to slide it towards me when I am speaking to someone in order to get better voice reception.

This mount works for all Nuvis as they have the "snap the ball in the joint". If you buy any model of Nuvi then this is all you need, no other adapter parts are needed. It's also easy to switch this mount between cars or move it to a rental car when you travel. It has been the best and most useful accessory I could buy for my Nuvi 660. - Gps - Garmin - Garmin Nuvi - Dashboard Mount'

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Webcams - bad, cheap

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Kindle Accessory

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The Caselogic VNA-210 is a nice little attache-style case for netbooks or other small electronics. It is constructed from lightweight nylon and polyester (not neoprene foam), and features a large device compartment and two front pockets for accessories.

There is a decent amount of padding on the front and back of the main compartment for protection. The largest of the accessories pockets has internal pockets for a cellphone/mp3 player, usb flash drive, plus a couple of pen loops to keep it all organized. The vertical front pocket could only fit something small flat, as there is little-to-no gusset room here. A removable shoulder strap is also included.

The attache design means that the zipper to the main compartment only opens to just around the top corners. Although the VNA-210 states it fits netbooks '7 inches to 10.2 inches', it does not fit all 10.1" netbooks (it did not fit my Hercules eCafe), so make sure you measure your netbook first. According to the tag, the main device compartment of the VNA-210 has internal dimensions of/will only accommodate a netbook up to 10.5 x 7.7 x 1.5" (26.6 x 19.5 x 3.9 cm).

Overall, the Caselogic VNA-210 seems a well-constructed, lightweight, sturdy little case that is very suited for small netbooks and/or other electronics on the go. Caselogic VNA210 10.2-Inch Netbook/iPad Attache (Black)

I got this to carry my new iPad. I'd also gotten a plastic back cover for the iPad, which made it not fit into the very tight iPad cases I found at the Apple store. The iPad fits very well inside this bag, with the outside pocket to hold the charger. Highly recommended, and great quality for the price.

When shopping, I showed several to my wife--this she gave thumbs up since it looks like a small laptop bag, and not a purse :)

I have a power cord-adapter,External DVD Drive and cord,stack of DVD's, manuals, 6 Flash Drives, and the shoulder strap all tucked in the largest extra side pocket, my cell phone and keys in the smaller outer pocket for quick access, and it still retains it's slim-line look just like the ad said-no lumpy look or feel. It's well designed and well-made,priced alot less than bags without extra pockets or shoulder strap included. Made of a rugged material-not cheaply made like those soft flimsy ones. It's nice and small like my 10.2" Acer Aspire One netbook, but has a little elbow room for it, not squeezed in. It's very functional AND Stylish-VERY Stylish-Sleek! I love it and could't be happier with it. Perfect for storing my Netbook and it's accessories in one place at home, and protects it from weather and scratches-bumps (padded) while making it easy to carry it all on the go. It's Perfect!

I bought this bag as well as the "Case Logic LNEO-10 Ultraportable Neoprene Notebook/iPad Sleeve" for my 10" Asus 1015PEM netbook, thinking that the latter would be much slimmer to stuff into a backpack. Of the two, I prefer this bag. It's really not much thicker or bulkier than the neoprene bag and has more/better storage compartments and a shoulder strap. It has thicker padding on the bottom and around the edges, for much better protection if the bag is dropped. The neoprene bag has hardly any padding and seems like it wouldn't absorb any significant shocks. I also prefer the nylon exterior, which doesn't attract dust/dirt as much as neoprene and should stay looking good longer. This bag fits my Asus 1015PEM perfectly, whereas the neoprene model has a little more space and can stretch to accomodate a slightly larger computer.

This bag should work well when I travel - in addition to my netbook, it'll carry my small point and shoot camera, a mini tripod, chargers and travel mouse, as well as my passport and plane ticket, which will go into the outside pocket. If you plan to always carry your netbook inside of a larger bag or backpack, a simple sleeve would work, but for a compact and versatile bag at a great price, this one is hard to beat.

I was a little disappointed that the bag did not include the luggage strap or shoulder pad (attached to the shoulder strap) in the photos. I think these features are only included with the larger versions of this bag, and not with the 10". Despite this, I feel that the bag deserves five stars. BTW, my local Fry's has these bags for around $7 more than Amazon. Considering 9.75% CA sales tax, I saved over 60% buying from Amazon (w/ free shipping).

This is the right size for ... IPad in the Apple iPad case. Plus ... Tissues.. A pen and small notepad ( which I didn't need). ... And my phone. With a convenient shoulder strap and handle it is easy to carry. I was going out in the rain and if I didn't have the case I might have left the iPad at home. Price is right and features are great.

Fits my thinkpad 14.1 inch t400s perfectly. Has 2 extra compartments for other things. Overall looks like this thing will last a long time. Good finishing. One reviewer mentions "nothing stands out". That's silly, this isn't meant to be a laptop case with accents and leather stuff. Its a basic case for those who want practicality over looks. It get's 5 stars in that.'

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Finance Calculator - calculator, finance

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This new "II" version is a newer style of the older HP-10B, which will now go out of production. The new style has a smoother case and a more 21st century look, but the calculator and its functions are still the same.I have used (and own) many of the available financial calculators on the market. I "recommend" the HP-10B to my university finance students, both graduate and undergraduate.The HP 10B-II is a directly positioned competitor to the TI-BA-II+, but HP's entry is superior. The keys feel more solid, the machine itself "seems" better made. Having worn out more than one of each, my experience has been that the HP has more staying power. And, the TI-BA-II+ often requires more keystrokes to accomplish the same tasks (i.e., NPV calculations). ...The HP 10BII has a well written manual, including examples on using the function. HP has the manual available on-line on their website for the inevitable time that the user needs it and has lost the original.While there are cheaper financial calculators, it seems that this particular level is the minimum I would recommend to professionals or students. Less expensive versions, while saving a few dollars, miss important features. As a general rule of thumb, if the calculator can perform the "IRR" function, as this can, it will be able to handle pretty much any calculation into which the finance student, professonal, or banker will run. Lesser machines do not have this function.Ironically, even larger fancier calculators, such as the venerable HP-12C, are in my estimation inferior as well. The 12C uses RPN logic which, while saving even more keystrokes, is simply foreign to most students. More importantly, some functions, such as the Time Value of Money functions, on the 12C require interpretation. On the 12C, for example, solving for the number of periods in an annuity, the value gets rounded UP to the next integer.Strongly recommended as the best value in inexpensive financial calculators. HP 10bII Financial Calculator

To be certain, this is a good calculator, and it is a decent value at this price, but not even HP would say it's the best ever.I'd much rather be purchasing the HP 17BII - with it's expanded functions, but this will certainly do 95% or more of the financial functions I need it to do. The 17BII has some added features which admittedly are not requirements (Date, Time, Appointment) but I do strongly prefer the menu options on the 17BII and the programming function.To address a couple concerns mentioned here:1. Yes, the calculator will round .275 to .28 -- if you have it set to display only two digits right of the decimal. That's what it should do. You can, however, easily set the display to three digits or whatever degree of significant digits you wish.2. I have checked interest rate calculations and all I ahve done work out fine. Perhaps the problem mentioned here has been addressed.The 12C is a better, more capable calculator. But the 12C also requires one to learn RPN. Many people prefer not to use RPN. On the 10BII you can set it to work with "standard" data entry or RPN -- your choice.The 19BII is also a better calculator, but it's large with a fold-out keypad (it opens like a book, standard looking calculator on the right, alphabetical keys on the left). It was also more expensive - close to $150 many years ago when I got one. Again, this is far more than people really need, which is probably why you can't find it on the HP website any longer.Unfortunately, I can't find the 17BII on the HP website either. It appears that both the HP 17BII and the 19BII have been discontinued. I really found the 17BII to be the best in function and price combination.As for quality, I think the reviews here are right. My old HPs are still going strong, but one 17BII I bought a year ago seemed light and less sturdy. Sure enough, it died recently, which is why I conducted a search for a replacement. (There are some refurbished ones availableso, but even that great calculator isn't worth that price.So I've reluctantly purchased the 10BII. It feels light and cheap, but we'll see how it holds up. It uses two wafer-thin 1025 batteries v. three button batteries of the 17BII, so I'll change more frequently.In summary, this is a strong, capable calculator, and probably one of your best bets at this point. It will almost certainly perform what you need it to do. Read the very user friendly instruction guide if in doubt. However, there are better options out there that can do even more if you're willing to learn a more complicated system (12C) or are fortunate enough to find the 17BII and pay the higher price.Good luck.

This calculator is now the most popular among Undergraduate Business Programs. And it is somewhat sufficient to solve textbook problems in introduction to accounting and finance. Functions can be easily explained to those classes. However, once you get into the real finance and investments your professor will want you to purchase the HP 12C instead. That one will be able to solve the more advanced and complex problems and all that more accurately. Once you move on to grad school there is no other option but the HP 12C - or an equivalent calculator by another manufacturer. And you will need that more advanced one at work, too - for all entry level analyst positions in finance and accounting. Unless you have already decided that the pre-requisites in finance and accounting will be the only time when you need a financial calculator, there is really no use to get accustomed to the HP 10B. You might as well purchase the more advanced calculator immediately (and save some money) although it is a little more difficult to use. - Financial Calculator - Calculator - Hp - Finance'

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Ed Hardy Fragrance - ed hardy, christian audigier

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I bought the gift set of this perfume last week and it quickly became one of my new favorite scents.I like perfumes with a slight musk or woodsy smell and usually prefer fruity to floral.This perfume is just that! Not too girly but has a touch of sweetness,unlike any of my other scents.It also lasts all day and I have received many compliments!If you are looking to try a new perfume I definately reccomend this! Ed Hardy by Christian Audigier For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4-Ounces

I switch between this and sergio ferragamo incanto dream. a great scent for the fall, to me. it is not strong, but has a very very sweet scent. i love it, i get a lot of compliments from it, but it will fade after a few hours or less. invest in the lotion too. overall satisfied. no complaints from me!

Again I was very pleased with my purchase and I received it so quick. My daughter was very surprised when she got this as a stocking stuffer she has wanted this for a while and of course mom came through for her.

I saw this perfume at a Department Store for it's full price and fell in love with it immediately. But it was too expensive so I was contemplating it until I saw Amazon selling it for 45% off!! I grabbed it up quickly and don't regret it. I love the scent and so do my friends. In fact three of them bought it after I did because they too fell in love with it. Thanks Amazon for awesome prices and free shipping!

I absolutely LOVE this fragrance!!! I has a wonderful fruity fragrance like a delicious tropical drink with a very light musk undertone. It is great for day or night. If you want to feel sexy,flirty and feminine it is a must!

LOOOOOVE this purfume! Excellent price and the scent lasts all day and night. Shipped on time and was delivered sooner then predicted. Smells almost sweet like fruit like Eternity. Doesn't smell like Eternity, but similarly sweet. - Parfum - Ed Hardy - Ed Hardy Fragrance - Christian Audigier'

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Carpet Protector Protection Runner Vinyl... - carpet protector, carpet protection - seller unrel

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Talked to the company in length for description. I was sure this was going to be the runner I needed over my carpeted stairs. I have small inside dogs and wanted something that would clean eaisly, but being in my entrance way, it would also have to look nice. This is a cheap piece of very, very, very, thin foam. The only thing I could use this for is a backing under an area rug. It is just too ugly to describe and it does not lay completely flat on stairs. There is always a place not sticking or wrinkled. Pretty expensive for just a days use for movers too. I suggest you run, not walk, away from this one. $50 down the drain. Carpet Saver-Floor Protector-Beige-15' x 30" (Beige) (15'L x 30"W)

I've owned CarpetSaver for 2.5 years and my experience has been different than the reviewer who gave it 5 stars.

CarpetSaver can prevent DIRT from getting onto the underlying Carpet as long as you are careful to vacuum it and wash it frequently enough. I've been vacuuming CarpetSaver once a week and washing it once every couple of months. (I live here alone and remove my shoes when entering the house.)

Here's the problem: I've found that CarpetSaver has NOT prevented the underlying carpet from GETTING WORN. After all, the carpet is still under pressure from stepping on it, with or without CarpetSaver. As a matter of fact, I actually suspect CarpetSaver's continual presence on the carpet has accellerated the flattening out and tangling of underlying carpet fibers. Yes, I do realize that CarpetSaver is very light, but its presence does seem to have accellerated the flattening out of the underlying carpet. I initially bought CarpetSaver, and installed it on the stairs, because I was mainly looking to protect the carpet on the noses of the steps, but it seems to have accellerated the wear of the carpet on the flat parts of steps.

To those reporting better results: could this be due to your removing CarpetSaver more frequently and vacuuming the underlying carpet more frequently? Maybe vacuuming the underlying carpet more frequently would prevent CarpetSaver from causing the underlying carpet fibers to flatten out? (But I'd hate to have to remove CarpetSaver once a week to vacuum the underlying carpet in addition to vacuuming CarpetSaver itself once a week)

Perhaps those with better results have a different carpet type than mine. Are you SURE you haven't experienced any accellerated flattening out and tangling of the underlying carpet as the result of using CarpetSaver?

UPDATE: I feel I should also point out that you MUST regularly vacuum CarpetSaver and you MUST wash it at the first sign of any ground in dirt. Don't be lulled into thinking that dirt can't potentially pass through CarpetSaver and get through to the underlying carpet, because dirt CAN potentially pass through CarpetSaver. Granted this is unlikely to happen if you vacuum it at least once a week and wash it at the first sign of any visible ground in dirt.

This is my third winter with the carpet saver which I purchased for my stairway. I design wedding bouquets and visit with brides in my basement during the winter months and was concerned about the wet shoes on my "frezia" carpeted stairs. The first couple of years drove me nuts with trying to keep the carpet saver in place on the steps. It would bunch up and get wrinkles and look horrid. I finally resorted to taping it in place (with packing tape) on each end of every step. That still did not work very well, as it would still get unslightly wrinkling. Finally, this year I got smart and cut it apart making just a flat surface to cover each and every step, without wrapping it all the way down the front of the steps. I still have to tape each one in place on each end and across the front where I just wrap it around the bull nose of the step, but I note that I never see carpet fibers adhering to the tape so I feel confident that the tape does not harm my carpet. Now, I only occasionally have to "pull them in place" by loosening one of the taped ends from the carpet and stretching the width of the step again and pressing the tape back in place. Each Spring I remove the tape from the carpet saver and toss it (in this case "them") into the wash. My opinion is, if you can manage to keep it in place on the steps it does a nice job of saving the carpet from soiling. I admit that it doesn't look very pretty, but then again not really that bad if you can keep the wrinkling out. To me the hassle has been worth it because when I remove it and the end of the messy weather my carpet looks fresh and clean! I gave it just 3 stars because of the pain in the butt it is to keep it in place. I even called the maker that first year of use and suggested that they come up with some sort of pen or clip that would attach it to the carpet, so far, I have found no such thing. In any event, I will continue to use these strips on my steps because I don't know of anything better without having to spend alot of money!

The product was not in its original condition. While the ad clearly stated the size, the picture misrepresented it, in that it was the manufacturers picture showing it in full size. It was also listed as "new," which it wasn't since it had been cut in half. Would not buy from the seller again.

I have been using the same carpet saver for 5 years. I bought this product primary to prevent stains/dirt on my carpeted stairs, as my stairs were taking a beating between a family of four and two dogs, a german shepherd and pomeranian. My carpet would look so dirty, if it wasn't for the carpet saver. You can definitely see the trapped dirt on the carpet saver when it is removed to be washed. The only down side....the carpet that is not covered by the carpet saver is dirty and dingy. I bought the 30" carpet saver in beige color. It holds up well and rarely moves around, unless of course the kids are "sliding and playing" directly on the stairs. I wash it in cold water and spin it to remove excess water. I don't place it in the dryer: I place it directly on my carpeted stairs and it dries quickly. It am considering buying a new batch of the carpet saver. As I mentioned, I have been using the exact carpet saver for 5 years and the nap is starting to wear thin in some areas. I would prefer to have wood on my stairs, but at this time, it is not financially feasible. - Carpet Runner - Carpet Protection - Seller Unrel - Carpet Protector - Runner Rug'

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Cloth Diapering - finis, cloth diapers

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I really wanted this to work but the first time my son pooped in it, it totally leaked everywhere! I have the size large and my son is at the end of the weight range so it isn't because it didn't fit. It just doesn't contain anything in it. It is a cute diaper but not functional what so ever. This is a waste of money. Imse Vimse Swim Diaper - Turquoise Dots with Frills Large

I was hopeful... The side snap is nice as is the soft fabric, however it doesn't do the job. I put it on my son to check the fit - it is advertised as 11-17 lbs but the tag says 13-17 - and he conveniently chose that moment to poop. I put him in his bath to test it, and for the first 2 minutes it seemed like a success, but then the poop started to escape little by little. It came out the back, which seems a little low, and as my son is about 12 lbs right now I can't imagine this working any better for a bigger baby. Unfortunate, because I wanted to like this and feel comfortable taking him in the pool with it.

I purchased one of these for swim lessons last spring as disposable swim diapers were not allowed, plus I didn't want to waste money on a pack of disposables. It did great and I loved it! The snaps on the sides were the #1 reason I bought this particular brand...imagine taking off a wet cloth swim diaper, that fits snugly to keep messes contained. She did poop a couple times when she was in the wading pool at home. It will contain the mess...depending on the consistency. If it is a loose stool, the water in the pool will break it apart, therefore allowing some to escape. Like other swim diapers, these are not meant to be leakproof, so it was no surprise you could see some come out. If it is a more solid mess, I imagine it would be better.

I am about to order my second one for my daughter for this year! I love it and have recommended it to others.

We used this diaper all summer and it was perfect. It was much easier to get on and off than the disposable swim diapers. My son is a little skinny guy and it fit him perfectly. I would say that it runs a little small based on the weight recommendation.

We really like this swim diaper. It is so small it fits under a "regular" swimming suit (although I know a lot of people wear it by itself as the suit). The difference between the medium and the large really isn't that much. I do have to say that it hasn't been tested for poop, though. So I do not have any insight on that. Seems snug, but not too tight around legs, so I am guessing it will do fine.

I bought these swim dipes on a recommedation from a friend. I was happy to find something that fit our 6 month old twins (who run on the long and lean side) when disposables wouldn't fit them. We've been really happy with this product overall, but the undies do not absorb/hold in pee. If you are holding your little one when s/he is wearing this diaper and goes potty you will get wet. For us, this wasn't an issue since we were usually at the beach/pool and we could easily rinse off.

To keep them from peeing in their car seats, we left them in disposables and changed them at the pool/beach. This seemed to work.

Poop - even the runny kind - was held in by the diaper well and was easy to clean out of the diaper. We purchased two patterns for our daughter and two for our son, so if they pottied in their pants we could change them into a fresh pair and deal with the collateral damage once we got home.

I can officialy say after this weekend that it does a good job of holding in poop, and its very easy to wash out. However you have to be on top of it. Im sure if he stays in the water with poop in the diaper it will start to breakdown and leak out. But if you catch it right away- no problem. My son is on the lower end of the weight range and it still works great. Love the snaps- helps alot trying to get diaper off.

This is the best thing I've bought this summer, I had a regular pull up one last year but this one has snaps, awesome! And it fits so well it even holds the pee in, I have to take her on the grass and open a leg hole to let it out. Don't waste your money on throw-aways. Also I went to walmart and got a cute bikini top to match the bottom, perfect swim suit! Highly recommended

I am very happy with this product. I have only given four stars because it doesn't actually contain the pee. However, that was not what I was expecting, so I am not disappointed. We ordered this for my 15-month-old son who is still in diapers (mostly cloth at home) and also uses the potty, but is not fully potty-trained. We recently went on a 3-week vacation, and this diaper was used almost daily. It dries quickly and only requires a rinse or quick hand-wash between uses. It fits very nicely on our trim baby and is easy to get on an off our son who likes to stand for all his changes. I will say that if your baby poos in a diaper without any warning to you, you probably want to go with the disposable swim diapers, because this one doesn't contain pee, so I can imagine some blowouts with poo.

I love this swim diaper. The pool we go to makes her wear a regular swim diaper underneath this one, which I wasn't expecting otherwise I wouldn't have purchased it, but I'm still not disappointed. It fits nicely over the swim diaper and she looks super cute. I bought the coordinating Tankini to go with this diaper. She is very small for her age and tiny around he waist, but the diaper seems to fit tightly enough (without being too tight) around her thighs and waist. When I use my parents' pool this summer I will be able to give a better review as to how well the diaper holds in solid contents. I like the snaps on the side as it makes the diaper easier to get off when it's wet. The price is a little high, but you get what you pay for. All around I think this diaper is a good value and would recommend it to anyone. - Pool Diaper - Reusable Swim Diaper - Cloth Diapers - Finis'

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Gevey Turbo Sim

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last christmas i gave to my wife an iphone 4 but unfortunately it was locked.

when i purchased the iphone i was hopping to unlock it with one of the available softwares that have been waisting our time on internet, so it didn't happened because its baseband 2.10.4.

Since then i've been waiting for the software to unlock it and nothing, thats when i decided to try one of this turbo sims hopping that it will work in Mozambique, where we live.

I recieved the turbo sim on 05/15/2011 and tryed...

And after a few trys the phone is realy working, i couldn't even believe it.

but i think there's a problem with the sound, it doesn't sound nice the quality is poor and i dont know if its because of the turbo sim or the iphone 4...

But.... i ordered another turbo sim for my iphone 4 which is baseband 03.10.01 with the same problem... i had 2 iphones one factory unlocked and another with turbo sim and none of them had this sound problem...

I would recomend gevey turbo sim to everibody who has been suffering with locked iphone... gevey iPhone 4 Gevey-3g Turbo Sim unlock kit iOS 4.0, 4.1, 4.2.1, 4.3 and 4.3.1 Baseband 1.59, 2.10, 3.10.1, 4.10, 4.10.1

Hi,

bought this Gevey Pro to unlock iPhone 4 Baseband 4.10.1. The Amazon description clearly says 4.10.1 and the picture clearly shows a Gevey Pro (the only one that unlocks 4.10.1). Being tech savy I double checked all specs and ordered. Surprise surprise: bag does not say "Pro" on it and when I placed my "other carrier" sim card into the provided tray with the unlock chip the phone did not recognized the SIM at all.

I'd consider this a bait and switch.

Being the eternal optimist I have contacted the seller to see if they may have made a mistake. We'll see ... until then:

BEWARE - DO NOT BUY this product if you want to unlock a 4.10.1 baseband!

Updates to follow

The card does what it's supposed to do and does it well. However it is a significant drain on battery power. While I understand sometimes you have to sacrifice one thing for another, it's rather annoying that even with less than average use, the iPhone will barely last a day. If you absolutely MUST have your iPhone 4 unlocked, be prepared to deal with the headache of having to constantly keep an eye on battery power. Otherwise, don't bother with this product or the iPhone.

It's a nice idea. Unfortunately, it's illegal in the U.S. and many other countries. Not because it unlocks the phone (which it does), but because it makes a call to the emergency # (equivalent of 911 in the U.S.) every time the phone is re-booted.

Call 911 a dozen times or so and hang up on them and see what happens... That's exactly what this does to 'unlock' your phone. You'll be able to use your phone on any carrier you like. So long as the county jail lets you keep your cell phone in your cell...'

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Flooring Tool - porta-nails, floor jacks

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Great tool! Nice heavy weight and easy to use.

The quick release forward makes it easy to use and move quickly as your working. Really pulls the floor to make a nice tight floor.

Be careful! This thing has power and could probably push a wall out of place! Porta-JACK Pro

I have been a flooring installer for 7yrs...how did i ever manage without the porta jack....simple to use and powerful..it ratchets boards into place effortlessly and allows secure nailing for a tight fit... life is great and much easier now!

Product does what it is supposed to do, albeit pretty heavy to move around. Also, it has to grab the tongue of the plank instead of the top edge, which cuts down on the amount of room you actually have to use when laying your last plank by the distance of the tongue. Not that big a deal though usually because your last plank is almost always a rip.

The Porta-Jack is a small but extremely powerful tool. Used to straighten any curved boards and to pull together joints at the wall. Have used other types of jacks but none are as easy and small as this one. You have to make sure you use a longer piece of wood next to the wall when you force the joints together or you will puncture the sheetrock, also watch that you do not move the wall. After you use one you can retire the pry bars and blocks of wood. Overall just a great designed tool.

I am installing over 800 sq ft of 4" x 3/4" Brazilian Cherry in an old home. I won't have any help with this installation and needed something to take the place of a guy with a pry bar. I found this tool and decided to give it a try. The tool is awesome. It's built to last so the price tag is not that bad. This is definately something that will last years and years. I read some people saying it's heavy but I find it pretty consistant for what it is. It is solidly constructed and made with you, the guy or girl installing the floor, in mind. Anyway, about how well it works. Long (6 - 8 foot) boards go in tight with no problem. These boards, even with two other people are a pain in the neck normally. After you straighten out four boards you are going to realize that the tool is worth every last penny. Even though I still can't move as fast as I can with another guy, I get the results I want by myself. While it won't perform miracles it can come really close. It can straigten boards that are already nailed down and it is awesome on your last row before rip cuts. This coupled with a porta nailer and a 16 gauge finish nailer and you're good to go. I could only imagine how awesome this thing could be on an oak floor. I am just happy that I don't have to hack away at a pull bar as much. If you are installing a sizable amount of quality hardwood and have no handy friends do yourself a favor and buy this. Make sure you know what your doing and don't blow out any walls.

I used this for a recent install of hardwood flooring and was thoroughly impressed with the tool. It can generate incredible force and is particularly useful for face-nailing the first or last few rows of flooring, holding everything tight while you drive the nails.

It also provides a useful "anchor point" when using the Porta-Nailer w/ face-nailing attachment, as you can butt the face nailer up against the Porta-Jack and hold it nice and steady while driving the nailer's ram with the hammer.

For the price, I would not buy it for a single room-sized installation (e.g. 150 sq. feet or so) as you can use wedges and pry-bars to move the flooring around. If you have a helper who can lever the pry bar while you nail, that probably works just as good as the Porta-Jack.

However, if you will be undertaking several projects, if you are working alone or if you are using the Porta-Nails nail gun in a face-nailing mode, I'd highly recommend this tool.

I'm professional flooring installer and have used this tool but ended up returning it when I found the same tool at Harbor freight for 24.99. I purchased the one at Harbor freight and have used it for a long time with no problems. I know that you can get alot of junk from them but this is one product you buy from them that will last and work. Save your money this thing is way over priced. - Floor Jacks - Porta-nails'

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Starter Sets - yoga mat, manduka yoga mat

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This is the best yoga mat in town.

It is a sturdy rubber mat similar to industrial fatigue mats for hard floors.

The Black Mat pro is a perfect yoga mat.

A closed cell rubber, it is easy to keep clean and looks good too.

After a little break-in, the mat grip improves and is a pleasure for my Yoga practice.

The mat has a lifetime gurantee and you can't go wrong here.

The mat: Lays flat, nice grip, and won't fold under the weight of a real man.

I am over 6 feet tall and decided on this size vs. the huge 84 inch mat.

In a perfect world, another 3 inches would have nailed it. It's fine overall.

You do get extra width on both sizes and that is great for flow positions.

Since the mat is transported daily to the studio, I wanted some portability.

Women like it too.

Included here, a large Manduka MatSak. Nicely constructed, with large dual compartmens. There is also a zippered net compartment for keys, wallet etc.. The main bag area has plenty of room for the mat.

The 2nd main compartment can carry accessories or even a change of clothes.

A Natural cotton strap is of high quality along with a heavy duty buckle.

Woven for strength and comfort, this is a super strap.

Need a block? They even include a natural cork block. More top shelf quality.

A sweet set-up of pro level yoga gear, from the best name in Yoga equipment.

This is a nice value which should satisfy most yogis.

Namaste! Manduka Black Mat Pro Deluxe Yoga Package (Graphite, Thunder)

The Black Mat is a very high quality mat - I attend a minimum of five yoga classes/week, so this mat gets plenty of use. At the start, there is a finish that will make this mat very slippery with the least amount of sweat, but by lightly scrubbing the surface, and with regular use, the finish will wear off. The mat will still be slippery with lots of sweat, so if you perspire a lot (like I do) you will need to invest in mat towel.

Some people have had trouble with the zipper on the bag, but it has been trouble-free for me for seven months now. There is a second pocket that I can fit my strap and mat towel in.

The block is very useful. I'll use it after a long day of hunching over my computer at work by placing it between my shoulder blades and laying back with my arms over my head for a slight backbend. I did need to buy another to practice press-up handstands, but I got that one in a Gold Box deal!

The strap is great! Using it, I was able to teach myself to go into Eka Pada Rajakapotasana. Love this prop!

All-in-all this is a great deal on some very high-quality yoga gear.

I'm a yoga instructor & I have tried many, many yoga mats over the years. The Manduka Black Mat Pro is like the Cadillac of yoga mats, but generally with the price tag to go with it. I think it is phenomenal that Amazon offers this package! The mat is perfect, the bag is not only high-quality, but it looks great & is very useful with the additional side zipper to carry keys, mat cleaner, whatever! The block is super high quality, as is the strap. One of my favorite Amazon purchases ever!!

This is a great package. Manduka rarely goes on sale and will last forever, so it's an investment in your practice for a long time! I got this package super cheap when there must have been a freak pricing error, but even at the $121 I would have bought it.

The mat's extra 2" width makes it feel very stable. It will last forever. Remember to wipe it down prior to your first use so you get the stickiness right off the bat. I still use a yogitoes skidless on it for Ashtanga, but I sweat a lot. It feels great and it very supportive, way better than other decent mats I've had before. I can also do standing balancing poses on it even though it's 1/4" thick, which is great.

The bag is awesome. Well made though the zipper sticks a bit. It has two long, zippered pockets plus a stash pouch for keys, etc. So much better than the crazy-making cinch-top designs that pull on the rubber of the mat! I like the fig color ok.

I would recommend this package, though you might need two blocks to get started if you're doing lifts and/or restorative poses. Be sure you get the exact same ones if you do purchase another block!

How do you know the difference between a good company and a great one? The great ones are the ones that make good on their errors. My order was wrong and the correct items were lot available for weeks. I was pretty upset with the order but online fitness went above and beyond to make sure I was happy. I recommend them because everyone makes mistakes but not everyone admits it and does whatever they can to make the customer happy. - Yoga Mats - Yoga Mat - Manduka Yoga Mat - Starter Sets'

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