Sunday 31 May 2009

17 Inch Laptop Case - caselogic, 18 inch laptop bag


The Caselogic PNC-218 is one of the few choices available for laptops with 17" or larger screens. Our widescreen 17.3" laptop fits in the main compartment with two or three inches width to spare. A velcro-adjustable divider keeps the laptop from shifting back and forth. A separate zippered compartment has several nicely-sized pockets that hold our wireless mouse, a portable hard drive, some cards, and a USB thumb drive. The bag is fairly thin and trim; it won't hold much beyond your computer and accessories. (In other words, it is not a laptop case and briefcase.) Case Logic PNC-218 18-Inch Laptop Case (Black)

First I just want to say that it is really hard to find a bag that will fit an 18.4 inch laptop. You would think that there would be a decent selection out there or at least more than two vendors, but as of now that is just not the case. This bag does fit my 18.4 inch Toshiba Qosmio laptop with an inch or so to spare. In that light, this bag may be what you are looking for for the price. That being said, there are plenty of things wrong with it.



- Space. This bag has enough space for an 18.4 inch laptop and nothing else. The largest pouch comfortably fits the laptop, but you can barely fit the power supply in the secondary pouch. If you do plan on taking your power supply with you, forget about any CD's, books, or anything else you might need. Well I suppose you could fit a book or something in there as well, but only if you are abnormally good at jigsaw puzzles.

- Securing Straps. The "adjustable" strap in the primary pouch is severely offset to one side of the bag, and opposite it are simple velcro straps. This turns the simple task of placing your laptop inside your bag a very awkward experience. I am usually forced to lay the bag flat on the floor or tabletop (if there happens to be 3 square feet of space available) and completely open the case before I can wiggle the laptop inside and secure the straps. It is nearly impossible to get your laptop inside if it is upright. As an added problem, the simple velcro straps are not padded where the adjustable strap is, which means your laptop will always be tilted inside the bag. This makes it very awkward to carry.

- Zippers. Initially, the zippers were fine, but after about 5 weeks of use, they are always catching on the fabric of the case. While not a completely detrimental flaw, it is freakishly annoying to have your zipper catch when you need to get to your next class.

- Shoulder Strap. This is perhaps the biggest of all the flaws in this bag. At first, it seemed sturdy enough. The gel-type shoulder was a nice bonus too. But after 5 weeks of toting my bag to class and back a few times a week, one of the clips broke and I almost dropped my $1400 laptop on the concrete sidewalk. Initially, I thought that the clips for the shoulder strap were made out of metal, but now that one was broken in half, I could see that it was only plastic. Upon further inspection, I noticed that the the clip opposite the one that broke had almost ripped away from the case. It appears that CaseLogic thought it was a good idea to use only a single stitch pattern when they attached the shoulder strap anchors to the bag. The Strap holding up an expensive massive laptop is attached to the case by six little threads! If the clip hadn't broken, it would have only been a matter of minutes before the last two threads gave way.





In Summary, If you are absolutely desperate for a cheap bag that you can use to bring your laptop with you on your annual trip to Grandma's house, then this is the bag for you. But if you actually plan on using this bag more than once a year, stay away! My shoulder strap broke off after only 5 weeks of carrying nothing but my laptop and power supply! I'm glad I'm only out $30 and not $1430!

Hooray! A bag that's actually big enough!



I'd give it 5 stars but I can't vouch for reliability yet as I've only used it a few times. Also, this style of bag really isn't that comfortable when you use the shoulder strap (but there aren't many options for laptops this size). The handle is cushioned and comfortable.

I was very pleased with the size and construction of this case..I do not have to use it everyday

so it is perfect when I do need it for putting all my supplies in...my camera, notebooks, pens,

and cords all fit perfect with room to spare. It is very comfortable on the shoulder strap and

I find it works better with the strap shorter.. Very good purchase and yes I would purchase it

again. Hope this helps you decide, perfect if you have a large laptop, like me, 17.3 fits perfect.

Case logic, as it is common with this brand, is a practical, efficient, nice-looking item, that covers all the expectations and then some. But, if I'm going to be fair, it would probably help a lot if you could design a broader shoulder strap, or at least a cushier one.



All in all, this is a great item. - 17 Inch Laptop Case - Caselogic - Laptop Bags - 18 Inch Laptop Bag'


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Baby Wipes - baby, baby dry


I am a stay at home Mom with 4 children. I have been buying diapers for the past almost 11 years and Pampers Baby Dry is hands down the best diaper on the market, and believe me I have tried them all! All of my kids have been "super soakers" when it comes to pee. These diapers way out perform any other brand including major brands and department store brands. The major selling points for me are:

1. They are thin, easy to pack 5 in a diaper bag.

2. Easy to unfold with one hand (if you, like me frequently have to use the other hand to keep baby still)

3. tabs are easily opened without extra unfolding and don't rip off like several other brands.

4. Doesn't leave residue on baby or smell like pee when really soaked.

5. wider in the front to prevent baby from peeing out the side (and my kids are experts at this)



One thing that may be helpful is to remember that Pampers fit better on children that are long and skinny. If your baby is short and really chubby in the bottom, then Huggies will fit your baby better. This, I believe, explains the few complaints about Pampers not fitting or leaking.



Hope this review was helpful!

I made the huge mistake of buying the baby dry after reading through the reviews. I thought that for the price, why not try them. What a huge mistake! I should have just bought a smaller amount to try them first. Instead we have been using these for over a month now and I have had to clean up a poop spill at least every other day. My baby was 4 months old when we started using these and since she is not eating solids yet, the poop is pretty runny. The baby dry don't absorb the runny poop and it tends to just go right up the back side of the diaper onto her outfit and usually whatever or whoever she is lying on. It's just not worth the money saved! I will only buy the Swaddlers from now on. Hope this helps someone wondering which to buy Swaddlers or Baby Dry, DEFINITELY go with the SWADDLERS!!

It must depend on your child because I tried the cruisers after always using baby dry on my son and they failed us several times. I went right back to baby dry and no more leaks. I have also tried other brands and I loved Huggies for my daughter but they don't work for my son. Funny how each is different. I am a mother of 4 and Luvs worked for my other son. You just go with what works for your child. I also have noticed that they work differently for different ages as well. Good idea to try a few out before you buy the jumbo packs.

Like other reviewers suggested, the size description is wrong. My five month old is about 15 lbs and a perfect size 2, and this size 1-2 is only up to 15 pounds. I'd say it fits up to size 1 1/2 comfortably. Pampers sells a size straight size 2 in smaller packs. Pampers diapers are great; easy to re-strap if you don't do it right the first time. The smell is pleasant, and the design cute sesame street characters. I recommmend, just make sure your baby is just barely out of size 1 to get this size 1-2!

I used to use the more expensive Pampers Cruisers but thought I'd try the Baby-Dry to save some money. I bought a pack at a local store first to make sure the fit and performance was good. I liked them just fine. Nice stretchy tabs, much like the Cruisers. So I ordered from Amazon. I ordered three cases to take advantage of a promotion Amazon was running. But the diapers I received must be old stock, before Pampers put the "flex" stretchy sides on the Baby-Dry diapers. The older expiration dates on the Rewards code confirms this. Maybe they've gotten rid of the old stock; then those newer diapers would rate 4.5 stars. These non-flex diapers barely close to fit my baby whereas the flex ones were plenty big. It irks me that Amazon posts a picture of the "flex" diapers and delivers a different,inferior product.

I love Pamper's Swaddlers. I've tried Huggies and both Pampers brands, and out of all of them Swaddlers are my favorite. That being said, the Baby Dry diapers are terrible. With Swaddlers you can adjust the fit, and the diapers are really soft. Baby Dry diapers feel like they're recycled and and I really dislike the sticky waist straps. They're shorter so you can't adjust the fit as easily, and the waist is always loose--with a boy that's a very bad idea because he tends to get his clothes wet through the TOP of the diaper instead of the sides now. I can't wait until we use these up because I will never buy Baby Dry again.

I have three children in diapers. My oldest is 4 years old and is autistic. We have not been able to potty train him yet.

We tried several brands only to find out that Pampers Baby Dry was always the one we went back to. No question! No leaks! But the cost of our diapers just adds up. Amazon has the absolute cheapest price I have found - in stores or on-line. And free shipping, and I got (...) off with a promotion for baby items over (...) prurchased. I made out! And never had to leave my door! Thanks Amazon! Really! - Baby - Baby Wipes - Pampers - Baby Dry'


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Ipod Touch Accessories


These stylus are very well made and work very well, if all you want to do is find an alternative to pressing the onscreen keyboard. However, these stylus are totally useless for use with a drawing program because the rubber tip will not glide across the screen. If you use your iPhone outdoors and you are wearing gloves, these stylus are for you. If you want to draw, then you'd be better off with a stylus with a soft foam tip. 3 Pack of Universal Touch Screen Stylus Pen (Red + Black + Silver)

Short and sweet:



I've tried three of the stylus brands offered on Amazon: The $15.00; the $11.99 aCase; and the cheap three-pack "Universal Touch Screen Stylus.".



It is easy to tell you which not to buy: the cheap ones. The rubber tips on them have too much friction. You can't write or draw easily; you literally feel like the Stylus is getting stuck on the screen. Guaranteed, one zillion percent, you will hate it.



Now, to the Boxwave vs. the aCase.



This isn't just a draw; there's not even a fight, because the two products are exactly the same (there's one subtle difference in the way the little headphone-jack string insert is attached to the pen. One uses a tiny, carbiner-type hook, and the other a ring. You'd probably never notice the difference, because there is non.



So, which to buy? The aCase is three dollars cheaper, but it only comes in black. That's it.



Boxwave: http://www.amazon.com/review/create-review/ref=cm_cr_dp_wr_but_right?ie=UTF8&nodeID=172282&asin=B000ETU944&store=electronics

aCase: http://www.amazon.com/Acase-Apple-Capacitive-Stylus-Black/dp/B003ULE6GU/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_0_1

Three-pack: http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Touch-Screen-Stylus-Silver/dp/B002BBJMO6/ref=pd_cp_e_3

I should have read the reviews carefully.

Do not buy this if you want to use it with your iPhone to draw, slide the screens or do anything cool.



The tip is very soft and you need to put some effort in pressing it against the screen. If you try to slide it, you are in danger of damaging the screen since the tip moves away and the hard plastic of the stylus can scratch your precious sceeen.



This is probably good if you are missing a finger or you are wearing gloves and your apps are in the main screen.

There are three (3) types of touch screens, buy the correct stylus for your screen.



From eHow:



Resistive-type screens lack the clarity of other touch screens but they tend to be very durable and can be used in a variety of environments. Resistive-type screens are the most common in use today.



Capacitive screens are resistant to outside elements, making them very durable, and they still maintain a high clarity. Unlike resistive and surface wave screens, which can be used with stylus, capacitive panels must be touched with a finger.



Surface wave touch panels are the more advanced of the three types, offering the highest clarity. But they are more easily damaged by outside elements.



[...]

The iPad has a capacitive touch screen, your gloves won't work, and that plastic stylus from your old Palm PDA won't work either. Buy a capacitive stylus for your iPad.

For reaching those peskly small areas on your iPod Touch screen, the Universal Touch Screen Stylus Pen does the trick! They are comfortable in the hand and helps to make some of those tasks easier on the iPod Touch. If you have trouble with fingers that don't quite work the way you wish, then this is another reason to consider purchasing these pens.Silver Universal Touch Screen Stylus Pen for Apple Iphone 1st Gen, 3G 2nd Gen, Ipod Touch

The price and shipping time on this item are great. Sadly, the item itself is basically useless. I bought this for my iPad and it works but you have to mash really hard and then it leaves a funky streak mark and it's hard to get it to work and then it isn't very precise. I bought it to have a stylus to use with a drawing app and given how big the tip is and hard I have to mash to get it to work it's much less useful than simply using my finger.

This is a very nice stylus with a soft rubber tip. They work great on my Instinct and with the rubber tip there is no fear of scratching the screen. My only "issue" is that the stylus are to thick to fit into the stylus pocket on the stock Instinct case... but the size does make the stylus much more easier to control so you're more accurate with them. I'm glad I ordered the three pack because I can just keep one at work, one in the car, and one at home.

With fat fingers and hands that sometimes shake, these styluses worked great on my iPad AND my DroidX phone. I often give them away to friends and have ordered about four packs so far! For the price, it's worth a try!'


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Comfortable Boxers - underwear, boxers


These should be marked for what they are, or rather aren't, because I'm not sure what they're really made of. They are not all cotton which is what I expected. Two pair say 75% cotton/25% polyester, but feel more like 50/50 with low-grade materials. The other two pair say 100% cotton, and feel exactly like the first pairs. They don't even make good rags. Put the price of these toward some good underwear; it's your privates after all. Fruit of the Loom Men's 4-Pack Stripe/Solid Assorted Boxer Briefs,Assorted,Medium

I purchased these because I was running low on boxer briefs and though the striped colors looked cool. They're cheap and get the job done, but the fabric is a bit rough on the skin. So far the elastic bands have been holding, but they do not seem that strong so I doubt they will last after a few washings. - Underwear - Boxers - Comfortable - Kint Boxers'


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Mp3 Download


Watched the group perform on Craig Ferguson on 7/15/11. 3 days later, I'm still waking up, with this song running through my head. Today, I finally gave in, and went to find the song.



It's super catchy. I just wish the version of them singing on the Craig Ferguson show were available, since I love the more raw sound of it. Luckily YouTube seems to have everything. LOL. It's worth the $1.29 to buy off Amazon. Not crazy about the rest of the album, but I'd definitely put down my money for this one. Pumped Up Kicks'


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Speedo Biofuse


My twin boys have used these flippers for the past two summers. Living in the South, we spend many months swimming and the flippers are still in great condition. They'll outgrow them before they wear out. We like the fact that the back is flexible rubber and comfortable on the foot. Friends kids have tried them out and wanted to know where they could get a pair because they're so much better than the strap on kind. U.S. Divers Sea Lion Jr Fin (Yellow/Blue, Size- 1-3)

Purchased the Aqua Dolfins for my 7 and 8 year old girls. Followed up with purchasing the US Divers fins. Both are very good for their needs (on a swim team practicing laps in a pool). The US Divers fins are two-tone, a little smaller in overall size, and definitely lighter. Presently, the girls are sharing the US Divers fins among them. The US Divers fins look like small adult fins and I think if they had a choice, they would prefer to swim with the US Divers fins. The most important aspect is fit. The girls have not complained about the fit of either brands' fins. Note: In Hawaii, it was difficult locating these US Divers fins for my young daughters. Highly recommneded.

My kids have been begging me for a set of fins since taking swim lessons last summer and getting to wear a pair. These are so nice and soft on their feet and ankles - they have not complained once about the fit or feel the way that I know they would if I'd bought the less pliable variety with the straps. Also, they have a big enough range in sizes that I won't have to replace them immediately, but they still manage to stay on their feet perfectly. The rubber seems extremely durable and yet soft too.



We don't go to the pool without them.

Purchased these for my novice swimmer daughter. This gives her alot of confidence since it makes treading easier and the obvious quick movement. Once she learned she can't walk fast out of the water she was doing tricks and swimming fast across the pool and even getting her underwater stamina and confidence.

These have not only been fun for my son to swim in, but they have improved his swimming. He used to run under the water ha ha...now he understands that keeping his legs straight and kicking up and down with the flippers makes him go so much faster! Even when he is not wearing them he is keeping his legs straight. Inexpensive and fun, all kids love them.

Bought these for our 6 y.o. son and he loves them. They are a little big, but don't fall off when he wears them, so just the right amout of growing room. No rubbing or hot spots, so they are perfect! :)

Joining the crowd. Excellent swimming fins for my child. Rubber material is soft enough(after a pair of plastic ones) to wear them for long time (my son practically does not take them off during the swim session (2 more hours). They fit his little feet well- true to the size. I definitely recommend them and will buy them again as soon as these are outgrown.

My 8 year old grandson loves these fins. They are well made and soft (flexible) enough for pools with liners. He was apprehensive of the water this year and the fins sparked his interest. He can beat his older brother to the opposite side of the pool. The fit was perfect for this year and hopefully next. The boot design is so much better than the straps that break so often. The price was so reasonable that I don't mind having to buy the next size up when needed.

These fins are fantastic! We kept getting the cheap plastic ones that come in a little kit at a department store but they fell apart in two weeks. So I took a chance and ordered these--for almost the same price. They are Awesome! In fact, I accidentally ordered two pair and since she loves them so much, I decided to keep the second set for backup!'


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Photo Printer - all in one printer, printer


I am going to cut to the chase here; under no circumstances should you buy this printer. Feature rich, the printer sounds great on paper, and for the most part, many of the features work as advertised. The big problem with this printer is it does not print reliably. Don't take my word for it though, read the other 1-star reviews and visit HP's own Support Website forums to see the problems others are having with this model, and similar models before it.



I purchased this printer from Costco because it had some great features (wireless printing, large touch screen interface, duplexing, compact in size etc...), and because Costco has a painless return policy. I returned it because it didn't do the one thing I needed; print reliably. You would have to run the clean print head job in order to get the printer to print properly. After the printer would sit for a bit, it would not print properly again, until you ran the cleaning job again. And the printer could not even complete the alignment process either. My first thought was I got a bad one out of the batch. After doing some research though, I found these problems were all too common with this model and others from HP. Do not let HP's horrible support con you into blowing even more cash on new ink cartridges, it will not fix the problem. And don't let them try and send you an RMA, you will still have the same problems.



I have requested Amazon add a "reliability" rating to this product, as it needs it.



I can't be anymore clear about this; look at another line of printers; Epson's Artisan 725 is great, and in the same price range. HP needs to learn how to put out quality consumer level printers again. I will not be buying another HP inkjet printer until they prove they aren't putting crap in a flashy box. HP Photosmart Premium Wireless e-All-in-One (CN503A#B1H)

Very impressed with the features that this new line of printers offers. It did take a few days for it to pick up my FIOS network for some reason, but my other computer can now dance around the house and still print. I guess the threat of calling HP service spurred it into working. The colors are true to life and I like the separate cartridges instead of a combined cartridge for color. I checked the price for the color cartridges and they seem to be reasonably priced also. It is built a little lighter than my workhorse Officejet 650, but HP is trying to stay green and the prime parts that usually break are still study enough.



Perhaps I am spoiled by the iPhone touch pad, but the touchpad on this printer seems a little sluggish. Maybe we just need to get to know each other better!

Excellent concept. Especially liked ePrint and XL ink options. Product setup was okay. But the printer only worked for one day before running into problems. Wasted $50 replacing starter ink cartridges. Wasted an hour plus on consecutive days with HP online support chat. Was promised a replacement printer which never materialized. Maybe was unlucky in getting a dud from this new product line. Definitely was unlucky with poor HP support. Recommend against wasting time and money until kinks are worked out of both systems.

I bought this printer to replace my way old Cannon. Got it home which is 45 minutes from the store and it never worked. The ink holder would not move over so I could put the ink in it so I had to force it over. It kept giving me a "general print error". After about an hour of this, I called HP and got nowhere. They tried different things with me and it still would not work. The only difference was the error message changed but went back to the original one. I think it was 061011beb or something close to that. So after working my way up through their ranks with people in India, I was told it was a "general hardware failure" and they could send me a refurb. A REFURB AFTER OWNING THE PRINTER FOR 4 HOURS!?!?!? I told them no way. They said a case manager would be contacting me about this. It will be to late as I am bringing this back to Staples. If they are nice about it, I will get a Cannon from them, if not, I will raise all kinds of hell and go to another place.



It is very inconvenient for me to go through this.



I should have stuck with Cannon in the first place.

This printer has been my worst consumer product experience in at least 10 years. I have wasted vast amounts of time and effort in the two months since I bought it, with almost no success. Specific issues include



* USB connection cannot be made to work: My preferred arrangement would be to connect it directly to the computer via USB cable, which should be possible. Don't even think about it - the printer driver software that should allow this doesn't work. HP clearly knows this, but cynically wastes more of your time with "patches" that don't work either.



* Wireless connection keeps vanishing: So I finally got it connected to the network, printed out a document, and was momentarily happy. However, this was short-lived. An hour later I tried to print another document - the printer was "offline". No amount of coaxing would bring it back on. Eventually, through scanning various user forums (how fun is that!) I learned that the best bet was to switch it off for at least 30 minutes, then try again. This works about one time in ten.



* Total unreliability: If life were a Jane Austen novel, this printer would be one of those pale, delicate female protagonists, prone to fainting at the slightest provocation. An example - Friday, after allowing the damned thing to rest for 7 FULL HOURS, I finally got it to scan a single-page document for me. But the strain was such that it immediately got the vapours and refused to print, scan, or copy for the rest of the day. The next morning it managed to "print" a document again, but the entire thing was in magenta....



* My interactions with tech support convince me that HP knows this is a complete lemon, but is unwilling to admit it or replace my machine. (Unfortunately I didn't buy it on Amazon)



* The on/off button ceased to function on the second day, forcing me to have to unplug it to turn it off, then endure sanctimonious messages about "improper shutdown" and interminable rebooting and recalibration.





I could go on, but it would just elevate my blood pressure again.



DON'T BUY THIS PRODUCT. (Frankly, at this point I will never buy another HP product - their quality and service have undergone a consistent decline over the last 10 years, to the point that they are now producing junk which they then refuse to stand behind) - All In One Printer - All In One - Printer - Hp'


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Cuisinart Gr-4 Griddler


I feel like I am back on the streets of Paris every time I plug in my beautiful Cuisinart Panini and Sandwich Press. This press makes the best grilled cheese sandwich you ever ate, I guarantee it. I love how you can stick a whole hoagie roll or chunk of french bread loaf with sandwich makings inside into it and squish it into a hot & yummy hunk of cheese-oozong goodness. Or, you can use regular bread and make toasty club sandwiches or grilled cheese.



This guy hangs out in the cupboard and is easy to pull out, just plug in and wait for the green light to come on. You can have a quick french dip dinner ready in 5 minutes that everyone will love- also perfect for grilled cheese and tomato soup night- or just want to make some garlic bread to go with your spaghetti without heating up the whole oven? I LOVE my panini press.



It is really easy to clean- although I haven't tried grilling meats or anything beyond sandwiches and bread. Gooey cheese comes off easily and the whole thing wipes down quickly with a damp washcloth.



Elvis would have died over the peanut butter and banana sandwiches we make in this baby! The frying pan's got nothin' on our Panini Press.

Normally I'm not one to go crazy over kitchen appliances but I am compelled to sing the praises of this little wonder. This is sad, but my wife and I eat grilled cheese sandwiches a couple of nights a week because we love them so much. It's sort of our dirty little secret. This little miracle has opened up a whole new universe of possibilities. Our old-style Salton grilled-cheese maker would invariable push the top slice of bread out from the rest of the sandwich because of the operation of the hinge, and forget about putting anything in there other than bread and a couple of slices of cheese because it couldn't handle the thickness. With the GR-1 though, you can put a Dagwood-sized sandwich (the floating hinge allows HUGE sandwiches) in and in just a few minutes, the weight of the top plate has compressed the whole thing into a critical mass of concentrated goodness. Anything I can put between two piecs of bread is becoming a panini these days. This will probably take five years off of my life because I have doubled my weekly consumption of molten cheese, but it's worth it.

After reading the reviews of similar products and this one and knowing that I'm always disappointed when I go for the cheap stuff, I bought this one. I am SO glad I did. My son has been a big fan of grilled cheese sandwiches for 5 years now and it's not slowing down. I hate getting out the frying pan (and the butter) and making them the old-fashioned way. With the Cuisinart, I don't have to use butter. The taste is still great! My son gives it a thumbs up. Plus in less time than it takes me to make one the old-fashioned way I can make two. And my son can use it too. It's so easy, just put the cheese in the bread, wait for the green light, put the sandwich on the griddler and watch it do all the work. I've experimented with other kinds of sandwiches and they all turn out perfectly. I even use it to do quesadillas and heat up fish sticks. It works and makes them crunchy. Plus it doesn't heat up the whole house like the oven does.

I looked at several panini presses before deciding on the Cuisinart. We have been very happy with the performance of this panini press. It heats quickly and the floating hinge allows the cooking of thicker sandwiches. The press is simple to clean, even if cheese has baked onto the grill surface. The only thing that might make this press better is a larger grilling surface. But, for the money, this press certainly does the job.

I started out using the Griddler for meats and sandwiches, but now I use it nearly every day to heat beans or mashed potatoes, for frying eggs even for quick carmelizing of small batches of sauces. It seems I find a new way to use the thing nearly once a week. I've had it for six months and it is well used.



The only thing I don't like about it is I have to make certain it tilts slightly forward. The griddles are very shallow and juices and liquid eggs tend to run off the edge if you are not there to control them. When liquids run backward over the edge they tend to collect under the plate where they get burned by the heating elements -- and its damned hard to clean.



The stainless steel is difficult to clean. The outside gets very hot and tends to burn on any oil that makes its way to the front edge of the Griddler. Difficult to get off without resorting to harsh cleaners which scratch the surface.



But, as an everyday appliance it suits my bachleor life style very well and the design is typically Cuisinart: slick industrial. Despite its frustarting flaws I love the dmaned thing-- sort of the waya paraent loves a sloppy teen.

This panini press has two distinct advantages over larger and more expensive models--namely, it is smaller and less expensive! As panini are usually made one at a time anyway, getting a multi-sandwich sized machine is just a waste of counter and storage space. This press has room for two sandwiches if you want to cook more than one at a time, but it is compact and easy to put away. It heats up quickly, and works like a waffle iron--one light says ready to go, the other says wait a minute. Pretty simple.



The floating handle provides even pressure on sandwiches, which come out warm and deliciously crunchy. One warning for households with small kids--the whole unit (except for the handle) gets pretty hot.



This is a satisfactory low cost panini maker that is perfect for singles, couples, or even small families.'


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Rocky Mountains - rocky mountains


I don't know whether to praise this book or curse it! I thought I was satisfied with the fishing here in Florida and my occassional trips to some of the more popular rivers and lakes Out West. Not anymore. Rich opens the readers eyes to an entirely different domain...not an easy one, but one which will kindle the adventure spark in anyone interested in pure experiences. Not only has he generously given us the benefits of his considerable fishing and hiking experience, but he provides it in an enjoyable format that makes reading a pleasure. Even if you never venture far from the pavement, this book offers encouragement and a kind of satisfaction in just knowing that we still have some far horizons that are unspoiled and waiting. It also makes me glad that I've kept myself in pretty good shape these 46 years...I'm going to need the energy when following his footsteps! Fly-Fishing the Rocky Mountain Backcountry

Rich Osthoff knows what he is talking about. I have read many books that attempt to cover backcountry flyfishing, and none have done so as well as Osthoff's. As an experienced backcountry flyfisherman, I found Osthoff is right on the money with all he had to say. There was still a lot of material to challenge even the experinced though. If you have any interest in catching gorgeous fish in an equally gorgeous setting, this is your book. Absolutely right on the money.

Great book, it made me take two backpacking/flyfishing trips in the Rockies last summer and let me discover a new world. Book is packed with information on destinations, techniques, and gear. Everything one needs for a do-it-yourself vacation that is more rewarding that any packaged outfitters trip. Well written too.

Fly Fishing the Rocky Mountain Backcountry is a very comprehensive guide to backcountry fishing. Rich Osthoff gives the reader a generous portion of his extremely comprehensive understanding of backcountry fishing. He delves into different backpacking styles, reveals his theories of alpine lake fishing, recounts numerous fishing experiences, and motivates the reader to get on the trail, ready to trek for Trophy Goldens, Rainbows, Cutts, and Brookies. His information on the Goldens of the Wind Rivers alone is reason enough to buy the book. Osthoff should be commended for sharing what he has learned during his 25+ years of backcountry fishing. If anyone wishes to seriously fish for big backcountry fish, this book must be purchased, read and re-read.

This book is a must for flyfishers in search of quality backcountry fishing. Osthoff skillfully avoices overt hotspotting, while giving the reader the skills necessary to find quality fishing destinations. This is not a guide book, with maps detailing hotspots, but rather a book that will allow the backpacker/ flyfisher to home their own skills and sense of discovery.Studying this book put me on to large golden trout my first time out!

This was an eye opening book on the possibilities of back country fishing. Rick Osthoff takes wilderness fishing to its logical extreme and comes back with a wealth of information. Rick has done what most of us never quite were willing to do - breaks from a normal job cycle to go fishing for over twenty entire summers in the Rockies. Rick is the guinea pig in an experiment that I (and many others) dream about.



I think of the book in two parts. The first part is Rick's collective experience in the knowledge of backcountry hiking as it relates to fishing. His techniques of ditching cooking gear for other meal options are very close to the most of the ultra-light techniques I have read about. He covers safety issues, packing, fly selection, fishing techniques for ponds and streams, maps and many other key issues.



The second part of the book covers a selection of the key wilderness areas in great detail. I will be keeping this book in my collection for years to come as a reference for trips and for inspiration.

Prior to this book I had limited backcountry fishing experience, moderate hiking ability, and no backpacking skills or gear. A person at that level is provided with all of the gear and knowledge to effectively fish the backcountry by virtue of a complete system. Sure, there have been advances in breathable fabrics, digital cameras, and other areas since the book was published in '99, but all the fundamentals remain unchanged. So often with hunting and fishing the student is innundated with too much (and possibly conflicting) information from multiple sources, when what they really require is the singular instruction of a master. This book qualifies as that antidote.



Some previous reviews bemoan the fact that the fish sizes were off from what Rich describes, that they were disappointed it did not explicitly relate certain areas, etc. I guess I just don't know what those people expect. Fisheries can change over the years, and this book even teaches the research skills to cope with that dynamic. Each subject has been addressed and related with great care, including the locations of trophy waters both stated or obscured, but present for those willing and able to read between the lines. Considering over half of the book addresses various destinations (of all ability levels) across 6 western states, it is tough to imagine there isn't something for everyone.



Heaven forbid Rich should be saddled with the knowledge that he directly influenced someone into a derelict fishing existence. Reading Gierach from 16 on was actually the initial spike pushing this train onto its course, and I was a committed fisherman before then. But, I did pick this book up a short period after college when the notion of travel and fishing was becoming an achievable enterprise. An impressionable reader, when Rich recounts structuring his life after college to take entire summers off to fish, I was on board, and others might be, too. - Rocky Mountains'


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Door Hardware - keypad, keyless entry


I bought the kwikset smartcode pb deadbolt as a gift to my wife. We are always looking for the key. The installation into an existing baldwin deadbolt took less than 15 minutes. I was able to program the two codes easily. My issue is with the quality of the unit. The outside seems like a nice brass finish. The inside is a brass coated plastic. When I opened the box, I saw the unit had finger prints on the finish. I was not able to remove these. Within two weeks the unit has reset itself and did not accept the codes that had been working. I have had to reset the codes twice. A third time and it comes off the door. I bought the kwikset because of the $20 rebate and cost was $30 less than competing devices. My suggestion is to look at the other units. The cost is not enough to put up with the quality and unit resetting. Kwikset 90915SMTCP SmartCode Single Cylinder Deadbolt Featuring SmartKey, Satin Nickel

The look seems great for the first few months (you'll note that most of the reviews were written soon after purchase). However, within a year, the motor that retracts the lock burned out on one of my locks, and the cylinder gave up the ghost as well, so the key didn't work either. The second lock that I purchased at the same time just lost its electronic mind --- it was mechanically okay, but it wouldn't reset or take a new combination. Like most Kwikset products, the construction is just too cheesy. The keys, for example, are so thin that they'll actually bend. I'd avoid this product unless you intend to replace the locks every year or so, and be sure to have another way to get into the house if both the electronic and mechanical mechanisms fail, as happened to me.

This is a great product and can be found for under $100 at home center stores. At the time I wrote this, Amazon did not stock it.



It lets you set one or two codes, each from 4 to 8 numbers. Codes are easy to set, so you can use one for your housekeeper or a temporary one for when you are on vacation and need to give it to a neighbor.



A nice feature of this lock is that it can be set to lock itself 30 seconds after it was opened. My kids often leave the house without locking the door (the old deadbolt required them to use a key to do so) and this can do it for them. Even without the setting, locking the door is as easy as pushing a button.



The numbers light up, so you no longer need to fumble for your keys when it's dark and you have no trouble unlocking the door.



If you do want to use a key, a nice feature is the SmartKey system. I replaced an older lock and did not want to get new keys for my whole family. With this lock, you merely put the key in, turn it 1/4 way, push a tool into its slot briefly, and you can remove the key and place a different key in the keyhole. Then you turn the key back and take it out. It took about 5 seconds to set this lock to use my existing key. This feature makes it very easy to set the lock to use a different key to give somebody temporarily. It also makes it easy to set all the doors on your house to the same key, re key all of them in minutes, or key one of them a different way and change it back later.



Installing this was relatively simple. It required the typical steps, plus adding batteries and connecting a wire. Once it was installed, I pushed the battery pack in while pressing a button, and the lock set adjusted itself for my door. There's no need to do anything special to get this lock to work with the left side or the right side of the door.



My old locks were very easy to pick. These have a much higher grade of security. I liked it enough that I am upgrading the locks on some other doors and I'm glad that the SmartKey feature will make it easy.

I seen some of these locks been install in my neighbors, ( I live in a condo community) and decided to give it a try! I purchase from other online source where you can find it cheap at around $89. After 3 weeks the lock start making a weird noise and I eventually got lock out, I have to get a locksmith to help me open this lock. This is where I am amazed how this lock can be open with a simple method! The locksmiths basically open this lock within 3 seconds. Since then, I have change my mind and have to search for a better keypad lock here.

Nice product - good features and works great. Easy installation and nice not to have another key on the key ring. Had a hardware problem with the touchpad (9/0 key would not push in). Called Kwikset tech support and had a replacement item shipped to me within a week.

There is a lot to like about this lock and it installed easily. You must follow the directions, however, when installing lock to keep out of trouble. But the lock we installed is not holding its code. We enter the code one day, following instructions, and next day the lock doesn't seem to remember it. If we can get this problem resolved, we will order more.

Just installed the "SmartCode" deadbolt on my garage door, took me longer than I expected because I didn't look at the directions. It's not hard to install at all, but you need to follow the simple instructions.



PROS: I like the product a lot, very convenient. It was a hassle finding the garage keys to do the laundry. Nice outer finish.



CONS: The drawback are that the motor is a bit loud, but that's minor. Some of the parts are plastic, could have been metal, but I'll worry about that in 10-20 years from now. A bit pricey.



BOTTOM LINE: Get it, it's worth the ease of getting in and out, and about.

I purchases two locks one was defective and unusable. i had a clue something was wrong with the lock because the packaging was in a disaray and wrapped differently than the other lock that was not defective.I I didn't install them until after the warranty expired so I had to eat the $100.00 loss. I guess that is why the seller had such a short warranty : would not purchase from seller again : - Keypad - Kwikset - Electronic Lock - Keyless Entry'


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Notebook Hard Drive Enclosure - hd enclosure, hard drive enclosure


This is a simple generic IDE/ATA interface for a 2.5" laptop hard drive. Plug your 2.5" drive into the case, put it together, and plug the furnished USB plug into just about any computer. Presto, you have an external drive.



You can pay more, and maybe even get some more bells and whistles. But if you just want a simple backup hard drive or a place to store files, this item works just fine. USB External Portable 2.5 Inchs 2.5-inch ATA IDE Hard Disk Drive HDD Enclosure Box Case Laptop

I bought this for about $5.00 (shipping included) here in amazon.



For that price I honestly expected a horrible product





But I was VERY surprised. This product is great!



No bells, no whistles. A simple USB plug and a red light to tell if its reading/writing. That's IT!



I read that the build quality was bad. I have observed otherwise (at least in my unit). USB plug is not sideways, it fits perfect, and I've had no problems so far.



Took me longer to ponder if I should plug in both USB plugs into my PC, than it did to install



(BTW: yes plug them both, my PC kept saying it could be "faster" if plugged to a USB 2 HUB, this was because I only had one of the USB plugs plugged in. It needs the juice of both)--And yeah all my PC's USB plugs are 2.0 :)





The instructions, they are nice if you know nothing about hard drives. If you know what it means to format them and know that you might have to look at the jumper of yours, then your fine, you can throw the instruction booklet away



It brings EVERYTHING you need (except the HDD). Screwdriver and screws are included, and even a little pouch to take it with you.







Bottom line: This is an enclosure for backups, or if you need the drive for light uses (in other words....I wouldn't leave it on overnight...no fan). For this price, and its compactness, you can't ask for anything else





Speed wise..........The HDD i'm using came of a laptop from early 2003. Save to say the HDD was MADE in 2002. I won't even put it to the test, i know its slow (the HDD that is). So sorry if I can't post read/write speeds

It took me longer to unwrap the mailing package and open the box than to assemble and plug in the USB to my computer. I'm very pleased with this brand, it works without any problems. My computer recognized it right away. I have no cons for this product technically, it could have come with a better pouch with padding. I've purchased many enclosures for old or new hard-drives, this enclosure worked as well as the more expensive enclosures.

ordered ATA enclosure they sent wrong item and it can not fit with my HDD.

ask for refund from international country they want me to send it back to them? how can i cost of shipping, duty already paid???

avoid them.

Service from seller was great arriving in record time. Problem is that the product pictured was nowhere near the product received. Might have been ok if it worked but it didn't. Luckily I didn't pay much at all for the product so I just affirmed a old proverb..."Ya git whatcha pay for". It'll make a novel cigarette case.

This little hard disk drive enclosure is amazing. When I was looking for an enclosure to save the hard drive from my damaged laptop, I didn't think such a thing even existed. After searching for several days, I found three enclosures to choose from. The other two were ten times more expensive than this one. This one works perfectly. It's amazing!

I bought this hard drive case after destroying the motherboard on my laptop but managing to save the hard drive. I wanted to access my files. After initially purchasing the wrong type of enclosure (check whether yours is an IDE or a SATA type of hard drive before you get this. Newer laptops use the IDE style) I got this one. It was easy to insert my hard disk and easy to access all of my files. It is inexpensively constructed but you get what you pay for. I would recommend this product. - Hd Enclosure - Hard Drive Enclosure - Usb Drive - Sata Case'


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Saturday 30 May 2009

Deep V-neck


this item is not possible to wear. it is very transperent. you have to put something undeneath. shoulders do not stay put. there is a thread you can tie on the back to keep the shoulders from sleping down but it is not attached right so the contrast trim rises up. the hem is not even. the fabric is very chep and scratchy. everything is just wrong. about only good thing i can say about this dress the color and pattern is pretty. i had to return it. Fashion Blvd Silk Blend Floral Chiffon Deep Plunged V Neck Empire Waist Kimono Dress Pink Medium'


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Deep V-neck Deep V-neck Deep V-neck

Crocodile Leather - skeleton watch, stuhrling


Watch was pretty much as advertised. Very nice appearance and seems to run very accurately, for a mechanical watch. Really fun to see a purely mechanical, wind-up watch work so well...All in all, very happy with this purchase! Stuhrling Original Men's 228.33452 Brumalia Boardroom Mechanical Silver Dial Watch

Just received this watch and have had it for a few days. So far I am pleased with this purchase. I intended on buying a watch that would be wound by wearing it but made a mistake and bought this mechanical watch. No problem though. Am still happy with the purchase and need to learn to wind the watch periodically (just like watches when I was a kid). Nice looking time piece. I would have given the watch a 5 star rating if the band was more comfortable. The clasp digs into my wrist but thing that after wearing the watch for a few weeks I will not be bothered by it. I am over 6 feet tall and when fastening the band I use the next to last available positioning hole in the band. This makes the "tail end" of the band a bit long. Overall, I like the watch.



I have an update for Stuhrling - the website is a joke (broken) and can't leave a message at the customer service phone number. This makes me think that this company is pretty shady and am not sure that IF I had an issue with the watch that I could have the problem resolved. Have my fingers crossed that my watch will not have a malfunction.



Update: After having this watch for a few weeks I can only say that I need to return it. It gains more than a minute EVERY day. If I don't keep resetting the watch to the correct time it will never be correct. I have tried to not wind it all of the way thinking that maybe I wound it too tightly but that does not seem to cure the issue. Feel that I got roped into a bad deal. - Skeleton - Skeleton Watch - Crocodile Leather - Stuhrling'


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