Thursday 31 December 2009

Dont Waste Your Money - usb, ipod accessories


This cable was able to successfully charge and sync to my Macbook Pro. It is however a generic cable with no apple logo. PLEASE NOTE: This cable is very short.. 3 Inches to be exact. Maybe they ran out of wire? Seriously, it seems well made and if you need a short cable I would recommend it. White USB Data Cable for iPhone 3G, 2G, iPod Nano, iPod Touch, iPod Classic

Bought this cable so I could have one at work to go along with the one I have at home. Works perfectly. The only thing I would mention is that there are 2 buttons that you have to press to get the connector out of the phone. Its not exactly like the original cable where you could just pull the cable out. Its not hard or anything, just something you didnt have to do with the original cable. Other than that, fits fine and works great.

I ordered 5 cables. The order and shipping was great. I have had one of the cables just fall apart where the cable meets the connector end that goes into the iPhone. I can not complain too much because it is A LOT cheaper than buying actual ones from Apple or their retailers. If the cable had not gone bad already, I would have given this 5 stars.

I have to rate this the worst purchase I have ever made on Amazon thus far because the seller intentionally displays the wrong image for the product, and while the product somewhat serves the functionality, it is bulky, and not what I ordered.



Very disappointed!



-Ehsan

Hi I'm 13 years old. I had an IPod touch cord that broke and wouldnt work so I tried a bunch of different places to get a cheap cord but they never worked. Then I found this product. It seemed to look fine online. And when it came in the mail I was elated and surprised to see that they cords were actual apple ones.(I ordered two) Currently the cords are working out fabulous and soon I'm going to buy more before there gone. So I strongly recommend this cord to you.(:

I ordered three of these last week. So far I have tested two of them and they work perfectly (on an iphone 3Gs as well as an old school nano... I think 2nd gen). They are authentic (or at least look authentic enough to fool an avid mac user) and printed with "Designed by Apple in California Assembled in China". A few reviewers mentioned the cable is short. All of mine came with the regular length. Pretty content with only needing to pay $1.25/item instead of $20 in the store! - Usb - Ipod Accessories - Iphone Cable - Ipod Touch'


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Positive Thinking - raw, raw vegan


I ordered this book after purchasing a Blendtec blender. I was looking for some good green smoothie recipes. Well, I counted a total of nine. I should have realized The quality of this book from the silly cartoon picture on the cover. This book is 109 pages long with really large print. It really is more like a pamphlet than a book. This "book" should be priced at $2.99. So there is two and a half pages of recipes and at least 7 testimonials and the rest of the book is summaries of other books I own. I won't name them but if you already own any books on healthy living, positive thinking, or just plain old common sense don't waste your money on this book. Here are just a few of the topics covered:

DRINKING MORE WATER IS AN EXCELLENT HABIT

AN APPLE A DAY

TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES AND RELAX

Every time I order a book from Amazon I check the reviews. I am surprised that this book has any positive reviews at all. It makes me question the helpfulness of the ratings system. I have ordered a library of books from Amazon and this is the first negative review I can remember writing. How Green Smoothies Saved My Life: A Guide for Using Green Smoothies, Uplifted Thinking, and Live Food to Enhance Your Life

The title of this book is very misleading. Green smoothies did not SAVE the authors life, it merely improved it, as she admits in the text. And not green smoothies alone, but a host of other, generic, ordinary improvements we've all heard a thousand times... think positive, breathe, green tea, eat organic, drink more water, love yourself, etc, etc. I found this book TOTALLY redundant and uninspiring, a waste of my money. I agree with an earlier opinion, this is more like a glorified pamphlet with not much substance.



I recommend "The Green Smoothie Revolution" for many great recipes, classified in groups called "beginners", "children's", "adventurous", etc, so you know what you're getting into. I'm still in the beginner's group, and am winning skeptics right and left, with my samples. (I haven't yet tried the 9 recipes in this book "How Green Smoothies Saved My Life".)

If you are ready and willing to make a difference in your health, in your life - this is the book for you! Kim Caldwell outlines for you how you can live a happier, healthier life and it all begins with green smoothies. Try it for yourself and see! After my first green smoothie I immediately felt energized! It was if my body said, "THANK YOU SO MUCH!" I felt great. The recipes are easy. I like to alternate which fruits I use to give myself a little variety in flavors.



But it's so much more - you'll read testimonies from others who have made this lifestyle change. You'll find yourself identifying with others and be comforted to know that others out there suffer from the same things you may suffer from (ie fatigue, obesity, even psoriasis). You'll understand completely why Green Smoothies benefit your body so well. And the second half of the book - when you read it, I hope that you embrace the activities the author encourages such as daily reflection, positive thinking, and taking daily walks. It's a choice you can make that you won't regret!

Loved the book! It inspired me to make smoothies on the weekend and freeze them for use at work during the week.



This program will work for any one. It is much easier to drink/eat the veggies when they taste good, increasing the total amount of veggies consumed. It is healthier, lower calorie, and more filling than juicing, because the fiber of the plant is included in the drink.



I especially love the many tips for improved health. It directed my attention to a hidden problem affecting health, which is that unconscious repetitive negative thinking weakens immune systems and thus health.



Kudos for putting so many helpful concepts in one easily readable book!

A delightful little book chock full of healthful tips and dreamy wisdom.Together divine and lovely.

An easy read with plenty of recipes for smoothies,warm smiles and even a few giggles.

Indeed, I believe GREEN SMOOTHIES do save lives.

**A great book from such a positive source.**

*Thanks Kim

I read it in one shot and couldn't thank Kim enough! When I was 12-14 I lost 6 very close family members, in that time period, and dealing with the grief, I figured out that I could be happy and fulfilled on my own, regardless of the emotions of those around me. As I got a little older, and got more stress and responsibility in my life I'd started to forget all of that, and almost stop believing in it. I just wanted to say thank you for reminding me, as well as enriching the concept so much further. I already feel so much more excited about day to day life. I'll be recommending this book to everyone I know, and keeping mine by my bed to read when I need another reminder :)

Kim Caldwell's book How Green Smoothies Saved My Life is an inspiration to all girlfriends who want to be in control of their health and their thought life. We all should take note. She also reveals simple and results oriented tips in her heartfelt book. It is such an elementary concept that packs a powerful punch. Whether you are a nutrition junkie or a newbie to the green food world this book will send you on a path to better health. It is a gentle wake up call that everyone should have. You don't need all the nutritional info for each shake because when you are consuming a variety of greens and whole foods as Kim suggests...you get all the nutrients you need from that well balanced plant- based diet!I say kudos to Kim for putting it out there for all of us to enjoy. This is a great girlfriend gift too!

I will be sending it back. It's full of inane ramblings and the cliches abound. Nothing original at all, just "do like me and you will feel marvelous!" "Drink plenty of water"! Wow, that's earth shattering! "Water will give you glowing skin". I doubt it's that simple... "Send Blessings to Others" "Think Positive"! "Take off your shoes and relax!" "If you drink green smoothies you will be in a good mood immediately"! You get the idea...There are a few recipes with only an ingredient or 2 plugged into a base of the same stuff. Recipes not imaginative or helpful. No nutritional info is included with them. The book is a rant on the "life giving properties" of certain foods. Again, cliches. What exactly are "life giving properties"? I doubt anyone knows. The only thing new I learned was about "skin brushing", which is as it sounds... Anyway, this is not a good book if you know anything about life or food, also, it is written in a very large type as there is so little content, it would only be a few pages if it was in standard 10 or 12 pt text. It also tends to repeat the same inane ideas over and over. How did she find a publisher... - Raw Food - Raw - Raw Vegan - Raw Foods'


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Highly Recommended - snow blower, electric snow thrower


So I ordered this model even though it had no reviews at the time. I was looking at the comparable Toro and Snowjoe models, but couldn't bring myself to buy either since there were so many negative reviews in addition to the positive ones.



I went with the Greenworks for two reasons:

1) The 4-year Warranty

2) The 20" width



Well, let me say that so far I feel I absolutely made the right choice.

The unit looks great, and seems to be built with very high quality parts.

How it was packaged was also excellent. There's no way this baby's going to get damaged in delivery like I heard about with the competitors.

The only negative was that Greenworks actually went overboard with their packing... They actually put the unit together by screwing directly through the plastic covers that go on the parts so I couldn't get all the plastic off the pieces without taking some pieces apart.

I see this as no big deal as again it is their effort to make sure everything is protected for delivery but just letting everyone know about it.



Once built (very easy to do I might add), the machine is very easy to maneuver since it has quite large rubber wheels. I know there have been negative reviews about the Toro due to the cheap tiny wheels. No issue here!

The handle is adjustable to 3 levels (I'm 6'2") and I was able to make it comfortable for my height.



Well I had to wait a week until the snow came, but come it sure did! I live in northeast Ohio, so the last few days have been a downpouring of the white stuff.

I had purchased 2 50-foot outdoor cords rated at 13 amp (this unit is 12 so we're fine).

I also purchased some Snow Jet non-stick coating spray and used it per the directions prior to the first use. I had read about it as a way to avoid the snow clogging in the thrower or chute while working.

The first time I used this thrower, I noticed how easily it moved the snow. The chute is very easy to adjust in direction, and it easily shoots at leat 6-10 feet so you're able to make sure you don't shoot snow over an area you've already worked on.

Once I got used to it, I was able to do the whole driveway and walk in 15 minutes the second time. Piece of cake!

The snow was soft the first time but a mixture of wet snow and ice the second time. This made no difference it worked just as well. It also worked perfectly on the slush at the bottom of the driveway where the street plows make that big mess all the time.



The blades are steel covered with rubber, and it really hugs the ground and pulls the snow off.

I'm not going to say it will get you to bare ground in all spots, but it sure tries and it's more than good enough to get your vehicles in and out which is the main purpose right?

I mean if you want to get the bottom layer of ice completely off you'll need rock salt and a shovel anyway.

This thing did get some of the ice off, but I didn't want to push too hard to get it to do that and possibly damage the blades.



Bottom line is that I got this for $200 on Amazon and I already feel it's my top purchase of the year. I had a Snowjoe 12" snowbroom last year and it broke, then I had to do the old shovel routine. It would take me at least 2 hours to do my driveway and walk last year.

Now, with twice having at least 6 inches of snow on the driveway, I was done in 15 minutes and back in the warm house.

As long as the wind was in my favor, I didn't get too much snow on me and certainly saved my back.



You absolutely cannot go wrong with this one. I only hope its longevity matches its performance so far, but with a 4-year warranty, I can afford to take that chance.



It didn't hurt that Amazon gave me free shipping and it showed up the NEXT DAY!

I did not pay for overnight and I got this the next day after I ordered it. I still don't know how that was possible but I'm not complaining! Greenworks 26032 20-Inch 12 Amp Electric Snow Thrower

We ordered this on a Saturday and it arrived the following Wednesday. Two days later we are in the midst of a 20inch snowfall/blizzard. This machine works like a charm. We chose it for the 4 year warranty. We see now that it's a very capable machine and perfect for an old-fashioned Minnesota blizzard. It took less than 5 minutes to assemble and can be used even by someone with severe back and neck limitations. Highly recommended!!

I will start by saying I am a female and the primary user of this snow blower. I had an OLD Toro that I always fought with to start because either my arm isn't long enough or I just don't have the upper body strength to start the thing. I wanted something easy for me to start and that would help me through a Cleveland (Ohio) winter. After looking at several models - the price, size of the deck and warranty sold me on this machine.



When the machine arrived, I was able to carry it into my house to assemble it (so the machine is pretty light). I think it took me longer to unpack the machine than it did to put it together. After assembling, I was able to lift the machine back up and move it to it's spot in the garage.



When we got our first snow, I thought to put this machine into action. It took some getting used to on not to trip/unplug the cord, but I think I finally got that part down (I knew it had a cord when I ordered it, so I'm not rating this snow thrower any less because my clumsy behavior). As promised, it chewed through the snow easily! It's about as loud as a shop vac, so I don't feel TOO terrible using it at 6:00am because I doubt it'll wake my neighbors. It's easy to push and maneuver. I am overall very happy with the machine!!

I got this before the snow,so I couldn't review it.Now that we did get a few inches of snow,I can say it works very well.Throws the snow far,its more quiet then my vacuum cleaner,was packed great,all bubble wrapped,no way any thing could get scratched.Not much to put it together.I think this will be MUCH better then the shovel,and plus the gas ones are 400 to 600 just for a decent one,there is no messing with fuel,or pull starting.I'm happy!!

Edit: the shoot that directs the snow,will freeze up if its real cold!! - Snow Blower - Snow Thrower - Snow Throwers - Electric Snow Thrower'


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Overnight Diapers - pampers, baby


I'd been a loyal Pampers consumer since my daughter was in size newborn Swaddlers and the prospect of their Dry Max technology enticed me when it was introduced. My daughter was at the age where overnight diapers had become a necessity and I loved the notion that the Baby Dry line had been improved upon.



I learned, or rather she learned, very quickly that Dry Max was unfortunately not an improvement. She was wearing a size 3 at the time and began to wake up every morning soaked from mid-chest to knees. I assumed that she needed a size 4 for overnight and while the leaks didn't occur as regularly, there were still 2-4 mornings a week when she'd wake up soaked to the bone. I had purchased a small package and decided that once I had used the last one I was going to switch brands; I should have done so sooner.



The first thing that I noticed one morning was that the left seam of her Extra Protection diaper had come undone. There were small gel beads all over her bedding and her, and when I removed her pajama bottoms and diaper I was in shock. Her stomach, bottom and thighs were covered in red welts with some areas more inflamed than others and others that had the appearance of a typical but severe diaper rash. I had never seen anything like it; she screamed when I wiped, screamed when she sat, screamed when she moved. Motrin had no effect so I made an appointment with her pediatrician for that afternoon and he too was shocked. As it turned out it wasn't welts nor was it a rash - she had suffered caustic burns from the Dry Max beads.



I was livid and called Pampers immediately. They in turn asked for a release of her medical records for that appointment and I gave her pediatrician the okay to do so. I received a letter and 52 coupons for free diapers, their obvious attempt to bring me back as a consumer. I haven't purchased a single Pampers product since.



Please use this with caution. My daughter isn't the only one who this happened to and that in and of itself is a very unsettling fact.

These diapers work great. No more changing onesies first thing in the morning. Only thing is if the jellies start to come out there is a big mess on your hands but this rarely happens. I've been using these on my twins since they turned 5 months. They also work great if you are going on long trips.

we got this larger diaper because we thought it would hold more.

he was filling up the size 4.

at night we put him on the extra protection size 4.

he still filled it up.

so we moved up to size 5.

it does not seem to hold much more.

sometimes it gets so full a few blobs get on his clothes.

hes only 31 inches and 23 pounds.

I wish I had read reviews of these before I purchased them. My 20 month old wears a size 4. This diaper claims that it lasts up to 12 hours. Not true! The 1st night it lasted for 7 hours and the 2nd night it lasted 9 hours. The diaper did not just leak it exploded---the filling inside the diaper was all over! All over my daughter, her crib, and jammies. The diaper fell apart at the front opening and gel beads where everywhere!



I did call Pampers to complain. They seemed very aware of the problem and tried to offer me 2 ten dollar off coupons. To which I told them I won't be purchasing their products anymore. So instead they are mailing a $20 check. It still doesn't make me completely happy since I had to change/wash sheets and give my daughter a bath at 3am!

I've been using these diapers for about six months for my now 16 month old son. We cloth diaper during the day but I needed a super absorbent disposable for my heavy-wetter and these have been great! I have not had any leaks and they fit my son's slim frame well. The diapers have a lot of absorbency in the front which is perfect for boys and/or stomach sleepers. My son still wakes up at night but I no longer have to change soggy, leaky diapers in the middle of the night which makes it so much easier to get him back to sleep. I will continue to use these and plan on using them for my next boy on the way.

I've been using the Huggies Overnights and they are great --- 5 stars in my opinion. Unfortunately, I purchased these on Amazon because I have a Subscribe and Save account and I got 108 Pampers Overnights for $25! I put them on my son last night and this morning when he woke, his pj's were all wet and the diaper was saggy and messy! I'll just use them in the daytime. If you're looking for an overnight diaper, Huggies work great for us. They are so much thicker.

Had to buy these instead of the Huggies Overnights because our local grocery store was sold out of the Huggies (now I know why!). These are absolutely AWFUL. We used them for two nights on our 1-year-old son. The first night he had a few gels on him - no biggie, he had drank a lot that day and peed a lot overnight. But the 2nd time we used them, the seam on the left leg let go, and when I opened his sleeper that morning, his entire left leg was FULL of urine-soaked gels. I had an absolute MESS. I packaged the rest of the diapers up and gave them to a friend, and bought a box of Huggies Overnights. NEVER AGAIN will I buy these diapers. - Diaper - Disposable - Pampers - Baby'


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Mischievous Children - adventure, comedy


Vin Diesel had a choice when "Pacifier" was offered to him. He could star in this low-budget release or return for "XXX State of the Union." Mr. Diesel opted to do "Pacifier" because he'd have the opportunity to make a film that his children could watch and enjoy with him--unlike his previous releases which he considered too violent.



Surprise, "Pacifier" isn't just for kids. While there is a "family feel" to the film, there's enough action and suspense to keep the adults on the edge of their seats. Besides, the whole film is surprisingly funny as well.



Vin Diesel stars as a Special Ops soldier who lost a famous scientist on a mission. When he's assigned to guard the scientists' children while their mother is away, Diesel is triply determined to make sure the kids are safe. The children pose their own problems: the son dresses as a Nazi (turns out he's secretly gotten a part in "Sound of Music"), the daughter is having problems learning to drive, the baby just really doesn't know what's happening. Everyone's traumatized by the loss of their father--and having such a rough-and-ready guardian is hard on all of them. But, they band together when the family's at risk.



Overall, an excellent film with a lot of good messages for children. Plus, a lot of laughs. Kudos to Vin Diesel. This little-known film actually shows a lot of depth in his ability to act that we have not seen before. The Pacifier (Full Screen Edition)

If I had children between 5-12, I'd suggest they see this. It is "Kindergarten Cop," "Uncle Buck," and "Mr. Mom," with a light "Mrs. Doubtfire" thrown in. It is not as good as any of those, but I am not 10 years old. Your young boy or girl will love it.



It is a mix of slapstick, family style humor and situation gags. Nothing in the story will surprise moviegoers, but nothing will offend them either. It is a fun, decent, average 1960s-style Disney film.



The plot:

Shane Wolfe (Vin Diesel), Navy Seal, is assigned to protect the family of a slain scientist. Their home may have a special device the enemy wants. The mother is out of town trying to open a safe deposit box, and Shane's stay last longer than expected.



Shane, muscle-bound and bald, looks intimidating. He's tough, a "leave no man behind" kind of guy. All man. As a protector/babysitter, he runs aground into all of the expected gags. He changes a diaper with typical disgust, drives the kids to school, and feeds them dried MREs (Meals Ready To Eat). Parenting is new, and he starts learning.



He catches a boyfriend sneaking in, and has run-ins with the wresting coach, played by huge Brad Garrett. Some minor subplots about relating to the children bring a few laughs and "awes."



It isn't really an action movie, not beyond a few "Home Alone" scenes.



Vin Diesel shows he can act here, and occasionally shines in a few sequences. When he finds the code in the "Peter Panda Dance," we see an indication that there's hope for him in a better movie that relies on his personality more than his biceps.



Critically, from an adult perspective, Brad Garrett was not believable as a wrestling coach, and Lauren Graham as the military women-turned-principal did not work. It was as much of a casting problem as it was a writing and directing issue.



Brittany Snow as oldest daughter Zoe Plummer is great. She plays the character honestly, and within her ability. There a Hillary Duff aspect to her, with an edge. Unfortunately, Faith Ford as her mom, Julie Plummer overplayed her. Luckily, we only suffer with her in a few scenes.



Oldest son, Seth Plummer, is likewise overplayed by Max Thieriot, who seems like he was handed the roll for growing up in Hollywood. His conversion from weak trench coat outsider, to thespian acting in "Sound of Music," was more than a stretch.



The nanny, Helga, played by Carol Kane, is given terrible lines. Remembering her in "The Princess Bride," I shuddered as she tried to squeeze out comedy.



The movie is disposable, and will not rank among Disney's best movies. However, it shows that Disney is willing to toss a few dollars into a movie that is clean, with a message that is pro-family, pro-parents, pro-father, and old fashioned fun.



Anthony Trendl

editor, HungarianBookstore.com

Vin Diesel is a Seal. He rescues and important scientist the plan goes South. Now the government wants to get the scientist's work by takinging the wife to a Swiss vault. Diesel is assigned to guard the rest of the family for the two days the mother is away. It should be an easy assignment but this is no ordinary family. The kids are nothing but trouble (at home and at school) and the nanny gives up. To make matters worse, the mother's trip gets extended. Now Diesel is in for the long haul in an area he has no experience with.



We get plenty of scenes of Diesel being dumbfounded by civilians and their lack of discipline. But eventually Diesel begins to deal with the issues one by one. There are the individual kids, the scouts, school, the principal and vice-principal, sports teams and even enemy agents after the scientist's work. Eventually Diesel rises to the top as things are put straight.



Diesel's inflexible military ways really take a beating for the civilian influence in this movie. While the film does tough on the typical clueless-man meets diapers, it also moves into new territory such as pectoral development and how it is viewed by the young. Overall I found this a surprisingly well-written film with more than a few surprises. The supporting cast was well chosen thus strengthening the whole film. Check it out.

I was in the military for 8 years and loved it. I was in the field artillary as a forward observer. The biggest reasons why I loved this movie was because of Vin Diesel, and because of the military terminology (front & center, do you copy, ect.) The only thing wrong that caught my attention was in the beginning of the movie where Shane Wolfe (Vin Diesel) was briefing his troops about the upcoming mission to save Mr. Plummer, he was a few feet away from the other troops and he was more or less yelling. That's the only thing that was in this movie that would never happen. A friend of mine didn't like the jet ski scene shortly after that, but for me, this movie touched a little on every one of my senses (action, tender moment, family, good fight scene, excellent dialougue, the lone hero (ex: Riddick, Blade) I would suggest this film to anyone of any age. I work at a hotel full time and talk to guests of all ages, and of the people that have seen it, all have liked it. - Vin Diesel - Adventure - Dvd - Comedy'


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Exercise Machine - fitness, elliptical


Of the "consumer grade" elliptical trainers sold online and in some of the big box stores the E35 is one of the best. I've done a lot of research and the Sole has a smooth solid feel that many of the others (especially less expensive ellipticals) can't match.



The most important thing to remember is the best machine is the one you'll USE. If you have a jerky, clunky, noisy, or otherwise unpleasant elliptical you're less likely to use it regularly.



What you want in an elliptical is a solid frame that doesn't flex much when you really pound on it at higher resistance levels and work hard with your arms. If you try that on a cheaper machine, it will rock, flex, creak, squeek, clunk, etc. The E35 passes this test.



And you want a heavy flywheel (hidden inside) to smooth out the motion so it's not jerky. The resistance should feel constant throughout the stride. The E35 does. Front or rear "drive" doesn't seem to matter much.



You need good bearings at all the pivot joints to avoid "clunks" during the stride and keep it quiet. You also need good wheels that ride on solid tracks. Again, the E35 has all this.



Unless only shorter (as in under 5'10" or so) people will be using it, it's best to have a stride length around 20" not 17-18" like many of the cheaper models. For taller people a shorter stride feels "choppy" and isn't as fluid or pleasant. The E35 has a 20" stride.



The heart rate monitor grips tend not to work all that well when you're moving. That's true of even the $5000 club machines. As your hands move around on the sensors it confuses the electronics so your heart rate isn't that accurate or is only displayed sometimes. If you want accurate heart rate, use a chest strap. The E35 is somewhat rare in that it comes with a chest strap monitor (known as telemetric or telemetry). So that's a plus over other models including the Livestrongs.



The above are the most important. Everything else is much less important. Like the power elevation (incline) on the E35 works smoothly but doesn't make a huge difference in your workout (at least to me). A backwards (reverse) stride and changing your hand positions makes a much bigger difference.



The consoles all have various gimmicks and features but many of them won't get used much. The speakers for your iPod/MP3 player sound terrible--headphones work much better. The fan is a joke. You can't tell it's even on once you're working out. And fancy training routines add some variety but are not that likely to get used either. What usually works best is either a constant resistance, a ramp up-level off-and cool down routine, or an interval routine (hard/easy/hard/easy/etc.). Everything else is just kinda fluff--especially when it's easy enough to tap the resistance up and down yourself whenever you want during your workout.



Many manufactures play up the ergonomics of their machines. Some angle the foot pads in. Some (like the E35) have adjustable foot pads or variable strides. Some have the footpads closer together (like the Livestrong and Horizons). To be honest, unless you have really odd body mechanics, I think most of it is marketing hype. If you look at the $5000 machines, they typically have none of these features and are used by hundreds of different people a day at health clubs without any ergonomic issues.



It's worth knowing that Sole, Xterra and Esprit/Spirit are all made in China by the same parent company--Dyaco in headquartered in Taiwan with a US office in Jonesboro AR. Sole is mainly sold online and at Sears and Dicks Sporting Goods. Xterra has a different dealer network including some of the warehouse stores. Esprit and Xterra both have models similar to the E35.



Another big manufacture is Johnson that makes Horizon, Livestrong, Vision and AFG. Again, all the home grade products are actually made in China. I bring this up because Johnson has a better reputation for customer service than Dyaco. If you have a warranty issue, need parts, etc. you'll likely spend less time on hold with one of the Johnson brands.



NordicTrack, Schwinn and Nautilus are all the same company. And all seem to have more customer complaints. All 3 brands have been bought and sold sometimes more than once so don't assume because they were good in the past they still are.



ProForm is a favorite brand in the big box stores. And I couldn't find any that compare to the E35--but most are also cheaper.



I've compared the similarly priced Livestrongs to the E35 side by side and prefer the E35. The Livestrongs are nice but not as well made, had a few squeeks, and seem to have more complaints about problems on the various forums. The Horizon products (same company) have lots of bells and whistles but just don't feel right to me.



Vision makes some really nice ellipticals but they're mainly only sold through specialty fitness dealers and cost more than the E35. The same is true of Octane, Diamondback, Precor and Lifefitness. I've tried all of them. There's also Smooth, Star Trac, True and a few others with good reputations that I have't tried.



A good resource is treadmilldoctor dot com for relatively unbiased info on all the brands and brief comments on many of the models.



So that's my research and opinions. I hope it helps someone! The E35 is hard to beat for the price. Sole E35 Elliptical Trainer (2011 Model)

I recently purchased the Sole E35 2011 model after spending a few weeks online researching between the Sole, Norditrack, Horizon, and other top models. I then went and tried a few machines out at some local shops, and my choice landed on the E35.



Reasons I chose the E35 over the E25 or E95, was mainly the heavier wheel and the longer unit was the perfect sweet spot. I also was buying this unit for my wife as well.



I have used many precor's and other top models at the gym for years.



I will update this review as time progresses, so here is the recently purchased review.



After two days...



Install, as many others has stated the box unit is extremely heavy and large, very difficult to carry. We were keeping it on a ground level entrance so just two people was enough. It took 2 people about 2 hours to put the machine together. The directions are very good and its virtually impossible to put any part of it together wrong.



After first use, the machine is whisper quiet, and very smooth. I did a 30 minute workout on lowest incline and it was just exactly as you would expect from the machines at the gym. I'm a bigger guy (6'1 270) and it did not shake at all. I tested the MP3/speakers feature and it worked perfectly. The wireless heartrate chest monitor works flawlessly as well and was rather nice since my gym only has the handles.



So far I'm very pleased with my purchase.



I will update this review in a month. - Exercise Machine - Exercise - Elliptical - Fitness'


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Raised Air Bed - inflatable mattress, queen air bed


At first I received one of these, and it was defective out of the box; having been burned by a previous airbed manufacturer, and after the months-long process to get a replacement, I was so weary I just decided to eat the expense and live with its leaking. I left a scathing review.



But that was too hasty. A company representative contacted me, and asked why I hadn't asked for a replacement. I told my story. He was more than obliging, and immediately replaced the unit. I was surprised and refreshed. It's really a very nice bed, and I wish I'd been slower to assume the worst. I'm very happy with the bed, and recommend it for its ease and speed up setup and modest price. And, needless to say, their obliging and friendly staff. I'm thoroughly satisfied. Smart Air Beds Raised Comfort Coil Beam Flocked Top Queen Size Inflatable Mattress (Best) BD-1224

We bought this mattress for family that was coming to visit. The box had two different stickers on the outside instructing us to inflate fully and deflate the mattress at least three times BEFORE using. We did this about 4 or 5 times before trying it out for the first time. Our guest used this mattress for over a week with no need to refill or top off the mattress. I found a few other reviews saying they had to keep adding air, but don't know if they did the initial inflate/deflate step. This mattress inflates in minutes, deflates just as fast, is nice and tall and relatively easy to get off and on. I would highly recommend this mattress for anyone needing a spare mattress, whether for out-of-town guests, a retreat from a snoring spouse or to watch movies in the living room! :) It folds up nice and small with its own bag so it's super easy to store when not in use, too...Great product, great price!

I received this air mattress less than 30 days ago. I bought it to replace a Coleman air mattress that had increased in size until I could hardly open my closet door or even walk into the bedroom. This is by far the most comfortable air mattress I've ever had. The height is exactly as stated and makes the bed very easy to get up from in the morning. Other beds claim a 22" height but actually measure 18" when fully inflated. I use a queen size memory foam topper and it was a perfect fit for the bed. My bedroom is carpeted which really helps prevent damage to the bottom of the bed. I had a Simmons Beautyrest Skyrise Express that lasted over a year! I inflated and deflated this bed three times before use, following the product instructions. The bed still needed to be topped off about every three days. I was hoping this was part of the break-in process. I am on my feet all day long at work and coming home to eventually sleep in this awesome bed was such a blessing. But now, less than a month after receiving the bed I can no longer fool myself into believing that this leaking will stop. I have had to add air twice in the last two hours and it looks like it will be the floor or the couch for me tonight. I did not keep any of the packaging and I don't know if Amazon will replace this or not. If you're lucky enough to get one that doesn't leak, this is a great bed!

Purchased the inflatable bed because an inflatable mattress is difficult to get out of in the morning (I am 67). Bought it so I would have a place to sleep when I visited my son, i.e. didn't want to put him out of his bed. I slept in in for five nights & was very comfortable. Added air each night to ensure no problem in the night. I was still afloat every morning. It was a little warm on my back & I was a little apprenhensive when I rolled over when I slept. But, I never had a problem. Glad I bought it.

I purchased this smart bed after looking at reviews and product information. I sent it to my son's house across country and he received it in good time approximately 3 weeks before I was to visit him. He followed the instructions of inflating it 3 times prior to my arrival.



When I arrived I was pleased to see that it inflates easily and quicker than most air beds. The air curb around the sides was very effective so you don't roll off. The bed was not as bouncy as other beds I have tried which is a good thing. You hardly know you are sleeping on air as there is much support but not stiff. There are 2 chambers for adjustment, the main portion and the upper portion.



Letting the air out is a bit slow and I found it takes 2 people to lay on it to get all the air out while folding up the bed.



I would also recommend purchasing the recommended bedding as it takes oversized fitted sheets which fit perfectly.

We purchased this mattress before a trip so that we would have a place to sleep at a relative's home, and it was worth every penny. The mattress was so comfortable that we thought about using it every day at our home instead of our regular bed. It is nice to be able to get a good night's sleep while away from home. We did not have a queen-sized sheet for it, but used a king size. That worked out fine and the sheet did not slip because of the flocked top. We inflated and deflated 3 times as was suggested before using it and it was fine. It was easy to travel with because of its carrying bag and was not too heavy. Getting it back into its carrying bag was not easy, but possible. It remained inflated for the entire trip, although it probably could use a little air each day to keep it super-firm. It is now being stored in our closet, taking up very little space, until our next trip or for some guests of our own. We are very happy with the purchase which I believe to be a quality item. - Queen Air Bed - Inflatable Mattress - Air Mattress - Air Bed'


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Framing Nails


I am not one to put down any one or any company but why would I look at this product twice when I can get the same size Plain Shank Full Head Framing Nail in a 4000 pack at Lowes for $30.00. That's over 3000 extra nails for the same price. It will be interesting to see if this review shows up. I have used this brand and see no difference then other brands for less money such as Grip Rite. I have looked at the (review guidelines) I do not own stock in any home building supply company but I would like to see my fellow tool users get the most value for there money. Price, quantity and quality go hand and hand with any product. My name is Scott I am a tool addict. Thanks for letting me share.

ADDED 5-4-2011.. Good nails but shop for the better price. DON'T BOTHER WITH HOME D. CHECK LOWES EVERYDAY PRICES B & C Eagle A312X131/22 Round Head 3-1/2-Inch by .131-Inch by 20 to 22 Degree Plastic Collated Framing Nail (500 per Box)

If you have a Porter Cable FR350, for some reason finding nails can be a slight problem. The mega home store with the orange sign has them, but not consistently. So these are a good stop-gap until you can find more.They drive well and seem to hold well.

If you are looking for the highest quality nails for your nails gun then you better get these. I have used these forever and they have performed to the highest extent the whole time. They have never jammed or messed up my guns. These are top of the line

These may be great nails, but they'll probably jam and misfire with the Porter Cable FR530 nail gun. The FR530 needs plastic-collated nails, not paper-collated like these are. I made the mistake of buying a ... case of paper-collated nails, only to have non-stop problems with them. Only on the Porter Cable website does it mention that the gun uses plastic-collated.

I used these nails in a Porter Cable round head framing nailer. They worked very well and I have not had a single misfire or jam. I can only speak from experience for the Porter Cable nailer, but highly recommend them for this particular nailer.

I would like to see a better match for the gun, and larger quantities at local store prices. The nails have yet to jam; however, the gun stops ALWAYS with about 3 to 5 nails left in gun and I just need to keep adding some more to keep gun going.

These are 16d nails that measure 3.5" ... I used these nails to frame 2x6 walls and to frame the rafters on a 20x 16 garage... these nails never jammed or misfired... have recently ordered more of these nails..'


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Framing Nails Framing Nails Framing Nails

Iphone Charger - solar, green


I purchased a Solio Classic for use on a cross country bike trip. The product worked well, recharging a PDA, iPod and cell phone. But a piece (the center bushing around which the solar wings pivot) broke. It was my fault and I figured I could contact the company for a replacement part once I finished the trip.



I emailed them requesting the part, and here was their reply: "Unfortunatly we do not sell parts for your Solio. You will need to purchase a replacment unit."



My response: "This is very disappointing and unreasonable. I am not going to spend tens of dollars replacing a perfectly functional unit simply because an inexpensive plastic part has broken. I suggest you rethink this policy. Since you still manufacture the Classic, the part must still be available. This is really poor customer relations!"



They responded: "We do not do repairs on site. The unit holds a one year warrenty, if you are out of that time period you will have to purchase another unit. I apologize if you do not agree with our policy."



I suggest you do not support a company that on one hand touts its environmental cachet, and on the other promotes the senseless discarding of an easily repairable product. Solio Classic Hybrid Solar Charger (new)

I took this product backpacking. First, I wanted to test it, so I placed it outside in the sun to achieve a full charge. After 4 hours, it was minimally charged (maybe 10%), so I plugged into my laptop's USB to finish the charging, which took the rest of the day and all night to reach 100%. Let down number two occurred in the back-country, when my iPhone 3G ran low on juice after a few days of intermittent GPS use. I used the included attachments to connect my iPhone to the Solio Classic and hit the "Start" button (solio's only button--the instructions are odd pictures; no words). The iPhone registered that it was being charged; however, after 5 minutes, I checked the progress only to find that the Solio had quit charging. After attempting this nearly 30 times throughout the next few days, my iphone was none the better, in-fact it probably had less juice from the constant on/off of this disjointed charge attempt. I am unimpressed and will return this item as soon as I get home!

I've had my Solio Classic for two years now, and I don't know what I'd do without it. I spend a lot of time outdoors, usually away from any convenient power source. With my Solio Classic, I can easily and conveniently charge my ipod and my cell phone wherever I am. As long as I have sunshine (and my Solio), I have power. My favorite place to use it is at large festivals like the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, or during all-day trips to the beach. I'm amazed by the number of people who have never seen them before. Once I' tell them what it is, and what it does, the reaction is always the same - "I have to get one of those! That's the coolest thing I've ever seen!" Thank you Solio for helping me to cut the cord!

This thing rocks!!! It's simple to use. The charging side has a bunch of adapters to fit your device. the Charging end is a USB to a pin into the unit. My phone (EVO) can suck the power they way I have it set up. Not to worry Solio Classic Charger fixes that. I can even charge while I'm walking around( phone on belt clip and Classic in front pocket, shirt over the top). If someone see it, they will definitely ask you what it is and what it does. They always say "I got to get me one of those!"

Most of the five-star reviews were created on September 23. Anyone else find that suspicious?

The solio is okay; it's works for charging your phone one afternoon when you don't need it, or for small emergency charges, but I wouldn't recommend it as a regular back-up plan. I usually just use a fold-out flexible solar panel, which, while more expensive on the whole, was cheaper for the amount of product included and charges way faster.

I live in Florida. what better place to evaluate this product! I do a great deal of biking on remote trails.

I am 72 and not exactly "Dotty-Digital".I can't afford to have my cell or Ipod die.I listen to an entire book while I ride for hours.It's easy to use and more reliable than others I have tried. I love it...and it makes me feel safe.I recommend it to everyone in my generation who are still active outdoors!!!!The "Gray" generation turns GREEN!!!!!!!!!!

I just purchased the Classic about a week ago before going on a camping trip to Tahoe and was really happy with the results. At first I was skeptical about how well a solar charger could actually work, but found it pretty easy to use and incredibly functional. I used the USB charging cable to fill up the Solio battery before my trip, and then just used the sun to keep it topped off. Using it this way, the Classic fully charged my iPhone 4 a couple of times during my 4 day trip and allowed me to use my phone the entire time without worrying about battery life. I even let my friend use it to charge his iPod so that we could have tunes in the campsite. It actually worked, and worked surprisingly well. Great product. - Electronics - Solar - Green - Battery'


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Lcd Wall Mount Bracket - tv mounts, wall mount


I recently purchased the brand new panasonic th-58pz700u, this is a large tv that weighs 140lbs, so after doing much research I found this sanus mount to be the best one for this large tv, the hardware that comes with the mount is excellent, you do not have to run to the hardware store for extra nuts/washers bolts etc... everything you could possibly need comes with the mount. the best part about this unit is that you can install onto 3 studs instead of the more conventional 2 stud installation, this makes it much more secure. I was very lucky in that my house was built back in 1955 and back then they used studs spaced at 12 inches apart instead of the current 16 inch apart requirement, this enabled me to actually use 4 studs for the install, needless to say this tv will never fall off the wall. basically when your going to install this mount read all the instructions thoroughly first and then use masking tape to "draw" on the wall exactly where you want the tv, then figure out where the mount will go in relation to the tv's mounting holes, then just find the studs and install the mount, I am very happy with this mount and tv looks great, enjoy Sanus VMPL3-B Tilt Wall Mount for 27" to 84" Displays (Black)

In this day and age of mediocre design, shoddy quality control, unreadable instructions, I was quite impressed with this wall mount. It's only a wall mount and, as such, is not the focus of attention. However, it is the slimmest, lowest profile wall mount I've seen. There were multiple options for stud wall mount and concrete block wall mount, and there were well thought out hardware options included. Frequently when I buy a product such as this, I have to run down to the hardware store to get additional nuts and bolts because I'm finicky about the installation. In this case, There was enough hardware and nuts and bolts left over for me to open a hardware store. After I talked to a structural engineer (I didn't hire one of course, but I'm in a related profession) about mounting over a fireplace, I found the enclosed procedure and hardware from Sanus were even better than the engineer proposed.



I had a 50" plasma to mount. This bracket had enough hole spacing options to mate to this and a thousand other TVs. It had optional brackets, which I didn't use, that could have extended it to what seems like a 100" TV, although don't sue me if I exaggerated.



I also liked the fact that it was made in the USA. The only nit to pick was that the company took about 3 weeks over the Christmas holidays to get it to me.

Ok, after reading reviews on how this mount would not work with some panasonic sets (as well as some others), i was not sure if i needed to by the extended adapter. Just to avoid the installers leaving should this not work i bought the adapter.



results: you DONT need the adapter/extender for this TV. everything you need is in the box.



my TV details:



65" Plasma Panasonic TC-P65S1

I bought this item to mount my Philips 42PF7320A 42" Plasma which requires a wider mount than standard universal mount. It went up really easy and I was able to put my plasma on it no problem. The price here is $110 cheaper than Best Buy. This was a great deal for this item.

I purchased this wall mount to accomodate my new Pioneer 60" plasma which weighs approximately 125 lbs.



It was very easy to assemble and the hardware mounted to the back of the TV perfectly.



I was concerned about the product's width size because the description was not specific in that regard. However that concern was put to rest following completed assembly. I don't know how wide it can expand to but I was able to utilize 3 wall studs spaced the standard 16" apart. There is no way that TV is coming off that wall unless I personally remove it.



Once mounted on the wall, you and your partner simply lift the tv and slide the hooks you attached to the back of it into the wall bracket. Thats all there is to it! The mount itself allows you to tilt the tv up to 11 degrees to accomodate your seating angle plus you have the ability to slide the tv left or right for perfect centering.





For ease of assembly, mounting and solid steel durability, this is the wall mount you must buy!

I purchased the VMPL3 to mount a 47" LCD HDTV in our bedroom. I needed a precision mount because of the limited space available. I had previously mounted a 52" LCD HDTV in our living room, using a Sanus VMAA26 full motion mount. That installation sold me on Sanus Systems forever. Their engineering and quality control are above reproach. The instructions are simple and technically and grammatically correct (what a novel idea!). The VMPL3 comes in silver or black and offers options galore, depending on whether you want a flat mount, tilting mount or have a flat back or curved back TV. Parts are packaged for virtually any type of wall, including concrete block. Concrete anchors, lag bolts, spacers, washers, and nuts are all provided in a neatly compartmented package. Don't be concerned about having to make extra trips to the hardware store if you buy a Sanus System. In fact, I feel like I could start a hardware business with the leftover parts! The instructions are very explicit about properly mounting the TV, and encourage consumers to call their toll-free number for advice. Do your homework and decide what type of mount you need. Then, purchase a Sanus mount. You won't be sorry. - Wall Mount - Plasma Wall Mount - Tv Mount - Tv Mounts'


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Wednesday 30 December 2009

Argyle - argyle, case


I've only had this case for a few hours so I can't speak to the durability of the material or the longevity of the fit. What I can share are initial impressions.



1. This case looks great! I really like the way the argyle looks on the back. It is subtle -- not in your face.

2. The case feels like any other rubberized case. Nothing really to note here. (I don't think it feels slippery or anything negative like that)

3. The case fits the phone well. It is a bit of a tight squeeze when putting it on the phone but once it is on, the phone feels securely in the case. Initially, the sides appeared to "puff" out a little -- not exactly sit flush with the phone. But I just had to simply squeeze the sides of the case to fully install it on the phone. Problem solved.

4. Structurally, there are cut outs for everything you'd expect: the headphone jack, usb charging slot, the kickstand, the microphone (bottom of phone) and camera/flash. All buttons are covered by raised rubber and are easily pushed/accessed. Also, this case has not caused any issues inserting a micro usb cable or a headphone jack into their respective slots.



So -- in short: So far so good. I think this case is a keeper for sure!



Side notes in case anyone was wondering:

1. this case does not fit the phone with the 2750 mAh extended battery.

2. I don't have a dock (they're not out yet), so I don't know if this case is compatible with them. Amzer Luxe Argyle High Gloss TPU Soft Gel Skin Case for HTC ThunderBolt ADR6400 - Smoke Grey

I wanted the sedio surface hard case, like I had for my Incredible, but it's backordered. I was afraid of leaving it coverless and damaging it, but didn't want to pay a lot since I was planning on spending much more on the seidio case. I thought this would be good to hold me over, but honestly I may just stick with this one now. It's perfect - easy on easy off gel case, doesn't add a lot of bulk, and really does look good. The pattern is subtle. Can't beat it for the price!

Wanted a cheap case for my T-Bolt. This cover goes above and beyond what I was expecting. Very cool design, slender, offers great protection, and has a grippy texture to keep it from sliding around on any surface. Highly recommend!!

I like the case. It's actually somewhat translucent but that works well. I enjoy how the logo shines through.



It fits snugly and doesn't seem to add too much unneeded bulk.



Only real downside is that my microusb doesn't fit as "tight" as I'd like due to the added width and hole cutout shape. I wish it'd fit more cleanly through the hole but this doesn't stop it from charging in any way.



Wasn't many choices when I got my TBOLT but honestly this still is a better case than any I've seen elsewhere so far... including brick and mortar stores like bestbuy.

This is a great thin case, material is shiny but really not slippery. Has a nice soft feel to it. Will protect against scratches but not designed to do much if the phone is dropped. Recommend buying a screen protector as well to keep that from getting scratched.



This case should hold up well until Otterbox releases a case for the Thunderbolt (protects against dropping)

I am pleasantly surprised so far with my smoke grey argyle amzer case. It looks great on the phone, it slips into my leather Verizon pouch (that was made for a droid x), and it is a hard shiny rubber that doesn't pick up lint, however it will not slide on a slick surface. REALLY COOL CASE!!! Much better than silicone cases!!!



Equipment:

HTC Thunderbolt

Generic 3-pack Crystal Clear Screen Protectors

Amzer Luxe Argyle High Gloss TPU Gel Skin Case

Verizon Leather Droid X Pouch/belt clip



***AWESOME COMBINATION***

After trying and returning several cases this is the only keeper. All the others I tried made my phone feel to bulky where as this one creates a snug fit without too much extra. It's easy to take on and off but it doesn't slip off unwanted. It's a soft smooth gel which allows for putting it into my pocket easy. One thing i really love is the minimal raised edge on the front which allows me to lay the phone on it's face with out the screen getting scratched up. The only problem I've had is with a 3rd party charger, the plug casing is a little on the bigger side and the case can sometimes stop the plug from going in all the way, but it works fine with the manufacturer charger. I also don't think this would protect the phone very well if it fell from a high distance, but I've dropped mine a couple times and it's been fine.

Overall, it seems to do it's job decently - I have yet to damage my phone. Unfortunately, there seem to be some flaws that are leading me to think that maybe a different case would be better for me. This one is really easy to put on, since the material is flexible and stretches. Too bad that means it comes off more easily than I would like as well. The material is also kind of a hard rubbery material, so it doesn't slide if you put it on your desk or a table, but it also doesn't slide into your pocket very well. Not bad, but not great. - Amzer - Argyle - Case'


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Finish Nailer - finish nailer, 23 gauge


Normally I wouldn't bother with a gun for pins this small, but my elbow has been acting up, and faced with a lot of detail nailing for glue up I went looking for a pin nailer. As luck would have it, I had an opportunity to compare several. One of these was the Senco.



I have several Senco nailers and like them all but I find that, while the heavy duty Senco nailer are trustworthy machines, the light duty models are a bit underbuilt. This is the case with the Senco FinishPro 10. It worked fine most of the time, but when pinning from underneath it jammed several times in a series of about 150 shots. That is the first time I've had that problem with a Senco, and it's a pain to unjam.



Another thing I didn't like about this gun was the lack of a safety. This is as much a hobbyist's gun as it is anything else, which means it will get used by folks who aren't used to this kind of tool. Flying 23 gauge pins can do serious damage even if they are small. I also didn't like having to manually set pin length - something I'm a cinch to forget (more jams). One characteristic of all of the guns in this category is the need to operate them at full pressure if you want to drive the pin below the surface. And that isn't always effective.



My conclusion is that Senco's decision to make this an inexpensive tool kept it from being of the same high quality as Senco's other nailers. If price is your main driver the FP 10 will do, but if you need a high level of dependability, look further. Senco FinishPro 10 1/2-Inch to 1-Inch 23-Gauge Micro Pinner

I installed some cabinetry at home and used this tool beased on the reviews here to attach the scribes and delicate trim to these expensive hard maple cabinets. It worked like a charm. Never misfired, set the pins perfectly, no botched pins or split wood. Can't even see the holes, so its easier than gluing or puttying holes for an 18 gage nailer. The nails/pins should be loaded one way only, and a few drops of oil at the beginning of the project keeps this gun performing flawlessly. No problems whatsoever.

I bought this to fasten window trim into a timber framed glass wall I built. I had some really tiny windows in the wall that only had room for a nail gun with a max size of 7". I used this tool and it worked perfect. I have since used it for all sorts of stuff like nailing really small trim and shooting some "temporary" pins in odd shaped things I am gluing up so that I could attach a clamp. The nail holes are reall small and you probably don't need to patch the holes unless you are painting the finish product white. I have used this tool on just about every job I've done in the last few months. If you do any finish carpentry, you really should have one of these.

I bought this micro pinner for rustic work. I build alot of Adirondack rustic style items which require small diameter twigs to be fastened. Brad nailers are often too large for the job, and hand nailing with small brads is tricky at best. This pinner is absolutely perfect! I have been able to fasten twigs as small as 1/8" diameter to plywood and other wood surfaces with absolutely no splitting (of course it's a little tricky to get the pin centered in a twig this small). The little pins also have a pretty good amount of holding power.The Senco FP 10 is very light, has a nice design, and is a breeze to use. However, I was very surprised, and somewhat disappointed to find that, unlike my other Senco Nailers, this one is Taiwanese. I purchased it because I knew the Porter Cable was Taiwanese, and I wanted an American made product like my other Sencos. Given that the FP 10 is advertised as a professional tool, I never would have expected it to be an import.Only time will tell if it holds up as well as other Senco nailers.The other disappointment is that you need to oil this nailer, again, unlike other Senco products.All in all, for the price and for what it is designed to do, the tool is a good buy. Senco, of course, does not include any fasteners in the box, nor do they include a cap for the 1/4" NPT fitting (which IS included). The oil bottle is very small, so purchase your fasteners when you purchase the nailer and get extra oil while you're at it.

For those of you who are experiencing jamming, look at a strip of your fasteners and you'll notice several black "arrows". These "arrows" on the fastener strip must be facing down (away from the tool). Once this is done, the fasteners are loaded properly. If not, you will experience jamming. Also, make sure you adjust the height slide tool on top of the fastener magazine to correspond with the lenght of micro pins you are using.

I install high end kitchens for a living. A pin nailer is a necessity for me, but I am still waiting for a good one to come out. I would pay triple the cost of this thing if they would come out with one that doesn't jam or misfire all the time. Picture this, you're holding that crown moulding you just painstakingly cut to perfection and set in place...you hold it with one hand, apply your glue, grab the pinner and while holding both pieces together with one hand you gently ease the pinner to the perfect spot...squeeze slowly and pop. Pull the pinner back, let go and the pieces fall apart. Because the most frustrating tool in your box misfired AGAIN. I swear...I'd trade my new truck for a pinner that worked well.But, like I said...can't live without one.

As a trim carpenter I've used a lot of brad nailers, looking for the best results. When it comes to pinning delicate trim, such as scribe, 1/4" rope molding, or screen molding, even 18 guage brads are often too think and split the material. Not so with this 23 guage pinner. It's perfect for delicate work. I've even started using to install pre-finished crown molding in kitchens, the holes left are so small that I often don't have to putty, and even when the putty doesn't match well, it's nearly impossilbe to find the holes afterward. I highly recommend this gun to anyone who is concerned about the appearnce of nail holes on their finished work. And it's Senco, so you know it will stand up to the test of time and the punishment of constant use. - Finish Nailer - Nailer - Grex - 23 Gauge'


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Kindle 2 Leather Cover - kindle reading light, kindle accessory


I love the Kindle but often wanted to read in bed at night and not disturb my wife. After reading reviews of all the lights I bought this one in white. Some commented that it was too bright, some said it blocked the screen, and some said it caused glare. In my experience the level of light is about perfect; I use both levels depending on the situation. I clip it on the the upper right hand corner (the the left would work just as well) and angle the light towards the screen and find that this eliminats all glare. I have a cover on my Kindle and it easily clamps on to the folded back cover. The clamp is padded and I have never had it come off. I decided to buy another one just to keep in the car for use when traveling or when I need to use the computer at night and want to illuminate the keyboard. This light works great with the Kindle but it's just as useful with conventional books and for other uses.



This is a great product at a great price. Mighty Bright XtraFlex2 Clip-On Light (Kindle Version) Black

The light itself is nice, two settings, easy to operate.



The clip is too large to sit securely on the kindle, you have to sort of pinch it to the edge of the casing and it's not entirely secure. Additionally the clip is the battery case, and two AAA batteries add a surprising amount of weight to the Kindle, making it somewhat top heavy and more cumbersome to hold when reading lying down.



This clearly was not designed specifically for the Kindle, although it's currently being marketed that way. It's a great little light for traditional books, just not for the Kindle.

I won't go into great detail about the product because others have alrady done so, I just wanted to speak to the negative comments. 1) Not designed for the Kindle/doesn't work without obstructing the buttons or the reading page. I'm not certain what these folks are even talking about, frankly. Perhaps you have a different version of the Kindle than I do; I have the 2nd generation white one. If you clip the Mighty Bright to the top of the Kindle with the battery pack at the back (the little padded end of the clip toward the front) it stays on just fine, it doesn't cover any buttons or the reading page. I have since purchased a Kindle cover and I now clip the light to that, so no issue at all. 2) There is a reflection on the screen. If you have it clipped on the top of the Kindle, simply raise the arm a little higher and position the light itself perpendicular to the Kindle (so it is shining down like a street lamp) not twisted down where the light is pointing directly toward the page. This gives plenty of light to read by, and no glare. 3) You can't travel with this light because the button is so sensitive that it turns on and drains your batteries. I have traveled with this light quite a bit and it only turned on by itself once, when I had it crammed at the bottom of a large, soft sided carry on bag. There are several simple solutions to this. Don't pack it an overstuffed bag,don't put it near the bottom of a bag, or...simplest of all....take the batteries out when you pack it. I don't see how that is such a great inconvenience! If you have it packed that deeply/tightly in a bag/suitcase/backpack you are obviously not using it en route, and putting the batteries back in when you unpack shouldn't be that big an issue, and if you are using it in route, put it near the top where you can reach it easily and nothing is likely to accidently turn it on. My wife carries both this and her Kindle in her purse regularly and never has a problem. The light is lightweight, bright, easy on the eyes, cool to the touch and takes standard batteries. As far as battery life goes, that depends on how long yout run the light, whether or not you use both l.e.d.s and how good the battery quality is you buy. I have had mine for 8 months and I will be changing the battery for the 2nd time, soon. Not bad for using it nearly every night. I'm thinking of switching to rechargeable batteries, though as we use so manyof them in our house.

I loved this light....while it worked! The on/off switch is not reliable (flimsy at best) and when I asked about getting it replaced, was told I was out of luck. Keep this in mind should you decide to purchase this light.

I use a Mighty Brite for books and bought another for my Kindle because I thought somehow it had different engineering or something that would work better with the screen. It is the same exact light except for a tiny pad on the part that clips to the screen. The light itself is awkward to pose, the clip slides around and there is such a glare on the screen that you cannot read the words without moving the light way out from the screen. Kind of ridiculous. They should NOT be offering this light as a solution for the Kindle.

I recently picked this up when I purchased my Kindle. At first I was very pleased with it, found it to have a very good quality of light, although a bit on the bulky side for the small kindle.



However, within 1-2 weeks it begin to fall apart. The top part, featuring the light , begin to slowly unscrew and hang off by the cords without any warning, and the actual swivel did not hold its position, often returning to its previous position after you adjust it for a better light source



I recommend anyone who is looking to buy a kindle light to LOOK ELSEWHERE. I'm in the military and I needed a light that would be tough and could aid me when I was traveling, but before I even had the chance to go anywhere it was just a hanging light on a stick.. A flashlight would be more efficient, as this thing is a waste of money. - Kindle Reading Light - Book Light - Kindle Accessory - Reading Light'


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