Saturday 28 February 2009

Health Monitors - exercise, fitness


After using the Oregon Scientific pedometer with pulse meter (disaster - clip broke in 90 days, unit rendered useless) - I decided to go for a more utilitarian unit. Other than the batteries' demise, this unit has been quite usefull. The clip is stronger than my previous model; and testing with a 1 mile tracks shows the unit is off about 2.5%, which is not bad.While a little sparse on features, it gives you what you basically need; # of steps; distance; # of calories expended. If you are looking for basic, good value, this could be your winner. Omron HJ-105 Pedometer with Calorie Counter

I have had this Pedometer for over 6 months and have had no problems.



When I bought the pedometer I was starting a personal program to help me get into better shape. The pedometer was easy to configure to match my step size and the built in clock was convenient. Within about 10-15 minutes I was out walking and it was measuring distance and number of steps.



The Pedometer comes with instructions for setting your step size so that it measures correctly when you walk. The price has stayed very consistent, so don't look for it to go down.



Before purchasing you might consider that McDonalds recently was running a promotion to encourage people to purchase their healthier meals. They had adult happy meals that included healthy items and came with a pedometer. Also, some local stores (such as Walmart) might have pedometers for less than the price for this one. I can't speak to the durability of those items and considering my sucess with the Omron Pedometer I might just spend a few more dollars to get something that I know is a good product.

After having three $20 Sportline pedometers break on me (in various ways) in less than two weeks each, I found the Omron in a Kaiser Permanente pharmacy (for more than Amazon charges). After a month, I'm delighted with it. For one thing, it hasn't broken. It measures steps, aerobic steps, distance traveled, and calories burned. There's a + and - adjustment that lets you fine-tune the sensitivity. It resets itself to zero at midnight, and keeps a 7-day memory of all your data. I consider it well worth the money.

It is so rare to find consumer electronics where the manufacturer takes pains with every little detail, that I was pleasantly surprised by this pedometer. At the price, it is a minor work of genius.



First off, the thing actually works, which right away puts it in the top 10% of pedometers. The casing is lightweight and attractive, with a secure clip.



You must take a few minutes to set it up, but the task is much simplified by a well-written, thorough, and easy-to-follow owner's manual.



First, you set the clock. The only thing the clock really does is to reset the device at midnight every day.



Second, you set your weight. This enables it to calculate calorie expenditures.



Third, you set your "stride length", which enables it to calculate distance traveled from the number of steps.



Finally, you clip it on, take 100 or 200 steps, and then check it for accuracy. If the number of steps recorded is not the same as the steps taken, there is a sensitivity setting you can adjust.



There are four screens you can view in succession by pressing a button: Total steps taken, total mileage walked, total "aerobic" mileage walked and the time it took, and total calories expended by walking for the day. I haven't taken pains to assess its accuracy, other than the steps counted, because I don't really care if it records 2 miles when I've walked 2.03. It is certainly close enough to precise measurement for my taste.



The aeorbic steps feature is nice -- you can wear it all day, and if you take an "exercise walk" you don't have to reset it.



I'm delighted with my purchase.

The Omron HJ-105 Pedometer is a marvel of modern technology. Once properly set and calibrated, it will give you accurate readings for your steps, aerobic steps, calories and miles on a daily basis with a seven-day memory. It is easy to set, simple to read and not encumbered by unnecessary features. True, this is a basic model, but I certainly don't mind paying a small sum for an instrument devoid of frills but which does the job. I simply do not need the pedometer to "talk" to me for an additional 20 or 30 bucks. If you're looking for an honest, well-made and designed pedometer, this one may be just right for you.

This product has a very "toy like" feel. The case is flimsy, the buttons feel funny, just toy-like. It only works when positioned horizontally on

your belt. Seems to work OK, but don't dare drop it or it'll break. The light plastic case has a heavy metal weight glued inside.



Why not spend $8 more for the superb Omron HJ-112? The HJ-112 has dual pendulums inside so it counts accurately whether on your belt or in your pocket. And it's built like a tank.

It works great so far. I especially like the aerobic count feature. It keeps track of aerobic steps separate from those steps that are taken in just casually walking around from room to room or other short distances. It seems pretty accurate. - Weight Loss - Walking - Exercise - Fitness'


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Dont Waste Your Money - ipod touch, usb


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! - Ipod Accessories - Iphone Cable - Ipod Touch - Usb'


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Robotic Vacuums - cleaning, pets


My husband and I had high hopes when he ordered this robotic vacuum cleaner for me for Christmas. My husband is confined to a wheelchair much of the time, and I have severe degenerative disk disease and spondelosis, which in laymen's terms means an extremely bad, severely painful, neck and back. This problem keeps me from being able to clean my house the way it needs, which is very hard on a frustrated Neat Freak like me. Also, we have a loving dog who lives in the house with us, and she sheds, AND sheds. To make matters worse, both my hubby and I have miserably debillitating allergies. So a good and easy way to clean the floors is a Must-Have for us.



We thought a cleaner that did all the work for us would be the next-best-thing to the maid service we can't afford. But, sadly, this little vacuum could not handle our floors! We have cement floors, with a few very thin and flat, antique Oriental rugs scattered here and there. The robot vacuum kept getting hung up on the almost microscopic distance between the rugs and the floor. Whether it was trying to go up, ON to a rug from the cement, or go down, OFF of a rug back onto the cement, 9 times out of 10, or more, it would hang, and then stall, and then STOP. Maddening.



Yes, it is loud, but that didn't matter, it probably isn't much louder than most regular vacuum cleaners. Yes, when it wasn't hung up on something, it was very slow moving across the floor, but that was alright too -- I figure that the slower a vacuum goes across the floor, the more thoroughly it is getting it clean. And besides, who cares how long it takes, if I'm not the one having to do the work?



If only this thing could have managed to actually clean the floor more than a few tiny itty bitty INCHES at a time without getting hung up and stopping, we would have been pleased as could be, despite the noise and the slowness. But, sadly, it just couldn't do the job.



MAYBE if our floors had no rugs whatsoever, OR if it were wall to wall rug, then it MIGHT have worked good enough. But I really doubt it, because when it wasn't getting hung up on the canyon between the rugs and the hard floor, it was getting hung up on furniture legs, and walls, and doors.



Somewhere I read a review where the person said she thought this vacuum needed time to "learn" about all the obstacles in a room, before it can do a good job of cleaning it up without stalling. I was hoping that was the problem, so I kept giving it chance after chance, but this Stupid Robotic Vacuum never learned a darn thing! If anything, the more I ran it, the more quickly it would get hung up and shut itself off. We bought it from a store that has a 30-day free trial period, and we used it the full 30 days, trying to figure out a way to make it work for us, but it never did work, so in the end we sent it back. iTouchless Robotic Intelligent Vacuum Cleaner PRO

I received this item last week. After fully charging it, i found out it doesnt work on carpet. My carpet is ordinary one. It works 2 seconds on carpet, but works well on hardwood floor.



If you want to use it on hard floor, it will be OK. But not on carpet at all. iTouchless Robotic Intelligent Vacuum Cleaner PRO

I had a roomba that was a gift and we ended up having to return it - it worked twice. I have had this for several weeks now and it works like a trouper. I do pick up my bathroom rugs and throw rug before I use it as this is what the directions indicated I should do. I have wood, tile and carpet and it handles it all wonderfully.

I could not be happier with this purchase and I am so glad that I decided to give this product a try.



Update - it worked for a few months and then it died... another waste of money... I can only hope that someone will invent one of these that actually works well.

I've been using this twice a day for the 5 days that I've had it, and few complaints so far. The run time is around 6 hours on max clean, it does a through job of picking up debris, and it is not too loud.

Sometimes during cleaning it gets stuck under furniture and will shut off. You will want to be sure to pick up things off the floor before hand to reduce this problem.

The machine is easy to clean and care for, and I find it needs to be emptied after each use.

I live with 5 dogs in my home, and this is a great solution for me!

So I use the vac one time. It dies. I charge it. Next morning it turns on, and dies. Call the company (somewhere in Asia and don't speak much English) and they confirmed it was defective and to return it. Return was big hassle.

I bought this and it worked but the brush kept falling out. Turned out that part of the structure that held everything in place was cracked and broken. Returned for a Roomba that worked much better with no hassle. - Pets - Robotic Vacuums - Cleaning - Robot'


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Step Platform - exercise, step platforms


This is the perfect step for at home. It's slightly shorter than steps you'd typically find at gym clubs and the risers are rectangular instead of square and take up less space. The risers also have cut outs on the bottom which are perfect for dyna bands or other resistance bands.



As for the video, Cathe Friedrich is one of the best step instructors out there. I've been stepping for 14 years and found this routine, to give a great cardio work out. It definitely is not for the beginner, however, with time and repetition a beginner could pick it up.



Enjoy! The Step F1004 Step Workout System

I bought this thinking it was like the step benches used in the clubs. It is, except it's a whole lot smaller. I think it would be fine for a smaller person, but if you're 5'8" with feet to match, you'll spend most of your time hoping you don't fall off the step. The quality of the product is good and the video they send with it is good. Just don't assume it's the size you're used to if most of your stepping has been at a health club.

I'm a single mother with a full-time job, taking part-time graduate classes are night. I have very little time to myself, let alone any time to go to the gym. I needed something that was fun and energizing to do at home, after my child went to sleep. I found the PERFECT product! I recommend this to anyone that wants to get a good workout in the comfort and privacy of their own home!

I wish I had purchased The Step before I wasted my money on a recumbent bike that didn't last six months!! I love it because it is easy to use, takes up very little space, and appears to be virtually indestructable! I am also very fond of the included DVD featuring Cathe Friedrich.

Gotta say I LOVE this Step and even more so the DEAL: Not only do you get The Step, but you also get FOUR raising-blocks *AND* a Step-workout dvd -- All for under $50!!! I think that's a bargain compared to buying the pro-equipment (I think it was $70-80 for the pro Step and $40-50 for two raising blocks, plus $15 for a DVD... that's, like, $140-150!).



The Step *is* smaller than the Steps you're probably used to from the gym, BUT it's not *that* much smaller -- I would say it's about 25% shorter length-wise. It's gotta be though, I mean it's an at-home Step so they're making it more storable. I guess if you're a big person it might be a little frustrating at first, but I don't see how you couldn't adjust to it. Then again, I'm 5'2 & petite so for me it's the perfect size! haha :P



The DVD is pretty good. It's pretty simple, basic stepping though, so if you're an advanced stepper you'll probably get bored real fast. However, it does get you to sweat a little, so it's not a complete waste. If not for the stepping, though, keep it for the abs workout -- OMG it's AMAZING!! For only 10 minutes it really makes you want to commit stomach suicide. haha Which is a good thing because the next day your tummy is sore but FLAT. :) But really, it's a good DVD, especially for those lazy days that you know you need to workout but don't want to (at least not too hard). LOL



Buy this kit, it's a *great* deal and it'll get you in shape! :)

The Cathe video that comes with this step is a total mess. When you push play from the menu, you are immediately vaulted into the warm up, so you better be ready and just throw the remote out of the way. Throughout the work-out Cathe moves very quickly from one step to the next, often forgetting to mention that she is changing steps. I have done step for several years in the past and recently started up again and this tape is definitely not made for anyone who does not do step aerobics on a regular basis.

The four risers do not lock together or to the platform. So, you can't just pickup the unit and move it to another spot without resetting the risers.

The box appeared to have been opened and the DVD was not sealed and had a number of minor scratches indicating it had been used. Everything was suppose to be new.

This product was much more cheaply built than I expected. It comes to pieces if I try to move it at all and it's too short for me to fit on when laying back to do "pec flies" with dumbbells. I'm pretty disappointed. Should have gone with the $90 version.

I have an elliptical, a treadmill, and a weight machine - and yet I keep returning to the simple step when I want to lose weight or to get fit.



For pure value for money, this simple step outdoes all of my other equipment.



The construction quality of The Step is simply awesome. This is solid plastic, and even with repeated use does not really show much wear. I purchased this step to replace an older step that I've had since 1999, and which is still going strong, but which was "borrowed" by a family member.



The added height provided by the extra risers in this package works well. The step is very stable even with the extra height, and I hardly notice a difference in stability even with some of the more active jump/lift moves.



It comes with a Cathe Friedrich DVD - though I personally prefer an old AerobicStair tape that I have used for over a decade now. Throw in a 2-pound set of handweights, and the step is simply one of the best exercise options out there.



The size of this step is actually just perfect for the needs in our family. Our shoe sizes range from 7 to 13, and it works just wonderfully for us. As an added benefit, it is compact enough for easy storage. I simply shove this under the bed, and it's instantly out of sight!



Regds

Devi - Step Platforms - Exercise - Fitness - Step Aerobics'


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Usb External Floppy Drive


I found a box of old 3 1/2 inch floppy discs from a PC I had ten years ago and thought it would be a good idea to find out whether there was anything of value on them. The floppy drive as advertised is generic, but for less than $20.00 it was worth taking a bit of a chance. It arrived quickly and turned out to have been made by Teac, already a good start. Very conveniently, it connects to and is powered by a single USB port and, although it did come with an installation disc, my Vista operating system immediately found the appropriate drivers. It accepted, read, and cleanly ejected each of the floppy discs with zero glitches or problems so I would recommend this drive with no reservations. Of course, there was nothing worth saving on any of the discs but now I'm well equipped to deal with the past. TEAC 1.44MB USB External Floppy Disk Drive (Black)

1.44MB USB External Floppy Drive (Black)

I bough this disk drive to use in conjunction with my laptop computer. I have a older digital camera (Sony) that I just love. The only source of memory is the 1.44mb floppy disks. The device is a very plain and simple one. Nothing fancy.But it serves my needs perfectly. The price is right. I would recommend it to anyone. Papa Larry

I had forgotten how noisy and slow floppy drives are, but if you need to get some info from an old floppy disk, then this drive may be your answer....the price is right, and I copied 11 floppies w/o any apparent problem.

I purchased this USB External Floppy Disk Drive to get some info off of some old floppy disks. Unfortunately, the floppy disk drive did not work when I took it out of the box. No lights came on, no noise, nothing at all. I had to return it to Amazon and was promptly issued a refund. I think somethimes you just get a lemon. But I'm not giving up yet. I have plans to order another one from Amazon and hopefully it will work fine. I have never had a problem with any of my other orders.

What arrived, in a plain brown box, was not the TEAC drive described. It seems to be a cheap knock-off/counterfeit. And it did not work. I tried this on 3 different computers, Mac and Windows, and none of them could see the contents of a floppy. The drive made nice grinding noises, but no satisfaction. I'm surprised that Amazon would allow this to be listed falsely. The unit has no manufacturer's ID, but does have a printed label with a TEAC part number. But the other numbers on the label do not correspond to numbers found on the TEAC web site.

Ordered 2 of these USB external floppy drives. Both worked as a bootable "A:" drive for DOS boot disks. However, I was doubtful that these were really TEAC built drives from the start, especially because other sellers are selling what looks to be the same drive with a generic brand listing. It only took a quick glance at the disk slot to tell that there was a difference in design of the internal drive, as one had a flat slot door while the other had a curved slot door. So, I disassemble the enclosures. Each is held together by interlocking plastic tabs and a single screw that is under the small QC sticker near the cable port. It turns out that neither had a TEAC manufactured drive inside. Rather, both of mine were made by YE-DATA. Oddly though, each one was a different YE-DATA model/design. Further, both looked rather old and used, having scratches, bends, and/or dents. I am firmly convinced that all these units are merely generic, USB enclosures into which used/refurbished laptop drives are inserted and resold as new. One internal drive looked like it had been through a tornado, so definetly not new internals! The other had a manufacturer's date of 2002, so again definetly not new internals! On another note, a few of the interlocking tabs broke when I disassembled the enclosures, so when I put them back together, they don't fit as tightly as they should. Just an FYI, if you decide to disassemble yours...



It will be interesting to find out if the USB controller board can be detached and plugged into a different laptop drive and still function correctly. Both of mine appear to have the standard laptop ribbon cable interface. As soon as I get the chance, I'll test it. If is turns out that the USB interface board works universally for any standard laptop drive, then this product's value to me will double, since no company seems to make a USB adapter interface for FDD's. (I'd like to have the ability to use a FDD that I can mount inside a PC case that has a USB interface instead of the FDD controller interface, particulary since there are very few motherboards coming out that still have an onboard FDD controller!) If the USB controller does work with another, new laptop drive, I'll create a follow-up to this review.



So, in conclusion, both drives I bought work so far as expected. However, they are NOT TEAC drives! Instead, they are OLD, USED, SCRATCHED-UP laptop drives of various brands/models that are placed into generic, USB enclosures. This is probably why the sticker on the bottom of the enclosure says "All brand names and trademarks are registered property of their respective owners." Translation: "Who knows which manufacturer's drive is inside this thing?!!!"



UPDATE: I've just tried using the USB interface board with another laptop/slimline floppy drive. I tried it with a new, Sony-branded laptop drive that I bought a few years ago but had never used. Guess what? IT WORKS! So, it appears that the USB controller will work with any standard laptop/slimline drive. Further, I now know why this particular seller lists this as a TEAC brand USB floppy. It is because when this is plugged into a computer that is running Windows, it is detected as a plug&play TEAC USB floppy drive. So, it seams that the USB controller itself is either a genuine TEAC IC (the controller chip) or a clone of the TEAC chip. I suspect that anyone who has reviewed this item and stated that they have indeed received a TEAC USB drive has based that conclusion on the removable drive pop-up seen in their OS. Therefore, be aware: Just because you plug this thing into your Windows-based computer and its says "TEAC USB Floppy disc," doesn't mean that you've got a genuine TEAC floppy drive!!! All it means is that Windows "thinks" its a TEAC drive and loads the TEAC driver to run it! In any case, I can say that I am satisfied with the purchase, because I can disassemble the enclosure and use the USB cable and controller with any standard laptop/slimline floppy drive, which is what I was looking for before I resorted to buying this item anyway. I can now use the USB interface board with my new Sony drive, which is a GREAT DEAL QUIETER than than the used YE-DATA drive that came in the enclosure!!! [Although, on a related note, my Sony-branded drive (that I know for sure was a newly manufactured drive and was distributed by Sony) is identical in appearance to one of the YE-DATA drives found in one of the items I purchased, accept for the labels and markings! So, when it comes down to it, who the heck knows which company actually makes the internals of these slimline drives?! They were all probably made by the same generic, Chinese company and simply branded/labeled by which ever Brand-name company decided to distribute them. And for another side-note: One can go to TEAC's website and find a listing for a USB floppy drive for $50.00. It looks very similar to the item sold here. Makes me wonder if I bought one directly from their site whether I'd actually get an original, TEAC manufactured drive or merely another no-name drive with a TEAC controller attached. Let me tell you, if they are actually still selling brand-new, all-TEAC-components USB drives, it would be worth the 50 bucks. Cause, in another few short years, NEW floppy drives will be so scare, you'll wish you'd bought one while you could. Otherwise, repackaged, USED drives like the ones found in these listings will be all you'll be able to get!!! Maybe I'll splurge and order one from TEAC just to see what they are. If I do, I'll update this review!]



UPDATE 2: Well, I have ordered, received, and dissassembled a geniune TEAC USB floppy drive directly from TEAC. Upon initial glance of the TEAC drive and the ones sold in this listing, they look identical. However, with slightly more scrutiny, one can see that these drives are indeed different, and upon internal inspection, there remains no doubt that the drives available in this listing are a far cry from an actual TEAC drive! Here's how they differ:

1.) The Teac drive's housing is shorter than those found in this listing. This is because the drive housings in this listing have to have room for the extra USB interface board, the part that plugs into a slimline laptop drive via a ribbon cable.

2.) The Teac drive is branded as Teac on the external AND internal hardware itself.

3.) The Teac drive is branded internally as being made in Malaysia and the hardware is of a completely different design than any of the 3 other slimline laptop drives I have (2 of which came in the drives from this listing).

4.) The Teac drive's USB controller hardware is built directly into the drive itself; it does not have a seperate, generic USB controller board that plugs into it like the drives in this listing do.

5.) The Teac drive is detected in Windows (XP) and ready to use after plugging it in more quickly than any of the drives I have purchased from this listing.

6.) The Teac drive has given me no problems when using it to boot into DOS and run DOS programs, while both drives I purchased from this listing have given me different errors when running two different DOS programs. (Initially, I concluded that both worked in DOS correctly, but upon further testing, I received errors from both. One didn't boot a Windows ME boot disk correctly, and the other didn't allow a drive formatting program to start correctly.)



Conclusion: The drives sold in this listing are most definitely NOT Teac drives. Rather, they are cheap, generic units that internally consist of are used/refurbished/old-stock slimline laptop floppy drives of various brands plugged into a generic USB controller chip that probably illegally uses Teac hardware signatures to make Windows detect these as Teac drives. The actual, geniune drive that I bought from Teac seems superior in almost every way, from quality of materials to actual working performance. However, the one plus to the drives found in this listing is that one can interchange the USB controller with any slimline laptop drive you may have lying around or can acquire. So, if you buy one of these and the drive malfunctions, you could simply locate any old laptop floppy drive, switch them out, and be good to go again. Therefore, I'll still keep my rating at 3 stars, if for no other reason than for that capability. However, know for certain, genuine Teac drives these are NOT!!!



P.S. Yeah, I know this has been a long-winded review, but I wanted any perspective buyer to be fully informed of what you would actually recieve if you bought this item, a courtesy that this seller's description does not provide.'


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Usb External Floppy Drive Usb External Floppy Drive Usb External Floppy Drive

Usb External Floppy Drive


I found a box of old 3 1/2 inch floppy discs from a PC I had ten years ago and thought it would be a good idea to find out whether there was anything of value on them. The floppy drive as advertised is generic, but for less than $20.00 it was worth taking a bit of a chance. It arrived quickly and turned out to have been made by Teac, already a good start. Very conveniently, it connects to and is powered by a single USB port and, although it did come with an installation disc, my Vista operating system immediately found the appropriate drivers. It accepted, read, and cleanly ejected each of the floppy discs with zero glitches or problems so I would recommend this drive with no reservations. Of course, there was nothing worth saving on any of the discs but now I'm well equipped to deal with the past. TEAC 1.44MB USB External Floppy Disk Drive (Black)

1.44MB USB External Floppy Drive (Black)

I bough this disk drive to use in conjunction with my laptop computer. I have a older digital camera (Sony) that I just love. The only source of memory is the 1.44mb floppy disks. The device is a very plain and simple one. Nothing fancy.But it serves my needs perfectly. The price is right. I would recommend it to anyone. Papa Larry

I had forgotten how noisy and slow floppy drives are, but if you need to get some info from an old floppy disk, then this drive may be your answer....the price is right, and I copied 11 floppies w/o any apparent problem.

I purchased this USB External Floppy Disk Drive to get some info off of some old floppy disks. Unfortunately, the floppy disk drive did not work when I took it out of the box. No lights came on, no noise, nothing at all. I had to return it to Amazon and was promptly issued a refund. I think somethimes you just get a lemon. But I'm not giving up yet. I have plans to order another one from Amazon and hopefully it will work fine. I have never had a problem with any of my other orders.

What arrived, in a plain brown box, was not the TEAC drive described. It seems to be a cheap knock-off/counterfeit. And it did not work. I tried this on 3 different computers, Mac and Windows, and none of them could see the contents of a floppy. The drive made nice grinding noises, but no satisfaction. I'm surprised that Amazon would allow this to be listed falsely. The unit has no manufacturer's ID, but does have a printed label with a TEAC part number. But the other numbers on the label do not correspond to numbers found on the TEAC web site.

Ordered 2 of these USB external floppy drives. Both worked as a bootable "A:" drive for DOS boot disks. However, I was doubtful that these were really TEAC built drives from the start, especially because other sellers are selling what looks to be the same drive with a generic brand listing. It only took a quick glance at the disk slot to tell that there was a difference in design of the internal drive, as one had a flat slot door while the other had a curved slot door. So, I disassemble the enclosures. Each is held together by interlocking plastic tabs and a single screw that is under the small QC sticker near the cable port. It turns out that neither had a TEAC manufactured drive inside. Rather, both of mine were made by YE-DATA. Oddly though, each one was a different YE-DATA model/design. Further, both looked rather old and used, having scratches, bends, and/or dents. I am firmly convinced that all these units are merely generic, USB enclosures into which used/refurbished laptop drives are inserted and resold as new. One internal drive looked like it had been through a tornado, so definetly not new internals! The other had a manufacturer's date of 2002, so again definetly not new internals! On another note, a few of the interlocking tabs broke when I disassembled the enclosures, so when I put them back together, they don't fit as tightly as they should. Just an FYI, if you decide to disassemble yours...



It will be interesting to find out if the USB controller board can be detached and plugged into a different laptop drive and still function correctly. Both of mine appear to have the standard laptop ribbon cable interface. As soon as I get the chance, I'll test it. If is turns out that the USB interface board works universally for any standard laptop drive, then this product's value to me will double, since no company seems to make a USB adapter interface for FDD's. (I'd like to have the ability to use a FDD that I can mount inside a PC case that has a USB interface instead of the FDD controller interface, particulary since there are very few motherboards coming out that still have an onboard FDD controller!) If the USB controller does work with another, new laptop drive, I'll create a follow-up to this review.



So, in conclusion, both drives I bought work so far as expected. However, they are NOT TEAC drives! Instead, they are OLD, USED, SCRATCHED-UP laptop drives of various brands/models that are placed into generic, USB enclosures. This is probably why the sticker on the bottom of the enclosure says "All brand names and trademarks are registered property of their respective owners." Translation: "Who knows which manufacturer's drive is inside this thing?!!!"



UPDATE: I've just tried using the USB interface board with another laptop/slimline floppy drive. I tried it with a new, Sony-branded laptop drive that I bought a few years ago but had never used. Guess what? IT WORKS! So, it appears that the USB controller will work with any standard laptop/slimline drive. Further, I now know why this particular seller lists this as a TEAC brand USB floppy. It is because when this is plugged into a computer that is running Windows, it is detected as a plug&play TEAC USB floppy drive. So, it seams that the USB controller itself is either a genuine TEAC IC (the controller chip) or a clone of the TEAC chip. I suspect that anyone who has reviewed this item and stated that they have indeed received a TEAC USB drive has based that conclusion on the removable drive pop-up seen in their OS. Therefore, be aware: Just because you plug this thing into your Windows-based computer and its says "TEAC USB Floppy disc," doesn't mean that you've got a genuine TEAC floppy drive!!! All it means is that Windows "thinks" its a TEAC drive and loads the TEAC driver to run it! In any case, I can say that I am satisfied with the purchase, because I can disassemble the enclosure and use the USB cable and controller with any standard laptop/slimline floppy drive, which is what I was looking for before I resorted to buying this item anyway. I can now use the USB interface board with my new Sony drive, which is a GREAT DEAL QUIETER than than the used YE-DATA drive that came in the enclosure!!! [Although, on a related note, my Sony-branded drive (that I know for sure was a newly manufactured drive and was distributed by Sony) is identical in appearance to one of the YE-DATA drives found in one of the items I purchased, accept for the labels and markings! So, when it comes down to it, who the heck knows which company actually makes the internals of these slimline drives?! They were all probably made by the same generic, Chinese company and simply branded/labeled by which ever Brand-name company decided to distribute them. And for another side-note: One can go to TEAC's website and find a listing for a USB floppy drive for $50.00. It looks very similar to the item sold here. Makes me wonder if I bought one directly from their site whether I'd actually get an original, TEAC manufactured drive or merely another no-name drive with a TEAC controller attached. Let me tell you, if they are actually still selling brand-new, all-TEAC-components USB drives, it would be worth the 50 bucks. Cause, in another few short years, NEW floppy drives will be so scare, you'll wish you'd bought one while you could. Otherwise, repackaged, USED drives like the ones found in these listings will be all you'll be able to get!!! Maybe I'll splurge and order one from TEAC just to see what they are. If I do, I'll update this review!]



UPDATE 2: Well, I have ordered, received, and dissassembled a geniune TEAC USB floppy drive directly from TEAC. Upon initial glance of the TEAC drive and the ones sold in this listing, they look identical. However, with slightly more scrutiny, one can see that these drives are indeed different, and upon internal inspection, there remains no doubt that the drives available in this listing are a far cry from an actual TEAC drive! Here's how they differ:

1.) The Teac drive's housing is shorter than those found in this listing. This is because the drive housings in this listing have to have room for the extra USB interface board, the part that plugs into a slimline laptop drive via a ribbon cable.

2.) The Teac drive is branded as Teac on the external AND internal hardware itself.

3.) The Teac drive is branded internally as being made in Malaysia and the hardware is of a completely different design than any of the 3 other slimline laptop drives I have (2 of which came in the drives from this listing).

4.) The Teac drive's USB controller hardware is built directly into the drive itself; it does not have a seperate, generic USB controller board that plugs into it like the drives in this listing do.

5.) The Teac drive is detected in Windows (XP) and ready to use after plugging it in more quickly than any of the drives I have purchased from this listing.

6.) The Teac drive has given me no problems when using it to boot into DOS and run DOS programs, while both drives I purchased from this listing have given me different errors when running two different DOS programs. (Initially, I concluded that both worked in DOS correctly, but upon further testing, I received errors from both. One didn't boot a Windows ME boot disk correctly, and the other didn't allow a drive formatting program to start correctly.)



Conclusion: The drives sold in this listing are most definitely NOT Teac drives. Rather, they are cheap, generic units that internally consist of are used/refurbished/old-stock slimline laptop floppy drives of various brands plugged into a generic USB controller chip that probably illegally uses Teac hardware signatures to make Windows detect these as Teac drives. The actual, geniune drive that I bought from Teac seems superior in almost every way, from quality of materials to actual working performance. However, the one plus to the drives found in this listing is that one can interchange the USB controller with any slimline laptop drive you may have lying around or can acquire. So, if you buy one of these and the drive malfunctions, you could simply locate any old laptop floppy drive, switch them out, and be good to go again. Therefore, I'll still keep my rating at 3 stars, if for no other reason than for that capability. However, know for certain, genuine Teac drives these are NOT!!!



P.S. Yeah, I know this has been a long-winded review, but I wanted any perspective buyer to be fully informed of what you would actually recieve if you bought this item, a courtesy that this seller's description does not provide.'


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Circuit Testers


I bought one of these kits about three years ago when my 35-year old Radio shack meter finally gave up the ghost. The outlet tester is worth the price of the kit alone, and the voltage tester will tell you (without even touching it) whether a circuit is live or not. My wife has decided she needs one for herself for her rental business. Greenlee TK-30 Basic Electrical Kit

I started a project to change all the electrical switches, outlets and fixtures and needed a circuit tester. This kit proved to be perfect. It has all you need to get the job done. The non-contact voltage tester is ridiculously simple to use and works amazingly well. The multimeter is great to test batteries and continuity.



The build quality is great and the kit comes with batteries included. I recommend it.'


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Circuit Testers Circuit Testers Circuit Testers

High Definition - james cameron, high definition


I'm primarily interested in the storyline differences between special sets and their theatrical counterparts, so here are the differences between the two (NOTE: SPOILERS FOLLOW).



The extended collector's edition runs 16 minutes 28 seconds longer than the theatrical cut, and listed below are the major differences.



1) The opening scene is different, and starts with Jake in a wheelchair on Earth, in a Blade Runner-esque Earth city. The scene moves to scenes of Jake in his apartment, then taking liquid shots in a bar. Jake's narration of "I told myself I can pass any test a man can pass" and "They can fix the spinal if you got the money. But not on vet benefits, not in this economy" are inserted during this new opening scene.



Jake beats up a bar patron who is mistreating a woman, and then Jake and wheelchair are unceremoniously thrown outside by bouncers into an alley. While in the alley, Jake meets the two RDA representatives who bring him news of his brother's untimely death. Then the movie cuts back to the original theatrical cut where Jake sees his brother's body cremated, then awakes in space.



2) During Jake's initial flyover of Pandora in his avatar, they witness a herd of Sturmbeasts, buffalo-like creatures.



3) After seeing the Sturmbeasts, Grace, Jake, and Norm stop by Grace's old English school for the Na'vi. The school is now closed, abandoned, and some walls are riddled with bullet-holes. Norm finds a Dr. Seuss book, "The Lorax", on the ground. This scene explains how Neytiri knew English so well, and certainly gives some further backstory into Grace Augustine's character.



Interestingly, The Lorax can be seen as a metaphor for the Pandoran story. Recall that the seemingly simple Seussian book is actually a lesson on the plight of the environment and industrialization.



4) We see some other different Pandoran flora and fauna, particularly with scenes of the luminescent forest floor.



5) Jake's first dinner with Neytiri is longer and extended, and it's here that she tells him her full name.



6) When Jake, Grace, and Norm first visit the Hallelujah Mountains on the way to the remote uplink station, Grace explains (in a Jake voiceover) that the mountains are levitated [via the Meissner Effect], because Unobtanium is a superconductor. There's a pretty spectacular CGI shot as the characters look around in awe at the suspended mountains.



7) Pictures of Grace and Na'vi children at her previously functioning school. Dr. Augustine tells Jake that she previously taught Neytiri and her sister, Sylwanin. However, one day, Sylwanin and some hunters destroyed an RDA bulldozer, and RDA SecOps troopers killed them at the school, which explains why the school walls were previously seen pockmarked with bullet holes.



8) Sturmbeast hunting scene after Jake tames a Banshee. After Jake successfully kills a Sturmbeast with an arrow, he and Neytiri chortle a "Heck yeah!" and whoop.



9) Jake and Neytiri's love scene comprises them linking braids together. Some kissing, nothing explicit.



10) Tsu'tey leads a war party that destroys the RDA's autonomous bulldozers, as well as the RDA SecOps squad that was guarding them. Corporal Wainfleet leads the search party that uncovers the evidence, via real-time helmet cam footage. Not sure why they cut this scene from the theatrical cut, as it persuades Selfridge to attack the Home Tree.



11) Attack of Hammerhead Titanotheres on RDA forces has been extended slightly; additional scenes of AMP-Suits getting destroyed.



12) Fight between Colonel Quaritch in AMP Suit and Neytiri on Thanator slightly longer.



13) Tsu'tey's death scene; in the theatrical cut, he falls off the RDA shuttle's aft ramp to his death. In the Collector's Edition, he falls to the forest floor, mortally wounded. He passes on leadership to Jake, and asks Jake to ceremonially kill him e.g. hara-kiri, so that Jake will be the last shadow that Tsu-Tey sees. Jake does so.



I preferred the original Tsu'tey death scene, which was more dramatic. Jake, had afterall, already become the de facto clan leader by that point in the movie, so further formal transfer by Tsu'tey (a minor character) seemed unnecessary. Avatar (Three-Disc Extended Collector's Edition + BD-Live) [Blu-ray]

There are many low score reviews purely based on the fact there was a release of this movie earlier this year and now the extended version comes out feels like a marketing game. When the first release happened it was known an extended version was coming, but some people just had to have it now. I just watched it on Netflix and waited for the extended version. I agree if you bought the first release version you have little real reason to buy the extended version, unless you love this movie and want the bonus features.



Some of the other low scores talk about the 3D version coming, but that is weak reason for most people because most do not own and will not own a 3D TV set. If you do your research on 3D TVs you will find they clunky and costly. Unless you are among the few who have a 3D TV, then there is no reason to wait to buy this release of Avatar if you enjoyed the movie.



For the few who have never seen the movie, the key factors to consider is if you are a science fiction fan, enjoy action movies, and if you consider yourself picky about dialog/originality, Avatar breaks no new ground when it comes to story, but it does take many of successful elements from other stories and rolls it into this one. The bashing on acting is overkill. In general they did a fine job, not exceptional, but anyone who loves science fiction will find the acting a step above the normal for this type of movie. The dialog is nothing special. There are mostly cliche characters and situations. The key is the entire package is very well done. No movie is perfect and as much as some people bash this, just look at the box office sales. Bad movies would have never set top sales records no matter how much marketing was behind it. This movie is not for everyone, but it is good to great entertainment for many.



BOTTOM LINE: If you loved the movie and do not own it, you might want to get this. If you have never seen the movie, rent it or barrow it first. It is a science fiction classic worth consideration for most people. - Science Fiction - Blu-ray - High Definition - James Cameron'


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Digital Camera


I have tried so many different cleaning tools, and I always stuck with the basic lens tissues and cleaners. But with today's lenses, they didn't do the job (speed and ease) I was looking for.



The guy at my local (100 year old) camera shop recommended I try one of these.



I have removed all other cleaning items out of my bag except for one "cloth" that I use to clean the outside of my camera and this pen.



Always start with the "brush" to brush away any grit or sand that could possibly scratch the lens. Then lightly, use the other side (felt) to clean away smudges and other marks. It's quick, easy and unbelievably effective!



I use it on my lenses, the LCD of my SLR and even my cell phone.



The first one lasted me a year. I am on my second and recommend it everywhere I go. LensPEN Lens Cleaning System

I read about the LensPen in a photography magazine and decided to give it a try. Trying to keep DSLR filters and camera lenses clean is a chore, especially when cleaning liquids keep leaving some smearing, no matter how careful you try to be. The Lenspen has two types of cleaners in one small package -- a very good dust brush and an excellent cleaning wiper for smudges or dried moisture spots. I learned the hard way that dust can build up over time, especially on the small lenses of point and shoot digital cameras. This makes the pictures you take blury and darker than they should be. Don't be disappointed, if you want to keep those pictures as crisp as when your camera was new, you need to keep a lenspen in your camera bag and use it before every shoot. Two great tools in one tiny package make this job as simple as can be!

I used to use microfiber cloth to wipe off my lenses. I realize now how unnecessarily time-consuming and risky that was. This is a must-have. I am VERY picky about minute smudges on my glass. This "pen" flawlessly polishes them out quickly, and to me, the less time I have to spend rubbing something on my expensive lenses to clean them, the better. I didn't know water drops or smudges could come off so fast without a trace. Great product, and gentle on your glass.

Quick and Easy way to remove smudges and dust from SLR Cameras and Lenses.



Note:

When Amazon was out of stock, I ordered from a 3rd party vendor, Eforcity and received a counterfeit product. It wasn't the same high quality as the original Lens Pen and it went back to that vendor for a refund. I reordered from Amazon and received the correct product. So beware of counterfeits that are not of the same quality. I have used the NIKON version of the Lens Pen and it is identical, except for red vs. yellow plastic with black and of course, the higher price.

Some people have complained about getting a knock off but as long as you purchase it directly from Amazon and not a 3rd party seller, be assured that it is the real thing. See the third image for the one I received versus the fake one (second image). It does its job and is no different from all the old Lenspens I have used before. Good price, good product. Any carbon particles can be blown off with a rocket blower or with a similar contraption.

This is a great cleaning option to keep handy. I too have stuck with cleaning fluid and tissue, and will continue for thorough cleaning, but having this tool in my bag is very convenient.

The brush is great and the pad seems to remove smudges well.

With the first use I saw excess cleaning solution on the filter, but subsequent usage shows no signs of excess or streaking.



Highly recommended for portable cleaning.

I searched Amazon for "LensPEN LP-1" (the actual product name) and was brought to the page for this item. This is NOT a real LensPEN. It is a cheap Chinese knock-off. If you want the original item, keep searching because this isn't it. I don't know if this item actually works, because I won't risk using it on my very expensive equipment.

I don't believe this is a genuine LensPen. This one leaves a residue behind whereas I have a LenPen "micro" Pro and it is brilliant. Also I believe all real LensPens have the brand name on the pocket clip. Still, it's a nice brush for $3.

I order a Lenspen lens cleaning system by "LensPEN" from Amazon marketplace(HDE). I received the item and tried it on my lens, believe me my lens looks very bad after using it. I think I got an duplicate product because nowhere it says the manufacturer as "LensPEN". Be careful in choosing the seller.

Tired of smudging your LCD screen with your nose while looking through your camera's view finder? Then, a lens pen is for you! With a quick swipe, smudges are instantly gone. I can't believe I did not have a lens pen before now...you will be please, too, I'm sure.'


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France


This guide would be useful to those who are contemplating a move FROM THE UK to France. There are innumerable and exclusive comparisons between the UK and French systems. Those moving from other European Union countries will also benefit. However, those contemplating a move from a non-EU country will find this book less relevant.The book provides a useful summary of public information about France, covering basic political and economic structures, residence and entry regulations, transportation, education, employment, and retirement. Live & Work in France: The Most Accurate, Practical and Comprehensive Guide to Living and Working In France

The caveat that the other reader mentioned is true--the book applies more to those moving from the UK than to Americans moving to France. However, I still find it an excellent source of knowledge, and a very worthwhile purchase, even for Americans. I found that it still contains enough solid information for those from other countries, and very detailed information too. Fine work, IMHO.'


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France France France

1-line Corded Phones


I'm amazed by the number of people these days who own nothing but cordless phones. Now, I like cordless phones; they're an indispensable part of modern life. But, unlike a simple phone like this Trimline, most cordless phones don't work when the electricity goes out. This phone requires no battery or AC power, and has a lighted keypad, and a ringer on/off switch--all of which make it a nice bedroom phone for emergencies. The sound quality is good, and the volume is adjustable. AT&T Corded Trimline Phone with 13-Number Memory (210)

I have two. I was pleased with the first one for a year and a half, but now the ringer works only when it is in the mood to. I have tried reprogramming it and double-checked that the ringer is switched on. Some days it just won't ring. The second one, I picked up a few weeks ago. It would be great if that one would allow me to dial the number nine, especially since the one number I want to be able to dial quickly from any phone is 9-1-1. I am not happy. Also, sometimes when it's on touchtone, it will only dial via pulse, so when I tried to do telephone banking, I had to run to another phone. No amount of toggling back and forth will get it to switch over to touchtone.



I was suspicious about the quality of this phone when I noticed the tricky marketing ploy: the phone has the AT&T logo - from the old American Telephone & Telegraph from which we could expect better quality, but AT & T has licensed its logo out to "Advanced American Telephones." These "American" telephones are made in China likely under the sorts of working conditions that would explain the shoddiness. I miss the days of quality manufacturing.



BTW, when I went to request a return number from DynaDirect (the company that ships this product), I was not pleased that the form that needed to be filled out was not a secure form. It asked for way too much personal info not to be an https site. I can't return the phone since after a week I threw out the box only to then discover that I had not yet dialed a number that contained a nine in it.

I recently bought this phone after several two more expensive models failed; his telephone by AT&T and Lucent works better than the other phones I bought when I had to get a new phone for my home. The construction of this telephone reflects great engineering; and it's very, very reliable for a price that's very inexpensive these days for a phone. Yes, it is corded; but when all you really need is a basic phone this really does the job. Besides, the fact that this is corded means you'll never misplace the cordless handset!



The phone has back lit buttons which are desirable for those of us who are elderly or in any way sight impaired. The buttons could be brighter but the back lighting does improve upon no lighting. The phone offers well known features including "last number redial," too. The phone has a mute feature, adjustable ringer volume and more. These functions never disappoint me. It also has a small knob that lets you switch between touch tone and pulse (rotary) dialing. I use touch tone dialing as most people do. I am particularly impressed that a phone in this price range even has a twelve number memory feature for speed dialing. Cool! However, as another reviewer correctly notes, when you program the phone to remember frequently dialed numbers, you need to actually dial the number--so hang up fast if you don't intend to speak with that person at just that moment! I don't care for that so I will take off one star for this.



If you want to take a nap without the phone ringing, just turn the ringer off by using the knob at the base of the phone. That's an incredibly useful feature!



I highly recommend this telephone for people who merely want a basic, inexpensive phone that still has a few "frills" to like including memory speed dialing and mute. The extra features give you all you truly need to make this a well constructed telephone at a rather inexpensive price. Sure, the back lighting for the buttons on the phone could be brighter; but overall this is still quite a good phone for the price. The phone takes up little space and it can even be wall mounted to completely save counter space in a kitchen or any other room.

I bought this phone as it seems to suit my needs: an inexpensive, basic corded phone. However, problems emerged as soon as I opened the box.



The cord attached to the phone is permanant! It cannot be removed. My phone needs to be about 12 feet from the nearest wall jack, so I bought a longer cord, since the cord that comes with the phone is only seven feet in length. However, to my surprise, the cord that is attached to the base is permanantly affixed to the phone. It does not plug into the base of the phone for easy removal like all other phones I have owned. I had to buy an adapter to go with my long cord and plug the seven foot cord into the adapter and then plug my long cord into the other side of the adapter.



The phone has three ring volume settings. However, the button to adjust the ring tone volume is easy to press by accident. I have accidently turned the ringer off many time without realizing it.



The volume on the phone's speakers is terrible. In order to hear on the phone at all, I have to turn the volume up to the third setting. Then I am only able to barely hear the person I am speaking to.



This is a CHEAP phone, both in price and quality. Do not buy this phone, you will be disappointed. I would not want this phone if it were free. I don't mean to be so negative, but I hope others do not waste their money like I did on this phone.'


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


BOTTOM LINE:



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



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



DETAILS:



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



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



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



Some other suggestions that apply:



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



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

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



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



The only 2 minor problems I believe are:

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

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



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

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



Pros:

powers on so quick

Picture quality

Picture speed (amazing)

low light pictures

video!



Cons:

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


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Blackberry Curve Case - blackberry curve, case


I really liked the design on this case. I wanted something pretty at a good price. Thankfully, the price I paid was quite minimal. It lasted maybe two weeks. I accidentally dropped my phone (is there any other way to drop a phone?) and the top corner broke and could no longer snap together. I dealt with it for a few days and then switched to the case my sister gave me. Again, disappointed at the low durability, but I didn't pay much for it in the end. FOR BLACKBERRY CURVE 8520 8530 HARD CASE PINK FLOWERS

once you put this one your blackberry dont plan on taking it off. the plastic fits together very well the first time and the design is very nice but when or if you take it off the the little plastics parts that hold it together break and you and it will never fit as tight as it did when you first put it on.

Just got the case I ordered. I was acually surprised when I saw that it wasn't the color (white) shown in the picture when I ordered it. I received a grey case instead of the white one that I liked. The shipping was fast and satisfactory and the case seems to be made out of a durable material. 5 stars if I actually got the case in a color that I was expecting.

This cover is excellent. I had ordered several other ones and this one was my favorite because it gave access to the side of the keyboard and did not make my device bigger. It fit perfectly and looks very nice. I would recommend this to all whom have the phone I do.

I bought this case for my phone and was so excited when I found it in my mailbox; but when I opened the package, it was broken! I tried to not let this affect my happiness; I used super glue. It doesn't feel durable (and it isn't, either). Everytime I dropped my phone the case broke in half and my phone got scratched. And after a few weeks the sides started to fall off. It's a flimsy case for every day use, but I suppose if you only want to use it maybe 2-3 days a week it's nice for decoration. But.. that's only what it's good for if you ask me.

I am very satisfied with this case it actually arrived sooner than I expected but that's a plus to me it's been five years since i've ordered online since one bad incident but everything went smooth and I will order from this site again - Blackberry Curve Case - Curve Case - Case - Blackberry Curve'


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