Saturday 31 October 2009

Fabric Deodorizer


This is a fun product to use. When you open the patch, you get a barely moist paper cloth. Then a doubt creeps in. After all, how can a single moist paper cloth clean the dirt off of my clothes in 20 minutes worth of drying?



After 20 minutes, my clothes were fresh smelling and clean. It was really impressive.



I higly recommend this product for light dry cleaning. But if you must get a heavy duty professional quality dry cleaning, then the professional dry cleaning is still the best. After all, they use industrial grade concentrated chemicals which can't be used in consumer products.



Highly Recommended (works really well):

1)Dark shirts with no heavy stains.

2)Dark pants with no heavy stains.



recommended (works reasonably well):

1)Light shirts with no heavy stains.

2)Light pants with no heavy stains.



Leave it to professional dry cleaners:

1)Any cloths with heavy stains.

2)Jackets and heavy clothing.

3)Any important clothing which must have spotless cleaning. Woolite Dry Cleaner's Secret Dry Cleaning Cloths, 14-Count Box

I got a sample of this first, then tried it out. This is a great product for sweaters, jackets, and other items that usually get sent to the Dry Cleaner. It works great in the dryer. Please be careful when trying to remove spots. If I follow the directions correctly, the spot remover works well.

The cost savings have been HUGE for my wife and I. Try the one sheet for yourself, then I am sure you will come back and buy the bigger package.

I love this product - I don't expect it to "clean" my clothes the way the professionals using perch' do, but for a "freshening up" it's great. Pop up to 4 items in the dryer and 20 minutes later, they're wrinkle free on the hanger and smell great until my next trip to the cleaners to really clean them. Excellent for getting de-wrinkling slacks or getting smoke-stench out of a jacket or freshening up a wool sweater. You can't overload the dryer, tho, or your clothes will be wrinkled and the product doesn't work.

I work in a Manhattan office and wear dry clean only clothing almost every day. My bills would be immense without this stuff! It rocks. Seriously. I mean how often do people gush about a laundry product?



This has no bags or expensive starter kits like with Dryel. You get a bunch of sheets saturated with cleaner, like thick damp dryer sheets.



You dab off any small smudges, then toss 4-5 pieces of similar colored clothing in the dryer for half an hour with the cleaning sheet.



Hang your clothes up overnight (or for a few minutes if you're like me and end up doing it in the morning!) and they look smooth and reshaped, and smell fresh.



Works great for anything that isn't actually grimy, just out of shape or wrinkled. Now I take my garments to the real dry cleaner every three or four wearings. My job requires a neat and professional appearance, and this stuff does the trick!



Besides the obvious savings, it's less time spent going to the dry cleaner. I buy clothes without fear of the time and expense of cleaning them. And if I want to wear my favorite skirt on a whim, I can. I don't have to wait until I have time to get it to the cleaner.



Obviously, use your common sense. Badly stained or sweaty garments won't work. And if you have a super expensive power suit, take it to an expensive cleaner.



But if your moderately priced dry clean clothing often ends up wrinkled but basically clean, buy this and save. It's never ruined or even damaged an article of my clothing, and for what I'm saving, I could replace the occasional garment if it ever did.

I purchased this product based on the many positive reviews here, and I was very disappointed.

I followed the directions for the product and used one cloth for one two-piece suit. The suit had no stains, but it did have a light odor under the arms, which this "cleaning" cloth did not remove or even mask. The only thing this cloth did was give the whole suit a very light fragrance. I don't see how this would remove any staining at all.

If you are looking for something to re-fresh your clothing, I would recommend tossing your clothing in the dryer for 15 min with a microfiber (lint-free) damp cloth with a couple of sprays of your favorite perfume. The effect will be the same, and you will save money and save the environment another piece of trash.

I have tried Dryel in the past for home dry-cleaning and I am going to go back to it. Dryel makes a much more effective product that actually CLEANS!

I would not recommend this product!

I use these cleaning sheets ALL the time and they're great! They don't handle everything (suits needing pressing, special clothing such as coats or other items which really do need an occasional dry cleaning) BUT for daily clothing you wear regularly and want cleaned or freshened but wish to avoid shrinking, fading, or loss of sizing (all those darling cotton summer dresses and skirts, delicates in silk or linen, black jeans, nice tech clothing, mens' dressy shirts, etc.) - - this can't be beat.



Dry Cleaner's Secret is also extremely easy to use. No putting stuff in bags. Just place 7 or 8 clothing items directly in the dryer and throw in one sheet. Twenty minutes later, your clothes are fresh and clean. No ironing, just hang 'em up or fold - they come out pretty neat. (You can iron if you're into that sort of thing. I hate to iron!)



Beware: once a stain is "set", this product can't work miracles, so always take care of a stain immediately. While the directions say you can apply a moist Dry Cleaning sheet directly to a stain to lift it out before throwing an item in the dryer to dry clean, I've not had the best of luck with more difficult stains using that method.



SO, I wholeheartedly recommend one other product, which I guarantee you won't regret. It's the Tide Bleach Pen. I keep one in my makeup bag at all times. It's saved my clothing more times than I can count. Just apply immediately after stains occur, and most will lift right out of the cloth before your eyes, and fast. Works on colors or light/white clothing. I've successfully removed ink, grass, wine, and food stains.



I love it when I find products which actually make my life easier!'


Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information


Fabric Deodorizer Fabric Deodorizer Fabric Deodorizer

Video Chat - hd webcam, laptop


My wife's family lives in Europe so we spend lots of time on Skype - especially since we have a 4 month old baby. Our Acer laptop has an OK webcam built in, but I wanted my mother-in-law to feel "almost there" when she was seeing her granddaughter. So I researched HD webcams looking for the sweet spot between price, portability and quality. The C510 hits the mark. It is reasonable in price and is very compact with a nifty storage case for when we are just using the built in webcam.



Initially, I was dissapointed when there was no noticable increase in video quality while Skyping. I soon learned that the problem was not with the webcam itself, but with my research (and Skype). Currently, this camera will not work as an HD Skype camera. If you want that, you need to buy a webcam with a built in HD encoder, which are more expensive. Otherwise, Skype will be a low-def experience. I don't understand why Skype has this requirement when so few webcams have an encoder. I suspect that as more and more HD cams hit the market, we will see Skype change its restrictive policy.



Fortunately, the solution is easy. If you want full 720p HD video chats, look no farther than the Logitech C510 installation disc. Logitech was smart enough to create a very simple, yet high quality video chat program called HD Vid. Once you install it, you send an invite through the program to anyone who you want to chat with. They simply accept and auto intall the software on their computer and you are in business. They don't even need to have a HD webcam. They will still see you in HD, while you will see them in standard-def. And if they don't have a webcam, they can still see you in HD, while you will hear them - so this program is very compatible and much easier than anything else I have used. My 80 year old dad even installed it when he accepted my invite, not that he knew at the time. And he was thrilled to see us in HD the next time I called.



So all in all, this is a good buy and the software is heads above Skype in regards to video quality and simplicity. In fairness, Skype does much more beyond video chats, but if you don't need the added features, the included HD Vid software is a huge value added feature that comes with this camera. Sweet!



I recommend this webcam, especially with the bundled software. It's a great set up for a great price. Logitech 720p Webcam C510

Logitech HD Webcam C510 with 720p Video and Swivel Design ...

Logitech has really done something amazing with this webcam. running on a windows 7 machine I had this webcam installed in 5 minutes and was able to use skype and all my other applications with no hiccup. the lighting adjuster on the webcam works great not matter what kind of light you are in and the built in microphone is great with auto adjusting the volume, had no problems with feedback from my surround sound speakers also. This is a great buy no matter what you are in the market for. The HD video on this web cam lives up to the promises. Quick auto focusing, good image quality in low light, very good frame rates at 720P and below, works out of the box in Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (64-bit) without installing anything else, clever stand that works on the desk or on a monitor or lap top, decent cable length too. Not like the Logitech C910 USB 2.0 1080p HD Pro Webcam, that has Poor frame rates at 1080P resolution, base is not heavy enough so it moves easily, software takes a long time to install in Windows, software is annoying in Windows (pop-up, starting at boot, registration prompts, etc.), audio quality is not very good. Stay with the Logitech HD Webcam C510 with 720p.

Here is my take on the webcam.

The pros are

1.Excellent low light imaging particularly indoor.

2.Decent face tracking similar to Logitech orbit cam.

3.Easy plug and play compatibility with Win7 x64

4.Decent build quality

5.Portable and foldable.



Keep in mind that my point of reference/comparison is a Logitech orbit AF and an old Logitech quickcam and a pedestrian bestbuy inhouse branded webcam



The cons are minor quibbles and not really dealbreakers

The monitor stand contruction might need improvement. It is essentially a plastic hinge.I certainly would not mind if this had some sort of a spring/ clamp which could be tightened /placed firmly . While this makes it adequate for a desktop monitor, for a laptop screen particularly one with a narrow bezel, this might present issues with placement.

My new toshiba came with a built in piece of junk web cam. No matter what light I was in it was horrible. I decided to buy an external after receiving a $50.00 gift card. I searched and found this camera. It arrived and installed via the included disc - perfectly.



The camera is exceptional. It works in the harshest of lights - and is still clear and bright. I closed all the curtains, turned off the lights - and my dad's words were "WOW! Still bright and clear"



The full 360 swivel is very easy - and has great distance detail. The 8mp camera is also fantastic - taking wonderful pictures. If you are looking to shell down money for a cam - and want one you can depend on go with the Logitech C510 - you won't be disappointed - Logitech Webcam - Logitech - Hd Webcam - Laptop'


Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information


Wireless Printer - duplex, wireless


This printer satisfies every gripe I have about printers. Usually there's some quality about one that makes you say, "It would have been perfect, but if only it didn't have this one problem." Each aspect of this printer is as good or better than pretty much all other printers out there at this time. And I'm a person who is relentless when it comes to researching products before buying them for myself.



Resolution: It goes up to 1200x1200, which is the highest out there currently. 1200x1200 is best for text. But it also does 2400x600, which is typically better for graphics. Most other laser printers only do up to 2400x600.



Toner: Cheap! You can pick up "compatible" cartridges for $30 now which will last 8000 pages. This is the cheapest of any printer I've seen. Other printers (such as HP) cost $70 for 2000-3000 pages even with a "compatible" cartridge.



Print quality: Excellent. I used a magnifying glass to try to detect any imperfections in text or graphics but didn't find much. No white raster lines, "jaggies", smudging, bleeding, noise or random dots printed anywhere. Large black rectangles are solid and consistent. Gray scale patterns didn't appear to have any defects.



Memory: 32MB. Most other laser printers only do up to 8MB currently. You need memory if you want to do full-page graphics. It lets you expand memory by adding an inexpensive ($30 new) 512MB memory card. Many printers don't even allow expansion, or they force you to buy their own special memory cards at a huge price.



Paper: Doesn't jam. Easy to load. Has a manual feeder also. Allows 2 extra paper feeders if you want. Most printers don't allow that.



Duplex mode: Fast, easy to use, saves paper. I'll never buy another printer without it.



Paper curl: You wouldn't notice it unless you were specifically looking for it. Barely detectable even with duplex mode printing and cheap paper. Even envelopes print with hardly any curl.



Rear output tray: Has it! Many printers don't. Its predecessor model didn't. This "straight out the back" mode allows you to print envelopes, cards, and special paper without ever bending it if you really want perfection.



On/Off switch: Has one! I mention this because many printers don't. Without one, a printer is left on all the time, which uses 10 watts of power (not much, but still) and reduces product lifetime somewhat.



Lifetime: The predecessor model (HL-5250DN) has great reviews. People said they're still using it 3 years later. The HL-5370DW has just about the same design, and I expect it will last a while. Not a cheap, throw-away printer like you often see.



Networking: Haven't tried it. But it has it, and it will become very useful when I get a wireless laptop to add to my existing desktop PC (both will need to share it).



Languages: It speaks both Postscript 3 and PCL. That guarantees it will be compatible with any OS out there, even older ones. And since it doesn't use "host based" language like cheaper printers do, it won't eat up your CPU and slow things down during printing.



In conclusion, this is a well-designed, high quality printer with low long-term operating costs, and I'm completely satisfied. I'll add an update to this review if I ever encounter problems with it.



- Steve Brother HL-5370DW Laser Printer with Wireless Networking and Duplex

This little boy is excellent. And you can't beat it for the price too. Also extremely easy to set up.



I am coming from an HP LaserJet, also 30 papers per minute. So I was comparing it to the HP when I shopped.



My HP, while it served me good, was not as sharp black as the Brother is. I like the print results from the Brother much better. Plus, the Brother have settings whether you're printing text only, graphics, general, or office documents, in addition you can choose "manual" and tweak the settings yourself to your liking. I also like that the size of the printer is pretty small.



The HP was a little faster from sleep mode (like 8 seconds), while the Brother 5370 takes approx. 14 seconds. Not a biggie. The processor was faster in the HP, but 99% of the time you won't notice the difference. Once it starts printing, it spits out papers like crazy. Very fast. One important note, though: The fast 32 ppm is only if you are printing in 600 dpi mode. If you need the higher quality 1200 dpi mode, print speed will be down by half! But there again, 99% of the time the 600 dpi is more than enough. Some higher quality graphics may require 1200 dpi, though.



Printing envelopes thru the multi-purpose paper tray is very good, and they're not getting curled (like many old Brothers did) as long as you open the rear output tray. It can not print thru the regular printing area (if you do, it will still print, but envelopes will get wrinkled). I miss the HP in that area. It's much less cumbersome.



The printer is quite noisy. But most fast laser printers are noisy.



The duplexer worked beautifully. You just select "Duplex" or "Booklet", and the printer does the rest. Very good job with that.



I did not use the wireless networking, but from the manual it seems to be a little complicated. Also from the manual, is the following: "...Although the printer can be used in both, wired & wireless network, only ONE of the connections methods can be used at a time..." So keep that in mind if you want to use both.



I would suggest the following improvements, if Brother is interested to listen:



- Make it quieter;

- Add a little high-quality display instead of all the lamps (also miss from my HP - all cheap inkjet have'em today!);

- If out of paper, it should beep, so I know to add paper (optional - not everyone will like beeps);

- Enable the multi-purpose paper tray to be opened with one hand (like my HP), not force me to use both hands.



Overall, though, it is a pleasure to use. Highly recommended.



**UPDATE**



I contacted Brother to help me setup wireless network. I must say I am amazed at the support I got. I can't recall if I ever had such a good experience with any other company! No waiting, knowledgeable staff, and helped me in less than minutes! And it works like a charm! - Wireless Printer - Duplex - Wireless - Monochrome'


Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information


17 Inch Laptop Bag - laptop backpack, 17 inch laptop bag


I purchased this bag because my current bag could not handle a Calculus book, a JAVA book, and a laptop. But this bag can hold it all!



--Now to let you know I usually hold the JAVA book, because it puts a strain on your back with this much weight.



It has so many compartments for all your laptop accessories, and protects the laptop amazingly, extremely well insulated and cushioned. Now, to let you know I have a 15" notebook and use it for it and not a 17". With my laptop it still has room for a 2" Calculus book and a .5" notebook (or a JAVA book [about 2"])



The laptop part of the bag has zippers with the ability to accommodate a lock for added security. I am very much enjoying my bag, and plan to get a great use out of it for years to come! HP RU350AA Backpack Case for 17.0-Inch Notebooks

I purchased this item as a gift for a family member. When it first came we loved it. It was the perfect size for a 17 inch laptop and had plenty of room for papers and a book or two without being too bulky. There are a bunch of pockets for storing mp3 players, etc.



However, after less then 4 months of normal every-day use the shoulder strap is completely frayed and falling apart. It is still usable but it looks terrible - you can see the foam padding inside the strap. I'm really shocked that HP would put its name on a product of such poor quality.

I did a lot of research on a lot of bags, backpacks and messenger bags. For the price this is a great bag. My Toshiba 355 with the 17" screen fit perfect in the padded slot that has a velcro strap to keep it in place. This backpack also has two other compartments for books and ect. Plenty of pockets, compartments and extras. Lot of backpack for a small price.

This bag is just what I needed! I have a 17in widescreen HP and it fits perfectly! Lots of room to spare in the other compartments and very easy on the back with lots of padding. The price was great! I also love the fact that unlike most backpacks the harness is all one piece and not sewn on! Very sturdy!

I received the bag in first week of December and it has been one week I have started using the bag.

The design is good and there are a lot of pockets. So you can put a lot of small things in an organized

way. But the stitch of the handle on top of the bag is not so strong. Since this is a 17" laptop bag, it

should be rugged enough to hold heavier load than usual. I am not so happy with this feature.

Update: April 25, 2011

I am happy that it still looks good.

This item doesn't need a long review, it is just a damn good product for an even better price. That saying, "You get what you pay for" doesnt apply to this HP backpack. I'll make it easy for you, you cannot go wrong with this item. It manages to safely and easily hold my massive 17' Dell Precision M6400 workstation laptop, power supply and even has room for a few large books. This backpack serves its purpose well without making a dent in your pocket book.



Great Product.

I just returned the second one of this exact model. The first I had to replace after about 6 months as both of the shoulder straps were severely frayed and the partition between two of the sections was coming unstitched from the outer shell. The second I return after just one month as one of the shoulder straps was faulty and tended to fold/twist when worn. Perhaps I shouldn't have purchased this a second time, but I has such a difficult time finding a pack that fit my computer I went with this because I knew it would fit.

I liked very much my backpack. It's perfect to carry my HP notebook. The computer's compartment is perfect. My laptop fall down on the airport's floor and the backpack protected it. There is a lot of pockets to carry other items like pens, pencils, palms, ipods, cell phones etc. I really liked. Oh, it's very stylish too, modern. - Laptop Backpacks - Laptop Bag - 17 Inch Laptop Bag - Laptop Backpack'


Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information


Power Point - 2010, word


The Disc version costs $120 currently, and product key version $106.



The Disc version can be installed on three PC's instead of just one for the product key version.



The Disc version provides for easier emergency recovery/reinstall (no downloads) compared to the product key version. Microsoft Office Home & Student 2010 Product Key Card

**On A Clean PC** = This key works flawlessly when used to activate Office Home/Student that has been downloaded from the website ([...]) provided in the editorial review. It is written that the website can be accessed for a limitied time and I have no idea how long that is. It still exists as of this writing. To reiterate, using the online download version together with the product key offered here results in a trouble free install - On a Clean PC, (no prior install of Office). An install disk can be purchased from MS for about $15 after tax (free s/h), at the time you do the download, if you want one. I did not pre-install Office in leu of receiving the product key...I waited until it came in the mail (two days Amazon Prime), and activated it immediately after download.



(Installed on old (2005 or 2006 I think) Sony laptop VGN-SZ270P/C with 2gb ram running Vista from a clean install)

Well I bought this for my daughter in college, and nowhere in the ad did it say is was for computers that were preloaded with office 2010.

I had downloaded a trial of office 2010 from micorosft and they said all I needed was a key, so I purchased this key on Amazon and it really looked like the right key.

Did not realize until product was received and read the small print on the box.

Well in a nutshell the key would not work on that software.

After downloading new software which took about 5 hours from my daughters college dorm I was able to use this key.

Good luck to anyone that buys Microsoft Products.

Around 5 minutes after I typed in the product key it gave me an error message. Needed to fix errors produced by an older version, even though this was a new Acer PC. I clicked on OK and it took 40 minutes or so to finish installation. Then I got an error message saying the installation had failed.



At this point, here is what you do. Open the "Microsoft Office" program again from the start menu. It will give you the option to repair the installation. Click on that. In 40 minutes or so and after a reboot, you will have Office installed on your PC.



Why do they make us go through this?

I just recently installed this software on our new i5 PC and I think it is so cool. The GUI is so sleek and clean looking in fact much better layout and build than MS Office 2007. It is also a lot easier to use. I would recommend this product.

If you do not need to put MS Office on multiple computers, this is all you need. My laptop for work came with MS Office Starter, which had limited abilities and options and finally didn't work for me the way I needed it to. In the end I had to purchase the full version and this was the least expensive way to do so. It did the job and was very simple to do.

The install was difficult. I had the 2007 trial on my computer and once the program got to the end step it would stop. I called Microsoft and was told by the first person they could not help me. The second time I called I got help. It took them at least an hour to get it on my computer because they had to use some of their programs to remove 2007 and I could not have done that with the add/remove on the computer. Once they had finished with the set up process and everything was installed it runs great. I love it compared to 2007. Very easy to use.

My only difficulty with this product was the lack of instructions to uninstall the trial version that came preloaded on my laptop. Any previous versions of the product must be uninstalled. Until I did that, my Office 2010 would not install. Microsoft help line finally solved the problem.

This item was offered as a deal from Amazon after purchasing a pc. Now, I like OFFICE programs a lot, but I failed to review the contents and restrictions, which are: there are only 4 programs and user's can only install it on machines with Office 2010 PRE-INSTALLED. I do have a new machine that fits the bill, BUT... how many more machines will I buy before Office 2010 is replaced by Office 2012 (just supposing one arrives then)and how many will have Office 2010 pre-installed? I'd say ZERO! So, I'll get a single use out of a 3-use Key Card. Darn it! You see, I assumed -from years of experience with WINDOWS, that Outlook and Publisher were always an integral part of OFFICE. Wrong! Microsoft has trimmed it for the student budget; yet what does the productive student in need of those project-oriented programs do? I guess this package is for the "less productive" among us.With that said, I suppose I can live without OUTLOOK and PUBLISHER on this machine, two programs I normally use a lot. Luckily I have two other business machines that have fully loaded OFFICE 2007. I did run the four programs and they work and look fine, even a bit cooler than previous version, as far as new features.If you did expect OUTLOOK and PUBLISHER --like I did, now you won't be disappointed. If you don't use those programs you may be happy with just WORD, POWERPOINT, EXCEL and ONE NOTE. In searching for an email client I discovered Ultrafunk Popcorn! Look it up. - Word - 2010 - Microsoft - Office'


Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information


Narrow Crown Stapler - staplers, misfire


I have tried the Stanley T250, the Arrow T50 and T50 R.E.D. The Duo Fast CS5000 is by far the best.



*The Stanley T250 is nice in the hands but lacks the power to drive 9/16" staples fully into hard pine.



*The Arrow T50 is not as nice as the Stanley and lacks power. It also jams a lot.



*The Arrow T50 R.E.D. is the biggest dissapointment. While is has plenty of power to sink all staples into hard pine it is very poorly made. I tried two of them and both jammmed and miss-fired frequently. I think the spring is too weak to keep good pressure on the staples and they do not advance properly. Also, the handle comes apart very often, which is a real pain. It is also large and cumbersome to use.



*The Duo Fast CS5000 is by far the best of all. It has great power to sink all staples. It feels great in the hand. Has great anti-jam clearing, and is the best made of all of these. It costs about $10 more that the R.E.D. but is well worth the price. I returned all the others and have two of the Duo Fasts now.



Great Buy! Duo Fast CS5000 - 20 Gauge 1/2-Inch Crown Compression Stapler

I've just tried both staplers head to head, and the Duo Fast definitely has more power to drive longer staples, and the variable power setting is nicer compared to the "low" and "high" settings on the Stanley TR250.



As a matter of fact, the first Stanley unit that I had drove staples to the same depth no matter which power setting I had selected. This unit was from a newer batch, and the lever and the top of the stapler had hard plastic surfaces. I returned this unit and selected one that was an older build date and did have the rubberized lever and top. With the second Stanley unit, I was able to discern a difference in power between the "low" and "high" settings.



I like the wire guide option on the Stanley; there is no such feature on the Duo Fast. However, the Duo Fast CS5000 easily out-powered the Stanley TR250 in several different materials, using a variety of staple lengths. The Duo Fast has only a 90 day warranty vs. lifetime for the Stanley, but the stapler seems to be well-built and should last a long time. - Stapler - Staplers - Narrow Crown Stapler - Misfire'


Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information


    ,
  • stapler
  • ,
  • staplers
  • ,
  • misfire
  • ,
  • narrow crown stapler

Cordless Tools - combo packs, drill


I recently owned a Makita set so I will compare the two. I use the tools every day in remodel and new construction work.

* The Milwaukee is slightly heavier, but still easy to use.

* The belt clip on tool base is very useful. Makita doesn't have same feature.

* Battery life seems to be the same. I love the charge level indicator on the battery, but when it is dead, it stops immediately, no gradual loss.

* The hard plastic carry case will last much longer than the Makita cordura bag, which was pretty beat up after six months of use.

* Both brands have a use light above trigger but Makita's will glow for a short stretch after trigger release whereas the Milwaukee turns off immediately.

* Makita also has the glow ring on the impact driver that makes finding it in the dark easier, very handy.

* The Milwaukee impact driver has a rubber bumper strip on both sides of the nose for friction protection [nice] but one end on both sides come unattached with very little use [annoying]. I had to super glue them in place and they have held for several weeks.

* I anticipate no difference in tool life and durability having used both tool brands for many years. Milwaukee 2691-22 18-Volt Compact Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit

After owning two of the white Makita lith-ion drills I had to return both of them because the charger kept killing the batteries dead. From what I have read this is a known problem.



Here is what I like better about the Milwaukee.



First the charger does not kill the $80 batteries no matter how long you leave them on the charger. Second, the Milwaukee has a great battery charge indicator right on the battery. This is very important with Lith-Ion batteries as they have full power right up to the end and quit without warning. With is level gauge you know exactly how much battery life you have when you grab your drill. Third, the Milwaukee drill has bit storage on board, handy for philips and reg bits. Lastly the red color holds up much better then white.



Hope this helps.

Recently I've been doing a lot of work around the house getting ready for winter. I went to Home Depot looking for an impact driver (something that could easily drive 4-6 inch lag screws and 8-10 inch Timberlock screws). The Makita and Milwaukee impact drivers seemed to outperform any others available. I chose the Milwaukee based on prior experience with this brand AND final sale price of $225.00 for the set (versus $275 for the Makita). Right out of the box there was enough charge in the battery to finish driving several timber screws in a drain box I was repairing. I've been very impressed with the weight, durability, and performance of this set. The torque in the impact driver is eye-popping. No buyer's remorse for this tool purchase.

After having Makita products in the past, I chose to buy this Milwaukee drill after the Makita Lithium Ion drills had concerns about wobbly chucks and poor batteries. I received the drill and immediately liked it. The weight, size, trigger control, etc. were all fantastic. The best drill I ever handled. So I took my new drill to put up several blinds and thought the new quick change bit set I bought was junk. Everything was wobbling and it was even hard to put in the screws. I went down to the shop and started going through some other bits. Every one of them wobbled. So, I pulled out my old Makita and the wobbling was immediately gone. I was in the middle of a bunch of different projects, so I went to a local store and picked up another Milwaukee. I got it home and the same problem. They both wobble like nothing I've seen before. Beware, others say Makita has wobble problems, but in my case 2 Milwaukee compact drills from two different stores have suffered from wobbly chucks, while I've never seen a Makita with this problem. There's definitely some quality control issues at Milwaukee with these drills.

I'm a hobbyist...a retired car nut. I like good tools, and in this case, I wanted a cordless drill with lots of power, and a keyless chuck that would hold a drill bit without slipping. I haven't used my new Milwaukee drill and impact driver much yet, but my initial impression is very positive, with one exception: battery life. Both pieces have all the power you could ask for, and they're light and well-balanced. They feel good in your hand...not over-bulky or lop-sided. The chuck on the drill grabs great, and doesn't spin on the drill bits, but I noticed the battery charge getting low after about 30 holes in sheet metal. Battery charge lasted a little better on the impact driver...I don't know if the drill just pulls more charge out of the battery, or maybe my drill battery happened to be weaker than the driver one. In any case, the battery charge indicator lets you know where you're at (after you put the battery on the charger), and the batteries recharge in a relatively short time. I questioned at first, why I'd need or want an impact driver if I had a powerful drill. Won't they do basically, the same thing? The impact driver gives you much greater control in driving screws. I was able to drive about 75 sheet metal screws into thick sheet metal without boogering up a single phillips head or twisting off a single screw. I know that using a drill to drive those screws, I'd have had about a 75% success rate at best. For me, these are great...for a contractor or someone working for a living, you'd want to have a handful of batteries so you can keep going.

How could a craftsman who's bought Milwaukee tools for over 20 years, (and many are Still in constant use), mark a "one star"? Two reasons: very very poor engineering and cheap brittle plastic. First of all I should have realized a change when my trusty 'ol 18 volt nicad Milwaukee drill slid off a chair onto a wood floor - and the handle snapped in half! Luckily I could buy the case, and after 2 hours of reassembly it is functioning again. Their plastic looks maleable, it is an illusion - it is incredibly brittle. The opposite of what is needed in a 'Heavy Duty" tool. So I should have known better than to buy this new set. I could find nothing amiss with the impact driver - it looks like good ol Milwaukee quality. But, believe me or not, the driver drill snapped in half too! And this was one half hour out of the box, drilling studs with a 1" spade bit for wiring. The bit caught on a knot, I resisted, and the drill snapped. Same brittle plastic. But far worse is the engineering / design of the drill. On a cursory inspection it looks strongly built. It's totally an illusion. All that holds the drill motor to the handle is two tiny pieces of brittle plastic hidden under pretty coverings.

Amazon prime is wonderful, they refunded in full in short order. I so regret I did not take pictures of this pathetically designed tool broken in two in my hands! And I am no gorilla -( like those who still respect these Chinese made Milwaukees may need to presume). For me, 20 years of supporting them has come to an end until I learn they have recalled this tool And changed their plastic formulation. Next day I went out and bought a Bosch set, nearly the same price, with even better specs on torque. (Bosch CLPK23-180 18V 2-Tool Litheon Combo Kit) After careful inspection and hard use I can say they are designed very well. It seems Bosch hasn't gone the route of Milwaukee. Whew. My partner uses a Makita set, and as can certainly happen on a job site, eventually one fell a story and half. We just picked it up and kept going, as it should be. Makita is not quite as well built IMHO, but certainly a good second choice. I have never written a review before, hope it's useful. - Drill - Combo Packs - Milwaukee M18 - Lithium-ion'


Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information


Business Calculator - business calculator, hp 20b


The HP 20b is Hewlett Packard's new lower-end financial calculator. This machine is a very welcome addition to HP's financial calculator line. This calculator certainly exceeds the functionality of Texas Instrument's offerings in the financial calculator marketplace, which should make this a big seller, particularly in colleges. Remember that this product seems primarily designed to compete with TI's offerings.



The display. The HP 20b display provides a great deal of information. Numbers are displayed with a 12 digit mantissa and up to a 3 digit exponent. The range is from -499 to +499. Annunciators are in the top right area. The top row of the screen is where results are labeled with letters. HP has made this area of the screen that labels results scroll messages, which allows for messages longer than the 9 characters that fit into this box.



Three operating modes. For the first time, HP has three operating modes on a financial calculator: RPN, Algebraic and Chain mode. RPN is a very welcome addition. It has been a long time since HP offered RPN on a fairly low priced financial calculator. Sure, it has been available on the 12c, 12cp and 17bII+ models, but has been missing from the 10b/10bII lines. LastX is there too, labeled ANS as the shift of the = key. The HP 20b also has a double-wide I key that functions as ENTER when in RPN mode. HP also provided two welcome shortcuts for RPN users. The otherwise useless parentheses keys serve as roll down and X<>Y in RPN mode. A tiny little symbol in the bottom right corner indicates the shortcut function of the ( and ) keys. RPN is not an afterthought on the 20b.



Chain mode is what HP has used on their low end machine (10bII) for some time. This mode is algebraic without hierarchy such that 1+2x3= gives a 9 as an answer. The HP 20b has Chain mode but adds Algebraic mode. In Algebraic mode, fairly normal rules of algebraic hierarchy are followed, as you would expect. Parentheses can be used to alter the order of execution. The 20b can handle up to 12 pending operations.



Menus. The HP 20b takes a new approach to providing functionality compared to many former HP calculators. It is more similar to the 17bII+ in some ways than the 12c. Pressing one of 16 keys will open up a menu where you use a combination of the INPUT key and the UP and DOWN arrow keys to move between your choices. This approach has the benefit of greatly expanding the available features without adding an additional shift key. It is also a departure from the 32s, 32sII, 33s, 35s menu approach. The approach taken by the 20b is designed to be familiar to student financial calculator users, who probably have never seen or used one of these other models. This was a very defining characteristic of the 20b's design. It seems to be aimed at students who are used to the TI model. It is not meant to be a direct replacement for an existing HP model.



Bond and date calculations. The bond calculations are a welcome addition to the low-end financial calculator and include all the expected features, including call provisions. The date calculation menu provides some nice touches, such as working in either actual or 360-day calendar mode. It also indicates the day of the week.



Extended financial features. The 20b includes several extended cash flow analysis features compared to other financial calculators. In addition to the usual NPV and IRR, the 20b provides net future value, net uniform series, payback and discounted payback.



Scientific functions on a financial model. Well, not so much new as finally returned. For the first time since the HP 19bII calculator, HP has a financial model with functions such as these: trig and inverse trig in degrees or radians, and hyperbolic functions and inverses. At last! An HP financial model again with trigonometric functions! Why is this so important? It greatly reduces the need, particularly in college, to have two calculators. As a former college instructor, I can't tell you how many times people carried two calculators - one for their physics or chemistry class, the other for their business classes...all because their business calculators did not have trigonometry and other scientific functions. It is also very important to keep the functional comparisons level with the competitors, all of whom offer these functions on their business models.



The Probability functions in the MATH menu is a real gem. It includes FOUR common probability distributions and their inverses: the normal distribution, Student's t distribution, Chi-square distribution, and the F-distribution along with their inverses. This greatly increases the usefulness of the 20b for the student as well as professional.



Statistics functions too. Combinations and permutations are back, finally and on the keyboard. Without these, users had to manually compute them using the factorial function, which is certainly doable, but very manual. The factorial function computes the gamma function if given a real number. A random number generator is present as well. The other statistics functions work on data entered into the Data menu.



The DATA menu allows you to enter up to 50 pairs of statistics data. (Note: Memory is shared between the data and cashflow areas - the 20b has 50 slots for pairs of statistical or cashflow data in total). If you try to enter the STATS menu before you've entered any data, the 20b will enter the Data menu for you.



The Statistics menu contains a Descriptive sub-menu which provides two functions not seen on HP financial calculators before: standard error of the sample X and Y means, which are very useful for things such as hypothesis tests and confidence intervals. The Predictions sub-menu first asks you to choose a regression model. Six models are included:



Linear: a*X+b Logarithmic: a*LN(X)+b Power: b*X^a

Base e exponential: b*e^(aX) Base a exponential: b*a^X Inverse: a/X+b.



A somewhat hidden function is the BEST FIT function. When the regression model is displayed, pressing = causes the 20b to quickly fit all six models to the data and choose the model with the correlation whose value is closest to the absolute value of 1. The displayed regression model will be changed to the model that provides the best fit. If the display does not change, the model shown was the best already.



Other menus and features. In addition to loan amortizations, the 20b includes several depreciation methods other than the normal straight line, declining balance and sum-of-digits: it includes declining balance crossover and French straight line and an accelerated French method. The breakeven menu performs the calculations you would expect including solving for a target profit, i.e. a non-breakeven breakeven. The %calc menu is where the markup as a % of price and as a % of cost functions are found as well as part as a % of total and % change. The % change provides a useful extension by allowing for the number of periods to be specified before computing the % change, turning this into a quick compound growth rate computation if desired.



What else is interesting? The 20b provides a function no other financial calculator has ever provided built-in. When doing interest rate conversions, you can solve for any of these three if the other two are known: Effective rate, nominal rate or periods per year. Even on the venerable 17bII+, you can't solve for the number of periods per year unless you use the equation EffectiveRate = (1 + NominalRate ÷ (P/YR)) ^ (P/YR) in the solver. If you put the 20b up against a solver solution on the 17bII+ for this problem, the 20b will win. Hands down. It's really that fast. For example, if you have a nominal rate of 10%, how many times per year must this rate be compounded before the effective annual rate is 10.51%? The answer is computed instantly: 77.85 P/YR.



So, more often than once a week, but less often than daily. Worst case result would be a value for P/YR of 999,999,999,999 periods per year (a rather outrageous result). The 20b computes results of this magnitude INSTANTLY. There really is no delay. You just can't do that on any other financial machine using a built-in function. Be aware that a computed P/YR value is stored into the P/YR setting. If a computed value is a non-integer, you will get an error in the next TVM calculation. This capability is also not present on any TI calculator.



What are some tips? You can change the number of decimal digits shown without entering the menu by pressing the shift key then pressing and holding the shift key again and pressing 0 through 9. The 20b can display up to 11 digits after the decimal point. FIX 10 and 11 settings are possible in the MODE menu but not through this shortcut. Also, entering a value of -1 for the FIX setting in the MODE menu uses the 20b's opinion for the best way to display a number. For example, with a FIX of -1 setting, the 20b would display 2.718 with three decimal digits and a result of 2 with no decimal digits. Using the shortcut described above, you can choose this FIX -1 setting by pressing . rather than 0 through 9. So you would press shift then press and hold shift and press the decimal point. Handy!



You can also view the full precision of a computed number by pressing the "back-arrow" key. This key is a true backspace key and begins deleting the rightmost digit of the full precision of a number (not the displayed, rounded value) upon the second press of the key. However, the first press of "back-arrow" has the nice effect of showing all digits of a number. To stop this "editing" of the displayed number, press ON/CE.



Conclusion. The HP 20b is another sign that HP is still actively investing in the calculator market. This is a good financial machine that addresses many wish-list items financial users have had for quite some time, as well as providing a very nice set of math and stats functions for use by everyone. HP 20b Business Consultant Financial Calculator (F2219AA) - Business Calculator - Calculator - Hp 20b - Hp'


Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information


Battery Packs - 18 volt, 18v


I have owned a set of Makita tools with the LXT batteries for a couple years now and I have noticed absolutely zero power loss or any other problems. I use them quite regularly whether building concrete forms, decks, remodels, etc. I can think of three things that may be happening to the batteries of those who have commented on bad performance or longevity; (1) Occasionally, batteries can be bad from the factory (I have yet to own a milwaukee tool with the new "V" or "M" series battery that holds up past a few months. I have both V28 and M12, and have had ALL packs replaced) (2) It is possible to have a bad charger which is damaging the batteries itself, or (3) Perhaps the users are taking them all the way to the point of stalling and complete discharge, and for that the batteries are truly not made to do. It is best that once you notice the battery pack is wearing down, to grab a fresh one and put the discharged on the charger to cool down and refresh. Also, if the batteries are being stored for most of their life, it is best to keep the charger plugged in and rotate batteries through it to keep everything active and refreshed. Lithium batteries have computer chips and sophisticated circuitry, allowing them to constantly be charged without damage. Ni-Cad on the other hand are not supposed to be charged over and over again because they typically have memory effects and lifetime charging limits. It is best to mostly, not completely, discharge a Ni-Cad before replacing back onto the charger. Because a consumer only has ultimate control of this last variable, it is a good idea to read the owners manual and find out what the manufacturer thinks is best operating practices. Only those who are using the batteries and tools know how they are being treated, and you may very well be doing everything right and not fall into this third category. Being that my kit is from a couple years ago, and my newest battery packs (purchased just for continued use because I have many LXT tools) were purchased last year sometime, it is possible that the newer batteries are of a lesser quality, and that would be unfortunate. What I can say is this; I own many Dewalt tools, which I have only had to replace a couple Ni-Cad battery packs in the past 5 years. (Dewalt tools are mostly made in Mexico) I have owned MANY Milwaukee tools in which their Ni-Cads held up pretty well, but their Li-Ion line is absolute crap. Several years ago when their tools were still made in the US, their quality was impeccable. Their tools are now made completely in China. (Yes, many of the Makitas are also) I own several Bosch as well, and their batteries and tools are right up there with Makita's quality. As far as Skil, Black and Decker, and any other cheaper or knock-off brand goes, I would personally never purchase them. For one, you are supporting China, and secondly you would be purchasing a tool that is undependable. Hitachi has an excellent warranty, and makes excellent air nailers, however I'm unsure of the quality you may find in their power tools, both corded and cordless. I hope this was helpful. Makita BL1815 18-Volt 1.5 Ah Compact Lithium-Ion Battery

Really, these batteries provide seemingly endless power. They hold their charge for weeks with very little loss. I can use one battery for drilling and driving throughout an entire (moderately sized) project. They are extremely lightweight and charge in twenty minutes or less usually (in hot weather it takes longer). All three of mine slide on and off easily, with no issues of binding or falling off. With all the praise comes a VERY important caveat. DO NOT run these batteries into the ground. The instructions state that as soon as you notice a loss of power, stop and charge. If you over-discharge Li-Ion batteries, you can seriously degrade the life of the battery. These batteries are 1/3 cheaper on Amazon.com than at the home centers, so buy from here! Also, only the cells themselves are made in Japan, all other parts are made and final assembly is in China.

I love the drill but the battery life is a real problem. I had both original packs replaced under warranty when the charger reported them bad. Now one of the replacements is flashing bad on the charger. These have been cycled maybe a dozen times. I'll be complaining to Makita and also reporting this on the various woodworking groups I support.

I replaced a 14.4 Milwaukee NiCad with a Makita LXT and noticed that my old Milwaukee NiCads outlasted these in terms of longevity. Run time is solid, but lifespan is short. Two dead after one year, I'm only a homeowner. I've only done a few lengthy jobs such as putting cement board down in a 10x20 room, and building a deck with these, in addition to the other basic tasks of drywall, and other light construction needs. Love the light weight though. Now, I need new ones. Somewhat disappointing.

I went ahead and invested in a pair of these batteries despite the mixed reviews, figuring I'd at least get a year out of them with the warranty. So far, they've performed just fine, even on tools that are supposed to only use the BL1830. I mostly use them on the BHP454 drill (note: this is one of the tools that's keyed for the 1830 pack) and BTD141 impact driver when I'm not going to be using them for long, so the decreased runtime doesn't bother me. I also use them on the angle grinder and recip saw (after removing the little tab on the tools) for light work in tight spaces. I wouldn't want them to be my only batteries, but they're a great addition to a couple of the larger batteries if you have a few tools that can use them.



These slim packs are very handy on the drill, impact, and flashlight- the lighter weight and smaller size are noticeable, especially with the smaller (BDF/BHP452) drills. However, buyer beware when it comes to using them on the 'heavier' tools, as they are keyed for the larger batteries because they can draw more current than these smaller batteries can provide without damaging the cells. So you probably shouldn't slap one of these on your circular saw and go ripping 2x12s all day, or you'll kill the pack very quickly. Makita isn't trying to screw you into buying more batteries, they're trying to make sure you don't kill your batteries.



Another note, considering how many complaints of defective packs there are: don't run these batteries down to nothing, and try not to store them fully charged. Running them into the ground is a sure way to damage the cells, and I've read estimates of up to 20%/year capacity loss for a fully-charged pack, compared to as low as 2%/year for a pack stored @ 40% charge.



And of course, like any cordless tool/battery purchase- shop your options before buying batteries separately. I got the BHP452HW kit for only $50 more than 2 batteries. That's a cheap, easy way to have a spare drill or driver and charger for around the house, or to sell to recoup the extra cost.



I'm knocking off one star because Makita doesn't do a good job of letting people know that these slim packs only work on certain tools- and not very many, either. That's been a complaint for years now, and it's still not mentioned anywhere in their literature or website- even my local Makita dealer didn't know they weren't compatible with all LXT tools. It's not like it's standard practice- Bosch's and Milwaukee's slim packs fit their entire lineup, AFAIK. - 18v - Makita - Lithium-ion - 18 Volt'


Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information


Corded Rotary Tools


Let me say for starters that I haven't been a big Black/Decker fan for a long time(Black and Decker quit making tough power tools around 1990-1991).If I wanted a power drill currently....I'd buy a expensive/sturdy drill.Secondly,I've used Dremel 395 models for a long time,yes I've found them to be expensive but they do the job.So what could be better than a Dremel tool?A Black & Decker RTX-these are twice the motor power of a Dremel Tool,very well designed and comfortable to use(has a very nice rubber grip for extensive handling options during use),has a universal collet to except a massive range of dremel and aftermarket accessories(including a threaded section for the Flex Shaft),and a cool Flip Lock system to making changing bits a one-handed operation.Did I mention the RTX is half the price of a Dremel Tool.This tool is huge competition against Dremel,and my hopes for the RTX model is that it will become a main staple by Black/Decker and more advanced models will be released years down the road.Get a B&D RTX and save yourself some money :) Black & Decker RTX-B 3 Speed RTX Rotary Tool with Storage Case

This is an outstanding tool, cheaper and stronger than Dremel. The shaft lock defeats the power switch when applied, well thought out.

It is a variable speed even though there are 1,2,3, divisions. My only gripe is that awful cord that is showing up on many appliances.

It is permanently kinked. It causes trouble using and storing the tool. I have been replacing these cords on my tools with good quality wire,

the kind that used to be standard. These kinky cords are more trouble than "REBATES", which also cause me not to buy.

If manufactures want to make buyers angry, these kinky cords will do it every time!

This would be five stars except for the cheap cord.

This is my second Rotary tool. I used the first one for almost 5 years without a hitch. The tool did not break, I miss used it. I could not wait to get my new one. I am a mechanic in a welding shop, have a home handyman service and, make knives as a hobby. I use my Black and Decker almost daily. I have purchased more accessories for it than all my other tools combined. I look at projects with how I can use the Rotary Tool in mind.

I ordered this as a replacement for my Dremel rotary tool that died after using it for various art tasks 20+ years. I looked at Dremel's selections but didn't want to buy a whole kit, since I still have plenty of little bits, sanders, etc.



I only wanted the rotary tool itself, so when this one came up in my search I decided to buy it. The price and user opinions were big motivators.



So far I like this tool just fine. Noise is a little more than the Dremel... or perhaps it's simply a different pitch that I'm not used to yet. Although there are only three speeds on this Black and Decker tool, I really don't see a need for more. I like the thumb control for on-off better than the Dremel's variable switch on the side, which always felt a little awkward. The power cord on the B&D is slightly longer too, which I like.



One bit of advice if you're planning on using this with tiny drill bits like Dremel accommodates. You'll need to order a keyless chuck for this rotary tool, as the chuck that comes with the B&D only works with larger shafts. I simply robbed the keyless chuck from my old Dremel but if you don't have one, you'll need to buy it.

I still have and use my Dremel #245 and my Dremel cordless MiniMite 750, but after reading the other reviews on this black and decker I gave it a try and bought one. My Dremel 245 gets burning hot fast. Wow what a great alternative to Dremel models. My Dremel #245 would heat up tremendously after a short period of use. (Yes I checked the bushings on my Dremel 245 and they are still good on this unit). The black and decker with the 3 speeds was powerful and relatively not too noisy as well. It has a good feel to it, sure its only slightly more girth than a Dremel but the weight distribution and the rubberized plastic where you can hold it made it very comfortable in the hand. Black and Decker has a great alternative and it fits many of the Dremel accessories I have. I have yet to encounter one that didn't fit yet. I used it with my Dremel Chain Saw sharpening tool and it fits and screws on perfectly. Note the amazon description says storage case, its not a carrying case that comes with your Black and Decker, its a draw string black plastic pouch bag. The tool sort of fits in that bag. I guess to keep the cost down they opted to give you a pouch bag instead of a hard plastic carrying case, No matter. The tool itself is excellent. It has a 3 speed dial labeled L (12,000), M (24,000) , H (30,000) . Who needs more than that? I'm very happy with it. If you always had a dremel like me, give this black and decker a try and you will be surprised at the high quality of this rotary tool.'


Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information


Corded Rotary Tools Corded Rotary Tools Corded Rotary Tools

Fios Replacement Battery - fios replacement battery, battery pack


I have an older Minuteman Pro 520 UPS which is insufficient to run a big computer tower with multiple hard drives but which is perfect for keeping the cable modem, VoIP line, and wifi router alive for an extended period during a power outage. That way, if you're doing something important when the power fails, you can keep working for a little while before shutting everything down. This is particularly important if you have a wireless backup hard drive. The last thing you want is to lose power in the midst of a hard drive backing up, so a smaller UPS on that equipment is a great investment.



These batteries last anywhere from 5-7 years in my experience. The battery here is precisely as described; my rating is based upon my last purchase of the same model, which was almost 8 years ago. The UPS red light went on indicating that the battery was no longer up to spec and I bought the new one. The price point here makes it a no-brainer to replace the battery rather than the entire UPS. One screw to remove the access panel and the battery terminals are designed to allow the wires to be slipped off easily. Just make sure you don't reverse the polarity - straightforward with the colorcodes on the terminals. 12 Volt 7 ah Rechargeable Battery with F1 (.187") Terminals

This was to replace the backup battery in my alarm system. It's a perfect fit, works great, but as it turned out, the old battery still had some life in it! After a recharge, it was fine. Bought this after "troubleshooting" with the alarm company who saw a system error and thought it was this battery. It wasn't (I found that it was a key fob battery going low), but at least now I have an excellent backup, just in case! - Battery Pack - Battery Switches - Fios Replacement Battery - Solar Panel'


Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information


Usb Flash Drives - usb flash drives, usb flash drive


I recently purchased the 32 GB Patriot thumb drive and have been very happy with it. I work in video animation and web design and have found the drive to be very fast - even with large size file loads or loads with a large number of files. I've read some other complaints about the load speed of the drive but haven't noticed them myself. Perhaps the people complaining about the load speed weren't using a USB 2.0 port or they were simply being overly scientific about it.



Upon opening the drive from its packaging I inserted it into my USB drive right away and both my Vista machine and my Windows XP machine recognized it immediately. There was no formatting or configuration required. I'm not sure how it would react to a Mac.



My biggest concern with a drive like this is losing the cap. For example, if you put the drive on your keychain and stick it in your pocket the cap will eventually come off of the drive in your pocket, or while you take your keychain out of your pocket, or while the drive hangs from your vehicle's ignition. It's also common, at least for me, to forget where I put the caps. In consideration of a potential future lost cap I emailed the manufacturer's customer service department and asked them for extra caps and I received 2 additional caps about two weeks later free of charge. To me, that's customer service.



Overall the drive seems reasonably rugged. It's encased in rubber so I suspect that's what the manufacturer was going for. I'll modify this post if the drive ever craps out on me but for now I'm very satisfied with it - especially when compared to other thumb drives I've owned. Patriot Xporter XT Boost 32 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive PEF32GUSB

Bottom line: The Patriot Xporter XT Boost 16 GB is a good USB drive but far below the performance I expected. Its tests average slightly below a Class 8 flash drive or 50X.



I will update my review on the cap status in the future since most rubber caps loosen with age and this one is a pocket gripper. I may epoxy a little leash on it to the body.



Reading so many of these reviews does not help in purchase decisions. Frankly, they drive me nuts. "It was so fast!" "It was so much faster than my old drive!" "Some people are too scientific." "It booted immediately on my Windows... (version)/Mac [computer]." (Please do not take any of these comments as personal attacks on your reviews. I have been hammered in past professional writing to ensure I provide hard, substantive data for any statement I make.)



Can I please have objective data to assist in my purchase decision? The first thing I do is benchmark when I receive a flash drive or flash card. I have returned fakes, counterfeits, and below spec units. Formatting new drives appropriately upon receipt is a smart decision, since it removes any crapware from the manufacturer and any viruses a disgruntled employee could have placed. (Does anyone remember the WordPerfect employee who knew he was going to be fired back around 1990?) Although not a Mac user. I use flash drives for Windows Vista/7 and Linux OS purposes.



Flash "class" is based on write speed. I have included a conversion table toward the end of my review. I am sorry I forgot to specify sequential write testing for my benchmarks. To increase accuracy and reduce extraneous hardware reductions in test results, I do not use USB extension cables and clean format the flash for each test. Here are some hard data for you on the 16 GB Patriot XT Boost I received from Amazon:



Flash Drive/Card Tester 1.16.1

Patriot Memory, PMAP, PMAP 1234; 15271 MB

00:01:30.99 - -------------------------------- New test process started --------------------------------

00:01:31.03 - Started "Writing test data" for drive F: 15271MB, ", Patriot Memory, PMAP, PMAP1234", 512b

00:41:11.94 - Completed "Writing test data" for drive F: 15271MB, ", Patriot Memory, PMAP, PMAP1234", 512b

00:41:11.94 - Tested total 15271.999MB in 0:39:40 with 6.424MB/s (**Class 6**)

00:41:11.94 - Total write errors: Fatal=0, Recoverable=0

00:41:11.95 - Started "Reading and comparing data" for drive F: 15271MB, ", Patriot Memory, PMAP, PMAP1234", 512b

00:52:27.89 - Completed "Reading and comparing data" for drive F: 15271MB, ", Patriot Memory, PMAP, PMAP1234", 512b

00:52:27.91 - Tested total 15271.999MB in 0:11:15 with 22.608 MB/s

00:52:27.91 - Total errors: Read fatal=0, Read recoverable=0; Write fatal=0, Write recoverable=0; Comparsion=0



H2testw Results

Warning: Only 15255 of 15256 MByte tested.

Test finished without errors.

You can now delete the test files *.h2w or verify them again.

Writing speed: 8.01 MByte/s (**Class 8**)

Reading speed: 24.5 MByte/s

H2testw v1.4



Checkflash 1.16.1

Four sector errors in last block of flash, 2nd Pass: No errors (I did a second pass since the first showed physical errors and it could have been caused by factors outside of the flash, which it was.)

1 Cycle Test, 1:25:44 elapsed

Read: 26.92, 25.50 MB/s

Write: 8.15, 8.12 MB/s (**Class 8**)



Conversion Chart

Class 2 - 16Mbps - 2MBps - 13X

Class 4 - 32Mbps - 4MBps - 27X

Class 6 - 48Mbps - 6MBps - 40X

Class 8 - 64Mbps - 8MBps - 53X

Class 10 - 80Mbps - 10MBps - 67X



Thank you for reading my review. I hope it helps you. Please approve or disapprove so I know if I should continue writing and submitting results from this several hour process for future drive or card purchases.

I own a few of these, I find I need alot of portable space but I dont want to carry around an ext HDD. The drive is soooooo fast. Before this I owned a corsair voyager 16gb which was just way way too slow, this drive reminds me of my old lexar lightning. Well worth the price.

I bought this to help back up photos on trips. Works great. Relatively fast and was pleased with the transfer speed. I like the rubber housing.



Pros: Fast. Reliable. Small. Lightweight. Rubber housing semi-weather proof and feels fairly durable.



Cons: Only one small complaint. It would be nice if the cap was attached by a small rubber strip to keep the unit together as one piece. Otherwise you have to slide it on the back of the drive or set it aside which is easy to loose if you don't pay atttention. - 32gb - Usb Flash Drives - Patriot - Usb Flash Drive'


Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information


Nikon D5000 - d5000, digital camera


I bought a D5000 with the 18-55 VR lens from Amazon last Friday (Black Friday). I paid about $200 less than a friend who bought the same camera a few months ago. AND... It is NOT part of the recall! My biggest initial concern was getting caught up in the recall. I am very happy to say that Amazon seems to be beyond those serial numbers - at least with the kit (camera and 18-55 VR lens).



I'm upgrading from a D50 I bought 4 or more years ago. There are a number of reasons why I chose THIS camera. First, I like Nikon over other brands because they are easier to use/better menus for those of us who aren't experts. I also think that Nikon makes the best lenses. Even their cheapest kit lenses have great optics and take great pictures. Not all manufacturers can say that.



The second thing I want to address is this camera's lack of an internal motor to auto focus a lens. In other words, you need Nikon's AF-S lenses with this camera. (Note: almost all of Nikon's lenses work with this camera and auto focus.) I would only think it is a concern for someone who has really old lenses, a non-Nikon lens like Sigma or Tamron without an auto focus motor built-in, or possibly some specialty lens that won't auto focus on its own. For me, I have purchased 4 different lenses over the last 4-5 years. They all work just fine. While it is something to be aware of, I think most people who are looking at this camera will be fine too. The lack of an internal motor means the D5000 is slightly smaller and lighter than the next step up - cheaper too. This makes the D5000 easier to hang around your neck and carry around all day. This camera is not targeted at a pro, though it is very capable of taking pro pictures. Pros are more likely to opt for the D90 or above.



Third - My D50, the D40, D60, D70 and D80 are all Generation 1 cameras. (Actually the D40 & D60, may be called Generation 2, but are more Generation 1.5) Nikon's current lineup, the D3000, D5000, D90 and D300s, are all Generation 2 cameras. What the reviews say is that the Generation 2 cameras take better pictures. They see things more the way the human eye sees things. I am at that point where I am trying to learn more about photography and take better pictures. I did my research. The D3000 is a light camera that you can carry around all day without getting neck cramp. The problem with the D3000 for me was that all the reviews said how much noise (little purple dots that look like film grain) showed up in photos at the higher ISOs. The D90 is a great camera with numerous features that appeal to someone who has some idea what ISO and F stops mean and how they affect the quality of the photo. The D5000's problem, until recently, has been that it was too closely priced to the D90. There was just no reason not to take the extra step up to the D90. Now that Nikon and Amazon have dropped the price of the D5000, it is a much better value. The D90 with the same 18-55 VR lens is about $300 more expensive than the D5000 as of this writing. The D5000 uses the same sensor (and some other parts) as the much more expensive D90 and D300s. It is a newer camera than the D90. I would think, but don't have actual knowledge, that this would have a positive effect on some of the advanced features in the D5000. I say this because the software in the D5000 is newer. It does NOT have the noise problems of the D3000. If you cannot afford the D5000, I suggest you consider the D40 (while supplies last) over the D3000. The D40 takes better pictures and costs less.



Video - Do NOT buy a DSLR to shoot videos. NO DSLR from any manufacturer does this really well. The technology is too new. Video on a DSLR is a goof, something neat/fun to play with and not something to take too seriously. DSLRs are designed to take really good photographs. If you need good video, buy a camcorder!



In my opinion, the D5000 is THE camera for folks new to DSLRs who need something simple, but with great capabilities and those, like me, who want to take a step up in features/capabilities without having to spend over $900 dollars for the D90 and a lens. While Live View has its limitations, the articulating screen (it swivels - very cool feature) on the D5000 will make it easier for me to take those occasional hard to get photos.



I really think I made the right choice and got what I feel is a heck of a deal! I hope this information is useful to those of you who are still trying to decide which camera is best for you.



One last thought... Nikons seem to hold their value. I plan to sell my D50 - AND - there seems to be a market for it. Once I learn what ISO and F stops are (I have some idea, but am still learning.), I will likely sell my D5000 and buy whatever the next step up is. I think this is a great added value to buying a good name brand camera like Nikon. All the best...



**Update 1/3/10** Well, I've had a chance to shoot a few hundred photos with my new D5000. I did a direct comparison with about 150 photos between my old D50 and the new D5000. The output of my old D50 and the new D5000 are remarkably close. These side by side comparisons were shot with the same lens (Nikkor 16-85mm VR and Nikon NC filter), the built in flash and the Nikon SB 800 flash. I took some shots in "Auto" and many shots in "P". I used every ISO and color controll the D5000 had and tried to tweak them up and down (sharpness, saturation and hue). I've decided to return the D5000, and then decided to keep it, and here's why.



The added megapixels of the D5000 seem to have very little effect in the amount of detail in the photos as compared to my D50. The D50 has a 6 megapixel sensor. (I DID tweak the settings of my D50 to get better output. I will tweak the settings of the D5000 too.) And, the D50 seemed to have a slightly more reliable/consistent meter when shooting in auto white balance. All this really surprised me. I guess I was expecting more of a difference between the two cameras. The D50 probably has one of the most accurate meters in any Nikon digital camera - better than the D40 and D60. In the thousands of photos I took over 4-5 years, it got the white balance spot on every time.



In defense of the D5000, it does have features far beyond those of the D50. It is these features that have made me decide to keep the D5000. The software in the D5000 allows you to adjust many more aspects of how the camera operates and takes pictures than what my D50 had. This allowed me to tweak any settings that I was not completely happy with. It also has numerous preset scene modes for those who want to treat the D5000 more as a really good point and shoot. I guess this camera gives the user enough features where even prosumers could be happy with the creative flexibility the controls give.



The D5000 has a number of other advantages over the D50. The first is a time saver for me. Its auto distortion controll seems to handle lens distortion "in camera" when the pictures are taken. Having the camera address lens distortion saves me from having to fix it after the photos are taken. I shoot quite a bit with a 12-24mm lens that tends to twist things some. I also took several test photos of a very square surface with a 70-300mm lens at different focal lengths. You could see the lens distortion through the view finder. Big bonus... The auto distortion control really seems to work! Additional features include much better low light performance (The D50 and many other cameras will never touch the D5000's low light performance.), ADR (it will capture detail inside shadows rather than just turning the shadow black.), a larger-articulating screen that is much easier to see and read (the D5000 displays the camera settings on the rear screen instead of an LCD on top of the camera.), live view (I recommend using this only for those hard to get photos when you just can't use the view finder. It can take 3 to 8 seconds to focus in live view.) auto focus with 3D tracking for photographing subjects that are moving, and a smaller and lighter form factor than the D50.



The bottom line for me was that my old D50 took really good photos in good conditions. The D5000 takes only slightly better pictures than my D50 in good conditions. In less than perfect conditions, the D5000 seems to take much better photos than my D50. If you're upgrading like me and none of these added features mean anything to you, keep your current camera. Otherwise, while not completely perfect, the D5000 can be a good upgrade or a very capable first dslr that is easy to use AND will give you the room and controls to expand your skills and your creativity as you learn.



I did play with a variety of settings in my new D5000. The "One Change" that seemed to make the biggest improvement in the quality of the photos was to adjust the sharpness settings in the Picture Controls menu. I have turned the sharpness settings way up over the factory defaults. The factory settings ranged from 2 to 4 (on a scale of 1 to 9). I greatly prefer setting the sharpness more in the 5 to 8 range. You can adjust the sharpness for the different modes - 5 for images you want to be softer like portraits, and 6, 7 or 8 for everything else. If you shoot in "auto mode", these changes won't work. You will need to move to "P" or some other setting to take advantage of this. If you try it, I think you will be pleased at how much sharper and how much more detail you get in your photos over the factory settings.



The information I share comes in part from personal experience and in part from reading reviews and information all over the web - not because I'm some pro photographer. For anyone who cares to read more, I recommend checking out Ken Rockwell. You can Google him. He rates ALL of these cameras and provides useful information like tips on how to setup your D5000 once you buy it. Note: The guide to setting up the D5000 is burried in the site. If you click the "Nikon" link, then go down to "Plain English User Guides", you will find it. His guide to setting the camera up is separate from the review of the D5000 on his site. If you follow his suggestions when adjusting the saturation levels (color), you should know that you CAN really get some wild colors - colors that are not natural. I didn't get this the first time and got some really crazy output from the camera. I decided to leave most of the color settings set at the factory defaults. I saved two custom settings with the saturation level turned up one notch for pictures taken outside and in good sunlight. If you screw up the settings on the camera, it is easy to restore the factory default settings. So, don't be affraid to try different things. Ken recommends setting the sharpness settings to 5. As I said before, I prefer to go even sharper and use settings that range from 5 to 8. Ken's only beef with the D5000 was that Nikon started with it too closely priced to the D90. The D5000 shares the same sensor and A LOT of other parts from the more expensive D90. This makes the D5000 a fantastic camera and a great value at its current price point. Amazon lists the link to the DPReview review on the D5000 page or you can Google it. People may want to read the DPReview of the D5000 before reading Ken Rockwells Guide to setting up the D5000. DPReview tells you whats wrong with the factory default settings on the D5000. Ken Rockwell tells you how to adjust the factory settings to get even better photos! I know I'm rambling a bit here. I'm going to so much effort here only because the reviews on Amazon have provided me so much helpful information in the past. I am just trying to give something back. Oh, I DID sell my D50 for $350! I was very happy to get this kind of money for a camera that was 4 or 5 years old. All the best...**End of Update** Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens and 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD - Digital Slr - Nikon - Digital Camera - D5000'


Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information