Wednesday 31 March 2010

Replacement Battery


This charger is really cheap and works with my DV4 series laptop. It charges the battery and does everything a normal charger should do for a fraction of the price compared to the chargers available at retail stores. It also does have a light on it to tell you if it is on. However, it does have some major drawbacks. One, the cord is a bit shorter than the original. Not a big deal, but it is annoying sometimes. Two, when I plug this charger into my laptop, I can hear a high pitched noise emanating from my computer; this is certainly not the case with my other original HP charger. When I plug any of my monitors into my laptop with the new charger in, the screen becomes shaky and unstable, like it is receiving interference. When I use my regular HP charger, the problem goes away. Thus, this leads me to believe that there is a problem with the way the chargers are manufactured.



Even though the price was really good, it makes me hesitant to use this charger because I am afraid that it might destroy my laptop in the long run. I would say this is a good charger to use only when no other options are available. If I knew this information when I bought the charger, I wouldn't have bought it. New Replacement AC Adapter Laptop Charger for HP Pavilion DV4 DV5 Series; HP G50 G60 Series

I was skeptical with this being $15 cheaper than others but it works fine. I got a second one for work. Now I have one for work and home offices that I don't have to unplug. I keep the original in my laptop case for the road.



Only thing to be aware of is the cord is slightly shorter than original. It is not too short by any means but it is shorter by a foot or so. So if you need this for a lengthy reach then make sure you get an extension cord or buy something else.



Hope this helps!

Perfect condition, good packaging.

Not a whole lot to say, the charger came new.. you can't beat that for this price.

I prefer it to my original adapter as the one MoonTech shipped me had an LED display for when the charger was plugged in..

Thank you, good buy if you need a replacement.

I got this adapter as a replacement for my sons laptop 3 months ago. A few days ago it started making noise and overheated and melted! Good thing we were home, it would have burned the house down. This is a piece of junk. STAY AWAY!

THIS ADAPTER CAUSED MY LAPTOP TO SHORT CIRCUIT AND CATCH FIRE!



Just because an adapter is listed to be compatible with your laptop DOES NOT MEAN IT IS! I'm not an expert and cannot properly explain it, but a technologically capable friend of mine told me that the voltage of this adapter wasn't the same as my old adapter, and the difference caused my computer to short circuit and go up in smoke. And because this happened with a replacement adapter and not the original given to me by HP, my warranty doesn't mean a damn thing. So please check to make sure the voltage is the same, I'd hate for someone to go through what I just went through!



GO WITH THE SURE THING! I really wish I would have spent the money on one approved by HP! I TRIED TO SAVE FORTY BUCKS AND NOW I HAVE TO COME UP WITH 700 FOR A NEW COMPUTER! I AM SO FULL OF RAGE.

What I paid for, and expected, was a charger that would perform up to industry standard and last AT LEAST six months. That didn't happen.





The product is horrible. Charged the laptop just fine(although it did overheat) for the first two weeks, developed a short in the next week, stopped charging completely within a month. Even the housing around the innards was poor, the cords couldn't stand up to BASIC wear and tear. Do yourself a favor, and just spring for the expensive HP replacement.

i bought this charger amazed at the price and when i received it, it worked great for around the first month but then it stopped fully charging my laptop and now doesnt even work!! then i contacted the seller and they havent answered me so i dont know what to do because i have a 12 month warrenty and i cant use it because the seller will not contact me back!!!! i am sooooo dissappointed with this product and strongly suggest you DO NOT BUY IT!!

I purchased this product because it was cheap and I didn't do much research on AC adapters. Next time, I will be more conscious about what I purchase. Not only was I shocked every time I plugged in the cord, the cord would generate an excessive amount of heat. After only a few uses, my computer started running slower, and now over-heats. Upon further inspection by an expert, I found out the plug was not properly grounded (despite having a 3rd prong), and the amperage it was outputting was much higher than it claimed... thereby melting my computer. Awesome right?



Anyway, I have since returned this cord, and have purchased a much better one. In my opinion this AC adapter is a waste of time and money. For the safety of your outlets and your computer buy something else.

I ordered this replacement charger in October and it worked fine until last week. The charger began getting very hot and eventually stopped working. I actually watched it as it sizzled and made a spark. Now it doesn't work at all. I'm just thankful that it didn't harm my laptop or worse, burn my house down.



The price is low for this charger, but the risk is not worth it.'


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Replacement Battery Replacement Battery Replacement Battery

Comfortable - sennheiser, audio


This product is one of the best bang for the buck items I have ever owned. They may end up costing me a bundle, however.



The HD201 came to my attention after reading a little debate on headphones on a bulletin board I frequent. Someone recommended the HD201s as being phenomenal for the money.



I'm not an audiophile, but I do enjoy music and computer games where sound is important, so I thought I'd give them a try. The only other "cans" I've used have been the cheapos that come with portable CD players and a pair of Coby CV-200s that I bought seeking something cheap that would be better than the poor quality phones I have had in the past. The Coby units were a minor improvement, but bass rumbled like crazy.



Enter the HD201s. These closed phones (they cover the ear with a foam pad instead of sitting on top of them) have a padded plastic headband, a long 10' cord that terminates in a mini jack (it comes with a 1/4" adapter). The earpieces have some swivel to them, and they fit my rather large head and ears just fine. Comfort level was as good as any headphone I was used to. I plugged them in to my computer (with a decidedly basic 5.1 soundcard) and began to listen.



The sound is jaw-dropping if you are used to the garbage that ships with portable music devices. I popped in some CDs, from classical to metal, and the lack of rumble in the bass and the clear highs were a treat. Remember, I'm no audiophile (yet) but even to my tin and uneducated ear, the difference was easy to hear. Violins in "Adagio for Strings" were strong and clear, gone was the low rumble in the deep bass of Zep, and I even began to truly note the shortcomings of the audio in some MP3 and "oldies" recordings. Sound in games was great, and I caught some nuances in first person shooters that improved my play.



I was now aware of the shortcomings of all the other cheapo headphones I had used, including the Coby unit, that until now I had considered "good enough". They just flat out sound better across the full range of sound, from low to high.



I was a bit surprised that I could max out the volume on my computer without making the HD201s too painful...perhaps they are designed with more power in mind than my system delivers. My portable CD player drives them to about the same volume levels, loud, but not ear shattering. They might not satisfy those looking for super booming bass or earsplitting volume, but perhaps an amplifier might change this.



I can't give your an expert review of the HD201s, nor translate what the tech specs on the box mean. I can tell you that for the price, I am deeply impressed with the quality of sound. I would be impressed if they cost a few times as much.



A true bargain, but I worry that this might be the launching point in to a world of audio gear that I can scarce afford. If these things sound this good, perhaps I really need headphones made by Grado or the high end Sennhieser stuff, a new soundcard, probably an amp, and about the system in the living room..... Sennheiser HD201 Lightweight Over-Ear Binaural Headphones

In summary this headphone has one general strength:

1) Decent sounding depending on your tastes and needs, given the price, and given the kind of sound you get from most other closed headphones of similar price.



However, the Sennheiser HD201 has 4 important weaknesses:

1) Has very low sensitivity: it takes a lot of volume/power to bring them to satisfactory or normal loudness levels.

2) It's a bit bright, bass is slightly lacking, making them sound slightly thin or "weak".

3) Has a tendency to be SSSSSSSibilant with some female vocals.

4) For a closed headphone, doesn't isolate that much.



Weakness #1 is critical if you are considering these headphones for listening to music from your laptop or portable players. If that's the case, it's very likely you won't be happy with the sound even at max volume. These headphones are REALLY hard to bring up to normal loudness levels. If you will use them with the headphone out of a receiver, or maybe with an electric piano (as I am), then you are probably ok.



Weakness #2 is very important if you are what's called a "bass-head". These headphones won't give you slamming rich bass. Bass is (slightly) on the weak side.



Weakness #3 is critical if you listen to a lot of female vocals, and you find it particularly annoying when your playback system enhances the letter "S" as in SSSSSSSay, SSSSSSilver, SSSSSSpoon, preCCCCCiSSSSSe, etc.



Weakness #4 is important if you are expecting these headphones to block all noises around you, you might be slightly dissapointed, it does block a bit but not too much.





If you don't care about isolation I would highly recommend the Koss KSC-75 instead of these Sennheisers. If you do want a closed headphone (either you want some isolation from outside noise, or you don't want to bother anyone around you with your music), and are willing to spend a little more, you should consider the Sennheiser HD280 or maybe the Audio Technica AT500.



The above sounds like a massive critique, and I'm giving it 3 stars because really for music these are not that great sounding headphones to me. However, these headphones sound relatively OK compared to how boomy or treble-happy are most other cheap headphones, whether open or closed. Compared to that trend, these are relatively decent. Yet, compared to other very inexpensive headphones known for surprisingly good sound (e.g. Koss KSC-75) these are not that great really.



PS. Another suggestion in general, if you are looking for any headphone related information you must check www.Head-fi.org, it's really the place online for anything headphone-related. - Best Value - Audio - Sennheiser - Comfortable'


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Highly Recommended - full synthetic, bmw


Mobil 1 0w40 has always been one of the premier products from Mobil 1. Mobil 1 0w40 is not "just," a another viscosity. Mobil 1 0w40 European Car Formula is actually different from other viscosities of Mobil 1 in more ways than just its weight.



I often will run oil analysis on oil that comes from my cars, or even on a new bottle of oil, just to see its composition.



Mobil 1 0w40 has more additives in it than say one of the more common viscosities like 5w30.



The reason being is that this 0w40 product is recommended or approved by many European manufacturers who have stringent standards. Indeed, some of these manufacturers do not only require specific performance requirements for this oil, but will actually specify where the additives packages must be purchased from. Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and BMW are just some of the manufacturers who have approvals on this oil.



Furthermore, all AMG vehicles and Porsches come from the factory with this very 0w40 Mobil 1. It is even used in some racing vehicles around the world.



Mobil 1 does not just meet specifications, but tends to exceed those specs.



Some might argue that Mobil 1 has changed its formula a lot over the years. However, one thing is clear. Mobil 1 0w40 is a quality product, approved by some of the most stringent manufacturer specifications, and it is the same formula found around the world.



Amazon has great opportunities to have this oil delivered to your door. There are often rebates available on the product.



It's a proven product. Recommended. Mobil 1 96989 Synthetic 0W-40 Motor Oil - 1 Quart, Pack of 6

This and a specific German made variant of Castrol are the only oils I use in my VW, due to strict requirements listed by the manufacturer.



Unfortunately, due to where I live, I often have a hard time finding oils that meet the VW 502 requirements locally. The auto stores nearby price out six quarts of Mobil 1 for a few pennies cheaper, but it is always hit or miss as to whether they actually have any available or on order.



Amazon delivers this rather fast. Great for those months when it could be weeks before I could see the product locally.

My last two cars have been a VW Jetta 1.8T and an Audi A4 1.8T. These engines get amazing gas mileage when paired up with a manual transmission. My Jetta Wagon got 36 MPG Highway and 30 MPG combined. My A4Q Avant gets 29MPG combined and even gets 28+ highway with two bikes on the roof (these mileage figures are calculated and not from the computer). You gotta have the right 0W oil to get the most gas mileage. My friend has been a service manager at several dealerships and he uses Castol in his 1.8T. I have been a Castrol fan for years, but when I checked last they still did not have anything that meets the VW 502.00 rating that this engine requires. I do not want to take any chances with the turbo, so I am sticking with Mobil 1. I have been using this oil since 2006 and change it every 3,000 to 4,000 miles. It is difficult to find in Spokane and I have to drive to Hayden, Idaho to buy it. I find it on sale at O'Reilly sometimes for $4.99 per quart (limit 24). It's good to see that Amazon has it. It will save me the trip.



The previous reviewer is right about oil change intervals. The "recommended" intervals have gotten longer because of consumer reviews that rate maintenance costs. The easiest way to improve your score is to reduce the number of oil changes. If you ask any good service manager or mechanic they will tell you to change it every 3,000 miles.



I use the Mahle Oil Filter from Amazon (Item number: W0133-1638280-MAH) Mahle Oil Filter. The Amazon ad says that Audi recommends this filter. I trust Amazon and the filter is German made and much larger than the filter my dealership sells me.

I picked this oil for my car because it's a true synthetic oil (PAO-based) not the fake synthetics like other 0W-40 oils. In the US, the definition of synthetic is more lax and cheaper quality oils are allowed to be labeled synthetic even though they wouldn't qualify as such in Europe (hence the need to differentiate it as European car formula). If you have a high performance engine (Audi, BMW, etc...) then this is what you want. If you don't have one (e.g. Camry) then you don't necessarily need this.



The two numbers in the rating, 0W-40, are the viscosity at low and high temps. You basically want low viscosity at low temps when you start the engine to get lubrication flowing quickly and high viscosity at normal engine operating temperature to reduce engine wear. Standard petroleum-based oil does not have such a dynamic viscosity range, so oil manufacturers have created synthetic oils to do this. But many of them have been using petroleum-based oil combined with lots of additives to achieve this dynamic range and labeling it synthetic (because it is cheaper than a pure synthetic). These are known as Group III based oils. The problem is that there is the risk of the additives breaking down under high stress, leaving you with oil that only performs at the lower rating (i.e. 0 in this case!). This can lead to sludging. So what you want is a Group IV based oil, a.k.a. PAO-based (Poly-Alpha-Olefin), which means it is truly synthetic and does not need additives, and has no risk of breaking down. And it lasts longer, from 3000-15000 miles according to their website but I change mine every 5K-7.5K (check with your car manufacturer for what they recommend).

I must say that this was the fastest 'standard' delivery of a product I have ever experienced. It was at my door in two days after ordering. Thanks Amazon. I have used Mobil 1 synthetic in my cars and motorcycles for years and it has always performed well. It took some getting used to not changing my oil every 3k miles as in the 'old days' with the dino oil. Being assured I can run it longer in my vehicles AND wanting the extra value due to the high cost of Mobil 1 I started changing it out about every 7-10k miles. That has worked for me over the years and I never noticed any additional wear or oil burning. I use 15W-50 in my Valkyrie MC, just started using 0W-30 (was using 5W-30) in the Mitsubishi Lancer, and 0W-40 European grade in the Mercedes SLK 320. I just hope Mobil 1 stays with a fully synthetic base unlike some others that use a mixture of mineral oil and synthetic and legally call it 'fully synthetic' as I'm learning more about this practice.... - Bmw - Full Synthetic - Oil - Lubricants'


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Best Value - good price, outdoor speakers


Overall, I'm very happy with this speaker system...I ordered 3 pairs of them, in fact, so I could have sound on all three levels of my townhome, and the system seems to work very well through the floors...no drop of signal or distortion noticed. They are attractively styled, they offer a lot of versatility for indoor or outdoor use, and the sound quality is quite good, even the bass. The remote magnetically sticks into the front recess of either unit, the handle makes them extremely portable, and the mood lighting is a nice touch. Very nice. Audio Unlimited really does a lot of wireless speakers, so no doubt they will add more products to their 2.4GHz range of speakers, all of which will work together seamlessly. (Personally, I'm waiting for a 2.4 GHz shower radio, since they already have one in the 900MHz range.)



The transmitter has two inputs: an RCA connection (to headphone jacks and the like) and paired red/white RCA phono jacks (to/from most stereo sources). Right now I'm using a wireless Logitech Squeezebox Touch as the music input, so I've got wireless connetivity to the source of music (my computer and/or internet radio), as well as wireless connectivity to the speakers...AWESOME combo.



It does have a few idiosyncracies which you should DEFINITELY know ahead of time:



1) The units shut themselves off after a few minutes of inactivity. At the loss of a signal, the units immediately go to sleep (signified by a green power LED), and then they shut down completely. This is very desireable power saver in a battery operated device, of course...but not needed so much when you use the wall adapters. Think about it: you want to wake up to a music alarm or you want to press one power button and hear music music booming from all over your house, and you can't, because you have to go over and PHYSICALLY turn on each individual unit everytime you want to listen to them. To me, this is a step BACKWARD and a major design flaw; do you have to go and turn on each and every individual one of your wired speakers everytime you want to listen to music? NO. Anyway, unless you keep providing some kind of signal input, the units will auto shut off. Exacerbating the situation is that the power buttons require a three second press before they turn on, so you can't just quickly tap them all on; NOOoo, you have to wait at each one.



2) So, you ask, "What about the power button on the remote?" Well, the remote will not turn the unit on.(!) What the "power" button does is wake the unit up from sleep, or puts it to sleep...but it cannot turn on the unit after it has auto shut-off. So, like I said...get used to holding down power buttons with these units...



3) The speaker units operate individually. That is to say, the remote does not interface with the transmitter unit, it interfaces with the speaker units, and only the closest one. If you have them close together, you might be able to catch them both, otherwise you have to point the remote at one, and then the other. This is actualy a benefit if you use them individually in mono mode (say, one in the kitchen and the other in a downstairs living room), but if you have them paired into left and right channels, it can be a little difficult to tell if you really have them at the same volume level.



I would recommend these speakers to those who really want wireless, multiple room sound AND who like to move their speakers around more than most people (say, outside for a BBQ, or to a party, or to supplement your home stereo speakers for an awesome movie experience, etc). I'd also recommend them to someone who will only use them as supplemental speakers for a traditional audio source. If you just want multiple room sound and don't imagine moving your speakers ever, I'd probably recommend something wired, or that only has wireless satellite speakers. Or just something ELSE wireless that doesn't require as much hands-on time. My point here is you probably want to turn on your source and hear something immediately rather than running laps around your house tagging speakers.



Overall, it's a great product with an 'Achilles heel'...you probably won't find a better combo of sound, portability, and value in a wireless speaker system anywhere else. I'd say its worth the bux, but just go into the purchase knowing that to Audio Unlimited, "wireless" means more work, not less. Audio Unlimited SPK-24GX-DUO 2.4 GHz Wireless Indoor/Outdoor Stereo Speaker System with Remote and Dual Power Transmitter (2 Pack, Black)

Purchased a pair of these (before they came in pairs) in early 2009 after having other wireless speaker systems. I've used them for 18 months and am still delighted. Battery life good (6 D cells each), but comes with adapters and works well with either. Sound is really good for relatively small, wireless speakers, especially if bass is important. I use with mp3 thru an RCA cable purchased at a local Radio Shack and get good response when mp3 is turned up to high volumes. I also use as a wireless speaker for my home stereo system with great results. The only problem is the range is not quite as good as advertised. It does cut out when the range is too much, but that's immensely better than the static produced by other types of wireless. Does a good job of going through interior and exterior walls. Relatively heavy to lug around, but that makes it more stable and less likely to get knocked over. Includes a light to make it more visible in low light, if turned on. Remote is convenient and is stored with a magnet right on the unit. I could not have designed a better product for this use.

Everything was great until I tried to use my iPhone wifi. As soon as I connected to transmitter I lost my wifi connection.



Very disappointing as that is why I purchased these speakers to play my xm radio through my iPhone



Works great with my playlist but will not work with wifi - Best Value - Wireless Speakers - Outdoor Speakers - Good Price'


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Blackberry 9630 - unlocked blackberry, blackberry tour


As other reviewers say, this is not truly as pictured, as it is a Verizon phone. That said, it works pretty well -- with one major exception: where I am (in Tanzania) the data portion is not unlocked. The handset will not enable data access at all. The cel phone company rep here (Airtel)told me they have had this problem with many Verizon BBerries, and despite their request, RIM has not come back with a solution for unlocking the phones for data.



And now Amazon won't let me return it as the 30 days are up. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. This is the first time I am very unhappy with my Amazon purchase. Blackberry Tour 9630 Unlocked GSM Cell Phone (Black)

So I upgraded from the Curve 8320 after about 3 and a half years of using it. I expected this phone to have at least everything the Curve had and hopefully a few new things. After about 2 weeks I received the package (UPS's fault though). It's sleek, modern and flashy looking (if that matters).



The texting conversations are collapsed which makes it a lot easier to see your previous messages to a person. Not so much scrolling through the entire inbox. Also, the keyboard is a lot smoother than the Curve one I was used to (in a good way).



Although it's unlocked (supposedly) I still think it's fairly neat that there's a sim card option which it has in the back. I haven't used it yet but the phone says sprint and I'm using T-Mobile, coolness. Also, you can add a sim card/media card without have to take the battery out. THANK GOODNESS, you're not stuck waiting for the infamous long startup time of Blackberries.



The charger was obviously an after market item and didn't charge at all. I'm stuck using the micro usb to the computer.



No Wi-Fi. I thought newer phones were supposed to be better! While I don't use it as often as I used to (now I have a data plan) it's still nice to not have to use my data. Which brings me to my next point,



There's no web browser. I'm essentially paying for the data I can't use. GREAT.

Also, I can't send or receive picture messages. Uh....I thought it was an upgrade? D:



Like many others said, voice quality wasn't up to par and the speaker seems to be fairly quiet. Either that or I'm fairly loud.



Overall the phone is better organized (in the programming) but lacks so many things I got used to in my OLD phone. While it does essentially "Get the job done," it's not why people buy Blackberrys. I'm pretty sure I'm going to return it even if it is flashy (looking) and I could use it in Mexico (or something).

I am extremely glad I bought this phone and happy I bought it from Blueteka USA. It came on time, as described and although refurbished it is working perfectly. I also purchased it unlocked and am now using it in the UK with no problems whatsoever. Prior to purchasing the phone I was hesitant for a variety of reasons namely its refurbished nature and the fact that if I had any problems my rights to redress were severely limited as was not (and still am not) a US resident. These fears are all unfounded, I love the phone! I did a lot of research before I bought it and it had a lot of great reviews, the only problem was/ is the lack of wifi. Well although wifi is useful I've not really had much occasion to use it as I find my network providers internet easier. Well if there's only one thing you get from this review, please let it be that this phone is an awesome buy!

Well just like other customers, I was very skeptical in purchasing a cell phone off of the internet, especially a refurbished one.

APPEARANCE:

GOOD- New condition, no scratches, good packaging.

BAD- Bite marks on the charger.

FEATURES:This phone was definitely used since it had messages and the active phone number of the previous user was still there.

(NOTE- up to this date i cant change it)

At times i'm unable to make phone calls (this lasts for about an hour only)

Other features are pretty much decent and usable.

DELIVERY- I paid for 2nd day shipping and it took an extra 2 weeks to arrive.

OVERALL SATISFACTION- This phone is very usable, addictive and has a very classy look. Despite the few downsides i listed, I guess i could recommend it but be very careful.

Hope my review helped.

In the coming months i shall update my review and let you all know if its still working in optimum condition still.

I absolutely adore this phone. I received my device in a timely manner, which was three days before the estimated arrival date.I bought mine refurbished which is practically new. No glitches so far but i guess thats the wonder of refurbished items...they've been repaired. I had one issue that the seller fixed right away the charger sent with my phone was incompatible. But they are sending me a new one free!!I was very pleased with the seller they answered all of my questions within the day I sent them. I will be ordering again from them again soon. CHIAO!! - Blackberry Tour - Unlocked Blackberry'


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Samsung - 120hz, hdtv


So far, this TV ROCKS! I bought from Amazon because the price was fantastic, shipping was free, no tax, and I used gift certificates from a certain grocery store, which gave me $ off at the gas pump. All of this was, of course, after selecting Samsung and this specific model, and then shopping around for price. I knew I wanted a 46" LCD for my living room, so I started looking. At 1st, I was gonna get the Toshiba 46G300U for $650 during Black Friday at Shmears, but after visiting many stores, I was drawn to Samsung's picture clarity. Just amazing! A store I liked a lot was HHShmeggs because they had so many to choose from and the store lighting in the TV section was closest to my actual living room.



So, I ordered from Amazon and a few days later, there were 2 delivery guys at my front door. The TV got to me before some things that I ordered days earlier! They brought Bessie in and were somewhat conscious of my carpet by asking if I had something to set the box on (never mind that they were wearing their shoes, but I digress). I grabbed an old blanket and they set her down. They asked if they can open it to check the screen and I said yes. They slid it out carefully and set it down. We all looked over the screen with a flashlight. Everything looked good. I had them place it back in the box to allow it to get to room temp before setting it up. They had me sign that it was in good physical shape, but they listed that I didn't power up the TV because it was cold. They left and I smiled at my new television.



While waiting for Bessie to get to room temp, I assembled the stand with 4 provided screws and read over the manual. Turns out this TV has a LAN port, which I did not see in any spec listing for this TV. This is nice because you can check for firmware/software upgrades over the Internet. My new U-Verse cable receiver has a LAN jack, so I have an ethernet cable between it and the TV. I checked for upgrades, but did not find any. The TV has software from October, so I wasn't surprised that no upgrades were available.



The TV's Menu system is pretty good. I haven't had much trouble finding any settings I was looking for. There's also a button labeled Tools, which gives you quick access to a few settings you may use more frequently. The remote itself is nice. It has a backlight button to see better in low light, which is always a plus. I would like if I could label my inputs with custom labels. For instance, I have a media player and the closest label they have is PVR STB. If I could just label it Media Player, the Mrs and the kids would have an easier time selecting the correct input. I would also like to hide inputs that are not used. That would make flipping through them much quicker.



Some have said that they do not like Samsung's Motion Plus feature because it makes movies look like fake soap operas. This is true for some of the Motion Plus modes, like Standard, but there's one called Clear, which looked just fine. As far as the Standard mode, it does have it's place. I found that it makes animated movies like Toy Story, Monsters Inc, Kung Fu Panda, etc look almost 3D. My toddler absolutely loves the effect! I set his animated movies to Dynamic color and Standard motion plus for an awesome looking picture. Samsung's color is just amazing! Dynamic color mode is very bright, but for movies like The Matrix, I use Movie Mode to see more detail in darker scenes.



One catch is keeping the TV clean. This thing is a dust magnet in my house. They do provide a special cleaning cloth where you just use water, but I think I will be using it very often. I think I may pick up a swiffer duster for dusting the set and just use the cloth when there is more build up.



The TV did not come with a safety strap to tether it to my wooden stand, but since it sits so far back on my stand, I don't think my toddler will try to reach it. I'll have a close eye on him just in case. He knows that touching Bessie is off limits, but you know how toddlers can be...



Well, that's it for now. I'll update if I think of anything else... Samsung LN46C600 46-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV (Black)

Well I was a little hesitant at first purchasing a product in this day and age when reviews can make or break a product. Having read only one review being that it was fairly new to market made me feel un-easy about making this purchase. But then again its a Samsung LCD and not just some run of the mill product. What was I looking for in an LCD? Nothing special, just the best features and quality that I can get for the money. So not being an expert (who is?) I just compared must have features on top of the line LCD units and made sure they were included in this Samsung LN46C600 flat panel set. To my surprise just about every feature was included and some. Same top of the line features as the much higher priced units. The picture quality was amazing and I'm glad that I stuck to my guns with my wife and got the unit that had 120 Hz verses 60 Hz. You really do see a difference in the picture (motion blur) when seeing action shots on an LCD. This unit has a feature called auto motion plus which kicks in and smooths out the action. I have no idea how it works but it does and having a very critical eye for picture quality I was impressed. One thing you might want to consider is the kind of wall mount that you choose. I always went for a tilt wall mount. Stuck in a fixed position. Not this time. I wanted to make sure that I could see this unit from almost any angle in my living room. So I opted for an articulating full motion wall mount. I checked into these types of mounts and could not believe how expensive they were, $300 plus. I was ready to throw up my hands on this idea when I ran accross a mount made by a company called Cheetah on Amazon. They have mounts that hold up to 165 lbs. and cost only $79 bucs. So now I'm a happy camper. Listen we can sit here and rave about this LCD and at the end of the day your going to have to decide what works for you. But you will be very satisfied with this purchase. The price is right and like I said the feature set and picture quality just can't be beat. Enjoy!!! - 120hz - Samsung - 46 Inch - Hdtv'


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Earphone - iem, in-ear


Prelude





Before late February, I didn't know anything about MEElectronics. When I finally heard about the company and purchased my M9Ps, I realized that they were a company that I should keep my eye on. In the time since, I've had the chance to review their lower end IEM models, the SX-31 and M2s and I've been impressed by the both of them, in different ways. Now, I'm here with a review of the first generation M6 models, one of MEElectronics' higher end IEMs. These apparently share the same drivers as the M9s and M9Ps and if that's true, then I should be in for a pleasant experience. So, did the M6 IEMs live up to my expectations? Read on to find out.





Packaging and Accessories





The first generation M6s ship in a black paper box that shows off the IEMs themselves through a transparent plastic window on the front. In terms of accessories, the M6s include an accessory pack that's incredibly similar to that shipped with the M9Ps, which is a very good thing. Inside the box, you'll find a clamshell hard case, three pairs of silicone single flange eartips, a pair of generic black foam tips (similar to Shure "olives"), an airplane adapter and a cable winder.







Design and Build Quality





The M6s are made of plastic that feels rather durable. The cable is somewhat thick and rubbery feeling but doesn't feel as though it would cause problems if not abused routinely. Inside the cable that leads out of the earpieces, there is a built in memory wire which helps route the cable over one's ears and stay in place once the earpieces have been inserted. I've heard complaints that the wire is too stiff but it was relatively soft and pliable in my experience. The cable terminates in a heat-shrink covered gold-plated straight plug and doesn't inspire confidence because of its lack of a proper strain relief.





It's worth noting that the newer and more expensive M6s are equipped with a much better cable that features a properly relieved L-plug.





Comfort and Fit





Getting these fitted can be a bit of a pain sometimes because of their over the ear design and the memory wire that's embedded within the cable near the earpieces themselves. The memory wire is soft and pliable but because of it being there, these aren't well suited to situations in which you'll constantly be taking them out of your ears. Once they are in your ears, they disappear. Using the included foam tips or Sony hybrids, I was able to get an effortless and comfortable seal. The earpieces sit flush with your ears and I found that it was easy to lie down on my side with my head against a pillow without sacrificing comfort. These are easily some of the most comfortable IEMs I've used. Isolation is rather decent as well with the right eartips but it's nothing spectacular.





Sound Quality





Burn in: As per my usual, these IEMs were given 25+ hours of burn in prior to review.





Once again, MEElectronics has managed to impress me and even straight out of the box, I was enjoying the M6s. I will say that they sounded a bit hollow straight out of the box but after burning in for a few hours, it filled in nicely. In terms of bass, the low end is smooth, detailed and refined. That's a lot of adjectives but they all apply in some way, some more so than others. It's certainly a highlight of the presentation with more than enough boom and punch to make Hip-Hop and Electronic music stand out. That's not to say the bass is boomy, far from it. Bass is well controlled and doesn't overwhelm the rest of sound signature and rarely creeps up on the lower mids. The low end lacks the speed and extension of my RE0s but is certainly better in terms of quantity.





Mids are smooth and full sounding, if recessed slightly. The detail and clarity in the midrange is impressive for the price with full bodied and natural vocals and a nice sense of space and airiness. Treble is slightly emphasized as well, like the bass, and treble extension and detail are both quite good for IEMs in this price range. It's worth noting as well that these boast marginally smoother and better refined highs than the M9s but slight harshness and sibilance can be heard on some higher notes.





The sound signature is warm, full, and smooth with a very nice and dynamic tonal balance throughout the sonic spectrum. The soundstage is nearly as large as that of the M9s but not quite as airy and positioning and separation are both very good for the price. These work incredibly well with a wide range of genres, including the aforementioned Hip-Hop and Electronic and also Jazz, Classical and Alternative/Rock. While these can't match my RE0s in terms of overall quality, transparency and clarity, especially when it comes to the quality of the treble and neutrality, the M6s are very impressive in their own right, especially when you consider how inexpensive they are.





Value and Conclusion





The maroon versions of the M6s are available for $30 on MEElectronics' website. The current generation model retails for $50 on the website but can be found for approximately $40 on websites such as Amazon and Overstock. At $30 for the first generation M6s, they are an absolute steal and you wouldn't be remiss in buying the more expensive versions for the improvements to the build quality either. Despite apparently sharing the same drivers as the M9s, they are definitely superior in every way besides airiness. The M6s deliver one of the most entertaining sound signatures I've heard in a while and are easily the most competent performers that I've heard in the sub $50 price range and even outside of that range, these perform well enough to be worth a look. MEElectronics M6-BK Sport Sound-Isolating In-Ear Headphones for iPod, iPhone, MP3/CD/DVD Players (Black) - Audio - Iem - Earphones - In-ear'


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Universal Laptop Ac Adapter - chargers, universal laptop ac adapter


I wrote a review the day it arrived, but now I'm revising it. PLEASE READ!



It arrived on time, and it worked great, but IT BROKE AFTER ITS FIRST USE! The round metal tube on the adapter head that plugs into the laptop broke off the adapter head after I unplugged it from my laptop. In fact, the tube tip was still stuck in my laptop port!



The reason why I gave the instruction manual 3 out of 5 stars is because a couple of the the black and white pictures were hard to understand. The contrast was way too dark, making it difficult to see which part goes where.

As for portability, it's a bit on the heavy, clunky size. Measurements for the black bar: 5 1/2" (14 cm) X 2 1/4" (5 1/2 cm) X 1 1/4" (2 3/4 cm). Weight of black bar: 9 1/4 oz. (265 g).



In short: DO NOT BUY THIS!!!



I ended up going to Best Buy and bought the ROCKETFISH TRAVEL LAPTOP AC POWER ADAPTER KIT for $40. Yes, it's more expensive, but it comes with 10 adapter heads, works great, and it's much more slim and lightweight than this one. UNIVERSAL ADAPTER LAPTOP Notebook AC ADAPTER Charger for HP COMPAQ ASUS NEC TOSHIBA ACER IBM GATEWAY SAMSUNG SONY FUJITSU?90W

This item is a piece of junk! The cord it came with didn't even work, I had to use my own cord. Then after a couple weeks, it started smoking and the power unit itself started melting. I would return it, but the cost to return it makes it not worth returning. Terrible terrible item.

It does bend easily,I will give people that one.If you drop it a lot or step on it, it will break or bend.Caution is always needed with everything(specially this thing, since the metal part of the adapter is very cheap and the price is cheap too).naturally you know that the quality is NOT going to be the same.The adapters could be numbered or labeled to show which one is which, but it really isnt a huge issue.It doesn't take hours to find the correct adapter.I recommend this product IF you need a temporary charger(3-6 months maybe?). EX. a college student who is tight on money and wants a quick replacement till they get their paycheck.DON'T expect this to be an actual replacement of your original charger.You will end up spending more money replacing these than getting an original charger at your local computer store.

Do not buy this product. I bought it because I needed a universal charger for my HP laptop and didn't want to pay the $75 as many other customers have stated. I regretfully ignored the poor reviews of this product because of the low price. The first time I used this product the "box" part got so hot that it actually melted and left a dark black spot on my wood table. Had I not smelt the melting plastic and unplugged the cord my house could have easily caught fire. PLEASE do NOT buy this item. Not only is it a bad product but it is unsafe and should be pulled from the market. I will be contacting the CT Attorney General regarding this matter.

I bought the universal charger for my computer and used it for 2 days and it completely stopped working. There is a green light that should light up when its plugged in and it doesn't light up or charge my computer. Faulty merchandise.

My old Dell charger completely stopped working, so i went to Fry's and found an 80 dollar universal charger, works great, but still wanted something cheaper so i bought this "universal" charger, hoping i can still return the expensive one. So it came without the little sticks shown in the picture that was supposed to hold the set volt that you pick, then looking at the crappy instruction manual, it just tells me to pretty much plug in whatever fits. Then the worst part; NOTHING fitted. Dell was specifically listed in item description, but it does not fit!! I want my money back, this was a waste of money. On the other hand, it does fit my Toshiba laptop, but I don't even need it for that one!

I bought this universal adapter after looking at other versions at my local electronics store that cost over $100. I'd also looked into odering a replacement adapter from the company that manufactures my computer and again, the cost was too high. So... I decided to give this one a try and I'm glad I did. I've owned it for about 10 months now and never had an issue. It was easy to use right out of the package and came with many sizes of tips so that I could find exactly the right one to use. I saved the others, though, after my mother-in-law needed to use it on her machine. I highly recommend it.

Well one thing I will say about this ac adapter is the price is very reasonable. The one issue I had with it was the tips aren't very durable. They are easily bendable and I wish I had known this before I purchased this item. I've only had this for a few days and already I've had problem with the tips bending easily. Just my personal experience though. - Chargers - Laptop Power Adapters - Universal Laptop Ac Adapter - Notebook Power Adapters'


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Apple Tablet - ipad, apple ipad


I am more compelled to write this review to dispell the negative comments than anything else. I bought this cover a few weeks ago, and find it to be fine. The Ipad does not slip out IF you snap the closing loop. It has two positions, one when the cover is open and the other when the cover is closed, both to keep the Ipad from slipping out. It can clearly be seen in the picture in use in both positions. And one pocket is used for a business card,etc, so if you leave your Ipad somewhere, and people are honest, they can contact you to get it back.



I like the snazzy color, and it's already been on numerous flights with me, holding up the Ipad for viewing very nicely, thank you. Deluxe Leather Case with Built-in Stand for Apple iPad (Red)

I've been very pleased with this case, especially considering the reasonable price tag. The leather is nice, the stitching is well done, and the design is great. It's slim, not bulky, and yet it protects my iPad very nicely. Closes securely, and the stand allows for easy viewing when open.

Actual case is ok as plastic cases go. There is a small piece of elastic which stops the iPad moving or falling out which I guess other reviewers did not find.

But the fact remains it is plastic but is described as leather which I'm pretty sure there's a law against!!

I got it on line. It said it would come with a screen cover and it did not. It said it was real leather and it wasn't. My ipad slipped out of it and hit the floor, and this is when I decided it is not what I needed. Luckily the company accepted it without problems.

I've got 3 cases exactly like this for my iPad and I love them. They're all around $10 each so I can buy 6 or more for the price of just ONE other iPad case elsewhere. I like to switch colors anyway. I've got black, red and purple. I'm still going to buy a brown, blue and pink. The stand is the handiest thing in the world! I use it constantly. All the ads for these cases (there's tons of sellers for this same identical case) say it's leather. The only thing that makes me think they aren't is the price. But then again I've seen this exact case for $35 so shop around. I suspect they're all coming from the same factory in China and some sellers are selling them for $8and some for $35. I truly love these cases though. If someone GAVE me a free Apple or DoDo case I'd toss it in the closet and use my kickstand cases.

If you're looking for this type of iPad case, this is the item for you. Look at all the items on Amazon, you'll find similar cases at various prices. Ours came from the Iphone-Ipad Case Outlet and is a great value. The red leather makes this a distinctive addition to your iPad. The stand really works, and helps put the screen at a good viewing angle when it is on your lap.

I bought this case when our head of campus IT surprised me with an iPad and I wanted to get a case pronto before I scratched or dropped my new toy, but didn't want to overspend until I figured out what case would best suit my personal workflow.



The color is a rather strange shade of red and the stitching is uneven, but other than that, I have absolutely no complaints. For under $10 this is a steal. It is well-padded and the iPad feels secure in it. The prop holds the iPad up at a perfect reading angle. As another reviewer noted, the small pocket inside is perfect for a business card. The only way the iPad would fall out of this is if I shook the case. A small magnet and a snap ensure that the cover stays snug. Plus when it's closed it could easily be mistaken for a day-planner or notepad, as someone at work observed -- a plus if you're somewhere that you don't want to shout "I'm holding an expensive computing toy."

Great little number, and WAY cheaper than a 'real' Mac cover.

I'm using it right now for typing this out on my iPad, and its perfect. Also great for watching movies hands-free

Sturdy and well made

Great color

For the price, this is a pretty decent cover for the iPad and I actually like how the stand works because it is fairly secure and adjustable. It isn't leather but it at least it seems to be reasonably well constructed. My real problem with this (and all similar cases) is that it doesn't do a good job of protecting the iPad if you drop it. The corners of the ipad are complete exposed. I know. The ipad case slipped from my hand and hit straight on the edge. Fortunately, the iPad suffered only a very minor scratch but it convinced me that this wasn't enough.

Recommend this case. I just purchased this from Amazon because its price was so great. Figured that it was a low risk purchase. Turns out its stylish, the color is fun, the quality is good and it looks a whole lot more expensive than its price. It also does what it says it will - stands up, protects the ipad, has a good cutout for the side button, doesn't interfere with the WIFI signal and the USB port is accessible. - Apple Ipad - Case - Ipad Cover - Ipad'


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Adult Adirondack Chair - kindle devices, e-reader


STRATHWOOD ADIRONDACK OTTOMAN, DARK BROWN (AMAZON.COM): The ottoman would be really great if I had the chair to go with it. I would recommend not to receive this product without the chair to go with it. It is of no use alone. However, the color and the construction is excellent too bad I will have to return it (2) if I don't get the chair soon. Strathwood needs to sell this with the chair and not as separates unless the customer already has the chair. I had to learn the hard way. Strathwood Basics Adirondack Ottoman, Dark Brown - Kindle Devices - E-reader - Drm - Ebook'


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Nail Gun - nail gun, framing nailers


i have to tell everyone i can about how good these guns are. i have been installing siding, triming houses, and framing for 20 years and have always been a hitachi and makita guy, but since i've started using these guns i have no reason to buy them again. i have been forced to branch off into other areas like roofing and interior trim. I've bought several of their guns and i have had zero problems with them. great service, quick shipments, and a very dependable product. Freeman deserves a bid kudo for bringing a great product to us at a price everyone can afford. Freeman PFR2190 21-Degree Full-Head Framing Nailer

I bought this product to build a large deck. I'm very pleased with the performance. Weight/balance is good. Worked well with a variety of nail sizes (2 3/8, 3, 3 1/2, straight and ring shank). My only compliant is that the gun stops working when the gun gets low on nails (3-4 nails) due to the nails losing alignment. It's not a big deal since it works fine once you load more nail strips. However, it was frustrating diagnose the condition the first time.



For the money, this is a strong product.

What can I say, it does exactly what it's supposed to do and it's very solid. Right out of the box it was firing nails and kicking butt. I was very surprised to get a framing nailer at this price and with great quality. I like to buy top named brands for the most part, but would consider Freeman every bit a top named brand after using this nailer. Skip the high priced nailers and get this one, you won't sacrifice in quality.

I used the Freeman Framing nailer to build a roof on a porch and it's been great. I've used Paselode nail guns in the past and this compared nicely to those. I accidentally dropped it once but had no problems from that. This nail gun has been great and so was the price

I don't have the framing nailer rather the pin nailer. I have Hitachi and Bostich trim nailers and staplers which are very good by the way. The freeman is high quality with cost trimmed in weight increase rather than lower quality. Also some safety features are eliminated, such as this can be fired without touching the wood. Not a big deal to me, I'm sort of loath to paying for features I don't appreciate.





Hope this was helpful. - Framing Nailers - Nail Gun'


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Blueproton - blueproton, nikon


As a long-time owner of the Nikon D5000, and former owner of the Nikon D60, I was eager to purchase the D5100 after seeing the announcements and pre-reviews. Being one of the lucky ones to buy the D5100 with 18-55VR kit earlier this week, I've had a few days to play with this camera and can honestly say it's a solid upgrade to the D5000 I'm replacing, and should be on the short list of consideration for any "prosumer" looking to purchase a D-SLR with outstanding image quality, performance, and low-light capability in a lightweight, compact (for an SLR) body. And, unlike the D5000, this D-SLR finally has a usable Live View and HD video capabilities both with continuous autofocus.



First of all, it's important to understand where the D5100 fits in Nikon's capabilities. It is considered a "high-end enthusiast" D-SLR which means that it shares the same image sensor as the high-end D7000 without some of the higher-end features. If you're like me, very few of the D7000's features justify its extra cost and weight. The D5100 offers nearly the same image quality as its bigger brother in a less-expensive, smaller package, while adding a few tricks the D7000 doesn't have including an articulating display that helps you frame hard-to-reach spots.



Compared to its lesser-priced but still excellent brother the D3100, the D5100 offers improved image quality, speed, and resolution, along with a higher-resolution articulating display. For me, this is the sweet spot in Nikon's consumer D-SLR offerings.



The 18-55VR (3x) f3.5-f5.6 kit lens provides surprisingly good performance and image quality, although you'll likely outgrow it quickly. I have uploaded a few sample images taken with the D5100 and 18-55VR to show its performance and surprisingly good bokeh (pattern of blurred background) in large-aperture and macro shots.



For lens upgrades that include an AF-S autofocus motor, if you don't mind changing lenses, the Nikon 55-200VR is an outstanding value with excellent image quality, or consider the Nikon 18-105VR (5.8x) lens included with the D7000. If you don't mind some distortion and image softness, the 18-200 VRII (18x) lens may be your perfect "walkabout" lens. For me, I bought the pricey but outstanding Nikon 16-85mm VRII. Don't forget the Nikon AF-S 35mm f1.8 (if you can find it).



Low-light performance is outstanding with this camera, and the level of detail captured by the D5100 is excellent, even at higher ISOs. You're best capturing in RAW or RAW+JPEG mode (three different JPEG compression levels are offered) if you need to go back and fine-tune exposure or other settings after the shot. Nikon also offers "Active D-Lighting" which is a highly effective method for improving dynamic range of a photo to equalize the difference between high and low-light areas of a photo.



Interestingly, the improvement in image quality compared to my D5000 isn't dramatic. Given the incredible improvement I saw when upgrading from my Nikon D60 to the D5000 perhaps I had unrealistic expectations for this new sensor. But in most image settings, even low light, the improvement is noticeable but subtle. That speaks more for the outstanding quality and low-light sensitivity of the D5000 sensor (which is shared with the D90) than it speaks against the D5100. With the D5100 you get higher resolution for improved cropping, and the 14-bit RAW images offer greater dynamic range for more flexibility after the shot is taken.



Speaking of RAW format, as with any new camera, there is a bit of a wait until updates are available for your favorite camera software. As of May 18th, Adobe, Apple, and Nikon have added support for the D5100 RAW files, so you can use Aperture, iPhoto, Nikon View NX2 (v2.1.1 and later), Nikon Capture NX2 (v2.2.7 and later), Lightroom 3 or Photoshop CS5 (via Adobe Camera RAW 6.4 or later). If you use other photo software or another platform, you may want to verify RAW support for the D5100.



Compared to my D5000, Nikon has gone back and addressed most of my concerns on ergonomics and performance:

- camera body is roughly 10% smaller and 10% lighter

- 16.2 megapixel CMOS DX-format image sensor (shared with D7000) captures 14-bit RAW images and offers +1fs greater low-light sensitivity

- ISO 100-6400 range with expansion to 25,600 ISO (D5000 minimum is 200 and expansion to 12,300)

- high resolution (920k pixel) display for greater detail in image previews (although I had to bump up the default brightness one notch for accuracy)

- side-mounted articulating display no longer interferes with tripod (the D5000 display is inconveniently hinged at the bottom)

- dramatically improved (now usable!) LiveView mode with continuous autofocus even in HD video mode (more on that later)

- full HD 1080p movie capture without the "jelly effect", in more standard H.264 mode up to 22 min (D5000 is AVI format 720p up to 5min)

- slightly better control position (LiveView is now a rocker switch on the mode dial, Video Record is just behind and to the left of the shutter release)

- significantly quieter shutter release (plus, a "Quiet Mode" is available although hardly necessary)

- faster performance (4 frames per second)

- SDXC compliant supports higher capacity cards

- remote control sensor on rear now in addition to front-mounted sensor

- improved battery life, and an improved battery release

- battery charger now has built-in collapsable plug instead of requiring separate power cord

- MUCH better eyecap design no longer comes off in my small Nikon camera bag; also an improved diopter (eyeglass) control

- additional in-camera editing capabilities, including ability to trim video

- new "gimmick" special effects: in-camera HDR, selective color, night vision, etc



Let's start with the display - moving the hinge to the side not only makes the articulating display usable with a tripod, it makes the camera body shorter, so that it matches the height of most popular Nikon DX-format lenses and no longer leans forward when set down on a table as the D5000 did. It makes a surprising improvement in shooting comfort also. Nikon has improved the rubberized grip of the body and the thumb rest in the rear, although some have said that the grip is a bit shallow for larger hands. For my average-sized hands it is very comfortable.



The improved control placement is mostly welcome as well. LiveView is now a spring-release rocker on the side of the Mode Dial (VERY handy) and the video record button is also now on the top of the body, in front of the mode dial and behind the shutter release. What I didn't care for is the placement of the rear camera buttons, which now all shift above and to the right of the display to accommodate the left-mount hinge. What I don't like is that the "i" button (used to display and change shooting info) is too far away from the 4-way mode switch, so changing default shooting settings is a bit more of a stretch on my thumb. On playback, the delete button is just to the right of the Zoom buttons, instead of being far away like it should be. I didn't find myself accidentally deleting photos, but I'd rather have had a button closer by that I use more frequently (like the Menu button?)



What has dramatically improved from the D5000 is LiveView performance and HD video capture. Neither are perfect, but compared to my D5000 both are quite usable in the D5100. In LiveView mode, the D5100 tracks faces and subjects quickly and accurately, although still nowhere near fast enough for sports events or that "quick shot" like you might be used to with a compact camera. On my D5100, LiveView autofocus typically took half a second in lower-light conditions, which is no match for the viewfinder, but a huge improvement from the D5000.



Video capture is another notable improvement in the D5100, capturing single videos up to 22 minutes of 1080p HD (if you have the SD card capacity), in H.264 format, with continuous autofocus. Gone is the "jelly effect" of the D5000 when you quickly panned horizontally and the video appeared to bend. In theory, the continuous autofocus sounds like a great improvement for video capture, but in practice I found it slow to react (especially in low-light situations). Too often I found the camera "searching" for the correct focus, even with the (optional) Nikon 35mm F1.8 AF-S lens. It was so distracting that I ended up disabling autofocus and learning how to manually adjust focus as I moved from subject to subject. Also disappointing is that like the D5000, the built-in microphone is monoral. For stereo sound, you must buy the (forthcoming) ME-1 external microphone. Overall, the video capabilities are promising, especially at 1080p, but I am more satisfied with the native 720pHD stereo video captured from my Canon S95.



Rounding out the list of improvements and new features of the D5100 are the new "special effects", including the first in-camera HDR mode for any Nikon D-SLR. In practice, while there may be edge cases for these effects, I am not particularly impressed with any of them, including HDR. First of all, you cannot capture RAW with any of the effects. For HDR, there are further limitations (can only be used in P-S-A-M modes, not auto, no flash, etc). When you can get HDR mode to work, it can only be enabled one shot at a time, and then you have to go back to the menus to turn it on. Luckily, you can assign HDR mode to the Fn menu button. HDR mode takes two quick shots for each shutter press and then combines them in-camera to create a single JPEG. You can specify the exposure difference (Auto, 1EV, 2EV, 3EV) and level of "smoothing" (Low, Normal, High) between the captured images. I took a number of high-contrast shots with HDR enabled and honestly couldn't see a difference, although I'm still going to try. If there is any good news, it's that Nikon has chosen a fairly conservative / realistic HDR algorithm as opposed to an "eye-popping" but over-processed result.



In summary, I'm quite happy with the D5100. It provides the optimal balance of top image quality (even in low light), lightweight and compact (for a D-SLR) body, articulating display (the only D-SLR from Nikon to have this), and HD video (not perfect) that can leverage the outstanding collection of Nikon lenses (understanding that only AF-S lenses will autofocus).



Notable comparison with the higher-end D7000:

- same 16.2megapixel image sensor with 14-bit RAW image capture for outstanding dynamic range, low-light performance, and detail

- ruggedized plastic body lacks weather seal (it's also smaller and lighter weight)

- no builtin focus motor for older lenses (you'll need to buy an AF-S lens if you want autofocus)

- fewer autofocus zones (11 vs 39) and lower-resolution matrix meter

- pentamirror viewfinder (smaller, not as bright, 95% coverage) vs pentaprism viewfinder (100% coverage)

- no flash commander mode (unless you buy an external flash with TTL triggering)

- slower continuous performance (4 vs 6fps)

- 1 SD card slot instead of 2

- no top-mounted LCD display

- fewer dedicated controls for advanced settings (you must use the menu system more frequently)



Notable comparison with the lower-end D3100:

- higher resolution 16.2megapixel sensor with 14-bit depth

- high resolution (920k pixel vs 230k) display, articulating for hard- to-view shots

- higher low-light sensitivity

- faster performance (4fps vs 3fps)

- better battery performance (660 vs 550 images on the same EN-EL14 battery

- slightly larger and heavier body Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens - Blueproton - Nikon'


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I am not an Apple Afficianodo. I don't wear jeans and black turtlenecks in reverence to Steve Jobs. I don't hang out at the Apple Store and covet becoming a "genius"; however, I have to give credit where credit is due. The last few products Apple has brought out - the iPod, iPhone, iPad - have been incredible and changed the consumer electronics and media / software landscape. Apple TV is now positioned to do the same, but it will take some more time to fully realize the potential of this device.



Apple TV effectively allows you to stream whatever is on your iTunes to your TV and home theater system. Moreover, it has built in support for Netflix, You Tube and a few other internet based media content providers. The picture quality and performance for these services are worth the price of admission. There is significant potential to advance the platform - just give it some time.



System Overview: My Apple TV is plugged into a 60 inch Samsung 1080p LED HDTV via HDMI (video) and a Yamaha Home Theater Receiver via Toslink optical cable (audio). I have AT&T Uverse with their 802.11g Residential Gateway (combination of DSL modem and wireless router) with their Elite DSL service (6 MB per second). iTunes runs on a Dell Desktop with 4GB of memory, Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 500 GB Hard Drive operating on Windows Vista (64 bit) and secured with Norton 360 (firewall, antivirus, etc.). The network handles the Desktop, 2 iPhones, a Blackberry, an iPad, the Apple TV, 4 Laptops, a wireless Printer and a networked wired printer. The Computer / Residential Gateway are in the Den and the TV / Home Theater / Apple TV are in the family room. The two rooms are about 100 feet apart and are separated by five walls.



Set Up: Easy as pie. It took five minutes to plug in the HDMI cable, the optical cable, the power outlet and then adding it to the wireless network. Sharing iTunes from my desktop to Apple TV took another 20 minutes, since I had to download the new version of iTunes and restart my computer and Apple TV. Apple really makes it easy - I didn't have to make any adjustments to my firewall settings to share iTunes on the desktop with Apple TV. I also downloaded the Apple Remote on my iPhone and iPad, which took another 5 minutes.



User Interface: Apple's secret sauce is the simplicity of their products. Apple TV is no different. The menu is very simple - Movies, TV, Internet, Computer and Settings. Movies and TV are for renting content directly from iTunes within Apple TV. Internet gives you access to Netflix, You Tube, etc. Computer gives you access to iTunes on your computer. Settings allows you to change the various Apple TV options. The remote control is Apple's usual model of minimalist efficiency, with a menu button, a play / pause button and an iPod like controller. The supplied remote works well with Apple TV, but is a bit cumbersome when one has to enter data (e.g., e-mail addresses, search on YouTube or Netflix). A much better solution is downloading Apple Remote on your iPhone or iPad. It basically turns the iPhone or iPad into a big touch pad that allows you to use gestures to control the Apple TV (e.g., swipe left, swipe right, double click, etc.). Moreover, it automatically provides a keyboard when one is asked for text input (e.g., for search). Apple remote is free on the App Store.



Netflix Streaming / Video Quality: Setting up Netflix was quick - basically just enter your e-mail address / password and you're ready to go. I watched some TV from BBC, a foreign flick and Iron Man. Each program loaded quickly - less than 30 seconds. Picture quality was good to great, depending on the source material. Picture quality was comparable to DVD for SD material(perhaps slightly better), but slightly less sharp than upconverted DVD or blue-ray. HD Programming looked like the HD on-demand programming through uVerse. There was enough of a buffer that there was no jittering, pixelation or stuttering on the streaming to the TV. Sound quality on the stream was good - I don't think they stream in 5.1, so the video stream doesn't leverage the subwoofer. Considering that I'm running a heavily taxed wireless system on 802.11g with a 100 foot distance between Apple TV and the Gateway, the picture quality and streaming performance are impressive. Having this quality of Netflix compatibility is worth the price of admission by itself.



iTunes Streaming: I streamed some music from my Playlists from the Computer. Sound quality is good, but not great. My Yamaha CD Player sounds better, but it can only hold 5 cds. Having access to my entire library is very useful, so you lose sound quality but gain convenience. iTunes streams not only the music, but also the cover art. After a few minutes, Apple TV switches into screensaver mode and starts transmitting pictures to the TV along with the music. I also streamed some videos from my computer and the streaming was again flawless. One of the issues with Apple TV is that it only supports the Apple video standards, i.e., MP4. I had some DIVX files that I converted over to MP4 by using DVD Fab and imported them into iTunes. So if you have a library of AVI, Divx, Xvid, etc., this will require conversion of those files in order to stream from your computer.



iTunes from within Apple TV: There is access to an iTunes store within Apple TV as well. They have a different pricing structure, in that TV shows and movies are available for rent only. They have a limited number of titles at this point - primarily BBC, ABC (since Steve Jobs sits on their Board) and Fox. CBS and NBC are not on Apple TV. Movie selection is decent - they have all the latest movies. The Apple TV selection can be easily increased by just downloading the content you want from iTunes on your desktop and then streaming it to Apple TV.



YouTube Streaming: Surprisingly good. The HQ / HD You Tube pieces look remarkably crisp on the TV. The older content that was meant to watch on a small window on your computer looked a little pixelated, but acceptable.



Apple has built a great platform with a lot of potential. With what is available right now - Apple TV is a pretty impressive value at $99. It is worth it just for the Netflix streaming and integration with iTunes. Since Apple TV is actually built on the same hardware (at least the processing chip) as the iPhone and iPad and has the same operating system, I wouldn't be surprised if there are "apps" that will eventually make it to Apple TV to further enhance Apple TV (e.g., ABC Streaming, Games, Amazon on Demand, etc.). There is supposed to be an upgrade to the operating system with a new version of Airplay that comes out in November, 2010. This will allow you to stream from an iPad or iPod to the Apple TV as well.



I looked at other streaming devices (e.g., Roku, using my Panasonic Blue Ray for Netflix, etc.) and none of them had the simplicity and reliabilty that the Apple TV offers. The Wi Fi "stick" for my Blue Ray player is $80 anyway and the Netflix integration isn't anywhere nearly as robust as Apple TV. UVerse also has music and picture streaming built in using Microsoft Media Center - however, it required some network configuration and it crashes quite often. I didn't purchase a Roku, but a friend of mine has had a number of issues with streaming performance. At under $100, the Apple TV is competitively priced with other streaming options. Now just bring on the "apps".



Update on 4/1/11:



I've had the Apple TV for a few months now and I still really like it. Apple has introduced Airplay, which is worth mentioning as it has potential to be a gamechanger technology. Moreover, there has been significant activity on the "jailbreaking" front for the Apple TV.



Airplay is Apple's system of transmitting video / audio wirelessly between compatible devices. Apple TV, the iPhone and iPad are all Airplay compatible. This has proven to be particularly useful feature as I can stream videos from my iPad to the Apple TV and have them appear on my TV. For example, I may have a digital copy of a movie on my iPad (perhaps purchased through iTunes or came with a DVD purchase). Through Airplay, I can transmit the movie directly from my iPad to the Apple TV and watch the movie on my TV. Similarly, if a friend has an iPhone and we want to listen to their latest music selection, we can stream their music from their iPhone directly to my stereo system through Airplay. The real gamechanger for Airplay is streaming video from websites onto my Apple TV so I can watch them on my TV. For example, I could be on the TED website and they have a video from a TED conference. I can stream the video directly to my Apple TV and watch the video on my TV's 60 inch screen instead of the iPad's 10 inch screen. Several websites have already incorporated Airplay compatibility into their videos, such as CNN and TED. I think Airplay is going to have an interesting adoption cycle - traditional media companies (e.g., TV Networks) probably won't endorse Airplay since it goes against their business model. Other websites that rely on video for traffic (e.g., adult sites, news sites, blogs, etc.) will probably adopt Airplay to gain more traction with consumers.



According to Wikipedia, jailbreaking refers to "a process that allows devices running Apple's iOS operating system to gain full access to unlock all features of the said operating system, thereby removing limitations imposed by Apple". Once jailbroken, iOS users are able to load and run applications that are not available on the App Store. Jailbreaking a device is not illegal, much to Apple's chagrin; however, it could void one's warranty. I'm not going into how to jailbreak and Apple TV - just google "jailbreak Apple TV" for instructions. Since the Apple TV has been jailbroken, there have been some applications that have been launched to provide more robust usage of Apple TV. The Couch Surfer application is basically a web browser for Apple TV. Additionally, there are applications that allow Apple TV to play formats other than Apple approved formats, such as DIVX and others. I haven't jailbroken my Apple TV; however, one should be aware of what options are available for this device. Apple TV MC572LL/A (2010)'


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