Samsung i8 8.2 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (White)

This great little camera takes pretty good shots, though there is just a little bit more artifacting going on when I take pictures of text than my old LonicaMinolta Dimage X1.

I paid a little extra to get this camera over the other Samsung 8.1MP camera because of the PMP (portable media player) feature after seeing the onboard demo video, and while it does have a great little screen it doesn't seem to take any kind of standard video (I tried lots of different mpeg4 and mov and avi files and they wouldn't even show up on the menu)you have to use the video converter they supply, which runs on proprietary OS only.

As an MP3 player, it's OK, and it does let you delete a file after you've listened to it (which is a key feature if you listen to podcasts).

There also seems to be no way to charge and listen at the same timethe USB/charge cable and the headphone jack go into the same connector. I guess I'm buying an external battery or two and an offline battery charger.

I bought this camera elsewhere for $99.99 and have been VERY happy with its performance with regards to its camera function. It takes good pictures in both low light and during the day. It has a very convenient size and easily fits in your pocket.

The MP3 and video functions are a nice bonus, but to be honest, I have not had a chance to try them out fully yet.

Buy Samsung i8 8.2 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (White) Now

Recently there is a trend to make every electronic device into a multifunction device. A cell phone that also plays mp3s and take photos is the most common instance of this, but it appears camera makers are catching on and creating cameras that double as PMPs (Personal Media Players). What's good for the goose...

However, in my mind having a camera on a cell phone is adding a feature to a device you're going to carry around with you anyway. It gives you a functional camera for those times when you don't have your real camera with you. I'm not sure that a camera that doubles as a PMP is really as good a concept because when I bring a camera with me its so that I can capture excellent images, not listen to some music.

In point of fact, the Samsung I8 is primarily a camera, and the PMP features feel a bit tacked on and burdened by confusingly designed menus that are not very intuitive. The camera features are somewhat easier to access, and this a slick, attractively designed camera to be sure.

Thankfully that I8 knows how to be a camera not just a convergence device. The photos that it produces are pretty sharp, and the metering feels pretty spot on in most situations. However the camera is haunted by some serious shutter lag and this is probably the most irritating problem with the camera. It is slow in general: navigating menus is slow, booting up the camera is slow (thanks to the PMP needing to do a database search each time it boots. You cannot turn this off) and taking pictures is slow.

The I8 is just about average. It's more of a gizmo than a camera. If you want a solid camera I suggest getting a Canon Powershot. Their light sensors are among the best. If you want a PMP get a Cowon D2. At this point a camera that doubles as a PMP doesn't get either application quite right.

Read Best Reviews of Samsung i8 8.2 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (White) Here

ITS SOO CUTE!! :) IF U LIKE CUTE THINGS AND BEING CUTE..GO FOR IT

OV COURSE....I >ONLY< USE THE CAMERA ASPECT OF IT..NOT ALL THE EXTRA CRAP..IF U WANT A GOOD MP3 PLAYER, BUY AN MP3 PLAYER..THATS LIKE GOING TO A BURGER JOINT AND EXPECTING EXCELLENT CHICKEN..NOPE.

BUT IVE HAD IT FOR YEARS AND ITS NOT MESSED UP ONCE

LOVE IT!!

Want Samsung i8 8.2 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (White) Discount?

Photo quality is excellent. The UI, on the other hand, is cumbersome and poorly conceived. Switching from photo to movie, which I do all the time, requires several button presses, with slow UI screen paints in-between each. I get the sense that they tried to give it a flashy UI in order to appeal to the teen demographic, without considering those of us who just take photos and movies and want a snappy response from our device.

Ditto the flash. The flash does not pre-charge, so when you go to take your photo, and press the fire button, nothing will happen for a couple of seconds while the flash charges. Those are a looonnnnnggg couple of seconds too. Nor does the UI respond while this is taking place. Multi-threading, anyone?

(The UI contains a ton of other neat-sounding goodies, like an MP3 player and a travel guide and other hoopla that looks good as bullet points on a sales flyer. Perhaps some people use those, but I didn't and you probably won't either.)

I accepted its shortcomings because the camera has two killer design wins: first, the lens does not extend out of the camera body, which means that it won't get dirt or water in the mechanism and die young; and second, the camera itself is small and has rounded edges, which means it will fit neatly in your pocket. I did indeed carry it in my pocket and whip it out whenever it was needed, and so I have had a happy year of taking great pictures while cursing at the lousy UI.

...until the hardware failed this month. Around my 1500th picture (according to the filenames), a solder terminal inside the camera gave out, taking the red CCD with it. Consequently, the camera sees everything as blue-greenish. I can twist the camera body, and flex its motherboard enough to reestablish the electrical connection to the red CCD, and it will work for a couple of minutes, but this won't last long. (I know it's the CCD and not the viewscreen because picture review always works fine.) They call this situation a "cold solder joint", and it will worsen over time until the camera becomes useless. I may just be unlucky, or maybe this is a demonstration of poor quality control on the Samsung assembly line.

Pioneer Elite BDP-23FD - Blu-Ray disc player - upscaling

• BD-Live Compliant With 1GB Internal Memory
• PQLS For Jitter-Free 2-Channel And Multi-Channel Playback
• BD-R/RE, DVD-R/RW, CD/CD-R Compatible
• Dimensions (WHD): 16 9/16 X 3 1/4 X 11 In.

Pioneer Elite BDP-23FD.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002BGXP1M/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_title

I decided on another Pioneer Elite DVD player because the DV-45A that I've enjoyed for several years has worked flawlessly (and still does). The Blu-Ray Elite Player is more than I require... (I will not likely use the Ethernet or USB ports). I have not found a flaw with the BDP-23FD (as I expected, from experience with the DV-45A, which I think is the best "quality/price" for a DVD-A + SACD player glad I have it !).

Picture quality, Audio quality are superb, regardless of media format (plays the home-made variety DVDs just as well as the store bought varieties).

Although it's nice to have 'controllability/customization' features found on this player, the default set-up "out-of-the-box" is perfect for me. It's just a really nice player!

Buy Pioneer Elite BDP-23FD - Blu-Ray disc player - upscaling Now

Unfortunately, this player is not offered at too many places and it seems to mark one of the last of the "true" original Pioneer Elite Blu-Ray models. Apparently Sharp has bought Pioneer and their newer models tend to represent the Sharp styling and internal workings moreso than Pioneer. This is one of the reasons I bought this player as I already own a Pioneer DVD 49-AV which is awesome for a standard upscaling dvd player in its own right. The DV-49 is possibly better at upscaling than the 23FD is, but that is not what I bought it for. I bought this player for its outstanding Blu-Ray picture and quality sound and that is exactly what I got. Let's get the negative out of the way immediately. It does take some time to load, and that is even with CD loading as well as standard dvd and blu-ray. Right out of the box I upgraded the firmware (as directed by Pioneer Elite was simple and painless), and part of that upgrade mentioned faster loading times. Since I didn't compare and upgraded immediately, I wasn't able to measure but I will say that if this upgrade fixed loading times then I can't imagine how long it took to load initially. That being said, the load time is well worth the wait.

I can compare this model for you to the following brands and models that I own or have onwed: Oppo DV983H standard, Panasonic DMP-BD60 blu-ray, Denon BDP-1610 blu-ray, and the Pioneer DV-49av standard dvd player. In the standard / upscaling mode, can this 23FD measure up against the Oppo and the Pioneer players ? Yes to both, although I'd have to give the best upscaling nod to the Pioneer Elite DV-49av player for best overall upscaling player I've ever seen, and I still use this player for upscaling standard dvd discs to this date. I thought the Oppo was the best ever until this player came along. Compared to the other Blu-Ray players, the Pansonic is probably among the best I've ever seen video wise, but in audio, this Pioneer 23FD cannot be beat. The Denon had great sound, but no match for Panasonic or this Pioneer Elite in video quality.

Since the player is no longer manufactured or hardly found anymore, I won't go into the spec comparisons. Suffice it to say that this player is among the best Blu-Ray player I've ever seen or heard, and it upscales wonderfully. The user choices to tweak it alone make this more than worth the price not to mention the gorgeous Blu-Ray picture it provides. I have thrown every movie that has been known to give players problems, and this machine played them with no problem at all. I have the unit hooked up via analog to play my CDs, and HDMI for Blu-Ray / standard DVD. The sound is warm, rich and full. The unit itself is fairly heavy, and lets you know that this is a quality machine outside as well as inside. Pioneer Elite has always been about classy looks as well as performance and this machine excels in both. It is a shame that Pioneer Elite allegedly doesn't make their own players anymore, and that this is one of the last of the "true" Elite players. If you can find one of these players, don't hesitate to grab one. I have not seen or heard a better Blu-Ray player and I can't imagine anyone not being happy with the audio / video quality of this player. If you are an avid fan of great quality, look no further. This Pioneer Elite machine offers it all.

Update: 11/7/12 My unit has developed an error message when you turn the power on that reads "SD Not Found". It flashes and you can't shut it off, you have to unplug the power cord to reset it and hope that it turns on again. Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't. This problem seems to be common but no one has answers to it. Pioneer never heard of it, and they want me to ship the unit to California at my expense. FIX: Use the remote to turn the power on; works every time. It must be the power button itself that has the problem. Unit still plays fine and gives outstanding picture, I didn't expect it to malfunction this soon.

Read Best Reviews of Pioneer Elite BDP-23FD - Blu-Ray disc player - upscaling Here

Stylish, beautifull design, tray opens in silence quietly, gently like a queen. Video and music reproduction is superb, but you must hook it up to a monster receiver like Pioneer Elite SC27 to fully enjoy its own potential. Over the years I learned that every piece of you equipment must be of equal quality, otherwise something will be missing.

Want Pioneer Elite BDP-23FD - Blu-Ray disc player - upscaling Discount?

I just bought one of these players refurbed for 125.00 and they are still available brand new from J&R for 299.00 delivered.

This player easily beats my Samsung 1600 and PS3 for picture quality especially for blacks and contrast which makes the picture look sharper and more accurate.

It also beats the Samsung AND ps3 for audio quality using HDMI to the matching Pioneer Elite SC 35 I recently purchased both with and without PQLS turned on.

This player is quiet , and I have yet to have a playback issue before or after upgrading the firmware via online.

This player has a far better build than the Samsung , and is the best looking BD player I have owned out of 6 players including 1k players from Samsung , Sony , and Phillips first gen players.

If you can get one new or refurbed grab one while you can.

I am very happy with the picture quality on this set. It definitely has the best picture of any of the Blu-ray players I have seen recently. Audio is good as well, though not as good as a Cambridge blu-ray player I heard recently. Of course the Cambridge goes for twice as much.

Very happy with the unit.

I believe this unit was made by Pioneer before they started letting Sharp make them.

Sprint PCS SCP200SILVER Sanyo Flip Phone with voice-activated dialing (silver)

It's got great reception. My husband has a phone that cost twice as much and his reception is hopeless, when out we use mine the most. I also use the alarm clock a lot when away from home, it's good not having to take an extra alarm clock. My son keeps getting hold of it and treats it roughly but its quite strong, despite being dropped and thrown several times it still works fine. Finally, the texting is great and easy to use. The only thing I am not sure about is the internet function, it seems to take ages to get on the net and I find it difficult to navigate -but then I don't really need it on the phone as we have it at home.

Overall this phone is highly recommended.

This phone doesn't have many special features such as a camera or web access, but if all you're looking for is a phone to make phone calls (or text messages) with, then this is the phone for you. It gets great reception-compared to my last phone which cost three times more than this one. I just wanted a phone that got great service and this is the one, so I traded in my camera phone for this one.

Buy Sprint PCS SCP200SILVER Sanyo Flip Phone with voice-activated dialing (silver) Now

i own this phone and the charger dont work right my phone beeped at me after 3 months and is in for service and has no games

Read Best Reviews of Sprint PCS SCP200SILVER Sanyo Flip Phone with voice-activated dialing (silver) Here

Panasonic BL-C131A Network Camera Wireless 802.11

My wife and I wanted to keep an eye on the nanny with our baby from work. After researching the network cameras for several months, it seemed that only Panasonic cameras consistently received positive (usually glowing reviews) whereas cameras from other major brands like Linksys, D-Link, etc received mediocre or poor reviews. So I went with Panasonic. And after about a month, I have to say I am very impressed with it. Some background: I have a classic Linksys WRT54G 802.11g router, with 2 WinXP PCs connected to it via ethernet and 3 more PCs connected wirelessly; plus, I have AT&T/SBC DSL service via a Speedstream 5100 DSL modem. If you're moderately computer literate, you should have no problem following the included instructions to setup (view and control) the camera in wired mode or in wireless WiFi mode.

But if you want to setup the camera to be viewed (and controlled) from the internet, you need to do a bit more work. And this is where Panasonic's excellent, excellent customer support comes in. Panasonic's support line is 8_0_0-2_7_2-7_0_3_3; they are open Mon-Fri 9AM-9PM and Sat/Sun 10AM-7PM Eastern US Time; this tech support is available to you for the LIFE of the product. They will walk you through how to setup the camera, configure your router (for, among other things, port forwarding), and register with Panasonic's FREE Dynamic DNS web service. This last point is important: Panasonic network cameras include FREE Dynamic DNS hosting service for the life of the product; other brands offer the service for an annual fee.

Okay, step-by-step, here's how to config the camera for internet viewing:

First, if you use DSL as I do (as opposed to cable broadband), you have to configure the DSL modem for "bridge mode." (If you don't use DSL, then you can skip this step.) This is because DSL modems act as a router, and port forwarding cannot work behind both the DSL modem's router and (in my case) the Linksys WRT54G router. If you want, you can call your DSL tech support to ask them to walk you through how to "bridge" your DSL modem. But here's what I did.

1. Login to your DSL modem (for me, it's 192.168.0.1) using your DSL account (for me, it's my SBCglobal email address).

2. Select Advanced >> PPP Location

3. Select Bridged Mode (PPPoE is not used), then Change PPP Location

4. When prompted, restart the DSL modem

5. Login to your router (for me, it's 192.168.1.1)

6. Under Setup> Basic Setup >> Internet Connection Type, select PPPoE and enter the DSL login & password info you normally would enter in your DSL modem to authenticate your DSL service.

7. At this point, the "bridging" should have been successful. To check that bridging has been successful, click Status >> Router, and check that you are "connected" with an IP address showing. If successful, you should also see that your DSL modem's "internet" LED light is off while your router's "internet" light is on. What you basically have done is to move the point of authentication for your DSL service from the DSL modem to your router; your DSL modem merely acts as a bridge for the DSL service to your router.

8. Now, we move on to configuring the camera itself. I assume that the camera has already been configured for wired and wireless mode. Login to the network camera (for me it's, 192.168.1.253).

9. Click Setup. Change the Port No. from the default of 80 to 50000 (fifty thousand) and enter the IP address of the camera (for me, it's 192.168.1.253). Click Save, and the camera will restart. When it finishes restarting (taking as long as 1.5 min), it'll bring you back to the "Top" home page of the camera config screen.

10. Log back into your router, and go to Applications & Gaming, where you'll be able to set up port forwarding.

11. In the Port Range, enter 50000 as "Start" and 50000 as "End." Enter the IP Address of the camera (for me, 192.168.1.253). Check Enable. Save Settings.

12. Now, log back into your camera. Go to Setup >> DynamicDNS. Select viewnetcam-dot-com, then Next.

13. Click on "Your Account Link" to bring up the viewnetcam.com registration page, where you then select New Registration. Enter your desired registration info and select your domain name at viewnetcam-dot-com (e.g. yourname-dot-viewnetcam-dot-com). Click Choose.

14. Now, you will be shown a page confirming your registration. Under DDNS status, you will see Active-waiting. You need to wait up to 10min as the domain registration occurs, at which time, the status will change to Active.

15. We're almost done; stay with me! From WinXP Start Menu, click Run and type "cmd" to bring up a DOS window.

16. In the DOS window, type "ipconfig/all", which shows your computer's various network information. Under Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection, copy down the two addresses under DNS Servers.

17. Log back into your camera, select Setup, and enter the 2 DNS Server addresses from ipconfig/all in the 2 DNS boxes.

18. Go back to viewnetcam-dot-com, login to your account, and check that the DDNS status is now Active. If so, then you're all ready to go!

19. Go to yourname-dot-viewnetcam-dot-com:50000 to see your network camera on the internet!

OVERVIEW

The BL-C131A is a wireless/router based camera (no PC needed). In my view, this is the ONLY way cameras should be used due to the unstable PC connected solutions (e.g., PC freeze-up, lost power, etc). It is an IP based system which needs its own local internet address which the included software does a pretty good job setting up automatically.

MY EXPERIENCES

I have tried over 20 wireless web cameras from 7 brands over the last 5 years ($100-$600) and none are close to the performance, reliability, ease of setup of the Panasonic cams for a consumer based product. Dlink used to lead the pack until the BL-C20A/30A units came out. I was a fan of Dlinks but the software setup, remote camera configurations, and Viewnetcam dynamic DNS service of the the Pana's is just the best today.

ADVANTAGES

The included software is the best on the market for finding the camera on your system and trying to configure it automatically. Most software engineers should be SHOT due to sloppy code but the Panasonic software and firmware (software inside the cameras) is pretty good for setup and reliability (I am an electrical engineer so I know the sloppy way most of these guys think).

Tech support for Panasonic is the ONLY support I have contacted from 7 brands with AMERICANS speaking ENGLISH (not "Engrish"). Their patience and overall knowledge is truly outstanding and worth every extra penny this camera costs.

I highly recommend you also buy the Panasonic wireless router. It automatically configures with the cameras and becomes really easy to find/control the cameras.

The ability to reset/reconfigure the cameras remotely is INVALUABLE! I am often travleing in China, at my home in Chicago, or my home in Florida and want to make changes. I can do it remotely with 100% success after the first setup. I was even able to configure some cams in Chicago and Fedex to my wife in Florida and they booted up into the other system perfectly!

The Viewnetcam dynamic DNS service is stunningly reliable. It has never gone down and my cameras reset/refind themselves every hour so if your local ISP dynamically changes your IP address (Comcast is worst) you are always going to have the cams back up in 1 hour.

The ability to snap images, group small video screens, and "mouse-point" the cameras via the pan-tilt-zoom are outstanding.

The built in microphones are AMAZINGLY sensitive and pick up small noises remarkably well. I could hear the kids playing outside the house with cams inside.

The built in multi-screen servers can integrate different models of cameras. For example, I use a BL-C131A cam as #1 at my mom's house for PTZ and audio. I then add a BL-C30A for simple PTZ photo/video and a BL-C20A for fixed photo/video. They all coexist in one screen and work beautifully!

The photo snaps work PERFECTLY for building a simple web page and placing multiple screen snaps on 1 page (I placed 8) thus a super slim matrix of what is happening in my homes. Each photo at 320x240 is only 8kb so they download fast.

The mobile function (viewing on a cell phone browser) works INCREDIBLY well. I use it everyday on my Treo700P via Sprint.

DISADVANTAGES/CAUTIONS

ANY web cam is tedious to setup, no matter the brand. Be patient, and call Pana's tech support before returning the unit.

DON'T expect HD quality video these are 640x480 screens as best and the upload speed of your home network will always be the limiting factor. I do not recommend more than 4 cams online at once since this overloads even a good 768K upload system.

The pan-tilt controls are outstanding. Lots of left-right-down travel but up is limited. Also, the zoom is a digital zoom (NOT an optical zoom) thus very pixelated and not worth much.

The cams can fight for packets and "burble" your VOIP telephone calls.

SUMMARY

Outstanding product. I now own 14 units around the world and all are stone-cold reliable. Just great products.

Buy Panasonic BL-C131A Network Camera Wireless 802.11 Now

I have experience with D-Link cameras, and this one is much better. Setup was a multi-step process, but went smoothly, and the free internet address really works. The camera has yet to lose signal, and I have it positioned a the farthest end of my wirelss network. Picture is clear, sound is ok, interface is very good. Only works well with Internet Explorer. On a Mac, the video will display in Firefox but without sound. I haven't expored all of the features yet, but the main thing is that it works (more than can be said for many wireless products).

Read Best Reviews of Panasonic BL-C131A Network Camera Wireless 802.11 Here

I purchased four of these cameras and found out that the recording software included with it comes with a license to record only one camera. If you want to record more than one camera, you have to purchase an upgraded version with additional licenses and that lists for $399 and Amazon has it for $315.03 + Shipping Network Camera Software

If you are purchasing more than one camera for Surveillance purpose, make sure to take in to account of the additional costs.

Want Panasonic BL-C131A Network Camera Wireless 802.11 Discount?

You can do all setup via the builtin web server even firmware updates. There is no need for installing anything from the included (windows only) CD. Streaming MP4 or MJPEG video works right outta the box in Safari as does the static captures no need for drivers or anything else.. Those looking for typical, painless MacOSX setup will get it with this Panasonic webcam..

Nokia 6085 Unlocked Cell Phone with MP3/Video Player, MicroSD Slot-International Version with No Wa

Pros -

1) Good reception and this phone beats Sony-Ericsson, Samsung, Motorola (Razr) and Blackberry in this regard.

2) Sturdy but small and compact. Drop it you won't break it.

3) Bluetooth 2.0

4) Flip design means the screen does not get scratched.

5) Good speaker/mic good sound quality both inbound and outbound and on speakerphone.

6) Customizable menu put stuff where you need it. Not where Nokia thinks you need it.

7) Basic VGA camera with usable surprisingly decent pics (good color and resolution but grainy under low light). Video also usable.

8) Good battery life.

9) Quad band means can be used worldwide with no reception problems (Tri-band suffers from reception issues).

10) Keys are nice, large and easy to press with a solid click. All nicely backlit.

11) Micro SD for storing data/music etc 2 GB works fine in mine. All sound/photo/video recording can use this card by default. Can thus record for ages..

12) Battery lasts 3 4 days with some usage thrown in.

13) Loud ring. Robust vibration you won't miss that call.

14) Good mp3 player.

Cons -

1) Does not use USB jack for data or charging.

2) Not as cool looking (like this junk called Razr)

3) Headphone jack proprietary. Charging jack proprietary. Data jack proprietary

4) FM radio requires use of proprietary headphone.

Inspite of cons listed I give this 5 stars for its great reception (my #1 criteria).

Note The other word for "T-Mobile" is "Bad-Reception". This phone will alleviate your woes to a great degree and allow you to continue with the cheaper cell phone provider.

Let me start by saying I don't need a phone with a ton of bells and whistles, but I do need to be able to hear when it rings and hear the person I am talking to. This phone meets, maybe even exceeds, my hopes. For the benefit of anyone with the same problem, go into "Profiles" where you are asked to choose between "normal", "meeting", "vibrate" and "outdoor". Since these seemed to indicate how you might be notified, in other words, a louder ring tone if outdoors than in a meeting, I selected "outdoor". When asked to indicate volume, showing 3 or 4 colored buttons, I activated them all. I then went to tones and decided on "desk phone" instead of music and "ascending". I then called my cell phone from another phone and was overjoyed to find that I could hear the cell phone's ring more clearly than my home phone. This is the best phone I have ever had in that respect. Subsequently I tested the music tones but they were not loud enough for me.

With respect to volume of the voice of the caller, there is a button on the case that controls that. But you can be sure that you can increase the volume at least as much as with any other phone, and probably more than most. I called a friend to test the phone and was told I could be heard loud and clear.

Other pluses, at least for me, are the large keys and the large numbers that appear on the screen when you are dialing a call. Additionally, there is a setting where you can use large letters in the address book and elsewhere.

Being one myself, I think this phone is a very good choice for senior citizens.

For those who want them, there are camera and video, but you must provide your own SD card. You also have a media player, music player, recorder, internet capability, and Bluetooth. I note from the comments of others that they are not up to snuff compared to some of the higher-tech phones that are available, but they are fine for me since mostly I use a phone to make calls. Being able to easily hear the ring tone and the person I am speaking with is reason enough for me to give the phone 5 stars.

The so called "Cellular User Manual" that came with the phone is terrible. Just a couple of pages of text, no illustrations, and of little value. It took me far too long to put in the SIM card, for example, because the directions were not clear. I kept doing what I thought it said to do, but that was not correct. I then went on line with my computer and found a complete user guide, including illustrations, and highly recommend that anyone who buys the phone do the same if the "manual" that comes with the phone is a murky to you as it was to me. You will save a lot of time and frustration. I tried to include the link to a pdf user manual but Amazon apparently does not permit this since it was left out of the published review. I am now editing the review to recommend a Google search for a Nokia 6085 User Guide.

The phone is good looking and has a solid feel. I've had Nokias at different times in the past and know they give good service.

Buy Nokia 6085 Unlocked Cell Phone with MP3/Video Player, MicroSD Slot-International Version with No Wa Now

I am an international traveler and thought of buying this phone so that I can use local GSM SIM card of the country I travel to. It works well with Germany, India & Australia service providers. I received only phone and AC wall charger in the package but did not receive hands free. This is the only drawback of this phone. So I am removing one star from this rating.

Read Best Reviews of Nokia 6085 Unlocked Cell Phone with MP3/Video Player, MicroSD Slot-International Version with No Wa Here

Here's what I needed from a phone, which this Nokia 6085 delivers quite well:

1. Does *not* require a data plan. I.e., cheap monthly bill. I currently pay about $42/month for my T-Mobile service, and this phone allows me to keep that plan.

2. Has a decent amount of customizablility. Before I ordered this I tried the Samsung Gravity TXT, which is a current T-Mobile offering that doesn't require a data plan. It's a decent enough phone, but, for example, for its main shortcut menu, the Samsung had a very limited number of options you could assign; in contrast, on my 6085, I can put pretty much any app or setting screen in the shortcut menu.

3. Syncs with my Mac. After pairing via Bluetooth, iSync recognized the phone and transfered my contacts (over 300 of them) without any fuss whatsoever. I didn't even need any 3rd-party plugins. I tried a lot of different things to get the Samsung to talk the Mac, and nothing worked. (Yes you can use iSync with Lion. You just have to save a copy of iSync somewhere before you upgrade to Lion, because iSync isn't included with it. Then, after upgrading, you just put the saved copy of iSync in your Applications folder, and it works just fine!)

4. Cheap up-front cost. I bought one of the refurbished ones listed on this page, and paid $38 including overnight Prime shipping. Now of course, there are many current phones that cost nothing. But this was unlocked, and required no contract extension (although I'll never leave T-Mobile if I can help it). And, if you consider that most talk/text/data plans start at around $80, this phone paid for itself in one month.

5. Easy-to-use buttons; easy navigation. The Samsung had a full QWERTY keyboard, but Nokia's predictive text entry is so good, that I don't really miss a full keyboard. The 6085's buttons are nice and big, with good tactile feedback; my fingers aren't huge, but they aren't small either. The Samsung had an "optical" joystick that drove me nuts; the Nokia has the usual four directional buttons.

Other notes:

I had the 6085's sister model, the 6086, many moons ago, and it was perfect; I kept it so long the case started to get really beat up, but that was after three or four years of use. And the phone's innards worked perfectly until the day I recycled it. (The 6085 and 6086 are exactly the same, except the latter could make calls over wi-fi; I don't need that feature this time around.)

The 6085 was offered by AT&T, so it has that logo printed on it. But this was an unlocked phone, and it works flawlessly with my T-Mobile SIM card.

Another thing that's handy, that many newer models don't have, is its external micro SD slot. You don't have to take off the back cover and remove the battery to get at the memory card. I'm pretty sure that if you buy the USB data cable for this phone, you can plug it into your Mac (or PC) and use the phone as a card reader. (Note that the biggest card this phone will take is 2GB; bigger cards will be un-formattable and unusable.)

If you're looking for a music phone, there are obviously tons of better options than this old shcool Nokia, but it's worth noting that even though you can't plug in a regular set of headphones (at least not that I know of), it *will* stream stereo sound over Bluetooth. And it's got an FM radio, although I don't use it so I can't speak to its quality.

Voice recorder: worked great on my 6086 (used it to record lectures, albeit from the 1st or 2nd row), so I'm pretty sure the 6085 will be the same. If there's enough room in phone's memory (or on the SD card, if you're recording to that), it can record up to 60 minutes at a time.

Voice recognition. Here's another reason I like Nokia. I don't have to pre-record my friends' names before using them for voice dialing. Occaisonally the phone guesses wrong, but most of the time it works quite well.

In conclusion, if you want an Android or iPhone-like device, a big screen, a 7-megapixel camera, or more storage than 2GB, you're obviously not going to get this phone. But if you just need a cheap, reliable, *very* useful talk-and-text device--one that syncs contacts and calendars with your Mac's iSync application right out of the box, then this phone is perfect.

Want Nokia 6085 Unlocked Cell Phone with MP3/Video Player, MicroSD Slot-International Version with No Wa Discount?

Nokia phones have great easy to use menus, always. And, this phone has an added "plus" in that it's buttons are really good for "bigger" (you know like GUY) fingers! The buttons themselves are not "bigger" but they are slightly rounded (as opposed to so many phones with cool flat button pads) and so the buttons feel really secure and you just can really tell what you're pushing...I bought this phone for my husband and I really like it...and so does he.

Sandisk 2GB Compactflash Card Type I (SDCFB-2048-A10, Retail Package)

How many pictures will it store? It is the most commonly asked question from digital camera enthusiast but usually the question that is the most difficult to get a straight answer about. Well, considering I worked in the memory industry for over 7 years I can help clarify this perplexing question and do so unbiased as I have since changed industries.

The Sandisk 2GB Compactflash Card Type I, like most 2000MB cards, will store on average 2275 pictures when used with a 2 megapixel camera, 1706 images when used with a 3 megapixel camera, 1024 pictures when used with a 4 megapixel camera, 819 images when used with a 5 megapixel camera, and 640 pictures when used with a 6 megapixel camera. These numbers are based off the assumption that you are going to shoot your images at the highest quality JPEG setting available for the camera and understand that they are estimates and may be off by as much as 10 percent due to numerous factors including the complexity of the scene being shot and the compression algorithm used by your specific camera.

One last thing to consider when buying a 2000MB card. Do not necessarily choose the least expensive card available. A 2000MB card should be an investment. You need to consider quality, reliability, and speed with a card of this capacity. Worse case scenario would be you taking this card (and only this card) on vacation with you overseas and for some reason it gets corrupted. Then what do you do? Purchasing a high capacity card changes the game a little, just be mindful of that before you hit the buy button.

I truly hope this review was helpful to you in determining whether this card is the right capacity for your specific needs.

I have been using 3 128mb, 1 -256mb, and 1 -8mb card with my 2.1 megapixel camera. That got me about 648 photos which has been great for vacations, etc. With the purchase of a new 7 megapixel camera, I found that my photo storage dropped to about 202 photos which was definitely not enough. With the 2gb card, I can take a minimum of 650 photos without changing cards. With my existing cards, that totals at about 850 photos. That number goes up if I use my macro or supermacro settings (they drop the image size to the medium setting). I have had no problems with any of my compact flash cards (all of them being sandisk), all have worked consistently and without issue.

Buy Sandisk 2GB Compactflash Card Type I (SDCFB-2048-A10, Retail Package) Now

I purchased this card to use with my EOS Digital Rebel XTi (a/k/a EOS 400D). It works great and records images with great speed. Additionally, you cannot beat the price that Amazon offers it for.

Read Best Reviews of Sandisk 2GB Compactflash Card Type I (SDCFB-2048-A10, Retail Package) Here

I own three different digital cameras and I use the Sandisk 2GB flash cards in all of them. I have had no problems and I never come close to using all the space. I have several other Sandisk products and have never had an issue with any of them.

Want Sandisk 2GB Compactflash Card Type I (SDCFB-2048-A10, Retail Package) Discount?

sandisk is the old stand by brand name. What can I say but I got a great price.

Save 41% Off

EzCAP116 USB 2.0 VHS to DVD Converter. Capture & convert video from VHS, Hi8, All Camcorders, DVD p

After searching the net for a video capture device for my Windows 7 system, I found only 2 choices that claimed to actually work on windows 7. One was a fire-wire device for $200 and the other was the EZcap device. Since I only occasionally convert video, I went for the much cheaper solution. The product works but there is a problem with the sound USB driver included in the package. It did not work!. Found this on You Tube . This shows how to install sound drivers and has link to working driver. Only other problem I saw while digitizing my videos is the sound would drop out momentarily while recording.

This product disproves the old saying about things that seem too good to be true. This little peanut shaped EZcap and the software that comes with it does the job of products costing hundreds more. It does everything it is advertised to do with a very small learning curve. It comes with a downloadable manual that explains and illustrates exactly how to do everything. I am in the process of downloading years of family video tapes from my VCR to my computer, editing them and making professional looking DVD's with all kinds of neat titles and special effedcts. I have used it on both Vista and Windows 7 computers. A little driver tweak was necessary to get it to work with Windows 7. Shipping took only a couple days and the supplier e-mailed me after I received it to see if I had any questions. At nearly 70 years of age, this little item may be the best value I have ever received for the money spent.

Buy EzCAP116 USB 2.0 VHS to DVD Converter. Capture & convert video from VHS, Hi8, All Camcorders, DVD p Now

If your looking for a cheap way to record videos onto dvd, ipod, psp, or anything, this is a good choice to make. There are better alternatives, but come with a higher price. So if you want good quality recordings at an affordable price, this is the product you want. Comes with all but one item that you need to start recording, which is a male to male rca cable to hook up the ezcap to your tv/dvd/vcr/anything that has a female output on it. But luckily for consoles you can hook it straight up to the ezcap and start recording with the showbiz software it comes with.

Read Best Reviews of EzCAP116 USB 2.0 VHS to DVD Converter. Capture & convert video from VHS, Hi8, All Camcorders, DVD p Here

This device is ideal for any analog video capturing. (VHS, 8mm...) Having gone through the easy setup and installation, I made my first atttempt to capture one of my VHS home movies. Fifteen minutes into the video capture, the recording stopped and displayed this message: "VIDEO IS COPYRIGHT PROTECTED.VIDEO CAPTURE WILL NOT RESUME". Don't sweat it. All you have to do is disable the protection pop-up. Here's the fix. And trust me, it works. Haven't had a single issue since this fix. Enjoy.

You have to edit a configuration file.

Navigate to:

C:\Program Files\ArcSoft\TotalMedia ShowBiz\com.ArcSoft.CaptureModule\

Open "CaptureModule.ini" with notepad. Add "ProtectOn=0" under "[CaptureModule]" and save.

If it does not let you save, it is because your pc user permissions need to be changed.

Right click on the file, select properties

select "security" at the top

click on "users" and click on the "edit" box

Put a click in all the boxes and click on "apply"

Now it will let you edit and save the file.

Want EzCAP116 USB 2.0 VHS to DVD Converter. Capture & convert video from VHS, Hi8, All Camcorders, DVD p Discount?

The supplier emailed me the fix for the USB Audio glitch which worked great. I believe a couple of comments lists out the fix. Capture works good overall except the included capture software ArcSoft Showbiz will throw a Copyright error every time your VHS tape runs a blemish through it which is quite often with old video tapes so had to sit by PC and watch old videos all the way thru (whoo!) and restart every time it glitched.

Save 20% Off

GE 73296 Component Video Cable, 6-Feet

seems to be good quality, used to connect older DVD unit to new HD Vizio TV without a problem, and such a good price.

Cables worked perfectly. They even included the audio cables and they worked perfectly too.. Delivery was very quick and the price can't be beat. I'll probably order another set.

Buy GE 73296 Component Video Cable, 6-Feet Now

Bundle - 3 items: Sennheiser ME66 - K6 - Super-Cardioid Mic Capsule with K6 and Mic Windscreen

• This Bundle kit includes 3 Items: Sennheiser ME66 - Short Shotgun Mic Capsule, Sennheiser K6 Powering Module (Battery or Phantom) and Mic Windscreen
• Sennheiser ME66 - Short Shotgun Mic Capsule
• Sennheiser K6 Powering Module (Battery or Phantom)
• Mic Windscreen

I simply love it. It is great quality, highly accurate, and records clear clean sound. I have worked with some other microphones and I have always found something I was not happy with. I've had this one for almost a year and I have no complaints. It picks up sound well, and is clean. The bass is good and solid and voices do not sound hollow or flat. It can be battery powered or phantom (using camera power if you camera supports it.) I have only used the phantom power and I have never picked up a hiss, static, buzz, or too much ambient white noise. I hear microphones pick up more of that if they are on battery power, but I am very happy with it.

Pros:

Clean crisp sound devoid of hiss, buzz, or static.

Acceptable price, more then others, but well worth it.

Options for Battery or Phantom power.

Cons:

Does not come with a shoe mount, but those are easily bought.

A little long, but not really a big deal.

If mine broke today, I'd order a new one exactly the same right away, it is the best you can get without going into thousands of dollars.

Buy Bundle - 3 items: Sennheiser ME66 - K6 - Super-Cardioid Mic Capsule with K6 and Mic Windscreen Now

The Sennheiser ME33 w/K6 is a no-brainer for anyone. Excellent audio quality, built-in phantom power (excellent battery life) so you can use it with a DSLR. (Far better than the Rode Vidmic) I think this mic is a bargin and is just a great, all-around choice for many sound applications. A little long, but worth it--

Read Best Reviews of Bundle - 3 items: Sennheiser ME66 - K6 - Super-Cardioid Mic Capsule with K6 and Mic Windscreen Here

This is one of the best microphones currently on the market. Besides affordability, the quality is awesome, which makes it unnecessary to purchase something more expensive. This is great equipment for the amateur as well as the pro, outside or inside, film production or music recordings. An all-around great deal! Highly recommended!

Want Bundle - 3 items: Sennheiser ME66 - K6 - Super-Cardioid Mic Capsule with K6 and Mic Windscreen Discount?

The Sennheiser mic is great and I'm very happy with the kit, but I had to get it from a different seller. The first seller, DVeStore shipped the kit without the windscreen. When I contacted them about it they told me to buy the windscreen (again) and they would reimburse me later. That is unacceptable IMO. Amazon I trust, others not so much. I sent it back and purchased it from the seller Videoscope they got it right and it has worked flawlessly. Five stars for the product and Videoscope, 2 stars for DVeStore.

Besta MT-7000 - Two Way Chinese-English Electronic Dictionary and E-Tutor

I am a third-semester Chinese student at the University of Wisconsin. I bought this because the third semester requires more frequent use of a Chinese dictionary, and using a paper dictionary made doing homework a bit slow. Also, the cheaper BBK AM101 was discontinued, but having used the MT7000 for a little while, I'm kind of glad about that.

My favorite part about the MT7000, which to me is nearly invaluable, is that it makes Chinese accessible, even for an English speaking fellow. Pinyin is always available next to characters, you can highlight any character or group of characters in a longer sentence to have them separately translated to English, and you are able to draw any character you see to find a concise and accurate English definition for it.

The handwriting recognition is excellent (this isn't Besta's first time making one), and all the things I've mentioned together mean that I no longer have to guess what a character means when I'm reading. This is a great help toward learning the language, and I imagine if you are traveling to China, it will also be very useful.

If I could add one feature to this product, I would allow the user to click a button and see the measure words associated with any particular countable noun in the dictionary. For now, I just go to the English to Chinese translator and type in: "one [noun]", and it will give an appropriate measure word in the translation :)

Lastly, I called customer support to get an additional feature that's present on some units (but not mine), and they were super helpful. They specially downloaded the software onto an SD card and shipped it to me for the price of the card and shipping. I didn't have to wait on hold, and they were great about calling back in a timely manner.

English is not widely spoken in China like it is in Japan or even Thailand. English is more common in the business sector in China than it is in the general population but in either case it is spotty. Since I am going by myself I wanted some sort of language crutch in the event I could not get my point across. I looked at several devices and settled on the Ectaco. The Ectaco was nearly twice as much and at first seemed like the better unit. Well, after using it for a while I started to become concerned that it was not going to be very useful so I bought the Besta MT-7000 as an alternate.

The Besta MT-7000 is the one to get. It is less expensive, easier to use, and provides much more accurate translations. I had a friend from Shanghai confirm the accuracy of the English to Chinese translation. Several simple sentences were input to both devices such as "How are you?" and "Where is the Subway?". The Ectaco translations made zero sense to my Chinese friend but the Besta translations were close enough and in some cases were perfect.

It should be understood that English and Chinese are so different that there is no automated one-to-one translation device or software that can translate with any degree of accuracy. Even Google translation is pretty weak. This is not the fault of the devices or the software you simply must have a human do the translation if you want to get the meaning across. Software cannot decipher the speakers meaning and that is where the translations break down. When meaning is attempted it can yield results ranging from funny to catastrophic. Many languages can be translated with a high degree of accuracy with a device like this but not so with a language as complex and about as far away from English as you can get as Chinese is.

So there is no perfect solution for English Chinese or Chinese English translations other than to have a translator with you.

The Besta MT-7000 is about as close as you can get and I recommend this if you are a first time visitor to China particularly if you are going alone.

Buy Besta MT-7000 - Two Way Chinese-English Electronic Dictionary and E-Tutor Now

I've bought for two reasons. First to do sentence translation from english to Chinese. Second as a learning tool to help me learn the language. In both areas the product is a little bit better then OK and in some areas very good. Some background, I'v been to China 6 times so far each time with a electronic translator of some kind. I started out with a simple BBK 100, simple unit worked well, did the job only 120.00 not feature rich but then again did the job. It ate batteries and had a poor backlight LCD display; but it did the job, luck would have it I lost it. I buy another one, go to China again, same unit but no backlight and ate batteries. So, I'm in China, find myself in an IT type mall (what fun) and I run into a vendor selling translators. I pickup a Besta unit designed for the Chinese market, was pretty nice. Managed to get it work in english mode. Good display, good rechargeable battery etc. Translations was pretty good, but not better then the 120.00 BBK; but i could see the screen. It saved my bacon. However, it had a serious problem after 20 mins of sentence translation it would reboot was terrible. Digging into the unit it had a software version of 1.0 and you couldn't update the thing.

Going back to China, so I decided to get a new Besta unit as they seem to be good and some sort of market leader. The one I got in Beijing was good, but the reboot issue an lack of support was a show stopper. Perhaps a shiny new updated unit designed for the english market would be much better and if it rebooted, well i could probably get better support. So I went and spent the nearly 400.00 for this unit. First off, it's got a really nice display, easy to see, good colors and great battery life. Sentence translation isn't any better then my other units, but this is an area that is tricky to get right. The learning materials in the unit aren't bad, some are very good like chinese classroom (an SD card that came with it). The E-C dictionaries are good. It also has some nice PIM features but in the age of iPhones these are useless features to me.

My real grip with the unit is that it doesn't offer enough learning material for english speakers to learn Mandarin. It has way too many learning tools for Chinese speakers to learn english but I thought this was designed for the english speaking market (i called Besta to confirm this). So overall, it is a fairly good unit. It is well built. A little expensive and it does make for a good electronic dictionary. I just wished it had a better interface, more learning tools for english speakers. The PM features are ok, but a waste of resources (if you've got a smart phone). I would recommend this unit if the learning materials for english speakers were better, however, at nearly 400.00 in its current state of development I couldn't recommend it. Besta could help itself, by simply making their website more accessible to english speakers for updating the unit and downloading more material but in its current state, their website is terrible. I do plan on keeping the unit (hoping this will get better via their website). I'll be taking it to china in a week and we'll see if it's better then others I've got.

Update:

Took this little unit on a 10 day trip to China. The unit perfumed as expected but no better then any others I have used that cost 1/4 the price. So if your price sensitive don't waste your money on this. Some strong points, the battery life is really good. A charge lasted a good day (and I mean using the thing). Display is very good and easy to read. Maddening feature, font size. I found a way to get the chinese characters to show large after the translation which was great. Then I did something and it went back to like a 10pt font and I couldn't for the life of me get it back to something like an 18pt font.

I'm lowering my recommendation by a star due to it's performance, clunky interface and cost. The unit is nice, translation is no better then units costing 1/4 the price. But for the price, it's hard to recommend hence lowering my rating to 3 stars.

Read Best Reviews of Besta MT-7000 - Two Way Chinese-English Electronic Dictionary and E-Tutor Here

this is such an awesome tool to have with you. i wish they would just make this type of program for my cell phone tho, as this unit is about the same size, and a cell phone could easily handle the load.

very good learning programs that are very helpful. actually teaches you Chinese, and does not make you play a matching game for 700 hours like Rosetta stone, (plus its about half the price, and you get a cool, portable tool)

without boring you, i agree with everything positive said above(or below) about this translator. the only cons i have are that they do not tell you what can be run on the device. like what format the games have to be in, what format the movies need to be in, what type of apps you can run (also, they have no extra apps for it that you can buy) its almost like they made it, and moved on. its a shame, as i was looking for hours for more things that i could load on to it, and was willing to pay lots to do it.

it has about 1.20 GB of eternal memory that can be accessed (probably really 2gb+, but they hide the other half so you dont remove the videos or something) their is also about 1gb of memory that is FREE, and when you add a Memory card, you can add hours worth of movies to it. (great for any plane ride). screen is very bright, and the quality of the screen is very good for movies as well.

Want Besta MT-7000 - Two Way Chinese-English Electronic Dictionary and E-Tutor Discount?

This product is not good...it's awesome!!Amazing...and much more..

Really helpful!! I'm brazilian and was studying chinese here in US..my lever is not so high..needed a dictionary as all students and tried to find one that was good..but when I saw this one and decided to buy I had no idea how good it would be!! Has thing to help people like me..and has resources to help people in advanced levels also..I really recommend!!!

Save 13% Off

1.5FT Optical Toslink Cable

I thought I would get a cable that was the same diameter as the four or five foot cables that I have. This one is about 1/16" in diameter and it didn't work for what I wanted it for anyway. Maybe not it's fault, who knows?

I purchased this because the cable pictured is thick, with rounded connector ends, the one I received is the exact opposite, both thin and squared... squared is the opposite of rounded, right? This cable is too flimsy to do anything with, to tell the truth I was a bit worried about opening the packaging and breaking the oh so thin, not to mention fragile looking, cable, well, cable really is too strong a word, thick string would be a better description... yeah, I try to get what I pay for, apparently this was not the place to spend my money!

Buy 1.5FT Optical Toslink Cable Now

Don't have much to say about this other than it is small like I wanted and it works as expected. What else could you want to know? Is it 1.5' = YES! Does it work = YES!

Read Best Reviews of 1.5FT Optical Toslink Cable Here

Thinnest wire ever!! The twist tie wrapping it was thickernot a joke, the twist tie was actually thicker. It doesn't even deserve 1 star, but they don't offer a 0 star rating. I've never even posted a 1 star review before.

Bad seller, u can't show a pic of a product and send a different one, amazon should drop this vendor.

I bought a different digi optical cable from a different vendor and it was great, just as pictured. It was only 1.50 more, wishing I would have just bought 2 from that other vendor. This vendor is a fraud!!

It wouldn't be so bad if not for the ONLY reason I bought it was to replace a similar thin gauge optical wire, but that one was a FREE throw in on a nice headset

Seriously Amazonfor the good of your company, you need to drop this vendor

Want 1.5FT Optical Toslink Cable Discount?

What's there to say? Light magically travels through this thing to convey audio information to devices. This one is pretty short, but for my application (feeding a pair of Turtle Beach headphones) it was just right.

Initial IDM-9530 5-Inch Portable DVD Player

• 5-inch LCD with 4:3 widescreen display to match the aspect ratio of your favorite movies
• Plays DVD-Video, VCD/SVCD, MP3 CD; features built-in stereo speakers
• Anti-shock system ensures smooth playback during active use
• Composite-video output; optical digital-audio output for Dolby Digital and DTS surround passthrough
• Derives 2.5 hours playback time from supplied rechargeable lithium battery

1. The 5" screen is really small, because it's the conventional 4:3 aspect ratio, while most DVDs are widescreen, so you really lose a lot of details. The Panasonic LS5 also has a 5" screen but is widescreen, so it actually gives you more viewing real estate than this one.

2. Questionable quality and durability. Occasionally my unit would give out an unnerving whine as it spins the disc. Very annoying. The screen hinge seems quite flimsy.

Buy Initial IDM-9530 5-Inch Portable DVD Player Now

Just recv'd my player today and I'm really impressed.. not only does it play my dvd+r's but it also plays my dvd+rw's I made on my philips dvd recorder. The picture is crisp and the colors look great, the audio even sounds good for such tiny speakers, I was suprised just how loud it will go and still sound good. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a player on the go.

Read Best Reviews of Initial IDM-9530 5-Inch Portable DVD Player Here

I bought this dvd player about 2 years ago and I also bought it with a case so it would be protected...or not. This dvd player is literally made out of garbage. The plastice hinges where the screen is held broke off so now it is just hanging by two wires. The compartment also broke off where the dvd is put in. Also, if you do not use the so-called "2.5 hour" (which at the most I can get out of it is 1.5 hours) battery within two days when you last used it, then the battery will die. Also what I've noticed is if you tap the compartment where the dvd is place in it will start the movie over, and the movie sometimes just goes blank when I'm in the middle of watching it. Bottom line is that no one should by this dvd player. You're better off with some other company that makes better dvd players.

Want Initial IDM-9530 5-Inch Portable DVD Player Discount?

Like the last reviewer, I do not understand the negative reviews on this product either. The Player is a low-end player, but does the job asked to do (plays DVDs) at a very reasonable price. It has a 4:3 format screen and it is not progressive scan. If you want those features, you're not going to find it at this price point (so stop complaining about them).

The picture quality looks fine to me when played on the 5" screen (I've never plugged it into a TV). Widescreen movies play in letterbox on the screen and make the image a little smaller, but on an airplane or in the back of a car this is still perfect size (especially if you are stuck in coach/economy, like I usually am).

Battery life is short (< 2.0 hours), true... so use the car cable or AC adapter (can I say "duh" here). If you need this on a flight I'd recommend picking up the RB-270 extended battery (5400mah) or the RB-Li06 (3600mAH) battery that came with the older 9510-series. For some reason Initial went cheap and lowered the battery on the 9530 to 2200mAH. Batteries only range from 25-50 dollars, and cosidering how inexpensive the player is, adding an extra battery just improves the overall usefulness of this device. You can find this this player and the 6-hour battery for the price of most other players on the market that only have 2.5-3.0 hour battery life standard. I get close to 8 hours (total), for the price of 2.5 hours players. Hard to beat that!

The bottom line: this is perfect for travel, inexpensive, and I have no problem recommending this device. It works for me. Pick one up when it goes on sale, and you'll be happy too.

This dvd player is great for the price (I did not buy thru Amazon, but I am a happy Amazon customer) Picture quality is good, sound quality could be better, (but for the price I paid, I'm not complaining...) and overall I believe I got my money's worth since I only use it at work. I'm having a blast with this player!!!

The only problem I seem to be having is the unit heats up during playback and I have to let it cool off between discs for fear that it might overheat and cause damage to the "guts" of the machine. If anyone knows how to remedy this please let me know! :)

Sony CDP-CE500 Compact Disc Player

• 5-disc carousel capacity
• Optical and analog audio output
• Plays MP3 files burned to disc
• LCD display shows disc and track numbers
• Remote control included,1-Year Parts and Labor Warranty
• Output Connectors : Analog (L,R) jack x 1, Digital optical x 1 and Control PortUSB x 1

I have only used the unit for a couple of days. So far the CD portion is working fine. I put it on shuffle all disks and let it go. No glitches, all good. Not so when playing mp3s off USB sticks. I have tried 4 different brands of USB drive. In each case the unit plays at most 1 or 2 complete songs. Then in the middle of a song playback stops, the unit shows DATA ERROR and advances to the next song. I have tried drives between 1GB and 8GB from SanDisk, PNY, Memorex and MicroCenter. Same results for all drives. I am in the process of having the unit replaced and will report the results on the new unit.

11/15/2011 update

Kudos to Amazon for a very quick turn-around on the replacement unit. Requested Sunday, received Tuesday! So far I have listened to parts of 4 CDs from 2 different USB drives with no problems. So it appears the first unit was just defective. Will post more when I get more hours on the unit. It is definitely nice to have the USB capability!

12/8/2011 update

I have been using the unit several hours a day since 11/15 with no problems. Having the flexibility to play CDs and mp3s off the USB is really a plus. The ability to erase tracks on the USB when a song doesn't fit my intended mix is a nice feature. I am changing the review from 3 to 4 stars based on the function of the replacement unit and Amazon's great customer service.

Buy Sony CDP-CE500 Compact Disc Player Now

this disc changer is awesome no problems what so ever, very clear sound and it doesn't even skip on CDs with minor scratches on them.

Read Best Reviews of Sony CDP-CE500 Compact Disc Player Here

My husband wanted this CD player for his birthday...because in addition to playing CDs it will also play music downloaded to his computer and then to the flash drive. Our old speakers are

still working great and now the new downloaded MP3 songs can also be played,as well as our special CDs that he has made over the years. Wonderful MP3 player alternative! We've had no problems with the CD player performing perfectly.

Want Sony CDP-CE500 Compact Disc Player Discount?

I read some mixed reviews on this unit prior to buying, but I love mine. It works as it should and sounds great. There may be more high-end units out there that are better, but no one should be afraid to pick up this piece. It's sleek and works perfectly.

Save 25% Off

I play my CDs quite a bit (average 2-3 hours per day) and have gone through five of these in seven years. They last about a year maybe a little more if you get lucky. My last one lasted 8 months. Then the crazy thing just spins and spins and can't land on a song, be it one CD or five that I'm trying to play. I hadn't been able to find a good option to the SONY but I finally got a YAMAHA that I'm hoping will last longer. For me having a 5 CD player is important and there just aren't many choices out there.

Sony ICD-P28 Digital Voice Recorder

I just purchased this recorder before going to a lecture, hoping to record it to listen to again later. I must say, this little toy is slick. It's very small, and has a very nice interface. Unfortunately, when I played back the recording I made, it was almost inaudible. It was extremely muffled, with periodic extremely loud noises, whenever the recorder was gently touched or moved. I've also tried testing it, recording my own voice when holding it up in front of me. It was definitely audible, but not as clear as I had expected it should be.

Another thing to consider is that, despite the fact that this unit has a USB interface, you cannot access your recordings without installing Sony's custom software. The disc that comes with it only has software for Windows 98 through XP, and although it does support wav, it does not seem to support MP3, as advertised on the box. I doubt you can rely on Sony to support this recorder indefinitely, so its future obsolescence might also be a deciding factor in purchasing it or not.

I just purchased the ICD-P28 Digital Voice Recorder about 2 weeks ago. I recorded a 2 hour meeting with this recorder and the recording was very clear and understandable. I was in a meeting hall with a sound system. I came home and downloaded the recording to my computer's hard drive, and the recording sounds even better over the computer's speakers. Then, I copied the file to a CDR disk. The copy was successful. The only drawback is that I can only play the disk on my computer. I cannot play it on any other cd player. I tried converting the file to mp3 format through another software, it sounded horrible. So, now I'm trying to find a way that I can convert my files to a format that my cd-mp3 player will accept. I must admit that I found this very disappointing. However, the IDC-P28 does exactly what it says it will do. I recommend after buying this item, read the instructions and directions carefully. You will find that it clearly says that the recorder does not support mp3 format, and it never said that on the package either.

Buy Sony ICD-P28 Digital Voice Recorder Now

I am a working journalist and I have really found this recorder to be a handy tool for me. It took a little while to get accustomed to using it, but it has proven its worth to me for several interviews, press conferences, court hearings, government meetings, even a funeral of a local dignitary that I needed to cover. I have been happy with the clarity of the recordings, even those of people speaking on a microphone, through an amplifier. I haven't had any other digital recorder, so I have nothing to compare this to, but overall it has done the job I needed it to do.

I have only one small complaint the small display screen isn't working so well, but it hasn't hampered my ability to use it, since what I normally do is record, then download onto my computer, where I actually listen to the recordings.

Downloading the files are very simple. I will note that the recordings come in an special format so you do need the special software to listen to it, but the files are convertible to other formats if need be. I don't find this a problem because I don't need it in other formats, but I can see how this may be a problem for others.

Read Best Reviews of Sony ICD-P28 Digital Voice Recorder Here

I was looking for a personal digital recorder long time ago, and evaluated so many options from prices ranging from 80$ to 200$ and finally, I've chose this one. The recorder has many cool features and the recording quality is just great!. I placed the recorder on a table and walked away 5 meters from the table, and talked no louder than my normal voice volume, the recording was crystal clear. I recommend this one!. NOTE: I haven't tried it to record a lecture.

Want Sony ICD-P28 Digital Voice Recorder Discount?

I purchased this recorder to take to a writer's seminar in February 2005 in which I hoped to record the speaker instead of taking notes by hand. The recorder picked up every noise near me my legs crossing, feet shuffling, the lady next to me coughing it is so sensitive that it picked up so much next-to-me noise that the speaker's voice was inaudible (she was only 4 rows away in a small room).

I also tried using the recorder on my own dictation, and it was audible, but with a lot of background noise again. I'm not super picky about products, but really am disappointed with this one.

Bell+Howell Take 1 T100-BK Camcorder with 1x Optical Zoom and 1.5-Inch LCD Screen (Black)

Purchased this video camera for an 8-year old who is quite sharp. I would not present it to her, as the camera took poor videos and pictures and I would not want to insult her. The included batteries did not work -had to find others just to see if the camera really worked. The housing is made of a cheap plastic. Sorry, you don't even get what you paid for. Hopefully I can get a full refund, as I am new at this Amazon shopping business.

Good starter camera for a 9-11 year old. Allows them to learn about a digital camera without investing the costs.

Buy Bell+Howell Take 1 T100-BK Camcorder with 1x Optical Zoom and 1.5-Inch LCD Screen (Black) Now

small screen, dark picture, have to be close distance to get what you are filming.... bought it for my daughter but even for a child, it was uninteresting because she could not see what she was filming.

Read Best Reviews of Bell+Howell Take 1 T100-BK Camcorder with 1x Optical Zoom and 1.5-Inch LCD Screen (Black) Here

This is a great camera if you aren't looking for quality, but you are looking for a super cute and easy to use camcorder. I love how the USB comes out and it makes it so easy to plug into the computer and edit and save your videos. Just make sure you have a lot of light when you are taking a video.

Want Bell+Howell Take 1 T100-BK Camcorder with 1x Optical Zoom and 1.5-Inch LCD Screen (Black) Discount?

Good starter camera for a 9-11 year old. Allows them to learn about a digital camera without investing the costs.

PalmOne Zire 72 Handheld

If you are debating between a pocket PC and a Palm, you might try downloading Palm's desktop software from the web. I was debating between a Dell and the Palm Zire 72, mostly because there seemed to be some rather negative reviews about the Palm on Amazon. What swayed me is that I love the Palm system, especially the desktop software.

Well, I got my Zire 72 and I love it. I now have a complete photo album, a voice recorder, a camera plus the usually Palm goodies. Instead of hauling around a bunch of very heavy dictionaries, I am now loading them onto the Palm. No, the camera isn't as good as my stand-a-long Kodak, but it is fine and handy to have. The quality of the voice recordings is excellent-far better than my two stand-a-lone digital recorders. The included documents-to-go program works well and I actually do find myself working of documents in places I would never haul my lap-top.

If you have an older Palm-my last one was an m105, I think you would be really surprised at how much more useful the newer high-res Palms are. For the price that Amazon is selling the Zire 72, it is rather an incredible package. I'm really happy I stuck with Palm.

After reading many reviews here at Amazon and at other opinion sites, I went ahead and gambled with the 72, considering most of the reviews were negative.

My reasoning for going ahead with the purchase was simply because for the money, no other Palm device came close to offering everything that the 72 did. Plus, most of the negative reviews were for cosmetic issues. And I have had two Palms in the past (an original Palm Pilot Pro and a Palm IIIx) and had great service from both.

For my job, the 72 has been better than I expected it could be. I can open, edit,even create Excel spreadsheets in native .xls format. I have purchased an app called Note Studio that is incredible at organizing notes and text files. I can take pictures and listen to mp3's along with using the traditional Palm apps (the agenda view for the calendar is great).

I have since added a WiFi card and when in the presence of a wireless network or a T-Mobile hotspot, I can browse the web, check my corporate email, etc. Like I said, it has exceeded my expectations.

A couple of notes... I notice that one reviewer said his never held a charge, even after the 3+ hours initial charging.

The recomended initial charging is at least 12 hours, not 3. And the intructions are emphatic on this point, saying that any less than a 12 hour initial charge willeffect the future performance and life of the battery. Mine could use better battery life, but I use it extensivley daily (3 4 hours) and I charge mine nightly and have never "run out" of charge. I think the average user using the 72 for contacts, reminders, planning, etc., will have no problem going three or four days on a charge.

I have had the device for almost two months now and I have had it freeze twice. Both times required a reset. Once I was editing a spreadsheets using the Documents to Go application while playing an MP3 in the background, and once I was setting up my WiFi card.

The reason for four stars and not five? The blue finish. This is supposedly some sort of new DuPont coating. It appears to be either too soft or simply doesn't adhere as needed to the smooth plastic underneath. I don't have a serious issue with it as I have been very careful, but i can see with even average use with no case, you would have an ugly Palm rather quickly. I have a piece of the blue coating around where the stylus goes in where mine has peeled.

The reason I didn't count off more for this is because you can virtualy solve it... buy the hard case from Palm. 29 bucks and the 72 fits perfectly and snuggly in foam supports and protects the looks. It still fits in a shirt pocket and even has a sliding cover on the rear that protects the camera lens. All ports and card slots are exposed so that you really never have to take it out of the case (I don't).

Don't be scared of the Palm Zire 72. Two suggestions...

Follow the instructions following battery charging EXACTLY and,

BUY THE HARD CASE. You won't regret your purchase.

Just opinions from an owner.

Buy PalmOne Zire 72 Handheld Now

The Zire 72 seems like such a great product. It has built-in bluetooth, USB, a camera, voice recorder, SD card slot, mp3 player, all the standard timeand contact-management utilities, and an extensive third-party development environment. For the most part it lives up to expectations.

HOWEVER, after using my Zire for a couple weeks I have to comment on a few problems I've run into...

First has got to be the -reallybad paint job which stared flaking off the very first day! Plan on spending a few extra bucks to get a "skin" when they come out (and they will, since -everyonewho buys a Zire 72 will need one). The paint is a sort of rubbery texture that I'm sure they put on to provide a better grip (which it does). Unfortunately it does not stick very well at all to the underlying surface. It is very easy to scrape it with just a fingernail to expose the underlying surface. It doesn't stop there either, because once dinged, the damage slowly spreads as the nearby paint continues to peel away, especially up near the top right where you're always rubbing against it to pull the stylus out.

Second is the awful camera performance. Actually, the camera itself seems to work ok, but the auto-exposure firmware really doesn't work well at all. If you take the time to manually adjust the settings (sunlight/incandescent/flourescent, low-light) and can wait a few moments for the camera software to catch up then you can get some decent pictures, indoors or out. If you don't, the results will be generally low-quality (over/underexposed, grainy, bad color, etc.).

Third is the marginal battery life. I can get through a whole day on a fully-charged battery, but only just. I'm concerned that as time goes by and the battery degrades that I'm going to have problems running out of power before the day is done. That would not be so bad if I chould just throw in another set of AAA cells, but that's not an option with the built-in battery on the Zire. If I forget to plug it in overnight I don't even get through my morning. Not good. Plan on carrying around the power adaptor with you for emergencies (or buying one for the office and one for home).

Next is the lack of a built-in file manager. I was able to get the "media" app on the palm to display some mpeg video clips I had made before purchasing the Zire. Encouraged by my success, I tried an avi and a Quicktime file. These transferred to the SD card I know because the available filespace went down but they did not show up in the "media" app. Ok, failed experiment, no big deal. However, they also are not visible in the main "delete" menu, or anywhere else I've checked. So it seems that if no app on the Zire recognizes a file, there appears to be no way to reclaim the space from within the palm short of reformatting the card and resyncing to recover your data! Bad user interface.

Also, speaking of cards, you -mustget a SD card if you plan on playing audio or video. The only exception is the built-in voice recorder, which will record to and play from the built-in RAM. The Realplayer audio player and the video capture feature of the camera on the other hand require a card to store data on.. you will not be able to use either feature without one.

I give the Zire 72 a 3-star rating as is, deducting 1 star each for the awful paint job and the user interface issues with file management and camera auto-exposure (non)functionality. With a hopefully forthcoming firmware update from PalmOne to address the softare issues, and a little work on my part stripping off the rest of the paint I think I might be inclined to bump that up to 4 stars.

If they had left off the paint entirely and fixed the software issues I would definitely be giving it a solid 4 stars, maybe even 4.5 (0.5 off for battery life).

Read Best Reviews of PalmOne Zire 72 Handheld Here

I'm thrilled that they've released this model (especially at this price!) While palm hasn't managed to get it "perfect" just yet, this model is a definite improvement over the Zire 71! If you're new to the Zire series, be sure to read the specs there's a ton of great features for this price!

For starters, there's a higher resolution on the built-in hidden camera. It's now up to 1.2 Megapixels, with automatic white control (which basically means that in most situations you don't need a flash!). It's not as high of a resolution as Sony's models, but still a definitely improvement. Of course bringing the photos to the desktop is very easy when you use the included Palm desktop software! Now with the addition of video it's even better!

Second is the redesign some reviewers of the Zire 71 called the unit "slippery", but I haven't had that problem with this model!

Third, is the BlueTooth. I've found it to be less easy to use than WiFi, which is popular with PocketPC and higher-end Palm models, but still very effective for accessing the internet. However, with WiFi you can't connect to the internet AND have a local network with other BlueTooth users so if there was only one technology to choose from BlueTooth is the one. I swear if this unit had WiFi I would have bought one for everyone I know! Also why it gets 4 out of 5 stars.

With this model they have included a conduit to sync with Outlook, which previously had to be purchased. That's a big draw, especially for multimedia-loving office workers!

They've also redesigned the model some, including removing the joystick. Some reviewers of the Zire 71 disliked the joystick because they felt it turned the unit on excessivily, but I loved (and will miss) the Joystick for playing the Sonic the Hedgehog game that was released for the Zire 71. I find that the directional button that palm has changed to can be clumsy for game-playing.

Two years ago I would have given this unit 5 stars, but Palm seems to always be slightly behind the times. Of course BlueTooth is a nice edition, and the redesigned packaging is also a note that Palm is paying attention. However, if they had added Wifi instead of BlueTooth I'm sure they would be selling a lot more of these. The camera resolution is less than the Sony Clie's, but still an overall improvement. The price is what makes it such a catch you get the basic functions of most high-end Palm Pilots, for half the cost. If you're into multimedia and contact management this is definitely the unit for you! It seriously makes contact management FUN!

Want PalmOne Zire 72 Handheld Discount?

Defending the Zire 72 Palm handheld.

I have a Zire 72, and I am convinced that it is an excellent PDA. However this particular Palm gets relatively bad reviews and bad ratings. This document will record each negative thing that I could find about this PDA and my response to these comments. Is the Zire 72 the best PDA for everyone from every walk of life? No, and it doesn't intend to be. But as for what it DOES intend to be, this Palm is one of the best, in my opinion.

Negative Comments:

1.) The Palm continually crashes.

Response: This does not necessarily have anything to do with the Zire 72. The Palm OS is not the most stable of all operating systems. Having said that, I can say with all certainty that my Zire 72 does not continually crash. This is the second Zire 72 that I have owned. The first one I owned I sold to my brother. Yes, it does continually crash. However, it is noteworthy that this Palm is over 3 years old, has been dropped several times, the speaker has been broken, it has been stepped on by the dog, and the battery has been severely abused.

2.) The paint peels off too easy.

Response: Yes, the first Zire 72's that came out had a blue rubber finish that did come off quiet easily. However, my Zire 72, as well as any Zire 72 made within the last year or so, will not have this problem, the Palm now has a different kind of paint, and it still looks the same. Also, Palm has come out with a special edition of the Zire 72 that has no paint and is silver like other PDA's such as the Tungsten E, E2 etc.

3.) Palm has bad service.

Response: This is a common objection to the Zire 72 and many other Palm handhelds. However, even if this allegation were true about Palm, it would have nothing to do with the Zire 72 itself (as well as any other Palm handheld). The Zire 72 could be the greatest PDA ever, and if someone drops it and it breaks, and Palm gives them a hard time about it, that is between Palm and them. I am not here to defend Palm as a company, only this particular handheld. I only mentioned this objection because it is so widely held among people who review the Zire 72. People will have a bad experience and give this Palm a 1-star rating which causes its average to go down. The Zire 72 doesn't have bad service, Palmone does.

4.) It's not very compatible with Windows XP

Response: This is simply not true as far as I know. I have Windows Xp and it works great with this PDA and the Hotsync software. Xp is very compatible with USB devices. This particular user may have just not known how to configure his system properly.

5.) Poor battery life

Response: Not really. Granted the Zire 72 doesn't have the best battery life out of all the PDAs, I have not had any problems with it in this respect. I will say that the Zire 72 has an extremely bright screen. If you turn down the brightness on this screen it will greatly increase the battery life. (NOTE: Even after turning the brightness on the screen to its lowest setting, the Zire 72 still has a brighter output than virtually any Sony Clie and many other PDA's).

6.) It is too delicate and there is no case to protect this unit.

Response: This is simply not true, yet it is still used to give this Palm bad ratings. Palm has made a wonderful hard case for this unit that they will include for free if you buy the Zire 72 through them. There is also a hard plastic clear case, and Rhinoskin has also recently come out with a case for this unit.

7.) The price is too high.

Response: Not by a long shot. Considering that this Palm has a camera, and Mp3 player, a voice recorder, Bluetooth, a 312Mhz processor, and a thin lightweight design it is not expensive at all compared to other PDA's with far less features. Actually, since this Palm is not all too popular, you can find it for even less. You can get a brand new Zire 72 for less than $200.

8.) It constantly losses all its data

Response: I have never had a problem with this. The only Zire 72 I've ever heard of loosing its data is my brothers that has been dropped, stepped on, is not totally functional and has had serious battery abuse. Allot times people using these kinds of arguments may not be telling the whole story...

9.) The camera is horrible

Response: This problem occurs when people buy a PDA with the preconceived idea that the camera feature is a replacement for a 5.1Mp digital camera. If they had owned PDA's with a camera function before, they would not be as disappointed. Yes, I do agree that the Clie has a better light filter or whatever you want to call it, however the Zire 72's camera can produce the 3rd highest resolution out of all PDA's I know of. However, regardless of what PDA you're buying, don't get one with a camera as a means of replacing a real camera. The Zire 72 has a 1.2 Mega-Pixel camera. The best camera on any PDA I know of is a Sony Clie with a 2.0 mega-pixel camera. Still, this will not replace the 7 and 8 mega-pixel cameras that are made solely for producing high quality photos.

10.) No Wifi

Response: This is true, of course this can be added on later via SD wireless card. While the Zire 72 does have built in Wifi, not many PDA's really did back when it came out, especially not any with all the other features the Zire 72 has. It does have Bluetooth however, which can also be used for Internet use.

11.) Lacks camera lens cover.

Response: All I can say is, I have owned Zire 72's for 3 years and I have never once gotten one scratch on the lens. The lens in recessed back into the device so it is not going to get scratched simply by laying it down. Besides, if you get the hard case for this Palm it solves the problem. This is something you are going to want to do if you get a Zire 72 anyways, or any PDA for that matter.

12.) Battery not user replaceable

Response: Palm has never made a PDA that has this feature, I have a hard time believing that they ever had any intention to. You cant blame the Zire 72 for something that all other handhelds made by Palm have in common with, but rather, you can blame Palm as a whole.

13.) SD card is recessed too far and is hard to get in and out.

Response: Again this is something that is common to many Palm handhelds. As opposed to the Sony Clie models whose memory stick protrude about 2mm out from the unit, Palm has decided to make the card slot on their units hold the card in deeper. This is something that you will get used to and something you must face regardless of what Palm you buy. If you decide to buy a Sony instead based on this issue, your faced with another problem. The cards on the Sony stick out too much. While they are easier to take in and out, you are always running the risk and banging it on something causing the card to be ejected, lost, or damaged.

14.) No attachable flip cover.

Response: Again this is something that all Palms have in common. People with these complaints are obviously those who have previously owned Sony PDA's. I personally find flip covers annoying, and took mine off back when I owned a Sony Clie. At any rate, as I've said before, you are going to want to buy the hard metal case that is compatible with the Zire 72, it will offer much more protection than any flip cover!

15.) One guy said, "The output signal from the headphone jack is *far* too loud. I have to set system sounds to "low" to get a volume that is bearable to my ears. I'd prefer a softer volume, though."

Response: This is why Palm has engineered this unit with the ability to lower the volume. This particular users preference is that the volume would be softer, which is fine, but why would you give the Zire 72 a negative mark for it because you had to go into the system to turn the volume down? The next person might prefer the volume to be louder, in which case he could turn UP the volume. I personally can hardly hear the system sound coming from the external speaker. I suppose it would be loud if you used headphones to listen to the beeps and ticks as you browse through system applications, but this would seem like a strange to do. However, no matter what your volume preference is, the Zire 72 is compatible either way...

16.) The headphone jack output produces a clearly audible background "hiss".

Response: This "hiss" is not audible while listening to Mp3's. I listen to my Zire 72's MP3 player every night and have been for 2 years. It's great. Yes you can hear a noise when there is no music and the headphones are plugged in, just like in many devices that use headphones. This sound ensure you that the headphones are in the device and are properly connected. Also might I add in defense of the MP3 player, Realone player is great! With the five-way directional pad you with switch through songs very quickly!

I think its funny to note that Cnet's review on the Zire 72 yielded a typically low rating among other handhelds they have reviewed before. Here are some things that where said:

THE GOOD THINGS:

Integrated 1.2-megapixel camera with video-record function,

Bluetooth,

Fast processor,

Multimedia support,

Robust software bundle,

Expansion slot,

THE BAD THINGS:

No Wi-Fi

Lacks camera lens cover

Battery not user-replaceable.

It appears that there are twice as many good things then bad things about the Zire 72 according to this review. And two of the bad things, especially the replaceable-battery issue I've already shown not to be serious things at all.

If you read through the review that Cnet has, you will find that the overwhelming testimony of the this PDA is positive, hardly anything bad is said about it, yet it only obtains a mere 6.8 rating. Lets look at another PDA that Cnet reviewed.

The Sony Clie TJ37. Here's what was said by Cnet:

THE GOOD THINGS:

Built-in Wi-Fi, (The Zire 72 does not have this, but it does have Bluetooth whereas the TJ37 does not.)

Integrated 310,000-pixel camera, (The Zire 72's camera is 1,200,000 pixel)

Fast processor, (The Zire 72's is faster)

MP3 and video playback, (The Zire 72 has this as well)

Slim form factor (As does the Zire 72)

The bad:

Comes with outdated Date Book and Address Book apps, (The Zire 72 does not)

No Bluetooth, (The Zire 72 does)

Dim screen, (The Zire 72 has one of the brightest screen I've ever seen)

Poor battery life, (The Zire 72 has fine battery life)

Lacks user-replaceable battery (Hardly any PDAs don't! That's what I've been saying!)

As opposed the 3 negative things Cnet wrote about the Zire 72 (two of which aren't very substantial) there are five negative things said about the TJ37, 4 of which are substantial in my opinion. You may think, "well maybe even though the TJ37 has more negative things, all of its positive things make up for it." I've already shown that the only thing the TJ37 has over the Zire 72 is Wifi, and that gets cancelled out with the Bluetooth anyway. What rating did Cnet give the TJ37? A 7.3. No it isn't a great deal higher than the Zire 72's rating but there is no reason why this PDA should have gotten a higher rating. I do not agree with the rating that Cnet gave to the Zire 72, and even if I did I would still expect to see that other PDA's rated to be rated by the same standard. Meaning the TJ37 would have something like a 6.4.

The Zire 72 is a very underrated Palm. The paint peeling issue just scared allot of people in my opinion and kind of ruined the market for this particular unit. Well spread the word! The paint-peeling problem has been dealt with! This unit is so fast, and you can practically work it with one hand. The five-way navigation pad is something that Palm has and Sony doesn't that really hurts for them. I think the Zire 72 accomplishes everything that it intends to, and if it weren't for all the false claims that have been made about it, there would be allot more people walking around with one.

Did I miss anything? Let me know!

(...)