VideoSecu CCTV Outdoor Security Camera IR Infrared Day Night Vision Weatherproof 520TVL High Resolu

I install security camera systems and have used several makes and models of cameras. This camera did Not perform well out of the box. It flashed on and off when in night vision mode and lost detail and resolution. It takes a while for the night vision to kick in as well. Since time was critical in getting security coverage, I didn't bother sending it back and just replaced it all together with Zmodo brands!

I've got about six different cameras on my system, and this one, hands down, is the best. The IR is great, illuminates my whole side yard (about 75x100 feet) like daylight. The daylight colors are better than any other cheap camera I've ever used. I'm going to be replacing a couple of my others with this model for sure.

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Cisco umi with 720p HD resolution

I bought the Umi from the Cisco home store and it has surpassed my expectation. I was able to talk to family in switzerland and UK in no time. Now I don't have to work through a difficult user interface to do a video call. Now a video call is as simple as making a phone call. Since umi integrates with the TV and existing cable set top box, switching to a call and then back to TV is very simple and seamless.

My sister's Playstation 3 broke down and we plan on using it for Televideo between us using the PS3 Move system. I thought it would be a better idea to buy her the Cisco Umi system to avoid paying the PS3 repair fee... but it turns out it is cheaper to buy a whole new Playstation 3 with Move or an XBox 360 with Kinect and use these for Televideo! I still do not get it... how do they plan on selling the Umi system when it is more expensive than the competition, and the competition offers videogames on top of that! I know the Umi has more features, and is more reliable, but these features are not needed when you just want to talk and see your sister on the other side of your TV!

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Covert Pen Stealth Microphone

If you are going to use this with a bunch of people joining in the conversation it gets choppy. When used with only a few it works great

Item works great as desired. Got it quick and just as expected. Iwould recommend this seller and this equipment to other customers.

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4 PAIRS (8 Pcs.) Mini CCTV BNC Video Balun`, Passive

They work, they're great, but the picture is misleading. They're all the same, not in pairs, and none of them have pigtails. Make sure you have room: total length is almost 2 inches, and the wires exit the box on the square end. They're small enough to fit on adjacent terminals but do stick out quite far from the DVR.

I needed to have a long run for CAT6 cable to hook up my home video security system. (Qsee brand). These Baluns allowed me to run 4 cameras off a single CAT6 run. There was no noticeable degration in the video clarity or camer performance. Great deal and saved me lots of money compared to running individual RG 59 runs for each camera.

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UTP-Coax video baluns are the easiest way to hook up analog video cameras for a home CCTV setup, and these little buggers do the job just fine. They are priced well, and work great. All you need is a small screwdriver to secure each wire in place.

NOTES ABOUT USING BALUNS FOR CCTV VIDEO:

Video baluns are great, and can make your install faster, cheaper, and with less interference than running separate coax/power cables (or buying expensive siamese cable). Instead of running a thick coax cable and a separate power cable to each camera, you only have to run a single UTP (cat5, cat5e, cat6) cable. Use one color pair for the video and parallel the other 3 pairs for camera power. You will need some male DC power connectors as well (unless you want to splice, solder, and heat shrink the wires instead). I would also highly recommend using a separate wall-mount CCTV camera power supply box with individually fused outputs. Not only it is safer, but when running power over UTP cable, this makes for a much neater, more professional looking installation, as opposed to using the cheap laptop type power bricks with power splitter cables that often come with most home CCTV systems.

Read Best Reviews of 4 PAIRS (8 Pcs.) Mini CCTV BNC Video Balun`, Passive Here

Used all of them and no drop in video. Easy to use and install. If you are running your own line set this will do the trick.

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once figured out the right way to hook them up they worked just as advertised. This is the way to go usinr cat5e cable.

Personal 3d Viewer Sony Japan Import

• Truly immersive 2D and 3D1 movies and gaming
• Virtual 51 Headphones for surround sound
• The equivalent of a personal 150 inch movie screen
• Dual HD OLED Displays for outstanding image quality
• Adjustable for comfort for virtually all head shapes and sizes

Guys, here's my personal take of this item thus far from (total) of 3 hours playing with the unit at the Sony Store:

1. It's VERY EXTREMELY EASY to put this unit on, take it off and putting it on again.

2. Playing 2D materials, both 16:9 and 21:9, the screen appears to be slightly larger than when they're playing 3D. Why? I don't know

3. Using QTEC FPD blu-ray, it shows no visible colour shift between 0 IRE to 100 IRE test pattern

4. There is slight red push but not the point of distraction.

5. I played 24p movies, and the display seems to play it properly, there is no OSD shown on the prototype HMZ-T1 so I don't know whether it's doing 2:3 pulldown properly or doing 5:5 or 3:3.

6. For the demo HMZ-T1, it seems like there is no MotioFlow/CineFlow activated, no video-look at all

7. Both static and motion resolution shows approx 700 lines (according to the QTEC FPD blu-ray).

8. The black level is amazing although I can still see that it's not completely black. With brightness control I'm pretty sure that the black level can be brought down a bit more.

9. White is very close to calibrated white (warm-ish white) without noticable clipping.

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BRIEF -

The 'Sony HMZ-T1 Personal 3D Viewer' is surely one of the most futuristic gadgets that is currently available on the market, it most definitely has a Star Trek if not Cyclops from X-Men kinda look to it, maybe something that doesn't quite belong in this current space of time, but nevertheless it is and boy was I excited

The items included in the whole package are:

01) Head Mounted Display (HMD).

02) Processor Unit.

03) AC Power Cord.

04) HDMI Cable (3D Compatible).

05) Light Blocker (Left & Right piece).

06) Headband Strap Clip.

07) Connecting Cord Holder.

08) Thin, Medium & Thick Forehead Supporters.

09) Forehead Supporter Cover.

10) Reference & Start-Up Guide.

SET-UP -

There are two parts into setting this device up; the first part is connecting your HD device to the viewer, that was the easy part and to be honest doesn't take more than a minute, it's the second part where you have to configure it to your head which at first is the more challenging part.

Connecting the devices really is as simple as counting "1, 2, 3"; make sure all devices (the HD device you want to connect & the processing unit) are powered on via the appropriate AC power cords, plug the HDMI lead from the HD devices HDMI "Out" into the processing units HDMI "In", then plug the HMD's cable into the HMD port located at the front of the processing unit, it really is that simple. If you're wondering what the "Out" part is for on the processing unit, basically you can connect the "Out" to a TV's "IN" so when the HMD is on standby, the processing unit will send the audio/video signals to the TV instead (when the pass-through option is enabled).

To view pictures on both the HMD & TV, this will require an HDMI splitter, however be cautious if trying to view 3D content at the same time of the TV if the TV is not 3D compatible, so if it isn't, I would recommend sticking to 2D content whilst using the splitter, otherwise just connect it directly to the HMD.

The next part is the most important and will determine whether you'll get fantastic viewing results, or trashy blurriness. You need to make sure that not only are the lenses in focused with your eyes, but also the HMD having a snug fit on your head and there is barely any pressure on your nose. The easiest way I went around this is by firstly making sure the HMD is on, this is because you get a "Welcome" message which is great to use to make sure your eyes are focused. Start by unclipping the straps and make sure the sides are extended to as far as they can go, then use your hands to adjust the HMD whilst switching the focus around to get the writing as focused as you can. Don't forget there are different sized forehead pads, if you feel like you're not getting the best results, don't hesitate to change them around. Once you believe you have the optimum level, whilst having one hand to support the HMD, use the other to tighten up the straps and push them in further to get a snug fit, once done, adjust the headphones until you are satisfied. This may take awhile like it did me, or it might take a few minutes, just have patience and eventually you will get it right. Once done, go through the options on the viewer, when done you will finally be seeing whatever interface is set by your HD device.

For those who are using it with a PS3 and did not have it connected to a 3DTV previously, you may want to go through the "Display" settings again and re-configure the HDMI settings, this way you will make sure the PS3 has 3D enabled.When viewing content through the HMD, you can also access the HMD options by pressing the "MENU" button, this will give an variety of options ranging from:

1) Information; Identifies input signals (Video/Audio) from the current device connected.

2) 3D Settings; Change from Auto 3D settings, to "Over-Under" & "Side by Side" 3D settings.

3) Display; Change picture mode from vivid to cinema, adjust the brightness, colour temperature. sharpness and more.

4) Sound; Change settings from standard, game, cinema or music & adjust the treble and bass.

5) General Settings; Set password, enable HDMI pass-through, control for HDMI, power & language options.If you want to adjust the sound volume, this can be done by pressing either buttons located just above the "MENU" button.

EXPERIENCE -

Using this viewer is literally like watching a film or playing a game in a hugely sized cinema screen, but for your own personal use, it's a weird yet awesome sensation that is one to be personally experienced.

The very first piece of content I viewed through this device was Tangled 3D and I can assure you my mind was blown into another dimension just by seeing the title screen, never mind the actual film, it was like seeing 3D for the first time all over again... but better! The 3D had no ghosting at all, the colours were full and vibrant... it was just perfect, absolutely perfect. I've seen 3D films at cinemas with the polarized glasses, and I've seen 3D films on 3DTV's using active shutter, even on the Nintendo 3DS and I can safely say this 3D viewer would win hands down in any competition these other 3D experiences could dish out.

Tron 3D was to follow, but this time I had watched the whole film as the previous one I was skipping through to check out the 3D effects. Tron 3D was really enjoyable, but it soon came to my attention that needed a break now and then was worthwhile, not in the sense of my eyes getting funny, but rather the pressure on my head I was feeling, after all the device weighs 2lb and after time it adds up, for me in this circumstance I was laying down and had a 10 minute break after 1 hour of watching the film. This obviously for some people may be an annoyance, but for me it didn't bother me too much, this may be due to the fact I had been enjoying myself so much, if it required a break now and then so be it! I also tried several games in 3D; Super Stardust HD, Mortal Kombat, Batman: Arkham Asylum & Call of Duty: Black Ops. Stardust & Arkham Asylum were definitely my favourites, it added a whole new depth to the gameplay as well as making them feel like a whole new game, you feel fully immersed and with the top-notch quality the headphones provide, this really is the ultimate gaming experience.

So what about 2D games? Well, I've played Battlefield 3 multiplayer and am more than satisfied with the results, you can see enemies more clearly, hear the surroundings clearer, the explosions sound amazing, and weirdly although being in a 2D game, you get a slightly more depth to the game than you would by playing on a TV. The best part was flying a jet in the cockpit, whizzing through the skies, if you're a Battlefield fan, you need this device! Another thing to add was the experience playing Modern Warfare 3, I honest believed it was a 3D game but it actually isn't, it gave me a really good depth of field which made it seem 3D, this is due to the having screens for both eyes. :)

POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS -

Whilst the experience has been fantastic, there were a view issues I would like to point out:

1) Headphones: Audio quality is fantastic, but they aren't noise cancelling so people around can hear what you are viewing depending on certain sound volumes, it would be great to see noise cancelling headphones for future models!

2) Prolonged comfortability: For short-medium terms of use, using this HMD is comfy, but for extended use pressure can amount onto your forehead and can be uncomfortable. When sitting upright, around the 30 minute mark you may want to have a 10-minute break, or if you're lying down, you could possible extend that to an hour+, to be able to watch a full featured film without any breaks would make this product even better!

3) Easier to connect light blockers: For most people, the light blockers whilst connected to the viewer make it really hard to put the HMD on, but if you try to connect them whilst you have the HMD on, it's just as hard, this needs to be improved, but I'm fine without them.

As for the next idea's, these are merely just something I would like to see in future models:

1) In-built Bluetooth headset; so people who play PS3's can talk to their friends whilst playing.

2) Head-tracking (if compatible); There was a PS2 HMD version in Japan which had a head-tracking feature which allows the user to have sweeping views of the surroundings.

3) Detachable headphones; this will give people an option to use their surround sound instead. Having an optical out would be useful in this scenario, however the main device (i.e. PS3 or Blu-ray player), should have one anyway.

4) Optional wireless connectivity; At the moment, the wire is completely fixed to the viewer, if in future models they can make this rechargeable and wireless, but with the option to still connect it via wire, this will increase the movability for users.

They were just a few idea's that I'd personally think would make this product better.

OVERALL -

What can I say? Personally, it's been & still is giving me the best personal 2D/3D film/gaming experience I have ever had, it really defines home entertainment to a whole new level and would like to thank Sony for making such device available on the market! This obviously comes with a high price tag which I hope to see will drop down in the near future and also the fact it's a one person at a time experience, and when you're showing off the device you will not only have to reconfigure it, but you will also have to redo it again when your using it again yourself.

Although the sound & image quality this device delivers to me is perfect, sadly the device isn't, it has a few bits that need improving for future models before it becomes perfect but in my eyes it's still the best personal home entertainment device currently available on the market and that's why this still gets top marks from me and I would recommend it to anyone who can get their hands on one!

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Summary: If it is comfortable for your particular head, this is an impressive and immersive device. If not, no amount of cool can make up for the pain.

I spent some time watching IMAX Hubble 3D and playing Wipeout HD in 3D, both with my PS3. Here is my take.

Picture: Overall picture was very good. Good colors, great brightness, and dark blacks. The only downside was that for me, I could see the pixels at 720p. Other reviewers have said that it is not noticeable to them, but for me it was always there. This would not have been a deal breaker, however, because in spite of the resolution, the picture was immersive and impressive enough to make up for it.

3D: 3D is fantastic on this device. I do not agree with other reviewers who think that the 3D lacks "pop." This is how 3D should be. Besides lacking crosstalk, the picture is realistic and immersive not distracting.

Sound: Meh. Not good, not terrible. This could really use the ability to use your own headphones. How about an aux. out Sony?

Comfort: I tried for a very long time to find the right combination of forehead pad and tightness to make this comfortable. While keeping the viewer in a position that the picture was clear, I could not succeed. For me, the viewer went from very comfortable to downright painful over 45 minutes of use. There was far too much pressure on both my forehead and the back of my head when I tightened the viewer enough that it would stay put in the correct position. If I loosened the device, it would slide down and hurt my nose.

With sadness, I sent mine back. If it was more comfortable, I would be happy to pay $800 for this type of experience as the only alternative method of producing a similar experience in your home is to pay at least $4k for a quality 3D projector and screen. Far more if you need an AVR and surround sound system.

I recommend trying this out at a Sony store if possible (try one with straps, because many at the stores have the straps removed and you just hold it to your head). If you can't, make sure the store you buy from has a good return policy. For those of you who happen to have a head shape that works with this device, I recommend it. For everyone else, you will have to wait.

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Being an engineer, it took me a while to muster up the courage (and funds) to purchase this item. It being so much out-of-stock only fueled my desire. Reading the reviews I weighed the trade offs and took the plunge.

Let me start with the issues in previous reviews:

Yes, the design is NOT comfortable, maybe this was a poke yoke decision by SONY to limit the time to use it. A bit on the heavy side, with the ergonomics geared toward the small headed (nuyk nuyk). It did give me a stamp of approval on my forehead visible for at least 15 minutes after use (the recomended break time per hour).

Set up does take some time, and even after that, ever time you use be prepared for a 1-2 minute mini setup.

Now, for what I did not find in the glowing reviews:

The lenses in front of the screens are flexible to optimize clearity. Unfortunatly, this includes a design flaw where if you set them too far apart, there are gaps that allow dust to seep in between the lenses and the screens. An area you can NOT reach to clean. So now I have to store the visor in an air vaccumm when not in use.

The lenses themselves are concave to allow clear viewing of screens so close to the eye. This makes the sides of the picture blurry (like those submarine windows, clear in the middle, foggy all around). This may not be a problem for movies but I could not read a single trophy description I got playing my PS3.

I will not state the good points as many have (and you can find them in the product description). But I will say this:

This is an awesome product, that provides a getaway from reality with near total immersion (try mimicing head movments while moving your view in FPS games, WOW!). But like all Silent Hill games, you can only maintain that jump to the 'other' world for a short period before crashing back to the real world with a migrane.

I've tried a number of head-mounted displays (HMD's) at stores, trade shows, etc, and the one thing I they never get right is the fact that the screen feels like it's an inch away from your eyeball, and it causes strain.

While on vacation in Tokyo I went to the Sony Showroom and was pretty impressed when I demoed it. There is a real feeling of depth as to to where the screen was it felt like I was sitting in the middle row a big-screened (but not quite IMAX) theater. Of course, you can say that's no different than sitting six feet away from 60-inch flatscreen, but your eyes can tell when you're sitting that close to something.

They showed the trailer for The Amazing Spider-man, and the resolution did seem slightly lower than what I would see in a theater (it's 720p as opposed to 1080p), and at least once I saw some trails in the picture when the action went pretty quickly. That said, during the first-person sequence at the end, I did feel it in my stomach. The 3D was there, but not too noticeable. I don't know if that was because the device or if parts of the movie were shot in 2D and later converted to 3D.

As of this writing, I've only seen it priced for Japan at around $800. This will be awfully tempting, but I haven't made my mind up yet. It'll also be interesting to see what people will do with this for virtual reality software, whether it be with a head tracking mouse or a Kinect hack.

UPDATE 7/2/12

I've owned this for about four months now, and I love it. The biggest issue was comfort, and it took A) a lot of fiddling around with the settings and b) ordering a third-party accessory that allowed for extra padding. Should Sony have had that extra padding? Yeah, they should have.

The 3-D is great, better than what you'll get with a 3-D TV. The sound is passable, but it's better when you use this as only the monitor. For games, racing and flight sim games are amazing.

It still has a few downsidesOlder DVD's don't look at nice, as you can start to really see their flaws, so you'll feel restricted to watching HD-only content. Also, it's not a very social platform. What I mean by that is, if you live someone and you're watching a movie on a couch, they won't exactly feel comfortable sitting in the same room and reading a magazine or something.

But, I'm happy, especially when comparing this to the price of a new TV.

Hewlett Packard Jornada 548 Color Pocket PC

I have had my Jornada for a month now and I have been nothing but pleased. It has exceeded my every expectation. The color (12-bit) is wonderful, the sound from the built-in speaker (and headphones) is surprisingly good, and the functionality is astounding. Make no mistake, you are not buying an organizer --you are buying a COMPUTER. 133 mhz processer, 12-bit color, 32 mb of ram --is it just me, or wasn't that a top-of-the-line desktop computer 5 yrs ago?

Well, I won't go into the basics -other reviewers have done a good job doing so --let me focus on other areas.

Buying extra memory is a must if you download a lot (MP3s or books). (I filled up my memory within 2 weeks after downloading 9 books, 2 songs, and 5 extra games... Books seem to be 500k to 1 mb, MP3s are 4-6MB and games are less than 1MB) I'd recommend going with the maximum upgrade of 128 MB flash-card --you could put 2 hours of MP3s on that card! This is great if you always wanted an MP3 player, as I did, now I can just roll the functionality of my Jornada into my portable music station.

For downloading books I recommend checking out the great FREE selection on Amazon.com. (Another good place is, egads!, Barnes and Nobles.com) There are some great books just worth keeping in the memory in case you are stuck somewhere with time on your hands.

I highly recommend getting the FREE Pocket PC expansion pack offered by Microsoft --it contains some games (Chess is great, Hearts is great, Pac Man is alright --but is meant to be played with a joystick), but more importantly, offers a lot of other great software, free. There is a "paint" program -it offers simple drawing in many colors (but no paintbrush or sprayer), the e-book reader program (allows you to display e-books), a great "slide-shower" program (I put family pictures in here in 5 minutes) --there is a full screen mode which allows you to page-through slides, and is really impressive. There is even an ADOBE ACROBAT reader --quite amazing, though I wonder how documents will look on a small screen.

The best thing about the Jornada is that it is very intuitive. The internal file system is set up just like your home PC -with a version of "explorer". This allows you to open an "explorer" menu (when your Jornada is "synched" with your computer). The advantage of this is you can just open folders on your big computer's screen and drag and drop PHOTOS, E-BOOKS, MP3s, and M-PEGS just as easy as that. One of my best comments about this product is that I didn't need the instruction manual.

Other highlights --the COMPLETE synchronization with Microsoft's products is absolutely wonderful. Outlook is FULLY synched --alerts, contacts, and tasks to remember are added to your home computer (after you've added them to your Jornada). (By the way, you receive the FULL version of Outlook 2000 for free when you purchase your Jornada). Word and Excel allow you to open e-mail attachments as well as create new documents. Microsoft Money requires a separate purchase of Money 2000 (or newer) and is really cool. It keeps your whole checkbook, basic stock information, and lists of Payees and Expense categories available at your fingertips.

The Jornada can be extensively customized, I found THAT very attractive --a variety of sound, backlight, password, and hotkey settings can be changed quickly from the internal menus.

Surprisingly, the calculator is one "widget" that I've used more than anything else. It really feels natural, and gets a LOT of use in restaurants...

The weight is nothing you can't handle, but is noticeable --it is heavier than it looks, and I wouldn't want to put it into a shirt pocket, or try to squeeze it into a pair of jeans. If you drop it on a hard surface, good luck, because it looks like it'd shatter --it is heavy.

The cover is very nice. It is sleek metal, which is great protection. One drawback is that it is not something that is easily removed (though you can --with care), and doesn't move back more than 90 degrees when opened.

I like the stylus. It is very easy to pull out and use, and stores very well.

The best program is the built-in "NOTE taker" function. You write on the screen and your strokes are captured exactly as written--no "graffiti" or "keboard" needed here (though these ARE an option). This is the fastest way to take notes --basically just drawing on a touch-pad. Also, another neat function is that you can press the red button on the side and RECORD voice messages that are saved with specific notes--really cool! You can even record messages when the machine is off --just press the button and you can record for as long as you have memory!

Every morning I plug it in and it automatically downloads 500 web pages for view later --it takes less than 5 minutes on a 28.8 modem. This is the best part --I was astounded how fun it was to read news on the metro on my handheld. (Every time you "synch" outdated web pages are deleted, and new ones stored).

Go to Avantgo.com, and you can choose a variety of web sites to be AUTOMATICALLY downloaded to your Pocket PC --this is just the ultimate in usefulness. I entered my zipcode and now articles are more relevent to me. Just an example --I said I wanted to see Hollywood.com, and now I get all the movie summaries, locations, and movie times downloaded to my Pocket PC --no more looking through the paper... You can download book reviews, news, business, sports, and weather. You can also get ALL of your articles on your MY YAHOO site (if you have one) --this was a REAL plus. The New York times offers a LOT of features, as does MSN.

One last thing --you can download MAPS -this blew my mind -there were maps of all major cities available --you just drag and drop the ones you want onto your Pocket PC. When viewing a map, just click on the spot you want to see, and you can zoom in. You can get to individual streets, and it looks stunning in color --I really love this feature. No more carrying outsized maps with me (and looking like a tourist) when I'm in the city. Wonderful!

More to say, but not today. I am one satisfied customer. A purchase for someone who wants more than just an organizer... a LOT more.

Having had extensive experience with both WinCE and Palm handheld devices, I have to say that in the past I continued to lean heavily toward Palm -not because it offered anything particularly cooler or better, just that it met my requirements: 1) must be stable hardware & software; 2) battery had to last up to 8 hours at a time; 3) had to have applications that met my needs (now and in the future!); and 4) it had to be "sexy" (yes, I'll admit I'm shallow). To date, WinCE handhelds & palm-helds have had a hard time making inroads in my mind on several of these key requirements.

My new HP Jornada 548 Pocket PC has changed everything for me. The color is sharp and clean (yes, even with the notorious 12-bit vs. the advertised 16-bit technology), the software seems to be extremely stable, and the look of it is way sexier than even the Palm V! But probably the biggest change is the software availability that comes with the Pocket PC and from 3rd party developers. Including Pocket Word, Excel, Money, AvantGo (can't live without it!), Pocket IE, Reader (I'm in the first half of "Timeline"), and support for POP3/IMAP4 email in addition to the included Outlook Inbox -and still leaving me nearly all 32MB of memory I started with is AWESOME!

Notice my focus on applications? That's no coincidence ... a palm-held PC has become more and more important to me, and it MUST do more than just show my contacts and appointments (something I hear a bit too much from other Palm users). My Pocket PC has become an integral part of my computing day; and will continue to be even more important over the next few years. So having top-notch applications available that are fast, user-friendly (still getting used to the new spot for "Start"), and seamlessly integrated with my desktop PC counterparts is critically important for me.

My heartfelt congratulations & thanks to the teams at HP and Microsoft ... way to go!

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The Jornada 548 is not perfect, but for me its the best mix of features so far.

I've had several color palm-sized Windows CE and Pocket PCs. I've had 2 Casio Cassiopeia E-105's, a Compaq Aero 1520, and a Cassiopeia E-10 and A-11. I've also looked at the Compaq iPaq.

The iPaq is fast and light and its display is easily visible outdoors. But once you add a CompactFlash card sleeve it's bulky. And you still need a case to protect the screen, adding further bulk. (Screen protection is important to me because I've broken the display on my Cassiopeia E-10 twice!)

The HP Jornada 548 has a built-in metal screen protector and CompactFlash slot, and a metal case. It looks sleek and its display is very nice indoors (but hard to see outdoors). Since I need screen protection and I always use a CompactFlash memory card, it's the perfect Pocket PC for me.

A word about Pocket PCs vs. Palms: If all you need is an electronic organizer, a Palm is sufficient. It's easy to use, it's convenient, and its organizer functions are simple. But look at one of the Pocket PCs if you need an organizer that's FULLY compatible with Microsoft Outlook (including all contact information fields). Look at a Pocket PC if you want the power of a multimedia PC that you can carry in your pocket. To me there is no question the Pocket PC is the right choice for me. It won't be for everyone.

You can get a color Pocket PC for not much more than the color Palm IIIc. If monochrome is enough for you, the Compaq Aero 1550 Pocket PC is thin and sleek. It's in the same price range as a good Palm, and it's more capable.

Read Best Reviews of Hewlett Packard Jornada 548 Color Pocket PC Here

Notwithstanding that the ipaq has 206 mhz vs the HP's 133, that the ipaq's TFT LCD screen is a little sharper outside, that the ipaq can take PC cards and flash cards (with the help of add-on jackets) vs the HP that can only take flash cards, that the ipaq weighs 6.3oz vs the HP that weighs 9.1oz, that the ipaq's has a 12 hour Lithium Polymer battery vs Hp's 8 hour Lithium Ion battery, and that the ipaq has wireless capabilities, I would still, and without hesitation, choose the HP Jornada 548!

Why? Because of the following1. the HP looks and feels better (good old HP quality) 2. the HP, being slightly heavier, and together with rubber linings along the sides, fits snugly and safely into your hand 3. the ipaq's silver/aluminium finish looks cheaper than HP's black finish 4. the record button on the ipaq is reputed to be badly placed 5. the ipaq's internal housing for the stylus could become troublesome 6. the HP comes with a 'built-in' hard cover for the screen essential for a PDA 7. the HP's flash-slot is integrated much easier than carting extra jackets around 8. the shape and size of the AC adapter for the HP is far superior to that of the ipaq compaq have forgotten that the whole motivation of having a PDA is its size defeated if you need a briefcase to carry the AC adapter! 9. both do the same tasks, one slightly quicker, but the difference is academic; 10. the ipaq's jackets (pc cards and flash) do not clip in tight this could lead to the PDA sliding out and ending up under feet is it worth the risk? 11. the plastic wallet that comes with the ipaq does not close properly another potential disaster So hardware spec-wise the ipaq wins hand down but quality, finish, appeal and design awards must go to the HP my ultimate choice.

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I love my Pocket PC. I use this thing more than any device I have ever owned. From the moment it arrived it became much more than a gadget. I have owned lots of gadgets, including the palm. They were great to carry around and show off but the pocket PC is the most useful thing I have ever owned. Here is an example of how I use it through out my day. 5:00 AM: Wake up to the alarm. It plenty loud enough to rouse even me. 7:00 AM: Listen to MP3,s or sometimes audio books on my drive to work.

8:00 AM: Pop it in the cradle and sync with my Outlook at work. All my email, Calendar, task, web pages, files, etc... 9:00 AM: go to daily morning meeting with nothing but my Pocket PC. I have all my status reports in MS word. When we discuss an email someone sent out with an attached excel spreadsheet I just open it on my pocket PC and review. I open up the note pad and take notes through out the meeting.Oh yea, sometimes I get bored and play games with the sound off. It look like I am taking notes. 10:00 AM and throughout the day it goes with me to all meetings. Taking notes on it is a breeze. It is as close to actual writing as you can get. 12:00 Noon: Take it to lunch. If I am alone I read through the days news on Pocket Internet Explorer. Its updates every time I sync so I always have the latest news and movietimes, weather, etc...If it is a business luncheon I exchange contact info with partners and clients via infrared. I can exchange even with Palm owners thanks to Peacemaker. 6:30 PM: Go home and listen to MP3's on the way. 8:30 PM: Read books using the MS Reader. So far I have read. Tom Sawyer, Timeline, Fredrick Douglas, a good portion of the bible, part of the Koran, Thus spake Zarathustra' Albert Einstein's Quotes, Shakespeare's Sonnets and Digital Times.

I own the Jornado and it is in my mind the best. The Ipaq and Casio are great in many respects but no one beats the form factor, styling and slickness of the Jornado

Coby MP-C855 MP3 Player with 512 MB flash Memory, FM Radio & USB Drive

• Compact digital MP3 player with 512 MB of integrated flash memory
• Stores up to 8 hours of MP3 and 16 hours of WMA music; direct USB plug
• Built-in FM tuner; digital voice recorder with integrated microphone
• High-contrast LCD display; supports DRM-10 online subscription services
• Measures 3.58 x 1.1 x 0.75 inches (W x H x D); 90-day warranty

I didn't have very high expectations since this MP3 player was under $30, however it has been very reliable and easy to use. A great starter MP3 player for a teenager or someone nearly 40 like me who is finally buying one.

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As the mother of two teenage daughters I have been on the purchasing end of MP3 players. After observing their enjoyment I decided that I too needed one. The price is great and this player is really easy to operate (even for a forty-something year old mom!).

Read Best Reviews of Coby MP-C855 MP3 Player with 512 MB flash Memory, FM Radio & USB Drive Here

I Brought this for my nephew, and i'm glad to report there are no problems with this player. When i first got it i was testing it out at work, where i'm located in the basement of the building, i don't even get cell phone reception down here, but i was able to pick up radio stations with little static. I also love the lcd diplay, this was i good buy.

The only thing is that it's sort of difficult to get back to the main menu when you are in fm mode.

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This is my first MP3 player, and I've had my COBY MPC855 for about 2 yrs.

The first thing I was surprised was that the sound quality was so good.

Amazing for a small device.

And the supplied earbuds are not only comfortable, they provide impressively good fidelity.

So good for music and digital FM is handy, too, works fine as do the presets and equalizer functions.

I'm a reporter, and was surprised to find that the voice recorder's quality was not only good enough to record an interview simply by placing it on the table in front of the interviewees, it was also good enough to use for a Podcast. Impressive!

Takes a little getting used to moving through the files, but after a little practice, becomes second nature.

PROS:

Nice sound, with several equalizer settings.

Great voice recording!

Does well with AAA battery.

Direct USB is very handy versus using a cable, and option to use as "jump drive" is neat.

CONS:

I've had trouble with downloaded purchased protected Windows Media tracks, can't get them to play. Otherwise I'd give this 5 stars.

Ripped tracks drag-and-drop seamlessly using Sync in Windows Media Player, couldn't be easier.

Flimsy buttons?

The back button on mine has become stuck, maybe it was my fault when I used it in rapid succession and held it down too hard.

My buttons are white and stick up from the top, doesn't look like the image on this page,so maybe it's a previous gen model?

And maybe the sound level doesn't go high enough? But plenty for my 50-yr old ears.

Other than that, no complaints, and has provided 2 yrs of great performance. For around $25, a solid starter, gift, or second MP3.

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I've had this a week and love it. It was a little hard to copy songs to it at first but once I figured it out it was very simple. I have used it for 16 hours on one battery without any problems.

SanDisk 64 MB CompactFlash Card

The CompactFlash Card is so convenient, small, and user friendly. This is a great price for a 64MB CompactFlash Card! The 64 MB card will hold Hundreds of pictures, more than you can take on a weekend. The camera's which use these cards usually have a feature to erase unwanted photos, so you have room on the card for only the photos you want. After you down load the photos onto other storage media, you just erase the card and re-shoot! On a large capacity card like this one you can purchase a SanDisk reader for around $25 to read the card like a Memory Disc and download the photos faster than sending them from the camera.

Okay if you're anything like me, than 64 megs is going to be plenty of space. There's more than enough room for high quality digital picture as well as Mp3's or whatever else you can think of. The only down side to having a larger card is that it takes a while to download or upload information. For that problem there is the viking card reader, at around $60 it's not a bad investment if you're planning on using that card a lot.

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I use this CF card with my digital camera and find it quite reliable. Using standard compression on my camera, I could easily take approximately 64 shots (@ 3 megapixels). This saves me the time of always having to delete or offload the pictures into my computer with a smaller CF card.

I couldn't find any differences between the different CF cards that are available from other manufacturers; except for the capacity of the memory. All the CF cards available are the same except for the cost.

Best thing to do is shop around for the best deal/service. Living in Canada, I could only compare with Kodak, Sandisk and Lexar CF cards.

Sandisk was by far the cheapest compared to the other brands.

So far I have taken over 400 shots with no problems. I am quite satisfied and pleased with this CF card's performance.

Read Best Reviews of SanDisk 64 MB CompactFlash Card Here

SanDisk Compact Flash media cards work excellently in all our devices, from the camera to our Psion handheld.What most people don't realize is that the speed at which their device stores information to the card determines how long the recovery time is between pictures or file saving, etc.We've noticed that some people think the compact flash card itself is the problem, when in fact the speed of storage or writing to the cards is ALSO dependent on the performance of the particular camera, handheld, etc. (on board operational RAM/memory, processing chip clock speed). We recommend that before a person buy a desired device that they check/compare magazine reviews, recommendation lists and manufacturer specs to find out how fast a device write/stores. This will save you much frustration later.

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When my studio went Digital last year we bought a Kodak DCS 330, after learning with a Kodak DC210Plus, and since we use the camera tethered to a computer by a Firewire, we still need good memory capacity in the camera. With two SanDisk 64MB cards in the camera we have enough memory to hold the images of a Portrait session before transferring them into Photoshop for processing. At 8.65 Megabytes per image, two 64s don't provide very much space so we take a laptop with us in the field for transfer. But a professional absolutely must have rock-solid reliability and we get it with the SanDisk 64s no hint of noise or problems after over 1,000 images in each disk. They were recommended to me by another Professional Photographer.

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Flip Mino Video Camera - White, 2 GB, 1 Hour (1st Generation)

The form factor on this product is great. Its noticeably smaller (in both the pocket and the hand) than its predecessor the Flip Video Ultra Series, 60 min. And the Ultra was already compact to begin with! The sleek size was important to me because I just won't bring a camcorder out with me if it doesn't fit easily in my pocket. This device did just the trick. If you don't care about size (i.e., because you will just put it in your purse, etc) then I would suggest saving the money and getting the Ultra, which lists for about $50 or so less.

As far as I can tell, the video quality and functionality is about the same as the Ultra and they both have the 2GB of memory, similar 1.5" screen size, digital zoom etc. So the only reason in my mind to get this is for the size advantage. But for me, size does matter. When I think about how many moments passed by unrecorded simply because it was too cumbersome to take a camcorder along, it really makes me wish they made this Mino years ago!

For those of you unfamiliar with Flip camcorders, the Mino has suprisingly good VGA video quality. I'd put it on par with that of much larger, more expensive traditional camcorders. The Mino also records well in a variety of light settings. The lack of a true optical zoom is probably to be expected given the small size, but the 2x digital zoom is good enough for most casual settings. The design is well thought out to avoid many of the classic pitfalls of portable devices there's a scratch resistant covering on the lens, an on/off switch on the side that is difficult to trip accidentally and a centrally located record button that has enough resistance to avoid unintentionally starting/stopping recording (I know some have issues with the Ultra record button but I have not).

I have a PC at home and the Mino truly is a plug-and-play device. You don't have any confusing software or cables to muddle around with. Simply plug the USB adapter into your computer and you're ready to go! It's great for the non-technically savvy. I also like the rechargeable built-in battery in the Mino (which is a new feature). It recharges like an iPod, either in the computer or through an outlet which is convenient. I can't attest yet to the battery life/quality but I figure by the time it dies out on me, I'll be well on my way to buying a next generation Flip Micro!

-----------July 8th update -------------

I noticed the price dropped on the black Flip Mino. For those of you who don't know (Amazon doesn't advertise this) Amazon not only has a 30 day return policy, but a 30 day price adjustment policy as well. So if you bought your Flip in the past 30 days, you can call them up and they will immediately refund the difference to you with no hassles. This policy holds for all products directly sold by Amazon.

I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere and I thought it was important for Mac users to be filled in on the following....

1. The software that comes with the Flip Video Mino does NOT allow you to stitch multiple clips together to make one movie. Only Windows users can do this.

2. I was able to get the Flip Video Mino AVI videos to play in iMovie '08, but not export. When you export the video you get a blank screen with only audio. I had better luck exporting the video from Final Cut Pro.

3. In case you are interested, the codec that Flip Video Mino uses is the 3ivx codec.

There are workarounds for the above issues, but it would have been nice if there was a way to combine clips into one movie right out of the box. Hopefully this will be possible in the future with a software update.

Other then those concerns, its a great product so far and the video quality from the raw AVI file is really impressive.

I found a site called motionbox that will let you upload the raw AVI files that the Flip Video Mino creates and once uploaded you can do some basic editing and combine multiple movies into one. Doing it this way gives you a much higher quality video then what you get on sites like YouTube.

Buy Flip Mino Video Camera - White, 2 GB, 1 Hour (1st Generation) Now

The Flip Mino is a great small camcorder for the price, mainly because of the form factor. It's a lot thinner and smaller than the Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (White), yet yields equal performance. The only negative is that it doesn't take AA batteries like the Flip Ultra because it's so thin. Instead, it has a non user replaceable built-in lithium ion battery like an iPod.

The Flip Mino does not neccessarily replace the Flip Ultra and the Flip Ultra is being sold side by side with the Flip Mino. And, the Flip Mino doesn't come in as many colors, only a black version and a white version.

I would say If you already have a Flip Ultra, you may not want or need to buy the Flip Mino (unless you really want the smaller form factor or you have money to burn) since it yields about the same video and audio quality. If you don't own a Flip video camera yet, the Flip Mino is probably the one to get unless you require AA batteries which admittedly is nice because they are readily available everywhere. I actually prefer AA batteries over an internal rechargeable battery that over a few years will start to lose it's charge and not last as long between charges.

That said, the Flip Mino is pretty nice because it's so small and thin.

Even though I have a digital point and shoot still camera that can shoot video, I find it easier to shoot video with the Flip Mino. The vertical form factor is better suited to shooting video. The built in software is nice and it's built into the camera so you need not install anything on your computer.

The Flip Mino is a great 'take everywhere' video camera that fits in your pocket and can yield some creative and endearing videos.

Read Best Reviews of Flip Mino Video Camera - White, 2 GB, 1 Hour (1st Generation) Here

The Flip Mino is a slick device that is well-designed to perform its intended task, namely to take videos that can be readily posted on the Internet. Here are some features that impressed me and that may not be clear from the specs:

Good video quality. The video quality is surprisingly good, even indoors. I have one of those first-generation consumer digital video cameras (a Sony Mini-DV) that cost $1200 way back when. The resolution of 640-by-480 is the same, and I don't see any difference in the pixel quality between that and my expensive camcorder. Of course the Mino doesn't have all the same features, but it turns out you don't use those features anyway. The picture quality is definitely way better than I get on my cellphone (a Blackberry) or other devices where video recording capability is only an afterthought.

No accessories needed. I love how you can charge and exchange data by USB. I'm not talking about using a separate USB cable. The Mino has a spring-loaded USB plug that pops out so you can plug it in directly to your computer. And when you're done using it, you push the plug down and a hard plastic cover protects it automatically. This is way smarter than those fiddly rubber port covers you see on many electronic devices that you have to push and stretch back into place. This cover hides the USB plug while preserving the clean lines of the device. No extra cables or chargers to carry around when you travel.

Stable picture. I was surprised at how un-shaky the picture is. The narrow, vertical form-factor allows you to hold the Mino steadier than, say, your cellphone. I used to use my digital still camera to take videos, but I'm finding the Mino is much steadier.

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(2008 HOLIDAY TEAM) I am posting a series of reviews to help people decide between these very similar flash memory camcorders. I was curious if the new Flip Video Mino Series Camcorder (Black) was better than the Creative Labs Vado Pocket Video Camcorder (Silver) or the Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder (Black). I surprised myself after testing all three as well as a few competing devices.

The quality of video and audio captured with the Flip Mino is noticeably better than the Creative Vado, even when it's at its highest setting. However, for most users, the Creative Vado will probably meet your expectations at a much better price than the Flip Mino. The Mino's recent price drop makes the decision slightly harder, but there's still enough of a price difference to make the Vado attractive. While the Flip Ultra offers nice quality and removable batteries, the Vado offers a user changeable battery in a more slender body.

So the ranking in terms of quality goes Flip Mino, Creative Vado and Flip Ultra. But the ranking in terms of value goes Creative Vado, Flip Ultra and then the Flip Mino.

The unit you choose will depend on what your needs are, how much quality matters to you and how much you want to spend. Between these three most popular entry level models, the answer for some people may be, "none of the above."

Pros

+ Video quality is ok on the Vado, good on the Ultra and much better on the Mino Advantage, Mino

+ Both include ports for AV out connections to TVs, but the Mino comes with the cable and the Vado does not Advantage, Mino

+ The microphone sensitivity is below average on the Vado and slightly better on the Mino Advantage, Mino

+ Both have a screw hole for attaching a tri-pod or similar stand, but the Mino's is centered and the Vado's is off-center (on the lower right) Advantage, Mino

+ The Mino has a slick USB connector that tucks into the body and is released via a tab, while the USB dongle on the Vado is flexible but has a tab that sticks out from the body Advantage, Mino

+ In terms of looks, the Vado's body is thinner and wider, and the Mino is slightly thicker but not as wide; the Mino definitely looks slicker, though the black plastic will attract finger-prints; Also, the Vado comes in different colors Advantage, Mino

+ The built in speaker on the Vado is not nearly as good as the dual speakers on the Mino Advantage Mino

+ The low light performance is subpar on all three units but slightly better on the Mino Advantage, Mino

+ Ability to zoom seems weak on both, though the Mino does perform slightly better Advantage, Mino

+ The Mino comes with a cheap pouch and a dongle, while the Vado comes with no carrying case or dongle included Advantage, Mino

+ The Mino is presented in a box that is reminiscent of the packaging of Zunes and iPods, while the Vado packaging definitely seems cheap Advantage, Mino

+ The Vado's on screen menus are definitely not as nice, and the Vado Central software is not nearly as good as the Flip Video Muvee software Advantage, Mino

+ Nice indicator shows when either unit is capturing video Draw

+ While the price is still higher for the Mino (see my first con below) the recent price drop is definitely a *pro* for anybody who wanted the mino more anyway

Cons

The Price on the Vado is much better (just under $90, depending on color) while the Mino sells for much more (listed for $180, sells for about $150)

While the Ultra worked with removable batteries and the Mino has a built-in rechargeable battery, the Creative Vado has a rechargeable battery that is user changeable and can be easily swapped for extended recording; So if the Mino's battery fails, replacing it will be much harder than just buying another one for the Vado BIG Advantage, Vado

The Flip Mino controls are touch sensitive (except for the record button); The buttons on the Vado are real tactile buttons that have nice feedback This is a matter of preference, and both are nice, but I prefer the real buttons on the Vado; The Mino seems to have a lag when pressing the controls Advantage, Vado

The included software is self-contained on both units and seems to work fine, but the Mino requires much more software to be installed Advantage, Vado

Users who want to use a dedicated microphone are provided no jack on these devices for that purpose Draw

Neither unit has a headphone jack for checking audio playback on recorded videos Draw, but the weaker speaker on the Vado makes this hurt the Vado more Slight Advantage, Mino

The Mino's screen is slightly smaller than the Vado's Advantage, Vado

The Mino only records in high quality mode for 1 hour, while the Vado gives you the option of recording in SP for 2 hours Advantage, Vado

The Mino and Vado both have some software issues that will hopefully be fixed with updates the Mino's software is still slightly better Advantage, Mino

The Vado requires you to install the XVid codec to use the built-in software Not a huge deal, Draw

Not as much support for Mac users in terms of software

Both the Vado and the Mino are easily recharged by USB connection, but the Vado includes an option for quick-charging Advantage, Vado

Neither of these has slots for any kind of memory card Draw

Neither of these will compete with some of the high-definition flash memory camcorders that are on the market, such as the Sanyo Xacti Draw

Conclusion

While both of these units are ok, I am in the higher demanding category of users who is only going to be satisfied with the features offered by HI-Def flash camcorders like the Sanyo Xacti. Namely, I want to be able to use SD and SDHC memory cards to increase my capacity and record more than just 1 or 2 hours. I would also like to be able to have a more powerful optical zoom and more jacks for accessories. The high price of those units make them prohibitive for now, though the CG9 models are in the ballpark at around $250. Hopefully the price will come down, or competing units will come out to combine the best of both.

But if I have to draw a conclusion, as of now I would say that the Mino is definitely better in terms of quality. With the recent price drop to around $145, it is almost as good of a value when you consider it includes the AV cable, pouch and lanyard that the Vado doesn't. That's still not enough extras to justify the %40 price difference, but it definitely shrinks the gap.

So is the Mino good enough to warrant the higher price than the Vado? Many people will still choose the Vado. The fact that they made it easy to buy additional or replacement batteries and swap them out yourself is a HUGE plus. And since this is still a point and click camcorder, saving a nice chunk of change doesn't hurt either.

While all three are good devices for what they do, I am still searching for my perfect digital camcorder to come out at the right price.

Enjoy!

*****

Note: This video sample was taken with the Flip Mino. I filmed this from the upper deck of Yankee Stadium during a night game, which were much more difficult conditions than the sample I took for the Creative Vado. Still, even under these tough conditions, the video and audio quality of the Flip Mino is noticeably better.

Conversely, the Vado sample video I took was recorded in my friends living room less than 8 feet away from the TV. Even after turning up the volume very high the microphone on the Vado still captured audio very faintly. In addition, the video is set to HQ yet is somewhat grainy compared to the Flip Mino. Check out my review of the Vado to see the sample for yourself.

I will eventually update these reviews with more pictures and improved samples.

Pharos Traveler 117 3G Unlocked Phone with GPS, Turn-by-Turn Voice Guidance, Free Live Traffic, Gas

Have dropped a call yet Great sound. The SmartNavigator downloads date from satellites. no disks to buy. I've dropped it with no problems. Customer Support was great. Bummer is the very small stylus and I haven't figured how to make it loud enough so I can hear my alarms.

Panasonic PV-D4761 DVD/VCR Combo

• Space-saving combination DVD player and 4-head, hi-fi stereo VCR
• Optical digital audio output passes Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround signals to compatible AV receivers and speaker systems
• VCR's Commercial Skip feature lets you hop past commercials
• S-video and component-video DVD outputs; shared DVD/VCR composite-video output
• Measures 16.9 x 4.6 x 14.9 inches (W x H x D)

The first bad thing about this unit is the manual, which is so poorly written that Panasonic wisely added a tech support number at the end of it. Since I'm reasonably handy with electronics, I got it set up after about 30 minutes without tech support, but found that I was having difficulty accessing the DVD special menus and chapters. After about 2 hours of frustration, I gave up. On calling tech support the next day, they informed me that the machine was probably defective. The DVD player was making a whirring noise on startup, and was skipping on audio CD's to boot. Add to that the fact that the "illuminated remote control" is misleading advertising. Only a handful of basic functions are illuminated (unless my remote was malfunctioning too -a distinct possibility). The picture quality, (the little I saw of it) seemed fine. CD's played on the DVD sounded tinny, although the sound on the 15 minutes of DVD I got to watch seemed good. Most of all, the manual and the layout of the remote were too confusing for words. It couldn't be any worse!

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I'm very proficient with electronics and even I had problems reading through the instruction manual I gave up after 2-3 minutes and hooked it up without it. It was easy enough. This DVD/VCR combo has every feature you could want including 5x search forward & backward, this was great especially with the DVDs. There are two disappointing facts however: the lighted remote only lights 8 keys NOT including numbers, volume or channel keys. Also the VCR picture quality was miserable in comparison to the Phillips DVD/VCR (but the Phillips ate my VCR tape, I didn't try another). This was very disappointing coming from Panasonic but I've experienced poor picture quality with their VCR PV-8664 as well. so much so I'm returning it this eve. I paid ... at PC Richards here in NY over priced due to poor picture quality, poor manual, and only eight keys lighting on the remote, but you've gotta love the features (though not enough to keep it).

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Basic set up to replace an existing vcr is simple and straight forward. Manual is extensive and could be inproved but info is all there. Unit seems very well made. Performance and controls are very good. The Panasonic CT-27D11 might be a good match to get the most out of this unit.

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The item has performed very well. Needed something to play VHS and DVD for the kids and I only had limited space. The machine is easy to use and the front A/V inputs make it easy to hook up a video camera to watch home movies.

all in all we are very satisfied.

I didn't get one of these players, a friend has this one and I recently got time to use it.

The DVD playback is decent and so is the VHS. Although this DVD player alone wouldn't sell for much... and the VCR would'nt sell for much either..

The truth is that I really don't get the point of this. heres why... 1)Most people who bought this already owned a VCR so buying the extra VCR is pointless. 2)Its more expensive, You can easily pick up a decent DVD player and a VCR less then you're paying for this.

I understand that you're saving the hassle of all the wires and its looks more neat and compact this way, but is it really worth the money?

My advice: Just buy a DVD player. if you have a VCR with a bunch of VHS movies.. great keep them, you'll still have the VCR to watch them. If you don't have a VCR then most probably you don't own any VHS tapes, in this case, still buy the DVD player, DVD's are the future VHS is fading out fast and you probably won't buy a VHS anyway if you get a DVD/VCR. If you don't have a VCR and own VHS tapes then go with one DVD and one VCR you can save some money if you go this way.

4GB MP3 USB Music Player Voice Recorder FM Radio Red

I bought this MP3 player to replace my old one which is showing its age. The first time I tried the new one after loading my song library into it, one of the earpiece grilles fell off. I would compare the supplied earphones with the ones the airlines hand out for free when you get on board a plane. They are (obviously) NOT the highest quality. . . . But that's OK, because I own a much better set of earphones, and the MP3 player sounds very good with my higher quality earphones. Despite the cheesy earphones, I am happy with the player itself.

Perfectplugged into my computer downloaded all my songsin a snapneeded AAA battery player got sick and tired of having to remember to recharge my ipodI just keep several AAA with me and pop in when needed gym traveling or running just what the doctor ordered for my needs!!! JUST ORDERED 4 MOREFriends were wowed!!! Got as giftsJust use a good set of earphones and it is GREAT!!!! No more worrying if we run out of power during a workout!!! Just pop a new battery inalways have one!!! LOLSo much for expensive hi-techgreat sound and easy to load!!!!

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The player works well the left channel of the ear buds that came with it doesn't work, making me think the player was defective at first, but plugging in another set of buds it works fine.

Read Best Reviews of 4GB MP3 USB Music Player Voice Recorder FM Radio Red Here

I was attracted by the low pricetag, and ended up with a product that doesn't work well enough to use.

What I needed was a simple voice recorder, for taking notes while on the road. But getting to the recording screen took several steps each time, and required that I focus on the unit to navigate to the right screen.

And the screen is very small… too small to see your options at a glance.

Then I found that you can't simply stop recording and resume when ready… you have to leave "record" mode to save the recording, and then re-navigate to the start point to begin again.

Playing back was just as awkward.

As a music player (or voice note player), managing the file system was just as difficult. If you want the device to simply play everything that's on it, no problem. But if want to select something specific, you'll have a hard time.

Unfortunately, the user's manual that ships with this player is for another product by the same manufacturer… a similar product, but with different menus and controls. I finally found out who the manufacturer was (the unit has no name), but their website has the same incorrect user's manual.

For playing back voice notes, you can use a computer and your computer's media player. But that defeats this unit's purpose as a media player.

To be honest, the unit performs as I should have expected for $8.99. Now, I'm using it as an awkward-sized flash drive.

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I had no idea what to think when ordering this product but I had nothing to lose cause it was cheap. My wife likes to just click through songs and wanted a simple mp3 player and here it is. I love the amazon customer feed back so I thought that I should leave one. I am really surprised. I heard that the headphones were weak but I have a ton of those so we use our own. Awesome product!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Macally iCamDVR2 Securityman Internet Monitoring System and Video Recording

Skip to the bottom for short version.

I did lots of research before buying. I wanted multiple cameras and didn't mind hiding them myself. This product posted more technical data than any other, and the Tech Support guys were very helpful answering questions even before I purchased their product. I only found 3 reviews and they weren't very good, but I was willing to take a chance, especially with the very reasonable price.

The first problem is very poor image quality from the cameras. Whether I hook them up to my PC through iCamDVR or directly to my television, they produce an image that is nearly unusable with good indoor lighting. These cameras require outdoor lighting or something like it to produce a reasonable image.

Also, the wireless signal from one camera interfered with the other, creating moving lines across the screen if both were plugged in. I could live with this flaw if it were the only.

I decided to return the cameras, but not before tinkering with the iCamDVR. To test image quality, I hooked up a DVD player. Image quality on the PC through iCamDVR was very good. I also tried viewing remotely through my Mac laptop, which runs Windows XP SP2 (You must have windows to host or view remotely). After enabling all Active X controls, I was able to remotely download the software from PC to Mac, but I was never able to get past a pixel error to view the camera remotely. The Tech Support guys are troubleshooting that now, and if they figure out the problem, I will buy an iCamDVR without the cameras. I still may have another problem with remote viewing, in that the Tech guys were unable to ping my computer (I remoted in from inside my house, which is different than from outside). I'm using a wireless router and thought I had all the port forwarding setup, but it's not working. I'm not too worried though, because the Tech Support guys are very helpful and I think we'll figure it out. Nonetheless, setting up this system is harder than I anticipated. I have average computer knowledge, but I've had to learn about dynamic IP address versus static IP address, port forwarding on my router, and other topics I never before needed to learn.

I wish that viewing remotely only required the IP address and password, so that all you needed was a web browser. Instead, you have to install software on the remote viewing computer. Therefore, you will be unable to view remotely from many computers (public computers, Macs, any place where you don't want to or can't install software).

Therefore:

----------

Amazon Delivery and support: Great. Return policy is outstanding.

SecurityMan (iCamDVR) Tech Support Very helpful, although we haven't yet resolved hosting / remote viewing issues.

Cameras Very low image quality. Requirement for strong light makes these better for outdoors.

iCamDVR Complicated setup for web hosting and remote viewing. Depending on your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and router, yours may be complicated. If I gain confidence that Tech Support knows why I couldn't view remotely, I'll by an iCamDVR without the cameras and use with some other cameras. I'll update my review later.

cameras are not the best but if you want something inexpensive and good for indoor wireless use, it works. You can add 2 additional camera to this system. Not good for outdoor monitoring

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product did not deliver poor picture quality support terrible not widows 7 compatible do not waste your money on it no worth it the cameras are terrible

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I got this to use as a telepresence system in a R/C vehicle. I just connect the receiver output to a TV or monitor with an appropriate input. I found that when both cameras are operating they do interfere somewhat in spite of being on different channels. One of the receivers does not function. I am looking for an alternative system. I have a couple small monitors and hope to make a 3D display for real presence.

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The quality of this cam is poor. I cant get much of a picture on one and the second one cuts in and out, i have tried them on differant connections, the problem is the cams. I also have a larger cam mounted outside that works great so i do not think it is the modure.

Sylvania DVC845E DVD/VCR Dual-Deck Combo

• Plays DVD video, DVD+ or - R/RW, audio CD, CD-RW, CD-R, and CD MP-3 Files
• 181-channel autoset PLL frequency
• Audio/Video Inputs, combined output
• Digital & analog audio output
• Menus in English, French, and Spanish

This is a good price and a good device. It plays videos and also DVDs. While there are several things missing from the features list and the manual shows many limitations it does what you want it to. I have had no trouble with my cassettes, even the old ones (for which I bought this device). DVD playback is simple and is lead by an on screen display.

Bear in mind that the device may have trouble with a few discs. I have yet to try any homemade DVDs but when I do I will update.

All in all, a good DVD player and a great VCR. Best of both ages and a good price.

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This was a purchase for my husband and I who are not that techno. We needed something easy to use and this is it. It is also very good looking when it's up and being used. We are enjoying using this item very much and would buy and/or recommend it to anyone else. The price wasn't bad either and we've used the Sylvania brand before and find it to be very reliable.

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It has performed beautifully thus far with zero problems and over 50 disks without a reject. Just follow instructions...

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Bought this to replace my aging VCR and DVD players in living room. Simple, easy to use buttons on face of unit. Remote not so user friendly, but programmed my master remote, so don't need it much. Does the job well, plays burned cd's, dvd's with no problems. Plenty of options to hook up, S-Video, Component video, Coaxial compatible with just about anything you have. I figure it will last me 2-3 years & then I'll need an excuse to upgrade again for 69.99 plus free shipping, well worth the cost.

I use it primarily as a VCR. I haven't found a way to playback on a different channel when recording on the timer setting. Also, when doing a quick rewind during playback, it makes an unpleasant noise before resuming

Kodak PlayFull HD Video Camera - BlueSilver

First, let's consider this is a 99 dollar camcorder that's also one of the smallest capable of 1080-30p video and five megapixel stills. As such, it is an amazing piece of technology that does what it was designed to do, and does it quite well, I might add.

Compared to the FLIP, the Kodak has many advantages. In addition to the silky smooth 720-60p video setting (same as FLIP) it offers three other video settings (1080-30p, 720-30p and 480-30p) and one still setting (5 megapixel) that the FLIP does not. It is smaller than the FLIP. It allows up to 6 hours of shooting at 1080p and 13 hours at 480p (which is DVD quality video). The MP4 format is very Mac and PC friendly, and works well in Final Cut Pro 7 without needing to transcode to Quicktime first. It also plays well in Sony Vegas 11.

The built in lithium battery runs nearly two hours on a full charge, but it can not be removed or replaced. When it's discharged, you're done shooting until you recharge it. The good news is you can charge it from a wall charger, a car's lighter plug or a computer USB port. Yes, it has a flip-out USB connector that appears flimsy, but actually is quite ingenious since it minimizes the torque strain the FLIP puts on your computer's USB port as it hangs out fully extended. I broke a USB port charging a FLIP on my PC this way.

The small size is amazing. It's much smaller than the FLIP, but on the down side, so is the LCD. If you need reading glasses, you won't be able to see this LCD well without them.

The lens is very sharp considering it's only about 1/16th of an inch in diameter. In fact, I can see no edge softness or chromatic aboration in the stills or in the video images. Of course, it's a fixed focus, prime lens, so your creativity is limited to wide angle shots. Don't bother using the digital zoom, as this only makes the image look pixelated. You're better off zooming in during post production and leaving the total image intact on the memory card.

In bright sunlight or hazy outdoor light, the Playful delivers a razor sharp image at 1080p. It does display small compression artifacting that some people mistake for grain. It is not predominant, and most users will never notice it sitting at a normal distance from their TV screen. I should also like to note that playing the memory card through my BluRay player's SD card port yields a cleaner looking image than playing the same card through the camera's HDMI port. Same with playing the card on an iMac using it's own SD slot. I suspect the playback circuitry in the camera adds a little grain itself, but it does not matter once you import the files into your editing software.

In bright indoor conditions, such as a daylit room or normal office lighting, the image is still very clean. The color is very accurate, with skin tones having that rich, filmy look. In dimly lit rooms, the grain does indeed show up, but it looks more filmatic than electronic, creating sort of a 16mm film look. Regardless, the sharpness and color are much better than the FLIP, and the grain is not as much as the FLIP under similar lighting. Exposure seems to be more accurate than any other camcorder this size. While the FLIP tends to overexpose many outdoor scenes, the Kodak always seems to be spot-on. Naturally, there are no manual controls over the color or exposure. Luckily, the camera seems to do a good job of this automatically under varying lighting conditions. There is no focus control. Focus is fixed from 4 feet to infinity. You can get in a little closer in bright light, but less than three feet and the focus becomes too soft.

Still images look sharp from corner to corner, but seem to lack the higher contrast that is evident in the videos. You can easily fix this in any photo editing software. Five megapixels is impressive for a camera this small. Yes, you can capture stills from video, and even at the two megapixel limitation of 1080 video, they still look pretty good.

There is electronic stabilization, but don't count on it to remove the jitters in one's extended arm holding the camera one handed. You need two hands cupped strategically around the camera so as not to block the lens or microphone in order to maintain a steady image.

The sound is mono, but has much more punch in the bottom end than the FLIP. But the FLIP's better directional mikes work better picking up individual voices in a room filled with party guests. Wind noise can be annoying, and there's no way to monitor the audio as you shoot. There is also no external mike input. Then remember, this is a shirt pocket 99 dollar camcorder.

This is a simple camcorder to use, and it offers a few setups that FLIP doesn't, including audio level controls and a few video effects. But if you're not interested in changing the settings, you can use it as it comes. Just be aware the factory preset is the middle video quality of 720-30p.

Some early models had locking up problems, but Kodak has a free firmware download that solves this problem. Most recent batches already have the newer firmware installed.

While some users complain of graininess in low light, I think this is one of the best in it's class and size as far as image quality goes. The Kodak Play Sport model offers slightly better imaging in low light, a bigger viewfinder and is also waterproof. Most other features are similar enough to make it hard to distinguish the images between the PlayFul and the PlaySport.

Rick Bennette

For a basic 1080 HD digital Hand-held cam, I think its better than the flip. It accepts up to 32gig SD cards, perhaps more since it has the high capacity support. It's smaller than the flip, and its more easily portable as well.

I did have the Sanyo VPC-CG102, the resolution on playback was grainy, in addition the layout on that unit is very bad. Not easy and doesn't fit in your hand in a way you would want to hold for an hour taking video.. NO GO

I had the Kodak ZI8, great unit, and is the best $100 device small form factor there is. But, not the latest and greatest

I had the Panasonic TA-1, great size, but video was Baaaad. The quality looked very bad for me, plus no 60fps 720 setting. Not good

After going through all this I knew Kodak, from my earlier ZI8 I happened to loose somewhere, took high quality video, so I went with this new Playful. CES2011 gave some positive remarks on it, worth a shot.

So far, so good. I have taken several 720 60fps and 18080 videos, all seem to sync with your setting. 1080 does look to be the smoothest and best quality video. I like the construction, outside feels solid, the side access doors do seem a little flimsy, but the connectors that go into the device are rubber, so much better than plastic in terms of longevity.

Zoom is okay, but will kill the overall resolution. Has a very good lens aperture, when you hold it, even directly in front of you your getting a great angle of view.

Quality 4 out of 5

Video quality 4.5 out of 5

sound 4 out of 5

Overall Purchase 4.5 out of 5

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You might give it 2-stars or 5-stars. No matter what you compare it to, this thing is better and worse.

Compare it to a smart-phone that has a good still+video camera and it's always with you, or an iPod Touch that shoots video at 720p and does 1000 other things. Compare it to a real camera that has a flash, shooting options, protected lens, etc.

These PROs and CONSs may help you decide if it's for you.

PROs:

* True HD video 1920 x 1080p

* Also has 720p @ 60 frames per second

* 5 megapixel stills (wide frame 3072 x 1728)

* Small and Light (3.95" x 1.6" x .7") amazing!

* Very easy to use

* Clean, simple interface. (Note 1)

* Ergonomic. Easy one handed operation.

Boot-to-Shoot is under 2 seconds. Few missed shots.

Easily clip out bad footage from video

Easily grab 2-megapixel stills from video

HDMI output directly to HDTV

Can mount to a tripod

Stands on edge (any table is a tripod)

Removable/upgradable memory (unlike iPhone or iPod Touch) (up to 32 GB SDHC) (but not included with camera)

Not part of your phone. You can loan it, use it while your phone is in use, it doesn't wear down your phone battery.

Built-in USB male connector (nice! See notes with uploaded photo)

Charge from wall or computer USB

Share utilities easier than with most cameras, but much harder than from a smart-phone.

CONs:

* No flash (but it does pretty well in low light)

* Fixed focus, no auto focus

* Very few photographic options or settings, no optical zoom, etc.

* Display is small, low res. (1.5" diag. see Note 2)

The Kodak Share software is icky. Skip it, use explorer. (see Note 3)

Battery is not user replaceable

You won't always have it with you (vs a smart-phone)

Note 1: It's not iPhone elegant, but the interface makes a lot of sense. Simple, very few layers, all the right buttons. Easy to learn, hard to forget. Few missed shots.

Note 2: The screen displays images in a 1.2" x .67" space with information bands above and below. Small, but adequate for evaluation and editing. The whole screen looks to be about 180 x 135 pixels. Zooms (2x, 4x, 8x) use the whole screen.

Note 3: I found the Kodak Share Button software lame and annoying at every turn. I only used it to auto upload pics & vids to my PC. It changes the date/time stamps (created, modified, etc.) of every file to when you UPLOADED it. You can't pick a default location for videos separate from pics. Etc., etc., etc. Better to move files manually with Windows Explorer.

26-page User Manual (posted at Kodak's site) has more specs and info.

Summary: Full HD video; small, easy-to-use package; no missed shots; affordable. Probably 5-stars if these are your buttons.

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I really like cameras and this one sounded really great. I have tried the Flip minoHD, Sony Bloggie, and this one now. This one is the smallest of the 3 and records in 1080p the same as the Bloggie. The Flip records in 720p.

The camera is very easy to use but does not come with any internal memory you have to buy an Sd card. It can take upto a 32 GB. I bought an 8GB and it will hold about 1 1/2 hrs of 1080p video or 5500 pictures (it has a 5Mp camera). This can be a good thing or a bad thing I really like when they include the memory as it very handy to already have it onbard but this gives you the option to upgrade and hold more video. (This wasnt a deal breaker for me.) The camer also comes with an USb cord that plugs into the side as well as into the included AC adapter.

The cons for me where the size of the display screen. It is very tiny and hard to see things. Also the Usb that comes out of the top is very flexible and doesnt really open enough to hook into your USb slot with out an adapter. I almost broke off the USB adapter first thing it bends so much and is very cheaply made. Also I plugged the USB/AC adapter into the side of camera and hooked to my computer and I couldnt figure out why the preinstalled software wasnt downloading then I realized this is only for charging and you have to use the USB arm to install the software.

A decent camera which is a little better than the sony bloggie which I had problems with(you can check out my review for it) but the Flip is still easier to use and setup then both of these it just doesnt record in 1080p.

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Six months ago I purchased a Kodak PlayTouch HD. I paid more for it than the cost of this Kodak PlayFull. I now also have this Kodak PlayFull and in comparing the two, this PlayFull takes MUCH better pictures.

PlayTouch vs PlayFull

Appearance:

The PlayTouch is the nicer looking of the two. It has a beautiful shape and touch screen that resembles an iPhone. It's sleek and expensive looking. The PlayFull simpler looking. When you look at the two cameras, you would most likely always chose the PlayTouch because the appearance of it makes it seem like it would be a better camera. This however is not the case.

Size:

The Kodak PlayFull is only about half the size of the PlayTouch. It's very small and can easily be carried in a pants pocket. It's actually smaller than my cell phone. While at first I wasn't sure I would like something this small, I have found I end up taking it with me more and using it mush more because of it's compact design.

Screen:

When it comes to screen size, the PlayTouch wins hands down. It's almost entirely screen, so it has a huge display that is fully touch screen. The PlayFull's screen is very tiny, about the size of 2 postage stamps, so sometimes you have a hard time knowing if you got the picture you were trying to get. Not good if you have any difficulties at all with your vision.

Still photos:

The PlayFull takes much better pictures than the PlayTouch. Neither of the two Kodak cameras offer a flash (a mistake I feel), but at least this PlayFull can still take a nice picture indoors and low light environments. The PlayTouch is almost useless to use for still photos unless your outside or somewhere with fluorescent lighting. This PlayFull can also take a nice picture without blurring, while over 50% of my pictures with the PlayTouch are blurry.

Video:

Both the PlayTouch and and PlayFull take a nice video. In the end, I feel the video I have shot with the PlayFull has come out brighter and better quality.

Ease of use:

While the PlayTouch is beautiful to look at, this PlayFull is much easier to use. Dedicated buttons on the camera make using it much simpler than using the PlayTouch that requires navigating through several touch screen menus to use many of the cameras functions.

Conclusion:

While I loved the looks of my beautiful Kodak PlayTouch, I could never get a decent picture with it. Maybe if it had been equipped with a flash, things would have been different. While this Kodak PlayFull may seem small, don't underestimate it. The end result of the pictures and video it takes will surprise you, as it more than makes up for the small screen.

I have learned to love this little camera, and find I use it all the time now and take it everywhere I go.

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