Jazz DV150 Digital Movie Camera (White)

I got this the other day and I am pleased with it already. It takes an SD card so you better plan on getting a 2 gig or 1 gig at the lowest.

The default format is to record at 640x480 at 30fps. Quality is good for this type of hand held camera. Built in stabilization makes for easy handling. Also the Low Light capability is awesome. If you know you are going to be filming at night, just change an option to shoot in night mode. Not the normal night mode that some camera's have but this one boosts the sensitivity so you can get some footage.

As for the Picture taking, or audio books, I haven't used it for that but so far I like this a lot.

I would give it 5 stars but I haven't used it enough to rate it that high. Easy to use though.

I bought this for my Grandaughter and she just loves it.This does it all(and pretty well to)you can do video,stills,mp3's,voice record,hell you can even use it as a web cam.For the money this is the best product out there.I'm thinking about getting me one.Great product Jazz.

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Jazz DV150 is a pleasant to hold, pocket sized video/still/audio recorder. Easy to use. Images are blocky, definitely a step down from other camera. But fine to carry around in my purse in case a photo op comes along. Uploading to my iMac easy. Software that came with it for PC only and is very complex.

With a large enough SD card I could use it to show off my videos to my friends.

A friend has two of these cameras mounted side by side and take 3D video with them. Impressive use.

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Easy to carry and easy to use.

Would help if instructions were on the outside of the package.

Bought them as gifts & my 85 year old Mother called & asked how to use it. Since the one I have is 10 years old (yes they last that long) I had no clue as to the new stuff....

Did not want to open the others until I could give them out. Alas, they all had to wait until Christmas to learn how.. They all worked just fine

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This camera was inexpensive so I thought I'd give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised by its performance, and a few years ago it would have been considered a high-quality video recorder. Its not HD, its VGA, so don't think you'll be getting video up to today's standards. However, it performs really well in lower light and the audio quality is rather good too. Its easy to use, fast, and the battery life is pretty good.

Panasonic PV-GS300 3.1MP 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

I've only had this camera for a few days, but I am quite pleased with it.

Before buying this camera, however, take a look at what else is out there. This camera sits in a very strange place between consumer cameras and pro level (or at least prosumer) cameras.

While it has some excellent features like 3 CCDs (so it captures richer color), optical image stabilization, and fully manual controls; it also lacks certain desirable qualities such as a real focus ring (it has manual focus, but it's joystick driven and imprecise), a headphone jack (although it does have line-level audio out), and the ability to pass analog video through to digital video.

To get all those features, you'd need to spend about $200 $300 more on something like the PV-GS500. For $200 $300 less, you can get a very comparable camera that simply omits the 3CCDs and has digital image stabilization.

What those extra features give you, however, is a richer picture with less noise and more detail, and a much more stable handheld image. You will especially notice the richer image detail if you edit your video in the built in software or iMovie or Final Cut or whatever you use. You can make much broader color and image adjustments on the picture from this camera than you could with a 1-CCD camcorder.

Personally, I am very pleased with this camera. I very much like the controls (although I definitely recommend trying out the Panasonic-style joystick control before buying -some people can't stand it, although I think it's definitely the way to go). The ability to go full manual permits me to take excellent shots in low light, backlit, or otherwise strange situations. The auto mode, however, takes care of 99% of what I need, and does a surprisingly good job managing white balance and shutter speed.

The only things that makes me give this camera less than five stars are the manual focus, which requires that you be in full manual mode and also requires two button presses (one on the side of the camera, and then you adjust using the joystick), rather than being entirely joystick-driven as all the other manual controls are; and the AC adapter/battery charger which can EITHER charge the battery or power the camera, but cannot do both at the same time. Expect to buy a separate charger for long shoots.

Got this for $480. There is no new camcorder on this planet and at this price which can give you better quality.

The 3CCD capture colors and detail like nothing in this price range. I've compared this to the Sony DVD403 camcorder and the GS300 is light years away. One reason why the GS300 is so much better than the Sony DVD403 in the same price range is because the Sony uses 1 chip. 1 chip will not be able to reproduce the colors realistically.

This past weekend I've shot footage at the NOPI XBOX at MIR in Maryland with a home made shoulder stabilizer and everyone who has seen it told me that I can make DVDs and sell them (it was that good).

A big feature is OIS. Optical image stabilization. Unlike EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) OIS does not degrade the picture quality. EIS is found in lower end camcorders.

Some reviewer complained about the RCA output. I recommend making DVDs or using S video. Why would you buy a camcorder that can produce such high quality video and then try to run this in via RCA? Everyone has a DVD player or Xbox or PS2 that can play them, and a blank DVD is 22 cents. I've looked at the RCA and S video quality and you can tell S video is better. Me personally I just make DVDs.

The camcorder has a ton of manual controls for gain, IRIS, white balance, etc.

For low lighting conditions the camcorder will not do so good as some Hi8 camcorders I've used. Here is a BIG TIP. Shoot in manual and adjust the gain down and shutter speed (you have to adjust the shutter first). The reason people get sucky low light video is because they have it on AUTO and the picture is boosted through the roof to 18Db which adds a lot of noise. Shooting in manual and adjusting the noise down then brightening up the video in post with you favorite NLE is the same way the pros do it.

The number 1 accessory to get is a UV filter. It is cheap insurance to protect the lights and blocks out the UV ray which can make the video look purple. Then get a polarizer to make the colors look natural and give it a nice contrast.

Another thing you may want to get unless you have it is Sony Vegas 6. Best $100 ever spent. Renders super fast, does not crash (like Ulead and Premier). Easy to learn (unlike Premier). Best NLE I've used.

I would recommend getting an additional battery so you can record more.

I've used the multi RCA SVideo cable and I don't find any problems with it.

Using the firewire you can write back your edited video on the MiniDv tape. Nice feature for archival purposes. I just edit and then make DVDs.

The fact that you can transfer using USB makes it a bonus (there is no qulaity loss if you go USB or Firewire).

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When shopping for a camcorder, you have to realize that at this price point there are going to be compromises. According to all the reviews, this is one of the best at this level. I've had it for about a month now, and I can't imagine that there is anything out there better than this and comparably priced. Here are my likes and dislikes:

The Good:

price (obviously)

picture quality outdoors is excellent. Beautiful color and clarity. The lens seems to be extremely sharp. Should be, it's a Leica, but these days Leica is throwing their name on a lot of low-end (relatively) consumer cameras and camcorders with varying results.

I like the joystick control. Some people don't, but I'm a big fan. Makes selecting options very fast.

Reasonable battery life. Third party extended life batteries are inexpensive, I recommend getting one.

Menus are fairly easy to navigate. You do need to spend some time familiarizing yourself with all the options, but this will be time well-spent and you only need to do it once.

The Bad:

Low-light performance is good but not great. I'm not sure how it compares to others, but some reviews mention that the Sony model in the same price range is superior in this regard. If you're going to do a lot of indoor shooting check into this carefully.

Manual focus is done with the joystick. Focusing with the joystick is AWFUL..an exercise in frustration. Panasonic really goofed here, this camera needs a focusing ring like a baby needs a mother. To me this is the most serious drawback of this camera. If not for this I'd give it 5 stars.

Auto white balance can be a little slow to kick in, but seems to work well otherwise.

This camera is just too small and light to hold steadily.

Manual is one of the worst I've ever seen, takes several reads to get through. A background in still photography helped me immensely in understanding some of the manual features, but I feel sorry for those who open this manual without some kind of previous experience. On the other hand, if you're just going to turn it on and shoot in automatic mode all the time it's not an issue.

Overall, I'm convinced this camera is a great deal. The only serious flaw is the lack of a focus ring, everything else is just a function of the compromises you have to expect in this price range. In good light the picture quality is outstanding, so if you're shooting mainly outdoors this is the one for you.

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I bought this camcorder after returning a Cannon Elura 100 for motor noise. The Panasonic PV-GS300 is virtually silent and you can't hear the motor noise during playback on the computer or TV. The camcorder has good sound and video quality. The indoor quality is not as good as I expected, a little dark, but outdoor video is very good and vivid. Overall a good camcorder and I would recommend buying it.

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I bought this camera after looking at several others and must admit the price-point for the features was a key selling point.

We don't do as much videotaping as we did when the kids were younger, but with two in sports we're doing more and more again.

I have started taking a lot of still pictures with it as well and wound up putting a 1gB SD Card in it, giving us a pretty high capacity for photos in addition to 1 hr of video tape.

The ability to use it as a still camera both stand-alone as well as while videotaping is nice, the picture quality thus far has been outstanding and the "needed" features are sufficient. Sound is as good as one could expect and once one plays with the camera for a few hours, it's use is quite simple and playback/transfer is equally easy.

The zoom range is adjustable at either 25:1 or 700:1 and while one would never be able to use an image zoomed in 700x, the 25x zoom is quite good and the variable speed of the zoom at 25:1 is more than adequate.

Battery consumption is good a 1hr tape and the standard battery are fairly close. I also bought a non-Panasonic extended battery which gives a far longer capacity. With still photos, it eats up that battery far more quickly!

One thing I would like to see a little better is the image stabilization, as when zooming in, the shake is magnified and when using much of any zoom, the small size makes it difficult to hold steady. I put it on a tripod and that solves the problem, but years ago in the larger full-size VHS cameras, the stabilization was better.

Over-all, this camera has been everything I hoped for and would heartily recommend it to anyone looking for a 3-CCD camera in the lower price ranges.

Sony Bravia XBR KDL-40XBR6 40-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV

• 16:9 Full HD 1080p Resolution (1920x1080p) LCD Panel
• DMex compatible; allows seamless feature upgrades
• BRAVIA Sync (Enhanced HDMI-CEC)
• BRAVIA Engine fully digital video processor
• Advanced Contrast Enhancer circuit (ACE)

I wanted the biggest set I could buy and fit into the built-in opening in our home (my wife's only requirement). I knew I would be paying extra for a Sony, but decided to make the plunge, since other 40" screens were several inches wider. This set is slim and atractive.

I have only had this set for a weeks and am still learning about it's many functions. My set is attached to cable, a blu-ray player for DVDs, and an older Denon A/V amp via S-Video for sound output.

Before buying, I researched features availble in a 40" LCD set in the store and on-line. This set led the pack in many ways. The picture is incredable. Plus, if you are into adjustments, you have a great deal of control over the picture settings. I have viewed in a highly lit room as well as in the dark. It's high contrast ratio makes it easy to watch in both situations. I can not detect the blurring, many LDCs suffer from in action sceans.

It packs all the latest video inhancements but most importantly, 120Hz, 24p. The built in speaker is even good, and makes a reasonable attempt at surround sound considerng it's is a single source speaker. Of course when hooked up to a A/V reciever, it makes movies come alive. I have not connected to a LAN yet, but am curious to try, soon.

It is loaded with input options (HDMI, LAN, USB, Composit, S-Video, etc). The only thing I would like to see is a more versitile USB port, so I could plug in a wireless reciever. This system has to be hard wired to a LAN. It would be nice if the computer input ports were on the side of the set, so it did not have to be pulled out to make these attachemnts.

The stand could be improved, it does not allow for any adjustment. It was not a big deal for me, since the set sits at eye level, but if it was sitting anywhere else, you would need to purchase an adjustable mount, which are axpensive for a set this size.

The manual is somewhat limited. There are many set-up options that are not full explained. I called Sony for a setup question. They answered fairly quickly. The first rep had me try several different things, but was not much help. Then he passed me on to the "blu-ray" expert, who answered my question in seconds.

Overall, this is a great set, I deffinately recommend it.

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When the price of this Sony dropped to $1429, I jumped on it, when it launched it was $2299, not that long ago either.

I got my XRB-6 two days ago, the picture quality is amazing! I have never seen colors so vibrant and clear.

I must say though, like I read about clouding issues with other Sony sets, well to my disappointment, it's true, when the screen goes black, there are visible clouds, it's not really a big deal, but since I've been reading about this problem for some time, I would have expected Sony to correct it. Not sure if I'm going to keep this set or not, other than that it's close to perfection, just not sure I can live with this defect or not.

My previous set was a cheap Polaroid 37" 1080i, it had no clouding issues though, this problem seems to be exclusive to Sony.

Gonna try to adjust the settings, this set has many controls to adjust settings, and there is a control where you can reduce the backlight, which is what is causing this problem.

Right now though, I have very mixed feelings, I never had a problem with a Sony before, so I expect perfection.

Will update after I make the adjustments to see if it helps any.

Update: I made adjustments to the backlight control, if you lower the setting 3 levels, and turn the tv to power save mode, the clouding issues are mostly gone, but your overall picture is much darker, a trade off for getting rid of the clouds.

My clouding issues were not too bad, other owners reported clouding covering 50% or more of their screen, my clouding was minimal, sets with this problem seem to have different levels of clouding.

Bottom line, I've decided to keep the tv, the pros far outweigh this minor issue.

I can't help but wonder if the XBR-8 priced at 5 grand has this problem too.

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The XBR is more or less the "Mercedes" of the TV industry, while everyone else compares their product to the Sony, it remains the pinnacle of the LCD game. I looked at both the Samsung and the Sony, both were spectacular. In fact, Samsung makes the screen for the Sony, so it makes sense they are the same. Bottom line, there is simply more "coolness" to the Sony name.

The TV is great, but Amazon's white glove shipping stinks. I bought the product, and it sat on several docks for days, finally got through to the shipper, scheduled for Saturday. But guess what? no TV. Have to schedule multiple times I guess free shipping implies "worthless". The drivers are late, never call back, and all you get is an answering service. I would have bought this product somewhere else if I had known....

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Purchased the 40" Sony Bravia XBR6 LCD TV hoping that this newest release of the XBR series would be "mura" free. Mura is the technical term for a cloudy looking background image appearing on an LCD screen in dark or black scenes. The mura in the set I purchased covered a good 60% of the total area. Sony agreed to replace the LCD display panel after it was examined by a certified technician in our home. I decided NOT to go that route as the set was only one week out of the box and one month from its manufacture date. Besides, my research uncovered that the cost of the part was twice the cost of what I paid for the new set in the first place. Amazon customer service department and CEVA/Eagle shipping were both very professional and responsive to the problem, and I was promptly credited the full purchase price.

Since we've happily owned a 42" Sony plasma flat screen TV for three years now, we decided to stay with plasma technology. LCD technology has certainly improved over the years, but mura problems still exist, even in the newest models. BUYERS BEWARE save ALL original packing materials for at least two weeks after your new set arrives. MURA DOES NOT SHOW UP IMMEDIATEY OUT OF THE BOX. Carefully examine the screen during "blackouts" on the screen; between commercials or channel changes. AND, sit low to the screen and look up at a slightly upward angle during the examination.

We expected to be blown away by the Sony XBR6, especially since so many people rank it even with or better than the Samsung 750. And the picture is great when you get all the adjustments fine tuned. The Steelers trouncing of the Browns game was gorgeous! We highly recommend it but with a few cautions:

Not the set for the "set it and forget it" type. Many adjustments required but it is beautiful when you get done.

Sound. We heard many complaints about the sound from LCD sets so picked the XBR6 specifically because it has an internal subwoofer. But we found the subwoofer made little difference even when set to maximum, especially if you put the TV in a cabinet where the sound gets trapped inside. We fixed this by hooking up an external powered subwoofer to the sound output jacks on the rear of the set. Made a phenomenal difference I highly recommend this if you can't use a surround sound receiver. And you can't do it on the Samsung (see below).

Network upgrades. Features are evolving fast on LCD TV's so we wanted one that had the Ethernet cable jack to download the latest firmware versions over time. But according to Sony customer support their website that checks for new firmware is down, and even if it was working you still have to do the upgrade by downloading it to your computer and moving it to the TV via the USB port. I think they are wrong but did not have time to debate it with them.

Signal diagnostics. According to Sony customer support this option only tells you the signal strength of broadcast TV. The website and manual make you think it looks at each signal coming into the set to tell you what resolution it is, etc. Again, I think the support rep was wrong but not a big deal.

Not all USB devices work with the XBR6 USB port. To Sony's credit they state this clearly in the manual, but it was still frustrating to move a lot of pictures to a USB drive and then not be able to view them on the TV.

Digital Media Port. This seems to be a confused option. The reviews have way too many complaints about what works and what doesn't when using it to connect iPods, etc. So instead of using the DMP we bought the Apple iPod composite connection cable and it works very well even when playing movies from the iPod.

Pros:

Feature set. All the benefits of 120 Hz, 24p, higher contrast, etc., are real and work well on the XBR6. Be ready to turn the 120Hz off at times (motion enhancer) because it works so well movies can end up looking "artificially good" (soap opera looking is the term we heard). But turning it off and on is easy.

Picture is more natural than Samsung. The Samsung 750 can be stunning in the store but the color intensity can actually be fatiguing when you get it home. You can adjust it, but we liked the natural color of the Sony XBR6 better. The "Vivid" mode on the Sony can still crank up the color when you want it.

Variable sound output. The Samsung only has fixed sound output jacks. The Sony XBR6's can be set to be variable. This made it possible for us to feed a powered subwoofer and control the sound level at the same time as the TV speakers with the remote control. Very nice effect without the complexity of a full surround sound receiver set up.

Slim design. The width of the frame around the screen is the smallest we saw. This enabled us to fit the 40" XBR6 into our exiting entertainment center. Also minimizes the frame when hanging the set on a wall. The Samsung frame is much wider and has that "touch of color" tinting that we think distracts from the TV screen.

No "cloud" effect. Not sure what this is but other reviewers mentioned it. We had no problem.

Many, many input jacks including USB, LAN, HDMI on the side, etc.

Deals can be had. Shop! We originally paid $1700, which was the best deal at the time. Then got a price match to $1560 just before Christmas. But the final deal was the combination incentive with the Sony s550 Blu-ray disc player which put the set at just over $1000! (If you don't need the Blu-ray you can resell it easily for more than you pay in the combo deal.)

AT&T CL4940 1-Handset Landline Telephone with Large Display

I purchased my AT&T CL4940 locally because I needed a that-day replacement for a long-time-in-service Nortel.

I'm writing this review based on initial quality as I have only owned the phone for 24 hours. Thus far I am impressed by:

1. Sound quality through both the handset and speaker. This is adjustable with a 4 setting equalizer, I'm using the default 'Natural' setting, there are two treble boost settings and one bass boost setting available.

2. Volume available through both handset and speaker is individually adjustable and can be made very loud on the highest settings.

3. Answering machine ease of operation.

4. Total message+announcement recording time of 25 minutes -these days that's good, many answering machines have less than 15 minutes of audio storage. 60 minutes is still the target amount for manufacturers in my opinion -the problem is that like most answering machines, this one will stop taking messages once the memory is full -and a busy business day or some political robocalls can fill things up pretty fast and shut the system down.

5. Good human interface -big buttons, readable and backlit display, clealy labled control buttons -you do still need to look at the manual just a bit to see how the menu and control system is set up but it's about as simple as it can be made, IMO.

The one disadvantage is the index in the user manual which has way too few entries -I downloaded the .pdf version of the manual just to search for info on the 'equalizer' (it can only be set while you are listening to something) -and how to reset the 'missed calls' counter (press and hold the CANCEL button). Other than the lack of a complete index, the user manual is clear and explanatory.

At the time of this review there are two 2-rated reviews. The one mentioning the need for a DSL filter if you have DSL service applies to most phones and fax machines. Although I did not try the included wall mounting bracket, looking at it I would agree that this phone is not well suited for wall mounting -I don't know of any larger desktop type phones that include an answering machine that are.

Overall I give this phone high marks for design, execution, and value, with durability being the unknown factor.

The AT&T CL4940 is a single-line speakerphone with answering machine functions and caller ID, which makes it one of many similar phones crowding the market.

What sets this phone apart is the large, backlit, tiltable display. Why every landline phone doesn't have a display this nice is beyond me. Most everything else about the phone is typical, but it does add further functions to help those of us who are growing older:

* A large keypad for easy dialing

* A four-setting equalizer function to tweak sound

* "Audio Assist" to temporarily boost receiver volume

* Relatively intuitive functions that can be set up easily

That said, one of the failings of this phone is that--for all its audio-altering capabilities--it does not have a rich sound compared to a cheaper AT&T phone I used to own. This seems odd given this phone's equalizer and Audio Assist functions, but the duller sound quality is obvious in comparison. Another quirk is the dial-back feature; there seems to be no way to program it to add a "1" automatically when dialing outside a set of local area codes, reducing the function's usefulness.

If all those sound bells and whistles had worked as advertised, this could have been a five-star phone. As it is, it's okay, but that still makes it better than many phones out there. And did I mention how great the display is?

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I bought this phone to replace an AT&T CL4939 which failed just three months after the warranty expired. While the phone has many nice features, when I hooked it up, the phone would not ring when a call came in. It took two different techs at AT&T customer service to figure out that I needed to upgrade my phone line to a digital signal box. This was nowhere disclosed either on the box or in the owner's manual. It should be. So, before you buy this phone, make sure you have the correct line coming into your system.

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The phone is well designed, except for one major flaw, which I discuss later. The basic controls are easy to use. It has some clever features, like the redial format selection, which allows one to select the format the phone uses to redial a number from the phone log. After selecting a number from the caller ID lot, you can select whether the phone dials seven digits, 10 digits, or 10 digits preceded by 1. The major flaw goes to the heart of the product, the large display. It is large. It is not backlit. An LCD display that is not backlit appears black on gray. It can be read only with strong direct light on it. It is all well and good to see the new message light blinking, but I wish I could glance into the kitchen as I pass and read the text display of how many calls I'd missed, or be able to review the caller ID log without turning on the brightest light in the room. While I'm at it, it is grossly misleading to market this phone with a picture of a backlit display. That is not what the phone looks like when installed.

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Bought this through Amazon.com. Price and delivery were very satisfactory. The phone has nice features like the amber back lighted display with large characters in addition to the large dial buttons especially good for older folks with less than perfect vision. The speaker phone works in a satisfactory manner.

Now for what I think may need some improvement:

when you record a voice greeting you have speak to the phone approximately 9 inches away from the phone. There should be a way to record your greeting on the handset. The resulting recorded greetings were not as good as they should be in this day and time I would not let this keep me from buying this phone at this price point.

our mounting location in the kitchen is under a high cabinet but lower than what many wall phone elevations are. The display on the phone is ok if you are sitting or kneeling down, but if you are standing the ability to read the display is diminished. The display tilts down, but I think the manufacturer should consider giving the display more range of tilt to include a few degrees up tilt.

the small recording controls buttons at the top of the keypad could be a little larger to accommodate larger characters so they would be more readable by the visually challenged.

Overall this phone is very nice and I recommend its purchase it just could use some improvements.

(Some reviewers complained about a flimsy wall mounting bracket that comes with the phone I have had no problems with the phone coming off the wall even with small jerks on the handset cord.)

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Cerevo LiveShell PRO - USTREAM, LiveStream, YouTube Compatible Professional Grade Live HD Video Bro

The quality is better than the first version but it still has issues with wireless streaming to providers like uStream, Elite Live Broadcasting and livestream. It works good when streaming from a LAN and the h264 with aac is a plus but I'd rather stick with streaming from my pc until they correct that issue.

Sony TCM-210DV Standard Cassette Voice Recorder

• Built-in mic and speaker makes for easy recording and playback
• Advanced voice operated recording (VOR) saves valuable recording time
• Clear Voice function improves recording quality by enhancing voice sounds
• Runs on two AA batteries or AC adaptor

This is pretty much the perfect tape recorder for interviews, whether live or phone -sturdy but light for carrying, with plenty of bells and whistles but a snap to learn to use. (However, inserting tapes is slightly harder than in some other machines.) You can choose slow-speed recording to double the length of your tape (e.g., get two hours of talk on a 60-minute tape), which minimizes interrupting the flow of the interview to change sides or tapes. On playback, a speed-control dial lets you control speed and tone of speech -you can slow down a fast jabberer to transcribe, or speed up to chipmonk-voices past the less useful chatter without missing anything. Plugging in the adapter spares the batteries when transcribing, i.e. when hitting the "pause" button instead of "stop" for interruptions that last longer than anticipated. Sound quality is fine for talk. Not much machine-hiss, and even less on slow speed than on regular speed. Much easier to change batteries than on my previous tape recorder(another Sony which finally died after 25 years of service). Haven't tried this machine for music.

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the 210DV is just the 200 DV with a power adapter and cassette tape included in the package. The power adapter is an additional $14.99 if sold separately, and the cassette costs maybe 50 cents, but if you want to save some money and can make use of the power adapter, this is a great buy!

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This cassette recorder has great sound quality and easy functions. I would recommend this product to anyone who needs to record speeches, or music for practice and auditions, etc. This product replaced my old Sony tape recorder and I much prefer this new one. It is lightweight,too.

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I researched many tape recorders before purchasing the Sony TCM-210DV. I needed it to take meeting minutes. I tried it out at two different locations and the hissing tape noise is so loud it overpowers the voices. Loud voices close by can be heard, but the noise is nerve-racking on playback. I tried two brands of tapes, thinking the one that came with the recorder might have been defective, but they had the same background hissing noise sound. Also, I thought I could use the cue for marking places while taping. Hmmmmm. I have a very old ordinary recorder that allows that function. Now, I don't know what to do. I have to take these minutes and am afraid to throw away more money on another bad recorder. I would like to get a refund, but don't know if it is possible.

For a sturdy full sized cassette recorder, look no further. This is a dependable and easy one to operate. I especially like the Double Record Time during seminars which allows your 90 minute tape to become like a 180 minute one and provide non-stop, all day recording without stopping during a speech to flip the tape over possibly missing something important. I used it at a recent convention and it passed with flying colors.

AVERMEDIA Game Broadcaster HD Record and Stream PC, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and iPads -- capture up to 1

This is my official review for the Avermedia Game Broadcaster HD C127. I learned some new tricks and I want to give you guys a few tips as well.

The Good:

1. Record In FULL HD. 720,1080p

2. Record From PC Full Screen

3. No Lag

4. Different Video Codecs To Record With

5. HDMI

The Bad:

1. VGA Can be bad if you don't have VGA on your graphic card.

2. Program can freeze if you click D-Sub sometimes

3. Program won't recognize D-Sub sometimes (If you have an outdated system)

4. Can't Record PS3 Gaming With HDMI (HDCP Protection)

Tips:

1. You do not need 2 PC's to record from PC.

2. Connect HDMI To DVI or HDMI or HDMI and Duplicate The Display For HD Playback

3. DO NOT CONNECT VGA To DVI....The Playback is HORRIBLE!

UPDATE: Since I've updated my system to I7 I've had no issues at all so far. I changed my review from 4 stars to 5. Overall score 9/10

Today, there are many gamer's out there who commentate over their gameplay. It could either be a video series of video games, or they may even stream their gameplay live. Some may wonder, how do they do all this? There are various tools available to record your gameplay. Some include, internal capture cards or even standalone video capture boxes. The difference between the two is that an internal capture card is what'll allow you to stream your gameplay live. This brings us to our review of AVermedia's Game Broadcaster HD. An internal capture card that will allow you to record or broadcast live gameplay via HDMI or component.

FIRST LOOK:

There's nothing more exciting than looking at an expansion card. They have that great green color with a bunch of little nubs and capacitors. A distinctive smell of electronics. Okay, so maybe not THAT exciting. But, that's pretty much what you'll see at first. Once connected, it's a whole other story. While small, this thing packs the power to capture or broadcast 1080p Hi-def video. It connects internally via PCI-Express X2. On the outside, it has two ports. One for both VGA or Component. For component, you'd just have to use the included component to VGA adapter. The other port is an HDMI input.

INCLUDED IN BOX:

Warranty Card, Manual, Drivers CD

RCA to 3.5mm Audio Cable

Component to VGA Cable

3.5mm Audio Cable

Low Profile Bracket

Capture Card

INSTALLATION:

Installation was fairly easy. Just had to open up the old "Beast"(my actual computer name) and slide `er in an open PCI-E slot. Once in, I put it all back together and booted up. I actually skipped the drivers CD it came with and downloaded the latest drivers from AVermedia's website. It's best to do this with all driver software as the CD could already be outdated and you could be missing some important updates!

INPUT:

I first intended to plug in the PS3 via HDMI totally overlooking HDCP. HDCP or High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection is not supported by this card and didn't let me record or capture anything from the PS3. Since then, I had to go the component route. Because I feel more comfortable playing on my TV, I got a component distribution amplifier which allowed me to take one component input and split it out to two outputs. One for the Game Broadcaster HD and another for the TV. I then plugged the sound in via the Line-In port on my PC. Best of all, it auto-detects the resolution coming out of the console and supports 3D video source playback. VESA resolution is supported as well. To my knowledge, HDCP was only added to the PS3 and not the XBox. Therefore, you should be able to record the XBox via HDMI.

SOFTWARE:

I'm sure there's various programs out there to record gameplay from this capture card, but I just used the software provided. It's called AVer MediaCenter 3D. Which allows you to record gameplay in a variety of formats and does a great job. You can also manage your recordings straight from the software or open up the destination folder and edit the footage in your favorite video editor. You can also manage photos and music kind of like Windows Media Center.

Recording Formats:

MPEG-2

AVI

WMA

WMV

H.264

iPod, iPhone, iPad, and AppleTV

STREAMING:

Streaming is just as easy as capturing. You have the option to use software like Adobe Flash Media Live encoder to encode the live signal into flash for streaming. Another option would be XSplit which is what I prefer most. It's real easy to manage what your audience sees and can broadcast to a variety of sites like Twitch.TV. The Game Broadcaster HD is also pretty flexible so you should be able to use any of your preferred streaming software.

PERFORMANCE:

In my experience, capture cards sometimes have a tendency to lag. Some more than others. After testing the Game Broadcaster HD for some time, it seems to have little to no lag at all. I connected the output to the capture card and TV simultaneously via a component distribution amp and haven't noticed any significant lag at all. Pretty neat since you'll be able to play your game while watching your computer screen.

Overall, I think think the AVerMedia Game Broadcaster HD works very well for what it does. It has no noticeable lag or choppiness. The quality of video looks great! It'd be nice if it could also capture composite video for those intense NES games, but it'll do for now. It's not only great for recording gameplay but anything with an HDMI or component output as long as the output isn't protected. They claim you can even capture your iPad 2 display which I'd guess would be through HDMI. You can also capture another computer's VGA output if you ever needed to record things like BIOS set up or boot up where software can't capture. it'll work on Windows 7, Vista, and XP both 32 and 64bit.

Buy AVERMEDIA Game Broadcaster HD Record and Stream PC, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and iPads -- capture up to 1 Now

After reading some mixed reviews on Amazon, the deciding factor to purchase was price, that I couldn't care less about lack of 1080p/60, & that it has a VGA input with VESA support, that last one is HUGE, but you kids out there prob never heard of VESA, so don't worry!

I did NOT use the driver & software disc the product came with, instead just downloaded the DRIVER ONLY from the manufacturer site, I cannot speak for the software you're "supposed to" install, but as long as the latest driver is installed , it works in Xsplit & that's all I need.

It works flawlessly in my Asus Essentio (i7 3770, 16gig ram, with ONLY Intel HD4000 internal graphics). Yes, it sometimes glitches a few seconds when switching sources or starting up, but once it starts up, no problems!

****Running DUAL Avermedia Game Broadcaster cards****

I made the mistake of thinking that running twin capture cards would require beefier graphics & purchased an Nvidia GTX 560. Turned out the opposite was true. After about 2-3 hours of streaming, the computer would start to stutter (even the mouse) & CPU usage jumped from ~15% to ~30%. You would have to exit Xsplit to make it stop.

After removing the GTX 560 & going back to internal graphics the stutter disappeared. I've been streaming over 36 hours straight ( twitch dot tv / arkadeum ) with one of the capture cards @ 1280x720, the other @ 1920x1080 plus a VGA webcam @ 640x480.

I'm guessing a bottleneck developed in the PCI Express bus over time between the two capture cards & the monster GTX 560, whereas Intels integrated HD4000 graphics chip sits within the actual i7 CPU.

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Bought this a week ago. Works great! I do have to comment, you can't record HDMI footage with the ps3, BUT, it still shows up on the screen with HDMI. Just wont record. BUT if you have fraps or a similar program, you can record the footage that way. So really you still can record ps3 using HDMI, just need fraps or something similar to record.

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I was looking for an HD capture device and this seemed to fit the bill, so I eventually took the plunge and I'm pretty satisfied. The card was very simple to install, and I simply downloaded the updated driver and software from the Avermedia website, so I didn't even have to pop in the disk. I've used this with the Xbox 360 and Wii U and it all works flawlessly and easy with no input lag. It works very well for streaming and if you have the processor to handle it (I have an Intel i7 3770K), you can stream in full 1080p with this. You can also record footage to your hard disk, though the recording options aren't the best. The H.264 recording option, which gives you the best quality at reasonable file sizes, outputs a video with a slight delay in the audio. This is pretty much my only complaint with this device. The delay is only like half a second, so it may not be enough to bother some people but it does bother me. I have to record in AVI which gives excellent quality but outputs a gigantic file. It's not a deal breaker but rather a disappointment; I'm don't regret my purchase.

Overall, this card does what it should very nicely and I recommend it to anyone who wants to steam video game footage. Although it doesn't support retro console out of the box, there is a work-around for it. You can buy a video to VGA converter box and use that to connect your classic consoles (or anything else that uses composite or S-Video) using the VGA port. That's what I'm using and it works; I doubt I'd use the VGA port for anything else anyway. So, I can capture just about everything using this card at great quality so I'm very happy.

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PenCam Mini Video Camera & Recorder tiny Pinhole Camera 4GB built-in memory

This product is a waste of money! It does not record or take pictures. The light goes on like the directions say it well indicating that it is recording, but it doesn't. Not worth the money. I'd give it 0 stars but I have to give it 1 star minimum.

Direction were a bit hard to understand. Picture was just ok.. It will do the job for recording secret squirrel happenings..

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New 4gb 2.8-inch Touch Screen Mp4 Player with Camera Black

I debated between 4 or 5 stars because there are quite a few things that could have been done much better, but I can't believe all the features they crammed into this for just $28 (including shipping).

If you're looking for a high quality device, this might not be right for you, but if you want a cheap device that does one or more of these functions adequately, it could be quite the deal. While there are a few usability annoyances, most of the features do appear to be at least useable. I've encountered a lot of ultra-cheap devices that have a log checklist of features, but they are implemented so poorly that they can't be used. While the cheap hardware does put limits on the function and some of the interfaces could be improved, most do seem usable.

Here are a few features and specs that aren't mentioned in the product description:

The ear-buds are white. This is a genuine iPod wana-be.

The camera takes pictures up to 1280x960 resolution (defaults to 1024x768, but can be adjusted up or down). It appears to only save images as very low quality .jpg's. A 1024x768 image was 100kB, a 1280x960 was 150kB.

Video recording 320x240 resolution with audio.

Comes with stylus (but no good place to store it).

Can operate as a USB PC camera (not tested)

Built in speaker (not high quality sound, but handy on occasion).

Switch to lock out the touch screen.

Other Apps included:

Calculator (simple, not scientific)

stopwatch

calendar: just displays a calendar with a few major holidays. This is not a planner.

Games: Go, Chinese Chess, "road" (shuffling blocks to get the big block to the exit), Minesweeper

Notebook (A simple text editor). This has an on screen keyboard and handwriting recognition of English and simplified Chinese. The English recognition doesn't seem to work very well, but it appears that with some practice one could find the way to write each letter so it would be recognized. The keyboard has a bug where pressing the shift key prompts to "Clear all text", so I haven't found a way to make capital letters except with handwriting recognition. Trying to make a capital C can be difficult. One way to work around this was to "return" to Chinese character entry mode and select "all" instead of simplified Chinese. then when you draw a character, it will display a large number of characters it thinks you might have typed (both Chinese and English), and you can select the one you want. For some reason however, when entered this way, the characters have spaces between them that can't be deleted. The notepad application has locked up on me twice, requiring resetting the device. Reset can be done by poking the stylus in a well-marked hole in the side of the case. It reboots in less than 15 seconds. So this app appears to not be too useful, but looked impressive at first.

Touch screen:

The touch screen is pressure sensitive (not capacitive), so don't expect it to work like an iPhone. With the included stylus, it works pretty well. Some operations can be done with finger touch, but the accuracy isn't good enough for a lot of the small buttons, or buttons near the edge. This could be an annoyance. Since there is no slot to hold the stylus, I probably won't bring it with me, so I'll need to improvise. The ear-bud plug can be used in a pinch.

Manual:

The printed manual appears to have been based on a different version of the software than is on the device. It comes with a CD that might have more info, but I haven't gotten around to looking at it yet since it is a small CD which I can't put into my CD drive without tipping my PC on its side. The most important part is the instructions is to hold the power button for three seconds to turn it on, which I might not have guessed without the manual, but it doesn't mention that it's a slider, not a button, and you have to slide it the correct direction. Sliding the other direction is to lock out the touchscreen.

The Display is adequate. It looks like 320x240 resolution. The viewing angle is pretty bad (only one person can really look at it). I haven't tried it in daylight yet.

Quality:

lightweight

It arrived with the Mini-SD card slot cover detached. I was able to put it back on, but it seems to fall off when I open it. The SD slot cover is hard to open.

The case has a slight misalignment, but it doesn't look too bad.

I noticed a lot of static on the radio as I was listening to the radio in the background and doing other things. I'm not sure if it's whenever the screen updates or when the processor is working.

Quirks:

Up down arrows. to increase a number, press the down arrow. To decrease, press up.

The play/pause/stop button shows the current state, not what will happen if you press the button, which is different than most apps I'm used to.

This product is overall good. It weighs much less than I anticipated which is nice. Some things about it are not what I had thought when I bought it. This media player looks like an iphone, but does not compare in performance. The touch screen is very difficult to work at times. And not all videos can be played on the player. But what music I do load onto the player plays very well. And is much smaller than an iphone, which is nice.

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The product arrived on time and was exactly as described! My son got this for his birthday and loves it. The instructions were very easy and he was able to download music, videos, and pics, by himself.

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I received mine 2 weeks ago. It is perfect for me, was able to download music easily, and pretty fast. The only thing I can not figure out is how to download my TXT file books on it? I have books to add to it, but I can not figure it out, seeing that the user manual does not give details. If anyone knows how I download games, and e-books onto the MP4, can you please share? Thank you in advance :)

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It is cheap plastic and you have to bang the crap out of it to get the touch screen to work

Canon PowerShot A1300 16.0 MP Digital Camera with 5x Digital Image Stabilized Zoom 28mm Wide-Angle

As a full time professional photographer for 15 yrs. now retired, I was dissapointed not to find a quality pocket camera with an

optical viewfinder, until now. I consider this a critical part of any camera that is not an SLR. LCD screens should not be the only

finder on a camera. I have been using the A1300 for a few weeks now. It has performed perfectly in a great variety of situations

and lighting conditions in both auto & program modes. The viewfinder tracks with the optical 5X tele. very well. Am very serprised

at how good the 20X digital zoom & stabilization are.The LCD is bright and adjustable. In the real world of point & shoot photography, not lab tests, this ultra compact took really good photos! Very happy it uses AA cells. I use Ni.Mh rechargeables &

always have extra Alkalines along.

. Batt. life has been good. This is the easiest, most fun and now my go to camera. The A1300 is a

Very well thought out and executed point & shoot camera. Thanks Canon for making something we really need at a very

affordable price!

I purchased this camera as a replacement for my Nikon Coolpix that quit working after less than two years and probably less than five-hundred pictures. I use this camera when I am backpacking as it is very lightweight and uses standard AA batteries. My first experience was this month on a fifty mile hike of the Foothill Trail in South Carolina. There are many waterfalls and beautiful views and I wanted to take some great pictures. I was extremely happy with the results. I returned home with about sixty photos and loaded them to Picassa with the idea of editing and correcting any problems before sharing them with friends and family. None of the sixty needed any retouching. They were perfect both in exposure and color rendetion. Some of the pictures were taken at night of my campfire with the camera set on the A (automatic) position. They were great.

As usual, buying through Amazon was a perfect transaction.

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For background: we've had a Canon A20, with a magnificent 2 Megapixels (grin), for the last 10 years. One was stolen in airport baggage (my stupidity for packing it). I was thankfully able to buy a replacement A20 on e-Bay. So we have been quite content for about 10 years. This A20 has been bulletproof, you might say. Fast Forward to 2012. My spouse wanted a smaller, lighter camera--No problem...

...But I wanted an optical viewfinder--BIG problem; hardly anyone makes them any more. Thank you Canon, for still providing this feature.

For those of you wondering what is this -an optical viewfinder? It is simply a camera that you place up against your cheek, and perhaps use the zoom buttons, to compose the picture. This is how you used to do it with film cameras, before LCD screens were even invented. Single-Lens-Reflex (SLR) cameras, that cost vastly more, use this method, although with vastly improved optics. The alternative is to hold your (non-viewfinder) camera out at arm's length. Which results in:

-Get out your glasses, cuz you can't see enough detail on the toy screen.

-Then, when you finally see your pix, you realize that your cam is unsupported--this will cause BLUR. So you have to take another...

-Then, you hit your forehead with your fist (in anguish) as you realize that the sun is shining so strongly that you cannot see anything on the little screen at all.

Then, you retire to the bar and regret not buying a camera with an optical viewfinder. Get 'em while they last. For the price of a bottle of Champagne, you could have bought this camera. Attention: you can still use the LCD screen at arm's length on this camera if you wanna.

The other reviews are great; I wanted to call out great emphasis on the viewfinder. Sports and wildlife photographers rely on such viewfinders, since they can track, zoom, and compose a shot (in a fraction of a second) which would be impossible with an LCD display.

For those of you thinking of using a cellphone or an i-Pad for photography, fuhgettaboudit. Their pix are horribly granulated (few pixels & small sensors), and as with any handheld, the blurring is atrocious. I know; I've tried. Try not to shame yourself by sharing such pictures.

This camera is magnificent. Over the years I have done darkroom film development, printed enlargements from the negatives, carried camera bags full of changeable lenses for my SLR, had slide projectors; now this is all I need. I can't imagine spending money on a more expensive camera, unless you want to move up to a nice SLR, but that will be bulky and heavy. This cam is 6oz, versus 12.5 for my beloved old A20.

I find that most of my relatives and friends take lots of pictures (be it on a cellphone or camera) and then never DO ANYTHING with them. They are not shared with anyone, and mostly just sit on chips or CDs in drawers. So it is worthwhile to point out that this camera includes Canon's album software; the chip pops out for easy unloading (or use the cable connector)--to help us get organized.

If you would like a case for this, consider the "Lowepro Tahoe 10 Digital Camera Bag (various colors)" which is a softcase. I've done trial fits at Beste Buye and it works fine. I ended up buying the Kodak "Essentials" hard case. The Case Logic units that I tried were a tad too small.

A final word on chargers and batteries. There is no charger. This cam uses two AA batteries; if you need them they are globally available from Topeka to Taipei to Tuscany. If you buy a charger camera, consider: You have one more charger to carry. You already have phone chargers, GPS chargers, Blackberry/i-Pad/PC chargers. Some have two different cables: one 12-volt for a car, and one 120-volt for the wall. Does your cam charger work on dual-voltage 120/220? If not you will need to buy a second one (220v) at great expense for overseas travel. Not to mention another prong-converter for when you finally travel overseas. Ugh. [But do see notes on rechargeables in the Comments On This Review, below]

Shopping notes: This camera does NOT come with a memory card (but does have batteries). Amazon has a good 4GB SD card for about $6. Add it to your shopping cart. When checking out, do NOT buy either of these things with 1-Click, or you will lose free shipping. Add them to the cart, then go to checkout, then change the shipping method to "free shipping", then complete.

Please comment if you have issues and I will try to address them. Cheers y'all.

xxx ooo xxx

PS. For me the image size is important for some of my software (it probably won't matter to most people) so just be aware: The A1300 can be set to take 640x480, 1600x1200, or any of 3 even larger formats. My old A20 could take 1024x768 format, but that is not available on the A1300.

Read Best Reviews of Canon PowerShot A1300 16.0 MP Digital Camera with 5x Digital Image Stabilized Zoom 28mm Wide-Angle Here

Canon A1300 Sure Shot

Pros Has an optical viewfinder !! a must have in bright sunlight

Uses two AA batteries !! can buy at almost any store

Confortable in your hand and fits nicely in shirt pocket or purse

Takes a very good still photo

Takes a very good HD Video with good single audio (non-stereo)

Can also take a fairly good standard video with single audio good for saving SD Card space

Audio sounds fairly good when having to video in gusty wind conditions as compared to some other brand cameras

Very easy to use and easy to switch back and forth from Auto to Low Light, etc and easy to switch back and forth from flash and no flash

Video button on back is separate from the still shot button on topI like that because I take mostly videos

Very good camera for the price

Cons The videos and still photos are occasionally very blurry and non-usable as though the auto focus has failed

( I just turn the camera off and start over again (reboot) and then it is fine )

The optical viewfinder does not show the zoom in/out when videoing but the the LCD does show the zoom in/out while videoing

Does not come with an SD Card Camera does not have any internal memory so you must buy an SD card

Standard AA batteries last only about one hour when videoing I recommend using the rechargeable batteries to save money

Conclusion I like this camera and I would give this camera at least a four star if it were not for the above listed cons This camera is an

inexpensive point and shoot pocket camera and I recommend this camera.

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Smal portable camera east to operate even without reading a manual if you are used to digital camera, excellet picture quality, even when in moving car the stabilty is supurb. Zoom is good except the last 6x zoom which is digital once it hits the limit of the optical zoom the digital is almost worthless. However for fast snap shots on the fly it's a nice working camera and the price is about right. This was used to replace a Pentax digital camera. The pentax would not accept the 64 gig flash disk but the A1300 does. Easy to handle comfortable to hold and like that it's not just another sqware box. Night flash works good and face detecton is nice too. would buy another one.

After haveing this camera for a short time have found that the memory card and battery has issues. Buyer beware of this issue you will try to take a picture and it dies out have tried new batteris and everything sending it to factoy for repair

Disney 39006-RS Cars Camcorder with 1.5-Inch LCD Screen (Red)

the first one arrived with missing parts. The company did replace it , however this camera's screen kept freezing. Cannot use it. Also the do not clearly tell you on the package that you need to make an additional purchase of a sd card. Called company that "warranties" it, they referred me back to the seller.

I purchased one for my 3 year old for Christmas and he loved it. It stopped working, so I called Sakar International and they did an excellent job. Strongly recommend this company.

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SanDisk Sansa Fuze 2 GB Video MP3 Player (Black)

• Listen, watch, and play all day with 24 hours of battery life and room for up to 500 songs
• Watch your favorite video clips or share your photos on the 1.9-inch color screen
• Digital FM radio with 20 preset stations
• Voice recording with built-in microphone
• Expand your existing 2 GB memory with the microSD/microSDHC slot

I did a lot of research before purchasing the Fuze. My research led me to narrow my choice to two options. One being the Fuze, the other being the IPod Nano. In the end I bought both units. The Fuze I paid cash for from Amazon, the Ipod I redeemed credit card points to obtain.

After having both for about a month now I don't understand why anyone would buy an Ipod. Other than the beautifully designed packaging and product it is the most difficult proprietary product out there. You have to use Itunes to register the unit and load music. In my case downloading Itunes messes with my Windows Media Player which I use as a player linked to a hard drive which is my in home music server. In order to fix the software conflicts between Itunes and Windows Media I had to resort to uninstalling Itunes which by it self did not solve the problem. Only after defragementing my hard drive did the problem go away.

The Sansa Fuze was so simple to load with music I was amazed. Simplily plug it in and drag and drop. It even gives you the option of specifying what type of music file you prefer (ie compressed or not). With storage expansion via card and an FM player it is fantastic.

So while I appreciate the visual design of the Ipod it is extremely over rated to me. Don't buy an Ipod unless you are only interested in looks over performance.

Buy SanDisk Sansa Fuze 2 GB Video MP3 Player (Black) Now

The SanDisk Fuze is a great MP3 player. The 2GB Fuze costs half the price of an iPod and has many more features and is easier to use. The Fuze has a micro-SD slot so it's expandable for more music, videos, pictures, etc. The Fuze has a digital FM radio so you can catch up on news, sports scores, and listen to radio music as well. The Fuze also has a voice recorder with built-in microphone so you just talk into the machine and verbally record memos. But the best feature...and this is what sold me on the Fuze... is that works with the ubiquitous Windows Media software found on most PCs. You simply click and drag your music from your computer's library into the Fuze file, which I find much easier than Apple's complex and propriety music file system. The iPod is an icon, and there are a zillion accessories for it, but it doesn't hold a candle to the SanDisk Fuze. Don't be a robot and follow the crowd, break yourself free and go for the Fuze. SanDisk simply makes a better MP3 player with more features for a lot less money. Whether its the very tiny Sansa Clip with 3-line display, or the Sansa Fuze with a full screen, SanDisk MP3 players are a much better value. I am very happy with my Fuze and highly recommend it.

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The san disk fuze 2gb player is the best player i have owned. I had many mp3 players including an ipod nano. Some were very simple and others had all the bells and whistles, but this one is my best buy yet. Very good sound quality and video quality. I been look for a multimedia player but didn't want to shell out money for an expensive player like the new nano. And I didn't want one that was going to break or not be to do what i wanted even if the price was reasonable. This one was exactly what i was looking for and the price was very reasonable. I especially liked that memory can be expanded up to 10 gb with 8 gb micro sd card. I enjoy my player and hope to get many years of use from it. I highly recommend it whether the 2, 4 or 8 gb fuze.

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I'm really not much of a music person, and put off getting an mp3 player until a recent vacation. My last portable music device is the Walkman, so bear with me. I was really impressed with this mp3 player, and thought it was definitely a great buy (especially comparing to Apple products). I also love that I can just drag MP3 files off my computer without having to use a proprietary format or a particular program in which to organize my MP3 files. It was very simple to just drag to the correct folder (music for most) and I was good to go. Vista recognized it as an MP3 player and allowed me to just open folders. There is a music organization program that came with it, but I just ignored that for now.

I did drag a couple of stories and put them in the Audiobook folder, as well as a few podcasts which have their own folder as well.

I honestly didn't listen to it a ton, but I was impressed with the battery life, and I didn't have to use my USB power adapter that I picked up just in case I needed to recharge on my trip.

You can also use a Micro SD card for more storage, but I haven't tried that out yet since 2 GB is plenty enough for me. I haven't tried out the video option, but that may encourage the use of a card.

It is a very sleek looking device that is simple to use, holds plenty of music, simple interface, seems to have a good battery life, very compact at a great price. I highly recommend.

I bought this because im not a big fan of Apple's iPod. When i first bought it, i loved it. Then when i sync my music, battery fried. Brand new, first day use and already fried up. So i went and returned it and i got a brand new one. 8 months later, i install a microSD and i fire it up with my new tunes, delete one song and battery fries again. So i checked my SD Mini, not a problem, so i know its a defect on the Sansa Player. If you buy this, get a warranty just in case. I'm gonna be RMA this one a second time. I'm pretty upset.

Funai TB600FX2 HD Streaming Player

I've own several Roku boxes and I also stream video from my XBox 360, so streaming video from the internet is commonplace in my home. When I had the opportunity to review this new player by Funai, I jumped at the chance.

For those of you new to streaming video, here are the basics: you will need a computer (for activating your device on your subscription accounts) and internet service. Most players, this one included, can be set up to be wired (using an ethernet cable) or wireless (over your home wireless network). If you will be using a wired connection, you will need an ethernet cable near the TV you will be hooking this device to, and an available electrical outlet. For wireless setup, you will need to know your SSID and your security password, if any, and an available outlet.

If you will be using this device with an HDTV, you will want to connect using an HDMI cable (NOT included) for the best picture. There are standard AV cables included with this player, but they will not produce an HD picture.

This player is about the same size and shape as the original Roku boxes, and is sleek, attractive and well built. The remote is excellent! It is small and has a few simple buttons so ANYONE can use it. It has a dedicated Netflix and Vudu button on the remote. Batteries were also included for the remote.

One especially nice feature is an included bracket that allows you to wall mount this device. Funai thoughtfully placed a second IR receiver on top of the device for this option. Also, there is an on/off button. This is a big deal to me and Roku does NOT have any way to turn it off except to unplug it.

I wish they had included a usb port so that you could view your own content.

The big question is: How does it work and how does it compare to Roku? Unfortunately, not very well on either count. Set up is easy and quick, and the picture quality is excellent, but then you are left with a paltry number of apps to choose from most of which are subscription which you must pay for. Roku has hundreds of apps (they call them channels) and many of them are free. Funai does have Pandora and YouTube, which are free, but the YouTube app is so clunky and awful with a horrible search feature that it is too painful to use.

The Netflix app works great! There is also Blockbuster Video on Demand, Vudu, and FilmFresh. They are similar services to Netflix, but I don't subscribe to any of them. Sadly, Funai did not include an Amazon Video on Demand app. That is very disappointing to me since, as a Prime member, I have hundreds of free movies and TV shows available to me at no charge. (Roku has an Amazon channel.)

I am not counting Funai out completely because they got the hardware right and the wifi works perfectly and the setup process is even quicker than Roku. But until they add quite a few more apps, and update their YouTube browser, I cannot recommend this player at this time. You will be much, much happier with a Roku.

Note: I do think that Funai will have firmware and software updates delivering soon. I will update this review when/if improvements are made that will make the Funai a device worthy of considering.

I'll admit it's got a lot free channels if you click on "Vudu Apps". A ton of free stuff comes up. But what a lot of people want to watch are the movie channels like Netflix. I'm a member of Netflix and love that it streams via my router to my TV set using whatever interface I happen to have. I have 3 now: Wii, Roku and now Funai.

Setting up the Funai was very easy, just connect your HDMI cable or audio/visual cables (red, yellow and white) if your set doesn't have HDMI outputs or if you've already got them taken up by other stuff. Put the batteries that came with the Funai in the remote, aim, fire and go through a very easy set-up phase. The Funai might be the best option for those who don't have credit cards because it doesn't ask you for a credit card number as the Roku set up does prior to activation. Not everybody has a credit card and they can still use the Funai. You still have to input your router password, and go to your computer to activate Netflix and some other channels. I opened the Blockbuster channel but don't want to pay for movies I can stream via Netflix or get cheaper on Amazon (Roku).

I had trouble figuring out how to navigate around in the Netflix channel. It was straightforward with the Roku and Wii, but I couldn't figure out how to get back to the main menu with the Funai remote without first having to go to a "FULL STOP" in which Netflix had to be totally reloaded. I thought I had pushed every button on the remote trying to find the one that would take me back to the main menu but couldn't find it. I finally gave up and gave the remote to my 9 year old daughter with the instructions to please figure this out for me and report back. She did. You're supposed to push the "UP" arrow key to go back. Not very logical but I'll be gosh-darned it worked! Neither the Wii nor Roku took so long to figure out and both are extremely easy to navigate around. But once over that hump the Funai streaming player works pretty good.

It's not a bad streaming device, it has a lot more free stuff than the Roku (I think, not completely sure yet) and you can go to Youtube. But it's not a good experience....it's not like going to Youtube on your computer where you can easily see the homepage and type in a few letters and up pops a lot of videos. With the Funai, you have to go to a "search" screen and slowly type in the title of the video you want to see while all the time in the background is a video running which can be anything. The one I had to endure several times was some guy screaming in Spanish and looked like he hasn't had a bath in days and had an IQ of about 60, and that's on a good day. I really got tired of seeing him but at least I could mute him while I toiled with the tiny search screen. The search screen is fairly user friendly but you have to be careful when you approach the letter you need. Stop clicking on the letter before it or it will pass over the letter you want and upload the next letter. So, you have to carefully click up to the backspace button and try again. And again. And a few more times before you get the hang of it.

Overall, it's small, and black like the Roku, has a small remote, has lots of free stuff and you can stream several big movie Channels like Netflix, Blockbuster and Vudu. I was excited to see all the news channels until I realized every single one of them were right-wing, conservative news shows so blech on those. No Al Jazeerah or RT like are on the Roku. Doesn't come with an HDMI cable but does have composites, just like the Roku. I will probably put this streamer upstairs and put the Roku back on the TV downstairs since it's the one watched the most.

Buy Funai TB600FX2 HD Streaming Player Now

This Funai netbox is a simple, well made, easy to use device. The main thing I was looking for out of this device was access to netflix. I do not have a tv with built in apps nor due I own a gaming system that allows access to netflix' library of streaming content. I came accross the funai tb600 and decided it was reasonably priced and that I would give it a shot. I had also had a good experience previously with a dvd player made by funai. I am currently using the device wirelessly on my home wifi network and it was extremely easy to set up. I have it connected to my tv by hdmi cable and the picture quality is brilliant! Like I said previously, access to Netflix was my main interest in this device but I was also pleased with the added feature of pandora radio. I use Pandora quite often on my home pc and iphone, and now have the ability to access internet radio through my tv as well. Overall I am quite satisfied with my purchase and would recommend this product to others!

Read Best Reviews of Funai TB600FX2 HD Streaming Player Here

I bought this about a month ago on clearance from another retailer for a little more than half of Amazon's price. It was between this and the equivalent Roku and the price difference made me choose the Funai.

This thing was very easy to set up. I used the HDMI out to a TV and the RCA audio out to an older surround system. The wifi works well on an N router with 12 Mb/s cable internet.

I have never used a Roku, so I don't know how much better their channel selection is, but all I really need is Netflix compatibility. The Funai player does just fine on Netflix. The Vudu app gives you a small credit, so that's like one or two free movies. The Blockbuster app was deleted upon firmware update and replaced with Hulu Plus. I didn't have any wierd problems with YouTube other than the interface is a bit clunky; I do like that it lets you click to only show HD videos in your search.

There was one time that it froze up while trying to open Netflix. I had to uplug it but it worked fine when plugged back in. This is a problem with most modern electronics in my experience, so I don't give it much of a hit.

I do wish it did more (Amazon Instant?) but it does well at what it advertises.

Want Funai TB600FX2 HD Streaming Player Discount?

Quickly for those as confused as we were at the start, a primer: Like the well-known Roku brand boxes, this Funai TB600FX2 HD Streaming Player processes an internet signal (online connection not included) into reasonably user-friendly displays, listing the vast and voluminous programming choices available on Internet TV. Though `voluminous' is hardly the word ... there's more programming than you can imagine, even just in the mainstream channels. Take your standard cable or satellite totals and multiply by 100. Really.

As with the Roku XS we reviewed last year, this is the HD model, so we'll compare the two here. Hardware setup is simple for both, every type connection is available: HDMI, USB, RCA x 3, and of course wireless. The main distinction between the two is the manner in which they present that vast and voluminous world of programming. You'll have to do some hunting at first to establish where your favorite shows are, and how you're most comfortable searching for content. Along those lines, the Funai displays are "busier," that is they includes more items on a single screen. The Roku displays are simpler, easy on the eye, fewer items on a screen. The Roku remote control is simpler, too.

But even if you tend toward simpler, easy-on-the-eye displays, I recommend this Funai over Roku. One simple reason: YouTube. For whatever reason (and at this point it doesn't matter), Roku has never been able to satisfy Google's technical demands, and thus offers no YouTube channel. None of the endless hours of unique entertainment that the Funai box and YouTube provide. In a recliner or on a couch, those vertical lists of "recommended" videos can keep a YouTube night rolling on until dawn if you're not careful. And that's the edge that puts Funai over the top and ahead of Roku.

But m-o-s-t importantly whichever brand box you choose remember that Internet TV saves you lots of money compared to cable or satellite. YouTube, Picassa, Facebook and other online-based channels are free, and subscription-based Netflix, Hulu Plus and other such channels are less than $10 per month. These channels are adding content at a dizzying rate ... all four major broadcast networks now stream all or part of their lineup on Hulu Plus. You probably already have an Internet connection in your home, so the one-time cost of an Internet TV box like this one is all you need. Throw in a well-calibrated over-the-air antenna for local channels, and it's a Brave New (inexpensive) World of Internet TV out there. Good luck and happy hunting.

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Sony Bravia XBR KDL-46XBR8 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz Triluminos LED LCD HDTV

• 16:9 Full HD 1080p Resolution Panel (1920x1080)
• TRILUMINOS RGB Dynamic LED Backlight Display
• BRAVIA Engine 2 PRO fully digital video processor
• Motionflow 120Hz PRO technology
• DMex capable

People complain a lot about this TV's price. It's expensive. But if you're picky about what you watch and you have a lot of windows in your house, this HDTV LCD is definitely worth the extra bucks--especially since Amazon has free shipping and discount rates.

I was surprised how small the box was that this came it. It doesn't have a ton of protection around it. There is a thin film layer of plastic that protects the front bezel, which easily comes off. I did not use the stand, but put it on a swivel mount. Setup of the TV was very easy and the image outstanding, with beautiful colors and details right out of the box. By the way, a nice touch is that the TV's serial number is on the outside of the batteries for the remote control--which I wish I'd realized before searching the entire back of the TV with a flashlight (it was also on the back, but partly obscured by the swivel mount I'd used).

You see some folks who talk about "poor" off angle viewing and "blooming." I honestly haven't noticed either one. This thing looks great from a range of angles, the picture phenomenal.

The TV speakers are okay but not great. If you're going to watch a lot of movies--and trust me, with this screen you're going to want to--I'd recommend getting the Sony BDV-1000ES and an HDMI cable. That way you get theatre-quality sound to match the picture and the Bravia Link means the two will communicate well with each other, and respond to one remote control. Then, just pop in a blu-ray disk, kick back, and enjoy. This is one great TV.

Buy Sony Bravia XBR KDL-46XBR8 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz Triluminos LED LCD HDTV Now

I purchased this TV one month ago. It is a replacement for my XBR4 which is being enjoyed in its new home. Shopping and looking, then I saw it. It was love at first sight. And it is a sight to behold. Crystal clear, vibrant realistic colors, and a beautiful design. Sony has outdone itself with a new benchmark for the industry. You will not be disappointed with this beauty. This is TV as it has never been. Coupled with my FIOS HD service and a blu-ray player there's little reason to ever attend a movie theater. Although my Bose surround system is the perfect mate to this TV, the eight built-in speakers leave little to be desired. Check it out, you'll see TV like never before.

Read Best Reviews of Sony Bravia XBR KDL-46XBR8 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz Triluminos LED LCD HDTV Here

This set is one of the best 5 flat panel sets being produced. The others include the Pioneer Kuro PRO-111FD plasma and Samsung LN46A950 which also has LED back lighting. All are expensive so it's best to see all in person before you decide. The Kuro has been the gold standard for flat panels for some time, and rightly so, but the LCD sets with LED back lighting are now very close.

Some reviewers have niggled about off angel viewing and color blooming but that is picking the finest of nits. The off angle viewing is as good as all but a very few CCL backlit LCD or plasma sets so I'm not sure what that's all about. I have a pivoting wall mount so problem solved. As for the blooming, it is so minor as to not be visible unless you are right at the screen looking for it and is not noticeable in normal use.

The XBR8 will work better in a room with normal light levels than the Kuro and also renders standard definition programs better than the Kuro. It also beats the lone 1st generation LED set at rendering SD.

The LED back lighting generates less heat than an LCD set with cold cathode back lighting and much less heat than a plasma due to it's lower electrical current draw. Each individual LED cluster is controlled dynamically so that they are shut completely off during dark scenes producing the same absolute black levels as the best plasma sets. The LED back light elements have a service life of something like 20,000hrs so replacement is not necessary. They also will not fade over time like a plasma set does.

Whether this set is worth the money is a matter each person has to decide for themselves. Those that can afford one are very unlikely to ever become disappointed with the image. If you do buy one you owe it to yourself to get a full calibration done by an ISF certified tech in order to get all the potential out of this set.

Want Sony Bravia XBR KDL-46XBR8 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz Triluminos LED LCD HDTV Discount?

Although the list price for this HDTV would be out of my budget, I purchased this amazing flat screen from Amazon for a little over $2,300. In my local electronics store, the Sony was my 2nd favorite (after the Kuro). The Samsung LEDs were close behind. What makes this unit ideal for me is the fact that is still has pretty decent built-in speakers. I personally hate having a sound system hooked up to my TV. I like to be able to turn on my TV and go. I made the salesman at my local store demonstrate the built-in sound to make sure it would be sufficient for my needs. (I was really planning on buying it there but they raised the price overnight and then I found Amazon's amazing price which saved me over $600!) Since we were originally thinking we were going to have to buy both a new TV (to replace our dying projection HDTV) and a home theater sound system (since none of the new flat screens seemed to have speakers at all anymore), we were able to apply that budget to this superior TV instead, which arguably has one of the best pictures available.

Now that it is installed at home, I am absolutely thrilled! I am more than happy with the built-in sound. I admit that those who are used to having booming surround sound audio would probably be disappointed, but the sound set at medium levels is very nice for day to day viewing. If you turn it up for serious BluRay DVD viewing, it is pretty impressive as well. The picture is truly stunning!

I must give kudos to Amazon for their customer service as well. The first unit we were shipped turned out to have a cracked interior screen. The box was undamaged and everything seemed fine until we powered it up. There were massive cracks going across the screen (actually a picture of cracks since the exterior was fine, just the interior screen of some kind was broken it was obvious it had been dropped at some point.) I called Amazon immediately and they took care of it quickly and courteously and now we have our beautiful new TV. Yes, I would have rather had a perfect unit the first time out, but the money we saved over purchasing from our local superstore was more than worth it.

I just acquired one of these 46" XBR8 units. As others have said, the image quality is nothing short of awesome. I threw on my DVE calibration disc, and very little tweaking was required to get it just spot on. I do recommend enabling "Full Pixel" mode, and turning off the MotionFlow stuff I find the frame creation to make the motion unnatural and kind of creepy (and on some material, it can add artifacting). If you are an HT junkie though, this is one *sweet* TV. Go check it out.