Panasonic RR-US570 Portable 1GB IC Digital Voice Recorder

He/she has a sensitive one good and variable according to the necessity, registers the voice very well in spite of a non quiet environment, moderate clearing, when being connected to a non alone microphone is clear but friendly and not strong audio, depending on the volume of the master.

Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-500MCE 2-Tuner PCI-Based Digital Video Recorder (NTSC)

It's great qualtity for the price. I had an EVGA dual tuner TV card prior to buying this one. The 500 MCE gives you a better picture and more connectivity. The colors are vibrant and the decoding is excellent. The only short coming is that MPEG decoder software is not included in the package and you'll have to purchase your own.

Word of wisdom: If your picture is choppy check if your hard drive speed is up to par. I wasted almost a week; formating my hard drive 3 times, replaced my tuner card twice and swapped my CPU. I was about to buy a new mother board before I realised my hard drive was the problem. I Bought a new SATA drive and it was smoooooooth sailing.

I bought this product for my linux based mythtv system. The great thing about this product (and the thing that really sets it apart from other models of WINTV-PVR) is the 2-tuner design. You plug in one cable connection into the card, within the card it splits the signal to 2 different tuners. This allows you to record two shows at the same time. This product works flawlessly. This card does support a radio tuner, however I really have found no use for it so I can't comment on that.

In short, even though this product might be more expensive then most, the cost is made up by great quality, functionality, and reliability. A must-have for anyone building a home-brewed PVR (Personal Video Recorder).

For anyone who is wondering, the awesome linux compatibility of all Hauppage products is why I will never buy anything other than hauppage.

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I'll preface that I came to this from a WinTV-PVR 250. The quality on that card is much better than on this one. I was a bit disappointed (even though I read the reviews that said as much). Basically, I had to, though, because I watch and record so many shows (and will soon be using it in a multi-person home), so a dual tuner has become necessary.

Not saying the quality is unwatchable or anything like that. It's just not as good as the 150/250. Oh well. It's very much worth the money for what it does (dual tuners), but for me, it's just going to function as a stop gap until another company (or Hauppauge) comes out with a better dual tuner -keeping in mind that I don't want to use Windows MCE since Beyond TV is more extensible IMHO (can you say Hydra TV server with a bunch of Beyond TV Links? see http://www.snapstream.com/Community/Articles/hydra/default.asp for what I mean).

Read Best Reviews of Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-500MCE 2-Tuner PCI-Based Digital Video Recorder (NTSC) Here

I think this is about the best of the current crop (end of year 2005) of dual tuner video cards. However, I am still looking forward to the next generation as this card and many in the same category have somewhat "mushy" video, slightly washed out color. This particular model has audio problems on some channels about 5% of the time, so recorded shows are sometimes not watchable. New drivers did not help. You can only use one type of video input at a time: either the 2 tuner coax inputs or the 2 A/V inputs (this is probably a limitation of MCE, not the card itself). It installed flawlessly and setup in Windows MCE was effortless -perfect score on this count. The FM tuner works well, however for some reason you can't listen to FM while tuning a channel/recording (could be an MCE limitation again). Overall I love this card, but as I said, very anxious to see what the next gen offers.

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I have a souped-up SONY media center computer that worked great under Windows XP MCE, .... until I upgraded to Vista.

After a frustrating month trying to get tv back on my SONY RB60G computer, Hauppauge came through for me.

This card is built very similar to the SONY Gigapocket tv-tuner card. but this one has dual tuners and an FM radio too.

Vista saw the card right away, and had it integrated into Media Center in no time. No sweat.

It works great.

FM radio is nothing to brag about, but it picks up four clear stations, and I have StepVoice so I can now record songs off the radio too.

12 ft Premium S/PDIF Digital Toslink Optical Audio Cable w/ Protective Jacket TT-80C-12

This product works great. This replaced RCA cables from my TV to my stereo. The RCA cables hummed a lot when you turned up the sound. With this cable there is no hum only clear sound. The cable feels and looks nice. Almost a shame it is hidden. It clicked into place nicely.

I have three of these in my setup: One connecting my TV (for the ATSC tuner's audio output) to an optical switch, one connecting my computer to the switch, and one connecting the switch to my receiver.

They all work great in all modes (DD 5.1, DD 2ch, DTS 5.1, LPCM 2ch).

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I bought this cable to connect my Logitech audio system to my computer. I got a perfect snap on both ends and great sound coming from my speakers.

The cable looks really elegant and high tech, so if run it were it will be visible you'll have a great plus there. I've been using it for several months without a problem.

Overall this is a high quality cable and I'm glad I purchased it.

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I've had no problems. I have had this product for a few months now, the quality of sound is great.

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SIIG CB-0000L1-S1 DVI-D Dual-Link to DVI-D Dual-Link Cable, 5-Meters

Fast delivery from Amazon. Cable is built sturdy and does what it's suppose to do. I use it to connect my macbook to my LCD TV. The 16.4 feet give me a lot of flexibility to move around.

If you need the extra length, this is a quality cable to get the job done. MY PC is in a cabinet around the corner from my monitor. I had used a long VGA cable, but there was problems with screen centering because of no EDID data. Long story Short, Theres no issues with a pure digital cable solution. Screen is nice and sharp.

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HP Pavilion G7-1261NR 17.3" Laptop (2.5-1.9GHZ AMD A4-3300m Processor, 6GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive, S

Purchased the HP 1261NR on sale at Office Depot for $438 w/tax. Excellent deal. The bright screen display and size for the price is amazing! The webcam is crystal clear and makes me look good, which is important (right?). The sleek grey shell design is durable, good looking and easy to transport. At 6 lbs. someone did their design homework because it's extremely nice to carry. The laptop stays cool to the touch while in use. Loud Altec speakers in the front provide quality sound. I'm impressed with the design team at HP. Good job people.

In my opinion, if you get this laptop for under $600 w/tax, pat yourself on the back. 500 gig hd and 6 gigs of memory is sufficient for most users. Personally, I enjoy the SD slot, makes the transfer of files a breeze. Pop the SD card into the slot and bam! there's instant access to media. Awesome. BTW, Windows 7 is easy to use and is pretty much the same as XP (don't stress you'll laugh; 7 is very easy to use). Love that the laptop looks expensive but not super expensive. Perfectly "blending" (not too expensive, not too cheap) laptop for any pc environment.

The blue ray dvd player is great (little loud when playing) but for the price, noise is expected. The springboard to the keyboard is a little sticky. This too is something that is to be expected with price. Simple solution and cool; upgrade to the Microsoft wireless keyboard I reviewed. Touche.

Grab that $500 you've saved since reading my review on dumping AT&T. (Yes, I bought this lappy with the $ I saved dumping them). Be patient and search for this on sale. Order. Enjoy your new laptop which didn't empty your wallet.

Update: Used for over a month and still love this laptop. Connected a really old printer and the laptop downloaded the driver before I knew it! One of the best purchases I've made this year and worth the money.

Bought two of these for Graduation gifts for my kids. I was threatening to take one of these for my own. Super fast, huge bright screen, and a built in Blue ray. You really can't go wrong.

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I bought this laptop at the beginning of July (2012). It is now almost the beginning of December (2012)and after 5 months of using this laptop almost 5 months I now feel that I can review it fairly. I read one of the reviews stated that you could not control contrast, but 2 keys and 3 keys from the escape button on the top left is a small beam and a large beam icon on each which changes the look of the display and perhaps the reviewer just needed to adjust the display. Other reviewers wrote about the battery life.I usually have mine plugged in because I have a terrific laptop table that I keep by my chair and once in a while I unplug to let the battery drain down. I AM really glad I waited to write my review, because I live in New Jersey and we lost our power for 2 full weeks and didn't have a whole lot of gas in the car, so we pretty much stayed home. Since we do have a Starbucks (internet hotspot) about a mile away,I was able to spend some time on the computer and fully charge the battery. On the other days I could go and play some already downloaded games (without electric, our home internet router would not work)in between reading my Kindles. Over the course of two weeks I did this several times. I believe that the battery lasted close to 3 hours, which is reasonable for this size laptop (17.3"). I do not feel that this unit is "delicate" (translation:cheap feeling) as one reviewer thought. I have an HP All-in-One wireless printer system. This laptop set it up automatically ready to use. I didn't have to do anything. I make my own greeting cards it works great with that program. I like to play games and they play without any glitches. The display is clear and bright, I've never had to adjust it. In all, it is a good computer especially for the price (although I DID pay quite a bit less for mine at the time through Amazon!). The 500GB hard drive is good (up from the 350 GB on my old laptop) and I also have an external hard drive to store pictures. I would recommend this to most average laptop users.

Read Best Reviews of HP Pavilion G7-1261NR 17.3" Laptop (2.5-1.9GHZ AMD A4-3300m Processor, 6GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive, S Here

This product is ok, not great! The webcam is crystal clear, the keys are easy to use, the screen is awesome and the appearance is great. However, the touch pad is somewhat stubborn at times. I have only been using this for three days and i am second guessing my purchase. The battery last for 1hour and that sucks, its like its an old battery. The computer also feels very delicate and as such, you have to treat it like an egg. Its a good computer but i think without good battery life and reliable touch pad, its just half way there.

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Right out of the box, the left mouse button was broken. It sticks easily and the spring is either worn out or completely ruined. It barely clicks. Compared to the right click, using the mouse is such a struggle I'd rather use the touch pad to click...

Secondly, the display driver fails catastrophically every 2 minutes or so. I have tried for months now with updating my windows updates and making sure the drivers are current and asking online how to stop this from happening with no solution in sight.

If I could, which I don't think I can now that I've owned the laptop for a few months now, I would return it and do it all again and buy a mac or a different brand. This laptop is terrible and I'm sad that a refurbished product passed inspection in this horrible condition which says how much the seller really looks into a laptop before selling it.

Mini Digital Video / Still Camera

I hooked it up as a webcam. It works fine for that. Video and audio are ok. The view finder is blurry. I haven't tried it as an independent camera yet.

yep, its the size of a key chain toy. completely fake. there are 2 lites that work to make it seem real. but you know its fake cuz the viewing screen is hollow and blurry, theres nothing there. and if you just sqeeze this thing itl fall apart. literaly. it comes with a couple real usb connects, but even these are cheap as they are loose. first fake thing i ever bought off amazon. :(

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Sony Ericsson P1i Unlocked Cell Phone with 3.2 MP Camera, 3G, Wi-Fi, MP3/Video Player, Memory Stick

I've had this phone for over a month, and I LOVE IT!!

I don't talk much on the phone, but I listen to music, watch video, take pictures, and send text msg with it a lot. I charge my phone maybe every three days. I think the battery last a very reasonable amount of time for the way I use it.

The keypad might take awhile to get used to, but I am a keyboard person and I really love the QWERTY keypad. I can type pretty fast with this keypad (I used to think sending text msg was a pain because of the ABC keypad).

The video taken with this phone is in .3GP format. You can just google search K-lite mega codec and download the codec pack. Then you can play the video you take on PC. And the codec pack is free! Or if you think installing codec is too much, you can just download Quicktime. It's also free.

When you buy the phone, there is everything you need inside the box, including menu and CD software.

On the home screen, there are 15 shortcut spaces for you to put some "hard to locate" applications. For internet browser, I recommend Opera. It's way better than the one came with the phone. When I use internet, I always go to the connection (top left corner) to make sure I am connected to a wifi connection. So I never have a problem with it.

Some people mentioned that their phone froze a lot. I think they just got a bad phone. My phone has only frozen once for this one and a half month. Compare to M600i, P1i is really tons faster and responsive. Everything is just so smooth.

I love this phone because it's basically a small PDA with phone function. I can make to-do list. I can read pdf, doc, ppt, etc files. I can watch movies and videos on it. I can listen to music on it. I can use Skype. I can use messengers. For the music player, you can minimize it. So you can actually do something else on the phone while listening to music. There are pretty useful symbian and uiq softwares you can install onto the phone. The most I use is AED (advanced english dictionary). You can also download/buy game console emulator and play old games on the phone! Like GBA, NES, etc.

I also bought a bluetooth receiver for my computer. So that I can connect the phone with the computer through BT, and it is VERY convenient. I can transfer all my files and photos within seconds. I do use card reader to transfer big files like videos since BT is not a fast way to do it.

Now Sandisk makes 8gb M2 card and this phone supports it!

There is only one thing to complain: I still can't get the PC Suite to work... But I can live without it.

In a nutshell, P1i is a great phone. I don't think I will need to buy a new phone within the next three years :D

Over a decade ago I started using a Palm Pilot. In the beginning of 2007 the University I work for decided to no longer provide cell phones. I ended up signing up with T-Mobile and got their Dash hoping that I would pick up typing with little keys quick enough. After a few months trying to deal with the little keyboard and having the volume strip on the side of the Dash never actually work well; I ended up still carrying around my Sony Clie, a decent digital camera, and the Dash. I really didn't like the look of the "bat-belt" hung with devices. When I dropped my clie for the last time (screen fractured), I had the excuse to look around a second time. I really liked the P1i because it actually has a decent camera, has a touch screen that I can use for putting in letters instead of typing, really great resolution on the screen (something Sony really does well), and the reviews I read said it worked well with the T-Mobile system.

It does more than I expected (FM Radio for instance), the dual letter keyboard works pretty well, and the handwriting recognition saves my poor thumbs! There are some less than intuitive quirks about it, for instance the notes are listed in order of creation instead of alphabetically, the handwriting recognition is a little different (periods and the letter "A" are not the same), and I wish I could define a few more shortcuts, but overall I am extremely pleased. I have had to switch from the Plam Desktop to Outlook, but I can survive that.

I think I made the right decision, and recommend it to others.

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The Sony Ericsson P1i uses the Symbian UIQ 3 operating system, which is the next best thing to Palm OS in terms of intuitive capabilities. Its user interface is the best I've seen among smartphones.

Combine that with an excellent TFT touchscreen, a jog dial, an amazing rocker-style QWERTY keyboard, a 3.2MP camera, an MP3 player, wi-fi, Blackberry capability, excellent desktop synchronization software and you've got perhaps the best "all in one" device.

The beauty of it is that this phone is small enough fit in your shirt pocket without showing a bulge, while retaining a relatively large 240x320 pixel screen that rivals larger, clunkier smartphones. It simply blows away the Nokia E61 that I was using previously.

Former Sony Clie users will appreciate the jog dial which allows you to quickly scroll through or select entries and the return button that lets you exit or move back a level.

My reservations about the rocker-style keyboard vanished after a couple of days of use. I am actually able to type faster than I ever could with the clunky Nokia E61. I can do most of the operations with one hand, like make calls, send emails, SMS text-message or edit calendar or contact entries, without ever having to use the stylus.

The Sony Ericsson Desktop synchronization software works seemlessly with Microsoft Outlook. The synchronization process and logic is very similar to the "Hot Sync" application used in Palm OS or Clie devices.

On the technical side, this is a GSM/GPRS tri-band world phone. It also has built in wi-fi, infrared and bluetooth. It comes with the UMTS 2100 version of 3G which is commonly used in Europe and Asia, but not here in North America where we use the HSDPA 3G standard. It also lacks EDGE capability. Thankfully, the speed of GPRS is good enough for basic browsing and sending emails. In my view, 3G would be most useful when using this phone as a modem for your laptop.

The P1i's signal reception is excellent, and I've had very few dropped calls. Its voice quality is slightly shy of the Nokia E61 I had previosuly, but not enough to cause concern.

I have not tried many of the multi-media features of this phone. However, the picture quality of the built-in camera is quite good, although I'd say its sharpness is not good enough to justify its 3.1MP capability. The built-in flash provides just enough light at very close range.

Sony Ericsson was nice enough to provide a couple of extras with this phone, a 1GB mini-SD card and a pair of good quality stereo earphones.

Depending on which version of firmware you have on the phone, the P1i comes with one of two "push" email software installed: Blackberry or Exchange Activesync. The Sony Ericsson support website allows you to download either application for free if you need to.

You can also use third-party applications. Both GMail mobile (free from Gmail website) and ProfiMail (from Handango) work well with the P1i. ProfiMail allows you to receive email in a "quasi-push" way by allowing you to set intervals to download email headers. Personally, I prefer ProfiMail for its excellent user interface and flexibility.

In conclusion, I highly recommend the P1i for both casual and business users.

FIRMWARE:

A lot of the unlocked P1i phones being sold in USA and Canada come with either a Singapore or Hong Kong version of the firmware. (Mine came with the Singapore version). This typically restricts language selection to UK English or Chinese.

I changed the firmware on my P1i to the "Generic World 1" (GW1), which is not as restrictive as the Singapore version of the firmware.

(Please click on the "Comments" associated with this review to see my instructions on how to upgrade the firmware).

Read Best Reviews of Sony Ericsson P1i Unlocked Cell Phone with 3.2 MP Camera, 3G, Wi-Fi, MP3/Video Player, Memory Stick Here

This phone is top notch and I would recommend buying it with out a doubt! BUT only if you live in a Tri band environment. This means that the phone only supports 900/1800/2100mhz and will struggle anywhere where there is a network of strong 850mhz signal. so.... I will paste my comment from another website.

WARNING!!! To anyone thinking of buying this phone in the USA, I would strongly recommend doing your research first!! this is a tri band phone which in my opinion should NOT be available to the USA as we operate 85% on 850mhz which this phone does not support. Unless you live (and intend not to travel to the country where you are likely to get zero bars) in any of the Major city's across the country that also use 1900mhz its not worth the money! save it for a stylish quad band phone at least then you will be almost guaranteed it will work everywhere.

Hope this helps anyone with this phone who is having trouble and for those who are thinking of buying this phone.

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This cell phone was a gift from a friend in Costa Rica, and he says works perfect; any problem with all the features, and he hasn`t any problem with the activation.

Compaq iPAQ 3135 Monochrome Pocket PC Bundle (with Compact Flash Jacket)

The Compaq iPAQ 3600 series (specially 3630, 3650 and 3635) are really great units. I use my iPAQ as a replacement for several devices. As I usually have a 1GB IBM Microdrive in the iPAQ it works as the best MP3 Player yet (I have some 700MB of MP3 files continuously available) and still plenty of room in the MD and RAM. I also use a Lucent Orinoco for wireless connection, which allows me to chek my emails wherever I am at my place. The comprehensive software package (Inbox/PocketIE, PocketWord, PocketExcel, etc.) allows gerat functionality out of the box (you can add many shareware/freeware to increase that further (I recommend Resco's Utility PAckage for Zip compression/Decompression, etc.).

For travelling I am about to get a stowaway keyboard which will allow me to conveniently leave my notebook at home and conveniently check emails and eventual webpages.

My iPAQ was one of the very best purchases I made last year. As one of the very few PocketPCs to allow the use of cheap & standard PCMCIA cards such as:

Any NE2000 compliant Networking Card, which usually costs as little as $20

Some PCMCIA Modems (including the 3Com Cell Modem, which may be used along with your cell phone or landline)

Wireless NIC, such as the pretty standard Lucent/Agere Wavelan/Orinoco

IBM Microdrive up to 1GB (using this CF card with the PCMCIA adapter allows for better battery usage)

Kingston 2GB PCMCIA drive.

Much more...

I am anxiously awaiting the time I manage to get a CyNET Inc. CyPAQ (which is a dual PCMCIA slot for the iPAQ, along with their Wireless Cell/Modem, which allows one to use the iPAQ as a cell phone!).

I already got rid of my former MP3 Player and in the future I'll get rid of my Cell Phone too. All will converge into a single unit my iPAQ!

We recently installed Linux in one iPAQ and using teh very same PCMCIA cards we could run applications such as vic for video streaming, etc. It was quite impressive!

Last but not least I installed a PersonalJava JVM in my iPAQ and I can run any PersonalJava compliant code, such as my own H263 Video Decoder called jStreaming (http://jStreaming.com). That runs smoothly in my iPAQ. I am conficent that if you are thinking about getting this unit you'll not be disapointed. Do think about getting a Microdrive to go along with it tough.

***THIS REVIEW CONTAIN QUALITY INFORMATION***

Some complaints:

(1) Battery life is POOR (only last in terms of hours instead of days for other PDAs), especially if one uses a CF device with the included sleeve. Problem is CF memory is a MUST if you want to listen to MP3s. (2) Apparently Compaq still has not corrected the problem with dust getting into the screen. The dust reflect light from the backlit apparatus and is quite visible. A minor annoyance but one nevertheless. I recommend keeping the stylus silo occupied so there is less of a chance that dust will creep in. (You get 2 styli with the package so you can keep one in the silo at all time.) (3) The high-gloss silver finish of the iPaq is very bad with fingerprints, but if you keep the CF sleeve on all the time this problem would be minimized.

Productive recommendations:

(1) Don't get coerced into shelling out [the $] getting a CF modem; they are completely unnecessary. The only thing that modems are good for is emailing in real-time. Browsing regular html paged with the iPaq is neither practical or productive. (2) Make sure you get an AvantGo account. This makes an iPaq really worthwhile. (3) Make sure you install ActiveSync 3.3 and set up a relationship between your PC and your iPaq so that you can do email and access the internet (in conjunction with AvantGo). (4) Make sure you find MS Transcriber on the ActiveSync CD and install that puppy. This writing recognition program is AMAZING! (Transcriber is an different program from the writing recognition program in th iPaq, so you need to install it separately.) (5) Finally DO look through the iPaq Tour CD, there are some VALUABLE applications hidden in there that you can install.

Enjoy this wonderful lil machine!

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I waited a long time to buy a handheld and spent weeks researching the pros and cons of the two I was most seriously considering, the iPAQ and the new Palm m505. When I finally bit the bullet and bought the iPAQ, I initially was apprehensive regarding its price and some of the "glitches" I read about on the Compaq website message boards. Let me tell you, I have had this thing for 6 weeks now and I absolutely love it. Once you have decided between the advantages and disadvantages of Windows Pocket PC OS v. Palm OS, I don't think there is a better Pocket PC out there. Putting aside the superficial factors about how sleek and cool the iPAQ looks, it does so many things and synchronizes so well with Microsoft Outlook, that I think it's the best handheld out there (notwithstanding the price). The calendar, contacts and other organizer features are excellent. The games I have downloaded are pretty good (I am looking for better ones -clearly Palm has an advantage here). I live in the city and play chess every morning on the subway -which is a fine distraction when coupled with a CD player on my ears. I am still working on how to get MP3s downloaded to the iPAQ.

What really sold me on this product, though, was the excellent quality of the screen -there are 5 levels of brightness to choose from; and the fact that I wanted color to go with it. I compared this to the Palm m505, and it was no contest. You could barely see the Palm screen in the store. Who cares about 65,000 colors v. 4900 when you can barely see the screen? This is one of the most important features of any handheld, in my opinion. The iPAQ memory is expandable, which will allow me to use it for a long time (barring any accidents). The handwriting recognition is excellent, and is much better than Palm's "graffiti."

The negatives I have read about and experienced re: the iPAQ are: (1) the slide-on expansion sleeves. People are complaining because there is no internal expansion slot in the iPAQ. Who cares? The sleeve does not add that much bulk and it's a fair trade-off for the other things you get. That said, the iPAQ is not necessarily something you can carry in a shirt pocket. I have carried it in a jacket pocket however, and it felt comfortable. (2) There isn't as much software out there for PocketPCs as there is for Palm products. I think, though, that due to the popularity of the iPAQ that is changing rapidly. Many of these games are free on Handago.com and Microsoft's PocketPC website. I downloaded a great chess game and a tankzone game that is just like "Battlezone" from the early 80s. I also downloaded "PocketQuake" for free, but need more memory to use it. (3) BATTERY LIFE. This is definitely a negative. I have constantly needed to charge this thing, so I bought a charging adapter for work and home. I take it with me whenever I travel. You can use this for about a day of regular use, then you will need to charge it. I have read that you can keep a Palm on for weeks without charging. Palm has the iPAQ beat hands down in this department, but then again, in my view, the battery drainage is due solely to the advantages I feel the iPAQ has over the Palm. It's a tradeoff. (4) Accessories will cost you. This is a product for people with money to spend on it. While you can get basic everyday usage out of the 32MB that comes with the iPAQ, you will need to buy at least another 64 MB of memory to really get the most out of it. (I haven't yet). Internet connectivity, which I would love to have, is still ridiculously expensive ($59.95/mo. with Omnisky). When this comes down and the connection rate improves (or I win the lottery), this will be a great thing to have.

The last thing I want to say is that it is a lot of fun exploring new things to do with the iPAQ. As with all handhelds, this is not a product like a washing machine that comes with clear directions on how to use its every aspect, particularly, downloadable software. The technology is still evolving, and it requires some work to find new things to download and use. I am still working on the MP3 issue, for example. But there is a growing community of users that provides advice on all aspects of the iPAQ on the Compaq website. It is a great feeling when you find something new to do on this product. If you are someone who likes things spelled out 100% and don't want to search for anyting -do yourself a favor and buy a Palm. Better yet, stick to a notebook. On the other hand, if you like a little adventure and have some money to spend on this fantastic organizer/MP3 player/toy/computer, I don't think you will be disappointed.

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I have received mine 3 days ago, after about 6 months of using a Palm m100. PC synchronization, which IMHO is must feature in a PDA, works beautifully, I did not have to spend more than 10 minutes installing the new synchronization software over the old Palm HotSync, and I had all my agenda items, contacts, and notes, moved to the iPAQ.

All that and I have not actually had to install the included USB cradle yet this was all done via my notebook's IrDA port!

Setting up IrDA equipped GSM phone connection to an ISP also went pretty smoothly, and I was able to download emails using a motorola Timeport (TriBand) one day after I got the iPAQ.

Now to the machine itself certainly a LOT sexier than a m100 ... The screen really shines and the wealth of built in applications and add-ons is nice. email is usefull to an extent (vs. useless to my mind, in the m100). I also got myself a 'vaja' case, a class leader, it fits great, and is very convenient to use single handed opening and closure are almost as easy as with the m100.

Some critique -

The iPAQ, even though probably the most compact PocketPC PDA today, is still noticably larger and heavier than Palm Vx or m100, this could make a real difference to people who pocket carry their PDA all day long. I wouldn't even dare thinking about carriend one of these WITH an expansion sleeve in my pant's pocket.

The included soft case is inconvenient, purchasing a better replacement is almost inevitable. Also, the device metal case is very slippery, holding a bare device in your palm is uncomfortable because of this.

As bare bones, agenda /contacts manager, Palm would probably be the practical choice, if this is what you're after, then save your bucks and get one.

The pocket versions of window applications (word and excel), including email, MS money, can be usefull for many people though. Mainly because of the better screen (higher resolution, color, and clearness), and friendlier handwriting recognition (compared to palm). This, (and higher fun factor ...) make the iPAQ the more appealing PDA.

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While color is nice, the price of a color iPAQ is not worth it when compared to this unsung model. Often overlooked the 3135 has all of the same features as it color siblings, Excel, Word, IE, Outlook, Calendar, Contacts, MS Money, but albeit with less RAM 16 compared to 32mb or 64mb for the color versions. However with the inclusion of the CF sleeve, which allows you to plug in CF cards from 8 to 256mb, the 3135 is the best PDA bang for the buck. And let's not forget the iPAQ comes with Windows Media Player, making it also an mp3, wma player, and it has the ability to record voice messages. With the CF sleeve and a few flash cards one can literally carry ones music libary with you where ever you go. Compared with the Palm Pilot, and Handspring Visor, this inexpensive jewel is perfect for the enthusiast, student or professional. After spending almost 6 months researching, playing with and talking with friends, neighbors and co-workers about which PDA to get I have yet to regret my decision.

LG RC897T Multi-Format DVD Recorder and VCR Combo with Digital Tuner

• Super multi DVD recorder/VCR with digital tuner
• 1080p up-conversion via HDMI output
• Digital cable/satellite box controller
• Digital Camcorder input for convenient recording and editing with DV 1394
• LG Simplink connectivity of other LG products using HDMI connection

As a satisfied owner of an LG HDTV, I bought this DVD/VCR combo recorder fully expecting to be likewise happy with the quality of the images produced by another LG product. Unfortunately, I had to box it up for return the same day I got it. The problem with the product is one that I hadn't anticipated, but which further very specifically-targeted reading online revealed as a known problem with LG's DVD recorders. That problem is what various message-boarders and bloggers call "image over-processing". Translate that as "too much anti-aliasing" (image-smoothing) or "too much blur". And it was not just on the recorded images. For the minute you switch from the LG TV's internal tuner to the LG recorder's internal tuner, there's an instant layer of "smoothing" that is pronounced enough to be distracting. ...I am talking, depending on your threshold of sensitivity to such things, a potential headache-inducing level of fuzziness.

If you purchase this product hoping to use it to archive your family videos, no way it can do them justice. If you plan to use it as a down and dirty digital era VCR, grabbing episodes of shows you intend to record over once you watch them a single time, it is really not quite servicable for that. All this keeps pulling me back to one head-shaker of a question: What were the people at LG thinking? At nearly three hundred bucks, the quality of the LG RC897T is a major disappointment.

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Not long after purchase, I had to return the unit because the DVD drawer kept popping open on its own. Once I received it back, I kept noticing major problems attempting to record on the DVD side -the unit would either record for two minutes and turn itself off, or record for over an hour (on a 2 hour show) and then turn itself off. When I phoned LG, I was near the end of the warranty period. They claimed that there was nothing wrong with the recorder. The issue was caused by the fact that the tv stations were now transmitting "copy protection signals" that prevented you from recording. This did not explain why the recording time varied, but if they were correct, this was being done by ALL networks -from HBO to channel 5 and channel 7. It did not explain the fact that my Panasonic DVD recorder never turned off in the middle of a show. LG's tech sent me on a two-week wild goose chase for DVD-RW's with special markings (CPRM). She claimed that if I ever found these, I would have no further problems. I never found these DVD's and my warranty ran out in the meantime. In addition to all the above, the upscaling takes forever when you insert a VHS tape and you are constantly adjusting the tracking to get a clear picture-especially after fast forwarding. This is an unqualified piece of garbage. Don't waste your money. It's a shame because it is very user friendly and Go-Video (the original manufacturer of this product) used to make excellent products. This $280 product is now being used solely as a VCR.

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LG RC897T Multi-Format DVD Recorder and VCR Combo with Digital Tuner

I bought Re-Furbished,The recorder funnctions well with modest to good results, depending on what you choose for length. I usualy use 4hrs LP mode on the DVD, and VCR slp. This is reasonably OK and quite watchable.

The machine does what I need,and discs are playable in my other machines and my computer.Digital tuner, is what I bought this for and works great.

CONS: Small unfriendly remote, but you get used to it. Timer recording not user friendly,so I dont use it.If you have to pay the full retail price,not good value.

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This is a review of the LG RC897T, it was mistakenly first posted as a review of the LG RC797T in error, I actually like that model]

Do Not buy this product till they release a fix for it's problem with "CPRM protection". Many on air broadcasts are sending out a "copy once" protection signal that the unit honors. In order to be able to record these programs you need to get special "CPRM DVD-RW" disks and format them in "VR" mode.

The biggest problem with this is that the disks are Very Hard to find and Very Expensive. In addition to this the "copy once" protection signal is being sent out randomly by various stations Without Warning!. You have no idea what programs will contain it or not. I was told they might even have it during commercials! When the signal is encountered the recording just STOPS !

I have just got off the phone with LG. The support person, who was very up to date and nice, knew just what I was talking about! There have been many complaints about this. He said that there was basically nothing that could be done. I suggested that at the very least LG should buy a bunch of these special "CPRM DVD-RW" DISKS and make them available at cost. He said he would pass that on, and I really believe he will, but I am not holding my breath that they will do it.

Just so you know, the earlier model, the LG RC797T does not have this "feature" and is a better machine because of it. I would have brought it but it is no longer available.

This is my first review, but I was so pissed I had to say something, this product should not be sold if it can not be trusted to record a simple off air TV program, Period.

Respectfully submitted

My RC 897 T just died after only 8 months. The tuners LG use are shoddy and last just enough to make the warranty mostly useless.

They use Korean labor to exploit the extreme poverty and it shows.

As for Customer Service. Despite having a warranty and determining that my DVD recorder was a lemon (poorly made swindle) she told me to call a local repair shop whose phone number she supplied. Of course I'd have to pay for the repair.

When I called the repair shop it turns out they only repair TVs.

Google "LG sucks" and browse through the over 1 1/2 million hits you'll get.

Avoid LG like the plague.

Sony DCRTRV103 Handycam Digital Camcorder

I have had this camera for about 3 months, and I am very satisfied with the quality of the camera itself (not surprising from Sony), and the quality of the results. Considering the resolution (500 lines, compared to 240~260 for VHS & 400 for S-VHS, both of which are analog), I don't really see any great advantage to going with DV technology, except that a full digital camera is a bit lighter and the fact that you can record up to 2 hours on a DV tape, compared to 1 hour on either 8mm or Hi8 tape. I use both tapes, by the way, and there is no readily noticeable difference in quality. As far as the weight, since I do a lot of handheld recording, I find that I like this one better because a lighter camera is more difficult to keep steady. The recording sound quality is very good also, as well as being able to record in darkness! The ONLY, and I mean ONLY thing about this camera that bothers me is the fact that more of the on-camera controls are not duplicated on the remote control, such as fades, backlight, etc. I do a lot of active videography, and even though I have a very steady hand, it's very hard not to jiggle the camera when trying to turn on a fade or the backlight or one of the picture processing modes. Other than that, I would highly recommend this camera to anyone.

ABC Products® Interface USB Cable Cord Lead for JVC Everio HDD Camcorder / Video camera GZ and G S

This cable is NOT the correct USB cable for the JVC Everio HDD Camcorder that was advertised. It does not connect to the GZ or G models!

I have a JVC Everio camcorder, GZ series. I ordered this cable based upon only two ratings; however, figured the higher price relative to other cables being advertised on Amazon was probably indicative of quality.

Unfortunately, the cable shipped does not interface with my GZ series camcorder.

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We lost our cable that came with the came corder. I was excited to find one online and now we were able to move the movies to the computer.

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The product that was provided is most certainly NOT compatible with the JVC Everio HDD Camcorder model GZ-MG130U to which I am trying to connect. Product was delivered in a timely manner, but given the inaccurate product description, I will not meet my deadline. Bummer.

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it is a simple item and it is more then serviceable ,it should last for quite a while, no complaints.

Sony DDU1615 16x DVD-ROM IDE Drive (Black)

Excellent ide 5" cd/dvd rom drive. Received it quicker than expected. Installed in my clients computer and xp picked it up right away. My only complain is that it was shipped in about 1 inch to 1 and 1/2 inch of bubble wrap and slid into a shipping envelope. It should have been shipped in a box instead of a paper envelope to avoid damage during shipping. Overall good.

Installed nicely works fine cheap enough not much can go wrong it is quiet for the RPM. I would recommend it.

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It stops working about 5 minutes into reading. THIS IS VERY LOUD. I might just have gotten a bad copy.

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Didn't come with any paperwork. It was a good price. I didn't realize that it was just a player and not a burner

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In need of a DVD/CD IDE Drive, which was hard to find and very costly (if I found one). After reviewing this item on Amazon, I decided to take a chance...glad I did! Installed it, no CD needed. This product hasn't failed me yet. I recommended to anyone in need of the almost hard to find item.

Wall Ac Adapter Charger for Olympus Dm-420 Dm-520 Dm420 Dm520 Digital Voice Recorder

I use the recorder in my work. After a couple of dozen recordings, plugging and unplugging the equipment, the rubber sheathing pulled away from the plug entering the recorder, leaving the wires exposed. It was not handled roughly. The cord simply should have been stronger and better attached to the plug.

I have enjoyed using my Olympus Recorder for about a year now. However, the pattern of my work life requires that I recharge my electronics at night. When I purchased the recorder, it came with a USB type charger that uses computer power to recharge the unit. The unit would often lose power when I was no where near a computer. Not convenient at all. I finally found this charger and was all too glad to order it. Great price, quick service, protective packing, fits my recorder perfectly. Problem solved! Thanks!

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Sony Handycam DCR-DVD850 DVD Hybrid Camcorder with 60X Optical Zoom (Silver)

This Handycam has everything needed to be the most versatile of all of Sony's models with up-to-the-minute technology.

I originally hesitated because this only has an internal flash memory of 16 GB. However, I have a few of the sony memory sticks (4GB) Sony MSMT4G 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo (Mark2) Media and having them as an option allows me to record as much time on this unit as I could usually want. It is true that with the internal flash memory your recording time is restricted to about 11 hours. However, each 4GB of memory stick prolongs that limit by about 3.5 hours and supplements the internal flash memory.

I find the flash medium (and the memory sticks) to be preferrable to an internal hard drive (which can store 60 GB, but, are subject to mechanical failure). Although the hard drives will store 60GB, I rarely have that much to accumulate in digital footage before I dump it to my notebook, or, an external USB hard drive. 11 hours of storage is about perfect for a day of interviews and miscellaneous recording.

This unit is a very nice, attractive, two-tone gunmetal and silver finish. It is slightly larger than the (very compact) DCR 47-87 series.Sony DCR-SR47 Hard Disk Drive Handycam® Camcorder (Silver) However, it will still almost fit in the palm of your hand.

The images are sharp quality, indoors or out. It is true (for a change) that the unit allows for one-button record to DVD. You can just slip a mini DVD (3") in the unit by lifting the cover and placing the DVD in the unit. This will burn about an hour to the 3" DVD so you can share it immediately. You need to use Sony's proprietary 3" disc Sony 3" Rewritable DVD+RW for Camcorders 3pk but they are reasonably priced and reasonably available. The advantage of the searchable .mpg2 CODEC on disc should be obvious (as opposed to DV tapes).

If you need larger DVD burns, with the USB connection, it is possible to burn DVD's on the spot (I use this for interviews) for copies and distribution from your notebook computer. In addition, the internal file configuration can be converted to .wma or .mpg using Sony's proprietary software (included). (You will need to download the software updates to be able to edit the files using, for instance, Vista movie maker or other OS based video editing programs). The CODEC format is .mpg2 (not very efficient, but, allows for high resolution and editability (with updates to Sony's sofware).

This unit is sturdy and made as well as any of the Sony handycams. The chassis is, in fact, a proven design that has been around the SONY marketplace for over five years.

Another very useful feature is the 5.1 surround sound microphone. When you want to accurately record both audio and visual, directional stereo mic's will often pickup background noise and hiss, but, little else other than sound (such as voices talking at the camera) aimed at the mic. With the surround sound, you pick up everyting omnidirectionally. This is not only useful for picking up the voice of the person making the recording (as well as the subject) but has many other uses as well. When video'ing nature, the omnidirectional mike tends to attenuate the background hiss from all directions, yet, still pickup the sounds of birds and other nature sounds.

The digital quality is excellent (680,000 pixels translates to almost (about 75%) HD), and, with proper care in setting up your shots (being careful to avoid reflected or (too much) polarized light) you can make professional recordings.

After reviewing all of the available options out there, I think this is the unit with the most reliable and versatile features that is on the market.

Here are the specs from Sony's website:

Specifications

Recording Format DVD Video Codec MPEG-2

Media Storage Type 8cm DVD (DVD+R DL / DVD+RW / DVD-RW / DVD-R) HYBRID / HYBRID Plus HYBRID Plus

(16GB Built-in Flash Memory and Movie recording on Memory Stick) Image Sensor Type 1/8" CCD

Audio Format Dolby Digital 5.1 Creator (5.1ch.)

Zoom Mic Yes

Carl Zeiss Lens / Filter Diameter Vario-Tessar / 30mm Optical / Digital Zoom 60x / 2000x Maximum Still Image Resolution (Photo Mode) 720 x 576 Image Stabiliser SteadyShot LCD Screen Size &

Type 2.7" Wide LCD (123K / 16:9) with

Touch Panel Face Index Yes

Film Roll Index Yes

Memory Stick Duo Slot Yes

USB Terminal Yes (USB 2.0 High Speed)

Dimensions (W x H x D) 55 x 89 x 130mm Mass (w/o Tape, Battery, etc.) Approx. 390g

Supplied Accessories

AC Adaptor AC-L200 Rechargeable Battery Pack NP-FH30 AV Cable Yes Application Software Picture Motion Browser USB Cable Yes

I am very pleased with the overall quality and functionality of this camcorder. The camera takes excellent video (action shots are great). It is very stable and I like having choices on how to save. It is also very easy to download to pc or view on pc or tv. I highly recommend this product. You could not do better, especially at this price!

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I purchased this camera after discovering my 8-year-old camcorder no longer worked three days before my vacation. I received my camcorder the day before my trip and only had time to charge the battery and read some basic information. I found the camcorder user-friendly and easy to use right out of the box...and its small size makes handling very manageable. I love the huge 16 GB internal memory and I was able to record my entire trip. The LCD touch panel is fantastic! Although it would be nice if it was a little larger than 2.7", it was not at all difficult to see and use. If I recorded something I wanted to playback later, all I had to do was press a button on the touch panel; then touch the clip. Searching through recorded tape is a thing of the past. The video quality is very good. With that said, I am enjoying getting to know the other features of my camcorder. To anyone looking for a user-friendly and affordable camcorder, I highly recommend this one.

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I use this camcorder for recording night youth football games under lights, for the most part. It performs quite well and the 16x9 images are perfect for flat panel TVs. I like the software provided with it. It allows effortless transfer of files from the camcorder to your computer, and easy (if somewhat plain) video DVD creation. I have not tried editing functionality, but it seems to me that specialty video editing software would be better in any case. It can also catalog all video and photographs in your computer into a calendar, and displays changing thumbnails on the dates the images were taken, with other useful features.

The camera has 16gb of internal flash memory, and I doubt that I will ever use a DVD recordable. Internal memory is easily transferred to your computer with a common USB cable for editing, storage and DVD burning if desired. One reviewer commented that this camera is a "dead end" and I can't see why that is true. Between the internal memory and the memory stick capability, the DVD recordable is an extra optional feature that need not ever be used. I chose this camera over pure flash options because its video quality is usually rated higher than other Sony camcorders, other than HD models, especially at night.

The internal memory is rated for 232 minutes at the highest quality video setting. I have already purchased a higher capacity battery, since the supplied battery will only run about 60 minutes with the LCD open. I may not bother with additional memory sticks because I have more capacity than I anticipate needing at any one time already. (Individual football games certainly don't need 232 minutes of video.)

The video quality is very good during daylight hours and good to very good at night under game field lighting. I believe that the only way to do better would be to jump up several hundred dollars to digital, which was more than I wanted to spend. Audio quality is excellent and is in 5.1 surround. Internal operational menus are not overly complicated. I enjoy using this camcorder and would recommend it to anyone not wanting to spend quite as much as true HD video required.

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I originally bout the 650 because I thought it had an internal memory but it doesn't. It returned it back to the store and spent an extra $50 to get the 850. Not only does it have the internal memory but it also records in 5.1 surround. The only thing more it would need would be to record in HD. But for the price, you can't beat this little camera. It even takes still photos.

Nokia N90 Unlocked Smartphone with 2 MP Camera, International 3G, MP3/Video Player, MMC--U.S. Versi

Probably the best phone of 2005 in terms of features and specifications.

The camera is in a different league than most other phones. It takes great pictures day or night and offers autofocus. Video quality is exceptional.

Sound quality is great. It plays mp3 and AAC formats for music and ringtones. The mono loudspeaker is very clear while the earspeaker in the top of the phone is adequate. There is an offline mode for music playing during flights and such.

The screen uses a brilliant 352x416 display. Compared to most other phones, its like high definition. Easily visible in daylight and the detail is incredible.

The S60 OS offers many ways to add productivity and fun via 3rd party applications. The address book and calendar can sync with both MACs and PCs. Nokia offers a free PC Suite download to help manage the phone. Memory expansion is available with MMCmobile cards up to 1 gig in size.

The build quality is good. Despite my own clumsiness, it has held together real well after 6 months use. The keypad has nice big buttons.

But there are a lot of reasons why this phone is not for you:

First is the price. All this technology, mainly the camera and the display, drive up the cost of the phone to appeal to the enthusiast only.

Second, its very big and heavy. Its a real brick of a phone.

Third, it lacks vibration. Most people could not do without this.

Fourth, the battery life is mediocre. Due to the small battery it uses, it will last 18 hours with heavy use. I find myself keeping a 2nd battery just in case.

Fifth, the phone has many moving parts. It transforms into many different modes and some people may be put off by that. Others, like me, enjoy it.

This phone would make a great gift for the gadget happy person in your life, but not for the person who just needs a phone. Mine was locked and didn't come with a bluetooth headset, so that's a nice bonus from Amazon.

I bought the Nokia N90 elsewhere as part of an upgrade to an existing plan with T-Mobile. This is a gorgeous phone.

Pros:

* 1600x1200 camera takes high resolution pictures better than needed for the web

* VHS quality video

* Syncs to Outlook (but not Outlook syncing to Exchange!)

* lots of other great software

* comes with chargers, converter so you can use an old style Nokia charger, and a hands free kit.

Cons:

* the pictures are not of particularly good quality. They tend to get a bit of a haze over them.

* The video is at 15 frames per second, not the normal 30 frames a second.

* Big big phone, bigger than your phone at home likely.

Overall I think this is a great phone which does everything it says it will. I can surf the net, take pictures and video, and it is very quick to turn on the video or photography functions. The size makes it a little clunky but it is also kind of refreshing after using micro cell phones.

And if you're a parent it is a great way to always have a camera or video camera at your side to capture what your kids are doing.

Revision: I've just learned that the phone only supports an MMC card up to 256 megs unfortunately just after buying a 1G card that doesn't work and I cannot return. Buyer beware!

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1) Extreme clarity Screen

2) Very easy to use menu

3) Awesome Signal Reception

4) Good Battery Life

5) Very nice camera, good for parties and events, where bulky digicam would not make sense

6) Great looks, aesthetically pleasing

7) Outer screen is very high quality

8) Swivel main display is a great feature for videos

9) Good Camera in Low Light

10) NO VIBRATOR

11) BATTERY LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER

12) NO SUPPORT for US 850MHz roaming

13) NSUITE difficult to setup on PC

14) THE USER INTERFACE IS SLOW and non-responsive at times

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All the functionality is to be expected.

The button and keyboard layout is exceptionally insightful !!

I'm extremely happy with this phone.

I've spent all day taking pics (with red-eye reduction flash!) and it has minimal effect on battery life. But when I tried to shoot video (7 mins to be exact), the battery went down too fast and I had to stop...mainly this was because the flash seems to come on automatically.

The form factor seems to be a tad too long, making me a bit self-conscious while make a call in public...cutting 1 cm off the top and another 1 cm at the bottom would have got 5 stars from me.

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The main draw of this product is the obviously the video capabilities which do not disappoint. The quality and convenience of the mpg4 video is head and shoulders above any other recorder this size never mind its phone capabilities. The ability to pull this pone out of my pocket, shoot some video, transfer it to me laptop via Bluetooth, and email to family is great.

Aside from the video Nokia seems to put little thought into much else however. Removing the memory card will cause you to have to reset your wallpaper every time. If you're already on the phone and get another call the caller ID gets scrambled and jumbled up with the current caller information making identifying who is trying to contact you impossible. While the phone has the ability to add memory and play music, the only option for headphones involves their proprietary ginormous data port connector (no standard headphone jack). The connector sticks out the side of the phone so far that it is no longer an option to put it in your pocket. I guess they do this because the headphones also seem to have a microphone built in for making phone calls but even here design flaws abound also. When wearing the headphones the junction that contains the microphone and answer button hang down to my belt buckle (and I'm 6'3"). This could make for a very strange looking phone conversation to passers by.

It's also necessary to note that I've had to have one of these things replaced due to a failure in the camera focus mechanism. After using the replacement for months I tried to use the headphones to find that one ear didn't work unless I pullet the connectorsaurus half way out.

All in all this thing takes great video but the lunacy of some of the other features combined with the "Didn't they test this thing at all" bug factor can be frustrating enough to make you swear in front of your kids before you catch yourself. After all, in the age of iPod where music is important and design can make or break your product what the $#%^ were they thinking with these headphones?

TEAC AD-800 CD Player and Cassette with USB Codec (Black)

• Supports CD-R/RW and MP3 Disc
• Auto Reverse Cassette Deck (Rec/Play)
• MP3 Recording from CD/Cassette/AUX
• MP3 Playback from USB Memory Device
• Remote Control

The TEAC AD-800 allows you to record audio from the tape deck onto a connected USB flash drive in MP3 format. From there, connect the flash drive to your computer and either save the MP3 file to a music folder on your computer, or write the MP3 files from the flash drive to a CD (using your computer).

While this device does NOT write the audio tape directly to the CD, it's a fairly trivial step to perform that function by writing the recorded music from the flash drive to the CD using your computer. Just be sure that you are translating the MP3 files into standard CDA audio files when you write the CD. Your software should, at some point, ask if you are creating an audio cd just say yes.

You can download a manual for the AD-800 at teac~com/resources/pdf/ad-800/AD-800-EFS-C.pdf. That might help you decide. (Substitute a period or dot for the ~) Or just google for AD-800-EFS-C.pdf.

Page 28 of this manual specifies the USB/MP3 recording specs as having a bit rate of 128kpbs, but no sampling rate is specified.

This Teac deck cannot write to USB flash memory unless it's formatted in FAT. NTFS and HFS will not work. Most USB flash drives are sold preformatted in FAT32, but you may want to double-check that if your flash drive seems to not work with this Teac. If the flash drive is NTFS you'll have to reformat the USB stick in your computer, choosing FAT format.

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A couple of absolutes: (1)Conversion to MP3 will result in significant loss of audio fidelity, but it's a loss most people can live with and, perhaps, don't hear. (2)A minority of computer users have the hardware/software knowledge to convert their cassettes and LPs to a digital format which will allow them to listen to this music on their MP3 players. Analog to digital conversion may be simple for some, but for most people, their analog music library is lost when their analog playback machines cease to function.

The Teac AD-800 is not a do all, be all for everyone wishing to convert their analog library to digital media. What it does do, however, is provide a very simple process of moving analog information recorded on cassette to a USB flash drive in MP3 format. Once in MP3 format, the digital media can be easily moved to a computer hard drive, cd, cd-r, MP3 player, etc. It is important to note that there will be audio quality lost as the full spectrum uncompressed audio is moved from the analog cassette to the flash drive in MP3 format. For most listeners, the change is imperceptible and acceptable.

Because there also is the MP3 Codec from the CD and the Aux input, you can also convert CDs and vinyl to MP3 via the USB port and a flash drive. Yes, some procedures are very slow and a pain, when compared to copying digital files directly to digital files. Dubbing analog audio is in real time.

My purchasing confession. I scouted this machine for several weeks before buying one. One of Amazon's "More Buying Choice" vendors, at their website, is offering this deck at $30.00 less than it's shown on the Amazon site from that vendor.

I made this purchase because my pro model Tascam deck, after 25 years of use, died. I have some cassettes that deserve being heard. Also, I like the ability to use the Aux to MP3 codec to convert the audio from HD televised concerts directly to MP3.

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I purchased this item because two of the three Amazon reviewers indicated the unit could copy from Cassette to CD. HUH? This is completely NOT true. I have no idea what these reviewers are doing, or how they are doing it, but on its own, this unit does NOT record from cassette to CD. This information can be verified by going to the manufacturers web-site, and checking the customer reviews there. In the end, I am in the process of returning the unit, since I purchased it solely to transfer my cassette tapes to CD. And we all know what "returns," means...a lot of waiting around for products to get back to their point of origin, sellers to notify Amazon of the return, processing credit card refunds, etc. In all fairness to TEAC, I'm sure that this product is otherwise fine. And the selling company is very good about returns, as is Amazon. So everything will eventually be fine. But returning products IS a bit of a hassle, and I will be very careful when making decisions based on customer reviews from now on.

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I am a "Senior Citizen" of the female variety and not at all an audiophile, but I hooked this guy up to an old amp I inherited when my father died and got it working perfectly on the first try! My old cassette tapes sound wonderful, and the documentation is very good, which is half the battle. Fear not to tread...

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This was a recent purchase and the TEAC AD-800 has proved to be an excellent deck. The controls are clear and easy to use. The sound quality from the cassette and CD is excellent. The USB port is on the front face for easy access. I found it very easy to store music from cassette onto a USB storage device for transfer to my laptop. To me, TEAC has a good reputation for quality, so I anticipate long life out of this unit.

Lorex LH108321C8B 8-Camera Network Video Surveillance System with 320GB H.264 DVR (Black)

My intended use for the eight camera system is home monitoring. The capability of watching my home from other locations is an important feature I plan to utilize. This is my first video monitored security system, so my comments will reflect only my observations of this equipment. I have three PCs in my home on a local area network connected to the Internet with a wireless router. I will be attaching the system to a 22 inch monitor.

After unpacking the box I plugged the DVR into the wall and then connected it to my router with the supplied Ethernet cable. Then I plugged the power supply for the eight cameras into the wall and plugged it into the back of the DVR and attached a camera to it. Then I inserted the DVD into my computer thinking it might have some essential software on it I found four buttons, one for the" user manual " (a hard copy of the manual is included in the box,) "acrobat reader" (if not already loaded on your computer so you can read the manual,) "warranty information" and "buy accessories."

When I plugged the DVR into the router it automatically got a network address and then I put the address in Internet Explorer and a log in screen appeared on my monitor. Passwords are disabled as a default, but I'm sure I will change that setting so it requires a password. When completely installed, the screen shows frames for each of the eight cameras.

The first camera I set up was in a pitch black room (it was evening. I wanted to test the night vision. As soon as someone approached the doorway they appeared on the monitor with the entire room illuminated on the screen. In night vision's usual black and white, at a distance of 12-14 feet, a face was clearly visible and identifiable. Frankly, I was wowed -this was one of those "isn't technology amazing" moments. Next, after temporarily mounting all the cameras, I checked the playback (recording) feature on each camera (automatic default)to ensure that feature was working. So, far, no problems.

Next I needed to get a personal web address to view the cameras remotely from the Internet. On page 44 of the instruction manual the Lorex DDNS website is noted. Once there, I was prompted for my MAC (media access control) address found by going to the "main menu," selecting "advance" and then "info." At that time, a customer server name will also be selected. Perhaps this is obvious, but for security purposes, it would be wise to use something other than the address of the property. The equipment will also be registered at this time, along with a password, user name, etc. After that process is complete, an email will arrive from Lorex with some additional information that is needed to be entered into the DVR to maintain the DDNS connection.

Note, port 80 is used to view the cameras from the Internet outside of your home/business network. The problem is some people may already be using port 80 to host their own website. If you want to change it to a different port, there is information on Lorex's website on how to configure your router to forward to a different port. Then to configure the DVR to use the forwarded port, the instructions are in the user manual Appendix C. Go to the main menu displayed on the monitor and select "advance", "network" and then use the mouse to change the web port from 0080 to something else. Select a number larger than 1024, in order to avoid using a port that may be in use by one of your other devices. Then to monitor your security cameras from the internet, enter your personal web address and follow it with a colon and the new port number. I checked the set-up from a remote address and it worked perfectly it looked the same as viewing it on a web browser on the local area network.

Turning the DVR off is a two step process, and it isn't described well in the manual. And, the process isn't intuitive. First hold the button on either the DVR or remote control down until the DVR goes into standby mode which is reflected on the monitor. In standby mode the screen is blank but the lights are still illuminated on the DVR, so to complete the off process hold the power key in until the DVR lights go out and the fan goes off. If you just push the power button on the DVR in and then let go, nothing happens.

If the DVR needs to be disconnected or in the event of a power loss, all of the changes in settings will be lost, including the time and address. Purchasing a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) and plugging the DVR into it is an essential step to protect against power surges and power loss to ensure continuous recording and avoid repeated re-configuration. And, obviously, the user should not frivilously disconnect the system once it is set up.

Batteries are included with the remote control. Note: there are no buttons on the remote control that light-up so when the batteries are dead it will be a matter of trial and error to determine they need to be replaced. I found the remote had to be aimed straight at the DVR. It didn't respond well if the remote was pointed slightly above, below or to the side.

There is no way to mount the camera in a fixed position where it won't move. No matter what I tried there was always a little play. So, if installed outside, a camera will be vulnerable to a strong wind, an object being hurled at it or even a stick being poked at it, so if possible mount the cameras in a sheltered location.

There is approximately 30 inches of cable attached to the camera that is then plugged into the 60 foot cable. For exterior installations, that section of cable needs to be installed inside a wall because the connections aren't weatherproof. Some security cameras run the cable through the mounting bracket so it isn't exposed at the installation site, and thus it is protected from both the elements and an intruder who can simply cut the cable to steal or disarm the camera. That is not the case with this camera, so there is ample reason to install as much as the cable into the wall as possible, leaving little exposed at the installation site.

The stated temperature range for operation is 4 below zero to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. For my purposes this is an issue because in Colorado, it occasionally gets colder than 4 below. So, my cameras will be installed inside the property aimed through windows. One of the photos I attached shows the monitor with four of the cameras installed. The poorest quality of the group is the one on the upper right corner (camera 2) which is currently pointed through a window screen. That camera will ultimately be installed through clear glass, but I included it because even through the window screen, the picture on my monitor is clear and impressive. That street is 135 feet from the camera. For reference, the distances for each of the remaining three shots on the monitor measured from where the camera is mounted to the picture on the screen are 12 feet, 14 feet and the 25 feet. The 25 foot shot is the one pictured in the single monitor screen photograph, and it is quite clear.

Other than plugging in the DVR, no electricity is required in connecting the cameras, so if you have access either through an attic or basement, and a tool to thread the cables through your walls and a drill, it is a viable do-it-yourself project. Dropping the cables through the wall and fishing them down into an unfinished basement and then to the DVR will, in some locations, require more than the included 60 foot cables. On the website, additional 60 foot cables can be purchased for $24.99 each plus $4.50 for the connector needed to attach the two cables together.

Ultimately I am impressed with this system. Granted, it isn't a commercial grade set-up, but for a homeowner, the price is very reasonable and the cameras have a strikingly clear picture, even in pitch black applications. The downside for me is the temperature range, which although broad, isn't quite broad enough for me to safely install the cameras outside. Exterior installation in Colorado might always be an issue considering the number of snowstorms experienced each winter. The cameras might be frequently covered in snow and not provide helpful pictures even if the temperature range permitted installation.

The cameras work beautifully, and the computer set up was smooth. I haven't attempted to contact customer support so I can't speak to their responsiveness. For me, the wiring issue was minor, but that may or may not be an issue depending upon the installation site. So, far I am very pleased with the system. The ability to check on my dogs and my house remotely, and when home, being able to see who is approaching my driveway and front door, is to me invaluable. I don't know how the system will hold up over time, but I will update the review if I run into any problems.

I purchased this unit about 2 weeks ago. I will say that installation and use ability of the system was good, also live video is very good. The main issue that I have is in watching the video that has been recorded. The whole point of home security system is to have recorded video that I can review later if something happens. So far that has been an almost complete failure. While the unit is recording and it does show me in the web interface of the unit that the files are there, I have been unable to view them. I have tried several PC's and several different versions of IE. (By the way the unit only works with IE it does not work at all with Chrome, Safari, Firefox Etc...) I have tried several times to contact tech support on the matter and have not had a response.

Update: I was finally contacted by tech support 10 days after emailing them; we have corresponded serveral times since then with no luck in fixing my problems.

Update: 1-10-11 This unit is junk, it started dying quickly after I started using it (Fan Died, VGA output Died), and the Support from LOREX is absolute and completely useless. My recommendation is to NEVER, NEVER buy anything from this company!!!!

Buy Lorex LH108321C8B 8-Camera Network Video Surveillance System with 320GB H.264 DVR (Black) Now

I'm no techno whiz, just your above average home DIYer. I felt comfortable with the installation and setup of this system but it is not without it's difficulties. The remote viewing setup was not what I would call simple which involves assiging port numbers on your LAN and port forwarding your router and such, but with a couple of calls to the Lorex technical assistance team all was setup properly. They were very helpful and are able to log onto your computer network and make changes to allow the system to work. However, I'm still not able to use remote viewing because my ISP service is too slow (which is no fault of Lorex). I have sattelite internet and to upgrade from my home plan to the pro plan would cost more than I want to spend. Beside that, the system is easy to operate with either the mouse, remote control, or front panel keys. The video quality is just okay, not great. The DVR's hardrive is noisy (a constant low hum). It will do the job I want it to do which is to allow me to monitor the outside of my home and record activity while I'm gone. It might assist with identifying an intruder by what clothes they wear or what type of vehicle they drive, but I don't think the camera is capable of a tag # or facial recognition unless the subject is very close to the camera. As far as I know, this system is as good of one as you will get for this price. That being said, I am satisfied with my purchase.

Read Best Reviews of Lorex LH108321C8B 8-Camera Network Video Surveillance System with 320GB H.264 DVR (Black) Here

I purchased the Lorex LH108 8 Camera DVR from Amazon and the system arrived within the expected time. The packaging was quite good. The DVR is in one box and the cameras and cables in another box. Both boxes were then inserted into a larger box.

I was particularly impressed with the "Do it yourself" nature of the items. There were small zip lock bags with Rawle plugs and screws for each camera mount (2 per camera). Each camera had a 60' Siamese cable which included the power and BNC connectors, wrapped along a plastic cable holder which when removed allowed the cable to unravel without tangling. This simple feature can only be appreciated when you begin installing with 8 cables being strung together and they begin to tangle while you are on a ladder. The 60' of cable was sufficient for my installation, but I can easily see where there might be the need to extend the cable.

The cameras offered good resolution for distances less than 15'. Beyond that things become increasingly fuzzy. The installation went well. In configuring the DVR, some areas of the user manual could have had more clarity. For example in explaining the network access password, which in this case can be different from the typical user and admin password.

I was able to login on my LAN and view the images remotely. The images were very much compressed and were 80% black and white. I assume this is to allow the images to pass through the outgoing bandwidth I have. This is not a big issue. I also realised that you cannot access the images remotely using any smartphone. You cannot use a Blackberry for example, only a windows based phone, which I did not have. I would have expected this important fact to be stated clearly in the advertising documentation for the product. I configured the DDNS feature using dyndns.com and while I was able to get the login screen, I was unable to login. The login failed on every occassion. I removed the passwords and still the logins failed. However on the LAN I would get the same login screen and be able to login without any problems. It did not make technical sense but I thought maybe "Lorex does not like dyddns.com" so I setup the Lorexddns feature. I had the same problem. I could not login remotely via the Internet, even when the password was removed, yet on the LAN, I had no problem logging in. I have spent several hours on this without success.

I e-mailed tech support about my problem, but have not gotten a response as yet, and don't expect to. It is obvious that the Lorex web site has a strong "sales" focus and very little "support" focus. I called Tech Support and after listening to several minutes of what appeared to be an essay recital, I was able to speak with someone. Tech Support was friendly and very helpful. I gave Tech Support my password and removed the password from the system, but they too could not login. They suggested I update the firmware. I downloaded the firmware and udated the DVR. Of course all the settings would default and you would have to reprogram IP address, passwords, names etc. The DVR still displayed the same login challenges. I will call Tech Support again and update this review. As of this stage I am giving the system a 3 star rating, but if I get to login remotely, then I would rate the system with 4 star. For the money spent, the system is good value....without the challenges hopefully. At this stage, I am dissapointed, but hopeful. If anyone can offer any suggestions to me on fixing my login problems, I would be appreciative.

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Let me start off by saying we have a small business that consists of a used car lot and repair shop. Every once in a while we have items stolen from cars on the lot or find that someone had dumped their garbage in our dumpsters. The Lorex LH108321C8B 8-Camera Network Video Surveillance System hopefully is going to put a stop to the invaders.

After opening and inspecting the items in the box, we decided where we would set up the cameras to have the best visibility on the premises. We began installing the cameras at 10am and we finished by 3pm. Installation was simple and did not involve any really hard work except drilling holes into the aluminum siding and feeding the camera cables to an upstairs office. Only two screws mount the cameras. The only negative comment I can say about the installation is that the knob to secure the cameras does not "finger" tightened every well. When a strong breeze flew by, the camera would move. We used a wrench to tighten the position of the camera but made sure not to strip it. We connected the DVR to a 20" computer monitor by using an HDMI connector cable. We were impressed with the quality of the images. Colors are vivid and no really noticeable fuzziness. The only thing we noticed with the images is that scenes directly in front of the camera are crystal clear but as you look further past it starts to become less clear. We could not wait to see how the night vision worked. The next morning we reviewed the previous night's recording. It only used 47GB of the hard drive after 18 hours of continuous use. You do have the options of setting up specific times you want the video to record so you use less space on the hard drive. The night vision worked well except in areas where there was floodlights or streetlights. The images from those cameras were fuzzy. Just make sure to mount the cameras in areas that the camera view is not directly facing some type of night lighting. When reviewing the video you are able to pause it and zoom in on images. The DVR interface is extremely easy to navigate. You can select your options manually by using the buttons on the DVR or use the included mouse.

I cannot really comment on the remote access options since we do not intend to use those features. However I will mention that I found it amusing how the instructions had a little picture and stated if you had to be highly skilled for certain connections. Included a one long ground cable which we had no clue where to put it since the directions did not mention it.

The unit only comes with one "warning premises under 24 hour video surveillance" sticker. I wanted to have one warning sticker on all four sides of the building. You are able to purchase additional stickers, cable extensions and accessories directly from the manufacturers website. I ended up buying generic stickers and you can get them really cheap from Amazon, here is the link Security System Warning Stickers, 4-Pack.

Overall, great camera system for a home or small business. Easy to install and operate.