GoVideo DVR4200 DVD-VCR Combo

• Plays DVDs, audio CDs, VHS tapes, and MP3s on CD-R and CD-RW
• Watch a DVD while recording a television program
• Dolby Digital output for easy connection to surround sound systems
• Complete Program Record automatically adjusts tape speed to ensure you record a complete program no matter what tape you use
• Convenient child lock protects the front panel from fingers, toast, and other non-media

The DVD player in this dual deck is OK, on a par with

lower-end budget players. The VCR in this deck is OK, on

a par with lower-end budget VCRs. So far, so fair.

BUT the recorder won't record any DVD that is Macrovision

encoded (which is most of them), so don't expect to use this

as a one stop way to record your DVDs. The DVD player also

doesn't play VCDs or SVCDs. So it has basic functionality,

but little more.

Overall, this is useful for those who want both a DVD

player and a VCR, and who want to save a bit of space. But at

the price you could purchase a better DVD player and a better

VCR separately. So this only makes sense for those who need

to save the space.

David

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My daughter is the *very happy* recipient of this dual deck. She is not exactly an electronics wizard, but she called to say thanks and just bubbled over about how "simple" it was to connect ("really, Dad, I just plugged it in and connected 1 wire and my roommates and I said 'it can't be that simple' but we turned it on and it was like working great"!). She said the remote was "smooth" and the picture quality was "awesome". She also raved about the audio volume the CD player was able to produce and she was "wowed" by its ability to produce this volume cleanly while playing MP3s, ergo becoming, I am informed, the new music center for her dorm room. Anyway, she should remain happy, as GoVideo (& now SONICblue) has been around for quite a while, producing the first dual VCR decks (mostly for copying tapes that were [of course] not copyrighted, such as personal videos) more than a decade ago and since then having greatly expanded their product line, all the while maintaining a pretty good reputation for quality and service and an excellent track record for high value electronics.

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Ordered one USED and quickly realized that the other Amazon reviews were probably written by folks that did the most basic connection you could do (coax in...coax out).

If you have a halfway decent home theatre system and utilize the dedicated DVD and VCR RCA audio outputs using good quality cables (Monster cables or other gold tipped audio cables), the audio is great. Dolby Digital is fantastic and the onboard menu allows you to configure for several different variations.

Easy setup (less than 10 minutes), easy to use, on screen menus are easy to navigate, plays MP3's, great picture, great sound!!

If you want to get an inexpensive unit that will handle DVD and VHS plus also play MP3's (!!!), get one of these!!!

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This product simplifies some of your A/V issues (fewer cables to hook up and one less item to stack in the entertainment center), but wait for a better version to come out from a company that knows what they're doing.

Problems:

DVD playback has digital 'glitches' blackspots and blurs, jumps in dialog.

DVD/CD play has background flutter noise the discs don't spin noiselessly....not great during quiet movies.

CD playback doesn't have much functionality. Play/stop, that's it. No random, continuous play, or other functions you'd expect from a CD player.

$ is cheap, but wait until a better-known company launches a product...

I know it's not the best DVD player on the market but for this price range, you can't go wrong with this unit. I've owned 3 DVD players now (under $$$ and this one has been my favorite. It's simple to hook-up, sounds great with a good A/V receiver, and is very simple to use. Are there better DVD/VHS players out there? Of couse! But in the under $$$ range, this one reigns supreme. The only reason I didn't go with 5 stars is that I feel the instructions are very sparse and a novice may get confused figuring out how to best hook the unit up for best performance. With that said, this unit is as advertised and well worth the price.

Sylvania 9-Inch Swivel Screen Portable DVD/CD/MP3 Player with 5 Hour Built-In Rechargeable Battery,

• 5 Hour extended battery life, Play your digital media via built in USB/SD Card reader
• 9 Inch LCD Swivel Screen, portable DVD player;
• Plays DVD, DVD-R, DVD-RW, VCD, S-VCD, CD, MP3, MPEG4, WMA, JPEG
• Includes stereo earphones, remote control, stereo audio output, AC and car adapter, user manual
• Easy to use straps attach screens to headrest

I bought this player specifically because it said that you could put MP4 files (itunes videos) on a flash drive and play them on this unit. It DOES NOT play MP4 files, only WMV. Don't make the same mistake I did.

However, I kept it because it is a nice, functional player with lots of extras.

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Plays great, sound could be louder.

Love the USB port and Memory insert

Still learning about other features.

Still I'm happy

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I just purchased this dvd player for my daughter, it is pretty good the only thing is the accessory it came with I find the bag is to cheap one of the cords is to short and the volume is not loud enough.

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For he price this lil player is great. Folds nicley into a tablet style screen. Has good display and the sound is decent. Would give it a 5 star but the case that it comes with is very cheap. Ripped it beyond use first time I hooked it up. Otherthan that great product.

This is the first time I've ever bought anything used online. I must say that I am QUITE PLEASED with this. As promised

it plays like new and continues to do so months after purchase and constant use. KUDOS!

SwissGear LEGACY E-Reader Case - 6" x 1" x 8.5" - Polyester - Black

My girlfriend and I both purchased these for our iPad2's at the same time and they both have held up through our daily use and fit perfectly in our backpacks. Even though this product doesn't say it's meant for iPad or iPad2 they still fit them perfectly and with the front zipper on the outside you can put your USB dock/charger cable along with the wall outlet charge adapter, a stylus, and even the HDMI output convert cable for iPad2's all inside of this little pouch without even filling it still. The inside of both the front pocket and the inside pocket have a very soft lining that protects it's contents and with the outside also a soft padding it will not scratch anything it's laying up again (for instance inside of a backpack). There isn't anything bad to say about this case! We both love it and we probably will not be buying a new case for the life of our iPad2's and beyond because there is no need for another external case.

Samsung BD-P1500 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player

• Full HD 1080p Output for Blu-Ray Discs and selectable DVD Upconversion to 1080p
• 1080p with 24 Hz Video Output
• HDMI version 1.3, component video
• Dolby® Digital, Dolby® Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, dts-HD
• Ethernet connection lets you easily check for the latest firmware upgrades online

I've been using this for 2 weeks now, and it's my first blu-ray player (no PS3). The good stuff: Excellent look, not too loud, amazing picture and sound. Working ethernet and USB port. (I haven't had to download any firmware or code updates, but I'm sure it'll work fine.)

Operations: No fan noise, no noise while playing, but during menu & loading, you hear some track-seeking which is audible at 10'... nothing offensive, though. I just noticed last night, after my 5th blu-ray a little flicker in in the bottom center of the screen during the credits of Juno... not sure if it's a bad disc or a player having a problem. It was repeatable, and the disc seemed clean. Lastly, the load time, eject time, etc seems just fine. Not instant or as fast a nice DVD player, but not noticably slow. I've heard alot about slow disc-loading, and if it is a problem on other players it's not a problem on this one. Lastly, sometimes when you click on a menu instead of pausing, the screen with show a "progress-bar" for 2-4 seconds while the next manu loads, which isn't completely kosher, but doesn't bother me.

The so-so stuff: I'm giving this 5-stars because it's near-perfect at what it's designed to do for it's price, but it's not perfect. One reason to get a midto lower-cost player is to (duh) save money... if you're someone who has an older receiver that doesn't decode the two new DD and DTS formats, and (probably) doesn't decode multi-channel PCM, this player isn't for you. It only has stereo-out analog RCA plugs, not 5.1 or 7.1 analog outputs.

That means you can't bypass your receivers pre-amp to play the newer audio formats and let the blu-ray player decode them. My old Receiver (which I used the player with for a week) only decoded DD 5.1 (no DTS, and only 2-channel PCM to 48khz). This player lets you send a PCM stream to your receiver from an internally decoded DTS 5.1 signal, but this didn't work for me... as my player can't receive 5.1 PCM streams, it only saw it as 2-channel. At least the player lets you downsample 96khz PCM to 48khz, so that I at least got sound (Golden Compass only has DTS 5.1 or DTS HD Master).

With my new receiver, all formats work perfectly, all bitstreamed.

Some people perhaps are holding off for new receivers because they don't want to connect through the player's analog RCA 5.1/7.1 connectors but this is probably mis-information. What you want to avoid is taking digital sound, converting it to analog, then back to digital, then back to analog... don't worry you wouldn't be doing this. Basically you would be doing all your processing in the player digitally, then once it is sent out through the pre-outs to the receiver you'd bypass the receiver's processing and it would go straight to the amplifier (which is of course analog anyway).

So my conclusion for thos people with older (but good) receivers this blu-ray player won't save you any money. The best savings would be to pay a little more for a player with 5.1 analog outputs and continue to use your existing receiver.

-Kevin Moore

Natick, MA

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I had been waiting to jump into the HD media fray until a winner was declared and of course, that happened earlier this year. A lot of people recommended to me to get a PS3 for my blu-ray player but, for a variety of reasons, I decided I wanted a standalone player. After a lot of research, I settled on the Samsung BD-P1500. I had heard a lot of negatives about how Samsung had not been supporting their previous generation units but I was willing to get them a 30 day trial. I'm glad I did.

I purchased this over memorial day weekend so I've had it over a month. In that time, I've played maybe a dozen blu-ray discs and 3 or 4 DVD's. The only problem I've experienced that is attributable to the player is several extremely brief audio dropouts while watching Ratatouille. However, I updated the player's firmware last weekend and watched several scenes that would previously cause the dropouts and observed none.

I love the fact that it has an ethernet port for firmware updates and future BD 2.0 features. The player loads discs quickly in comparison to stories I've heard about other players. Picture and sound quality are outstanding (I'm able to use the HD audio features and it's frankly amazing).

This is a really good player and the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because there are VERY few products that would rate 5 stars in my book. Most things have at least a couple of areas to improve on. For the price, this is a really good player.

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This unit has two design problems that I'm aware of. I'm surprised that Samsung hasn't already fixed these issues.

For reference, my unit has the latest 1.3 firmware as of 9/10/2008.

#1: The BD-P1500 has inherent audio drop problems on the HDMI interface. I'm not sure if the optical interface has the same issue(s); however, I wouldn't be surprised if it does. The audio bitstream will drop (silent) occasionally on most blu-ray discs that I've played. I believe there is a timing and/or bandwidth issue with either the firmware or hardware. This problem has been reported by many other BD-P1500 owners on various AV forums.

#2: The front display is extremely dim. When this unit is placed next to the Samsung HT-AS720 receiver which has the same display type, the BD-P1500's display looks terrible. The BD-P1500 has an option to adjust the brightness of the front display; however it doesn't work. The display is always too dim. This problem has also been reported by many other BD-P1500 owners on various AV forums.

Unfortunately, Samsung has not been able to resolve the audio drop issue as of 09/10/2008 so I'm concerned that they may never. If high quality reliable audio playback is important to you, then I suggest you research the BD-P1500 more before buying it.

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Ok first off it should be said i have been holding off on Blu Ray due to price and completeness of format.

Currently this player does not support profile 2.0 but does support 1.1. Samsung has promised 2.0 support in a future firmware however there is conflicting reports on this and the box does feature a BD live Ready logo. So regardless if samsung is false advertising I'll end up with a profile 2.0 player one way or another.

HOWEVER as far as the player stands yes you will need a reciever that supports all the major codecs in order for it to shine. It is as far as I have seen the most responsive player so far and the start and load times are extremely short. That truly amazed me when I started my first disc in about 10 seconds total time. All in all the performace of the player is quite good and the 2 channel analog is very good. Best part is the player is absolutley silent in operation you could hear a pin drop when its on.

now for the cons.

currently doesnt play BD Live content questionable as to whether it ever will. Samsung has been quoted enough times that it will be 2.0 compliant and labeled it on the box that you'd assume it should be.

Secondly the player only has 2 analog channels and that means youll need a digital reciever to get 5.1 or more.

The Largest negatives are the decoding of DTS MA and Dolbey True HD. DTS MA is currently not supported but it is possible it could happen in a future update. On the Dolby True HD side the negative here is that it can only decode it to 2 channel internally. Now if you have a reciever that can decode the bitstreamed audio then none of this really affects you because the receiver fills in the blanks.

All this being said if this price continues to fall this player is worth the value if you have the pieces in place already. BTW it is a really beautiful player very minimal in the look of it.

If this player does not upgrade to profile 2.0 Samsung will be hating my constant calls on a daily basis :)

NEW entry 6-14-2009

I thought I would update this review and let everyone know who is looking at getting this player mine is still doing great. The player is indeed a Profile 2.0 now after the firmware upgrade and has been for some time. I also have taken one of my old 8 GB usb keys and popped in the back to add storage space to the unit and that works like a charm. If you have a good reciever and a good tv with HDMI I see no reason to spend hundreds more on other units this plays the movies and does it well. The HDMI connection levels the playing field with the direct digital signal.

I could write a novel on my issues with Samsung and their qualiy control, but I'll keep this to the point.

I had the 1500 (also a 1400 but it broke the first week) since May 28th. Worked pretty well until the firmware update. After the update, I lost TrueHD audio (internal decoding or bitstreaming) and Standard DVD playback become impossible. I couldn't play a single regular DVD no matter what I tried. BD discs that have TrueHD tracks started flaking out with audio drops and pauses also. Sometimes up to 30-40 per movie at 8-10 seconds a piece.

Contacted Samsung to report problems and they claim they never heard of it (nevermind that after I did the update and had problems I saw numerous posts on the web about the problems). They offered to do a warranty repair if I gave them my CC# for a $50 "deposit" AND I pay shipping. Forget it, returned the player to retailer and have sworn off samsung altogether. They have burned me twice now with BD products and there will not a change for a third time with any of their products.

For those who are not informed, check out the web for problems with the samsung BD players (1000, 1200, 1400, 1500). Check out how samsung wants to handle the problems with their PAYING customers. Utterly disheartening.

StarTech.com PCI Express HD Video Capture Card 1080p - HDMI/DVI/VGA/Component TV Tuners/Video Captu

The video capture card works alright, however it wasn't specified in the product description that in order to get 1080p recording, the computer needs to have at least a quad core CPU in it, otherwise it only records in 720p.

I realy like it the picture quality is very good. When I'm recording HD Movie then playing it back its better then then watching HD TV.

The only thing is you need to buy a bigger USB Drive at leased a 32 gig so you can install on another computer because 16 gig is not big enough. So I bought a 64 gig so I know it will be.

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I just got it installed this morning but it seems to be working great. I like having HD capability now. The settings are fairly user friendly. There aren't a whole lot of options for recording with the program that comes with the card but its simple and user friendly. I just put it in the computer, inserted the install disc that came with it and had no problems.

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This particular capture card does wonders for me. I have a Sega Saturn which I wanted to capture gameplay from, but all of the normal cheap capture cards freak out when encountering a Genesis or Saturn signal. The fact that this capture card works so well with older consoles on top of the new ones means that I have an all-in-one solution for capturing videogame footage through component RGB cables, or HDMI, whatever I want.

I've been recommending this to other people as much as I can!

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This Product works perfect with my computer. I've never had a problem using it, easy to install and easy to use. I have TV everywhere I go with WINTV

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Sony DCR-HC36 MiniDV Digital Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom

After having used an old bread-loaf-sized Sony 8mm camcorder with great success for many years, I felt it was time for an upgrade. Modern feature-packed MiniDV cameras have become very reasonably priced, as the DCR-HC36's barely $300 price tag attests, so it was only a matter of which features I wanted I prefer a powerful telephoto lens, and Sony has a curious habit of reducing zoom power the higher up the product line you go, so even though the HC36 is middle-of-the-road in the Sony camcorder lineup, its full 20x optical zoom made it a natural choice.

Modern MiniDV cameras are also very reasonably sized; occupying less than half a cubic foot, the HC36 weighs in at less than a pound even with the battery and tape. That's about large cheeseburger size, or the size of a digital camera from a few years ago. Despite toy-like dimensions, the sculpted duo-tone exterior and handsome chrome lens bezel lend to a quality look and finish.

Those of you intimidated by the arms-length list of features who "just want to hit record and go" will be glad to know that the HC36 has an Easy button. Located right next to the Sony logo on the left side of the camera is a blue button labeled yes, really "Easy". Pressing this button puts the camera into everything-automatic mode, and also increases the size of text on the display (very handy for the reading glasses set), allowing the old-school and I'm-not-technical school alike to record full quality video. You don't even have to know how to flip out the LCD screen, the Easy button literally makes the camcorder point-and-shoot.

The more technically inclined are accommodated with tailored personalization. Nearly all the camera's functions are controlled by the touch screen LCD's menu system, but Sony uses a clever shortcut; A personalized menu which you can set to display the features you want any camera function, such as exposure, white balance, etc., can be set as a menu button; A single touch of the LCD brings up the menu of buttons you've set to display. No scrolling through menus to get to some deeply-buried function, just press the screen and there's the menu that you made with your functions. This system is in some cases faster than physical buttons on the camera itself!

And there's no shortage of functions to play with. The HC36 features two different levels of night vision; "Nightshot Plus" employs an infra-red lamp on the front of the camera providing a fully lit view up to about ten feet even in total darkness, while "Super Nightshot Plus" bumps up the light sensitivity by slowing the shutter speed great for distance viewing in low light, or shots of the night sky (night vision can see stars that you can't). A Tele Macro function captures close-up sharp images from a few feet away, and the Spot Focus feature makes focusing a breeze just touch what you want focused on the touch-screen and it focuses to that object.

There's the usual basic palette of picture effects and faders included, but the true video editor will of course want to use the computer, which is what the MiniDV format was made for. An i.LINK jack (i.LINK is Sony's name for Firewire/IEEE1394, they're one and the same) is provided for a quick and quality connection. A note to the uninitiated: *DO NOT use a USB connection to export video to your computer.* The USB format is slower and will result in poorer-quality video. Connecting by Firewire provides a better-than-TV image using the right software I avoid using bundled software when possible, and would recommend using Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0 or Sony's own Vegas DVD program, both of which offer free trials to see which you prefer.

The HC36's still picture feature is a novelty; you must purchase/provide a Memory Stick Duo for the function to work, and while 640x480 VGA size images are nothing compared to a digital camera, it can be entertaining when combined with the camcorder's other features using the digital zoom and NightShot for example, you can capture an image from several hundred feet away in near darkness. Fun, but a real digital camera is still the way to go for photographs.

Connections are the HC36's weak point. The aforementioned Firewire jack is there, but the cable is not included. An analog video/audio jack (out only, no in) is provided along with RCA-ended cable to connect to your television or analog source, but because the jack and cable are non-standard and unique, should you lose the cable, you'll have to go to Sony to get another. And there's no mic input. The built-in stereo mic can record 16-bit high-quality audio, but a camcorder with this many features should have this one more.

Overall, the HC36 is the sweet spot in the Sony camcorder lineup, a big-quality features-heavy camcorder in a small, lightweight package, with a tiny price to match. Five stars for Sony's movie-making multi-tool.

(Addendum: Why not DVD? DVD camcorders offer similar features, however you must pay hundreds more for a DVD camera than a similarly-featured MiniDV cam. They're also noticably larger, and DVDs aren't nearly as easy to work with You must format a DVD before using it, which requires setting the camera on a steady surface and waiting several moments. Recording at the highest quality setting, a camcorder DVD will hold only 20 minutes, and then you must "finalize" the disc before playing it in any other DVD player. Should you need to replace the DVD during an important timely event, or forget to finalize the disc before giving it to someone or storing it, you're pretty much out of luck. Because the DVD camcorder system is set up to just play the DVD as-is, editing or getting the video on computer can be a long and very complicated process. Whereas MiniDV tapes last an hour, were made for editing, and offer slap-it-in-and-go convenience. If you have the extra money and just want to play back video as you shot it, a DVD camcorder is a possibility, but at a fraction of the price and complication, the MiniDV cam is the bang-for-the-buck convenience-is-king winner.)

The camera works great but ...Neither Sony nor Pixela, the makers of the Picture Package software that comes with some Sony camcorders with mini-disks tells you that the software IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH WINDOWS XP, SERVICE PACK 2! It will crash your computer or not work properly. DO NOT install the Picture Package software if you have run Windows XP. If you have a DVD player on your computer, you can download the photos from the mini-disk without this dangerous software. Shame on Sony and Pixela for selling the software to Windows XP users or including it with the camera without a warning.

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I purchased the HC36 as a backup to a Sony VX2000. I filmed a play in low light and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the video. I was able to intermix the video from the HC36 with the VX2000 with only a slight difference in quality. The onboard mic was also excellent! more than I expected. I hadn't planned on using the audio from this camcorder, but in the end I did use about 20% of the audio for a 2-hour production.

I have owned several camcorders over the years and I'm always pleased with the quality of Sony. I will definitely use the HC36 as a backup for wedding shoots.

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I bought this camera tonight, and after a little confusion, I am pleased. There are other reviewers out there that state you can only transfer the video to VCD. The problem is that the documentation is unclear about this. All you have to do is go to Start Menu>Picture Package>Handycam Tools>Video Capturing Tool.

I shot a small test video, transferred it, and all is well. I will recommend getting a Firewire cord when you buy the Camcorder, as it does not come with one. The quality on the firewire vs. USB video is more than noticable.

All in all, a good starter cam with more than enough features to keep you playing for some time.

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I bought it a week ago. Tried some shooting and transfered from HC36 tape to PC smoothly with firewire connection (not USB)and Windows Movie Maker/Sony Vegas 6.0. The picture quality is good for resolution up to 720x480 (high quality). Don't expect too much from this handycam, only the basic video shooting will do. If you want to make 'Hollywood-like' movie, this is not the right choice. You need to have spare battery, the standard is about 80 minutes. One of the reason I chose Sony HC series is you can have an optional battery(NPFP90) up to around 500 minutes. For me it is important as I don't want to carry a lot of spare batteries and keep changing batteries while travelling in remote area.

For me it's a good product for what I paid.

Spy Clock Security Hidden DVR Camera Surveillance Motion Detector DV CCTV Camcorder Digital LCD Dis

Product is not congruent with the specification of the product

The specifications of this product are not the same quality that was promoted. The instructions are very difficult to follow; apparently the instructions were translated to English from somebody who does not speak English well. Like a computer translation type. Even if you are smart enough to figure it out, it still not working to its specifications. The video and the sound of this product are very poor. The view is very narrow, cannot see the entire 10x10 bedroom. More disappointed now that I see the price dropped to only $22.99. I paid $42.49 a few days ago. Despite of the price I do not want this product even for free. This is one of the few times I have to say something negative from so many products I had ordered with Amazon over the year. Nobody is perfect.

This camera is dissappointing in that it does not accurately record date and time and does not record on motion but on 3 miniute increments. so you end up having to watch unwanted videos (up to 50) to find the one that actually shows what you need. I was able to catch some videos of someone in the act of going through my belongings.

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I've asked to return this item because it does not do what is needed. But I've yet to hear back from anyone. Not good business in my eyes.

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Sony CFD-F10 CD / Radio / Cassette Recorder, Silver

• All new low profile design
• High energy bass reproduction system
• High power 4.5 watts per channel power output
• 2-way mid/tweeter speaker system
• Digital AM/FM stereo tuner

To begin with, I've never been into "boom-boxes". Now, however, I do lectures on classical music and opera, and I needed something "portable" to take with me on my lectures, but something that had good sound, since I play music with a full symphony orchestra, as well as a lot of opera. When I took this little machine home, I was a little skeptical. When I put on a cassette tape of Verdi's "Aida" no less, I was completely shocked

at the sheer vividness and sharpness of the sound. Even on full volume, there was no distortion. This machine is amazing, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who is on a budget and who wants to have a portable machine with great sound.

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If you're looking at SONY boom boxes, you may be considering both their black CFD-G500 and their silver CFD-F10. I bought both and would like to share my impressions thus far.

Appearance: I really love the sleek even elegant lines of the silver F10.

Portability: The silver F10 is lighter and more stream-lined, so if you want a unit that you can move around, this is an advantage over the heavier and bulkier G500.

Sound: I listen almost exclusively to classical music. Both models do a great job of providing a full rich sound. The MEGA BASS and MEGA Xpand of the silver F10 give it a sound quality comparable, at least to my ears, to the larger and somewhat more expensive black G500 (which has a power drive woofer).

But the black G500 has two advantages I really appreciate over the silver F10:

1. It has a feature that allows me to select 5 different audio emphases: one is good for the whole dynamic range (great for classical), one is best for vocals, one for percussive sounds etc.

2. When I'm playing a symphony at fairly high volume, and the orchestra reaches a real crescendo, the black G500 conveys the full blast of music with great clarity. The silver F10 does a good job of handling a high volume but not full blasts without losing some sound definition.

Bottom line: I'm delighted with both. I bought the silver F10 for use in my den, where I want to hear full rich sounds played at low to medium high volumes. I bought the black G500 for use in a corner of my living room, where I need higher volumes to reach into my kitchen and dining room as well.

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This is the absolute best 'boombox' on the current market. I looked and waited for 2 years before this one came out on the market. The sound quality is excellent. Just wait until you play a CD.

The mega bass and sound expansion along with the extra speakers combine to create a sound that no other boomboxes can out perform, and certainly not in this price range. It also makes excellent audio tape recordings.

Sony suggested price is $79.99. I think Amazon is not truthful in marking it down from $110.00 to the selling price, but I would buy from them any way if you cannot find this boombox in your local audio store.

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I bought this item after returning the Panasonic RX-D29 CD / Radio / Cassette Boombox with MP3 CD Playback (see my review). This box IS different in that it doesn't have MP3 playback. Other than that missing feature, this Sony is a far superior machine. The sound, especially with both the Mega Xpand and the Mega Bass turned on, is wonderful. The physical design is lovely. The buttons (on the box and on the remote) are much more user-friendly and intuitive than on the Panasonic. Also much larger. So far, I only have one small complaint (my only reason for not giving a rating of 5 stars): the rather tiny display doesn't have a back-light. It is positioned in the middle of the front, rather than higher up, so if you have the box placed on a table, you have to kneel down and get pretty close to read the display. The ring of pretty, neon-blue lighting behind the display actually makes it harder to see the display because the display appears darker in contrast. This is unfortunate because the display provides much useful information, and I'd like to be able to see it better. In summary, this box has one design flaw and many wonderful audio and cosmetic features. An extremely good value.

This Boombox is the best sounding box in it's price range. Sony put a system together that is easily a best buy under $100.00. This unit has it all, CD, Cassette and an AM/FM digital tuner. I shopped for Units at less and more money, But I always came back to this Sony. The speakers consist of 2 low range and 2 tweeters. the bass is aided by a center mounted passive radiator and a rear port, A feature use in home speakers. This boombox has "MegaBass and Mega-Xpand modes that gives deep and clean bass and the xpand spreads the higher frequencies around the room, making you look for the rear speakers. You will be very pleasantly surprised by the sound this unit has, and the blue light around the center mounted passive speaker looks like a neon light, very nice. And there is the remote control, something a lot of like priced boxes don't offer. Try this Sony, You'll be happy You did.

4gb Mini Voice Recorder with U Disk Function Silver & Black

I bought this USB because I needed a cheap way to record audio for long amounts of time. This product does just that: all you do is switch it on, and it'll start recording about three seconds afterwards for up to four hours.

The biggest disadvantages are:

* Between the time you turn it on and it actually starts recording there is a delay;

* You can't play audio unless you insert the device into a computer

The audio files are in .wav format, which is a fairly common format -it works with audacious and other Linux audio-editing programs.

If you need something more customizable or something that will play back audio you'll want a different device, but for general purposes this device is great.

This product was okay once it started working. I charged it for the recommended time and the light still flashed saying that it was charging. Then it wouldn't open on my computer but I got it to work on my laptop. It records well.

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You definitely get what you pay for with this item. I liken it to a basic PC mic in terms of audio quality. If you're going to use this for a class, you definitely have to sit as close to the instructor as possible. Even with that, there's quite a heavy rumbling and background noise despite being in a reasonably non-noisy area.

Interesting thing is that this is one of the few recording devices on Amazon that had USB-uploading capability, which many, including myself, find more convenient than listening directly from the device. It's also an extremely discreet object, since it looks like a simple flash drive.

(EDITED October 02 2012)

After using this device for some time, I can give a more thorough review. I would notice this would not record my lectures after I'd arrive home, brain-fried, looking forward to reviewing what was said in class. If you want a recorder for important things, LOOK ELSWEWHERE. I thought that it wasn't capturing because I wasn't it charging it correctly. Not so. Even with fully adequate charging, fresh-off-the-juice, I'd arrive home to find nothing in the file, and I had powered it on properly.

This product only works when it feels like working. Horrible buy, even for the price. :\

Four stars down to one.

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I gave it 5 stars, because it works well for the price. The recording is a little scratchy, but that's expected has it tries to pick up sound from all over the immediate area. What's nice is that even if you walk 10 feet away from the device and talk in a normal voice volume, it will still pick up what you say clearly. I'm using it to record my social conversations so that I can review them and see where I can improve.

A couple of the reviews here are a little silly and clueless, like "This recorder does not have the ability to go backwards or forwards within the recording while the recording is being made". Um... This is a COVERT recorder. NOT for school work and the like-please buy a normal recorder with all the bells and whistles if it's for doing work. This recording has a very specific function... to be covert. Putting extra buttons all over it or a mike jack would defeat the purpose.

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Small, portable, accessible (if worn around the neck) and has long battery life. Records very well for one-on-one meetings or small classrooms. Recording volume could be a bit low, so I need to increase playback volume in computer. Records in WAV format, which can be easily converted to smaller MP3 format using free software. I have had it for about two semesters now, and it has replaced both my previous USB drive and my $50 voice recorder. The rechargable battery saves plenty of hassle since it charges automatically when connected to a computer.

Magnavox MDR533H/F7 HDD/DVD Recorder

• Records up to 604 hours of content onto 500GB HDD
• 4-Way Dubbing (HDD->DVD, DVD->HDD, DV->HDD, DV->DVD)
• Watch, Forward, Rewind or Freeze Live TV while recording
• 1080p Up-Conversion
• Maximum 36 programs per month

I've been accused of being an "old fart" with a lack of tolerance for technology. It isn't true: I own a cell phone and the kids gave me a Kindle thingie over on the table somewhere. So, you might sense my apprehension about getting another box on the TV, another remote, and a headache setting the darn thing up. (I'm old school where buying a hard drive for your computer was an expensive option, and it took you a week to get it configured to your 8088 desktop.)

I was pleasantly surprised that the MAGNAVOX MDR533H/F7 320GB HDD and DVD Recorder with Digital Tuner was so easy to set up. I went on night shift and couldn't stand the thought of missing Big Bang Theory, Person of Interest, and NCIS so I had to record them. My VCR is packed away in the closet, but I don't have any tapes. Within a few minutes, I set up the recorder to save to hard disk drive (HDD) and scheduled a show. Today we watched my shows just fine. Perfect for what I wanted. It looks like you can also save to DVD, and/or playback DVD's. I played a DVD movie, and see I can eliminate my old DVD player using this box. (I think the kids are getting me a Blue Ray player for Christmas, whatever the hell that is.) Probably another box for the TV & another remote! Do they make remotes to manage all the other remotes? I have a drawer full, most of which I don't know what they go to anymore.

The recorder has RCA, S-Video & HDMI outputs to the TV. It passes the antenna/cable signal IN and OUT to the TV as well. You can "dub" your DVD's using the remote, whatever dubbing is. I think it's adding titles to the recording; I haven't tried that yet. This machine has a lot of options and features going for it. It is perfect, and easy, for my purpose, so I think you would be pleased with it. Especially if you are an old fart like me.

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If this was 10 years ago, it would be Ok, but it isn't

SDTV (standard definition) is long gone (for the most part). Sure, this receives and can record HD stations, but only at DVD quality which is SD (as in NTSC). The editing ability is good without the hassle of a PC, but come on Funai, lets get with the program.

As important, the HDD has been downsized to a 2 1/2" Laptop drive (see below). This is a HUGE disappointment as they went backwards, since the mount for a full size drive is still there. It was adapted to a smaller drive with the associated smaller SATA & power interface that won't allow a full size drive to be used. The power supply was modified to reduce power consumption, which is good, BUT, it was discovered this caused issues with the full size 3 1/2" drive so they did this fast fix.

Pros;

1. Self contained ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuner (see below),

2. HDD & DVR recorder,

3. Able to record from composite, S-Video & DV inputs,

4. You can swap drives between units (yours or anyones) and use as large as a 1TB replacement,

5. Edit out commercials (or any other material),

6. Edit recording titles,

7. Transfer recordings from the HDD to a DVD and vice versa (as long as the DVD isn't copy protected),

8. Low power consumption (21 watts). less than older versions, (but see below).

Cons;

1. This does not record HD, nor does it even show HD when using it as a tuner,

2. HDD has been changed to a smaller 2 1/2" Laptop drive format. This is due to cutting corners in the PS (power supply). This in turn caused issues with the larger 3 1/2" drive, forcing this modification,

3. The tuner is called a 'hybrid' that forces the user to switch between analog & digital channels when operated on a CATV feed,

4. Two ugly oversized and unnecessary buttons on the front panel that should be replaced with full menu & navigation functions. After all, this can be used as an editing deck that can be used at a desk. You don't need a remote to use this,

5. No front panel pause button,

6. No component record ability (no issue with DRM, it isn't digital),

7. No Guide of any kind for recording off air. Recordings have to be labeled to program names,

8. High power consumption when in standby by todays standards (4-5 watts),

9. Can not combine titles,

10. Some operational procedures are confusing causing one to jump back and forth though the menu.

I dropped the rating to two stars due to the downsizing of the PS & HDD.

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I have been using VCR to record TV programs until my digital to analog tuner died. Instead of buying another one, I thought I would look into a hard drive recorder. Price is important to me as I don't want to spend too much money. I found this unit. I have to admit that this is the first time I ended up with buying electronic product somewhere else because the price at Amazon is quite high, around 20% more. It took me no time to set it up. If you need something simple to operate and not having a lot of fancy functions, this is the unit I would buy. In SP mode, it could record up to 124 hours. I do not have any paid channel, I use attennae since I live in an area that has good reception. The digit tuner built into the unit scanned and found all the channels I needed. The timer programming is very simple, it's almost like my VCR. The playback is so much better than my tape. I can even play my DVD on it. I haven't tried the DVD recording feature since I don't have any DVR at hand. It may be too late to buy it as a Christmas present but if your parents are still using VCR for recording, buy them this unit this year. They would love it.

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Only had it for a few days but so far loving it. I used to have a recordable DVD player to save all the tv I missed when out of the house. But when the remote broke and I needed to replace it I found out that just a recordable DVD player was no longer easily available anywhere. This unit has the DVD player/recorder but I'll probably be only recording with the digital part of the player.

I have cable tv, but the setup was easy. Just undid the cables on the old broken DVD recorder, and reattached this new unit. Set up was very simple, I did it without even using the instruction book that came in the box. Set up the recording and it's working fine.

Wish it wasn't so expensive :( but it is what it is, and this was less than other units on amazon.

So easy setup, works great, and is easy to use.

This DVR is great! If you are used to programming a VCR back in the day, then using this DVR is a breeze. The extra functions are just icing on the cake.

Panasonic TH-42PX500U 42-Inch Flat Panel HD-Ready Plasma TV

• 42 Screen Size (Measured Diagonally)
• 16 - 9 Aspect Ratio
• G8 Progressive HD Plasma Panel offers the latest generation of development for superior reliability and integrity
• HDMI Input, Component Input (Y/PB/PR) x 2, S-Video Input x 2, PC Input, Optical Digital Audio Output
• Detachable Smart Sound Speaker System (26 Watts Total Power) using Ultra-Slim Speaker Units and Twin Woofers Built Into Panel

This model (Panasonic TH-42PX500U) is a lot more expensive than the Panasonic TH-42PX50U. The difference in prices in amazon for both items is a bit too much. This model is not available in most chain stores (Cicuit city, best buy etc.). A local store had both models and I could buy this model for a couple of hundred dollars more. I think for $200 more it is worth it, as it has the following advantage over the 50U.

1. 500 U has 6 speakers (2 bass-reflex woofers: 6 ohms, 120Hz-2Khz, 10%THD) (4 tweeters: 8 ohms, 500Hz-15Khz,10%THD) 26 W power. VS

50 U has 2 (16W, 6 ohms, 105Hz-20KHz 10%THD)

2. 500 U has BBE ViVA HD3D sound.

3. 500 U has a photoviewer (SD and PC card slots).

4. 500U has Sd card slot

5. 500 U has 2 rear and 1 front composite video input vs

50 U has only 2 rear ones.

6. 500 U has 2 rear and 1 front S-video input vs

50 U has only 2 rear ones.

7. 500 U has 2 rear and 1 front audio input (for video) vs

50 U has only 2 rear ones.

8. 500 U has PC input (RGB-VGA) i.e., mini D-sub 15-pin (rear)

9. 500 U has a audio input for PC (M3 stereo plug)

10. 500 U has a TV guide on-screen program guide.

11. 500 U has Picture-in-picture (split screen display -2 sources)

12. 500 U power consumpition is listed at 357 W and for 50U it is listed at 399W.

13. 500U dimensions: 28.7" X 44.&" X 5.4"

50U dimensions 27 39/64" X 42 3/64" X 3 51/64"

14. 500 U is 88.2 lbs; 50 U is 76.06 lbs.

15. The stand for 500U has a swivel but not in 50 U

So far i am very happy with my 500 U. My only wish was that it had two seprate inputs for cable and over the air programming.

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Panasonic has proven again that they do make one of the best plasma TV out there.

My TH-42PX500U arrived from Amazon is one perfect shape. Setup was super easy. The beauty of this plasma is viewing the HD channels...the quality is unbelievable.

Yes, I did my extensive research before making my purchase.

I researched LCDs and DLP LCDs (rear projection) as well as other plasmas.

Pioneer PDP-4350 and Sony plasmas were considered until I compared the picture quality side to side at the store.

Bottom line: the picture quality of Panasonic 42PX500U is equal or better in most cases.

My only complaint: the TV only has one input feed for RF antenna. I would prefer two (as Sony and Pioneer do have) input feeds where I can connect an DHTV antenna and as well as cable antenna.

Other than that, it's worth the keep!

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This is a great tv. The picture quality is supurb. The images from HD programs are especially impressive. I've had this tv for 2 months now and have no complaints.

Features that set this tv apart from others:

-PCMCIA slot with a PCMCIA adapter you can use almost any camera memory card to view photos on your tv.

-Even standard definition channels look great on this tv. I know some people have had complaints that standard definition doesn't look as good as on a normal tv, but for wide aspect tv's, this one has great images in standard definition.

-Nice sound/invisible speakers You can hardly tell that this tv has built in speakers. The tv itself is black and the speakers blend in perfectly. I used the tv speakers for a month before getting a new receiver and they worked great.

I researched pasma tv's for a couple months before selecting this model. The price is great (purchased for around $2,700) and the picture quality is excellent.

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We bought or Panasonic in October 2005. We installed a cable card but were unhappy with the lack of a DVR. Almost immediately the TV Guide feature failed, then the clock, then the re-call program data feature. We got a new tuner installed (took 4 weeks) and then failed again. After 4 service calls (they recorded 2 because "they don't count until we fix it"). In February, Comcast came out and pulled the 'not ready for prime time cable card' and installed a cable box. The TV's features were built around the cable card and the service guys told me they are nothing but trouble. The second tuner was defective from the factory so they put the lame one back in. By now it was April and 5 months after buying my new plasma I've had very little use of the features I paid for, So I got a hold of Panasonic and they told me about the jerk (Peterson) field service rep who plays God about who gets a new TV. Long story short, you need to hire an attorney when you purchase a Panasonic product. It's now June, and after taking my TV into their shop for 3 weeks it finally works. But I have a used TV I've barely used and never again will I buy Panasonic.

Great set, except when viewing HD the commericals are very loud, especially the background music.

Also, was not told that in order to view HD I would be required to purchase a special cable box and the monthly cable fee would be greatly increased (Dish network)

Philips PD700/37 7-Inch LCD Portable DVD Player, White

• Enjoy your movies anytime, anyplace! The portable PD700 DVD player featuring 7" TFT. Play your movies, music and photos on the go.
• The Philips Portable DVD player is compatible with most DVD and CD discs available in the market.
• Enrich your AV entertainment experience with 7" TFT color LCD display in 16:9 wide screen format
• The DVD-Video player remembers where you have finish viewing a DVD and continue playing from the exact scene where you stopped
• The color LCD display brings images to life, showing off your treasured photos, favorite movies and music with the same 'real life'

Purchased this for our 2 year old to watch movies on the airplane while travaling.

Pros

-Clear 7 inch screen even when viewed at an angle. I sat 2 seats over from my son and could still watch the movie just fine.

-Very clear and crisp audio at higher volumes and volume control is precise enough for equally good quality at lower levels. We were able to listen just fine on the plane without disturbing the people in fornt or behind us

-Ease of use. There aren't too many options to fiddle with. The movies load very quickly and can be from stop to DVD menu in a few seconds.

-Not too bulky. Closed, it's about the size of a moderately sized hard-cover novel.

-Price. Can't beat this for under a hundred bucks.(8 inch screens are more expensive. Not sure if the extra inch is worth the price difference

Cons

-Battery life. Lasted about 2 hours. This is fine for short trips, but when trying to keep a 2-year old occupied for long distances it might be an issue.

One thing I should add is the color might be an issue for some. The white is a cool offest to the black and gives it an apple-esque look. However, if kids are handling it you may want to think twice. I can picture the pretty white not being too pretty after a few run ins with a little one. Maybe stick to the black for kids and the white for adults....that is unless you dont really mind this thing being dirtied up.

Overall I would give this a 5 star rating but the battery life brings it down to a 4. If I can run my laptop for almost 4 hours on a battery, this thing should be able to do more that that.

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Bought this for my 5 yr. old daughter she loves it of course! the 7inch screen is quite small, but picture quality is good. It just seems a bit flimsy, I'm not optimistic that this is going to last any longer than a year. But, it's what I paid for because it's for a 5yr old! he battery life is very short maybe 1.5-2 hrs. It constantly needs to be recharged, and it DOES NOt recharge while it's plugged in and being watched simultaneously. Has to be powered off. It's alright.

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We purchased this from a retail store this summer. Loved the picture and sound quality but, as another reviewer pointed out, the battery life is not optimal. We were also frustrated by lack of an "off" button. (When you turn the player to "off/recharge" the battery loses power.) The bad part? Less than 9 months after purchasing the player it has died. Now we don't have a DVD player and I have to find someone to take it off my hands.

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I have had this dvd player for 2 weeks now and the picture is sharp, the sound is great, especially while riding in the car.It is light and no fuss, you just turn it on for the first time and it plays, the directions are so easy you don't even need to read the instrustions, perfect for anyone who is electronially challenged. It lasts around 2 hours after charging, I wish it would last longer but you can recharge in your car with a car charger until you get home. I do recommend this product for the price, I am not sure the higer end priced dvd players do any better.

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We bought our Philips portable DVD player after our last flight with our 2 year-old son, Hank. Our previous flight was a nightmare and I'm sure we were hated by everyone six isles in each direction. This last trip we set him up with his fave movie and never heard a peep out of him, except laughing. I highly recommend this plan to anyone traveling with tots.

VIVE Surround Sound Microphone

Features and pros:

1) This is an excellent surround sound microphone with inbuilt Dolby Prologic encoder.

2) The microphone houses four electret mics and powered by a button cell.

3) The whole system is very tiny and sits on top of your video camera in Camera Hot Shoe mount.

4) The Mic hot shoe mount also has an inbuilt shock mount.

5) The encoded audio output is available through a stereo headphone jack which you connect to your camera aux. or mic. in to record in your camera just like any other external microphone. Apparently this may look like a normal stereo sound signal, but it is actually a Dolby Prologic encoded audio where multiple channel data in encoded as phase shift audio. When you play back the sound through your surround sound system, it decodes dolby Prologic and you get surround sound output.

6) The sound quality is excellent and there is very little noise in the mic. circuit.

Cons: The construction is very light and fragile, so careful handling is required.

No wind screen is available yet.

Recommended: Yes, this is an excellent mic. for its capabilities and price.

Toshiba SD-V391 Progressive Scan DVD-VCR Combo , Silver

• Space-saving combination DVD player and 4-head, hi-fi VCR
• ColorStream Pro progressive-scan outputs with 3:2 pulldown offers seamless, flicker-free image on high-definition and HD-ready screens
• MP3 and WMA Audio Playback with Coaxial and Optial TosLink Digital Audio Outputs
• VCR includes 19-micron heads for clear EP recording, auto clock set, auto head cleaner, and commercial skip
• DVD-Video/CD/Video CD Playback, and DVD-R/CD-R/CD-RW Compatible playback

This unit is simple to set up and use. Good Warranty, its great looking and has simple hook ups. Easy to connect to use with an inexpensive TV like my spare room TV with just a cable connector on the back. In from antenna (cable) and out to TV. (it does have s-video and other imputs and outputs if you need them) It works like a dream with a full feature remote. Play and watch a DVD, hit the one touch record button and your recording your personal DVD's to the VCR. (haven't tried a rental but I am sure most are copy protected anyway) So simple to use with excellent picture and sound quality. Will also play DVD-R and DVD+R. Haven't tried CD's but wouldn't use this unit for that anyway. You can't go wrong for the money. Now if it lasts as long and is as dependable as the Toshiba TV I have in my media room I will be very happy. Don't be afraid of this unit. Its Great!!

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I got the SD-V391 as a replacement for an old VCR that we used to play my son's video's. The combo is attractive and works really well. The remote is simply use. The picture quality is great and the sound is crisp. My only complaint is when you want to watch a DVD you have to remember to push the play button for the unit to recognize the DVD or re-insert the DVD even when the DVD selector switch is set to on. This can be a problem if someone else is using the DVD player who is not familiar with the unit.

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Loved the easy hook-up, easy use of remote, looked nice and played fine. Purchased 11-06-03, and the DVD part stopped without warning 05-29-04. The kids never touched this one; it was all for Mommy and therefore subject to only gentle use. Now if you put a DVD in, it takes a long time to load, then comes up "ERR." And now the door makes a grinding noise when it opens. Severely disappointed, heartbroken, etc. Apparently VCRs, DVD players, and these combo units are meant to be disposable work six months and then discard. If so, we may as well disregard brand names and buy the cheapest ones available. Forget quality, reliability, and pride of workmanship those are things of the past.

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I purchased the Toshiba SD-V391 based on the good experience I've had with a previous Toshiba product. My experience with the SD-V391 will make me think twice on future purchases from Toshiba. I read a handful of reviews that addressed the quality issues that this unit was having and decided to take a chance. Shame on me for taking the chance. My out-of-box experience was that the DVD drive door would not open. This was accompanied by a gear grinding noise and the display eventually showing ERR. This is a fairly big manufacturing defect. If Toshiba believes that a 50% return rate (based on user reviews) is acceptable than I'm switching brands. A responsible company would take a proactive approach and remove defective product from the shelf. Having good customer service is critical but not at the expense of quality.

As I noted on 1 or 2 other reviews, when I got the unit the DVD drawer wouldn't open. Normally that would lead me to rate the unit a 1, but the Toshiba customer service was so exceptional and the unit (once working) decent enough that I rate a 3. First, the customer service was astounding. I had to call 4 or 5 times. Every time, they answered the phone on the first ring. The person spoke clearly and well and was knowledgeable the call never had to be transferred. I was never put on hold. After they had me try a few things, they provided instructions for a return. As promised, the new unit showed up after about 7 days, and worked fine.

Combo units of this type, no matter who the manufacturer, are prone to problems, so it is critical to have that customer support.

I bought from Amazon because they were $20 cheaper than Best Buy or any other retailer. Best Buy wouldn't match the price, which surprised me it's not like Amazon is generally cheaper. However, if the price is close would recommend buying from a retailer in case you need to return it. If you read reviews for combo players in general you will find lots of problems.

So far, happy with the replaced unit. Setup was easy and the remote is easy to use, which often isn't the case.

Sony DVP-NS710H/B 1080p Upscaling DVD Player, Black

• 1080p near HD resolution Upscaling through HDMI Connection
• BRAVIA Sync
• Exceeds ENERGY STAR standards
• Multi-brand TV remote control
• Precision Cinema Progressive technology

This DVD player does an excellent job of upconverting in my opinion. I also have a far more expensive Oppo DVD player and I would say they are on par.

One 'feature' I dislike about these DVD players is in the manufacturer's quest to make the box look sleek and simple, there are only a couple of buttons: open/close, play and stop (aside from the power button). Why, oh why, do manufacturers not put skip or fast-forward buttons on the box? Is this to force us to buy new remote controls when the kids make them disappear? I just don't like the idea that a piece of equipment become less functional without the sometimes elusive remote control.

Still, it does provide a beautiful picture, very sharp and one I believe almost maximizes the contrast, color and clarity provided by our expensive plasma tv.

A very good value when considering the quality for the price point.

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Bought this to replace a Toshiba player that was nothing but trouble.

Good picture, easy setup, and unlike the Toshiba it plays everything I've tried in it. It takes a good 30 sec to a minute to lock on a disk. But once it does, it plays flawlessly. Even with some rentals that are in less than pristine condition.

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We received this DVD player last week and hooked it up to a new Samsung 550 tv. I am not picky. I put the dvd in and it plays...that makes me fairly happy with the purchase. This player saves your spot after you take out the movie. That may come in handy when my little one has 6 movies that she is watching at once.

The sound is very nice for movies and dvd's. I like that it can hook up to my 1980's Sony stereo system.

The only negative and it is small The power and open/close button are designed to be hidden so the player looks sleek. They are kind of hard to push.

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Added the Sony DVP-NS710H/B Upscaling DVD player to our home entertainment center after acquiring a Sony Bravia LCD HD television. Amazing difference in playing older commercial DVDs, but best improvement on my home-made DVDs with both digital pictures & movies!

You might think (based on the model numbering) that when Sony replaced the DVP-NS700H with the DVP-NS710H, it maintained or improved the key features. Unfortunately, Sony has REMOVED the optical digital audio output that was present in the NS700H. This significantly limits how this player can be used. For example, my surround sound receiver (also made by Sony!) has ONLY an optical digital audio input.

BTW, as of this writing this product is being sold in stores and online but Sony still has not posted its support documentation on their eSupport website.

Make sure whatever you intend to use for Dolby Digital/DTS decoding has a compatible available input (HDMI or coax digital audio). Otherwise, look elsewhere. I say this as someone who has been nearly all-Sony for CE products, but this company is driving me away lately.

Sony ZS-D10 Tabletop CD Player with FM/AM Radio and CD-R/RW Playback

• Vertical load CD player and slim design are both stylish and functional
• Plays CD-R and CD-RW
• Digital AM/FM stereo tuner
• High-quality sound and rich bass from passive sub-speakers
• Optical line output for direct digital connection to MiniDisc recorder and auxiliary line in for playback of external audio sources

Another Made in China Sony product. Relatively good sound for the size but not enough power and as a result not enough volume. This is not a unit to party with.

For the money one can buy a far better sounding shelf unit with multiple CD trays and a tape deck.

Lacks a "pause-resume" function for the CD, clock and alarm features and batteries to make it portable. Radio tuning is not user friendly.

I was glad the merchant took it back.

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I had the luck of finding this CD player/radio tuner on sale at roughly a third of its suggested retail price, and I'd say it was a steal, and I would have even paid as much as half of its retail price and still say it was a steal.

The player looks gorgeous and sounds wonderful. I have been using Sony products for years, so for me it was very easy to program. Extra features like the MD link are nice to have too, although I do not know if I will ever use them.

Why this product did not get five stars: the digital radio tuner is just average compared to other tuners I have heard, even Sony's own. However, it is very difficult to get good radio reception where I live so I am not too upset about that. Also, the remote control feels flimsy and cheap. I would have gladly paid a few extra dollars for a good remote.

Olympus CS 111 - Case for digital voice recorder - leather

The case itself is nice but it's too big for the DS-30. There's a half inch gap in the case and you have to take the recorder out to power it on and use it. It would have been helpful to have better measurements.

Biscotti Video Conferencing Camera

The Biscotti is by far my favorite electronic in the house. It was super easy to set up and is so much fun to use. My kids love being able to talk to their cousins and their Grandma it is just like being in the same room with them. We highly recommend this product.

The Biscotti is a great device for the ones that want to sit on the couch and do video chat. With apps for Android, IOS and PC you can talk to all your friends and family on most any device. I only find alot of my friends don't video chat. But if you do the quality is great and the sound is nice and with HDMI pass through the hook up to your HDTV is simple.

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Biscotti, Biscotti HD TV CAM (Catalog Category: Cameras / Digital CamerasDesktop)I had trouble installing the camera and it was the day before Christmas Eve. The support center was closed till January 2nd. I wrote an email explaining my problem and a support specialist answered it from home. We tried several changes over 5 emails. Conclusion--she fedex'd a new complete set overnight after totally testing it in their office before shipping. I got the new camera and had it installed and tested in 30 minutes. It's very simple to use, has a great picture. We love it and I highly recommend it. Great support.

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We bought Biscotti for my 88 year old mother who lives several hundred miles away. She has to do nothing to make this work. When we call Biscotti, it turns on her TV and we start the video chat. It works excellent with any broadband service. Video is clear, audio is clear. When conversation is over we hang up. I will call and check on her from my laptop or my daughters use their iPads to call her. Anything that works Google Talk will work Biscotti, of course calling a Biscotti, with another Biscotti is ideal also.

I suggest you watch the video at Biscotti web-site to get a better idea.

This has been exactly what we needed to check in on mom.

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Easy HD video calls right on your TV...the future is here!

I've used Skype for years. It' s pain, and is always dropping the calls. It only works ok, but I have always wanted an easy and elegant way to video call from my big screen TV. I have held off to date because the solution was to either hook a computer to my TV or use a Skype TV camera that is rather large an unsightly. Enter Biscotti TV Phone. At less than 6 inches in width and 1 inch deep, Biscotti is about the size of the italian cookie it's named for. The curvy device hides its camera behind a sleek black exterior, so there is no "bug eye" look. That means it blends with the TV so well it is basically invisible. Biscotti lets you video conference with other Biscotti and any Google Talk user on their Android, iPhone, iPad or computer, so you can video call almost anyone from your living room, even if they don't have a Biscotti of their own.

I 've made calls to friends and family with Biscotti and Google Talk with pleasing results. When calling other Biscotti users, I have experienced a full high definition picture with good clarity and brightness. Unlike Skype on a computer, it feels like you're in the same room as the other person because the camera has a wide angle lens that picks up the whole room. When calling a Google Talk user, the quality you see from the Biscotit will depend on the other person's camera in their iPhone, computer etc. But Biscotti was smart, and they process the picture to fill your whole screen, even if someone calls you from their phone. My niece broadcast her ballet recital to my TV right from her iPhone. It was so cool! I have family that lives in Australia and its so easy to connect with them and feel like you are with them in the same room!

Setting it up was a breeze. Just plug in the power supply and HDMI cable to the TV and you will be walked through a simple 3-step setup that includes connecting to Wi-Fi (they recommend at least 1 mbps uplink), selecting a username and inviting people to call. I was literally on my first call within 10 minutes.

Biscotti has some very unique features too. You can set it to automatically turn on your TV when you receive a call (yes, I am not kidding, it does this and it works well). Further, you can even set it to answer the call from select contacts, This is great if you want to keep an eye on someone (like a child, older parent or pet) or something (like your house). I set my Biscotti to automatically answer when I call from my iPhone. That way I can feel closer to my family at home when I am traveling for business.

All in all Biscotti is a great value. Bottom line...get two Biscotti and send one to someone you love :-) This is perfect for sharing with Grandparents and grandkids!

DXG DXG-506VP 5.0 MegaPixel Multi-Functional Camera with MPEG4 Technology (Pink)

I like this camara and got what I expected for $100. The video option I think works better then the actual picture taking option. The picture taking mode has a pretty significant delay which can make it difficult to take pics... also the lighting needs can be a problem. But over all I like the camara and the video mode is fun and easy!

I bought this camera about a year ago mainly because my old camcorder was outdated. I love it from the beginning. The pictures are not perfect (color wise) but they are better than average. The lag in the cam between pressing the capture button and seeing the photo is annoying.

The camcorder feature is amazing. The videos are very nice and you can change the format that you can record in. The webcam feature is pretty good, too. The webcam images are extremely clear and not dark at all.

The only bad side to this camera is that if you're using it for a webcam you still need batteries which die frequently. But I love my cam so much and wouldn't trade it for the world.

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I like this little camera. It does lag in picture mode but the video mode is great. The lighting is the problem though. You have to have great lighting indoors if you want to be able to see the video. The video may look bright on the lcd screen but when you put it on a computer the video is actually darker than it looked. The video mode works best outside in the daylight hours. Other than that, it's a great camera for the price.DXG 5.0MP Compact Digital Camcorder Pink (506V)

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