SanDisk 256 MB MP3 Player Red

• Includes stereo earphones, 1 AAA battery, belt clip, CD software
• Plays MP3, WMA, and WMA DRM
• Stores over 4 hours/60 songs of MP3; 8 hours/120 songs of WMA music
• Digital FM tuner with 20 preset stations
• Compatible with Windows 98SE, 2000, ME, XP; Mac OS 9.2x+, 10.1.2+

I recently bought this player. Both my wife and I have been in the market for new MP3 players and just haven't been interested in a hard drive based player, iPod or not. We don't need to carry that much music around and I like the non-moving flash thing a lot better. We mainly want to use a player for workouts and traveling. So far, I think it's an excellent player with some minor exceptions.

The player comes with a clear plastic snug carrying case that not only provides screen protection but also can be worn on a thin belt or on the provided stretchy armband. It also comes with the USB cable and headphones that are too short for my liking, but then maybe you don't want long cords when it's attached to your arm. It takes one AAA battery and I haven't done any form testing or anything, but my original battery has lasted several days now with several hours playtime each day. The battery meter is flipping between one bar and no bar so it is getting low. There is a quick start guide, but the manual is a 29 page PDF on the CD. The CD also has Musicmatch and 98SE drivers.

This player has been compared to the iRiver series of MP3 players, and I would have to agree they are very similar except that the iRiver takes a AA and is triangular while the SanDisk player takes the AAA and reminds me more of a thick cigarette lighter both in shape and size. I was also told the iRiver is bit pricier. I like the finish and look of the player, which shows through the case. The red and silver is very sharp and the whole look of the player is very clean. It has the USB port, which has a rubber door on one side of the player and the headset port, microphone and neck cord hole on the opposite side.

The actual operation of the player is also very good although it has a lot of features and functions that are only accessed by the joystick and three side buttons. With so many features, it takes a little bit getting used to navigating around the player and of course the manual does not go into great detail about the features, although it does have an exploded menu diagram which is nice. This is probably why I only gave it four stars. I might have actually done 4.5 stars if I could have, because once you have the chance to play around with things and read the manual it isn't a big deal.

There are three modes: player, FM radio and voice recorder. I am most impressed with the radio as this was a minor reason why I bought the player. The radio actually does a decent job of picking up the stations here in the Phoenix area and the reception and sound quality is fairly good. Considering how small the player is, I was surprised I am getting as good a sound as I am. The player will automatically scan available stations and add them to the presets and you can tune manually and add presets manually as well. You can also choose if you want mono or stereo mode, although I don't know why anyone would want mono, unless it saves on batteries. I don't see myself using the radio too often, but it's nice to know it's there if I needed it. I haven't really played around with the voice recorder either, but it records at 32kbs and 8Khz so not the greatest of quality. Again, voice recording is not the reason I purchased this for so not a big deal.

So, as far as the Audio Player mode, it is a great! A few minor quibbles, but for the most part, I think both my wife and I will be very happy with this player. I have uploaded mainly 192Kbs music files and 64kbs spoken word files and they all sound excellent. As a non-audiophile, the sound and volume are quite good for me. Maybe even better with a quality pair of headphones. I can't even get past 32 (of 40) on the volume scale before my ears are hurting so I know the volume should be just fine while working out at the gym. The display is blue backlit and somehow they manage to put a lot of info on the LCD without cluttering everything up. And supposedly,It does read the ID3 tags and displays them. I am not going into all of the features here, but it is packed with them: sleep, hold, repeat, shuffle, playback speed, A->B play, equalizer. One feature I will go into detail about is Resume. I am a big fan of the audio book and my previous MP3 player did not have resume so when I had a long file playing and I had to stop the player, it would not pick up where I stopped it but at the beginning of the file. Not this baby. It picks up right where it left off when you power it down. Whoo-hooo!! No more fast-forwarding to find my spot on an audio book!

The joystick on the player is a multi-function device that navigates the file browser and the menu system. This is the only part of the player I am not thrilled with. The file browser can be cumbersome to navigate with joystick and sometimes I end up hitting select or the wrong direction and end up a different place than I thought. The other thing that seems counter-intuitive to me is that rather than selecting a directory or file by pushing select, you need to select the file or directory by pushing right (or left, the display is rotatable). I keep forgetting this, and I end up back at the currently playing song. But other than that, I really can't complain about it. I can easily see folders and files, and files that are too long for the display scroll to the left to see the entire file name. These minor things are the other reason I did not give the player a full five stars. Just a matter of getting used to it and someone else might not even agree that it's a problem.

The joystick also is the way to get into the main menu of settings and functions: Audio, Display and System. From here you can customize just about anything on the player including: display orientation (useful for righties or lefties), backlight time, ID3 tag scroll, display info, auto power off, sleep timer, FM region, FM scan sensitivity, resume control and a ton more. You can see the memory usage, firmware and format the player as well. Full featured and well designed. The other three button, A>B, Rec, and Play/Stop/Power also do multiple functions depending upon if the player is playing and the mode it is in.

Windows 2K and XP both recognized the device as a USB drive no problem and I used both Media Player and drag/drop to add music to the player. Although I did notice today that if you build folders or add files via drag/drop, then Media player will not do anything with those particular files and you will have to change them via the directory listing in Windows. Haven't bothered with the included Musicmatch as my media is already set up in Media Player. According to the instructions it will play MP3, WMA and WMA DRM files. Voice recording is in ADPCM format.

Since this is to be my wife's player, the real test was if she was going to like it and at first look, her comment was ""Ooooh, look how cute!!" And she liked the weight of it as well. So, now I just have to instruct her on how to use it. I ordered the 512MB model for myself, which was probably a good move since both of us will have the same player and I can answer any questions she has since I will have the same way to do things. I highly recommend these players for anyone looking for a flash based player with all the basics of today's digital audio player and a few bonuses as well and a great price.

Buy SanDisk 256 MB MP3 Player Red Now

We bought this player for my husband to use while jogging and while he is working in the yard. We didn't want to spen a fortune on constantly upgrading technology and at 256mb we figured he would have plenty of music for the reasons we bought the player. We loaded 4.5 CDs onto the player, 2 of which had 14 songs and some of those songs were as long as 6-8 minutes. It is awesome. The volume is very loud, loud enough to be heard over an old riding lawn-mower that is VERY noisy. The arm band is handy, it't useful for holding the player while doing dishes and chopping wood, jogging or working in the yard. It is very easy to organise the music on your computer by copying/pasting or dragging/dropping. I never even bothered with the software, I found Windows Media Player and my own music folder much easier to use. It took less than a minute to put an entire CD onto the player and I simply disconnected the USB cable and we were ready to go. It is so simple to add and remove music that I could care less about the smaller memory. In addition to the MP3 part there is the FM radio. This is great. Since the Sandisk has a small memory, you can go to the radio if you are sick of your music selection and the reception is great. We also used it to burn my son's books on CD when we went on road trips, the grocery store and the doctor. It is so tiny, much better than a CD player or radio walkman. The controls take a bit of getting used to but the light makes it easy to see what you are doing. Many of the players in this range did not have a light which I think is an absolute must. This player is not an iPod which I think is in its favor. At the price we paid, I would not freak out if it got destroyed the way I would over an iPod. I could easily afford to replace it and I also can be assured that I won't spend a fortune and then have an equally expensive new and better model come out mere months later. This is a small and simple player for a great value. I highly reccomend this purchase!

Read Best Reviews of SanDisk 256 MB MP3 Player Red Here

If you're here, you're probably trying to figure out whether you can live with 256 MB with all the "bigger fish" in the sea. What features you can live with, and what you can't. Maybe even how much a brand name like iPod is worth to you. But if you're like me, you have your eye out for value, too. With this in mind, I can heartily recommend this little player to a good number of (though not all) prospective listeners.

Let's be clear here. SanDisk's 256 MB player in particular is designed for a specific niche of users. It's not for audiophiles, nor is it for people who want to take a ton of music with them all the time. You're probably a good match for this player if you need some portable music during a task the gym, the library, a bike ride, a morning's commute and don't intend to be jamming non-stop to fresh tunes the entire day.

Here's what you'll get: a sleek little red player that scores solidly across the board. We have mainstream support for the old (MP3) and the new (WMA DRM), a suprisingly readable screen, a pretty good form factor and some little extras here and there. Yes, this comes at the expense of space. But you get everything that you'd expect on an MP3 player. And consider how much your money gets you here, compared to the competition. Without question, the going price of this 256 MB player is one of its key strengths it's not a serious investment.

With that said, if you're willing to invest more, there's a few issues to bear in mind with this player. The menus and controls, while quickly grasped with a bit of experimentation, may be confusing to users who don't intend to read the manual (which, unfortunately, is not very extensive). Sorry, you only get one color choice here. And the plastic sleeve that comes with it is functional, but feels like a cheap afterthought. But hey. That's what I'm trying to get at with this review. The player is functional AND cheap (in the good sense).

Many people have been complaining about the radio. But I think it's fair to say that nobody's buying this player primarily to listen to the radio. It's just there for value. Think of it as a supplement to your space if you were to play through all 256 MB of your stored music, the radio's there in case you need it. I'd say the same about the voice recorder just in case.

If you were thinking about the iPod Shuffle, as I was for a while, consider: this is still definitely pocket-sized; the screen is there to help you navigate; you don't need to install iTunes; you can change your own battery. On the flip side, you'll be carrying around less music, and you'll need to keep a USB cable handy at your computer.

In the end, you just have to weigh your options. Know what you want, and find the best player for your needs. For the gym, this was the best choice, and I'm happy with it. SanDisk's little player is going to give you your music, when you need it, without cleaning out your wallet. Best of luck in your search.

Want SanDisk 256 MB MP3 Player Red Discount?

I've had the sandisk for a month now. I have not had a single problem. Don't waste your money on anything else. This is the BEST MP3 player on the market. I researched for months and this was the best buy for the buck. If you really want an MP3 player, BUY SANDISK.

PROS

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1) cheap

2) easy to use

3) tons of storage

4) long lasting battery

5) great style

6) lightweight

7) FM radio works great

CONS

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1) no expanable memory

2) head phones are junk

This is an awesome gadget! I use it for when I go to the gym. The sound quality is excellent, but don't use the headphones that are included, go buy a new pair. Besides, we didn't buy this for the headphones, right? I purchased a separate belt clip and you don't even notice it's on. It's incredibly easy to use. All you have to do is plug the USB cable into your machine, drag & drop files and you're ready to go. Best of all, it doesn't cost $400! This is a reliable product that has excellent sound quality, is easy to use, and doesn't hurt the bank account.

Aiptek DV3100 3.1MP AVI Digital Camcorder

I order this camera based on its features, some reviews and doing some research on the net. After a week of exploring its capabilities i found out that its 4 in 1 features are in med level in terms of quality and here it is:

1. as a Digital video(camcorder) support only up to 10fps as a result the video is not smooth and zoom features are not available.

2. as a Digital camera 2MP ok, the pictures are fine as long as you pay attention on the lens when taking pictures. no flash, no optical zoom only 2X digital zoom.

3. as a Voice recorder its a fix sampling rate i don't know what it is. the quality of sound recording is low but you can save more space.

4. as a Web camera capable only up 20 fps, just good enough for me.

Bonus features: as a removable drive, nice 1.5" LCD display, small in size, can be preview on TV, 2 AA batteries, plus its accesories and software package.

TAKE NOTE: use this camera only during the day or where there is sufficient light coz it has a very poor results in low light condition.

Anyway, who can expect professional results on a less than $150 camera? It's still recommended for enthusiast who's fun of capturing moments. Don't forget to include at least 256MB CF card.

I'm a sucker for cost-effective gadgets, and by those standards, this nifty little 4-in-1 camera is up there with the best of them. First and foremost, you get a 3.1 megapixel digital still camera for a third of the cost of most other products in that category. If it stopped right there, this would still be an amazing deal. However, you also get a palm-sized digital video camera, a digital voice recorder, a USB webcam, and a removable USB storage device. All for $$$ . Now that's a deal I just couldn't pass up.

However, approach this product with eyes wide open, and don't expect it to be the greatest performer in each of its distinct capabilities. For example, as a digital still camera it isn't very tolerant of low light situations. Adequately-lit photos come out fine, but indoor lighting or overcast outdoor shots tend to produce muddy, red-tinged tones. A built-in flash would have overcome this problem, but alas, there is none. So take your shots in well-lit areas and situations, and you'll be fine. Also, the fact that its native image format is lossy JPEG rather than a lossless format such as TIFF is of concern, but probably only to gearheads like me. Most casual digital auteurs won't really care. You can shoot and store roughly 60 digital photos at full quality (2048x1536, Fine Quality) on a 64Mb CompactFlash card (not included, purchased separately. On-board storage is 16Mb.)

Next, as a digital video camera: don't expect it to fulfill all of your home movie needs. At 10 frames-per-second and 320x240 video resolution, it's hardly broadcast quality. However, I find this limited quality just right for shooting, editing, and posting quickie, low-bandwidth web movies. The camera saves movies natively in .AVI format, so usually no conversion or extra steps are required to get your movies out of camera and on the web. As a Mac user, I prefer QuickTime to .AVI, but I found that conversion to .MOV format was quick and easy. You can shoot about 20 minutes of compressed video on a 64Mb CompactFlash card (not included, purchased separately -internal storage is 16Mb only). The length of your videos is limited only by your available storage space and supply of batteries.

As a digital voice recorder, it features no Cue or Review buttons, so going back and forth over the day's notes can be a pain. The workaround is to keep your notes short; the camera creates a new audio file for each new note you record.

As a webcam, it works quite as most low-end USB webcams do. No real complaints in that department.

The 1.5-inch LCD screen does its job well enough. The fact that it's present at all in a product this low-end is a pleasant surprise. However, it does drain the two AA batteries rather quickly. You can sidestep this issue by using rechargeables, as I do.

PROS: Small, light, handy, packs an amazing amount of features and value for an unbelievably low price.

CONS: Picture quality suffers in low-light situations, no flash, digital video is web-quality only, digital voice recorder has no Cue/Review buttons.

BOTTOM LINE: This nifty litttle gadget is a jack-of-all-digital trades, but master of none. However, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts -having one device that does all these things makes it a great little toy for the big boys in your family. It won't replace your main digital still camera or digital camcorder, but it makes a great backup unit to either, in situations that don't warrant lugging around the first team. Buy it -you know you want it.

Buy Aiptek DV3100 3.1MP AVI Digital Camcorder Now

I am completely satisfied with the purchase of this camera. The videos may not be top notch, but I've had a great time capturing spontaneous moments with the camera handy in my purse. The quality of the stills really surprised me though, in natural light, the images came out crisp and clear. The only fault I would find with this camera is the lack of flash, which could have been very useful in the low light situations. Therefore, I advise to those that are interested in this camera to just wait another month or so for the pocket DV4, which is already out in Europe. It is Aiptek's new camera in the pocket DV line and IT HAS A FLASH! (they finally took their customer's advice, or complaints rather).... I hope this has been helpful!

P.S.: If you're interested in learning more about the new aiptek camera or seeing some sample pics and videos for this one go to fireboxdotcom, it's a really helpful site

Read Best Reviews of Aiptek DV3100 3.1MP AVI Digital Camcorder Here

I got it as a gift about a year ago and have overall really enjoyed it. I would rate it 4.5 if I could.

Though a lot of people may say it doesn't take good still photos, I have gotten some exceptional near professional results.

The quality of the photo depends on the light. Low light and indoor settings can result in grainy or semi grainy photos, but that is mainly because it doesn't have a flash. It is best used outdoors in partially sunny to cloudy days or times that are not blindingly bright such as noon time with full sun. Taking photos in full sunny days in the sunlight can sometimes be overexposed, but that happens to any camera I think.

Macro shotsit doesn't zoom in very far, but if you are clever, you can compensate by using a magnifying lens. I have taken a number of excellent photos of flowers, butterflies, and other insects and plants that way.

Some drawbacks are with it having an auto white balence. Yellow and orange seems to get dulled a little and white can sometimes end up being 255 brightness. Sunsets tend to loose intensity because of this feature. Though I think these can happen with any camera with an auto white balence.

But then again for it being a cheap camera, am quite amazed with the quality.

I've found it to take better pictures than the newer PocketDV 5700. The shutter speed is ok. It is faster than the PocketDV 5700 which made me able to take better shots of moving objects such as my cat than the newer model.

The video and audio feature on this camera are not its main features. Battery life is varryable. Can be very short to fairly long. I've found it helpful to turn off the lcd switch and close the camera door between shots. Sometimes I can prolong the battery life over a week.

If you want something cheap that can take good photos along with some patience and a good editing program such as paintshop pro or photoshop, then this is a good deal.

Eventually though you may want to save up for a higher end camera. But this will do in the mean time.

Want Aiptek DV3100 3.1MP AVI Digital Camcorder Discount?

If you wish to introduce yourself to digital video (or, for that matter, digital still photography) and have budget considerations then this is the camera for you. Or, if you wish to have a small / light weight DV/still shot camera to use (sometimes) in place of your larger camera then this is an ideal choice.

The "native" still shot resolution is 2 mega-pixels (also with a 3.1 Mega pixel setting, interpolated) and produces quite pleasing and satisfactory images taken in natural (outdoor) light (no flash).

The video quality (10 frames per second) is good (all things considered), however, it is unfair to compare this camera's video quality with the excellent results produced by cameras priced hundreds of dollars higher. You can use this camera in places and situations where you would not dare to endanger your high-end camera.

The recorded sound (mono) is fine (satisfactory) when played through your computer's sound system (one microphone no input jacks for external mic).

The internal memory only allows for about 3 to 4 minutes of video so a 256 MB (or higher) compact flash card (slot on camera) is highly recommended.

The camera may feel flimsy but this is because of its small size and also because it records on ram instead of digital tape so the camera has no weighty mechanical devices inside of it.

The still shots are best taken at a distance of 5 to 7 feet away from your subject. Distances greater than 7 feet are not as crisp.

Rechargeable ("AA" type) batteries are recommended and armed with a 256 Meg Compact Flash you will be prepared to have a great deal of fun with this amazing device.

Downloading the images is easy using the included proprietary USB cable, or use a compact flash card reader if you have one and have an optional CF card.

This camera, just like every other camera, has its limitations. Nevertheless, it is a great value and is an inexpensive way to introduce yourself to digital video/photography. The included software package (check for software updates and patches on the internet) gives you everything you need to start, right out of the box. It is, in my opinion, the best in its class (under $250 ).

Sony MVC-CD200 Mavica 2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

After spending several weeks researching the digital camera market I finally settled on the Mavica CD 1000. The only problem was it was a whole lot more camera than I really needed. So what does Sony do? They bring out the CD-200. Problem solved. Still more camera than I really needed but boy, what a camera!! I've been using my new 200 for a little over a month now and am just as impressed and excited with it as I was on the first day. It has almost all of the features of the CD1000, even the ability to take short MPEG movies, without the extra weight and size. Image quaity, ease of use, features, flexibility.... it's got it all. Much smaller than the 1000, even my 7 year old son has no problem handling it. The viewfinder screen is sharp, clear, and easy to see in almost all lighting conditions. The only exception is very dark flash conditions and the built-in twilight light takes care of that.

As with the 1000, the CD storage makes digital photography effortless. Transfering pictures using your CDR-RW drive or the USB cable is a no-brainer. Sony's CD's are a little pricy but Memorex's Pocket CD's work just as well, and their capacity is a little bigger. While on vacation I was able to get 165 large image (1600x1200) shots at high resolution on a single CD. The 5-pack of Memorex CD's cost about $1.80 ea vs 6 rolls of film at $5-6 ea plus processing. Using this camera has actually saved me money in film and developing.

As with the 1000 there is a lag time between pressing the button and taking the photo. Pressing the button to Half-Shutter and waiting for your picture pretty much solves that. Excellent zoom, the manual says the image degrades the more zoom you use but I can't tell the difference. The picture quality is still excellent. Battery life is about 2-1/2 hours of shooting time. Carrying an extra battery will keep you shooting from dusk to dawn and then some. Sony has a camera that has taken point and shoot to point, shoot and print. It's that easy.

Contrary to what geekysteve from Arkansas says it is not necessary to finalize a disc before picking photos from it. Just pop it into your CD-RW drive and you can copy over one photo, all photos or whatever you choose. I still use this camera almost every day and it's still the best camera in its class.

I have never written a review, and always wondered what kind of person would take the time to write. Here I am taking the time to write because this camera is the BEST camera I have ever owned -bar none. Loaded with the features you need to take great shot -its worth taking a few minutes to read the manual. This camera takes the best pictures ever. I selected the camera for the cd writing capability and have not been disappointed. You can pop the cd's in any computer anywhere for instant access; or just throw the cd's in a drawer for a rainy day. Last point: i was concerned about 2 megapixels, but have found the image quality to be more than ample. I cant say enough good things about this camera!

Buy Sony MVC-CD200 Mavica 2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Now

I researched digital cameras for six months before buying the Sony MVC-CD200. The CD is what sold me on this one. I didn't want to have to deal with USB connections and special software just to view my pictures. I was also worried that whatever digital camera I bought might become quickly outdated. I don't think that's going to happen with the Sony CD cameras. This is an absolutely incredible camera for both serious and casual photographers. I'm an artist and had wanted to be able to take daily pictures of my work in progress, as well as reference photos. For me, this is the ultimate. The 2.1 megapixels provide photos that are actually superior in many ways to the ones I've taken with my film cameras. For instance, I can see thickness of paint, brush strokes and a full range of color in my paintings. I haven't even bothered to install the software that Sony provides with the camera. All I do is finalize the CD, pop it into the CD-ROM and pull up the pictures either through Microsoft Publisher 2000 or Quark Express. One disc easily stores 70 pictures shot at maximum file size of 1600-1200. I don't think I'd really want more than that on one disc because it makes looking through all of them faster. I print them on an HP Deskjet 1220C using their premium photo paper. I've been amazed at the results I've been able to get indoors with no flash. For instance, I took one of the light from a single lamp in a room on an overcast morning. Gorgeous. The camera is very easy to use. I would recommend going through the manual at some length to take full advantage of all it can do. I really think the Sony CD cameras represent a breakthrough in digital photography for a wide range of people.

Read Best Reviews of Sony MVC-CD200 Mavica 2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Here

I simply cannot say enough good things about this camera.

I got it for a three-week trip to Europe (took 700+ photos without a hitch, you can't say that about other digital image storage devices) and now I find that I am taking it everywhere!

I did not find the problems one previous reviewer had with vibration during "finalization" of the cd's. I finalized on a train, and worried about the vibration of the moving vehicle, but did not have any problems at all. Maybe Kitty should be kept out of the room during the process (which takes only a couple of minutes!)

I have enjoyed all aspects of this camera in the past three months that I have had it. The ease-of-use, the relative cheap expense of the storage device (I forgot a CD on a recent junket and just bopped into a local office store to purchase a disc for about $3) and the optical quality of the camera makes this a great investment for someone who wants a good, solid camera to accompany you across town or around the world.

Want Sony MVC-CD200 Mavica 2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Discount?

Okay so the price IS a bit steep, but there are plausible reasons and results. First the 2.2 meg resolution will give you a SHARPER photo that will allow you much better results and allow for much more versility in enlarging and editing. second (and this is a point that I have had one Hell of a time tracking down what is possibly the best reason, I wanted a "format" that would allow for the sharpest image to be easily transfered to my PC. now the Mavica FD series using the floppy disk was where I started, but the resolution wasn't very good,then I moved on towards memory sticks and the like, but that necessitates the use of USB 's etc. where there are the usual complications and time downloading, a slight loss(?) of image sharpness and so on. Now this camera uses a 3-inch miniCD which supposedly (as it turns out) you merely stick into you CD-ROM tray and download directlyinto your PC!!! My piece of cake. The only improvement that I can see would be the next higher model with its 3.3 meg resolution, but I simply don't need THAT much for [that much money]. (oh, make sure you get the starter bag/kit!!! And make sure you get at least another 3 disks for whatever!!!)

Sony DCR-DVD7 DVD Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom

Review for the Sony DCR-DVD7.

Last week I found myself about 2000 miles from home and needed an easy to use, lightweight, and small camcorder. I found the DCR-DVD7 and decided to try it. It worked well for my needs except in the area of digital stills.

I noticed this camera at first because of its shape. It looks like a digital camera not a camcorder. It is small enough (if you have big pockets) to fit into your pocket.

The camera is very easy to use and even has an Easy button to make taking video a snap.

Pros

The pluses of this camera are that it is small and takes acceptable video. Has a good feel and form factor. The camera has quick and smooth focus. It turns on and is ready to shoot in a very short time even for a DVD based camcorder. All the I/O ports work good (USB and Video-out). It has a nice bright LCD display. It can take literally thousands of digital images. When you finish shooting video, you have a ready-made DVD to show friends and family. You also have a long lasting archive of your images that you can edit later.

Cons

For me the biggest downside of this camera is that it takes terrible digital still images. The pictures have visible pixels and the color is not as rich as with Sony still cameras. A unit of this price should take at least acceptable still images. Some of the pictures I took with the camera look worse than the old Apple Quick-take cameras of 10 years ago could produce. The camera has no Firewire port. As an Apple computer user, this camera is unfriendly when it comes to editing-no Apple supported software and it is a difficult task to put your video into iMovie for editing. For all these lacking areas it is a bit pricey.

(Comments: JUST IN CASE SOMEBODY FROM SONY READS THIS STUFF This camera has a great form factor and has huge potential. IF it had a headphone out-jack, you could have a portable DVD player and MP3 Player that could be watched/listened to on a plane or any other type of trip. IF it took better digital, stills it would be good buy because it could replace a digital camera and camcorder. Some other reviews I have read criticize this unit because of the video quality of this unit but I found it to be acceptable for home use. Great concept I wish that Sony would make some small improvements and this unit could be a fantastic product. )

Conclusion

Overall, if you need an easy to use camcorder that is small this camera would be a good choice. (DVD archiving is also a big plus for those who shoot video but do not always edit it right away.) If you are looking for great quality images and size does not matter look elsewhere.

I'd like to share the reasons why I bought this camera and strongly recommend it:

1. Innovative design and size. I absolutely love the design and compact size of this camera. As any other innovative products, the form factor of this camera received mixed reviews. I think it is perfect, I have no problem handling and holding the camera when filming. You have to give credit to Sony: there is no other DVD camcorder in the market this compact, even after a year in the market.

2. Media support. This should be the number one criteria when buying a DVD camcorder. I have read several reviews from other DVD camcorders complaining about issues finalizing the discs or playing them on standard DVD players. I have had no issues whatsoever with discs burned with this camera, and finalizing the discs is a very smooth process: one click and a few minutes. This camera supports DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW. Most DVD players will play all of these formats. The DVD+RW format allows you to view the disc in most DVD players without finalizing the disc, while the DVD-RW format allows you to edit and delete scenes from the disc when used in VR format (though this format is typically supported by DVD recorders only); both rewritable formats can be formatted and reused as many times as you'd like. Note that the capacity of the discs is 30 minutes in SP mode (or 60 in LP mode); this is a limitation of the size of the discs, not the camera. You can buy double-sided discs which will allow you to record 60 minutes in SP mode, but you have to manually swap the disc, so it is equivalent to using 2 different discs.

3. It's a Sony camcorder. I have to mention that I have not owned other brand of camcorders, just because I've been extremely satisfied with Sony camcorders. They not only have a cool design, but they are also the best in terms of ease of use and reliability. I cannot vouch for the quality of this camcorder yet, but I expect this to last, it seems well built. It also comes with a Carl-Zeiss lens, which are among the best in the market.

4. Other nice features worth mentioning:

* USB cable allows you to copy any or all of the recorded scenes to your computer, even if the disc hasn't been finalized.

* Almost all the functionality is driven by the touch panel, and the main menu is programmable which allows you to add only the features you use the most.

OK, so this camera is not perfect, it has some areas for improvement:

1. If you are buying this camcorder to take still pictures as well as recording video, this is not your camera. The resolution of the stills is only 640x480 (less than 1MP), the quality is so poor that it is not even worth using it for stills.

2. Poor low-light filming and no NightShot feature included.

3. No upgradeability, because of its compact size there is not a lot of room for attaching typical add-ons: microphone, flash, or headphones (though you can use an adapter on the A/V cable). The battery provided lasts for about 90 minutes, however you can buy a larger battery, the NP-FA70 which will lasts up to 180 minutes.

4. At the original MSRP of $699, this camera is expensive, if you pay less than $500 for this camcorder, you are getting a good deal. If you're willing to pay over $600 for this camcorder and you're not crazy about its design/size, you might be better off buying the DCR-DVD203, at least you'll get a 1MP digital camera.

Buy Sony DCR-DVD7 DVD Handycam Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom Now

We needed an easy to use, lightweight, quality video camcorder that anyone could use. The Sony DCR-DVD7 is GREAT. Worked excellent on vacation, our beach video images are excellent the "EASY BUTTON" makes the whole experience of shooting video a snap. When we reviewed the video the quality was surprising very good for the price of this camcorder. We have a JVC camcorder that we paid double the price for which I find difficult/complicated and too heavy to use.

NOTE: The DVD7 is so easy to use for example; I was holding one dog (7 month old wiggly puppy)in one arm, and using our DVD7 with the other hand to capture our other dog playing tag with a sand crab, and the video images turned out steady, focused, and clear.

As for digital still images I did not purchase this device for still images. If all I wanted was still images, I would use a disposable camera for on the beach, and our Sony digial camera for other times.

Now for the software: easy and fun to use.

**Battery really does last a full hour! And I was using it for video, and play-back of the video, not still pictures.

Overall impression: I wanted a point & shoot camcorder with great video images. Here is all you do: insert the DVD, turn on the power, touch the "EASY Button", and shoot. If you want a lightweight, easy to use, excellent video images, and a battery that lasts a full hour, the DCR-DVD7 is exactly all these things.

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I've been using this for about 2 weeks now and I love it! It is very user friendly with touch-screen controls. I only wish the DVDs could last longer than a half hour, but for the size of this model I can over look that.

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The video is great. Even at the LP setting the quality is good. Being able to put 5,100 stills on one DVD is great. I always carry one DVD for video and another for stills.

Small, compact and easy to use. What more could you want?

JVC HRS3800U 4-Head S-VHS VCR

• 4-head stereo Super-VHS VCR with 19 micron heads for high-resolution recordings
• 1-year/8-event programmable timer system, 181-channel autoset tuner, and jog/shuttle dial on remote and unit
• A/V, RF, and S-video inputs and outputs
• 2-head Hi-Fi stereo audio input and output with MTS decoder
• Measures 15.8 x 3.8 x 11.2 inches (W x H x D)

For the price you can't beat it's S-vhs quality on a standard vhs tape. You can hook it to your cable, and get the S-video output, better picture than composite out on most cable boxes.

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Received a prompt response from DWYNSTRA. VCR was insured and shipped the next day. The package arrived well-wrapped and in perfect condition. Super response and service!

Dingoo Digitial A320 Emulator Game Console MP3 MP4 Media Player LCD 2.8 inch with pouch & silicon c

This product is available on many many sites for ~80, this is most likely just a drop shipper who is just charging up the price, much like the other dingoo on amazon. It is a great product, but I would say go elsewhere.

Pros:

=====

-Near perfect out of the box NES emulation

-Near perfect out of the box GBA emulation (from what little I saw)

-SNES emulation is pretty good if you turn off automatic frameskip and set your own and/or disable sound (frameskip is under Misc in the optionsI like "1" for most games)

-Solid feel for relatively cheap hardware

-Plays music, pictures and videos (including older/low quality FLVs from youtube)

-Bonus TV out, voice recorder, FM radio

-Comes with headphones and charger

-Internal memory large enough to hold a lot of games (4 gigs)

-Many options including button configuration, state saving and customized rapid fire

Cons:

=====

-Not all emulation is smooth (Donky Kong Country always ran either too fast or too slow, Super Mario World always felt a little off and sound can be funky)

-This is only $100 (or $80 if you shop around)the hardware is very good for the price but not great

-All audio is software controlledthere are no volume buttons

-D-pad and buttons are very small (about the same as the GBA micro)

-Very little documentation with the box

-File browsing via USB link and rom uploading is easy, but my screen freezes and I have to use a paperclip to restart it after disconnects

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I got this portable emulator so I can play old video games on the go. A portable video game emulator sounded awesome on paper, but my expectations were rather short lived. In my perspective this was marketed as a portable emulator, more than just a multimedia player, and as for the criteria of emulators, it's about so-so to me. One gripe I have with this is that the emulation software is rather pathetic, it can do 8-bit games just fine, but when it comes to anything that's 16-bit, it lags a lot. Another issue I have with this is that the RCA cable that came with the system doesn't work. I plugged it into my TV; all I got was the sound, no picture. And the last issues I have are rather minor, but the D-pad is not sensitive like every other D-pad I experienced, I have to hard press it for it to respond in game, and also the L and R buttons are not like the GameBoy Micro's (Or any other L and R button ever made). Personally, if you want a portable video game emulator, there might be other great contenders that treat the games you throw at it much better in terms of performance, but for this one in particular, I'll let it go with an overall score of a 2 stars, mostly because of the emulation flaws for the more advanced games.

Read Best Reviews of Dingoo Digitial A320 Emulator Game Console MP3 MP4 Media Player LCD 2.8 inch with pouch & silicon c Here

The other reviews cover a lot of ground. I will only say that I agree with much of what they say.

Right out of the box this device can play a wide variety of video formats, music files, has an FM radio, displays text files and photos, etc.

I use it about 50-50 between watching TV shows or movies while travelling, and playing classic video games. Not only does this handle NES, GBA, CPS1/2, Neo Geo, etc. as is, but there are some homebrew emulators for Colecovision (!), the Odyssey 2, the SMS, the GameGear, and others.

For less than $100 you have a 4-gigabyte media player/gaming device that handles all this and fits easily into a pocket.

I highly recommend the A320!

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First off, i was hestitant on getting one.

I already had some nes/snes roms downloaded, and i was also looking for an mp3 player with radio/video capibilites with built in speakers. This had everything i needed. The hardest part is figuring out how to load roms successfully. I just dumped all of the roms into the corresponding files. All my nes roms worked successfully, but only a handful of my snes roms worked. So what I am addicted to is trying to figure out how it will work. It will take some tinkering to find the right roms etc.

You can read other reviews to help you, but i will talk about the stuff other people didn't talk about. The Dingoo i got had some games already loaded on it, which is great beacause free games are always a good thing. The tetris that comes with is is awesome beacause you only need onle hand to play it.

You can hook it up to your PS3 and unload movies/pictures/MP3's onto it, which could be a time saver.

so far i am very happy with it. it can do alot, its a great competitor to an ipod.

Its very hard to brick one of these, just keep a safty pin with you at all times, sometimes games get stuck or loading processes get stuck, you can always hit the reset button. Its idiot proof.

This is a great toy for tinkering, totally worth the money.

Sony DCR-SR300 6.1MP 40GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom

Pros: Excellent picture quality! Ease of use, convenient 4 mega pixel still while in video mode, easy connect base, and mpg video format right from the camera!

Cons: Easy connect base (good and bad news), flash disabled with filters or lens, and a little slow to connect to the PC.

I wanted ease of use, high quality picture, and good still performance I got it all.

I did the tech research on picture quality and the SR300 seemed to be rated the best by most of the experts. The CMOS capture device is what is used in very high end cameras, so I was expecting a decent picture.

Here is the non-tech evaluation of the picture: on my Hi Def TV the picture quality from this camcorder is much better than normal TV picture and not quite as good as a high quality progressive scan DVD. It is better than I expected and I am VERY happy with the picture quality.

The SR300 is easy to use and that is what I wanted. Point it and shoot. In video mode, it does 4 mega pixel pictures. While recording, you can capture 3 stills only. If you are in video mode and not recording, you can capture as many as you like up to the limit of the hard drive and/or memory stick. In straight still mode, it is a 6 mega pixel camera. If you are looking for super high quality still camera, this is not it. I went from a 2 mega pixel camera to this, so I am pleased with the quality and I don't have to always carry two cameras around. I am using this to capture kids and this is just what I need.

The camera will record stills to the hard drive, so you do not need to have a memory stick. I purchased a 2 gig ultra II, kind of a waste since the camcorder can't write to the stick as fast as the stick operates, I could have saved some $$ with a less expensive stick, or no stick at all. A 2 gig stick gives you 600 pictures at 4 mega pixel.

I like the base, it makes it easy to have the camera ready to use. The thing I don't like is that you must use it to transfer video and stills to your computer from the hard drive (cable included). This can be a pain. You can connect the camera directly to the TV to watch video (cable included).

When you attach a filter or an auxiliary lens, I bought a wide angle lens, the flash is disabled. This I do not like.

Video from this camera is in mpg format, the same used for DVDs, so your DVD software does not have to convert the files. Also, this camera will write directly to a DVD recorder. I created a DVD with my , directly from the camera using the Disc Burn button and it included both video and pictures.

I am able to quickly make DVDs using Nero without converting the files. This cam also connects directly to a printer using Pict Bridge feature.

This is an expensive camera that had everything I wanted: easy to use; good quality video; compact size; and good still pictures. Sometimes you need to spend the extra to get what you want.

I also bought the Sony ACC-FH60 accessory kit that includes a camera case and a second battery, check it out.

I've been using it for a couple of days, and I love it. The harddisk is a gift, once you get used to it, you'll never want to use tape again. The USB 2.0 transfer to your computer works like a charm and it's pretty quick even for very large files, also because the video file types are mpeg, dvd authoring software doesn't take forever to compile a dvd, it's very quick.

There are a couple of simple, yet powerful editing features using the camcorder itself. The interface is pretty intuitive, and the touch screen is very accessible even for my thick thumbs. The video picture quality is excellent in medium light, but weak in low light still 'far better than my previous Canon ZR70 though'. The stand still camera is not that good, compared to my current Sony P8.

I love the slow motion feature, unfortunately it can only capture 6 seconds, also taking photos while you're video taping is an excellent feature, but you can only take 3 photos during shooting videos. All in all, I'm very happy with all it's features, also the surround sound works pretty well.

I didn't give it 5 stars because the camera doesn't come with a USB port, or video output options on the camera itself, I have to dock it in the docking station and then connect it to my PC, which leaves me with a choice to either put the docking station beside my PC to move the files, or beside my HD TV to watch the movies on the Camera, not sure why Sony at least didn't put a USB port on the camera directly, pretty annoying! Also, there is no way to capture video using this camera, although that was kind of a standard feature in any cheap mini DV cameras, now I have to think of getting a video capture card for my computer if I need to copy any of my recorder programs from my DVRs or previous tapes to DVD!

Buy Sony DCR-SR300 6.1MP 40GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom Now

I'm not a professional, so this camcorder is the best thing since sliced bread.

I'd rather write a review that someone can actually read and get some value from, so if you're one of those people that insists on comparing everything to an extremely expensive pro camcorder, just stop reading now and go away.

If you want something that will shoot crisp clear video footage of your family and life experiences, this is the camcorder for you. No, it's not HD but I honestly don't feel that it's worth paying 2x as much for the marginal (if even noticeable since this camcorder shoots video at 3.1 megapixels) difference in video quality. 6.1 megapixel stills are the icing on the cake, and I have yet to deplete the battery (if you're planning on shooting hours and hours of video, just get an adapter or the optional battery that will give you up to 6 hours of life).

Read Best Reviews of Sony DCR-SR300 6.1MP 40GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom Here

The DCR-SR300 is a very good BASIC camcorder. It's basic in that it includes very few manual controls. The camera is designed for ease of use. With that said, it takes pretty good videos... not nearly as good as the high end high definition DV models, but still pretty good.

What is nice about the camcorder (and all of Sony's HDD line) is that you can treat the camera as a storage device under USB. Unlike other camcorders, Sony stores its data as mpeg2, so they are likely to be immediately useful (if you can play DVDs on your computer, you can use the files).

Another nice feature is the camera. This is probably the first mid-range camcorder with a decent still image capability, mainly because it boasts of a 6M pixel quality. The camera will allow you to store up to 3 camera stills at 4M pixel while filming (which is also a nice feature).

What's not to like? No microphone input apart from Sony's proprietary boot... so you HAVE to get your add-ons from Sony. Also you have to put the unit into its dock (included) in order to pull files from it.

The build microphone is only so-so.

Image wise, it's not a 3 CCD, it just uses a pretty large CMOS and does support Optical Image Stabilization. My thoughts on those features.. yawn. I'm sure it makes some difference, but it wasn't jaw dropping in my opinion.

The lens is an excellent Zeiss Sonar T* ... one of the best, but the optical zoom is merely 10x... if there is any good news, the camera only goes up to 20x digital zoom, but digital zoom is ALWAYS lousy, so this is actually a good thing (and you can disable the digital zoom of course).

The camera has a night vision mode. This is also a nice feature for shooting in complete darkness. If you don't mind the typical green night vision look, this can be really nice for capturing very hard to see things.

I purchased the larger capacity battery... one things good about an HDD camcorder versus DV-tape is that you can't shoot hours and hours of video... but IMHO, Sony ought to included the higher capacity battery because of this. Definitely a recommended upgrade.

Is this the best HDD camcorder out there? Possibly. Is it perfect? No. If you need the convenience of the hard drive, then I recommend this camera. If you want a really good quality camera, you might want to look a high definition DV like the Sony HDR-HC7 or similar (or their more expensive professional line of course). If you are a newbie (like me), then the simplicity of the SR300 is appealing... lack of features can equate to ease of use.

The SR300 beats the SR100 spec wise except on features where the SR100 (if you can still find one) has the SR300 beat... this is typical of most Sony devices (1st generation devices tend to be packed with features).

In conclusion, this is a good easy to use (if not a bit pricey) entry level hard disk camera. If priced a bit less, this camera would be easier to recommend.

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I have been shopping for over a year looking for a nice digital camcorder, and finally had decided to get the SR-100 only to find it was discontinued. Then I found this Sr-300, purchased, and have never been happier. I'll break it down for everybody:

40g Hard Drive is a dream come true. Instant orginization, instant viewing, and, if you so choose too, instant deletion. No media = no hassle, the only media you really need is a Computer with a DVD burner in it and a blank DVD and your set One Touch Burning is very quick and easy.

Image quaility is excellent, except in low lighting, however this has been a common problem for camcorders since the early days. The picture comes out a bit grainy, but overall does not affect the quality of the video. This problem can also be resolved with a simple video light. (See the pictures that I posted for examples.) I believe sony makes one that will automatically turn on if the lighting level is low. The camcorder also acts like a digital camera, in that you can choose you scene selection, anything from beach to snow to twilight. You can also do black and white as well as other neat settings.

Still Images are even better, 6.1 megapixels is awsome for a camcorder, and you can set it just like any other digital camera with scene selection, etc. Easily switches between camera mode and recording mode with the flick of a switch. The camcorder can also take 3 stills WHILE recording, without messing up the video. Awesome if ya wanna capture the moment on both film and pictures. This cam in handy for me when I was filming some seals at the Zoo the other day.

The one thing I have heard complaints about from many sites is the handycam station. This thing is actually a blessing, not a curse. It is very small, lightweight, and it extends the life of your camcorder. it does this by allowing you to plug into the staion itself for charging, transfers, etc, instead of plugging directly into the camcorder, which I think cuts down on wear and tear. The cam does have A/V output and a D/C input on it, so it is still possible to plug in directly.

Provided software is ok. Not very much editing power to it, would reccomend seperate software if you really want to edit your videos. the main thing is the one touch software, which is very nice if you wanna burn a quick dvd.

The touch screen is nice. Allows for easy navigation through all the menus, which all give an explanation for what each setting affects/does. Plus using a touch screen is really cool :D

The only other con is that the battery does stick out, however you must remember this is a small camcorder, they did the best they can, and it really does not get in the way at all. Sony does make a smaller battery thought, so there is some hope for that.

All in all, its great and I highly reccomend this to anyone wishing to just film life's funniest and awkward moments. If you are not trying to be a professional cameraperson, and just want something easy to use, the Sr-300 is it for you. If you are trying to be a professional, then they make a $3,000 one which would probably suit your needs.

5 stars for both quaility and price paid.

Creative Labs NOMAD MuVo NX 128 MB Flash Drive MP3 Player

• 128 MB of flash memory holds up to 4 hours WMA or 2 hours MP3 music when recorded at 64 kbps (WMA) or 128 kbps (MP3)
• Works as a USB Flash Drive with any PC or Mac with USB 1.1 port, holds the equivalent of 176 floppies
• Built-in microphone records up to 8 hours of high quality monaural voice recording
• Connect to any Creative Speaker system with the M-PORT interface for instant music playback through your speakers
• Compatible with Windows 98SE, 2000, Me, and XP

I first purchased the RIO sports mp3 player (the red one). Anyway, it was a piece of junk. I took it back and got this one! This thing is the best! the detachable portion that holds the battery is replaceable, which means if you drop it, most likely it will fall on the detachable battery until and leave your player in tact. I just can't say enough about this player,, in the 50 hours of use I have used it, I have not had one problem! It has suffered swet, drops and general abuse and has held up wonderfully!

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I have my MuVo NX 128MB for 6 weeks now and I can't fault it.

I find it strange that the 256MB version of this product gets 5 stars and this 128MB version gets 3. It's the same product with a different memory configuration.

I see one user , Emir complaining about the uneven length of the earphones. This is normal. The longer one is supposed to go behind your neck. I've seen this with Sony & Sennheiser earphones too.

I also see someone else complaining about the sound quality. This unit has a Signal To Noise Ration of 98dB. This is much hihger than any other MP3 player. If the music doesn't sound good then the chances are that it's your MP3 recording which is at fault.

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This MP3 is AWESOME! It also doubles as a mass storage device. I particularly like the fact that you can put ANY music format on it. I put FIVE albums with .wma format, and listen for hours with one battery (I usually don't crank the volume past 21). Emir Causevic rated some problems with the device, but the solutions follow: First, you have to PRESS & HOLD the play button to power the device up. Same to power it down. This protects against inadvertant operation. Second, the earphones are SUPPOSED to come different length, because when you wear the device on your arm, the distance to the further ear is greater, so the extended cord reaches over, so you don't have excessive cord dangling about. Comes with arm band and red AND silver casing. This MP3 ROCKS!!!

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i've owned the device for 5 mo now, and it's done a beautiful job as a "walkman" and a usb storage device (ppt files, etc.). having read every review on amazon, i was a bit concerned about the 'lasting quality' of the device, but i haven't had any trouble, even after having dropped it a few times. the factory headphs are undeniably bad; i bought a pair of sennheiser mx500s as a replacement. the irivers obviously have a solid reputation when it comes to these "compact mp3" players, but i couldn't deal with having another connecting cable (from mp3 player->computer) on my desk. the built-in plug on the muvo and its size just makes it an all around convenient little gadget. to echo a previous reviewer, if you're concerned about the 'order' of your uploaded songs, use the "copy to device" function in windows media player. oh and for those that are just doing +/-30-min workouts, 128mb is more than enough storage space.

finally, if you're really paranoid about warranties, etc. look into your credit card options visa (platinum) said it would double the manufacturer's warranty, so that took my muvo from 3->6 mos. if that's still not enough for you, then look into buying an iriver from best buy and purchasing the additional 1-2yr coverage direct through best buy.

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I have always wanted to have a MP3 player + USB Flash drive combo. Creative Muvo was a step in that direction, but it had its drawbacks: cheap plastiky look, max memory of 128MB, no LCD.

Then along came Muvo NX with all these issues fixed. One of the best things you'll like about this player is that it does not require any drivers on the Windows 2K/XP (maybe other versions also but I haven't checked). So you can practically work off any computer. Just drag and drop your MP3 or WMA into the player and you are all set...

It sounds great and is light-weight enough to put in your shirt pocket and not feel it. At 256MB storage capacity, I can simultaneously have sufficent number of songs on the player to last me a long trip as well as have a number of work-related documents to carry between workplace and home.

You will need to get a good headset, though. The earphones that come in the box are uncomfortable and slippery and would just not stay in the ears.

Complete High End Security Camera (1T HD) DVR System Package for Indoor & Outdoor Surveillance - (4

This product works extremely well for the situation that we needed it for. It was very easy to set up and the video at night is very sharp and clear. The only thing that could use any improvement is the zoom function. I would like to be able to zoom in closer without being fuzzy. If I buy a more expensive camera then it would work great. But for the system and 4 cameras it is an exceptionally good value.

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Toshiba DVR660 1080p Upconverting VHS DVD Recorder with Built-in Tuner

• DVD Recorder/VCR Combo
• Progressive Scan
• 1080p Upconversion
• With Built-in Digital Tuner
• JPEG Photo Viewer

I have a Samsung digital TV (1080p), and with my new Toshiba DVR660 and an HDMI cable, I can turn HD programming into sharp DVD's that appear to match my 1080p picture pixel for pixel. (In actuality, the DVR660 records it to 480p and then upconverts it back to 1080p.) By the way, I get all my programming from a portable antenna, and the DVD recorder has an excellent HD tuner.

The VCR is adequate, giving me the same picture quality as the SONY which preceeded it. After seeing how easy it was to make a DVD recording, and how fabulous the results, I realized that I would never make a VCR recording again. It did an excellent job dubbing a VCR tape to a DVD.

Although I am not a computer programmer like the "Man from Happy Rock", who found it so difficult to use, I found that the machine was not so difficult to use at all, as long as you followed the instructions. One of the major complaints from Mr. Happy Rock was that the machine turns itself off after you use the "set timer" button. My brother, who IS a computer programmer, said that his Magnavox also turns itself off when you use the "set timer" function and that they all do this. He also said it took him 2 years to master his Magnavox!

I did have a couple questions the first day, and I called the Toshiba telephone number given for DVD recorders. My call was answered by a real person with an American accent within 30 seconds. She answered all my questions easily.

Before I purchased this recorder, I spent hours reading and re-reading the reviews for like products made by Sony, Samsung, Panisonic, JVC, Philips, etc. All the other products seemed to have fatal flaws, so I made the decision for Toshiba. I'm glad I did.

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I couldn't be happier with this combo vhs/dvd recorder in regards to performance, features, and ease of use. I likewise read the reviews here and for other liketype products; this one seemed to have the least amount of "issues". Here's what I found: flawlessly and easily installs out of the box, and the digital tuner works great. While this product sure has lots of features, it's really a snap to set and record to your heart's content. I've barely touched the surface, but it's great to finally (and easily) be able to record off of tv, dub older vhs tapes, and copy just about anything to dvd via the L2 inputs on the front of the unit (ie plugging in a camcorder, etc.). Priced right, easy to install, easy to use, a quality product with all of the features and more-don't hesitate on this one.

Read Best Reviews of Toshiba DVR660 1080p Upconverting VHS DVD Recorder with Built-in Tuner Here

If you read the specifications for this machine it appears to be a dream and it does appear to have all the features specified and some very cool features not well documented. One would expect the latest and greatest to be the most forward looking, with this expectation I was surprised at what I have come to expect as standard features to be missing or retro.

* Even though DVD+RW is the superior technology, all the "better" recording features are only supported by DVD-RW! For example, 16:9 aspect ratios, scene delete, combine titles, etc. To me this alone warrants the loss of a rating star.

* The recording of HDTV programs will become a mandatory ability in February of 2009. I recorded several HD programs on DVD+RW media and played them back, at the six hour speed, they were so badly pixilated as to be nearly unwatchable (probably too much up and down converting). When I recorded NTSC (normal until 2/2009) TV the recording were no better nor worse than on machines without ATSC/QAM receivers. This needed to be much better than it is.

* My last three recorders have all been Panasonic's not by conscious choice or loyalty, but rather more as coincidence and superior ratings, at the time. I expect that when I define a program to record I can name the recording (on the DVD side) so that I know what is on the disk. This is not available on this machine. After you record you can label what you have recorded, this is exactly backwards from my expectations.

* VCR output is analog ONLY on RCA pin-outs not even via s-video, let alone HDMI! The TV signal continues to play out of the HDMI while the video plays. This has additional ramifications for dubbing or cross-recording below.

Perhaps the single most confusing and frustrating thing about this machine is setting the timer (programmed recording). I have been programming VCRs/DVD recorders for 30+ years and I have been a computer programmer for the bulk of this time too, so I am not easily confused by setting up a recorder and scheduling a program for recording. Besides the retro programming features above you will very likely lose or fail in your initial scheduled recording efforts. You will see an E40 error reported for the failure, unhelpfully meaning overlapping recording or recording did not start on time. What has happened is you did not press the "timer set" button, unobviously located in the middle of the last row of the remote! If you press the "red on/off button", on the remote, no recordings will be made (thus making it nearly impossible to use a universal remote on this machine as the "timer set" will probably not be defined). The unit MUST be TURNED OFF using the "timer set" button or NOTHING will be RECORDED!!! This has been so confusing I redundantly record on another device to insure I get the program. This warrants at minimum the loss of at least one rating star perhaps two. A recorder should never let you miss a recording (when properly programmed) except for a very good reason, e.g. disk full or overlapping programs. This one lets you miss all of them for silly illogical reasons.

Suppose you record "The Soup" every Friday on E!, but in between you wish to watch an episode of HBO's Rome on a DVD. Well if you press the power button (red on/off button) you will not be able to access the DVD player. It is locked for recording on Friday. The only way to access it is to press the ... you guessed it, the "timer set" button. Of course doing that kills all the programmed recordings, so you better remember to press it again or you will lose the ability to record all future programmed recordings (i.e. miss The Soup until you press the "timer set" button)! Pressing the more obvious red on/off button is not going to fix it, but only yield an e40 error.

I expect that the latest machines would have superior image processing. Sadly it is no better than a $50 Sam's Club special, when I visually compare the two on the same "passage" of a program. Obviously without an S-video out for any video tapes, a player with S-video will look better.

My primary purpose in purchasing this machine was to cross copy/dub family videos. Recording at various speeds does seem to be clean and as good as can be expected. I was very concerned that there is no way adjust the tracking on video tapes however this seems to be pretty smart and appears to be constantly adjusting for the best setting. It has worked on all the videos I have tested so far. However if you have the DVD on an HDMI or S-video connection you will need to switch back and forth between two outputs on your TV to see and cue your video then switch to the other side to set up and start the dubbing process! There is, of course, the usual problem of playing DVD+/-RW on a PC the only reliable player I have found for this problem is VLC media player portable, a freeware player.

A cool feature is the ability to watch what you are recording with DVD-RW, and have it keep track of where you are.

In short this looks like it might be a pretty good dubbing/cross recording video machine but as a general purpose family room player I think there are cheaper and better choices on the market today.

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I bought a flat screen (720p) because my old TV finally shut down. I still use an antenna and I'm extremely happy with an antenna input to the HDTV! Lots of channels for free and the picture is vastly superior to cable!!

However, the ease of recording a program if I wasn't going to be home seemed to be gone. The guys at Best Buy and other people who were very technical told me it couldn't be done anymore without getting cable, or TiVO or other fancy gizmo that required a subscription to something or was hugely expensive, or both. They said it was impossible to record DTV to a tape. I didn't see why it couldn't be downconverted, taped, and upconverted again.

They were wrong (and I was right). This is just like my old trusty DVD/VCR combo with more capabilities and I can use it with HDTV! I can record to either VCR or DVD because it has a tuner. Plus I can still play my old tapes, or convert them.

The only trouble was that the setup was confusing (you have to set the input on the TV first) and I had to go out and buy the cables for DVD recording. Once you get the hang of it though, you're back to the days of easy recording of your favorite shows without a lot of fuss or expense.

JULY 17 IMPORTANT UPDATE THE THING DIED OVERNIGHT! I still stand by it being able to record and I appreciate the nice comment. However this morning the clock wasn't on and the thing had simply died overnight for no apparent reason. It is plugged into a surge protector. I have noticed that more machines like this are on the market now and as long as it has a tuner, you can still record digital TV directly to a VCR or DVD. Just make sure it has a built-in tuner.

Be aware (for the uninitiated like me) HDMI cable provides for only DVD signal. Standard VHS or S-video cable required to operate the VHS.

X201 540M 2GB/320 Dvr Bt F C W7-32

Not much to say here for introduction, I guess if you are reading this review chances are you know why we professionals buy ThinkPads... ;) :P

Pros:

world-famous, excellent quality FULL-SIZED KEYBOARD (=essentially Lenovo built an ultra-portable road-warrior around a regular-sized keyboard sans dedicated numeric pad which is available as accessory)

COMES WITH ULTRABASE w/ DVD-RW dockin station (model #32492FU from J&R, at least) included in the box ($200 savings!)

Ultrabase can charge a second battery and sports loads of extra ports while does not block any on-board ones

runs COLD, even after 5+ hours

netbook-class dimensions and battery life but much faster than a netbook and it can pretty

very good battery life/CPU performance ratio with mid-range battery and fast (i5-540) CPU combo: I regularly score above 5 hours on WiFi with medium-light usage (VPN Client connected, putty/SSH, Firefox + Chrome, both running 10+ tabs and loads of plugins including Flash Player etc)

good weight at 3.xx lbs w/ 6-cell battery

Windows 7 Professional license included

decent-sized 320GB hard drive

finally a 'reasonably slow' integrated (on-die) Intel HD graphics core

full Intel vPro stack including vT-d (DirectIO) means future Citrix XenClient support (launches in October 2010)

excellent security: fingerprint reader, Intel AMT, optional encrypting hard drive upgrade

excellent status lights with proper 'icons', readable even with closed lid

very convenient, very useful ThinkVantage Tools: all updates, profiles, locations, warranty, support issues etc can be accessed by the push of a button

dedicated hardware buttons all around: radio on/off/ volume mute/down/up, ThinkVantage Tools button to access everything else

usual unbreakable ThinkPad chassis (though feels a bit less sturdy than old IBM ThinkPads)

mile-long list of options (accessories, warranties/support, upgrades etc)

and of course, built-in ThinkLight, a switchable LED light source for nighttime typing, checking card numbers etc! :)

Cons:

2GB memory -> Windows 7 Pro 32-bit preinstalled, you need to reinstall from scratch to get 64-bit (serial works for both)

no bloatware (no, ThinkVantage Tools are NOT bloatware)

wimpish battery life with 4-cell -> only buy it with 6-cell!

9-cell gives great battery life but stands out in the back and pushes the weight well above 4lbs

rather craptastic LCD colors out of the box -> run a calibration tool, it makes a difference though viewing angles etc won't be better (cheap screen panel tech:

X201/i is 'only WXGA (1280x800), not available with WXGA+ (1440X900) -> only ultra-light X201s got it but then say goodbye to webcam... dumb compromise?

personal grievance: Fn button is outside instead of Ctrl... aaahhh, you shouldn't use anything other than ThinkPade, period. :)

Summary: for $1,200 it is the best all-around ultraportable road warrior with the most power and longest battery at the same time.

PS: make sure you check your warranty status because J&R apparently screwing around with your dates, mine came with a June 2010 warranty start date, that's a 2-months loss right there... just contact Lenovo and fax them your actual invoice, they will fix it (takes some time.)

Warning: if you want to upgrade your warranty to ThinkPad Protection (accidental damage etc) you MUST add in the first 30 days!

Hd720p Traffic Recorder Car Dashboard DVR Dv Vehicle Camera

This product is SOOOOO close to being a great product, the problem is that these are just made too cheap: everything feels super cheap, the instructions are worthless. Mine died after a few months.

even the layout is bad, you have half the buttons on one side and half on the other, actually navigating menus to replay a video is very challenging due to the arrangement. also has no emergency "save" button to keep a clip from being overwritten.

The image of the device sitting with the screen above the body is faked, the device will not rotate the video around, can only record with the device mounted with the screen down if you want the video viewable on a computer to be rights side up.

Living in northern NJ many of the drivers don't seem to care who they're about to hit. I have been involved in many arguments involving near-misses. Installed the camera about 3 weeks ago and recently it not only settled an argument as to why a drive drove threw a stop sign and nearly hit me, but I was able to let him know that the video was admissable in court and the ticket he would get would be just as if a police officer gave it to him. The offending driver had an instant change in attitude. I'm sure he'll be a better driver now as he'll never know who has a similar camera.

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This camera is very light weight (which makes it feel cheap), but it should be light weight since it hangs on a suction cup. I'm only on day 2 with it, but so far it is doing what I expected it to do. Only 4 stars because the audio is way overpowered and sounds terrible when playing it back on the computer. It creates little AVI files and seems to record about 15min/GB, so you may have to buy a big SD card if you want it to record for a long time. I'm not sure this will be used all the time, but I got it to try, and that part worked just fine. At this point I'd recommend trying it if you don't need super good sound quality inside the car while you're driving (I drive a new Honda civic that was built more for fuel efficiency rather than how quiet it's interior is so the quality may be better in a quieter car).

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I think there is no night vision or infrared lights because while driving at night you can almost only see your car's headlights and other lights around. You will not see anything else during driving night. Daylight recording is fine, the highest resolution/quality setting is your current cell phone's worst recording quality.

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Archos AV400 80 GB Video Player / Recorder and MP3 Jukebox Player AV480

• Archos 500648 AV480 80 GB Video Player / Recorder and MP3 Jukebox Player
• Record your favorite video programs--up to 320 hours on 80 GB hard drive
• Connects to TVs, VCRs, and cable/satellite receivers
• Watch video on 3.8-inch LCD screen
• Store and play MP3, WMA, and WAV digital audio files

Actually, I am very much astonished from the reviews written on the AV480 here on amazon as well as on other sites.

Since this device is no cheap at all, i had to run an extensive survey trying to evaluate this equipment. And all the feedback was very discouraging.

All the reviews said that the AV480 fails much and doesn't work and stuff like that. But, since i was desperate to have a large (more than 50 GB) portable media device and i couldn't find other choice (May be except the iPod, and the Zen) i decided to take my chances and try one.

Let's cross our fingers:

I have it now for around a 1.5 months, and this piece of art is really amazing.

I tried almost every possible combination of features together to check if it is working. And yes, i admit that i have extensively tested it.

I connected it to my computer, and it worked fine, nothing needed to recognize the AV480 as a USB 80GB harddisk.

I ran up to 10 copy operations of large data from the PC to AV480 (2GB) simultaneously and with 3 copy operations from the AV480 to the PC. This test was done all together to randomly test the scheduler (OS) of the AV480 and does it que the data in a correct manner or not. With these threads opened, the odds should be very high that the disk will fail in one of them. But, amazingly it went through very smoothly. So I am now pretty sure from the OS is rigid.

The other tests were rather easy, i tried to run MP3's on the unit and sucking the battery dry. Trying to check when the unit abnormally or urgently shutdown, and expecting a failure when booting it, i didn't have any problem. The unit when just charged, started up very normally.

I tested recording as well (Audio only) and it is very clear to me.. It records to WAVs, but there is no problem. Any ripper will change that to MP3's.

I still have the video recording test to go. I didn't try that yet, though i believe that it will pass fairly.

Ok, looking very impressive with the above tests, i tried to be picky, and try to catch anything bad in that device:

1. The battery charging looks very primitive. When you charge the unit, it just charges over the level it is originally at. Meaning: If you have a total empty battery, charging in 4 hours. Then a half empty battery will charge in 2 hours, a 1/4 empty battery will charge in 1 hour and so on. I think that this way the battery will experience memory effect. Meaning that for a half battery charging, the next time the battery will tell the unit that it is empty only after a 1/2 battery discharge. Though my unit is not experiencing a memory effect, but this rather takes long times.

2. The unit power connector is sloppy. Using the charger that came with the unit, it is very easy for the charger to get disconnected from the unit if you accidentaly pushed the unit a bit away.

3. I don't know if the power connector is a standard size! I tried buying a car charger from RadioShack. The charger didn't fit in the unit. Actually the unit needed a little longer jack to fit in. The jack at RadioShack was short, and when you push it hard in it contacts the power, when you release the pressure it disconnects.

4. The design was meant to be elegant, but the finishing quality isn't that elegant. If you look from the side of the unit you can see the light of the LCD.

5. The carrying case is very premitive. It has no place to carry the earphones with it. And it is very hard to reach the buttons when the unit is in the carrying case.

6. The recording unit comes with a very large bunch of wires that makes the connection with the TV and Sound system in my room even more harder and messy :)

7. Archos' customer service SUCKS! When i was researching for this unit, and found the discouraging reviews and found a more encouraging reviews on the AV380 i asked them if they still support the AV380 (because Archos' site is the only place that doesn't sell the AV380!). And till now i have no answer back :)

Conclusion:

It is a very efficient device with couple of drawbacks that can be solved by firmware upgrades.

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I must say i'm very surprised by the reviews below; about them not working after a little use. I'm also worried, because now i'm wondering if mine will break soon. I've had no problems in about 3 months that i've owned it... hopefully if it's lasted this long then i'll be OK for the long term.

My experience with it is great. I'm sure you know all it's features, so i'll just list some complaints (nit picks):

The shell is quite delicate. You must handle it with care or you may ding it.

In the dark it can be a little difficult to feel out the buttons; they don't stick out very far so it helps if you can see the buttons well.

I wish you could record "audio" in MP3 format. Currently it records in a format that yields a huge file size.

When you fast forward a video, you don't know how far you've gone until you stop fast forwarding. It screen doesn't update as you fast forward.

If you get video from the internet, or elsewhere, you must convert it to a specific format that the AV400 can read. The package comes with very easy to use software, but if you're converting lots of videos, it can be time consuming.

I would like the photo viewer to have more options... for example, i think it would be great if it could show a "histogram" of a photo, so you can make sure a photo is exposed correctly.

The LCD gets dark if viewed at a high angle. If viewed directly on it, too low, or too far right or left, however, the quality is great! But i'm sure that's just a limitation of LCD screens.

So far I am very happy with it, and I can live with my little complaints. I'm just still hoping that my unit will continue to work well for a long time...

John

Read Best Reviews of Archos AV400 80 GB Video Player / Recorder and MP3 Jukebox Player AV480 Here

I love the AV480 when it works.

However, I've gone through 3 units already. Each one has had its hard disk break within 1 week of use. Unfortunately that was enough time for me to record about 60GB of ripped DVDs (now all lost).

Has anyone had this device work for more than a week?

I was extremely careful with it and it still broke. On the other hand, I've purchased one of those Microsoft Portable Media Centers. That has withstood much harsher handling. Unfortunately it is only 20GB. I like the AV480 more, but I wish it would work for more than a week.

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Like many others, I first thought that the AV-480 was the "King of all electronic devices". At first use, the integrated photo, video, and audio capabilities appear to be second to none. The user interface is quite intuitive and the quality of the audio and video is excellent. The video recording capabilities net a file that is about twice the size that it should be; but the playback quality is awesome.

Why then do I rate this device at only two stars. Unfortunately the AV-480 has been a single use device for me. Each Sunday evening, I copy my movies, photo's, and mp3's onto my AV-480 and before I board my outbound flight on Monday morning, I receive the famous "cannot read hard drive" message. In order to restore the unit back to a working condition I have to format the hard drive and wait until I return from my travels to load all of my data back on the device. I am about to purchase an 80 Gig external hard drive to carry on my trips so that I can restore all of my AV-480 data from the external hard drive to the AV-480 via my laptop in flight. Thus increasing my initial $800.00 investment to over $1,000, all in the name of in-flight entertainment.

I have also purchased the AV-420 based on the reviews. Supposedly this device is more reliable. I intend to use the AV-420 device for domestic travels and only carry the AV-480 plus the soon to be procured external hard drive with backup files for the aforementioned AV-480 when I travel internationally.

The bottom line, for $800.00 you should not have problems like the ones that you find described here. It is useless to send the device back to Archos because the next AV-480 that you receive will have the exact same set of issues. When Archos finally resolves the hard drive issues on the AV-480, it will be the most advanced media device on the market without a close second. In my opinion you should wait until Archos admits that the AV-480 has a hard drive problem and publishes a fix for that problem before making the decision to purchase one. Until then, you should just take your $800 to Vegas and gamble there, the odds will certainly be more in your favor.

I purchased the AV 480 a week before Xmas. Despite all of the negative reviews on this product, I have yet to experience any problems. The model has seemlessly recorded several movies and at least twenty CDs. With that said, I have about 72 GB left. I can probably get fifteen more movies and 100 more CDs on it. This product is great. On trips, you no longer need to carry your DVD player, DVDs and MP3 player separately which saves a great deal of packing space. This is the perfect all in one media player.

Also, there have been recent upgrades on this product from the Archos website which may have alleviated any prior snafus.

As the manual suggests, it is best to download Windows Media Player 9. I don't know whether the machine accepts any other players.