Showing posts with label review digital recorders. Show all posts
Showing posts with label review digital recorders. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Sony ICD-BX112M 2GB Digital IC Voice Recorder with Mic

Sony ICD-BX112M 2GB Digital IC Voice Recorder with MicI BOUGHT IT FOR MY DAUGHTER WHO LIKES IT VERY MUCH. SHE USES IT TO RECORD LECTURES AT COLLEGE. SHE HAS

A COCHLEAR IMPLANT WHICH WORKS VERY WELL BUT DOES NOT CAPTURE ENOUGH OF THE SPEECH IN THE CLASSROOM. THE SONY RECORDS MORE OF THE SPEECH SOUNDS WHICH SHE LISTENS TO GET ALL OF THE LECTURE. SHE HAS HAD IT FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS NOW AND IT CONTINUES TO PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT BACKUP TO THE CLASSROOM LECTURES.

Monday, October 27, 2014

Symbio 160HD4 Audio/Video Hard Drive (AVHD) Recorder

Symbio 160HD4 Audio/Video Hard Drive RecorderPicked up this HD DVR to work with my Toshiba 42HP95 plasma screen.

First the good things. It works seemlessly with the TV Guide On Screen guide. I know there were problems with the TV Guide in the 2004 Toshiba TVs but so far I haven't had any problems with mine and the one touch recording and future recording capabilites work well. The DVR also records HD programming. That alone was worth the money. I was paying $20/month for that capability from the cable company. So for the basic stuff it works well.

What it doesn't do well. I knew before purchasing this that it didn't have an internal tuner. The DVR works in conjuntion with the TV's tuner. What that means is that if you're recording a program you cannot even change the input on the TV. The other problems I've found is that while you're recording a program you can't even pause live TV or watch a previously recorded program. The latter I'm assuming is because there is no built in tuner. I can see that I won't be retiring my ReplayTVs yet but at least it gives me an option when I want to record an HD program.

This thing should have "Caveat Emptor" stamped all over it.

The "Good": cheap (got mine for $259), large capacity (16 hr of HD), simple to configure (remember works ONLY with '04 and newer Toshiba HDTV's), simple to use, very compact, excellent recording quality, excellent integration into the TV Guide Online system.

The "Bad": you can't switch inputs while it's recording (you can't even watch a DVD), won't work unless TV Guide Online is working (a BIG problem for many users), no on/off switch for reboots (more on this in "the UGLY"), you cannot watch a show that is recording from the beginning (they say it can what they mean is that since it's recording your feed all the time, yes, you can go back but NOT when it's recording a show that you've scheduled) or pause/rewind it, won't record off the colorstream or video 2/3 inputs (I understand why it won't do HDMI, but why not the other inputs?). Oh, and you can't stop a scheduled recording unless you pull the plug (which is NOT recommended while the unit is recording)!!!

The "UGLY": doesn't have a reliable connection to the HDTV through the 1394 interface gets "lost" and cannot connect. This means you can't be sure it's going to record your programs, or work for your wife/kids when you're not home. When this happens, you need to power cycle the Symbio, and it'll connect right back up. However, that would be easier if it had a power switch! You have to pull the plug to do it, which for most HT owners is a real pain to do.

I knew most of the stuff above before I bought it, but the connection reliability problem is a real killer for me. I'd recommend other solutions, but my friends who have local Cox cable's HD recorder tell me that it's even worse. Best bet is to wait 2-3 generations of these products for all the bugs to be worked out.

Buy Symbio 160HD4 Audio/Video Hard Drive (AVHD) Recorder Now

I'm very disappointed with this product. Toshiba has said that the Symbio only works with new Toshiba TV's that are HD ready--thus encouraging the purchase of these TV's. BUT . . .the Symbio can only record future programs if the Toshiba TV is able to download TV Guide listings---and they can't!!!

Toshiba customer service acknowledges the problem and claims that the issue has been identified to "the head office". Not good enough for those who have spent thousands on the Symbio and the HD-ready tv. Toshiba will need to fix this asap or face a massive recall obligation.

Beware!

Read Best Reviews of Symbio 160HD4 Audio/Video Hard Drive (AVHD) Recorder Here

Don't believe Toshiba's disclaimer, which misleadingly says "Toshiba Symbio AVHD recorder model 160HD4 is compatible only with Toshiba Integrated HD television models 51H94, 57H94, 51HX94, 57HX94, 46HM94, 52HM94, 62HM94, 52HMX94, and 62HMX94." I am using my Toshiba Symbio 160HD4 with my Sharp Aquos LC45GD7U set which has TV Guide on Screen and i.Link support with DTCP copy protection so I can record all digital cable channels received including encrypted premium channels decoded using the CableCARD installed in my Sharp TV set by local cable company (Time Warner). The Toshiba 169HD4 works fine with my TV set, with full capability to record and play digital TV from both broadcast and all my cable channels including premium channels. Setup is trivial, plug it in and run the included firewire cable to the TV. The 160HD4 device has no controls of its own, not even a power switch. Scheduling recordings is done via the Sharp TV set's built in TV Guide on Screen (TVGOS), which receives program listings *free* from my local cable company (Time Warner). To playback, I use the Sharp TV remotes 'i.Link' button to popup a control window, select the recording to play, and push play. Easy.

The main drawbacks of using the 160HD4 with the Sharp Aquos LC45GD7U set that I have noticed are:

(1) TVGOS filenames for recordings are not assigned by the Sharp TV's TVGOS, so it can be hard to figure out which recording is which.

(2) Unlike the Toshiba TV sets, the Sharp's remote controller does not have dedicated buttons for controlling 160HD4, which means that one has to use the virtual buttons in the i.Link popup window on the Sharp TV set. Still, this is not much of a handicap, as the Sharp's popup virtual buttons seem easy to use.

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I purchased this along with my 62HMX95 about 6 months ago, when I first started using it I had a lot of issues with the audio not getting recorded, so much I called toshiba and got an RMA, needless to say the problem seems to have taken care of itself and unless the drive fills up, I dont have any problems with its operation at all which is to say, not much! It records and plays and thats about it, you can fast forward/reverse and jump a few minutes in either direction at a time and pause, but if you want to use your TV while recording, forget it. The lack of a tuner prohibits it. Also, Toshiba claims it will slow-forward/reverse, the unit i have doesn't!

I read a few of the reviews and one guy stated the only way to terminate a recording was to pull the plug, thats not the case, if the show is recording, simply press the record button on the remote and wait a few seconds for it to stop. I've only had to unplug the unit 3-4 times in the 6 months I've used it and that was related to filling up the drive and losing the audio...

Would I buy it again? If i could find another unit that could pull the TV Guide from the cable without an additional monthly fee, had the same simply one button recording, no... But since I haven't found one that meets my needs yet, i bought a 2nd off EBay!

For those of you curious, the drive is a standard 160G IDE drive, easy to replace. I haven't tried a larger drive yet but thats next on my list after the second unit arrives....

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Polaroid Digital Voice Recorder (PDR302BLK)

Polaroid Digital Voice RecorderI used this recorder for a few days maybe 15 hours of recording total before the record button stopped functioning. Now when I press Record it functions as the Stop button.

The recording quality was decent, the included instructions on paper were poor, but there are better ones saved as a PDF on the recorder.

he recibido el producto y es muy util como herramienta de trabajo, facil de usaar y facil de manejar, interface sencilla

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Saturday, October 11, 2014

Mount-It! Wall Mounted AV Component Shelving System with 3 Adjustable Tempered Glass Shelves (Black)

Mount-It! Wall Mounted AV Component Shelving System with 3 Adjustable Tempered Glass Shelves
  • Designed for use with DVD players, HD recorders, cable boxes and other AV equipment
  • 3 Included Shelves are constructed out of tempered glass and are height adjustable
  • Saves space and neatly organizes your AV Equipment
  • Easy and Secure Installation
  • Weight Capacity: 17 lbs per shelf

It's okay, measure your system before purchasing I didn't and my receiver doesn't fit otherwise it is a good unit, nice and sturdy. Easy to to mount and get together, I just wish I measured beforehand oh well it holds everything else it needs to

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It's very easy to assemble and I've had my cable box and blue ray and other things on it for months. The only problem is that the rails to run your wires aren't that big. So when you run the power cables and TV cable and HDMI cable and ethernet cable, etc, they won't all fit.

Read Best Reviews of Mount-It! Wall Mounted AV Component Shelving System with 3 Adjustable Tempered Glass Shelves (Black) Here

Great deal on this shelf. Very sturdy. For the price you can't beat this thing. I'm probly going to get another one for another room. Why spend $100+ on one of these?

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good product but the shelf are a little small. everything else is great, it includes everything you will need to mount it on the wall. all you need is a screwdriver and a drill. shelves are secure with av components on top. only issue is that the hdmi cables on my dish receiver and bluray player are right in the middle where the mount is at so the units themselves stick out about half an inch. the reason i gave it four stars is because the cable concealer is pretty much useless since the only way it would work is to have the cables go directly into the wall. but still at 40 dollars you just cant beat this.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Honeywell Ademco 5883H Wireless Receiver w/ High Encryption

Honeywell Ademco 5883H Wireless Receiver w/ High EncryptionThe 5883H is a combination transmitter (which must be enabled with dipswitch 6) and a high capacity receiver for ademco systems. For $100, it's a great deal, but it also enables the system to be expanded into the wireless keypad (see my review 5839 Wireless Bi-Directional Alpha Keypad). The wireless keypad mimics all the features of the wired keypad when plugged into a wall outlet or can be run on a 9V battery. With a full 2 line alpha display it informs you of all actions happening on your system.

The ONLY way to use a full alpha wireless keypad is to have a 5883H wireless tranceiver setup in your system, so that makes this unit special. It combines a 5800TM with a H series 5800 receiver into one product and increases value by so doing.

Note: You must put your system into "walk test" mode before programming your new keypad otherwise it will not register with the panel. You must also setup a keypad ID for the wireless keypad and program it on the panel as a full alpha 2 line keypad. Exit the walk test mode to complete the entry of the keypad.

The price offered here is 50% off the retail pricing.

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Saturday, August 9, 2014

Motion Sensor Nanny Spy Hidden Covert Camera Video & Audio Recorder DVR with Built-in Color Pinhole

Motion Sensor Nanny Spy Hidden Covert Camera Video & Audio Recorder DVR with Built-in Color Pinhole Surveillance Spy Camera motion detection, Wi-fi n, Recording & Remote Internet AccessI looked at hundreds of hidden cameras, eventually I decided to go with this one.

I needed support connecting the camera wirelessly, I called support and the helped set it up.

The camera is doing all I needed, its adjustable, the video is very sharp, and the audio quality is very clear.

Shipping was fast, well packed, included manual with pictures and CD with programs.

First I had to use the cable for initial configuration (my router doesn't have WPS for fast wireless configuration).

WIFI is fast and I can see 30 frames per second.

Definitely going to purchase additional unit for the basement.

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I now have 3 of them installed around the house.

I am able to view all 3 cameras simultaneously in real time.

The box arrived with simple step by step instructions with pictures.

The motion detection device looks like a regular one I have for the alarm system.

What I liked in the first place is that its Wi-Fi wireless, I didn't want to worry about installing cables all over the house.

This model has night vision, I can watch the kids room from my iPhone without leaving bed at night.

Over all exactly what I needed.

Read Best Reviews of Motion Sensor Nanny Spy Hidden Covert Camera Video & Audio Recorder DVR with Built-in Color Pinhole Here

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Digitac/Jazz Video Recorder with Camera, Color LCD, YouTube/Facebook/Flickr Ready - Black

Digitac/Jazz Video Recorder with Camera, Color LCD, YouTube/Facebook/Flickr Ready - BlackI paid less than $20 for this camera, so I did not expect much as far as quality. I was therefore extremely surprised by the decent picture as well as video quality. I would recommend this to everyone (especially people who, like myself, place a premium on high value [quality to price ratio] products).

Way to ruin Easter, Jazz. I bought two of these to put in Easter baskets. One works, one's battery compartment was in total disrepair and the battery wire connection was completely torn.

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It comes with a carrying case, and you need to purchase the SD card, and 2 AA Alkaline batteries. Will possibly give an update after the holidays to give you the quality of the pics and video.

Read Best Reviews of Digitac/Jazz Video Recorder with Camera, Color LCD, YouTube/Facebook/Flickr Ready - Black Here

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Shure SRH750DJ Professional Quality DJ Headphones (Gold)

Shure SRH750DJ Professional Quality DJ Headphones
  • Frequency range = 5Hz - 30,000 Hz
  • 10ft coiled detachable cable provides plenty of length and easy storage and replacement
  • Replaceable ear cup pads and a second set of pads included in the package ensure long product life
  • Includes a carrying pouch and threaded ¼-Inch adapter

First off let me say I own the Shure 440 and 840, I am not fond of either of them. I find their sound to be too powerful and harsh, especially their bass. People claim it to be accurate, but how can this be if nearly everyone agrees the Bass on them both is just incredibly powerful and too harsh at times. Thankfully, Shure listened to its buyers and made the SRH750DJ. Out of the box they sound okay, nothing special. However after 50 hours of burn in, everything improved drastically. Like the difference between night and day. This set is geared for listening to music, where as the 440 and 840 are really not meant for that, they are monitors, meant to pick out subtle abnormalities in music track editing, like static and pops and such. The 750DJ is purely geared for musical experience, even though the box says they are monitors, too. Sure they can be used as that, as any headphone set can, but they are a total 180 degree turn from the 840.

They come with extra ear pads, which i am sorry to say right out of the box are incredibly uncomfortable. They are stiff and hard, but after some usage and clamping them onto a box or something for a day or two, they break in and become very comfortable. I was incredibly worried about the circular design of the earcups not fitting my ears. By the looks of things, the cups seemed pretty small in comparison to the 840 and 440...they are smaller, but totally circular but still fully over my ears. The downside to this is that my ears have a fraction of an inch clearance, almost no space left, my ears just fit. They are DJ headphones anyway, really meant to be slung down on your neck and have 1 earcup pressed up against your ear. So I suppose it wasnt meant to support average sized peoples heads and fully cover their ears...either that or i am a freak and my ears are huge, which they dont appear to be.

The 750s are comparable to the Denon D1001. The sound is similar, just bigger and more powerful all around, with MUCH more bass. And I mean it...much more. Enough to melt your face off if you wanted and had the right EQ. The bass is nothing like the 440 or 840, not even remotely. Its clean and beautiful and not at all harsh even on heavy bass tracks. They can handle high outputs of power, but remain easily driven by my sansa fuze without a problem. Doesnt sound as nice through my sansa as it does amped of course, but still, i am incredibly impressed with their ability to sound that nice and powerful via an mp3 player with no amp at all. The 440 and 840 fail miserably with no amp. The 750dj pass with flying colors. The Denons are more comfortable without question. But in the near future I expect the 750djs to become superior after sufficient burn in and usage. My denon D1001 and Shure 440/840 are no good for acoustic jazz or classical. Their soundstage is pretty awful for those genres of music. However, the 750DJs can power through nearly every type of genre i toss at it and still sound just awesome. This is something anyone with the above models in their inventory will recognize immediately. "Whoa, they sound great with my Superman the Movie soundtrack!!!" AWESOME! While the soundstage is just not as broad as the 840, is improved on the 440 and flat out KO'ed the Denon d1001. Thats not even fair to compare.

What bothers me is this fetish with stock cables and the bayonet locker. Like the 440 and 840, the cable is unique and twist-locks into place for security. I made a mistake in buying a 3.5mm to 3.5mm mini to mini 3 foot cable of my own to use instead of its stock coiled cable. Turns out its a requires a 2.5mm, not a standard mini. Back to radio shack i suppose, bothersome but understandable.

The headband is likely going to be modded very soon. It offers almost no support at all, and has s strange texture on the fabric. I've a buzz cut hairstyle and it kind of grinds on my head, and its really annoying. The clamp factor is pretty good, meaning they dont vice grip your head like some other headphones...coughcough 440/840,es7coughcough...They are somewhat heavy, but not the heaviest ive used.

The sound isolation is pretty good, id say 40% reduction. They tend to get hot, after all they are full sized over the ears and closed backs...you cannot avoid this.

Overall they are a fantastic buy. HIGHLY recommended if you want to buy via Shure. In my humbled opinion, the Shure 750DJ are an overall better choice for the budget of $100-150. The Denon D1001 was king of closed backs for around $100-150, now hail the new king SRH750dj!!! live long, and prosper!

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If my experience is any indicator, this model should be recalled.

The plastic is weaker than that of a child's toy.

It cracked in FOUR places during the first three weeks of normal use.

Korean warranty was no help, so I've appealed to the US SHURE Office for assistance,

since I bought it from an official reseller.

Will update with response.

Best sounding phones I've ever owned.

UPDATE: Free Warranty Service fixed the headband and I BELIEVE replaced the problematic plastic with something stronger. Not confirmed. They feel stronger.

Ask for free replacement if they break under normal conditions like mine did.

Read Best Reviews of Shure SRH750DJ Professional Quality DJ Headphones (Gold) Here

The Shure 750DJ headphones are the top model in Shure's line targetting toward professional DJ use....that is, people that make their bucks spinning music that you want to dance to at your next party.

Disclaimer: I am not a DJ, so I won't try to speak for the professionals. I did buy this headphone just to try out because I already gave an excellent review for their monitor series SRH840 model and I was wanted to see how this differs from that offering. This headphone is meant for DJ use, and I did talk to a couple of people who have done some DJ'ing and offered me some perspectives on what they look out for:

Ability to withstand the rigors of use. These headphones are a tool, so it has to be durable, withstanding some accidental abuse, and is easily transportable to the venue. These headphones do look sturdy enough, there are no parts that will snap easily, the replaceable cable uses a bayonet locking mechanism and is detachable. The headband can be manhandled and bent and it doesn't lose its shape easily. The headphone comes with extra ear cushions, and there is a vinyl bag that keeps everything together. The headphone folds into a compact shape, swinging upward into the headband area.

Fit. These headphones clamp onto your headphone nice and securely, especially for one sided listening (you have swung the other earpiece off one ear to monitor). However, for regular listening, I found that on my size 7 3/4 head, even at maximum extension, they are borderline too small for my head, the earcup arms need more extension range. For extended listening, my head did feel a bit irritated due pretty tight clamping force. Grade = Bbecause they are a bit too tight on my big head.

Sound isolation. These are good in that they block up to 30dB of sound in the treble range, and around 15dB in the midrange. They don't filter anything below 200Hz. Grade = A-

Sound quality: These are definitely tailored toward DJ use as they have an noticeable emphasis in the bass. Their measurements show that the bass response is rock solid down into subwoofer territory of below even 20Hz. Response in the bass region of 20-200 Hz show that the response is elevated at least 10dB compared to the rest of the spectrum. So it's all about the bass here. The bass quality is quite decent, no obvious resonances, and because of the elevated response, bass is clear and omnipresent at all times, which is important in any loud venue. For general listening, the bass did seem to drown out the vocals significantly. In the upper ranges, treble is well controlled and almost a bit too laid back, there is a slight dullness to the shimmering of cymbals. The whole frequency spectrum is represented well enough, and except for the obvious bass centric sound, everything is basically there. Grade B+ for DJ use. For a general use music headphone other than pop or dance music, I suggest you look at the Shure SRH840

Build quality These headphones look great in pictures and from far away, they look like serious equipment, but they are pretty much all plastic and the metallic looking bits are just silver paint molded plastics. The joints and overall structure does creak a lot as you handle them. All in all, don't expect build quality that exceeds the price. Grade = B-

So all in all, these headphones do live up to their billing as DJ use tools. I think most people are better off with other more balanced headphones if you don't earn a living spinning vinyl.

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Let me just say, these headphones sound GREAT. Before these, I owned a pair of Bose Triport over-the-ear style headphones, and while the improvement is not worth ditching your old pair (except in my case: the Bose ones finally died after 3 years), there IS some added bass, which is great. Also loved is the detachable cord, and the swiveling ear cups.

The reason these don't get 5 stars is because the build quality and comfort just isn't all that. After about 50-60 hours of use, I can say that these are not as comfortable as the Bose, due to a much stiffer foam in the ear pads. Also, it is entirely made of plastic, which sometimes creaks when the headphones shift on your head. But my biggest complaint of all would be that the plastic on the adjustable piece on the sides cracked the first week! Nothing some super glue couldn't fix, but it's not something that bodes well for my experience with them down the road.

Overall, I wish I would have spent a bit more money and purchased some headphones with a better build quality. Luckily, the only category I'm not disappointed with is the sound quality, which I would say is the most important.

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These headphones broke in three months of casual use. The cheap plastic in the adjuster piece cracked and rendered the headphones useless. I'm going to have to deal with manufacture to get a replacement. Also the foam ear pieces fall off easily.

Monday, June 30, 2014

Aiptek MZ-DV-MPEG4 Camcorder with 3x Optical Zoom

Aiptek MZ-DV-MPEG4 Camcorder with 3x Optical ZoomI bought this camera for backpacking, where size and space is critical and any equipment is subject to harsh conditions so expensive cameras can be a bad idea.

My main computer is a Mac, so I had some reservations about the MZ-DV, since it uses Microsoft's proprietary ASF video format. That's right: it says "MPEG-4", and MPEG-4 is indeed based on QuickTime, but the MPEG-4 standard is implemented as more of a framework than a specific codec, so any vendor who doesn't like to play ball with open standards (sound like our friends in Redmond?) can make their own proprietary variants and it's left to the consumer to sort out the confusion.

Fortunately, I found a handy little software tool called EasyWMV which is dirt cheap and does a great job of easily converting ASF files for use on a Mac with any QuickTime-based program like iMovie.

And the photo format is JPEG, requiring no conversion at all to use on any computer.

I've only had the camera a couple days, but so far it seems a good value for what it does. With all of its features at such a low price it isn't best-of-breed with any one of them, but to have them all in one convenient device is pretty nifty, and the folks at Aiptek have done a competent job with this model.

The quality of low-light video is as reported by the others here: There is a low-light setting, and it's good for pictures but the video is indeed of much lower quality. But in all fairness, I've not seen any hybrid camcorder that didn't have similar issues. You'd have to go up in price and abandon other features if shooting in low-light conditions is important to you.

So far the only limitation I've seen is the one disclosed on the packaging: when mounted on a Mac, the camera acts as a read-only volume. This means you can't load MP3s into it, or use it as a portable drive. I've written Aiptek technical support on this, and if I learn anything useful I'll post it here. I also run Windows under Parallels, and have no trouble loading MP3s and other files into the camera from there.

But aside from the download limitation, everything else on the camera works a treat, with very intuitive controls that often provide multiple ways to change modes conveniently. And with EasyWMV, it's a breeze to use video from it on my MacBook.

I would rate it higher, at least a 4, if I was using Windows primarily. But even for Mac users, if you need something inexpensive that offers these features, I shopped around and couldn't find a better model.

I got this little gadget a few days ago and I love it. I think the negative reviews have come from people who were expecting too much. For a device that does so many different things, it does them pretty darn well. Granted, it isn't GREAT at any one thing, but, face it, you have to pay a lot more for ANY device that does even one thing "great." If you are looking for professional quality videos or photos, you will have to pay a "professional" price. If you are looking for an amazing little gadget that packs a lot of functions into one little package, look no further.

For what it's worth, I took great indoor video and photos, and the pictures came out just fine.

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This camcorder is terrible in just about every way:

Cons:

Unacceptably blurry video; the specs say it records at 640x480, but it looks more like 320x240 (if that!) blown up to VGA.

Noticeable aura around any dark shape on a lighter background.

Awful light sensitivity; forget about recording indoors--no matter how brightly the room is lit, faces will come out too dark. The built-in LED's don't help much (and not at all at distances over 4 feet from the subject).

Noisy zoom that gets picked up loud and clear by the microphone.

Zooming goes in irregular steps--completely useless while recording.

Video lags noticeably behind camera movement; when image stabilization is turned on, the lag becomes so atrocious that you can't tell when to stop panning--UTTERLY USELESS!

When using AV-in and AV-out cables, the firmware has frozen on me a couple of times; the only way to reset the camera was to remove the battery.

Video encoding (through the AV-in cable) produces an unacceptably noisy and undersaturated result.

The LCD display has a very narrow viewing angle; anything more than about 10% and you can't make out a thing.

Still photos taken at the native 5MP resolution come out strangely grainy and uneven--something like a "sharpen" effect gone wrong. I can get better looking pictures with my 2MP Canon Powershot A40 camera.

The manual recommends keeping the camera motionless for 2-3 seconds AFTER snapping a picture (that's on top of the 3-4 seconds it takes the thing to focus BEFORE it snaps); but you can't keep THE SUBJECT from moving, folks! Welcome to the psychedelic land of image trails...

Flash photos come out with wildly different color balance depending on the color of the background.

The manual is a sorry affair--only 17 pages long and doesn't go much beyond identifying external controls and menu options.

I could go on and on, but I'll stop now, as you probably get the picture...

Pros:

The camera body seems sturdily built; the controls also have a sturdy feel to them, as do the battery and the USB port covers. Hmm... it's the only nice thing I can think to say about it.

Maybe a child (think pre-teen) could find this "camcorder" exciting as a toy, but I don't see how it can be enough even for an undemanding person looking to capture occasional life's moments on video.

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All I wanted when I bought this camera was something easy to use every now and then, sadly this camera fails so bad that I'm looking for something new now. I go to conventions every now and then and like to snap shots while there, however this becomes an issue with this particular camera. It may be that I'm not doing something (even though I've fiddled with all the controls) anyway when trying to film in areas with lots of people the video comes out awful. The camera attempts to focus on everything or something and you end up with all these blurs of light moving around on screen.

Then if you try to take stationary pictures your target must remain perfectly still or there will be a blurred effect to the picture. Another annoying thing about the pictures is how long it takes to take a single one. First you have to wait for the camera to focus, then you must hold down the button for a second or two, THEN after the camera makes the sound to let you know the picture is taken you must keep the camera aimed at your target or it will blur. If you are trying to take a picture of someone who is in a hurry good luck keeping them still that long.

I didn't expect this camera to be top of the line and ignored the bad reviews because of it's cheap price, however I seriously wish I had spent the extra money for an overall better camera, the only plus for this thing is that it's durable and easy to carry.

Want Aiptek MZ-DV-MPEG4 Camcorder with 3x Optical Zoom Discount?

For starters, 5+ stars to Amazon for delivering this in about 14 hours (literally) when I opted for 2-day shipping. I'm going on vacation in a week and speed was of the essence.

This is my first experience with a "hybrid" camera so I had no preconceptions.

Appearance: Sleek. High tech. So intuitive I barely opened the manual (which is good because, while at least being in English (with proper grammar and everything!), it's about as bare-bones as you can get). Attractive graphics on the menu screens with buttons/icons logically placed for maximum ease of use. And so compact -I've seen bigger cellphones.

Performance: The still photos are acceptable quality to me. There is the annoying delay between shutter press and release (and true, your hand can't move a millimeter in that time). I like how the still camera and video camera operate in the same mode (different buttons) so no need to switch back and forth in between.

Video. Well for this price, as others have noticed, the videos aren't exactly high-def. If you're in full sunlight they're more than acceptable (to me). Only minor complaint is the constant auto-focusing that can be heard on the video, but again, at this price for taking simple, fun videos I didn't have high expectations.

Lower light does create the annoying trails with movement, and this is where I encountered my first real problem: With the Night Shot feature enabled (which doesn't remove the trails, but makes the difference between normal quality and a "Ghost Hunters" effect), the camera started freezing every time I stopped recording. When it didn't freeze, the videos it did create appeared blank on the camera, and showed up on the computer but without sound (please don't stop reading at this point though).

I emailed and called tech support, desperate for a simple solution before my trip. Email was a waste of time, but I did speak to a person on the phone. He made a few (unsuccessful) suggestions, told me sending it in for repair would take much longer than the week I had before my trip, but assured me I could wait until after the trip to do so. I figured I would just shoot in daylight so I would at least have a camera.

After experimenting a lot, I made some discoveries of my own: My previous attempts were on an A-Data "turbo" SDHC and a Kingston regular SD card. Using a Hewlett Packard SDHC "high-speed" card, the problem seemed to resolve -as long as I made sure to aim the camera somewhere stationary when I stopped recording. My theory is trying to simultaneously auto-focus and stop recording probably overwhelms the camera (or the card? These aren't top-of-the-line cards as I didn't want to spend tons of money if it didn't work out). It's the best I can come up with, having no experience, but at least I know if I HAVE to record in lower light it's not completely impossible.

The biggest reason I chose the MZ-DV was for the media player. It seemed like the perfect way to travel light and still bring along videos to watch on the plane. This is what makes this camera exciting. Getting the computer file to the camera is involved, but well worth it. (Again, this was learned through dogged trial-and-error, the manual is purely decorative): It has to be converted to an .asf type, which can be done with the handy bundled software. You also can't rename the file, it has to stay in the "CLIP0001" etc. format -a bit of a pain for locating later, but those are the rules. I needed tech support again for this revelation, but I was just so happy to get it working I didn't really care. Then you drag and drop into the removable drive/DCIM/100MEDIA folder and voila! Instant portable DVD player.

Recording from a DVD is much easier, though takes longer since obviously it has to be done in real time. Just the fact that it's possible is pretty thrilling.

Watching the video isn't trouble-free. I've noticed if you attempt to fast-forward or rewind you lose audio/video synchronization, and of course any kind of "resume from last stop" feature is too much to expect for this price. Last night I realized using the camera's external speakers also results in audio/visual mismatch, but using headphones fixes it. Quite a quirky machine (perhaps too quirky for some).

I haven't tried the mp3 player yet, I'm more of a video fan. If that disappoints, it's not like my iPod Nano takes up so much luggage space.

The battery life seems respectable. I played with it off and on for at least a couple of days before it ran out. It took awhile to recharge (about 3 hours). I don't know if that will go down over time, but spares are pretty cheap from the manufacturer's site (aiptek.com).

The bundled software is half useless (ArcSoft PhotoImpression and Muvee autoProducer), 1/4 useful (ArcSoft Media Card Companion for extracting files to the computer) and 1/4 essential (ArcSoft Media Converter, for converting files to the correct format to use in the camera).

Customer service: Very satisfactory. I had to sit on hold to get one, but both times they were very helpful and friendly. I think it's a little rare these days to even get a person when dealing with off-brand products.

Conclusion: For the price, the versatility of this camera repeatedly amazes me. Playing with it and figuring out all that it can do is extremely fun. "Fun" is the operative word here. I wouldn't use this to film someone's wedding professionally (or your child's first steps, just in case). But for a couple of days in the Big Apple with not much luggage space, I think this is just about the perfect machine.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Q-See 4 CH Security Camera Package QT504-440-5]

Q-See 4 CH Security Camera Package QT504-440-5]I am satisfied so far with the security system. I especially like the infra red at night. I can see about 70 ft with no issues. The resolution is good as well. Easy set up and customer service was very helpful

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Zmodo ZMD-DD-SBN4 4-Channel Full D1 Standalone DVR (Silver)

Zmodo ZMD-DD-SBN4 4-Channel Full D1 Standalone DVRThe DVR is pretty good, does everything it states. However, unlike another Zmodo dvr i have, it requires you to open 4 ports on the firewall for connecting thru the internet (web, command, media streaming, mobile), and I have hard time finding a Windows Phone 8 mobile app to connect to the dvr. I have no problem using an app to connect to the other DVR, but not this one.

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Motorola V555 Unlocked Cell Phone--U.S. Version with Warranty (Silver)

Motorola V555 Unlocked Cell Phone--U.S. Version with Warrantyi love this phone its simple to opperate, very durable great camera/ video recording. easy to text message. blue tooth. very hi tech but easy to use over all the best phone i have ever owned

NEW Digital Voice Recorder (Home & Portable Audio)

NEW Digital Voice RecorderIt replaced an older Olympus unit that served me well for about six years then died a sudden death. I like the VN8000PC much better because its screen is clearer and it has five channels instead of four in the old unit. I also appreciate the PC compatibility.

I do miss the calendar function of the old unit, but with cell phones having that function available, it is not a major issue.

I use the VN-81000PC primarily as a reminder type, as I am old enough to have become forgetful. It is a wonderful tool and I recommend it heartily to anyone who has a need for a reminder or even to record meetings. Its sound pickup features have been much improved over the years. I like the pouch that comes with it, it allows me to hang the unit around my neck so I will have it always with me even if I am not wearing something with pockets.Olympus VN-8100PC Digital Voice Recorder 142600 (Silver and Black)

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Sony DCRTRV260 Digital8 Handycam Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom

Sony DCRTRV260 Digital8 Handycam Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoomwell let me start off by saying i am not a family guy, i bought this camera purely for college, meaning alot of night shots, alot of abuse and other things related to college...of course being in college price was a big deal since i am always broke.

i got this camera at a very good price ($275) and so far the camera is proved it's worthyness! i've taken it everywhere outdoors, indoors, sports events, race track use, etc etc.

The night shot is very useful and it works very well and the easycam option enables me to do everything with the touch of one ot two buttons.

it is not backward compatible true, but i don't have any older tapes from an older camera. This camera is therefore perfect for a first time camcorder user who wants price, functionalty and quality all in one.

all in all it is a very good camcorder

This model is NOT backward compatible with old analogue Hi8 tapes. That feature is not available until the 460. I was told at the store that it does, but I was not able to make it happen, and the people at Sony confirmed that it does NOT play old tapes.

So, if you need to be able to play them, you'll have to spend the extra $50 and buy the 460.

Buy Sony DCRTRV260 Digital8 Handycam Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom Now

This camcorder is a great deal for the price. It has excellent night shot capabilities as well as a built in light that works great outdoors. It's lightweight and fits nicely in the palm of your hand. Great buy!

Read Best Reviews of Sony DCRTRV260 Digital8 Handycam Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom Here

This has proven easy to use, and it does a great job of capturing memories, including sound, and even does a good job in low light conditions.

I bought an extended battery and recommend doing so with this or any other recorder. However, as others indicated, this unit doesn't seem greedy for power.

Recently, I searched the net and found a shareware program, which allowed me to load the tapes straight to my hard drive using the same cable I use for my Cannon Rebel (USB) and other devices. From there, it's just a matter of learning the ropes and editing according to my preferences.

I gave this four stars only because there are better cameras out there. However, for the price, this one is hard to beat.

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I have a DCRTRV280 camera that I had some trouble with, so I wanted to replace it with a refurbished model. The 260 is the immediate predecessor of the 280. The units are very similar in all ways but two. The 280 has a record and stop button (and you can focus on this screen) on the mini picture screen; for the 260 you must use two other adjustments. Both cameras (for me) give excellent pictures, even if the lighting is not perfect. I like being able to rewind a recorded scene and view it immediately. Also you can hook directly up to a TV and see it (the cords are provided for a direct link to TV). The 260 is not the easiest to use for recording and focusing, but you learn quickly if you read the manual. (That's why I only gave it three stars for ease of use.) Both units are quality Sony, but I like the refurbished for the 90 day warranty. The battery that comes with the unit will hold up for at least an hour (the amount of time for the tape length). Buying a better or extra battery is also an option, and the batteries are pretty reasonable if you check around the net.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Pure Digital PSV-351 30 Minute Point-and-Shoot Camcorder

Pure Digital PSV-351 30 Minute  Point-and-Shoot CamcorderAny less-than-5-star reviews of this camcorder that were written during Summer 2006 simply miss the point of the device. The Pure Digital Point and Shoot camcorder is one of the most easy-to-use electronic devices I have ever used. With only 6 buttons (on/off, play, delete, zoom in/out, backward/forward, and stop/pause) one is able to digitally record and save events with the greatest of ease. Very little instructional material is packaged with this device because it is simply not needed. Coming complete with batteries, I was able to start recording immediately out-of-the-box. For the price and convenience currently only $130 and virtually no setup time for recording spontaneous events the Point and Shoot camcorder simply cannot be beat. There are two drawbacks to this device: memory and image quality. With only 512MB of unexpandable memory, the device only stores 30 minutes of footage. However, downloading footage to your PC or laptop is incredibly easy as the device has a built-in USB port that connects directly with no additional cabling needed. After downloading footage to computer, the memory can be cleared from the device and recording can resume. Image quality is decent but not great. If capturing life events on a budget is all that is needed, you will not regret purchasing this camcorder. Please be aware that according to a recent Wall Street Journal review, Pure Digital has licensed its technology to other firms, which are expected to release similar products with greater quality and features in the future in my opinion it is probable that such products might be introduced to the marketplace as soon as Christmas 2006. If you cannot wait, however, $130 is a small price to pay to be an early adopter of such technology.

This is a nifty little unit that functions exactly as billed. It might be considered a "fast food" version of a camcorder. The video quality is acceptable -MPEG4 resolution which is roughly equivalent to VHS. But where it shines is the simple user interface. If you want to capture a moment quickly, you can be shooting within 20 seconds. And you can email a brief 20 second clip in 90 seconds after shooting it (assuming your computer is in the same room!). The controls are simple, with nothing to set, and it's much simpler than trying to shoot video with your digital still camera. You can use Nero 6.6 or 7 to burn your videos to a DVD or a VCD. The zoom lens is digital, not optical, so there is a noticeable decrease in quality when you use it. And the little built in microphone doesn't have much range. But given the price, this gizmo can't be beat. I loved mine so much, I bought 2 more as birthday gifts for friends.

Buy Pure Digital PSV-351 30 Minute Point-and-Shoot Camcorder Now

If you need something simple to record life's daily events, this is what you have been looking for. Very easy to use, bright colors, outstanding audio. You can take the camera into an "authorized reseller" and have your full memory transferred to a DVD (for a price, of course) or you can save your videos directly to your computer. There is 512 megabytes of built in memory, so you can do the math as to how many 30 minute videos you can save. Of course, you can also burn your own DVD's then remove the saved videos from your computer.

I had some big problems trying to dump the video off the camera onto my HP laptop. The built in software created error messages, and couldn't load onto the computer. The camera would turn off in the middle of transferring the video (after I FINALLY got the software loaded). I never did get the laptop to accept the camera. I emailed the company and, as of this writing four days later, never got a response. I solved my own problem by trying the camera with my desktop PC and everything went perfectly.

The software is very easy to use and transfers are quick. When you finish, you can easily delete the video(s) off the camera.

Battery life seems to be okay. I haven't used up the orginal set, but I haven't shot that much video yet (although I spent a LOT of time trying to get the camera to play nice with my laptop).

Bottom line: if you buy the camera you will like it; if you have troubles, don't expect any help from PureDigital!

Read Best Reviews of Pure Digital PSV-351 30 Minute Point-and-Shoot Camcorder Here

I always felt that Pure Digital would make a permanent camcorder like the single-use camcorder that they supply to CVS and Rite-Aid, selling for $29.95. So don't buy the single-use camcorder version because you won't get the camcorder back. The single-use one has only 20 minutes recording time. Buy this camcorder for $98.00 and it will pay for itself. Considering the low price, this little camcorder is an excellent buy!

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The Pure Digital Point and Shoot digital camcorder is the easiest camera I've used since the old days of Kodak box cameras. Results are excellent and the camera is virtually foolproof. Even my wife, who is technologically challenged, has made excellent vidoes with this compact jewel. We are looking forward to using it on an Alaska cruise in September. The only drawback, so far, is the warning not to use rechargeable batteries. It seems the same AA batteries I use in my digital still camera should function just as well in this camcorder. I would also like to be able to insert a larger capacity chip for more than 30 minutes recording time.

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Thursday, April 3, 2014

VideoSecu Hi Res CCD IR Day Night Indoor Outdoor Security Infrared Color Bullet Camera with Free Se

VideoSecu Hi Res CCD IR Day Night Indoor Outdoor Security Infrared Color Bullet Camera with Free Security Warning DeCal 1QFThe day vision is pretty good but when night vision kicks on forget about it! At night the picture is whitewashed and foggy. You can see a little but not enough for piece of mind. Maybe I got a lemon I don't know. The best low budget camera that works the best for me is the Videosecu 1WX (VD21). This camera has great night vision and the image is clear.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Campro Low Profile Triple Hot Shoe Light and Sound Bracket

Campro Low Profile Triple Hot Shoe Light and Sound BracketWhen the item arrived I was impressed by the build, it didn't look like much much in the photos but it's quite thick and feels more solid than bar designs that do this stuff. Remember you have a little less in the way of options for mounting (ie a microphone MUST go on top if it has shock mounts or it won't sit right (I have a Rode VideoMic Pro), and the monitor will most likely need another small arm to get it the way you want if you use it as suggested. I turned it sideways, so there was one shoe mount on top, one on front, one on the back, my monitors included little arm went into the back and now hangs over the viewfinder of my Canon 5dm2, which is perfect, and of course can be swiveled up and down. It seems to lock the mic and monitor in very well, will only say you need to screw it on TIGHT or it may swing left or right a bit, needs more traction, or maybe I've put too much weight on it. The other advantage over the bar or V style is everything stays close to the camera, less leverage ripping at the hotshoe, which is why I have this and the bar type but use this now.

I would recommend. Well built and a life saver.. Used this to mount my Zoom H1 along with two Nanguag 5400K LED Video light lamps

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I couldn't be any happier with the fabulous service from HD Toys. Everything arrived on-time (or early) and works perfect! 5-Star service from this company and I of course would purchase further items (and plan to) without giving it a second thought. I trust HD Toys.

Read Best Reviews of Campro Low Profile Triple Hot Shoe Light and Sound Bracket Here

As others have noted, this item is very well built and well thought out. I use it for my camcorder, attaching an Azden shotgun and a Sony wireless receiver. Due to the 90 degree mounting setup, everything fits without interference. Only caveat is that with heavy items attached, you probably cannot screw the mounting attachment down tightly enough to keep the unit from swiveling during use. I used some break-free Loctite on the threads and everything is now stable and works like a charm.

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This does exactly what you want it to do, and it's very durable. I had to take off one star becase the bottom mount (which connects it to the camera) can be a little frustrating, where it's difficult to fully tighten it without twisting the whole thing (so the lights, mic or whatever you're mounting are point to the side). It can be done, though, so it's a very handy piece for a good price. But if you're trying to prep quickly for a real tight shoot, don't be surprised to find yourself cursing at this thing before you get it all mounted properly.

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Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Dish Network 612 Dual Tuner Hd DVR Receiver

Dish Network 612 Dual Tuner Hd DVR ReceiverWe own a Samsung PN50A550 Plasma HDTV. When you drive a "cadillac" you don't go cheap with the peripherals; you get good quality. Anyway, we have the DISH Total HD package; nothing but HD bliss. I ordered the 612 to replace the HD receiver that we had that wasn't a DVR as well. We couldn't be more pleased. Great HD/DVR receiver at an Amazon price. My wife loves being able to pause live TV and come back to it after breaks. She also loves to be able to instantly rewind show dialog that she didn't get the first time to hear it again. The DVR HD recording is flawless; no HD quality loss whatsoever. Highly recommend however please note the 612 is only good for one TV. DISH does have other HD receivers that will work for more than one TV in the house.

Should add that you can also rent on a monthly basis this receiver from DISH but at the low Amazon price that I was able to score this at I should have it paid for in a short time. The flip side is that if you rent and anything happens to it DISH will just exchange it. I'd rather own it and pocket the savings; why give it to someone else.

This thing puts out more heat than you can imagine. And it has a fan constantly running to keep it "cool". Forget having a quiet living room. This thing is far out the worst piece of AV equipment I have ever owned. Did I mention when you turn it "off" all it does is turn the front panel LEDs off. The fan is still going, the power is still being used, the heat is still there.

Buy Dish Network 612 Dual Tuner Hd DVR Receiver Now

I have only had this receiver for two days from a new DISH install, but I feel I must post a review here since I was apalled at the low ratings others left. I actually was looking for a diagram/picture of the rear panel layout before the system was installed to get an idea of what I would be getting when the system did arrive and saw it here. When I saw the low ratings and read them, I immediately felt that "buyer's remorse" feeling thinking I would be getting a horrible piece of equipment. When the installer showed up, I immediately asked him about reliability/performance of the unit, and he thought it was one that had the least complaints and one that had some of the better features to date. To the contrary of what most have stated here so far, I found the unit to work quite well. Maybe that will change with time, but so far I haven't noticed any of the deficiencies others have mentioned. The unit responds quickly, doesn't lose any frames that I can tell, hasn't locked up, nor has it rebooted at all. Another reviewer said the unit would shut off after 4 hours but it is supposed to do that under the default settings and that can be adjusted or turned off. As far as power usage, I don't think this unit is any worse than others that are out there. It would be nice to have it completely power down when it's off, but it does still need to be active to get updates such as the guide and record programs that are pending. I'm sure there is some room here for improvement with power management, but I wouldn't consider it a show stopper (pardon the pun) when compared the rest out there. I found the noise level to be hardly noticable from even a foot away from the unit, and I can't hear anything from it in the room even when everything is off and certainly not when the TV is on. I guess some people are just unlucky or overly picky about stuff (or from the competition?) Hope this review helps others dismiss some of the bad impressions I got when I read these reviews. Again, so far I find it to be decent product.

Read Best Reviews of Dish Network 612 Dual Tuner Hd DVR Receiver Here

We are on our second one of these and feel sad that we are stuck in a contract with this model. It freezes daily, which is especially bad when another show was recording at the time and now we can't watch it. Every time I invite friends over to watch a Pay Per View I picture them all staring at the TV in disbelief when it locks up midstream and there's no way to find out what just happened because we'll have to spend 5 to 10 minutes rebooting the system and missing the PPV we just spent $55.00 on.

We're told by Dish Network that to use another model DVR costs $200 plus monthly fee, and that's TO RENT, not to buy. They're obviously aware of the problem based on the other reviews you'll find on this model.

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I have been through 5 612s, and they all have handshake issues with my Pioneer elite sc-07 and my Yamaha YSP-3000. and when you call dish network, they have no idea what I am talking about. I also have a 622 receiver, that I have been happy with.....

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Everio/hd Share Station Portable DVD Burner

Everio/hd Share Station Portable DVD BurnerThis is an awesome product. I purchased the JVC Everio camcorder and the software to download it to a DVD from the computer came with it. However, not being very computer savy, I struggled and struggled with it. I finally talked my husband into purchasing the DVD burner and within 15 minutes I had the DVD made of our son's Army basic training graduation. Well worth it! I wish I would have purchased it with the camera as it would have saved two days of frustration. It's as simple as connecting the camera to the burner and selecting what to burn and pushing the start button! I highly recommend it.

Very user friendly, no need for a computer, attach to your camcorder via USB cord. For those of us not very computer savvy, will save time & frustration. Takes about 30 min. to burn a 60 min.DVD. Not limited to JVC Everio, ex: can be used as an external DVD Burner for your PC. Small & sleek in design. Amazon has the best price out there. Can't go wrong.

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This portable DVD burner is so easy I was able set it up in 5 mins attach it to my video recorder and burn my sons play in less than 30 mins. Then removed the DVD and put it in my DVD player and watched his play. EXCELLANT product and sooo easy. IN ADDITION, YES it does come with a USB 2.0 cable attached to the burner. I read a few reviews that said the burner did not come with a USB cable and you need to purchase one (which I did) but there was one attached to the burner. I recommend this product to any one who likes ease to their life.

Read Best Reviews of Everio/hd Share Station Portable DVD Burner Here

This product works good, but everyone should know

that you cannot select the quality of the dvd you are recording.

If you recorded your video in high quality then that is what it will record onto the dvd. So that means for the HDD setting I had mine on 1 dvd was only good for 1 hour of video.

One last thing I haven't figured out yet how to get the date on the video. It is on the camera when you play it back on it, but when you burn the dvd the date is just on the menu and not on the actual video like the old cameras did.

Overall this product works good and I would buy it again.

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I bought this product with high hopes....We have owned our JVC Hard Disk Camcorder for many years now & rarely use it because it is SO difficult to make a movie from it on our computer. The camera is a major source of frustration for me because of this.

When I saw this share station & the good reviews I immediately bought it. Unfortunately, it is NOT compatible with my JVC HDD. Be sure to check the model number on your camera BEFORE ordering or you, too, may be dissapointed. This is just another reason I can't stand my JVC HDD!

As a side note I returned this product to the day after I received it & it took them TWO WEEKS to process my refund. I thought that was a bit long, compared to other sites.

CIB K808AV500G8753-4 8CH Network Security Surveillance KIT w/ Four CCD Camera...

CIB K808AV500G8753-4 8CH Network Security Surveillance KIT w/ Four CCD Camera...This company is eager to please. Questions I had and sent via e-mail were answered same day. A few days later I received a phone call to make sure that my questions were answered to my satisfaction. Over all I'm pleased with this unit. Set up was very easy. Networking with my home network was simple. Their client software for the computer works great although it doesn't do everything that can be done from the unit itself, it does enough. I didn't setup the internet access because I figured that I didn't need hackers trying to access my system. I did set up the e-mail function but I turned it off. The system sends out an e-mail every time motion is detected even when the systems schedule is set to "NOT RECORD". The same goes for the buzzer alarm -it goes off every time the system detects motion even when the systems schedule is set to "NO RECORD". The cameras detect motion , not a heat signature so if you have a weed blowing in the wind or a shadow of a tree blowing in the wind the system will detect it and start the recording. The CIB web site is sparse. There is no way to get software updates or copies of manuals as some of the competitors web sites have. The system does handle D1 resolution but can't handle it on all cameras at 30 FPS. With four cameras set up the highest I can set the D1 resolution is 18 FPS. As cameras are added that 18 FPS will drop down even more. The biggest aggravation about this system is the camera sensitivity. There are four levels of sensitivity 1-4. At level 3 during the day time it will pick up motion out 60+ feet. At night time that distance turns into about 30+ feet. On level 4 it will pick up motion out to 60+ feet at night. The trouble with the level 4 setting is that it picks up every bug flying around at night. On a typical night on level 4 sensitivity the unit will record approximately . 200+15 minute files because of bugs flying around during the 8 hours I have the system schedule set to record motion. On level 3 it only picks up 11 files for the 8 hour period. The next camera I buy I'll try a higher resolution camera and see how that works as far as the sensitivity level goes.