Vivitar Dvr518 Hd Digital Video Recorder, 5.1 Mp Camera

I bought one of these digital camcorders and at first I was fairly impressed by how easy it was to use and the better than average video quality. Then I heard the audio... Or lack of it. Actually all I heard from the audio was a static hiss. Thinking I had gotten a bad camcorder somehow, I exchanged it for another. The second camera had the same problem. These camcorders either have a serious defect in the audio or Vivitar is using really low quality microphones in them. I returned that one as well, shelled out a little more money and bought a 2nd generation Flip Ultra 120. In the world of digital camcorders, the old saying "you get what you pay for" really is true. I got stung twice trying to pick out a bargain and it will be a long time before I try another Vivtar product. If you really want a decent digital camcorder, be prepared to pay for it because this one isn't worth the price.

I guess the old saying is true, you get what you pay for. Amazon's description (as well as many other site's) says this camera has "720p HD Video Recording". This is not true. The highest resolution this has is 640X480 interlaced. Neither the packaging nor Vivitar's site ever claims it's 720p HD, so I guess it's partly my fault for not doing my homework before buying. That being said, I've seen plenty of 480i recorders that shoot very good video. But, even at this camera's highest quality setting, the video is choppy and grainy, regardless of lighting conditions. The camera has 2 settings for frames per second, 15 and 30; all the software I have used after shooting video says the 15FPS setting is shooting at 7.5, and the 30FPS setting is shooting at 15 (in other words, half!). If all that weren't enough, the sound has a horrible hiss if there's more than a couple seconds of quiet. I'm very disappointed, but considering how cheap this camera was, I shouldn't have expected much more than what I got.

Buy Vivitar Dvr518 Hd Digital Video Recorder, 5.1 Mp Camera Now

Can't get another product with the same quality for the price. Works great and kids are loving it on youtube

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I got my Vivitar DVR518 Digital Video Camcorder via LiveSpan. I first had questions on shipping timelines. But, upon contact seeking that knowledge I was very impressed. Not only did I get (an) answer, I got (THE) answer. For a product of this quality, to sell for this price, is truly amazing & prompted me to enter (their domain) to see what else was their? Da' it's ON! This camcorder is everything that I want a camcorder to be. Very, easy to use and don't worry about walking over to your subject to get close-ups. Just stand there! With a 2"TFT LCD screen and 8X Digital Zoom, let your subject do the walking. Thank you LiveSpan for a wonderful piece of art & thank you for a price that I could afford. Amazon, you'll never know what a ideal match-up this will become.

P.S. we'll send a post card!

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Purchased this for our son and daughter-in-law who will be having their first baby soon. They absolutely love it!

Thank you!

Belkin F7D4515 ScreenCast AV 4 Wireless AV-to-HDTV HDMI Adapter

• Store AV equipment up to 100 feet away even in another room.
• Enjoy full-HD 1080 pixel resolution, 3D video, and up to 7.1 channels of surround sound.
• The IR Blaster gives you total device control. Just point your remote at the TV, and ScreenCast does the rest.
• Ideal for wall-mounted HDTVs.
• Easy setup. Connect your AV devices to the transmitter and hide them away.

This is my experience with the Belkin Screencast AV4:

Thursday, June 14: Received the Screencast. It worked perfectly with my DVD player, my laptop and Apple TV, but it did not work with my cable receiver (a standard Comcast receiver). With the cable, there was only an occasional flicker of picture and no audio. This appears to be a problem that multiple reviewers have had. I tried placing the Screencast receiver and transmitter side by side, a few feet away, several feet away, etc. There was no wall or anything blocking the signal. Also, I power cycled the Screencast, changed the HDMI wires, tried turning off my router just in case there was a frequency issue, etc. Nothing worked.

Friday, June 15: I contacted Belkin support through the Belkin website. I received an auto-reply saying I should expect a response within one business day.

Tuesday, June 19: Still no response from Belkin support, and so I e-mailed customercare@belkin.com and asked for a response. Later that night I received a response with a phone number to call for support.

Wednesday, June 20: The person I spoke with at support was nice but couldn't help me. His advice was more or less limited to power cycling the Screencast and checking the HDMI wires. After I spent a good deal of time on hold, I was transferred to a Level 2 technician. This person was also nice but didn't have any additional advice. After more time on hold, I was then told that a Level 3 technician would call me later in the day. I stayed home waiting on the call, but it never came.

Friday, June 22: I wasted more time trying to get the Screencast to work with my cable receiver. It wouldn't. The Level 3 technician still hadn't called, and so I called Belkin support again. The person I spoke with put me on hold, then came back and assured me over and over that a Level 3 technician was going to call me later in the day. He said to just wait for the call.

Saturday, June 23: More time gone forever while trying to get the Screencast to work. Also, the Level 3 technician never called. I called Belkin again and was put on hold again. The person I spoke with finally came back and her advice was to continue to wait for the Level 3 technician. I thanked her, unplugged the Screencast, placed it in a box, and returned it. The urge to soak the Screencast in gasoline and blast it with a flamethrower was almost irresistible.

Tuesday, June 26. I received an e-mail from a Level 3 technician asking if I still needed assistance. I deleted the e-mail.

Buy Belkin F7D4515 ScreenCast AV 4 Wireless AV-to-HDTV HDMI Adapter Now

If your HDTV is in a location that is not well suited to HDMI cable connections from your cable box or DVD players, the Belkin ScreenCast AV4 may be a satisfactory wireless solution. Although the product delivers wireless audio and video of excellent quality, it has some limitations and is not well suited for all situations. Read on for details.

PROs

-----------

+ Wireless video/audio quality appears to be equal to direct-HDMI connected video

+ 40 foot video feed through my walls worked flawlessly

+ No interference (that I could detect) with my wireless network

+ Basic setup surprisingly easy

CONs

-----------

Flaky behavior of remote control

Slow to change display input source

SETUP

-----------

The ScreenCast AV4 was fairly simple to attach to my home theater. The package includes two pieces of hardware; one attaches to your television and a power outlet, the other attaches to each of your AV devices and a second power outlet. Once done, I powered on both of the Belkin boxes and within 2 minutes there was video on my TV.

Because this was my first time to power on the ScreenCast AV, a setup menu appeared asking me to select my language. After that it said it was preparing to help me setup my inputs with usable labels (i.e. "Satellite", "Blu-Ray", etc...). Unfortunately, something went wrong with the ScreenCast AV at this point and that menu never appeared. The included remote control, used to change inputs on the Belkin between your AV devices, quit working completely. Fortunately, I powered one of the Belkin boxes off, then back on, and the remote control started working.

Aside from the problem setting up my inputs on the Belkin, the fact that the audio and video automatically started working is quite nice. I think that if Belkin can come up with a firmware update to fix the issues with the remote control, setup would be a major positive for this product.

USAGE

-----------

Most operation of this device is transparent. If you had a simple setup involving nothing more than a cable or satellite tuner box and your HDTV, you would never interact with the Belkin. Everything would just work.

Unfortunately, many of us have more than one device attached to our HDTV. It's common to have a DVD/Blu-Ray player or possibly a gaming system or Internet-attached device. Each of these typically consume an HDMI input on your HDTV. The Belkin ScreenCast AV4 takes care of this by providing 4 HDMI inputs. The problem is that changing between those inputs is a chore. The included remote control is very tiny and the selection of inputs was a clumsy and slow affair that caused immediate frustration.

There is a noticeable lag between when you push a button on the remote control and the Belkin responds. This gets old fast. The process of changing input from my DVR to my Boxee Box easily takes 10 seconds. I can't imagine anyone being satisfied with this level of performance.

After some period of time (hours?), the remote control quit working again. The box was sending audio/video and I was able to watch TV, but I was unable to change the input. Powering off the unit with the IR receiver (for the remote) and then powering it back on solved this problem.

GENERAL

-----------

The ScreenCast AV4 only supports HDMI devices. If you have any older component video devices, they will not work. If most of your equipment is newer than 2005, you probably don't have this problem. If you do have some older equipment you can't use this product.

With the ScreenCast AV4 attached to my Panasonic plasma television, the HDTV is no longer able to sense when a component attached to it has been turned off. With direct HDMI connections, if I turned off my DVD player, Boxee Box, or DirecTV DVR, and somehow failed to turn off the Panasonic, it would automatically shut off about 2-3 minutes later. Now it stays on forever showing only a black picture. I don't think this is a big problem but I do want to note it since I know some people probably have careless kids in the house that might not remember to turn off the TV. If that is your situation, this device might cause premature wear on your TV and larger electricity bills.

Combined power consumption of the two ScreenCast AV boxes was about 6 watts when idle (when your TV and cable box are off). When you power on your TV and cable box, the combined power usage increased to about 11 watts. That is a relatively low power consumption that you will not notice on your monthly bill.

Neither unit has a fan; you will not hear any noise when they are turned on.

SUMMARY

-----------

If you're looking for a wireless connection to your HDTV and only have to deal with one audio/video source, the Belkin ScreenCast AV 4 is probably a very good choice. The non-intrusive design, great audio/video performance, and very easy setup are great features. For such a user, I'd give this product 5 stars.

If you have a more complicated audio/video setup involving multiple devices, I'd probably see if there is something else out there that is better at handling changing of inputs. For such a user, I'd give this product 3 stars.

Read Best Reviews of Belkin F7D4515 ScreenCast AV 4 Wireless AV-to-HDTV HDMI Adapter Here

I like to plan my projects down to the last detail. My home AV setup project worried me a little because wireless video transmission was an area that was fairly new (at least to me and people I know). I purchased a Samsung UN55D6000 LED tv to put above our fireplace, mounted on a Sanus full-motion mount. Our den is wired so that all the speaker wires and components are on the opposite wall of the TV and in the corner, about 25 feet away. I have a Samsung blu-ray player, Comcast HD DVR box, Apple TV3, and an Onkyo receiver. I decided to go with the Belkin Screencast AV4 for a few reasons: I wasn't using a plasma screen (I read there was interference), It had a longer range and had less interference through walls, and it wouldn't interfere with my home wireless network (Linksys E4200 v2 Dual Band Router). I decided to go with a Harmony 900 RF remote to handle everything and allow me to hide all the components across the room.

When I got it all in and hooked up, I was very pleased with the performance. I've had crystal clear HD content with no glitches (I've been using it for a month now) The only drawback is the automation of changing sources. Since I have a Harmony remote, I set it to change between them in a sequence, but it doesn't always catch. I resorted to putting "soft buttons" (customizable buttons on the touchscreen of the remote) for the commands that are on the remote that comes with the Screencast AV4. This allows me to dismiss the dialogue box once it has changed to a different source.

Note: When I first tried using the blu-ray player, it wouldn't play a DVD, only blu-rays. The screen would go green and the top would be pixelated. I tried and tried and even opened a service ticket with Belkin. I finally found the issue on my own: I had the blu-ray video settings set to auto, which would change resolution as the content changed(menus, previews, the movie, etc). The Screencast didn't like this. I went in and changed the video output to only output 1080p and it fixed it.

It was hard to trust the reviews because I wanted to know exactly how it would work with what I wanted to do. I think I've come to see that it does "just work". Changing sources can be a slight hassle, but other than that, it's perfect for me. Now I have a TV above the fireplace and not one device showing in the room.

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It works great when it works. The chassis is a poor design. It does not have good air flow. Placing a fan on it solves the problem, but it needs a package redesign. It will overheat if placed on a flat surface. It needs to have a larger heatsink and a better chassis. The receiver gets warm as well so again it is a design issue.

I have a fix. As I thought, the transmitter unit overheats just sitting on a shelf. I went out and bought a cooler master notepal x-lite and a usb power supply. I put the transmitter on the x-lite and it no longer overheats. The x-lite is quiet and I put in in a built in cabinet about 10 feet from the receiver. Signal is good and the unit seems to be staying up fine. Will report after a week or so on what I find. I have also found that when they are telling you it does not work well with a plasma TV, that is not true.

BELKIN, fix the design. I responded to your email request, I suggest you read it.

A thought, the remote functionality on this thing is poor at best. I use a receiver to switch my hdmi and use this as a point to point to the TV. If you need a point to point, you look at my earlier stuff and you don't try and use the switch, it works fine so far, if you want to switch with this, you probably ought to think about a different approach. Frankly, Belkin ought to just get rid of the hdmi switch in this thing, there are far better solutions out there that are more reliable and come with most consumer stuff now anyway. Not well thought out. KISS definitely applies for this device. It really does solve a problem that many people have and it does work, but don't over think it.

06/12/12

Well, we're 4 days in and something actually died. I think it is the receiver which has been sitting out in the open. It won't link at all. So, for 250 bucks, go buy yourself a couple of hdmi over cat6 connectors, wire it up, and take your lady out to a nice dinner. This thing is definitely not ready for prime time, so I will be finding Chester John Pipkins contacts and letting him know what I think of it. I will also be getting in touch with some friends at Intel to find out what the reference design for this thing actually looks like. My guess is not much like this.

Whoever the quality folks are at Belkin ought to be ashamed of themselves. This product should never have been brought to market. It must have been designed by a high school student in Hong Kong. Very poorly done. And Intel should be ashamed for letting this type of product be produced. If their reference design is any sort of reliable, this thing is embarrassing. Makes WIDI look horrible.

Avoid anything WIDI kids, it is really an embarrassment for Intel. I work in this industry and I would never let a product like this be released to production.

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This product worked great for 3 Months. Then the transmitter shut off and would not turn back on. Called Customer service and sat on hold for 15 mins just for them to ask if it was plugged in and to reset it. When it still would not turn on, they said I would have to call customer service between the hours of 8-5 (which are the hours I am at work) to process a return. They then informed me that I would have to pay to ship the broken product back to them! I have never been treated so bad as a customer. I am now black balling Belkin from any of my future products and would STRONGLY ADVICE YOU TO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT. I am now not able to watch TV as the cable box is located across the room. AVOID making the same $250 mistake I made.

DO NOT BUY!!!!

Panasonic PV-GS320 3.1MP 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

My wife and I purchased this item to film our family events over the coming years. After a lot of research I narrowed it down to this and the Sony DCR-HC96 (in fact several online reviews compared these two as well). It came down to price, which was better at Circuit City. Unfortunatly I will be paying a 15% restocking fee now as we have decided to return it and go with the Sony. The Panasonic, I feel, is a really good camera. The colors are bright and crisp...during the day. However we felt that most of the use would be during the evening hours indoors. With all three lamps turned on in our living room, "Auto" mode showed faint images and shadows when not pointed close to a light source. After several adjustments in "manual" mode we managed to get a decently lit picture on the viewfinder (...the picture will not show up as bright on your tv). Poor lighting is a big problem with Digital Camcorders, so I was actually somewhat content with this picture quality. Where this camcorder falls short IMO is the lack of an onboard lightsource. It has a "cold shoe" on the top where you can add your own light. However it will have to run on it's own batteries since it's not powered by the camera (also the only lights I have found so far are on ebay). Knowing that this is a problem with every brand of camcorder, I simply don't understand why companies insist on not putting better, if any, light sources on their equipment. Oh well...at least the Sony has a "hot shoe" to add a light source if needed.

Overall I think that this is a VERY nice camcorder...if you plan on staying in well lit areas. Just my two pennies worth :)

I purchased this nifty little camcorder primarily for making

low-budget movies. I read the reviews and compared prices on

numerous models and decided the GS320 was the most affordable

and suitable model (GS500 was unavailable at the time). The

box arrived in the mail and I began some film testing and was

quickly impressed with the video quality, especially outdoors,

creating some clear, vivid images. It's true, the low lighting

isn't the greatest and the colors typically fade with the lack of

proper lighting. If you plan on filming a lot at night or

creating some dark creepy scenarios then this model probably

isn't what you want (The GS250 however has some great low

lighting capabilities, although, it too was unavailable at the

time).

The GS320 is very lightweight taking much stress off of the

arm and wrist, and the handstrap is also adjustable to fit practically

any size hand. You can purchase high-quality mini-tapes which

bring about an even more impressive looking picture (I've found

these to cost about $10-$12 per tape).The zoom is nice, although

you do lose some picture quality as already mentioned in several

reviews. This camcorder also has some neat special features, one

of which cuts down on that typically uncontrollable background noise

by concentrating its built-in mic on the speaker. The built-in OIS

works well in keeping the image steady for those distant, closely

zoomed in shots. Since I use Adobe Premeire Elements 3.0 for movie

editing, I only dabbled briefly with the 320's effects, most of which aren't very useful to my purpose. APE 3.0 is a great editing tool to

use with the 320; it's fast and simple and allows for much creative

freedom. I bought the APE 3.0/Photoshop Elements 4.0 bundle which

ran about $100 and is indispensable to a striving movie-maker.

For the price and quality, the GS320 seems to be unparalleled.

An unregrettable choice so far.

Buy Panasonic PV-GS320 3.1MP 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Now

I just picked up this camera locally to use as a backup/crash cam for a AG-DVX200 prosumer camcorder. It works fine and by all means is a good camera for the money but there a few features that are annoying enough that some folks might want to avoid it (none of these points are a deal breaker for my purposes).

1) There is no audio input so you're stuck with the microphone that is in the camera.

2) The USB, DV and power ports are located behind the battery. This wouldn't be so bad except for the next point.

3) The charger will not power the camera and charge the battery at the same time. This is a good way to force us to purchase a second battery. We need a second battery anyway..

4) The hand strap position makes NO sense. It is far too low slung making the camera fit loose in your hand. Once you loosen your grip on the camera, it flops around in your hand uncontrollably. Not a problem if once you grip it again. Bah!

5) The hot shoe is actually a cold shoe so there is no way to trigger an external flash when using the still camera mode.

While those points are enough to sway away most users, this camera is about low cost high quality video, not the normal features consumers have come to expect. The camera is solid and produces a fine picture. The controls are usable with one hand so you can make adjustments on the fly fairly easily. Pressing the camera button during video recording or playback will cause a still image to be recorded to the SD memory card kinda neat. Finally, it works with Linux so dvgrab just pulls down video on demand.

I'd give this camera a 7 overall and a 9 on picture quality. For the price, it's probably the best picture wise. You have to decide if the negatives are a show stopper or not.

I think for someone who is interested in a low cost high quality SD (standard definition) camcorder with picture quality being the number one requirement, this little camcorder is the ticket.

Read Best Reviews of Panasonic PV-GS320 3.1MP 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Here

This camera works fantastic with our iMac & Macbook. It is a breeze to get video from the camera into iMovie. I accomplished it on my first attempt & no documentation was required.

You make the connection via Firewire, turn the camcorder to "play" mode and iMovie will detect the connection. You just click the "import" button and watch your video be copied over. The video quality is fantastic. My wife was really impressed.

We made the mistake of originally buying a JVC Everio (hard drive based camcorder). While it was possible to get the video onto our Mac, it was by no means easy. After going through about 300 different procedures, you would finally be done. But then it was complicated to manage the files. It was a giant waste of money & time.

This camera worked easily right out of the box. I am highly impressed. And of course, because we own Mac's, we didn't have to waste time by installing stupid software onto our computers (the unit does come with a CD-ROM for PC's).

We paid $365 for this unit. All in all fantastic camcorder!

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I've had a Canon Z45 for over 5 years and it has provided me with reliable performance and decent quality for home and vacation video. When we purchased our 42" widescreen TV and began taping in 16:9 aspect ratio, we found during playback that the image quality was definitely hurting. I thought I should replace my Canon with a HD Camcorder, however, my research failed to convince me that the time is right high cost, various recording media, difficulties editing and unknown capability to transfer to a standard DVD. I currently like the ease of making DVDs to share with family and friends with our HDD recorder.

Researched standard definition camcorders and I was sold on the PV-GS320. 3 CCD sensor, 10x optical zoom, image stabilization, size/weight and great price. I am amazed at the quality of the video and sound it is absolutely phenomenal to quote others `crisp image, true-to-life colors'. To my eyes it's close enough to HD for my videos. My wife was skeptical of the need for a new camcorder but when she saw the first video, she was astonished at the difference. My wife and daughters enjoy the playback with the remote for slow motion and freeze frame. It is a great tool for critiquing my daughters' swim strokes.

Great price, received in 3 days. Easy to set up and use. My 10 & 12 year old daughters have no problem taping, playing back or using the joystick. Others have criticized the lack of a microphone input and the quality of the digital camera. I believe the internal microphone is excellent and I have a good digital camera for taking still shots. Battery life is short ordered a CGA DU-21.

Apex AD-2500 Progressive-Scan DVD Player

• High-resolution progressive-scan video output (for use with compatible TV)
• Plays DVD, VCD, SVCD, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3, and HDCD-encoded discs
• JPEG and Kodak picture-CD compatible
• Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel digital output (for immersive surround sound when used with a compatible AV receiver)
• Includes Apex Full-screen Function and up to 4x zoom

I owned a Toshiba DVD player for three years.

However, it couldn't play CDR/DVDR, so I decided

to get a new toy. I first bought a Sony NS315 from

Circuity City, for according the ads, the Sony

plays DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW, it was cheap too

(...) and I had always worshiped Japanese brands

(all my electronics are made by Sony, Panasonic or

Toshiba, except my last MP3 player, the Iriver ifp

180t, found in Best buy). Then one day I saw a

review on [Amazon.com], for the same price, the Apex

2500 plays everything! I love the word

"everything", so I decided to give Apex 2500 a

try. I searched the net, though Sears advertised

it on it's web, the local store didn't carry it. I

ended up ordering one by mail from J&R in New York

(...).

I got this unit two days ago, and I found I am

obligated to write my experience here. In summary,

I am more than satisfied, it is an astonishing

unit, full of surprises!

1. Amazing picture, better than that from my Sony

or Toshiba.

2. Plays MPEG movies: when plays MPG movies, the

quality is comparable with that on my computer,

even better than the output of my computer when

using a TV! (I have a regular Panasonic TV, no a

progressive one).

2. Plays DVD-R/RW (not sure about DVD+R/RW).

3. Plays PAL DVDs. I didn't expect this! Just

tried on some DVDs friends brought me from China,

Thailand and Canada and it plays them all.

4. Plays JPEG pictures: the picture quality is very

impressive.

5. Progressive scan: I don't have a high

definition TV, not benefitting from this feature,

but it doesn't hurt.

6. Plays MP3/WMA.

7. Plays CDR/RW.

8. Karaoke capabilities built right in: there are

two microphone inputs. I didn't expect these

neither. Another surprise!

9. Optical/Coaxial/S-video/Dolby, all the usual good stuff.

10. For those interested, it could display menu in Chinese.

11. Stylish: yes, sexy and good looking!

12. Cheap, cheap and cheap: ... for all the above

features!

I am going to return the Sony. no more superstitious

on Japanese brands!

Weakness: the audio output maybe not be as

impressive as my Toshiba; The buttons

on remote control could be more intuitive and meaningful.

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This dvd player will play anything you throw at. All my collection of mp3,VCD,SVCD,DVD-R and DVD-RW all play in this machine that my Pioneer DV 333 will not. I am big name shopper who like to shop top of the line electronic from panasonic, sony, and pioneer. But his Apex proves me that I am wrong. This player accepted most comprehensive media format including my Kodak CD slide show created from my digital camera download. I even downloaded funny TV ads in Window media player and burn into a CD and Yeah..it plays on this DVD player. I even surprise to see that my music DVD created with Sonic DVDit SE in PCM ( uncompressed format) plays too. Now I think I wont be shopping another dvd player with multi format support for a longer time.I am getting another one for my parents.

Read Best Reviews of Apex AD-2500 Progressive-Scan DVD Player Here

If I had seen Apex sooner, I could have saved hundreds of dollars when I purchased my RCA and Samsung models.

I am really happy with this model and I was extremely surprised that it had a karaoke system. It's not as good as my Pioneer, because the echo quality isn't there, however, I can't complain for the price. It's a great back up!

I like being able to play vcd's,mp3's,view photo album's etc.

I was so pleased, that I had to order one for my father.

I plan on purchasing another one to replace my broken model in the bedroom.

What good is paying a lot of money for some of the big name brands when they don't perform as well? Are extremely sensitive to slightly scratched rented dvd's by freezing up.

This model has not done that!

For my experience, I'd recommend it and use your savings for something exciting.

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My player is just out of the box, and I understand from reading the other reviews I only have a 50/50 chance of it surviving very long, but I don't care... this thing is amazing. I've spent I don't know how many hundreds of hours screwing around with jpeg slide-show programs, ripping and encoding vcds that my expensive DVD player didn't like, having to convert and burn music cds from my mp3 files... and on and on.

So now for all of [item price] I get a piece of hardware that hooks up to my tv and plays almost every type of media that exists! Thanks to these cheapo players from Asian mystery companies, I can only assume that the big companies will have no choice but to follow suit with reliable, inexpensive players of thier own.

This is the future, and it should have been here a long time ago. The future is cheap, universal hardware, not a zillion different third-party applications that force you through countless contortions on your computer so you can watch your media in your living room. Huzzah!

I just recently discovered and purchased the Apex AD-2500 Progressive-Scan DVD Player. I've been searching for one that would play the variety of formats I use, and when I discovered it would actually DO MORE than what it claimed, (unlike many descriptions of other players), I snapped it up. It plays VCD, SVCD, DVD, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD+RW (the biggest surprise!), plus Kodak picture disks, WMA, MP3 and Karoke! A lot of player for the money. It's too new (to me) yet to comment on its durability, but so far, so good.

Panasonic SVAV10 MPEG4 e-Wear Digital Camcorder w/ Still Mode/MP3/Voice Recording & 64MB SC Card (S

Although I can appreciate the positive reviews from people who like gadgets, there are simply too many things wrong with this device no matter what use its intended for. I'll summarize the low points:

1. Terrible video quality. Even though you expect it to be low resolution (320x240 in the highest quality mode), you don't expect it to be motionless which it very often is!

2. Flash washes out close-ups. I'd blame this on the unit's size but, unfortunately, almost all Panasonic digital cameras suffer this same fate. Even the high-end models. (NOTE: The pictures are, as expected, low res 640x480)

3. The battery must be recharged using a wall adapter. This is absolutely the biggest drwaback to the unit because if you want to travel with it, you have to add the size of the bulky AC adapter to make it at all useful. This s a HUGE design flaw considering the use for which this device is intended.

4. The battery takes 2 hours to charge and DRAINS IF IT IS NOT USED. Panasonic even admits this in the manual and tells you to remove the battery when the device is not in use. What this means is that you either have to use this gadget every day, or remove the battery after every use, or expect to charge the device before every use. With a 2 hour charging time, none of these options are feasible.

4. MP3 files require special encoding using Real One Player. If you're expecting to just transfer your MP3 files to an SD card and play them in this device, better think twice. You can't do it without using the included software. Another serious drawback.

5. The case is made of cheap (but lightweight) plastic. Too flimsy for my taste.

6. The included travel pouch is useless. They should have included a real case for free.

Summary:

The device does a lot of things, but nothing terribly well even for techno-junkies. In fact, the only real positive feature is the unit's small size, which is rendered meaningless considering you have to travel with the AC adapter in order to charge the battery. And it's rendered even more meaningless considering the battery drains itself even when the unit is powered down. So there's no way to get around the need to carry around a bulky charger which takes too long to charge anyway. Obviously, standard off-the-shelf batteries would have added a little extra size. But it would have been well worth it. So, what we're left with is a cool gadget that you'll probably never use. And that's quite a shame because, like so many other Panasonic products, they had the right idea with the wrong execution.

My advice: Hold out for better things which are sure to come.

This is a first-generation digital convergence gadget, so you should know what to expect when you consider it. It's basically a very cool toy, but with lots of limitations.

Panasonic touts this as a 4-in-1 device: you can record MPEG4 video, digital photographs, and audio, and can play back MP3 and AAC digital music, all in an amazingly tiny package that weighs no more than 4 ounces with battery and SD memory card. BTW, now you can buy Secure Digital memory card of up to 512MB, with 1GB on the way, so the SVAV-10 can be expanded easily.

The SV-AV10, which is recently joined by two newer models SV-AV20 and SV-AV30, comes with a 64MB Secure Digital (SD) memory card, on which you can record up to 30 minutes of MPEG4 video. However, this is at the lower resolution of 174x124. If you go up to the "fine" mode, which shoots at 320x240, you can obviously fit a shorter footage. The framerate is 15 frames per second (vs. 25 fps for the NTSC video standard used by American TVs and camcorders), so the video is a bit jerky, much like using a webcam. The minimum required illumination is 120 lux, so you won't be able to shoot anything at a candlelight dinner. This is what I mean by "knowing your expectations." This is not to replace your regular camcorder; it's really a toy that you can carry 24 hours a day and capture those moments that no one could expect ahead of time.

The digital camera function captures images in the 640x480 resolution, and the SV10 has a built-in flash (but no optical zoom). Image quality is so-so; I'd say it's something you'd expect from an inexpensive digital camera that still shoots at this resolution. Given lots of lighting, the quality is quite acceptable. (Of course, you probably can't print the photos of this resolution. So don't throw away your regular, 2+MP digital camera yet.) Panasonic claims you can record up to 880 images on a single 64MB SD card. I haven't tested that claim yet.

Voice recording is nothing to write about; the quality is acceptable but again nothing on par with a dedicated device. MP3 and AAC (AAC is a better-than-MP3 encoding format; see my review of the Panasonic MP3-in-a-headphone model) playback is excellent, although you don't get too many options. The included stereo earphones are good, although you can always substitute your own ones.

Because of its small size, the SV10 only has a small number of buttons: one record button at the top, one power button that also opens the menu on the 2-inch LCD screen, one "mode" button that switches between play and record on the LCD, and one jog-dial button that plays, forwards and rewinds. The user interface is quite intuitive; you just need to know what the mode button does.

You can transfer files between the SV10 and your PC via the included USB cable and software. Everything works smoothly on my Windows 2000 and also a Windows 98 SE PC.

For a super-cool AV (audio/video, not "adult video"!) toy, the price is surprisingly affordable -you can find it for cheap at some places, hopefully at Amazon soon -and this is will impress the heck out of your friends.

Note: The newer AV20 and AV30, which only recently hit the retail market in the U.S., have the same resolution and frame rate as the AV10. They are slightly smaller and lighter, but their LCD screen has less resolution than AV10. Of course, this means they are more battery-efficient than AV10. AV30 comes with a cradle that allows you to play back on a TV, plus recording stuff from the TV!

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This product was a major letdown. I knew I wasn't getting an amazing camcorder with its small size, however I can see no evident use for such a piece of garbage. I bought it under the assumption that I would get some enjoyable use out of it with no real professional expectations; the MP3 playback was to be a mere bonus. The highest video quality was extremely choppy and of poor resolution. Theres a reason why the list price of this model is about [money] and can be found for less than half that at most retailers. I feel stupider for having bought it. Don't be deceieved by its stylishly small exterior and cool look. The menus and buttons were extremely hard to navigate and use, making quick recording all but impossible. This is not even of entry level camcorder quality. Better video can be found from a low end webcam 5 years ago. Even in the best lighting, it seemed as though I was filming at night. None of this was an exaggeration, I just dont want anyone else to waste their money and time. Hopefully some day in the future, Panasonic will be able to intergrate good video recording in such a small size, but definitely not today.

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I bought this gadget for it's many functions although I mostly used it to take video and pictures, sometimes record audio. I really did like it, but after a while I couldn't justify the cost versus the quality... The video quality was ok, about what you get with a medium resolution avi file, but nowhere close to divx quality. Picture resolution at 640x480 was decent, but you'd definitely want better if you want quality pictures. Sound recording was good, but I could only playback on the unit. With SD cards you don't have to worry about memory. My main gripe about this gadget though is the absence of a zoom. I was using it one time when a friend asked me if it had a zoom feature. I told him "this is the zoom" and ran up closer to the subject. If Panasonic added a zoom feature I would definitely recommend it, but overall it doesn't excel in any area. You're probably better off picking up a megapixel digital camera that also takes video.

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I bought this camcorder/camera/mp3player/voice recorder with high expectations for it,but when I received it and tried it

out,I was very disappointed with the quality of the video and pictures. ... I thought this item would have more to it than just record and playback.It doesn't even have a zoom,so you can't get a wide or close-up angle.Again,with the price being as it is,I was hoping to get alot more from this item.

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TOP Secret Spy Camera Mini Clock Radio Hidden DVR- Continuous power or battery

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I decided to buy one after seeing the quick response, by the seller, with regard to the individual that had a problem.

Item arrived quickly ahead of Amazon's estimate which impressed me as we are on opposite sides of the USA.

The other reviews here are positive but brief. I want to add detail. It really IS a sweet little item.

I've tried a number of these for office security and MANY are JUNK. Go ahead, check my other product reviews. It's a relief to find one the seller stands behind. Now I do also.

1. The unit fits in the palm of your hand. It is a nice travel clock. LED display is not too bright. Tiny and easy to pack. Discrete.

UPDATE: If you find the display too bright as a nightstand clock, use a screen protector for a cellphone. For $2 the "High Quality Privacy Screen Protector Verizon BlackBerry Tour 9630 Sprint" (Amazon) covered (and dimmed) the screen but did not block the cam so you won't have to move the protector in the AM for security "duty".

2. The AC adaptor is both 110V and 240V THANK YOU! so you can use it in Europe / China / etc outside the USA. My Sonicare toothbrush can't do that. International AC adaptors are a must in my opinion. Travelers: The cord is about 2 feet. See seller comment to this review for longer cord options. Note that it does have a USA plug so for China/Europe you'll need plug adaptors but you do NOT need a voltage change.

3. VIDEO: I intend to use this as a security cam in my hotel room as I travel often for business. A little extra "peace of mind".

You can choose 320x240 or 640x480 for video resolution. These choices are pretty standard for security cams. I set it to 640x480 and "high" quality. Looks NICE!!! Obviously, more quality image means more memory used. Follow the seller guide (included see item 4).

BIG PLUS... the IR LED lighting is 940 nm! Who cares? 940nm is invisible to the eye. Many cams use lower nanometer levels which glow RED the universal signal that you are recording. I viewed THIS item with another IR camera and only then did I confirm the lighting was "on". Nice!

NOTE: See the first comment to this review, from Nick (the seller), regarding the amount of video time per gigabyte of memory.

4. The instructions included are TINY but the seller forwards you a LARGE size version PLUS a two-page "get started" guide. I was functioning in under 10 minutes. Follow the seller's guide step-by-step. Honestly, if you have a micro SD card reader you are ready to go in no time at all. No software necessary. There is a micro DVD included with English User's Manual, video example, etc but I found the seller doc more useful.

5. When you check your micro SD card you will see FOUR folders have been added Music, Pictures, Rec, Video

Any use of the cam goes into the "Rec" folder (there is another "video" folder in "Rec"). Why mention this? Because it really IS a clock/radio/MP3 player combination. I put a set of songs into the "Music" folder and it plays them well. Sound is not bad considering it's so small. It will also auto advance to the next song. I'm listening to it now. If you have an iPhone or iPod you might not use it but then an iPhone doesn't have night vision.

6. Mine is silver as in the first photo above (detail page). Some of the photos show other colors. I'm happy with silver. I think that is the default. Contact the seller if you have a question.

7. Travelers... it has a small pull-string sack to carry it. That will help protect it and the accessories in your luggage.

***** The clock has no alarm ***** But it has so many other features (cam, true IR, radio, mp3 player, etc) the lack of alarm is not a deal breaker (for me).

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Bottom line: The item is impressive. Make sure you're buying from onlineenterprises888. Don't know him. Not connected in any way. But I have to admit the item and the service make the purchase risk free.

That's how it should be. Thanks!!

==================================

By request video samples (5 segments)

A TV at standard definition, 4 feet distance, room lights on, cam at 640x480, high quality

B 3x3 Post-it with red X and red heart on brown wrapping paper, 2 feet distance, room lights on, cam at 640x480, high quality

C Same except now Night vision ON, but IR LED OFF note that with lights out nothing is seen

D Same now Night Vision ON and IR LED ON note illumination circle. Shapes are visible detail on Post-it is not.

E 2 liter Diet Pepsi 640x480, 2 feet, Night vision ON, IR LED ON Room lights on briefly then off

Summary the detail in a lit room (day time) is pretty good. Night is best with some additional light to assist the LED.

I prefer to always run at 640x480, high quality, night vision ON, IR LED ON.

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I wish I could expound on how wonderful the camera is (and it does seem to be), but we purchased it to catch a thief ~ literally. Before we had a chance to set it up, another neighbor caught the scumbag in the act. But, what I can attest to is the integrity of this seller. The product, once ordered, was immediately responded to and then sent out in a very timely manner. Great instructions and product support. The seller includes his name and a way to contact him personally. Wow!!!!

As mentioned above, we had a very specific reason to buy the camera and once that was resolved, I asked to send it back. Again, without hesitation or problem, a return was issued.

We are all familiar with the ways of Internet purchasing and most don't involve personal contact....may I just say that as disconnected as the process seems, this gentleman makes it honest, genuine, and as close to "home" as the Internet can.

I wholeheartedly endorse purchasing from this seller!!!!

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I love this product that I bought two more. I thought one might be great gift. I found that it does so many things plus you could take it traveling it is compact. If you are into paranormal investigations great product to use because of long life battery and video recording. Compact to take on paranormal investigations. Want to have security when you leave your home this is great thing to have because it is small and discreet. Many are putting cameras in they're home this is just more discreet.

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I use this to monitor my home while at work. I turn on the recording when I leave the house and off when I return. The unit in plugged into the AC charger all the time and since I have the spy camera set to loop record there is no need to delete files from the device ever.

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This little camera works great! I was a little worried with the purchase, but everything works just as described. The only thing I would like to see improvement on is the width of the view. I expected to be able to capture more of my office with it, but I can only capture about half of my office. Other than that, this product is a great purchase!

Audio-Technica ATR-6550 Video Camera Condenser Shotgun Microphone

• 2-range settings: normal and tele
• 3.5mm connector plugs into video camera
• Designed especially for use with video cameras
• Freq resp: 70 Hz-18,000 Hz
• Imp: Normal 1000 ohm +/- 30% and tele 2200 ohm +/- 30%

The ATR6550 is a GREAT $50 mic. If you are going to interview others, or recording in a room with echo, USE THIS MIC! The video explains my reasons for choosing this one...

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I've used this mic on three different types of shoots so far and it's performance is pretty impressive for the price. Of course if you are an audiophile and you are comparing this to a top of the line $1600 sennheiser I'm sure you will find plenty of things to gripe about, but if you are looking for an affordable, immediate step up from your on camera mic, this works great.

I shot a scene in front of a courthouse a few days ago, and there were so many buses going by that I ended up screaming out most of the dialogue it was a little bit deafening. The performance of the mic on its regular mode was OK, but on telephoto mode it completely blocked out the sound of the buses (which were behind the camera).

Later that same day I followed a guy around on a busy street at night while he was performing some magic, and the sound (also on telephoto) was really good. I was far enough back with the camera that I couldn't hear a lot of what he was saying, but the mic picked it up clean, good volume, and intelligible.

Two warnings, make sure the mic wire is not touching anything or bumps into anything because it will get picked up on your audio. And if you are in a slightly loud environment use the telephoto. In fact, I'm sticking with the telephoto permanently for now on. I'm leaving 4 stars because I have only used the mic a few times and I don't know how it will hold up, but so far I am very happy with my purchase.

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The Audio Technica ATR-6550 is a Great Mic to Record Vocal and Guitar for Youtube. I bought 2 ATR-6550's, a stereo "Y" and the 12' extension cord because the mic only has a 3' coil cord. I set the camera on auto, plug directly into the camera and record. The mic also cuts out the echo in the room. See for yourself. Search Youtube for "A Country Boy Can Survive the on crack version". (it just means it's really jacked up lol)

For a $50.00ish mic with a lifetime warranty, you can't go wrong.

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This is a good option if you want to use shotgun techniques with a consumer video camera. It gives sound that, after compression for youtube-level playback, would be difficult to distinguish from a professional mic. The sound is comparatively thin, it generates a small amount of internal noise, and its cabling is subject to indoor electrical noise, so it would knock a project out of contention for broadcast quality. But it pairs well with inexpensive camcorders and is an improvement over on-camera mics, especially if you don't mount it on the camera. It balances in a shock mount better than others in this price range.

Its cable is 3 feet long and coiled, and it's hardwired to the mic, so it picks up more electrical interference than a straight cable of the same effective reach. Simply having a jack would allow the option boosting the signal closer to the mic before a long cable run from a boom, for example.

But its biggest flaw is that it's unreliable. Mine had a bad internal wire connection and failed in its first hour of use. I've seen this happen with other sub-$100 shotguns. Audio-Technica has a generous lifetime warranty, and it's great to be able to trust the manufacturer to make it right; but one needs to be able to trust the gear itself. I wouldn't take this mic on a shoot without a backup, and then it's not such inexpensive option.

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Listen to this test and decide for yourself if this mic is what you are needing. If you purchase this mic, you will need to buy a mono-female to stereo-male adapter to go directly into your camera and that part runs regularly for 3 bucks everywhere, radio shack ect. I used this on a T2i with no onboard volume control. I am going to run a juicedlink pre-amp on this mic and I think it will clean up nicely...

Black Mini 4GB USB Digital Audio Voice Recorder Dictaphone Flash Drive Disk

This product does not work properly. After recording fine the first few times, it consistently fails, creating "RECORD" files that are inoperable. I have had to reset the device twice, and it still does not work right.

This is an excellent, small recording device and storage USB chip. Basically, you just plug it into your USB and let it charge up for about an hour, then put the cap back on it. To record there is one on-off switch.. pretty easy to figure out. It's best if placed on a shelf or table somthing.. if you try to hold it you will probably get interference noise. To play it back, your Winbdows computer will probably recognize it when inserted and open it up automatically where you can play back the recorded wav file. You can then import it or move it to a folder on your computer to play back, edit, save, etc.

There were no instructions included that are shown in the photos above... Not that you need them, but it would be nice to know how long a charge will last, how long you need to charge it initially, what the lights indicate, etc.

Shipping was questionable, a 6x6 thinly padded envelope from China and it took almost two weeks to get here, but mine arrived with no damage that I can tell... so far.

I would recommend that you click the task bar programs and select the "safely remove media" before to disconnect the chip.. this is true of any USB removeable device to be on the safe side and not destroy it with power surges, etc.

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This one of mine only worked once, then it never been recognized by any computer with a usb port. When charging and plug into a usb port of a pc, the red light does not go on at all. Is there any driver I am missing? Does anyone have a suggestion?

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Got 3 of these and wish I had gotten more. Originally got for my sister because I thought it would help with her project (but I had misunderstood her needs and it wasn't helpful for her). Bought 2 different types to see which worked better result is THIS ONE by far. Great sound, good for clandestine recording as not as much background or scratchy sounds. Very sturdy, had no problem copying or deleting files from it, no instructions but didn't seem to need any "charging" as others had indicated. I'll get more of these as I've given all mine away for other people's uses.

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Maxell Cassette VHS-C Adapter

I don't normally write reviews, although I read a lot of them and find them useful. So I'm writing this just because i read the bad reviews for this product and almost bought the more expensive ones; but decided on this one to save some money. My worry was that to save a few bucks I was risking breaking a tape or a VCR per the other review's comments.

I am pretty sure the reason they had problems is they didn't use it properly. The instructions are pretty bad, and if you don't use it right it will break a tape and/or mess up your VCR. So here is the way to use it;

the instructions just say open the cover, put in the tape, and close the cover; but its a lot more than that.

1. open the cover, and you'll see two posts sticking up that are spring loaded. It is very important you don't do what I did, which was figure those go in front of the tape, so I pushed them open and dropped the tape so the posts were on the outside of the tape. After experimenting and seeing how they work, I realized those posts go inside the tape, so just put the tape in without moving the posts.

2. and when you put the tape in, be sure the front flap of your VHSC tape pops all the way open. The first time I put in the tape I didn't push it all the way down, and the flap didn't even open at all. Don't force it, but when the tape engages the gear, the flap pops open. The gears are plastic, so fiddle with it, don't force it.

3. Now here is where you can break the tape; the instructions say "close the cover" which is right, but they don't mention that by closing the cover you are actually doing something else; the cover has a gear built into it, as the cover closes those two posts that are inside the tape push forward and out, spreading the tape out and pushing it to the front of the Adapater Cassette. This is how the tape is pulled out of your VHSC and held out so when the tape goes in the VCR it touches the VCR Head. When you slide the cover forward do it slowly, sort of back and forth, with light pressure. If you force it, it will snap your tape!

if you do all this, I think you'll find this adapater is excellent, and will save you a bunch of money over the other ones that are double price, but probably have better instructions.

If you are going to order this adapter, BE SURE you DO NOT have an 8mm cassette because this does NOT work with them. I stupidly ordered it without checking and cannot use it for the purpose that I originally bought it, but I can use it with a few others that I have so it wasn't a complete waste of time! :) It was my fault for not checking but I guess I needed it anyway! I got the package in mint condition and it works well for the right cassettes :)

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I bought this adapter for my vhs-c tapes. When I check it I found that the adapter parts don't fit properly. I tried it just a few minuts I found that tape in adapter goes by diagonal. So in the play mode it damages one tape edge in the rewind mode it damages the other edge. I retuned it to store and bought the PV-P1 adapter from Panasonic. It worked fine.

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Played a tape about 3/4 through and then stopped. When I rewound and removed it I also found that both tape edges were damaged. It's junk.

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IT GETS STUCK IN MY VCR WHILE TRYING TO EJECT. I NEED TO USE A KNIFE ON EACH SIDE TO HELP IT OUT!

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Sony SLV-D350P DVD / VCR Combo

• DVD/VCR combo unit with WEGA styling, progressive-scan DVD output, and 1-month, 8-event VCR programming
• Plays video-mode DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW playback, plus MP3 CD, JPEG CD, and quasi-S-VHS playback (at VHS resolution)
• DVD bookmarking, resume, and picture zoom
• 4-head VCR offers commercial skip, 19-micron heads for clear images from EP recordings
• Includes multibrand remote control that operates most TVs

I bought this unit to replace my stand alone Sony DVD player, I picked this one since it had optical out and I could reuse my optical audio cable. This is not a component style device. The volume button on the remote does not control the stereo, it does the television instead. My Television does not have an optical input so I went into the menu and adjusted the outputs. Still no way to control the audio on the stereo. It does however have some neat features. You can lock the dvd door to keep kids out, but not the VCR door. You can zoom in on the picture up to 4X's on DVD's. The old Sony DVD remote works so I can watch movies and control the stereo's volume. You can watch DVD's and VHS through the RF making this a simple plug and play device.

You cannot use both the DVD and VCR function together.

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I've had this unit for a little over a month and it completely stopped reading DVDs. It still reads audio CDs and the VCR is decent. I'd steer clear of this combo.

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This is an excellent product for the price. I own one. The DVD and CD player is good. I send the sound to my home theater receiver and it sounds wonderful. The VHS portion plays better than my other stand-alone SONY VCR. What I really liked is that this unit has Quasi-S Playback so I can play my S-VHS tapes. The picture is good. What I found amazing was that the EP record mode (6 hour) looked better than the SP (2 hour). I played some EP recordings made on this unit on my parents' JVC and the picture was outstanding. My only complaint with this unit is that the remote is too small and too "busy" with all the buttons very close together. If you want to watch DVDs, record and play VHS tapes without going beyond that I would highly recomend this SONY unit.

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This player had everything I was looking for...progressive scan/component output, CD-R & R/W support, MP3 support, and the selling point...advertised DVD+R/RW and DVD-R/RW support. I make a lot of my own DVDs (not pirated movies) and wanted to make sure the new player could read them. Problem is that it only reads them for a few minutes, then you get digital breakup and the thing eventually stops playing! I've returned the product twice hoping I just had a bum machine no luck! I'm convinced it's a design problem. Never had a problem with production DVDs, just consumer-created ones. If you play a lot of personally recorded DVDs, stay away from this thing. You'll be greatly disappointed.

For the record, the failing DVDs were verified against a 6-month old Toshiba portable (with the same advertised features as the Sony) and a 7-yr old Panasonic set-top (that doesn't even claim to support DVD-Rs!) and all of the discs worked perfectly. Go figure...

This item LOOKS great and has the SONY name...but its performance is definitely lacking. Upon engaging the machine, a buzz is heard. Watching a DVD is best. Only a slight buzz and the picture quality is adequate. But inject a VHS tape and the machine's buzz goes into overdrive. It is EXTREMELY loud and it will buzz along with the movie like an added track of unnecessary white noise.

I'm still looking for a good replacement. I was ready to send this back the day after I bought it, but held onto it and will probably donate it someday soon.

Sony ZS-X3CP S2 Sports CD/Radio Boombox (White)

• CD and radio boombox with MP3 compatibility and Mega Bass low-end sound enhancement
• 4-line, dot-matrix display simplifies file and folder navigation
• ESP2 CD shock protection minimizes skipping during CD playback
• Jog-lever navigation control lets you move "fast forward" or "fast back" through MP3 files and folders
• Water-resistant design with high-impact plastic housing is designed for outdoor fun

Like many out there, whenever I buy any electronics, I first look at Sony products. So when I saw that Sony had released an MP3 boombox, I was really excited. I ripped 10 of my favorite CDs at 160 kbits, burned them onto a CD-R, and raced down to [the local store] to check this thing out !

From a style standpoint, this player is awesome. It's lightweight, it looks cool, and it's real easy to carry around. Thank you Sony for creating products that recognize our desire to rip, burn, & play MP3 on CD-Rs !

I then placed the CD in the tray. It took about a minute or so for the player to run through the 150 songs on the CD and catalog them into its memory...no big deal, I can wait.

But when the sound came out of the speakers, I was very let down. The speakers that Sony put in this thing are very, very average. The sound is not full range at all. It's got Mega Bass, but you hardly notice that it's on. The fidelity doesn't compare at all to sound that comes out of my current Sony boombox, which is about 3 years old.

Sorry to disappoint folks, but I'd have to say "thumbs down." For [money] perhaps I would consider buying. But at [more money], I would expect much more from Sony. It seems to me that the price tag covers the cost of the Sony deign team to dream up its great design & MP3 compatibility...... you are definitely not paying for the components inside.

In closing, if you do not intend on turning this thing up loud to play at the beach or in your back yard this summer, this boombox, may be for you. But if you expect a full range of sound and want to crank it up at a party, look elsewhere. Hopefully as future generations boomboxes are released from Sony, they will improve upon this product.

Believe me....I'm bummed out that [less money] Oritron MP3 model sitting next to it sounded better....

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I had the screeching problem as well. So did a little research and found you guys. I have determined that the screech comes from the unit not being able to properly read the encoding written to the CD. Here's how to get around any problems. If you aren't familiar with burning CDs then you may need to have another window open with Google handy.

I went through 25+ test CDs trying to fix and replicate the problem until I found a fool-proof solution.

1) The first thing you need to do is re-encode your files. You may think your files are fine, but why take the chance. I use the 'Audio File Format Converter' function in Easy CD-DA Extractor 6.5. It uses the LAME encoder version 3.95.1

1) a) You need to configure settings for the 'Output Format'.

1) a) 1) The 'samplerate' needs changed to 44100 kbit/s. This needs set manually as sometimes the default of 'Auto' with allow the original 'samplerate' to be used.

1) a) 2) The 'bitrate' needs to be checked to make sure it is set to 128 kbit/s and not 'Variable Bitrate'. I also tested 96, 112, 160, 192 kbit/s with no problems.

1) a) 3) The 'mode' can be set to anything; 'Stereo', 'Auto Select', etc.

1) a) 4) The 'quality' can be set to anything; 'Normal', 'High Quality, 'Highest Quality', etc.

2) Once the files have been re-encoded. Burn your CD.

2) a) You want to create a CD-ROM (ISO) disk.

2) b) Do not use 'multisession'

2) c) Use ISO Level 2 settings (max 31 characters, mode 1 format, ISO 9660 character set).

2) c) 1) Using Joliet is fine, just make sure that your file names are not longer than 64 characters to be safe. Really your file names don't need to be that long as the information for the file(title, artist, album, etc) is kept in the ID3 tag of the file.

2) e) Your write speed should be between 2x-16x. I am using a setting of 16x so far with no problems. 24x seems to work about 90% effectively.

These tests were done with 120 songs on each disc.

The CDRWs are RIDATA, they were so cheap it is almost impossible to tell which side is up or down as there are no identifiable marks on the entire disc. The CDRs are made by Khypermedia. So from my POV, media is not a huge issue.

The most important thing to keep in mind is the bitrate and samplerate used to encode the files and the speed at which the CD is written.

That takes care of the NOISE that everyone else was upset about. The unit definately looks awesome. It has been on several multi-day canoe trips over the last 3 years and seen its share of drizzle(light rain) and splashes.

The batteries hold up well and although I have never written down runtimes, I would estimate around 24-36 hours continuous use on a volume level of 4.3.

Dismantalling the unit was easy with just a phillips screwdriver(make sure the tip end is at least 5 inches long to reach all the screws). The bottom of the case comes off with no wires attached to the shell.

For the $$$ I would recommend this unit to anyone.

Read Best Reviews of Sony ZS-X3CP S2 Sports CD/Radio Boombox (White) Here

I bought this for keeping my field season full of music. After 3 weeks of using this unit, here is my list of cons:

1) Takes about 1-4 seconds between MP3s; this is in addition to any silence that may be encoded on the MP3. 2) Only 15 seconds of skip protection. Most discman models offer much, much more. 3) No DC (auto) adapter like Sony models of old. 4) No remote. 5) Long load time (30+s for MP3 CDs if you have, say 6 directories). 7) No auto-power off. Bad for batteries. 8) Poor error correction for scratched CDs, particularly with MP3 playback. 9) Should be two shuffle options, all MP3s and those within the current directory.

I suppose these are the reasons that led to discontinuing of this player. Hopefully its successor (the ZS-XN30) will address some of these problems. I was bummed that it was within two weeks of purchasing this unit it was discontinued. As other reviewers say, it sounds great, generally works as it's supposed to, and it is fairly rugged.

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Very nice little boombox. Easy to haul around and operate. Sounds good although the MegaBass seems to have no affect whether it's on or off. Plays MP3s without a hitch. Has a random play feature which is very nice when you put an MP3 disc in with over 200 songs on it. You basically never have to swap the disc out unless you use it a lot. Radio works very nice. Pulls in stations in rooms in my house that other radios can't. I recommend this player without reservation.

I have purchased not one, or two, but three of these units! Each has survived in the harsh marine environment for less than a year. The problem always lies in the same two areas. The jog switch is not only difficult to use. It is the first thing to suffer from water intrusion. Why they would put such a device on a water resistant unit is beyond me. Obviously the seals cannot be made sufficiently water resistant. The second issue is where the power cord plugs into the unit. This is a standard plug arrangement, and not in the least water resistant. The metal portion of the plug remains visable upon installation.

Admittedly, the environment I use the unit is very harsh. I leave it on the deck of my sailboat where it receives light rainfall and ocean spray. I have been unable to find any water resistant unit other than Sony products. Sony used to make a Sports boombox that was yellow and extremely well built. It lasted me five years on the sailboat! That unit stayed on deck all the time. Even in heavy rainfall and sailed through a Tropical Storm while playing CDs!! It also came with a DC power adapter which is convenience for plugging in the boat. The new models do not.

The answer may be the expensive option of installing a complete audio system. However, that is expensive, requires wiring to be run through the boat, and, worst, requires putting holes in the boat to mount speakers.

In the meantime, I will purchase one more Sony Sports boombox because I like the price and the product before if fails to the elements. A hundred bucks a year for having tunes on the boat is worth it. This time, however, I am going to try the cheaper version without the jog switch, and treat the power connection with water resistant electric grease.

SVAT CV500-4CH-002 Web Ready 4 Channel H.264 DVR Security System with Smart Phone Access and 4 Indo

I mainly purchased this system because it was web ready with the ability to view live feeds from your smart phone. Setup was easy and I was viewing live video feeds through my iPhone in no time. Keep in mind; I have an IT background so it may be more difficult for others to setup.

The 4 cameras have quality night vision and built-in motion detection. As with the previous review, I could not get the system to send me email alerts FROM my Gmail account because Gmail requires encrypted authentication. The CV500 DVR does not support encryption. I got around this by using my email which doesn't require encryption. This is only for sending email; you can still specify any valid email address as the recipient. I send the alerts to my Gmail account which is tethered to my iPhone so the results are still what I wanted.

Additionally, unlike the previous review, I was able to setup a motion schedule. You can setup 5 different schedules, each customizable by the hour for every day of the week. You have three recording options: Full Record, Alarm Record, and No Record. The "Alarm Record" records when motion is detected. Each camera can be set on a different schedule. I have my internal cameras set to record motion during the hours I'm normally at work. The external cameras are set on motion recording 24/7. You can also setup a motion grid for each camera. For example, one of my exterior cameras points down the driveway and into the street. I specify only to detect motion in my driveway so it doesn't record every time someone walks by on the sidewalk.

I didn't setup the FTP option but it works exactly like the email option. When a camera is in "Alert Record" mode, it will send video to your FTP site when enabled.

All in all, I'm very happy with the product. It took some readying to figure out the more complicated features (motion grid, schedules, etc), but everything was explained very well in the manual.

UPDATE AFTER 3 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP: My initial interaction with the company was very positive, as indicated below. Then one of my cameras inexplicably died. I sent it to the New York location via UPS Ground ($10, my expense) and I've not heard a word for nearly a month. Very disappointing. They also promised a 'free gift' should you leave a review on their website, which I did, and never heard a word or saw my review which I spent considerable time writing.

Also, with more time spent using this setup, I've really begun to notice its limitations. First, the motion detection is either far too sensitive or not sensitive enough, even after adjusting settings. Rain or snow trips it throughout the shower, bugs flying into view set it off in one pass, yet it only began capturing video when my neighbor walked half-way down my driveway.

Finally, I truly believe you'd be hard-pressed to capture accurate facial features should someone try to enter your property. After several months, I believe these low-dollar systems (ALL of them) are not yet to the level I would expect. Guess I need to spend big bucks for a pro system to be able to recognize facial features or have any reliable motion sensing. It's better than nothing I guess...

--------------

Customer service: 5-stars. First and foremost, the quality of customer service provided by SVAT is absolutely 5-star. They were courteous, knowledgeable and patient. They were also located in North America something not often seen nowadays. Based on the customer service provided, I would absolutely consider purchasing another SVAT product and have already recommended it to family and friends.

Cameras: 4 stars. The 4 cameras feel solidly built, likely made of aluminum. The array of 15 LEDs lights up our driveway in the dead of night and provide more than enough light on the front porch. The resolution is above average, neither not out-of-this-world nor disappointing. They are rated at 420TVL and have a 3.6mm focal length which is excellent considering the price of the entire setup. Mounting brackets are good but not great. The hardest part of installation is running the wires through the attic, but it's a much longer-term solution with better results than the current wireless options (many of which still require a wired power adapter!).

DVR: 3.5-4 stars. The DVR has a simple, icon-based interface which is easy to navigate. Settings are straight-forward and logical. You can set it to record motion-based events or continuously, and it can intelligently overwrite the oldest data when full. I've actually had to adjust down the sensitivity quite a bit as the few bugs still alive this fall can trigger the motion sensor. I will say that navigating recorded video has both good and bad characteristics. You can sort by day and time or by event which is convenient. However, it could be more elegant and precise when viewing video in detail; I've found that it's difficult to step through video frame-by-frame as it jumps around just a bit. It is nice and convenient, however, to begin playing video and immediately roll into the next recorded event rather than opening individual events one-by-one. Firmware updates could easily upgrade the onboard interface (hint! hint! SVAT).

Remote viewing: 4-stars. Setting up mobile viewing can be a little tricky, but customer service is there to walk you through it if you need a hand. Once up and running, my iPhone could recognize each camera via 3G connection very cool indeed. Cannot view recorded video, only live feeds. Remote viewing via laptop is a much more elegant solution as you have the ability to customize settings even outside of the home network. No additional software, monitoring service or applications to purchase -it's all included!

All in all, this is a great security system with quality components and stellar customer service. A tremendous value if you are looking to protect your property and family.

UPDATE: I recently had one VU-301C camera fail on me. Unsure as to why it happened the weather has not been severe, however they issued an RMA and will send a new one in 2-4 weeks time. I had to pay outbound shipping which was a bit disappointing.

Buy SVAT CV500-4CH-002 Web Ready 4 Channel H.264 DVR Security System with Smart Phone Access and 4 Indo Now

I have had several other systems in the past and the ease of use and low price make this the best system for my use. I have had high end PTZ IP cameras and expensive complete systems from other companies. This was my first SVAT system. This system was installed at my mother's house so I could keep an eye on the house for her. There seemed to be an increase of crime in the area so the peace of mind having a surveillance system is priceless. The system cost is so little when you look at all the options you get. Remote access to your cams from your phone, iPod touch, iPhone, blackberry, and any pc on the internet. I ran the video out to the A/V input on one of the TV's in the house so local monitoring is a snap when you want it. The system records all the time so you never miss anything. The build quality of the entire system is A1 (perfect). The cameras are small and blend in well at the eves of a white house. No one notices unless I point them out. The video quality is good, but not as good as some of the other systems I have had. I knew this going in, as I read all specs prior to purchase. The only difference from this setup to others I have had is video quality. I found over the years that the main features I use are the remote monitoring via pc and phone. This is just for a quick view to see if that package I ordered is on the front step, or to see if a car is in the drive. This system is perfect for these things. If you are really into high quality video, than this is not the system for you. If you are like me and want all the features and an acceptable video quality at an amazing price, this is the system for you. Everything you need is included in this package. Cameras, mounts, cables, system, mouse, remote and power supplies. The instruction manual was very easy to understand, although I didn't need it. The system is that easy!!! If you are looking for a complete system that is easy to set up, works great, and has a low price, this is the system for you!

Read Best Reviews of SVAT CV500-4CH-002 Web Ready 4 Channel H.264 DVR Security System with Smart Phone Access and 4 Indo Here

I purchased this product for the ability to have an email message sent to me so that I would know when there was activity on one of the cameras. The problem is that I have AT&T DSL and AT&T uses either TSL or STARTSL or SSL for authentication. SVAT does not support authentication and thus... no email. I tried to set it up with GMAIL and have the same problem.

I set two cameras indoors and two cameras outdoors. Problem is that if you want the outdoor camera motion sensors to work 24/7 but the indoor cameras only when you are away, you have to go into the setup each time you come home and turn them off and then turn them on when you leave. The schedule is only for recording and there is no schedule for motion. This could mean that you forget to turn the motion back on. The motion/alarm indicators are used when sending the video to an FTP site. If you do not turn the motion off when you are home, you will have tons of files sent to the FTP site.

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I've been very impressed with the 4 camera video recording system from SVAT. Their technical support has been very good, although with long hold delays via phone. I was frustrated by the hard wire video connections, having to route them inside the walls of the house (reason for 4 star rather than 5 star), but otherwise the connections and setup were quite easy. I have been very impressed with the quality of the video, even in a dark room, storage of video on their DVR, as well as the remote access via the internet. I now can think of lots of other places for the cameras, so I wish I had bought the 8 camera model. I must also say that I was so turned off by the work to run wires behind the walls in the house, that I later bought a wifi based camera with no hard wire connection and storage to my PC hard drive (the Panasonic BL-C230A). I have written a detailed review on the latter (in Amazon) and contrasted it with the SVAT camera system. Bottom line: the SVAT video image is much better and sharper as well as giving extremely good images in semi darkness; the wifi based image transfer of the Panasonic BL-C230A is clearly much easier to set up anywhere in the house; the SVAT cameras are much more sturdier than the plastic box Panasonic; and the ease of setup from unpacking to recording images and observing them via the web was much easier with the SVAT.

Update after 7 months: so far a few problems: One camera out of 4 did fail and developed an opaque ring image that made viewing impossible. I called the SVAT and they inspected it (I had to pay to ship it to them.) and returned it saying there was no issue, but the other 3 cameras are working fine outdoors in sheltered (under eves) locations. I ordered a single replacement SVAT VU5 camera which works ok, but with a somewhat fuzzy night time image. I still wish I had purchased the 8 camera option just so I could display more images on one dedicated monitor. Spiderwebs forming do cause continual switching on/off by the recorder box, but waving a mop in from of the cameras eliminates that problem. Still a 4 star rating. The Panasonic works fine indoors and the wireless feature is great, but its night time image is terrible; not a camera for even sheltered outdoor use. In summary, the ideal camera that I wish someone would make would be: each camera under $100., including recorder & monitor for up to 8; good, 30 meter night time vision; wireless for all cameras; optional audio receiver (microphone) on selected cameras; pan and zoom features on cameras; simple wifi setup to internet; true color images for an added cost.

Sharp AQUOS BD-HP22U 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player

• Full HD 1080p output for Blu-ray Discs and upconversion of standard DVD video to 1080p
• Ethernet connection for accessing bonus content from BD-Live Blu-ray Discs such as additional scenes and shorts
• Advanced audio decoding; high-quality picture with AQUOS Pure Mode; Quick Start feature for quick disc loading
• Outputs: 1 HDMI (1.3), 1 component, 1 composite, 1 analog audio (L/R), 1 digital optical audio
• Includes remote control and composite AV cable; measures 17 x 2.4 x 10.25 inches

Great picture, easy setup, but I agree with D. L..M about the AQUOS LINK. In fact, after reading that review I called Sharp to make sure my TV (1 month old) supports AQUOS LINK before ordering this player. They said it supported this feature so I ordered the player.

After getting the player, I couldn't get the AQUOS LINK function to work. I called back tech support, asked the same question does this TV support AQUOS LINK? Yes they said. OK, tell me how to make it work. I'm put on hold, they come back after 10 minutes and tell me it is not supported.

So, heads up, these items might indicate your Sharp TV doesn't support AQUOS LINK: The remote doesn't have DVD function buttons, the little feature sticker on the side of your tv didn't say AQUOS LINK or your manual doesn't mention it. I guess that seems obvious, but since tech support said it would work, I just figured this was just a sharp feature that was inherent with the TV's and wasn't anything special.

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If you are thinking about buying this player because you have an AQUOS TV and you want "seamless operability via the AQUOS LINK function through the HDMI connection" ( their words) be advised that it may not work.

It seems that after you purchase this player and try to get the AQUOS LINK to work the Sharp people will tell you it will only work with certain AQUOS TVs

My AQUOS TV is less than a year old and SHARP people told me sorry but it won't work with your set.

I asked them the Sharp customer service why they don't advertise this feature as working with SOME AQUOS TVs but not all, the supervisor said words are words and it's how you take it

Read Best Reviews of Sharp AQUOS BD-HP22U 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player Here

I've had this player for about 2 months now and I'm happy with this purchase for the most part. I don't have an AQUOS TV so, I can't take advantage of the "Aquos Pure Mode" feature. Also, to date no firmware update exists for this model. The picture and sound quality is great for 1080p video and up to DTSHD 7.1 audio running through my Yamaha home theater system. I would recommend purchasing this unit for anyone's home entertainment enjoyment!

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easy to match up to my sharp aquos 52" E77U. First blue ray disc I watched was Dark Knight and the sound and picture were fantistic. It uses Aquos Link to automatically adjust the picture for the best possible color and contrast. the only con that I have is that it does'nt pick up the scene that you were watching after you turn off the unit and turn it back on. Other than that I would recommend it to anyone with a Sharp Aquos HDTV.

The Aquos link works perfectly with a Sharp Aquos LC40E67U LCD TV. The TV remote will control the blueray player including some of the more advanced features such as the setup menu, negating the need to use two remotes 99% of the time. Inserting a Blue Ray disk into the player will automatically turn on the TV and a few other minor convenience features. The blueray player itself is just an average priced profile 2.0 player with nothing remarkable. From what I can determine, this is big step up from the bdhp21u.