Sony RCD-W1 CD-R/CD-RW Digital Recorder

• Records CD-R and CD-RW discs
• Plays audio CD, CD-R, and CD-RW discs
• Dual deck with 4x high-speed dubbing
• 24-bit digital-to-analog converter
• 1-touch synchro start/record

Considering the fact that you can burn music to CD at all is a great thing in itself. There are some features that I would liked to have seen on this machine. Not being able to erase a goof from a CDR kind of sucks. The 3 seconds of silence that automatically adds a new track is only good if you are recording a record that has at least 3 seconds of complete silence in between songs. Otherwise it does require alot of monitoring. Another feature that would have been nice is volume balancing on synchro recording so one song doesn't sound so much louder than another. I do 4 track recording so I'm used to sitting in front of the recorder for hours to get the final result. There's only so much a machine can do when making a compilation CD the rest is manual work. I guarantee if someone gives you a CD that was done with a completely automatic system, it will have mistakes. Have some patience and this machine will give you good results.

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I'm one who tends to put some thought probably more than is the average into purchasing electronics hardware, expecting that I'll get years of service out of the purchase. So, what I tend to look for when it comes time to replace a piece of gear are (a) reputation of the manufacturer, (b) performance specifications, (c) "build" quality, and (d) apparent absence of built-in planned obsolescence.

For the most part, this approach has worked very well, and electronics gear (including music reproduction components) tends to last me for many years. I don't need to be "the first kid on the block" when it comes to gear, and don't consider myself a "gearhead." This has certainly been the case for the CD players I've owned over the years. While my first CD player (one of the "first" generation models actually acquired in Japan before they were on general sale in the U.S.) had many flaws (a price I paid for being an "early adaptor" to the technology) and needed replacing after only a few years, I've had only one component-level player since that time, prior to acquiring this Sony RCD-W1 unit. And that one, too, was a Sony.

Considered solely on the basis of its specifications as a single-drawer CD player, the Sony RCD-W1 would probably be considered too pricey, but not extravagently so. Its specifications, and particularly its 24-bit D/A converter, are splendid, its features and display are fine, and the build quality is rock-solid. Strictly as a player, I find this unit to be measurably better than the older Sony unit it replaced: smoother, almost "silkier" sound, and an improved ability to play discs that the earlier unit choked on. Chalk THAT ability up to overall improvements in playback head optics and error-correction systems. And the second drawer, when not being used for dubbing, is perfect for multi-disc playback; its playback performance is indistinguishable from that of the main drawer.

But I also have upwards of 200 LPs (the barest of residues of what was once a few thousand LPs) desparately needing transfer to a better, more permanent (and more convenient), medium. So the ability to "burn" CDs from these LPs is of more than passing importance to me.

In principle, this (copying of LPs onto CDs) can be done with a computer burner, provided that one has an extra RIAA-equalized preamplifier not doing anything else; something that I don't happen to have. There also don't seem to be any preamplifier-type low-level input devices available as computer peripherals to take the place of an audio-component preamplifier, although peripherals that accept line-level (i.e., microphone, tape and tuner) inputs to feed into a USB port ARE available.

So I've got it figured that the Sony RCD-W1, as an audio component, is just about perfect for dubbing LPs onto CDs (a project that is yet to take place, but one for which I don't anticipate any particular problems). And, since this Sony component will also write to (rewriteable) CD-RWs, the question of "wasting" CD-Rs as "interim half-steps" before cleaning up the files on a computer never really arises: Those LPs needing signal clean-up will get that clean-up after being copied to CD-RWs, after which their cleaned-up WAV files will be copied to CD-Rs. Time-consuming, but not wasteful of materials.

I should also mention in passing that this component does a fine job of straight copying of CDs, either at "normal" speed or at 4x speed. Great for making "compiliation" CDs and for extra "fair use" copies for the car or the Discman.

In summation, there are definitely cheaper pieces of audio hardware out there that claim to do the same thing, but I've come to rely on the Sony name for the audio playback quality that suits my listening needs. And now the integrated convenience that fits my LP dubbing requirements. This is one fine piece of audio hardware, designed for excellent audio performance and built to last.

Bob Zeidler

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This is a great product for burning CD to CD, however, I want to copy from LPs to CDs. I borrowed it from my brother-in-law whom misplaced the "User Guide" and I haven't figured out how to make that feature work without it. Suggestions on where to locate it or excepts (instructions) from someone' copy can be forwarded to: gen_pur@msn.com. Thanks for the help!

BestDealUSA HD 1920x1080P Portable Car DVR 8 IR LED Auto Night Vision Camera Video Recorder

• Super miniature size, smart design and portable
• Built-in 140° wide angle lens, 180° rotating lens, 270° rotating display screen, convenient for multi-angle & high-resolution video shooting/photographing.
• 2.0" LPTS high resolution panel
• Built-in 1/3.2 inch low noisiness high quality sensor, which can capture high resolution pictures.
• Double mode DAY/NIGHT switch function

Headline claims 1920x1080P resolution. Okay, they have your attention. Read the fine print below and the best I see is 1280x720. Either its just an honest overlook or its a bit more. Bottom line is beware trying to find an honest 1080P at this price. For me, Ill move on rather than chance it.

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This wasn't the cheapest device I found on Amazon, but by-far the best in comparison with the two. This device works with no problem what-so-ever, the battery holds it's charge, and the functions are wonderful. That said, once I did slide the sd card in and it went in between the slot and the plastic and I did have to unscrew it to recover the card.

Panasonic BL-C131A Network Camera Wireless 802.11

My wife and I wanted to keep an eye on the nanny with our baby from work. After researching the network cameras for several months, it seemed that only Panasonic cameras consistently received positive (usually glowing reviews) whereas cameras from other major brands like Linksys, D-Link, etc received mediocre or poor reviews. So I went with Panasonic. And after about a month, I have to say I am very impressed with it. Some background: I have a classic Linksys WRT54G 802.11g router, with 2 WinXP PCs connected to it via ethernet and 3 more PCs connected wirelessly; plus, I have AT&T/SBC DSL service via a Speedstream 5100 DSL modem. If you're moderately computer literate, you should have no problem following the included instructions to setup (view and control) the camera in wired mode or in wireless WiFi mode.

But if you want to setup the camera to be viewed (and controlled) from the internet, you need to do a bit more work. And this is where Panasonic's excellent, excellent customer support comes in. Panasonic's support line is 8_0_0-2_7_2-7_0_3_3; they are open Mon-Fri 9AM-9PM and Sat/Sun 10AM-7PM Eastern US Time; this tech support is available to you for the LIFE of the product. They will walk you through how to setup the camera, configure your router (for, among other things, port forwarding), and register with Panasonic's FREE Dynamic DNS web service. This last point is important: Panasonic network cameras include FREE Dynamic DNS hosting service for the life of the product; other brands offer the service for an annual fee.

Okay, step-by-step, here's how to config the camera for internet viewing:

First, if you use DSL as I do (as opposed to cable broadband), you have to configure the DSL modem for "bridge mode." (If you don't use DSL, then you can skip this step.) This is because DSL modems act as a router, and port forwarding cannot work behind both the DSL modem's router and (in my case) the Linksys WRT54G router. If you want, you can call your DSL tech support to ask them to walk you through how to "bridge" your DSL modem. But here's what I did.

1. Login to your DSL modem (for me, it's 192.168.0.1) using your DSL account (for me, it's my SBCglobal email address).

2. Select Advanced >> PPP Location

3. Select Bridged Mode (PPPoE is not used), then Change PPP Location

4. When prompted, restart the DSL modem

5. Login to your router (for me, it's 192.168.1.1)

6. Under Setup> Basic Setup >> Internet Connection Type, select PPPoE and enter the DSL login & password info you normally would enter in your DSL modem to authenticate your DSL service.

7. At this point, the "bridging" should have been successful. To check that bridging has been successful, click Status >> Router, and check that you are "connected" with an IP address showing. If successful, you should also see that your DSL modem's "internet" LED light is off while your router's "internet" light is on. What you basically have done is to move the point of authentication for your DSL service from the DSL modem to your router; your DSL modem merely acts as a bridge for the DSL service to your router.

8. Now, we move on to configuring the camera itself. I assume that the camera has already been configured for wired and wireless mode. Login to the network camera (for me it's, 192.168.1.253).

9. Click Setup. Change the Port No. from the default of 80 to 50000 (fifty thousand) and enter the IP address of the camera (for me, it's 192.168.1.253). Click Save, and the camera will restart. When it finishes restarting (taking as long as 1.5 min), it'll bring you back to the "Top" home page of the camera config screen.

10. Log back into your router, and go to Applications & Gaming, where you'll be able to set up port forwarding.

11. In the Port Range, enter 50000 as "Start" and 50000 as "End." Enter the IP Address of the camera (for me, 192.168.1.253). Check Enable. Save Settings.

12. Now, log back into your camera. Go to Setup >> DynamicDNS. Select viewnetcam-dot-com, then Next.

13. Click on "Your Account Link" to bring up the viewnetcam.com registration page, where you then select New Registration. Enter your desired registration info and select your domain name at viewnetcam-dot-com (e.g. yourname-dot-viewnetcam-dot-com). Click Choose.

14. Now, you will be shown a page confirming your registration. Under DDNS status, you will see Active-waiting. You need to wait up to 10min as the domain registration occurs, at which time, the status will change to Active.

15. We're almost done; stay with me! From WinXP Start Menu, click Run and type "cmd" to bring up a DOS window.

16. In the DOS window, type "ipconfig/all", which shows your computer's various network information. Under Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection, copy down the two addresses under DNS Servers.

17. Log back into your camera, select Setup, and enter the 2 DNS Server addresses from ipconfig/all in the 2 DNS boxes.

18. Go back to viewnetcam-dot-com, login to your account, and check that the DDNS status is now Active. If so, then you're all ready to go!

19. Go to yourname-dot-viewnetcam-dot-com:50000 to see your network camera on the internet!

OVERVIEW

The BL-C131A is a wireless/router based camera (no PC needed). In my view, this is the ONLY way cameras should be used due to the unstable PC connected solutions (e.g., PC freeze-up, lost power, etc). It is an IP based system which needs its own local internet address which the included software does a pretty good job setting up automatically.

MY EXPERIENCES

I have tried over 20 wireless web cameras from 7 brands over the last 5 years ($100-$600) and none are close to the performance, reliability, ease of setup of the Panasonic cams for a consumer based product. Dlink used to lead the pack until the BL-C20A/30A units came out. I was a fan of Dlinks but the software setup, remote camera configurations, and Viewnetcam dynamic DNS service of the the Pana's is just the best today.

ADVANTAGES

The included software is the best on the market for finding the camera on your system and trying to configure it automatically. Most software engineers should be SHOT due to sloppy code but the Panasonic software and firmware (software inside the cameras) is pretty good for setup and reliability (I am an electrical engineer so I know the sloppy way most of these guys think).

Tech support for Panasonic is the ONLY support I have contacted from 7 brands with AMERICANS speaking ENGLISH (not "Engrish"). Their patience and overall knowledge is truly outstanding and worth every extra penny this camera costs.

I highly recommend you also buy the Panasonic wireless router. It automatically configures with the cameras and becomes really easy to find/control the cameras.

The ability to reset/reconfigure the cameras remotely is INVALUABLE! I am often travleing in China, at my home in Chicago, or my home in Florida and want to make changes. I can do it remotely with 100% success after the first setup. I was even able to configure some cams in Chicago and Fedex to my wife in Florida and they booted up into the other system perfectly!

The Viewnetcam dynamic DNS service is stunningly reliable. It has never gone down and my cameras reset/refind themselves every hour so if your local ISP dynamically changes your IP address (Comcast is worst) you are always going to have the cams back up in 1 hour.

The ability to snap images, group small video screens, and "mouse-point" the cameras via the pan-tilt-zoom are outstanding.

The built in microphones are AMAZINGLY sensitive and pick up small noises remarkably well. I could hear the kids playing outside the house with cams inside.

The built in multi-screen servers can integrate different models of cameras. For example, I use a BL-C131A cam as #1 at my mom's house for PTZ and audio. I then add a BL-C30A for simple PTZ photo/video and a BL-C20A for fixed photo/video. They all coexist in one screen and work beautifully!

The photo snaps work PERFECTLY for building a simple web page and placing multiple screen snaps on 1 page (I placed 8) thus a super slim matrix of what is happening in my homes. Each photo at 320x240 is only 8kb so they download fast.

The mobile function (viewing on a cell phone browser) works INCREDIBLY well. I use it everyday on my Treo700P via Sprint.

DISADVANTAGES/CAUTIONS

ANY web cam is tedious to setup, no matter the brand. Be patient, and call Pana's tech support before returning the unit.

DON'T expect HD quality video these are 640x480 screens as best and the upload speed of your home network will always be the limiting factor. I do not recommend more than 4 cams online at once since this overloads even a good 768K upload system.

The pan-tilt controls are outstanding. Lots of left-right-down travel but up is limited. Also, the zoom is a digital zoom (NOT an optical zoom) thus very pixelated and not worth much.

The cams can fight for packets and "burble" your VOIP telephone calls.

SUMMARY

Outstanding product. I now own 14 units around the world and all are stone-cold reliable. Just great products.

Buy Panasonic BL-C131A Network Camera Wireless 802.11 Now

I have experience with D-Link cameras, and this one is much better. Setup was a multi-step process, but went smoothly, and the free internet address really works. The camera has yet to lose signal, and I have it positioned a the farthest end of my wirelss network. Picture is clear, sound is ok, interface is very good. Only works well with Internet Explorer. On a Mac, the video will display in Firefox but without sound. I haven't expored all of the features yet, but the main thing is that it works (more than can be said for many wireless products).

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I purchased four of these cameras and found out that the recording software included with it comes with a license to record only one camera. If you want to record more than one camera, you have to purchase an upgraded version with additional licenses and that lists for $399 and Amazon has it for $315.03 + Shipping Network Camera Software

If you are purchasing more than one camera for Surveillance purpose, make sure to take in to account of the additional costs.

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You can do all setup via the builtin web server even firmware updates. There is no need for installing anything from the included (windows only) CD. Streaming MP4 or MJPEG video works right outta the box in Safari as does the static captures no need for drivers or anything else.. Those looking for typical, painless MacOSX setup will get it with this Panasonic webcam..

Olympus WS-110 WMA Digital Voice Recorder

I bought this recorder to record music. I am a cello major at college, and needed something at least to record lessons. I sorted through many recorders before buying this one, here's my advice:

~Look at the specifications; if you are buying an olympus recorder go to their website to look up the sampling frequency and other specs. For instance you'll find out that the sampling frequency is 44.1khz (cd quality) on hq mode

~Think about how much space you will need. For me, I will not be saving anything on that recorder; it will be moved quickly to the computer or my ipod so there was no point in buying more space on it.

My thoughts on the recorder so far:

~Good quality recording, almost cd quality. Works best of course with an external mic.

~I love the ease of use. The best thing, is that it works just like a usb device; you take the batter compartment off to reveal that in essence, this is a fancy usb stick. No additional software ... just drop it in the folder you want :)

Recording is easy too; click the big red button and you shall record

Update: I've had this recorder for WELL over a year, and I love it. With the external mic and good placement of the device, I get high quality recordings. I use it most for my lessons, and it's both discreet and efficient. Would recommend highly to anyone.

I bought the Olympus WS-110 WMA Digital Voice Recorder after researching quite a few brands and models (on Amazon and elsewhere). As I've used the device for about 3 hours only (since I got it yesterday), my feedback here will probably be revised after a few days' use.

Pros:

1. Ideal size lightweight; not heavy/bulky like most microtape recorders

2. Simple and intuitive user interface the buttons are sized correctly and the on-screen prompts are useful

3. Quality of recording at the highest quality is simply superb. I am still amazed at the high quality of audio.

4. Connectivity to the PC is straightforward (through the USB port) and finding the file within the folder structure is effortless.

5. The price I paid ($60 + free shipping) makes this device a fabulous buy.

6. The in-built speaker is quite good considering its size

Cons:

1. File format is limited to WMA/Windows Media instead of mp3 or a more Microsoft-independent format; I knew about this limitation when I bought the device but figured I could live with this limitation.

2. In-built mike is supersensitive (this is a disadvantage if the device is being used in an environment with substantial background noises). For my purposes, the sensitivity is welcome as I am currently using the device in environments with minimal background noise. I don't plan on buying a noise-cancelling mike as it might not be necessary.

Overall I would rate this voice recorder as a 4.5/5.0. It loses 0.5 points for being too MicroSoft-specific (WMA) as opposed to using a non-proprietory format.

Will edit this review (if possible) after using the device for a few more days.

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A buyer needs to know that this is just a recorder and not suitable for dictation use. The device is slim, light, but just the right weight to feel right in your hand. The USB connector is a great idea. All audio files generated are accessible as a USB drive that you plug into your computer.

The way the controls work is that when you press the "rec" button a new file is created that stores the audio. You can pause recording and restart by pressing the "rec" button to keep recording in the same file. If you press stop the file cannot have anything else added to it. What you cannot do is to pause the recording then listen to the recording to see where you were in your dictation. If you want to listen you have to press stop then play the file. You cannot add to the end of a file.

For recording discussions, music, events, or interviews it is fine. Good audio quality and low price. However, for dictation it is not appropriate. I returned the unit after purchase (at Office Depot) due to the limitations. Olympus has dictation appropriate recorders, but these are quite expensive. I'll be looking at the Sony brand dictation recorders to see if what I need is available there.

Now, as far as a recorder, the thing works fine. Easy to connect to the computer, there is no need for special software. It looks like a USB drive to any computer.

Read Best Reviews of Olympus WS-110 WMA Digital Voice Recorder Here

This thing sounds really good and is actually compatible with my Mac (though since the files are in WMA format, you'll need a free app like VLC to play them in OS X). There are a few things listed in the product details that just aren't true, though:

it says there are eight playback speeds, when there are only three (.5x 1x, and 1.5x speeds). You can set these as permanent playing modes, which I suppose it how they somehow came up with the fictitious number of modes.

if you record at a decent quality, you only get 17-36 hours of recording. The lower qualities sound ok when they are played back, but if it's a loud room, you'll want to use the higher quality mode to be able to head the specific sound you're recording.

I love that I can plug it straight into my Mac and it appears as a drive. Very easy to interact with, and no need for messy drivers or cables.

I'm considering trading this one up to the Olympus WS-311M Digital Voice Recorder, which is only $20 more and has twice the recording time. But overall, this product seems to be a decent quality.

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I bought the Olympus WS-110 mainly so I could record my college lectures. I previously own a microcassette player, but I just got fed up with the cassette tapes and its limited capacity.

Anyways, I thought this little hardware little great. Like everyone mention in the other reviews: it's small, light, sturdy, and has a pretty decent audio quality.

The only problem I had with the Olympus WS-110 is the fact that it wasn't simple as I thought it would be, or "no manual reading required." But I had to resort to reading the manual for simple tasks such as turning on and off the digital voice recorder. But after 10 minutes of using this recorder I felt really comfortable with it.

The only thing I have left to say is, Olympus WS-100 does what it was made to do, record and playback audio, its not an MP3 player, it was never meant to be one. But if you do own an Olympus WS-110, and what music you pretty much have to convert your audio files into WMA. You can do so with this converter software:

http://www.download.com/Free-Mp3-Wma-Converter/3000-2140_4-10442362.html

(Note:I personally think its worth the trouble of installing this software. But just be careful, during installation you will be ask to install other unnecessary softwares such as a toolbar, and set yahoo as your homepage, just decline them all.)

C & K Honeywell - IS2500SN PIR Motion Sensor

I bought this to replace and older version of Honeywell PIR sensor. It works fine. I'd buy another one to replace my other old sensors when they fail.

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RCA RCRC36BGR Combo Pack with 6 and 3 Function Univerasal Remote Control

I had to downgrade to three stars because it really is annoying not having the ability to scan the channels with my remote so I am back to using my old Sony universal remote. If you like to use the circle controls to scan channels and times, etc., pass on this remote.

Well, you can't beat the price folks, that's for sure. They are easy to code, I coded my TV, DVR and cable box in less than 10 minutes, all automatically. I tried entering the codes manually but that did not work with the codes on the sheet and tried auto. They are fairly ergonomic and the keys are relatively easy to manage with one hand. I also like that I can bounce off the ceiling/walls, which means I don't need line of site any more. Woo Hoo! The biggest peeve is that it does not have buttons like my other remote or cable remote to scroll through the channel information without changing the channel. If it had this, it would be a 5. As it is, I need to go to the information which takes me to the channel guide and then scroll that. That is like taking the long way around. Btw, one of my TV's is an old 36 Sony CRT, and the remote works perfectly on it. The cable box is a Cablevision Scientific American box, and the DVR is a Philips. No backlight here, no fancy stuff, but you get what I think are good, solid remotes. There is tremendous value here. One remote controls 3 devices and the other controls 6 devices. In Auto mode, you have to do a little bit of work going back once it turns your system off, kind of like backtracking, and when it turns back on you hit stop and you are done with that device. I would recommend you check as many functions as possible as you might have to keep going to find another code that works better. Luckily, I did not have to do that. Button placement is also very good and easy to get used to.

These are great univerasl remotes from the folks at RCA.

This comes with two remotes, a 3 function, and a 6.

I found these easy to progarm.

They work great, and I can recommend them greatly!

Compatible with many of the top brands

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This RCA universal remote came today, and I couldn't wait to get it out of the box and working. You see, just weeks before my daughter tested our prior remote to see its resistance to hot tea ... the remote failed the testing process miserably. Since we were without a functioning remote, my wife took it upon herself to program me to be the interim remote. Every so often I'd receive a tap on the shoulder and and a request to change the TV to channel 23 (this usually happening around 11p just as I was nodding off to sleep).

This universal remote worked great!!!! I was able to easily program the remote to work on all our devices (TV, HD over Air Converter, Tivo, and a BlueRay player) within minutes. The buttons glow in the dark, not enough to see what each button does, but it is a handy function once you memorize the button layout. No longer do I need to get out of bed to change the channels!! Yay me!

Oh yeah, did I mention that this remote pack also came with a spare??? So I'm prepared for the next time someone in my family decides to float test the remote!

Read Best Reviews of RCA RCRC36BGR Combo Pack with 6 and 3 Function Univerasal Remote Control Here

These remotes are GREAT I needed one that would work the converter box and all the other things my girlfriend has. She as 5 remotes and can't remember what goes to what and the R C A 6 function was just what she needed it was easy to program and works like a dream!!! Now she has everything on one remote and is very happy this is a great deal.

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There are expensive remotes, like the Logitech Harmony series, mid-range remotes, and low-price remotes. This set falls in the last category. Heck, you get two remotes for a price that is barely enough for a down payment on a Harmony remote.

But are they cheap? No. They're just inexpensive.

There's no online programming. There's no ability to learn new devices not already programmed in. There aren't any macros that will perform a series of actions in succession. No, nothing like that here.

The remotes each come with their own huge sheet of codes that you can directly punch in, but they also have the ability to try successive codes until you find the one that works so you can lock it in. This is really no different than any other low-end, or mid-range remote. I find it tedious, but I can see how some folks may find it daunting. But if this is the case, just find someone to do the programming for you as you're not going to escape this necessary evil unless you spend enough to get a remote that, while easy to program, will be hard to operate.

To make a long story short, if you just want an ordinary universal remote to either replace your regular remote(s), or a pair of remotes so everyone can have one, go ahead and get these.

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Flip Mino Video Camera - White, 2 GB, 1 Hour (1st Generation)

The form factor on this product is great. Its noticeably smaller (in both the pocket and the hand) than its predecessor the Flip Video Ultra Series, 60 min. And the Ultra was already compact to begin with! The sleek size was important to me because I just won't bring a camcorder out with me if it doesn't fit easily in my pocket. This device did just the trick. If you don't care about size (i.e., because you will just put it in your purse, etc) then I would suggest saving the money and getting the Ultra, which lists for about $50 or so less.

As far as I can tell, the video quality and functionality is about the same as the Ultra and they both have the 2GB of memory, similar 1.5" screen size, digital zoom etc. So the only reason in my mind to get this is for the size advantage. But for me, size does matter. When I think about how many moments passed by unrecorded simply because it was too cumbersome to take a camcorder along, it really makes me wish they made this Mino years ago!

For those of you unfamiliar with Flip camcorders, the Mino has suprisingly good VGA video quality. I'd put it on par with that of much larger, more expensive traditional camcorders. The Mino also records well in a variety of light settings. The lack of a true optical zoom is probably to be expected given the small size, but the 2x digital zoom is good enough for most casual settings. The design is well thought out to avoid many of the classic pitfalls of portable devices there's a scratch resistant covering on the lens, an on/off switch on the side that is difficult to trip accidentally and a centrally located record button that has enough resistance to avoid unintentionally starting/stopping recording (I know some have issues with the Ultra record button but I have not).

I have a PC at home and the Mino truly is a plug-and-play device. You don't have any confusing software or cables to muddle around with. Simply plug the USB adapter into your computer and you're ready to go! It's great for the non-technically savvy. I also like the rechargeable built-in battery in the Mino (which is a new feature). It recharges like an iPod, either in the computer or through an outlet which is convenient. I can't attest yet to the battery life/quality but I figure by the time it dies out on me, I'll be well on my way to buying a next generation Flip Micro!

-----------July 8th update -------------

I noticed the price dropped on the black Flip Mino. For those of you who don't know (Amazon doesn't advertise this) Amazon not only has a 30 day return policy, but a 30 day price adjustment policy as well. So if you bought your Flip in the past 30 days, you can call them up and they will immediately refund the difference to you with no hassles. This policy holds for all products directly sold by Amazon.

I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere and I thought it was important for Mac users to be filled in on the following....

1. The software that comes with the Flip Video Mino does NOT allow you to stitch multiple clips together to make one movie. Only Windows users can do this.

2. I was able to get the Flip Video Mino AVI videos to play in iMovie '08, but not export. When you export the video you get a blank screen with only audio. I had better luck exporting the video from Final Cut Pro.

3. In case you are interested, the codec that Flip Video Mino uses is the 3ivx codec.

There are workarounds for the above issues, but it would have been nice if there was a way to combine clips into one movie right out of the box. Hopefully this will be possible in the future with a software update.

Other then those concerns, its a great product so far and the video quality from the raw AVI file is really impressive.

I found a site called motionbox that will let you upload the raw AVI files that the Flip Video Mino creates and once uploaded you can do some basic editing and combine multiple movies into one. Doing it this way gives you a much higher quality video then what you get on sites like YouTube.

Buy Flip Mino Video Camera - White, 2 GB, 1 Hour (1st Generation) Now

The Flip Mino is a great small camcorder for the price, mainly because of the form factor. It's a lot thinner and smaller than the Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (White), yet yields equal performance. The only negative is that it doesn't take AA batteries like the Flip Ultra because it's so thin. Instead, it has a non user replaceable built-in lithium ion battery like an iPod.

The Flip Mino does not neccessarily replace the Flip Ultra and the Flip Ultra is being sold side by side with the Flip Mino. And, the Flip Mino doesn't come in as many colors, only a black version and a white version.

I would say If you already have a Flip Ultra, you may not want or need to buy the Flip Mino (unless you really want the smaller form factor or you have money to burn) since it yields about the same video and audio quality. If you don't own a Flip video camera yet, the Flip Mino is probably the one to get unless you require AA batteries which admittedly is nice because they are readily available everywhere. I actually prefer AA batteries over an internal rechargeable battery that over a few years will start to lose it's charge and not last as long between charges.

That said, the Flip Mino is pretty nice because it's so small and thin.

Even though I have a digital point and shoot still camera that can shoot video, I find it easier to shoot video with the Flip Mino. The vertical form factor is better suited to shooting video. The built in software is nice and it's built into the camera so you need not install anything on your computer.

The Flip Mino is a great 'take everywhere' video camera that fits in your pocket and can yield some creative and endearing videos.

Read Best Reviews of Flip Mino Video Camera - White, 2 GB, 1 Hour (1st Generation) Here

The Flip Mino is a slick device that is well-designed to perform its intended task, namely to take videos that can be readily posted on the Internet. Here are some features that impressed me and that may not be clear from the specs:

Good video quality. The video quality is surprisingly good, even indoors. I have one of those first-generation consumer digital video cameras (a Sony Mini-DV) that cost $1200 way back when. The resolution of 640-by-480 is the same, and I don't see any difference in the pixel quality between that and my expensive camcorder. Of course the Mino doesn't have all the same features, but it turns out you don't use those features anyway. The picture quality is definitely way better than I get on my cellphone (a Blackberry) or other devices where video recording capability is only an afterthought.

No accessories needed. I love how you can charge and exchange data by USB. I'm not talking about using a separate USB cable. The Mino has a spring-loaded USB plug that pops out so you can plug it in directly to your computer. And when you're done using it, you push the plug down and a hard plastic cover protects it automatically. This is way smarter than those fiddly rubber port covers you see on many electronic devices that you have to push and stretch back into place. This cover hides the USB plug while preserving the clean lines of the device. No extra cables or chargers to carry around when you travel.

Stable picture. I was surprised at how un-shaky the picture is. The narrow, vertical form-factor allows you to hold the Mino steadier than, say, your cellphone. I used to use my digital still camera to take videos, but I'm finding the Mino is much steadier.

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(2008 HOLIDAY TEAM) I am posting a series of reviews to help people decide between these very similar flash memory camcorders. I was curious if the new Flip Video Mino Series Camcorder (Black) was better than the Creative Labs Vado Pocket Video Camcorder (Silver) or the Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder (Black). I surprised myself after testing all three as well as a few competing devices.

The quality of video and audio captured with the Flip Mino is noticeably better than the Creative Vado, even when it's at its highest setting. However, for most users, the Creative Vado will probably meet your expectations at a much better price than the Flip Mino. The Mino's recent price drop makes the decision slightly harder, but there's still enough of a price difference to make the Vado attractive. While the Flip Ultra offers nice quality and removable batteries, the Vado offers a user changeable battery in a more slender body.

So the ranking in terms of quality goes Flip Mino, Creative Vado and Flip Ultra. But the ranking in terms of value goes Creative Vado, Flip Ultra and then the Flip Mino.

The unit you choose will depend on what your needs are, how much quality matters to you and how much you want to spend. Between these three most popular entry level models, the answer for some people may be, "none of the above."

Pros

+ Video quality is ok on the Vado, good on the Ultra and much better on the Mino Advantage, Mino

+ Both include ports for AV out connections to TVs, but the Mino comes with the cable and the Vado does not Advantage, Mino

+ The microphone sensitivity is below average on the Vado and slightly better on the Mino Advantage, Mino

+ Both have a screw hole for attaching a tri-pod or similar stand, but the Mino's is centered and the Vado's is off-center (on the lower right) Advantage, Mino

+ The Mino has a slick USB connector that tucks into the body and is released via a tab, while the USB dongle on the Vado is flexible but has a tab that sticks out from the body Advantage, Mino

+ In terms of looks, the Vado's body is thinner and wider, and the Mino is slightly thicker but not as wide; the Mino definitely looks slicker, though the black plastic will attract finger-prints; Also, the Vado comes in different colors Advantage, Mino

+ The built in speaker on the Vado is not nearly as good as the dual speakers on the Mino Advantage Mino

+ The low light performance is subpar on all three units but slightly better on the Mino Advantage, Mino

+ Ability to zoom seems weak on both, though the Mino does perform slightly better Advantage, Mino

+ The Mino comes with a cheap pouch and a dongle, while the Vado comes with no carrying case or dongle included Advantage, Mino

+ The Mino is presented in a box that is reminiscent of the packaging of Zunes and iPods, while the Vado packaging definitely seems cheap Advantage, Mino

+ The Vado's on screen menus are definitely not as nice, and the Vado Central software is not nearly as good as the Flip Video Muvee software Advantage, Mino

+ Nice indicator shows when either unit is capturing video Draw

+ While the price is still higher for the Mino (see my first con below) the recent price drop is definitely a *pro* for anybody who wanted the mino more anyway

Cons

The Price on the Vado is much better (just under $90, depending on color) while the Mino sells for much more (listed for $180, sells for about $150)

While the Ultra worked with removable batteries and the Mino has a built-in rechargeable battery, the Creative Vado has a rechargeable battery that is user changeable and can be easily swapped for extended recording; So if the Mino's battery fails, replacing it will be much harder than just buying another one for the Vado BIG Advantage, Vado

The Flip Mino controls are touch sensitive (except for the record button); The buttons on the Vado are real tactile buttons that have nice feedback This is a matter of preference, and both are nice, but I prefer the real buttons on the Vado; The Mino seems to have a lag when pressing the controls Advantage, Vado

The included software is self-contained on both units and seems to work fine, but the Mino requires much more software to be installed Advantage, Vado

Users who want to use a dedicated microphone are provided no jack on these devices for that purpose Draw

Neither unit has a headphone jack for checking audio playback on recorded videos Draw, but the weaker speaker on the Vado makes this hurt the Vado more Slight Advantage, Mino

The Mino's screen is slightly smaller than the Vado's Advantage, Vado

The Mino only records in high quality mode for 1 hour, while the Vado gives you the option of recording in SP for 2 hours Advantage, Vado

The Mino and Vado both have some software issues that will hopefully be fixed with updates the Mino's software is still slightly better Advantage, Mino

The Vado requires you to install the XVid codec to use the built-in software Not a huge deal, Draw

Not as much support for Mac users in terms of software

Both the Vado and the Mino are easily recharged by USB connection, but the Vado includes an option for quick-charging Advantage, Vado

Neither of these has slots for any kind of memory card Draw

Neither of these will compete with some of the high-definition flash memory camcorders that are on the market, such as the Sanyo Xacti Draw

Conclusion

While both of these units are ok, I am in the higher demanding category of users who is only going to be satisfied with the features offered by HI-Def flash camcorders like the Sanyo Xacti. Namely, I want to be able to use SD and SDHC memory cards to increase my capacity and record more than just 1 or 2 hours. I would also like to be able to have a more powerful optical zoom and more jacks for accessories. The high price of those units make them prohibitive for now, though the CG9 models are in the ballpark at around $250. Hopefully the price will come down, or competing units will come out to combine the best of both.

But if I have to draw a conclusion, as of now I would say that the Mino is definitely better in terms of quality. With the recent price drop to around $145, it is almost as good of a value when you consider it includes the AV cable, pouch and lanyard that the Vado doesn't. That's still not enough extras to justify the %40 price difference, but it definitely shrinks the gap.

So is the Mino good enough to warrant the higher price than the Vado? Many people will still choose the Vado. The fact that they made it easy to buy additional or replacement batteries and swap them out yourself is a HUGE plus. And since this is still a point and click camcorder, saving a nice chunk of change doesn't hurt either.

While all three are good devices for what they do, I am still searching for my perfect digital camcorder to come out at the right price.

Enjoy!

*****

Note: This video sample was taken with the Flip Mino. I filmed this from the upper deck of Yankee Stadium during a night game, which were much more difficult conditions than the sample I took for the Creative Vado. Still, even under these tough conditions, the video and audio quality of the Flip Mino is noticeably better.

Conversely, the Vado sample video I took was recorded in my friends living room less than 8 feet away from the TV. Even after turning up the volume very high the microphone on the Vado still captured audio very faintly. In addition, the video is set to HQ yet is somewhat grainy compared to the Flip Mino. Check out my review of the Vado to see the sample for yourself.

I will eventually update these reviews with more pictures and improved samples.

Zoom H2n Handy Recorder

• Over 20 hours of operation using two standard AA batteries
• Key Control, A-B Repeat, File Dividing, Normalize, MP3 Post-Encode, Marker and Surround Mixer
• Additional functions include Lo-cut Filter, Compressor/Limiter, Auto Gain, Pre-Rec, Auto-Rec, Tuner, Metronome, Variable Speed Playback
• Records in WAV up to 24-bit/96kHz and MP3 up to 320kbps

I am extremely impressed with the Zoom H2N. I have owned other Zoom audio recorders: H1, H2, H4, H4N. I've also owned Tascam DR-05, DR-08, Sony PCM-M10, Edirol R44, and Fostex FR-2 LE audio recorders. I am both a musician and videographer and for the price of the H2N, it is BY FAR the most versatile audio utility device I have ever owned (until the next latest and greatest technology comes out).

As a videographer/Indie filmmaker, I got the H2N because:

*It has 20hrs of battery life longest of all Zoom recorders to date.

*The user interface is well designed and easy to adjust during shooting. I love the analog gain wheel.

*It has a REMOTE port (remote comes with accessory pack).

*Internal mics & preamp are super crisp, amazing quality up to 96kHz/24bit Wave. Great for room tone or foley.

*Doubles as USB microphone for Skype, iChat, Logic Pro, Garageband, etc. I'll use to record voice over for my videos.

**The H2N can record both external mic input AND onboard mics at the same time in multitrack mode. Similar to Zoom H4N.

If you already own an H4N, you might still want the H2N to add to your gear. It's a different type of tool. If you absolutely need XLR inputs for everything you do, then don't bother getting the H2N. BUT if there are times when you only need to capture ambient audio, or only use a 3.5mm wireless lav or 3.5mm stereo Rode mic, then I strongly recommend the H2N. It's a better tool for those types of situations.

As a musician, I got the H2N because:

*I wanted to record my band rehearsals and some of my gigs. Put this in the middle of the room, picks up the whole band.

*Has built in Tuner, Metronome, slow playback with pitch control -so I can learn bass lines by slowing down music.

*I use it for Logic Pro 9 to record vocals. Also makes a great mic for quick demos.

*The Zoom can convert files in the recorder. Converts 4 track to stereo, Wave to MP3, etc.

The few negatives:

-The mics are too sensitive to wind. I don't understand why they couldn't build a windscreen INTO the mic frame.

-The tripod mount is plastic and will wear out over time.

-It's a little too thick to actually put in your pocket. Definitely less portable than the older H2.

If you are a musician, indie filmmaker, or event videographer and you want better audio for your projects, GET THE ZOOM H2N. You also definitely need the purchase the Accessory Pack.

Buy Zoom H2n Handy Recorder Now

The sound quality is EXCELLENT with all of the XY and MS Mic settings.

The display is good, Navigation is fairly logical, and it has lots of excellent software features for editing/manipulating/converting the audio, right inside the H2n unit (without external computer).

It is very fast/easy to turn on and start a new recording. You will never miss that special musical performance, baby's first words, bird call, etc.

Time/date stamping makes it easy to match up sound recordings with photos/movies, taken at the same day/time.

The H2n would be worth the price if you only used it as a high quality electret condenser studio mic/USB to computer interface, for recording with Logic Audio or Garage Band. Add the 2/4 channel SD card recording capability, and it is an amazing value!

My only (small) gripe is with the Jog wheel.

When you press it down to select something, it has to be centered (not tilted in either direction) or you can not push it down. This makes it more difficult to use than it needs to be. Might become easier with use/practice.

Owners manual is ok, but could be a little better, with a some more information about, and recommendations for how to use, the many features.

Recorded some live performances (including my own) at the local Coffee shop, last night.

Vocals, acoustic/electric guitars, Saxophones, piano, all sounded superb when played back through my Mackie HR824's back in the studio. Not a hint of noise or distortion.

Very glad I purchased the H2n, it is the best portable/field recorder I have had the pleasure to use (and I have used quite a few in the last 40 years).

Edit #1:

I have had this for 3 months, and have mostly gotten used to the jog wheal.

It is a bit easy to accidentally press/move it, so use the Power ON/OFF/LOCK slider to keep that from being a problem, if you are going to put it in your pocket or otherwise be handling it, during use.

The internal mics are very sensitive, with the gain turned up.

I have recorded acoustic piano, quiet ambient sounds like crickets/birds, as well as acoustic jazz, acoustic guitar, spoken word and other low volume sources (sometimes from across the room), with excellent S/N and sound quality.

I have also recorded moderately loud performances up close, with equally good results.

After many fine recordings made, in a variety of situations, with my H2n, I could not be more pleased with the ease of use and high quality results.

I am a recording eng., electronic tech and musician with 30 years experience.

The quality of the sound captured is phenomenal. At the current price, this is an amazing value.

Don't forget to buy a windscreen for use in breezy outdoor conditions.

The large foam one at radio shack for a few dollars, or the Rode Dead Kitten Windscreen available on Amazon, better sound quality but 10X more expensive.

Rode Dead Kitten Windscreen

Rode Dead Kitten Windscreen

Or this one from Zoom, that is half the price of the Rode:

Zoom H4n Furryhead Windscreen Black

and another more powerful one from Zoom for a few buck more:

Zoom H4n Furryhead Extreme Foam Core Windscreen Black

Zoom H4n Furryhead Extreme Foam Core Windscreen Black

Edit #2:

I have purchased the Sewell USB SoundBox 7.1 USB for listening to the 4channel recordings on my Apple MacMini or MacBook computer.

Sewell USB SoundBox 7.1 USB Sound Card

It is the same unit as the Vantec USB External 7.1 Channel Audio Adapter:

Vantec USB External 7.1 Channel Audio Adapter (Black)

This device, (which is the size of a deck of cards and runs off of USB power) gives me better sound quality than the computers built in hardware.

It also allows me to assign each of the H2n 4 channels (after transfer to computer) to a separate analog output so I can use two stereo amps with 4 speakers, to listen in Quad, surround sound.

I am currently using Logic Audio software for editing and playback because it's good, and it supports multi channel output for playback.

Happy Trails...

Dave

Read Best Reviews of Zoom H2n Handy Recorder Here

I primarily use the H2n to capture my band's rehearsals and live performances. It's also a highly useful sketchpad for capturing ideas with a minimum of setup and fuss, particularly when compared to a computer based recording system.

Until recently I owned a Zoom Q3 (their handheld recorder with audio/video) which was either stolen or lost, and I replaced it with the H2n. Without getting into a lot of comparisons between the two, I can safely say that the H2n captures a deeper and wider sound field due to the additional mics and their orientation within the unit (Mid-Side and XY). The clear, detailed quality of the mics is about the same and I wouldn't be surprised if they are exactly the same in each device.

From here on, I'll talk only about the H2n. If you're not familiar with Mid-Side and XY mic patterns, I suggest a visit to the Zoom website where you can find detailed information on the patterns and features of the H2n.

There is a 4 channel surround mode which records in both MS and XY (the front and rear mics) and allows mixing of the two stereo tracks after recording. This is a great feature! You can adjust the width and depth independently by changing the level of each set of stereo tracks. This means you can dial in a more pinpointed sound when needed or capture a larger sound source like a band with very good results. The 2 channel surround mode records all 4 mics to a stereo track without the option of mixing the MS and XY mics separately after recording. This is handy when you don't want to mess around with mixing later, but still want a deep, wide recording. The other two modes are MS or XY only. All mic patterns are selected by rotating a dial on top of the unit. In all modes except XY, you can adjust the level of the MS mics before recording, which is another handy feature when you already have a good idea of how wide and deep you'd like the recording to sound.

The submenu implementation and access to features is well thought-out and about what you'd expect for a device with few controls. There are a few features that require digging deeper into submenu pages, but they seem to be placed by order of priority to how often most users would need access. The metronome and tuner are welcome features that both work quite well and they're surprisingly adjustable for such a compact device.

There are a few mostly minor drawbacks worth mentioning in the design of the H2n. First, when recording a fairly loud source like a band, the mic gain can't be set low enough to avoid harsh digital clipping when the band reaches louder moments. There are user selectable limiters built into the unit that would prevent the sound of clipping, but they shouldn't be needed since other Zoom handhelds can be set below input clipping. By definition, the sound of a recording that doesn't require limiting is always going to be more dynamic than what a limiter can achieve. It might be possible that software update can remedy this issue.

The other problem might be particular to my H2n, but the Play knob/button (it can be pushed in or slid up and down) usually gets stuck in the up position unless I'm very careful to apply minimal pressure, and I'm not applying much. When selecting options in menus, this makes the cursor scroll past the intended selection unless I catch it in time. While mine is still under warranty, I'm planning to return it for another unit that hopefully won't have the same stuck button syndrome.

One final drawback is the tiny mic adjustment wheel, which requires use of fingernail to rotate into the desired position, and because of its stiffness, it usually stops midway between positions, so you have to be ensure that the arrow is pointing directly at what you intend. I appreciate that Zoom built the dial flat into the top surface of the H2n, which prevents the pattern from being changed accidentally, but they could have made it loose when rotating the dial between positions with a stiff detent at each position.

Otherwise, this is a great sounding recording with a wealth of highly useful features and user adjustable options. I wish it included the power adapter, remote, tripod and mic stand mounts, case and windscreen, but it is understandable that this would raise the price of the H2n by $40, and not everyone might want the optional trinkets. I went ahead and bought all the goodies separately and they're well worth the price for how I use the H2n.

A recommended buy for musicians in particular and field recordists in general!

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I've had a Zoom H2 for about 4 years and found that it has done all that we needed. It is used for my wife's vocal and instrumental practices and for recording some performances. It has also been used to record music for a "limited distribution" CD. Good quality and fairly easy to use.

After hundreds of hours of use and abuse, and some recent minor problems, I decided to try the new H2n. It is much easier to use, and the first recordings are fine.

Will follow up after more use.

Save 49% Off

I was hesitant about getting this product. It was a little more out of my price range, but based on some of the reviews of this and its predecessor, the H2, I decided on buying this one for my wife. She is a vocal teacher and participates in many singing groups. She needed something for practices and this seemed to be just the right size. I had purchased the Tascam DR-07 first and this feels like a much better quality product. I find myself using it just as much. I also purchase the accessory pack, which has the USB cable, wind shield, tripod, remote, and more.

Pros:

Size fits comfortably in your hand

Manual gain is a knob on the side (easily adjust gain without going through menus)

Recording/sound quality has been excellent. I can hear every detail without much of a noise floor.

Has 4 different mic patterns for recording. Mid-Side is great and I can hear such a difference with that compared to just mid. Also love the 4 channel surround.

Recording is as simple as pushing one button.

Cons:

Mic knob is a little bit of a pain to change as it is more of a dial with grooves in it to help you move it with your finger.

Menus could be a little easier to navigate.

Very sensitive to handling noise, so don't expect to hold it to record.

For the price, this I definitely recommend this for anyone just playing around or someone needing a professional sounding on-the-go recording device.

8-LED Flaslight Mini DVR Camera - Features Flashlight w/Built-in Video Camera..

THIS WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE ANYTHING MORE THAN A FLASHLIGHT!!!

I just paid $30.00 for a rechargable flashlight. Even after I figured out the poorly translated instructions and wasted hours of my life downloading the useless device software, nothing happend except an LED flashlight. I took the "Flashlight/Camera" apart and SURPRISE! The pin hole for the camera was just an empty pin hole there is no camera inside. There is no micro lens, there is cell phone lens, just a lot of deceiving electronics that make for a very expensive flashlight. I don't care about the money. I just want the 3 hours of my life back that I wasted trying to get this piece of crap to work. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY!!!

When I received it, I put it to test. It worked. I put it back in the box for future use. A couple of months later, I attempted to use it, and it will not record. I recharged and tested the memory card. They are both good. But it will not record. One good thing I can say though is the flashlight still works. So I now, I simply have a very expensive flashlight.

Buy 8-LED Flaslight Mini DVR Camera - Features Flashlight w/Built-in Video Camera.. Now

I dont know why buyers give you negative feeds and talks about negativity of this great product, the price is a steal, come on guys dont be cheap, unless ur guys are poor lol jk any how this seller is one of the best in Amazon and his/hers products are great with amazing prices :). Ps used this device in my office when i go out for lunch n did the job perfectly, thank you

Read Best Reviews of 8-LED Flaslight Mini DVR Camera - Features Flashlight w/Built-in Video Camera.. Here

I just got this thing, so far so good, i do have to play with the light switch to get the light,s to go on and off, but over all it,s alright, i would recamend it to people to buy,

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Leica V-Lux2 Super Zoom Digital Camera with 14.1 Megapixels CMOS Sensor, 24x Optical Zoom, 1080i AV

I received this camera for Christmas from my Husband. For a one size fits all digital camera you will be hard pressed to find something better. The 24x zoom and full HD video makes this a perfect family camera. The burst feature which takes 11 fps at 14.1 mp is great for taking pictures of kids who don't always cooperate. Much has been made about about the similarities to the Panasonic FMZ 100. Volkswagen makes some cars that are similar to their Audi brethren, but it doesn't make them a Audi. The V Lux 2 his upgraded software, expanded iSO settings and much better better appearance. I would recommend this camera for amateur photographers looking one catchall camera. If you don't need the zoom and want a smaller camera iI would recommend the D Lux 5.

I too bought a V-Lux 2 recently, largely based on the reputation of Leica and sales rep advice. The camera is light, portable and easy to use. Excellent multi-use digital camera. It has a lot of good user functions, including manual mode, creates RAW files, fast burst mode (up to 60 fps in with jpegs). The 25-600 zoom lens provides great versatility. Daylight pictures are sharp and good quality. A good step up from instamatic type point and shoot.

However, I am not at all impressed with the depth of field (max f8), nor it's ability to focus in zoom mode or with moving targets (autofocus lock does work ok, not great), very difficult to get sharp, in-focus pics. Low light or narrow spectrum lighting situations (sports, ice rink type lighting) are low quality. ISO speeds beyond iso 200 are grainy and muddy.

I'd give it 4 stars for usability and versatility, but 2 stars for image quality, especially at higher isos, low light and moving targets.

Update: notice that similarly priced cameras (bodies only, in the $600-$1,000 range) have pixel densities (See DPReview.com) in the 2.5 to 5 MP/cm^2. Higher end cameras have pixel densities in 1-2 MP/CM^2 range. the Leica V-Lux 2 pixel density is 50 MP/cm^2!!! therein lies the difference.

Buy Leica V-Lux2 Super Zoom Digital Camera with 14.1 Megapixels CMOS Sensor, 24x Optical Zoom, 1080i AV Now

I just got this camera and I love it. It is very fast when you want to take pictures quickly (turn off the picture review), and it saves even 12meg pix with very little lag. The photos are clear and crisp with no noise. Its light and easy enough to use, altho there are perhaps too many options for me to choose from, and that gets confusing fairly quickly. While the basic choices are the same as most cameras, the further you go into the feature set the more you can do.

However, I'm very impressed by many of the features. I finally got a great series of my cat running flat out across a field in burst mode. The zoom is easy to use and maintains focus the whole way. I haven't tried the camcorder or the slow motion (220 fps) yet, but I expect they'll be as good as the rest.

I agree with another reviewer who said that the its not a Volkswagen but an Audi...this is a Leica and they have some of the best optics around. If your purpose is too save money buy the Panasonic. If you want the quality of a Leica then buy this one.

About the price: I bought this at Amazon for $849. They now have a price of $1399. I'd check on that before buying.

Read Best Reviews of Leica V-Lux2 Super Zoom Digital Camera with 14.1 Megapixels CMOS Sensor, 24x Optical Zoom, 1080i AV Here

This is a great little camera. The pictures are sharp with good color. The camera operates fast and does not make you wait. It has good manual controls and a flash hotshoe so you will not outgrow it any time soon.

Why then only three stars? Because it is just a Panasonic DMC-FZ100, rebadged and jacked up to twice the price. Panasonic engineer and build a great camera and sell it to Leica, who resell it for a fantastic margin. This is a very smart move for Leica. There is no possible way for them to compete against the Japanese giants in the compact camera world. When Leica does their own engineering, they produce products that are woefully slow in operation, with such creations as the $7000 18 mpix M9 which does 2 fps burst and 0.3 fps thereafter. Panasonic meanwhile provides them with a 14 mpix model with 11 fps burst. These are obviously not the products of the same engineering organization.

What I wonder with this camera is who exactly it is supposed to impress. Most people do not have any idea who Leica is these days. And of those who do, I think most are quite well aware that the cheap Leicas have been rebadged Panasonics for many years. But I suppose there is some tiny slice of the market that will be fooled.

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This is my second Leica camera, I have a Dlux 4. I don't know if I can be naif in saying that the pictures that I have taken with this camera are amazing. I know that many people would say, why didn't you buy the panasonic FZ100? Well, that was my first choice, but living in a country where the price of these cameras are prohibitive, I had to buy in a trip abroad. The camera shop didn't have the panasonic then, I thought it was a good chance to buy a Leica, so I did it!! At first I thought it was a silly buy!!! But the camera is something. I had some good experience and excellent results with the DLUX 4 and the VLUX 2 is much greater. I think that one of the problems with this german product is that we don't see much of them around so we don't have a clue if it is worth the investment, but it is for sure!!! The quality of this camera is singular in its kind! The superzoom cameras that compete with this camera do not seem to be as good. Let's say that we are buying a German product with a Japanese high quality standards!!

I am not a professional photographer but the results in B&W with this camera I have never seem nothing similar. It seems that Leica has a kind of DNA for B&W photographs that you only can achieve with a Leica. I tell you, one day, If I could afford to buy a M9 with lens, I will!!!! That's a dream....Maybe at the time it will be a M100!!! who knows

Verbatim 95460 700 MB 52x LightScribe Color Recordable Discs CD-R, 25-Disc Spindle

these discs stink the scribing does not last on them unlike the non colored discs

save your money

I've had good results with other Verbatim LightScribe discs, but I won't use the colored discs again. They looked terrific when I first burned them, but after about two weeks the images started to fade and blur even on discs that were stored indoors and out of sunlight.

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I used to mark my disks with glue on labels. Well after making hundreds of labels they all went bad because of the glue, the ink, or the blank media. It took about a year and a half for the disks to go bad. I really did not know what caused it, but they were slowly ruined as if on a time table. They all sounded as if they were off balance when spinning in the drive and the sound would come out all garbled. Thankfully they were all music and not data. Anyways it was a big disappointment for me losing all that music.

So I started over using a "Sharpie" to mark my disks. A Sharpie is a permanent ink marking pen. The disks were pretty boring looking but at least I felt as though I was safe and the disks would last.

Well I bought a HP computer that had the Lightscribe feature. It was an inexpensive add on. I was blown away by the quality of the finished product. I use the Lightscribe software (it cost me $12 but I think I got it at a discount because I bought the computer) that is very easy to use and very versatile. I have made probably 50 disks so far and no two look the same. I can insert my own images or pictures, background or fonts or use the templates that came with the LightScribe Software. The results look fantastic. It takes about 30 minutes to Scribe a disk but all the information is on the disk. A picture of the CD cover or a picture of the artist, all the songs and a beautiful background of my choosing. They can make very professional looking presentations if you are in business, they are not just for music. You can run other applications while you are burning so I really don't mind the time it takes to burn them. I am sure this is a medium that will only get better and better in the next ten years. Color Lightscribe disks are a way off in the future though.

Thanks,

Bill

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There is nothing in particular that I can find wrong with this media. In fact, standalone, the media if great. My problem is being misled by my Amazon.com search. I input a search for labelflash and this media came up; leading me to believe that it worked with a labelflash drive. No. It ONLY works on lightscribe drives. I am only writing this review so that 1) Amazon can change their tagging so others won't be misled and 2) If Amazon does not change their tagging, others will not fall into the same trap that I did.

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I really must say that these lightscribe enabled discs are great. You really can make professional looking labels easily. (...)

It's super easy to use, just select any image to use as a background, add some text, add some text effects if you want, choose fonts, arrange the layout and burn. It takes about 30-40 minutes to burn a full label (with some text and a full-color image as a background).

The discs have a gold-colored backing that allows for the lightscribe writer to burn an image. The quality is great in that the gray-scale seems to have all shades of gray. You can burn images of people (friends, music singers) and it looks great.

My only wish is that in the future they come out with silver backed discs. Unless of course for some reason the gold-colored backing is a necessity. I would also expect that the time it takes to burn will decrease with future models.

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HP 15.6" Pavilion DV6 Laptop PC with 2nd generation 2.2GHz Intel Core i7-2670QM Processor, 6GB RAM,

I have had this for a year now and I haven't had any problems. Works great and is still fast. Every game I have played on this has ran smoothly. The only disapointment is the audio bar. I had high hopes for the sound. Not good for listening to music.

I bought this laptop about a month ago and I love it. It's really fast and has lot's of memory. What really attracted me to this computer was the Beats Audio, its great for music and movies. the blue Ray player is unbelievable and movies have never looked better. The laptop also has a finger print which is great for saving passwords and keeping unwanted people away. When I first started looking for laptops i really wanted a Mac, but the price was too high. This HP laptop has it all and there are many features that are better than the Mac laptops for half the price. Overall I'm very happy with my choice and will be an HP buyer for life.

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This laptop is great. Before purchasing this laptop i had read many many reviews and one of the problems most people had was that the laptop got really hot during use. I live in Jamaica and in summer it can get unbearably hot, even indoors. I find that the laptop doesn't get as hot as i expected it to and the exhaust fan at the side works like a charm. It dispels heat absolutely wonderfully. If you keep your hand just by the exhaust vent for 5 seconds, the air coming out WILL burn you. That's a good sign that the heat is actually leaving the laptop.

Another complaint was that the fingerprint reader doesn't work. Well......mine works perfectly and you don't have to pass your print over it slowly. To test the security of it I tried passing my finger over it in the opposite direction (bottom up) from what i used to set up the simple pass (top down)and it did not open. As soon as i passed my finger from top down....it opened. I also tried different finger prints to load different websites and that also worked like a charm.

I have absolutely no complaints about this computer, none whatsoever.

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Transcend Information 8 GB Micro SDHC10 (TS8GUSDC10)

The card arrived today in retail packaging. As advertised though, it does not come with a little plastic storage box or SD card adapter. I inserted the card into a spare SD card adapter and installed into the card reader in my laptop. Using ATTO Disk Benchmark (see additional uploaded picture), I tested the card's read/write speeds. It appears to be a genuine Class 10 microSD card with consistent write speeds above 10 MB/s for all writes above 128 KB. The read speeds are pretty amazing as well (generally 10-23 MB/s).

I'm using it in my Samsung Galaxy Player WiFi 5.0 and so far it works very well. This is my third Transcend flash purchase over the past several years and I have, thus far, never had any problems.

Quick facts and review for TS32GUSDC10 Transcend Ultimate 32 GB Class 10 :

retail packaged (just the card, no adapter)

read speed: average 17 MB/s (full card, using several benchmark programs)

write speed: average 10 MB/s (full card, same)

tested in Samsung Focus i917 and Android 4.0.3 tablet (works successfully in both devices)

lifetime limited warranty (most Class 10 cards are 5 years)

please note, full capacity is about 30,6 GB actually (manufacturers use 1000 bytes as a kilobyte, not 1024 same as HDDs)

100% recommended.

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This product didn't have many reviews but like someone else said, since the review were all positive, I took the risk and bought it. Amazon reviews did not disappoint! I also bought it from a 3rd party Amazon seller: The Upgrade Place. Their shipping was fast and the product was as described.

The card works great in my Samsung Galaxy S III. I also tested it using an app called SDCardTester verifying that the card is indeed a class 10 card, refer to picture. I've had my old Transcend card for over 4 years now and it's still working really well. I decided to stick with Transcend card again for the upgrade, so far I am not disappointed.

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Paid ~$46 for this and it appears worth it (see attached photos above) for the speed of Class 10.

Installing into a Droid 4.

Shipped quickly, arrived as advertised!

Thanks!

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I have had a good experience with customer support, my TS32GUSDC10 32GB micro SDHC10 Flash Memory was defective the company without question had another on the way. This product is great for the Budget Conscious, Pro/semi pro photographers, Need a simple backup solution, Need storage for large media files I would recommend this to a friend!

Mount World 1446 2 Tier Component Shelf Wall Mount for Cable Box, DVD Player, Stereo Components wit

What great item. Had been looking for shelves for my components for my d v r ,Bose , and DVD player.. Found this glass shelves that were awsome fit for what I needed two black shelves that matched my components and tv which are also black.. They come 1 2 or three shelves.. I would recommend this item..

Nice product and very quick delivery.

The only reason for not giving it five stars is that I thought the mounting backplates could have been made as just one instead of two pieces.

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The shelf turned out nice and is a great value for the money, however I was missing half of the screws and two of the glass mount clips. Had to improvise.

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I love this shelf. It is easy to assemble and is sturdy. Love the way it holds the cords out of sight and keeps them neat. Adjusting them is a snap whether you use one two or add a third shelf. Well worth the cost which is very reasonable. Would recomend it to any one.

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This product offer cable management system, but is not easy wall cable management cause is to tight. I sent the product back.

CVID BD780 All Multi Region Code Zone Free DVD 3D/2D Blu-ray Player - Play any region Standard DVD

• Plays all region DVDs (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
• 2D/3D Blu-ray Playback - Zone A, B, C discs
• PAL & NTSC System - Built-in PAL to NTSC converter allows you to watch PAL or NTSC DVDs on ANY TV
• 2.0 USB Input, Multi-Format Support: AVI, MKV, MP4, MPG, MP3, Full HD 1080p upscaling for DVDs
• 110-240VAC/50-60 Hz Auto Dual Voltage

Have been looking for years to make such a purchase. Glad to state that it finally happened and I more than please with I got. Now, I am able to watch any dvd and my limitations have been banished. This free region dvd player slipped in place of the old one with a blink of the eye. The picture quality is the best. Glad I waited and ended up with a product that I will enjoy for many years to come. I remember it seemed to arrive over night and well packed. Would highly recommend this product to anyone.

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This blu ray player I bought from Great Elect is a great player. It is better than the lg blu ray player I had before. This player does more and is made better also with more jacks on the back of it to have more connection options. I am very satisfied with my product and would buy from them again. I made my purchase from Akron, Ohio U.S.A. where it easy to buy blu ray players but not ones that are both region 0-6/zone A+B+C free. To do that, you need to go online to a website like Amazon to buy a product like the one I bought from Great Elect, thank you Great Elect.

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Have the unit for just over 2 months and it start freezing up. Have to do full power cut to restore function. Could not figure out where to get support. Thinking about returning the unit.

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Bought this unit primarily because it is fulfilled by Amazon, which led me to believe they had tested and trialled this product, apparently not.

I tried every way I could to get the remote to operate the unit, it seemed it had a mind of its own and irrespective of my changing batteries trying a variety of discs, the d*&#^ thing would not respond, even to power on and off.

Admittedly the price was my incentive, as for those of you who are not familiar with these 'Multi" players apparently they are electronically modified units with chips, memory, plus circuitry modifications designed and installed by the third party manufacturer?

Never got to test its capabilities as a multi region player, this is just not a player period!

560 Hour USB Digital Voice Audio and Telephone Call Recorder

The recording device was not really what I expected in terms of ease of use. I tried to set it up to tape my phone converstations in a voice activated mode. I gave it about an hour or so of my time to try and get it to work right but I didn't succeed. Consequently, I am not using the device. It may be a problem of user directions that need to be improved.

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RCA RP3504 Cassette "Shoebox" Voice Recorder

I bought this at a local Walmart for casual use (recording my guitar practice sessions for later review). I paid $26.00 plus tax for it. What a ripoff. It's very cheaply made and doesn't work for squat. The play/record/rewind/ffwd buttons are sticky and hard to engage...you have to use one hand to hold the machine down in order to press the buttons with the other hand. You can't hold down the ffwd button while it's playing in order to audibly find your way on the tape (particulars annoying since there is no tape counter). The rewind and ffwd buttons don't stop automatically when the tape reaches the end. The unit does come with an AC adapter, but even when not running on battery power, the tape mechanism is so cheap that playback warbles noticeably. The frequency response is horrible (no bass at all), and unless you use the included plug-in microphone, anything you record is so faint it can't be heard above the tape noise. Oh yes, the included mic...the cable is so short (about 6") that you basically have to be sitting right on top of the recorder in order to use it. Since the cable is so short, the mechanical force of its physical connection to the recorder itself tends to knock the mic over.

Overall, this is the absolute worst tape recorder I've ever purchased (I've owned dozens...I grew up with these things). Based strictly on my experience with this steaming pile of plastic, I would probably never purchase another RCA electronics product. I would have given this thing negative 17 stars, but I couldn't figure out how to hack Amazon's site to let me do that.

This looks like the old shoebox recorder from the past which was about one pound. It is in fact a piece of junk that weighs agout 3 oz. and records like a broken toy. Utterly unusable with the feel of something that would break in a day if not sooner. Now I waste my time returning it. Don't buy this if you want a tape recorder it is JUNK.

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My wife bought me one of these and it has stopped working after less than playing 20 tapes. Do Not Buy!!! unless you like throwing your money away. I would be ashamed to put a quality name like RCA on the front.

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I purchased a similar recorder 7 years ago for $40; that price today at Radio Shack is $50. The recorder is great IF you know its limitations. It is great for recording and playing treble; it is not designed for great bass recording or playback. Put differently, it is great for taking dictation (my use) or recording a talk radio program. It is not designed for, nor is it much good, for recording the latest tracks of your favorite group. The technology was perfected about 20 years ago; there is not much being invested in something so antiquated. So get it for the purposes stated, or look elsewhere.

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I listen to audio tapes (that I made in the 70's !!) of some of my favorite TV shows and was looking to replace the recorder/player I had for nearly 20 years and finally went belly-up. I chose this one (yeah, I know, I picked the CHEAP one) and was disappointed when -after about 4 months -the tapes began sounding like they were being played in slow motion. At first I thought it was just the tapes themselves finally giving up the ghost after all these years, but when ALL of them started doing it virtually overnight, I figured it was the recorder.

Well, I decided to get another one just like it just in case it was only that particular machine with the problem. But the second recorder started doing THE SAME THING after a much shorter time period (about 3 months) !

If that doesn't say something about the shoddy workmanship of this 'item,' I don't know what does ! It's to my shame to have been fooled twice by this piece of garbage, but at least you all reading this review (and the other negative ones) can be more confident that you should avoid getting this at all !

FWIW, as a replacement I did buy the slightly more expensive Panasonic RQ2102. I've been using it daily for the past few weeks (Nov.-Dec. 2011) and have not been disappointed yet !

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