Timex T5G751 Data Recorder 2

This product works as advertised. The associated software works as well. Thus I have no complaints about the product and therefore can recommend the purchasing of this product.

However, my intended use of this product was to work in conjunction with my Timex heart rate monitor, speedometer, and watch. Thus this data recorder is part of a larger system for collecting fitness data.

I went with Timex vs. some of there competitors in this space as the watch and HR monitor were gifts. Overall I have been pleased with the system (although the HR sensors went bad sooner than I thought they should). But the Timex philosophy was to keep the size of the watch unit relatively small so that it could be used as your day to day watch. Therefore the overall system is broken up into pieces (this data recorder being one.)

To use the overall system, you have to strap on the watch, the HR band, the GPS unit, and the data recorder. Then you have to get the system working and synched up with the watch prior to starting your workout. This process, while not painful, is not elegant. Thus I am not convinced this multi-unit approach is optimal.

Again, this unit (and the overall Timex fitness system) work as advertised. If you don't mind having several units strapped to yourself to generate and record your workout information, then this system is likely something you should consider purchasing. If you would prefer a single unit that is larger but more integrated, then keep looking.

The Timex data recorder is great for training. I am in the process of training for an early summer marathon and an early fall Ironman 70.3. This product (when used with the Timex 3D GPS and heart-rate monitor) tracks altidude/elevation, speed, pace, heart rate, and longitude/latitude. It comes with PC software to capture downloads from the data recorder. I have found it to be a great way to capture feedback from my workouts.

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The data recorder is an ok toy. I've had it cut out on me while it was supposed to be recording a couple of times. It doesn't link to the watch, so any timing infor from the watch is not kept. The PC program supplied with it is ok, would be much better if the plotted track could be coordinated with google maps or something of that sort. But it does a nice job of tracking work-outs and stores info in a very logical form. Overall I would just say that it is ok.

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This product is wonderful at recording workout data. And it easily and reliably links with your Timex chest strap.

My only gripe is that the software is not customizable to record and categorize data more toward users' needs. But it does do a great job of tracking your workout. I give it 4 of 5 stars!

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To make the data recorder work you have to watch a very dim light flash and interpret the flash pattern to know whether it is recording only the GPS, only the HRM, both, or neither. The data recorder can take a long time, and then fail to begin recording, or worse yet, start recording, and then stop unexpectedly. The watch tells you the speed, distance, heart rate, etc, but when you finish your run and try to download the data you find out the recorder stopped mid run. This is very frustrating. If the data recorder worked it would be a great product at a reasonable price, but I can not recommend it.

Sony ICDB310F - 64MB Digital Voice Recorder w/ FM Tuner

I suggest that if you plan to invest in a decent recorder this is not the one. Make sure you look for alternatives (make a list of what you want out of a player.) I intended to record my class lectures and discussions and bought it without researching (bad idea). Now I'm in the process of looking for another player.

It keeps approximately 20 hours of recording set at SP (which is lower quality). It has three settings for recording LP SP HQ. If you want higher quality recordings HQ is the highest setting but memory is sacrificed for the higher quality recording. The mic also picks up a lot of back noise. I usually sit far from the lecturer, so I find myself putting my ear next to the speakers a lot when I replay the lectures. A good feature that the recorder has is the ability to pause a recording and return back to recording with relative ease. It took a bit of figuring out the device but for the most part it is easy to use. If you're looking for a recorder for lectures, I don't recommend this product. If you're looking for a product to record upclose interviews, this would be a decent product. This product also does not have a usb connector, so if you want to keep all your recordings good luck. Battery life is alright, though I have not kept track how long it actually lasts...sorry. For a 40 dollars, I got what I payed for, but I was expecting more.

Pctv HD Mini Stick

When I first heard anout this product, I was a bit skeptical, because of some of the bad reviews that this product had recived over the internet.

However, I said what the heck, I can always send it back if it doesn't work out.

Save to say, this little wonder works great on my Vostro 1500, despite the bad reviews. I live in a podunk little town, and I got six very strong Digital and HD signals, and that was even without the use of the external antenna included, wich I would not use anyhow, due to it's magnetic base.

All my Digital and HD stations come in great, with very little or no breakup. If it does this well in a small town like Palm Springs, I am dying to check out what it can do in a major metro area.

However, it is not without some minor flaws; the bundled software it uses is slow, and to be honest , it sort of sucks. I would reccomend using something else, if possible, such as Windows Media Player, or Dell MediaDirect for the best results.

I would highly reccomend this to any college student who doesn't want to fight over waat they want to watch either in thier dayroom, or spending needless money for a tv set for thier dorm room. I would also reccomend it to travelers waiting on a connecting flight with nothing to do, and it would be great for campers who don't want to sink thousands of dollars into a sattelite system for thier rig. All you need is this little wonder, a decent laptop PC, and a few minutes of setup time, and you can have a truly portable entertainment system that rivals any HD Home Theater system out there, at roughly one tenth the cost.

It's also very handy when the local power goes out, as some of the newer PC's have up to 16 hours of battery life, even on full power settings.

So I strongly reccomend this product, despite it's small faults.

If you have Windows 7, do NOT install the horrible software from PCTV. Just install the driver only. This stick works absolutely perfectly with Media Center. Grab a $20 Media Center remote from Amazon and surprise!: you just beat the cable subscription system.

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I saw this item for sale (almost 1/2 price) during Black Friday last year and didn't see great reviews on it so decided against purchasing it since I didn't need another gadget. My brother had one and loved it so he ran out and bought another one and gave it to me, so why not use it since it's a gift? Well, I'm pretty amazed that I was able to get about 50 channels in Southern California and it comes in great, I've tried it at home and in the office on the second floor (with no windows). I also have recorded a couple of shows for playback. This tuner picks up better than the indoor antenna I have hooked up to my tv in my bedroom, I get the stations consistently whereas the Philips indoor antenna in my bedroom goes in and out and I have to readjust it all the time. The software is a bit clunky, I can't run it very well without having my laptop plugged in, on battery it doesn't seem to get enough power (so you're better off using this on a computer that has processing power, mine is a little Asus netbook that I'm using it on). I think if you're a big TV watcher then this product is worth the purchase. I'm not a TV person but it's definitely a fun item to have during long rides or lunch hour at work.

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This is without a doubt the worst and most buggy piece of hardware I have ever owned. 1/2 the time it just doesnt work, it will rarely scan for channels, often freezes when changing channels, is mostly completely useless. If youre thinking of using your laptop as a portable TV, even if it has a fast processor and plenty of ram this is NOT the device to try. You will end up angry and frustrated just as I have.

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Don't let the technically challenged detur you from purchasing this great product. First do not install the the included software. Simply download the native driver from the manufacturer website for the operating system that you are using and then run Windows Media Center tv setup and you are good to go. I have used both the included antenna and my local cable feed and I get flawless HDTV. The timeshifting abilities built into Windows Media Center are a perfect match for this tuner. One cavaet and this applies to all HDTV tuners you have to have a fast enough processor, enough memory and a decent video card to get acceptable results.

Dell Axim X5 300 MHz Pocket PC

I worried and read every review available before getting the AXIM, so I'll share those things I most wanted to know before the purchase.

I purchased the AXIM X-5 300 on 11-26 with a ship date of 12-18. I received it on 12-9, a very pleasant surprise. The case is sturdy silver plastic with rubberized sides. I've had the AXIM in my hand for as long as 4 hours and, because of the size, shape and rubberized gripping surfaces, I have experienced no cramping or muscle tension. Very good human factors design in this instance. Most importantly, the unit feels secure in my hand with no sensation that it's slipping or that I'm about to drop it. With the screen setting as bright as it will go (and it is very, very bright and clear), I have used the AXIM for 16 total hours on it's original charge and have 40% of the battery remaining. This is not gaming, but does include about 1 hour of Media Player to watch video (excellent!). With the backup battery I have no fear of taking it until it shuts down. The stylus is OK, all metal except for the point, and better than those little round plastic styli. The Navigator button does not have an "enter" feature, but it does scroll appropriately. To see the real potential of the button it should be used in Excel. The speaker is limited, but there is a headphone jack (I have not used this yet). Otherwise, everything is sturdy and functional.

The synch software installed with no difficulty (HP laptop, P-III, w/XP) and I am very pleased with the Pocket PC interface and applications. It appears to be a very full-featured software package. At the entry-level price I have money left over to purchase some software I might really want (but it is such a good package, I have no clue what else I should buy. Look at your MS Office and Explorer and think "I can do all of this on a handheld").

This is my first venture into Pocket PC, and I made the appropriate choice with the AXIM X-5. I have the potential of my laptop and desktop in an extremely portable package. Don't worry about the size and weight of the AXIM; to me it is a non-issue. I cannot fairly compare the AXIM to other Pocket PC's, but it is almost exactly the same size as my Palm III-XE. As for weight, it's light enough. All of the other Pocket PCs I've seen and hefted are too big and too heavy. All of them. Everyone wants a matchbook size computer that throws out an 11X14 holographic screen that we can navigate through telepathically, and that weighs only 4 grams. Even at that size and weight people would carp that it's too big and heavy to be an earring. The AXIM is as light as a feather compared to any laptop. On a budget, it is outstanding. If budget were no limit, I say get a Winnebago to carry your servers, satellite uplinks, wet bar, and Jacuzzi.

...Unless you really loathe inserting a CF card (it just slips in the top), connectivity is a non-issue. Memory: CF, or Secure Digital cards that slip in the side (so you can have boat loads of memory). In the box: The AXIM; CD-ROM software; USB cable; charger; sturdy carry case; ubiquitous manual, quick start guide, warranty, etc.

First, if you don't have a PDA or not familiar with them, learn about them. You will be amazed how easy they are to use and with only a few options, the convenience they provide will save you a tremendous amount of time. They are becoming as natural and common us as the cell phone. If you know nothing about computers, this system is so easy you will feel smart!

Knowing the Dell's Axim X5 400 MHz is available, I didn't think that the 300 MHz was worth buying knowing that a more advanced version was already available. However, conversations with engineers more knowledgeable than I reminded me that I am buying a PDA not a server and that 300MHz is all the processor I would need. Also, the DELL AXIM X5 was one of three models that was always recommended. After doing my own research I had to agree. I purchased the Dell X5 300 MHz and buyers remorse set in. I thought I wasn't going to get as much use out it that I originally thought. I was wrong. Now, before I go anywhere, I pick up my PDA before my cell phone and keys.

Using the Dell provided software, installing activesync was very easy and the set up was effortless with my Microsoft Outlook. Dell and Microsoft made this install so easy I thought I did it wrong! I have the PDA synced to my Sony laptop and my Dell desktops. Remember, to disable your firewall protection before using the activesync. After the system has sync and you have exchanged files, enable you firewall. McAfee will disconnect your sync.

After just one week using my PDA, I bought a second PDA (same DELL 300 MHz) for my wife knowing we can share the accessories I bought. I packaged an extra battery, stylus, and screen protectors as well as additional memory, the wireless phone and camera. My only disappointment is the protective cases that I bought. I have both the leather and the hard case, neither have a belt option. I had to make a belt clip from a few cell phone parts. Hopefully Dell will offer a case that can be worn and has room for a money clip. I strongly recommend you take the time to learn about the PDA world. PDAs will replace your cell phone and provide a tremendous amount of assistance to you.

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I've had my Axim for a few months now and I still love it. No troubles at all except when I enable WEP on my wireless card; I have to restart after inserting the card to recognize the network. I suspect this is related ot my no-name wireless card and not Dell's fault.

Only disadvantages are the size (it is much larger than other handhelds). I knew this going into it and I find the size comfortable to hold, though it doesn't fit into all of my pockets. The other disadvantage is the Dell support. I haven't had to deal with them since I know a bit about computers, however I ordered my PDA from Dell and was going away in 2 weeks. Their estemated delivery time was one week so I thought I was good. Turns out their site doesn't update daily and the unit was on back order. I had to argue with supervisors for 4 days before I finally got someone who got the situation resolved. All the others would say they will make sure it will ship today, then they 'forget' about it.

As long as you order from Amazon that shouoldn't be an issue. The fact is that only 25% of the service reps at Dell speak english without a THICK accent, and only 25% of those people really care about their job enough to go out of their way to help customers.

What it comes down to is I love the PDA, but hate Dell and can't recomend this product to anyone who can't troubleshoot software issues with the device.

P.S. Dell shipping and handling is a KILLER! If you are planning on buying accesories make sure Amazon or another retailer has what you need or you will end up paying $7 shipping on screen protectors that weigh nearly nothing.

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I purchased my 300 MHz Axim X5 from Dell in mid December and it arrived about 2 weeks later. This is my very first pocket PC, although I did have a Palm V about 2 years ago. This thing just amazes me. The screen is nice and bright... the style is very comfortable to hold (rubber sides).

My choices for pocket PCs were the Toshiba e740, the HP IPAQ 1910, and the Dell Axim X5 mainly because they were all under $... after rebates. The 300 MHz Axim is by far the cheapest and the best value since it has dual expansion slots (SD and CF). I am currently using a Netgear CF Wireless adaper card to surf the internet anywhere in my home.

Bottom line... the Axim is the best PDA for the best price. I love mine!

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I highly recomend these handheld, i had a iPAQ before which I bought, these device is one third of the price and has everithing built in with out the hassle of carring a lot of ad-ons. But among all the reasons i can find to recomend this device is the promt support and extended warranty of 3 years from Dell wich I have experienced for many years now.

I bought it from dell on-line store.

GoPro HD Hero Naked

This is close to being a perfect example of a wearable/mountable POV camera. But unfortunately, close isn't quite good enough.

The pros:

Video is awesome, in all of the modes.

Stills are very good quality, the timelapse feature is fantastic.

It's waterproof.

The mounting options are (almost) limitless.

The cons:

It's awkward to set up. Menu is like something from 20 years ago.

Firmware issues have yet to be addressed by the manufacturer. This is inexcusable as the camera has been available for sale for nearly a year.

Audio is useless. They could have saved weight and cost by just not including a mic. The only instance where it even sort of works is when mounted right near a loudish sound you want to highlight, such as an engine.

There are too many instances where "Macgyvering" is required to get the desired result. The quick release mount rattles so you need to tape the base plate, the non waterproof back allows too much wind noise, so you need to tape over the openings, the shutter button rattles, so you need to tape over that. Moral of the story: BUY TAPE.

The support by the manufacturer is not quite adequate. I realize it's a small start up company, but for all the issues with the use of the camera and the handling/editing of the files, they really need to release some conclusive videos or articles to address these concerns.

People who might find this camera useful:

Auto racing enthusiasts

Mountain Bikers

Sailors

Hobbyist videographers looking for those unique shots

People who will likely be disappointed and frustrated by this camera:

Pretty much anyone who thinks they'll be using it as a camcorder.

People who aren't really tech savvy and/or have an older computer

People who don't like to tinker and engineer solutions to make it do what they want.

******UPDATE******* ******UPDATE******* ******UPDATE******* ******UPDATE******* ******UPDATE*******

As of September 7, 2010, Gopro released the new firm ware for the camera. It seems to have fixed most of the bugs/issues. It also provides the option for upside down mounting.

I have used this camera a couple of times since receiving it for Christmas. I have used both the strap mount for my vented bicycle helmet as well as the permanent stick on mount for my dual sport motorcycle helmet. In both cases, the mounts work as well as the camera. I still have the previous generation GoPro HERO in standard definition, but not in the wide field of view lens configuration like the current HD version. I like the wide field of view of this HD model. It is great at giving a very good view of both the trail as will as your handlebar movements while riding both my mountain bike or motorcycle. The quality of the video is fantastic. The files do get large, but that is to be expected with the high resolution of this camera. I have been using a 16GB SDHC card and have filed up about half of it on one battery charge. I would recommend a high speed card reader to improve the download times from the card. A 12 min video was nearly a gigabyte. The battery last I think longer than the previous standard definition camera which ran on AAA batteries. I think that I will buy an additional battery someday for long rides with lots of action.

The only reason I have not given it a full 5 stars is the difficulty in reading the small status screen with all the various modes it has. The same issue I have with the standard definition HERO. The icons that tell you if you are in burst, still, timed, or video mode are very small across the top of the display. The numbers to tell you the number of pictures or videos taken are much larger. It is just difficult if you have the camera mounted on top of your helmet and you try and look in the mirror on your bike to see if the camera is on and what mode it is. You have to use the select button on the front to both turn the camera on and select the right mode. The shutter button is on top and is easy to operator even with gloves. It is not difficult to read the display if you are holding the camera in front of you, but much more difficult when mounted on top of your helmet. You can unclip the camera from the mount, but that can be difficult when it is on top of your helmet.

I am looking forward to the expansion port options being available, like the LCD screen to view the videos in the field. I am also thinking of investing in the chest strap mount so I can get different view over the handle bars as will as making it easier to see the small status display. Other than the small icons telling you which mode, this is a very nice camera that takes very high quality action videos. It is very small and light and easy to use when you have it in the right mode. I would highly recommend this camera to anyone wanting action videos of their bicycling, motorcycle, or skiing activities.

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I bought this HD camera to replace a VholdR Wearable Camcorder (Black) which didn't survive getting run over by my SUV. The Hero is a well constructed camera, very solid feeling with quality construction.

Pros: The camera has four modes video (in several resolutions), still pictures, self-timer still pictures, and interval photos (pictures every few seconds). The lens gives a tremendously wide wild view which is nice for HD's 9:16. It will shoot 1080p, 960p 720p (at 30 and 60 frames per second), and 480 (at 60 frames per second) line resolutions. It uses standard SDHC memory cards and has an internal battery which recharges via a USB cable. The recorded audio is very good both inside and outside of the motor sports waterproof case that came with my kit. Video is relatively good, not as vivid as a dedicated camcorder but the resolution is good. My kit came with a variety of mounts and a suction cup mount for windows and car body use. The waterproof case comes with two backs, one that is watertight and one that is not for better audio when waterproof use isn't required. The kit comes with connectors for connecting the camera up to an HDTV monitor (component video) or a TV monitor (composite video). A neat feature in the menu is that you can flip both the video and still photos so you can shoot with the camera upside down without a problem.

Cons: The quick release mounts have a bit of wiggle to them. The back of the waterproof case can be difficult to lock closed. The menu system is a bit troublesome to use as there are only two buttons and three LCD characters to use. Once set you'll not have to go into the menu very often.

Future: There's a connector on the rear that GoPro plans on using for an external battery or a monitor. Neither are available at the time of this review but they are being worked on.

In use on the trail the mounts worked very well. I used the suction cup primarily to mount the camera to my windshield, bumper, side body panel, and side window. Across rugged rocky trails the camera held firm and the video came out very well. The simple interface was easy enough to use. One button to turn the camera on and select the mode and another to stop and start the recording.

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the good...

Great package. Plenty of accessories for customized mounting. nice small and simple design. strong housing, yet clasp can be broken easily if not properly aligned and forced to close. Amazing picture quality. setup menu a little dated.

the bad...

Was bought for its waterproof qualities in preparation for a Fiji trip. HOWEVER, contrary to what GoPro touts, it is not great for underwater. The reason is the housing curvature over the lense curvature combined with water defraction creates blurry images. this is only found in the GoPro FAQs. very misleading. do an internet search on this. had to buy a special housing with flat lense from eyeofmine.com at $80. Now picture quality underwater is the same as above water. this is where my two stars came from.

If you want it for underwater and don't mind buying a new housing for $80, then I recommend, if not, don't buy.

If you are using this not for its waterproof qualities, then I recommend.

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I am extremely happy with this camera. I use it on my GSXR-1000 in the twisty roads for great action HD video as well as mount it to my radio controlled sailplane for great HD video of the flying area. The picture quality is astounding and shake free. The video is eye watering on a plasma TV or wide screen projector during playback.

The kit is very complete with a large assortment of mounts. I'm surprised that there are so many mounts and that they don't try to charge extra for them in an "additional" kit. Supposedly the camera is waterproof to 180 feet and comes in a waterproof primary case (that can be removed).

Overall, I don't know how they can deliver so much product for so little cost, I am completely happy....get your own :)

UPDATE 09/05/2010

I am having an issue that appears to be fairly common with other GoPro HD users. When you finish a video and hit the shutter button to stop recording, the video gets corrupted due to some issue with the camera, the SD card, or a file allocation issue with the firmware. I am using a high quality Class 4 SD card and know it works fine with other hardware. I am seriously unhappy that after a weekend of great video, the SD card is corrupted after multiple reformats and everything else in the book. I understand a firmware is in progress but has been so for a long long time. I recommend this camera AFTER they get the issues fixed.

UPDATE 09/06/10

Instead of updating the 09/05/10 report, I have found somewhat of a solution. I found that you must format the SDHC card with the GoPro HD(which I was doing) BUT pay attention to the red status light by the lens when the format is complete. If after the format the red light does NOT blink red three times then the format was successful and the videos won't get corrupted. In my case, every time I formatted the 32GB SDHC, I got three red blinking lights at the end of the format. The camera acted like the card was OK by displaying OOO for the video but it would corrupt 100% of the time. So, in my case, the 32GB SDHC was faulty. Pay attention to the status lights, this information was not in the manual that I could find.

ANOTHER UPDATE :( 10/18/2010

The same problems resurfaced. I would go out and take awesome videos, the camera acted like everything worked well. i plug in the camera to the computer via USB and it says "You must reformat the card" I DON'T RECOMMEND THIS CAMERA until GoPro fixes this issue that appears quite common (researching the issue on the internet), extremely frustrating... YMMV (Your mileage may vary)

UPDATE 11/1/2010

GoPro finally sent me a replacement camera and it works fine, I think there is a significant number of defective cameras in the system but they will work with you and eventually send you another one.

UPDATE 2/14/11

I thought that the new GoProHD camera sent to me to replace the original defective one was working. It did for about a month. Once again, it started corrupting videos and costing me lots of grief. Imagine if you climbed Mt. McKinley and got to the top, take your "hero" pictures, go all the way down, and discover that your camera screwed up, that is the kind of frustration I'm talking about. The camera hosed me on too many shots like that to put up with anymore. I'm probably going to take this thing to the shooting range and blow it to pieces. Buyer beware.

++++ ANOTHER UPDATE 5/25/11

LESSONS LEARNED: I did update the GoProHD to the latest firmware (v01.01.54) I also tried yet another SD card. Perhaps the combination of new firmware and the Patriot 16GB Class 6 SDHC did the trick. I learned that this camera is extremely picky about SD cards. If you're are having trouble with your video getting corrupted, update the firmware and try another SD card. Once you get the right card, the corruption issues should stop. I have been using the camera a lot for two weeks since the new firmware and Patriot 16GB SD card and have had no issues. I changed my star rating from a one to a three.

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Digital Foci Picture Porter 35 PPR-350 500GB Digital Photo Manager with 3.5-Inch LCD Display

I found the Digital Foci very simple to learn to use. I like that you can see thumbnails of the images, titles and some of the metadata. Very simple and quick to download a couple of hundred images from a 16 GB Compact Flash Card to the device and then download them to the computer when I got home. I bought the device so that I wouldn't have to carry my heavy laptop with me on trips. I highly recommend this device.

Bravo! This does the job when it comes to backing up and copying compact flash cards on the go. For added assurance, you can display the images on the built-in screen. The size is a tad on the large side, but still light and portable; build quality is OK; the screen is functional (though text is not very readable and looks like a badly resized bitmap); you can power it from a USB port; it has a battery; it works with NEF files amongst others; the UI is straightforward, functional and mostly consistent. All in all it just works. It would be nice if it could recognize memory card serial numbers or some such thing and do incremental backups without the user having to remember and select the right destination folder. And it would be nice if it was smaller. But in the category of "backup compact flash cards on the go" there's nothing to beat it, as far as I can tell. Update: I used the device on and off. After a while it died. Then it miraculously recovered, but the hard disk was corrupted. After reformatting the drive, it worked again, but repeatedly shut down in the middle of transfers. Turns out that the device does not support fast / UDMA compact flash card. It stands to reason that if you're in the market for a half-terabyte device of backup, you're probably going to be using high speed cards, right? The description now says "Note that some high-speed UDMA CF cards are not compatible. Typically, cards rated as 200x or 30MB/s or higher will not be compatible." and I'm pretty sure it didn't say that when I bought it. In any event given these reliability and compatibility problems, my Picture Porter is now a doorstop and I'll see whether I can cut my losses by returning it to Amazon.

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Life as a photographer in the field has changed for me. Previously, I would take along my 64GB iPad 3G and a Digital Foci PST-251 250GB Photo Safe II on a photo shoot. The Photo Safe II would provide image backup and in studio input support for my photos. The iPad would be used with the Camera Connection Kit to view my CF cards images while in the field.

Sadly, that is no longer possible. Without warning, Apple has downgraded the iPad in IOS 4.2.1 so that many CF card readers no longer are recognized by the iPad. This is a result of the iPad's power limitation having been drastically curtailed.

With an upcoming photo shoot scheduled for early next week, I was in a fix. I sat here this morning trying to find a way around this nasty iPad limitation. Every CF reader that I used issued the same complaint from the iPad--too much power required for the device. So my collection of CF card readers proves rather useless.

I happen to own a brand new Picture Porter 35. I absolutely love the device, but in all candor, the LCD image quality, while useful, isn't quite good enough for client viewing in the field. So that option didn't seem to be feasible.

Just when I thought that all must be lost, on a lark, I took a CF card and used the Digital Foci Picture Porter 35 to copy the entire CF card's images to a formatted SDHC card. I then placed the SDHC card in the iPad's Camera Connection kit. The iPad immediately recognized the SDHC card and began importing the images.

This product is an absolute life saver. Now if I could only find a way to connect the Picture Porter 35 to my iPad...

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I had a previous 80GB model, so was surprised that this newer one is considerably slower booting and responding. If you don't need the larger storage capacity, I recommend the older style if you can find it. That said, this is the best unit for digital photographers who travel for weeks at a time. It is easy to use and the display, though not very good definition, lets you know what you have in the can.

Also I'm very pleased with their Customer Service Dept. They repaired mine (I dropped it on pavement without the case on) for a reasonable fee and fast turn-around time.

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I purchased this product on January 1, 2011. It has never worked properly. File transfers from my laptop to the unit crash before they complete. This often results in the hard drive becoming corrupted, requiring it be formatted again and me starting from scratch. My photos require 300GB of space. This unit has a 500GB hard drive. What's the point of having that available space, if you can't get your photos on to it?!?! During the past year I have tried everything as time allowed. I updated the firmware. I turned screen saver and auto-shutdown off. I tried it with the unit connected directly to my several different laptops. I have tried it with the unit connected to several different powered hubs, using several different USB cables from several different manufacturers. I have tried it when the unit is "cold", i.e. just turned on. I have tried it when the unit has been running for a while. I have tried it on battery power without the AC adapter attached. I have tried it with a different battery in it. Finally, I got around to e-mailing tech support a few days ago. They suggested I update the firmware. I already had. They suggested trying with the AC power connected. I had and have again. They suggested re-formatting the drive and trying again. I have and did again. I came home this afternoon to find the unit had crashed again during the file transfer I started when I left this morning. I haven't checked yet, but likely the hard drive is corrupted again. Since this product is not reliable, I cannot trust it with my photos. I wasted my money on it. I have wasted countless hours trying to get all of my photos transferred to it. Insanity is repeating the same thing over and over and getting the same results. I am not that insane, so I am done with this product. Like another reviewer said, it will now be a door stop. Do yourself a favor. DO NOT purchase it. I should be able to give it 0 stars.

WOW! I left for dinner tonight at 8:00 p.m. When I got home at about 10:00 p.m. my Picture Porter display indicated it was still connected. That was about 1-3/4 hours longer than it had ever stayed connected before. Trouble is, I shut my computer down when I left for dinner!

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TiVo Premiere TCD746320 (Black) with Product Lifetime Service, Expanded 317-Hour HD Recording Capac

no monthly fee , like using with just dig tv over air and internet connection with netflix etc.. extra space nice ,, looking to buy another,, also can send to other tv's via rf through another dvd vcr recorder...

ATI Technologies TV Wonder VE Remote (100-703145)

I bought this product because it had been very highly rated. However, I quickly realized that with windows xp the installation would not be simple. After going through a long process to get this thing installed, I was given the worst quality video I have ever seen in my life. The quality is so poor that it is unwatchable, even from a distance. The only reason that I even give this product two stars is because the TV Listings function is very nice and makes recording simple. Unfortunately I have never wanted to record anything because who wants to record something that they can't even watch?

Zing 571-222 MPEB1 Medium Electronic Belt Bag (Blue)

Don't get me wrong. The otterbox defender is one tough cookie. But, bouncing around coming down steps, getting in and out of a car (carry on left hip) and it wants to pop out of the belt clip. Got this because of the price.

With the rubber of the defender case, it "will" go in and out of the case, with some work!

With a naked Dell streak, works fine.

I needed a bag to hold my Dell Streak smartphone. This bag has plenty of room to accommodate its larger size. I have worn this bag on my belt daily for almost 2 months and it still looks almost brand new. It has taken a number of small bumps and brushes while still protecting my phone. Overall, I am very satisfied with the product.

Buy Zing 571-222 MPEB1 Medium Electronic Belt Bag (Blue) Now

Ordered the Zing medium belt bag. It was a perfect fit for my Dell Streak 5. Been carrying my phone in my front pocket for years and wished I knew about this bag sooner. With the Otter protective case it is a very snug fit. Without the Otter Box the Dell Streak 5 slips very easy in and out with a little room to spare. The belt bag is very well made with a very strong secure belt loop. I expect to get many good years of use out of it. The "Zing" label name is acroos the front flap on the bag I received. I just took a black permanent marker and colored over the label and that made the "Zing" barely noticeable. Overall, I am very pleased with it.

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This is a perfect case for the Dell Streak and the Samsung Galaxy note for which I bought it. Its excellent quality. Just make sure its the right size for your needs and you can't do better.

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Very good fit for Dell Streak 5. Almost can't feel my Streak.

A little bit tight when I have the "Otterbox Impact Series Case" on the Streak, but I could not find another belt clip (loop) case for the streak.

Not sure how long it's gonna last, it seems very well made.

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ITRONICS ITB-100HD 1080p True HD Car DVR "Black Box" Recorder with GPS

• 2 Megapixel - H.264 Compression - Night Vision - Full HD 1920 x 1080p, 1280 x 720p, 720 x 480p
• Record Video, Audio, Speed and GPS Location - GPS is built in
• 8GB Class 10 SD Card Included - Recording Time 3 - 13 hours
• Parking Mode with Shock and Motion Sensors - Record Incidents Even When Vehicle is Unattended
• -20 to 70C (158 F) Operating Environment - Does Not Suffer Heat Issues

Just an FYI, I didn't purchase this here, so I won't comment on sellers or prices.

Short review:

+ Full HD! can read license plates and see details clearly in daylight

+ Built-in GPS is surprisingly accurate with both location and speed.

+ Built-in accelometer records any bumps or "shocks" the vehicle receives.

+ Good quality mounting sticker

+ Several configuration options

+ Updateable firmware if you can find it

+ Automatically over-writes oldest files when card is full

+ Small and semi-inconspicuous

+ Automatically saves video when unplugged

+-Parking mode option if camera is powered

+-Default configuration options don't work well, but are changed easily.

+-Included 8GB card is only 4 hours of HD video. Easily upgradeable to 32GB card though.

Not so great at night this is where the 5th star went.

Expect broken English, as this is a Korean product.

Quick start guide only Korean English manual is on the SD card.

Software tends to crash/lock up fairly often

I believe there is no manufacturer warranty for the US.

No button to permanently keep a recording

Built-in mic records quiet and muffled.

Details:

Only 1 button on camera: Microphone toggle on or off.

List of configurable options for the CAMERA from within the SOFTWARE:

* Only one physical button: Microphone on or off.

* Speed toggle in Kilometers/hour (KPH): on or off.

* Recording quality: 1080p@24fps; 1080p@15fps; 720p@30fps; 720p@15fps; 480p@30fps; 480p@15fps.

* Brightness: Standard & Bright. Literally just makes the recording brighter doesn't seem to improve quality at all.

* Shock sensitivity when driving: Off; insensitive; normal; sensitive. Normal picks up every single bump. I keep at insensitive.

* Parking Mode: Off (stops recording); Record for Shock only; Record for Shock or motion.

* Shock sensitivity when parking: Insensitive; normal; sensitive.

* Motion sensitivity when parking: Insensitive; normal; sensitive.

* Shock alarm: On or Off. Camera beeps when it senses a shock.

* File delete method: By time or by file type. Overwrites oldest file first, or lets you set percentage of each type of file to keep.

* Time Zone: For the date/time overlay on recordings.

List of configurable options for the SOFTWARE:

* Speed toggle: Kilometers/hour (KPH) or Miles/hour (MPH)

* Brightness

* Contrast

* Night mode: On or off. Same thing as brightness control, just simpler.

* Rotate recording

* Capture image. Saves current frame as image.

* Play Speed: 0.4x; 0.6x; 0.8x; 1x; 2x

* Volume

Parking mode details:

Parking mode is supposed to be a low-power mode that is activated after the camera is stationary for 5 minutes. Of course, this will only matter if you keep the camera plugged in and if your car provides power when off. The camera stays on the entire time, it just doesn't write the video to the card unless it detects shock or motion, which I assume uses less power. Yes, this could drain your battery anyways, but the camera uses such little power this is not likely unless you rarely/never drive the car.

Note on motion: The manual doesn't clarify this at all, so I had to test for myself. The camera actually does "see" motion not just "feel" it. In other words, if motion is turned on for parking mode it will record someone walking in front of your car/camera, not just pushing on the car.

Other notes:

* You need a windows computer to install the software, change settings, or view GPS data. However, raw video is stored as standard AVI files, so you will still be able to view video with any computer.

* This camera has no night vision whatsoever. There needs to be some source of relatively bright light to see anything clearly.

* I forgot to measure the length of the 12v adapter cord before installing, but I was able to route the cord all the way around my windshield, out and around the dashboard, and to the middle outlet with about a foot to spare. It may have been 10-12ft long.

* The camera saves a video file to the card every 1-2 minutes OR when power is disconnected.

* Camera takes about 30 seconds after power is applied to begin recording, and averages about 1-2 minutes to obtain a GPS signal.

* To reiterate, if speed overlay is enabled, you will only see KPH in the video. MPH is only viewable in the software.

*Update: There is an English version software update available that works for me on Windows 8 x64, so I assume it should work on Windows 7 as well. It is located on the original manufacturer's "mall" site, which is totally in Korean. Link below if it will allow: ipassmall.co.kr/ipassblack/down_proc.asp?filename=PC+Player%28ver+1%2E3%2E2%29%5FITB%2D100HD%2Ezip

Buy ITRONICS ITB-100HD 1080p True HD Car DVR "Black Box" Recorder with GPS Now

This is a great camera, for what it is.

With accelerometers (to sense crashes, jolts or sudden acceleration/braking) and embedded GPS metadata, this is much more than just a souped-up GoPro camera.

The camera records audio and video continuously on the included full-size 8Gb SDHC card, but I would recommend buying a 32Gb card or two. It's a good idea to have a spare on hand in case you need to remove the card to view or preserve its contents.

Most cameras in this price range dont even record audio, the ITB100HD does.

Camera settings are done within the (Windows only) player application, which are then transferred via the SDHC card to the camera. The camera itself has one control: A single push button that toggles the internal microphone on and off, and to format the memory card. Worked fine with 64-bit Windows 7.

Settings include choices of frame-rate and resolution, whether or not the camera records continuously (or simply responds to motion or jolts), whether the camera overwrites older files, and in what order event-associated files are over-written.

You can also choose how sensitive the shock sensing and motion detection is -to a point. I have found there are too few steps of resolution to choose from, and the camera is often sensitive even at its most insensitive settings. There are also presets for brightness, time zone, and the ability to export still frames or whole clips to your computer's hard drive.

When the camera experiences shock or jolt, it tags a clip as an 'event'. Likewise, if it records motion while in 'Parking mode' (when it senses you haven't moved for five minutes), it tags those just as distinctly. This is useful when sorting thru files to distinguish travel time from time parked.

The on-screen speed overlay is in Kilometers/hour, requiring a 3rd-party firmware hack to correct it to mph.

Time-stamp information comes from GPS, so that is not only a convenience but essential if you need to use this video in court.

There is a 'Video Out' connector you can use to assist aiming during installation, and later to provide sound and picture if you want to live-stream your dashcam to UStream, Skype, etc. This is an essential option if you need to preserve your video remotely, to protect evidence from theft or confiscation.

The videos are divided into one or two-minute timestamped clips (depending on the frame-rate you choose) and are standard H.264 video playable on any modern computer.

In the event of a crash or power loss, the camera has enough internal reserve power to do a proper shut-down, preserving the video.

At the highest quality setting, the frame-rate is 24fps (rather than 30fps) but is more than adequate. Even the 15fps option performs well, and may actually be a better choice for night driving and economizing memory.

The 'Parking' setting appears to be more for saving recording space than battery power, so if you have a weak car battery you may not want to leave this operating for days without charging your battery.

The pinhole opening for the microphone can be enlarged to improve audio, which comes from the factory somewhat muffled.

The mounting kit is for adhering the camera to the windshield glass. In my vehicle, however, I get better performance mounting the camera to the rear-view mirror, so you may wish to obtain a hefty piece of Velcro. Mirror-mounting also better conceals the camera from theft, and newer vehicles have continuous power available at the mirror so you dont have visible wires and clutter.

Each time you insert the SDHC card, you need to push the 'format' button to get the camera to recognize it. If you forget, the camera will sound an 'SD card error' (4 beeps that repeat) after the camera has been operating for several minutes.

There is an essentially useless LED that faces the front, and flashes when in the 'Parking mode'. I call it the "steal me" light, and you can cover it with black tape.

The oddest thing about this camera is how it is marketed.

iTronics has apparently had issues with some sellers, and honoring the warranty seems to depend on where you bought it.

The manual is broken English, so it would be worthwhile to consult some online forums dedicated to this camera.

The English portion of iTronics website is completely unintelligible, so firmware and software updates are often found on independent forums like dashcamtalk.com or radardetectorforum.org.

Even with the English-language software version, iTronics seems to assume most users will be in Korea. That's unfortunate, because they are underestimating the value of their own product, and missing bigger markets.

You can find the English manual on-line, search for ITB100HD_English Manual.pdf

You can also download and install the player application, by searching for ITB-100HDE PC Player.zip

There are other versions of this camera from iTronics, some have substituted the GPS module for Wi-Fi (so you dont have to fetch the SDHC card) and even one with a voice module (sadly, only in Korean). The ITB-100HD has the better CMOS imager and performs better at night, so beware if you are considering other models.

If you are a good driver, and are ever in the position where you need to prove it, this under-$200 "black box" is a good investment.

If you would like a rock-steady record of a road trip matched with a GPS map, you are also in luck.

One last thought: Using this camera at night will definitely illustrate the value of keeping your windshield clean.

Read Best Reviews of ITRONICS ITB-100HD 1080p True HD Car DVR "Black Box" Recorder with GPS Here

The only concern I had when buying this product was that I saw that it was km/h only and would only show MPH in the viewing software.

I found a guy on a forum who was selling a converstion for $8.00 and thought that was crazy. Then I did a bit more searching and found a blog post that not only described in detail how to convert the code to work with MPH, but also shared a patched binary for FREE!

has details on how to update the firmware of the camera to use MPH instead of km/h. It took me less than five minutes to convert mine and now I couldn't be happier.

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1080hd for good quality video,

GPS to tell you where and how fast you were going,

shock sensor to tell when you crashed,

Accelerate or Decelerate awareness,

creates separate folders,

So whats missing?

an installation for MAC, are you serious? how did such amazing technology mess this up? i cant even look at the settings, since there is only one button on the device and everything else is handled through the computer when the SD card is inserted, fail...

Bought this from Lone Wolf Electronics (NOW SA Computer Systems) and the first thing was the box did not have any instructions in English as was stated would be in the box in the description. Ended up going online to get instructions and installed the product and then were not able to get the information to download on the computer (that manual would have been great) Decided to return the product right away. When we contacted the seller, they said they had a *** 50% *** restocking fee plus they deduct the shipping and handling from what was left of the refund. WHAT?? When questioning this policy, which I cannot find stated anywhere, the seller states it is an Amazon policy. again.. WHAT??? called Amazon and they said their return policy is a full refund within 30 days (which we were) and that some sellers have a different policy. Buyer beware, if you product doesn't work, you only get half your money back even if you're given instructions in Korean and the return policy isn't stated.

LG BH200 Super Blu Blu-Ray HD DVD Combo Player

• Super BluPlayer Plays both Blu-Ray and HD DVD High Defintion Disc Formats with more than Twice the Resolution of Standard DVD Discs
• Full HD 1080P Output Provides Wide Compatiblity with Full HD 1080P TV's and Up-Scales Standard DVD's to Full HD TV's
• HDMI 1.3 with Deep Color Improves Color Tones to Achieve Finer Color Gradations and Delivers Smoother And More Brilliant Video Output
• QDEO Advanced Video Processor for Superior Up-scaling Accuracy And Noise Reduction and Color Precision
• Advanced Interactivity for Access to Rich menus and Extra Features Available from Many Blu-Ray and HD DVD Discs

The LG Super Blu combo player has made my life a lot easier. I jumped into high def this past summer with HD DVD and built up a library of 48 movies. Of course, as my luck would have it, the tides have turned considerably in blu ray's favor, so rather than give up on my HD DVD collection, and not wanting to take up extra space with a blu ray player, this LG is the ideal solution. It delivers impressive audio and video on both formats and upconverts standard dvds to near high def resolution. Set up was a snap and the player is very user friendly. I would highly recommend this unit to anyone who already started an HD DVD collection and is now ready to enter the "blu" world.

ADDENDUM: Written 8/31/08

I want to add to my original review posted above: I just purchased two more of these LG BH200 combo players at Best Buy, where they were just on sale for $339.99. At this incredibly low price, I could not resist getting two more, one for my second Toshiba 42 inch LCD 1080p television and the other for my Panasonic 32 inch LCD 720p televsion. All my hi-def tvs now have this magnificent LG multi format player connected to them via HDMI cables, allowing me complete flexibility to watch all of my HD DVDs, Blu Ray discs and standard dvds. I have not ceased to be extremely impressed with the amazing crystal clear video images on both hi def formats. The sound is equally impressive, and, as of yet, I do not have any HDMI receivers, so I am using 5.1 channel DD and DTS surround sound, which is clear and crisp. I can only imagine how awesome 7.1 channel hi def sound must be. The standard dvds I have are upscaled to near 1080p resolution, allowing me to enjoy my existing dvd collection with almot hi def images. On some dvds (Star Wars for instance), the images are so crystal clear, at first glance, you think you are watching a blu ray version of the movie. I have not had any compatability issues with this unit, and have been able to play recordable dvds and cds as well. It does everything, and does it amazingly well. My hat goes off to LG for making one of the finest, if not THE finest, hi def players out there. I e-mailed the company recently to ask if there was any truth to rumors that they were discontinuing this model anytime soon, and if so, if they were going to replace it with a new combo player. They wrote back and said they were not planning to discontinue the BH200 at this time, but would not be making any HD DVD players in the future. I am glad I was able to purchase two more of these babies before they become extinct. I also downloaded a firmware update onto a dvd, but have not yet installed it, as I am simply enjoying watching all my multi-format movies without any problems. I will install the update in the future, if needed. This player makes a great stand-alone blu ray player, even if you do not own any HD DVDs, and a great upconverting player as well. But if you, like me, have an HD DVD collection, this is a great way to be able to continue to enjoy the format without replacing them with blu ray versions. This will absolutely give you the best of both worlds!

Buy LG BH200 Super Blu Blu-Ray HD DVD Combo Player Now

I began my HiDef odyssey with HD DVD (about 80 discs) and want to have the ability to buy Blu-Ray if I find a title I feel I just have to have. The Toshiba players are terrific, but they're limited to HD DVD and great upconversion (could probably keep me happy for years, but I'm greedy: I want it all!). I got my BH200 through Amazon for $599, a little pricey, but I've got 2 formats in one. I was immediately disappointed because the picture and audio were not what I was hoping for. THEN I realized I was trusting LG's default factory settings. Once I got into the Setup menus and upped the brightness and adjusted the color, I had a crystal clear picture (on my LG LCD widescreen) and great audio through my Onkyo home theater system. Surprise, surprise! The upconversion is terrific! I have a hard time seeing the difference between many HD discs (both formats) and the SD version. This is going to save me a lot of money. Seriously, there are a few discs where HD makes a real difference--titles like "Planet Earth" and "Bladerunner", but I'm happy with the upconverted SD versions on most.

The unit operates flawlessly so far. There is a little pause while the unit figures out what kind of disc you've fed it, but it's nothing extraordinary. It fast forwards from scene to scene rather quickly. The remote is very easy to use, and hooking up the unit to just one HDMI (all you need for all three formats and one optical plug for sound for all including great-playing CD's) is simple as pie. I was up and running in 10 minutes.

This is a great product. I save space, need fewer HDMI and optical connections, and get great reproduction! For those like me with a significant library of HD DVD's and a desire to view Blu-Ray as well, this is a unit that I know will serve me and many others well.

Read Best Reviews of LG BH200 Super Blu Blu-Ray HD DVD Combo Player Here

I purchased this player a few days ago. I decided to purchase this player instead of the Samsung combo player. Both players have issues but the Samsung appeared to have the bulk of them.

I tried the Ratatoiulle BD and it worked great. I didn't have the annoying camera icon everyone was talking about. There have been no audio or video drop outs, at least that have been noticeable. Hd-dvd menus are a bit sluggish,about the same speed as my hd-a2, but slower than my hd-xa2 (which I returned after the WB announcement). I have the first Pirates movie on BD and it looks AMAZING on this player, much better than on my PS3. While it still looked good, t whe PS3 bd image was always a little grainy (though not as noticeable to my wife!. Hd-dvd's such as Bourne Ultimatum look incredible.

As far as upconversion, this player is just as good, if not better than my old hd-xa2. It uses QDEO processing, which is very similar to HQV processing. You have all the same settings plus a little more! I tried various dvds, everything from Frasier to Finding Nemo. This player is great at upconverting.

If you have at least $225 worth of hd-dvd's or just want the best of both worlds, this player is for you. So far it plays all my discs without hesitation.

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I am a fan of HD-DVD I will not life to anyone about that fact. But since the announcement that Warner Bros. would be dropping HD-DVD and backing Blu-Ray Discs in the future. I had to make a practical move. I could throw a bunch of HD-DVD which included Smallville The Complete Fifth Season, Smallville The Complete Sixth Season, Superman The Movie. Superman II (The Richard Donner Cut, Peter Jackson's King Kong, and The Harry Potter (Years 1-5) on HD-DVD and replace them on Blu-Ray format or buy a LG BH-200 which would cost about the same price if I bought two seperate players. I just bought Hairspray on Blu-Ray Disc and I must say it transfers exactly the same as my HD-DVD and my DVD's did. The only thing I should warn consumers about is this product does not come with HDMI Cable so if you want the full 1080p experience you are going to have to buy the cable and the player as well. If you are still undecided on what format to choose buy this player. Or wait until the format war is over. The sound, the picture quality make HD-DVD's, Blu-Ray Discs, and even your standard DVD's look stunning. And it also plays your JPEG pics clearly and your WMA AND MP3 Audio files clear as a bell. I caution you though your Apple ipod or in this my Microsoft Zune did charge but did not play any of the files on my device so I might have to wait for a firmware update. But believe me it is worth the money.

Got on clearance at BB for $199.99. Upgraded the firmware and works great and even looks good. Better than my Samsung BD-P1200 and faster. Colors are deep and rich and sound is excellent. Looking forward to years of High Def viewing.

12-9-2009 Update. The unit stopped working 1 month out of warranty and I have to pay to send it to Alabama (shipping & insurance approx $25) and a flat fee of $69 just to look at it. It is unresponsive and from what I have read, these units require a new circuit board for about $350. LG knows about this issue with these units and yet still charges a flat fee to just look at it and then whatever other costs are incurred to repair it. I figure it will be about $425 to repair. Very disappointing.

RCA DRC6338 8-Inch Portable DVD Player

• Built-In Stereo Speakers
• Built-In 3-Hour Rechargeable Battery
• Car & Ac Power Adapters
• A/V & Headphone Output Jacks

This unit has served my family well for over two years.

It has been dropped, kicked, vomited upon, covered in milk, slammed shut and open and still chugs along.

I get the occasional "invalid disc" error, but what should one expect with DVDs that are treated like flying discs (aka Frisbee ©) by toddlers and 4 year olds. A simple open and shut remedies the problem 9 out of 10 times.

The AC adaptor cord became frayed and inoperable, but this was due to operator abuse moving it to and fro from autos, and houses, and boats, and planes (no trains yet). This was easily remedied by my local Radio Shack © geek.

The battery still holds a charge for an hour or so after two years of a beat down by Dr. Destructo and her sidekick.

For the price offered and for my intended use (abuse by little ones) it is a fantastic buy and highly recommended. If you seek audiophile sound and video perfection the term "RCA" should never enter your keyboard.

Buy RCA DRC6338 8-Inch Portable DVD Player Now

This product worked for one year almost to the day. My daughter used it practically every day and during those times, we were very pleased with the product. Still, I expected a few years use. I noticed other reviewers had the same problem I did with the machine unable to recognize the DVD format. I, too, paid over $100. Thank God for Amazon. From now on I'll do the research before purchasing any item.

Read Best Reviews of RCA DRC6338 8-Inch Portable DVD Player Here

Received this dvd player as a Christmas gift in 2008. By June 2009 (six months later), it stopped reading older discs, giving me a "No valid disc" error. By September 2009, wouldn't even read brand new ones. Save yourself the trouble and go with a different brand.

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I'm in the same boat with others...it failed to work after only 6 months. I had no problem with getting customer service by just calling the phone number on the warranty card and they took my Target credit card statement as a receipt when I lost the original. But now I have to ship it Buffalo NY to get it repaired or replaced, with a 3-4 week turn around. Annoying. Will not purchase RCA again if I can avoid it.

If you're like me, you've owned half a dozen dvd players that stopped working reliably. I have never had trouble with this player failing to read a disk. I don't use it every day, and almost never run the player without it being plugged in. So, that might be the difference. The screen is only 8" x 4", and the sound is not very loud, but it has a head phone jack, and I have been happy with it.

Flashpoint 12' Straight Sync Cord, ¼ Mono Plug to PC.

The sync cord works. It came packaged in a plastic bag and the cord was packaged into a 6-inch bundle. Delivery was prompt. What more is there to say about a sync cord??

Sync Cord was delivered promptly and it works! I was really hesitant to buy with only two reviews, but everyone has to start somewhere right? It was good fast service.

Buy Flashpoint 12' Straight Sync Cord, ¼ Mono Plug to PC. Now

Was sort of hesitant to buy this generic cord. This is a really great cord for the price. Let's put it this way, I have owned thicker gauge wire cords in the past that have failed in days. This is sort of middle of the road in terms of cord diameter. So far I have used it on one shoot and it worked flawlessly. I picked up two because of the low cost. Enjoy!

Read Best Reviews of Flashpoint 12' Straight Sync Cord, ¼ Mono Plug to PC. Here

Asus OPLAY_HD2/1A/NTSC/AS Digital Device - Black

Pros:

support all formats you can think of.

nice looking box with blue LED light at the bottom.

easy GUI control.

stream media files from network locations.

firmware update via internet is easy.

Cons:

can not copy files from networked resource locations.

copy files from external USB2.0 HD to installed internal HD takes very long time.

no multitasking. can't copy files and play media files at the same time. NAS features can only be turned on via GUI using remote control. imaging to FTP files to this device from your computer, you would need to turn on your Asus HD2, turn on your TV, turn on FTP service, ftp files from your computer. works for English titled files, will mess up Chinese titled files. changed file names to ???.

Web GUI is for information and status only. wish i could turn on NAS services via http.

indexing is annoying.

while navigating through GUI, resolution does not stay on 1080p. sometimes, it blows out of proportion, and it takes about 2-3 seconds to adjust it back to 1080p.

can not power off most of the time(latest fw loaded). GUI goes away, internal hard drive keeps spinning, LED light stays on. have to unplug power cord everytime.

I am happy with the purchase for $100. hoping Asus will work out the feature enhancements and bugs soon.

I have had a Patriot Box Office media player for about the last year and love it. I picked up this Asus media player mainly because it is currently 1 of the few that allows installation of a 3.5" HDD. Of the players offering that feature, I'd say the Asus one is the best I've tried. If you need 3.5" storage, this is your machine. Otherwise the Patriot Box Office (which allows 2.5" storage) is a much better option and is 1/2 the price!

Pros:

Plays everything

Allows installation of up to a 3TB hard drive!

Fairly small footprint

Good fast forward and rewind functionality

Good networking/online features

Ran it overnight copying files and it didn't have any overheating issues

Cons:

Has locked up a couple times when browsing files (latest v2 firmware is installed)

Interface just isn't as nice as the Patriot Box Office. For example, the Patriot shows you the file size and preview of the file you currently have selected (including movies). With the Asus you see none of that so if you have 2 files similarly named, you may not have any idea which is better quality or which you may want to delete unless you individually begin playing each one.

Interface is a little slower than the Patriot.

Patriot Box Office is smaller...but only allows install of 2.5" HDD so it's a trade off.

Patriot Box Office will restart a movie right where you last left off, the Asus won't. It does have a "goto" feature so you can jump to a specific time...but you will have to remember the time rather than the machine remember it.

Defaults to showing all files in 1 big list rather than a more traditional "computer-like" directory listing. That may be a pro for some...for me it's a con...and you can change it so the lists are more like individualized directories but you can't save that as a preference.

Overall it's a nice machine and I'm glad I got it...but I'll be sticking with the Patriot Box Office for my main player.

Buy Asus OPLAY_HD2/1A/NTSC/AS Digital Device - Black Now

Being a fan of Asus products I have bought many of their O'Play Media Players from Amazon. I bought the "Asus OPLAY_HD2/1A/NTSC/AS Digital Device Black" last month from ANTOnline and although I am happy that it was able to play more files than the previous version, this particular unit "resets and freezes" when I scroll the list of files. The wait for reset is very long and troublesome. Initially I wanted to return the unit and buy another but since I have read other feedbacks stating this similar issue, I don't want to go through the hassle of returning again. I am writing to you (ANTOnline) and CC'ing to Amazon to let you know I would like to return this product with a refund back. Per your statement on the Special Return Policies, "Please note that 99% of initially diagnosed "Potentially DefectiveProducts" turn out to be configuration or compatibility issues and are not "Defective Products". I am not an extreme tech savvy individual. If myself and others are having the same issue which disables us from scrolling a list, it is a defective product. Not happy with the return policy.

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The ASUS O!Play HD2 plays many formats and plays them well.

I primarily use NAS (Network Attached Storage) for my media storage. The ASUS found the NAS without any issue.

I had no problem playing .mkv, .iso and .vob files for video and .flac files for audio.

In wireless mode it had some problem playing high defintion .mkv files. There was stuttering and jittering. Switching to a wired network connection played all media smoothly.

The O!Play HD2 starts up fast from standby position.

My two issues have to do with accessing the media.

First Issue: The sort function does not seem to work. The ASUS has 4 sort options (A-Z, Z-A, Newest First, Oldest First). Depending upon which NAS drive or USB drive I used, the media files are presented in alphabetical order (A-Z) or COMPLETELY RANDOM! In either case, attempting to change the order has no effect. This is a biggie if you have hundreds of files in a folder and you are looking to play a certain one. Several people have complained about the sort order issue in the forums, but ASUS has not replied. I wrote to customer support and after several email exchanges and me pointing out that others have noted the same issue, I was told that I must have a defective unit and to return it to the retailer (not ASUS).

Second Issue: This issue has been with ASUS media player products for years. The media player does not remember the last location of media played. Every time you have to click thru the network and directory structure. In my case, because of NAS storage, it ends up being 6-7 clicks (and the several seconds pauses between the clicks) to choose the NETWORK, WORKGROUP, choose the NAS, choose the USB drive connected to the NAS and then 3 or 4 more clicks to get to the folder I want to play media from. After selecting NETWORK, there is a choice called My_Shortcuts, but it is of no use. The customer support person could not even explain what it is for. He did say that it is not for pointing to a specific folder. Since this issue has been around for years and many people have complained about it and ASUS has ignored it, I don't expect it to get fixed anytime soon.

I am debating whether to return the unit due to the above 2 issues or to live with them. I have had a Popcorn Hour A-100 and a WD TV Live. I like the ASUS better than the PCH A-100 in that it allows me to change settings while the media is simply paused and can continue from that moment once the settings have been changed. It also seems to work better in fast forwarding and rewinding video in .mkv format. Compared to the WD TV Live, the ASUS plays a lot more formats. The WD TV Live claimed to play .flac audio files, but it could not and it had trouble with many .mkv, .iso and .vob files that the ASUS just breezes through.

Compared to the Popcorn Hour, support for the ASUS product is much worse. The PCH people constantly monitor their forums and respond with answers and firmware upgrades. ASUS seems to completely ignore their forum.

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Mini Gadgets DaySpy DVR Hidden in Tissue Box

It recorded as indicated when just set to record with the remote. Records Movie minutes, filled the memory card over night, it did seem to work well even in low light. What I wanted to do was use the IR feature to start taking single frame pictures when movement was detected. To properly configure it you had to have a device that would accept RCA jacks to be able to access the programable memory system. Very few use RCA jacks these days, a USB connection would have been easier and less expensive. I had to by a converter to take it from RCA to a digital format and then a cable to connect the converter to a monitor. Yes you can just pull the memory card out and plug in to a computer but you still have to be able to program it to do what you want.

I'm very pleased with this product, it works very well. And is very easy to use....It works well in low light.

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I think everyone should have one of these in there home, We bought this for our elderly parents, who were having issues

where they live, and this solved the problem, caught in the act .

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Great quality video, but unfortuantely has no sound built in.. Either way, works great as a hidden security camera for a room or office. Very discreet, and better than those hidden camera movement sensors...

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Sony DCRTRV260 Digital8 Handycam Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom

well let me start off by saying i am not a family guy, i bought this camera purely for college, meaning alot of night shots, alot of abuse and other things related to college...of course being in college price was a big deal since i am always broke.

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

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

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

all in all it is a very good camcorder

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Panasonic DVD-S52S DVD Player

• 720p output
• Up-conversion to 1080i
• Supports DVD Audio (5.1)
• Dolby Digital and DTS decoders
• Plays DVD-R, CD-R & CD-RW; MP3, WMA, JPEG & MPEG4 playback with on-screen navigator

I bought this dvd player thinking it should be quality product. At a good price I didnt second guess myself. I have had good luck with Panasonic dvd players. My first one I bought back in 1997 when they first started becoming popular It was over $300. That old player still works flawlessly.

I purchased this dvd player along with my new 50 inch screen rear projection lcd t.v. I hooked it up through HDMI cables. I watched The Incredibles first , being that I have kids. I thought the movie looked good on regular tv but this was not only bigger but better overall picture than my old 32 inch. My kids now call this my Movie theater. I have watched a lot of computer animated movies and they all look as if I am watching a real movie screen. Very impressed with picture of most movies. There are some movies that dont look as good but definatley not bad picture.

As far as the upconversion I didnt see a big difference from 480p, 720p, and 1080i, I keep it set at 720p and this work fine for all movies. I find it pretty easy to jump from one setting to another.

Overall I think I could not be happier, dvd movies look good, not too complicated to operate. On a side note, I think watching sports in HI DEF is the best way to take advantage of this technology. Movies look real good but nothing like watching outdoor game on Sunday.

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I bought this to replace a sony progressive scan player I bought about 4 years ago. Remember when 480p was the bomb resolution? After recently purchasing a 1080p HDTV I wanted a solid upconverter w/ an HDMI output. I am in no rush to consider (true 1080p sources) HD DVD/Blu-ray until their "war" is over (& price drops on movies & equipment). The HDMI is spec. 1.2a for those who are familiar. The unit itself is very slim (a big plus design wise) and lightweight (about 5 lbs.) The sole drawback is the remote's design w/ it's ugly bottom battery bulge. I strongly considered Sony's 75H player, but this model offers more features and a lower cost. In fact I was able to buy an HDMI cable & this player for less than the sony cost! It's nice to see the DVD audio is finally playable through a digital output (HDMI). Keep an eye on these kind of players I'm sure they will all be upconverting to 1080p soon, perhaps by next year? In closing, this Panasonic is an overall great value and I would highly recommend.

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This is a pretty good upconverting DVD player, and I am happy with my purchase. I have it connected to my Panasonic 42" plasma and the picture quality is great!

Note that for the upconverting to work, you have to use a HDMI cable (component outputs only 480p in this player) and turn on 720p/1080i output explicitly from the menu.

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This player displays movie dvd's with optional image zoom which can display a widescreen panavision 2.35:1 anamorphic dvd to fully fit a 16:9 widescreen tv vertically as well as horizontal, cropping only the sides of the image and preserving the enhanced vertical resolution of the anamorphic widescreen dvd. The zoom control settings are specific to standard film types as well as an Automatic mode which works for panavision. Tv's with aspect control to display the anamorphic widescreen image (via the required horizontal stretch preserving the height) leave horizontal black bars consuming 1/3 of the screen height because of the extremely wide format; you may get the higher anamorphic resolution but not the display height. None of them have the particular mode required even when equipped with various zoom controls. I have not found any other player with this particular zoom control either, and some will only zoom static photographs. The panasonic feature allows a 32" widescreen tv to display the movies in the same height as would a 40" screen, at the cost of some cropping of the sides only.

This is less of a problem with less wide Academy Standard 1.85:1 widescreen films, but most films with panoramic scenery are in panavision.

For best results it may be necessary to use the new HDMI cable, as the component video connection only outputs 480p; the 720p hd signal is only on the digital connector.

I bought this DVD player to replace the Toshiba SD-K860SU DVD player, which was giving me trouble mainly because it would pause every once in a while, apparently to "buffer" the program data. So far, after about a month's worth of use this machine does not exhibit that problem the movies play fine from start to end.

This Panasonic has a feature that I really like, and that the Toshiba and some other players I have had were lacking. It is that if you turn off the unit while you are watching a movie, it will remember the exact location you were at so you can resume at some later point (without removing the disk of course).

Another feature I really like is that you can move captions down, out of the way. That won't matter to you if you don't use captions but most people do for foreign films, and I use them for most movies because I'm hard-of-hearing. When the movie has a very widescreen aspect ratio, you will get a small black letter-box effect at the bottom and top of the screen (when using a 16:9 HDTV), so it's great to be able to move the captions down into that black area. The DVD player will not remember that setting from one movie to the next, so you have to set it each time you want it. No big deal. Note that if the movie has the 16:9 aspect ratio, it fills the screen all the way to the edges, as it is supposed to.

It has various audio enhancing controls that I've played with but don't fully understand. One of them is supposed to enhance dialog, so the background music doesn't overwealm the dialog. I think it works pretty well, but I have not done exhaustive parallel testing. Also I do not have an audio system, just the speakers in my Visio HDTV, which I'm actually pretty happy with (someday we'll upgrade to home theatre audio...)

You can set the various menus to be semi-transparent, so you can see the action behind the menus while the movie is going on. I like that.

Of course this player is an "upconverting" model. I am no videophile, but I am extremely impressed with the pictures I get on my TV from this DVD player. They are brilliant, and quite satisfactory.

Meanwhile speaking of pictures this DVD player appears to be much more "intelligent" that the Toshiba in this way: A lot of the time the special features on DVDs are presented in 4:3 aspect ratio maybe to save space on the DVD or save production costs. The movie itself is typically in 16:9 ratio or some such. The player is "smart" enough to show each in its correct ratio. With the Toshiba, I would have to manually switch to 4:3 when watching the features, and then switch back for the next DVD. (Unlike some people, I really prefer to watch the pictures in their original format I don't get the notion of stretching the picture, which distorts all the images. I know using 4:3 on a 16:9 set "wastes" the space on the sides, but so what?).

Now for the ONLY thing I've found that could be improved: On my old machine (the dreaded Toshiba), if I pressed the "info" button, it would tell me the elapsed time, the time remaining, the chapter number, and the number of chapters. The Panasonic will give all that information, EXCEPT for the total number of chapters. I would have liked that information, because the main on-board digital display just gives the current chapter number (no elapsed time, like on some DVD players), so you don't have a sense for how far into the movie you are, unless you are watching the clock. Of course this is completely irrelevant if you are watching a gripping movie, but when you're watching "My Dinner With Andre" you really want to know how close to the end you are.

I read some other reviews indicating that the DVD tray was flimsy. It is not made of iron and I wouldn't use it as a sledge-hammer rest, but it seems sturdy enough to me.

Delivery of this machine from Amazon's vendor was rapid and uneventful, and setup was quick and easy.

I have not used the remote, since I use a universal remote (the Osiris MX-350). I used a pre-programmed Panasonic DVD code on the remote, but had to make numerous manual programming adjustments to get all the buttons to work. As every Osiris owner knows, making those adjustments are VERY fun and something to look forward to.

I'm very happy with my purchase and expect to use this DVD player for a long time to come at least until they settle on an HD-DVD standard and HD-DVD players become affordable.