Astar DVR-2100 Progressive Scan DVD Recorder w/ USB port

• Progressive scan DVD player/recorder with built-in TV tuner
• Records onto DVD+R/RW discs; plays DVD-R/RW, CD-R/RW, DVCD, SVCD, VCD, CD-DA, and MP3
• 20-event, 1-year timer, one-touch recording, editing capabilites
• NTSC/PAL system conversion output, 8-step fast or slow motion
• Inputs: 1 composite, 1 S-Video, 1 USB; Outputs: 1 composite, 1 S-Video, 1 component

The ONLY good thing about this machine is its sound quality (5.1-very good). Beyond that, the machine is a piece of junk. The remote is big and clumsy and not user friendly. You must stand within 5 meters and less than 30% from the machine in order for it to work. Some menu options are written in broken English and are sometimes VERY confusing. Once you set up any timed recordings (the whole point of the machine), this power symbol pops up on the bottom right hand of the screen and STAYS there regardless of what you are doing...watching a recording, a purchased DVD, or even the TV cable through the player. It is not a warning to turn off your machine for a recording either, because it's there even if you are not due to record anything for another day or so. If you are performing an action on the player, like using zoom during a movie, the action word stays on the screen and will not go away. The machine locks up repeatedly, and you must hold down the power button in order to get it to work again. It also gets EXTREMELY hot, so much so that I worry for the equipment around it. The recording quality is very poor, looks worse than a VCR except on "HQ" mode, which only allows you 1 hour of recording time. Manual is also in broken English, and not very clear. There is a backup memory for the timed recordings if it gets unplugged, but the clock isn't saved, so nothing will record on time anyway! I must say their customer service answers quickly, but unfortunately they are unable to help with these problems, as they are part of all the machines. DO NOT BUY! I will be returning mine.

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This is a nice recorder for + R format. It works in the US and overseas. It plays and records in PAL and NSTC. You can record 1,2,4 or 6 hours per standard DVD disk. Excellent for converting old family VHS,Beta, DV or Mini DV tapes to DVD. It will also record directly on dvd from your video camera. The only reason I did not give it a 5 rating is that it gets stuck sometimes in the menue and you have to unplug the unit and plug it back to go back to normal operation. Excellent buy for the money. I have three units and they all work fine.

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I used it to record about 5 dvds from my old VHS cassettes. The instruction manual is definitely not the most user-friendly. However, I was able to start using the unit without much delay. The problem started after day 3 when I tried to stop a disk that was being recorded upon. The display said something like "cannot stop recording". I finally unplugged the unit to make it stop. Then I realized that the unit had stopped recognizing any disk and kept saying that all disks (prerecorded ones or the ones thatI had recorded earlier) were blank. Spoke to customer service (you have to try a few times to get thru to someone) and they said the read/write haead was probably malfunctioning. They are going to email me a shipping label to send the unit back for replacement. Shall provide an update on the new unit, if and when I receive one.

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Please do not order from this seller, There product suck big timeAstar DVR-2100 Progressive Scan DVD Recorder w/ USB port

SIIG CB-0000L1-S1 DVI-D Dual-Link to DVI-D Dual-Link Cable, 5-Meters

Fast delivery from Amazon. Cable is built sturdy and does what it's suppose to do. I use it to connect my macbook to my LCD TV. The 16.4 feet give me a lot of flexibility to move around.

If you need the extra length, this is a quality cable to get the job done. MY PC is in a cabinet around the corner from my monitor. I had used a long VGA cable, but there was problems with screen centering because of no EDID data. Long story Short, Theres no issues with a pure digital cable solution. Screen is nice and sharp.

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CIB R801W500G8653 8CH Network Security Surveillance DVR 500GB 8 CCD Cameras K...

This is a pretty good system for the price. The camera resolution is good during daylight but a little worse when on night lighting. I use it at my house and bought it for remote access. I haven't hooked up the access yet, but like being able to watch what goes on around the house, especially at night. I do have one complaint; more of an annoyance, it does not appear that you can turn of the password entry requirement. For a home system, this is very annoying having to input a password every time you want to look at something. Other than that, it has been fine so far. BTW; if you own a business and going to be using night vision, I would look for something with better resolution.

Sony MZ-R700DPC MiniDisc Walkman with Stick Style Remote

This is my first piece of MiniDisc equipment. Mine is is the metallic green version shown in the pic. I've never seen the silver in person, but I've seen the blue, and even if the thought of a green walkman turns you off, it's still a lot more striking than the blue, which isn't metallic like the green, but flat and dull. I think the lustrous sheen of the green gives it a much more expensive look. Anyway, I am mostly satisfied with this unit. It sounds great, although I have never used the bundled headphones with it, and I do wish the volume would go a little higher to compensate better for noisy urban enviroments. The controls are mostly easy to use, build quality is high. The MDLP mode is nice. Right now I only use it (LP2) for double albums and adding more remixes to the end of an album that would otherwise fit, but the sound quality is still really high and most people won't notice the drop in quality. Also, the remote is nice. While it feels a little cheap and doesn't have an LCD screen, the lever setup is rather clever. You'll probably want to upgrade to a better model of remote however, I aquired the RM-MC11EL for mine, which comes with the MZ-R900.

Some gripes I have is while the front casing is aluminum, the back is plastic, and loses its paint from friction on the edges rather quickly. Also, my unit does tend to skip from time to time, though I think the problem may be either dust on the heads or maybe just a defective unit. To access some commands, like the bass controls, you have to navigate through a menu system, which is sort of tedious. Lastly, the battery that came with it isn't the greatest... it gets the job done but you'll want to upgrade that too. The Xitel optical mp3 thingee is nice too, though to be honest I don't use it that much, instead dubbing CDs that I already own to MD.

Overall this is a solid performer, and much nicer to tote around (in your pocket) than a big clunky CD player.

I've been putting off buying a portable listening device since my last '90 Aiwa tape player. But after seeing the Minidisc in action it's a definite buy and constant use gem.

Sound quality? Can you say OPTICAL input. You cannot get any better sound resolution than this; any decent DVD player has an optical out; decent CD players too. RCA IN is a plus (not included) and the PC IN option is mediocre it is convenient with all the CD-R/PC/MP3 formatted music. It's got a two-stage added-bass feature that works quite well. The standard headphones are excellent an updated version with position detents for fixed fit. The remote fob device is essential for total playback+record control once your MDplayer is tucked away in the pocket. (look for the RM-MZR55 remote with backlighting if you want to upgrade)

The unit has never skipped even with major motion, jostling, or shock. I haven't done a drop-test, but I'll skip it for now. The biggest drawback is the lack of a custom case/holster for the unit; it does come with a bag, but it isn't adequate for protection or carrying with any confidence. Plus, the lack of backlighting on the main unit is a bummer.

It comes with it's own AA ni-cad battery and charger, and runs for a prolonged period of time ~ 6 hours playback, 1.5-2x as long on a regular AA. The half-sized ice cream sandwich form kicks the CD portable players to the curb. It isn't as ubiquitous as some MP3 players but why would you want to drop several dimes on something invisible. Personally, the anodized blue colored one has more impact than the silver, but the form and interface overall is a delight. The battery bulge just slightly cants the display up, the button separation and placement works great for easy access. I find excuses to block the world out and listen to high-fidelity music on the go.

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I just bought this player, and I love it! I sold my old player (Sharp MD-SR60S) because I wanted one with the LP modes and also one that would support digital recording. After browsing Sony's extensive line of MD players, I chose this one because I thought it was the best value. The price was a little high, but I found some good deals on refurbished ones online, so I was all set! I decided on this one for two reasons. First, it has digital PC Link feature, allowing you to record digitally from your computer's USB port. Second, it had LP modes, allowing me to get tons of music on a single minidisc. The features are great. It has the editing features that I liked on my old one, and it's small, lightweight, and extremely easy to use. I was actually surprised to see that it came with 2 rechargeable batteries and the charging time is a mere 3 hours. After looking over the manual, I hooked it up to test the features. Windows XP automatically picked it up and made it the default output device (instead of the soundcard). The manual says to use LP2 (160 Minutes) or normal stereo (80 minutes) modes for best sound quality, but I can't tell the difference between the mp3 files on the computer and the sound quality on the MD. The only downside is the way the synchro-record feature inserts extra track marks all over the place! I found at least 15 extra track marks that were inserted, but removing them is relatively easy, so I can't complain. The battery has a long life (7.5 hours recording/18 hours playback in LP4 mode), which allows you to create a playlist on your computer, set the unit to record, and walk off as the computer goes through the songs. It's awesome! This thing is fun! If you can't decide between an MP3 player and a Minidisc player, the ultimate decision should be based on how much you're willing to pay. Sure, you can get an MP3 player with 20GB of memory, if you're willing to pay nearly [a price]. On the other hand, you can buy this for [a price] or less (Yahoo! Shopping), and never run out of space! Need minidiscs? No problem. They're [inexpensive]! Bottom line: This is the best Minidisc player/recorder for your money. The higher-priced models don't have much else, except maybe a fancier bass boost system or something like that.

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This MD player isn't perfect. But it's close.

The duration one must hold the fastforward/rewind button in order to rewind was a bit unnerving at first, but I've quickly become used to it. And it definitely took a chunk out of my wallet, but it was worth it.

This model is so small that it seems like my pockets are drastically too large for just this device. The size is great -it is the perfect size for the hand: smaller would be too small, bigger would begin to be bulky.

Of course, having the different variations of recording options is very nice, too. For MP3s, I can record over 5 hours on LP4 mode and have a huge mix that will last a trip to Irvine and back. I record my CDs on LP2 mode without any audible loss of quality, sometimes having up to 6 albums on one disc. A couple classical numbers I've recorded on Stereo mode, to preserve every note, as classical music is a bit more fragile than rock and roll. And the best yet! I can easily record all my vinyl albums to MD and have easily accessible and transportible digital copies, edited and divided into tracks without breaking a sweat.

And who can forget the tremendous battery life? By using the AC adaptor when I'm at home and recharging the battery once it gets low (just hit one button, no extra bulky charger) -I have not drained even one battery in the innumerable hours I've spent listening to music with this.

No longer will I be annoyed when jarring motion causes my audio pleasure to halt. No longer will I be plagued by the demons that cause scratches on CDs. No longer will I have to carry a pocket full of spare batteries. No longer will I have anything in my wallet -well, not for a while, at least, but I'll tell you -it was definitely worth it.

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Well, like most of you, I purchased an MP3 player and returned it a week later, due to poor battery life and expensive memory.

Before making my decision on a decent music device to purchase (for the gym and air travel), I read all the reviews here and found it most helpful (Thank you all for writing these reviews!)

Anyway, the only flaws I can mention for this Mini player, is the 1:1 for time it takes to record (loved the MP3 for that!) and the volume is not loud enough!!! Thanks, Sony, for protecting my ears, but when I am in the gym (all the noise with wgts. and people working out) the volume needs to be louder!

The Sony MZR700DPC player has an option where you can record songs manually (to increase the volume during playback), but the menu is so damn cumbersome, I can never find the "recVolume" function to adjust my volume while recording.

One more problem....and this is a small one....Why didn't Sony include a carrier with this Minidisc, instead of having its customer's mail away for it? (...)

Overall, as the other reviews have mentioned, this is the best music device for your money and your time! I have never had a problem with skipping, and I get miles of hours out of a regular battery. Happy shopping!

Veho Muvi Pro Micro DV Camcorder with 4 GB Micro SD

I bought two of these as replacements for the similar unit I've had for about 18 months that has broken. One of the ones I bought would never sync up with my computer, and was returned at no cost to me to Amazon. The other one works fine, and has a better resolution than my original unit. I am a Police officer, and use them to capture video and audio on traffic stops, as well as anytime I have need of recording statements or actions. The audio on them is better than the in car camera I have.

I have also used one clipped to a hat band at sporting events to record video. It works well.

Veho VCC003MUVIPRO Muvi Pro Micro DV Camcorder with 4 GB Micro SD

I have to say I'm very impressed with this! I previously used a large Hi8 tape cam but it's very obtrusive. I use this 99% of the time I ride my bike as it helps me review and improve my riding technique. With this cam being so small and barely visible, I can leave it mounted when I park my bike. With the optional clip, it pops right in and out and It slips right in my pocket. I can even clip it to my belt while walking and no one ever notice. Sweet!

The PRO model is true 30fps. 4Gb is sufficient because it records for 2 hours and only uses half the memory. Add a 8Gb mini SD for under $30.

The only negative is how long it takes to upload your clips to a computer.

Something this small with this much quality you can't beat!

I removed the previous video and replaced it with two different views.

The first was with the cam mounted on the tank and the second half I was able to mount it inside of my helmet. I thought it came out pretty good and my feelings remain the same about the versatility of this little camera. And it would really be nice to have the option to disable the time stamp!

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Like most people, I bought this because it was small. It mount's to my vehicle's windshield easily and does not obstruct my view tucked up under my rear-view mirror. It seems well built, and easy to use. The included memory card provides a good amount of recording time, but it is very slow to transfer the videos to a computer through the internal USB, only about 1MB/s. You should get an SD adapter and use a card reader.

The main downside to this is the battery. It advertises a recording time of about 3 hours, but I struggle to get even one hour record time out of it. It can only fill the card if you stop to charge it between shooting, or if you run it on USB power. A $5 USB 12V to USB adapter works nicely for me, with a thin USB cable.

I found the included clip is nice, but it's not entirely useful. If you want to expand your mounting options, check out the RAM mount system. The RAM-B-238-VEN1U allows this to mount with a "B" size ball. Then you can stick it to almost anything depending on your base.

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On the plus side, this camera looks well constructed. There are two switches, one for power and the other to activate the sound activation feature. There is also a little button on top to start recording manually.

The problem I experienced was unbearable background noise with every recording. I contacted Veho technical support and at their request sent them a sample. They said my recorder *was* defective and that I should return/exchange it. The attached video highlights the noise problem with both the original camera *and* the one Amazon sent as a replacement.

According to the manufacturer, some amount of background noise is expected. Let me provide their explanation, directly from their FAQ:

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Problem: There seems to be a lot of sound interference (buzzing) on my recordings, even in a quiet room. Why is this?

Resolution: The level of noise that you are experiencing with the camera is normal. Due to the sound activation function on the Muvi Pro the microphone is extremely sensitive therefore it will always pick up noise even in a quiet room.

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Me, I think it's nonsense. What noise, exactly, would a microphone pick of from a quiet room: Ghosts?

Another aside, mostly for people who already own this recorder is about the date/time stamp. It is permanent and cannot be remove (which goes back to it being permanent). It's also impossible to set unless you know how and nearly impossible to find out how. Here's how... Create a file named time.txt in the top level of the camera's memory. That would be alongside the folder named DCIM. You write in that file the date and time in the following format: 'YYYY.MM.DD HH:MM:SS' Leave off the quotes, don't put a "return" at the end, and the only space is between the two digits for the day (DD) and the two digits for the hour (HH). Turn the camera off and back on. If you did everything right the file will be gone and the time will be set.

BTW, I feel that honest, effective reviews, accompanied by detailed videos, can take the place of first-hand experiences that are often lacking in online shopping. I've always appreciated the help I've received from other reviewers and try to return the favor as best as I can. Please let me know if found this review helpful and the video at least entertaining. If there was anything you thought was lacking or unclear leave a comment and I'll do what I can to fix it.

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I bought this camera for recording on-board video from my race car, and I'm not disappointed. After a half-season of racing, the Veho Muvi Pro is still going strong after being pelted with mud lap after lap. The video quality is very impressive for a camera of this price and size. Video wise, the only drawback seems to be that it struggles in low light. Usually this is not a problem for my purposes, as track lighting usually provides sufficient light, but a couple of times this year I have had grainy footage due to poor lighting and mounting location. When used around the house, sound can sometimes be a bit muffled, but when racing, the camera does an excellent job of capturing the sound of my engine, with little to no wind noise. Others have mentioned the video skipping just a bit, I've had a bit of this with the memory card shipped with it, but it's usually minor, and indications are that a better memory card eliminates this issue. Overall, this camera has done what I wanted it to do, and is at a low enough price that I can afford to put it in peril on the track. After seeing my videos, one of my competitors has already bought one for himself, as has an ultralight pilot that I know. The included video is a compilation of clips in different lighting conditions, to give you a real-world idea of how the camera performs. All in all, in my opinion it's a fine camera at a great price.

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Mach Speed Eclipse-Duo 4 GB Eclipse MP3 Player with USB, MicroSD Slot, Voice Recorder, Shuffle Mode

• MP3 player with digital voice recorder
• Slide out design
• 4GB of internal memory, built-in rechargeable battery
• Drag and drop file transfer
• What's included in the package: Media player, USB cable, and earbuds

The Eclipse Duo is an awesome travel MP3 player. It charges through its USB port, so there isn't another proprietary charger to worry about carrying around and eventually losing. I spent a month in Peru with mine, I fell asleep listening to it each night and only had to charge it once. It also doubles as a normal flash drive, so I kept a pdf of my passport, my password keeper, and some photos safely encrypted on it. The navigation system is a bit goofy and I read that the ear buds that came with it are none too great, but I learned the navigation quickly and I have tons of extra ear buds laying around, so no complaints!

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I needed a simple, cheap MP3 player for the gym, and this one is great! I feel like Apple has conditioned people to expect certain things from an MP3 player that we really don't need, and I think this sort of thinking has fueled some of the negative reviews of this product. Here's my take

-Lightweight: This product is very light, which I think is why some people think it's "cheap feeling." I don't feel like electronics should have a lot of unnecessary metal in them to make them feel substantial, weight really has no bearing on the actual electronics

-User Interface: The navigation through the menus and functions is very straightforward. It's not immediately intuitive like a lot of Apple products, but you should read the tiny, 8-page manual. One quirk is that shuffle mode is under the "Repeat" menu, which isn't that obvious. With any electronic device, within a few times of using it you become an expert, so I don't think this is super important.

-Sound: Excellent, provided that you use decent headphones. The headphones that come with the player are garbage. Use another pair and you'll find that the sound is great. The signal to noise is very good (test this by turning up the volume and pausing, the less static the better). There are a few EQ settings, but I never use them.

In case you couldn't tell, I think most Apple products are overrated and overpriced. Save yourself some money and get a solid product like this one.

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Small & compact does what they say it does size makes it tough to read screen excellent sound using included buds.

I'm satisfied with the product, my need was for something small

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This little thing is awsome. You can take lots of songs with you about 3,000 for mine, you can stor everything from movies to games, to pics on one little device. jeeze? whats the world coming to i dunno but I like it. I have a portable dvd player with a usb port so i use the movies on this instead of dvds. Wow.!!!

I got this for $20 when my headphone died on my 10-year old Rave mp3 player. It worked OK, the built in usb port was convenient. The controls are a little inconvenient if you don't press the button fast enough, it goes back to the main screen, but the screen is small so it has to scroll album/song titles (very slowly) and it was impossible with this system to figure out whether I was selecting "Keeper of the Seven Keys Pt. I" or "Keeper of the Seven Keys Pt. II"! Part of the problem is that it doesn't list albums or bands in alphabetical order I think it just does it in the order you add them, and if you remove something it puts whatever you add in that slot. Also, when you finish listening to an album, it jumps to another album not by the same band (e.g. in the same folder), but semi-random (it wasn't completely random, it tended to return to the same couple of albums pretty often). The controls for selecting what album to listen to aren't very intuitive (at least for me) I kept finding myself hitting the wrong button and having to start over. Also, the screen was very dim if you try to use it outside in daylight, it's almost impossible to see what you're doing. Despite any "system requirements", I was able to use my old Windows Media Player on my offline computer to load files with no problem (you can also just open the file in your computer and drag music over) this seems pretty common with mp3 players, although they all seem to claim you need "Windows Media Player 10" and an internet connection, etc. I used it at work, and the charge lasts about 8 hrs., so I had to be sure to recharge it every day or it would run out of juice the next day. About 4 months after getting it, I plugged it into my computer to charge it and the computer wouldn't recognize it I couldn't get it to charge again, and from other reviews I read I got the impression that the warranty wasn't worth the hassle for a cheap, not very good, mp3 player. Not recommended.

Professional 8GB USB Digital Audio Voice Recorder Dictaphone Mp3 Player Digital Voice Recorder

The instructions sound as if they're written by a foreign child. I could never get it to work. I contacted the manufacturer but never received a response. Very disappointing.

The device itself is well worth the price, which wasn't much. Very sensitive microphone, try not to get it too close to your mouth. If you hate taking notes in class, this is a life saver!

Hate the manual! The print is tiny and whoever wrote it only had a cursory knowledge of the English language. It's almost worth your time to scan it, blow it up, and then carefully translate it into good English.

The many buttons on it are somewhat confusing and a good manual would be helpful.

I haven't had it but a few days, but overall I like the purchase.

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Get what you pay, hard to work, poor quality, save your money, look at something else with good direction you can read and understand, I will give to my 10 yr old to play with

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I am satisfied my product does what it is supposed to do :) I recieved it fast Thanks! Will be continuing to order form here

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Panasonic DMP-BDT500 Integrated Wi-Fi 3D Blu-ray DVD Player

• New Slim and Compact Design Twin HDMI Output for Video and Audio
• Premium Sound Capable 3D Blu-ray Disc Player
• 2D to 3D Conversion for VIERA Connect3 Premium Audio Player Design
• Region: Blu-ray: A,DVD: 1

The dmp-bdt500 is Panasonic's answer to the audiophile's desire to have a machine that offers superb video AND audio playback--they have succeeded. The highlights of this machine are the four Burr-Brown 192kHz/32-bit DAC's, 7.1 channel analog output, higher end capacitors and a more robust construction. I will express my opinion(s) about the design, engineering and performance. This machine is a Blu-ray player (and dvds of course), a cd player and is has built-in Wi-Fi for streaming movies, music and such. Therefore, it has the potential of being a 'one stop' solution for all of our home media needs and desires. And hopefully, it will have the ability to satiate the needs of the audiophile without sacrificing performance for the sake of convenience.

DESIGN

This machine is handsome, if not understated. It is sleek without being tiny. It is elegant--not ostentatious. It 'hits the mark' without trying too hard. Panasonic, though a quality brand, has not always had the prettiest components. For many years (of late) I found myself scratching my head at the eccentricities of some of Panasonic's designs. There were weird, translucent stripes buried within the skin(s) of their televisions and disc players. Panny's had conservative looking shapes in a market rife with "pretty" electronic sculptures, and digital displays that featured antiquated sticks rather than the more aesthetically pleasing dot matrix variety. For these reasons, I am very impressed with the design of the dmp-bdt500. The deck is a well built machine with a mirrored facade; the bottom third of the front facade fades from a mirror to a nice brushed silver finish. The "Panasonic" logo is centered onto the mirrored section of the faceplate. The top of the machine is sort of blackish, with four touch-sensitive buttons and a brushed appearance. The brushed look gives the machine a feeling of cohesion (with the faceplate) and will serve to obscure any future scratches. Another welcome design feature is the bright metal feet--they look elegant, but also serve to stabilize the deck. These circular feet are the best I've ever seen on a Panasonic disc player.

My critique of the design has to do with the look of the player once the faceplate drops down to reveal the disc tray. The look of the front panel is dull in comparison to the mirrored faceplate. It is a sort of washed out black color which does not seem to gel appropriately with the aesthetic of such a high-end machine. Keep in mind--this is Panasonic's highest end offering--her flagship deck. It is not terrible though...just nearly so. But, once the disc tray closes and the faceplate swings back into place, it is like a so-so looking wife who transforms into gorgeousity (ok...so it is not a word) once her face is painted. The player is pretty though, but not perfect because of the previously mentioned reasons. But, it will not look out of place in the company of higher end components--it's a classy deck.

Score: 9/10

ENGINEERING

I am not an engineer--or a scientist (this is why I am so charming). However, spec-wise this player is a tremendous value. In order to get Burr-Brown 192kHz/32-bit DAC's into a disc player, the consumer usually has to spend about a thousand bucks or more (do the research if you are inclined to disagree). The dmp-bdt500 also has 7.1 channel analog output, high end capacitors, gold plated terminals (a gimmick as far as I am concerned), and nice, stabilizing feet. The construction of the deck is hefty and substantial. The touch sensitive buttons are also a nice addition to this player (although many BD players have this these days). Just by looking at the spec sheet, it should be evident that this is Panasonic's best offering yet. On paper, it is the best deck Panasonic has ever built...and it is only $350 (or less). Value-wise, this player is simply untouchable, one would have to spend three times the amount to get the same "stuff".

Score: 10/10

PERFORMANCE

But how does she play? I am here to tell you...she plays like buttuh.....this deck is n-i-i-i-i-c-e. Although music is most important to me, I popped in a Blu-ray. Since I really dig classic movies on Blu-ray, I played Hitchcock's "To Catch a Thief". This disc is already great looking, but I have never seen it look like this. Wow...it is evident that, although most BD players look excellent, it IS possible to bring it up a notch. This is just an arbitrary rating with no basis in objective metrics, but I have a really good eye, and I will say with confidence that this player will make your Blu-rays look about 20% better; remember, all Blu-ray players look "good", so this is really sayin' something. I then popped in "North By Northwest"----stunning. "The Ten Commandments" looks so good, it got me reading my Bible again. So, I will say that videophiles will love this machine.

I l-o-o-o-v-e music. The cd playback is the most important aspect to my satisfaction with this deck. My taste is eclectic. I love reggae/ska, classical (Bach fanatic), punk rock and have a lot of new wave cds (hey...I'm in my thirties man). This player plays everything good. With reggae the sound is tight with fast base (not too fast though); there is nice punch to the base. The sound is smooth, but dynamic. Dynamic range is very important to the audiophile...this aint no 'run of the mill' dvd player here, this deck is good...really good. All of Bach's cello suites sound fantastic--good enough for any audio snob. This player has very good punch and attack (the leading edges of notes). I have B &W speakers and a good, clean HK amp, so I am able to extract the goodness from this player. I tested the dynamic range (which rates at a respectable 105db) of this deck by playing "Seed" by Sublime, "Beverly Hills" by Weezer and "Darkness" by Black Uhuru. She is dynamic. As you may know, the biggest appeal of SACD's is the dynamic range. Although this deck does not play SACD's, she is good and dynamic. Highs are top notch, mids are tight and composed and the base is deep and punchy. The sound is neat and dynamic...not sloppy at all. Classical will sound classy, punk will sound, uh, punk-y, reggae will sound exceptionally IRIE and and you will certainly be able to 'rock out' with any hard rock stuff you choose to play--as long as you have good speakers and a good, clean amp or receiver. For a $350 (or less) deck, you will not be able to do better with movies and music--period. You will find yourself breaking out all of your favorite cds. If you are reading this, you probably know that you should use analog cables to listen to cds...just checkin'...all the kids now are listening to compressed music--I only do that on the go.

How does she stream...is the wi-fi any good? I recently upgraded from the Panasonic dmp-bdt320. This player (the 500) is better with movies and MUCH better with cds. But, she broke my heart a bit with the wi-fi. I really like to listen to Pandora. This player sounds great with Pandora, especially when you activate "high clarity sound" and have it in "digital tube" mode (number 5...you'll see). Pandora (or other digital files) will sound like nectar if you use the previously mentioned enhancements. Just make sure you use no sound enhancements when you are listening to cds via analog inputs. I always make sure sound enhancements are turned off when I listen to cds--it makes a huge difference...just let the sweet Burr-Brown DAC's do their thing.

The wi-fi on the 320 is better than the wi-fi on the 500. This player is more inconsistent with wi-fi, especially Pandora. After a few songs, I keep getting an Error message "-6". It just bugs me. I do not have the patience to dance around with some Panasonic customer service rep on the phone! The 320 streamed Pandora for hours without issues. Perhaps it has to do with the placement of the wi-fi unit inside of the component itself--I don't know. But, the fidelity of the Blu-ray and CD playback is good enough to temper my aggravation with the quirky wi-fi in the 500. I guess you cannot have it all for $350.

Video Score: 10/10

CD Playback Score: 10/10

Wi-Fi Score: 5/10

CONCLUSION

If CD playback is very important to you, this player will please you. If a top-notch Blu-ray image is what you are after, buy this deck. If you want a fantastic wi-fi streamer, and do not care about CD playback as much (some do not) then the dmp-bdt320 is all you will need. It has a fantastic Blu-ray image and is a very good wi-fi player..cd playback is just adequate--not audiophile caliber, because the dynamic range is not as good as the 500. But, if you want an audiophile caliber CD player, a videophile caliber Blu-ray player and do not care about wi-fi as much, the dmp-bdt500 will 'blow your hair back". You can always get a separate unit for wi-fi and many people have it built into their tvs. For the low price, the audiophile on a budget could do no better, especially if s/he does not have a SACD collection and does not want to start one.

Buy Panasonic DMP-BDT500 Integrated Wi-Fi 3D Blu-ray DVD Player Now

One simple comment: A couple of months ago I ordered the Oppo 93 & 95 and I returned them to the seller. These players got great picture but the sound quality, contrary to many hyped reviews, is not worth the money. They just sound cold to me (I already use tube amplifications). But with the Panasonic I found the picture is just as great. More importantly, it sounds better than the two Oppo. Inner details, micro-dynamics, musicality, all are there for you. I am writing as a 20 years audiophile. I use Audio Note Amp., Conrad Johnson preamp., and JBL speakers. The Panasonic is a great product for the audiophile. Buy it. It's actually cheap by comparison. The Panasonic team deserves congratulations!

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I received this from Amazon on Friday, and set it up on Friday evening. This was ordered to replaced a unit that was a couple of years old and cost $150 less. The old player was working OK but I was intrigued by the specs and hype for this player. I have a decent surround sound system (Polk top-of-the-line speakers) and a plasma TV (Samsung). The video: I have my TV set to Movie mode and with this player the video really does look like movie mode (at least more than the old player), I turned off the Chroma Process on the BDT500 because of way too much color saturation, and still had to re-adjust the plasma TV just a little lower (not much) for both color and contrast, and now the picture is great, better color than the old player and darker blacks, and great detail. The audio: I'm using the HDMI Sub feed to my receiver, and the sound took some tinkering too, I tried the sound effects but didn't really like the "tube amp" sounds, so they're turned off, I also turned off the analog sound circuit. I turned on High Clarity Sound which seemed to reduce the strength of the center channel a little, so I turned on the Dialog Enhancer, which increased the center channel a little bit too much (but more is better than not enough if you want to hear the voices). My speakers were balanced by the Audyssey feature of the reciever, and I didn't want to mess with it, but I decided to increase all the speakers by 1 db (except the center). It worked OK because this is the best sound I've gotten from my system so far. The only thing I'm having trouble with is the touch screen on the remote makes me crazy sometimes (frustration), maybe time will help. This player allows so many adjustments to the video and sound that most people should find something preferable. I'm glad I ordered it and I think it's worth the cost. My home theater is improved.

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I have this player since June 2012, updated the firmware the first time it was hooked-up, and replaced my old Sony blu-ray which is a good player. Quite happy with everything, pictures clarity, sound, playing blu-ray movies, etc. except the WIRELESS STREAMING. It will just disconnect while watching either Netflix or Amazon movies and won't reconnect again until you reboot the player. Sometimes this will happen twice before finishing one movie. I know it's not my router because I have a decent new router Linksys EA4500 with updated firmware, it is not far enough to disconnect because if it is connected it is showing 5 bars. Also my other wirelss stuff (iPhone, Ipad, laptop) are always connected without any problems on the same spot, and my old Sony Blu-ray BDP S570 did not have this kind of problem. I have read different reviews with this same problem as mine. PANASONIC SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I never write a review until now, since this is quite annoying for a defective product coming from a reputable company and nothing is being done about it inspite of so many complaints.

This review is to clarify why you would want this unit over other models. It is not entirely clear from Panasonic or some tech reviews. It is not a player for universal downloaded formats, it is a near audiofool unit at a consumer friendly electronics price.

I was shopping for 3D BD player with dual HDMI output for future use and analog surround out for immediate use. Few models caught my attention, as few are available. This model is 2-5X cheaper (based on Amzon July '12 promotions) than other well reviewed options. This unit is considered reference on BD and excellent on DVD playback by industry review, and on new VT50 TV I would agree. However this is not an accomplishment any more as models less expensive have the same rating. Infact, that is the purpose of digital media. What does spending 4-20X more money get you? Maybe less with more gimmick features.

But the real reason to get this model is this unit is equipped with four independent 192kHz/32-bit Burr-Brown DACs for 7.1 channel sound on analog outs. While inexpensive parts they are only seen on high end avrs. It also has separate sound and video HDMI options for legacy AVR without HDMI 1.4 pass through. It can easily down mix to 5.1 for older AVRs. I have legacy Marantz SR6200 (6.1). While you lose 'mostly useless' functionality of on board decoders going with analog outs on avr's, most of those features are not present on legacy systems anyway.

There is a TREMENDOUS difference between online streaming over optical out and HD playback such as VuDu HDX with 7.1 dolby digital decoded to analog ports. I got several unpromted responses. (I was not fishing for compliments.) There could be many technical reasons aside from signal source, but I am please with result. Sadly I feel like I never got much out of Marantz SR6200 until I just now bypassed preprocessor. Yes it is that good!!

A few other notes about WiFi reported drop out. Used with an amp it is VERY important to keep this player cool. Amps have much higher tolerances for heat than this or similar units. It will last much longer away from amps. I am sure this is the case with a portion on the returns, but not all.

I would not consider this if you are looking for a true universal streaming media player. WD Live might be one option. That feature does not interest me much though. Smart TV is limited and likely to stay that way. I am a fan of the new TuneIn app here though. Try it and you might be too.

Olympus DS-30 Digital Voice Recorder

I got my DS-30 last week and I love it! This is the first digital stereo voice recorder I have owned. I am very impressed with the quality of manufacturing and the quality of the recordings. I uploaded some photos above to show the size of the unit and the contents of the package.

The DS-30 can record with or without the attachable stereo microphone. This mic is so small though that even attached it still fits in my pocket.

The "Hold" feature is nice. Press the Hold button will lock the DS-30 buttons until taken off hold. This is handy if you are moving around a lot or want to save the current recording or playback settings without fear of accidentally touching any of the buttons.

It has a lot great features for recording both dictation (voice in quiet, close quarters) and conferences (voice in large, noisy rooms). These features include a Variable Control Voice Actuator which will automatically turn on/off the recorder based upon the volume level it senses, a microphone sensitivity setting and a Low Cut Filter. (Playback mode also has features like noise cancellation and voice filter.)

The DS-30 can playback AVI and MP3 files. It can also play Audible format files as well as Podcasts. The device has a full-featured menu including adjustments for backlight, contrast and LED, powersave, 3 alarms and a voice guide. The alarms are very kewl. You can set them to play various alarms sounds or even use one or your own recordings!

The D3-30 comes with ear buds and it can play MP3 and AVI files. I transferred some music to it and the quality of the MP3 player is really nice! I am not an audiophile but the DS-30 plays MP3s every bit as well as they sound on my laptop.

Transferring files from my D3-30 to my computer was plug-n-play easy. I just attached the USB cable to my PC. Windows XP immediately recognized my DS-30 as a new device and displayed it as a new drive letter in my Windows Explorer list of drives. I could drag-n-drop files to and from, including MP3s. It could not be any easier. I did not install the DS-30 software. At this point I won't even need it and I prefer not to install a bunch of unnecessary software on my computer.

The DS-30 package comes with:

DS-30 Digital Stereo recorder

User Manual (well written)

2 AAA batteries

Ear buds

USB cable

Olympus DSS software

* Optional accessories include a remote control, telephone pickup and AC adapter.

After doing quite a bit of research I purchased this to "podcast" some events (seminars). Our first event was today and this device allowed me to get the podcast up right after the event, though with some effort, which is why it gets 4 and not 5. See below.

The device is very small, very lightweight, well thought out ergonomically, has an excellent built in (and removable) stereo MIC, and connects via regular USB. The software interface on it is very good (for recording), the screen is easy to read. The batteries will last quite a while, or you can use AC (optional), or Lithium Ion batteries (optional).

You do not need any add on MICs to record most events the MIC can be set to pick up nearly everything; to cut low end noise, etc. In short, this is a very high quality, easy to use (but powerful if you need it) dedicated audio recorder.

The issues are that it only records in WMA format (Windows proprietary) and the software is not very good for editing. For example, if you record in stereo, it will not download the WAV file when you download the file, nor can you convert it to mono. To do the podcast, I had to import the WMA file into iTunes, then open the Mp3 iTunes created in Audacity (audacity.sourceforge.net). From there, I was able to edit the file, and compress the bit stream.

This device can also be used to listen to podcasts, and the software has some kind of organization for that; but for the life of me, I cannot imagine anyone doing this, if they had an ipod. It is just clumsy and not intuitive for podcast listening. If you want to listen to podcasts, do what the rest of the planet does get an ipod, use iTunes.

I would recommend this device as a high quality dedicated recorder, that is not too expensive, but not for mp3 or podcast listening.

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I'm am oral historian using the recorder to record oral histories from elderly interviewees. I actually bought this recorder to upgrade from my old "Sony ICDP320 64MB Digital Voice Recorder w/ PC connectivity" I purchased from AMAZON a few years ago for around $60.00. I needed to upgrade my sound quality, I figured at an original price of 200.00and all the great reviews, the Olympus was the way to go.

First of all, the sound quality is amazing. I use it with an external microphone, "Sony ECMMS907 Digital Recording Microphone" also purchased on AMAZON for around 75.00. It's great as it cuts down on the external noise that the recorder tends to produce. Less paper shuffling background noise, or when you have to pick up the recorder-it doesn't distort the sound. This recorder plus the sony microphone produce wonderful quality audio. I'm not a professional, but I am very happy with the results.

When I got home tonight to upload my audio on my computer and do a little editing, I was shocked to find the recorder WILL NOT CONVERT THE FILES FROM WMA. I did not realize I could not edit/move or generally touch the WMA files with any program. There is a button on the task bar that offers to convert the files to .WAV, but it never lights up. After much hair pulling I purchased the $ editing program upgrade offered. No luck and still no conversion. bucks wasted.

Interestingly, my old 70.00 recorder will download the audio into ANY format you want, MP3, Wav, WMAwhatever. I am shocked to learn this 200.00 recorder limits me to one format. Now I have to search the internet to find a free conversion program that will not sacrifice the quality I just paid so dearly to get. I certainly don't want to shell out another 50.00 for a conversion program just to be able to access MY files!

Also, the downloading program is not intuitive and it is difficult to use. Editing is a joke.

I don't understand why the software side of this recorder is SO horrible when the recorder is SO good! I don't know whether to keep it and deal with the frustration or return it and deal with bad quality.

Update November 23, 2008: I have been using this recorder for quite awhile now. Yes, I decided to keep it. I'm using it with Vista, which helps b/c I don't use the software that came with it to download it onto my machine. I connect it and just put it where I want on my computer. Also, Vista has no problem burning these WMA files onto a CD for me, also better.

I do now use a converting program and a separate editing program to play with my audio. I understand having to purchase a separate editing program, but am still disappointed I have to bloat my desktop with another program to convert the files.

Positively, the recorder has been very easy to use. It's very point-and-click. Although, it comes with a recorded advert for audible.com (I JUST found this, prompting my update) Make sure and delete it for more memory. If I had this to do over again, I would do more searching to find something that would convert my files more easily. While not as bad as it was w/o Vista, it continues to be an annoyance.

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FYI, I don't know why people are saying this recorder is not Mac compatible, I've had no problems. I'm not using it for podcasting or anything, but I can attach the cable to my machine, it pops up in finder, and I can copy the .wma files to wherever. Quicktime has no trouble playing them, but more than that, you can still install the DSS software that comes with the recorder. Yes, there is a DSS-Installer.app file in the ENGLISH subdirectory of the installation CD that will install the application to your Mac. Then you get all the editing and cue-ing etc. functionality that the windows users are enjoying. FYI, I'm using OS X (10.5.1) Leopard.

As a recorder, it's great so far. Haven't had any problems, could do with a longer battery life, but I'll live.

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This is by far the best voice recorder I have purchased and I have purchased many! The quality of recording is incredible. I used it recently at a conference and despite much background noise, the recording was very good. But don't touch the recorder while is taping otherwise you will record substantial amount of noise. To get the best use, you should also order the following:

1. A 3-6 foot audio extension cord for the stereo microphone (get a thin flexible version). This will eliminate the noise if you end up having to touch the unit while recording.

2. The protective case if you want to keep the unit free of scratches and protect it against accidental drops.

3. An ac adaptor if you spend long hours transcribing or listening.

I wished they had bundled them with the unit but that's only a minor inconvenience.

Remote Control Repeater Universal IR HDTV DVR Upgraded

Great product that appears more durable and is certainly more responsive that other IR devices i've tried;

U won't be disappointed!

Before paying a very brisk estimate for converting opaque wood doors where my TV gear is shelved, I tried this device. It works perfectly, after a few minutes to warm up.

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It was easy to hook up and have had no problems. I'm controlling the DVR, Blu-Ray and AV Receiver, and it is working great!

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VONNIC VVR4008HM 8-Channel 1920X1080 HD Security DVR w/ HDMI and SATA Hard Drive Support - CIF @ 24

The "Product Description" lists "Pre-installed 1TB SATA HD" only there is not one inside the chassis, or in the box. There is also a CD-ROM/DVD device door, but inside there is no CD-ROM/DVD device. So, you must separately order a HD and DVD recorder. A very misleading product description.

Sony NWZ-F805BLK 16 GB Walkman Digital Media Player

• S-Master MX & sound technologies for unparalleled sound
• 3.5-Inch WVGA LCD anti-reflective touch screen display
• Google Android version 4.0

Well once I go to work for a couple weeks this summer, will buy this because out just looks like the only one that could possibly compete against the iPod in the Android world. I can't wait! So so far, 5 stars.

Sony Portable Mini-Disc Player/Recorder (MZR500PC)

I have had this player for 2 weeks now and I am very happy with it. When you opoend the box you get One sony MZR500PC mini disk player. It has a metalic blue aluminum top, and a dark clear blue plastic bottom. The plastic is very tough, and won't break. Also you get a whimpy 3 inch 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm headphone jack cord (Standard size headphone jack), a pair of decent headphones good bass reflex, but don't "bounce", a Instruction manuel and a PC link, which you just pop in to your USB port and windows wil do the rest, no cd reqiured (Unless you dont have some drivers that are on the Win9x, Win Me, Win 2000 or XP. it IS compatible with Windows XP, theres a booklet on how to instal it on Windows XP. If you have WinAmp or another Mp3 player that alows you to create a play list, you can start it up and just let you MD player sit there recording. If you have the time you can title a song while its recording, which helps in finding the song you want to listen too. Whats really nice is the 35 to 40 hour playback on a SINGLE double a (AA) sized battery. Sony claims 48 hours, but if you stop the MD (MiniDisk) or any thing else that drains batteries, you get less time of play back. No AC adapter is included, but if you have rechargeable AA batteries you can use those. Battery lifes are as follows play Back 30 40 hrs. Recording 6 10 hours. The display on the unit has a volume meter spanning across the top, 5 point battery meter to the left, then track lenght, record time left or remaing track time is displayed (Changed from option menu), then there is a 6 character disply to the right (shows track names MD title Menus) There are not many buttons on this MD player, every thing from Bass Boost to record quality is done through menus. You press a botton and a menu will pop up Edit, Bass, R-Mode (Record Mode) and so on. There is a Hold button o0n the back of the player (IF its turned on, when you press a button it won't do anything. Youd use this if you put it in your pocket. Its about 3 x 3 inches and less then am inch thick. Sound qualitys can be set for Stereo (Full CD quality) Mono (Mono but still cd quality Twice as long record) LP2 (Twice as long record + stereo, cant tell the diffrence) then theres LP4 (Four times as long record) which doesn't sound good. I don't know why they have this, some say its for lectures... but theres no microphone jack on this model. If you want one upgrade to the MZR700PC. Also theres no remote. And theres no space for a remote. Ill just clear up what jacks it HAS. 1 Headphone 2 Optical In 3 Digital in (2 and 3 are in the same jack, its weird, but a optical cord goes through the jack to another jack because its like a half inch long plug. Phew, long sentence.) and finally it has a 3 Volt DC in plug. One thing i thought was funny is I live in Maryland, which is called MD. Get it? (Forced laughs)

All in all this is a great Mini Disk player AND recorder. Very small, well built and conserves power well.

The first thing you need to know about this player is that it is not able to do any digital recording. Analog recording only! That's by no means the end of the world, but if you are serious about using a minidisc player a lot, you might want to pony up the extra funds and go digital. On the other hand, analog recording means you don't have to fool around with any dubious computer software, so its not all bad.

Minidisc players are great for several reasons. The player is microscopically small (and just plain cute!). Minidiscs are removable (like a cassette or a CD), so you can fill up dozens and dozens of discs with different recordings. (This is why I use minidisc and not MP3. I need to have no less than 12 hours of music on my person at any time. With a portable MP3 player, this is just not practical. With a minidisc player, its a walk in the park.) Minidisc players handle the shuffle feature far better than CD players ever will there's never any pause or noise between tracks. Recording is ridiculously easy; all that is required is a headphone jack. You can hook your minidisc player into any stereo, walkmen, amp, casio keyboard, television set, or whatever and record music in real-time (i.e., if the song is three minutes long, it takes three minutes to record it). This is great for recording on the go like say you're at your friend's house and you hear a new song you just love, you can plug your minidisc player in and record it right then and there. Hooking up to computers is also quite easy, but recording from your friend's computer isn't a seamless or quick process (this device is pretty monogamous when it comes to computers). Minidiscs can be recorded over again and again, and you don't have to record or erase everything at once. You can record and delete tracks one-at-a-time. This is not like your CD Burner; it works more like a really advanced cassette deck. On the downside, minidisc players have moving parts, and therefore may skip if bumped or jostled (whereas an MP3 player you can throw in a washing machine without it skipping).

My first and foremost complaint about this specific unit is that it doesn't get very loud. I don't know whether this is a side-effect of the recording process, or is a limitation of its output. What I do know is that if you walk through a high-traffic neighborhood, or board a bus, you may have to strain to hear the music even with the volume turned all the way up. Quite a problem, but one I've more or less adapted to. To be fair, a lot of this has to do with the recording quality I select. You can record in Stereo, Mono, LP2, or LP4. At LP4 you can cram nearly FIVE HOURS of music on one little disc. Very cool! I most often record in LP4. But I compromise my sound quality by doing so. If you record in Stereo, or even at LP2 (you still get 74 or 148 minutes of music, respectively), your sound quality improves substantially. Another way to combat the quiet volume is to set the "RecVol" manually, rather than automatically (ALWAYS do this!). HOWEVER, you'll still struggle with the weak volume, though it won't be nearly as bad.

As far as other features go, labeling tracks must be done by hand, and is no more difficult than storing numbers in your cell phone. Manual track editing isn't tough at all. Moving tracks (you can change a song's position in the mix) is super-easy. And everything is done on the player itself, so you can tool around with your music on the go.

The final issue is whether or not a minidisc player is worth the money. Of course, that all depends on what you want to do with it. Is it good for a work-out? Absolutely not. Is it a good replacement for a CD player? Not if most of your music is on CD. (Remember, a minidisc isn't really an improvement on CD. Although the player and disc is smaller, the sound quality is inferior.) Is it useful for recording your garage band? I think so. Is it useful for home electronic recordings? Absolutely. Is it a good way to store MP3s? Sure! Could you use it to record environmental sounds, or even to record interview conversation? With a good microphone (which is not included), you certainly could. Myself, I find it most useful for recording tracks from my swollen vinyl collection, so that I can listen to my records away from home. And for that purpose, there's no better personal audio device than a minidisc player. I kinda bought this on a whim (basically I wanted a new toy), and I've been really very happy with it. But if I didn't have so many albums on vinyl, I'm not so sure how much I'd use this device.

Buy Sony Portable Mini-Disc Player/Recorder (MZR500PC) Now

I recently purchased the Sony MZR-500, and it has proven to be one of the best investments I have ever made. I chose this over an MP3 player, and it has satisfied me greatly. The sound, although not as powerful as other portables, is very very refined. The BassBoost is clean, and the sound is sharp, smooth and perfectly balanced. There is a 10 milliwatt amp inside this device, and it is more than enough to power a pair of decent earbuds. One word of advice: treat yourself to a decent pair of earbuds or headphones. They make the listening experience much better. The PCLink option is decent. The battery life is great, too...although recording sucks up a lot of battery power. The unit, might I add, is quite solid, and feels like a quality piece of electronics. I have a few gripes though--first, they don't include a power adaptor, nor a rechargeable battery... they should be included. Second, the included headphones are god-awful--replace them. Third, they dont include an optical cable, or an RCA splitter cable. Fourth, you can't use a remote with this player, and there is no microphone preamp. I say, save your money and go with the MZ-R700, or even the MZ-R900 or 909, since they come with everything you need. If you are strapped for cash though, I whole-heartedly reccomend this MiniDisc player, and you will not be dissapointed with it as long as you don't care about what it lacks. Enjoy!

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I've been putting off buying a portable listening device since my last '90 Aiwa tape player. But after seeing the Minidisc in action it's a definite buy and constant use gem.

Sound quality? Can you say OPTICAL input. You cannot get any better sound resolution than this; any decent DVD player has an optical out; decent CD players too. RCA IN is a plus (not included) and the PC IN option is mediocre it is convenient with all the CD-R/PC/MP3 formatted music. It's got a two-stage added-bass feature that works quite well. The standard headphones are excellent an updated version with position detents for fixed fit. The remote fob device is essential for total playback+record control once your MDplayer is tucked away in the pocket. (look for the RM-MZR55 remote with backlighting if you want to upgrade)

The unit has never skipped even with major motion, jostling, or shock. I haven't done a drop-test, but I'll skip it for now. The biggest drawback is the lack of a custom case/holster for the unit; it does come with a bag, but it isn't adequate for protection or carrying with any confidence. Plus, the lack of backlighting on the main unit is a bummer.

It comes with it's own AA ni-cad battery and charger, and runs for a prolonged period of time ~ 6 hours playback, 1.5-2x as long on a regular AA. The half-sized ice cream sandwich form kicks the CD portable players to the curb. It isn't as ubiquitous as some MP3 players but why would you want to drop several dimes on something invisible. Personally, the anodized blue colored one has more impact than the silver, but the form and interface overall is a delight. The battery bulge just slightly cants the display up, the button separation and placement works great for easy access. I find excuses to block the world out and listen to high-fidelity music on the go.

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I bought this recorder for my record company. For that it works great. I can take an optical cord, and plub into this recorder directly from my mixing board. NOTE: This recorder has ONLY a LINE-IN jack, so if you want one with a phantom powered mic jack, don't buy this. Meaning, you cannot just plug a microphone directly into this. You need the sound to come from a machine with some form of amplication, unless it is incredibly loud.

The main reason for 3 stars is the durability. I dropped my recorder once, and the machine opened, and the Minidisc flew out. The latch to close it also bent, in addition to the door coming partway off, and I had to repair that in order to get the unit to close and functino properly again. This is odd, as I had heard from others that this was a durable unit, and usually Sony products can withstand a beating.

Currently, I am residing in Japan, where I just purchased the SONY-MZR909. It has yet to make it to the American market, but keep your eyes out. It's got many new features that the 500 lacked. Mainly, it has a powered mic jack. It also supports MDLP, and has a group mode, so you can split up the tracks if you only want to listen to a few. It has a new system called personal disc memory, where it stores your sound settings on each disc, and retreives them each time you change discs.

This is a good first recorder, but if you can afford it, go with a higher line product.

QNAP VS-2004-PRO-US 2-Bay NVR 4-Channel Surveillance System

As other reviewers stated, check all hardware for compatibility before purchasing it. This product works but if you've ever used the older analog video surveillance stuff you'll see how much it lacks in intuitiveness and ease of use. When you hand this stuff off to a client to use it has to be easy for them to operate. This really isn't. I also had a lot of trouble getting this to work over the Internet. It worked a few times and just stopped even though all the right ports were open. The analog equipment just works, no fuss. Still, we must move forward but unless you realyl need an IP system with hi-res cameras, just get an everfocus or some other analog system. It's cheaper and it works well.

Very easy to setup: installed two 500GB drives (purchased separately), took less than 10 minutes to setup and config. Be sure that your camera manufacturer AND model are QNAP supportted. I have three IP cameras made by supported manufacturers. However, none of the models were able to install/config. Downloaded and updated the latest QNAP firmware, but two of the three were still unsupported for recording. Using the "generic model" for these two cameras enabled viewing, but not recording. I was advised by QNAP that if it wasn't on their list of supported cameras, it probably will not work. In trying to work through the camera issues, I found and tried different ways to interface with the unit: you can directly attach monitor, keyboard and mouse to the QNAP; also can use IE/web interface.

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Not a customer yet, but I thought I'd suggest that anyone looking at this go to the QNAP site and look at the compatability list for hard drives. I view this as a benefit as QNAP actually will help you choose which components will work together.

In fact, the reason I posted this as the "Often purchased together" suggestion was a drive specifically listed as "Not Recommended Hard Drives" on QNAP's site. Seagate ST2000DL003.

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Intocircuit® Power Castle Series PC26000 26000mAh Multi-Voltage 5V/12V/16V/19V Laptop Smartphone T

IMHO this is a five 5 stars product.

I've been looking for a chic, huge capacity yet portable battery for a while. And Intocircuit Power Castle fits my taste. When I take it out from my computer bag, my clients would be amazed by its look. It fits my taste, actually it does fit my image. Its high-end beautiful appearance indicates good quality at first sight. More importantly, it's not pricy at all compared with those 20000mah ones.

With this power bank, now I don't have to look around for a power outlet in restaurants. I like its huge capacity—26000mAh.This one charges my HP CQ60 in about 1.5 hours (mine is a 6 cell). It allows me to comfortably talk with my clients for several hours with the laptop on.

I like that it has all-in-one compatibility, able to charge my laptop, my phone and my Ipad, so that I don't have to carry too many chargers for different devices. It's really a clever design, by just adjusting the voltage for different the electronics I want to charge.

It's said that this Intocircuit power bank is used with Li-Polymer battery cell. Its safety and reliability is one of the reasons I chose to buy it. No wonder it recharges so efficiently and doesn't lose its mAh overnight. I bought some other brand of power bank before. Totally a different experience. So I think it's important to look what kind of battery cell a power bank uses before you buy one.

It can be recharged by DC power, totally convenient. I should give it one more star.

I've introduced this power bank to a lot of friends and clients. I think if I were their agent, I could make a lot of money out of it, LOL... It improves my life. Thanks for bringing in such a quality product.

This is an excellent charger/power supply that can deliver external power to charge or operate a wide variety of devices.

Pros:

-Arrives excellently packaged in a two-layer carton. The charger itself is in the top layer. The bottom layer has three compartments holding the AC adapter, the USB charging connecting connectors and the DC charging connectors.

-Charging connectors by the score...literally. This charger includes 20 charging connectors. 11 are various 5V form factors for power output from from the USB port. 9 more are connectors for taking power from the user-switchable 12V/16V/19V DC output port.

-LONG battery life. I'm sure other reviewers have the technical skills to address the loading and performance in technical terms. While I don't possess that kung fu, I tested this in the real world by using it as the power source for a laptop. This device delivered over six hours of usable power to a laptop as I used it for normal office productivity tasks, web browsing and playing music through the speakers. Add that to the laptop's own battery life, and you're going to be juiced up for all but the longest flights.

-Looks good; brushed dark aluminum case.

Con:

-Marginally useful user manual. For example, it claims the LED lights will glow steady red when the charger has completed its own AC charging. They do not: they stay green.

Neutral:

-Weight. This weighs 1 pound, 9 ounces. So you'll be doing some risk/gain assessments before tossing this in a bag:-)

Overall, delivers what it's supposed to with great results.

Note: This item was provided at no cost for review purposes.

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My work keeps me travelling extensively especially in airports and on airplanes. I always hated having to find an open outlet in the terminal somewhere and being tethered to that outlet while awaiting my next plane. Now I don't have to anymore because I take my recharging station with me. This sleek aluminum unit fits easily into my backpack or briefcase and allows me to easily recharge my iPhone 5, laptop or my iPad 3 while I am anywhere including in the air. The unit quality is excellent and it came with all of the cords and adaptors that I could possibly need including a carrying bag. You can easily charge your phone or iPad multiple times over before this external battery needs to be recharged. Overall it was an excellent purchase and has certainly given me the freedom that I need to stay connected while traveling.

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It claims to have a 26000mah battery in it, my laptop has a 3060mah battery. Strictly math that should be a bit more then 7 full laptop charges, accounting for Inefficiencies and room for error Id be happy with 2 full laptop charges, I however get 1 full charge with maybe 30min worth to spare there after.

However I am traveling abroad and I needed it and it otherwise works!

Ps, donot switch voltages (I was trying to use 16v instead of my laptops 19v on a full battery to just power not charge, anyway I bumped it & in the way it fell the voltage switch got bumped to 19v (my laptops normal) but the change in voltage freaked my ultrabook out requiring the main and cmos batteries to get pulled and reseated before it would work again)

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Myself and family, as well as our friends, spend a lot of time doing outdoor activities. Living in very northern Minnesota, someone is always heading out with family for a weekend at a cabin, out for a hunting trip with the guys, or packing for some other kind of fishing or camping trip elsewhere. Living way up here, we're already quite a ways out from the larger cities. So when people head out even further, there is no typically electricity to hook into. If the cabins have any kind of power at all, it's a fuel run generator for running heat or lights. There's no outlets to plug anything in to. Often times there may not even be a cabin where everyone is headed out to, and we are all just bringing small RV's or pull-behind travel trailer. The camps sites rarely have any kind of electrical hookups.

However we do all still have cell phones, GPS devices and tablets we would like to charge up while were there. While the small, more portable battery packs are nice, once the power has been depleted from them, we can't recharge them until we all get back home. That's where this huge battery pack turns into a lifesaver. Everyone can recharge all their devices over the entire weekend and there's still battery life left when we get home. It could easily charge up netbooks, large tablets and even small laptops. But what we really love this huge battery pack for being able to recharge over and over again, our cell phones, GPS devices and the electronics of everyone who's out on the trip with us. My daughter can charge her Kindle Fire, I can charge my iPad mini and iPhone, my husband can charge his old flip-phone (using the charging base that came with the phone that converts to a USB charging connection) and his handheld GPS device, and we still have power left to charge digital cameras, mini video recorders or anyone else's cell phones that need charging too. With this beast of a battery pack, no wall outlets is no problem.

I've also started keeping this pack charged all the time, in case of an emergency where the power goes out. In our small town, we've had incidences even recently where the power has been out for hours, and times in the past few years where (because of bad weather) we lost it for days. Even at work, there would be no power. By having this pack charged and always ready, we have a way to keep our phones charged (we don't even have land-line phones anymore) and we can take it with us to work and let our co-workers recharge their phones should they need to. All it takes is one bad storm to knock out the power, to make this battery pack worth having on hand. It's so large and holds so much power, you'll find there's a million uses for it.

It's large, about the size of a a 7 inch tablet, only thicker. It weights as much as a book, and the brushed metal casing is very sharp looking. While we use this when we're in the great-outdoors, it has got the looks for use in the office, on a business trip or anywhere else. It comes with a TON of different adapter tips and cables for charging just about every device you can think of. It also has a USB port so you can use your own chargers that have a USB connection on one end. The battery pack has a voltage switch, so you can switch between the voltages when charging up devices like laptops. This is needed so you're not overpowering or under-powering it, which can cause damage. It's so large, it even has it's own wall adapter for recharging it, that resembles ones that come with small notebook computers. It's one mighty power bank, and so far, it's handled everything I've thrown at it!

A sample unit was provided for reviewing purposes.

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Sony SLVD360P DVD / VCR Combo

• Combination DVD Player and Hi-Fi VCR
• Progressive Output (480p)
• 4-head Hi-Fi stereo
• TV Virtual Surround
• 19 Micron Heads for optimized EP recording

Having just purchased a Sony LCD TV, I thought I couldn't go wrong with a matching Sony DVD/VCR player. The DVD player appears to be stable and dependable, which has got to be worth something (try finding on Amazon a DVD player with decent consumer ratings from reviewers). But for a consumer leader like Sony, the instructions are depressingly convoluted and reader-unfriendly, packed in a reduced-format manual that doesn't provide full illustrations (front, back, remote) and labels for all the jacks and controls (whatever happened to thin manuals with big pictures and "quick set-up and operation" instructions up front?). I'm not even planning on using the VCR for recording, but I'm still searching the manual to find out why VCR playback isn't registering on the monitor.

A few other minor complaints: the VCR does not accept an S-Video connector (common, I guess); the included Sony remote will operate all the TV sets in the house with the exception of my new Sony(!); finally, I'm a bit annoyed that even a trip to the Sony website does not make clear the difference between this set (SLVD360) and the one just above it (SLVD560), other than a twenty-dollar higher price tag.

I may annul this unsunny Sony honeymoon and take a look at a lower-priced Panasonic or Phillips (their current ads pitched at non-rocket-scientist consumers must have me in mind).

[Addendum: I held on to the machine, which may not have been a wise decision: the VCR is providing the jumpiest image I've ever seen from a VHS tape source.]

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This is a great DVD/VHS player combo unit. Its interface is easy to use and programming is a snap. It has the ability to use progressive OR interlaced scan when using component outputs which is a big plus if you have a TV like mine that has component inputs that don't accept a progressive scan signal. However, on the downside, the unit can't up-convert VHS video. Hence, the component outputs only work for the DVD half of the unit. If you use them, you still have to plug in the VCR using a standard coaxial cable or RCA composite AV cables.

Also, although the manual says that composite AV cables deliver a better picture than using a coaxial cable, I just didn't see a improvment on my TV. The standard cable line provided a much deeper and cleaner picture than the RCA cables did.

Oh, and to the reviewer who asked the difference between this player and the SLVD560, I think the main difference is that the SLVD560 has VCR +.

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Within a week of getting this, it started taking forever to load movie DVDs that work fine on my PC, and the movies would stop and suddenly claim to be 'unreadable disks'. They work fine in other players.

It has some nice features, but I can't say much for its reliability.

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This is yet another excellent product by SONY for the price and the features are prolific. The DVD and CD player is good. I send the sound to my home receiver and it sounds wonderful. The VHS portion plays better than my other stand-alone SONY VCRs. What I really liked is that you can view JPEG images and this unit has Quasi-S Playback so I can play my S-VHS tapes. The picture is good. As with other similar SONY units, I found it amazing that the EP record mode (6 hour) looked better than the SP (2 hour) on black & white movies. I still don't like the remotes that SONY gives you with these models but that's a minor issue. If you want to watch DVDs, record and play VHS tapes I would recommend this SONY unit.

After moving and rewiring all of our Audio and Video equipment in our house after our Christmas present to each other of a new Sony TV, we purchased this Sony DVD/VCR combo unit from Amazon. The price was cheaper even with shipping than we could purchase it locally on sale. The hook-up time for this unit even with a satellite connection in the mix was incredibly easy. Both the TV and the DVD/VCR talk to each other well, and both remote controls seem to handle all of their multi unit functions well. Have had no problems with this unit since it was purchased in January 2006.

Toshiba DVR620 DVD Recorder/VCR Combo

Got a little nervous when I saw that it came without an external tuner; nevertheless, I was able to hook up the unit to my digital FiOS box and set it up for recording and other purposes. I was very happy to find this product for a reasonable price. Toshiba is an awesome brand.

I own a Toshiba 600KU back in 2007 , since then i recored over 1000 movies an tv shows , but up to now its been a fine piece of electronics , though some an wear an tear took a toll on her an i cant record any more so im looking for a replacement . this Toshiba item looks great , an its about the same features as my old one . This why im conciding buying this unit from Amazon . though tunner-less is fine with me , i hook it up to the cable box . I can also say all my movies i taped in LP speed , but a few in SP . and all the features i recorded still look the same as the one i taped resently . Toshiba is the way to go

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Exactly what I was looking for and works flawlessly. Very easy to set up and to use. I recommend this product.

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Won't play my old DVD discs I recorded from another unit. Really not a issue for what I use this machine for.

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Haven't hooked up yet but purchase was easy and delivery was exceptionally fast. There are few similar items available and I'm happy to have this. I plan to transfer family video tapes to dvds.