Sony RBDVP-SR500H 1080p Refurbished DVD Player, Black

• Upgrade your DVD collection to near high definition quality using HDMI connection (cable not included)
• Supports multiple DVD and CD disc formats, plus JPEG photo slideshows and MP3 audio
• Precision Cinema Progressive system for a picture more faithful to the source and artifact-free movement
• Outputs: 1 HDMI, 1 component, 1 composite, 1 coaxial digital audio, 1 analog audio (L/R)

I never purchased refurbished electronics before and was unsure what to expect with this unit. Based on my experience, I will definitely consider refurbished electronics in the future.

This Sony DVD Player is a great basic DVD unit. It will not play Blue-Ray discs but will play everything else including DVD's made on my computer. Setup was incredibly easy. The unit comes with a remote, RCA cables, but no batteries for the remote. I elected to use component cables I had laying around my house instead of the RCA cables. As another reviewer noted, the manual is minimal but you really do not need it anyway. The size of the unit is really nice, it easily fit on a bookshelf. This is a no frills unit that provides minimal feedback on the font panelbut everything you need. Actually reminds me somewhat of an Apple product and it fits into my new "minimalist" effort great.

One key point I want to note is that this DVD player played scratched DVD's my other unit (JVC) did not. That was a nice surprise frankly. For the price, you can't beat it. I could not find a similar unit at the same price in my local big box stores. Of course, Amazon shipping and packaging was perfect.

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I needed a good 1080i dvd player that would play all types of dvds and copies of dvds for our kids' playroom. I wasn't willing to pay for a blu-ray dvd player and this one appeared to be a good option and after using it for a bit, it remains a solid choice and I am happy with its performance.

This Sony dvd player is a basic one but it provides everything you would need for great dvd viewing. It was easy to set up (the included instructions were minimal but provided everything you need to know) and the HDMI connection makes it even easier. I was worried that some of the dvds might not work on this machine since they are copies but it has easily played DVD+R and DVD-R copies as well as anything else we've thrown at it without issue.

For the price listed, I consider this Sony dvd player a bargain. It provides a crisp picture and plays every kind of dvd, even those scratched up library ones. My only complaint is that sometimes, it can be a little noisey.

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I was skeptical about buying refurbished electronics, but so far 4 weeks in it has been working fine playing all the movies the kids throw at it some quite scratched still play quite well over all i am very happy and for the price you could beat it with one of those cheepos at big blue but after buying one a year I decided to see if this will last longer.

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This is the first time I've ever gotten a piece of refurbished electronics equipment. I'm quite happy with it it's in perfect cosmetic condition and it's a factory refurb unit from Sony, so I imagine that any parts that might get worn have been replaced with new.

So far I've only watched about 5 DVD's on it, and everything's worked perfectly. Picture and sound quality are excellent (on 32" 720p HDTV with 7.1 channel surround sound system), and indistinguishable from my other DVD players that cost a lot more. I've got two slightly older Sony DVD players, and I like the fact that this one is smaller; same height and depth, but where the old ones were about 17" wide, this one is a little under 13". It's got a nice weight to it, probably a bit lighter than the older models but definitely not some cheap featherweight thing. The remote is one of those half-sized things that Sony switched to several years ago. The DVD player does 2X and 4X zoom, but there's no button on the remote for it. I'm using a Harmony 880 remote that was programmed for my older Sony player and everything works fine with this new player (that's how I'm able to use the zoom feature). The player also has disk resume, so if you don't finish watching a movie one night, you can start automatically from where you left off the next night.

Overall I couldn't be happier. Great price and the player is indistinguishable from brand new.

Like others, this is my first time buying a refurbished product. Received it a few days ago and it is working fine thus far. I'm using the cables that came with the unit.

Tried to use my 25' HDMI cable but my Sony TV indicated there was no content from that port. Will probably order a new and shorter HDMI cable.

Otherwise pleased.

Update: Purchased a 3' HDMI cable and it works fine.

Remanufactured Panasonic PV-D4744S Progressive Scan DVD/VCR Combo (Silver)

An uncomplicated product that works. The sound is great, and it only took a few minutes to hook it up once I realized I had the cords mixed up. I enjoy listening to cds on the DVD player. The only thing about it is that it rewinds a bit too much, and you have to press twice to stop it. Other than that, I would definitely recommend it to anyone.

Considering the price and my aversion towards refurb products, I'd have to say that my first month has been satisfactory. However, I was annoyed that none of audio / video cables nor the remote batteries were included. When I contacted Amazon, they referred me to Panasonic. Rather than wait for several weeks for Panasonic to remedy the situation, I bought the items at a local Best Buy. The unit was purchased for my classroom, therefore, its durability won't be tested. So far with infrequent use it's been satisfactory.

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Panasonic DMR-ES20S DVD Recorder Silver

• Multi-format, progressive scan DVD recorder/player in silver; measures 16.9 x 2.5 x 13.3 inches (WxHxD)
• Records to DVD-R/RW, DVD+R, and DVD-RAM; plays back DVD+RW, CD-R/RW, MP3, and JPEG
• Built-in analog TV tuner with 7-day electronic programming guide; chasing playback record function
• Video connection options: composite (2 in, 1 out), S-Video (2 in, 1 out), component (1 out), RF (1 in)
• Digital optical audio ouput for Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound

I needed something to offload my Tivo recordings onto and searched the various reviews for a good quality unit that would record and play in multiple formats. Rather quickly I narrowed it down to Panasonic (Sony had some attractive offerings but I am concerned about their obsessive digital rights management and so they were taken off my list) focusing on their ES10S model but found that it had been replaced by the ES20S. Some Googling revealed that the most significant differences appeared to be in fewer outputs on the newer model plus the addition of a cooling fan. Since I was planning on rather limited applications this was not an issue so I popped for the ES20S. After having used it for 3 weeks I must say that I am impressed overall with recording of DVD-R and DVD-RW discs. I also found that I did need to read the instructions to obtain the results I desired most specifically finalizing the disc after recording so that you can play it in most any other player. I now prefer recording with the DVD-RW in the 4 hour format and can usually get 2 Tivo movies on one disc that play well on my laptop. The remote is very good and can be coded to operate with my Sony XBR WEGA TV. I would have given it five stars if the user interface had been a bit more intuitive but overall I am very pleased and would purchase the same recorder today if I had to do it all over again.

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I bought this unit to save programs from TIVO my Onkyo 6DVD Changer is about the most sensitive / intolerant units to burned CDs/DVDs there is so I was really concerned, if the burned DVDs would work. The answer is: THEY DO! Reading some of the other reviews, the feeling I get is "forgot to finalize". There is a "Finalize" menu function (I admit it's somewhat burried in the manual), which closes out the DVD and makes it ready to be played on other devices. Used Memorex DVD+R disk, saved two shows of "24" from TIVO to disk, finalized: works like a charm on the Onkyo, works great on my PC, great picture quality.... what else do you need?!!!

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This is my first DVD recorder. I have used VCR's for the past 20 years so that's what I am used to.

My current over worked 5 year old VCR started to act up, so I started looking for a replacement and decided to go with the Panasonic DMR-ES20. The price was right, $180 at Circuit City.

I needed 3 things; to replace my aging VCR, to dub old VCR tapes I made before they deteriorate (some 20 years old) and to archive video shot from my digital video camera on an almost daily basis.

I won't talk much about the quality of recordings because my source (Adelphia cable) is so bad. Thankfully Time-Warner is supposed to take over early in '06.

My equipment and hookup: Panasonic DMR-ES20 DVD Recorder, Panasonic 27" standard TV, Panasonic PV-V4540 VCR , Panasonic DVD-RV27 DVD Player, Adelphia basic cable (no box). The ES20 will replace the VCR and DVD Player. I split the cable, one directly to the TV, the other to the ES20. S-Video from the ES20 to the TV since that's the best hookup this TV has.

Tuner. Yes, it has one. I think it's a bit weaker than the TV's tuner which is weaker than the tuner in the VCR. Probably won't matter if you have a good signal.

I have read reviews that state you cannot change channels using the numbers on the remote. Yes you can but you have to hit the 'Enter' key if you only enter 2 digits and it's a long reach from the numbers for my thumb. Also, the TV and VCR change channels instantly when surfing using the up/down buttons. The ES20 has a delay. It's not as slow as satellite though.

Playing. I popped in Spider-Man 2. Looked great to me, black level really good. My current player, the Panasonic DVD-RV27, has some features this recorder does not, the most notable instant replay and position memory. The position memory allows me to hit a button, then the next time I play that DVD it starts at that spot. This recorder does have a nice 1.3x speed playback. The benefit is that the audio is still understandable. It also has a 1 minute skip feature, good for passing over commercials instantly.

Recording. Let the fun begin. You can use DVD-RAM or the other non-ram formats it supports. I will be using both depending on what I am doing.

I plan on using non-ram for archiving from my camcorder and for dubbing old vcr tapes. I will be using the -R format as I will not need to write over them. They are permanent and that's what I need. They should also be very compatible with most other players.

Recording starts within 1 second of hitting the record button. It will not record over anything currently on the disk, it automatically finds empty space, instantly. No need to worry about recording over something.

I bought some Philips DVD-R disks for about $1 a piece. I dubbed a couple of classics (Near Dark and The Hidden) I taped off of Cinemax 18 years ago onto 1 disk using LP mode. When you start to record a new title is created. You can change the title, change the thumbnail, and add a disk name. I saw no way to add chapters. However, when I finalized the disk (it took 4 minutes) chapters were created automatically at 5 minute intervals. CNET's claim in it's review that you cannot create chapters is a bit misleading. You cannot do it, but the recorder does it automatically when the disc is finalized. I then tried playing this disk in a memorex player and a symphonic player. Worked just fine.

Using DVD-RAM gives the most options. The disks are about $2 a piece, not bad considering the claim you can record over them thousands of times. You can add chapters after you record. While playing you can hit the 'create chapter' button on the remote and it instantly creates a chapter. While playing you can hit the 'erase' button on the remote and it instantly erases (it asks for confirmation) that title. You can combine adjacent chapters. You can delete chapters. So, you could make a commercial break a chapter, then delete it. No more commercial.

Coming from the world of VCR's, a DVD-RAM recorder definitely has some benefits. I no longer have to find a spot on the tape to record a tv show on, the DVD-RAM does it automatically and instantly. Just hit the record button, it does the rest. It tells you how much time if left based on your recording mode. LP mode gives you 4 hours and is fine for cable / sat recording.

I have always had vcr's that had indexing. The difference now is instead of waiting for the tape to move forward or backward, it's instant.

You can view 6 titles or 12 chapters of a title at a time using the Navigator. Which ever title or chapter you have selected in the Navigator plays while the others are static. You can also easily erase these using the erase button on the remote (it asks for confirmation) without diving into a sub menu.

The time slip and chasing playback are really interesting and easy to use. You can watch something you already recorded while you are currently recording something else. I know, sounds odd, but it's handy. I was recording an episode of Boston Legal at night and while that was happening I was able to watch the episodes of ER I had recorded earlier. If I choose to I could stop watching the ER episodes and start watching the Boston Legal episode while it was recording, from any spot in the episode. Very nice.

Now, for some things I don't like or am not used to.

It does not display record, play, pause, FF, etc.. on the TV screen like a vcr does. I hit record but have to look at the ES10 or hit the status button to see if it's actually recording.

Can't add chapters while recording, have to wait until it's done.

There is a 10 second delay adding chapters. It adds them instantly when while you are playing, but when you hit stop there is a 10 second delay. I only notice this after I have added a chapter so I assume that's what it is.

The remote is a bit cumbersome. To change channels using the numbers you have to hit the 'enter' button and it's not near the numbers. The erase and create chapter buttons are next to each other and feel the same. The record button feels the same as the buttons around it. I like to work the remote by feel without looking at it or having to turn on a light.

To flip between title and chapter views you have to go into a sub menu.

Summary. I really like it. Last year I paid $125 for my dvd player, now I paid just $55 more for a recorder. Unlike a unit with just a hard drive, I can pop these disks out and save them forever if I choose. Camcorder plugs in easily with the front DV input. It's easy to use just like a vcr but with many more benefits. It's fast and fun. Go get one.

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Cannot believe that no one else has reported a problem trying to record TV pgms.

Panasonic tells me this is a known bug: when I try to record a number of pgms on the same day/or not, many will not record. or it may record the 1st and 2nd,only to skip the 3rd (leaving it gray) and record the 4th.

if I am trying to record a 1 hr. show and have 3 or even 4 hrs free on a pana dvd-ram disc, it will not accept the pgm in the Schedule section. it places an exclm pt ! next to the item.

Many, many shows have been skipped or whatever with AMPLE space on the disc. last night, with 4:01 hrs of free space, as shown in Scheduling, at 7:57PM I manually set it to record a 1 hr show, which began at 8:00PM.

set channel, start time, end time, mode =EP with 4:01 hrs of ep tim left on disc.

8:00PM came and went nothing happened! when I flipped the disc and gave it 6 free hrs, then it did record!

that is NOT a Scheduling bug, to my mind.

the cpu just does not deal with avail space/time on disc at all properly.

After first call on 11/01/05, pana says a FIRMWARE UPGRADE disc si in the mail, but I have no real confidence that this will correct problems. And have still not rcv'd disc, even after second call, 2-3 weeks after my original call...

will update...

1/03/06 UPDATE #1 STILL NO FIRMWARE DISC! Maybe I Should Just Get A TIVO... would now give ZERO stars.

pana has record of my 1st call/complaint on 11/01/05. Called back 2-3 wk's later w/same problem & disc. not rcv'd. was told disc would be forthcoming. it's now 1/03/06 and STILL NO DISC!

Placed 3d call and spoke to supv. bad machine and bad service.

1/06/06 UPDATE #2 FINALLY!! After speaking to a supv. and getting a bit irate, the firmware disc arrives.

Disc is clearly labelled "dmr es40". Instructions state to only use a disc having the same id number as the unit it's to be used with. I use it anyway, since no damage can result, (according to instructs.) Comes with 2 pages of photos of the display as firmware loads. Words such as "load, firmwre, etc" appear. NOne of these words appear on my unit. Another 50-60 min wait on pana 800-question line. (at least they do provide one with a real person on the other end!). Rep goes to secondary group; tells me that the es40 frimware and es20 is the same, but has no idea why I see none of the msg's as provided with the disc.

Have finished a little bit of recording: am now (at last) able to completely fill up a 6 hour side of a disc with normal recording of TV. did a bit of a torture test by leaving 3 minutes blank on disc, then recording 3 separate 1-minute pgm's to complete the 6 hrs.

Everything appears fine so far... In other words, it is now recording in the way it should have, all along.

My only question: HOW COULD PANA HAVE ALLOWED A PRODUCT TO BE SOLD/SHIPPED IN SUCH A DEFECTIVE STATE FROM THE START?

Update #3 1/27/06 STILL BUGGY!

Firmware still leaves a bug. with a ram disc that has 6 free hrs., if one recrods tv pgm's using the record on "day of the week" setting, say Saturday... I record 3 pgm's on a Saturday, each of 1 hour length. these are set to record every sat., and I have now used 3 hrs on the disc BUT going to the SCHEDULE function, I see that the 3 pgm's do NOT go away. they are at the bottom of the Scheduling area, but the date, saturday's date, is till next to them even though they have already finished being recorded.

Now, NOTHING ELSE WILL RECORD ON THIS DISC ON THIS DAY, (SAT).

The machine sees that 3 hrs of the 6 hr disc have been used. then it sees/thinks that there is/are still another 3 hours to be recorded (these are the same 3 pgm's already recorded, but which continue to show up on today's schedule). This gives us 6 HOURS!

The disc is maxed-out, so nothing furhter will record. If I record pgm's as a on-time-only deal, not as a repeating day of the week item, then the pgm disappears and it does not create a doubling of time used/needed. but then, I have to re-program to record that show every week, rather than just once, and foget it.

Once Sat. turns into Sunday, those 3 pgm's (and the time the machine is mistakenly reserving for them) go away till next week and those 3 "lost hours" are once more avail. to be used for recording.

suppose I could go on the 50+ minute wait-que, but would the info ever really get to the appropriate Pana technical staff, and does anybody really care anyway? Not that I can tell, or how could they have let this thing go out the way it was and is?

Update #4 2/15/06 It's going to "repair" shop.

got hold of Pana again. took 15 min or less! product specialist had me do a "re-initialize/reset" of machine. says my unit's firmware is/was already at the newest level of issue. the reset did not help when recording tv pgm's using the repeating day-of-the-week scheduling, the pgm's already recorded on a given day stay on the schedule as active, until Midnight of that day. pana rep tells me it's time to dig up receipt and make a trip to the shop.

We'll see... (I really have my doubts)

I purchased the unit in December for the purpose of copying about 25 8mm tapes to DVD and using this unit to make DVD's from my new mini DV Camcorder.

Before I updated the firmware (a process that took only 20 minutes), I had the same problems others have indicated. The machine would freeze and would need to be unplugged. Even with this issue, all the DVD could be finalized and work in the 3 DVD players I have. The remaining comments assume the firmware has been updated.

I have have been very pleased with the quality of the recordings and I'm picky. Thus far, I recorded 7 or 8 2 hour 8mm tapes without too many issues. I do not find any difference in the quality of DVD when compared to the original 8mm tape when the DVD is played on a DVD player connected to a 36 inch TV using component video. Before I started making copies, I purchased a high quality camcorder cable and I believe this makes a difference in the overall quality. In fact, comparing video quality is very depandant on the TV, how the unit is connected to it and the quality of the cables.

I have recorded one TV show and the quality was acceptable but not as good as recording the 8mm move. I wouldn't purchase this unit for this purpose that probably goes for any DVD recorder.

I have also recorded from my mini DV camcorder using the DV input jack. The quality of this recording was fantastic. Digital input recording is awesome.

This unit, like all DVD recorders on the market, has is flaws. A couple of times, it stopped recording for unknown reasons. In those cases, I found where it stopped and restarted the recording process and in the end had a good DVD.

This unit does not make it simple to create chapters. The only way to stop stop recording and restart. It does create 5 minute invisible chapters enabling you to jump to the next section on playback. I find this acceptable.

I have read the reviews for all the major brands, Sony, Toshiba, Samsung, etc. and all seem to have some problems.

This unit is very acceptable for recording 8mm and DV tapes to DVD. Using a DVD Recorder is much more convienant than using the computer. I suspect the only reason to use the computer is if you plan on doing alot of editing.

I would recommend this unit only because I'm satisfied with the results and all the other brands seem to have their own problems. If a problem free unit can be found buy that one. Be sure to purchase a unit with the DV input jack for best results.

Probably the best feature is having the old 8mm tapes on DVD. I find it more fun to watch the old home movies on DVD.

Polaroid PDM-0722 7" Portable DVD Player (180 degree rotating screen)

• 7'' widescreen (16:9) color LCD screen gives you a beautiful color picture
• LCD screen swivels 180°, folds flat against player for viewing convenience
• Plays DVD, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW ,Plays music CDs, CD-R/RW ,JPEG image compatible
• Built-in Dolby Digital Decoder for fantastic sound ,Built-in stereo speakers deliver sound anywhere
• ESP (Electronic Skip Protection) for an uninterrupted picture while in motion ,Switchable audio and video input/output

I bought this at least 2 years ago. We took it on several car trips and it held up just fine with two boys! We also took it along on several flights to keep the boys occupied. My only complaint is that the sound is too low, but if you use earphones it is fine. The other day, I brought it to my room to watch a movie and it was hard to hear without using earphones.

I'm trying to find a cable so we can hook it up to the TV. I can't remember if it came with one or not, but we have lost it if it did.

Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-150 PCI TV Tuner with Remote Control (1045)

I wanted to put a TV in my child's play room, which also had a computer. This device enables me to use the computer as a TV. It works great, my 4 year old has no problem using it.

I installed the device in my only PCI slot, hooked my cable coax into it, started my PC, and the drivers automatically loaded. I have XP SP2. The whole process took about 10 minutes. The software then starts and after about 5 minutes, goes through the cable channels to store the channels. Then, you are ready to go.

The unit is equipped with a remote. The remote points to an "eye". The eye is attached to a medium-sized small cord that is attached to the PCI card (under the coax cable). You are able to position the eye where you want it, although the cord the eye is on is not long. If you have a desktop sitting on the floor, it will barely reach the top of a computer desk. I taped the cord just under my keyboard shelf, so the remote needs to be pointed low.

The functionality of the software is great. You can change the channel with the computer or remote. There is a button to enable "full screen" on the computer, but not on the remote. The picture is excellent. The ability to pause live TV, or record ad-hoc or timed works extremely well.

This is a great product.

I've had the PVR150 for several months. Prospective buyers should be aware of the following:

-The card has audio problems. Audio levels, especially from the card's Line Input are too high, which results in clipped audio. And -get this -there is NO WAY TO ADJUST AUDIO INPUT LEVELS ON THIS CARD. Hauppauge has acknowledged the problem but so far (it's been 9 months) have been unable to fix it. In fact their "workaround" has been to install an audio limiter in their driver which automatically clips all audio at +6dB. A few months ago they were offering customers who complained about the issue free exchanges for PVR250's, which does not have the same problem as the 150. Not sure if Hauppauge is still offering this exchange.

-The card's video also has substantial problems. Particularly with some graphics adapters (most notably ATI), at normal contrast levels whites are extremely overexposed. If one compensates by decreasing the contrast so that whites are properly exposed, darker colors are completely washed out and most detail is lost. And Hauppauge's tech support so far has been worthless trying to address (or even acknowledge) the problem.

-Other problems exist, such as "judder" (constant skipping) when recording from VHS source and fast forwarding to a different part of the tape, or when the included capture software (WinTV2000) is paused or muted for too long. Hauppauge's "fix" is telling customers to revert from DirectX 9.0c to 9.0b, but as many of you know, this may require a complete reinstall of your operating system.

I believe this is a case where Conexant, the manufacturer of the PVR150's hardware MPEG encoder, brought a product to market well before it was ready. They attempted to combine the functions of separate video and audio controllers (which were in fact separate chips on the PVR250) into a single chip, with lower power draw and much lower manufacturing cost. In my opinion they fell short. I strongly advise against the PVR150.

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I am not the first person to have this problem. What I received was in fact a WinTv-HVR-1600. Which is not at all the same as a WinTV-PVR-150 because it does not have Linux drivers. Then I had to go to the trouble of calling Haupauge to get them to switch it out. Had to pay shipping to send them the 150. More than a week went by before I was able to build my MythTV Box.

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I bought this product and it works great. I had previously bought the ATI TV wonder pro remote control edition, and had to return it because they software wouldn't work right with my computer. I exchanged it for this one and am very glad I did. the WIN-TV PVR does everything I need it to do, and seems to have a little better quality than the ATI one, even though it still isnt nearly as good as TV quality. The software works great; however there are a few problems I have found:

1: I haven't figured out how to open the videos and make them work with programs other than the program they give you. I've tried changing the record format, but it doesn't change it. Therefore, I can't record a show while I'm watching one I've already recorded.

2:The TV guide is online and is a pain to try and get it to work with the program scheduler because it requires that you download a file and doesnt work all the time.

3: Sometimes when I am watching a recorded show, I will pause and then hit the Play button, but then it will reset the video back to the beginning, and I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. It doesnt do it all the time though, and if it does it it's not the end of the world because I can just drag the slider back to where I was.

Other than these minor problems, the recorder works great, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a PVR.

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I tried to set up a PVR using my computer on the cheap on my less than state of the art computer (Pentium 4 2.2ghz). I experimented with a cheap tv card and half a dozen freeware software applications. I wish I could have the time back trying to set up all those lame products. The first thing that's essential that the cheaper tv cards don't have is an onboard chip to encode the video. Software encoding-how the cheap cards worktotally bogged down the computer. Tying together all the bits and pieces--cable box, remote, drivers, software can be a major headache. The Hauppauge card bundles a decent remote and ir emitter. This is a big plus. In light of that the $91 and free shipping made it a deal. This is only half the solution though as the software provided is not worthy of this fine hardware. I tried all the software out there for Windows-except for the expensive Windows media center-the only thing that works is Beyond TV. No other software is even close. The Beyond TV software is designed to work mainly with the Hauppage products. The IR emitter did not work satisfactorily for my Motorola cable box, but luckily I was able to control that with a serial cable connection. The TV picture is better than what I got directly from my cable box, though there is sometimes a slight, almost imperceptible, jerkiness. A Hauppage card, Beyond TV and your computer will bring you an excellent PVR experience. With a big Harddrive and a video card with tv-out, you're there.

Lascar EL-USB-1 Temperature Data Logger with USB Interface

I needed a data logger to monitor the fridge temperature in my restaurant and this low-cost unit seemed the best choice. Software is supplied with unit which is great.

Installation on Windows 7 was straightforward. After plugging in the data logger you use the software to set the data logger up. This is easy to do using the software which follows a wizard based format. You then leave the data logger where you want it to pick up the temperature (in my case the fridge) and the use the software to download the data a few days later. It shows you a graph of the temperature over the time the data loggers been in the fridge fortunately mine seems to be working correctly!

So far I've been using for 2 months and had no problems. Would recommend this to anyone with a similar requirement.

I couldn't install the driver on Win XP SP3 and had to email the manufacturer, who answered promptly and suggested I do the installation in Safe Mode, which worked OK. Once the software is active (three days after receiving the logger), the product works just as advertised, although I've not tried to calibrate it.

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We have used this item for about 3 weeks to monitor temps where medications are stored. It is simple easy to use: the software is basic but functional and allows exporting to Excel; you can quickly set up new temp logs, including changing the frequency of temps taken; it is very small, so it fits anywhere. People in the clinic next to us also use the same product (and are the ones who recommended this one to us). They are very satisfied with it as well.

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I purchased this data logger to use with an XP SP3 computer. Other reviews suggested problems loading driver. I went to the company website and downloaded the latest software version, and it installed perfectly. I quickly discovered that this is a wonderful device, very well designed and simple to set up and use. Great flexibility. Put the device into a USB port and the data is immediately downloaded and charted. There is also an export function, when you click on that, the data is put into an Excel sheet, along with a chart of the data. Complete flexibility within Excel to manipulate the data. Considering the quality of this product, the price is very reasonable.

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The plastic must have been flawed at the time of manufacturing because the battery compartment cannot withstand the tension of the battery spring. When one broke after a couple of years I thought it was a fluke but after the second one broke I was upset.

The EasyLog USB program exports data into a txt file but it doesn't repeat the serial number for the device on each line. I store my temps so I had to write a little code to make sure that the serial number stayed with every record.

Cannot stop logging so that you can pick the device up and take it to a USB port. This cases bad readings that you have to remove.

Olympus DS-150 Digital Voice Recorder

I like the recorder a lot, but I will not restate what has already been said regarding functionality. However, just make sure you lock the DSS software in a safety deposit box. Olympus tech support is horrible. I lost the software (yes, my fault) and called tech support to see where I could download it. They had no idea, and blatantly stated that they did not have time for a "non-tech" issue. Called another support number, the service rep had no idea why I would need the software to record and suggested that I use the DSS lite software (which is just for playing the files, not interfacing).

Long story short, four weeks later, no software. If anyone knows where I can get a copy (I was told it is freely distributed), please let me know.

Other reviewers have done an excellent job of describing the benefits of this tool so I'll be brief. First, you will use it in new ways as long as you're not embarassed by the 'note to self' jokes. Phone numbers, addresses, to do's, random musings, and more. For months when I was very busy I'd keep it near my bed to clear my head before falling asleep. Eventually enough would be in the recorder (and I didn't have to turn on the light) that I could stop worrying about forgetting.

I bought the Sony version of this product and in the end it's probably a wash. They have the same functionality, linking capability, length, etc. The Sony is much more elegant and that is what won the day. Later, I regreted not buying this one because of the Via Voice software (if only just to play with it) but I have heard not one supportive comment about it. Either nobody is using it or it doesn't work.

RE: Linking or downloading. This is useful if you need to store things (remember, there is no tape to remove if you want to keep something) such as lectures, interviews. The problem is that the compression software is not yet standardized and files end up being huge.

If you're using this as a memo device and have no storage needs, I'd consider the model below this (I think it's about half the price).

Last note. If you already carry a cell phone and a PDA, you will find you're pockets too full with this addition. Like me, you will hope for some convergence soon. If this were in my Nokia, I'd be sending voice emails all the time.

Buy Olympus DS-150 Digital Voice Recorder Now

I purchased the DS-150 about 4 months ago and have not been satisfied with the product.

The recording and playback quality is poor and the voice recognition software accompanied with the product is extremely hard to set-up correctly and use.

Save your money and buy a standard tape driven recorder!

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There are some things that are worthwhile in the DS-150. It's small size and light weight is welcome, and it is quite easy to save sound files on my computer in WAV format (my primary criterion for purchase.)

However, it's user interface is simply one of the worst I have ever seen. Even after following the steps in the manual, I found myself unable to perform simple operations like setting the time without referring to the manual again. It makes the average VCR look good!

If you've seen an Olympus manual before, you know what to expect. Written in five languages, it's hard on the eyes, cryptic, badly organized, and full of tragic grammatical errors.

The sound quality isn't all that great either. Forget the ViaVoice software it's a complete joke, unless you need inspiration for your strange dadaist poetry. How can anyone claim to provide useful "voice recognition" when it doesn't even get half the words correct? IBM and Olympus should hang their heads in shame for perpetrating this kind of hoax on the public.

I really needed a small voice recorder that interfaces with my computer, so I grit my teeth and suffer the pain of this inadequately designed product. But I'm not going to suffer in silence. When you're banging your head against the wall, it doesn't hurt so much when you can ... and moan about it.

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This recorder has been great. I got it for two reasons: one for work -the dictation software is great (and fun) and has helped me rapidly do a project that used to take weeks! The other reason: to create story CDs for my toddler. I have had friends read her favorites into the recorder, download and convert them, and then burn them onto CDs. Great for bedtime, downtime or driving. She loves it (and it drives the cat nuts!). The UI is difficult on the recorder, but I ignore all that and use the UI on the computer.

ZMODO 4 Ch Security DVR Surveillance System With 4 Outdoor Weatherproof IR Night Vision Video 480TV

No hard drive-completely useless. It was advertised as coming with one. You get an empty DVR casing. This is stupid and inconvenient. Skip this cheap crap; I should have. Go ahead and pay the few extra hundred bucks for one that is ready to go out of the box. Added later--Zmodo's customer service is almost non-existent. The dvr takes an act of congress to format because the default admin codes on their website do not work. No one responds to live chat, and the 800 # for tech support keeps normal office hours which are useless if you are at work during that time like I am. The manual is buckshot with tech jargon no normal person can understand, nor are there any pics or diagrams to help. Once I finally got the system working, the user interface is simple enough, but the picture is dark and grainy at all times. Knowing what I know now, I would have gladly paid twice as much for a plug and play, simpler to use and set up system. Heck, I'd settle for better customer service. I'll keep this, but only because it's finally hooked up and running, and I don't want to go through the hassle of getting another system and figuring it out. PS, if you are ordering from EZoomTek, don't do it. They'll hassle you until you can't stand it in order to get you to remove the negative feedback you will surely leave them.

The unit itself works good but the cameras are not good quality. I bought a Sony camera and it is crystal clear when I added it to my system. Also the night vision is not good except on the Sony cam. If you turn up the brightness to see with the night vision on the cameras that came with it, then it is way too bright during the day.

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This surveillance system is ideal for my budget. Great clear view during the day of course but at night, not so much unless the camera is pointed directly at what you want to monitor and is no further than about 10 to 15 feet. Its very hard getting it to stream online when your internet company will not allow you to port forward the network. Im att and have a motorola modem/router. I spent at least 10 hours total trying to figure this out and plus trying to add an additional router that allows port forwarding. Useless product if stolen and no video record online to review who stole it.

Read Best Reviews of ZMODO 4 Ch Security DVR Surveillance System With 4 Outdoor Weatherproof IR Night Vision Video 480TV Here

Easy to setup. If you don't mind crawling through your attic, easy setup. Quite device and low heat, which is important for my closet.

Cameras are nice, with night vision.

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it works great Easy to setup Love it.

Don't be afraid to buy it ,you will love this

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Panasonic DMR-ES10S DIGA Series DVD Recorder , Silver

• Single-disc DVD player/recorder with DVD-RAM, DVD-R/RW, and DVD+R recording capabilities
• Plays DVD-Video, DVD-Audio (2-channel only), DVD+RW, video CD, MP3 CD, and JPEG image CD
• Progressive-scan video output renders seamless, flicker-free images on high-definition and HD-ready TVs
• Video enhancements include Visibility Modulation technology, integrated noise reduction (NR), and 4x Natural Gradation
• Measures 16.9 x 2.5 x 13.9 inches (W x H x D)

Don't tell my girlfriend, but I think I'm in love.

I picked this unit up yesterday, so this is obviously a very preliminary review, and I'll update it later if my opinion changes, but this seems like a real winner. And at a list price of $200, a real steal also.

After buying (and returning) one pile-of-junk DVD recorder, I did a fair amount of research and found many horror stories and much dissatisfaction ... except for the Panasonic DMR-E55 (and slightly different models), which almost everyone here and at videohelp.com loved. However, it did have some difficulties for my intended use, in particular that it only wrote to write-once discs and to DVD-RAM. Now DVD-RAM seemed slick as a greased weasel, allowing the DMR-E55 to do TIVO-like tricks such as starting to record a show while you're out, getting home midway through and then watching the beginning while it's still recording the end, but if you wanted to watch the resulting disc on a standard DVD player, or to use your computer to make copies or transfer to hard drive for editing, you were out of luck (or would have to buy a DVD-RAM supporting drive). Plus, forget archiving stuff on DVD-RAM, even for use on Panasonic machines, since they run $4+ per disc.

Nevertheless, with a somewhat heavy heart and plenty of reservations, I decided the E55 was what I'd go for, the least-bad solution, so I hied me down to Best Buy thinking I'd probably come home with one. Alas, they only had a display unit left, with no box, no remote, etc. But the sales guy sort of offhandedly mentioned, "Well, we did get this new model in, there's a stack of them over there." We opened up a box, checked the manual to make sure it had all the nifty features of the E55, and in a kind of daze I walked out with one, all the qualms and the feeling of settling for something that might be a pain-in-the-neck gone.

I spent yesterday afternoon and evening playing with it, and what can I say ... it just works, smoothly and efficiently. I obviously have tried only a portion of the features and possibilities [and of course can't say anything about long-term reliability], but this new machine gets around some of the difficulties with the old E55. It seems like Panasonic was actually listening to the complaints, and came up with solutions ---

-except for the not widely supported DVD-RAM, the E55 only recorded to DVD-R, and reportedly not to (most) 8X blanks either. The ES10 additionally records to -RW and +R/4X and +R/8X, all of which I tested (and the +R were cheap discs, Teon and WinData). The results play on my computer's DVD drive. Being able to use DVD-RW gets around the DVD-RAM incompatibility for now (I can record, say, a bunch of episodes of Frasier, then transfer to the computer to edit out the ads, and re-use the original disc), though I might install a DVD-RAM compatible drive eventually. [For some reason, DVD+RW discs are not supported for writing.]

-many people commented on the obtuse manual and difficult to use remote and menus. I can't compare directly, but having been driven to blinking distraction by one bad DVD recorder, I can say the ES10 was a delight to use -it was easy to find what little I needed in the manual, and I could largely just wing it. I was making "flexible record" discs (where compression is chosen based on total program length to use the entire disc precisely) immediately. If you hit the wrong button by mistake, the unit does not begin to make grinding noises and/or go into never-never land; it's OK to try things to see what they do. And if you're stuck, the "magic" button that gets you out of certain menus or situations seems to be labelled Return.

-to fast forward/reverse, you had to use and hold the chapter skip buttons; there are now separate buttons.

I have no substantive complaints so far, but here are some annoyances. That most are so trivial speaks volumes --

-the open/close control is on the opposite end of the unit from the disc drawer; for some reason this is not intuitive to me.

-there is no on screen display of the record mode (XP, LP, etc, i.e. recording quality). Only the display on the unit itself, which can be hard to read across the room.

-the unit uses 8.5 watts even turned off; the manual notes this and says you might want to unplug it when not used for long periods. Why can't they just put in a genuine 'off' and a 'standby' if they feel it's needed?

-some of the remote buttons are too closely spaced for my stubby fingers, yet there is unused or underused real estate in the configuration.

-'stop' and some other controls seem to leave the unit in a kind of intermediate state (though they do have the desired effect); to go to a 'neutral' or startup state, I have to hit stop again. (Maybe this is some feature I just haven't figured out yet. Or maybe it's somehow an example of ...

-the menus maybe go a bit too far trying to protect you against doing foolish things. You get asked twice, not just once, if you really want to format a disc, for instance.

-the 8-hour/disc mode really is substandard, worse than a 6 hour VHS tape; but the 4-hour mode should be acceptable for many uses. [There is a 6-hour mode, but apparently you have to select that instead of 8-hour in Setup and I haven't tried it yet.]

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If you're going to copy a lot of VHS tapes to DVD-R or DVD+R discs, this is the one to get. I tried both a Philips DVDR600VR DVD recorder/VCR combo and a Sony RDRVX500 DVD recorder/VCR combo. The Philips had a couple problems and I returned it, so I'll compare the Panasonic to the Sony:

The Sony had a lot of nice features and overall good quality, but I found that it had a major problem copying VHS tapes from a separate VCR with a GoDVD device. The quality in that case is substantially degraded, with streaks of interference, as with a satellite dish with the polarity or azimuth tuned wrong. This is either with the composite video connection, or using an S-Video cable from the GoDVD to the Sony. The odd thing is a signal from a separate DVD player comes through the same GoDVD device OK, and the signal from the VCR is OK without the GoDVD. The only way I found to get a decent signal from a separate VCR through the GoDVD to the Sony was through an adapter to the coaxial input, which of course is lower quality anyway and somewhat defeats the purpose.

However, with the Panasonic DMR-ES10, I made perfect copies of the exact same tapes from the same VCR through the same GoDVD device. Additionally, the Panasonic has the following handy features not on the Sony combo unit:

1. Flexible speed recording. If you have a tape that's 2 hours 5 min. you can record it at a speed that exactly fills the DVD-R (or +R), where if you just left it in SP mode it would run out. I tried a DVD-R disc recorded this way on 2 other players and it works fine.

2. You can change the thumbnail images in the menu. With the Sony you're stuck with the first frame. With this model Panasonic you can play the title to any frame you want to select for the menu image.

3. You can store phrases for the titles. For instance, if you're recording Perry Mason episodes, every title starts with "The Case of the ... " You can store that so you don't have to spell it out each time. I like to add previews to the extra space on a disc, so I saved "PREVIEWS."

The only problems I've had with the Panasonic DMR-ES10 is with DVD+R media. When recording stops, it fouls up the disc so it's unusable. I've had this problem with TDK, HP, and Sony DVD+R disks. Once in a while it works if the recording is under an hour. It always works fine with DVD-R.

This isn't a combo unit, so the quality from the VHS tape depends on the VCR. I tried two different VCRs, an old Toshiba and a newer cheaper model, and got great quality DVDs from both. I tried both VCRs with the Sony and both had the problem with the GoDVD described above, but seem fine without the GoDVD. But the VCR built into the Sony combo unit seems to have worse performance than the separate VCRs, causing flickering sometimes.

Because of that I don't see much advantage to the combo unit, and recommend the Panasonic DMR-ES10 as the best option for copying VHS tapes to DVDs.

Read Best Reviews of Panasonic DMR-ES10S DIGA Series DVD Recorder , Silver Here

Panasonic DMR-ES10 DVD Recorder

Pros: Great low price. Excellent recordings ,even in the LP (4Hr) speed.

Cons: PIP & Commercial Skip wont work on Finalized DVDs.

Full Review :

Unlike all previous Panasonic DVD recorders. Besides being able to record on DVD-R and DVD-RAM. This new model will also record on , DVD+R , DVD-RW. This is a much needed and smart move by Panasonic.

But a word of caution. Due to strict new copy protection laws. Some broadcasts now contain Copy Control signals. They may have one of three signal types: Copy-Free, Copy-Once, or Copy-Never. The recorder limits the recording according to the copy protection signal. Copy-Free encoded signals can be recorded at any time with any compatible blank disk type.Copy-Never encoded signals can not be recorded on this unit. Many of your premium cable stations(HBO,SHO)are Copy-Once programs. This means you may record the program to a disk. But you are not able to take that disk and then make a copy of it. According to the manual copy once programs may only be recorded using DVD-RAM. I did have some problems finalizing copy protected recordings from HBO using DVD-R and DVD-RW disks.

I highly reccomend purchasing the Sima CT-2 (GO DVD) Video Signal Processor (Amazon Price: $69.49) This will allow you to record any copy protected source (Cable,VHS,DVD).

Being that this is only a $200 unit. It is not made as sturdily as some of the previous models. But the many important new features and low price make up for that.

Panasonic made alot of bold claims about this unit.I was hesitant about them , especially since this is only a $200 unit. While other DVD recorders like the SONY sell for nearly $400.00. But I am happy to report that all the claims are true. The unit works great. Panasonic really backs up all thier claims about this DVD recorder.

All the DVDs I made recorded played back with very high quality. I also found no problems with compatibility when playing those DVDs back on other DVD players. Recordings made in the four (4) hour (LP) speed looked nearly identical to those made using the (2) Hour(SP)speed. The VCR Plus feature is fairly useless if you have it connected to a CABLE box. But if you have it connected to a standard antenna then VCR Plus is a useful feature.

The remote control also controls your TV. It can also be adjusted so that it wont control any other Panasonic equipment you may own. Among the important new features is that all the new Panasonic models for 2005 now have improved horizontal resolution. In the LP (4 Hours) mode, this DVD recorder has images twice as sharp as last year's models. It gives up to 500 lines resolution. This is double the horizontal resolution compared to the 250 lines of conventional LP mode recording. Thanks to this, you now have high quality four hour recordings as sharp as the Two Hour (SP )speed.

Another new feature is what Panasonic calls "VHS Refresh". This feature offers improved quality when Dubbing VHS to DVD. When connecting a VCR and the DVD recorder to record VHS videotape images onto a DVD disk. Something similar to a "Time Base Corrector", helps reduce jitter and also performs signal conversion to create a stable signal.

The unit also has 3D Digital Noise Reduction which detects and virtually eliminates randomly generated noise and color errors to help minimize flicker. This 3D DNR works on any video input source. Thanks to these two technologies, the video input signal is automatically detected and optimum processing is performed to provide an easy way to even more beautiful digital pictures. There is also a Digital Noise Reduction for playback. This helps clear up recordings made in the EP 6 hour speed. This unit has an option to allow up to Eight (8) hours of recording time. Although I really don't recommend recording with the 8 hour speed due to quality issues.

One of the most important new features is the nearly instantaneous response time in start-up and recording. It is as quick as five seconds from the DVD-RAM insertion to Play or Record. The unit has nearly as fast times for other blank DVD media. Disk finalizing takes about four minutes which is a bit slow.But that's a minor trade-off for the very quick disk recognition. The Panasonic DMR-ES10 DVD Recorder also has a "One Touch Record" button. Each press gives 30 Minutes recording time up to 4 hours. The unit then powers itself off after the recording time has finished.

All Panasonic DVD recorders offer all the benefits of the DVD-RAM format. Which include " Chasing Playback". -This feature lets you view a program that you're currently recording from any point that's already been recorded, while continuing to record the live program in progress. So you no longer have to wait for the entire program to be recorded before watching it from the beginning to the end. Simultaneous Recording & Playback are also possible using DVD RAM. This way you can record a live TV program while watching any other program that's been previously recorded on the same disk. Time Slip Button -Just press the Time Slip button once during recording on a DVD RAM, to start playing back the scene recorded 30 seconds earlier. You can also use the cursor keys to return to any point from 1 to 360 minutes earlier.

The Panasonic DMR-ES10 DVD Recorder offers a PIP(Picture-in-Picture function) and commercial skip during playback.

Please note : These two features will NOT work after the DVD +/-R/W disks are finalized. These features also wont work on pre-recorded (store bought) DVD movies. They do work on on DVD RAM disks. Since those disks do not need to be finalized.

The unit has a new layout with finalize and disk setup which makes it alot easier to use. Also new is that it goes into record mode and loaded blank and pre-recorded DVDs so much faster. Both are major improvements over earlier units. I also liked the smaller size, and large easy to read numerical readout. Total ease of use is also much improved. But novices will still need to read the manual thoroughly. I like the new sleek look. This model seems very user friendly and priced low enough. So if you haven't already purchased a DVD Recorder. Then this is the unit that may make you put away your VCR. For those who like their components to match. This unit also comes in Black. I have only one minor complaint. There is no disk time remaining display during a DVD movie playback. The time remaining display is viewable during all recording modes to view the recording time left on disk.

Connections 1 RF(TV) Input/1 RF(TV)Output, 1-Front Panel Audio/Video(S-Video)3-Rear Panel Audio/Video(S-Video),1 Rear Panel component video input. 1Audio/Video (S-Video)Outputs,1Digital Audio Optical Output.

If you need even more features than the DMR-ES10 offers. There is the DMR-EH50 model ($500) which features a 100GB hard disk drive. This gives up to 177 hours of recording time using the hard drive.

The Bottom Line :

Low Price with great Quality LP speed video ,new user friendly features. All adds up to an excellent DVD Recorder

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If you have been looking at options for converting your old analog tapes to DVD, then this unit is a consideration.

After looking at multiple options, including countless computer accessories, software, Digital8, firewire, I finally decided to use the "point and shoot" approach this unit affords.

Since we already own a Panasonic DVD/VCR unit, the user's manual was a cinch. It took about 15 minutes to get this thing out of the box and begin burning my first DVD from a vintage 8mm tape via a camcorder.

Quality was excellent. Many approaches complain about the ability to sync sound with action. This was not evident on this particular unit.

What was especially nice was that I was able to utilize a batch of Verbatim DVR-R disks that I picked up on sale.

One drawback is the inability to create multiple chapters with the -r format. The documentation states that the unit automatically creates 5 minute chapters with a DVD-RW, however I have yet to test that feature.

One other glitch is Panasonic does not seem to differentiate their remotes. In other words, the ES10 remote will turn on, activate and eject DVDs from my other Panasonic unit. I will be moving this unit to another location to avoid this.

If you invest in the DVD-RAM technology, you can edit, create new chapters etc. This might be a consideration in the future. However, since the "RAM" technology seems to be favored by the Panasonic brand, I would prefer to burn a few "generic DVDs" first.

Another option is to invest in a DVD recorder which has a hard drive built in. Prices seem to be dropping on these as well. However, reading reviews of this technology indicates a greater tendency for breakdown, so an extended warranty would certainly be a consideration.

If you are looking to convert analog tapes to DVD, are on a budget, but still desire high quality output, then this is the unit for you.

I have a digital cable box from cablevision with the built in DVR which to me is a better option than buying a $500 + DVD recorder with a built in hard drive. Considering that I rent the cable box for 10 bucks a month, and considering the lifespan of a hard drive, I think it is a cheaper option. Also if you have a digital cable box

you can't record one show while watching another, so spending all that money would be pretty useless to me.

The reason why I bought this model is because aside from owning a dvr there are occasional times where I want to keep a permanent copy of a show or movie.

You can record one show while watching another if you bypass the cable box, however you can only watch or record the analog channel's (1-99).

To record digital channels:

With the dvd recorder connected to the cable box I can set the VCR timer on the cable box to record my programs while I am not home, the VCR timer on the cable box will turn the box on and turn to the channel you want to record for however many shows you want. You just have to program the recorder to record channel 3 and set the times you want to record. The menus are pretty simple and it really isn't any trouble at all.

DVD-RAM is the best media option for this recorder because it allows you to edit the disk before you finalize it, it allows you to watch one recorded show while recording another as well. With DVD-rw if you want to erase a program in order to free up space you have to erase the last one you recorded, with DVD RAM it doesn't matter which chapter or program you delete, the free space will be useable.

DVD-RAM can be rewritten up to 100,000 times and you can buy the disks in a protective cartridge which will play in this player.

The only downside to dvd-ram is that it is not compatible with most other players and you can't use it on your computer unless you have a dvd-ram drive. I would recommend buying two or three dvd-rams double sided and in the cartridge for recording your disposable sitcoms (the ones you only want to watch once). You do of course have to flip the double sided disks if you want to record on the other side.

For the recordings you want to keep I would recommend getting some

dvd-r disks as they are most compatible with other players (more so than dvd+r).

You can also record from your DVR to the dvd-recorder, I have not tried this myself but I have read on several forums that you can.

I have copied an old VCR tape and it came out great.

The picture quality is very good on two hours and pretty good on 4 as well.

The dvd recorder will not record dolby 5.1, but it will record 2 channel dolby digital. There are no dvd recorders on the market that will record 5.1 (set top boxes that is, of course you can copy 5.1 and DTS on your computer if you have a recordable dvd drive).

This unit is perfect for use in my bedroom, since I have the DVR in my living room. I wouldn't spend much more money on one of these things because you know in a few yrs it will be obsolete with the new blueray technology.

Lorex ECO 4 Channel Security DVR with 4 Indoor/Outdoor Security Cameras

We tested this for about a week, in various situations. The fact that the system has hard-wired cameras meant our testing was limited to a reach within cable distance. For a permanent installation, you can stick these anywhere. They are both outdoor and indoor use.

If you think that you will be able to enjoy split screen use on your PC monitor, it won't happen. This system needs its own monitor. If you hook it up to your PC monitor, you'll have to unhook it to use your monitor for PC use. However you are able to view as many cameras as you have hooked up (comes with 4) at once, via a quad screen display.

You can access your camera images, live, online (instructions in manual). However in actuality this caused some difficulty. The images would freeze, lag, or otherwise not update, on a pretty regular basis. Hours spent trying to figure out why, left us frustrated. It was the same from our smartphone as it was on a remote computer.

PROS

The recording is crisp and clear, ID'ing someone on the recordings should be easy if necessary

It works just as well in low/no light as it does in regular lighting

Compared to other cameras we have tested in this price range, this is a great system at a great price, if you don't mind the cons.

This is comparable to a much pricier system we installed at our shop, and in my opinion the video quality and ease of playback on this Lorex system are actually superior.

CONS

Not wireless

It needs its own monitor

Online viewing can be spotty and tedious

I had to buy another cable to work with the system

Overall however we liked this system very much, the quality of the images on this system is better than many higher priced systems, and the ease of playback and finding events was impressive. We will eventually install this system throughout the house and enjoy using it full time.

I've been watching the price of security cameras drop for a while, but the price of this package really caught my attentionthe same package is being sold at Costco right now for $50 more! Just a few years ago, a good IR illuminated camera would cost well over $100, and a 4-channel DVR would cost $350 or moreand here we have four cameras and a DVR for less than the price of a DVR alone. So just how good is this package?

Pretty good, actually. I've only got one of the four cameras set up so far, but it works very well. Image quality is good, and the IR illumination provides coverage out to the boundaries of my small suburban lot. Setup is very easy. Plug a VGA video monitor (I happened to have a Hitachi LCD display left over from my last Windows system) into the DVR,, plug in the power and mouse, optionally run a cable to your Internet router, and you're ready to start adding cameras. Each of the four supplied comes with a wall wart power supply, a mount, and 60' of cable, which is probably enough to cover the typical small business or home with careful DVR placement. The cable carries both video AND power, so you can locate your power supplies on a strop alongside the DVR itselfmuch easier than running two cables, or trying to find power near the camera (although that's an option.) I'd like to mount one camera on the front of my detached garage, which means I'll have to make up a custom cable for that location. I've got a spool of surplus silicone-filled, buriable RG-6 that should work, and I can pick up power for the camera in the garage.

My single camera is temporarily mounted out a second-floor window in the back of the house, but I'll be adding the others once I decide where to drill, and where to run the cables. The easiest thing to do would be to put the DVR in the basement, along with all my networking equipment. You'd think having the DVR in the basement would be kind of pointless, but one of the really nice things about this system is that it's networked. You can view the DVR output from any computer on your home networkor if you've got a smartphone, from pretty much anywhere. There's a motion detector built into the DVR that allows you to program it to send you alerts via phone, another very useful feature that used to only be available on high-end systems.

Summary: For the money, there's a lot of hardware here. Time will tell how well it holds up under use, but so far it looks like a good value for the homeowner or small business owner looking for a good video security system that won't break the bank.

Buy Lorex ECO 4 Channel Security DVR with 4 Indoor/Outdoor Security Cameras Now

I bought this to use before going on vacation and have been satisfied with the results for the most part. A couple hours for the install, a few minutes to setup the software. Produces a great picture for daytime and a fairly good picture for nighttime. I love being able to watch the video feed on my Android Phone from anywhere I am. After a month I did have one camera stop working. I called and faxed in the information to get it replaced. I am awaiting a new camera so I will follow-up on this review once I see how well their customer service is.

Read Best Reviews of Lorex ECO 4 Channel Security DVR with 4 Indoor/Outdoor Security Cameras Here

I set this up over about a week and though it works well, the lack of quality is a cause for concern. I have my doubts that the cameras will hold up to exterior conditions and found some of the camera connections to be quite flimsy.

The thread that is inside the camera body is not really strong enough and strips out if over tightened even by hand!

The cables are long enough and the set up is fairly easy if you are enough of a handyman, a card comes in the package that appears to offer free installation but the wording is dodgy enough to give me doubts as to if it is really free or not.

I have three of the cameras up and working, the quality of the video is quite good , full color in daylight, monochrome at night, the fourth camera does not work properly, it seem to be an issue with the cable itself. The camera works when connected to one of the other cables.

I have not yet connected the system to the internet and not sure if I will but will add an update if I do. On your TV screen a window divided into for appears with live images form each camera, a C on each screen denotes that it is recording continuously and the 500 GB hard drive will hold plenty of video. It can be adjusted to record when motion is detected and individual cameras can be set to record or not.

It has a lot of features, a few "help" videos are available on the included CD which offers a player for the video playback on your PC if you plan tot use it that way.

For the price, it is an OK system but I am just concerned about the lack of quality built into this system.

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Purchased this item after several incidents of dumping in back alley.

Easy to set up and install.

Works ok both in the day and night. The cameras work but the resolution is not good enough to be able to read license plates.

The recorder works ok but is a little tricky to find the time you are looking for, it goes in 15 minute increments.

After purchasing found same system for as much as 100 dollars less elsewhere.

For a basic system guess it is ok.

New R300 2.7" 140° Dual Lens Dash Board Camera Car HD DVR Black Box Video Recorder + GPS Logger

• Video and Audio recording
• 2.7 "TFT LCD Panel or TV Out, TV Out support NTSC & PAL
• Dual Lens Camera,1280 x 480 30FPS (2CH Record), 640 x 480 30FPS (1CH Record)
• Support Memory Card :SDHC Class 64GB ~ 32GB, proprietary file format
• GPS module support ,G Sensor Support

The camera's resolution of 1280x480 pixels is because there are two cameras and the picture shows two videos of 640x480 side-by-side, therefore the frame size is 1280x480. The camera listed here says it is an HD DVR and this is not true. Amazon should not let people believe that they will have an HD picture just because assuming 1280x480 is an HD standard. It is not and never will be high definition resolution, Wikipedia will help you to make it clear. Full HD is 1920×1080, and 720p HD is 1280x720.

Overall picture is blurry and round "pillow-like", nothing is possible to read, not even a license plate of a car standing right in front! Come on people, it's 2012 already, 0.3mp VGA cameras are out of market like 10 years ago. Camera is worthless in any insurance claim as well, if anything happens they require HD quality. So unless you want just to view the roads you drove and what was happening in car at that time, which maybe helps to taxicab drivers, otherwise it's loss of money, 1 star and returned immediately.

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For what it is, this is a great little DVR. I got mine, put in a MicroSD card, plugged in two wires, and it just worked. Build quality is much better than I expected, it feels like it's put together solidly. For the price that I paid, I was expecting loose fitting, thin plastic shell that creaked and flexed when holding it, this does not do that.

Video quality isn't bad, although it is low resolution. This is clearly stated on the product page in multiple places, so I'm not sure why other reviewers seem surprised by this. Any camera with as wide angle of a lens as this has will have difficulty making out license plates, regardless of the resolution. If you're wanting a camera to read license plates with, get something with a narrower field of view and a high resolution sensor. If you want something that clearly shows what's going on in and around your car, get this one.

Also, this isn't mentioned in the review page, but this unit does show your speed on it. It's only shown in KPH though, there are no options to change it to MPH.

This isn't related to the product review, but I thought it was worth mentioning. Mine was shipped VERY fast. It was well packaged, and arrived in excellent condition. I noticed a lot of people mentioning that they received their cameras poorly packaged and beat up. The seller that I bought mine from was EXCELLENT. It shipped from California, not over seas. The package arrived in good enough shape to be in a retail display.

Pros:

It works well, for what it's designed to do

Exterior camera is wide angle enough to show both sides of the hood, and what's beyond it

Interior camera is wide angle enough to show the entire inside of my pickup, and both side windows

Can easily play back the video (In very low resolution) on the device, without needing to hook it to a computer

Seems to be built well

Cons:

Poorly translated manual, although the device is simple enough to use that this shouldn't be a problem. All menus on the device appear to be translated well.

Requires proprietary software to view playback on a PC.

Mount is relatively large. I've got a pickup with a fairly large windshield, the camera and mount seems to take up a lot of it. This could probably be helped with an aftermarket mount, since the camera uses a standard thread for the mount.

There's a flashing icon on the display, I'm not sure what it means. The manual says nothing about it. It may be because I'm currently using a slower MicroSD card than they recommend.

It would be nice if the wiring harness for the GPS & power were smaller

Overall, I'm very happy with this unit, and would certainly recommend it.

Read Best Reviews of New R300 2.7" 140° Dual Lens Dash Board Camera Car HD DVR Black Box Video Recorder + GPS Logger Here

Their idea of High Definition and mine are a little different. All and all, it's a fairly nice Dash Cam. If you're looking for true High Definition though, it's not going to happen with this one. Good Luck!

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This camera is a great buy for the money! I was looking for something simple and would cover me if pulled over by the police or in an accident. I also use this camera on the track and it works great. For the money this is an EXCELLENT value.

Pros

* Dual lenses, so you can record both inside and out, but you also have the option to record only out or only inside.

* Suction cup for mounting and it holds up on a 1 G turn!

* Holds up to a 32 Micro SD (sold separately)

* Video downloads super easy

* Camera can be flipped depending on your windshield (my corvette is very steep)

Cons

* GPS isn't built in, so if you want to use that option you will need to plug it in. (I never use it)

* Not the best for night time driving, but I do mostly day time driving.

* Instructions are useless, but I figured everything out pretty quick.

* Downloads are video only. If you have the GPS plugged in you can't download that information (Playback only)

My camera has captured a few different accidents in front of me and the victims loved that I caught everything on this for their insurance companies.

Some of the people are complaining that the camera isn't true HD or it doesn't have built in night vision or the instructions are hard to understand... What do you expect from a dash cam under $60?

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I've had this product for many months now and I really enjoy having it, it definitely was worth the money. During the day it is great, however at night, unless you are on a light highway, it is useless. But I enjoy the GPS feature, and the gravity sensor. It has 24hr time which I also like, It isn't extremely intuitive, but you only set it up once and rarely download video onto your computer, so it's not a big deal. It said it worked with a mac, however I tried many time and eventually just gave in and looked at the video on my windows 8 laptop.

AGPtek® USB Portable Tape to MP3 Converter With Headphones

• Convert your old mix tapes and cassette to MP3 toPlayback on iPod/MP3 player or burn to CD. 3.5mmearphone jack. Plug and play USB device, no drivers required.
• Audio output enables you to listen on your stereo, headphones, or other speaker system. Audio editing software included. Rediscover your old cassette tapes on the go.
• Portable design fits in virtually any bag and enables you to play and transfer anywhere. Flexible battery or USB-powered operation. Comes with tape converter software to guide you through transfer.
• System Requirements: Pentium 4 1.7 GHz CPU or above, 512MB RAM or above, 1GB free HDD space, VGA card with 32MB memory, One available USB 2.0 port, CD-ROM for installation, Microsoft Windows 2000/ XP/ Vista/ Win 7.

It is Good for the price that I paid. I had just 1 cassette that I wanted to transfer to an MP3 file. It connects with Audacity to record the Audio file in your computer.

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It is a cheap little thing (you get what you pay for) but it has done what I required it to do. I can see where people would have some problems with the door popping open but it just needs to be handled gently. The only thing I would change is more detailed instructions on the software. I had to re-record about 10 tapes because none of them were saved.. Otherwise it is a useful device.

Read Best Reviews of AGPtek® USB Portable Tape to MP3 Converter With Headphones Here

I have 12 old tapes that I wanted to copy to my computer and I didn't want to spend a lot to do it. So I took a chance on this little device. It worked just fine. The software that came with it is not so good but the Sony Sound Forge software that I got with my USB Turntable worked with this device also so no problem getting my tapes recored. I can't say how long it might last but if you only have a few tapes you want to copy this will do the job.

Sony DVP-NS715P Progressive-Scan DVD Player

• Full 3-2 reverse conversion faithfully reproduces the film's original frame structure as transferred to DVD
• 12-bit, 108MHz noise shaped video D/A conversion delivers smoother gradation and more realistic recreation of DVD video
• Block Noise Reduction removes unwanted information blocks that cause picture anomalies
• Dolby Digital and DTS output for outboard surround processing
• Precision Drive 2 eliminates read errors due to imperfect, scratched or warped DVD discs

This is my third Sony DVD player and was bought to replace a poorly chosen Phillips DVD621 (see my related review.) As I had expected from my previous Sony purchases, (S550D, S330) the NS715P continues to meet my needs. The 715 comes with new features, the strongest being Progressive scan. If this will be your first purchase, it may be the best choice you could make in this price range. Features aplenty allow you to set-up playback for most any home theatre. Expect ease of use from both the onscreen display and remote. Fast search and startup time will satisfy the most impatient of us. The only general complaint I have would be for the 5.1 crowd, as the 715 lacks 5 channel output connectivity. However, since I myself personally left 5.1 for optical, have only the gripe that it does not come in a black chassis. This is a fantastic unit at a great price and I would recommend the NS715P to anyone.

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This player is one of the best DVD players out there for the price. Not only does it feature options that high end players have: such as progressive scan and multi-format playback, but at this price it's a STEAL!

That being said, there is one thing that SONY should have added to this DVD player: the ability to read ID3 tags. Although the player allows you to navigate through an on-screen menu to the song you want, it only displays the title that you give your file on-screen. It does not display the info from the ID tags such as genre, track numbers and artist. However, the player does have the ability to scroll the file name of your song on its front display.

By the way, for those of you who are having problems with playing CD-Rs with MP3 on them, be sure to burn the CD as an ISO 9660 format, level 1 or level 2 or joliet. So far all the media i've placed in the player worked flawlessly.

I've searched the internet and found that Amazon and [their partners] have the lowest price for this player.

Read Best Reviews of Sony DVP-NS715P Progressive-Scan DVD Player Here

For {$$$}, this DVD is what all DVD players should be. AWESOME picture using the progressive mode. I have the Philips 30" widescreen and the pictures is simply out of this world. Crystal clear details and I find my self watching all my favorite dvds to see what I have missed before! You have done it again Sony! Thanks.

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I just bought this as a replacement for my Toshiba that was a few years older. I bought this mainly because I just got a 36in HDTV widescreen and wanted good progressive scan capabilities and optical sound output to my new receiver. This DVD is fantastic I have yet to experience any of the problems I read about, the anamorphic conversion is great, the letterbox edges are crisp and smooth the picture is wonderfull. The numerous jacks make it possible to get this up and running on any system but if you have the choice use the optical sound because it is amazing.

I purchased this DVD player from a local retailer in 2001 and I have been very impressed with the picture quality it displays on my 36" Wega HDTV. The video has absolutely no scan lines that I can see within a reasonable distance from the HDTV.

The audio outputs allow you to have either optical (my preference) or coax digital out. The player also offers a switch on the back to choose either Progressive, Interlaced, or Auto select video signal. The remote is very easy to use and has all the functions you would need to operate even the most feature rich DVD. The remote will also allow you to operate any Sony television but notably lacks some important more complicated functions (just enough to force you to have your HDTV remote on the coffee table 'just in case').

All around great player and considering the price is currently less than half what I paid for it (but so is the HDTV--oh the price of cutting edge technology that becomes outdated in a year), it becomes economical as well.

Oh, one last thing, it is also one of the few DVD Players that Sony made at the time offering MP3 playback (maybe Sony's softening up on their anti-MP3 stance) as well as VCD. Both of which I use on a regular basis.

If you are looking for a multi-disk player I would recommend the Denon 5 disc carousel. I currently use that DVD player on my larger T.V. in the family room.

Sony 4GB MicroSD Digital Voice Recorder

Simple operation and excellent quality. It has the perfect size.

Its design is also very nice

Easy to use. It has almost all the functionalities you will need. Too bad that does not come with microphone jack

Pioneer CDJ-2000 Nexus Multi Player with Wi-Fi

• Industry's first DJ player with Wi-Fi source connectivity
• Free rekordbox music management software included
• Redesigned 6.1" full color LCD display with new graphic user interface
• Pro DJ Link: Sync up to 4 CDJ-2000nexus to share one audio source, Beat Sync, and identify music key via Traffic Light
• Performance functions including Slip Mode and Quantize

I decided to buy these and upgrade from first generation 2000's, earlier this year. The difference was noticeable immediately. The quality of the build was superior, the construction, the overall feel much smoother. I especially like the jogwheel-it feels much more like real vinyl and it does not make a plasticky cheap sound when you turn it like the old 2000's. But it was the waveform that really sold me afterall. Having used traktor pro for the last few years after switching from vinylI really missed the waveform. With the nexus and rekordbox you don't need any software at all. It has all the added features of software and more. So with all the effects, slipmode, waveform, superior build I would recommend this over the 2000's any day. Especially with the price almost being the same it is a no brainer. Although if you plan to use software I don't see the point of getting these>> but I myslef don't see the use for software unless you plan to DJ with Ableton! Step up your game to these or stay with traktor and a 4 channel MIDI controller..

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