Wednesday, November 19, 2014
GE 87673 4-Feet A Plug to A Plug HDMI Cable, Braided
Friday, October 17, 2014
Cyclops Gear HD Video Sunglasses - Black
Sunday, September 21, 2014
TIVO HD, HD XL & Series 2, Series 3 AC Power Adapter Cord
Do NOT BUY THIS. LOOK ELSEWHERE!This is the best power cord ever! Why did I wait so long to get one! And the fact that it comes in black, black or black..... Well, lets just say I was overwhelmed ...
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Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Sylvania SDVD8737 7-Inch Dual Screen Portable DVD Player with USB/SD Card Reader
- 7-inch LCD display
- Dual Screen DVD Player, 2 screens for the double the enjoyment. Watch your favorite digital content via built-in USB/SD Card reader AND Compatible with DVD, DVD+-R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW, MP-3, JPEG
- Stereo Audio Output; Headphone Jack
- Includes; 2 x Earphones, Headrest mounting kit, Remote Control, AC/Car Adaptor
- New and improved easy mounting system - Just insert screens into pouch and with one clip the pouch attaches to the head-rest!
Pros:
easy to set up
has SD card/USB slots
Remote control
Good connecting cables
can use it both in car and also as a normal portable dvd player
CD to USB ripping from the player
Cons:
Cannot play different movies in each of players. Only one device has DVD/SD/USB slots. Other one is a just a LCD display.
Not convenient to change DVDs as you need to take the player out of its straps and change it.
Does not play from where it stopped
Average picture quality
No battery back up, needs to be connected to powers source all the time.
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I spent a bunch of time looking for displays for the car. I also wanted a player that did not need DVDs and this unit filled those requirements! It will play SD cards and USB drives. I used a 8 GB microSD card with SD adapter and I could put 8 movies on the card. About 1GB per movie.The interface is simple to use and the video quality is great!
Since it has two screens I was also able to use the main unit to play movies from the SD card and the second display to play movies from my iPOD. This let me play two different movies on each display! It was great. My 1 year old could watch Baby Einstein while my 2.5 year old watched Dora.
Unit has everything need to connect and mount in the car. The headrest mounts were very easy to use and mount. They are also very easy to remove. The system includes a great carry bag as well to store everything if you want to remove from the vehicle.
The units also work great in the house or hotel room. They have handy little kick stands on the back of the units to enable you to put them on a desk of floor.The Sylvania SDVD8737 7-inch Dual Screen portable DVD player made my 10 hour trip with my three kids that much more bearable. Changing the DVDs was very easy for my twelve year old son who played the "Gatekeeper" to ensure the younger kids didn't get bored. The volume wasn't too loud and when the littlest went to sleep the older kids were able to hook up the head phones and keep watching. I was very happy with the ease of set-up and the ease of use. Overall I am very happy that I bought this before this last trip. I haven't used the USB/SD portion yet, but I did test it and it works really well. I think that next time we go on a long drive I will load up an SD card with some movies to make it easier for them.
Oh, and the New and Improved mounting system is AWESOME!! It Velcros onto the headrest, and to change out the DVD there is two straps that you can undo on the main DVD player, and it will hold against the headrest so you never have to take it down. It never slipped and we never had any problems with it. By the end of the trip my 4 year old was giving directions!
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I haven't written an Amazon review before. But getting this player was a bit of an adventure, so I thought it might be helpful to add some input. I haven't seen any other dual-screen players that take USB, which is what makes these players so great to me. The kids throw DVDs around, they get all scratched up. With a USB stick, the movies play perfect every time. It's like having a tablet or a laptop for movies, except cheaper. I started with the SDVD8732, because it was less expensive. I bought it on Ebay. It is plastic looking, and plastic feeling. The mounting system, as the reviews indicate, is a little ridiculous. And what I got, as the reviews indicate, had a slave monitor that didn't work. So I returned it. The SDVD8737, in comparison, looks and feels much more solid. The mounting system is greatly improved (although, be aware, it doesn't work perfectly on all headrests). It doesn't have a battery, like the SDVD8732. But, to me, this isn't really a problem. It would be nice to take it around and play it off the battery. But, on the flip side, you don't have to worry about turning it off when you get out of the car; when the car turns off, the player turns off. To me, that's actually a convenience. I could be wrong, but it appears to start a movie from where it left off; maybe it has to do with the way the movie is coded? And, I haven't really had any problems with coding the movies properly. All the movies on my card are .avi format, and I've had one out of thirty or forty that hasn't played.My opinion about why the slave monitor goes bad is like this. Most people don't hook these up so that the wires go directly, horizontally, between the two headrests. Most people probably run the wires down the side of the seat, and up the side of the next seat. But the connector is a straight connector that comes straight out of the monitor. My guess is that kids probably pull on the cord, pull on the connector, and probably end up cracking the soldering on the jack inside the monitor. This happens to music players too. What they really need is right-angle connectors for the TRRS cable, so that there is less tension on the connectors. And longer cables, that actually go to the floor. I tried to do this myself with some after-market cables to replace the AV cables that came with the kit. But... the TRRS connectors in this kit appear to be proprietary, not standard. The tip is too long. That's a shame. It's a design flaw. Just make sure that you have the cables fixed to the seat near the monitors in a way that there isn't any tension on the connectors, and that there won't be any tension if the cables accidentally get pulled on.
Other than that, we've had this kit for several months now and really enjoy itthe round main button is impossible to press without touching the circle buttons. when sitting in the car and trying to press the one in the middle to "PLAY" the cd, it takes me about 5 times. bad design!
other than that no battery, so the movie will restart all over every time you start the car.
Monday, June 30, 2014
Opteka Gold Plated high speed HDMI to mini-HDMI 6' Cable For Canon Vixia HF M30, M31, M32, M40, M41
Sunday, June 8, 2014
PIONEER DV-220V-K 1080p HDMI UPSCALING REGION FREE DVD PLAYER w/ USB Input
There's the DV-220V-K (US Version) and the DV-220KV-K (European/Asia Version) aka "K" Version. Please note, the extra "K" in the second model stands for Karaoke and will come with a microphone Jack and echo effects knob in the front for optional karaoke. For whatever reason they are both listed as just the DV-220V-K on the title page, but if you double check on the product details & model number below, the region free one should indicate DV-220"K"V-K.
Here's where it gets a bit technical...
Some of the "K" versions from Europe (Region 2) were originally designed to handle 220v-240v (this is not what you want for use in the US). But most "K" Versions from Asia like Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia or Singapore should indicate on the back of the unit that it will handle voltages ranging from 110v-240v just like most laptop adapters do, making them more suitable for international usage. The K Versions comes standard with an European/Asia Pin type Power Cord, but the sellers should give you a U.S. Prong adapter Plug to fit into U.S. Socket Outlets, because it was not originally intended for the USA. Also note, The US version (Region 1) can only handle 110V.
Tech Bonus...
The "K" Version also has a twin wave laser pick up system,(which reduces noise and increases the units durability, since 1 laser is dedicated to playing CDs and the other laser is dedicated to playing just DVDs) and it's the only "TRUE" Region Free Player, because it has the Dual system Playback ability to handle both NTSC (USA DVVDs) and PAL (European & Asia DVDs) disc formats. The US Version can only handle NTSC, but not PAL format.
This would explain why some buyers who purchased the player and got the US Region Free version, complained that it wouldn't play some of their discs, b/c it's probably a PAL formatted disc and you need a region free that handles both NTSC& PAL, so be sure to check the seller's note to make sure you're getting the region free K Version, aka DV-220"K"V-K.
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I have several region "0" DVDs which will NOT play on my older Toshiba DVD player plus a few region 2 which won't. After reading the reviews on this product I purchased it from World Wide Distributors. It arrived in 2 days complete with an HDMI cable (you DON'T need to buy it separately if purchasing from this company) which is of no use to me as I have a SONY WEGA TV, before HD days. Simply pluggged the included red-white-yellow leads into the player and the TV, powered it up, and immediately without any adjusting it played a region 0 which would not play on the Toshiba player, a region 1 of course played fine, and then a region 2 played as well. A friend has a recent model player from another company, much more expensive, in which you must enter a variety of codes to make it play the various regions. Not so with the Pioneer insert the DVD and the player figures out what to do to make it play. It will also play my photo CDs a nice bonus. What more could you ask for in this price range! Fantastic, highly recommended!Read Best Reviews of PIONEER DV-220V-K 1080p HDMI UPSCALING REGION FREE DVD PLAYER w/ USB Input Here
I bought this to play .avi / divx files and the upscaling feature is incredibly good for the price. My old player would show the pixels if the file was of a lower quality but this player delivers a high quality version.I did a lot of research before buying this unit and it paid off.
Spare yourself some time and go with this one if you are looking for an inexpensive multi-media dvd player.
My wife also likes the easy to use remote control.
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Other reviewers have discussed the more technical aspects of this DVD player, so I'll confine myself to the following:Why buy an all region player? Because there are many good movies that are not available in Region 1, or in NTSC format. It's as simple as that. And this player has features that many do not:
1) When you press PAUSE or PLAY, this is indicated on the screen for a few seconds; then the indicator disappears, so it doesn't interfere with the picture.
2) The keys of the remote are of the soft touch type, making it easy to use.
3) You can advance or reverse the picture one frame at a time. (When doing this, the player will occasionally freeze. When this happens, just press the OPEN button, then close the tray again, and the DVD will be playing normally.)
4) The display button shows time elapsed and time remaining for the entire movie and for each chapter. And it's easy to read.
5) The slow motion feature can be set to run at 1/2 speed, or 1/4, or 1/8, or 1/16 -forward or reverse.
6) In addition, the Pioneer has the standard options of variable fast forward and jumping to the next chapter.
My only reservation is that the times are given in MM:SS, not H:MM:SS. So if you see 112:43 it means 1:52:43. Once you get used to this you can enjoy playing DVDs from anywhere in the world, on a quality player, at a price that's a bargain. Highly recommended.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Verbatim 96434 25 GB 4x Blu-ray Single-Layer Recordable Disc BD-R, 1-Disc Jewel Case
EDIT:
For some reason the burning software just didn't like these. Fixed the glitch and don't have any issues at all with these disks. I actually buy the 6x ones in bulk when needed now. Updated from 3 to 5 stars.These Blu-rays looks like a great deal when in fact is a losing/losing situation because after some time the data gets lost. I made 2 of them as a backup for photos and they last about 1 year but the ones that I used to burn movies only last a couple of months... Be aware of this so you do not lose important data like me, better paid more for a Japanese Model like TDK or SONY.
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I was NOT able to burned a single one... don't think it was my fault, I've been using BD media for a long time but looking to save some money I lost it all.Blu-Rays used before without problems:
TDK Blu-ray Disc 10 Pack 50GB 4X BD-R DL Printable
TDK Blu-ray Disc 50 Spindle 25GB 4X BD-R Printable
Panasonic Blu-ray Disc 20 Pack 25GB 6X BD-R PrintableBuena respuesta por parte del vendedor. Lo recomiendo, tiempo de entrega cumplido según lo indicado. Cumple las especificaciones y descripciones
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I have been using these discs for about 15 months to store my surveillance videos on. I use one per week (about 70 discs so far) and store from 16Gb to 20GB on each one. I have not found a single defective disc.Sunday, May 11, 2014
Polycom Voicestation 500 Analog Conference Phone with Bluetooth
Sound quality is brillant, and all the people on the office have synced there variety of phones ( it allows for mulitple phones to be pre-synced so you can just grab the unit anytime ) to the unit, so they can instantly make any call a a conference call.
We have Iphone 3G / 3GS and two very basic motorola GSM phones, and they all work perfectly with the unit.
The analog line input works well as a back up too, and it is mostly plugged into a vonage line , since it is very easily switchable to jump on a bluetooth connect after they have been paried ( a single button ).
Also the PC input has been usefull for use on skype calls.
It is truly the swiss army knife of conf phones, for the modern communicator.
The only negative is it is not rechargable, so it is tethered where as it works with all the cordless phones.
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I purchased the Polycom Voicestation 500 in the hopes that I would be able to have hands free calling in my home office. Having used the full sized polycom phones ( Polycom SoundStation2 ) I had high hopes that this could be my main phone for conference calls.Alas the sound pickup is simply not that good. Sitting 2 feet away speaking facing the phone I still get comments like "I can't quite hear you". The phone works better than say my iPhone speakerphone, but not nearly as well as the full size ones. In the end I ended up getting a Plantronics headset ( Plantronics CS-55 ) which worked much better.
Listening on the Voicestation is, on the other hand, great. You can hear everyone clearly and with plenty of volume. (It is quite clear at the lowest volume level, I sometimes wish I could turn it down more.)
The blue-tooth functionality worked fine for me. (Note some documentation implies that you can link a blue-tooth headset to the phone, you can not. Linking a phone worked fine. ) Be aware some others have had problems linking some phones (the droid). Check around before purchasing.
In the end, I use the Voicestation simply to dial out then switch to the plantronics headset to talk. Or to listen to conference calls where I do not need to talk much. Far less than what I expected to be able to do.
My advice, either spend the extra money to buy a full sized polycom or get a good quality headset.
Read Best Reviews of Polycom Voicestation 500 Analog Conference Phone with Bluetooth Here
If you work out of a small office or home office, you undoubtedly have found the need to use a speakerphone from time to time. Many high-end desk phones offer a decent speakerphone built in but they keep you tethered to your desk, as you need to be right next to the phone for your callers to hear you clearly. You may also find yourself using a cell phone quite often, and the speakerphone capabilities of cell phones can be pretty lame. Although you can purchase a Bluetooth remote speaker for your cell phone, you have to remember to charge it, and they still have limited volume and require that you stand right next to them in order for your voice to be heard clearly by your callers. Big corporations use large, conference room speakerphones for offices and meeting areas, but those can be quite expensive and are overkill for a home office environment. Wouldn't it be great if a manufacturer of these large corporation speakerphones would develop a product for the small office or home office user?Polycom is the leader in big business teleconferencing and videoconferencing equipment. In nearly every large corporation you will find a Polycom speakerphone sitting in the middle of their conference rooms. Polycom knows the importance of having a speakerphone that will produce clear sound while also utilizing sensitive microphones for picking up voices from across the room. While most of their previous products, most notably their "SoundStation" series, were developed for large rooms, they have developed a new line of speakerphones that are designed specifically for smaller rooms and offices. This design is part of the new "VoiceStation" series, which is basically a miniaturized version of the basic SoundStation model. This review is for the VoiceStation 500, which incorporates Bluetooth technology, allowing you to use this speakerphone with a Bluetooth equipped cellular phone as well as any normal analog phone line. This allows you to make and receive calls from your main phone line, yet also allowing you to make and receive calls, wirelessly, from your cell phone. Although this new VoiceStation 500 is certainly not cheap, it is definitely less expensive than investing in a high end SoundStation series speakerphone, which doesn't yet offer the Bluetooth connectivity.
Although the VoiceStation 500 would seem to be the perfect solution for nearly any business, it does have a few limitations, which Polycom clearly identifies. Most important of these is that it is designed for desktops, offices, and small rooms with up to three or four participants. It is not suited for large meeting rooms or conference rooms. The microphones are rated for an ideal range of no more than 7 feet. There are three microphones located on the device, which are placed at the end of three leg-like extensions. The entire base unit is shaped a bit like a triangle. This is supposed to offer a 360-degree microphone coverage range. Located in the middle of the base is a generous sized speaker, which produces clear, full-range sound. You have to hear the quality of this speaker to fully appreciate just how good it is. Your callers will sound like they are sitting right next to you, providing the quality of your phone connection is good. Some of the most notable features of this speakerphone, as documented on the Polycom website, are as follows:
* Bluetooth connectivity to mobile phones or PCs, for wireless, hands-free voice conferencing.
* Wired connections where Bluetooth is not available or needed.
* Acoustic Clarity Technology for natural, free-flowing conversations.
* Resists interference from mobile phones.
* Dynamic Noise Reduction to reduce background noise.
* Up to 7-feet of 360-degree microphone coverage.
* Compact industrial design fits well on a desk or small table.
* Legendary voice quality at an affordable price.
* Works well with Internet calling services (i.e., Skype), when connected to computer.
The Polycom VoiceStation 500 ships with the following items in the box:
Main Telephone Console Unit
Power Supply Module
21 ft. Cord to Console
7 ft. Telco Cable to RJ-11 Telephone Jack
4 ft. Cell Phone Connection Link Cable (for non-Bluetooth cell phones)
4 ft. Computer Calling Cable (for non-Bluetooth computers)
User Guide, Warranty and Registration Paperwork
Setting up the Polycom VoiceStation 500 is very straightforward. The included user guide is very easy to read and understand, and it includes several useful illustrations. The power supply is somewhat bulky, and must be plugged into a wall outlet or power strip, so you may need to reorganize some of your other plugs to make room for this gigantic power supply. The telephone cable, which must be plugged into your household telco jack, also plugs into the power supply. You then connect the supplied 21 ft. cable from the power supply to the VoiceStation console unit. Within a couple of seconds you will be greeted with a "Bong" sound, letting you know that the VoiceStation 500 is powered up and ready for use. The console unit includes a keypad for entering telephone numbers, activating the speakerphone, adjusting volume, muting the microphones, and also includes a flash button and redial button. There is also a Bluetooth button, which toggles between on/off and pairing modes. Pairing the VoiceStation 500 is roughly the same a pairing a Bluetooth headset with your cellular phone. When you place your VoiceStation into pairing mode and your cell phone into Bluetooth discover mode, your cell phone should discover the VoiceStation 500 as "PLCM VS500." For a password you simply enter `0000' on your cell phone. The VoiceStation will then emit a series of tones, indicated that the device has been successfully paired with your cellular phone. For non-Bluetooth cell phones and computers, you can use one of the provided audio cables to connect the VoiceStation to the 2.5mm headset port on your cell phone or to the 2.5mm microphone in and audio out port on your computer sound card. The Polycom user guide gives detailed instructions on how to perform all of these steps, and how to use your computer and VoiceStation to utilize Internet phone services, such as Skype.
I have used a few of the VoiceStation 500 units over the past several months and really enjoy them. The sound quality is outstanding, the microphone sensitivity is wonderful and the Bluetooth feature is extremely useful. The console unit is compact and takes up very little desk space. My only complaints with this device are that it does not have an LCD display, for showing the numbers that you are dialing (or for Caller ID), and that it does not have any form of speed dialing features. When making a call from the VoiceStation, on your standard telephone line, you have to manually key in the phone number you wish to dial. I am used to selecting frequently dialed numbers from a built-in address book on my phone system, so having to punch in the numbers manually is a bit of a pain. However, when paired with my Bluetooth cell phone, I can utilize the speed dial on my cell phone to make the calls. Although the inclusion of an LCD display and speed dial (or built-in address book) features would make the Polycom VoiceStation completely perfect, the lack of these features does not lower my overall rating of this product.
I am giving the Polycom VoiceStation 500 speakerphone a 5 star rating, due to the fact that it performs exactly as claimed by the manufacturer and because it actually exceeded my expectations in sound and call quality. I have searched the Internet for a device that is more capable than the VoiceStation 500 and I have not been able to find anything that would suite my needs or the needs of the average small office or home office better. This is an excellent product and I highly recommend it for anyone needing a quality speakerphone for their home or small office environment.
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I purchased the Polycom Voicestation 500 principally to "do" conference calls from my computer using Skype. I was delighted to know that I could use my smart phone as a back up for those circumstances when the internet connection via Skype was not adequate to support good conference calling. Imagine my surprise when my 2 year old smart phone, with Bluetooth stack 2.1 would not connect with the Voicestation 500... it would "pair" but not "connect". Apparently the Bluetooth stack in the Voicestation 500, according to Polycom's tech support, is v1.1 and my phone is not backward compatible that far. Naturally Polycom says it's the phone manufacturer's fault. And there is not much that the phone manufacturer is willing to do (backward compatible with Bluetooth stack v1.2 but not v1.1). I'm very disappointed.I will also say that the unit worked perfectly with my computer (MACBook), via Bluetooth, and Skype and I'm pleased about that.
Nevertheless, it seems unreasonable that Polycom takes no responsibility for the age of their Bluetooth stack in this environment of rapid technological change. Their engineers let them down.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Sony Bravia XBR KDL-40XBR7 40-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV
- 16:9 Full HD 1080p Resolution Panel (1920x1080)
- Motionflow 120Hz technology delivers natural motion )
- BRAVIA Engine EX fully digital video processor
- Advanced Contrast Enhancer circuit (ACE)
- x.v.Color technology
In the comparison of apples to apples (V-series from 2 years back against the current XBR7), the difference in picture quality is amazing. The color contrast is better (without the need to be in 'torch mode'), and the "blurring" is almost gone.
If I am comparing the unit to another, please assume it's the Sony KDL-40V2500 unit unless otherwise specified.
Menus:
The XMB menu system is great. There is a bit of lag when switching from category to category though. It's just in the animation. The function isn't hindered. The adjustments (that make everyone's heads spin) have some added comments to help you decide which setting is best. It's a nice added feature, but I would still use the best tool to adjust the set: your eyes. Many home theater "elites" will criticize all of the added "picture enhancers" Sony has added. I would ignore their advice of "turn if all off" and simply adjust the set to what looks best to you. Of course, a simple calibration baseline does do wonders: Digital Video Essentials: HD Basics [Blu-ray]
Source: DirecTV HR21 HD-DVR Connected via HDMI to Receiver, then to TV
The HD content has a more crisp and clear look to it. The "MotionFlow" should be either set to Off or "Standard", as the "High" setting is a bit dizzying. It gives a smooth "flowing" visual effect which makes content look great OR horrible (depends on your eyes and personal preference). Many movies (HBO HD, 1080i broadcast, I think) look fantastic. It's almost as clear as having the actual BluRay. The SD content PQ has slightly improved, but nothing amazing.
Source: Playstation 3 (60 gb Launch model) Connected via HDMI to Denon Receiver "Pure Mode" (bypasses any receiver processing), then to TV
Stunning. That is the word that best describes the quality. The first thing I watched after setting up the TV was Batman: The Dark Knight. The detail in the dark scenes were quite impressive. Most LCDs will produce a very dark gray since it's near impossible to reproduce black. This unit get's VERY damn close in my opinion. Details can actually be seen in the dark scenes now (the V2500... couldn't distinguish much). Film content (24p) is best viewed with MotionFlow OFF. With the feature on, it looks like the main subject(s) on the screen are slightly popping out from the rest of the scene. It's an interesting look, but it's not for me.
When gaming, there is no motion blur (1080p and 720p) that I noticed. The V2500 had some blur issues. The colors are crisp and vibrant. Details can be seen even in the darkest of rooms. This is definitely a noteworthy contender if gaming is the main function of this TV.
Source: Lenovo T500 Notebook via HD15 Directly connected to TV
Intel on-board graphics test... will test ATI Graphics at a later date
Everything looked fine. I was running the native resolution for the notebook's screen (1600 by 1050, or something in that ballpark). The text was easy to read. I haven't been able to do full resolution (1920x1080), but will try the next time I connect it.
Overall, this is a great unit. There were very little gripes I had about the unit. It's near flawless. Some say the XBR6 quality is the same. I unfortunately didn't have the luxury of a XBR6 and XBR7 side by side for a true comparison. To save a few bucks, I'd recommend checking out the XBR6 also. The only difference that MIGHT exist is a 8bit (XBR6) versus 10bit (XBR7) panel... but Sony never indicates what the XBR6 actually has. Rumors have it that they both use 10bit panels and it's just hidden in the XBR6 documentation so the XBR7 will have a larger arsenal to market with.
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I've held off on buying a 1080P set until I could get what I wanted, and not just get what was just within my generally limited price range. My spouse set the size limit at 40" because of the room size (I would have pushed for a 46" but in marriage you have to choose your battles...) When I've gone to Costco or Best Buy the Sony Bravia XBR series has always stood out. Since my television sets generally last me 15-20 years, I wanted the most up-to-date version of the best I could get.The color and definition of what I have seen on the set so far are wonderful. Razor-sharp imagery has always been important to me, both in my years as a film exhibitor and as a photographer. One of the first things I checked out on the new set is one of the "Planet Earth" Blu-Ray discs -dependably gorgeous and detailed. Next, a Blu-Ray disc of 1938 "The Adventures of Robin Hood". The definition holds in the action scenes when men and horses are streaming across the screen, while the sense of dimensionality is frequently beyond what would have been technically possible with the best film printing and exhibition at the time the film was made. Then I looked at a standard definition disc of an early 1940s comedy (Criterion's edition of "Heaven Can Wait"); the upscaled presentation on this television set is beautiful. I grew up on nitrate prints from the UCLA film archive; for the first time since then I feel like I can see film imagery with a comparable (or better) sharpness and luster. As great as this set will be for HBO High Definition broadcasts and Blu-Ray discs, this is also a cinephile's dream television set for something like the new Fox release of Murneau and Borzage silent films due out next week.
I'm thrilled. This was worth the wait.
Read Best Reviews of Sony Bravia XBR KDL-40XBR7 40-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV Here
Everyone seem to start a review with " i don't usually write reviews" but honestly i don't.I am an IT guy and i love electronics. Music and tv are my passion and this is why i decided to write about this tv, because i care.
Now as far as the 40-xbr7
Looks: Wow the most gorgeous, slickest TV i have ever seen.
Sound: Great sound even though i am planning to get a high end surround system later on this year.
Picture quality: I am very happy with the deep levels of black on this set. I like the work that 120hz does with the 3 different types of settings it has ( even though you can't chose a 120Hz ON or OFF option per say)I have ATT U-Verse which i absolutely despise and i think offers the worst quality of picture to day and i can't wait to change it. Having that said, the xbr7 has a ten times better quality then the 37" Visio that i have right next to it.
Overall positives: Great deep black levels, unbelievably warm colors, tons of options to adjust the quality of the picture, excellent gui etc etc.
Negatives: there is white "halo" on both top corners of the TV when changing channels and the screen is all black. This got me worried in the beginning and i hope it will not get worst in the future but for now it is just a minor detail. ( i don't know if the warranty will cover it or not"
Would i recommend it to a friend?
Yes i would.
Would i recommend it to a family member?
Of course i would.
Conclusion: Overall a great TV that does a very good job with regular channels and a superb job with HD channels. For the amount of $ that i purchased the TV it is well worth it. Ah and one more time: if you learn anything from this review besides the fact that this TV is just as good as it looks, Learn from my mistake and don't get ATT U-verse because you will definitely regret it.
---------
Update:
I have had the TV for few months now and it has surpassed my expectations. My primary objective was to find a tv that will do a good job at non HD channels and boy did i find one. I changed the Cable provider and now i have Cox. What can i say i still keep on smiling when i look at every channel wether it is HD or not because the quality is just superb.
Even the "Halos" "Clouds" they just disappeared and i have not seen them for over a month now. I would definitely give it a 5 star without any hesitation.
I love this TV and i would not hesitate to buy it again in a heartbeat and i am glad i stuck with Sony brand.
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I bought this TV on March 2nd and it was delivered on March 9. Ceva did a good job, but the guy told me that he wasn't supposed to help me to mount the TV on my stand. Whatever the TV picture is spectacular; there are no words to describe exactly the picture quality, I live in a condominium where the TV signal from Comcast is free, the picture quality is great but note that you get 3 different kinds of signal when you have cable; analog, digital 480 and HD 1080i and the analog and digital makes a big difference, I repeat a big difference, now HD channels are awesome, completely breathtaking incredible....and Then I connect my indoor HD amplified Terk antenna and that's almost another word the image is perfect , incredible perfect. But the day after I received my TV I found on the hallway one of the cable company techs and I asked him about the signal quality from his company and we started talking about their service, the guy was very nice telling me ...never order cable service if you have a HD TV only use Satellite company , because the quality it's so obvious , he told me that the cable signal lose quality thru the cable instead of satellite everything is thru the air and the signal is 100% digital and 100 % HD. That's why I'm ordering direct TV. But I do recommend this TV to anyone looking for the best TV and the best quality TV, why I put it this way? Because I started doing my research to buy a TV like 6 months ago and I found that the best picture quality is with Samsung series 600,700 and 800. BUT there is so many complaining about quality, like features that doesn't work as promised, the frame peeling off etc etc and Sony Bravia processors make the image looks so great in standard signal or HD. BECAUSE when you are shopping around for a HD TV in your local stores note that almost all TVs looks great, almost every single one have great picture , WHY? Because those are connect to a HD air antenna, Satellite or Blu ray (which those 3 are HD signals) but when you take it home, the history is 100 % different because in the real world we don't have all the channels in HD the majority are standard digital signal. That's why a good TV and a good TV processor are extremely important, the capacity of the TV to make those standard definition channels look like HD channels, most of the HD TVs now, the picture looks excellent in HD signal, but when you watch standard channels on a HD TV is the biggest test your TV will pass or not and believe me most of the TV out there look terrible in Standard definition, because the processor of the TV doesn't have the capability to upscale the signal near to 1080i. Tell the salesman to connect the TV you are interest in to an standard definition signal and you will see that he will tell you that they don't have standard definition signal in that store. And be realistic.... You can find out there a 40'' TV for 649.00 but also there some TVs that's cost $6,716.23 or like the Sony XBR7 40 that the price list is 2,100.00 but you can get it here in Amazon for 1,400.00, Why there is such price difference in TVs ? Because technology cost, you get what you pay , if you want quality you have to pay for it, if you don't believe me , look right now for the cheapest TV here in Amazon . Recapping...you want the best picture? , well my best advised for you is to go for Sony but also get ready with your wallet because their best ones are expensive. Also I bought this TV because the price was the same that the XBR6 40. And the XBR7 have even a better processor and a woofer not a sub woofer. I hope this review help you to decide..Sony Bravia XBR KDL-40XBR7 40-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV*************************************************************************
This is an update from my previuos review and my pictures that I upload recently. Im so happy with this TV. that I have already for like 2 months. Im 100 % satisfied. two of the best features I like is that I can see my baby pictures from the USB memory stick or also my TV connected to my computer and then I can surf my diferent folders in my Pictures folder from the pc, its incredible that if my pc is off my TV will turn on my pc, I love this tv , the pictures in HD look awesome , like real life... Buy this TV , you will never regreatWe have had our Sony for a couple of weeks now and have enjoyed it very much. This is our first flat screen TV and after a lot of Internet research and multiple visits to our local brick and mortar stores we chose the 40XBR7 as the TV that best fit our needs. We decided early on that we would rather spend more money on picture quality rather than a larger screen size. We do not have cable or dish, only broadcast TV and the quality of the picture is excellent. There is no jitter or jagged edges on fast action sports, skin tones and overall color is excellent on TV dramas. The sound quality is more than acceptable with DVD movies and broadcast TV.
If you want to have the largest screen size you can afford then a 40" TV is going to be too small... but if you need to have one of the best LCD pictures available, good sound quality and Sony reliability then the 40XBR7 is a tough TV to take your eyes off of.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Ultralife Long-Life 9V Lithium Battery-U9VL-JPFP6JN-9V Batteries
- Worlds longest lasting 9V battery - up to 5 times longer than 9V alkaline batteries
- Same footprint as an alkaline 9V battery
- The trusted lithium 9V leader for over 20 years
- Up to 10 year shelf life
- Foil pack
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
CYBERHOME CH-LDV 700B 7-Inch Widescreen Portable DVD Player
- Built-in Stereo Speakers
- Headphone Jack
- Approx. 2.5 Hours Per Battery Charge
- A/V Output for playing DVDs on TVs with no player (perfect for hotel rooms!)
- Includes -headphones, AC adapter, car power adapter, remote control and A/V cable
Cyberhome the company got out of the electronics business, particularly the cheap DVD player business a few months ago (and this is the reason why their site is not running anymore). You will not get any technical or warranty support for the unit if you purchase one. BUYER BEWARE!!!!
REVIEW 10/10/06
The player is relatively cheap compared to the branded ones. Works as advertised if you are lucky enough to have a "working unit".
I bought 2, one each for my two kids. One started to act weird after only a few days of use. The screen would "TURN BLACK" but you would still hear the sound playing. Initially, I thought it was my son who accidentally adjusted the brightness setting or any screen settings for that matter. I spent a good hour or two going through the other working unit and entering the same factory defaults on the other one to no avail. As a last resort, I removed the battery from the unit and placed it back in. That fixed the "BLACK SCREEN" problem temporarily because it would later come back when pressing one of the buttons of the unnit and at the same time tilting the screen (intermitent). So you have to remove the battery all over again to make it work.
If you are stuck with the unit, I would suggest not to move it around when watching a movie. The problem is actually documented on the manufacturer's web site (not accessible for the past 2-3 weeks that I checked) and the ONLY recommened fix is the same as I what I have described above.
Now my other working unit was fine. WAS in the the sense that the middle pin that plugs into the AC adaptor broke off for some reason. Wanted to get an RMA or something but it would be a miracle to try and get cutomer support from the manufacturer. I can't find any contact information at the web site at all. No phone numbers, no emails, nothing.
I'll try to get one from the retailer instead. So if I were you, look for another brand and don't get stuck with a lemon.
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I bought this device this summer when I was on a vacation trip in the US, especailly for my 2 year old son so I can keep him entertained on the transatlantic flight back to Europe. As these things are cheaper in the US (compared to the Euro-currency) I thought it is no big risk if I buy one under 200$ as I can not return it here once I am back home. So my expectations were not high either as if I would buy a brand name device also at a higher price. One thing however I should have better paid attention to is the handling of the battery. Due to a major 'technical design flaw' you cannot shut off the device completely you really have to remove the battery physically otherwise it remains in a standby mode and draws power from the battery up to a point where you cannot recharge it anymore. This happened to mine so now I can run it only on 110 V (here 220 V) or with the car-adapter. But otherwise it works quite well, can also read my self-burned VideoCD (VCD and SVCD). Also a very good feature for someone from Europe: it can be switched also to PAL-TV (the norm for TV here, in the US it is NTSC) and in the menue you can also change the region-code so I can watch the European region-code-2 DVDs here too (to change the region code is an undocumented menue feature and you can find out how to do that that on various internet-forums). Anyway it fulfills its purposes works fine in the car and for 200 $ I didn't expect any high-quality features. I give it an average rating of 3 stars if the battery worked properly it would be 4 stars.Read Best Reviews of CYBERHOME CH-LDV 700B 7-Inch Widescreen Portable DVD Player Here
Update.. 4/4/2005 machine lasted 6 mos. Nearly impossible to contact company. Rude to me when I finally got a real person. This turned out to be absolute JUNK!Everyone is right here, the battery is JUNK. J-U-N-K! Mine lasted just a few days and quit permanently. I'm currently looking for a replacement now. Even fully charged, the battery never lasted more than an hour to an hour and a half. It's true too, the battery does NOT hold a charge IF you leave it in the machine. You have to leave the battery OUT ALL THE TIME if you want the charge to hold. Even if you have it plugged into the wall or car, the battery WILL drain! Keep the battery out, and it stays charged.
As for the machine itself, the picture is beautiful! Very sharp, crystal clear. The carrying case flips over the seat in my van and is PERFECT for my 21 month old to watch his dvd's on long trips.
If cyberhome would do something about the battery issue, I'd give this machine 5 stars. We use it all the time just in the house as our regular dvd player. Kids love it because they can take it right in their beds or to a friends house. It's a very cool and handly little item!
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Please stay away from this DVD player! I was attracted to its price, progressive scan, and included case that turns into a car converter, but the good things ended there.I had two of these units (I exchanged one after one day of use) and neither even came close to working properly. The battery does not hold a charge (and removing it every time it is not in use is a major pain), the sound and video was often out of synch, black and flickering screen, and poor quality buttons that are unresponsive.
It's unfortunate that this player has such terrible build quality because it does have a very nice picture for the price. The list of problems and issues make it impossible for me to reccomend it to anyone though.Do not buy this horrible product. I got this as a present, and I was thrilled to get it. I try to use it in the car, and it will freeze and the screen will go black all the time. The battery also holds a charge horribly. I can not stand this product. I am happy that someone bought me one of these, but I wish they had bought a different brand.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
HP Pavilion dv7t Quad Edition 17.3" Laptop - 2nd generation Intel Quad Core i7-2670QM (2.2 GHz) / 1
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Zoom H2n Handy Handheld Portable Multitrack Recorder Package
Monday, January 13, 2014
DXG DXG-505V 5.1 MegaPixel Camera with 2.4" Rotating LCD
As far as features go, let's run down the list:
1) Pictures. Quite good! Very basic lens, but sharp with decent color, 5.1MP resolution, auto-focus, & flickery electronic flash.
2) Camcorder. Grainy, even in HQ (640x480) mode, with rather low color resolution. Spend $25 and get yourself a 2GB SD card. Haven't tried the Direct Printing support, but it's in there.
3) FM radio & MP3. These work, barely. Clumsy and primitive.
4) Webcam. Yep, this works. You can capture pics or movies with it in Pinnacle Studio or Vegas. Bonus for also being able to record and playback via NTSC.
5) Flash drive. Works just like any other, very easy to get your files in and out of the camera.
6) Audio recorder. Primitive. Sound is fixed at 12KHz mono, and record levels are not adjustable.
So, you get the idea. The LCD rotatable LCD display is excellent, and the firmware is very well done for the most part so as long as you keep your expectations modest, it's a very fun device but strictly for kids and hobbyists.What this is supposed to do best is probably the worst feature of this product, which is recording video. If you don't mind low res video, and just want something to mess around with, then it's fine. It does take good pictures, but if I wanted good pictures, I would've bought a digital camera. Same goes for the mp3 player, radio, and voice recorder. I wanted this for capturing decent video, and it does a really lousy job with what they should have made thier number one priority. I didn't expect too much from this camcorder for it's price, but it's pretty bad when my brothers digital camera, which was cheaper than this, takes much better quality video. So yea, your probably just better off buying a digital camera that records video, because it'll probably be better at pictures and video than this sub-standard camcorder.
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Overall the camera is "okay." It does not come with a memory card so be sure to keep that in mind when purchasing because those alone can cost anywhere from 20 to 200 dollars! I have a 512MB one in it right now, and it's not enough. The camera takes pictures okay, but only in very good lighting. Don't try to use it inside...even the very cool lighting features can't save the poor quality pictures it produces in poor lighting situations. Also, unless you have a very steady hand, most of your pictures will come out blurry or with a glare created from the flash....not sure why that is though...The video it takes is very very very pixeled. You can see colorful dots all over the picture, even when you transfer it to either dvd or your computer. The MP3 features are neat, but it eats up too much space for what it's worth. The camera comes with headphones, usb ports and cords to hook into your tv. Pretty cool, I think. All in all, it's a good camera for what you are paying for...but I would reccommend saving for another month and buying a step up. It's good for a college student like myself, who will in the next few years be building a family and purchasing a better quality camera. :) Hope this helps...Read Best Reviews of DXG DXG-505V 5.1 MegaPixel Camera with 2.4" Rotating LCD Here
I am pleased with the purchase I made and the price I paid.I am still getting aquinted with it. I have one problem, I don't know how to erase the internal storage, which is very little. If there was some more internal storage, it would have beem great. Could do with some help there.
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That's the way, that's the way' uh hu' uh hu I like it uh hu uhTony HawkMonday, January 6, 2014
Dazzle Video Creator Plus HD
- High-quality video-capture device and easy-to-use HD video-editing software
- Turn home movies into DVDs; create movies, slideshows, and more
- Add music, montage themes, transitions, animations, and effects
- Import video from a variety of analog sources; Pinnacle Studio HD included
- Share your movies on YouTube, DVD, and more
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Well I purchased this product a few days ago for recording montages and such off my xbox 360. The installation was easy and only took a few minutes. When I recorded my first gameplay from my xbox 360. I had fames dropped and experienced a ton of audio lag, which was a major problem. I messaged pinnacle studios and they help me out a ton although they take forever to respond in the live chat. But after I changed a few settings in Studio 14 HD it works phenomenally. Another great feature of this product is the Pinnacle Studios 14 HD is very easy to use and is way better then windows movie maker and it has some great features (watch the tutorial videos they show you some cool features). It is definitely a great product and overall I give it 4 stars. I would give it 5 stars, but I do experience audio lag occasionally when I am recording from my xbox 360.Read Best Reviews of Dazzle Video Creator Plus HD Here
The Dazzle "HD" is a joke. It's the same device as the previous Dazzle. They just threw in the "HD" part to trick consumers. The HD part only reflects the program it comes with. Yes, the program "Pinnacle Studio" is HD, but the Dazzle itself does NOT capture HD quality video.The only way it can capture HD quality video is if it is wired through Component cables or HDMI. The dazzle offers none of it. It only offers S-Video and Composite...Which do not provide HD quality videos...
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I Have the Dazzle for about 2 days and have had no problems with it the included pinnacle studio hd 14 is delightful and easy to use it also works with windows movie maker and beats my old dazzle dvc 170 i got back 4 years ago so if your looking for a way to bring tapes over to dvds and looking for a good quality recording tool look no further then the dazzle video creator plus hdDazzle is what it is. I mean, I'm upset that they called this HD, because it definitely isn't, but it's an okay capture card. I have no idea what it is with the bad reviews where people can't get the card to work. It's not dazzle's fault you don't know how to use a computer, lol.The card is okay, I have plenty of edits I've done on youtube, which I would link to show you the quality but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to. Oh well I'll try, youtube dot com slash seed419. You can see PLENTY of examples of what the output will look like from your dazzle HD if you connect it to an xbox 360 with composite video cable. I'm not sure yet if S video makes a big difference, but the cable I need is kinda expensive so screw it.
Anyway, rambling here I guess. Card is meh, quality isn't amazing, neither is the video editing software. If you want REAL HD quality, you're better off getting a higher end capture card than dazzle. Look at my videos I've posted, and decide if that's okay with you. Me, I'm getting a REAL capture card soon, but I'm satisfied with what time I spent with my dazzle ;)
Software sometimes crashes, it's notorious for it...but it saves everything so no big deal...think that's all ;)
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Marantz SR4023 Stereo Receiver
- Large EI core transformer
- Pre-out/Main-in terminals
- Speaker A/B switching
- MM Phono preamplifier
- 80 Watts x 2
This nice receiver has all the features any audio buff could want and then some, including pre-out/main-in jacks and a subwoofer output. Sound quality is also excellent, although I remember being used to a little warmer sound. The 80 watts P/C is more than enough for most rooms, and this unit can handle 4 Ohm speakers with ease. It barely got warm during a listening session with my speakers.
The phono stage isn't the last word in performance, but gets the job done. It audibly buzzs a bit past -30 on the volume control while, but this was mostly unnoticeable while playing vinyl. Also, I heard no outside interference coming through unlike a so-called higher end unit I once owned. A metal screw, rather then the plastic one they used for the ground wire would have been preferred, especially at this price.
The remote is well thought out an easy to use, but it looks a bit similar from both ends. Also, I would have preferred an old fashioned rotating volume nob, with a little indicator light over the goofy -50 to +50 digital volume control, which is confusing and meaningless to most old school people like myself.
The tuner's performance is very good for the money, although I've never had anything much better to compare. An old feature this unit has allowing you to put a station that doesn't come in very well to mono for better sound quality is a welcome return for me. ALL receivers/tuners should have this (are you listening you modern A/V producers???).
Build quality is excellent, although past receivers had full metal face plates. I'm not fooled by Marantz' attempts to justify their cost cutting by hyping it up as "aluminum/resin enforced front panel", although their design is more cleaner and attractive than the older flat panels.
All in all, this may be the best stereo receiver available at the moment from a major manufacturer (the few that are available), and I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to go that route that needs a decent phono stage and doesn't care about multi-channel. The Marantz SR-4023 doesn't do anything extra-ordinarily spectacular, but it doesn't do anything wrong either!
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I owned a 2252B in late 70's early 80's. loved the sound but sold it when I got tired of neighbors, police, landlords, and having to move so many times! I just could not resist cranking it. Over the years I have bought at least ten receivers trying to find THE SOUND I LOVED SO MUCH. Clean, clear bass, mids and treble that were lifelike and not too bright or shrill. WOW DO I LOVE THIS RECEIVER! More than enough power. SOUNDS FANTASTIC! I wanted old school stereo, as if the band is in front of me. I have it hooked to two yamaha YST-SW315 subs and Polk LSi9's. If you want to be the envy of all who hear this setup don't waste a ton of money, This is all you need, Just add DVR and OPPO Blu-ray Player. I also had my Marantz 6300 turntable restored and added a Grado platinum cart. I'm set for life. Oh ya, don't forget room treatments.I bought this reciever with the marantz cc4003 cd player.It was a lot of money for me,but well worth it.I have them hooked up to an older pair of pioneer floor model speakers and an older pair of sansui floor model speakers.What a rich,full sound.Its a lot of money,but worth it.Updated 1/10/11.I bought a pair of polk audio rti a3 bookshelf speakers and they sound really nice with this stereo.I got them from another web site for 382 dollars.Very happy with my new stereo.I bought the Marantz Receiver as a gift. I was able to set it up easily with two sets of speakers, a CD carousel, and the audio/video of a cable box, and DVD player for switching between all the devices with one remote control. It sounds very good. I thought the price was a bit high, but it was ideal for what I wanted to do.I don't know. Seems more economic and may solve several overheating problems as well as grounding of especially tuners. Worth trying!Friday, December 20, 2013
Panasonic SDR-S7 Flash Memory Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom (Black)
As has been said, the battery life is listed at 40 minutes, though I haven't tested that, that's real world use (through starting and stopping, etc.), it should last longer than an hour of continuous shooting. I also bought an off brand replacement battery along with it for $12.
The 3 main requirements I had were small size, low price, and records to flash (Because I knew I'd never use the camera if I had to keep up with tapes, and I didn't trust the performance of DVDs or the longevity of hard drive). If you're willing to accept a slightly lower quality for those things, then this should fit the bill perfectly.I bought this camera as an impulse buy at Best Buy, and I really like it. There are some pros and cons just like anything but so fat the experience is good, and the price was right.
Lets go over the cons first, as for some people the cons will break this camera. First the video quality, no way around it this camera is made for YouTube. You are not going to get great video quality out of this camera, very bad in low light but ok in sunlight. Second the battery life. To be honest it kinda sucks, 40 mins on a charge is a little lower than I wanted considering the size. I want to take this every where and use this all day, but that is not going to happen. The buttons on the camera are also a point of contention, as they have almost no tactile feedback. I would like it if they clicked a little or something, but that is a very small problem.
Now the Pros. The selling point of this camera was the size. It is really small! It fits in my pocket no problem, and I literally take it everywhere. I have even tied it to a kite , and the top of my car just to see if I could, and it was great. Then comes the price, for $299 you can barley beat it, There are some cameras like the Flip but they do not have the flip out LCD (very handy) or replaceable batteries and memory.
Bottom line is this camera is pushed to the YouTube crowd, short videos that you make at parties and stuff like that. Perfect for a Teen with limited cash to spend on their first camera, but wants a little more versatility than the Flip. Or the person like me who has a better camera, but needs something to take everywhere. The sound and video quality are just right for compressing way down and converting to flash, and to be honest if you want to get great video quality spend more money, nothing in this price range is going to be good enough for an HDTV or even many SDTVs.
The battery life issue can also be solved for around 25 bucks by searching the model number(vw-vbj10) of the battery on Google. I have two 3rd party batteries and they work great.
I am happy with my purchase and would recommend it to someone looking for something small and versatile to have fun with.
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I only feel obliged to write this because I have owned both camcorders. I bought the Panasonic at Wal-Mart the 1st of August. I wanted to tape my sons football games with it. The first couple of weeks I tried it ou and it seemed to do OK. Even though the MOD files could not be recognized by my computer the supplied software, while basic, did transfer them from the camera into the computer as mpg files that it would recognize. I successfully created a DVD using Roxio 10. As I used it more I noticed how bad the video was (I guess the newness wore off). The background in shots looked extremely soft and fuzzy. Anything that was close (10 to 15 feet) or if you zoomed way in was OK. When I was really disappointed was when I tried taping my sons first football game. I used it in conjunction with the video mode on my Fuji camera. I just put the panasonic on a tripod and did not zoom in far so I could capture the whole play with out moving the camera. I was not expecting to see good detail doing this but what I got turned my stomach. It was so fuzzy and the color was so bad that I could not tell one team from the other. there was no way I could have ever read a jersey number. Even being able to sort the players by teams would have helped but the video was useless. Luckily I had a few days to still take it back. I paid $299 for it at Wal-Mart. I decided to go with the Canon FS100 ($399 at Wal-Mart but I got mine through amazon for $315). It is a SD Card based camera just like the Panasonic. The Panasonic is the smallest camcorder I have ever seen, so it is handy to have if the video quality is not an issue. The FS100 is about twice the size but fits more comfortably in larger hands (still smaller than a pop can). It feels more solid. When I saw the video I knew I had made the right choice. it records in MOD format also. Unfortunately the software that came with it would not load on my computer. I have heard that the software is not worth much any way. I had WINAMP on my computer which converted them. I have read that you can just change the file name from *.MOD to *.MPG but I have not tried that yet. I had video from the Panasonic on my computer still so i duplicated those shots using the CANON and made another DVD alternating Panasonic,Canon,Panasonic,etc. The difference was unbelievable. If you want a small camcorder for goofing off with friends the Panasonic might fit the bill. If you would actually like to be able to go back and enjoy the videos, produce good DVDs and use the videos as a learning tool, choose the CANON FS100. By the way I just started buying stuff from Amazon and they are wonderful. I ordered the camcorder on Monday about midnight and I was playing with it by noon on wednesday.Read Best Reviews of Panasonic SDR-S7 Flash Memory Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom (Black) Here
I received this unit yesterday afternoon, and started playing with it immediately. Here are my first impressions of the camera.Overall Impressions:
If you have a tight budget, and are looking for a unit that uses standard memory cards for recording (as opposed to a hard drive), produces REASONABLE quality digital video and audio, and has the standard set of features, you'll like this camera. It is compact (which some might think is not good), light-weight and easy to use.
The biggest drawback is not so much with the camera, but with the marketing. It is sold as having "DVD Quality Recording" capability (there is even a label on mine on the side of the camera as a testament to this), which is not the case once you view your first video. If you are okay with a 640x480 resolution image, then you'll be okay with this camera; otherwise, save yourself the trouble if you want REAL DVD quality!
Now, here are some specific pros and cons I have noted so far about the camera. I have included my own personal rating (impact) for each one. Remember, these are MY ratings based on my need.
Pros
1. (Impact: High) The features provided are surprisingly numerous for the price.
2. (Impact: High) Sound quality is better than my previous unit, and seems quite sensitive to sound. The unit records at 48K Hz in 256Kbps AC-3 stereo format (through a single opening on the front of the unit), and offers several selectable special audio recording features (wind reduction and a zoom feature which increases or decreases sounds/noise not directly in front of the camera while zooming).
3. (Impact: High) A 4GB SD memory card can record 50 minutes of XP video and audio (the highest quality available on the camera). With current prices of 4GB SD cards, this is not bad. Note that with 40-70 minutes of battery life, it doesn't make much sense going to a larger memory card unless you have multiple batteries!
4. (Impact: High) The USB connection provides easy transfer of files to a PC or Mac. I had no problems getting my Windows XP Dell computer to recognize the unit, which added the camera as a removable disk. Interestingly, the unit organizes the video files into separate folders (one for each day), although I saw nothing on the unit menu playback that showed the unit uses this information.
5. (Impact: Medium) Price (why I bought the camera). I picked up the camera on sell for $140. I should mention that I would NOT purchase this camera (for its quality and features) for more than this amount!
6. (Impact: Medium) The unit is made in Japan. This might seem an odd "pro" to some but I have exceptional bad experience with electronics made in China, and personally steer clear of such items now. It is possible some parts are Chinese, but I like knowing that the unit comes from somewhere with more experience producing quality electronics.
7. Videos can be created in either letterbox (4:3) or widescreen (16:9) format.
8. The camera has a built-in cover to protect the lens and easy to use.
9. The screen/viewer (monitor) is surprising good (brightness, clarity, clear of defect spots) for the price. We'll see if it stays that way....
Cons:
1. (Impact: High) The battery is a clear con. According to the manual, it takes 2 hr 15 min to fully charge the battery, which lasts from 40-70 minutes. This means it takes at least twice as long to charge as it takes to discharge. I have already resolved to ensuring I keep the camera plugged between even intermittent uses. Besides the long time to charge the battery, you should be aware that the battery will not charge while the unit is turned on. You MUST turn it off to charge the battery.
2. (Impact: High) Be aware that while Panasonic states that the camera will record in 16:9 and 4:3 formats, it is more accurate to state that the camera alters or manipulates the lens to produce the videos. This requires a technical explanation. I examined the file information for a video that I produced in 16:9 (widescreen) mode, and was surprised at a few things. If you record a video in 16:9 format and run the raw .MOD video file directly in a program like MS Media Player, you will note that your videos are compressed (in width) to fit the 704x480 resolution (faces look narrow, circles look oval, etc). Also, the actual video resolution was 704x480 (330K), though the specs in the manual state the effective pixels are 300K in this format. If you do the math, you will see 704x480 is NOT a 16:9 ratio (it is 22:15). This means the videos must be "stretched" horizontally to approximately 853 pixels wide to fit the 16:9 format (or crushed vertically to about 396 pixels, meaning loss of data). With a 21% stretching or crushing, this ultimately affects either video quality or size (which I noted when I played the video back in true 16:9 format). I also examined files in 4:3 video resolution mode and found they ALSO are in 704x480 resolution (though the specs state the effective pixels is 340K.) The stretching/crushing for the 4:3 format is not as severe, so recordings in this format will produce a video that is of slightly better quality than that of the widescreen format (just not in wide-screen). Transforming the raw 704x480 into either 16:9 or 4:3 formats means you will have to do some video editing. If you know how and don't mind the hassle, then you're okay. You will need to use a video editing program like the MotionSD STUDIO software (provided with the camera) to get it into the proper format.
3. (Impact: Medium) While every feature setting can be viewed in the LCD monitor, it took me some time to realize that these features (or ANY menu displays) will NOT appear if the monitor is in "self-portrait" mode (where the screen is flipped out and turned 180 degrees). Also, in this mode, everything you see is a mirror of the image being recorded. This could take some time getting used to if you are moving the camera while having it trained on you as well as images in the background. You can get the features to return (and the image to NOT be in the awkward mirrored mode) by pushing the monitor back against the camera with the monitor screen facing out. I found no explanation for why it was designed this way, but I personally find this odd.
4. (Impact: Medium) You have to plug the AC adaptor into the unit before you can connect the camera to a PC or to your TV for transferring or watching videos. I find this excessively restrictive.
5. (Impact: Medium) The battery/SD card slots are accessed through a door on the bottom of the camera. Unfortunately, I am using the unit on a tripod, which means the tripod connection adaptor, screwed on to the bottom of the unit as well, prevents easy access to the SD card (meaning I can't easily swap out memory cards while recording).
6. (Impact: Medium) Feature settings on the camera are split into "Basic" and "Advanced" but as yet, I cannot discern the logic in how features were assigned. Some I would think are Basic are under Advanced and vice-versa.
7. (Impact: Medium) I have not looked for another battery that would provide a longer life for recording (40 minutes is really not much), but my assumption is that since the battery fits into a slot on the bottom of the unit, it might be hard for Panasonic to produce a more powerful battery that fits here. This means you may need multiple batteries if you're planning an all-day trip or event.
8. (Impact: Medium) Video files are saved as ".MOD" file extensions, although the file seems to comply with the MPEG-2 format. I had no problems getting my computer to recognize this format. However, you should verify you can work with this file type, or be aware that you will need the included software to successfully transfer the files into a .MPG (mpeg) file format.
9. (Impact: Low) The layout of the manual does not make it easy to find specific features.
10. (Impact: Low) The buttons on the side of the camera are relatively small. If you have big hands or fingers, you might find it difficult to work your way through the menus. The good thing is that you are not likely to do this very often.
11. (Impact: Low) No SD memory card comes with the unit (so be sure to purchase your own!)
Want Panasonic SDR-S7 Flash Memory Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom (Black) Discount?
I was looking for a camcorder to capture memories of our kids. I'm pretty cheap and not a video snob. That being said, I wanted a camcorder that wouldn't break the bank and one that I wouldn't be afraid to take out of the house. I purchased it from Best Buy only because I needed it right away, it was on sale for the same price as here. I brought the camcorder home and charged the battery and started shooting. Played it back on 42' DLP HD TV and the picture quality, while certainly not HD, was just a good if not slightly better than our old Sony HI8 camcorder, and this was SP video setting (medium). I tried some recording using XP setting (highest quality) and didn't notice enough of a difference to sacrifice half of the recording time. Dark settings do not record well, I think there is a night setting but haven't explored that yet. The 40 minute life of the battery isn't anything for Panosonic to brag about but for my needs, multiple 1 to 2 minute clips and occasional longer ones, its longer than you think. I found many websites that sell the battery for as little as $11.00 and ac/dc chargers for $20.00, a very affordable solution in my opinion. Now the ultimate test, will it work with my macbook? Yes. Sold. I just pluged it in and iphoto grabbed the still pics and imovie grabbed the vids. I have a new macbook w/ intel processor and iMovie '08, I understand older versions will not work. To sum it up, Affordable price, good video quality, compact and lightweight, and not afraid to take it anywhere. It is just what I was looking for.Saturday, December 7, 2013
Califone 1776 Spirit Multimedia Player/Recorder
- Top loading CD player tailored for school use with skip, search, random play and brightly visible LCD display on front; Convenient carrying handle for portability between classes
- Reinforced jointing point on its telescoping antenna for durability; AM/FM radio; Recessed speakers behind protective steel grills prevent accidental damage
- Built-in mic records student responses or projects to tape; External casing made with rugged ABS plastic for safety; and durability in high-use situations
- Auto-stop cassette player records from the CD player, radio; CD digital counter to quickly locate lesson materials
If you want a great sounding player and one that isn't going to quit after lot's of use. This is the player for you.

