The original adapters were lost and we had to by a replacement. I selected this one because it is one cable with both the charging and syncing adapters attached, therefore I didn't have to carry around two cables.Save 37% Off
Hot Sync and Charge Straight USB cable for the Palm palm Zire 72 - Charge and Data Sync with the sa
The original adapters were lost and we had to by a replacement. I selected this one because it is one cable with both the charging and syncing adapters attached, therefore I didn't have to carry around two cables.
Standard STD-CMP30W RAM3 Remote Control/Microphone with Integral Speaker (White)
I am pleasantly surprised at the quality and functionality of this product. It is a substantial and well-built product. It installed without a hitch and to my surprise allows access to practically all of the radio functions right from the cockpit. The built-in speaker also works well even tho' the connection cable has wires available for an external speaker.
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I have not installed it yet, Still have snow on the boat. but will install in the spring. It will be handy for single handed sailing on Lake Superior this summer
Shure SM57-LC Cardioid Dynamic Microphone
- Contoured frequency response is clean, instrumental reproduction and rich vocal pickup
- Professional-quality reproduction for drum, precussion, and instrument amplifier miking
- Uniform cardioid pickup pattern isolates the main source while reducing background noise
- Extremely durable under heaviest use
- Frequency response 40 to 15,000 Hz
But what's the difference between the SM-57 and the SM-58? Besides the grill, the main difference is Frequency response. Take a look at the charts in the manuals for both, and you'll note that in the slice of spectrum normally associated with the human voice, there's a boost with the SM-58. This may make your voice sparkle a little more on the SM-58, but if you were planning on possibly micing anything else, it's going to also have a boost in the same range, distorting the original sound slightly.
Plus, if you've got a decent equalizer, you can probably achieve close to the same vocal sound the SM-58 provides with just a little tweaking after the fact.
So, if you plan on using your mic for anything beyond singing, I'd suggest the SM-57 over the SM-58 (even though you may not look as cool holding it). And I'd definitely recommend this little baby over those cheaper models. Unless you need a condensor mic, this is the way to go.
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Although this mic is now considered primarily an instrument mic, that was not always the case and I've actually preferred this same basic design for live vocal use since 1970 when I bought my first one which was then known as a "Shure Model 545 Unidyne III." That mic got stolen about 2 years ago, but remarkably was still working at the time it got boosted and I was still using it when I needed one with an on/off switch function. I've owned or used countless modern day SM-58's and SM-57's along with dozens of other mics over the years from all manufacturers. I have a fairly deep baritone to bass type voice and I don't need to get closer than about 7 or 8 inches to a SM-57. To me the SM-57 sounds similar to the $469 Shure SM-7 studio vocal mic if you put a windscreen on it and get about 2 inches away. I'd only use an SM-7 in a studio environment though because they are slightly more fragile and over four times as expensive. By design the SM-58's require you to get much closer to the mic to get a full range sound than with the SM-57's. I prefer the SM-57's over the SM-58's for vocal use because they sound crisper on the highs and they sound fuller on the low end. The SM-57 sounds more natural on vocals and never sounds muddy or muffled. The SM-57 has one of the most pronounced proximity effects of any mic I've ever used. If you tend to shove the mic down your throat you may benefit from the less dramatic proximity effect of the SM-58. If you are ever going to use an SM-57 for vocals I'd recommend buying the Shure A2WS windscreen with it. That genuine Shure windscreen fits precisely and locks securely onto the SM-57. The SM-57 will pop like mad without one. The only possible drawback to the SM57 as a vocal mic is that there is no model available with an on/off switch these days. I can't find a modern SM-57 with a switch anywhere. However, if you've ever tried using a mic when you forgot that the switch was in the off position it probably just became a liability. For my money, the SM-57 is the best all around microphone of the past two generations for stage use and some recording purposes. For studio vocals I'd use an SM-7, which really doesn't sound all that much different from the SM-57 when the built-in variable EQ on the SM-7 is set the way I like. The SM-57 and it's predecessors are to me the best all around microphone since 1970 and certainly the most enduring and durable. You can not go wrong unless you get too close with no windscreen.Read Best Reviews of Shure SM57-LC Cardioid Dynamic Microphone Here
The Shure SM-57 is a work horse microphone that is built solid and very easy to use in various music recording and live performance environments. It's best funtion is to mike a guitar amp and send that signal to the Public Address system if you want to phatten up your instumental signal to a wider audience.It can be utilized as a vocal microphone. Yet, it does not look as prominant as the famous Shure SM-58.
To mike up the drum set means that you have to buy a quantity of the SM-57s'. Mike stands for the Shure SM-57's come in various dimensions of height.
As a dependable low profile microphone used for speech it is unsurpassed.
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This is my preferred vocal mic for live performances. I've been using it for decades. (The Neuman KMS 105 might sound a bit better, at 6 times the price. Then again, it might not!) And the 57 is a surprisingly good performer for vocals in the studio. I like my large diaphragm condensers for some things, but when I want to wail, the 57 is still among the best I've found. Maybe THE best. The special Shure A2Ws windscreen is the reason for my new appreciation of the 57. With the windscreen in place, breath noise and plosives are gone (unless I get really sloppy). I a/b'd the 57 with the windscreen against a Shure SM58. The 58's a great mic, but the 57 sounds more open in the top end (as other reviewers have noted.) Generic windscreens don't sound as good with this mic. They tend to be too thick and dense, blocking a lot of the high frequencies. Spend the $15 and get the A2WS. It has a set screw that enables you to lock the screen in place, leaving a small air space between the foam and the mic's grill. Gives it a nice, open, airy sound. The 57's not a high output mic, so you'll need a bit more gain in the preamp compared to some mics, but that's a very minor drawback.For mic-ing guitar amp cabinets, this is an industry standard. Also good for snares, toms, even kick drums. (Take the windscreen off for these applications, of course.) It's probably the most versatile microphone ever made. At around $100, there is no better bargain.
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First, let me say up front that this is a 5-star product. An excellent microphone priced perfectly for the beginner to the advanced artist. The purpose for this review is to state exactly what another reviewer mentioned regarding fake\counterfiet Shure microphones. I purchased one here from a third party merchant named MASON35. Upon receipt of the product, it was very evident i had been scammed, and sure enough after research, concluded i wasted $70.Shame on me for not keying in on the fact it was listed as NEW for $29 dollars less, but i honestly did not realize what a market there is out there for this model microphone in terms of counterfeiters and fakes until you google it. Seriously folks, DO NOT buy this product from ANYONE here on Amazon that is NOT an authorized dealer or reputable online retailer. Take a look at the list of merchants selling this product. You can pretty much tell who are legitimate stores and which ones are just someone posting an item.
PDair Leather Case for Garmin-Asus nuvifone A50/T-Mobile Garminfone A50 - Flip Type (Black)
This is a good cover for this phone. It fits snugly and allows access to all the holes. Sturdy craftsmanship.
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Evecase® Black 360 Degree Rotating Folio Leather Cover Case with Built-in Stand + Clear LCD Screen
Great case! Does everything I would want an ipad case to do. It is also very durable despite price point. I have had my IAd for almost a year now, and it's the only case I have needed
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Protective Decal Skin Sticker for Verizon LG Ally case cover ally-348
Awesome skins stays on contact fits perfectly and more importantly doesnt come off. If you need to take the skin off, its comes off just as easily. Definitely will buy again! Must have to protect phones from scratches!
2.4G Rii mini i8 Wireless Keyboard with Touchpad for PC Pad Google Andriod TV Box
I normally do not write reviews but feel others should know they might get a device that has really bad range. The manual says the device has a 10m range. The best reception I got was maybe 1-1.5m away. I read reviews on some other sites and others have had the same problem. I am sending this back for a refund and will update with the outcome. Other than the range being awful, the design and ease of use is really nice.
PROs
button layout great
very form fitting in my hands
range is the same as others (enough to sit on a couch with direct line of sight
battery life
CONs
every so often it cannot keep up with my typing and misses letters
NO backlight
no obstacle can be in the way others you could put in the back of a pc this has to go in front
If the cons are not that bad I would recommend this, My favorite of all time is the Rii mini the black one from 2009. It may not have the best layout but its reliable and once you have gone through as many as I have you just want something that works
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I thought this thing would work perfectly as a way to interact with my google-TV.The battery housing is such that the battery contacts don't remain in constant contact with the terminals. . . leading to spotty performance.
After one month of use, the battery doesn't hold a charge, so the only way I can use my "wireless" keyboard is to plug it into a usb charger with an extension cord on it.
The keys don't seem to catch every click. Sometimes they capture 2 clicks.
Now, I don't know for sure how much of the key-click problems are related to the keyboard or to the googleTV device I have. If I had it to do over again, I would have gotten a larger-sized keyboard, with a bigger battery.This tiny keyboard is handy for controlling a home theatre computer. You won't want to write a book, or maybe even emails, with a keyboard like this, but it is great for typing in a URL, username, password, etc.
I bought it to use with an MK802 II Mini Android PC, and it is well suited for that purpose for occasional control purposes. You just take the USB dongle and plug it into the USB socket for the Mini PC (the dongle was located in the battery compartment). No drivers or settings, it just starts working when the Mini PC boots.
It also has a touchpad mouse that works with single-gesture finger touches. Mouse buttons are located on left and right side of the touchpad, but there is another pair, with bigger buttons and in a handier location, at the left side of the keyboard.
There is a built-in rechargeable battery, and a micro-USB socket that you plug a cable into to recharge the device. I was really pleased to find that the keyboard came to me pre-charged, ready to use, a nice touch.
As a fast typist and mouse user on a conventional PC for many years, this device seems a bit slow and clunky to use by comparison. It's thumb typing, not touch typing. Positioning the mouse is not as rapid (for me) as a "real" mouse.
The tradeoff, of course, is the small size. A full conventional keyboard and mouse requires a lot of space and a table surface. The table near the home theatre is not well suited to this, and I don't require the speed and flexibility of conventional keyboard and mouse, because with a home theatre PC, you mainly use the controls to start your entertainment, and except for games, there is not much further interaction.
The device is a bit smaller than I expected. It is like two remote controls side by side, except thinner, and with a nice curvy shape that is easy to hold in two hands for operation. It seems solid and well built. I don't expect keys to come flying off, for example, and because they are rubber rather than plastic, there's a good chance that the key labels will stay a good while.
Although I have not tried it, I assume that this device could be used with a conventional keyboard and mouse also plugged into the USB port (perhaps using a small hub). I think it can be used with PCs and Macs. I will update this review once I have tried some of these things.
BOTTOM LINE: Four stars means "I Like It". It is a very handy device for infrequent interactions with the computer.
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I received this keyboard late last week and while for the most part it seems to be very well built and work really well, I found that the "I" key on my keyboard was defective. It requires A LOT of pressure, at first I thought it was totally broken.I already started the return process on amazon and will update my review if the replacement ordered works without problems.
UPDATE: I received a new one of these. The new one seems to work great. All keys work consistently so far. I found some minor connection issues when I had it connected to a hub. I connected it directly and have not had any problems since (maybe some interaction with the hub?
So far my experience has included Windows 7 and some android use.
Of all mini keyboards, in terms of feel and layout this is my favorite. My reasons include:
1. scroll function (missing in many similarly priced keyboards, mostly fly-mouse types)
2. navigation arrows and centered OK button are the most used function of all for HTPC
3. Dedicated volume / mute and media keys
I will continue to update as things develop. For the moment I have upgraded my one star review to four stars.
UPDATE 1/7/2013:
I like this keyboard very much overall. However, I found that when used with a hub (and I have tried two different ones) sometimes the trackpad will not work or the connection will break (and I have to turn off and back on to get it working again). It could also be interactions with the other harware I have on the hub, such as thumb drives, etc. but only the keyboard seems to exhibit issues.
At least, going to a direct USB port seems to work well. This might help people with erratic performance who have not yet tried using a direct (no hub) port.
ICONO AERO Snow White UltraSlim Premium Folio Smart Case for Apple Ipad2 New Ipad Wifi 3g
If you're looking for a slim and light, yet functional and fashionable iPad cover, you won't go wrong with this one.I bought this cover for my iPad 2 in preparation for a 3 week trip to Europe. From the moment I opened the packaging, i was very impressed with the craftsmanship, style and feel of this cover. The design sets it apart from the apple smart cover and accompanying back covers your can buy separately because the ICONO has both the sleep/wake function of the smart cover and the protection of the back cover, plus the 2 are joined, so you'll never have to worry about the front cover coming off. Installation was a breeze and my iPad still looks as stylish and slim as it did without the cover. A Great product! my only suggestion would be a wider selection of color, but other than that I can't find any fault in the ICONO.
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Mini Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard - Compatible with Apple iPad, PC, and Mac - Features Built-in Touc
Feels cheaply made, the space bar didn't have same feel or sound when pressed like the other keys do, maybe mine is defective in that way. Another issue i encountered was digits repeated once in awhile, even when the key is no longer pressed or physically stuck, maybe its my computers issue?!?!? I do like the size of this device and fell in love with the pictures of it on Amazon, but once in my hands and i started using it I was a bit disappointed. I continue wanting to hold this device from each side and type with my thumbs. The device was not designed for that, as the touch pad is located on the right of the device. Of course I'll continue to play with it and maybe update review after some more time then the 2 weeks I've sparingly used.
rooCase Apple MacBook MC240LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop Carrying Case - Pink / Black Deluxe Bag
I bought a case for my Ipad from them and thought I'd give this case a try. I was looking for a bag that would fit my 13inch mac this one is exactly what I wanted. If you're looking for a lot of room around the computer this isn't for you however. There is a special spot that you put the laptop in and then you have enough room for two large five subject notebooks and a section for pens and places to put you're accessories.Save 50% Off
Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 2 TB (2 x 1TB) Network Storage Cloud Edition 35427
This StorCenter is an interesting device for those looking to enter the world of NAS, but certainly will disappoint advanced users: some features simply don't work as expected.From the physical point of view, the StorCenter ix2 is quite compact, and resembles a small surge protector fits in any corner. Not the quietest: the coling fan breaks the office's silence, and the internal disks also clacks when accessed not much to bother. What really worries me is the temperature it operates: always above 55°C, too hot to handle. With all this heat, my data would be safe?
Throughput is a strong point: operating in Gigabit Ethernet, I was able to read/write data at 21MB/s rate, similar to those obtained using a local disk. However, speed relies on a Gigabit network: you may need to change router, network cards and cables to escape the 100Mbps Fast Ethernet limit, today's standard in most home and office.
In software, StorCenter has its main weakness: first of all, firmware sits on its internal discs. It takes time to load, and any failure of the disks makes it unusable. Same logic applies to a possible capacity expansion: if you want to replace the original disks with larger capacity ones, say your StorCenter goodbye unless if you transport the firmware from original disk to the new ones, using one of those cryptic and endless tutorials available on the Internet.
The StorCenter offers a huge list of interesting features, but all of them are poorly implemented, frustrating most demanding users. Some promises that StorCenter ix2-200 don't deliver:
DLNA Media server: after successfully setting media folders, its scan was done incompletely. The music and photos don't appear on items list, there's no log of problems encountered during the scanning process. Couldn't see any photos or music on DLNA devices nor on the computer or television;
SNMP monitoring: the StorCenter's SNMPv3 implementation is NOT documented there are no details of monitorable variables and events, and Iomega software doesn't allow to monitor device status via SNMP. In other words, SNMPv3 is a feature that Iomega says thatexist, but no one not even the product support knows how to use it;
UPS monitoring: StorCenter has UPS USB monitoring, and ok, it works. The problem is that other network devices are not warned when the UPS is about to shut down. StorCenter takes possession of the UPS signal, and don't propagate it to the network. It may even be possible to obtain this information via StorCenter's SNMP, but how cam I do this? There's no SNMP documentation!
Torrent and P2P networks: this is an almost unusable feature. You can't see the percentage of completed downloads, you can't get the list of connected peers, there's no DHT support, there's no secure Torrent connections (preventing Torrent detection by ISPs), there's no way to prioritize downloads, there's no way to inhibit some unwanted file downloads... In short, if you expect a simple and powerful interface like uTorrent on StorCenter firmware, forget about it.
Remote Access Tools: StorCenter's web interface is heavy and loads slowly manage it using 3G connections requires patience. The file management tool is inexplicably poor: there's only a view/explore tool available, where you can just download and upload files, delete files and create folders you can't perform basic tasks such as renaming files and folders or moving/copying files between folders.
Management Tools: it's hard to believe that you can't defragment volumes, check the discs health after accidental or unscheduled shutdowns, manage how many and which users are currently connected, where they come from (if they are local or remote connections), its active network connections, the read/write activity per task or user (the discs spin, spin and you don't know who is doing what), among others. You are blind all the time.
Copy Jobs: if you have a NTFS-compressed USB drive and want to copy data from it using firmware copyjob feature, be assured that your target files will be corrupted: the StorCenter doesn't make decompression during copy, and data recorded in its internal storage will be unusable. When the source data comes from compressed NTFS discs, copy them always from a Windows computer file sharing, and never, ever, by using the copyjob.
Well, there are many more serious flaws in the StorCenter's software to tell, but I think they're only suitable for more advanced users. If you want a NAS device to backup your files, easy to use and fast read/write speeds, buy it, worth the price. But if you, like me, want to go deeper into NAS world and need good, efficient and complete firmware solution, spend a little more and find a more bulky equipment.
Everything about this looks good on paper, and when you open the box it looks and feels well made. The problems start when you want it to do what you bought it for.
This is, without a doubt, both the slowest and the noisiest hard drive I've ever owned. Did you like the 80's? Well, then you'll be presently surprised when you discover that this transfers data at the speed of an old CD-Rom. I mean a really old CD-Rom.
And the noise. I have no idea what this thing is doing, but it runs constantly. All day. All night. And it sounds like you hear every bit being written. I have set it to have the drives spin down after 30 minutes of inactivity. It still runs. It runs when every device in the house is off. It literally runs 24/7/365. If you are planning on putting this in your bedroom, or within 50 feet of your bedroom say goodbye to any chance of getting a full nights sleep.
And because of this insane problem, again what it could possibly be doing is beyond me, I have no faith whatsoever that this is a reliable product. The running/noise problem is not only annoying, but as far as Im concerned this thing is running as fast as it can towards a catastrophic drive failure.
I will never buy another drive from Iomega. A company that puts out a product this flawed will not be supported by me.
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Summary:A seemingly simple implementation became quite buggy, with a frighteningly hot device, that was noisy with loud grinding noises, incapable of accepting an external USB drive without locking up, and the proprietary connecting software was incapable of connecting to the device.
System configurations tested:
Windows 7 64 bit; Windows 7 32 bit; connected to a U-Verse router; several different external USB hard drives, including USB powered and AC powered; Chrome, Firefox, and IE browsers; latest versions of Iomega Storage Manager and firmware; appropriate port forwarded.
Review:
The Iomega ix2-200 4TB seemed promising, with two solid hard drives, a mostly metal case, USB connection, actual buttons on the device, and a simple interface. However, upon receiving the device, I was unable to access the drive from the network. After switching from the included cable to one that I have owned for almost a decade that doesn't even have prongs to hold it in place anymore, the ix2 connected right up.
Initially, it went okay, with setting up the device going smoothly, access via Windows Explorer occurring quickly with the Iomega Storage Manager mapping the various shares directly. The registering of the Cloud went quickly as well.
Upon connecting USB hard drives, however, the device would lock up and become unresponsive to the front panel buttons, including not being able to turn off by pressing and holding the button. Obviously, then, the 'QuikTransfer' function flatly failed. I tried three other drives, one AC powered and two USB powered, and all resulted in it locking up eventually. Occasionally, it would recognize a drive long enough to search it via the web interface or Windows Explorer, but without fail it would revert to becoming completely unresponsive to anything except pinging (which was just fine for some reason), but would not respond to its own buttons, the web interface, or Windows Explorer. The only option, after leaving it sit for a day incase it was unresponsive because it was rebuilding data or something, was to unplug it. I had to do this several times.
Although the Cloud idea sounds promising, the needing to use the Iomega Storage Manager is a little frustrating, but free and more or less expected. The other option that they advertise requires a subscription after the first year. However, the ix2 only responded outside of my network once, and would not connect again, whether I reinstalled the software, restarted my computer, or even wiped the entire device clean. No luck.
I also had to completely reconfigure Windows' networking settings to get it to access the device. No matter what configuration of user names and passwords I entered, whether the ix2 security was enabled or not, I could not access them through the Network Places; if the drives were already mapped it would usually still connect to those, as well as the web interface. Poor implementation of security compatibility in my opinion. Sometimes, even if the ix2 drives were mapped, they would stop being responsive unless I went into the web interface and logged in. The Storage Manager software was no help, and Windows credentials were useless.
The Storage Manager software was also very perplexing. It would state the device was unavailable, then I would force it to find it; other times it would say the Cloud Service tab was simply 'Disabled' in the middle of the screen; other times it would try to connect and ask me for credentials that I had saved, despite the fact that the downloaded software was specifically from the invitation I sent myself from the cloud, which has a custom access code immediately available to it; finally, it would give me an XML-RPC error that was nowhere to be found on Iomega's site. Before I gave up, it changed the icon from an ix2 to some strange squiggle and a blob... No useful functionality.
The highest temperature I recorded was 132 F, and the fan status still said 0 RPM. The device was obviously warm to the touch externally.
The Twonky media server configured itself despite not installing it, which is quite disturbing.
After trying lots of iterations of troubleshooting (I have seven pages of paragraphs and small screen snip-its describing a number of steps I took to see if it was my computer, my set up, my USB drives, etc...), I did the secure overwriting of data, which took approximately 27 hours to complete, packed it up and sent it back.
Be aware that the customer service is limited to week day hours, and after hours or after the warranty expires you have to pay them $50 to even ask about your device. There is a user forum, that I recommend potential buyers view to see the other potential problems awaiting you with this device, that Iomega staff occasionally will respond to, but there is no email correspondence that I could find. The Iomega responses on the forum are few and far between, and seemed to often simply ask basic troubleshooting questions rather than proactively offering suggestions under various scenarios (eg: rather than asking "Does your work use a proxy?" they should state potential ways to work around this limitation, or declare that your device will not work through the proxy, instead of wasting time with a feudal back-and-forth in a forum).
Take home message:
It seems that if all I wanted it for was in-network storage, without any use of the 'QuikTransfer' it seems like it might be a decent device. However, I paid for a 'Personal Cloud' with USB transferring capability, and this was not it.When I read the characteristics of this product, I thought it would be great.
The first months, everything worked ok. Files and music there was very comfortable.
But then, when I requested more from the unit, I started to see its performance.
Slow... Really slow! Not a great unit for video.
And failures! I already had one hdd failure. I got a hdd replacement (The customer service agent was good. The problem is that I had to wait more than 4 weeks for the disk replacement. Maybe because of problems with argentinian customs... But they didn't had spare discs here for this situation... That's bad).
Now I have a second failure... Let's see. That's not a good thing for a device where you have so much valuable things!
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I have been quite pleased with this item it works as advertised, except I haven't yet been able to set it up for remote access (though this may be something to do with my PC setup).One cirticism is that the disc drives are very noisy when reading/writing. Much noisier than any other drive in the house. I'm not sure if this is a function of the size of the drives, but you would definitely have to think about where you put the Storcenter.
INTERMEC 0-360019-01 SCANPLUS 1800, CCD SCANNER, WITH TRIGGER, NO CABLE ScanPlus 1800 Handheld Scan
This item is not a kit. It is the white part only of the picture with an instruction book. To use it, you would have to buy a compatable part, the part at the back shown in black with the cord. Apparently this is a replacement head for a commercial scanner or some other use where the back part plugs into the front white part. It is useless by itself and the cables I found that might work with it are well over $40.00. If you want a scanner for personal use, you do not want this. I know it says NO CABLE, but it also says it is a kit and shows a power cord and there is no further description, so I took a chance. There was no problems with receiving and returning the order.
VuPoint Solutions Magic Wand Portable Scanner (PDS ST415 WM)
I needed something to help me tackle the stacks of receipts spread throughout my house. This little scanner does the trick! I can quickly scan the receipts onto this wand, then plug it into my Macbook. The Image Capture app pops up and copies the files to my Desktop, where I can then sort them into appropriate folders. The version of the VuPoint Wand scanner I received (PDSST415VPS, see update below) saves the images directly to PDF files. If I have two (or more) scans that I want to combine into one, I just double-click the first page (to open it in Preview), turn on the "thumbnails preview" (on the View menu), then drag the second PDF file ON TOP OF the first page thumbnail. Preview will then merge the two PDF files together into one.PROs
+ Saves files as either JPG or PDFs (read the update below)
+ Takes 2 AA batteries (which I prefer over a built-in, non-replaceable battery) and works fine with rechargeables.
+ Mac friendly: uses the standard operating system driver
+ The scan quality is quite good, even on the "low" setting, however you need to have a steady hand to avoid slants and gaps in the scans. If you need to scan an important legal document, you may want to consider using a traditional flatbed scanner instead. But for quick, every day scans like receipts, recipes, magazine articles, cards, etc, this scanner does an amazing job.
CONs
Every time you turn the scanner off, it defaults to the JPG file format and "low" scan quality. I really wish it would save the preferences between power cycles.
The package seems to include an OCR converter program which is NOT compatible with the Mac
UPDATE: Thanks to Wayne in the comments for pointing this out: apparently the model I received has an "S" at the end of it (PDSST415VPS), which the manufacturer's website indicates can scan to PDFs. The model listed on this page (PDSST415VP) only scans to JPG. I'm guessing this model is discontinued and superseded by the PDF-capable model, but there's no guarantee that you'll receive the newer model.
The software that comes with the VuPoint is called Abby FineReader, but I haven't used it much. Instead, I open the scans in Photoshop, crop, and save. It's very easy and the images look amazing. You can create a low or high quality scan, but even with the low quality scan, the images look pretty good. I believe you can save the scans in the Abby FineReader program as Microsoft Word docs, jpegs, or pdfs.
If you're one of those people that holds onto a lot of paper and desperately wants to get rid of it, then this scanner was made for you.
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This an incredibly powerful little product. It is extremely easy to use and the quality of the copies is excellent in black and white as well as in color.It comes very handy when you need to copy legal documents and a copier is not available. The quality of the copy can be verified immediately if a laptop is available as well.
It works great when copying small portions (such as tables, graphs, pictures or cartoons)from very large books,that don't fit on top of a copier.
When making scans of smaller books, or when the text is too close to the edge of the page, it is a good idea to slip a cardboard cover (from a binder for example) under the page, in order to give firm support to the rollers beyond the edge of the page.
I would recommend purchasing the optional hard case and a memory chip, since it has no buil-in memory.
Read Best Reviews of VuPoint Solutions Magic Wand Portable Scanner (PDS ST415 WM) Here
The ability to scan to an SDHC card without using a computer is handy (another alternative would be to take a photo of the document or photo with a digital camera). I used it to scan the folks' photo albums.On the ST415-VPS model (not on the ST415-VP model), the resolution of 900dpi (maximum) is very good (higher than the -VP model and the 600dpi Wolverine mentioned below), and also PDF file output is supported. I purchased the -VPS model at Staples and the one sold here on Amazon might be the -VP model.
Cons:
* Since there are rollers on only one edge of the scanner, the "bumps" on the other edge tend to move whatever you're scanning when the bumps hit the edge of the paper (see image attached). A similar model, the Wolverine PASS200 Handheld Portable Documents, Books and Photo Scanner (apparently manufactured by the same company) has rollers on both the leading and trailing edges.
* There is about 1" of dead space on each side of the scanner that is not scanned, which may be an issue when scanning a page from a book, i.e. if the left margin is less than an inch.
* Disposable Alkaline batteries are supposedly required; I used NiMH rechargeables and they worked OK but were drained after about 100 scans.
* There is no crop feature (even if the background is entirely white or black), so the resulting scanned image is always 8.5" wide, requiring use of computer software to crop them down to the desired size (say 4x6").
* Scanned photos were always a tad crooked (compared to a flat-bed scanner), also requiring computer software to rotate them into position if desired. Despite the single-roller design, I experienced less Fun-House-Mirror type distortion using this scanner compared to the Wolverine PASS200 Handheld Portable Documents, Books and Photo Scanner
* The JPG files that were output had about 2KB of extra padding at the end of each file, confusing and locking up some photo viewer programs.
* The resolution is not remembered across power-cycles, so must be reconfigured each time the unit is powered on (unless you always want to scan at the lowest resolution).
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I disagree with the one-star review.Derek says:
"1) Does NOT scan to PDF" -Some models do, some don't. Anyway, JPGs can be saved from PhotoShop as PDFs.
"2) Eats batteries for breakfast." -Not my experience, I've not felt it used batteries too quickly.
"3) Hard case and SD card are available separately. Hard case is over $20." -Do tablets (iPad, for example) come with cases? No, so what's the gripe? It comes with a perfectly suitable soft case in which my wife carries the scanner in her purse for scanning "at site" as needed.
"4) One must practice getting one's arm and scanning speed calibrated takes practice if you want a good end result. No automatic feeder." -That's what is to be expected with this kind of device. It doesn't claim to be a flatbed and it is rather obvious that it is does not have an automatic feeder!
"5) Try to set the date and time on this thing...go ahead, I'll wait." -I did it the first try and I don't claim to be a Sci-fi Guy.
"6) Comes with useless software that isn't needed to view or do anything with the unit." -Buy a laptop or desktop computer and see how much bloatware comes with it. If one doesn't want to use the included software, don't install it!
"For what it's MEANT to do (i.e. relieve you of over $80 and infuriate you) it does passably well. Oh, and there's the scan to JPG thing. You are better off applying the purchase price toward a flatbed scanner." -It is MEANT to compliment a flatbed scanner not to replace one. It does more than "passably well" if one takes the time to learn to use it for documentation of items that either won't fit a flatbed or don't need the quality. I.e., don't expect it to do what a flatbed will do. Its intended purpose is to make it easy to scan receipts, newspaper or magazine articles, etc. My wife uses it for those purposes. I use it on packages of items we purchase to scan UPC codes, serial numbers, and to document other "needed" sections that are not suitable for scanning on a flatbed (and formerly documented using a digital camera). It is certainly useful on trips when it is out of the question to tote a flatbed scanner around.
The other reviews (as of this date) are much more "on point" and evidence realistic expectations of what this scanner is intended to do and, in general, reflect the experience we've had with ours.
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Elan Frame, graphite, ice
Besides the screen protector removal issue the Elan Frame in clear/white looks pretty stylish & gives it some added visibility. The case itself feels nice & solid with a hard plastic but I somewhat doubt the quality of the white material as I suspect that over time it'll change colour or perhaps peel off I haven't owned it long enough to confirm yet its a possibilityAside from that I suspect it'll last much longer than my cheapo plastic bumpers which wore out every couple of months! For under $10 its worth it although I'd consider potential buyers to look into the Elan Form Graphite instead for a rear backplate
BLACK For LG Quantum C900 Rubberized Hard Case Cover
We bought this for my husband, who works construction. It is holding up quite well. Very tough little case. Would buy from this seller again, and shipping was fast.
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Despite the reasonable price, the product has good quality... it feels not like a cheap rubberized case..Love it so much
Read Best Reviews of BLACK For LG Quantum C900 Rubberized Hard Case Cover Here
feels good protects my phone. can not expect more for the price, yet is quite good it feels like rubber but is notWant BLACK For LG Quantum C900 Rubberized Hard Case Cover Discount?
It is fast service. The case is nice and keep the phone well. Scratch is not show and looks sleek.
iGadgitz Red 'ArmourDillo' PU Leather Case Cover for Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 P5100 P5110 10.1 Android
I love that there are so many color choices...I love that the case closes securely by using the button...my only issue with the case is that the tablet keeps moving around in the case which makes it hard to reach the Home & Back button (and other buttons)
Nokia Leather Case
I am kind of a old schooler. I need a new phone but I like the one I have. I couldn't find me a new Holster for my Nokia phone and found it here on Amazon. I oredered it and I really am satified with it. Thanks to Amazon and the Seller who offered this. I appreciate the honesty and the item. JOE BALLARD.
The case is stiff (as cowhide is) on the outside and has thick clear plastic on the inside that covers about half of the upper portion of the screen and half of the lower portion of the keyboard with no problem for dialing numbers or accessing the buttons on the sides. The leather cover does block the back speaker, however there seems to be only a slight distortion blockage of sound.
The one thing that does bother me is the lack of cover on the bottom of the phone where the data jack is I worry about dust getting in there thus the minus half a star.
I haven't tried out the belt clip yet, but the plastic parts look very sturdy and have a strong clip.
HQRP Premium PDA Battery compatible with Sony Clie PEG-SJ20, SJ23, SJ30, SJ30/G, SJ30/GW, SJ30/H, S
- PDA Battery for Sony Clie PEG-SJ20, SJ23, SJ30, SJ30/G, SJ30/GW, SJ30/H, SJ30/HW, SJ30/U
- Li-Ion, 3.7V 650mAh Part No. LIS1259
- The Package inlcudes HQRP PDA Screen Protector
- Brand new, HQRP Replacement PDA Battery
- 200 days warranty
Unfortunately, Sony's Palm PEG is so poorly constructed that once opened, my attempt to pull the existing battery out resulted in breaking one of the solder joints to the battery plug on the Sony PEG board. Being an electrical engineer, I tried to resolder it to no avail.
Perhaps this battery works great. I'll never know. The Sony PDA was so badly built I cannot put a new battery in. If anyone has a Sony PDA device, be very cautious about trying to do anything to fix it! Designed obsolescence is fundamental to Sony's philosophy so beware!easy to imstall and it seems to hold a charge for a long time. Better than the original battery I think.I really cannot say how good this product is as my Sony Palm PDA quit working shortly after I received it. I have switched to an i-Touch.
Palm Hard Case for Tungsten E and Tungsten E2
From reading the other reviews on this product, it seems that some poeple were expecting one thing and recieved another. To that end I hope i can clarify a bit.What it does:
*Protects your Palm Tungsten E
*Looks good. Sleek brushed aluminum with black plastic trim (not all plastic as has been mentioned)
*Holds 2 expansion cards
What it does not:
*Provide quick access to stylus, power button, expansion slot, or hotsync, power, headphone jacks
*Provide storage for anything other than Tungsten E or 2 expansion cards
This case is for PROTECTION of the Palm Tungsten E. It is a hard shell. Period. People argue about whether it is plastic or aluminum, it is aluminum outside with a plastic interior. With the case closed, there is no access to any part of the Tungsten.
If you are a person who like to flip out the Palm for a quick second and stow it away again, or needs a case to be able to carry things other than your Palm, or if size is an issue then this is not the case for you. You would be better served with one of the leather cases with minimal padding, but with holes to access things like stylus, expansion slots, or power button. Just realize that those cases are not as durable.
I use this case because i am very clumsy with small objects like PDAs and needed the extra protection to keep my shiny new Tungsten free from dents and scratches which the included flip cover could not provide. I accepted that it is significantly thicker (about a half inch thick instead of a quarter inch) and that access to certain items was not immediate.
I have never had a problem opening the case, but it is secure in that it won't open accidentily. It clicks open with a slight push on the arrow on the lower half of the shell. Some have said you can open with one hand... I tried, and while it is possible, I wouldn't recommend it unless you're trying to impress friends. I always use 2 hnads (one to hold, the other to open) and it never occured that it was an issue until reading some of the posts here.
I use one of those combo stylus/pens and so i never have to get the stylus out of the case. it also gives me a nicer writing instrument.
I do take it out of the case when charging and syncing. It seems to me that the weight of the Tungsten is propped on the jacks if you leave it in the case. Since the Tungsten is light, it is probably not an issue, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. I usually take it out at night when i get home, and place it back again when i walk out the door in the morning. Once again, it didn't occur to me that this might be an issue until readin some of the posts here.
I also don't listen to MP3s using this so not being able to access the expansion port while the case is closed isn't an issue for me.
Long story short... if you want protection for your Tungsten, then this is for you, otherwise get a leather case that has more convenience features
I've been using my Palm on a daily base for a month now. During this period, I've dropped it around 5 times, once in a stream of water in a roadside. Not a scratch on the PDA, it looks exactly as it did on the day it arrived.
Despite my best efforts, I am careless and forgetful (hence the need for a PDA), thus I find this case to be perfect for my needs.
CLARIFICATION. Many of the mixed or negative reviews here are from people that haven't learned to use the case properly. As another reviewer pointed out, the hard case has a hinge that matches with a slot on the PDA, a perfect fit. The PDA doesn't flop or shake around at all. The cover is most definitely NOT made of plastic, but some type of aluminum. The inside is plastic, and has 2 slots for memory cards.
Opening the case is extremely simple and takes 2 to 3 seconds: you hold the case in your palm, top cover facing outward, press the bottom lid in (there's a small triangle that indicates exactly where) with your thumb, the case then clicks open, you then use your free hand to open the lid (which rotates 360°), swing the PDA and pull the stylus out and voilà ... brand new Tungsten E. I hardly ever use the power button to the unit on since I have 4 alternate power keys on the front.
By the way, you do NOT need to pull the PDA out to charge or hot-sync it, I do it daily and haven't had to do this once. On the other hand, as one reviewer pointed out, you won't be able to listen to mp3s while the case is closed. Is this important? There are excellent mp3 players out there, with up to 30 GB storage, so I find buying expensive memory to play mp3s on your PDA ridiculous.
For it's elegant appearance, slim fit, unequaled protection, and relatively cheap price (on Amazon) this case deserves 5 stars.
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I read some of the reviews here, but went ahead and purchased the hard case. I was pleasantly surprised how nice it was given the very negative reviews here.First, the case exterior is most definitely aluminum, not plastic as one reviewer mentioned. Only the interior is plastic. As for the difficulty some folks mentioned on opening the case, all I can say is they are opening it wrong. Although this is a clam-shell type design, the latch mechanism works by sliding the lower half of the case toward the hinge. I have no difficulty opening the case with one hand, using my thumb to slide the lower half. If you try to open the case like a book, you won't be able to open it. I believe that's why folks are complaining about "how difficult" it is to open. It's not so don't believe it.
Lastly, regarding the issues of not being to access the power switch or stylus, that's kind of a nonsense issue. The design of the lower half of the case surrounds the Tungsten E. To access the power switch or stylus, just swing the unit out slightly to gain access. The unit is attached to the case via a hinged rail that your Tungsten E slides onto.
Again, all I can say is I'm rather pleased with the hard case. It's stylish and protects the Tungsten E like an armored car, which is what I was looking for. If you want a quick access case, you're probably either better off with the Palm zip-case or one of the generic flip or holster type cases
Read Best Reviews of Palm Hard Case for Tungsten E and Tungsten E2 Here
I agree with some of the gripes other reviewers have about this case but I've dropeed my Palm three times so far (yes, careless me)twice on a tile floor and once out in the parking lot and the case did a good job of protecting my Palm.Want Palm Hard Case for Tungsten E and Tungsten E2 Discount?
I bought this case because I take my Palm with me everywhere and I thought the hard case would keep it safe. Unfortunately the hard case CAUSED my screen to crack!Here is why: On the inside, opposite the screen, are brackets for keeping extra memory cards. They stick out higher than the rest, so if you push on the case from the outside, they go right into the screen and crack it! It doesn't take much presure either.
Palm does not consider this to be a design defect and won't pay to fix the damaged screen. If you buy this case, be very carefull not to let anything ever push against it. Actually, you may want to consider a protective case for the protective case!
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rooCASE Laptop Carrying Bag for Apple MacBook Air 13.3-inch Laptop MC503LL/A MC504LL/A - Dark Blue
UH OH, WHAT I FEARED MIGHT HAPPEN DID INDEED HAPPEN:My original review expressed the fear that the tight fit of this bag for the late-2010 MacBook Air 13-inch might not provide enough protection should the bag happen to fall and hit its upper corner(s) on the floor. As you can read below, I thought about it and decided that this was very unlikely. Well...
it happened! The bag, with the Air inside it, was sitting on a chair, and tumbled onto the floor. It hit on an upper corner (due to rotation while falling). It damaged the nylon zipper at that corner, and it bent one of the thick corners of the Air inside. OUCH!
Luckily, the Air still works fine, and the zipper still works. If I have time I'll post a video review to show the details visually.
I don't think this is a terrible bag. I still like it. But its one defect did, indeed, help to damage my Air. Sigh.
***
HERE IS MY ORIGINAL REVIEW:
This case looks pretty good! The description of it is extremely accurate. It's a padded, soft-sided carrying case that does what it says it does. Almost.
There's only one criticism I'd make, which is that the best-padded interior pocket only just BARELY fits the late-2010 MacBook Air 13-inch model. (This is the pocket that is shown with the Acer sticking out of it in the product photographs.) As the Air slides in, it seems like a perfect fit, but then you see that the corners are iffy. You have to carefully work on the top left and top right corners to make sure they pop inside and the zipper can close around them; then you can fasten the velcro strap that is designed to hold the laptop secure in the most highly protected position. But then those two top corners are flush up against the zipper as it rounds the corners, and I worry that those corners are not really protected.
NOTE ADDED AFTER REVIEW WAS POSTED: I take it back. The fit is tight, but the chance that the bag would fall in precisely just such a way as to hit the low-protection upper corners, or that it would bang the wall in such a way, is basically zero. So the only deficit is that it takes a few seconds to pop the upper corner inside the zipper. An inconvenience, true, but nothing more, and I've raised the rating from 4 to 5 stars.
A good-quality laptop carrying bag has an interior pocket that is offset somewhat from the outside surface on all four sides, so that if the bag is dropped in any of a number of ways, it's always a padded surface with some empty "give" space that hits the ground first. The laptop is suspended inside the case with a margin all around, and that's true for this bag when it holds an Acer-sized item. But this bag makes the inner suspension compartment so small that the protection disappears along the top, especially the top corners, for the ever-so-slightly larger MacBook Air.
You can instead put the laptop into the main compartment, but then it's loose inside that larger compartment; it can't be held secure by the velcro strap that is designed to hold it away from the edges. And it loses a layer of padding on one face. True, the protective layer you "lose" is still there and protects the OTHER face of the laptop now, but that other face already has an excellent protective layer. So you go from:
well-padded / laptop / well-padded
to:
well-padded / well-padded / laptop
The less-protected face of the laptop now has only the outer shell for protection, which is not as well padded.
This is a bit of a quibble, I know, but I thought I should mention it. It's the sort of thing you can't tell from the otherwise excellent product photographs.
Finally, where's the warranty? The description says it comes with a warranty, but there is no tag on the bag, no piece of paper in the pockets or the packaging, that says anything about a warranty or a website. Another quibble, I know, but usually there's SOMETHING you can file away with your date of purchase in case something goes wrong. Unless there's a SECRET compartment I haven't found yet (grin)...
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Palm Lifedrive Mobile Manager (Refurbished)
Reading the manual is a must. Otherwise, you will come to the erroneous conclusion that the lifedrive is defective. The most challenging feature of the lifedrive is Synchronizing which can be quite challenging. With practice, time and the help of a few free downloads it will eventually become a breeze for even the most technophobic user.
The best data entry, as it have the Graffity.
With a memory of 4GB, you can do anything you like.
The camera companion is great, as you can download the pics to the lifedrive and keep taking pics(with a SD Mem card)
The Ptunes is pretty nice and the voice notes as well.
Simple games are played well.
Great Product!
I don't give it a 5 because is a little bit heavy, but not heavier than a camera.
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Apparently, Amazon has a bug in their inventory system. I ordered this with Amazon Prime overnight shipping ... a box arrived the next day with a set of refurbished 5.8 GHz cordless phones. Fine phones, I imagine, but not what I ordered. A rep from Amazon walked me through the return process, a replacement order was submitted, and the UPS guy picked up the return box. The next day, a box was dropped off and AGAIN I received a set of refurbished 5.8 GHz cordless phones!Now, I have to say, Amazon has been responsive in regards to processing the returns but to have the exact same wrong product delivered is very frustrating. UPS will be picking up a return again but, according to Amazon policy, a refund has been processed instead of a replacement.
Read Best Reviews of Palm Lifedrive Mobile Manager (Refurbished) Here
New Watermelon Gel Wrap Silicone Case for HTC Pure
This is all it was said to be, however since my wife uses a cradle it must be taken out of the case each time for charging and syncing. For someone without a cradle this is not a problem. Don't see how you could make it to fit a cradle anyway though so this isn't a criticism just an observation.