Very Durable, long battery life. Had all the software I needed, Word, Excel, Windows Media Player, Internet Explorer. Plays movies Mp3s and more. Works like a Laptop witout the size and power issues. Definately a great buy for the price.
Showing posts with label handheld garmin gps. Show all posts
Showing posts with label handheld garmin gps. Show all posts
Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC H3850 - Handheld - Windows Mobile 2002 - 3.8" color TFT ( 240 x 320 ) - silver
Very Durable, long battery life. Had all the software I needed, Word, Excel, Windows Media Player, Internet Explorer. Plays movies Mp3s and more. Works like a Laptop witout the size and power issues. Definately a great buy for the price.
Purple Heart Snap on Hard Skin Cover Case for Pantech Impact P7000
This phone case was shipped to me quickly, but it was a Christmas gift. When the gift was opened the front part did not stay on. I contacted the seller, and was immediately shipped a new one. I usually don't buy online so I was a little skeptical when the case came and didn't fit. I will definatley buy from this seller again, with no worries.
Buy Purple Heart Snap on Hard Skin Cover Case for Pantech Impact P7000 Now
I had this cover for a good few months and I really loved it, it was really cute and protected the phone well enough. One of the corner clips broke off right away when I first put it on, but that's common for pantech impact covers. It still stayed on really well and it lasted for a about 4-5 months before it completely broke. the front cover broke first and then the back cover a few weeks after that. these covers break just through every day use, but this one lasted a while.Read Best Reviews of Purple Heart Snap on Hard Skin Cover Case for Pantech Impact P7000 Here
rooCASE Samsung GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus: Executive Portfolio Leather Case
First of all, it is as advertised. What stands out? Two fantastic features: VERY solid and sturdy. Both the case and the separate sleeve for the tablet. Zipped up in the case it can fall far down to a very hard fall and be totally fine. Second Feature the velcro works great and makes it very versatile and adjustable as far as standing it up goes. I also like the little slets etc. on the facing flap. Great product.
Arkon CM927 Bicycle Handlebar Universal PDA Mount
I've been looking for a while for an iphone bike mount that fits the handle bar of my bicycle and that tightly holds the iphone. I bought this one and was able to install it without any problem. I have a brand new 38GB iphone and luckily bought a hard case for it. After installing the bike mount I went for my first bike ride to work. The trail is paved all the way and there are minor bumps. When I got to the section where there are slight bumps I notice the vibration on the bike mount and then saw how the iphone went flying and fell on the pavement. Luckily, nothing happened to the phone. I thought that it was not tight enough, tried it again, and it fell again. I tired it once more two days later and it fell again. Don't recommend buying this product based on this very unpleasent experience.
3pcs Stylus w/ Ball-Point Pen fits Palm Treo 650, Treo 700w
I often find the need for a pen ... but I typically don't carry one with me. The pen/stylus combo is a wonderful alternative: an "emergency" pen. The "cap end" of thestylus pops off to reveal a ballpoint pen. The stylus
fits in my Palm Treo 650 like it was made for it.
The 3 pack is nice, because I can leave one extra stylus
in my desk, and one in my traveling pack ... so if I lose
the stylus, a spare is at hand.
Buy 3pcs Stylus w/ Ball-Point Pen fits Palm Treo 650, Treo 700w Now
My husband uses is palm phone 24x7 he loves that that the stylus is also a pen. Since he always has his phone he always has a pen and it has been very helpful. The pen can be a little difficult to write with because it is so small but it is great in a tight fix to sign a document or sign a check. I love that the lid to the pens stay on tight so they are not lost!Read Best Reviews of 3pcs Stylus w/ Ball-Point Pen fits Palm Treo 650, Treo 700w Here
I had searched high and low for a replacement stylus for my beloved Treo 650. Even the ATT Wireless, ooops, I mean Cingular, no, no, ATT Wireless store didn't have them. Then, I found them. Right here, right on Amazon, and suddenly things changed for me. The mail carrier brought me my styli (not one, not two, but three of these streamlined babies) and the cloud that had been following me was lifted. Clients started returning my phone calls. Attractive women asked to borrow my combination stylus-ballpoint pen. Even the teller at the bank suggested maybe it was time for me to become a private banking customer. Wow, that's all I can say!Want 3pcs Stylus w/ Ball-Point Pen fits Palm Treo 650, Treo 700w Discount?
I like this product better than the original stylus that came with my Treo 650. The original stylus started just sliding out when the Treo was turned sideways or upside down. This stylus fits snugly, and is lighter and thus feels nicer. It's also handy to have a pen built into the stylus.What's not handy is that the cap for the pen comes off easily with persistent use. Ultimately I went to pull my snug-fitting stylus from the Treo, and the cap came off, but the rest of the stylus remained stuck inside. I had to work with some tweezers and a small wedge to remove the rest of the stylus. My solution was to put super-glue inside the pen cap, and then re-attach it to the stylus. Obviously, I can't use the pen anymore...
rooCASE ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1001P-PU17-BK 10.1-Inch Black Netbook Carrying Bag (Classic Series - D
Case color and style exactly as described. Has plenty of room for storing cord, and thin spiral notebook. Very lightweight, and holds the netbook nicely. Has enough padding to protect without being bulky.Save 56% Off
NEW RETRACTABLE USB DATA CABLE FOR MINI USB CELL PHONES AND CAMERAS
Very compatible.h g f gvh h h gvh j j j jbgbfvv f h h j mbjbf f f f
Buy NEW RETRACTABLE USB DATA CABLE FOR MINI USB CELL PHONES AND CAMERAS Now
There is something about the USB connecter that makes the Garmin think it's connected to a computer and makes it go into sync mode... and therefor unusable as a car adapter. It does however allow my Garmin to sync quite easily to my computer ;->Read Best Reviews of NEW RETRACTABLE USB DATA CABLE FOR MINI USB CELL PHONES AND CAMERAS Here
I ordered a few of these to use at home and in my office at work. They work great, they're cheap and do what they're suppose to. If you want one, buy it.Want NEW RETRACTABLE USB DATA CABLE FOR MINI USB CELL PHONES AND CAMERAS Discount?
This is easily the best penny I ever spent
rooCASE Ultra Mini Capacitive (Black) Stylus for Barnes and Noble NOOKcolor Nook Color eBook Reader
I purchased the black mini stylus for two reasons: compact size & more accurate typing. The mini size enables me to swing it up to sit on the top ledge of my Nook Color & keep it securely in place with my rooCase ereader cover. This way I do not have to carry any additional items with me for those times I need to use a stylus. Many times I end up choosing the wrong word, item or selection when using the web on my Nook Color due to poor typing or size or what ever. The stylus has worked well for me. It has been accurate with just a light touch in most cases. I would recommend the rooCase mini stylus for anyone using a Nook Color.
GTMax Clear Silicone Skin Soft Cover Case for Amazon Kindle 3
I purchased this and another soft gel cover to see which I liked better. They both offer good grip and "drop" protection. I only wished they were a bit more transparent to see my skin-it through them. Oh well...function before form.
Buy GTMax Clear Silicone Skin Soft Cover Case for Amazon Kindle 3 Now
Black Rubberized Snap on Hard Protective Cover Case for Pantech Crux 8999 + Microfiber Pouch Bag
The case fits well and doesn't interfere with the design of the phone. My son has dropped his phone a couple of times and it has survived so far. It's a good and inexpensive way to protect my son's phone.
Thank you so much.the phone case is awesome I've had other phone cases and they didnt fit as good as this one does. I snapped it on and it's been on ever since.
Brady TLS2200 Thermal Labeling System
- Portable label printer is a labeling tool for identifying a variety of items, like cables, file folders, and equipment
- Prints on continuous tape and die cut labels
- 203 dpi thermal transfer printing stays crisp and bright longer than direct thermal printing
- TrueType fonts from 4 to 72 point, on materials up to 2" wide and print length up to 54"
- ABC keyboard for simplicity
1. Cost. It's really expensive and if you think the printer itself is expensive, chew on this for a while: the labels I print use a spool of adhesive label "paper" (Brady Part #PTL-43-439) that is 50ft long. These spools of labels sell for around $90 a piece, which in my opinion is ridiculously expensive.
2. Ribbon. The ribbon cartridges that this printer uses are 1also unnecessarily expensive, 2very inefficient, 3not recyclable. Each ribbon cartridge costs about $25(Brady Part #R6010). Each cartridge has two spools, one full of unused ribbon which rolls across to the other spool as it gets used for printing. The problem with this method is that the majority of the ribbon itself never actually gets used at all and is wasted. And what's worse if, like me, you're printing off multiple labels with a gap between each label (for cutting) the ribbon actually rolls/transfers spools along with the label for the gap. In other words, if you have a 2 inch gap between labels, you are wasting 2" of your ribbon for every gap your labels require. One more thing about the labels the ribbon is very thin, and I found many spools where the ribbon had wrinkles in it. When you print labels that use wrinkled ribbon, you are left with a very sloppy looking label that has streaks across it.
3. Here's a rundown of my general gripes with the printer itself:
-The on/off button is very difficult to reach. You have to turn the printer upside down to get to it. Why they couldn't have just put this switch on the top or the side of the printer is beyond me.
-Currently, as of September 2009, this printer ships with a cable to connect it to a computer but the cable has a serial port at the end. Most computers made within the last couple of years don't even have serial ports anymore because everything is USB. I called Brady about this and they said they are considering changing the cable to USB for future models. In the meantime I'm stuck having to buy a $30 serial to usb adapter cable. Oh, one more thing about the serial cable. It connects to a port on the bottom of the printer yes, the bottom and there's no channel/grove on the bottom of the printer to allow the serial cable to run freely out and away from the printer. So you're left with a very wobbly printer that's sitting on top of the cable. It's just like sitting down to a very wobbly table at a restaurant.
-Possibly my biggest gripe: For my job, I have to print off, on average, 30 of each type of label I need. Since each of my labels are 4.75", I often run out of either ribbon, label paper, or both in the middle of a print job. Whether you're printing using the LabelMark software (included with the printer) or just the printer itself, when the machine runs out of anything it CANCELS your print job. This means that if you're printing off 30 labels and it runs out of ribbon halfway through, you have to replace the ribbon, count how many labels you did print, then start a new print job to get the remaining labels.
-There are issues where labels don't print clearly, and I even had an issue where only half of a label was printing. I was told by Brady to upgrade the firmware on the printer, which I did, and that seems to have fixed the problem.
4. LabelMark PC Software. The LabelMark software is finicky at best. The user interface is fairly simple to grasp, but I have a lot of issues with it far too many to get into here, but I'll sum it up by giving the LabelMark software itself 3 out of 5 stars.
5. Product Availability. A specific job I worked on required the use of Blue colored label paper spools. I placed the order with Grainger (a supply company that orders directly from Brady) for 60qty of these spools back in June. As of today (mid-September) I still haven't received any of the blue labels. I called Brady directly to find out what the problem is. Their rep was sympatheitc and explained that "ever since we moved our manufacturing down to Mexico, we've had all sorts of issues with keeping products in stock." And despite my order having been placed three months ago, they don't expect to have my blue labels in stock again for at least another month.
6. The good news. Numerous times I've had to contact Brady's tech support. So far, each person I've spoken with has been patient, professional, and actually helpful. I've also never experienced a long hold time to reach someone. And, the best part is that they all speak clear English.
The bottom linethis printer is very, very poorly designed, as are all of its required parts (label paper, ribbon, cables, etc.). The folks who designed it apparently didn't take cost or common sense into consideration.
Buy Brady TLS2200 Thermal Labeling System Now
1. The label make is WAY over priced.2. The labels are WAY over priced.
3. The ribons are WAY over priced
4. The software to print from a computer is WAY over priced.
5. The printer jams up, skips labels, gets off track regularly so the overpriced labels and ribbons are wasted often.
DO NOT BUY THIS LABEL MAKER!
Read Best Reviews of Brady TLS2200 Thermal Labeling System Here
The cost of the Brady labels are so extreme you'll have sticker shock. I was just quoted a price of $775 per box for the TSL2200 label. We've used the TLS thermal printer for years. Though it works well most of the time the price of the replacement labels is just too expensive. Time to find a new labeling system. Due to the price I wouldn't even give this product 1 star.Want Brady TLS2200 Thermal Labeling System Discount?
Save yourself a ton of work by printing all of your labels in advance. Very spendy labels though.Came with everything you need to get going.
Save 9% Off
I bought that label printer to replace the existing one in our company which was the same model.We are very satisfied with the Brady printers
Optoma PT100, WVGA, 50 LED Lumens, Gaming Projector
I recently purchased this projector as a replacement for my near-vintage Sharp XV101TU, whose bulb decided to blow out on me. In the process of shopping for a replacement projector (or trying to decide whether to just replace the bulb nothing but love for my 25 lbs projector from the early 90's..) the Optoma PT100 caught my eye.I admit my main draw to this projector was the price which was less than a mere bulb for your average projector and the fact that THIS bulb would never need to be replaced, as it was powered by LEDs. I dove headlong into purchasing the projector knowing full well LEDs couldn't replace the luminescence of a metal-halide bulb, but the lure of never having to shell out $300 every year or two couldn't be denied, and I was willing to take a chance on the 50(!!) lumen output.
Now here, we get to one of the main points I uncovered from doing projector research: ALWAYS be extremely wary of no-name projectors. You probably already knew that, but pay particular attention to the "brightness" department. Many list their brightness as 400lm, or sometimes even 1000+ lumens, or worse yet, not at all. This isn't very scientific, to be sure, but if in doubt, try and see if you can find a Youtube video or the like demonstrating the projector. After seeing various nameless LED Chinese projectors on Youtube and comparing them to legit 1000 lumen projectors, it seems pretty obvious their brightness stats are a little inflated (not to mention, if the typical Samsung or LG LED projector projects at 200lm... you gotta wonder). I say this because I noticed that with a 50 lumen output, this projector really seems to be a lame duck when considering no-name eBay projectors have an alleged 1200 lumens for the same price. But I can assure you, no-name projectors almost never live up to their descriptions, so do your homework! Better go with a lower lumen projector from a reputable manufacturer than a knock-off claiming a million lumens, in my opinion.
That said, 50 lumens is no sunbeam of light, but I currently have it set about 14 feet away and for watching a movie at night, the 80+ inch image is awesome. Of course, you do want to be conscious of what you will typically be using the projector for before you purchase. Yes, the ability to be satisfied with a given brightness is subjective, but only to a point. If your primary purpose for getting a projector is watching Dark Knight over and over again, 50 lm will inarguably be a little dark for your needs (pun intended) most LED projectors probably will be. For your average movie or Wii game, however, this projector performs brilliantly. Keep in mind though, nighttime use or with a good set of blackout curtains. If you're looking at daytime gaming... again, add blackout curtains to your financial calculations (or start moving your gaming chairs to the basement). On the positive side, the projector is extremely portable, so if you have a room that's naturally darker than others, it's easy to move.
A note about screen size: like many inexpensive projectors, there is a fixed throw ratio in other words, for you camera savvy folk, no zoom lens the screen size is in direct proportion to how far the projector is placed from the screen/wall.
Many of you probably have concerns about the resolution I certainly did. Yes, 480 is pretty old-school tech, no getting around that the projector IS $199. Keep in mind though, that it is 480p (all LCDs, DLPs, and Plasmas, to my knowledge, are progressive scan), so it's a squeak better than standard definition (I believe it's formally called "enhanced definition"). Additionally, to offset what many might consider to be low res for today's standards, the projector's native resolution is 854x480 pixels, which amounts to widescreen plus (a native DVD film resolution is 720x480, widescreen format is 704x480, and 4:3 format is 640x480). What this means, at the end of the day, is that if you watch a widescreen DVD, the image doesn't have to be shrunk down to fit or cropped, like it might otherwise have to be on a projector with a native 4:3 aspect ratio (i.e. 640x480). Also with regard to image quality, 3LED DLP is known to have nice vivid color and as far as I'm concerned, it does.
Unfortunately, there is no remote for this thing all adjustments are made with buttons on the body itself.
Speaking of body, the build quality is excellent considering the price tag nice solid plastic housing; a possibly random aside: when I first took it out of the box, I thought it very much resembled the look and feel of a typical wall-powered radio alarm clock, both in size and weight (and color). It is a bit lighter than one would expect from a projector, even one of this size. Is it as tank-like as my old Sharp? Definitely not, but no modern projector really is. Will it stand up to a fair amount of abuse from an average child? I imagine so.
Adjustments in height are made easy with an odd spring-loaded front leg that pops out with the push of a button on the side, and one of the rear legs can be adjusted to level the image. Keep in mind, there is no keystone, so set it in a good spot where you won't have to tilt it too much.
A little annoyance on this projector is the lack of connections. While on the one hand, it keeps the projector simple, as I'm sure was the intention, it also means you need additional cables if you want something better than the yellow-plug composite video. Granted, it's a fairly easy and inexpensive endeavor to acquire a component > 15-pin RGB cable (or s-video > 15-pin if you like), but it would have been helpful had they included a little adapter dongle or something of the sort.
Bottom line, if you know what you're getting, this projector will not disappoint. Don't be discouraged by the name "PlayTime" it is actually a very capable little machine. If you go in expecting it to be one of those you've seen in your giant lecture halls or rich friend's home theatre, your expectations will probably be let down. If, on the other hand, you're looking for an inexpensive alternative to a humongous screen TV that uses less power and is much more portable, this is an excellent projector.
I liked this projector for playing games and watching movies in a very dark room with an image size of about 40 inches. There's a bit of lag on the refresh, but games that don't have a lot of full-screen quick motion should play just fine. This will also do a rear-projection setup too! It has a very low power requirement, about 1.5 watt @ 120VAC (mine worked at 78VAC for hours, no problems!)and it's pretty quiet. Not very good for use as a presentation projector. Better overall, than I though it would be. Could replace a tv that's smaller than 25 inches. It would also be an okay display solution for someone deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.
Features that I liked:
You can switch between inputs without unplugging anything. There's an option to flip the image horizontally (for rear projection) and vertically (for upside down mounting). It's pretty quiet and only draws ~1.5 watts at 120 volts. Indecently, the power in my building was regularly dropping down to about 78 volts AC for hours at a time and it still worked just fine. The power supply is very small, just a bit bigger than a small Snickers bar. There's an option for wide or standard screen mode.
Features that I felt were useless, or gave false hope:
There's a brightness adjustment that really only changes the color temp. They're not labeled warm, cool and other, but that's what they really are. The manual focus is easy to adjust. I have better than 20/20 vision uncorrected and I found that the upper left corner was never in focus with the rest of the screen, annoying. When using it with my little HP mini 210 the colors were always over saturated, the brightness options didn't help.
Short falls (cons):
This projector isn't bright by any means (when projecting onto a thick white cotton sheet), unless you'r projecting a 25 inch or smaller image you're going to need a darkened room. Anything over 40 inches and your room needs to be almost completely black. At that size though the standard definition image shows individual pixels.
Strengths (pros):
It's a pretty quiet projector that draws very little power, you might even be able to hook this up to a portable power supply. The manual focus ring is easy to use and get the image focused for your eyes. The front foot adjusts hight easily. All of the connections are made at the rear of the unit. It's smaller than I thought it was going to be, and lighter.
Included hardware/cables:
Mine came with a 3ft (not sure, I never unraveled it) male to male RCA video and stereo cable. A ~1.5 watt (at 120 VAC) power adapter. And instructions. There was no VGA cable or any other cables included.
My impressions on using it:
I had mine set up to make about a 40 inch image onto a thick white sheet.
I used it with my Nintendo Wii in widescreen mode and standard definition. The first game I played was Link's Crossbow Trainer, it worked very well. Although I felt that there was a very slight lag in the video it worked well for that game. I managed to get platinum ranking on every level in the first few days of playing it. That game requires quick responses and there's moderate speed to most of the on-screen motion. The second game I played was Red Steel 2. It was very difficult to play this game. On easy I wasn't kicking butt like I was on my tv. There was a loss of detail and the quick motion in this game blurred very badly. Games that have lots of full screen motion will be made harder by this projector's slow refresh rate.
I also used this with my HP Mini 210 netbook. The experience here was worse but better too. This is when I found that no matter how I adjusted the focus the upper left corner was never going to be sharp with the rest of the screen. The colors were also over saturated, no matter what brightness mode I used. I could also make out all of the pixels, in the areas that were focused. It did, however, work very well for playing videos in full screen mode. I just had to adjust Windows Media Player's colors to make it look more lifelike. I forgot we were watching movies on a projector with a sheet. It was completely dark in the room though.
After nearly a year of ownership:
I've used it to play Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and Wii Sports. It's okay for LoZ, but works great for Wii Sports and other very cartoon-like games. I wouldn't expect it to work well playing my Xbox 360 games, especially any of the Halo series or Forza. It has a few focus issues though. I can never get the whole picture to focus and it needs to be adjusted once it warms up (or you turn it back on after it cools). I've been using it in Afghanistan this past year. My roommates and I watch AFN on it in several times a day.
Buy Optoma PT100, WVGA, 50 LED Lumens, Gaming Projector Now
PT100 PlayTime Projector lightweight funI highly recommend the PT100 LED projector as an extremely portable supplemental
display for kids and the family.
The PlayTime projector has an extremely straight forward design a couple video inputs,
front drop down foot for adjusting the projection angle, screw down rear foot for leveling
the image, focus ring and control panel buttons.
The control panel includes seven buttons power, volume +/-, source, menu, and left/
right arrows for scrolling through the menu. The menu features adjustments for aspect
ratio, brightness, language preference, source selection and image orientation.
This less than 2 pound projector can be connected to a variety of AV sources through the
composite video input, to computers using the VGA input and to audio using RCA jacks.
Included in the carton is the projector, a power cable, RCA cables for L/R audio and
composite video, user guide and a 90 day warranty card.
The projector is bright enough to display an acceptable 30" diagonal image in rooms
with the lights on and a 60" diagonal image with the lights off. When you turn off the
lights the image looks great, not high resolution, but more than acceptable for kid friendly
movies and basic video games. I estimate the projector needs to be about 5 feet from a
wall to display a 30" diagonal wide-screen image and about 10 feet back to project a 60"
diagonal wide screen image.
The projector can run for hours and generates very little heat so you don't have to worry
about burning fingers or melting table tops. The LED PT100 reminds me of a flash light
that can be turned on and off at random without worrying about burning out a costly
lamp.
The PT100 won't replace your television or large screen projector but your kids will
enjoy impromptu movie and video game nights on the wall or ceiling of their choice.
Read Best Reviews of Optoma PT100, WVGA, 50 LED Lumens, Gaming Projector Here
Really liked the Optoma PT100 projector... while it worked. All of a sudden, white pixels started to appear all over the projected image. Research results list that the inferior metal-tape(heat-sink) goes bad quickly causing the DLP chip to also go bad. DLP repair costs more than a total projector replacement. Internal construction appears to make home-repair difficult. Usage of the 20,000 hour LED lamp life is not likely to be experienced due to other serious design limitations.Want Optoma PT100, WVGA, 50 LED Lumens, Gaming Projector Discount?
This projector starts off good, but after about 6 months is begins having problems. We have gone through 2 of them now. The first one's power button went out after about 6 months. Amazon kindly let us exchange it, even though it was past the return date. Since no one had written about this happening in the reviews we figured we had just gotten a faulty one. The replacement started off great, but again, after about 6 months we turned it on to find black and white spots all over the projected image. Dust particles, pixels? I'm not sure. We tried to clean it to no avail. We went back and checked the Amazon reviews to see if other people had this problem. Sure enough, other people who had theirs over 3 months complained of the same thing. It seems repairing it costs more than the projector is worth. Once more Amazon gladly issued a return, even though past the return data again, so that was a relief. Time to shop for a new projector, this one is not worth the hassle!Save 21% Off
Laptop PC Wireless HandHeld Rechargeable USB Trackball Mouse PLUS AGPtek USB 2.0 All-in-one Card Re
The trackball works quite well. Plastic feels mid grade, trackball feels a little loose and the usb receiver storage is a flat spot on the underside with a weak magnet to hold it in place. Tracking and response are both excellent from approx. 15 feet. Grip and shape are very comfortable. Bonus usb card reader works as intended.
HMDX Audio HX-P230BL JAM Classic Bluetooth Wireless Speaker (Blueberry)
- Incredible sound quality in a small footprint
- Connects wirelessly up to 30 feet away
- Works with all Bluetooth-enabled devices: smart phones, tablets and more
- Rechargeable for up to 4 hours of wireless play
Second, don't let my initial 4-star rating fool you. I was torn on how to rate this product for the value of what you pay, or vs. other speakers. I decided to put this up against much larger bluetooth speakers, and I think it speaks volumes that a $40 item is 4-stars compared to $150 bluetooth portable speakers.
I'm going to start with what most peopls call "cons", but I'm just going to note them as minor nuisances
-The cord is only about 6 inches long....BUT...its your standard android type charger. Since I'm a Samsung Galaxy boy, myself, I have a ton of these cables. It is currently charging with an old LG cable I found
-Some have mentioned a slight hum in the speaker. This is pretty common with most Bluetooth devices. This goes away when you start playing music. There have been some that said, "once you hear the hum, you always hear the hum". I purposely turned the music all the way down just to hear the hum. I listened to it at my desk for 5 minutes, and then played music again. I don't notice any hum, and I am TRYING to hear it. So, although there is, in fact, a hum, I'm not noticing it when in use.
-Its not a great bass machine, but again, is this really a con? Do people buy a prius to drag-race? Cannot really hold that against this machine, so again...that is why I said a "minor nuisance" (and that is a stretch)
-The power switch is on the bottom
-There is an extreeeeeemly loud series of beeps every time you turn it on. You know its coming, so you can try to shield it. Its still somewhat annoying, and not good for starting up in quiet places. There may be a way around this, I just haven not figured it out.
-The controls on the speaker itself are a little slow to respond, but honestly, who is going to use this? It is only a minor delay anyway. I just tested them to see what they were. I control everything from my phone.
I tried this thing out approximately 10 times in Bed Bath and Beyond. I kept messing with their display and was rather disappointed that I couldn not try my own music on their display. So, that kept me from trying it at first. Plus, I am always concerned that the display model is set up differently and it just won't sound as good at home in larger rooms...which takes me to my pros, and what I love about this (so far)
-The sound fills a room. Its not that massive BOSE sound, but its pretty close in how it fills a room. I listen to a lot of 90's acoustic rock and that stuff sounds incredible. Now, if you get to some of the newer club-rap type of music, there is not a lot of power, but it doesn't sound distorted either. Still sounds good, it just is not going to blow your hair back and rattle windows
-I had the phone about 15 feet away from the device and it played beautifully. What is funny is Pandora played clearer than my recorded music...here is why that is a pro. Because, I realized a lot of my recorded music is garbage from the internet and typically poor recordings, which leads me to believe that this device really picks out the clarity of songs. Much like a good set of headphones might actually make some of my bad recording actually sound bad because the headphones are so clear.
-The construction is very sturdy
(pending a battery test)
any standard charger that comes with most android phones can charge this.
-line in that will work with non-USB devices
-packaging is actually very nice. I will keep this for storage.
If you are skeptical about buying this, just buy it from a place that has easy returns. Thus far, I have no desire to return it. As far as performance goes, it is a solid 5-star product for the price. Again, I gave it four stars only because its slightly not as powerful as some bigger, more expensive speakers. I realize that may not be a fair assessment, but, again, I think it speaks more to the product that I give it 4 stars in comparing it to the larger portable Bluetooth speakers. I think the only way I would have a problem with this speaker in the future, is if for some reason performance decreases, or I find that the battery lasts a very short amount of time. I will update this, if needed, in the future. If you don't hear from me, that means its still doing well :)
Buy HMDX Audio HX-P230BL JAM Classic Bluetooth Wireless Speaker (Blueberry) Now
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I'm always looking for new ways to get portable sound to boost what I get from my iPhone and iPads. I was excited to test out a wireless set of speakers at such a low price point. What I can say is I was pleasantly surprised by all of the following:+ Nice design to the speaker that just feels like a solidly built product.
+ Rubber bottom on speaker allows it to easily grip onto surfaces.
+ Sound is clear with some decent level of bass for such a small speaker. I tried all types of music including classical and did not experience some of the "humming" reported by others. I'm not sure if this was addressed by the manufacturer in later versions, but I was impressed and saw only minimal distortion at full volume.
+ Bluetooth range was impressive as I saw minimal distortion only when getting beyond about 15 feet. Keep in mind that most Bluetooth devices ranges advertised are maximum with some distortion, so 30 ft is what you get before you just flat out get an abundance of distortion. I did find that solid objects like walls will limit the range, which you find with other Bluetooth products.
+ Pairing was simple with all my iOS devices.
+ Added bonus of having an AUX in and Play/Pause controls on the speaker even though it's unnecessary, since you can use your device as a remote for the speaker. The AUX in is a nice tough for anyone who doesn't have Bluetooth support, but then again I would not purchase a speaker whose main purpose is Bluetooth for a device without Bluetooth.
+ Included packaging is re-usable for storage, which is convenient.
The only thing that was really a small negative for me is that the cable provided for charging is rather short and unless your outlet is close enough to a solid surface you may have to leave the speaker hanging for charging, but this was something I easily saw past.
Overall this is a very solid Bluetooth speaker at a great price point when compared to other similar options. It's a great entry point for anyone interested in a Bluetooth speaker. Keep in mind that all my testing was performed on iOS devices. I tested on an iPhone 5, iPad 1 and iPad 2. iPhone 5 was running iOS 6 and the iPads were running iOS 5.
********* I received this product for free as part of the Amazon.com Vine program. Nonetheless, I review the product in the same manner as I would if I had purchased it myself. *********
Read Best Reviews of HMDX Audio HX-P230BL JAM Classic Bluetooth Wireless Speaker (Blueberry) Here
This is a great little speaker. The new smart phones are very good at connecting with it.I can't agree with a previous review about the humming noise. Yes it hums IF it is turned to full volume and you have turned your music device down to low... your smart phone or player should be up to full volume and then you should use the volume on the speaker to control the volume. Magic>>> NO HUM. This is true with any connection. this same hum will occur on my home stereo if I use the volume on my player to control the volume instead of the speaker volume control.
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I've been annoyed for a while that the speakers on my iPod Touch just weren't that great, and my laptop's speakers were downright embarrassing.In a matter of moments I paired this speaker (right out of the box, with no additional charge) with my iPod Touch (VERY easy to do, go to Settings, Turn the BlueTooth on, when it sees the speaker, select it, enter the PIN found on the bottom of the speaker, play your music) with my iPod and was playing music, and it sounded wonderful. The music is clear, and the base is powerful.
It does have a little pop sound when it is turned on and again when it connects with your device. I've also noticed that it starts out pretty loud each time I turn it on, so I know to turn it down right away.
I love that I can walk around the room with my iPod and not be tied down with speaker wires. It is also nice that the speaker can be taken anywhere!
I had to laugh at the strawberry scent I smell when I open the jar the JAM speaker comes in. It is fun.
Charging is easy using the included micro usb connection. Just plug into your computer or USB outlet. When the speaker's light turns to green, it is fully charged.
I also love the grip material on the bottom, it keeps the speaker from slipping or bouncing on hard smooth surfaces.
In all, this little speaker packs a punch! Love it. (Plus, it is small enough to put in a purse or bag)
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I have been seeing so many mixed reviews for different products that I decided to buy a few, try them out, and decide for myself which one I'm going to keep. So I ended up buying the 4 speakers that have high ratings:Accessorise (tm) Portable Bluetooth Wireless Mini Speaker System,
Alpatronix AX300 X-tra Strong Bluetooth Portable Mini Capsule Speaker,
DBEST London Duo Bluetooth Rechargeable Mini-Speaker Set (PS4003BT-RB),
HMDX Audio HX-P230GY JAM Classic Bluetooth Wireless Speaker,
and X-Mini KAI XAM11-B Bluetooth Capsule Speaker.
Having tested them, I thought I would post my review here in the hopes that it would clear out doubts for others. Here are the results of my testing. In each category, I have ranked them 1-5, with 1 being my favorite, and 5 being the least favorite:
Design:
#1: I have to say Alpatronix speakers claim the spot hands down! Right out of the box, my son was about to steal it from me. He ended up doing so anyway, but I managed to keep him away from it until I finished testing the speaker. The speaker is sleek with rubberized finish and a chrome sleeve on the top and the sides. It's also the most portable onewithout compromising sound quality. The packaging is also very classy (for gifting), and is fun just to open. Kinda like apple products! It looks very sophisticated indeed.
#2 spot goes to HMDX JAM. I have to say I wasn't that crazy about the shape of the actual speaker which is just a cylinder, but the box is like a jam jar, which I thought was cool for children. The speaker is much bigger than the other ones and doesn't fit comfortably in the pocket of my jeans. It's also VERY heavy considering the size, so you'll feel it in your pocket if you are finally able to fit it in.
#3 spot goes to DBEST. It looks like the Alpatronix without the chrome, and also looks like X-Mini KAI. It's not very portable because it has 2 speakers so I can't fit it into my pocket. Even my wife who normally carries a big purse wants to have the smallest possible option, which is definitely not this one.
#4 spot goes to X-Mini KAI. Again, it looks and functions like the Alpatronix, but without the chrome band. Other than that, it looks like a black blob... nothing special. The packaging doesn't look bad. Hard plastic packaging dressed with thin cardboard dressing.
#5 spot goes to Accessories. This looked really cool in pictures but actually the plastic looks cheap. Size is very small, similar to Alpatronix, and KAI but doesn't expand. The packaging is thin flexible plastic and looks cheapish. I don't recommend it for a gift.
Sound:
I tested the speakers with different types of music: Pop, rock, hiphop, house, and classical. Also I charged all the speakers fully before testing.
#1: HMDX JAM. The sound is louder in this speaker. This must be due to the bigger size, which means a bigger and wider speaker in the device. However, I didn't like the bass level relative to the volume level, and the weight and size are a big negative.
#2: Alpatronix. In expanded form, it has a very nice sound and covers both high and low ends really well, with a very nicely developed sound. When I first played it, I thought it was weak until I read the user manual which indicated the speaker turns on at mid volume and that you can increase it to full volume with the little knob that controls most of the functions. Can't believe this little thing makes such big sound!
#3: DBEST. The sound on this speaker is ok. Considering there's 2 speakers, I just expected more! Considering the negatives mentioned in the design, I didn't bother testing it for too long as I was sadly disappointed with the first couple songs I played.
#4: X-Mini KAI. This one just sounds weak. Being about the size and shape of the Alpatronix and DBEST, I was expecting it to perform about the same, but the sound is just really weak even at full volume. It has a nicely developed sound but it just doesn't get loud.
#5: Accessories. The sound is as loud as the HMDX JAM. But the positives stop here. It just covers the highs, and nothing of the lows. No bass at all, and screeching at full blast!
Conclusion:
#1: Alpatronix AX300 was the most well-rounded speaker, meeting everything the manufacturer claims. It's portable, VERY nice sound, great packaging, and good price!
#2: HMDX JAM has good sound, but not very portable. Don't like the shape, weight, or size. The packaging looks cool if you are into jam jars, but I purchased it for portability and sound. It met the sound qualification, but definitely not the other criteria.
#3: DBEST. Like #2, but the sound is not as good. That's why this one receives #3.
#4: X-Mini KAI. I would avoid it if possible. Weak sound, but nice portability.
#5: Accessories. I would not spend money on this. Bad sound, cheap look, and cheap packaging. Like a singer who sings beyond their voice range. No bass at all and screaming!
Good luck with your purchase! I have to go get me another Alpatronix AX300 now that my son has the first one :)
PalmOne Zire Handheld
If you need a handheld for basic PIM tasks such as phone numbers adresses and e-mail this is the one for you, read on. If on the other hand you need a powerful handheld computer able to do multimedia I recommend you look at the Sony Clie line of Palm OS handhelds.The Zire provides all you need to substitute your paper based agenda out of the box.
About the OS:
Palm OS is actually the standard OS on handhelds (most like Windows on the desktop). This handheld includes a desktop PIM(personal information managers) as well as software to sync with Microsoft Outlook.
There are thousand of programs available for the palm OS add such as enhanced PIM , Personal finance program to syncronize with MS Money and Quicken as well as office suites and games.
Hardware:
Zire has a very stilish design it is almost as small as a Palm M515 or clie T 665. Also this handheld as all Palm branded handhelds is build to last with a tought elegant casing.
It is compatible with Windows and Machintos desktops. The only limitations I find in this computer are that it only has 2 MB of memory (but I am a power user), for most peple 2 MB is plenty to store thousand of addresses as well as and office suite and other programs. Another minor limitation for gammers it that there are only four buttons.
Sumarry:
The zire is arguably the best possible solution for someone just entering the world of handhelds. This is the best entry level handheld computer for the money
The only drawback is that the screen is not backlit, and while the contrast is adjustable and the screen easily visible in bright light, it's hard to see under regular lamplight. As I become more dependent on this, I can see I will probably want to upgrade...exactly the marketing strategy Palm had in mind.
Oh, and don't waste your money on Palm's PDA carrying case. It's made of a heavy, soft, kind of smelly plastic that takes away all the lightweight advantages of the small Palm Zire. You can find much nicer ones for much less online at places like eBags.com.The new Zire Palm is essentially an updated version of the Palm m100, with the following changes:
* An even !Smaller! screen.
* A new, stylish form factor.
* A rechargeable battery.
* A funky new name.
All of the other limitations of the m100 still exist. The memory is not upgradeable, and 2MB is pathetically small, allowing for only the most basic address and scheduling functions. The three PALM programs that I consider essential would overwhelm this puppy. They are: Mapopolis (a mapping program from Mapopopolis.com with keyword-searchable street maps), Avantgo (an online news service that downloads articles to your palm) and Vindigo (a restaurant, movie and city guide).
The lack of memory is riduculous, especially considering that the m105 model that this also replaces has 8 MB and a slightly larger screen!
Believe me, screen size matters when you are pointing and clicking on a tiny keyboard on your Palm. And this has to be the smallest screen yet.
To me, this model is only for those misguided and poor folks who would have bought the now-discontinued m100 model but want a rechargeable battery. There are far better models out there for only a few more bucks. You can still find some of the excellent Handspring Visor leftover models around for about the same price, which feature the large screens and 8 MB. And Sony's CLIE line of Palm OS handhelds basically now own the middle of the PALM product line.
Here's a basic PALM product guide:
Zire/Palm m100: Bottom of the line. Designed to suck you in but leave you wanting more. Think of this as the Chevy Chevette of Palms. Plagued by small screens.
Palm m105: The 8MB version of the m100. Fine, except needs batteries and plagued by small screen.
Palm 125: Ooh, expansion slot that you will probably never use. Still plagued by small screen.
Palm 130: Adds color, lithium battery to m125. Not bad, but screen still small, low res.
Palm m500: Still the standard for monochrome Palms. Lightweight, with a clear, large screen and a classic form-factor that gave the company its name. 8MB, expandable, lithium-polymer battery. Triple-Aces.
Palm m505: Discontinued color model features horrible washed out color screen. AVOID.
Palm m515: Soon to be discontinued Color PALM. Very good, but no Palm TUNGSTEN T.
Palm TUNGSTEN T: The top of the line. Finally, Palm builds a PALM that can compete with a Pocket PC. Too bad they priced it like one too. Triple Aces design, with fabulous ergonomics, fantastic high-res active screen, battery, bluetooth, and drop-down graffiti pad.
For competitors, check out the new Handspring Treo models, which feature thumbpads and a small form factor (some with phones), and the Sony CLIE line. The CLIE models, which start at just over a hundred clams, have a nice form factor, and upper-level models feature the best high-res color screens for generally less than what you'd pay for a similar PALM-branded model. CLIE's feature memory-stick slots and lithium batteries. But I've heard Sony's customer service is weak compared to Palm's easy-as-pie returns. These things do break from time to time, so keep that in mind.
Enjoy!
Read Best Reviews of PalmOne Zire Handheld Here
Last year I asked my wife for a PDA for Christmas which I received. She bought a good brand, a top seller, but I was totally frustrated with learning how it works. It shouldn't be that complicated. Maybe the Yippees and the Yuppies are smarter than I am or just determined to overcome any tough challenge. Not me! I bought a Palm Zire and fell in love. It has everything and does everything I need and I learned it in three minutes. The front cover is a soft, plastic flap which seems to be a pain to some but is easy to cope with and who needs backlighting? The battery is rechargable so I don't replace batteries. My calendar stretches on for years, my address book has about 250 entries and I've only just begun, my to do list is brilliantly simply, my note pad goes on forever with ideas, reminders, shopping list, etc. and I can switch from one category to the next with a simple touch of the handy stylus and back again. It is a delight to work with and anyone who slams it is an idiot! You want a stylish Cadillac with a phone and color TV screen, fine, go buy one, but for the price and simplicity you just can't beat it! In the world of sophisticated electronics, this little, light-weight, shirtpocket pal goes the distance for me . . . and probably for you. Simplify your life, get it all done and relax. Anything you need is right there in the Palm of your hand. Zire!Want PalmOne Zire Handheld Discount?
I am a 13 year old kid who bought this pda with my mowing money for school. This is a very good PDA for its price. It has a nice B&W touch screen and looks cool. It has an Adress book, date book, memo pad, note pad (you can draw stuff on the screen with this), 13 digit calculator, clock & alarm, expense, to do list, and security. A cd comes in the package that has palm desktop software (synchronising stuff), and mine hunt, giraffe, hardball (like pong), and puzzle 15 (theese are all games that you put on the pda through the desktop software). This is a very good pda for anyone who wants one thats cheap in price, but not in quality.
rooCASE 3n1 Executive Portfolio (Red) Genuine Leather Case Cover / (Red) Capacitive Stylus / x2 HD
Great quality!!! The leather is thick, had that great new leather smell at first. Quality zipper and stiching inside. Stylus works great and fits perfectly!Save 34% Off
K-byte Zipit Wireless Instant Messenger - Blue
The ZipIt Wireless Messenger is the best instant messaging device I have ever used. The ability to connect to any open access point is one of its strongest strengths I can use it out in the park, at many local resturants, and at school. The software is very easy to use. On the device's first boot, it walks you through a simple setup proceedure that involves entering your IM names and passwords. Afterwards, every time the unit is turned on it automatically looks for an open access point, connects to it, and logs on your IM services. If it does not find an open one, or only finds one with WAP, a dialogue appears asking for the ESSID of the base station you want to connect to or for the WAP key, respectively.Your buddy list can be shown or hidden by the big "Z" logo key just below the screen's hinge. Messaging someone on your list is as simple as selecting their name with the arrow keys and hitting enter. If you have a large list of friends, you can begin typing their name, and it will automatically select the closesst match.
Chatting itself is very intuitive. If you recieve a message when you have no other conversations going, that message is displayed, along with the familliar bottom text field for you to type. If another message is recieved while you are chatting, a non-intrusive popup is displayed for a few seconds informing you of the new message. You can switch conversations by hittting the previous and next keys, or by hitting P1, P2, or P3 for the first three conversations. You can have up to 99 conversations going at once if that's not enough for you, then you need to seek the services of a professional. And of course, all the expected sound notifications are here buddies logging on and off, sending and recieving messages, etc.
Battery life is solid, with 4-6 hours in my experience depending on the power saving options. The power save option works with most newer access points, but some older ones won't let you connect with this option enabled so you will have to resort to turning that off.
Physically, the device is lightweight yet has a solid feel to its construction. The display lid has a latch on it to keep it closed, and the power button will not turn the unit on if the screen is down. The battery door is secured with a single phillips screw to ensure it is not accidentally released.
Nothing is perfect, however, and the ZipIt is no exception. My only gripe is relitively minor the keyboard has a bit of a learning curve for those who type very quickly. Essentially, the keyboard cannot handle more than one keypress at a time. If, for instance, you are typing the word "if", and your right thumb hasn't completely released the 'i' key before your left thumb hits the 'f' key, the 'f' key will not register. This may have been intentional, as it does allow for people with large thumbs to type (since key in the center of the thumb is depressed before the others, only the intended one registers), but if that was the case I would have liked to have an option to turn it off. At this point, it is not much of a concern to me as I have adjusted my thumb typing methods to compensate. Typing speed now feels acceptable.
Finally, a note to anyone who is interested in embedded Linux applications this device is a must! If you are willing to void the warantee, there are instructions on the net to replace the default firmware with an open Linux one, which can make the device infinately more useful. After playing with it using the original firmware for a week, I myself installed the OpenZipit firmware on the device. Now, in addition to instant messaging, I can use SSH to connect to my server at home and adminster it remotely, browse the web, compile applications, or even play Infocom games, wherever I have a WiFi connection. Multiple virtual terminals are supported as well, so you can effectively multitask. There is plenty of development interest in the device amoung the open source community as well, ensuring that adventurous geeks like myself will often find new ways to use our Zipits =)
Overall, this device should appeal to three primary crowds:
-Parents who want the family computer back after their teens constantly hog it to chat with friends
-Teens, who are tired of sharing the family computer just to chat
-Geeks interested in Embedded Linux who are looking for an inexpensive device to experament on.
If you fall into any of the above crowds, I cannot reccomend this product enough.
normally your reviews hit the mark but I think you need a new wireless router this time or maybe you just got a bad unit because none of my units (3) are having the problems you describe. The range restrictions/connection issues you describe (you also had the same problems with the IM Free as far as range) are nonexistant in my units, and the unit does have a built in firewall contrary to your feedback. And for $50 you can get a portable wireless router to plug into your laptop or the hi-speed connection for on the road usage where no wireless network is readily available.
Zipit will also have an online firmware upgrade lets you downstream mp3 music right through Zipit, I'll be checking that out when it is available. Only downside I see is no backlit LCD display, but for the price/performance this is a steal. The two clinchers to me are true wireless capability and no additional service fee I don't have to choose either/or.
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This thing is great. I use it at night when i am lying in bed or when i am just hanging around my house. it is great for when you want to talk to your friends but someone else is on the computer. the only thing i dont like is how there is not a light built or attached so if you are not near a lamp you can not see what is on the screenRead Best Reviews of K-byte Zipit Wireless Instant Messenger - Blue Here
Okay, on the plus sides:Sturdy feel, lightweight, long battery life, long wifi range, good encryption compatability, lots of IM options, good keyboard.
It would have been a great gadget 100% except for the fact it has no backlight and it broke in less than a week. It probably would have lasted longer except for a drop off a table onto hard floor. Glass screen (should be using plastic by now) shattered in lower right corner leaving entire right side of screen unusuable. Lid switch also engadges for no reason, causing it to go into standby at random times. Had potential but durability and reliability are a bit of an issue. If you're careful, it's a great product.
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I opened the package, read the two page instructions and hooked it up in about 4 minutes. Just getting this far was a an accomplishment for me! But the best part was that it actually works! The sound clarity and bass boost provides a noticeable difference in sound output. I recommend this product.
PS410 Black 600DPI Color & Mono HandyScan Handheld Scanner
The device is really easy to use, the functions are simple, just click, hold, and scan. Simply insert the micro memory card into the slot and start scanning, then read the card on the computer.
I could not open the CD either. My last two installations were for a Logitech mouse and a Brother printer, both trouble free.
I now have this recurring message when I boot that installation failed. It does not respond to a computer restore sequence.
Since I could not get CD to load, nor activate the "buttons" or "switches" (holes in the unit) I give it a total F for failure.
Seller digimall was prompt and courteous when emailed, I returned unit , and they promise that a refund in a few days will appear on my credit card.
I am still looking for a handheld scanner. I consider the design of this unit to be junk.
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Acer Aspire One AOD250-1151 10.1-Inch Netbook Carrying Case (Deluxe Bag - Red / Black)
I own an Acer Netbook and it just fits in perfectly. It also provides spaces for other things as well. I took my cel phone recharger, a camera among others things all in this bag on vacation and worked out very well.Save 50% Off
Hitachi DS18DSAL 18-Volt 1/2-Inch Drill/Driver
.Update: 4/3/2013 I have been using this drill now for about 3 1/2 years (granted not every day) and on many demanding and lengthy projects such as refurbishing 2 old houses, two large decks, 1/4 mile of lattice fencing, etc., etc..... Still going strong and the batteries still hold a decent charge.
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My rating of five stars is actually a solid four stars in order to help make up for the undeserved two-star rating, which one reviewer gave.
I did a lot of research before buying this drill. It is well balanced, easy to control, and will drive just about any screw into anything and do it for a long, long time on each battery. It is a powerhouse with more torque (460 lbs.) for the buck than any other drill in its class. I have found that, for me, two 1.5 amp-hour batteries are better than one 3.0 amp-hour battery (which is available) in that the smaller battery is much lighter; and if you are working with the drill all day long, you will appreciate not having to carry around the extra weight. The 1.5 ah battery charges in less than half an hour (not in 15 minutes as claimed), so you are always ready to go.
However, there are a few minor cons: 1) No drill bit holder (You can install one yourself...I prefer a magnet.) 2) The kit comes with a useless flashlight, not even l.e.d. It would have been better to have added a few doo-dads to the drill, such as a level, instead of wasting the money on a flashlight. 3) No battery meter. 4) Comes with a belt holder, which is very sturdy; but I wouldn't trust what one might hang it on to...and then there is always the possibility of drilling a hole in your leg. I removed it. 5) The case for the kit measures 16" x 18" x 4" and would do justice as designer luggage or as an overnight airline carry-on ...another waste; and when was the last time you lugged around (or even kept) your work drill in its case? However, it is recyclable. 6) The charging light on the bare-bones charger is recessed in the top of the charger and can only be viewed by looking down on it. The charger also has a rather cryptic light readout.
With all these complaints, I wouldn't trade it for any of the other 9 drills (for under $200) I tried out. Why? It outperformed every one of them.
For the past two weeks, we have been reconstructing a small country house. I included the Hitachi and a good corded drill (just in case)in my tool kit. So far, I have yet to plug in the corded drill.
Positives: light weight, small for tight spaces, ergonomic, lithium ion batteries, ease of drill bit lock-up in the chuck, LED work light, and a very nice carrying case.
Minus(?). My only concern is to echo a previous review...I had no idea when I bought the tool that it is the only one Hitachi makes at this time with this battery design. It is new. Though lithium ion batteries last a long time and they have no charge "memory," at some point (1,000 charge cycles or so) they need to be replaced. It would be more comforting if the battery was universal to the product line.
One more thing...why the flashlight? The carrying case could be made smaller without it.
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Had to buy a new drill in the middle of putting up 5 tiers, 4 sections, warehouse wood shelving. The Dewalt 14.4v, which I liked, went up in smokes after 5 yrs. Bought this Hitachi without any research, and was not disappoint. This drill is very compact and light, lighter than my 12v Dewalt. The battery came out of the box already charged, ready to go, which I appreciated cause I didn't have time to wait for initial charge-up. Each 1.5A lit-ion battery lasted about the same as a Ni-Cad, but much lighter and slimmer. Recharged takes 15-20 minutes. At 460in-lb, it easily drives 2 1/4 screws and sometimes 3in ones I was using, and 2 1/2 masonry screws pre-drilled. Was initially very skeptical of the belt hook but turned out to be a very convenient feature and didn't drop the drill through a lot of movement up and down the ladder. The led light gives a good added feature to work under low lighting conditions like under the shelves.The extra flashlight is something I don't plan to use and seems a useless extra that could be taken out of the package to save buyers money. The case is ridiculously big. I had to put out a little more money for a bag to carry the drill and charger.
The green color and the stupid design on the drill make the drill look like a toy, but the performance is far from being one. I highly recommend this drill for extensive use. It lessen the wrist fatigue with its light weight and gives you very good driving power.
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I have owned this drill for over one year and am very pleased with its compact size and torque. I have drilled 3/4" holes through some tough 2" X 10" joists and loved the torque. My problem is with the batteries, I have had one fail in less then 5 months. If you have read other reviews on other sites you would see that this is a common problem. Because of the batteries I had to give the package only three stars and at that I thought I had been quite generous.Want Hitachi DS18DSAL 18-Volt 1/2-Inch Drill/Driver Discount?
I bought this for woodworking. It is replacing a Milwaukee of similar size and specs. My Milwaukee batteries only lasted two years, but this is apparently average for Litium Ion. And, as everyone also knows, you can by the whole kit for a little more than two batteries cost. I will probably buy two more batteries for the Milwaukee later so I can have two drills. Hey, a man cannot have too many tools!This Hitachi is similar to the Milwaukee. Only time will tell about build quality. I've learned through the years that a little flex here or there in a tool does not necessarily mean it won't last. This drill has a little more flex than the Makita or Milwaukee, but it still seems well-made. What I like about this drill (as with the Milwaukee and similar Makita) is the compact size. I am a woodworker and often must put screws in tight places (cabinets). This drill/driver has great power to weight/size ratio. I checked out all the brands and this one is the shortest 18V from front to back and top to bottom. Another important feature for a a serious woodworker is a smoothly funstioning ratchet. This one is consistent and smooth. The chuck also works very well.
I totally agree with what others said about the light and case. Skip the light, make the case smaller and put a bit holder on the drill.
About the charger: I've had several different brands of drills and never really needed all the fancy indicators. A light for charging and one for charged is all I need. It would be nice, as one reviewer stated, if the light was on the front so you could tell at a distance when it's charged. On my Milwaukee, I thought I would use the battery level indicator, but I never actually used it. In the real world, you use the battery until it dies and then swap out. One time I press the cute little indicator button and said to myself, "Oh, cute, the battery's half dead." Then I just went on using it. I suppose it would be nice to tell which of the batteries was charged when they are taken out of the case, but I don't use my drill like that.
People who do serious drilling shouldn't buy a small drill then complain about how it underperforms. That's why they make bigger models. It cracks me up when reviewers talk about drilling a bajillion holes in concrete and yet they bought a compact drill!
This drill works great for what it is designed: Woodworking and small to medium size projects. And, there is enough torque to do the occasional heavy drilling. I think there's plenty of power to build a deck with this as long as you have a corded hammer drill for any super heavy work.
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