Zacherys Blog

Metro Vacuum ED500 DataVac 500-Watt, 0.75-HP Electric Duster Description:

The compact, handheld DataVac® Electric Duster is far less expensive and safer for the environment than canned air. The 500-watt electric motor blasts off dust, dirt and debris to keep expensive computer and electronic equipment thoroughly clean and running at peak efficiency. The DataVac® Electric Duster is much more cost-efficient than expensive, throwaway cans of air, as well as, safer. The electric duster blows clean, dry, filtered air safe for all computer/electronic equipment, printers, copiers, fax machines, digital cameras, etc, as compared to canned-air, which can contain fluorocarbons (CFCS), halons, carbon tetrachloride, and methyl chloroform that are destructive to our environment. The electric duster is also condensation-free and contains no dangerous propellants.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #87 in Home Improvement
• Brand: Metro Vacuum
• Model: ED500
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 4.50″ h x 5.50″ w x 10.50″ l, 3.33 pounds

Features

• All steel construction
• 500 watt motor, .75 HP, 120 volt, 4.5 amps, 70 CFM air flow, weights 2.75 lbs.
• Includes air pin-pointer, air concentrator nozzle, air -flare nozzle and micro-cleaning tool kit, 12 ft power cord
• More effective and economical than canned air.
• Safer than canned air.

Customer Reviews:

A great alaternative to compressed air/vacuum to clean PC’s
For many years I have used a portable vacuum to clean out my customer’s computers when I make house calls. While I still sometimes use a portable Vacuum with plastic attachments to clean out PC’s, I have switched to mainly using the Metro DataVac Electric Duster.

This nifty electric duster is basically one of Metro’s powerful vacuum motors enclosed in a small can. It comes with many attachments and outputs a very powerful and consistent stream of air. Unlike expensive air cans which become cold and loose their power after a few minutes of use, the Electric Duster blows hard as long as you need it to.

Some of the cons to using this instead of a vacuum is the fact you will need to take the PC outside to blow it out otherwise dust will go everywhere. It runs on standard 120v AC so you will need to have a plug available within range of the (ample) 15ft or so foot cord. If you use it continuously for more than 5 minutes or so the air and can becomes very hot but not so hot that it will burn you or cause problems for the PC. It is also VERY loud, louder than most Vacuums.

The positives vs vacuuming the PC, or using a standard compressed air can, outweigh the negatives. The risk of accidentally damaging a component or creating a static discharge when using a vacuum is higher (although I have never had this happen). A vacuum will do a good job at cleaning the PC, but the force of the air stream from the Electric Duster is very powerful and reaches cracks and crevasses to blow out dust in places which the vacuum will not get to. Aside from the massive savings compared to compressed air cans, you also have no problem turning the Electric Duster upside down or at any angle to position it - compressed air cans will blow ice out if you turn them upside down. The Electric Duster is also much smaller and easier to carry around than my portable vacuum. Finally, the Electric Duster is environmentally friendly compared to compressed air cans or even Vacuums which you have to throw away the bags etc.

While the Electric Duster is a bit pricey, for those of you who buy a lot of compressed air this is a must have replacement.

EDIT: Almost a year later this blower is still working strong! The complaints about the black nozzle shooting off seen in other reviews were listened to by Metro and the newer versions have a button/release mechanism. I still stand behind this 5-star review!

Great product for IT!
Bought and received this just a few days ago to replace the crazy amount of canned air we have to purchase to keep our machines and printers dust free. It works very well, with a strong flow of air and good length power cord to help you move around. Puts out the same noise as a vacuum so you’ll have to be careful no one is on the phone! If your in IT and looking to save costs on canned air, this is the product for you

This item blows! (dust to the next county)
This duster is so powerful! Much more power than canned air. I haven’t had to to put the micro nozzles on it yet. I’m guessing you use those if you need to cut through metal! But seriuosly, this is the best solution to canned air. I’ve been wasting money on canned air for nearly 10 years of computer repair, and just recently was going to by a compressor for my tech bench… Until I found this product. For $50 it can’t be beat!

The only issue is that the motor gets warm fast (no warmer than a vacuum motor)… But you only run it for a few minutes at a time and it has a 5 year motor warranty. So I’m not concerned.

Highly recommended!

From the Manufacturer
This newest addition to Metro’s proven DataVac line has been completely redesigned from the ground-up. It is much more compact and comfortable to use than previous models and features a new, almost unbelievably powerful 500-Watt motor that literally blasts dust, dirt and debris off expensive computer/electronic equipment to keep it running at peak efficiency. The new DataVac Electric Duster is positioned as a “greener”, more effective and cost-efficient alternative to the controversial “canned air” products currently dominating the category.

Toshiba BDX2000 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player Description:

Blu Ray Disc Player

• Amazon Sales Rank: #688 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black
• Brand: Toshiba
• Model: BDX2000
• Dimensions: 2.20″ h x 17.13″ w x 8.58″ l, 5.07 pounds

Features

• 1080P Video Content
• Promotes Blu Ray Live
• HDMI output

Customer Reviews:

Very good blu ray player at a decent price
This is the first blu ray player I have owned. Blu-rays are known to be slower than their DVD counterparts, and this player sticks to that fashion. It seems as it depends more on the blu ray itself though rather than the player. Some discs load extremely quick and some are slower.

Overall the player has a nice sleek design. It’s easy to use, easy to navigate. It doesn’t have some extras that other blu ray players have such as pandora or netflix, but honestly, how many devices do you need in your living room that have those capabilities?

I would give it five stars except I was hoping that this player wouldn’t inherit the inability to remember where you left off in a movie. With a dvd you can hit stop once, if you hit play again it will pick up in the same spot and if you hit stop twice it will restart the DVD. To my knowledge no blu ray player does this.

Good Entry Level Player
Bought one of these on Black Friday as a gift. Stood out in the cold for an hour to get it for $79. I thought I’d test it out before handing it over to the recipient who is not as techno savvy as myself so I could give a heads up of any issues I found.

I have a Panasonic BD-60 myself so that’s what I base my comparison on. Load time is up to par with other current stand alone players (30secs-1 min) average. I tested the BD-Live access time with Transformers and it took about 2 mins from disc menu to BD-Live menu. I am playing G.I. Joe right now as I type and picture quality as well as audio quality is great. The menu is simple as is the remote (which won’t win any beauty contests). The design of the unit itself is sleek and stylish.

Note that the Ethernet port is for BD-live content only and not for downloading firmware updates like the Panasonic player does (there are none for this player to date) but when there is apparently a disc will have to be made.

Overall I think this a great entry level player and would make a perfect gift for a Blu-ray newbie or someone wanting an extra player for the bedroom.

P.S. PLEASE pay no attention to the 1 star reviews from the bitter HD-DVD fanboys. Though I was on board with Blu-ray from the beginning I commend Toshiba for a smart business decision and putting a darn good player on the market in time for the holidays.

Stunning and Crisp BD and DVD picture for the price, and Regza link works very well
I have followed customer feedback, performance findings, and honest thoughts regarding this model’s limitations and third-party manufacture concerns. And when I saw one of you mention the price dropping to $125 and (and even lower on Black Friday), I made the decision to purchase it.

My Toshiba BDX2000 arrived last week and I connected it to my 2009 Toshiba Regza 52″ LCD. The high def images from blu-ray disk are stunning and just as crisp as those of my 2009 Samsung BDP1500 that the Toshiba blu-ray replaces. The DVD upconvert works remarkably well, and the DVD image is actually a touch better than on the Samsung. Of note, the sound output is somewhat better than what I got coming from the Samsung. Operation has been seamless with the exception of a high-pitched whine when it first started playing the very first time, but that sound ceased after the first ten minutes of playing the first movie and has not returned.

My Toshiba LCD Television’s remote control unit is visually very appealing and is ergonomically well-laid-out, and it works flawlessly on the Toshiba blu-ray player as promised by the Regza link (****Note to those who indicated they had problems with the Regza link activation: Only after the “HDMI CDC” setting was activated on the blu-ray’s menu and then also “RegzaLink” activated on the television’s settings menu did it begin to function, and then functioned quite well, even the eject button from the television remote opens the blu-ray!). This is a good thing because I am not particularly pleased with the blu-ray remote’s layout or appearance, so I pleased that I don’t have to use it. I was unable to use a single remote on the Samsung blu-ray player, of course.

For someone like me who is an infrequent user and who is on a rather strict budget, I can live with this model’s limitations, especially at this price. I don’t need the Netflix or Amazon online movie access, and I can live without the live firmware update download option (I accept that I’ll have to download firmware updates to a CD separately for the BDX2000).

In a nutshell, this unit is fine and I am pleased by the remarkable image and sound quality and Regza link convenience considering the low price. However, for anyone who wants the streaming content and directly downloaded firmware updates via (non-WiFi) Internet connection, I recommend the Panasonic DMP-BD60 recently on sale for around $125-$159. My neighbor has one and is very pleased, and I believe it offers access to Amazon’s online movie content.

Note Regarding Samsung: My BDP1500 was purchased in late March 2009 when I purchased my Toshiba TV. The Samsung promptly ceased all function at 6 months and 3 days after the date of purchase. Geek Squad checked it out and said it was irreparable. Samsung would not replace it as the model because of warranty loopholes, I wasted eight whole hours on the phone with them over a four week period. That terrible customer service experience is the reason I chose to research Toshiba and Panasonic for my replacement blu-ray player and to swear-off Samsung for now. I found these customer reviews and related comments as a part of that research process and am eternally grateful.

From the Manufacturer
Toshiba introduces its first Blu-ray Disc player–the BDX2000–which provides Full HD 1080p digital output that, when coupled with a Toshiba REGZA LCD HDTV, enables you to enjoy the superior quality of high-definition audio & video content. Supporting BD-Live (Profile 2.0), the BDX2000 allows you to take advantage of interactive features through an Ethernet connection. With interactive content enabled on select Blu-ray discs and Bonus View support for picture-in-picture capability, the BDX2000 offers state-of-the-art home entertainment.

Complementing the player’s stunning picture quality, the BDX2000 boasts a faceted design featuring a smoked mirrored front panel. The stylish front panel dropdown door conceals the player’s primary functions, allowing for a smooth, clean facade.

Using the REGZA-LINK function, the BDX2000 can connect with a Toshiba REGZA LCD HDTV via an HDMI cable and display full high definition content with a single remote control. For added convenience, the BDX2000 features a SD card slot, making it an entertainment hub in the home that enables you to showcase photos and videos with ease.

Key Features and Specifications

• Full HD 1080p/24 fps video output provides an amazing cinema experience in the comfort of your own home (Learn more)
• DVD Upscaling via HDMI technology: DVD Upscaling via HDMI makes your existing standard DVDs look better on your HDTV by upscaling them to near HD quality.
• BD-Live opens up a world of online features, with a convenient SD Card Slot for storing saved content.
• AVCHD Playback for HD playback of your home movies
• REGZA-LINK (HDMI-CEC) connects the BDX2000 and your HDTV for convenient two-way control with one remote.
• Support for enhanced audio formats from Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio | Essential deliver the high-definition audio that completes the Blu-ray experience
• Video upconversion: 720p/1080i/1080p/1080p-24fps
• Video playback features: Progressive Scan 3:2 Pulldown, multi-camera angle select, multi-subtitle select
• Audio technologies: Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD, DTS, DTS, HD
• Digital audio playback: MP3 and WMA files
• Still photo compatibility: JPEG
• Onscreen display languages: English, French and Spanish
• Convenience features: Parental controls, screen saver
• Dimensions: 17.13 x 2.2 x 8.58 inches
• Weight: 5.07 pounds
• ENERGY STAR Certified

Connections

• HDMI (version 1.3): 1
• Component: 1
• Composite A/V: 1
• S-Video: 1
• Ethernet port: 1
• Memory card slot: Secure Digital (SD) card with SDHC support
• Digital audio output: 1 optical, 1 coaxial
• Analog audio output: left/right

What’s in the Box
Toshiba BDX2000 Blu-ray Disc Player, remote control (with batteries), user manual

Learn More

See Everything Your HDTV Can Show You with Full HD

Kensington Expert Mouse Optical USB Trackball for PC or Mac 64325 Description:

The best trackball ever made has just gotten better. Designed for PCs and Mac’s, the new Expert Mouse® employs Kensington’s Diamond Eye™ optical technology for smooth, precise cursor movement. Surrounding the ball, we have a brand new implementation of our award winning Scroll Ring™ that puts scrolling right at your fingertips. More comfortable than ever, the Expert Mouse® even comes with a soft new wrist rest-right in the box! You get all of these great new features along with the same, large ball, exceptional control, and ease-of-use that has set the industry standard for more than 15 years.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1089 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black Silver
• Brand: Kensington
• Model: 64325
• Platform: Mac OS X
• Format: CD
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 2.50″ h x 5.75″ w x 5.00″ l, 2.00 pounds

Features

• Award-winning Scroll Ring around the trackball makes scrolling quick and easy.
• One of the most eloquent designs of any input device on the market Largest ball
• Largest ball of any of the mainstream, consumer devices
• Great momentum and virtually frictionless rotation
• Detachable wrist rest cradles your hand in comfort, Windows or Mac compatible

Customer Reviews:

Buy Without Fear
Almost every day I work for hours using a Computer Aided Design program, and over the years have found the Kensington Expert Trackball to be an indispensible labor (and arm) saving device. You get so much with so little movement! I was looking to buy a new one.
I had misgivings about this product after reading some “Worse than Bad” reviews that were in this forum. Still, either because hope springs eternal or a fool and his money are soon parted, I went ahead and ordered one.
Out of the box ball rotation was _The Worst_ as others had said. I had deadlines, however, so decided to use it to see if anything would improve. Two hours later it had “broken in”.
Trackball Wizards, my number five is on the trophy shelf. The Seven is AAMMAAZZIINNGG. Totally silent movement; virtually frictionless rotation; excellent functionality, and it has GOT to have one of the most eloquent designs of any input device on the market.
As an added bonus the scroll ring beats any scroll wheel I have used, anywhere.
Congratulations to Kensington for creating a truly superior product.

Major improvements to a classic design
This is a superior alternative to the silver and blue USB model by Kensington with the awkwardly placed scrollwheel. Kensington brings back their award-winning classic design, adds a scroll wheel around the ball (programmable for lefties or righties!), a free attachable wristpad and all using optics - no more skin, hair and potato chip crumbs getting stuck in scroll wheels… it’s all done using light.

My less than perfect rating is for the less-than-fluid turning of the scroll wheel. It sometimes feels like you’re grinding coffee when you’re turning it. Sometimes it’s smooth like butter, other times, it seems to skip a little… and it’s not due to debris, since it’s been like this since I got it out of the box.

This is something Kensington needs to iron out in their next model.

Despite this one flaw, this is simply the best their is and there’s a good reason why this mouse flies off the shelves at nearly 100 bucks a pop - it’s because it’s the best input device alternative to a mouse - ever - anywhere.

Do your wrist a favor and treat yourself to navigating in joy.

it had a lot of potential
I got this trackball because of wrist pains in my mouse hand. I will give my complete unbiased review here.

First, it is very pretty. The buttons are nice looking and easily clicked. The ball is a nice size.

The trackball comes with a wrist rest, however it is not comfortable if you use your fingertips to move the ball. In fact, the Kensington documentation states that your hand should “hover” when using your fingertips to move the ball. The reason is, when you move the ball towards you, your fingers have to bend and your wrist bends upwards. In order to keep your wrist straight, you have to hover your palm over the wrist rest. So why did they include a wrist rest?

The only other configuration possible is to rest the blade of your hand, pinky side down, on the wrist rest and use your thumb to move the ball. This position feels good, however I found I am much less accurate with my thumb. Also if you have any thumb pain, this position is not feasible.

The scroll ring is a very nice feature. However, as everyone else has found, it sounds like it has sand in it when rotated. I took it apart and lubed it with a plastic safe grease. Even though I worked the grease into the mechanism, the plastic bearings still make the grinding sound while saturated in grease. I can’t get to them to see if they can be replaced without breaking the plastic, which has been melted closed.

The ball was stiff out of the box. The ball sits on three very tiny red balls, which act as bearings. Remove the ball and put a small dab of grease on these bearings, replace the ball and spin it, then remove the ball and clean it. Clean up all the lube from the bearings so they don’t get the ball greasy. Then ball is then VERY smooth, with none of the “static friction” that is mentioned in other reviews. The grease to use is Radio Shack Multi-Purpose Lube Gel item #64-2326. Any plastic safe, non-evaporating lube should work.

I imagine after a few hours of use the ball would also become “broken in” and loose, but probably still not as good as with the lube.

After two days of use, two of the three small plastic cups that hold the little red ball bearings for the main ball broke. It seems the only way for this to happen would be if I dropped the ball in the socket very hard, which I did NOT do. The little cups do seem that the are easily broken, though I have not read anyone else having this same problem, so it could be an isolated incident. I have contacted Kensington for a replacement. I hope they can help. If I can keep my broken trackball, I will take apart the scroll ring bearings and see if it can be improved.

The drivers for the device are superb, although the user interface is sometimes awkward. You can set actions for each of the four buttons or when you press the top two or bottom two at the same time. Further, you can have it do different actions when any of those buttons are pressed with ctrl, alt, shift, or any combination of the three.

The actions you can take are extensive. You can run an application, simulate a series of key presses, paste some text, close applications, show a customizable menu, maximize windows, etc. Good job Kensington!

The acceleration settings are very important. The trackball has to be accurate for small movements, yet you shouldn’t have to paw at the thing to move the cursor across the whole screen. This cannot be accomplished using any combination of the “fine tuning” controls the driver provides. The acceleration curve they allow you to create is much too linear.

Fortunately there is still hope. On Windows, in your user’s home directory, look in Application Data\Kensington\MouseWorks. You will find a KMW_Preferences.xml file. Edit this file with a text editor and you can define your own acceleration curve. To do so, under “Acceleration” set the “Level” to 1, then modify the numbers of the first “Multipliers” entry. I found 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 13, 20, 26, 36, 90, 90 to work exactly like I want. After editing and saving the file, run the kmw_prb_xml.exe file in your MouseWorks installation directory. This will causes your changes to the XML file to be applied. Then if you go to the acceleration page in the driver, you will see your custom acceleration curve on their little graph!

With my custom acceleration curve I can accurately make small movements for clicking links, menu items, and expanding folders while navigating a filesystem. Also, I can travel the whole screen height with just one movement of the trackball. Perfect! Kudos to Kensington for allowing the preferences file to be customized so easily and for providing such great options for configuring the button presses.

The device had a lot of potential. If Kensington would make the scroll ring silky smooth and make the little red ball bearings more durable, the product would be amazing. As it is now, the scroll ring is cheap feeling and annoying, but it is a great feature to have. A scratchy scroll ring is better than none and it can be lived with.

The durability of the bearings is still a question I have. I hope to find a positive response from Kensington regarding my replacement inquiry and hopefully the next one I get won’t break.

The only other negative aspect is the wrist rest is useless for 80%+ of people who will use the trackball with their fingertips. In fact it is better to not attach the rest because you will find yourself using it, putting your wrist in a bent position.

It would be great to have a trackball that could be used with the fingertips and had a rest for the wrist. To see what I mean, detach the wrist rest that comes with the Expert Mouse. Put a book under the rest and use it that way. Pretty comfy huh?

In all, it is a good device. If my suggestions are fixed in the next version, it would be a KILLER device. Granted, I don’t think there is another trackball as good as this one, but that doesn’t mean this one should not be improved. As is, it is a bit overpriced. The ball, buttons, and plastics are nice, but the scroll ring and bearings don’t have the quality of a $100 device. A more realistic price would be $45-$50. I see it can currently be found for $60 from Amazon after a mail in rebate, so that is an ok buy.

Please Kensington, please fix the problems above and provide us with the BEST mouse replacement the world has ever seen!

UPDATE: I sent Kensington an email regarding my broken trackball and 90 minutes later they responded and have shipped me a new trackball. Now that is great service!

I took apart my broken trackball and inspected the bearings for the scroll ring. It uses rubber rollers on one side and tiny white plastic ball bearings for the other side. The rollers don’t make any noise, the problem is the plastic bearings rub against plastic and metal. Greasing it does not help. The design is flawed and there is no way possible to fix the scroll ring so it rotates smoothly. Another reviewer mentioned that taking out the magnet helps. I don’t recommend this as it does not reduce the noise and makes the ring rotate too easily (possibly on accident).

So Kensington has something to improve on, though even with its noise, I am glad to have it.

Garmin nuvi 265/265T 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic Product: Garmin nuvi 265/265T 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic Lowest Price! List Price: $329.99 Amazon Price: $119.99 Click Here To See Amazon Sale Price Add to cart to see low price@ Availability: In Stock Usually ships in 24 Hours Free Shipping Available

Compare Prices on Garmin nuvi 265/265T 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic

Packed with features at a price that fits any budget, n?vi 265T takes you there with preloaded maps and turn-by-turn directions that call out streets by name. It adds lifetime traffic and hands-free calling to the popular n?vi 255, simplifying life on the go. Like the rest of the n?vi 205-series, this portable navigator is priced right and ultra-easy to use.n?vi 265T’s intuitive interface greets you with two simple questions: “Where to? ” and “View Map”. Touch the color screen to easily look up addresses and services and get voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions that speak street names to your destination. It comes preloaded with detailed city Navigator NT street maps, over 6 million Points of Interest (POIs), 2-D or 3-D maps and smooth map updates as you navigate. Its digital elevation maps show you shaded contours at higher zoom levels, giving you a big picture of the surrounding terrain. In addition, n?vi 265T accepts custom Points of Interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs. With HotFix satellite prediction, n?vi calculates your position faster to get you there quicker.For hands-free calling, n?vi 265T integrates Bluetooth wireless technology with a built-in microphone and speaker. Just pair it with your compatible Bluetooth phone and talk hands-free through the 265T while staying focused on the road. Simply dial numbers with n?vi’s touchscreen keypad to make a call. To answer calls, just tap the screen and speak into its built-in microphone. Enjoy convenient one-touch dialing for contacts and points of interest.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #43 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Garmin
• Model: NUVI 265T
• Original language: English, French
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 2.80″ h x .80″ w x 3.80″ l, 1.00 pounds
• Native resolution: 480 x 272
• Display size: 3.5

Features

• Bright, 3.5-inch diagonal color QVGA TFT touchscreen with 320 x 240 pixels and white backlight
• Preloaded with City Navigator North America NT
• Bluetooth wireless technology for hands-free calling
• High-sensitivity GPS receiver for improved performance and reception
• NOTE: Model number on the box is 265T because the traffic receiver is included; however, the model number on the device itself is 265 as the “T” in 265T refers to the additional component

Minumalist view of data and directions are not the best
I live in San Jose CA and drive in the bay area of San Francisco.

I have had the unit about 2 weeks now.

Any gps unit that you buy today should lock on in seconds, give accurate directions, have a display that is not confusing and have a simple menu navigation system. It does all of these things well except give accurate directions.

My other gps the Tom Tom 130 does everything mentioned above well, but lacks the traffic feature so I will return it. But it always gives very good directions 100% of the time. I just wish it had the traffic capability and I would keep it.

The directions that the Nuvi 265 gives are accurate most of the time, but occasionally gives strange non optimized directions. I don’t know if it is because of the traffic component or not. The directions that are not the best only lose about 5-10 minutes at the most.

The unit’s philosophy is to have a minimalist view of everything. It only displays what you need to know based on the route you are taking.

My other complaint is that it takes about 5-10 minutes to access the traffic information. There is also no direct way to look at the traffic map. For example if your destination does not involve using the traffic feature, it won’t display the traffic map. I wish I could just go to the traffic map directly.

What I like about the traffic is that it does route around problems and it gives warnings about slowdowns ahead, which is nice. So the traffic feature is nice to have and I wouldn’t want a unit without it.

So my dilemma is that can I live with less than accurate directions some of the time in exchange for the free traffic that does work well when I am going through an area with traffic jams.

I am also considering the Dash Express and the Navigon 2200T which I may try out.
————
UPDATE Nov 21 2008

I am upgrading my rating to 4.9 stars
For in depth review see this site.
http://www.gpsmagazine.com/2008/11/garmin_nuvi_265wt_review.php

The reason is that while it gives inaccurate directions some of the time, it is only because I know a more direct route or I know that even though it gives a more direct route, those streets are slower, than a slightly longer way that I know through experience. So you buy a gps for when you DON’T KNOW where your going, not where you do know where your going.

The traffic functionality does pop up right away during rush hour, (within a few minutes). If shows you problems and how far they are away. You can see a traffic map by going through a few screens and unzooming. It also shows a yellow or red colored line next to the road if you are in a traffic jam and when it will end. So overall it works really well. I also read that Navteq traffic (the free FM) works better than MSN paid service according to this site.
http://www.gpsreview.net/traffic/

I read here that Dash is no longer selling new units, although on their site it shows that they do, they cut 50% of their staff and want to focus on selling their traffic software to other companies. See this page and scroll down.
http://www.gpsmagazine.com/

I am getting the Navigon 2200T to try out but consumer reports rates it very low, compared to the 265WT. In fact the only other serious competitor to the 265, on consumer reports, for the price is the Garmin Nuvi 760, its an older model, which costs about the same as the 265, but you have to pay for traffic at $10 a month and it has some other extra features, none of which I would use.

My only real complaint is the non qwerty keyboard, which bugs me. The only reason that they don’t have it is to get you to buy the 265WT which does have it. So the trade of might be to get the 265WT just for qwerty keyboard. I also like the fact that you can transfer addresses directly from Mapquest or Google maps through the computer cable, which is nice.

Sure if it was perfect it could have reality view lane selector, 3-D maps, voice recognition, historical traffic info, directions to which side of the street, instant Dash Express like traffic interface, ipod connection, fm to car radio input, better cell phone integration(I don’t use this), XM satellite reception and everything else you can think of.

But for now it does have very good traffic options, good directions, very fast response time, nice responsive touch screen, and a very affordable price which is now $40 less than I paid only 2 weeks ago $239.

So someone show me how you can get something better for the price or close to it.

Gets you from A to B
This is a review of my first stand alone GPS unit. I have used iGuidance on my PPC with a bluetooth receiver in the past. The reason I purchased the 265t is for the “integrated FM traffic receiver” with the lifetime subscription. The integrated FM traffic receiver is one of my main gripes because it’s not actually integrated into the unit itself. It’s integrated into the power cable by an unsightly tumor that runs long about 3 inches along the length of the cable. So if you’re in between cars and need the traffic capability, you can’t forget the power cable. Other than the power cable, it’s a nice simple looking unit.

The screen is clear and visible except for the most extreme angles of glare in which you might need to adjust it just a touch. The screen is very responsive when panning around the screen and even has a fairly accurate mouse pointer function if you want to get to a particular place on the map. The icons are clear and the tracking is smooth. The only improvements I could wish for is if the displaying information was able to be configured. Sometimes I just like to be ignorant of the speed limit and would rather like to know the distance to my destination rather than the ETA without having to keep tapping at the screen. A little arrow pointing north would also be nice.

Compared to my old iBlue receiver and iGuidance software the 265t locks onto satellites eons faster to get you going on the road ASAP. The FM receiver does warn you of upcoming traffic with a little icon in the upper left corner with an expected delay time but I can’t comment on it’s diverting capabilities yet, even with a recent traffic heavy trip from NY to Toronto. Some areas just don’t have the traffic information when you need it which isn’t the fault of the unit, but the lack of coverage of the traffic reporting area.

One difference I would like to point out where iGuidance may have better function over this nuvi is that you can detour around specific roads in the route list, whereas detouring with nuvi is perhaps oversimplified. Once you hit detour, you’re at the mercy of the unit.

Overall, it’s a fun little gps. It’s pocketable, functional, not too gimmicky, and has more POI than I imagined. There might be a few more menus you wish you didn’t have to go through, but for the most part it’s organized and has outstanding search capability.

Outstanding Unit!!
This is my 4th Garmin GPS and I love it! The other writer mentioned the extra “tumor” for about 3 inches. If that bothers you, well I am NOT that anal and it is hardly even obvious. Who cares about the power cable any way? The unit’s screen is clear, bright, easy to read. Lot’s of improvements. Considered the 265WT but frankly just prefer the smaller screen for walking or riding a bike, just fits in pockets better and still large enough to see easily in an automobile. I agree that the start-up is FAST-FAST. A great improvement over several previous Garmin models. I highly recommend this one!
**I have now used this for a few weeks. The screen is actually brighter and the colors much more vivid than previous models I have owned. Up-to-date locations and the voice is an improvement over prior models as well, much easier to understand street names and names of saved people\locations. For the money-you can’t go wrong. When I go to Europe again in the future I am getting the 275 model which is the same as this but has maps for Europe as well. Again, I do prefer the 3.5″ vs. the 4.3″ screen size. It’s very easy to see in the car and so compact for walking, hiking etc. Garmin keeps making improvements and this little unit is a GREAT value, highly-highly recommend it.
***OK, I have used this for months now and it has NEVER gotten me lost, never. Previous models at least got me lost once. I am more than pleased I made the investment in this little puppy. Fast, easy to see (even in bright conditions, better than prior Garmins I had). It’s worth the extra bucks to get this vs. others, well worth it and I could not be more pleased now.

Midland 1001Z 2-Way CB Radio Description:

40 Channel CB Radio with CB/PA, Instant Channel 9, 4 Pin Screw in Mic, Digital Power Meter, Squelch Control

• Amazon Sales Rank: #790 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black
• Brand: Midland
• Model: 1001Z
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 2.00″ h x 7.00″ w x 5.00″ l, 2.47 pounds

Features

• 40-channel, 4-Watt CB radio is perfect for novices and seasoned CB users
• CB/PA switch allows CB to be used as a Public Address System when paired with a PA speaker
• RF Gain adjusts reception sensitivity range for clear communication
• Easily installs in most cars, trucks and RVs
• Three-year limited warranty

Customer Reviews:

Great little basic CB!
So, you’re sitting there viewing this page in your browser, perhaps with a look of doubt in your face. That’s why you’ve scrolled down here to the reviews. You’re thinking to yourself “A $30 CB? It can’t be worth a flip, right?”. I tell ya what, I was thinking the same thing. But I gave it a shot and installed it in my wife’s little ‘97 Corolla a few days ago, and so far I’ve been pretty impressed.

When I pulled it out of its box, my first thought was “Wow, cheap”. And indeed it is. Its plastic case has almost no weight to it. The knobs and switches have the tactile feedback of a dirt-cheap appliance from Wal-Mart. Being the ham radio geek that I am, the first thing I did was pull out my trusty phillips screwdriver and open the case. More cheapness on the inside, all of the components no doubt obtained from the lowest bidder somewhere in Asia. However, I didn’t see any sign of shoddy manufacturing that I’ve seen in other super-cheap products. No solder marbles shaking around inside, no apparent bad solder joints, components all in good shape, and everything seems to fit and function well. I put it back together.

Time to install. I spent an hour measuring and cutting a hole in the plastic tray beneath the stereo in our little Corolla to accommodate the length of the unit ; slid it in and secured it with 3M double sided tape. It looks pretty good, non obtrusive, black case matching the rest of the plastic in the car. It will no doubt fit will in other small cars too. After some snipping and soldering, I had power from the backside of the cigarette lighter. I temporarily attached my antenna (more on antennas later) and turned it on.

My main gripe is the channel knob. The flimsiness of the channel knob is really the only giveaway as to just how cheap of a radio this is. It “clacks” when you turn it, and feels like a child’s toy when you do so. The channel doesn’t change with every “clack”, it could be 2 clacks or one clack before it actually changes. But, it works. And it doesn’t feel like it’s about to fall off or fly apart, so I’ll let it slide. I go to channel 19 and key the mic to ask for a radio check. A trucker on I-20 about 5 miles away tells me it’s working fine and sounds OK. I mention that it cost $30, and we share a laugh. That’s when I notice my huge metal garage door is still closed. Nice, the radio works pretty well. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to hear the speaker since I mounted it flush with the plastic in the dash, speaker covered. I had even bought a $10 cheapo extension speaker from Amazon with the radio. But it’s still pretty loud! And it doesn’t sound too bad when I crank up the volume. Not bad! I declined to install my extension speaker…for now at least.

So I install my mag mount antenna on the truck, tuck the wires in, and put everything back together. Let me give you some radio nerd advice about antennas, because there seems to be lots of confusion about this in CB world. A -LEGAL- CB radio puts out 4 watts AM. That’s it. All of them, expensive or inexpensive, doesn’t matter…4 watts AM if it’s legal. And if you want it to “get out”, then you need to squeeze out each of those 4 watts as best as possible. The CB band is around 27 MHZ, or around 12 meters. Boring technicalities aside, it basically means you need a “large” antenna for best efficiency. The absolute best CB antenna ever made is the good ol’ 102″ whip. You can order them from Radio Shack for about $20. But 102″ is huge, and unless you’re driving a big truck, it will probably look bad. The second-best antenna you can get, in my opinion, is the Wilson 1000. It has a 62″ whip, which is pretty long but doesn’t look too bad on a car. They come in mag mount or permanent mount. I’m using a mag mount. Now once you’ve got the antenna installed, you’re not finished. You need to tune it for a good SWR. Go buy a cheapo SWR meter and a small piece of coax from your local CB shop or truck stop, read some directions on the internet, and tune that thing as best as you can get it. The local CB shop might even do it for you if they’re nice. It WILL make a difference, and you need all the help you can get when you’re only running 4 watts.

So, now I have everything installed, antenna tuned, and it looks nice. I start up the car out and cruise around town. I chat with a few other locals in town, as well as truckers passing by on I-20. This little radio is working just as well as my “big” CB in my other car, which cost almost 3 times as much. It doesn’t look fancy or have all the features that one does, but when it comes to just plain talking, this cheap guy gets the job done admirably. Someone in another review mentioned how well the squelch works and I can confirm that. This radio may be cheap, but function-wise it works great. The only “dumb” design decision I’ve noticed is that the speaker shuts off if you unplug the mic. But that doesn’t effect you really, you need a mic to use a CB anyway.

Wow, this got pretty long, but hopefully it’ll help someone out there. If you want a basic CB to do basic CB stuff and don’t want to spend a lot of money; go ahead and buy this one. I’ll give it 4 stars, deducting only for the flimsy feeling of the channel knob and switches. It’s one of the best values I’ve ever come across in all my years of goofing around with radio. Just remember though, it’s all about the antenna. Get a nice long one and tune it as best as you can, and this radio will serve you well.

Great Bang For The Buck!
I purchased this radio new on Amazon for about 26 bucks delivered; not a bad price for any CB that is in working order, new or used! So there is value here! The first radio I received was defective; the receive section totally lost it’s sensitivity after a few minutes of turning the radio on, and it was easily replaced with a fully functioning one. As one who enjoys “big” rig equipment, the compact size in this case allowed me to install it within the space beneath a removable tray in my car. Using a good quality extension speaker did the trick; but the radio has surprisingly good audio quality and volume from its internal speaker. An added bonus that NONE of the sellers; even the manufacturer ever mentions is that this rig does have an RF Gain control, a feature NEVER seen in a radio at this price point. Another thing I am impressed with is the fact that the squelch control actually works properly; set it for a particular threshold, and it will allow signals to pass selectively based on the FULL range of differently received signal strengths. It seems that the radio has some sort of “fuzzy logic” that allows a signal to break the squelch and remain received even as the signal fluctuates under the selected threshold to some degree. Most squelch circuits, even in high priced equipment, operate miserably in this regard. So with the other features presented with this radio, ease of operation, good TX & RX audio, the nice size package, and the price - you simply can’t go wrong!

Outstanding radio
I have been into CB radios since they first came out. I also have 50 year experience as a ham radio operator and an electrical engineer. I have never had a better CB radio. I purchased a second one just to have in years to come as a spare. I use it every day-it has very low crosstalk from high power CB transmitters nearby on the Interstate.
Can’t beat it for the $

Jay

Amazon.com Product Description
The Midland 1001Z two-way, 40-channel CB radio represents the state of the art in CB engineering. Incorporating microprocessor controlled PLL circuitry for precise tuning, it boasts 4 Watts of power, an emergency channel, digital power signal strength meter, squelch control, external speaker and PA speaker jacks, and plenty more. Installation is a breeze in most cars, trucks and RVs. Perfect for novices and long-time CB users alike.

Perfect for novices and long-time CB users alike. Click to enlarge.

View front panel control diagram. Click to enlarge.

View microphone details. Click to enlarge.

1001Z Features

4 Watt Output Power
The maximum power allowed to give you the maximum communication range.

CB/pa switch
Allows the CB to be used as a Public Address System when paired with a PA speaker.

Instant Channel 9
Immediate access to emergency - channel 9.

RF Gain
Adjusts reception sensitivity range for clear communication.

Front panel locking mic connector
Easy to connect microphone locks securely to CB.

Digital Power meter
Displays incoming signal strength and RF output power.

Squelch control
Removes background noise.

LED Display
Large high-intensity channel readout. Easy to read day or night.

Controls
On/OFF/Volume knob, Squelch knob, RF Gain knob, Tuning knob, CB/PA switch, Instant Channel 9 switch

Jacks and connectors
4 pin locking mic connector, antenna connector, external speaker connector, PA speaker connector and DC power cord connector.

Midland Radio Corporation

Midland Radio Corporation is an international industry leader in wireless communications with affiliates in Italy, Bulgaria, Germany, Poland, Russia, Spain, and the United Kingdom, as well as representation in Latin America. Midland develops high quality consumer products such as GMRS Two-Way Radios, Citizen Band (CB) Radios, Marine Radios, Bluetooth intercom systems, and All Hazards/Weather Alert Radios. Also, as a leading manufacturer of Land Mobile Radios, Midland supplies professional grade analog and digital (P25 Technology) Portables, Mobiles and Base Stations/Repeaters for government entities such as forestry, public safety, and other commercial users.

Known in the ’70s primarily for CB radios and household electronics, Midland has grown with the times by producing innovative new communications products and by actively promoting public emergency preparedness. Midland has manufactured quality Two-Way Radios for the last 50 years and is a market leader in several individual categories.

What’s in the Box

1001Z CB Radio, Microphone, Mounting Bracket and Hardware, Owner’s Manual

Sony ICFS79W AM/FM/Weather Band Digital Tuner Shower Radio White Product: Sony ICFS79W AM/FM/Weather Band Digital Tuner Shower Radio White-Retail $49.95! Sale Only $43.44! List Price: $49.95 Amazon Price: $43.44 Click Here To See Amazon Sale Price Add to cart to see low price@ Availability: In Stock Usually ships in 24 Hours Free Shipping Available

Compare Prices on Sony ICFS79W AM/FM/Weather Band Digital Tuner Shower Radio White

Splash Resistant1 Multi-Band Shower Radio — makes this an ideal radio to have in the bathroom, and in the shower, spa or sauna. AM/FM/Weather Band Reception — provides easy tuning of all available AM and FM radio stations, plus audio up to the minute weather. 20 Memory Random Presets (5AM/5FM1/5FM2/5Weather) — offer convenient one-button memory tuning to 5 AM and 10 of your favorite FM radio stations along with 5 weather frequencies. Easy One Button Weather Band Select — gives you weather information at the press of a single button. Supplied Hanging Strap — loops over a door knob or on the shower head extension. Built-In Digital Clock — with large high-contrast display that shows current time and number of pre-set radio station.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #257 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: WHITE
• Brand: Sony
• Model: ICFS79W
• Dimensions: 5.50″ h x 2.75″ w x 5.75″ l, 1.20 pounds

Features

• Splash Resistant Multi-Band Shower Radio
• AM/FM/Weather Band with 20 Memory Random Presets
• Built-In Digital Clock and Countdown Timer
• Selectable Automatic Off Timer
• Unique Easy Grip Design

Simply perfect
I very rarely write reviews but I love this radio so much I felt inspired. (Actually I own the S79V, but it seems to be identical to this one.) It is simply the perfect shower radio. Reception is excellent and better than some of the more expensive radios in my house. It has a clever suction cup aerial that sticks to shower tile well. The controls are simple and I particularly like the timer function, so I don’t need to worry about turning it off. It goes forever on a set of batteries. I also like that this isn’t equipped with a CD player, which would add bulk for a questionable extra function.

The white plastic has yellowed over time (four years?), and the top control panel membrane has deteriorated slightly, but it’s still going strong. I purchased a replacement just to have a spare handy should I need one and find that Sony has stopped making these gems.

Best portable radio ever
I love this radio! We own 2, and I’m about to buy 2 more - one more for our home and one for a gift. I keep one with my gardening tools and carry it around with me and listen while gardening. The others travel between the bathrooms and bedrooms. Good sound quality, takes dirt and water abuse, and the preset buttons are great for a portable radio. No playing around trying to tune in favorite stations. The batteries seem to last forever (I don’t even know what kind they take, since I’ve never changed them and we’ve had our 2 units for years). So the time is always right, even with the occasional power outs we have in our area, which messes up all the plug in radio times. The best portable radio ever!

Sony S79W AM/FM/Weather Shower Radio - Great Performer In An Empty Field

The Sony ICFS79W AM/FM/Weather Band Digital Tuner Shower Radio is really well designed for its purpose. I spent a long time trying to find a shower radio that had more than just AM/FM, like a CD player for example. I eventually gave up that quest and gave this a try. Perhaps there are just too few options in radios designed for use in the shower.

Quite frankly, I am kicking myself in disbelief over this product. I was open minded but skeptical when I got this. The strong reception is really the best feature, and the weather band and auto on / off timers are nice extras.

This guy is probably a 5 star product for most people, but I do tend to be picky. For me, it would be almost perfect if not for a few cons. Still, it’s hard to find alternatives so it’s difficult to know if there is a better alternative.

PROS
+ Absolutely GREAT reception; it’s actually really surprising how good it is
+ Nice simple controls that are mostly intuitive
+ Nice extras, like the Weather band
+ Convenient timer to get you going
+ Nice Auto-Off feature for easy morning operation

CONS
- Analog volume adjustment provides little control at lower volumes
- Still requires large C batteries, that are less convenient than AA when using rechargeables
- List price is quite high
- Wire Antenna is difficult to stick up and often comes loose
- Weather band has more static than AM or FM

Granted, the last two cons are minor. Still, this guy could use some improvements. It’s hard to believe that for this price only AM / FM and Weather bands are included. Still, while the weather band has static from time to time, the AM and FM are some of the strongest I have heard in a radio of any kind. I am not sure what kind of internal antennae and supporting electronics they have to compliment the standard external wire antenna. But whatever they did, the reception is surprisingly strong and clear.

Having to worry about replacing those large batteries is also a throw-back to 1989, and it would have been nicer if they could have used four AA batteries or some such more standard configuration instead. Most people with lots of electronics already have rechargeable AAs, but few people have rechargeable C batteries on hand. Better yet, if possible perhaps a rechargeable battery might have been an option given the size. Still, perhaps the extra juice of the batteries helps the strong signal. While I have only tested this guy for a few weeks, I have also heard that the batteries last a really long time in it. I will update my review after the first batch run out of power.

Still, if you need a shower radio, this is one of the better options. There are some that offer more features, like a CD player, but most have low satisfaction numbers. I will continue looking for other models. For the time being, it seems like despite a rather high price this might be the one to go with.

Enjoy.

Kensington Wireless Presenter with Laser Pointer and 1 GB Built-in Memory Black Product: Kensington Wireless Presenter with Laser Pointer and 1 GB Built-in Memory Black Lowest Price! List Price: $74.99 Amazon Price: $58.35 Click Here To See Amazon Sale Price Add to cart to see low price@ Availability: In Stock Usually ships in 24 Hours Free Shipping Available

Compare Prices on Kensington Wireless Presenter with Laser Pointer and 1 GB Built-in Memory Black

Here’s everything you need to give a great presentation-right down to the presentation itself. With 1 GB of built-in memory, the Kensington Wireless Presenter with Laser Pointer and Memory can store hundreds of presentations. And it feels great in the palm of your hand. Easy-to-use 4-button controls and plug and play operation, so you’re always ready to present clearly and professionally. Operates on 2 AAA batteries (included with purchase).

• Color: Black
• Brand: Kensington
• Model: K72336US
• Format: CD
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 8.88″ h x 6.12″ w x 2.21″ l, .35 pounds

Features

• Built-in laser pointer helps you highlight key points
• 2.4 GHz wireless receiver for long-range use up to 30 feet
• 1GB built-in memory allows you to store your presentations
• USB wireless receiver stores inside the pointer
• Low-battery indicator

Exactly what I hoped for
I own a Kensington 33374, the predecessor to this product and one of the most popular wireless presenters on Amazon. As I wrote in my 4-star review of that device back in March of this year: “One way that Kensington could make their next model more useful would be for the USB adapter to double as a thumbdrive. Since you’ll be plugging it into the host computer anyway, why not put your presentation on it?”

My prayers were answered.

This model is practically identical to its predecessor; why mess with a good design? (The 33374 currently has 152 customer reviews averaging 4.5 stars.) It lacks the heft, chrome and fancy features of high-end presenter models–there are no programmable buttons, no mousing capability–but has all of the basics down pat: Just plug the tiny USB dongle into the computer you want to use (there are no drivers needed on any recent version of Windows or Mac OS X), then use the left and right arrows to flip from slide to slide and the top arrow to point a bright red laser point. (The lower button toggles blackout mode in PowerPoint, which is nice if you want to focus your audience’s attention on something other than the slides for a moment.) It’s simple, comfortable–and now it has 1GB of storage, enough for hundreds of ordinary PowerPoint presentations. The design is also slightly improved by replacing the distracting flash of metal around the controls with a high-contrast black color.

Any downsides? The price point is significantly higher, so you should think about whether the convenience of the built-in memory is worth it. One of the great features of the device is that the USB dongle slides right in when it’s not in use. Some people keep a USB thumbdrive on them at all times. If you do, and if the computers you’re going to be presenting on are sure to have 2 open USB ports, then you could save yourself a few bucks with the older model. But if you enjoy having everything in one single, simple package, then the premium is well worth it.

Good little remote control for your Windows Powerpoint Presentations
When I received the Kensington Wireless Presenter, I was hoping it would help me with my Powerpoint Presentations which I give to my students. I’m an elementary school librarian, and often have to sit desk-bound behind the children while they watch the screen and instruct them while they are facing away from me. This “wireless presenter” (which is simply a combined remote control/laser pointer) is very handy in allowing me to stand in front of the children, by the screen and point and click my way through Powerpoint presentations without having to stand by the computer. Simply load the presentation onto the flash-drive which is included, start the presentation from the flash-drive, and then direct it forward or back using the remote. The cost for this presenter is the sticking point, $75 - my computer specialist here at school bought several wireless mouses (with laser pointers) for teachers at her other school for a mere $45, and it not only could do everything this remote could do, it also was a mouse for the computer. Cheaper, and more useful all around. The instructions included are next to useless (in eleven different languages!) but it’s a simple device, and even computer novices should have little trouble in figuring it out.

Good: Simple, elegant, ergonomic….Bad: Price
I love well designed products that have a clear functional target and meet it. This item does that. It is so hard sometimes for designers and marketers to keep from throwing extras that end up cluttering up the usefulness of something. This presentation tool is simple, elegant, and does what it needs to do very well.

Simple: When I am walking a group through a presentation, the last thing I want is to fumble finger some complicated remote. I’ve got my mind on a million other things and want SIMPLE technology that WORKS. From trying this with my laptop, the install was simple (plug in the USB receiver), the response is quick, and the buttons are obvious (other than the button that looks like a stop which is actually a black screen, but use this once and you got it). Simple.

Elegant: Each piece of functional design on this device is well done. Having on-board memory with the USB receiver is smart thinking. Storing the receiver in the device and at the same time, using that as a means to toggle the device on and off is clean, well thought out design. The tactile feel and heft just feels good.

Ergonomic: 4 buttons, each with a solid use to a presenter: forward, back, laser, and screen blank is all that is needed and is all that is present. Nice. As someone who does loads of presentations, that’s all you need until you get into the realm of an air mouse Logitech MX Air Rechargeable Cordless Air Mouse). I have large hands and don’t want something the size of a car remote, this device feels comfortable in my hands without being too large and clunky.

The Bad:
So, why the 3 stars? There is just no getting around the price of this item. At the time of the review, the price is way too high. Price it around $35 (less than half the current price) and many people would be looking at this. A few more dollars over the current price and you have an air mouse, much more functionality. Heck, you can get a Kensington mouse with similar wireless functionality for presentations (no memory though) that is less than half the price… Kensington SlimBlade Presenter Mouse, Wireless Mouse and Presenter in One (Ice Blue) K72283US. Oh, and the manual is just horrible. Trying to put all the languages after each other is so bad, confusing, and useless that I am astounded that anyone at Kensington agreed to print it. Thankfully the manual is not a reflection of their product.

So, while I would like to shake the hands of the design team, either they put way too expensive components in this device or the pricing team for Kensington bumped their heads one too many times. No way does the current price point make sense.

Pros:
- simple, easy to use functionality that works
- well thought out design
- great heft and feel to it
- USB memory is nice

Neutral:
- laser is ok, but would be GREAT if it were the green ones out now

Cons:
- price
- terrible manual
- price

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