Lucianos Blog

Canon 77mm UV Haze Product: Canon 77mm UV Haze Review. List Price: $55.00 Amazon Price: $31.72 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

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Canon is a leader in professional business and consumer imaging equipment and information systems. By developing innovative, high-quality business solutions Canon makes it easy to create, manage, and share images and information better, faster, and more efficiently.

• Brand: Canon
• Model: 8-7701
• Dimensions: .60″ h x 3.60″ w x 4.10″ l, .20 pounds

Features

• UV haze filter to protect lens from dust, moisture, and scratches
• Absorbs roughly 71 percent of UV rays to improve image
• Eliminates bluish background haze that obscures some details
• Sits on lens at all times for maximum protection
• Easily screws onto all 77mm lens

Good choice for wide angle lenses
This is a good, affordable UV filter for protecting your expensive lenses. I leave it on my lens all the time. This particular filter (L-39 Sharp Cut) is especially good for wide angle lenses (

Easier to Clean and Replace Than Your Front Element
I never take my UV filter off of my lens unless I am going to immediately put on a different filter. There are basically two camps out there, those that feel you should always use a UV filter to protect your lens from dirt and scratches and those that feel it is a waste of time and only degrades your image. Well, I tried going without one for awhile and then dirt started to build up on the front element of my very expense lens. And although you can clean the front element of a lens, I feel much, much safer wiping my comparatively cheap UV filter time and time again rather than chancing any actual lens damage. I think for the nearly unquantifiable loss in image quality you may suffer by having a UV filter on, it is well worth the extra piece of mind it gives me.

Does what you want
I’m sure there are those who’d wax philosophical over the subject of filters and how one brand is “much better” than another, but for my Canon EF-S 10-22mm on a 20D, I figure Canon would be fairly good at making a filter that they’re willing to have branded “Canon.” It fits fine, doesn’t interfere with the lens hood, looks clear, seems to attenuate that nasty ultra-violet part of the light spectrum and perhaps best of all, protects the front element. What more would one want?

Western Digital 250 GB Scorpio Black SATA 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Notebook Hard Drive WD2500BEKT Product: Western Digital 250 GB Scorpio Black SATA 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Notebook Hard Drive WD2500BEKT Lowest Price! List Price: $72.99 Amazon Price: $54.99 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 Western Digital 250 GB Scorpio Black SATA 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Notebook Hard Drive WD2500BEKT

WD Scorpio Black 7200 RPM SATA 2.5-inch hard drives from Western Digital combine a lightning-fast 7200 RPM spin speed with a SATA 3 Gb/s interface and 16 MB cache to deliver desktop-class performance. With 5400 RPM-equivalent power consumption there is no compromise in battery life. In addition, WD Scorpio Black hard drives are designed with ruggedness, reliability, and data-protection features that actively watch over valuable data. Available in capacities up to 320 GB, these hard drives are perfect for laptop users who require maximum capacity and lightning-fast performance.

• Size: 250 GB
• Brand: Western Digital
• Model: WD2500BEKT
• Format: CD
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .49″ h x 2.75″ w x 3.94″ l, .26 pounds
• Hard Disk: 250GB

Features

• Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging
• WD Scorpio Black 7200 RPM SATA 2.5-inch hard drives from Western Digital deliver desktop-class performance and power efficiency for longer battery life. Capacities up to 320 GB.
• 7200 RPM and 16 MB cache deliver desktop performance for your laptop.
• IntelliSeek - Calculates optimum seek speeds to lower power consumption, noise, and vibration.

Watch the Model Numbers…
[…]
“Free-fall sensor - As an added layer of protection, if the drive (or the system it’s in) is dropped while in use, WD’s free-fall sensor detects that the drive is falling and, in less than 200 milliseconds, parks the head to help prevent damage and data loss.”

Model: WD3200BJKT HAS this sensor and is a little more expensive. Worth it , In my opinion.

Model: WD3200BEKT does NOT have this sensor. Retailers are not very clear about this.

Best choice for a MacBook / MacBook Pro upgrade
I installed this in my C2D 2.16Ghz MacBook Pro yesterday and couldn’t be happier. The size has freed me from continual file cleaning and the speed increase is noticeable. There is a slight bit more noise from the drive, but is sounds like a white noise generator, a gentle hiss/hum, nothing to worry about and I am picky. There is no clacking or anything truly noticeable, definitely no heat issues.

As far as some of the comments people have posted regarding noise I would recommend anyone who has noise problems after the install check the rubber grommet mounts. If you don’t get them back in place properly the mounts can’t do their job and the noise will resonate thru the sounding box that is the MacBook Pro. As far as heat issues I would guess the user didn’t check the cooling fans. I pulled my fans while I had it open and found each heatsink 1/3 covered in a cake of dust. I cleaned them and now the whole thing runs cooler.

NOTE: Do not get the WD3200BJKT for a MacBook or MacBook Pro. Apple includes a sudden motion sensor in the laptop and if you get the WD3200BJKT the sudden motion sensor in the drive will conflict with the unit in the laptop and neither will work.

perfect fit for MacBook hard drive upgrade.
I replaced the original hard drive on my first generation MacBook with this one. Worked like a charm. No problem whatsoever. Boot time significantly improved. Plus four times the space.

Logitech Professional Presenter R800 Product: Logitech Professional Presenter R800-Retail $99.99! Sale Only $93.04! List Price: $99.99 Amazon Price: $93.04 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 Logitech Professional Presenter R800

Logitech Professional Presenter R800 gives you powerful control for high-impact presentations. The brilliant green laser pointer is easy to see, even on flat panel displays, projection screens, and in brightly lit rooms. Manage your time with silent, vibrating alerts and controls that are easy to set and adjust. Move about for greater impact, with a range of up to 100 feet (30 meters) you can cover every corner of the room. Navigate through your presentation with confidence thanks to intuitive slideshow controls you can find easily by touch. A storable plug-and-play wireless receiver makes it simple to get started—there’s no software to install. And when you’re through, the receiver stores inside the presenter to make packing up easy.

• Color: Black
• Brand: Logitech
• Model: 910-001350
• Format: CD
• Dimensions: 5.25″ h x .75″ w x 1.50″ l, 1.00 pounds

Features

• Brilliant green laser pointer is easy to see on any presentation screen–even in a brightly lit room
• LCD display with timer and silent vibrating alerts help you manage time without watching the clock
• Up to 100-foot wireless range for freedom to move and mingle around the room
• Intuitive controls for easy, one-touch slideshow navigation
• Plug-and-play USB wireless receiver stores inside the presenter for easy pack up. Carrying case included

Excellent Presentation Tool
Coming out of the box, the first thing that caught my attention was the ergonomic feel of the Logitech R800. Once I popped in the two AAA batteries I removed the on board receiver and plugged it directly into my laptop’s USB port. With no software downloads to concern myself with, the system was up and running in no time. The R800 operates via Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 platform.

Button navigation begins with the sliding on and off switch located on the side. The back/forward and on/off black screen buttons are placed on the top. Volume control is at your fingertips. I found that even in a darkened room, the indented buttons are easy to navigate. With its built in timer, the LCD display is clean and simple. A great time management tool is the vibrating alarm with three settings (5/3/0 minutes). It also displays battery strength and reception levels.

I put the R800 to the test with a matted wall screen in a lighted room. The green laser’s projection was bright and visible from all points. The second day, I worked with an LCD screen. Again the same outstanding results. The manufacturer boasts of an operating range of 100 feet. The most that I could garner straight on was a maximum operating distance of about 50 feet. Anything past that and it was touch and go. Still not too bad.

The R800 is powered by two AAA batteries. If its anything like its predecessor, battery consumption should be low. This model is backed by the manufacturer’s 3 year limited warranty. The R800 is packaged with a foam zipper case, user information, (2) AAA batteries and of course the on board receiver. The unit’s exterior is a black finish.

With all of its bells and whistles, an illuminated LCD display would have made this the perfect go to device. Even without that overlooked feature, I remain very impressed with the Logitech R800. It is an excellent presentation tool.

Brilliant design and function with only one missing feature
The Logitech Professional Presenter R800 is one of those tools you didn’t realize you needed until you get one in your hands.

For any person doing presentations, this little unit is a wonderful device. Ergonomically, the design is perfect. It is small in size, light in weight and just fits in your hand perfectly. Indentations on the various buttons let you easily find the correct button without looking during your presentation. On the left edge is the on/off sliding switch. On the right edge are two buttons. One of the buttons is for controlling the start/pause of the presentation timer, the other is for setting the presentation duration timer. On the face of the device are 5 buttons. The top button operates the green laser. Immediately below that wide button are two narrower, but taller buttons that control the movement forward or backward through the presentation. And below that are two slightly smaller buttons that control launching the presentation and, if the application supports it, going to a black screen.

The green laser is bright and relatively sharp. It actually is not a pinpoint sharp light like some other laser pointers, but rather a bit more diffuse. This works out to be an advantage because the lit area becomes a bit larger in diameter, albeit less “sharp”, which makes seeing the laser on your screen easier. It really is better than an intensely bright tiny spot. And as compared to the Kensington pointer device I recently reviewed, Kensington 33374 Wireless Presenter with Laser Pointer, it was much brighter overall thus more effective.

One of my favorite and most useful features of the R800 is the timer function. Not only do you get a visual indication of the relative amount of time left, by a series of gradually diminishing lines, you also get a silent vibration in the device at 5, 2 and 0 minute markers. This is so handy and helpful that it has become indispensable to me.

The USB receiver stores nicely inside the R800.

I have used the R800 on my PC ACER laptop with no issues.

Concerning Apple computers however, Logitech does not officially state that this is meant for use on a Mac. However it will work with most Macs as best I can determine. I’ve tried it with four different Macs.

On my 24″, 2.16GHz iMac with Snow Leopard (and previously with Leopard) operating system, it did not work at all. But then I read about a possible conflict with the Logitech Control Center which is used for controlling Logitech keyboards, mice, trackballs, etc. I happen to use the Logitech Marble Mouse with my iMac and had the Logitech Control Center v3.10 control panel installed. When I plugged the USB receiver into my USB port, it was not recognized and thus the R800 did not work with the iMac. However, as soon as I uninstalled the LCC software (using the uninstaller that was in my Utilities folder) the R800 receiver did work.

It also worked perfectly using IBM’s Lotus Symphony presentation software with my 2.4GHz MacBook running Snow Leopard.

On an old 1.6GHz PPC G4 iMac running OSX 10.5.8 and PowerPoint from Microsoft Office 2004, it worked except for the start presentation button. But manually starting the presentation then using the R800 to go forward and backward worked. With Neo-Office v3.0, it worked perfectly… even the start presentation button.

I also tried on a 1.2GHz PPC G4 iBook with OSX 10.5.8 and it also worked just like on the old iMac with Microsoft Office 2004.

Whether the start presentation button works or not seems to depend on the application you use for the presentation rather than the model of computer you are using.

Bottom line is check before you buy or it may not work with your particular Mac, though it does work on the all of the ones I tried it with. If it does not work on your Mac, then check to see if you have Logitech Control Center installed (check your System Preferences panel > Other)

Logitech should be more forthcoming with the actual state of affairs as it pertains to Mac compatibility and compatibility with Logitech Control Center software but in the meantime, don’t assume it will work unless you can corroborate that with someone who has already had success with it on a Mac using the same model.

The only major omission in my opinion is the lack of backlighting on the R800 LCD display. It would be desirable to have backlighting on the unit when operating in dimly lit rooms.

This is a wonderful little device that stands heads and shoulders above its competition such as the Kensington Wireless Presenter Kensington 33374 Wireless Presenter with Laser Pointer. However it costs nearly twice as much as the Kensington. For my money, it’s worth the extra cost as it has a better ergonomic design and more useful features.

I give it a solid 4 stars. Why not 5 stars? Because it really needs a backlit display and it is quite extraordinary to me that the Logitech R800 device is incompatible with Logitechs’ own Logitech Control Center software on the Mac. Nevertheless, this is one terrific pointing/timing/control device for presentations.

Fatal Flaw
I had to return this to the manufacturer for a refund. Why? There is a button called “start presentation” that alternately generates an ESC and F5.the ESC takes you out of presentation mode, the F5 restarts the presentation from the beginning. This button is very near the “back” button and I accidentally push it approximately once an hour. This completely messes up my presentation - and there is no way to disable the button. Thus I cannot use this during a professional presentation - it is just about guaranteed to create an unprofessional event for me, and I do presentations for a living. So as much as I love every other part of this device, I had returned it to Logitec and ask my money back.

Sony Boombox with CD Player, AM/FM Radio, and iPod Dock White Product: Sony Boombox with CD Player, AM/FM Radio, and iPod Dock White Discount. List Price: $79.95 Amazon Price: $68.00 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 Boombox with CD Player, AM/FM Radio, and iPod Dock White

It’s easy to take your music with you with Sony’s ZS-S2iP boombox. It works with most iPod models and charges the iPod when docked. It includes a built-in digital AM/FM tuner, an integrated CD player that supports CD-R/RW playback and a wireless remote control with full iPod menu access. The dock tray is retractable when not in use.The boombox has an auxiliary input and supports AC/DC operation (batteries not included). For more sound impact, it incorporates Sony’s Mega Bass Sound system.

• Brand: Sony
• Model: ZS-S2IPWHITE
• Dimensions: 8.20″ h x 12.50″ w x 16.70″ l, 5.70 pounds

Features

• Compatibility: iPod 4G, 5G, 5.5G, 6G; iPod mini; iPod nano 1G, 2G, 3G; iPod touch 1G
• Built-in dock makes it easy to use–simply connect iPod and press play
• CD-R/RW playback capability lets you play burned disks or create custom mixes from your existing music collection
• iPod battery charging while on dock so you never have to worry about running low on battery life
• Audio-in jack lets you easily connect other digital music players to the boombox

Served my purposes wonderfully
This is a neat boombox. I use it when I am cooking or just relaxing. I have only used it indoors (where it sounds great), but I think it is good (though not the best) for outdoors as well.

I had modest expectations when I purchased this and it has worked very well for me. I use an ipod touch in the docking station at it works great. There is no way to navigate ipod menu’s (such as artist, songs, and playlist) on the boombox itself, but I use the touch interface on my ipod and it works fine. Of course, the play, pause, and forward/backward skip buttons on the boombox can be used with the ipod (for example, after you choose your favorite artist, playlist,etc on your ipod unit then you can hit play on the boombox and the song will play).

The cd player works great even with heavily used or slightly scratched cds and also plays cdr or cdrw burnt cds. The radio gets great reception. Although you won’t be able to throw a window shattering party with this one, I think it is a good buy for most people.

handy, but not small!
I bought this box mostly to have a portable player for my ipod. This also has a cd player and radio which seemed to make it more functional but it is definitely not small/light/as portable as some of the other products I looked at. The sound is ok, not teriffic, but good enough for the backyard or listening around the house. I think I will use it a lot.

Exactly what I wanted!
I am very pleased with my purchase! This was exactly what I wanted in order to a) give me an Ipod dock and b) eliminate the big bulky stereo system in my bedroom. So now I can choose to play my Ipod, listen to a CD or the radio! Plus it will charge my Ipod without having to turn on the computer! Great sound, great price! I would recommend!

HiFi Works 30020 HFW 6.5-Inch Rock Speakers Pair Product: HiFi Works 30020 HFW 6.5-Inch Rock Speakers Pair Discount. List Price: $99.99 Amazon Price: $60.60 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 HiFi Works 30020 HFW 6.5-Inch Rock Speakers Pair

What could be better than a speaker that hides in plain view. This great sounding two way speaker looks just like a rock. They are all weather designed to withstand winter cold and summer heat, as well as rain, sleet and snow.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1232 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: granite
• Brand: Hi Fi Works
• Model: 30020
• Dimensions: 8.38″ h x 7.50″ w x 10.63″ l, 14.00 pounds

Features

• One pair outdoor garden speakers
• Rock-shaped design blends in with landscaping
• All-weather, all-season plastic housing
• 5.25-inch black polypropylene subwoofer and 0.625-inch polycarbonate dome tweeter
• Measures 8.75 x 8.38 x 12.25 inches (W x D x H)

Good for the price
These are just fine for what your going to pay for them. To get it a much better speaker your going to have to open up your wallet and pay a whole lot more. These are not high tech indoor sound systems. They are just outdoor patio speakers and they sound just fine for what they are meant for. The reviewer who couldnt hook them up hasnt ever hooked up speakers before because these were incredibly simple.

Very impressed with them, amazing sound…
I love these speakers, they sound MUCH better than many others out there and are very high quality. The pictures do these no justice… they look way better and definitely much more natural than any of these stock and customer images.

First impressions, packaging was great, speakers were encased completely in styrofoam separated from each other and each in it’s own plastic bag. Each speaker has a 3′ pigtail cable coming out that is sealed to the enclosure, so make sure you have wire nuts or some other means of splicing it to the speaker cable.

Coming from someone who is extremely picky, I must say, they have honestly exceeded my expectations in both appearance and sound quality. I decided to go for these because they are 2-way and at the time, they were only $48 for the pair plus shipping which you just couldn’t beat. They look way better than I expected, MUCH better than others I have seen and they are fully sealed and very durable for sure. The sound quality is much better than I expected. The 2-way is a must… the highs are crisp and not over-powering, overall a very smooth sound. The lows are definitely there… you aren’t overwhelmed with mids, you get a good sense of clean sound with way better than expected punch from the low end.

One thing to point out… speaker cable gauge plays a HUGE factor in your low end response over long runs… so remember when ordering up speaker cable to purchase the proper gauge for your speakers! I ran these with 16AWG cable that is in total ~75′ or so away from my amp and I wouldn’t go ANYTHING smaller than that. If you are between 25-50′ away from your receiver/amp, you can probably get away with 18AWG, but I wouldn’t recommend it. I almost wish I would have gone for 14AWG but for only 75′ per speaker, I 16 gauge is fine. If you are anything over 100 which is a lot easier than you think when running cable, definitely go with 14AWG, no questions asked. If you care at all about the low end response with any speakers, especially long cable runs like outside speakers, make sure to get the proper gauge cable for the distance.

Very happy with speakers
I ordered the outdoor speakers for my husband for his birthday and are very happy with the sound they put out and also with the look of them. We put them in my rock garden and they blend right in nicely. They were well worth the money.

Samsung USB 2.0 8x DVD Writer External Optical Drive for Mac and PC SE-S084C/RSRN Red Product: Samsung USB 2.0 8x DVD Writer External Optical Drive for Mac and PC SE-S084C/RSRN Red Review. List Price: $62.99 Amazon Price: $55.04 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 Samsung USB 2.0 8x DVD Writer External Optical Drive for Mac and PC SE-S084C/RSRN Red

The first Samsung external DVD drive that is compatible with Mac as well as PCs. A “must have” accessory for all NetBook users. The SAMSUNG 8X Tray load External Slim DVD Writer is designed to provide the highest quality DVD functionality in a sleek design that is not much larger than the CD/DVD itself. Simply plug it into your USB port and you are ready to watch movies, install software, copy photos, play music, etc. Furthermore, this model supports both 12 cm and 8 cm discs. The Manual Disc Eject function allows the disc to be ejected even when the power is off.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1218 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Red
• Brand: Samsung
• Model: SE-S084C/RSRN
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .75″ h x 5.60″ w x 6.20″ l, .93 pounds

Features

• An external DVD drive for all NetBook users. Compatible with Mac and PC’s alike. Full 8X DVD functionality in an ultra slim tray load design
• Tray Loading Drive for easy access to media even when the drive is turned off. No need to power the drive on to remove your discs.
• 8X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 6X DVD+R DL 8X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 5X DVD-RAM 8X DVD-ROM 24X CD-R 24X CD-RW 24X CD-ROM 2MB Cache USB 2.0
• Nero Software Suite (NERO Burning ROM, NERO Showtime, PowerDVD) included.

Very handy
I got this because the internal drive of my MacBook broke, and it was much more expensive to fix it than buy this one. The DVD drive is very slim and attractive. The color is a bit darker red than on the picture, but still very beautiful. It was completely plug-and-play on my Mac; I didn’t need to install any software. The speed of transfer is just as good as my internal drive used to be. I have not noticed any problems watching DVDs. The only thing you need to be aware of is that it requires to be plugged into two USB ports, and the cable that is provided is for USB ports that are right next to each other. If your USB ports are on two different sides of your computer, you will need an USB extension cord of sorts (which is not provided).

Good replacement drive with a couple of quirks
I bought this drive as a replacement to my internal drive, which died after having my MacBook for 2 years. It was cheaper for me to buy this than to have the internal one replaced. It gives good consistent burns using Toast Titanium 9 on 10.6. I believe that it reads a little faster than the original one that came with my MacBook because I have noticed that downloads from DVDs are marginally faster. Now for the quirks:

(1) Drive is VERY loud. It spins and vibrates quite a bit, and is so loud that you can hear it on the floor above or below.

(2) As other reviewers have stated, it requires 2 USB ports, which I have used from a USB hub.

(3) the tray door must be closed by pressing on the ends. If you press in the middle, the pressure you exert on the case prevents the door from closing.

Overall a solid drive, and I am happy with my purchase.

A Little Pricey, but Worth It
Worked right out of the box on my Acer AspireOne. I like the fact that it requires no AC power. It does take two of my three USB ports, but my Kensington hub solves that problem.

Garmin eTrex H Handheld GPS Navigator Description:

• Brand: Garmin
• Model: 010-00631-10
• Platform: Not Machine Specific
• Original language: English, French
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 4.40″ h x 2.00″ w x 1.20″ l, .2 pounds
• Native resolution: 64 x 128
• Display size: 2.37

Features

• High-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver provides peak performance in any environment
• Lightweight and waterproof
• High-contrast 2.1-inch X 1.1-inch screen with bright back lighting
• 5 buttons located on either side of the device for one-hand operation
• Stores up to 500 waypoints for easy retrieval and 20 routes with up to 125 waypoints per route

Customer Reviews:

Best technology in a starter unit
This is my primary Geocaching GPS. The high sensitivity chip has the same strong processing power, and thus signal sensitivity and position resolution, as any of the more expensive units. It gives me excellent accuracy in areas where my older GPS units just give up, even dense forest cover. The software that drives the unit is the same as the older Yellow model (see below) and has stood the test of time.

If you’re only interested in point to point navigation (geocaching, trail tracks or just finding your way back to the car or the ski chalet), then this unit will do a great job for a no-regrets price. If you’re looking for road network navigation, then this isn’t for you.

Be aware that this is the ‘H’, for ‘High Sensitivity’ unit, introduced in 2007. It’s appearance is almost identical to older Yellow Etrex units, the difference being “High Sensitivity” in red letters just above the screen. Although the older units do work and may still be found, their worth is significantly lessened by the availability of this unit. That’s something to keep in mind when looking at used or “new old stock” units at other venues.

One thing that other reviews mention is true - straight out of the box it takes a long time (hours) to acquire it’s almanac (a digital description of where satellites are in the sky which is transmitted periodically) and then it’s satellite signals. Mine took at least 3 hours and had me thinking it was defective until it finally locked in. Don’t despair, this is a one-time thing - once accomplished, start-up time is about 5 seconds.

Garmin E-Trex 100 H
As an avid Geocacher and teacher, I had to find out what all the buzz was about the H models. (I own a dozen regular ones that I use for instructional purposes) Everything is the same with features except that it is supposed to be able to get signals in heavy tree cover or in places with steep walls (like buildings) or in valleys, etc. When I used it for the first time, it took forever to catch the first satellite even though I reset the time zone right away. It comes with a central Asia time zone so be sure to change that. It lost power and shut off while trying to boot. It was becoming very frustrating. Took about 15 minutes. However, once it was able to find the local sats, it worked fine. Haven’t tried in dense woods or valleys yest, but kept a good signal in woods regular park woods and gave me accuracies to less that 20 feet. The price is the same as a standard E-trex 100 but you get better reception. The down side is that you lose 5 hours of battery life (17 vs 22). I don’t see this as a problem at all. And there is no cool globe logo on the front. I will buy more eventually.

Edited 8/6/09 — Okay. This has become my standard GPSr but I no longer recommend it for the new cacher. I have gotten accuracies within 5 feet in the worst conditions. Although I still like it, the biggest drawback is that the downloads require a serial port. Most computers don’t have these any longer which means you need a conversion cable ..another $35 .. if you can find one. For basic GCing, I now suggest the Garmin Venture. Same basic operation but uses a standard USB connection.

An Excellent Basic GPS
I wanted a basic, easy to use, GPS that would allow me to hike in the wilderness and easily find my way to and from various places without fear of getting lost; and to always find my way back to my campsite or car. I also wanted to be able to save locations I visited as well as locations on the topo map I had not visited yet but wanted to be directed to by the GPS. In addition, I wanted to take a reading “in the field” and be able to find that location on a topo map. This unit does all of this perfectly. Unlike the experience of another reviewer of the eTrex H on this site, when I first turned this GPS on it initialized to satellites and my position in only a few minutes. The description of this unit should mention directly that you can use it to save locations you are not present at. It implies this by referring to Geocaching, but some people, like me, don’t know what that is. And the description of how to do this in the owner’s manual could be a little better. I am not very experienced in using a GPS with a topo map and I overlooked the need to program the GPS to the “datum” used for the map I was working with, which resulted in my readings being several hundred meters off. My biggest complaint about the owner’s manual is that, while it tells you how to program the GPS for various map datums, it does not tell the “beginner” that if you live in the lower 48 US states, for a map that says “NAD 27″ for the datum you select “NAD 27 CONUS” (for “Continental US”). I had to buy a couple of books on GPSs to find this out. Otherwise the owner’s manual, while it is a little concise, is pretty thorough and easy to use. If your needs are simple, like mine, and you do not need to have topo maps loaded into the GPs, this is an excellent choice at a great price. (Even with a GPS it is always advised to go into unknown areas of the wilderness with a map and compass as well. If you work with a map, you will probably use the UTM system so you will need to learn how to work with that and get a plastic scale for reading meters in “grids”. A good book on the GPS can be helpful in these regards - the owner’s manual does not go into these details.)

Amazon.com Product Description
Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts on a budget, the Garmin eTrex H GPS navigator helps you navigate your way through the toughest terrain. The unit is equipped with a high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver, which locates your position quickly and precisely and maintains its GPS location even in heavy cover and deep canyons. The advantage is clear: whether you’re traipsing through thick woods or strolling near tall buildings and trees, you can count on the eTrex H to help you find your way when you need it the most. And just like the original eTrex, this little yellow wonder is intuitive and rugged, with a lightweight housing that fits comfortably in the palm of your hand.

The eTrex H is a breeze to use, with five buttons on either side of the navigator facilitating one-handed operation. The four-level gray LCD display, meanwhile, is easy to read in a shade or daylight. And you needn’t fret should the weather turn, as the eTrex H is IPX7 waterproof, so it can withstand an accidental splash or dunk in the water and still continue to perform.

Functionally, the navigator stores up to 500 waypoints in its memory for easy retrieval, with names and graphic symbols to highlight the selections. Users will also appreciate Garmin’s exclusive TrackBack feature, which lets you reverse your track (up to 20 reversible routes) and navigate back to your starting point. And the automatic track log offers 10 saved tracks (with 10,000 points), along with the ability to retrace your path in both directions. Other details include a hunting and fishing calculator, sun and moon information, and a serial PC interface.

The eTrex H, which runs for up to 17 hours on a pair of AA batteries (not included), measures 2.0 by 4.4 by 1.2 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a one-year warranty.

What’s in the Box
eTrex H navigator, wrist strap, quick start guide, user’s manual.

Acer X203H bd 20-Inch LCD Monitor Description:

Acer 20″ H monitor

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22 in Personal Computers
• Color: black
• Brand: Acer
• Model: X203H bd
• ESRB Rating: Everyone
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 21.70″ h x 5.00″ w x 16.50″ l, 12.00 pounds
• CPU: PowerPC G4 2.1 GHz
• Memory: 2000MB SDRAM
• Hard Disk: 1GB
• Processors: 1
• Display size: 20

Features

• Compatible for use with PC or Macintosh computers
• Acer 3-Year Limited Warranty

Customer Reviews:

great prise to performance
This is my secondary monitor for my laptop and works great. I was looking for something that is around 19″ and gives better resolution than 1400 X 1050 on my laptop.
My main use of the unit is for VMs and text though I use it sometimes for graphics.

Gives 1680X 1050 max resolution at 60HZ refresh and well worth the money that you spend on it. It is not the glossy / ultra bright vivid color screen type, though you can use it at high brightness using the pre-sets or custom calibration.

Utilitarian performer
I wish I could rate this monitor higher because for my purposes it’s a five all the way however for someone looking to purchase it as the primary resource the deficiencies in ergonomics compared to other units in the same size range do not justify a higher rating. Then again, there is the price…if the astute shopper is paying attention, this one can be found for less than a Franklin note, and at that price it looks even better.

I use it in a dual view configuration with an upscale Samsung Syncmaster of the same size so the differences in features are clearly evident. Only the tilt angle is adjustable on the Acer so if one has a workspace set-up where nuanced adjustments can be avoided it’s just fine. Even with user defined customization of brightness and sharpness it is not going to match many other pricier models. In native mode, colors are noticeably less bright, although ironically, the color reproduction in graphics modes seems reflect greater accuracy than my premium model so for photo editing I actually use the Acer instead. It also has a text mode for contrasts to assist in reducing eyestrain. If you’re looking for 1080P and HDMI, then you need to get a reality check at this price level.

It will accommodate either DVI or VGA inputs (cables included which was a nice surprise) with 1680 X 1050 or 1600 X 900 (analog) max resolution at 60Hz. Although one might have some reservations regarding construction and performance, it feels sturdy, durable, is well packaged and I didn’t have any dead pixels.

Just about the only complaint I have is the manipulation of the control buttons on the monitor frame takes a little while to get used to as they seem harder to press than one customarily experiences.

Just plug and play…
Purchased this monitor for my wife’s 70+ mother in OH, and she was able to make the connections and adjust the settings with a bit of over-the-phone coaching.

She likes the flat screen/larger screen format, because it frees up desk space for her and the larger picture helps her better see the details while she’s surfing the net and composing/reading emails.

This product was a good value for the money and seems to be just what she needed.

Kodak High-Speed 16 GB 60x Class 4 SDHC Flash Memory Card KSD16GHSBNA060 Description:

KODAK SDHC High-Speed Card Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) memory cards are designed for use with SDHC-enabled devices, including digital cameras, MP3 players, and more. The KODAK Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) High-Speed Card offers high-speed, high-capacity storage, ideal for capturing HD video and shooting fast-action photos with an SDHC-enabled device.* High-Capacity Speed and Performance High-Capacity Performance. The KODAK SDHC High-Speed Card allows you capture HD video or take a huge number of photos in quick succession with an SDHC-enabled digital device. With a range of high-capacity options, The KODAK SDHC High-Speed Card gives you the extra storage capacity to capture that perfect moment. Video Versatility. The KODAK SDHC High-Speed Card is designed for a range of popular uses, and is engineered for HD video, while also allowing for faster picture capture. It is ideal for use with SDHC-enabled KODAK or other digital cameras that are 4 megapixels and higher. The Best of Both Worlds. Enjoy the combined benefits that KODAK brand quality and Lexar technology deliver. And you can keep it Kodak by adding the KODAK SDHC High-Speed Card to your existing line-up of other trusted KODAK products, while enjoying the advanced, innovative memory card technology provided by Lexar. Whether you’re rapidly shooting a multitude of photos or capturing video with your SDHC-enabled point-and-shoot digital camera, the KODAK SDHC High-Speed Card is ideal for capturing and storing your most treasured memories. *SDHC cards are designed for use in SDHC-enabled devices and are not backwards compatible with standard SD legacy devices.

• Brand: Lexar
• Model: KSD16GHSBNA060
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .0″ h x .0″ w x .0″ l, .5 pounds

Features

• 16GB capacity
• Minimum write speed: 9MB per second
• 60X transfer speed ideal for taking digital photos in quick succession or for shooting video clips at 30fps
• Mechanical write protection switch

Customer Reviews:

Great card
This is a great card used for our new Kodak Playsport. Gives you about 4 hours of video.

Amy’s review
I LOVE THIS DIGITAL CARD. When they say high speed, they’re not kidding. It’s absolutely lightning fast.

Would buy from merchant again
Great price, fast shipping. no complaints here and now I have room for 4000 photos on my new camera!

Fisher-Price Power Wheels 12-Volt Rechargeable Battery Description:

Power Wheels 12 Volt 00801-0638 Battery for systems using one grey battery. (00801-1048)

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19 in Toys & Games
• Brand: Fisher-Price
• Model: 74777
• Released on: 2007-07-01
• Dimensions: 5.50″ h x 4.50″ w x 5.50″ l, 9.50 pounds

Features

• This 12-volt battery has been designed to fulfill rigorous Power Wheels requirements in order to provide the best possible performance, durability and maximum play time for Power Wheels® vehicles.
• or use with: Fisher-Price® Power Wheels® Advanced Series vehicles Type 12V battery system only.
• With internal, self-resetting fuse; also comes with an instruction booklet containing important safety information.
• Use only with approved Power Wheels vehicles of the appropriate type specified.
• This item is not for sale in Catalina Island

Customer Reviews:

Batteries work fine
The battery will work fine for 2-3 seasons provided you keep it charged.
My kids have enjoyed these for years, A new battery will last most of the day, and I do have hills. By the third season the charge won’t hold very long.

The quickest way to ruin lead-acid batteries is to discharge them deeply and leave them stand “dead” for an extended period of time. When they discharge, there is a chemical change in the positive plates of the battery. They change from lead oxide when charged to lead sulfate when discharged. If they remain in the lead sulfate state for a few days, some part of the plate does not return to lead oxide when the battery is recharged. If the battery remains discharged longer, a greater amount of the positive plate will remain lead sulfate. The parts of the plates that become “sulfated” no longer store energy. Batteries that are deeply discharged, and then charged partially on a regular basis can fail in less than one year.

Power Wheels Batteries are a Joke.
Using the stock battery in your new Powerwheels will ultimately lead to a large disappointment. The battery is a simple Sealed lead acid battery. The same kind as you find in a battery backup unit for your PC.

The stock battery will only last about 10 minutes of continuous level ground use. Start adding small hills and start/stops and it goes down even further.

Plus the charger that comes from Fisher Price is a joke too. There is no over-charge protection available, and if you forget about it while charging, you’ll ruin the $60 battery.

Do yourself a favor and buy an aftermarket battery for those Powerwheels. You can buy them at a much higher run-time as well, and this allows you to spend more time with the kids playing, rather than charging batteries.

You can buy a regular car charger for the new battery, and it will not only charge faster (2 hours compared to the stock 18 hour recharge time) but it will last longer since there is no chance of over-charging. You could buy the battery and charger for less than this stock battery with fisher price’s logo slapped on it.

Check out this site. It covers all types of modifications and upgrades for Power Wheels. Improved runtime, speed, you name it.
http://www.ryanhull.com/forums2
Good luck, and be safe!

Ryan

I have bought four….never again!!
I have bought four of these batteries. I feel like a fool after reading so many bad reviews. Please look for an alternative. Out of the four batteries I have not gotten 20 hours of use. It is sad that a company as Fisher Price would sell such a mediocre product. The ride on is nice, please look for an alternative on replacing the batteries.

From the Manufacturer
This 12-volt battery has been designed to fulfill rigorous Power Wheels requirements in order to provide the best possible performance, durability and maximum play time for Power Wheels® vehicles. For use with: Fisher-Price® Power Wheels® Advanced Series vehicles Type 12V battery system only. With internal, self-resetting fuse; also comes with an instruction booklet containing important safety information.