Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T90 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization (Pink) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Before I conducted this side by side comparison, I purchased and returned the Olympus Tough 6000, Casio EX FC-100 and Casio Exilim EX-S10. The Olympus took awful pictures. The S10 was just blah - no real feature improvements of the Exilim 5MP I have now. The FC-100 was just too big.
So yes, I am picky! I wanted a small, sexy, functioning, easy to use, superior camera. I was torn between the Canon Powershot 780IS and Sony Cyber-Shot T90. I visited with both at a retail store and was still undecided - besides Amazon prices were much cheaper. I ordered both and did a side by side comparison in my home. The Canon went back - sorry Powershot.
Here's the scoop. Just for base leveling - I just like to take good pictures of my dogs and garden and husband and just life. I'm not a professional. I mostly post my pictures facebook or email - very rarely do I print.
Both cameras were sexy and small. Both were hefty and felt solid. Both require you remove the battery to charge it. That's about where the similarities end.
The Canon menu interface was clunky and not intuitive. I have not used either brand of camera in the past - so I have no bias from previous experience. Simple things like changing the picture setting took a couple minutes to figure out. The Sony has a touch screen - which at first I thought was just hype. I mean really, Ashton is cute and all - but I don't need a touch screen. Then I used it!! It rocks!! Very easy to navigate. Quick to learn and very functional.
The T90 is almost completely automatic. The only feature missing is the "make me look skinny" setting. Plus in auto mode - the camera tells you which setting is selected (portrait, landscape, gourmet food- seriously). So you don't have to worry if your mountains will look like sushi or vice versa. The smile detection comes on automatically when you take a picture of a face. It's doesn't work on dogs - but it did recognize a Barbie doll face. There are tons of features - like touching the screen to focus on a person or object for the auto focus. Smile settings - little smile, medium, and big. The screen is a nice size for viewing and sharing on the spot. And seriously, it has a gourmet food setting. I have no idea why- but it's cool. There is also a beach setting, snow setting and underwater setting (camera is not waterproof).
The big deal breaker was the picture quality. I took at picture of the same scenes with both cameras at the same time. Both camera set to auto setting and then set to landscape. I uploaded all pictures to my laptop and viewed them in the format and size directly from the camera. The Sony pictures were more vibrant, had more detail and were crisp. I asked my husband to look at a side by side of the pictures - he picked the Sony pictures, as well. I also tested the image stabilization on both cameras. The Sony again was superior. Neither camera did well when I jumped up a down while taking a shot. But, the Sony outperformed on hand wobbling. So, done!! The Sony won.
The Sony also has less shutter lag and shorter "boot up time". I love the touch screen. The camera is small, easy to use and fun. The picture quality is great.


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Features: 12.1-megapixel Super HAD CCD image sensor. 4x optical zoom Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens; Optical SteadyShot image stabilization. 720p high-definition movie capture with stereo sound; HDMI compatible. 3.0-inch LCD (230k) touch-screen display, 11MB built-in memory; capture images to Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo Media (not included)

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Logitech Wireless Desktop MK700 Keyboard and Laser Mouse Review

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(More customer reviews)Before getting into the details, I want to first explain why I only gave this set 3-stars...
Along with the cons listed below, there were 2 major points that brought the score down:
1. The Set is marketed as "Built for power users who spend long hours working on their computers" and "designed to deliver exceptional comfort". But the layout of the keyboard is no different than any other "normal" keyboard. In other words, it's NOT an ergonomic keyboard, there's no adjustments that allow for more natural hand/wrist/finger placement. Carpal Tunnel prone folks should look elsewhere!
2. The current one-hundred dollar pricetag, in my opinion, is considerably overpriced considering competing products and especially because the keyboard is non-ergo.
Now, the Pros and Cons...
+++ Keyboard Pros
+ 4" and 8" legs on the back that allow adjusting the height
+ LCD gives a nice clear indicator of battery life, Num-Lock, Caps Lock, etc...
+ Palm rest is indeed comfortable, yet the cushioning is firm so should last a long time
+ The included software has lots of customization options to allow you to personalize the keyboard to your liking
+ Insanely long battery life
+ Batteries INCLUDED
--- Keyboard Cons
- The descriptions and info given infers the keyboard would be ergonomic. But that is not the case. The MK700 keyboard key layout is no different than any other bane of carpal-tunnel sufferers' keyboards.
- The 4" or 8" legs on the back is a nice option, but they could've gone a step further to allow height adjustment on the front of the keyboard as well.
+++ Mouse Pros
+ They keyboard might not be ergonomic, but the mouse sure is! I've got big hands (I wear XL sized gloves) and having my hand on the mouse is only slightly different than if I just had my hand resting on the table and not holding anything at all. It's very comfortable
+ The Hyper-Scrollwheel is a heavier metal/alloy (vs. the Logitech MX1100 mouse I use). This makes for a very nice and smooth hyper-scroll or click-to-click scroll.
+ Forward/Back buttons well placed for thumb press
+ Battery life indicator on the mouse
+ The included software allows almost complete control over customization of the buttons
+ Lonnnnnnng battery life.
+ Batteries INCLUDED
--- Mouse Cons
- To switch between Hyper and click-to-click scrolling is on the bottom of the mouse. I switch back and forth a lot on my MX1100, where the switch is right below the scrollwheel. Having the switch on the bottom with this MK700 is rather inconvenient.
*** Final Words
I've gone through multiple models of keyboards and mice through the years. Microsoft, Logitech, ergo, non-ergo, etc... My current "Gold Standard" are the Microsoft Wireless Keyboard 6000 v3 and the Logitech MX1100 mouse. As a matter of fact, buying those 2 items separately right now would actually cost LESS than this combo.
I prefer the MS keyboard because; the layout of the keys IS ergonomic, but at the same time the keyboard overall is very slim/sleek. You can adjust height adjustment for either the back or front, or even both. It has considerably more customizable extra keys.
I prefer the Logitech MX1100 mouse because; the Hyper/click-to-click switch is right by the scrollwheel. Adjustable DPI, with 2 presets that can be changed on-the-fly via the +/- buttons on the mouse. Application Switcher thumb button, shows a collage of all open windows on screen so you can quickly and easily switch apps.
On the whole, the MK700 mouse and keyboard are quality products but the pricepoint and lack of ergonomics for the keyboard. Even if you didn't care about the ergo aspect, there are other options out there with more options and still cost less.

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The Logitech Wireless Desktop MK700. Where comfort and productivity go hand-in-hand. Concave keys position your fingers properly, and their softly rounded edges invite your fingertips to glide from key to key, hour after hour.

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Toshiba Satellite A205-S5804 15.4-inch Laptop (Intel Pentium Dual Core T2330 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 120 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium) Review

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(More customer reviews)First, if you're looking for a laptop with all the bells and whistles, this version of Toshiba's Satellite isn't it. Still, it's a great unit. The screen is amazing. Crystal clear and sharp. Not overly glossy to the point where you can see who's standing behind you. Movies look amazing on it.
You can get by with the 1 gig of ram it comes with, but be prepared for it to be a little sluggish. Still perfectly usable, but if you really want to take advantage of the nature of dual core (i.e. multi-tasking) then you'll want 2 gig. I put 2GB of Kingston, (2 x 1GB) 200-Pin DDR2 667 (PC2 5300), in the system and it has run flawless.
Very nice touch-pad on this unit and the left-right buttons under the touch pad are just right - not too mushy to cause an accidental click and not to stiff that they are annoying. Keyboard is laid out nicely with the "delete" key in the top right corner. Just the way I like it. Movies played perfectly and I was able to burn CD's right out of the box. Vista has a very cool drag and drop CD burning utility built into the OS. Sound system very nice, though speakers not adequate for movies - too quiet. But the simulated Dolby Surround for headphones works very well.
Other nice features that other laptops fail to include is a latching mechanism when you close the "lid" and a switch that let's you instantly turn off WiFi. This works very well by the way and stretches battery power when you don't need to be "connected."
The quibbles. If you are going to use this laptop for typing your next novel, you might want to try out the keyboard in your local PC store to make sure you are comfortable typing on it for extended periods. It's a little on the stiff side compared to some others. Another minor grip is no TV out. It does have a VGA out, but if you want to throw the image onto a TV you'll need a converter - a simple VGA to S-Video cable for example won't cut it. Also, it only has 2 USB ports. If you plan to use it as your desktop unit as well, you might need a USB hub.
These gripes are minor in my opinion because I don't really NEED them, but to me, it was worth the sacrifice to get this unit at so low a price point.
I'm very happy with the system. Nice to have a Toshiba. Great brand. Everything worked, right out of the box. This one is replacing a Toshiba that I've had for years without issue.

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Stylishly accented with an onyx blue metallic LCD cover, the Toshiba Satellite A205-S5804 notebook PC is a great blend of multitasking productivity, multimedia prowess, and efficiently powered portability. It features a large, bright 15.4-inch XGA-resolution LCD (1280 x 800)--perfect for viewing multiple application screens or watching widescreen movies on DVD. It's also great for using as a media center, with Toshiba's unique Express Media Player enabling you to bypass the system and access CDs and DVDs with a touch of button. The dual-layer/multi-format DVD drive also burns CDs.
This notebook is powered by the 1.5 GHz Intel Pentium T2330 dual-core processor, which provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved gaming and multitasking performance, as well as excellent battery management. It also includes a 120 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM (2 GB maximum), 54g Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11b/g), Intel GMA X3100 video card with up to 251 MB of shared video RAM, webcam integrated onto the bezel for video conferencing, and two USB ports.
This PC comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, which includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition to easily playing your DVD movies and managing your digital audio library, you'll be able to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). Vista also integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, and offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.
The Basics
Processor: The 1.6 GHz Intel Pentium T2330 dual-core processor delivers additional computing resources and help expand the PC’s capabilities by providing higher throughput and simultaneous computing. You'll be able to perform multiple tasks such as digital rendering and gaming all while running virus scan or other background tasks seamlessly. Each core shares 1 MB of L2 cache, and they have a 533 MHz front-side bus. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

Hard Drive: The 120 GB hard drive (5400 RPM) offers enough to room to hold a digital audio library of over 20,000 songs and still have room left over for movies, games, and a large collection of software. This Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.

Memory: The 1 GB of installed RAM (2 x 512 MB DDR2) is a good start, but you'll want to add more RAM to handle today's demanding multimedia and productivity suites. It provides two DIMM slots and has a 2 GB maximum RAM capacity. It also offers a top-of-class 667 MHz speed. To receive the faster data transfer benefits of the dual-channel DDR2 RAM, any RAM additions require memory modules of same capacity and clockspeed.

DVD/CD Drive: The dual-layer DVD drive is compatible with a wide range of formats, including both DVD+RW and DVD-RW discs, CD-RW discs, and dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can hold up to 8.5 GB of data--great for backing up your MP3 collection or your most important documents. It features the following speeds: 4x DVD+R DL, 4x DVD-R DL, 8x for both single-layer DVD+R/-R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 5x DVD-RAM, and 24x/16x for CD-R/RW. It reads DVD-ROM discs at 8x and CD-ROMs at 24x.

Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 86-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad. It also offers CD/DVD media player and control buttons (play, stop, next, previous) as well as a volume control dial.
Screen, Video & Audio This notebook has a 15.4-inch TFT display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels (native 720p for high-definition viewing). It also provides TruBrite technology, which makes images brighter and more vivid thanks to its anti-glare feature. Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, which uses shared video memory (up to 251 MB allocated from the system memory) and provides Windows Vista Aero interface support and enhanced 3-D graphics performance--delivering over 2x scores on 3-DMark 06. Intel Clear Video Technology provides outstanding video playback with sharper image quality, increased clarity, and customizable color controls. It also enables enhanced visual quality of interlaced content on progressive displays.
Networking, Connectivity & Expansion This notebook has an integrated Realtek 54g wireless LAN that's fully compatible with 802.11b/g wireless networks. It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 54/34 card slot (though no PCMCIA card slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features. Here's the full list of connection options:
2 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
1 ExpressCard 54/34 slot
Video out: VGA
Stereo headphones/speakers/line-out
Microphone/line-in
10/100 Fast Ethernet
56K modem (V.90)

Operating System Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit version) is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.
Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.
Preloaded Software Microsoft Works 9.0, Google Desktop and Picasa, Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5, McAfee Internet Security Suite (30-day trial), and Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Edition (60-day trial).
Dimensions & Weight This notebook measures 14.3 x 10.5 x 1.55 inches (WxDxH, and it weighs 6 pounds.
Power It comes with a 4000 mAH lithium-ion battery pack for extra-long battery life.
What's in the Box This package contains the A205-S5804 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limited hardware warranty.

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Matsunichi Photoblitz 8" Digital Picture Frame Review

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(More customer reviews)I was thrilled to find an 8" LCD frame for under $150---especially one that came with two colors of interchangable wood frames. I was also excited that it came with a remote AND the ability to play MP3s. I like that the media card slots are on the side and not the top (like other frames I have seen). It was also easy enough to set the preferences (this is where the remote comes in handy!).
That said, I am not 100% thrilled with this frame...and let me tell you why.
The minor things? The remote needs to have a pause button in case you want to stop on a certain photo. You can pause it by hitting the ENTER button and then arrowing over to pause, but a pause button would be much easier. There also should be a button to start/stop the music. The only options for playing slideshows are to start the slideshow, start the slideshow with music, or start the slideshow with videos. What if I want to start the slideshow with music but want to quickly stop the music? Or start the music in the middle of the slideshow? A button on the remote would solve this issue quite nicely. But these are just little nitpicks.
The major thing wrong with this frame? Read on... I bought the Amazon-recommended 1GB SD card to go with this frame because I have A LOT of photos. I easily found and loaded 1500+ pictures (which still only filled half the card) and set the slideshow to 10 seconds each--thrilled at the prospect of having 4+ hours worth of photos to watch at work. However, that's not what happened.
I turned the frame on at 8:30am and I was quickly seeing duplicate photos--definitely not four hours worth of photos at a time. But just when I thought I was seeing all duplicates, I would see new photos--but then it was quickly back to the same photos again. At the three-hour point, I would say I'd seen about half the photos at least 4-5 times each (if not more often than that).
I looked through the manual (and actual preferences on the frame), and didn't see any information on this issue. I also didn't see anything saying that that photos were chosen randomly (even if it did run randomly, you would think it would run through all photos first before repeating). The photos also didn't seem to be running in any sort of order (i.e. alphabetical, or as they are named on the SD card, like the other LCD frames I've seen work) otherwise they would cycle through all of them before repeating.
I looked up the specs online and it didn't say ANYTHING about an allowable number of pictures. Interestingly, there was a support question asking about the 5.6" model, saying that:
"The total images supported in a SlideShow is 142 with older firmware.
FOR PF560 5.6" Picture Frame ONLY*:
To increase the limit to approximately 250, upgrade the firmware to the latest version.
*Firmware Upgrade for PF800 8" Picture Frame will be available soon."
I registered at the manufacturer's site to see more customer support answers, but there was nothing there. However, they do have an online ticket system, so I asked them about it. I just couldn't imagine there being a limit on the number of pictures shown in a slideshow, considering the size of cards you can get.
I got a fairly quick response, but I didn't like the answer:
"Yes, there is also a limitation of photo it can be read for this model too. It can only read up to 280, and the coming new firmware an only be approved to read 500 photos. we understand this issue and pushing vendor to fix it. Sorry about that."
I then asked when this firmware update would be available and how I would need to go about installing it. Again, they responded fairly quickly:
"The new firmware will be ready at early of March, we will post on our website with instruction. However, we believe the 500 photos are still not enough, we still pushing vendor to fix it to be unlimited."
I certainly hope they can convince the vendor to increase the number of photos. What good is a frame that can hold any size media card, but is limited to 280 photos? And since this is apparently a KNOWN issue, why is this information not presented ANYWHERE?
I would NEVER have bought this frame with the 1GB card had I known this (in my opinion) critical limitation!! I am quite upset about this, as I spent probably 2-3 hours going through all my photos to transfer them to the card. Also, the technology has to be there to make sure more photos are allowable in a slideshow. It is 100% unacceptable that this limitation is in place.
I really do feel like I should return this item, but I honestly don't want to go through the rigamarole (it is a very nice-looking frame and the picture quality is great).
So, buyer beware...buy a smaller media card or be upset that you can't load more than 280 photos (or 500 in the future).
UPDATE: 6/6/07 - There is STILL no software update for this model. It was promised in March and we're three months beyond that with no end in sight. I am seriously considering giving this frame away to someone who would better utilize the 300 picture limit and find myself a frame where I can actually see ALL my pictures.
UPDATE: 6/28/07 - There is STILL no software update for this model, but there is a workaround. You can create folders on the memory card (i.e. 01, 02, 03...) and copy the maximum number of images into each folder. The frame then cycles through each folder, thereby playing all photos.
UPDATE: 7/29/07 - Well, the workaround doesn't work that well. I thought it was working, because I was seeing picture from at least two different folders I had created (I have 5 folders, each with about 200 pics). However, it has been WEEKS now and I haven't seen most of the pictures on the memory card. It seems to get stuck in one folder (for example, all our honeymoon and wedding pictures) and then one hour you will suddenly see a few pictures from a different folder, and then it's back to the same folder again. You can never tell which pics you are going to see as it doesn't run through each folder in any type of order. It's very frustrating.

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8" Digital Picture Frame that allows you to play your Movies, Photos and Music. Supports CF/Microdrive/SMC/MS/MSPro/SD/MMC media cards. Includes two interchangable frames (Cherry wood and Black). Built in speakers for audio playback.

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Olympus FE-4020 Digital Camera Gray, 14MP, 4X Wide Review

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(More customer reviews)The camera is very good looking, is slim and fits easily into any pocket. Picture quality wise, normal indoors and outdoor pictures are good to excellent quality. Flexible audio feedback for your actions (which is good for me because it was otherwise difficult to tell in outdoor conditions when the picture snapped). Reasonable delay between flash pics. The camera does a good job of selecting appropriate settings for most photo situations and you can override settings for extreme situations. I think it's a fine camera for the money.

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This camera truly stands out from the crowd. It's slim and highly portable, yet doesn't compromise on technology with features like AF Tracking and in-camera Creative Art Filters that let you apply fun effects to your photos as you take them. Brilliant

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Philips SRM7500-37 Universal Remote Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had my Philips SRM7500 for just over a year now, having bought it from some Remote retailer on the internet for like $179 when I couldn't find it anywhere else.
I can tell you that this remote is utter crap. It loses connection all of the time, the software is terrible, and for the life of me, I can't figure out how to get the sideshow implementation to work correctly, or even display at all.
The software, oh my - as a professional developer I can tell you that if I released updated software without bothering to increment the version number it would be end of the line for my job. Apparently, this is perfectly acceptable behavior for Philips' software developers because the software version on the shipping CD and the downloadable and visibly different software update from the website share the exact same version number.
Prior to this new version of software (is it? I can't tell by the version numbers) all it would ever say when I try to configure it was that the software was in the middle of an operation - the new software fixes that (90% of the time), but now introduces a new error that essentially shuts off the Media Center remote functionality - it crashes at startup with an intermittent dialog box with a "TODO: " descriptor. The fun part is that you have to get up and remove the USB dongle and plug it in again every single time the software loses its bearings - which is quite often - and then pray that Windows re-initializes it for it to work again.
I've had this thing for almost 14 months now, and completely and wholeheartedly suggest that you DO NOT purchase this remote. I will be replacing this remote with a different model as soon as a new bluetooth "Green Button" enabled MCE remote appears on the market.

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The Philips SRM7500 remote control device allows you to control multimedia files from your PC without your computer screen and acts as a second screen for your multimedia PC. It shows your songs in a convenient layout, sorted by artist, album or genre in the palm of your hand. It gives you freedom to choose your music from almost anywhere in the home. Remote comes with USB dongle allowing for 2-way RF communication between remote and PC enabling use of remote anywhere in your home - even through walls and floor. Microsoft Media Center green button gives access to dedicated Microsoft Media Center PC menu. Remote features a LCD screen giving you the ability to display and select a list of songs, pictures and movies from PC. Features activity based operations as opposed to component based operations. (By pushing 'watch a movie' remote turns on TV, DVD player and surround sound). Universal IR code database allows remote to control your equipment without needing to learn individual signals. Multimedia remote has learning functionality allowing it to learn device codes from the original remote, simply by pointing to it.

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Tripp Lite OMNIVS1000 Omni VS 1000VA Line-Interactive UPS (8 Outlets) Review

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(More customer reviews)I had connected to my Omnivs1k: 19"lcd (va1912wb), very high end animation processing computer system-Raid 1perform-two 120serials , 350 external drive, external speakers (mid-range), plug to charge PSP/Vidcam. I had 15min backup time, because I had it set to UPS uninterrupted, powerflux and wave surge protection, which filters the power coming in at 15 min intervals so my computer never gets hit. the other setting is charging mode only with surge protect only (no backup)I tested this mode, in a black out on the internet for 30min. This baby lasted well over 5 years in this function and seems to still be the best if they still make it with the same stuff. It just died and I'm getting 2-rbc52's $60 (29.per). still worth it.

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OMNIVS1000 line interactive UPS system offers voltage regulation, surge suppression and long lasting battery support for personal computers, internetworking equipment and other sensitive electronics. Internal UPS circuits support entry level PC systems for up to 60 minutes during power failures so that connected equipment can be shut down without data loss. Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) circuits regulate brownouts as low as 83 volts back to usable levels without using battery power. Offers complete desktop power protection in an attractive black tower configuration. Includes 6 battery supported outlets for computer, monitor and one vital system peripheral, plus 2 additional surge suppression-only outlets for printers and other system accessories not requiring battery support. USB port enables optional unattended system shutdown without data loss in the case of extended power failure, USB cable included. PowerAlert software available via free download from www.tripplite.com. Built-in single line RJ phone suppression jacks protect modem, fax machine, cordless phone or other peripheral with a standard dialup/DSL phone connection. Built-in audible alarm and 4 front panel LEDs indicate line power status, battery power status, battery low/replace status and voltage boost operation. 1000VA / 500 watt power handling ability supports entry-level PCs, network workstations, point-of-sale equipment, small business phone systems, audio/video equipment and home theater systems. Offers 7 minutes battery runtime with a full load of 1000VA/500 watts and 18 minutes with a half load of 500VA/250 watts. Supports battery replacement via built-in access panel.

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OmniMount UCL-LP Single Arm Cantilever Mount (fits 32"- 50" flat panels) Review

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(More customer reviews)Installation was straightforward using the enclosed template. Once mounted, the height of the TV is fixed. However, the mount offers tremendous flexibility in orienting our TV for various viewing situations (tilt, swivel, & roll - or whatever you want to call them). The installation instructions were mis-printed, but it was easy to download the latest for this product from the manufacturer's site.
This is a very solid and functional product, and we'd certainly buy it again.


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UCL-L P Color: Platinum A unique, value oriented, wall mount solution for today's latest Plasma displays from 32'' to 45''. The UCL-L allows maximum flexibility for viewing and offers simple installation with OmniMount's Lift 'n' Lock system. Features -VESA 100 up to 200x200 -Portrait or landscape viewing -Extension range: 6.8'' to 26.5'' -Mounts on 16'' studs -Allows tilt 25 Degrees up and 25 Degrees down -Integrated cable management -Durable platinum or black powder coat finish -Weight capacity: 125 lbs -This is the same as a Plasma CL-L with the UAM plateUCL-L SpecificationsUCL-L Installation Instructions Need professional installation? Use the Flat Panel Mount Installation Card (for up to 30screens) or the Large Flat Panel Mount Installation Card (for over 30screens)! Give us a call with any questions!

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Naxa Slim Personal MP3/CD Player with 120 Second Anti-Shock and FM Scan Radio Review

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(More customer reviews)This CD player played one CD and when I tried to play another the start button broke.

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Naxa NPC-327* Slim Design MP3/CD Player * FM Scan Radio* Programmable Track Memory* MP3, CD-R & CD-RW Compatible* LCD Display* MP3: 120 Second Anti-shock Memory System* CD: 60 Second Anti-shock Memory System* Line Out Jack* 2 Way Power: DC Battery Power & AC Power Adaptor Jack* Requires 2 AA Size Batteries (Not Included)* Stereo Earphones

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Philips AJ260 Weather Station Clock Radio Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)After reading all the other reviews I wasn't too sure. But reading between the lines I decided to take a chance. I bit the bullet and bought it and so far I am happy I did. I did find one thing I would like changed, one thing I would like enhanced.
The negative and needing changed is that the dual alarms will both sound by the same method. Either both by buzzer or both by radio. I personally like to use one alarm by radio, one by buzzer. That gives me a gentle wake up and then a reminder alert a little later.
To make the clock better, it would be nice if you could dim the weather LED. It is bright, no doubt about it. You can set it so that it only comes on for 10 seconds when you press a button, but I'd still like to see it dimmable.
As far as the other complaints... almost all the bad reviews could be corrected and attributed to user error. If people would RTFM before moaning, life would be easier.
Time resets to central but you live in the west, well read the manual. Not getting the auto time update, RTFM. Weather indicator light stays lit and keeps you up at night, read the manual. Outside temperature sensor giving inaccurate readings, read the flipping manual and mount the sensor in an appropriate place. As far as the sensor only measuring barometric pressure indoors and not outside, well unless you live in a submarine or a minute-man missile silo and use the airlock, the pressure inside and outside your house are the same. Humidity might be different, but pressure is the same, and that is what gives the clock its rudimentary weather predictions. Yes, it is really basic weather predictions, but what do you expect. It's a clock radio, not a meteorologist. Turn on the radio if you want more details.
I'd buy one again, but I would prefer separate buzz/radio selections for each alarm.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Philips AJ260 Weather Station Clock Radio

Philips Personal Weather Forecast Clock Radio with wireless outdoor temperature sensor. Start your day right - every day! The compact AJ260 features an atomic clock and graphical weather forecast icons with multi-color light indicators. Your trusty weather forecaster always keeps you punctual. Stylish design with all the functions you need, weather forecast display with graphical animations. Multi-color light weather indicator which displays indoor-outdoor temperature has abuilt-in hygrometer display of the indoor humidity. Convenient digital tuning presets to start the day your way. Dual alarm time, wake up to your favorite radio tune or a buzzer for gentle wake with increasing alarm volume.Digital radio-controlled clock for accurate time settings with large backlit LCD display (bightness controlled) for easier viewing in low light

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APC H10BLK AV 1kVA H Type Power Conditioner Review

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(More customer reviews)APC AV H10BLK Home Th 1000VA Power Filter: I purchased this product to protect my HDTV/Receiver/PS3/Klipsch setup. The unit arrived in it's original packing & box within a larger box that had space for the unit to slide around in. Not the best pack job for shipping. After reading the manual I proceeded with the setup. So far so good. It all worked fine. A half a day later I tried to watch TV and could not get the system to work. I troubleshot the H10 and it seemed faulty. I disconnected the H10 and the system worked fine so it appeared I had a inoperative unit. A phone call later I had a RMA number and a new unit was shipped. It arrived 2 days later the same way the first one did. WTF. I reconnected and as of 2 weeks later no problems so I am quite satisfied. APC responded well. During a very hot day I could watch the low voltage light come on for several minutes at a time meaning a minor brownout. Other than that I have had no other indications of the operation of the unit except to monitor the indicator lights on the front panel. COnnecting all my equipment was a breeze and it did remove some of the tangled mess of wires behind my setup.

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- 12 outlets- 4949 Joules- 1000VA power capacity- Automatic voltage regulation- Building wiring fault indicator- Cable line/coaxial protection- Dataline protection- 2 coaxial protection jacks- RJ-11 2-way modem/fax/DSL splitter with protection (4-wire dual lines)- IEEE let-thru rating & UL 1449 compliance- Lightning & surge protection- Isolated noise filtering- RFI/EMI noise rejection (100 kHz10 MHz)- 50 dB- Overload indicator- Telephone line splitter- Protection working indicator- Resettable circuit breaker- Flat-profile plug- Status indicator LEDs- Delayed outlets- DC trigger- Includes 6-ft gold-plated coaxial cable, rack mounting brackets, RJ11 cable & user manual- 10-ft power cord- Dim: 3.74"H x 17"W x 9.5"D- 5-year warranty- $500,000 lifetime connected equipment protection policy

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TomTom XXL 540S 5-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought the TomTom XXL 540S a few weeks ago. This gps is the big brother to the TomTom XL 340S. This gps just has the bigger and brighter 5" screen.
I have very mixed feelings about the gps. There are many things that I like about it, but there are also so many small details and functions that are lacking on it that TomTom either decided not to work on or decided to exclude. These little things that are missing drive me absolutely crazy at times and I don't know if I can stand them or not. I may consider returning this gps and getting either a Garmin or Magellan instead. I don't know yet. I really hope TomTom starts addressing some of these issues.
Some of my pros vs cons are below which I hope will help others who are trying to decide on a gps.
Pros:
+ IQ Routes (TomTom uses historical speed data for roads based on the time of day and day of the week, so that it can give you the best possible route)
+ Big 5" Screen, which is easy to see.
+ Very loud speaker. (Option in Volume Preferences to link the volume to your cars speed if you want)
+ Satellite acquition is fast (less than 10 sec for me). Shows usually around 9 satellites.
+ Map Color can be changed.
+ Can change the color of the car symbol in 3D mode
+ Auto Day/Night mode changes the brightness and color.
+ Ability to prepare a route with any Depart and Destination coordinates.
+ Shows the current street that your on at the bottom of the screen and the next street to turn on in the top right corner.
+ Advanced Lane Guidance on the highway is displayed really nicely. Shows an arrow with the lane that you need to be in and also sometimes shows a 3D sign for your exit. It is nice and big and it stays on the screen long enough to be viewed so that its clear to see where you need to go.
+ Status bar can be customized to how you like it. It can be displayed either horizontally or vertically. Can show the remaining time, remaining distance, current time, arrival time, your speed and the speed limit, distance to your next turn, compass, ect.
+ TTS (text to speech) instructions are very helpful in letting you know where to turn and also preparing you for your next turn as well. For instance it will say something like "After one qurter mile turn right". Then as you get closer to the street it will say "Turn right Main St. Then take the second left"Cons:
- POI (Points of Interest) Map Screen shows the POI name, street and cross street, phone, city, and state. But it gives NO street addresses! So you don't know the address or what side of the street the POI is on, unless you call the place ahead of time and ask. All you get is a checkered flag shown in the middle of the street with TomTom saying "you have reached your final destination". On the Go model the POI Map Screen has a "Details" button that shows the street address, zip code, and food cuisine type for instance. Why TomTom decided to remove this on this model I have no idea.
- No AutoZoom enable/disable option (like on the Go model). You can manually zoom in or out on the map, but about 5 sec later AutoZoom will kick in and take you right back to what TomTom wants you to see. Its very frustrating because I like to zoom in and out sometimes so that I can see more map detail, but TomTom won't allow me to for anymore then about 5 sec. When I turn on the gps the zoom level that TomTom has picked is so bad that most all of the street outlines around me have completely vanished from the screen. All that I see are a bunch of street names just floating around on the map with no streets being shown.
- Doesn't speak which side of the street your destination is on. (If you enter a street address for a destination however it does show a little arrow on the map pointing to the left or right hand side of the street when you are approaching your destination. Along with a little checkered flag on the side of the street your destination is on.)
- Change Preferences screen is 6 pages deep and only has a button to advance foward to the next page. There is no back button. So if you say accidently go past the screen you wanted to be on you have to then press the foward button 5 more times just to get back to that page.
- No simple way to get into the Browse as Text turn lists display from the main screen.
- Browse as Text route instructions, the text and arrows for the turn list is just way to small. Also there is no Auto Scroll function. To view the next page of new upcoming turns you have to scroll down the list manually yourself.
- POI Map Screen in Night mode shows the cross street text in black, which is extremely difficult to see unless you get very close to the screen.
- 3D mode during the day the maps background brightness isn't consistent across the whole screen. There are noticable lines across the screen where you can see the various brightness stages. Towards the bottom of the map its the brightest and then as you pan up the screen it gets slightly darker.
- Can't enter the street name untill after you have entered the city. Its bad news if you know the street but unsure of the city. You should be able to search for the street in any city near you or near the city that you entered (if it was incorrect).
- TTS (text to speech) of multiword street names sounds sometimes garbled.
- TTS pronounces some words and streets pretty poorly.
- Can't change the color of the car symbol in 2D mode.
- Can't search restaurants by cuisine type.
- No MicroSD memory card slot for expansion. Room is pretty tight with only 2GB of internal flash memory. After removing all of the voices except for computer voice Susan and removing most of the car symbols. I still only have 105mb of space free remaining.
- Only supports USB 1.1 transfers. So when you install maps or performing backups its very slow.Miscellaneous info: gps chipset on mine was a GL2 BCM4750 (Global Locate 2), The CPU speed is 266MHZ. 64MB of RAM.

Click Here to see more reviews about: TomTom XXL 540S 5-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator

The TomTom XXL 540S is complete navigation in a XXL widescreen device. Switch on and it's ready right out of the box. Spoken turn-by-turn instructions, including street names, will guide you to any address in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico--including more than 7 million pre-loaded points of interest.




Complete XXL Widescreen Navigation and Spoken Street Names
IQ Routes IQ Routes technology* gives you the fastest route every time by using actual average speeds of travel on your route to calculate your trip rather than only posted speed limits, so you'll always travel the smartest route.

Advanced Lane Guidance Advanced Lane Guidance** uses photorealistic images to bring even more clarity to complex multi-lane exits so you can be more confident on the road.

5-Inch Touchscreen An extra-wide 5-inch touchscreen helps you find your way, worry-free.

TomTom Map Share TomTom has the most accurate maps, and with TomTom Map Share technology, you can instantly modify street names, street direction, POIs, road speeds, and turn restrictions on your own device.

Get Help With the "Help Me!" menu, there are added safety features so you can easily access local emergency providers.

EasyPort Mount The award-winning Fold and Go EasyPort mount folds flat against the device, making it easy to take with you from car to car.

The XXL 540S is complete, widescreen navigation.

*Feature only available in the U.S. and Canada**Feature available in the U.S. only

What's in the Box TomTom XL 540S device, EasyPort mount, USB cable, adhesive disk, car charger, and user's guide.

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Tripp Lite LC1800 1800W Line Conditioner w/ IsPRar Protection 6 outlets 120V Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)We have used LC-1800s since the early 1990's and have only one complaint: if one of the mechanical relays that maintain the 110-120 VAC output fails, the associated indicator light on the front of the unit will still function as usual, and the user will thus not be aware of the failure. The result is that the equipment connected to the LC-1800 will be subjected to brown-out or over-voltage conditions.
The only way we have found to monitor the proper operation of the relays is to periodically plug our LC-1800s into a 140 VAC autotransformer, attach a VOM to one of the output duplexes, and slowly turn the autotransformer voltage down from 140 to 87, watching the VOM to see that the relays engage the various secondaries on the LC-1800's transformer and thus keep the output voltage in the 110-120 VAC range.
Before we began this monitoring, the main power switch on two different LC-1800s failed due to overheating. On each unit, one of the internal relays had failed, allowing low input voltage to flow through to the load and create an over-amperage draw that exceeded the rating on the power switches.

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Ideal for brownout conditions, our line regulators automatically adjust low or high voltage to nominal AC voltage (117V AC) without a battery. All models include built-in spike and noise filtering. Our LC models feature premium ISOBAR surge suppression and multi-colored input voltage LEDs.

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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 - Digital camera - compact - 10.1 Mpix - optical zoom: 3 x - supported memory: MS Duo, MS PRO Duo, MS PRO-HG Duo Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this camera a few weeks ago and it has been fantastic. The picture quality is wonderful and the camera is so well made. When you are holding it in your hand you can feel that Sony construction quality that puts everything American made to shame. The picture quality is very good, and even if you visibly "move" the camera while taking a photo, it still does not come out blurry - hence the "steady shot" moniker that the camera is named for. And I didn't notice any excessively long delay when I hit the button until the time the camera took the photo. The camera is really a very easy to use point and shoot camera. And the layout/design make it easy to quickly learn what each button's function is. I had a nice Fuji Film (2004) camera that I was looking to upgrade, and I've been very happy with this Sony product.


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Catch that special moment with this Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 Digital Camera! The DSC-S930 features 10.1 MP effective pixels, 3x optical zoom and a 6x precision digital zoom! Review and edit your shots on the 2.4-inch LCD screen. With a variety of shooting modes such as twilight, twilight portrait, soft snap, landscape, beach and snow, you can take pictures and videos in different situations! The SteadyShot image stabilization feature helps reduce image blur so you can take the perfect shot every time. With an internal memory of 12 MB and a Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo card slot, the DSC-S930 gives you plenty of storage for your photos! Compact and portable, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S930 Digital Camera fits into a pocket or bag so you can capture amazing photos wherever you go!

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Panamax M5400-PM 11-Outlet Home Theater Power Conditioner Review

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(More customer reviews)Went to some local brick and mortar stores and found they a lot of them had Monster Power voltage regulators and surge protectors. While they looked cool they also had high prices. I first saw the Panamax surge protector at Best Buy and the black finish and LED lighting got my attention. Did some research on the 5400-PM and decided that this is the one I will get. Bought it at a popular auction site and saved hundreds of dollars.
What I like about the 5400-PM model is that it has a high clean power level, 11 outlets, and high current outlets for my sub and receiver. I currently have 7 audio/video and gaming devices hooked up to the 5400-PM.
The black finish also looks great on my black wood TV stand and HDTV.
What I don't like is that there's is a very faint hum coming from the unit. I think it's the fan though. You can only hear this when it is dead silent in the room. The blue lighting on it's highest setting can be annoying so I set it an the lowest one.
I mainly got this unit to ensure none of my expensive HT equipment gets damage from surges etc.
Note: I have a PS3, Xbox 360 Elite, HD-DVD, Onkyo A/V receiver, Samsung 58in HDTV, 500w subwoofer, and cable box are all hooked up to the Panamax 5400-PM.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panamax M5400-PM 11-Outlet Home Theater Power Conditioner

The Panamax M5400-PM improves system performance and prolongs equipment life by providing a consistent level of optimal power to your equipment. Level 4+ Power Cleaning and Filtration eliminates common symptoms of contaminated power (including loss of detail, pops, hisses, hums and visual artifacts), and allows your A/V equipment to perform up to its full capability. Panamax's patent-pending AVM circuitry continuously monitors the incoming power as displayed on the digital voltmeter. In the event of an under-voltage or an over-voltage, a flashing red lightning bolt will be displayed in the voltmeter. Power to the connected equipment is automatically turned off if either of these conditions is detected. When voltage returns to a safe level, power to the equipment is automatically reconnected. The M5400-PM is designed to provide noise isolation between 5 isolated outlet banks, so that any noise created by an A/V component cannot contaminate the power going to equipment plugged into another outlet bank.

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TV Video System Converter NTSC to PAL for All Video Systems Review

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(More customer reviews)I have DVD player with pal output, in order to switch to NTSC signal I need to see display on TV to access setting menu, Unfortunately the scan rate is different from TV, it can not see steady picture on screen and noway to set it to NTSC. I bought this item for converting PAL to NTSC the results is the same, it doesn;t work at all!

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The TV Video System Converter (NTSC -> PAL) converts any NTSC (3.58/4,43)into a PAL signal (any PAL B,D,I,G,M,N). Optimal for video game consoles, DVD players, video recorders (must support 60Hz) or any other AV equipments. The unit comes with an AV composite cable as well as a 220V power supply. Customers in the UK, Australia and some other area require a travel plug which is sold optionally. What's in the BoxTV Video System Converter (NTSC -> PAL) + AV cable? Converts any NTSC into a PAL signal? Input: NTSC 3.58/4.43? Output: AV PAL-B,D,I,G,M,N? For video game systems, DVD player, VCR (must support 60Hz for recording) and other AV equipments? Can be used for the Gamecube and other import consoles? Composite video in and out? Comes with a 100v-240v power supply? Only works with a 60Hz PAL TV? Does not convert PAL->NTSC

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Logitech Webcam C250 (Peacock Blue) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a good, entry level webcam for budget conscious purchasers. It doesn't have the bells and whistles of the more expensive cams - but it does a perfectly fine job for Skype or other VoIP systems.

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The Logitech Webcam C250 includes free, easy video calling with Logitech Vid. With an enhanced VGA sensor, you’ll get crisp, colorful video and photos at up to 1.3 megapixels. The Peacock Blue color is part of the Fantasy Collection from Logitech. Fanciful patterns, dreamy colors: the style of imagination.

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