Celestron Nexstar 11 GPS Telescope (Telescope Only)
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $5,098.99 -- our price: $3,099.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

The Celestron Nexstar 11GPS is a powerful and tidy package. The compact SCT (Schmidt Cassigrain) format makes for a light-weight unit suitable for portable or fixed operation. The accuracy of its GOTO function (which automatically points the telescope at celestial objects) is exceptional, and more importantly, repeatable. Using the GOTO functions I found I could easily place objects in the center of the included 45mm Plossl eyepiece. When doing astrophotography I was able to place objects on the CCD chip of my ST-7 almost every time.

As with every Celestron telescope I have owned over the past thirty years, the optics are superb. The OTA (Optical Tube Assembly) now consists of a carbon fiber tube, not the old aluminum tube of past years. carbon fiber reduces the weight slightly, but, more importantly, reduces the tube expansion that can take place due to temperature changes.

The drive base and electronics have been completely re-engineered from the ground up. Celestron has done away with the old sand cast housing and replaced it with a new lighter-weight design which is beefier than the previous drive base and fork arms. The new design also sports two ergonomically placed handles that make lifting the telescope and forks a breeze. On the electronics side, it is now possible to perform an upgrade of the motor controller software via the Internet, and the scope can be controlled via a laptop using any number of star charting programs. I found it was possible to simply click on an object on the star chart and the scope tracked right it.

First time setup is smooth as silk. It takes perhaps 15 to 20 minutes and works like this: The telescope downloads the needed information from the GPS satellite constellation for later setups, so all setups after that take only moments. Later setups consist of telling the telescope to perform a GPS alignment, and then centering two setup stars in the finder and eyepiece.

Once the scope is set up, there are three ways to control it: hand controller, virtual hand controller (on your laptop), or via a star charting program, also on a laptop. The end result is pretty spectacular. The rings of Saturn were clearly visible for me, as well as the Cassini division. Using high power, I was able to see the cloud bands and patterns on Jupiter, as well as surface detail on Mars. At low power, I found that deep sky objects such as the Great Nebula in Orion also made for fantastic viewing. --Dave Cole

Pros:

• Portable
• Excellent GOTO accuracy
• Great optics
• Sturdy carbon fiber tube

Cons:

• A bit heavy for a single person to mount
• Takes Some getting used to seat the telescope on the tripod
• Hand Controller mount is not too useful during operation
• Does not come with a carry case of any kind

... Read more

Features

• Common sense menu descriptions
• Focal length of 2800mm
• 279mm (11-inch) diameter Schmidt-Cassegrain refractor
• Observe immediately with the backlit computerized GPS control unit.
• 9 automatic slewing speeds to cover 40,000 celestial objects

Reviews (6)

great scope....however
be careful...the title says telescope only---even tho the product specifications indicates there is a tripod included,there isnt.I was even assured it came with a tripod before i placed my order....just "not the deluxe tripod".so count on having to buy a tripod unless you already have one.

Easy to set up, and great views - really high quality for the money...

------wishing you clear skys-------

Celestron Nexstar 11GPS
The Celestron Nexstar 11GPS is a very good telescope for beginners and advanced users alike.It is very easy to use and has excellent optics.If you want a scope that can get you up and running and shows you galaxies, nebulas, star clusters and planets your first night out, this might be the scope for you.The downside to the scope is the price, although reasonable for what you get and the weight.This is not a light telescope at 93 pounds including the tripod.

One Of The Best Scopes Available
This scope is worth every penny.It's now been out for a while so all of the "bugs" in the first ones have been fixed (and there were very few issues even with the first N11 models).The scope is incredibly easy to set up with a genuine "can't miss" alignment procedure that only a moron could screw up.Once aligned (it takes no more than a minute or two) the scope will find every object you ask it to find.Not only will it find the stuff (and it finds EVERYthing) but it will put them right in the middle of the eyepiece just about every time.I can use an 8mm Meade Ultra Wide and the scope still puts everything in the middle of the eyepiece - - incredible.In addition, the tracking is fantastic.You can go to an object, view it for a while . . . go away for hours and when you come back it's still there - - right in the middle of the eyepiece.

The optics are great too.To beat this scope you would have to make a huge investment.I comparison shopped this scope and the equivalent Meade scopes and came to the conclusion that this was the hands down winner (and I was a dedicated Meade user before buying this instrument).It's one of the most satisfying purchases I have ever made.

I haven't used this or any scope for astrophotography, but it's tailor made for that kind of application as well.

It's only drawback is the obvious one - - it's big, heavy and not a lot of fun to cart around.That's not a knock on the scope - -it would be an issue for any large scope of any design.Despite it's size and weight I find it comfortable to transport to dark sky sites and fairly easy to set up.If you're used to little 5" SCTs this will be a big change, but once you look through the thing you will gladly endure the minor workout that comes with lifting and moving the scope.

I highly recommend getting the JMI case that fits this scope - - another worthwhile investment.You should also consider investing in a high quality 2" star diagonal and a set of very good 2" eyepieces for the instrument as well (i.e. Meade Ultra Wides or Naglers).The big eyepieces through this scope are like going on a spacewalk. ... Read more

Asin: B00006371B
Subjects:  1. Telescope (Telescopes)    2. Astronomy    3. Star Gazing (Gaze)    4. Catadioptric   

Hamilton Beach 04161 TrueAir HEPA Air Purifier with UV Germicidal Light
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $190.00 -- our price: $89.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Recommended for rooms up to 200 square feet, this portable airpurifier is equipped with a UV germicidal light to help kill airbornemicroorganisms and a three-speed fan to continuously circulate airthrough two filters that remove smoke, pollen, dust, animal dander,dust mites, molds, bacteria, viruses, and odors. Helpful forasthmatics, allergy sufferers, and in a cold or flu patient's room, thepurifier contains a true HEPA filter that is at least 99.97 percenteffective at trapping airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns.There's also a carbon prefilter to reduce odors. A digital readoutdisplays air quality--good, fair, or poor--and the fan can be set toautomatically adjust speed according to air-quality needs. One speedsetting is called "whisper" for bedrooms and nurseries. Digitalindicators show when filters need replacing. Filter replacement issimple: open the front, remove the prefilter and/or HEPA filter,position a new filter(s), and reclose the front. The purifier carries athree-year warranty against defects. I>--Fred Brack ... Read more

Features

• 3-year warranty against defects
• Recommended for closed room up to 200 square feet
• UV germicidal light helps kill bacteria, viruses, mold
• True HEPA filter at least 99.97-percent effective; prefilter reduces odors
• Digitally displays air quality; three fan speeds or automatic adjustment

Reviews (27)

Lifesaver!
I've been using two of these and the larger one in my bedroom, home office and livingroom for about a week now. The change in me and my son's allergy problems is just short of miraculous!The whisper quiet is just fine -- in fact, I think the sound helps lull me into deep sleep.My allergy problems haven't totally disappeared, but they are sooo much better and my son's have totally disappeared.The cat gets to stay! :-))

Didn't work out of the box
I just got this unit today, April 7th, 2005, and was pretty excited about it since i have ashthma.Anyway, it worked for a few hours. At that time, everything was nice and all.The unit isn't bad looking and worked impressively for a good price.However, then i opened the grill to test out the filter detector and the unit turns off as expected.However, the unit refused to turn back on after the grill was replaced...I referred to the manual and made sure everything was set up correctly and it was.Poor quality control.. stay away from this unit.

I love this thing!
For as long as I can remember, I've coughed myself to sleep; my allergies act up primarily when I'm lying down, and I haven't found any allergy medication I can really tolerate.I figured I'd give this a shot, although I had no experience with air purifiers before.

The morning after the first night I used it I realized that I had not coughed at all while going to sleep.I no longer cough when I lie down; also I have a fan that I run frequently that used to get caked with dust, and I noticed now that there's almost no dust at all on the blades.I have two cats, and this apartment also seems to collect dust, and I can say for sure that this product has been EXTREMELY helpful.

It is never completely silent; on the lowest setting there' s sort of a "white noise" effect.It took me a couple nights to get used to it; I don't notice it at all anymore.However, at the highest setting it is noisy; but I have it running on automatic and it almost never goes into the highest setting.One thing I thought was funny at first, is that the sensor is so accurate that I can be standing in the bathroom, using some hair spray, and the purifier (located in the living room) will immediately kick into high gear.If you want to be sure that you're not awakened in the middle of the night, I wouldn't suggest leaving it on automatic, since there is the off chance that it could kick into high and the noise might wake you up.

There is a very slight breeze that comes from the front grill; however, this is not a problem for me because I do not have itpositioned so it is facing me directly.

All in all, I am extremely satisfied with this product, and it is much better than I expected for the price I paid. ... Read more

Asin: B000050AOT
Subjects:  1. Air Cleaners    2. Home    3. Air Purifiers    4. HEPA Air Purifiers   

14' Airzone Trampline
Average Customer Review:
Toy
list price: $199.99 -- our price: $199.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Reviews (18)

Reveiw on Trampline
I think this toy is a fun one but if your are going to spend that much on it you are waisting your money. You could make on for even less money.

Great for my family
We received this trampoline as a gift.Since we have never owned one before, this particular kind is perfect for my family.There is plenty of bounce for first timers.It was relatively easy for us to set up, though we did need a rubber mallet to bang together some of the frame pieces.We are planning to purchase enclosure for the added safety and also the cover to add to the longevity of the surface.My kids love it and will get a great deal of use out of it.I cannot comment on the durability over time as we just got the trampoline a few days ago.

Warning!
Do not buy this trampoline. I got it for my 12th birthday. I thought that the bands would go just as high as the springs, but they did not come close.It was really fun at first, but then it started breaking down, and I only weigh 100 lbs. The welded metal that holds the legs to the trampoline breaks, and you have to buy replacements at Variflex.com for ridiculous prices. Also the parts take about two months to come. Do not buy this product. I recommend a Jumpking. ... Read more

Asin: B00005V3EL
Sales Rank: 3381
Subjects:  1. Outdoor Play