Apple iMac Desktop with 17" M8935LL/A (1.0-GHz PowerPC G4, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, DVD-RW/CD-RW Drive)
Average Customer Review:
Personal Computers

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Editorial Review

The new iMac dazzles with its brilliant 17-inch widescreen flat-panel display that adjusts its height or angle with just a touch. But what’s more amazing is its compact base now packs powerful new features like a speedy 1 GHz G4 processor, more extreme nVidia graphics, a faster DVD-burning SuperDrive--and new advanced wireless options.

Inside the new 17-inch iMac, you get the 1 GHz PowerPC G4 with Velocity Engine, 256 MB of PC2100 266 MHz DDR main memory (expandable to 1 GB), GeForce4 MX graphics with 64 MB of DDR graphics memory, and an Ultra ATA/100 80 GB hard disk spinning at 7,200 rpm. You also get AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth wireless capability, and the best-of-breed digital lifestyle applications that have convinced so many PC users to switch to the Mac platform.

The iMac with SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW) lets you burn your own movies and photos on a DVD disc that plays in almost any standard DVD player. Even better, the SuperDrive now burns DVDs at 4x speed, twice as fast as before. And of course you can pop in your DVD movies and watch them in widescreen letterbox format on the brilliant LCD display of your 17-inch iMac.

Pop the new AirPort Extreme Card into your 17-inch iMac and you’re ready for wireless networking from anywhere in your home or dorm--up to 150 feet from an AirPort Extreme Base Station.

The iMac comes with Apple Pro speakers that handle 18 watts of undistorted digital sound. It also features an internal speaker, internal tripath digital amplifier, Apple Pro speaker jack, headphone jack, and an audio line-in jack that lets you use it as a sound-editing studio. The bottom line is that you get to enjoy an incredible aural experience. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Really Great!
Not only is it great looking... it works great too!Painless switch from Windows...Haven't needed to purchase any addition software becuase the bundled software does everything...And it is super cool looking!

Praise from a new mac convert
It's been a little over a month since I bought this machine, and I'm only kicking myself for having kept my feet in the Gatesian concrete for so long before. The machine itself is brilliant in its design, look, and efficiency. I picked it up at an apple store in NYC, and didn't ask for any upgrades since I wanted to take it right home from there. However, I would recommend those who can spend $50 more to opt for 512MB of RAM rather than the standard 256, although it runs quite well on the latter. The graphics, for which apple is so famous, are everything they're cracked up to be and then some. The mac browser, on which I'm writing now, safari, is a cut above IE for speed, design, and interface. What truly distinguises the mac, however, is how it does more with small packages: OS X is about half the size of windows xp, and runs more efficiently and with more ease and sensitivity to what users really want to do with a computer. I've spent some 15 years with my head under the hood of Mr. Gates' dirty windows, and although I learned a ton of information and made myself look pretty smart at work in the process, it was dreary constantly having to work around or fix the bugs that the skinny billionaire could have easily taken out himself before he sold me his OS. For windows users who are looking at this with the same question in their minds as I had: "is it worth it, after all these years, moving to a completely new platform" the answer is yes, it is more than worth it, if you're willing to make a few comparatively minor sacrifices. Obviously, (unless you want to keep a windows PC on the side) software will have to be replaced or trashed--don't worry, the proprietary productivity software sold with these macs, called appleworks (which I believe is a reworking of the old Clarisworks), is extremely functional and versatile, and the way windows software is constantly being ramped up, a gradual transition won't be that much of an additional expense, in exchange for the beauties of working on a platform like OS X. One caveat about hardware, however: you will have to consider the possibility of replacing your peripherals: I had to set aside my HP Officejet R40 and buy a comparable all-in-one device that's compatible with the mac and uses USB cables rather than the parallel port (it was only $200, so it's not a back-breaker). If you can handle those passing challenges, you are not likely to look back ever again to the PC: the imac in particular, is a stroke of design genius, and OS X is the only computing environment I can ever claim to have actually enjoyed looking at and working with. Finally, if you're what they call a "power user" (i.e., you like to have the fastest and most loaded machine on the market when you buy), you may wish to wait for the vaunted G5 to appear (I think they're actually taking orders for it now). But the 1GHz G4 is a powerful enough machine to do everything that a PC is capable of, with as much speed and far more grace and balance than any PC I've owned can claim. And if the $2,000 price tag of an imac is rather too much for you, consider the emac, which starts at well under a thousand but uses the old CRT. In any event, you won't go wrong with the mac, and if you're like me, you'll only be wondering what took you so long.

Nearly Perfect...
I have had this computer for nearly 6 months (since March) and I have been very happy with it.I have added additional memory and have recently expanded the hard drive with the addition of an external 160 gig 7200 rpm drive.

I mainly use the computer for general office work (ie letters, spreadsheets, etc).But since I got the computer I have been editing video using IMovie and creating DVDs using IDVD.The ILife software is very nice and I have generally been pleased with it.The ease of use of the ILife software really makes the computer shine IMHO.ITunes, IPhoto, IMovie and IDVD make it possible for the average user to import and use the digital media that far outstrips the average PC.Things I struggled with on my Dell using windows 98, are easy with the Mac.Other people more technically savy than I can most likley do the same sorts of things I can, but average windows users are usually impressed that I can do things like make movies, etc...

This is not to say this is perfect, but it seems to be much closer to perfection than windows based machines.

Unlike one other reviewer, I have not had any hardware problems with my computer, nor have my parents (my father has a 17" powerbook and my mother has a 17" Ibook like mine). ... Read more

Asin: B00008GT9Y
Subjects:  1. Desktops (Desk Tops)    2. Desktop Computers    3. Apple    4. (Mac)    5. (Macintosh)   

Apple PowerBook Notebook 12.1" TFT M8760LL/A (867-MHz PowerPC G4, 256 MB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive)
Average Customer Review:
Personal Computers
list price: $1,594.99
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Editorial Review

Early Adopters Pick: January 2003. The world's smallest and lightest full-featured laptop.

A scaled-back version of the top-of-the-line PowerBook 17-inch G4, the PowerBook 12-inch G4 is the smallest notebook Apple has ever released. At just 10.9 by 8.6 by 1.18 inches and a mere 4.6 pounds, the unit is easy to transport and easy to operate in any circumstance. Yet it doesn’t sacrifice performance for portability.

Featuring a capable 867 MHz PowerPC G4 processor (256 K of DDR SRAM Level 2 cache) and 256 MB of PC2100 DDR SDRAM system memory (upgradeable to 640 MB), the PowerBook G4 sports enough raw power for any standard notebook or desktop application. Its 32 MB nVidia GeForce4 420 Go graphics chip may have a few problems smoothly rendering today’s most graphically intensive 3-D games and drawing packages, but is ready for most anything else. The unit’s internal 40 GB hard disk is large enough to accommodate lots of programs and files, and its versatile DVD-R/CD-RW SuperDrive allows you to record home movies and video, burn and enjoy audio CDs, and back up critical information.

The PowerBook 12-inch G4 ensures you’ll stay connected in any environment. For wireless situations, it features an integrated Bluetooth adapter and a built-in antenna and expansion slot for an optional 802.11g AirPort Extreme card. For traditional wired connectivity, you’ll find a 10/100Base-T Ethernet port for high-speed LAN and Internet access and a low-speed 56K modem.

The system offers a host of other amenities, including one IEEE 1394 FireWire port for fast data movement from sources such as camcorders and digital cameras, two USB 1.1 ports, an internal microphone, stereo speakers, and a compact but crystal clear 12.1-inch TFT XGA active-matrix display screen with support for 1,024 x 768 resolution. System controls include a 78-key keyboard with embedded keypad and tap/double tap/drag trackpad. Maximum battery life is estimated at an admirable five hours. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Power packed 12 inch dream
Forget the negative reviews, this powerbook is great.

Yes it gets hot, but I never use it on my lap so that is fine.The battery life is decent, but it takes close to 4 hours to charge a fully drained battery.

Mac OSX is a breeze to use, and I was able to create a local area connection with my PCs to share files and printers in no time.

If anyone is looking for a light notebook with ample performance, there is no better option than the powerbook G4 12 inch.

Love my Powerbook
I got a the 12" G4 as a great bundle deal at famous online auction. Mine included max out ram, airport extreme card and base (the modem/antenna one) and 3 year apple care + 15Gig Ipod for a fraction of retail.
This is my second laptop I had an Ibook 500 which I gave to my dad when I upgraded.
I use my laptop mainly for surfing the net, online banking, a lot of word processing and getting live online international tv/radio broadcasting (You get a better resolution with DSL or Cable modem though)
itunes/ipod rock, I was getting so sick of carrying all my cds around!!!
iphoto is amazing and yet such a simple way to manage of all your photos.
With a firewire webcam I use Yahoo IM to keep track of friends and family.
There is some heating on the left hand side below the keyboard but I never use the laptop on my lap and when I type the heat is does not bother me on my left wrist at all. It is not a big deal at least for me.
I have used Windows in school but I find that Jaguar is so much more user friendly. I find that for my needs, the programs I use come in both Windows and Mac versions so I do not feel at a "disadvantage" like some windows user might feel.
This is a cool, portable and versatile machine well worth the investment especially if bought at auction or on sale!

An awesome notebook to keep you warm on winter nights!
I've long been a devotee of highly-portable notebook computers and Macs. I was doubly pleased, then, to see Apple introduce the 12" PowerBook in January 2003. Here at last was the computer that combined a travel-worthy form factor with a reasonably powerful Mac.

I didn't get my hands on one until more recently, and I am very happy with it. The computer is powerful enough for all of my general productivity tasks, with a nice keyboard feel and a bright, readable screen.

I've had great experiences connecting via the all of the various networking technologies built-in. I use Bluetooth with my phone and PDA (including wireless connections to use my phone as a GPRS modem), AirPort for WiFi connections, dialup when there's no broadband or GPRS available, and the built-in 10-BaseT networking at the office.

Battery life is decent, though not extraordinary at around 4 hours on a full charge. The power management is unobtrusive, and as with other Mac notebooks running Mac OS X I love the instant sleep/wake capability.

I have one complaint with this machine: heat. All notebooks emit some, but this computer seems to be particularly hot. I've used it once or twice on my lap while wearing shorts, and frankly found it uncomfortable.

Other than that, this computer comes as close to a perfect portable as I've seen. ... Read more

Asin: B000087BHV
Subjects:  1. Apple    2. (Mac)    3. (Macintosh)   

Apple 20 GB 2nd Generation iPod M8738LL/A
Average Customer Review:
Electronics

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Editorial Review

Apple has revamped the now-classic iPod with several exceptional new features. The new 20 GB model packs 4,000 songs and a 10-hour battery life into a stunning 6.5-ounce package, and Apple ups the ante with new iTunes 3 software; a redesigned, touch-sensitive scroll wheel; red-hot FireWire digital file transfers; a wired remote control; and an overhauled calendar/scheduler.

The iPod's setup and interface are still the same: just plug it into your Mac and all your iTunes songs and playlists are automatically downloaded into iPod at blazing FireWire speed--typically 15 seconds or less. Don’t forget that the player also doubles as a FireWire drive for applications and other files. This new model also comes with a FireWire port cover to protect the player from dirt and other gunk.

In addition to its 20 GB hard drive, iPod has a 32 MB memory cache. The cache is made of solid-state memory, meaning that it has no moving parts, so it's not affected by movement of the device. Skip protection on the iPod works by continually preloading up to 20 minutes of music into the cache.

The iPod has a large, high-quality LCD (liquid crystal display) for viewing up to six lines of text. And the LCD features an LED (light-emitting diode) backlight for clear visibility in low-light situations--indoors or outdoors. Pocket-size and just 6.5 ounces, it weighs appreciably less than the stack of CDs it can store music from.

Featuring Apple's new iTunes 3 software, the iPod can synchronize with newly added music files and playlists. Simply plug the iPod back into your Mac and the changes are automatically updated in seconds. And with iTunes 3, you can rip MP3s, create playlists, and burn custom CDs all from one simple interface. And thanks to a cool new partnership with audible.com, you can now download audiobooks to the iPod.

You can also download your calendar and schedule to the iPod from applications like Entourage, Palm Desktop, and Mac OS X Address Book. Plus, the iPod now has a built-in digital clock.

The iPod's rechargeable lithium-polymer battery is charged using the FireWire cable when connected to your Mac. You can also recharge the iPod using the included FireWire cable and AC adapter when you're on the go.

The iPod supports MP3 (up to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR (variable bit rate), WAV, and AIFF files, and is firmware upgradable. To use the iPod with your Mac, you'll need a FireWire port and you must be running either Mac OS 9.2.1 (or later) or Mac OS X 10.1 (or later).

The unit comes with a wired remote control, revamped earbud-style headphones, a FireWire cable, power adapter, CD-ROM with iTunes 3, and a carrying case with belt clip. It's backed by a 90-day limited warranty. ... Read more

Features

• MP3 Audio
• Compatible with Mac OS 9.2.1 (or later) or Mac OS X v10.1 (or later)
• Includes wired remote control, remodeled headphones, and carrying case with belt clip
• Discontinued by manufacturer, replaced by model #M8948LL/A
• FireWire interface for fastest digital transfer available; covered FireWire port
• Download audiobooks from Audible.com; keep up to date with new calendar/scheduler and built-in clock

Reviews (31)

Apple 20 GB Second Generation iPod
If you need more songs and you are willing to spend $499.99 I would recommend this iPod to you. This is the second generation 20 gigabyte iPod. This iPod holds about 4,000 songs at near CD-quality. I don't have this version but I do have the 10 gigabyte version (plus another few iPods). I think Apple has designed their MP3 players extremely well. I love the white coating on the top and the metal-finish at the back. People do not see too much difference between the first and second generation iPods. There really isn't too much change accept now the scroll wheel isn't mechanical; that's the only big change. There is a cover for the connectivity ports and the 10GB version is a bit thinner than the first generation 5GB version. This iPod is about .80" in depth which is pretty thick. The 10GB is still .78" but you can still see the difference. Now iPods are really thin especially with the mini but the new fourth generation is extremely thin as well. This weights about 6.5 ounces which is kind of heavy but it will still suite you well. The battery life on this is about 10 hours which isn't too bad compared to the third generation iPod's 8 hour battery life. I would recommend you getting a case so the metal or white plastic on top will not get scatched. This iPod has really everything you need: playlists, calender, games, phone book, etc. There is only one game though (Bricks) but I love Bricks and I think you will enjoy it as well. On my 10GB version I have about 1,500 songs which fit perfectally onto my playlists. It comes with MusicMatch Jukebox but I would recommend getting iTunes. I would look into the iPod but not this one. Get the fourth-generation iPod or any other kind of iPod you like. But this is all around a very good package and especially now it's really cheap!

Service.What service?
I bought the iPod from Amazon and it was delivered about a week ago. I also bought the Apple Care Protection plan. The product seems to work fine except I am having minor but irksom problems 'navigating' using the buttons and wheel thing. I am using it for an Audible book which is supposed to start where you left off. Well, after 7 hours it decided to start at beginning again. I try fast forward and the thing goes to the next book.I want to just finish the last hour of the one that is being played.

So, I call what they call Customer Service and find that they won't give me any advice whatever until I FAX in a copy of my shipping document from Amazon and another sheet with a magic number on it from within the extended service package. They say that Amazon is not an authorized reseller and that they cannot check my order and date of sale from Amazon.

I explain that I do not have a FAX machine, and that I will go send the stuff in a few days when I feel like walking that far using my crutches.

I think that it is probably a good product, but if you are in any way handicapped and it is not convenient for you to run around to get their service, I recommend not buying it.

THE gadget of the year!Maybe Decade!!!
This is amazing.A must have for any traveler.The easy firewire plug for charging is great.I like it better then the funky new charging firewire layout.This is simply standard.The unit itself it pretty tough.I dropped it running and it didn't skip or anything.Amazing battery time and everything.The one thing I don't like is the way Apple set up their mp3 sharing so that you can only copy music onto it or delete music.You can't transfer music back off it.This is probably to keep the record companies happy.iTunes is great. And the unit is great simply to use as a portable Hard Drive as well. ... Read more

Asin: B00006FDR8
Subjects:  1. Mac Macintosh Machintosh Apple    2. Portable Audio    3. MP3 MP 3 Player    4. Jukebox    5. MP3 Player (MP 3)    6. Apple    7. (Mac)    8. (Macintosh)    9. Gigabyte    10. 20GB    11. 20 GB   

Canon PowerShot S45 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom
Average Customer Review:
Electronics (14 December, 2002)
list price: $599.99
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Editorial Review

Following up on their S40, Canon's Powershot S45 offers the same aesthetically pleasing metallic chassis with the powerful innards to go along with it. With a 4 megapixel CCD, images taken with the S45 were deeply detailed and could be easily printed out at 8 by 11 and larger without any loss of resolution.

Although the 3x optical zoom is average for mid-range cameras and above, it still let us get in a bit closer to our subjects when snapping shots. Improving on the S40, the S45 now captures video clips--complete with audio--of up to three minutes in length (although you'll probably want a larger storage card than the 32 MB CF card the S45 ships with). There are also easy-to-use video playback and editing controls on the camera itself.

A unique design, the metal lens cover of the S45 serves as the on/off switch--slide it open and the camera turns on, slide it closed and it powers down, with the lens folding out or back into the frame of the body respectively. You can't put any accessory lenses onto the S45 because of this design, but you'll also never try to take any pictures with the lens cap on.

The rechargeable batteries lasted for well over 200 shots before needing to be plugged in. And that's with the LCD on--Canon promises a life of over 500 without the LCD. Speaking of, the bright and large 1.8-inch LCD took up nearly half of the back of the S45 and followed the lens quickly while using it for framing shots.

While it weighs a solid 11 ounces, the 4.4-inch by 2.3-inch by 1.7-inch camera is compact enough to slide into a pocket, making it easier to take on day trips than bulkier Powershot models. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• Enhanced movie mode
• Compact design
• Well priced

Cons:

• No accessory lenses
• Average optical zoom

... Read more

Features

• Included 32 MB CompactFlash card holds approximately 27 images at default resolution; camera is Microdrive compatible
• Connects with Macs and PCs via USB port
• Uses proprietary NB-2L lithium-ion rechargeable battery (included)
• 4-megapixel sensor captures 2,272 x 1,704 images for photo-quality prints up to 11 x 14 inches
• 3x optical (plus 3.6x digital) zoom lens with autofocus

Reviews (58)

We tested the durability
We are a clutzy family and this camera has been dropped multiple times onto concrete or asphalt pavement.The camera is covered in dents and scratches.The shutter cover barely slides closed because it's so bent, but THE CAMERA STILL WORKS PERFECTLY.We've had it for about 2 years.Of course I wouldn't guarantee the same luck to others.Best wishes!

For snapshooters only!
I use this camera mainly to shoot small art objects, since I'm an art dealer.

On average the quality of photos you can take with this camera is pretty good considering the price. It has a good array of advanced options as well, like RAW format, that later you can convert to a 11MB TIFF file (on average, for 8 bits) or a 22MB TIFF (on average, for 16 bits). Tiff's are uncompressed files, and are the best option if you want to use Photoshop to manipulate your shots.

Very well built metallic case. I drop it from 4 feet twice and not even a dent occurred. Well done Canon!

The custom option in the shooting menu is also very welcome. You can store all your shooting parameter, like aperture, speed, colour balance, bracketing options, ISO and etc. Very handy!

In good light conditions the quality of photos is excellent for a 4 Mpixels camera. Both colour balance and sharpness are excellent. Better stick to ISO 50 or 100 or you will get above average noise though.

So far so good. But ...

Below average flash. If you use it outdoors as a fill in flash be prepared to get your main subject washed out and overexposed. If you use it indoors, on a birthday party for instance, the flash is not powerful enough even for small ambients. Be prepared to get underexposed photos with excess noise when you blow them up. But I have to be fair, if you take snapshots only, you would not notice it probably.

And now about the software that comes bundled with the camera. Remember that in digital photography the software to manipulate your shots is almost as important as the camera itself. And that's the point were the S45 fails to my requirements.

The File Viewer Utility does what it should do, but will present to you an interface that would be outdated when Windows 3.1 was the king. Zoom Browser has a better interface but is a jack of all trades and master of none sort of software, not integrated at all with the rest of the bunch. But I could live with both and still rate this camera well.

But then there is Remote Capture, which was one of the reasons I bought this camera. As I take pictures of small art objects, light control is top priority and the possibility of connecting the camera to a computer using this software and get a bigger image with all the control options of the camera was really appealing. Forget it! Remote Capture is a prehistoric, poorly designed, not properly tested and buggy piece of software. I do not understand how a company with the reputation like Canon supplies this sort of software with one of their products. I am sure it is only damaging the confidence the customers have in the brand.

Remote Capture is ridiculous. You can not save your shooting preferences, so every time you connect the camera you are back to the auto everything default. When you connect the camera, Remote Capture takes total control control, bypassing the camera controls, but without presenting the information that you usually get on the camera's LCD. There is no on-line information of speed, aperture, the focusing area marks, the auto-focus options, nothing! To know if a photo will come out in focus is a lottery. You can only trust in your visual perception from what you see on your monitor.

There are so many limitations that I would need too much space to describe. So I will only mention one more: Remote Capture freezes very easily (and I am using XP-Pro!), mainly if you use it in conjunction with a photo manipulation software, like Photoshop or PhotoImpact.

Final conclusion: This camera is adequate and a good value for money if you are a casual snapshooter. For this purpose I would rate it as 4 stars camera. But for semi-professional use I can only rate it 3 stars at the most.

Poor Quality
My S45 has broke twice in the 6 months I have had it. I am very disapionted. I've always bought Canon but will look somewhere else next time! Very poor quality. ... Read more

Asin: B00007F8UQ
Subjects:  1. Digital Camera (Cameras)    2. Photograph (Photography)   

SanDisk 512 MB CompactFlash Card, SDCFB-512-A10
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $149.99 -- our price: $39.89
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

The size of a matchbook and weighing only half an ounce, the 512 MB CompactFlash card from SanDisk is an ultrasmall, removable data storage system. CompactFlash memory has built-in, industry-standard compatibility because its 50-pin card can easily be slipped into a passive, 68-pin Type II adapter card that fully meets PC Card electrical and mechanical specifications.

Expanding functionality and allowing products to be smaller and lighter, CompactFlash has been designed into more than 200 mobile products including digital cameras, handheld PCs, personal communicators, medical monitors, and audio recorders.

The SanDisk 512 MB CompactFlash card comes with a 5-year warranty. ... Read more

Features

• Industry-standard compatibility
• For use in digital cameras, PDAs, HPCs, personal communicators, and MP3s
• 512 MB CompactFlash
• Removable data storage system
• Ultracompact

Reviews (20)

Defective Card
I had ordered a Cannon s500 a week before I went on vacation and after receiving the camera I decided I needed more than a 32 meg card for my trip.I read several reviews of cards on amazon and for the most part had the impression that Sandisk, though an off brand, made decent and reliable cards.Due to time constraints I purchased this model at a local Best Buy and left for a weekend of relaxation and enjoyment.My first night on vacation after taking a few pictures my camera gave me a weird Memory Error message.I couldn't change from capture mode to view mode to delete/format the memory card, in fact I couldn't even power the camera down.I had to remove the battery to get it to turn off.After messing with it for several minutes, removing the memory card and seeing how the camera functioned minus the card I realized the card was jacked and causing my camera to malfunction.Thus, I was unable to take pictures during my entire vacation.Needless to say, I WAS LIVID because I was on an island and there weren't any Best Buys around to return the card and get a new one.As a result, I felt I had to post here on this review section and say DO NOT BUY THIS COMPANY'S PRODUCTS!I'm now ordering a Kingston version of this card in hopes that a brand name will provided a better quality product.

Fine for consumer digicams
This is a good card for virtually all Point and Shoot consumer digital cameras. If you are using a Digital SLR, then you need a faster card, say the Sandisk Ultra II. The write speed is a little slow, but that shouldn't be a problem for all but a few select digital cameras. For most people, 512M should be more than enough. Depending on your camera, you could get 300-400 pictures.

This is my first CF card, as I've used SD cards for a couple of years on another camera. I'm not wild about CF, but that's the format of my equipment. I think Sandisk cards are as good a brand as you can buy, but just know their limitations.

Excellent price for the storage, but a little slow
I upgraded to this card from a 128MB SanDisk card to use with my Canon Powershot G6. The card is definitely worth it for the money, but if you plan to use it long-term, I would suggest shelling out the extra dollars and going with the Ultra II model. When uploading images, there will be a noticeable difference in speed. If you're an amateur photographer just looking for extra storage, or a person who doesn't mind waiting a little longer in exchange for saving a bit of money, this card can definitely get you by. ... Read more

Asin: B00006B9QF
Subjects:  1. Flash Memory (Flashcard, Flashcards)    2. Compactflash (Compact Flash)   

Canon NB2L Battery Pack for Elura 40MC/50, Optura 400/500 Camcorders & S30/S40/S50/S60/S70/Rebel XT Digital Cameras
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $69.99 -- our price: $48.94
(price subject to change: see help)
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Features

• Lithium-ion battery
• For use with the Canon Powershot S30 and S40 models and Elura 40mc camcorder

Reviews (27)

Buy an aftermarket battery
The Canon NB-2L is an OK battery, however, you can do much better by purchasing an aftermarket product.Specifically, Sterlingtek makes a replacement with a rating of 1100mah which is almost double that of the Canon's.The price on the Sterlingtek is only $19.99 (shipping is $6.99 but is free for orders over $60). The price difference is more than just a "few bucks" as another review claimed.Their web site is www.sterlingtek.com

Surprised at long life!
I'm knocking it down 1 star for costing as much as it does... In regard to the performance of the battery... it performed much better than expected on my recent trip to Japan. After all the negative reviews saying the charge does not last a long time, I was expecting to have to use my second battery everyday. The battery didn't die on me once, and I used it on average for 2 days at a time before recharging... never even got the low battery indication.Though, I did have the lcd off unless I was taking a picture. Worked great for me!

You can definitely spend less for quality batteries.
I've bought Energizer replacement rechargeable batteries for both my S30 and my digital video camera and have found them to actually hold a longer charge and a longer battery life than the originals that came with the cameras.The going rate for the Canon NB-2L seems to be from $50 - $70.You can get the Energizer equivalent for $27 at one of my favorite sites.It's definitely not a generic and considering what Canon is charging for theirs, I consider it a no-brainer.I've never had any problems with the non-OEM batteries I've used, but I've never used generic batteries either.

By the way, I love my S30 and consider it one of the best buys I've ever made in my life.I've had it over 2 years now and the picture quality it produces still amazes me. ... Read more

Asin: B00005UKXL
Sales Rank: 133
Subjects:  1. Digital Camera (Cameras)   

Epson Stylus Photo 2200 Inkjet Printer
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $749.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Designed with the serious graphics user in mind, Epson's Stylus Photo 2200 is stylish and fast and comes packed with user-friendly features. With Epson's new seven-color UltraChrome inks and three times as many nozzles as the popular Stylus 2000P, the 2200 is able to print 8-by-10-inch color photos in under two minutes (in fine mode). The UltraChrome inks are formulated to resist water and light damage and to ensure longevity, all while providing more colors than any other pigment ink on the market.

The versatile 2200 makes it easy to print on envelopes, roll paper, and many types and sizes of single-sheet paper.

A maximum resolution of 2,880 x 1,440 dpi (both color and black and white) results in amazingly accurate prints. The 4-picoliter droplets are the equivalent of 2-picoliter droplets in ordinary dye-base systems, resulting in ultrafine detail and clarity. Interchangeable standard and matte black ink cartridges help you get the best quality from black-and-white prints, while the included Film Factory(TM) with PRINT Image Matching Support software ensures that prints from compatible digital cameras are true to the original image.

The 2200 supports a wide variety of paper types, including glossy, semi-glossy, luster, matte, and Epson's velvet fine art paper, as well as large-format sizes up to 13 by 44 inches. With the included roll paper holder and built-in automatic cutter, you can print borderless images easily, while a photo catcher neatly stacks multiple prints as they are cut.

Compatible with both Mac and PC systems, the 2200 comes backed with a one-year Epson exchange warranty.

What's in the Box
Printer, AC power supply and cord, seven ink cartridges (cyan, light cyan, magenta, light magenta, yellow, light black, photo black), roll paper holder accessory, roll paper cutter and catcher; printer cable not included

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Features

• Interchangeable standard and matte ink cartridges for black-and-white prints
• USB, Firewire and Parallel interfaces
• 2,880 x 1,440 dpi maximum resolution in black and color
• Roll paper holder and built-in automatic cutter
• Economical ink system with 7 separate UltraChrome cartridges

Reviews (65)

Great photographic printer
I am currently in college studying photography and this printer is our most common printer.

Remember, you're not going to get accurate color with ANY printer. Every printer has it's own specific range of colors it can reproduce. The key to a good printer is getting predictable results.

Hints for good results with less stress:
--> Get profiles for the specific papers you use. (If you don't have the time or equipment to do it yourself, you can find them online.)
--> Turn the printer off when not in use. (This saves the nozzles from getting clogged so much.)
--> The little red lights correspond to the inks. If the 3rd light is on, the 3rd ink is out.
--> If one of the red ink lights is blinking, go ahead and print, it's still got a bit of life in it... if the light is burning steady, change the ink.
--> This is not a document printer. Get a cheap HP for that.
--> You don't need any more than 360ppi in your image. Any more, and you're just making it slower. (Do some tests printing the same photo at different image resolutions. Try 360, 240, 180, 100, 72. See where the resolution falls off, and then you'll know what you really need for a decent print.)
--> Turn off high speed. Sometimes when printers lay ink down in both directions, it can get out of alignment. (I have never seen this, but my professor has, which is why nobody at my school even tries to print at high speed.)
--> Don't print full bleed. Well, you can, it's just better if you don't. Trust me on this.
--> To switch between photo black and matte black ink is a real hassle. You'll use an entire cartridge just to flush out the old ink. So, if you can help it, don't. I wish you could have both and just tell it which black to use, but alas, it's not perfect.
--> Use an image editing program (Adobe Photoshop is best) to make your pictures look the way you want before printing. Target your file for printing. (Meaning: make a duplicate flattened, sized, and sharpened file. Then print.)


My favorite paper is Ilford Smooth Pearl. I use it for just about everything.

For decent black and white prints, use matte black ink on Epson Velvet Fine Art, Watercolor, or Enhanced Matte papers.


The verdict:
This printer is great! When I set up my own lab, this will be my printer.

I hope this helps you with your purchase!

Epson 2200
As most of the previous reviews have stated this is a great printer and I wholeheartedly agree. I use Adobe Photoshop CS for my photos and the biggest problem I ran into was that the image on my monitor didn't quite match the printed image. This may be OK for some but being a perfectionist I had to adjust the image in Photoshop which is a hit or miss proposition (ie make the image lighter in photoshop to get a darker printed image which was satisfactory). The solution I decided on was to get color management software called MonacoEZcolor (I also got the colorimeter option) so that a color profile can be generated of the monitor and the printer. With the profiles generated you can then set the Photoshop image on your monitor to look like what the printed image will be. Unfortunately to do this I also had to purchase a scanner to profile the printer. $500 later (scanner and color management software with colorimeter) I'm getting better prints but it is costly, however if your a professional or just trying to get the best prints possible you may want to factor in color management software.

This is the center of my home photo-lab

I have used this printer for over a year now to support my hobby of ultra high resolution semi-digital photography.Using a different Epson product I scan 4x5 film negatives, creating 100 megapixel images, and then print them on my Stylus Photo 2200.I use 13x19 semi-gloss paper, and typically print at maximum quality.The results are vastly better than any photo lab I can imagine.Really -- I can't think of any way to suggest print quality improvement.

I do black-and-white maybe three quarters of the time, and when I do color it's lurid.Detail is astonishing, and I have been very satisfied with the borderless printing.The printer always warns me that it might not do as well at borderless printing, but I tell it not to worry and it always does fine.

I have used only the standard 7 inks.I've been very impressed with how easy ink cartridge replacement has been.I am glad that I have left behind the bad old days of throwing out *all* the ink because *one* of the colors ran out.The 2200 allows me to only replace the ink cartridge that actually ran out, which is even more important for the cityscape photography that I do -- in color, the sky uses a lot of cyan.

I don't know about text quality, since I've never printed any of that, but the thought makes me nervous.Like it would if someone suggested using a thoroughbred horse to pull a plow.Don't do that, it's silly.

Use this printer to make great big beautiful photographic prints of flawless quality on lovely paper.For this purpose, I really can't imagine how it could be better.

If it ever dies, I'll get another just like it.If I ever get rich, I'll get another just like it except even bigger.

Thanks, Epson.Please keep doing this.
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Asin: B000067V0A
Subjects:  1. Inkjet Printer (Ink Jet Printers, Printing)    2. Photo Printer (Photo Printing)    3. Mac Macintosh Machintosh Apple   

Canon Elura 40MC MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/ 2"LCD, MMC Card and Digital Still Mode
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $1,199.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Canon's Elura 40MC is one of the smallest, lightest digital video camcorders available. Weighing around 14 ounces, this vertically oriented camcorder fits snugly into the palm of your hand (not resting on your hand like most cameras, this one fits almost inside it).

Because of its compact frame, some of its features had to be trimmed. Its 2-inch LCD is smaller than most, but its bright screen can be viewed easily even in daylight. Unlike many other camcorders, the Elura's viewfinder displays in color, not black and white. It also offers only a 10x optical zoom, not as high as other cameras, but still adequate for most users.

Unlike many camcorders whose still image quality is subpar, the Elura 40MC captures 1024 x 768 pixel still pictures on a Secure Digital media card (an 8 MB SD card is included) rather than on the MiniDV media. And if coupled with a Canon CP-10 card photo printer, you can directly print images from the Elura without going through your PC.

But it's video quality that matters most in a DV camcorder. The Elura 40MC captured excellent video, even in poor lighting conditions. It doesn't have a built-in light, but its low-light mode still managed to record impressive video with realistic colors and limited graininess.

The Elura's autofocus worked quickly and accurately, and its zoom buttons were within easy reach during filming. The basic modes of the camera make it point-and-shoot easy for the novice user. Audio quality with the built-in mic wasn't the best (we noticed some noise during recording), but the Elura comes with a port that lets you connect an external microphone.

It's not the least expensive camcorder out there, but the extreme portability of the Elura 40MC paired with its excellent video quality make it an appealing choice. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• Light and compact
• High quality video
• Good still image capture

Cons:

• Average optical zoom
• Some audio noise

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Features

• Records 1024 x 768 digital stills onto included 8 MB MultiMediaCard
• Very compact model; also includes audio and video inputs and outputs
• MiniDV camcorder
• 10x optical, 200x digital, zoom with image stabilization
• 2-inch color LCD, color EVF

Reviews (27)

$1000 disposable camera
This is the first dv camcorder I've bought.Its size appealed to me, and it seemed to get great reviews online.At first I liked it, only being a bit dissapointed in the grain you get in anything except for very bright outdoor scenes.A few months later I had to send it in for repair because it started recording a few pixels as constant red.This was very distracting and pretty much ruined anypicture.I was told the repairs would take 2 weeks.They took a month and a week, but at least I got it back fixed.It worked fine for another year, when suddenly it became a very expencive doorstop.It started when I put in a tape and got a "Remove this Cassette" error.A few more tries left me with a camcorder that won't even close anymore.It just beeps and spits out any tape I put in it.I can't even close it without a tape in it.I searched for this online and found hundreds of people complaining about the same problem.It seems like this camera only has about a 1 year lifespan.Other canon cameras seem to suffer from the same problem.I'm really upset about having spent so much money on something that didn't last a reasonable amount of time.Do your research before you buy this.

Tape Eating/Scrambling Problems - DO NOT BUY CANON
I'm a little late in the game here -- after taping for about a year - going back and looking at the video now, I am crushed - missed my son's birth, baptism, husband's 40th birthday, and the list goes on and on.The tapes are all scrambled -- the camera store told me that the heads were dirty - NOT.I am continuously having this problem - missing event after event.I had to break out my old Sony Recorder (bought in 1986) to make sure I didn't missed Christmas morning with my children.I will NEVER by anything CANON again.They do not stand behind their product -- by the way -- this happened 1 month after the warranty expired!

Tape Eating/Scrambling Problems - DO NOT BUY CANON
I'm a little late in the game here -- after taping for about a year - going back and looking at the video now, I am crushed - missed my son's birth, baptism, husband's 40th birthday, and the list goes on and on.The tapes are all scrambled -- the camera store told me that the heads were dirty - NOT.I am continuously having this problem - missing event after event.I had to break out my old Sony Recorder (bought in 1986) to make sure I didn't missed Christmas morning with my children.I will NEVER by anything CANON again.They do not stand behind their product -- by the way -- this happened 1 month after the warranty expired! ... Read more

Asin: B000068DB8
Subjects:  1. Camcorder (Camcorders)