JVC XL-MC2000 200-CD Changer
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $200.00 -- our price: Too Low To Display
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

This 200-CD mega-changer will keep the music playing long past bed time. Favorite discs will be right at your fingertips with the help of a full-function remote, a jog/shuttle dial, and three flexible playback modes. With this monster mega-changer you can listen continuously and repeatedly, program up to 32 tracks or discs to play in sequence, and shuffle randomly through all tracks or discs.

And with 200 CDs to draw from, that's a lot of music, any way you cut it. The play exchange feature makes it easy to swap out up to 25 discs while one is playing. You can listen in days-long stretches (turn it on and let it go) or in shorter, programmed bursts (say, only favorite titles from a favorite artist or composer).

The shiny sliding door to the disc bay evokes a miniature bay window. Every disc slot is clearly numbered and the carousel itself rotates left or right at your whim, courtesy of the jog/shuttle dial. Select "Disc" and the shuttle knob rotates the carousel to add or remove discs. Select "Track" and the knob lets you scroll through a given disc to find the track you want. Press "Eject" and the disc playing spins around to the front and juts out from the rest of the collection for easy removal.

Resume picks up playback from the last track played, and an optical digital output fosters easy connection with a surround receiver or a digital recording device such as a CD or minidisc recorder. The unit has standard RCA analog-audio outputs as well, and JVC's enhanced COMPU LINK Control System greatly simplifies operation when the receiver is used in concert with other JVC equipment. ... Read more

Features

• Includes direct-access remote control
• 200-disc file-type CD changer with multi-jog dial for disc/track selection
• Play exchange lets you swap up to 25 discs while 1 is playing
• Resume, repeat, and program play across all 200 discs (32-track or -disc programming)
• Optical digital-audio output lets you hook the player up with a surround receiver or CD/minidisc recorder

Reviews (11)

Just toss it
I purchased this JVC CD player last June.In December it began skipping.I took it to the Nashville JVC service center on January 27th.It is still there.They say they can't get parts from JVC.JVC says they will give my complaint to the local regional manager, but they can't tell me that person's name or phone number.My one year warranty runs out in a couple weeks, and I have had it about 6 months.SO, if you buy a JVC product and it fails, just throw it in the trash and get on with your life.Don't expect any form of service.

Total crap!
Just like all the other reviews, it started skipping like crazy after 1 week. Sometimes it would work fine, and then it would go crazy and start skipping like it was in fast forward mode or something. It even skipped on brand new CD's! I am in the process of returning this junk to Amazon. I think I'll get a Pioneer CD changer instead, they are supposed to be the best. Do yourself a favor and don't buy this piece of junk. I'm VERY dissapointed in JVC.

Skip to my Lou!
I purchased this CD player to go with my JVC stereo receiver and cassette tape player.It worked for perhaps a week, and then one day out of the blue it began to skip while playing CD's.I thought it might be the CD, being scratched or dirty, but it would skip on brand new CD's too.The skipping, actually playing just bits of tracks before moving on to another track, continued all day long.No matter what I did, the problem continued.The next day, the unit worked fine again, at least for awhile, and then it started skipping again intermittently.It got so unreliable that I finally sent it back, under warranty, to JVC.They supposedly "fixed it" and sent it back to me, with no description of what was done.I used the player several times before the skipping problem began again.I sent the unit back to the factory, and they sent it back to me telling me that it was no longer under warranty!I tried calling JVC headquaters and left messages for them to call, but never got a call back.I finally gave up on all JVC products.Therefore, I cannot recommend this product to anyone.It is just too unreliable and the customer service is terrible.I would not even give this CD player one star, but that is the least amount of rating I can give it. ... Read more

Asin: B00005B99R
Subjects:  1. xl-mc2000, xlmc, mc2000, 200 disc,    2. 200 cd changer    3. Compact Disc (CD Player)    4. cdplayer    5. jvc, jvc cd player, cd changer, xlmc2000, XLMC2000   

Philips EXP103 eXpanium Portable MP3-CD Player with 45-Second Anti-Skip and Car Kit
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $149.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

This sharp-looking unit is one of the first in a new generation of devicesable to play traditional audio CDs as well as MP3 audio files burned onto CD-R orCD-RW discs. Although we maintain a few caveats with the Philips eXpanium's somewhatclunky design, we were pleased with its sonic performance.

In our tests, it took anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute to create a directoryfrom an MP3-encoded CD, depending on the number of files on the disc.Once it was playing, though, the quality of sound was quite good.The dynamic range was more than adequate: the high end was crisp and clean,and the low tones were solid, even without the bass boost activated.

The antishock system was virtually infallible when playing MP3s. We suppose that if we'ddropped the player down a long set of wooden steps, it might have skipped, but short of that,the music kept on coming, ignoring our jolts and bumps. It didn't hold up quite as well fornormal audio CDs (or CD-Rs or CD-RWs encoded with real-time tracks), but the antishockprotection for them was still very good. However, while Philips claims that the shockprotection is good for 45 seconds on audio CDs and up to 100 seconds for MP3s, the player tookwhat seemed an inordinate amount of time to recover after skipping.

Navigating through and within CD tracks was straightforward, but in MP3 format the unitprovided no way to search within a track. The display was relatively difficult to read,lacked a backlight, and did not display the track names on MP3 files. Additionally, thedisplay's dimness and placement at the back of the lid made the unit hard to use in a dark car.

Overall, the eXpanium currently leads the way in what will likely be the next big portableaudio format, and it's only a matter of time before they package the technology in a slightlysleeker, more user-friendly design.

Pros:

• Utilizes cutting-edge MP3/CD technology
• Crisp and clean high-end sound and solid low tones
• Nicely packaged with a pair of small earbud headphones and a car kit

Cons:

• Hard-to-read display
• Long skip-recovery time
• Lacked ability to search within a track in the MP3 format

... Read more

Features

• Headphones, car kit, and AC/DC adapter included
• Plays MP3-encoded CDs as well as audio CDs, CD-Rs, and CD-RWs
• Shockproof Magic ESP (up to 100 seconds of MP3 shock protection, 45 seconds for standard CDs)
• Playback of all common MP3 bit rates and variable bit rates per track (320 Kbps maximum)
• Up to 10 hours of playback on 2 AA batteries

Reviews (174)

4 YEARS LATER and it still works like a charm!
When I first bought this product, it was a brand new concept on the market - burn your MP3s onto CDs and play them wherever you went!

This product has stayed with me through extreme winters, summers, rain, humidity.It's practically lived in my car for the last 4 years and it works like a CHAMP.

I am so impressed with this, that I came back to amazon to review it.BUY IT!

it worked fine for 1year..
now.. it plays first track and it wouldn't willing to play next song.(mp3 files) keep searching... and searching... have to stop and play it again.. and I get to listen to the first track over and over.. press FF? tried and I'm tired -_-;
don't waste your money.. get a better one

Long-term update
Now that I've had my eXpanium 103 for over a year and a half, I would like to update my previous review and summarize my long-term experience with it.As I've already stated, its skip protection in MP3 playback mode is nothing less than phenomenal.Even after all this time, when my eXpanium has seen heavy service and has largely replaced FM radio in my mobile listening habits, I STILL have not been able to make it skip in MP3 mode!However, it has not been entirely smooth sailing - I have encountered a few other minor problems, but they are generally rare.

On a few occasions, the eXpanium has locked up and refused to play certain MP3 tracks.When this happens, the <> buttons often fail to work as well.This usually requires turning off the unit to clear the problem and, in some cases, making sure it doesn't try to play that particular track again.I had one disc from which the eXpanium never would play one certain track at all - maybe the disc had a minor defect there, or maybe there was something about the MP3 itself that the eXpanium didn't like, but it just never wanted to play that one track.Again, though, these lockups are rare - the eXpanium usually plows happily through MP3 discs for hours at a time.

Since I use mine almost exclusively for MP3 playback, I have little experience with standard audio discs, but it has performed beautifully with the few I've tried.I haven't tried using it to play a standard audio CD while I'm on the road, so I can't say whether its skip protection there is as good as it is in MP3 playback mode.

Other reviewers have mentioned that the output of the headphone jack is weak, and I have to agree.Even with a proper set of headphones, as opposed to the included "ear buds," it still just doesn't put out much even at maximum volume.I wouldn't recommend it for personal listening in noisy environments.However, I generally use my eXpanium in the car, with the included cassette adapter, and the output level from the "Line Out" jack is perfectly adequate for that.

The "resume" feature usually works well - note that, in MP3 mode, "resume" simply restarts the most recently played MP3 track from the beginning - but I've noticed that it sometimes resumes the wrong track.This MIGHT be due to the fact that I tend to run it from the car DC adapter and seldom have batteries installed in it, but the eXpanium seems to have a non-volatile memory to keep track of its "resume" location, as unplugging it from the car [even without batteries] usually does not make it forget which track was last played.Sometimes, though, it just forgets where it was.

The DC power adapter in the car kit seems to be somewhat poorly designed and does not correctly fit my car's lighter socket, nor does it fit well in a friend's car or in the accessory power socket I installed in my car.The adapter seems to be just a bit oversized, making it a very tight fit indeed.As a result, its connectors were soon damaged, and the adapter could not be inserted, so I bought a universal DC adapter from Radio Shack for use with this unit.That works just fine - at least it fits into my power socket!

The display IS strictly bare-bones and does not display any ID3 tag data, but as I have stated in my earlier review, I already knew about the display before I bought mine, and I bought it anyway, on the strength of the reviews about its skip protection.Keep in mind, though, that the eXpanium 103 IS a first-generation model!Philips has broadened its eXpanium line, and newer models do have more informative displays - including ID3 tag support - and a wider array of features.If price is a factor, and you don't mind putting up with a completely basic display and sacrificing some features found in newer players, then the eXpanium 103 is a very good choice.If you don't mind paying more for a newer and more advanced player, then by all means, buy one of the newer models in the eXpanium line.To paraphrase an old advertising slogan...Hasn't skipped yet! ... Read more

Asin: B00004UE2R
Subjects:  1. EXP 103    2. Portable Compact Disc Player (Personal CD)    3. Portable Audio    4. MP3 MP 3 Player    5. CD (Compact Disc) Players combo (combination)   

Sennheiser HD570 Traditional Over-Ear Open Dynamic Hi-Fi Stereo Headphones (Black)
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $149.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Sennheiser's HD570 headphone replaces the discontinued HD545 model. Like the model it replaces, the 570 uses an open-ear design that lets you clearly hear environmental sounds but also allows other listeners in the room to hear the music being played. The 570's earpieces also have a sharply pointed bottom, designed to more closely encircle the ear--those with particularly large ears may even find these snug. However, like all Sennheiser headsets, the 570s are extremely comfortable to wear for long periods of time, assuming the fit is good.

And, like almost all Sennheiser headphones, the HD570s have a rich, seductive midrange and deep, authoritative bass response. Where this set differs from most of the line is in its top end. The 570's high frequencies are more pronounced than the usual Sennheiser sound, as typified by the glorious HD600 and now-obsolete HD580. If you find the sound of those headsets on the dark (high-frequency restricted) and unexciting side of accurate, you'll likely be delighted with the tonal balance of the 570. On the other hand, if you find those models just right, you'll hear the 570 as bright, possibly even extremely bright (with accentuated treble response).

Of course, this also depends upon the source components you listen to. Cassettes and underpowered portable CD players might actually benefit from the 570's high-frequency boost, whereas most receivers or separate headphone amplifiers don't need it. Because the HD570 wants a fairly substantial signal to sound its best, however, it should not be used with most portable players. Dedicated amplifiers produce the best sound.

This is a comfortable headset with a different tonal balance from most Sennheisers. We suggest careful consideration (abetted, perhaps, by a 30-day return policy) before committing to living with the HD570. However, if this is the sound you're looking for, the HD-570 is rugged and extremely well constructed. You'll get a lifetime of use out of them. --L.V. Phillips

Pros:

• Lightweight design and padded headband make them comfortable forhours of listening
• Low-distortion Duofol diaphragms provide exceptional detail andclarity
• Single-sided cable makes it easier to move around while wearingheadphones

Cons:

• 64-ohm impedance level makes headphones difficult for most portableplayers to drive; works best with dedicated headphone amplifier
• Somewhat bright (trebly) tonal balance may strike some listeners astoo much of a good thing

... Read more

Features

• Over-ear, open-back stereo headphone
• Single-sided, 10-foot OFC (oxygen-free copper) cable
• Proprietary Duofol membrane reduces diaphragm distortion at edges
• 18 to 22,000 Hz frequency response
• Designed for comfortable long-term wear

Reviews (56)

Sennheiser Rocks
I've had the HD570s for over a year now and I use them EVERYDAY.I originally thought 100+ was too much for headphones, but I never regret purchasing these!The headphones are very comfortable and the sound quality is phenomenal.I highly highly recommend these to everyone!

Great price for audiophiles, but indeed, fragile.
There are no other headphones that compare to this one in sound fidelity, comfort AND price. Definitely great sounding headphones. All those reviews claiming bass response is low or treble is too high are overstatements, and probably didn't allow some hours of break-in.
The higher fidelity the headphones are, means usually you will have higher resistance, these being 64 Ohms. Some of the professional headphones use 120 or even 300 Ohm drivers. Of course you'll get lower volume, some of these are meant to be used in quiet studios (open-aural requires quiet places) and professional equipment (good quality amplifiers)! However I found these to suit my needs perfectly, as it can still respond loud enough for my cdplayer and mp3player (it will still blast my ears if cdplayer volume is maxed). My computer will play it the loudest, being able to hear it all around the room without them on.

I really love the sound of these headphones, but care has to be taken, for mine also stopped working in the right ear. Sometimes it can be due to not plugging in the the cable completely, but in my case, it did stop working. Try to use this at home, if you're careful, you can take them around the neck, but my advice is don't carry them around in a bag. T_T sob.

So for those who just want lots of bass and usability with portable devices (low wattage, high volume), just go for a pair of low-impedance(32 Ohm) HD457, they are even cheaper. You probably won't notice the fidelity with all that loud volume and bass blasting, but compared to the HD 570, makes it sound like crap IMO. Remember, HD 570 are high fidelity, budget, and audiophile oriented headphones, and if you like music as it is meant to be appreciated, get these. You'll hear sounds you never knew were in that cd, and clarity that will blow you away. However, if you just want it to be used with portable audio, and don't care about sound quality i'd recommend any sony headphones, and spend your 80-100 bucks elsewhere.

Award-winning for a reason.
I've had these headphones for about five years, and I love them. You must know their purpose before you buy them, though. They're for private listening in a studio or your own home. You should not take these on a subway. They're MEANT to be healthy and circuitous for your ears, and thus they're not isolating. You'll hear other things as clearly as you'll hear the music. It's just like having a stereo system on your head. There's other sounds you can hear, too. They have a lower amount of midrange, that's for sure, but the highs are absolutely gorgeous, and the bass is just right. I love these headphones, and it isn't surprising that they've hardly gone down in price since I bought them. ... Read more

Asin: B00004SD88
Subjects:  1. HD, 570, H, D570    2. Headphones    3. Accessories (Accesssory)    4. Headphones (Headphone, Head Phones, Phone)   

CD-RW Drive 4X/4X/6X USB Mobile CDRw with Ac/battery for Mac/pc
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $249.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Experience the freedom of the new Sony Digital Relay drive. This is a portable battery operated CD-RW drive that connects to your PC or Mac computer through the convenient USB port. Everything needed to begin recording right out of the box is included. Back up your system, publish digital photos, or create your own custom music CDs when the drive is connected to your computer, or detach the Digital Relay drive and use it as a standard CD player. The drive features a unique playback controller that enables playback of CDs and CDs with MP3 files, and displays both CD Text and ID3 tag information. The rechargeable battery lasts up to 2 hours when recording and up to three hours when listening to music.

Included in the box are: a Digital Relay portable battery powered CD-RW drive/CD player, CD Extreme mastering software for Windows, abCD Packet writing software for Windows, Liquid Player for Windows, Retrospect express backup for Windows and Macintosh, Sony's Discribe mastering software for Macintosh, an InfoLithium rechargeable battery, one blank high-speed CD-RW disc, one blank CD-R disc, wired remote control with LCD, earphones, 6-foot USB data cable, an AC power adapter, a user's manual, and a Quick Start card.

The Sony Digital Relay CD-RW drive comes with a one-year warranty on parts and labor. ... Read more

Features

• Windows and Macintosh compatible
• 4x write, 4x rewrite, and 6x read speeds
• Plays music CDs and MP3 files as a stand-alone player, using the supplied remote-controlled headphones
• Plug-and-play USB interface
• Playback controller displays both CD Text and ID3 tag information

Reviews (13)

The last CD-R I ever hope to buy.
I can't comment on this product's use as a portable MP3 player, other than to say it has a lot of cool gadgets to facilitate that sort of thing. And you could put all the music you'd ever want on a few CDs in MP3 format, which struck me as impressive (as did the little readout attachment which actually gives you track info).

I got this for one purpose: To burn CD-Rs on any computer I happened to be at. USB connectivity makes this a pleasure. I just plug the player into a USB port and it appears as a drive. The burning software is adequate, if not spectacular. And the unit burns a full CD quickly and cleanly. (I've never "burned a coaster" with this.)

If someone needs an emergency backup, I can just connect this and save their data quickly. I only have to avoid cracking one computer case to make this worth my while. And if it's a little pricier than an internal model, just remember your next computer won't =need= to have a burner on it--you can just use this.

So, to sum up: It connects quickly and easily, is totally self-sufficient, and does the job nicely. Quite apart from whatever capacity it might serve as an MP3 jukebox.

Wildly Inconsistent
I think I would've been happier with an uglier, cheaper CD burner. I've coastered three disks for every one I've recorded. The software is useless -- it hangs precisely 47 seconds into testing. To get the included software to work properly, I've had to uninstall and reinstall each time. So now I'm using MusicMatch. Sony's support,while pleasant, was also useless. They repaired problems with a grinding noise and the eject button, but couldn't help me with the stalling problem. In fact, I had better luck when I did exactly opposite what they told me!

Wildly Inconsistent
I think I would've been happier with an uglier, cheaper CD burner. I've coastered three disks for every one I've recorded. The software is useless -- it hangs precisely 47 seconds into testing. To get the included software to work properly, I've had to uninstall and reinstall each time. So now I'm using MusicMatch. Sony's support,while pleasant, was also useless. They repaired problems with a grinding noise and the eject button, but couldn't help me with the stalling problem. In fact, I had better luck when I did exactly opposite what they told me! ... Read more

Asin: B00005B6YG
Subjects:  1. External CDRW Drive (CD-RW, CDR-W, CD-R, CDR, Drive, Drives, Compact Disc Recordable, Recordables, Recorders, Recorder, Writer, Writers, Rewriter, Rewriters, Rewriteable, Rewriteables, Writeable, Writeables, CD Burner, Burners)   

Intel Pocket PC Camera Pack
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $99.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Able to perform as either a PC-based or portable digital camera, the flexible Intel Pocket PC Camera provides high-quality video clips and pictures--whether it's tethered to the computer or sitting in the palm of your hand. The Pocket PC makes capturing and sharing video and pictures more exciting and convenient than ever. Just push a button to capture snapshots or start recording video clips for use in e-mail postcards, movies, Web sites, and more. For use away from the PC, simply detach it from the tilt-swivel base and USB cord, using the handy wrist strap and carrying case. The software gives you the freedom to make video phone calls over the Internet from your desk. You can even build your own PC movies and edit and enhance your pictures.

Featuring a progressive-scan CCD image sensor, a glass and plastic lens, and 8 MB flash memory, Intel's Pocket PC Camera takes 24-bit/16.8 million-color still images at 640 x 480 resolution. It also takes up to 640 x 480-resolution video clips at up to 30 frames per second in full-motion video. The focus range is from 10 centimeters to infinity. The Pocket PC Camera has an LCD for setting pictures to photo or video, seeing how many pictures are available, and checking battery life.

The Pocket PC Camera is compatible with PCs only and hooks up through a 9-foot USB cable. System requirements include: a 166 MHz Pentium with MMX, Celeron, or faster (Reality Fusion Camera Games require 266 MHz Pentium or faster processor); Windows 98, 98 SE, or ME operating system; 32 MB RAM; a USB port; a 800 x 600/16-bit computer display; 250 MB hard disk space; a 4x CD-ROM drive; Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 or higher; an Internet service provider; a 28.8K or faster modem; and a Windows-compatible sound card with speakers and microphone. The camera comes with a CD-ROM software disk, a 9-foot USB camera-to-PC cable, four AAA batteries, a tilt swivel base/cradle, a carrying case, a camera strap, a quick-start guide, and a quick-reference field guide. Intel provides an abundance of photo and video software titles with the camera, including Intel Audio Recorder, Intel Auto Snapshot, Intel E-mail Postcard, Intel Gallery, Intel Home Page Builder, Intel Movie Builder, Intel Picture Manager, Intel Scene Recorder, Intel Snapshot, Intel TWAIN Driver, Intel Video E-mail, MGI Photo Editing Software, Microsoft Windows NetMeeting, and Reality Fusion PC Games.

Intel provides a one-year parts and labor warranty on the Pocket PC Camera. ... Read more

Features

• Up to 30 frames per second in full-motion video
• Takes both photo and video images
• 640 x 480 maximum resolution
• 16.8 million colors
• 8 MB flash memory

Reviews (36)

Very durable and great.
I own it and it has been droped many times since santa gave it to me (about 2001 0r 2002). When I got it for christmas, it did not work with win xp or win 2000. My dad got me a program from intel's website wich would download the all the pictures on the camera. Now I use a driver from the same website. Then, I used the driver that came with the camera on an Win 98 pc. Today I use it a lot.It still works. Intel no longer sells this line.

I love Intel- and this product is just more reason!
I have had limited exposure to video recording, but much use of Intel products, including the stock making me a first generation millionaire! I was skeptical about this product, given the lens configuration, data processing, and some other concerns.

I was amazed! I have a $5000 Sony that is a great videocam, and I can't tell any quality in the film I make with the INtel cam as with the Sony! It even does a terrific job in outdoor, nature photography, which was much more than I expected.

Per dollar this is THE BEST PRODUCT of any kind I have bought in 5 years! I just wish INTEL would go ahead and make the whole darn desktop and laptop computer!

jm

Wonderful Camera, worth every cent.
The Intel Pocket PC Camera is a great camera to own. I find the quality to be AMAZING. Sure it has no flash, but that's one thing i can live without seeing as to how i have ANOTHER camera with a flash that i use for backup. Anyhow, the CCD Sensor is probably the best thing about it. CMOS sensor cameras are usually [bad]and you can't see colors in shady areas (non-lit areas). The intel is very easy to operate and anybody could figure it out. The software is wonderful and the webcam is too. This whole camera is a great buy...the pictures will blow you away, just like it did to me. I have the rare black one so it looks less childish, heh. :o) ... Read more

Asin: B0000589LN
Subjects:  1. Video Cameras    2. Camcorders - Digital    3. Universal Serial Bus    4. Cameras - Digital    5. Digital Cameras    6. PC Computer Video Phones   

Intel Wirelesss Series Base, Mouse and Keyboard
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $89.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Features

• Three AA and AAA batteries included
• Wireless keyboard and mouse with three-meter range
• Translucent two-tone industrial design
• Programmable instant access keys and family control panel button
• Mouse includes scrolling wheel and three programmable buttons

Reviews (10)

Good Luck Installing
The cordless keyboard, mouse, and optional gamepads are a great idea, but that's where Intel left it.The installation software is plagued by errors which caused me to manually install many of the drivers.When you connect the device for the first time, if you can (it took several times and several hours to do this), you are rewarded with more software install errors.Once you figure it all out, it works fairly well except for two things.The mouse eats batteries and the gamepads and mouse can have a lag time.If you do decide to buy this product, good luck.

It Works!
If you have your PC hooked up to a TV this is a great add-on.I can easily control the whole thing from the sofa.Or even if you just want a less cluttered desk.I can move it all aside and have a lot of space for doing homework or projects.As for the mouse, a set of batteries will only last a few weeks, but I bought a set of rechargable batteries and never worry about it.I also bought two game controllers.If you have the mouse and keyboard go ahead and get the controllers.The programmable buttons on the keyboard are an especially nice touch and I love the colors.I am so glad to get rid of the wires on my desk.

Mouse
Just thought I'd let you know that I e-mailed Intel tech support regarding the mouse battery issue, and let them know how displeased I was.

They did indeed, help me out. I suggest you do the same and e-mail them.

In fact, I *$trongly* suggest that you do the same. ... Read more

Asin: B00005853K
Sales Rank: 75635
Subjects:  1. Video Cameras    2. Camcorders - Digital    3. Universal Serial Bus    4. Keyboard (Keyboards)    5. Wireless Mouse (Mice)   

Siemens 4015 Gigaset 2.4 GHz DSS Expandable Cordless Phone (Silver)
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $99.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

With Siemens's 4015 Gigaset, you'll enjoy the convenience of both a cordless telephone and a digital answering system, so you can leave the house and still stay connected. The system collects your messages and tracks callers with caller ID. Expandable to a total of four handsets (one included, up to three optional, models 4000 or 4200), the 4015 also lets you communicate walkie-talkie style with other family members or office colleagues up to 1,000 feet away under ideal conditions.

With long-ranging 2.4 GHz digital technology, the 4015 provides lightweight communication and clear sound. A 30-number caller ID memory and 20 speed-dial presets are both displayed on the large, backlit LCD screen. The compact handset weighs just 5.6 ounces and measures 2 by 6.5 by 1.5 inches. It has volume control, call waiting, and last-number redial functions.

The integrated answering system provides 15 minutes of digital recording plus time/day stamp and a memo function. You can check your messages while away from home with remote retrieval. The compact base is headset compatible. A long-life battery is included, offering up to 10 hours of talk and 200 hours of standby.

What's in the Box
Base unit and cordless handset with integrated digital answering machine, two AA rechargeable Ni-Cad batteries, telephone cord, power supply unit, belt clip, instructions, warranty information ... Read more

Features

• Integrated digital answering system
• Caller ID/call waiting display on handset
• Range of 150 feet indoors, 1,000 feet outdoors
• 2.4 GHz digital frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology
• Expandable to 4 handsets

Reviews (71)

Piece of junk
Had this phone for about 2 years now and it has been nothing but trouble.I had to reboot it at least 4 times and then, finally, it just died.Avoid.

Solid performer
We have used this phone as our main phone for several years now, and we really like it.The sound quality is clear, and it works great throughout the house (and even partway into the garage).We purchased units from other brands to use in the two bedrooms without phone jacks, and they have TERRIBLE quality - we've already given away the first brand we bought and are getting ready to replace the VTech handsets.But this Siemens phone has continued to work great with no interference, even right next to my computer.

The phone can be a little difficult to program.We always have problems resetting the clock during time changes, and figuring out how to change the outgoing message.

We have had the phone for over 3 years now (I can't remember exactly how long it has been), and the battery is just now starting to give out.We are considering just buying a new battery, and replacing the other handsets with Siemens models because we have been so happy with this one.The only reason we are thinking of replacing this phone is because of the lack of features.I work from home, and my dogs love to time their barking, baying, and playtime to when they know I'm on a conference call, so I really need a phone with the mute feature.

I give this phone 5 stars for performance, and 3 stars for features and ease of use.

DON'T BUY THIS PHONE!
I had purchased this phone 1 1/2 year ago and then all of the sudden one day, they didn't work.We could get no dial tone.I called the customer service number which instructed me to do a few things ( take batteries out, unplug the main unit, etc) and nothing worked.She then concluded that the base was broken and because it was greater than one year I'd have to purchase another one for $120!I spent over $300 because We had 4 phones total and it stops working after a year!

I recently bought the V-tech phone and love it so far! The quality is much better and has nicer features.I like how the name of the person calling and the number appear at the same time unlike the Siemens phone.

Siemens customer serivce was not helpful and their products are not worth the money you spend for them. ... Read more

Asin: B00005MITZ
Subjects:  1. (Silver & Black or White)    2. Cordless Phones - Call Waiting    3. Cordless Phones - Tapeless answering device    4. Phones (Telephones)    5. Cordless (Cord-less)    6. Caller ID (CID)    7. (Identification Display)    8. 2.4 GHz (2.4GHz, gigahertz)    9. Answering (Answer, Device, Systems, TAD)   

Yamaha EG-112PR Electric Guitar Kit
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $229.99 -- our price: $219.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Features

• Tremolo bar and chrome hardware
• Starter kit for the aspiring guitarist
• Includes practice amplifier, padded gig bag, and guitar cable
• Maple neck and rosewood fingerboard
• 2 single-coil pickups, 1 humbucking pickup, 5-position pickup switch

Reviews (21)

Yamaha quality
Yamaha once again prove to the leader in making high quality beginner instruments from stringed instruments to wind instruments. This basswood strat-style guitar offers the player humbucking pickups and single-coil pickups for awide array of sounds AND a free-floating tremelo. The neck offers adjustments at the headstock which makes set-up much easier for more efficient playing. Hardware is what you would expect for a beginner instrument, but the beauty here is once this guitar has outlived its initial usefulness, the once-beginning guitarist may overhaul it completly to make it satisfy the new needs of an intermediate shredder. Basswood is a high quality tonewood and the bolt-on neck option makes it possible to give new life to this beast for just a couple-hundred dollars should the beginner wear out the original neck. The tremelo will only last for several yaers depending on playing time and wear and tear, but alas, this can be replaced with a professional quality trem. My 1985 equivilent Yamaha SE250 has recently been overhauled to a tight little shredding unit complete with Wilkerson trem. A $100 Carvin neck made this little number fly again and fly high, too boot. The amp just sucks however, but it gets the job done initially. If you're a parent, get used to spending money for your child's instruments. If you find yourself spending more every few years, more than likely your kid is improving and one day will thank you whole-heartily for supporting one of the most satisfying abilities one can ever learn. How to play an instrument. If you're a working adult with a knowledge of guitar instruments and wish to learn guitar, suck it up and spend at least $300 on a guitar only and buy an amp seperately. For junior just starting out, this is the way to go.

yamaha makes superior music instruments
i have an acoustic as well as an electric guitar. when i was a teenager and i could not afford to buy my own guitar, i used played with fenders and ibanez and washburns and gibsons and starocasters, nothing really compares to a yamaha. yamaha is the best there ever is. now that i could afford to buy anything, i will only give the best to my sons, yamaha pianos, drums, of course guitars.

Yamaha is SOLID
I've had this guitar for over a year and it has served me well, except for the input jack plate(plastic) which easily broke off after setting it down on a hardwood floor. I highly recommend the first mod you make to this guitar, if you want to call it that, is to replace the factory input jack plate(note, just the plastic outside plate, but you can replace the jack itself if desired) so that you won't have the same problem as me, I find myself soldering the wires to the input jack just because I didn't do this before I snapped the wiring. Getting back to the review, the guitar is awesome, very solid and comparable to a stratocaster. This EG112 Yamaha guitar blows the Fender SQUIRE out of the water, with much faster action, and two screamin pickups, one being a humbucker which you can easily switch between to get that echoes jimmy page sound or crunchy jimi hendrix sound. Granted, you will need pedals to assist you and perhaps a decent amp. But actually I like this amp, it makes a GREAT PRACTICE AMP, but will not get any louder than your average hardheaded drummer. It gets decent distortion, and does the trick for practicing and showing your friends a cool new riff. The only trouble I had with mine was a blown fuse, which was an easy 5 minute fix, it's a little smaller than a car fuse so you might have to go to osh to find one or rummage through your garage, like I did. But overall, this guitar should last you as long as you want it to. I don't take very good care of mine, and it's still in perfect working order after a year and a half of abuse, knock on wood. In order to keep the neck straight, buy a guitar stand for 15$, this is a must, don't lean it against your wall. Most importantly, have fun, and I've gotten nothing but praise for this 200$ gem from all kinds of guitar players, I paid 100$ with the amp open box so go figure). My best advise is to play it at the store and see what you think. If you don't like it email me at jcsilva1606@gmail.com
Rock on ... Read more

Asin: B00005OWCU
Sales Rank: 18889
Subjects:  1. Keyboard (Keyboards)    2. Drum (Drums)   

Age of Empires 2: Age of Kings
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (07 March, 2002)
list price: $19.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

When it comes to vast, kingdom-spanning ambition, you can't do better than Microsoft's Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings. Microsoft went all out to create this real-time strategy game, and it fairly hums with gorgeous graphics, sophisticated AI, and challenging scenarios for the novice and experienced player alike.

The point of the game is to shepherd your fledgling civilization to world domination, using war, trade, and exploration. You start with the bare minimum to get going, and you've got to balance your people's needs with your desire to be a little Napoleon. The Age of Kings gives you a ton of new units and technologies to enrich your strategic options. Each scenario is placed accurately within history, but you're also free to create your own.

The multiplayer format is robust, allowing up to nine players to share a world. When battles commence, you can take control of every aspect of your workers and soldiers, sending them running for shelter in the town center, ordering them to defend a watchtower, or setting their combat stance to "aggressive" for free-for-all sword smashing fun. When you're not fighting, find your idle peasants with a mouse click and send them back to work chopping trees, rounding up sheep, fishing, or mining gold and stone.

As you acquire more resources, you can improve your soldier's gear and skills, start to trade more efficiently, and make life better for everyone in your empire. You can choose from 13 groups to manage, from the Japanese to the Teutons and Franks. Each group has unique units and special characteristics, making this a game that changes every time you play it.

If all this sounds complicated, it is. New players may be intimidated by the range of choices, but the teaching scenarios are very helpful in conquering the controls. Age of Empires II is a sophisticated, gorgeous successor to the wildly popular original. It's a real feather in Microsoft's cap--a world-building game that will hold you captive. --Therese Littleton ... Read more

Features

• Players can use garrisoning, military formations, and advantages in direction facing add interesting tactical choices. Units are also smarter, with new artificial intelligence (AI) options like Guard, Patrol and Follow as well as multiple aggression levels. Also boats will be able to ram or board enemy ships to capture them.
• Players can improve the economy of their civilization through expanded trade and diplomacy options. In addition to gathering resources, they can trade at their own market or use trading routes with their allies. A market-based economy gives new options for players to buy, sell, and speculate on resources.
• Gamers command one of 13 mighty civilizations. These include Franks, Japanese, Byzantine and the raiding Viking, Mongol and Celt civilizations. Each civilization has unique attributes, buildings and technologies as well as a particular combat unit based on its historical counterpart.
• Production queues, improved navigation points and chas more than 100 nodes, larger than one player could possibly complete in just one game.
• Experience intense single and multiplayer game play. Enhanced historical campaigns, a random map generator and a scenario and campaign editor offer players extensive replay value.

Reviews (374)

Best game in the world
Even though I dont have the game my friend has it. Its the funist game ever in the history of age of empires.If you by it
I bet you'll have it for ever!

IT WAS OKAY
This game was fun for awhile, but I enjoy faster paced strategy games better. (Stronghold, C&C)The graphics were great for their time, but show their age now.The sound is pretty good.The gameplay, as mentioned above, is not my style, so I didn't like it much.Overall a 3 out of 5.

Still a fun one.
I admit, AOE is now kind of an oldie, but it's still a fun game.I played Age of Mythology in a store once, but I still like this one better.Granted, there are some annoying aspects to Kings, such as replanting farms one at a time.Also, if you use a group of villagers to do a task, you have click each one at a time to spread them out.The Conquerors expansion corrects all this (see my review).You can get both Kings and Conqs in the Gold Edition.The games are old enough that they should work on just about every computer.For parents, the blood and gore is so miniscule it's nothing to worry about.This is an easy game to learn, and a fun one to play.Check it out! ... Read more

Asin: B00002NDRY
Subjects:  1. Two (II)    2. AoE2 (AoE)    3. ageofempires ageofempires2    4. Computer Games    5. Action    6. Strategy (Strategic)    7. Historical (historic) Recreation (Recreations)    8. Military (Wargames   

PalmOne m505 Color Handheld
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $349.00
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Palm's simple yet elegant operating system has long been a shining light in the world of PDAs. The good news on the Palm m505 is that the Palm OS still offers a wide array of tools to gather yourpersonal and business data in a great computing environment. Unfortunately, the most touted aspectof the Palm m505--its color screen--is a disappointment.

Turning it on for the first time, we wondered if we had received the monochrome version Palm m500handheld--the screen was dark and barely visible in our moderately lit office. We fumbledaround for the contrast preference, but couldn't find it. In fact, the Palm m505 has no way toadjust contrast other than to turn on the backlight. Only with the backlight activated could weactually discern the icon and screen colors, and even then the LCD screen seemed muted.

On side-by-side tests with the Handspring Visor Prism, its main color competition, the Palm m505was lacking in brightness and crispness--despite both handhelds' having 16-bit displaysupport that can show up to 65,000 colors.

The reason for this seems to be that Palm hassacrificed brilliance for energy efficiency. The Palm m505's rechargeable battery does, indeed, keep its charge with "normal" usage (estimatedby Palm at 40 minutes per day) for about three weeks. However, with the mandatory useof the m505's backlight, we found the battery needed more frequent charging. Luckily, charge timein the included HotSync cradle/recharger is quite short.

The basic Palm applications in OS version 4.0--Address, Date Book, Memo Pad, and To DoList--remain largely unchanged, with a few tweaks here and there. For instance, the Date Book applicationnow includes a screen view with a list of the appointments and to-do items for a particular date.And like the m100 series, the Note Pad has been added for doodling and scribbling handwrittennotes (instead of writing longer tomes in the Memo Pad using the Palm's Graffiti alphabet).

Palm has collected a number of bonus software titles that you can easily add to the m505 withoutdenting much of the 8 MB of memory, including AvantGo, which downloads Web news and content from avariety of sources (enabling us to keep up with Aussie Rules Football scores). The biggest testfor the color screen came with PhotoSuite, an image viewing app that displays a range of image-file formats downloaded from your PC. We found the color depth to be quite good, but the screen'slack of brightness made the images look rather muddy.

Additionally, several connectivity applications from Palm's Mobile Internet Kit are provided,including the Web Clipping app for viewing Web content built specifically for Palm viewing andMultiMail SE for accessing e-mail. And, of course, there's the highly touted expansion slot forSecureDigital cards and MultiMediaCards, allowing you to add memory, content, and functionality.Unfortunately, at the time of this review, we were unable to test any of the cards offered byPalm.

With its curved angles, thin design, and light weight, the Palm m505 closely resembles itspredecessor, the Palm V series handheld. And like that model, the m505 feels very comfortable bothin the palm of your hand and resting in your pocket. Also, with the Palm m505's new 33 MHzDragonball VZ processor, switching applications seemed much more immediate.

The siren song of the new m500 series is indeed seductive, and Palm has done well to streamlineits basic repertoire and add some tasty new notes to the mix. However, the Palm m505 is ultimatelya disappointment due to its underwhelming color display. If you're having trouble getting thissong out of your head, the Palm m500 handheld (with all the functions of the Palm m505 but with a monochromescreen) should keep your toes tapping just fine. --Agen G.N. Schmitz

Pros:

• Faster processor
• Classic Palm styling--contoured design is comfortable to hold
• Good range of additional software, from Internet connectivity to e-book reader
• New expansion slot takes industry standard SecureDigital cards and MultiMediaCards

Cons:

• Color screen is rather dim and ultimately disappointing
• Backlighting must be turned on to see the color screen, wearing down the rechargeablebattery
• Expandability via SecureDigital and MMC cards limited by current offerings

... Read more

Features

• Built-in 8 MB memory stores thousands of contacts, appointments, to-do items, and notes
• Displays over 65,000 colors--view photos, video clips, and more
• SecureDigital/MultiMediaCard expansion slot for additional memory and functionality such as a dictionary/thesaurus, games, and more
• USB cradle allows faster HotSync operations
• Windows and Macintosh compatible--includes desktop software for both platforms

Reviews (229)

2nd Palm, 2.75 Years w/m505
I've owned this since late 2001. It replaced a 4-year-old Palm Pilot Professional (1MB mono, AAA batts). It has been very solid for me. I am hooked on the simplicity of the Palm OS. I don't need a notebook computer in my pocket. I need an all-in-one-place-and-go-anywhere life organizer--calendar, address book, Scrabble (extra!), with ability to sync to desktop @ home and @ work; beam entries between this and my wife's m130. I also have add-on of SplashID for password-protected storage of PINs, passwords, web-logins, and other sensitive/private info. As a result, every piece of critical info (13+ categories of addresses, work/personal appointments, etc.) is always at my fingertips, and always safely backed-up on the Palm Desktop.

Battery life has been fine for my usage levels. Backlight is dimmer than newer models, but it does the job (I'm not playing DVD movies, for cryin' out loud).

Only problem I'm currently having is that a small section of the screen (approximately a .5"x.5" square) has "died" within the past 6 months--losing all touch sensitivity....so I have to work around that.

My office IT guy says PalmOne will come out with next generation of models this fall, so I'll wait for that selection before replacing this one.

Perfect for almost anybody!
The Palm M505 is a neat little PDA. It's features are perfect for students to business people. There are many positive elements to this little Palm.

The Palm M505 is the perfect companion for a student. It's small size and low price makes it perfect for somebody on the run and someone in need of a durable, compact Palm Pilot. In it's life, my Palm has been dropped numerous times, gotten soaked in water, and gotten thrown into the bottom of a backpack countless times. Again, it is perfect for anyone in need of durable database.

AWESOME CHRISTMAS PRESENT!!
I got this awesome palm piolot with a keyboard and it is great!I bought games and put a cool "Documents to Go" program on it.I write stories a lot so I can use it for that, and I can also write school things on it if I'm in the car and my handwriting won't be sloppy!This is very cool.I am 12 1/2 and this is one of the best palms I have ever used.You should buy it! ... Read more

Asin: B00005AWCL
Subjects:  1. m500    2. Personal Digital Assistant (PDA, Electronic Organizer)    3. Palm Connected    4. Handheld (Hand Held)   

Canon CanoScan N656U USB Flatbed Scanner
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $99.00
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

The Canon CanoScan N656U USB flatbed scanner scans as great as it looks. Housed in a high-tech metallic finish, this ultra-slim, 1-inch-high desktop scanner is ready to go anywhere. Simply connect the combined USB and power cable to either a Macintosh or PC, and you're done. Nothing else is required. No separate power cords or transformers.

Push one single button and you can scan photos, articles, or drawings at 600 x 1,200 dpi. With 42-bit color capabilities, this scanner treats you to more than 4 trillion possible colors for sharp and vibrant images.

Canon's exclusive Z-Lid expansion top means you can scan bulky objects such as books and magazines. The Z-Lid has a special expansion hinge so you can lift it vertically, rather than at an angle as with other scanners. The result is that your object can rest completely flat on the surface.

Special software for this scanner, provided by Canon, helps you optimize your photos, manipulate images, and integrate text and graphics into your creations.

The N656U weighs only 3.3 pounds and measures 10.2 by 14.7 by 1.3 inches. It comes with a one-year limited warranty and the Canon Extended Service Plan. --Linda Anderson ... Read more

Features

• Ultra-slim--just over 1 inch high
• Flatbed scanner with 600 x 1,200 dpi resolution
• Metallic finish
• Expansion top for scanning bulky items
• 1 cable for USB and power

Reviews (17)

Great starter OCR scanner
I got one of these for Optical Character Recognition (OCR).

Setup was easy, but the scans are a bit slow. It does a good job of scanning photos for me.

The OCR output is about 93%+ for most documents.Books with tight bindings are sometimes difficult to scan accurately, but I haven't found any thing that does a better job in these situations. The image quality is very good, so it is generally easy to make out the correct 'reading' when the OCR can't make out the source.The OmniPage OCR is perfect for my purposes.

Slow. But cheap.
Those looking for an inexpensive but versatile light-duty scanner need look no further than this CanonScan N650U device.

Some time back, I had been looking for just such a scanner for "occasional" use, and comparisons among those available were easily narrowed down to this unit.

The CanonScan 650U is a "universal" (PC/Mac) device using the now-ubiquitous USB interface. The bundled software (on CD-ROM) is easily installed, and provides a great deal of flexibility to how the scanner is used, the image-file formats in which scanned images may be saved, and the color (or gray scale) depth, resolution and sharpness of scanned images. The menu-driven features are largely intuitive for anyone not a total "newbie" to scanners, but the bundled software also includes very detailed and comprehensive documentation (in the form of Adobe Acrobat pdf files).

Results, in the form of scanned (and printable and/or transmittable) images, are superb, with excellent detail and resolution and accurate rendering of tonal and color scales. The design of the cover, with its clever "Z" hinge, permits scanning of pages of fairly thick books, if need be. A button on the front of the scanner, when pressed, will automatically launch the program so that a scan (or a "preview") can be made; alternatively, the program can be launched manually using a desktop alias or shortcut.

The image-manipulation menu allows for a very wide degree of control over how the scanned image can be "finalized." Tonal and color scales and image contrast can be extended or compressed, or distorted for special effects. Sharpness (separate from choice of resolution, in pixels) can be enhanced by degrees, or even thoroughly "customized." (A mild word of caution for those using these enhancement features when scanning half-tone images: It IS possible to create Moire patterns [fringing] if some of these adjustments are overdone. Some practice may be required, and then the best results saved as a template for future use.)

I wouldn't necessarily characterize the CanonScan 650U as a "frequent-duty" scanner. It is likely to be too slow for professional use. It is hardly as quick as a photocopier. But, if you, like me, need such a device only for occasional use and moreover need the image-manipulation capabilities that only a full-featured software program can provide, I can recommend this unit highly. It is very inexpensive for what it does and for the features it provides.

All of the above is provided in the context of Macintosh installation and use. Results for PC platform use should be expected to be the same, but installation and access and use of the features may differ slightly. I suggest that PC users interested in the CanonScan 650U read other reviews on this product page for a sense of what PC users have to say about this scanner.

Bob Zeidler

fashion meets function
this is a great product.I use it with my PowerMac G4.It's not the fastest scanner but if you're not a professional in the graphic arts, this one is great.It's such a nice change from those bulky, gray monsters so commonly found in the consumer scanner market.It's powered by the USB cable itself so there's no need for the bulky power supply. ... Read more

Asin: B00004Y66U
Subjects:  1. PC Compatible, Compatibility    2. Mac, Macintosh, Connections, Ports, Port    3. Universal Serial Bus Interface, Interfaces, Connection    4. FB, 630, ui, FB630, 630Ui, Cano Scan    5. Scanner (Flatbed, Flat bed)    6. Flat bed Scanners   

Sony SAVE325 6-Piece Speaker System
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $359.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Features

• 4 matching front and surround speakers with 4-inch drivers
• Low-profile center speaker with dual 4-inch drivers
• Active subwoofer with 75 watts into 8 ohms from 20-200 Hz at 0.8% THD
• 6¼-inch subwoofer driver
• Magnetically shielded

Reviews (3)

Excellent quality product.
When I bought this system in April I had some fears that the speakers would die or the sound would be low or scratchy.I was wrong on all accounts and this little system blew away my expectations.

All I had to do was toss Sony's speaker cable and replace them with Monster cables and the sound was very strong.I tested out just how loud they could go using Gladiator with DTS they handled unhumanly loud volume and bass with no distortion.

If you have a small living room/den, or you're living in an apartment and you want to get into the home theater scene without going broke then this is the system for you.

A Sound Audio System
This audio system is perfect for most home entertainment systems. It is a particularly good system if you are living in a space which has a limeted amount of space. Its affordable and can produce very good sound for its price. The sub woofer is capable of producing a high quality bass, while the satalite and central speakers produces a wide range of sound. The only problem is the very slight static sound emitted from satalite speakers, however this should not deter any prospective buyers.

a happy customer
this is an unbelievable sound system for the price. The quatlity is excellent and I recommend this to anyone who wants a great sounding system but not the huge price tag. ... Read more

Asin: B00005I9RM
Sales Rank: 106731
Subjects:  1. Speaker System   

Panasonic SC-PM25 Executive Microsystem
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $279.95
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Features

• Multi Function Remote Control
• Sound Virtualizer for 3D sound Effect
• 2-Way Speaker System
• Backlit LCD with Dimmer Function
• AM/FM Digital Tuenr with 24 Presets

Reviews (6)

quite a neat little system
A classy system from Panasonic which puts sound quality first instead of too much needless gimmicks. It exudes quite a sense of build quality too -- some of the knobs and buttons even seem like real aluminium. The remote, although capable, seems a little low rent compared with the finish of the rest of the system. The blue display is hard to read from over a foot or so away. A pity the headphone socket is a after-thought item on the back of the casing -- one would have thought on a personal system like this it would have been on the face plate for ease of use. The kind of bi-wiring to the speakers may help sound quality, but complicates things if you want to extend the speaker leads. Heavy cassette users may wish for a more accessible cassette mechanism -- if anything goes wrong, or even for relatively basic cleaning operations, the system will have to be taken to a service agent, or you would have to open the casing yourself.

But this is just little niggles -- all in all its a very nice sounding, nice looking micro system, which I highly recommend.

Just like the "bigger" brothers
Exceptional sound quality for a product of that category, and a good design. The sound quality is very close to the systems twice as expensive as this one.
It deserves an optical input because it would fit nicely as a part of a budget DVD system at home.
The range of the remote controller is insufficient (does not work well if distance is more than 4 meters).

Nice Looking Executive system
Nice Looks and Size attracted me to the system.Was also on clearance at a local Staples.I compared the soundto similar systems and found it pleasing.The features are respectable and looks nice in my office.It is hard to read display over 10 feet away my only complaint.I have owned and listened to it 1 day now. ... Read more

Asin: B00005LK7M
Sales Rank: 79818
Subjects:  1. panasonic executive system, microsystem    2. scpm25, SCPM25, sc-pm25    3. cd changer, mini system    4. Executive Microsystems    5. Compact System    6. Mini System    7. Mini Shelf System    8. Micro Component Stereo   

Konka DT208U 20" TV-DVD Combo
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $399.00
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Konka's DT208U is a 20-inch TV with an integrated multiformat DVD player and a 181-channel tuner with both MTS and SAP decoding, allowing you to receive stereo broadcasts and second audio programs, where available. The TV can simulate Dolby surround sound through the two front speakers, and its space-saving design is well suited for your bedroom, studio, or office.

Audio output jacks let you connect a pair of external speakers for fuller sound, while the side audio-video jacks allow you to connect a VCR, video game system, and other home entertainment goodies. Additional conveniences include trilingual onscreen programming (English, Spanish, French), closed captioning, a programmable sleep timer, individual bass and treble controls, and V-chip parental control. A remote control is included.

Konka offers a one-year warranty on parts and labor. ... Read more

Features

• V-chip parental control
• 20-inch TV and DVD combination set plays music CDs as well as DVDs
• MTS decoding and analog stereo outputs
• Cable TV input and audio-video inputs for camcorder or VCR
• Unified, full-function remote control for TV and DVD player

Reviews (6)

mother of 3
let me jsut start by saying I LOVE THIS T.V. my eldest daughter of 13 has wanted a T.V. for her bat mitzvah I hesitated, but of course my husbande jumped to the oppurtunity. We bought it for her and to my amzement it was awesome! It has a dvd,tv, and cd palyer all in one. It's good for her listening to music and basically all the sleepovers she has. So any mother considering buying a T.V. this is the one for you!!!!!!!:)

amazing!
My daughter has just turned 13 and she has begged me over and over.. Mom my freinds all have T.V.s in their rooms why can't i? I finally, on my better judgment let it. I bought this T.V. and even though we have small shelving space it worked amzingly she even can play C.D.'s too! This is a must for all new T.V. buyers 5 STARS!!!!!!

Looks Good to Me
Just received the TV/DVD player today.I hesitated when reading previous reviews but I like to live dangerously.I found the system easy to set up.The manual was not confusing and took less than 7 minutes to set up (including test of the CD player, cable programming, remote operation and closed captioning). Picture and sound are very crisp.I don't see any reason this product won't last as long as any other of similar type.At this point it looks like a great deal. ... Read more

Asin: B000053F93
Subjects:  1. Television (Televisions, TV, T.V., TVs)    2. DVD (DVDs, Digital Video Disc, Discs)   

Toshiba SD-P1500 Portable DVD Player
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $1,099.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Features

• Credit card-size remote control
• Portable DVD-video player with 8-inch, widescreen, active-matrix display (maintains brightness even in bright viewing conditions)
• Compatible with DVD-Video, DVD-R, CD, video CD, CD-R, and CD-RW
• Component, composite, and S-video outputs; Dolby Digital and DTS audio output facilitate hookup with home theaters
• 4x picture zoom with 3 forward and reverse scan speeds for easy access and enjoyment of your favorite scenes

Reviews (18)

Absolutely Fantastic!
First, shop around.There are a lot of good deals out there on this item.I've read the other reviews, and I can't really agree with all of them.Perhaps it's because my unit was manufactured in July of 2002, but I have no problems with the sound.

Let me clarify.Sure, from the built in speakers it sounds about like a clock radio (with surround).However, when I hooked it up to a pair of $ Philips ear bud earphones, it was pretty incredible.I could not turn the sound on "The Matrix" up past 3 without hurting my ears.The simulated surround is amazing.Granted, I haven't tried it on an airplane, but I think the secret may be to get "in the ear" style earphones.

The battery life also seems quite adequate.I didn't turn the brightness down and still had plenty of life.The picture is great from any viewing angle.No blackout glare as with cheaper models.

Finally, the unit feels very solid.I already owned a Polaroid unit and this is leaps and bounds ahead of that in manufacturing soundness.I would definitely recommend it to anyone.

Just what I wanted
Use this more as a travel babysitter.Picture is great - and while I am sure the sound would be woefully inadequate for a big action movie - it works fine for kid's shows.Plus looking at it never had any doubt the sound was not great.

I do think the battery life could be better - key hint be sure to take the brightness all the way down or else you will get about an hour of battery life (I would agree with other reviewer that it would be easier if that was a button control rather than buried in the feature menu).When properly dimmed down I get way more.The battery life is still not great I would rather have bought with a bigger battery - but you have to buy it in addition to the unit and it ain't cheap.

Not quite ideal for the car but it is a big enough screen that it can be used there.Great for planes and hotel rooms.Very happy with the purchase.

Beautiful unit if you don't care about sound...
Read the reviews about bad sound, but decided to give the unit a try anyway. Mistake! Tried it out right away and, sure enough, the sound was just no good. But, I did take a recommendation from a review and buy a Boostaroo (which I will use on the unit I did buy). Bought an Audiovox 1680 (tried the Audiovox D1700 but it skipped terribly) and I LOVE IT. It's a little heavier, but really works well. Even the picture did not seem as great as some of the reviews said it was. It IS a beautiful, lightweight unit, but that's not a good enought reason to buy this unit. ... Read more

Asin: B00005AY89
Sales Rank: 41818
Subjects:  1. sdp-1500, sd-p1500, s-dp1500    2. sd1500, sd-1500, sdp150, dp1500    3. DVD Player (Digital Versatile Disc Players)    4. Portable Digital Versatile Disc Player (Personal DVD)   

The Holy Bible : New International Version
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 April, 1993)
list price: $6.99 -- our price: $6.99
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Reviews (16)

On the 7th Day, Man Created God In His Own Image
The Bible is a farrago that is solely the product of human creativity and imagination.

It is the outcome of superstition, plundered pagan elements and plagiarised deity myths.It is borne out of primitive fetishism and primal obsessive-compulsive fixation and ignorance.Like religious belief, The Bible was generated by neurological quirk, anthropocentricism, narcissism, wishful thinking and insecurity.

Here is pure kitsch, schmaltz, the crass and the coarse ― cloaked in imitation profundity.By turns turgid, ludicrous, gaudy, occasionally poetic, but mostly numbingly dull and hypnotically repetitive.And if a new book (NT) is written in full knowledge of its predecessor work (OT) this is NOT `a prophecy fulfilled'.Is it?

This literary work reflects some contemporaneous human notions about moral codes and ethical behaviour. However, in this regard it is often both crude and contrary.It neither exceeds the sophistication of the Ancient Greeks or Romans in its moral insight nor is it definitive on the subject of morality and ethics.

The second part of this work was partly produced by a nascent institution within Roman culture that aggressively influenced and manipulated texts to its own advantage.This included the destruction of many `Gospels' that failed to serve its cynical, unscrupulous drive to build power and wealth and to suppress and exploit people by promoting ignorance and demanding slavish obedience to an institution and worship of it and its cult.

In the myth-fantasy and mind-virus of `The Christ', `God' Sacrifices Himself to Himself to Save from the Wrath of Himself those Created & Sustained by Himself.The `Jesus Christ' fantasy is sustained by its power to satisfy: fetishistic fixation on feelings about suffering; selfish childhood desires for a parent or brother figure to make altruistic sacrifice; the wish to be rescued; guilt, shame and punishment fetishes; emotive empathising with vulnerability; and the ego's drive for immortality.

The Bible is the object of some of the most powerful and potent lifelong fantasies, rigid thinking, mania and mental enslavement, mind loops of futility, and willful self-hypnosis ever to grip the imagination of humankind.

2 search terms to google:[ The Jesus Puzzle Earl Doherty ] and [ Why I Don't Buy the Resurrection Story Richard Carrier ] and try: jesusneverexisted.com

Books on AMAZON-

'The Jesus Puzzle. Did Christianity Begin with a Mythical Christ?' by Earl Doherty

'The Jesus Mysteries' by Timothy Freke, Peter Gandy

'The Christ Conspiracy' and 'Sun of God' by Acharya S

The greatest book ever.
My most favorite book has got to be the New American Bible.However, this NIV book has got to be my second favorite version.Wait a minute, I'll change that...This book is so good that it is basically equal to the New American Bible.There are only a few reasons why I like the New American Bible a little bit more.

However, this book, with its beautiful white-tanish paper-smell, makes me want to read the passages of the Bible over and over again.I love Bibles made like this one.They smell just like paper dictionaries.

Know the Bible that Fits Your Beliefs
Most denominations have a translation of the bible that works best for their faith.It is important to note that different translations take on different meanings to the people who read them.Ever wonder how there can be so much variation in one religion?Translation is a big factor.Here is a list of translations along with the denomination that commonly uses it

Catholics-- NAS, Jerusalem

Liberal Christians (Episcopal, Presbyterians, Congregationalist, ELCA Lutheran) -- NRSV, CEV, Good News (TEV)

Conservative Christians (Baptist, Evangelical, Mormon, Wisconsin and Missouri Lutheran) -- King James, NIV ... Read more

Isbn: 0061042579
Sales Rank: 40635
Subjects:  1. Bibles    2. Bibles - New International    3. Religion    4. Religion / Bibles / New International   

Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens Charlotte Mitchell
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (22 December, 1998)
list price: $8.00
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Dickens considered Great Expectations one of his "little pieces," and indeed, it is slim compared to such weighty novels as David Copperfield or Nicholas Nickleby. But what this cautionary tale of a young man raised high above his station by a mysterious benefactor lacks in length, it more than makes up for in its remarkable characters and compelling story. The novel begins with young orphaned Philip Pirrip--Pip--running afoul of an escaped convict in a cemetery. This terrifying personage bullies Pip into stealing food and a file for him, threatening that if he tells a soul "your heart and your liver shall be tore out, roasted and ate." The boy does as he's asked, but the convict is captured anyway, and transported to the penal colonies in Australia. Having started his novel in a cemetery, Dickens then ups the stakes and introduces his hero into the decaying household of Miss Havisham, a wealthy, half-mad woman who was jilted on her wedding day many years before and has never recovered.Pip is brought there to play with Miss Havisham's ward, Estella, a little girl who delights in tormenting Pip about his rough hands and future as a blacksmith's apprentice.

I had never thought of being ashamed of my hands before; but I began to consider them a very indifferent pair. Her contempt for me was so strong, that it became infectious, and I caught it.

It is an infection that Pip never quite recovers from; as he spends more time with Miss Havisham and the tantalizing Estella, he becomes more and more discontented with his guardian, the kindhearted blacksmith, Joe, and his childhood friend Biddy. When, after several years, Pip becomes the heir of an unknown benefactor, he leaps at the chance to leave his home and friends behind to go to London and become a gentleman. But having expectations, as Pip soon learns, is a two-edged sword, and nothing is as he thought it would be. Like that other "little piece,"A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations is different from the usual Dickensian fare: the story is dark, almost surreal at times, and you'll find few of the author's patented comic characters and no comic set pieces. And yet this is arguably the most compelling of Dickens's novels for, unlike David Copperfield or Martin Chuzzlewit, the reader can never be sure that things will work out for Pip. Even Dickens apparently had his doubts--he wrote two endings for this novel. --Alix Wilber ... Read more

Reviews (317)

The best
During the course of the year I try to read a few, "Important Novels" in order to get a fuller understanding of literature. Dicken's GREAT EXPECTATIONS has been on my list for nearly a year. I completely dreaded reading what I thought would be a long and drawn out story about something I could careless about. Well, I was wrong. Normally I go for a bestseller such THE MERMAID CHAIR or McCrae's CHILDREN'S CORNER, but went for this classic instead.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS is now #1 on my all-time favorites list. While, admittedly, it took me roughly 150 pages to get any enjoyment out of the novel- once I was in- I was hooked. Pip's journey through life is a very refreshing look at how distorted we let our lives become by focusing on the unimportant. Dicken's ability to slowly alter Pip's views on life, without changing his essential character/morales (Ex. How Pip looks to help his friend in his business pursuits). Some have called "Great Expecations" his masterpiece... but in my opinion, it may be the "Masterpiece" of English Literature.

I also wonder why this is required High School reading. While I loved this book at age 28, I think most 16 year-olds would find it unbearable. It seems like such a waist to ruin both the book and Dicken's name on minds that are not ready for such a reading task.Would also highly recommend two other books:LIFE OF PI and a book titled BARK OF THE DOGWOOD.

A Very True Side of Human Nature
Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations explores the side of human nature that many do not like to read in novels. In the United States, in the 21st Century, people would rather read about romantic-style plots where all turns out well for the protagonists. Dickens, however, chooses to illuminate what man can really be capable of: betrayal, duplicity, unfaithfulness, and a handful of other negative characteristics.

Definitely an interesting novel, Great Expectations will undoubtedly have its audience intrigued and constantly pondering.

I would highly recommend this masterpiece.

CHARLES DICKENS IS EXTREMELY OVERATED!
I love to read great books like BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley or FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD by Thomas Hardy. I love THE AENEID by Virgil, THE ODYSSEY by Homer. I read both long versions of LES MISERABLES and THE HUNCHBACK OF NORTE DAME by Victor Hugo. I read THE RISE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE by Gibbons and gained much knowledge from doing so. I LOVE TO READ.

But GREAT EXPECTATIONS was a GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT! I was somewhat amused until chapter ten where I felt the book became psycho-babble. I was also disappointed in TALE OF TWO CITIES. I could not endure the first two chapters! Dickens did a fine job on THE CHRISTMAS CAROL. But I will NEVER read another of his books! ... Read more

Isbn: 0140434895
Subjects:  1. Classics    2. Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870    3. Fiction    4. Literature - Classics / Criticism    5. Literature: Classics   

More
Average Customer Review:
Magazine
list price: $17.70 -- our price: $14.97
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A lone hold-out for the babe-of-a-certain-age group
The average woman's mag is either aimed at the 18-34 age group (Glamour, Allure) or it's for the soccer moms (Woman's Day consistently figures in the top five of all magazines for women. And for good reason.) But what if you don't care to make bunny-shaped coconut cakes for Easter or what if you are WAY beyond caring about bikinis or contraceptives? MORE is aimed at the mature babe who still cares to dress fashionably and who wants to read about women of a similar age.

Of course, the invevitable celebrity graces the cover (this IS what people want to read, apparently, according to whatever marketing tools magazine editors use.) And the articles are not earth-shaking or in depth in any way. MORE replaces several other magazines gone belly-up, as advertisers apparently don't want dollars from gals over 35, possibly because they spend their dough with great discernment; $250 for a trendy corset-shaped handbag? Hmm, maybe NOT.Since "Lear's", "Mirabella" and "Mode" all bit the dust in the last decade or so, this is what there is for fashion and forty or fifty year old female. Hey, it beats "Reader's Digest" for fashion advice, is all I can say.

Get MORE Out Of LIfe!
Okay...so here we are...an elite generation of women who have watched the world change for the last 35 years or so and we were a big part of it. We are women of a certain age(ahem), that are old enough to remember the Kennedy Assassination, Woodstock,our boyfriends going off to Viet Nam, the Swinging Seventies and raised a whole new generation...and yes...are proud of it. So now we are what may be considered grown up(I'm still not sure about that part)...what's next? What MORE is there out there?!....Do we want to sit at home raising another generation and be the snack monitor for the grandkids soccer team?...Heck no! Okay occassionaly but.. We Want MORE than that!

MORE magazine bills itself as being 'Smart Talk For Smart Women'...and it is! This magazine is chock full of motivatingstories and articles of inspiring women(some famous, some not so famous) making the most of their lives.Women who like us, who have "been there and done that" are now finding new and fulfilling directions in their lives. From starting your own business to starting a new relationship, you'll find it all here. There are fabulous features on health, beauty tips, fashion advice for the 40 and up gal,and some great financial advice as well.

Finally a magazine geared toward more than good housekeeping(if you are like me, and haven't gotten that part down by now...fahgetaboutit!)It's a pretty good size periodical, and not because it is filled covered to cover with gorgeous models. What you'll find instead, are true role models!

So between the ads for the newest and best wrinkle cream(Yeah Sure), to the best fiber supplement, you will find many intellegent, informative and motivational reads! The subscription price offered here is a great value.(I always think it is best to get an issue from the newstand to check out first).

For yourself or a gift....you go girl!...and enjoy...Laurie

More About MORE
MORE debuted as a fairly lightweight magazine that targeted the mid-life woman. I was a skeptic, but since then it has grown up and matured with its demanding audience. When I saw Jamie Lee Curtis's brave expose of her unmade-up face and 40-something body in a feature that smashed the myth of her "perfect" image and seriously addressed women's age issues and the youth cult, I knew that MORE had finally arrived.

One can now read serious and timely articles on subjects ofconcern to women old enough to experience menopause and have AARP memberships; get fashion and beauty tips that are helpful and appropriate to older women (and see them on models who are actually 40+); and be inspired by features about women who have done exciting things with their lives and/or are still works in progress. My only complaint is that the clothes are beyond the means of all but the very well-heeled, but on the whole that's a small thing. After all, real women know where and how to shop for bargains.

The young girls have Glamour, Jane, Cosmo and In Style; mature women who know about life and love in realistic terms now have MORE. I have a subscription and look forward to its monthly arrival in my mailbox. ... Read more

Asin: B00005NIQO
Sales Rank: 449
Subjects:  1. Womens    2. General    3. Sociology: The Family. Marriage. Woman    4. Women's Interest   

Metallica
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (12 August, 1991)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $13.49
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Editorial Review

Called "the Black Album" by many (due to its monochrome cover), Metallica marks the group's entrance into the mainstream, with shorter songs, simpler song structures, and slower tempos overall. That said, this is an excellent album, featuring some of the best songwriting Metallica has ever done. "Enter Sandman," "Wherever I May Roam," and "God That Failed," despite being slower and more groove-oriented than the band's earlier work, feature the same heavy riffs and heavier rhythms that have always been a feature of Metallica's music. The band goes introspective with "Unforgiven," and proves that they can write a ballad with "Nothing Else Matters," which succeeds better than one might expect. Overall, this is a high-energy album despite its laid-back approach, and is in many ways superior to the previous . . . And Justice for All, which was weakened by overly complicated song structures and mediocre production. -- Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (962)

"The Black Album" is the stuff of legend...and rightfully so
No one calls this Metallica's "self-titled album"...this is the Black Album! There are some albums that simply live on forever and bridge generations of music lovers. "The White Album"..."Pet Sounds"..."Hotel California"...this is another one. There are so many great songs on this CD, songs that even casual Metallica fans can recite on cue: Enter Sandman, Nothing Else Matters, Sad But True, The Unforgiven, Wherever I May Roam...does it get better? Earlier albums were harder and the later albums were perceived as "softer", but this was the album where it all came together and took Metallica from underground to full-on mainstream.

To those who think Metallica "sold out" by making videos and cutting their hair: shut up. If you were an artist and had that much cash thrown at you to do videos and huge tours, you'd do it. Get over it.

Enter Sandman Is The Only Good Song
I never decided to listen to this CD because the only song I ever like is Enter Sandman, which that maybe the only good song on this album. I'll give this CD 1 star because I love Enter Sandman and it is one of my favorite 1991 songs of all-time behind Gnr's November Rain, and Dire Straits' Heavy Fuel.

Anyway the whole CD is a waste until the day I listen to more of the CD.

this is what went wrong
First off, hiring Bob Rock was a huge mistake. that and the fact that the reason Justice was so good was because it was fueled by the anger over Cliff's death. And what made the first three albums so amazing and legendary was a lot due to Cliff Burton. Don't get me wrong, James, Kirt, and Lars all contributed, but Cliff's absence can be felt in this-his infuence in their old sound is undeniable. This album has pretty much the same heaviness as Justice but, except for one song, nothing close to the speed and thrash, which is what kind of band Metallica started out as. And I consider And Justice for All to be the third best album by any band after Master of Puppets and Vulgar display of Power, with One possibly being the greatest Metallica song. But back to their "self-titled" album, which I never thought sounded like vintage 'Tallica. Start with the most overrated Metallica song, Enter Sandman. Come on, after the brilliant lyrics of Dyer's Eve and Fade to Black we get "dreams of war, dreams of liars, dreams of dragon's fire, and of things that will bite"? The only songs I listen to are Hollier than thou, Don't Tread on me, Nothing Else Matters, and a few others on the second half. I can't even listen to anything past this album. If you want to see Metallica in their prime being true Metallica, not wearing '50's style shirts and haircuts, sueing their fans for not paying to listen to their new crap, and acting like selfish, stuborn kids on documentary movies, watch Cliff 'em All and head bang. ... Read more

Asin: B000002H97
Subjects:  1. Hard Rock    2. Heavy Metal    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Speed Metal    6. Thrash    7. United States of America   

Orange and Blue
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (16 July, 1996)
list price: $17.98
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Reviews (6)

To A music fan from ontario
I would like to state that Nirvana from seattle did not cover lithium.Kurt Cobain wrote that song this UK band covered it.

THIS IS NOT THE KURT COBAIN NIRVANA
my cousin recently bought me this for a birthday present and he didnt realise that it was not the nirvana that can actually play good music! the cover of lithium was really bad also!!!!!!!! to everyone that is meaning to look up that nirvana, this isnt it!!!!!!

yuck
This is bad. Really bad. If you like the Seattle Nirvana, don't buy this. I listened to a few tracks on here thru Real audio, and the "lithium" cover is a joke. Its like sub-muzak. The other stuff is even more tuneless. I would hope they were better in the 60s. But who knows. This is a slight on the good Nirvana.
I'm sure they're nice folks over there in england, but uh, don't quit your day job. ... Read more

Asin: B0000011WB
Sales Rank: 320319
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Psychedelic    3. Rock