Reviews Written By: A316RLHHO9Y24Tprovided by Amazon.com |
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| LOGIC3 i-Station for use with iPod & iPod mini | ||
![]() | "Working Good after 4 Years" | 2008-12-25 |
| I have owned these speakers for 4 years now, and I'm still pleased with my purchase. When I got them, they were a little pricey (by today's standards) but were affordable at the time. I used them at my desk for a couple of years and was able to turn them down so low that my cube-farm mates were not disturbed. They are not the kind of speakers that you buy for filling a room with thundering bass, but their response range at low to medium levels is quite good. Another great feature of these is that when the iPod is docked, it's being charged (when using the AC adapter, not on battery power) These are not available new anymore, but a couple of places offer them used at a fraction of the original price...might be a good deal! | ||
| Weber Baby-Q Gas Grill | ||
![]() | "Baby Turns One" | 2008-12-23 |
| I have owned and used this grill for just over a year now and I have to say it more than lives up to the glowing reviews written about it. It's compact, easy to use, and does a great job on most everything I have cooked on it (I grill mostly chicken and veggies). I got the extension hose and a small refillable propane tank so I wouldn't have to be sending empty disposable cylinders to the landfill. The grill sits top of a plastic storage container (the grill does not generate heat on the bottom, so you can set it on pretty much any surface). The few cons that I can come up with are totally overshadowed by all of the pros. Anyway, just for the record, the temperature runs a bit on the high side, which just means you have to watch your food a bit more closely. Clean-up is a bit of a chore, since I don't have a backyard to degrease and rinse the grill in. Other than that, I have had no problems and am quite pleased with this little grill. Be sure to read through the other reviews for how others are getting the most out of their Baby Qs. | ||
| Weber Q Grill Cover | ||
![]() | "Durable and Stays On" | 2008-12-23 |
| I've used this cover for over a year now, and it really stays on in the wind. It also is durable, withstanding UV exposure out on my west-facing balcony. | ||
| Brother HL-2070N Network Monochrome Laser Printer | ||
![]() | "Network Printer + Wireless Router = Perfect" | 2008-08-13 |
| There have been tons of glowing reviews for this printer, and I have to report that after a year of owning it, I completely agree with them. I was a little slow in getting it configured so we could print from PC and a Mac laptops because it took a little time (it took longer to configure the PC; not a surprise) and trial and error. Here's a quick PRO and CON list: PROS - Prints fast, relatively small footprint, good print quality CONS - A little on the noisy side, but I've heard much worse | ||
| Brenthaven Pro 15-17 Backpack for MacBook Pro and Powerbook 15-17" - Black Exterior | ||
![]() | "Great for Commuting on the Train" | 2008-08-05 |
| I often travel on Amtrak and I used to have a messenger-style bag that I carried my PB G4 around in. I kept the laptop in a REI sleeve that fits the PB nicely. However, I have about a 1/2 hr walk to the train station and I soon found out how un-ergonomic my bag was for me. After trip to the chiropractor, I went in search of a good laptop backpack. I looked at some bags at a couple of stores and was disappointed at their lack of meaningful protection for the laptop. It seemed as though "style" had won out over practicality. I found the Brenthaven on Amazon and hesitated because of the price and I wasn't sure if it would meet my needs. Anyway, I decided to take a chance. If it did fit the bill, it would be cheaper than a couple of visits to the chiropractor! I've now been using the bag for 4 months and it's really proving itself to have been a wise purchase. I still use the REI laptop sleeve instead of the rigid sleeve that comes with the bag, mainly because I like it better and it fits in the bag perfectly. Pros: The bag is comfortable and the straps are easily tightened or loosened. Lots of pockets and nooks and crannies to stow whatever you need for your commute (even enough room for a few clothes). Finish quality is very good and the zippers work easily. It's not a popular brand (like Targus), so it doesn't say to people on the street "expensive laptop inside" Cons: Only one so far (and this is minor) is that the pad that rests up against your back is some kind of material that really holds body heat and it gets pretty warm during a brisk forced march to the train station (in warm weather, of course). It's actually an item for the Pro column in cold weather! I have not had the experience that a couple of other reviewers have had with their bags taking a header off an airport cart, but I can see where that would be an issue with this bag. The sleeve that I'm using would probably give a bit more protection in a fall like that, but I hope to not test that out anytime soon! Overall, a very nice quality bag that fits my needs. | ||
| Kata P-36 GDC Pouch | ||
![]() | "Tough and Durable Digital Camera Pouch" | 2008-07-11 |
| I bought this pouch for a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ4K 8.1MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) which fits quite snugly in the front camera compartment. Be sure to check your camera's dimensions before ordering, since this is a semi-rigid pouch and does not stretch to fit. Also, the picture used on the product page is different than what was sent to me. I posted a couple of photos to show what I got; either it got redesigned or they posted a photo of a different model. I actually like the appearance of what I got better.
I went online and found out that this case is made by a firm that manufactures a wide range of military and law enforcement goods, including body armor. This would explain the case's durable construction and utilitarian features like a double velcro closure for the belt loop, the waterproof semi-rigid case material, and the 2 flaps with double zippers. Pros: Tough construction, lightweight, easy to attach belt loop, handy outer flap to access camera compartment. Cons: No padding, but the rigid case material and the ripple texture should absorb any shock to the camera from drops and bumps. Time will tell. Overall, an unexpected find in the usual field of small camera cases. | ||
| Citizen Canvas Strap Watch BM818003E | ||
![]() | "Mean Green Time Machine!" | 2008-04-18 |
| I find that watches are some of the most personal things that we carry around with us. We look at them constantly, rely upon them to be accurate, easy to read, and to say something about who we are. That said, this watch fits all of the above criteria (and more) for me. The size is perfect for me. I have relatively thin wrists, so I didn't want a Russian commando diver watch that would look like I'm wearing an alarm clock on my wrist. It does have some weight, though, but I kind of like that. It feels like there's substance there; that it will last a while. The face is really easy to read at a glance; the numbers are not overly large, just a nice bold typeface on a black background. A real bonus is that the hands and numbers will glow all night with one good strong shot of light before turning the lights out. Another bonus is the day AND date display. The band is a nice olive green color (the photos I put into the gallery are pretty close to the shade it actually is) and the adjustment holes are rimmed with metal grommets. Some have complained about the glued parts on the band coming apart. I have been through a lot of watchbands and I have never seen a band that was totally stitched without the use of glue, so I really don't see that as a deal-breaker with this watch. Another reviewer complained that the second hand doesn't register with the tic marks on the face. Look, if you're gonna time sports events or something, maybe you ought to get a decent stopwatch! The green that I'm most enthusiastic about is the Eco-Drive mechanism. True, there IS a battery in this puppy, but you'll never have to replace it. It's a small step towards reducing our ecological footprint, but every step counts. | ||
| JBL On Tour Portable Speaker System | ||
![]() | "Bulletproof Product and Packaging" | 2008-03-13 |
| OK, this review is in two parts. I got it at a really good price as a daily deal item. The product is everything good that the the other reviewers have written about it. It's a bit on the small size, but it has an amazing sound range for how tiny it is. I have tried it with my iPod and my laptop and both delivered solid sound. They are not "concert hall" quality speakers, so don't expect thumping bass or a huge volume range. PRODUCT QUALITY: ***** The packaging of the product is entirely another issue. When I read a couple of other reviews complaining about the tough plastic packaging, I just thought they were complainers and that it was encased in the run-of-the-mill plastic bubble with the sealed edge that is so common these days. Well, I was wrong. This was the most difficult to open product packaging that I have EVER encountered! I gave up trying to use fairly heavy scissors to cut through the plastic and resorted to an X-Acto knife which did not make the job much easier. Further, it is stamped with the PET recycling symbol which means it is recyclable, but this still is not very green since not everyone recycles. I think that the manufacturer over compensated the need for protecting this product on the boat ride from China! PACKAGING: * Since this is a product review, I won't deduct from my overall rating because of the packaging. Just be aware that you need to take extra care when you cut it open to not injure yourself OR damage the product. | ||
| Men's Merrell Chameleon Ventilator | ||
![]() | "Merrell Keeps on Truckin'" | 2004-08-25 |
| I was in need of a pair of good lightweight hiking boots so I tried on a variety of them at REI. I have 2 pairs of Merrell slip-ons (the dicontinued Topo sandals and moccasins) and really love their fit and comfort. After trying on a few other brands, I tried a pair of these and the fit was fantastic! Literally no break-in period and the soles are slightly rigid which gives them a nice rolling sensation with each stride. The toe area has enough room to wiggle your toes even when wearing thick hiking socks. They also have low trail impact Vibram Octogrip soles that look kind of like octopus tentacle suckers. Overall, I'm very pleased with these boots. | ||
| Axion ACN-5507 5" Portable TFT LCD TV | ||
![]() | "Tiny Telly" | 2004-08-25 |
| We have had this Action TV for about 2 months and it works great. Prior to this we were using a 15 year-old b&w Sony Watchman for our walkabout TV watching. Reception on that set was usually pretty poor, even when it was new. It did, however, have an AM/FM tuner which the Action TV does not.
On this set, our local NBC affiliate station does not come in as good as the others, but reception for the rest of them ranges from good to excellent. Reception quality also depends on where you are in the house, so moving it around usually helps. The sound quality is fair, but this is a very small TV you really can't expect it to have much better. Color is saturated (deep bright colors) and there is a brightness control to modulate that somewhat. We usually have this set in the kitchen, plugged in to a wall receptacle with the supplied power converter. We also keep batteries in it so that we can take it outside or wherever there's no plug handy. Overall, we are very happy with this little set and it's quirky design (looks like something from the Jetsons). Some of the complaints about this set in the previous reviews are about features that it doesn't have. This is a very affordable tiny TV that would quickly end up not being affordable if those features were included. | ||
| D-Link DCM-200 External USB/Ethernet Cable Modem | ||
![]() | "Very Short Life Span" | 2004-02-19 |
| I purchased this modem 6 months ago thinking that I would be clever and replace the modem I was renting from my cable operator and save the $3.00 a month that they were charging me. Boy, was I wrong. It began giving me big problems (slow as dial-up) around Dec. and I finally went back to the cable rental. Let's face it, if theirs breaks, they have to replace it. If yours breaks D-link will only repair yours or send a refurb. They will only refund your money if they can't send you another. To it's credit, it worked great for about 3 months, and the hook-up was pretty easy. | ||
| Vornado 510W Compact Air Circulator - Whitestone | ||
![]() | "You say Vornado, I say Tornado!" | 2003-09-09 |
| This fan is absolutely an excellent product. We have a trusty (and still running strong) 20-year-old Panasonic oscillating table fan that we use every summer to supplement our air conditioning. Knowing that the fan may not last another 20 years, I started shopping around for a new fan. I read the reviews and was attracted to all of the praise heaped on the Vornado line. I put it off until it turned up in my Gold Box at a great price. I bought it and am very happy with it. The lowest speed is the quietest and moves a decent amount of air while the other two speeds really push the air in a focused stream. The noise at the medium and high settings is kind of like a "white noise " and I have found no problem sleeping in the same room while the fan is running at those speeds. I love the fact that this fan packs such a wallop into a small package and is so portable that we carry it all over the house wherever we need to be cool. | ||
| Wüsthof Grand Prix Kitchen Shears | ||
![]() | "Our Only Kitchen Shears" | 2003-05-19 |
| Unlike some folks, we just keep one pair of shears in the kitchen. We started with an ancient pair of Wiss sewing scissors which eventually got rusted and gunked up so bad that they wouldn't work anymore. Since we use shears in the kitchen for many different tasks (opening packages, snipping herbs, cutting up chicken), I was determined to find a pair that would be heavy-duty enough to cut through the tough stuff, be easy to clean, and hold a decent blade. A handy feature of this product not mentioned in any of the other reviews is a serrated bottle opener (kind of like pliers) located near the handles. We've had these shears for a couple of years and they've met all of our criteria. | ||
| Circulon Style 2-1/2-Quart Tea Kettle, Yellow | ||
![]() | "Glad I Chose Carefully" | 2003-04-06 |
| I purchased the stainless steel version of this kettle from a department store. I almost chose the black enameled one, but I was concerned about chipping (mentioned in reviews below). Overall, it looks great, and the whistle works fine. The handle does get very hot, so I just use a hot pad to remove it from the stove to pour (the main reason I gave it 4 and not 5 stars). | ||
| Calphalon Commercial Nonstick 10-Inch International Griddle/Crepe Pan | ||
![]() | "Oh man, what a pan!" | 2003-03-27 |
| Everything that's written below is true about this great little pan (including the hot handle, which can be easily remedied by using a hot pad or handle sleeve). Calphalon's marketing strategy of offering a few high quality, deeply-discounted pans really works. I have purchased a couple of their other pans and am very happy with them. I use this pan for quesadillas (perfect size for tortillas), Boca Burgers, salmon patties, and fried eggs. You can buy any number of other brands of pans for the same price, but you will not get anywhere near this quality or versatile size and shape that this pan offers. | ||
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