Reviews Written By: A3S9DOTT4Z8JF9provided by Amazon.com |
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![DJ Hero Turntable Kit Bundle [Xbox 360]](product_images/4982000/dj-hero-turntable-kit-bundle_t-4982016.jpg) | DJ Hero Turntable Kit Bundle [Xbox 360] | |
 | "Spin That Wheel!" | 2009-11-12 |
| DJ Hero is the next iteration of rhythm game, which stars you as the mix master of Club Living Room. While I found scratching a turntable to be vastly more fun than I originally expected, I'm afraid the steep cost of admission may limit the game's appeal. Still, any fan of music games would do well to try out this fresh take on the genre.
***The Turntable*** The most notable feature of this game is the new peripheral, a turntable. As with the basic guitars from Guitar Hero, the turntable is 100% plastic and feels a bit miniature (it's 14.5" x 9" and only about 2.5" tall). The turntable includes a free-spinning platter with three coloured buttons, a cross fade switch, an effects knob (choose between: Horn, Siren, Blam, Bullet, and Zap), and "Euphoria" button (i.e. Star Power). In the upper left corner, concealed by a plastic flap, you'll find the D-pad and other traditional controller buttons. The core spinning motion of the platter feels solid, but the other buttons leave a little to be desired. The cross fader in particular suffers from a lack of distinction between left, centre, and right. There is a slight "notch" at centre, but it is quite subtle and when playing the game you'll often find yourself shifting clear past the notch, which causes more than a little frustration. It seems to me that a more defined centre or even something as simple as a raised nub in the centre (like the bump on the middle button of the guitar peripherals) would have helped this issue. Of lesser note, but nevertheless a disappointing oversight, the turntable is not ambidextrous. While the documentation mentions an "expansion" for lefties, I can't imagine that many south paws will want to pay extra for a feature that could have and should have been designed into the base product. These complaints aside, the turntable serves its purpose adequately and its minor shortcomings are in no way an encumbrance to enjoying the game. That said, I'd be interested to see the types of third party turntables that will be offered if this game proves to be successful. ***Gameplay*** The music included in the game features exclusive mash-ups of various well-known tunes, created by famous DJs. I should quickly dispel a false notion: this is not "Hip-Hop" Hero. In addition to the usual suspects like Jay-Z, Eminem, or the Black Eyed Peas you will also find a wide array of other artists such as Beck, Gwen Stefani, Queen, Tears for Fears, and even Motörhead. The mixes themselves are rather creative and I found myself grooving along to songs to which I might not otherwise have chosen to listen. For those of you not yet baptized into the club scene, the game includes a tutorial taught by none other than Grandmaster Flash. I have absolutely no DJ experience, but in one pass I felt sufficiently acclimated to the controls and jumped head-first into the quickplay mode. The familiar "note highway" returns, but this time with only three streams. The left and right each represent one of the two tracks, while the centre is for beats and effects. In addition to scratching, you'll be cross fading between two tracks, tapping buttons in time, and sounding effects like sirens and horns. Star Power has been renamed "Euphoria" but works exactly the same- you build up a meter and then activate it for score bonus. The demo included two play modes, Solo DJ Quickplay and Co-op DJ + Guitar Quickplay. Solo DJ should be self-explanatory but co-op warrants a brief explanation. Co-op allows one player to spin while another riffs a guitar part. (The retail version will also feature DJ + DJ co-op and will be available online or off). The guitar gameplay is identical to Guitar Hero, but DJ + Guitar play is limited to certain special mixes as opposed to the entire set list. If you're flying solo but want to play these co-op tracks, have no fear- AI will control the other part. There are four difficulties: Easy, Medium, Hard, and Expert. As you might expect, each level becomes more complex, no surprises there. However, on Easy the cross fader is omitted, leaving you to simply scratch the platter or tap buttons in rhythm. This mode is extremely rudimentary and should be accessible even to those with only the most basic rhythmic abilities. But unless you just can't survive a single track, I highly recommend starting on Medium because the game just isn't as fun without cross fading included. The background scenery for each gig retains the same basic art style of Guitar Hero, but replaces the rock concert stages with a psychedelic club atmosphere. More importantly, the same old avatars like Judy Nails and Axel Steel have been replaced by new faces. Even Grandmaster Flash has his own avatar! While the visuals are entertaining, the music is naturally the star of the show. And the selections available in the demo did not disappoint. The handful available blended old and new favourites to create a compelling sound that left me craving the full retail version's 93 mixes. Hearing these truly creative combinations gave me a genuine appreciation for DJs- their craft truly is an art. And while I can't promise that you'll love every track, there is something for everyone. The music is in fact so compelling that on my first time out, even though I had only intended to play for a few minutes, I quickly lost over an hour to the game. In that time I never encountered any soreness or cramping but then again I also play piano, which may have given my fingers a leg up. I could see newcomers suffering some minor ill effects, but only until their hand muscles have had time to adapt. The $120 price tag may be a barrier that some are simply unwilling to break- after all, that's two brand new triple-A games. But if you've given this game any thought whatsoever I strongly encourage you to give it a test drive. If nothing else, DJ Hero is a fresh take on the music genre and a game that offers a truly unique experience. The mechanics are accessible, the music is creative, and the whole package is quite entertaining. ***Notes*** This review is based on a demo kit I received from the Amazon.com Vine program prior to the general release date of the game. The demo kit included a wired turntable as opposed to the wireless unit packed in the retail version, which prevented me from commenting on battery life. More importantly, the set list contained only three solo mixes and one coop mix, so I wasn't given the opportunity to try out the entire list. I feel confident, though, that this taste was sufficient material on which to base this review. | ||
 | Sony PSP Go (White) | |
 | "Should I Stay or Should I "Go"?" | 2009-10-16 |
| Many people are probably asking themselves, "Should I get a PSP Go?" This question might come from a current PSP 1/2/3000 owner, or from someone who has yet to take the plunge at all. This is my recommendation:
Preface Upon hearing about the PSP Go, I was thrilled. I truly believe that out of all possible avenues through which console makers can pursue the digital-download path, the portable market is an obvious first choice. However, as the release date drew near and I learned more details, my excitement wavered, ebbed, and extinguished completely before being reborn as a fiery phoenix of righteous indignation toward the system. Now, possessing all the facts, I can't imagine why any well-informed person would want to purchase the PSP Go, excluding those who simply must have the latest-greatest stuff, in spite of logic or rational thought. What follows is a colourful literary account of a would-be PSP Go purchaser- You. As you read you may become nervous or frightened. Take solace, though, no consumers were harmed in the making of this story! --- So there you are, skipping gleefully out of your favourite video game and/or electronics boutique, shiny new PSP Go in-hand. You briefly wonder to yourself, "Was it worth it to cough up the extra cash for the PSP Go or should I have settled for the budget-buy PSP 3000?" The price difference, after all, was fairly steep. With the money you would've saved on a PSP 3000 you could have started off your game collection with two new releases. But the doubt is fleeting, for you love how much smaller and more portable the PSP Go is compared to the PSP 3000, not to mention the futuristic gadget coolness of the sliding (albeit smaller) screen! And with digital content installed to the colossal 16 GB of built-in storage, you'll never have to carry around (or lose/have stolen) a case full of UMDs ever again. The PSP Go even grants you über-trendy Bluetooth support so that you won't have to fuss with tangled headset cables either... except on planes, that is. No, you care not for the few extra dollars you spent on the system because you'll make it up and then some via the savings you'll accrue from discounted digital purchases. Since digital content doesn't require packaging & distribution, those savings get passed on to the consum... wait, what's that? You didn't get your discount on that first game purchase? "Well, that's just rude," you say as you turn on your heel and march back into your favourite video game and/or electronics boutique! And as the sales clerk informs you that digital games cost exactly the same as retail boxed UMDs, the fantasy world in which you are satisfied with your PSP Go purchase begins to crumble and burn. Your brain tries to rationalize and come to terms with the explanation given to you for why prices are the same: because Sony can't risk the ire of its retail partners by enticing consumers to abandon retail products en masse. You console yourself with the idea that if Sony undercuts the middle man so dramatically while he is still necessary in other areas, they risk severe financial consequences. This thought assuages you until further consideration of the "digital only" concept culminates in the ideological connection that the bonus of not needing to carry UMDs also brings with it a consequence: the inability to bring certain games with you at all. You unwillingly embrace the simple truth that some games that have already been released on UMD won't ever be available digitally, due to other behind-the-scenes complexities of the business side of gaming, like licensing for example. Now you can really feel your energy being drained. And, upon thinking of energy, your mind alights on the design decision to remove the user-replaceable battery from the PSP Go. You begin to imagine yourself on an airplane with your PSP Go (unable to use a Bluetooth headset for fear of catastrophically disrupting sensitive equipment) and you're running low on power. Alas, with a PSP 3000 you could have simply saved your progress and swapped to your spare battery. Or, better yet, you could have started the trip with an extended-life battery. Unfortunately, your imagined-self is going to have to finish out the flight by watching Big Momma's House instead of playing Gran Turismo. Oh, the horror! What else, pray tell, must you endure? What shocking new revelation will be next in line to bludgeon your soul? What other changes has Sony made in order to humiliate you, the unsuspecting consumer? Your body falls limp and you collapse into a sobbing heap right in the middle of your favourite video game and/or electronics boutique as you come to grips with the fact that the final insult involves no change whatsoever: You never needed a PSP Go to get on the digital distribution train in the first place. What remains of your consciousness, in defiance of Sony's best marketing efforts, has just come to the realization that all of the digital content intended for the PSP Go, full games and minis alike, can be loaded onto an old fashioned, PSP 3000-compatible, Pro Duo memory stick, which sell for much, much less than the comparable PSP Go-compatible M2 micro memory cards. But as you lie there, gasping for breath, the shop employee ready to dial 9-1-1, your mental cogs complete one last revolution- you have not yet opened the package and still have your receipt! Quick as a fox, you leap up from the floor. With renewed vigor you set your recent purchase on the counter and request a refund in a tone so confident that Napoleon Bonaparte would have felt obliged to obey you. Fervently you scurry back to the shelf to retrieve a PSP 3000. As you make your way back toward the register your eyes meet a newly released game you wanted badly, but could not afford along with your PSP Go purchase. Cheerfully you pick up a copy, knowing that even after purchasing the PSP 3000 and a respectably sized memory stick, you will have enough credit left for the game as well. With purchases in hand, you exit the store. The sun feels warm against your face and the air smells crisp and clean. Birds sing, flowers bloom, and the whole world seems to be in harmony as you make your way home to break open your new toy, the PSP 3000. If God were the sort of deity to concern Himself with such worldly matters, He would have looked down upon this outcome and declared, as eye-witnesses say He did during the creation, "It is good." And after that, He likely would have smote Sony for fleecing His children. Well, and because every story needs a good smiting. --- Tall tales (and smiting) aside, the PSP Go just isn't a good value. It isn't any kind of value at all, actually. Considering that the reduction in size and addition of Bluetooth support are the only rabbits that the PSP 3000 can't pull out of its hat too, it hardly seems worth it to sacrifice the experience of playing those games that will inevitably be unavailable to the PSP Go, let alone spend an extra $80 for the privilege of that sacrifice. Take my advice: Whether you own a PSP now or not, until Sony comes up with a UMD conversion solution and makes every UMD game available for digital download (which will never happen), pass on the PSP Go. | ||
 | 28" to 42" Adjustable Speaker Stands (pair) - EFSATB | |
| "Flimsy, Tip Over Easily" | 2009-09-20 |
| While attractively inexpensive, these speaker stands are not suited for anything other than the smallest speakers and the smallest budget. I've owned these stands for only a little over a month and already one of them has been knocked over twice, resulting in a busted speaker.
Upon opening the box, I found hardware to suit a great deal of speaker choices, including my Klipsch RX5's. There is also hardware for my Klipsch bookshelf set. The instructions clearly indicated that both speakers were "compatible". However, in practise these stands cannot support the weight of these larger speakers and are VERY top-heavy after assembly. The problem is twofold: 1) The base has almost no weight whatsoever, offering no counterbalancing. 2) The stands are so flimsy that the tube leans slightly on the base, even when fully tightened. This puts the centre of gravity too far outside the base. For the RX5's, this didn't seem to be a problem at first because the speakers are set evenly over the tube, so the leaning effect was mild. However after mounting the bookshelf speakers the centre of gravity is so far forward that the stands wobble and fall over immediately under the weight of the speakers alone. The RX5 mounts stayed upright until a few days ago, when my dog brushed against one of them and sent it toppling. The speaker was ruined as it hit the floor and will need to be replaced. I feel as though i need to point out that the dog only nudged the stand, it didn't take much force at all to send my speaker to its grave. Since then I've yet to remove the speaker and stand (for aesthetic purposes until I get a new one) and it has since fallen again- this time because the first crash loosened the tube from the base even more, which makes the contraption even more wobbly. I gave the product two stars instead of one because this product might work well for someone with ultra-compact speakers, the kind that are only about six inches tall. If you have this kind of extremely small and lightweight speakers you will probably be happy with these stands. However, I wouldn't recommend them to anyone who has larger speakers, a child, a dog, a cat, a rabbit, a mouse, or anything else that might disturb the stand at all. | ||
 | Sony Playstation3 Bluetooth Headset | |
 | "You can find better" | 2009-09-18 |
| I acquired this headset when SOCOM: Confrontation was first released and thought I was getting a deal by getting the game AND the headset for about $60. I couldn't have been more wrong.
As headsets go, I have worn a LOT of them. I've owned old-fashioned wired headsets, pre-bluetooth wireless that communicated with a little receiver you clipped to your belt and plugged into your phone, and of course... plenty of bluetooth sets. Let me start by saying that you do NOT need this headset for a PlayStation3. In theory, ANY bluetooth headset will work with a PS3. (Granted some won't because bluetooth is inherently buggy technology.) Likewise, this headset will work with almost any bluetooth phone. However, my personal preference is to have separate headsets because I don't like pairing and unpairing all the time. Having said that, let's talk about this headset. It is about as basic as basic gets. If all you need is basic, more power to you, but you'll find similar quality for less money with other sets. Try the Jabra BT4010, which as of this writing sells for half the price of the Sony. Heck, you can even find $10 bluetooth headsets if you really want to go cheap! Apart from poor value, the Sony set is an awkward fit. It has only a thin rubber ring around a little plastic "barrel" that is supposed to stay fastened in your ear. Most other sets either have a "form-fitted" rubber piece or simply stay out of your ear altogether. This design gets uncomfortable quickly because A) the part that goes in your ear may not be the right size for your ear and B) the over-the-ear loop is made of cheap plastic as opposed to being rubber or having a rubber coating like many other sets. The battery life is decent, but nothing to write home about. And the charging stand? It's cheap, very lightweight plastic that falls over very easily. If the USB cable is a little bit stiff, the natural tendency for it to curl may very well topple the stand. As for sound quality... yeah, basic again. Sure, it works, but once again it is very basic. I felt like it didn't have a very good range of volume. Many times I had it cranked to the max and still could barely hear. Since games are usually $60 and this headset came bundled inside a $60 game, I tried hard to find a reason to keep it, after all wasn't it "free"? In the end, I could find no redeeming qualities and returned it rather than allowing it to take up space in a drawer somewhere. If you'd like some good places to start your search for another headset, here are a few: Personally, I just can't get over the Jabra FreeSpeak BT250V. It's so comfortable I don't even notice it's there and it also has a vibrating/call notification feature, which is absolutely great for leaving your phone on the charger and keeping the headset with you at home or office. As of this writing, the Sony is ~$45 and the Jabra is ~$60. You may find the Jabra cheaper but even at $60 it's DEFINITELY a better value than the Sony! If you're looking for a really great sounding bluetooth set (i.e. for listening to music), I've been really happy with the Motorola HT820. It has two speakers and wraps around the back of your head/neck. Fair warning, though- the Motorola sounds awesome but the speakers are huge and wearing this set makes you look like a total dork. There are hundreds, maybe even thousands of bluetooth headsets out there so no matter which one you finally choose, please just don't make it this Sony piece of junk. Your dollars will go farther on something with the same quality/lower price, or same price/higher quality. | ||
 | Klipsch iGroove SXT iPod Sound System | |
 | "Big Sound, Small Footprint" | 2009-06-15 |
| The Klipsch iGroove has to be one of the best iPod docks in terms of value for money. As of this writing, it sells for around $100 and I'll go as far as to say you won't find a better sounding setup for that price. I've listend to the Bose and while it sounds great, I just can't justify paying almost triple for it. On the other hand, I've tried some of the ~$70 units- they sound horrible and the "savings" aren't worth it. The Klipsch provides great sound. I listen to everything, including jazz, metal, classical, rock, country and well... everything. This deck plays them all beautifully. It's small enough to fit on your desk at work (about the size of a Kleenex box) but capable of being the sole source of tunes for a big party as well. I was simply shocked at how loud this baby will get if you want it to. That said, the quality of the sound is still exceptional at volumes better suited for your office. I use it with an iPod classic and have not had a single problem with any of the features. My only complaint (and a very very small one) is that there is no volume indicator on the unit, so you're never sure exactly where the volume is set until the music starts. Normally this isn't a problem unless your roomate was jamming out while you were gone and forgot to turn it back down before you got home and docked your iPod. Again, this is really a minor complaint. As for styling, the unit is sleek and very chic with a black front and silver accents. However, if you don't like the looks, you can hide the device on account of it being so small. We have ours nestled in among some pictures on the mantle and you'd never know it was there if you weren't looking for it. All in all, I couldn't be happier with this iPod dock. It's got great sound, plenty of volume (if you want it), looks nice, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. What more could you ask for? | ||
 | Pioneer CD-IU50 iPod Direct Cable | |
| "Must-buy!" | 2009-03-09 |
| If you own an iPod and a compatible Pioneer head unit, this is an accessory you simply must purchase! I am using this with a Pioneer DEH-P7000BT Receiver and a iPod Classic 120 GB (6th gen) and couldn't be happier with the added beneft of controlling my iPod directly from the receiver, all the while keeping my iPod charged. If I'm so happy, why did I only give it four stars? Because in my humble opinion ~$30 is practically highway robbery for a USB cable with an iPod head on one end. But if you own an iPod, you're probably already used to this superfluous markup on accessories. Apart from that, there really isn't much to say about this product- it is a cable, nothing more and nothing less. Be sure to check compatibility with the head unit and iPod you plan to use befre purchasing, just to be safe. | ||
 | Werner MT-13 Telescoping MultiLadder | |
| "Great Bargain!!!" | 2008-05-28 |
| This ladder is perfect for the average homeowner who needs a little boost. Now, I'm no expert on ladders but I'll tell you what I like about this: -The moving parts are easy to manipulate -It's sturdy (holds up to 300lbs!) -It's a great price (try finding another ladder with the same capabilities for the same price) -It collapses to a very small size for easy storage -It's highly versatile As for the dislikes, the list is very short: The rungs are fairly slim. They're very sturdy, but there's not a lot of foot room if you need to stand for long periods. Again, I'm not a ladder guy so maybe this is normal, but at any rate you can buy a AC18MT STEEL LADDER PLATFORM to use as either a step platform or for a workspace for paint, tools, etc. Some have complained that it is heavy, but I don't think it's any worse than comparable ladders. One note, if you want something to get up on your roof with, you may need a longer version (like the 17ft or 22ft versions). Overall I'm extremely pleased with my purchase! | ||
 | Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 | |
| "Great co-op, but not at the expense of solo campaign" | 2008-04-29 |
| Despite giving the impression of a "more of the same" sequel prior to launch, RSV2 managed to win my heart in ways the first could never imagine. There are still a few problems, but overall the game is adequately polished and highly addictive. A tactical shooter, by definition, is geared toward teamwork and strategy. It only seems natural that such a game should offer a truly superb cooperative experience and RSV2 does just that. Be it split-screen, co-op campaign, or even terrorist hunting, there is a heap of great team-oriented play to be had here. The best part is that in delivering a co-op smorgasbord, RSV2 (unlike certain other co-op focused games) didn't sacrifice the single player campaign. With seven acts consisting of several scenes each, you've got hours and hours of solo play available as well. The scenes and environments, though not particularly unique to Las Vegas, are extremely detailed and offer wide variety. My favourite place involved an indoor rock-climbing facility- an extremely creative idea, in my opinion. The pièce de résistance for me was the character development through experience. Your character, complete with the myriad of possible unique armour, clothing and weapon combinations, are persistent throughout any game mode- online or off. For all its glory, though, the game is not entirely without flaws. As cool as most of the unlockables were, some just didn't make sense. Who thought that pink camouflage was a great idea for a high-level reward? The AI is also still more A than I, with terrorists stupidly running into your crosshairs despite how many already felt your wrath. Your teammates can also be complete dolts when it comes to ordering grenade tosses or staying within the cover of their own smoke. In spite of these minor blemishes, the bigger picture of RSV2 is still quite magnificent. Online or off, there is enough replay value here to last a very long time. If you can only buy one shooter right now, this may be the one you want! | ||
 | Hoover F5914-900 SteamVac with Clean Surge | |
| "Effective and Bargain-Priced" | 2008-04-28 |
| A great bargain, even if it's not the greatest steam-vac in the world. I've had this machine for almost a year now and I have to say I'm pretty pleased with its performance. Sure, it has a few flaws, but given the price this is still a great buy. Starting with the flaws: -The unit is made of plastic that doesn't seem too sturdy, but my fears could be unwarranted, after all it has gone a year without breaking. -The hand tool/wand tends to overspray out the sides. The hand tool nozzle can also sometimes come disconnected at the base, which leads to some solution spraying out (but only when using the hand tool). This isn't a major problem, more of an annoyance. But if you're particularly sensitive to the neighbouring furniture, you'll want to be careful. For the positives: -It's very easy to use -It's only about as large or heavy as a typical upright vacuum -The soap solution is cheap (I've only used about a quarter of a $20 jug in the year I've owned it) -It does just as good a job as rental machines and, I dare say, professionals -Clean-up is easy, you just disconnect and rinse a few parts *Note: Many have commented about leaks, but I have had no issues with this. According to the instruction manual, this usually results from not properly depressing the "clean surge" button when assembling the unit for the first time. About home carpet cleaners in general: Work slowly and take care not to use too much cleaning solution. You have to remember that you are basically dumping soapy water into your carpet and then sucking it back out. If you don't take your time, you could be asking for trouble. Another note- though this says "SteamVac" it does not actually heat the water and certainly doesn't "steam" the carpet like a professional service would. This is not really false advertising, since a "real" steam cleaner is pretty gosh-darned expensive. The water that comes out will be slightly cooler than what you put in, so you may want to boil the water first. Lastly, I still recommend having the pros come in every now and again- like every six months to a year. There are simply some pro techniques and tools that no home unit will replace. A home unit like this is going to help keep your carpets shampoo-fresh without needing to have the pros out every time. | ||
 | HIP INTERACTIVE Playboy: The Mansion ( Playstation 2 ) | |
 | "The Sims + Boobs = Playboy The Mansion" | 2008-03-19 |
| I need to start this review with a disclaimer: I tried this game because I respect Hugh Hefner as an entrepreneur and liked the idea of building a publishing empire. Having played the game, I wonder how I was so naïve as to believe a game with Playboy in the title could be more than a softcore boobfest. The Mansion has two possible target audiences, yet it manages to miss both completely. The first group consists of voyeurs looking for some tasteful nudity and a somewhat more "interactive" experience than the magazine. Unfortunately for them "tasteful" is not the first word I'd use to describe The Mansion, nor will they find the "interactivity" they seek. In order to steer clear of an AO rating, there is no nudity below the waist and "sensual encounters" are essentially heavily watered-down lap dances. As for the other target audience, I'm thinking of folks who enjoy the Sims-style play serving as the foundation upon which The Mansion is built. Apart from a lot of bugs, the obvious problem here is that any innovations The Mansion might bring to the table are obscured by all the boobies. The central theme is to play the role of a young Hugh Hefner and set out to build a publishing empire. In order to improve circulation of the magazine, you need to attract celebs for photo shoots and interesting people for interviews. In order to convince these individuals to work with you, you must prove you know how to have a good time by throwing endless parties, paying careful attention to the guest list to avoid potential personality clashes. While this all works well for the first few hours of the game, it quickly becomes a tedious chore to keep everyone in a constant state of elation. The reality is that, at its maximum depth, The Mansion will barely reach your ankles. In fact, this review is probably somewhat superfluous because upon looking at the game's title and box artwork it's highly likely that any presumptions you might have are already completely accurate. | ||
 | Kershaw Kitchen Shears | |
| "Versatility and Quality by Shun/Kershaw" | 2008-02-26 |
| These shears cut smoothly and easily, they're sharp enough for any task you might want to put them to. They're also sturdy and comfortable, the plastic handle doesn't slip or slide. They disassemble easily for cleaning, but stay solidly together when you want them together. The add-on features like bone notch and bottle opener all work well, but I like the notches on the inside of the handle, which are meant to be grips for opening jars and such. Overall, this is one of my most often used tools because it does about a dozen different tasks and does those tasks well. My pair came with a plastic sheath with a magnet attached, designed to stick to your fridge, oven, or hood. This might be handy for those of you who keep your knives in a block without space for shears but since I use magnetic knife strips I simply keep my shears firmly stuck there instead. One note about branding, since some other reviewers have mentioned it. Shun is owned by Kershaw. These shears are marketed as part of the Shun cutlery sets, but will say Kershaw on the blade. Don't sweat it- the names are basically interchangeable. The Kershaw brand makes some great utility/pocket knives, by the way. I owned Kershaw knives before I ever even heard of Shun. And if you're a really observant fan of Good Eats, you'll notice that Alton's pocket knife is a Kershaw ;) | ||
 | Honeywell Mini Tower Surround Heater | |
| "Poor fan/heat dispersal" | 2008-02-05 |
| I own three of these- bought them all at the same time when a local store had them on clearance for a super-cheap price. I had the same problems below with all three units.
The first problem is that while they generate a great deal of heat, the fan fails to spread that heat across any meaningful area. Rather than force the air away from the unit with a sideways fan, this fan is located at the bottom, aiming straight upward. The interior of the upper housing is somewhat cone-shaped, the idea being to guide the air out of the housing at an angle. This idea fails in practise, though. Since the air isn't forced away from the unit, and since the thermostat is particularly sensitive, the unit heats the area immediately surrounding itself and then shuts off, leaving the rest of the room unaffected. This unit will do the job under your desk at work or for bathrooms but don't expect it to reliably heat anything larger. By the way, if all you need is a bathroom/work heater you can find units that perform that very basic task for half the price. (DeLonghi DFH132 SafeHeat Fan Heater, for example, works quite well) Durability is another issue. The unit eventually becomes completely useless after several months- also due to the poor thermostat. The heater will only turn on for about thirty to forty five seconds at a time- just long enough for it to really warm itself up, then *poof*, it shuts off- even at the highest temperature setting. Another concern is that the housing gets extremely hot- even the plastic. After a few months of use the top housing had warped to the point that the switch between "directed" heat and "surround" heat became melted in place. Overall I would summarise this unit by saying that for the price, you can find a lot better performance. Alternatively, for the same performance you can find a lot better price. | ||
 | Ace Combat 5 | |
| "Five for (Dog)Fighting" | 2008-02-05 |
| Ace Combat 5 is another entry in a long running and mostly pleasing series, but even after so many iterations the game is going strong.
Ace 5's biggest asset is its graphics, which are nothing short of stunning- even for a PS2. The visuals, combined with a wide array of real-world aircraft to choose from, will have you believing you really are a top fighter pilot in minutes. The game's rather lengthy campaign (27 missions) takes place in various locales showcasing beautifully detailed terrains. The missions themselves provide variety by mixing up objectives including destroy everything in sight, stealth recon sans weapons, escort, and a follow-the-leader test of your maneuvering skill. My biggest frustration came in the form of a mission consisting of a boring afterburner flight to a cutscene, followed by more boring afterburner to the objective. The objective was a foe who could take a serious beating while doling out plenty of punishment. A tight time limit pushed me over the edge. I don't mind a good challenge, but don't force me to endure several minutes of uneventful button mashing for every attempt. Apart from that, the rest of the game is a good balance of difficulty. Summary: Overall 7.5/10 for being a solid playing, visually stunning fighter sim that squarely scratches the itch for good ol' fashioned dogfights. Lack of significant innovation impedes a higher ranking. Pros: +Graphics, graphics, graphics! +Dozens of real-world aircraft to fly +Fair amount of variety in mission objectives Cons: -Lack of innovation -Campaign drags on a little long, even with the varying objectives -Story is a bit cheesy | ||
 | XB360 Saint's Row | |
| "a.k.a. GTA: Glitch City" | 2008-02-05 |
| Saints Row is an online-enabled Grand Theft Auto, with a "hardcore gansta" body kit.
For the most part, it's a decent game. There's definitely some quality gameplay inside this box. I especially enjoy the highly customisable character appearance. A few gameplay innovations address some of the complaints GTA received, and there were also some interesting new mingames but I didn't find anything truly revolutionary to warrant all the hype this game received. In fact, for every innovation that added to this game there seemed to be a glitch that detracted. My favourite, the "Where did my car go?" glitch, causes your vehicle to disappear for no apparent reason. When this happens, your character comes to an abrupt halt, stuck in mid air. I could find no way to begin moving again or exit the "missing" vehicle. This particular glitch repeated itself every time I attempted one particular mission, rendering the game completely unplayable from that point forward. Even though there were some fun minigames, I found the "Respect" system caused them to become quite repetitive. In order to progress with the story you need "respect". In order to get respect, you must complete side job after side job ad infinitum. While fun the first few times, they get old fast. Good concept, poor execution. Still, for its faults there are enough enjoyable qualities to make this game worth playing- just not enough to live up to the hype. Pros: -Beautiful scenery -Highly customisable character -Celebrity voice overs Cons: -Glitches/bugs -Rep...rep...repetitive -Too much distance/driving between every point A and point B | ||
 | God of War PS2 | |
| "Intense, intense, intense!!!" | 2008-02-05 |
| God of War is one of the best games to be released in recent times. From graphics/environment to gameplay, to story, this game is about as well-rounded as you will find.
There would not be enough room to go into detail about all of the positive points about this game, but here are some of the top performers: Graphics: By far the top feature in my mind. Clearly this game was designed to push the limits of the PS2. The result is a series of beautiful and immersive environments. You get the feeling you are standing in ancient Greece fighting frighteningly realistic enemies. Bosses in particular stand out as master achievements in gaming graphics. Gameplay: Nothing kills a game like a difficult control scheme and nothing makes a game like a truly intuitive one. This game offers a wide array of combos that are easy to use so you'll be owning monsters like Zeus himself imbued you with special powers. In fact, in the game he does! You obtain several special powers from different Gods throughout the story. Some games leave you wanting to use the same special power all the time, but not so with this one. Each power is useful in a particular type of situation so you find yourself using each of your powers regularly, depending on the situation you face. In addition, an innovative concept I loved was the "mini-game" method of defeating a foe. These bits of spice really add to the excitement and go a long way to avoid the monotony of typical hack & slash games. Summary: As action games go, this one tops a lot of lists. Within the first thirty seconds you will be drawn in and you likely won't want to put the controller down until you've finished the game. (As an aside there are plenty of save points for those pesky interruptions like work, school, etc.) Unless you bought a PS2 to play Tetris Worlds and nothing else, you should check out this game- you'll be quite happy you did! | ||
 | Battlestar Galactica PS2 | |
| "Fun for fans, but really challenging" | 2008-02-05 |
|
Battlestar galactica is fun, albeit extremely difficult. The phrase "practise makes perfect" applies here like no other. The learning curve is quite steep, but once you master the Viper's (surprisingly) deep controls, you should do well. Pros: -Beautiful scenery, immersive environments -Ships are highly detailed and true to the original TV series -Fills the childhood urge to fly a Viper -Unlockable content (including original Ralph McQuarrie concept sketches) is fantastic for BSG fans Cons: -Extremely steep learning curve will turn away most "casual" gamers -Distance between save points is discouragingly long. There's no worse feeling than finally getting close to the end of a mission and then having to start all over due to a dumb mistake. -Not incredibly innovative as a standalone game- the major draw here is for BSG fans. Overall, if you're a BSG fan, you should enjoy this game as long as you don't expect to clear every mission on the first try. If you're not a BSG fan and looking for a good space flight sim, you may want to look elsewhere. | ||
 | Ace Combat 5 PS2 | |
| "Five for (Dog)Fighting" | 2008-02-05 |
| Ace Combat 5 is another entry in a long running and mostly pleasing series, but even after so many iterations the game is going strong.
Ace 5's biggest asset is its graphics, which are nothing short of stunning- even for a PS2. The visuals, combined with a wide array of real-world aircraft to choose from, will have you believing you really are a top fighter pilot in minutes. The game's rather lengthy campaign (27 missions) takes place in various locales showcasing beautifully detailed terrains. The missions themselves provide variety by mixing up objectives including destroy everything in sight, stealth recon sans weapons, escort, and a follow-the-leader test of your maneuvering skill. My biggest frustration came in the form of a mission consisting of a boring afterburner flight to a cutscene, followed by more boring afterburner to the objective. The objective was a foe who could take a serious beating while doling out plenty of punishment. A tight time limit pushed me over the edge. I don't mind a good challenge, but don't force me to endure several minutes of uneventful button mashing for every attempt. Apart from that, the rest of the game is a good balance of difficulty. Summary: Overall 7.5/10 for being a solid playing, visually stunning fighter sim that squarely scratches the itch for good ol' fashioned dogfights. Lack of significant innovation impedes a higher ranking. Pros: +Graphics, graphics, graphics! +Dozens of real-world aircraft to fly +Fair amount of variety in mission objectives Cons: -Lack of innovation -Campaign drags on a little long, even with the varying objectives -Story is a bit cheesy | ||
 | Battlestar Galactica | |
| "Fun for fans, but really challenging" | 2008-02-05 |
|
Battlestar galactica is fun, albeit extremely difficult. The phrase "practise makes perfect" applies here like no other. The learning curve is quite steep, but once you master the Viper's (surprisingly) deep controls, you should do well. Pros: -Beautiful scenery, immersive environments -Ships are highly detailed and true to the original TV series -Fills the childhood urge to fly a Viper -Unlockable content (including original Ralph McQuarrie concept sketches) is fantastic for BSG fans Cons: -Extremely steep learning curve will turn away most "casual" gamers -Distance between save points is discouragingly long. There's no worse feeling than finally getting close to the end of a mission and then having to start all over due to a dumb mistake. -Not incredibly innovative as a standalone game- the major draw here is for BSG fans. Overall, if you're a BSG fan, you should enjoy this game as long as you don't expect to clear every mission on the first try. If you're not a BSG fan and looking for a good space flight sim, you may want to look elsewhere. | ||
 | D-Link PersonalAir DBT-120 Wireless USB Bluetooth Adapter | |
| "Reliable and Easy to Use" | 2007-12-19 |
| Among the bluetooth adapters available at the time I made this purchase, the D-Link had the best track record. It's not the rock-bottom cheapest, but believe me when I say the few extra dollars are worth it in headache prevention.
The package comes with three things: the dongle, which is about the size of your thumb knuckle (smaller than the average thumb drive); a usb extension cable, which is really handy if your usb ports are a little close together; the driver disc. One word of caution: ignore the setup instructions-do NOT install the driver disc!! For some devices, particularly smart phones like the Blackberry, the D-Link drivers will not work properly. Have no fear, though- this actually makes things easier for you. You just plug in the dongle and away you go. Windows XP has built-in support that works flawlessly with my Blackberry Curve. I sync my phone, transfer files, and everything else without any problems whatsoever. Overall I am extremely happy with this device and would buy it again without hesitation. PS- I have heard of problems with this device and Windows Vista. All I can say there is Vista is already notorious for bugs, problems, etc. If you're using Vista, consider "downgrading" to XP. | ||
 | Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation | |
| "Amazing Visuals, as usual" | 2007-11-13 |
| In typical Ace Combat fashion, this title continues to push the envelop of visual realism in flight simulators. If you have enjoyed previous Ace Combat games you will not be disappointed by Fires of Liberation. If you haven't ever played an Ace Combat this one is certainly a great place to enter the series. While gameplay is solid as usual and missions vary in style and objective, one can't help but focus on the absolutely stunning visuals. Ace Combat has always been known for great realism in its aircraft, but in this iteration the developer really put the focus on making the landscapes come to life. I have yet to play a console flight sim that provides such an immersive experience as Ace Combat. On the other hand, (also typical of the series) the story is a cheesy mess of melodramatic fluff. You'd be better off skipping each cutscene and focusing on the gameplay. My only real complaint is that level difficulty is inconsistent. One mission will be moderately easy followed immediately by one that is near impossible. Then you're back to easy again. I believe this is due to the fact that Wingman support is utterly useless, which makes any level with a lot of enemy planes that much more challenging. In one particularly frustrating mission your comrades continually chime in over the radio to let you know that one or more of a dozen enemy fighters has a missile lock on you but they neither attempt to take out your pursuers (cover command) nor attack the target objective (attack my target command) whilst you shake the bogies off your six. There may be "friendly" planes occupying the sky with you but for all intents and purposes they are just spectators. As a side note, the lack of worth of your wingman is evidenced by an achievement you can earn for his taking out a mere ten enemy targets by your command, meanwhile you might eliminate 40-50 targets in a single level. In the end, Ace Combat 6 is good for 8 or 10 hours of single player fun, not to mention multiplayer action. | ||
 | HP Officejet 6310 All-in-One Printer, Fax, Scanner, Copier | |
| "Great for the small/home office" | 2007-10-24 |
| I've used a lot of printers, inlcuding HP, Lexmark, Kyocera, Xerox, Epson, and so on. Out of all of them I have to say I got the best long-term performance from the HPs. This particular machine is meant for the small/home office light duty work like everyday printing, a fax or two each day, etc. For that task it performs marvelously well at a very reasonable price. If you are planning a larger workload you'll want to look to a larger model. I use all four features regularly, here is how I would rate each one: Printing: The meat and potatoes of any all-in-one machine, this printer is no slouch. I've always had great quality, be it documents or photos. Ink usage is conservative (read: I don't spend a lot on ink). I haven't had any issues in a little over a year of daily use. Faxing: Faxing out is quick and easy using the buttons on the faceplate. I usually stick to black and white but this unit will do colour fax. Incoming faxes can be either printed directly or stored to memory for printing when you're ready. I find this feature handy because I can do away with spam faxes by deleting any incoming faxes I was not expecting. Scanning: While I scan some pictures, most of my scanning relates to electronic backup of paper documents. Scan quality is excellent, however I do have a small complaint. Using the scan-to button on the faceplate sometimes auto-crops documents that include pictures, which can be frustrating. Instead of using the faceplate button, I just launch the software and scan that way. The software interface is very easy to use, so this doesn't really amount to any lost time. Copying: Copies look great, whether scanned from the glass or the sheet feeder. (The feeder, by the way, is NOT prone to jamming) Copying is fast once it gets going, but the time-to-first-page-out is a little long. As for networking support, I have the printer networked using its built-in ethernet jack. Setup was a cinch- you just pop the setup CD (or download the setup file from HP) into each computer you want to use, follow the prompts and you're up and running in no time. My only other general complaint about this machine is that the input/output tray design is a little flimsy. It hasn't broken, it just gets knocked out easily so you'll want to position the printer where the tray will not be bumped. On the whole I am extremely pleased with my purchase. For the price, you will not find a better all around deal. | ||
 | Memory Card 251 GameCube | |
| "Does the job" | 2007-10-23 |
| There's not a lot to say about a memory card. It stores your data. Some people recommend buying generics to save a couple of bucks. The only warning I've heard is that occasionally a system won't recognise a generic. I have used genuine and generic cards for every system I own and have never had a problem. Still, you might want to go with the genuine if you're worried. After all, the price difference is pretty negligible. | ||
 | GameCube Memory Card 251 | |
| "Does the job" | 2007-10-23 |
| There's not a lot to say about a memory card. It stores your data. Some people recommend buying generics to save a couple of bucks. The only warning I've heard is that occasionally a system won't recognise a generic. I have used genuine and generic cards for every system I own and have never had a problem. Still, you might want to go with the genuine if you're worried. After all, the price difference is pretty negligible. | ||
 | Iams Weight Control Hairball Care Adult Cat Food- net wt. 8 lbs. | |
| "Great product, expensive shipping" | 2007-10-23 |
| Our two cats really benefit from the Iams weight/hairball control formula. Both had weight issues after we moved and they were no longer allowed to roam freely outside. This food helped them get back to a normal weight.
As for hairballs, no matter what you feed a cat, he or she will always get an occasional hairball. But- this food does a LOT to help. Prior to using this food, ours coughed up a wonderful present for us almost daily. Now it happens once a month, maybe. I would not, however, recommend purchasing this product through Amazon for one very important reason: Shipping. This $13.99 bag of cat food was ineligible for Prime at the time I ordered and cost over $10.15 to ship. Go buy it for $13.99 (plus tax) from your local pet store. | ||
 | Alias - The Complete Fourth Season | |
| "The demise of a decent show" | 2007-10-04 |
| Have no fear, this review contains NO spoilers. Obviously whether or not you like a television show depends heavily on your taste, but for fans who have seen the first three seasons and are considering buying the fourth I have this to say... While I found the first three season of Alias to be exciting and fun to watch, I had to wonder what happened to season 4. Somewhere during this season, the show crossed the line from an intriguing spy drama with lots of fantastic plot twists to a cheap thrills action series with plot holes through which one could drive a truck. While the show was always obviously fantasy, this season really tested (in my case, broke) the viewer's ability to suspend disbelief. Without going into spoilers, I will simply say that if you've been watching the show to this point, don't bother buying this set- rent it. You will not watch them a second time. | ||
 | KitchenAid KSM150PSWH Artisan Series Stand Mixer (White) | |
| "World's Best Stand Mixer" | 2007-10-03 |
| I don't know that I can say anything about this mixer that hasn't already been said in the other 710 reviews, but here it is: This is the world's greatest stand mixer. There are imitators out there, but don't mess with them- even if they sport a lower price. Your only decision should be whether to buy this version or the professional version: KitchenAid KP26M1XNP Professional 600 Series 6-Quart Stand Mixer, Nickel Pearl. I would say that the "regular" version will work marvelously for any home kitchen. My only other comment would be to buy yourself an extra mixing bowl (KitchenAid K45SBWH Bowl for Pivot Head Stand Mixer) so you don't have to wash out the bowl when you're mixing more than once recipe at the same time. | ||
 | KitchenAid KSM150PSBU Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer (Cobalt Blue) | |
| "World's Best Stand Mixer" | 2007-10-03 |
| I don't know that I can say anything about this mixer that hasn't already been said in the other 710 reviews, but here it is: This is the world's greatest stand mixer. There are imitators out there, but don't mess with them- even if they sport a lower price. Your only decision should be whether to buy this version or the professional version: KitchenAid KP26M1XNP Professional 600 Series 6-Quart Stand Mixer, Nickel Pearl. I would say that the "regular" version will work marvelously for any home kitchen. My only other comment would be to buy yourself an extra mixing bowl (KitchenAid K45SBWH Bowl for Pivot Head Stand Mixer) so you don't have to wash out the bowl when you're mixing more than once recipe at the same time. | ||
 | Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter | |
| "Most convenient & reliable solution" | 2007-10-03 |
| Many complain that this adapter is overpriced. While it's true that there are other wireless gaming adapters with a slightly lower price tag, this one is far more convenient and reliable. I use a Linksys adapter (Linksys WGA54G Wireless-G Gaming Adapter) for my PS2 and yes, it's about $20 cheaper. However, it's one more box taking up space in my entertainment cabinet, it's powered externally so you'll need yet another power outlet, and it must be physically connected to a desktop (or laptop, of course) for initial setup. While I am satisfied with the performance of the Linksys unit it does occasionally drop signal, which kicks me off online gaming sessions. Every now and again it also won't connect until I cycle the power. The Microsoft unit, by contrast, has never once cut out- not even while playing streaming audio from my computer. It also plugs conveniently into the back of the Xbox 360 where it is all but hidden, excepting of course the relatively small antenna. It is powered by the Xbox itself (this was planned for so don't worry about extra power drain issues). Setup is extremely easy and handled from the Xbox main menu. If you're looking to go wireless with your 360, spend the few extra dollars and save yourself some hassle- buy this adapter. | ||
 | KitchenAid KSM150PSAC Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer, Parent | |
| "World's Best Stand Mixer" | 2007-10-03 |
| I don't know that I can say anything about this mixer that hasn't already been said in the other 710 reviews, but here it is: This is the world's greatest stand mixer. There are imitators out there, but don't mess with them- even if they sport a lower price. Your only decision should be whether to buy this version or the professional version: KitchenAid KP26M1XNP Professional 600 Series 6-Quart Stand Mixer, Nickel Pearl. I would say that the "regular" version will work marvelously for any home kitchen. My only other comment would be to buy yourself an extra mixing bowl (KitchenAid K45SBWH Bowl for Pivot Head Stand Mixer) so you don't have to wash out the bowl when you're mixing more than once recipe at the same time. | ||
 | Motorola HS850 Bluetooth Headset | |
| "Superb headset- if you use a Motorola phone" | 2007-10-03 |
| I used this headset with the Moto RAZR and it worked flawlessly. I was quite happy with the audio quality (folks I talked to never complained about background noise, even while driving) and battery life was more than adequate. Additionally I thought the button functions like mute, swapping calls, etc. were pretty easy to use. Why then, you ask, did you rate it only four out of five stars? I'm glad you asked! My disappointment came when I merged my cell phone and PDA by buying a smartphone, an HP iPaq. The headset connected to the new phone without a hitch and worked flawlessly... for a while. After anywhere from a day to a month, without any warning, the headset would cease working, refusing to connect to the phone. The fix required hard resetting the phone every time it failed. Since hard resetting at random intervals was hardly an acceptable way to go about business, I called Motorola for support. Without so much as a single step of troubleshooting I was told to contact the phone manufacturer, HP. Would you like to guess what HP told me? If you guessed "Call Motorola", you win the cupie doll. After calling both manufacturers repeatedly, begging for any input they could give, HP admitted that this headset was not one of a very small group of headsets specifically approved as compatible with the phone. They added that not being on the list does not necessarily mean it won't work, after all it worked just fine for random periods of time (read: I very well could have a defective headset in my hands). Motorola's response never waivered... "Go talk to HP." I knock off a star not for the very plausible prospect that the problem could lie with the phone manufacturer, but for the less than cordial attitude. Refusing to even troubleshoot a product is called passing the buck. For all they knew, it very well could have been a defective unit but they were too quick to dismiss me to know for sure. My solution was to buy a Jabra BT250v Bluetooth Headset with Vibrating Alert [Retail Packaged], after which I had no problems. My summary would be that this headset will likely perform beautifully with any Motorola phone. In fact, it probably works well with many other phones too- just don't expect to receive any support if your phone is not a Motorola. | ||
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