Reviews Written By: AMWL7XIWIPXEZprovided by Amazon.com |
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 | Apple MacBook Pro MB470LL/A 15.4" Notebook (2.4 GHz, LED Glass Display, 2Gb RAM, 250Gb HD) | |
 | "Impressive size, fast, solid feel, but with a caveat..." | 2009-05-01 |
| I do a lot of photography, graphic design, and web design. I recently bought a 24" iMac (the $1799 model with the 120GTX discrete video RAM) and am loving it. I had a choice: Spend $2500 for a Windows license of my Adobe products... or replace my Windows laptop with a Macbook. So I bought this Macbook. Vista turned me off of Microsoft for good. System requirements are asinine, which also means higher power requirements to do the same things I can do on the Mac. I've worked with PCs ever since Windows 1.0 -- and loathed the registry in Win95. But I digress... no more Windows. I throw an Apple and broke the Windows. :) I only mention price as a downer because the laptop has only 2GB of RAM and whose display contains a TN panel. I was hoping for a M-PVA or better. Still, looking directly at it, color shift is minimal. Still, my iMac's H-IPS panel monitor blows it away in terms of gamut and shadow detail. Not that 2GB is _bad_ or anything, but the screen was a disappointment for a $2000 notebook. As usual, OS X rocks. RAM is inexpensive, so to up this to 4GB is no ordeal. And I'll be honest: This thing is light and has a very solid feel. A comparable Windows laptop (think $1300) is twice as thick and needs far more than 2GB of RAM to make use of it. I'd rather have efficiency and quality for a higher price than another piece o' junk to be upgraded all the time. I'll keep major photo editing on the iMac because of its superlative display (no $500 PC monitor even comes close; more TN garbage but larger so the flaws become even more apparent), but this is capable of most design work that doesn't require pinpoint color manipulation. And there's plenty of that that can be done too. | ||
 | Apple MacBook Pro MB471LL/A 15.4" Notebook (2.53 GHz, LED Glass Display, 4Gb RAM, 320Gb HD) | |
| "Impressive size, fast, solid feel, but with a caveat..." | 2009-05-01 |
| I do a lot of photography, graphic design, and web design. I recently bought a 24" iMac (the $1799 model with the 120GTX discrete video RAM) and am loving it. I had a choice: Spend $2500 for a Windows license of my Adobe products... or replace my Windows laptop with a Macbook. So I bought this Macbook. Vista turned me off of Microsoft for good. System requirements are asinine, which also means higher power requirements to do the same things I can do on the Mac. I've worked with PCs ever since Windows 1.0 -- and loathed the registry in Win95. But I digress... no more Windows. I throw an Apple and broke the Windows. :) I only mention price as a downer because the laptop has only 2GB of RAM and whose display contains a TN panel. I was hoping for a M-PVA or better. Still, looking directly at it, color shift is minimal. Still, my iMac's H-IPS panel monitor blows it away in terms of gamut and shadow detail. Not that 2GB is _bad_ or anything, but the screen was a disappointment for a $2000 notebook. As usual, OS X rocks. RAM is inexpensive, so to up this to 4GB is no ordeal. And I'll be honest: This thing is light and has a very solid feel. A comparable Windows laptop (think $1300) is twice as thick and needs far more than 2GB of RAM to make use of it. I'd rather have efficiency and quality for a higher price than another piece o' junk to be upgraded all the time. I'll keep major photo editing on the iMac because of its superlative display (no $500 PC monitor even comes close; more TN garbage but larger so the flaws become even more apparent), but this is capable of most design work that doesn't require pinpoint color manipulation. And there's plenty of that that can be done too. | ||
 | AT&T Tilt Smartphone (AT&T) | |
| "Solid phone, lacking in one important aspect... a proper video driver" | 2008-10-02 |
| I purchased this unit a couple of days ago, then upgraded to Windows Mobile 6.1. An easy upgrade (even works on 64-bit Vista), WM6.1 is fairly straightforward to use, and stable overall. (I have had an applet crash, however.) It's a speedy performer out of the box, though sometimes screen refreshes were a little slow. It turns out there's a brouhaha over a lack of tightly integrated video drivers for this device, which is capable of running MUCH faster. Along with the crashing applet (an HTC background running utility; HTC is the company that actually makes the Tilt), I really hope they come along with a better video driver. This unit is good, and is a good Smartphone PDA, but it could do better. The keyboard is awesome. The touch screen is as sensitive as my previous PDA (iPaq 2755). Boots fast. Has a crisp, bright screen. And whose processor is NOT Intel ARM-based. This needn't worry you unless you're into using hacking, overclocking, or other gray-area utilities. Those apps may not work entirely on the Tilt's CPU. The other apps I've used, from backup to office suite to games to shell add-ons DO work nicely indeed. So don't think this device can't run. It does and nicely overall too. Battery life is so-so - 1300maH is not much. Larger batteries are available, but they will make this thing HUGE. All in all, it's a good performer, and Windows Mobile 6.1 is a treat. But the omissions on the part of the manufacturer (the aforementioned video drivers) is most confounding. HTC is known for doing better. But that gripe aside, it really is a top ranking mobile unit. | ||
 | Wii Charge Station | |
 | "Give it two months -- either the battery will fail or it will kill your wii remote." | 2008-08-04 |
| Find every other one-star rating - there is a recurring consistency here. The problems may not start the day you buy it, but this product is trash. | ||
 | Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga | |
| "Which chapter's your favorite?" | 2008-07-26 |
| Right. Having read all the reviews and then deciding to plonk big big money down on this game, I felt I had to compile a small small review. So here it is: Putting a Star Wars game into the market is always risky, because most of them seem to be bland and one-dimensional. Not since the 1980 vector-based arcade came has there been a Star Wars game WORTH playing. And why is it worth playing? Because it takes key sequences from the movies, adds some goals and coins and more baddies than what they could do on the big screen in 1980 (but without going so garishly overboard in 1999) and allows YOU to play them. It gets better; whether it's easier for the console to draw series of blocks, Lego wanting more licensing royalties, or if somebody decided that mixing a legendary genre with a legendary building block set might actually be a work of genius, we do not know. Regardless, it's a brilliant idea. Best of all, this isn't the usual "3 lives and you're done" -- you can keep getting killed and you'll magically reappear. Remember this because I'm going to refer to it later on... I could froth on and on about how this game is so great, when everyone else has said why. So, why do I knock off a star? Simple: In order to play ANY of the movies' sequences, you first have to drink 126 cups of coffee and meander through some of the dreary "Phantom Menace" games. If you're the type of person, like me, who'd rather endure the bubonic plague and a running cold water in tooth cavity while watching paint dry instead of watching movie prequels 1-3, you're not going to want to really care because you want to get at the actually good stuff (episodes 4-6). Which is why being able to die constantly is so terrific! If there's a scene you really want to get over with, but know you have to finish it before you can get onto something fun, just whiz through it and not worry about a thing. If you had 3 lives, snuffed it, and hard to start over from the beginning, at some point every person reviewing here would rate the game a big fat 1 star, and that'd still be generous. For that ability alone, to die over and over and it having no effect on actual game play, I really shouldn't have withdrawn a star... but the first three prequels barely qualify as part of the saga IMHO and the repetitiveness really got on my nerves... I will say this: The pod racing game was rather enjoyable. I just didn't like feeling I'm playing the brat who ends up the most vile person in the universe, but nothing's perfect - it's about the game, not the people who scribbled up the movie with crayons in the first place. Incidentally, I wasn't entirely annoyed at meandering through "Phantom Menace". For a while, it was great fun slicing Jar Jar Stinx over and over again with my light saber. Maybe I'll do that some more later on today... :) But add my voice to the choir - reliving these movies by BEING the action is a stroke of genius, and taking the best films from Hollywood's golden age helps too. Hmmm. One other thing -- after enduring scene after scene of boring slicing and dicing with light sabers in ep 1, it was rather nice getting to the wider array of sequences in the other movies. Especially "Empire Strikes Back", for all the obvious reasons. :) | ||
 | Super Mario Galaxy | |
 | "Grossly addicting" | 2008-07-20 |
| When I saw the package, the namby pamby looking characters almost put me off. But reading literally dozens of reviews citing innovative gameplay won me over. And those reviews were right. Keeping in mind, this is technically a kids' game, it's easy to immerse one's self into the Mario Galaxy universe to complete the tasks. And if you think that sounds simple, it isn't. The game's innovations come through the third dimension - literally. Walking up and down areas from a visual perspective that doesn't follow suit, this game excels at transforming the lore it started in 1985 -- and, at first, it comes across as jarring to be fighting nasties from a sideways or even upside down perspective, but that's part of the fun - and lasting value as I've never come across anything like this before. In short, mobility rocks. If I were to have a gripe, maybe it is too cute-looking, and Nintendo did not need to superglue in the Mario lore for 'marketing and product identification' or whatever the money making term is -- this game is an innovative and creative adventure of its own accord. The Mario aspect is merely icing on a cake so rich it wouldn't have been necessary to include these old trademarks to garner interest. As usual, Nintendo ups the ante with game focus and niche audiences, which is why the Wii became - and will remain - successful. And, yeah, it's worth $50. :) | ||
 | The Muppet Show - Season One (Special Edition) | |
 | "Recollections" | 2008-06-14 |
| Having picked up seasons 2 and 3 of "The Muppet Show", I felt I had to seek out season 1. If you're a muppets fan and care about the fuzzy packaging, buy early -- my season 1 set lacks it. The packaging is otherwise good. DVD video and sound quality are exceptional for a videotaped program this age. But as others have said time and time again, it's been butchered. This means songs, and some lead-ups to them, have been excised (for copyright or contractual reasons). Cutting up episodes like this is rather like selling a prosthetic hand after chopping off two of the fingers. It's there, but it just doesn't feel complete. On a personal level, as I've always found the skits to be funny and the songs more often that not a nuisance, I'm not that much bothered - except the lack of chapter cuts makes manual fast forwarding annoying. It's still a reasonable collector's piece, but if you're a fan of the songs, you may be in for a shock. | ||
 | Get Smart Again | |
| "Bare bones, not quite remastered release" | 2008-05-28 |
| Having sat through this movie again, what with it being one of those late-80s reunion specials, this one was remarkably good. Some crude humor, which was inevitable, but manages to retain the wit and spunk of the original show -- and update some of the old gags in surprisingly creative ways (the latest replacement for the "Cone of Silence" was a real winner). And, you guessed it, Don Adams still pulls every typical joke with his usual aplomb; it's impossible not to laugh. Of course, the video and audio on this release are fairly ho-hum. Dust and specks appear periodically and the colors are dull and muted. Sound is very passable, but the video quality is fairly bad. And it's just the movie; don't expect any extras. Those would have been nice, but oh well. Tidbit: "Get Smart Again!" was aired on ABC -- making "Get Smart" one of the few TV series to air on all three major networks. (in 1995, FOX updated the show as well - a bit more crude, but still with the right humor, and making it the fourth major network that "Get Smart" graced.) Definitely worth a purchase, as I don't think there will be any new "Would You Believe? Edition" any time soon, properly remastered and with loads of extras. | ||
 | Roseanne - The Complete First Season | |
 | "LOVE the show - HATE the editing." | 2008-03-30 |
| Syndicated cuts make this NOT a "complete season". It's still funny, but it's only worth 90% of the price you pay. Even if it's $9.99, it's still worth only $8.99. Shame. | ||
 | Sliders: Third Season | |
| "Well, FOX got its hands into the series and season 3 is what we got" | 2008-03-30 |
| Seasons 1 and 2 allowed more creativity because they were filmed in Canada, with Tracy Torme having more input. FOX, claiming bad ratings and pretending they know anything about sci-fi (or drama for that matter), change the premise of the series to allow our heroes to slide anywhere in a 4500 mile radius (said to be only between San Francisco and LA; never mind 400 mile radius could land anywhere and not sequentially either). FOX not only allowed the season to end on a cliffhanger (involving time travel, if things weren't daft enough already) but the whole season changes from an action/what-if thoughtfest into a movie ripoff of the week with sappy, maudlin characters. There's more to sci-fi than character interaction, and seasons 1 and 2 managed to do everything right. So what happens in season 3 that comes crashing everything down? Obviously, the core necessity for any television -- the storylines themselves. And trust me, I'm being lenient with 3 stars thanks to the small handful of decent entries... Now add in some atrocious incidental music and wince until you puke. Then continue to wince. Yuck. Tracy soon left the show, but keep an eye open for his penned episodes "The Guardian" and "Double Cross" - these stick to the proper premise of the series. And now to rate these stories: 1- Rules Of The Game- 8/10 The group lands on "arcade world" - an acquired taste, but works if you can suspend disbelief. 2- Double Cross- 10/10 Quinn's double on an Earth suffering energy shortages has a clever twist - best of the season, and sadly never brought through to any proper continuation, nor conclusion 3- Electric Twister Acid Test- 2/10 "Twister!" 'nuff said 4- The Guardian- 10/10 Parallel universe running on a slower elliptical curve; Quinn sees himself at an earlier time and interferes with his development 5- The Dream Masters- 2/10 Dweeby brats go into peoples' minds and kill them. Trite at best. Shock jock blood; nothing special. I'm sure they shamelessly ripped the idea from someone else; but even if they didn't, it's obscenely bad. 6- Desert Storm- 1/10 See "Mad Max" - Worse, this story is dedicated to a stunt man who died while making it. A real tragedy, as the story is so much rubbish. :( 7- Dragonslide- 4/10 8- The Fire Within- 7/10 The show finally addresses what happens if they land on a parallel earth that might prove less than capable of supporting life. About time too! With some interesting ideas afoot, let down by more trite garbage and it seems the same computer platform has become standard on every parallel universe they go to too... roll with the ideas and it'll work. 9- The Prince Of Slides- 3/10 Guess who gets pregnant? 10- Dead Man Sliding- 3/10 *sigh* If only the title was referring to the mental state of the people watching this episode... 11- State Of The A.R.T.- 2/10 Well, he played Freddy Krueger. He played a friendly lizard in a landmark sci-fi miniseries that had a lot more cranial work put into it... So what's he doing in this garbage as an android? 12- Season's Greedings- 1/10 Never mind "Lois and Farce - the new adventures of Stuporman" (ABC) having a story of the same title; but the Jeffersons don't guest in this dog of an episode. If only they had, I suppose... You can guess the plot... it's about greed at Christmastime... 13- Murder Most Foul- 1/10 No comment. With a title like "Foul", it's too easy. 14- Slide Like An Egyptian- 5/10 Okay, they land on a world where the Egyptians maintained their society and somehow developed technology. With all that silica around them, it'd have been easy enough... Unfortunately, this story is more or less an excuse to get a new stylish looking timer, it could have been so much more - but am glad we got as little as we had. 15- Paradise Lost- 4/10 By this time, try "Fanbase Lost" instead. 16- The Exodus, part one- 7/10 Co-written by John Rhys-Davies, and is also his swansong. Not the best way out; but by now it makes sense why he wanted out. :( A terrific premise, but I have to wonder how much was edited or removed from JR-D's control... 17- The Exodus, part two- 1/10 If only Roger Daltry stayed on further epidodes for the new quest and bash a few guitars along the way... JR-D's demise is so incredibly unworthy and undeserved. 18- Sole Survivors- 2/10 The title must be a euphemism for the 2 people still watching the show, perhaps? 19- The Breeder- 1/10 20- The Last Eden- 2/10 21- The Other Slide Of Darkness- 2/10 22- Slither- 1/10 "Anaconda" - 'nuff said. 25- Dinoslide- 3/10 They go back to a previously visited world, but it's not the one from "In Dino Veritas", unfortunately... 23- Stoker- 2/10 "Dracula". Yawn. 24- This Slide Of Paradise- 4/10 "Island of Dr Moreau" with the stupidest ending ever as Quinn and hottie Maggie are separated from (what FOX deemed deadweight) Rembrandt and Wade. Now Season 4 picks up a bit, but has to retcon the entire series' premise in order to do it. Pity... "Sliders" to me, will always be seasons 1 and 2; FOX slowly and brutally kills it in season 3, and Sci-Fi channel bastardizes it onward. That's not to say there aren't good episodes in the future, but with so much damage having been done, Sci-Fi had no choice... | ||
 | The Beautician and the Beast | |
| "Cheaper elsewhere!" | 2008-03-16 |
| Awesome movie, but you can save $80 or more by doing a quick web search. | ||
 | Xanadu | |
| "A neglected gem, ahead of its time: Xanadu is not a xanadud!" | 2008-02-12 |
| Why is this movie so badly rated?
* The acting: Yes, some of the side parts are pedestrianly acted. But the leads (Newton-John, Beck, Kelly) put in competent performances. Acting grade when averaged: B * The movie's concept: Follow your dreams despite the harshness of reality. Re-live your past upon the realization of age. The concepts are presented without so much a hint of malice or irritability. But more on presentation in a moment. If anything, it's simple by today's standards. In 1980, it must've been too much for ordinary audiences. Concept grade: A- * The movie's presentation: In a word - "conceptual". Roll with the concept and you'll be hooked from the start. There is an innocent, organic, "real" feel to a movie that uses visual cues more often than dialogue to promote its point. Case in point is the opening ~10 minutes. An annoyed artist who feels pursuing his dreams is a waste of time takes a distinguished sketch and tears it up; the shreds floating down and, without explanation, causes these mystical painted figures to become alive -- the expressions on their faces is that of the joy of escaping a painted backdrop. It's almost the perfect metaphor for life in general: A soul released into the world... The grade for presentation: A- * The token tacky moment: An inverse grade; every movie has one really cringe-inducing moment, and it's a matter of judging how infamous this moment affects the whole movie experience. For me, said scene is the roller skating with the sync-clapping "extravaganza". Yes, this is where some legitimate vomiting would be allowed. Wonderfully choreographed, yes, and impeccable given the fantasy nature of the film, but it feels claustrophobic in spite of it all and it's also the sort of thing you would not want to see if you went to a skating rink for real. Especially if someone sneezed at just the wrong moment. Fantasy is surely more than a big roller skating rink, how much in 1980 was? Mind you, this scene is the climax of the metaphor OF the roller skates, which is whimsical freedom. Token tacky moment grade: C. (at least it isn't A, which for any other category would be an F...) * The songs: A perfect fit for this movie; these songs hold up on their own extremely well and are, in a word, "enchanting". Now ELO is not usually my "cup of tea", but their song "I'm Alive" is one of the most uplifting songs I've ever listened to. Never mind Olivia's "Magic", which is more powerful than a chorus of Sirens... A definite no-brainer, the grade for the songs: A+ * The special effects: Many were easy to achieve in 1980. Not all were so easy, and in 2008 they look dated. All effects do. While not perfect, then or now, they do adequately convey the feel of innocence we all need more of in our lives. Grade: C+ Overall rating: B+ All in all, I just can't understand why this movie is poorly rated. Make your dreams or be a slave. And the movie makes the point without being sarcastic, callous, or jaded. The goal is success, not hate. It's a neglected gem. | ||
 | Xanadu | |
| "A neglected gem, ahead of its time: Xanadu is not a xanadud!" | 2008-02-12 |
| Why is this movie so badly rated?
* The acting: Yes, some of the side parts are pedestrianly acted. But the leads (Newton-John, Beck, Kelly) put in competent performances. Acting grade when averaged: B * The movie's concept: Follow your dreams despite the harshness of reality. Re-live your past upon the realization of age. The concepts are presented without so much a hint of malice or irritability. But more on presentation in a moment. If anything, it's simple by today's standards. In 1980, it must've been too much for ordinary audiences. Concept grade: A- * The movie's presentation: In a word - "conceptual". Roll with the concept and you'll be hooked from the start. There is an innocent, organic, "real" feel to a movie that uses visual cues more often than dialogue to promote its point. Case in point is the opening ~10 minutes. An annoyed artist who feels pursuing his dreams is a waste of time takes a distinguished sketch and tears it up; the shreds floating down and, without explanation, causes these mystical painted figures to become alive -- the expressions on their faces is that of the joy of escaping a painted backdrop. It's almost the perfect metaphor for life in general: A soul released into the world... The grade for presentation: A- * The token tacky moment: An inverse grade; every movie has one really cringe-inducing moment, and it's a matter of judging how infamous this moment affects the whole movie experience. For me, said scene is the roller skating with the sync-clapping "extravaganza". Yes, this is where some legitimate vomiting would be allowed. Wonderfully choreographed, yes, and impeccable given the fantasy nature of the film, but it feels claustrophobic in spite of it all and it's also the sort of thing you would not want to see if you went to a skating rink for real. Especially if someone sneezed at just the wrong moment. Fantasy is surely more than a big roller skating rink, how much in 1980 was? Mind you, this scene is the climax of the metaphor OF the roller skates, which is whimsical freedom. Token tacky moment grade: C. (at least it isn't A, which for any other category would be an F...) * The songs: A perfect fit for this movie; these songs hold up on their own extremely well and are, in a word, "enchanting". Now ELO is not usually my "cup of tea", but their song "I'm Alive" is one of the most uplifting songs I've ever listened to. Never mind Olivia's "Magic", which is more powerful than a chorus of Sirens... A definite no-brainer, the grade for the songs: A+ * The special effects: Many were easy to achieve in 1980. Not all were so easy, and in 2008 they look dated. All effects do. While not perfect, then or now, they do adequately convey the feel of innocence we all need more of in our lives. Grade: C+ Overall rating: B+ All in all, I just can't understand why this movie is poorly rated. Make your dreams or be a slave. And the movie makes the point without being sarcastic, callous, or jaded. The goal is success, not hate. It's a neglected gem. | ||
 | Logitech X-530 5.1 5-Piece System with Subwoofer Speaker | |
| "It's not Bose... but all in all it's a solid product." | 2008-01-13 |
| The demo for the X-540 at the store was awesome enough for me to give it a try. Compared to the $30 2.0 speaker set, the various 2.1 speakers, that weird strip thing containing 3 speakers, and the X-540, the X-540 sounded the strongest. There was one more expensive set to the right. Sound quality seemed equal.
There were also 3 Bose sets to the left, but as they had their own music piped through, I summarily discounted them. Didn't seem fair to include, somehow... So why give the X-540 a try? The wired remote: It's got the power button, volume adjustment, bass adjustment (a BIG plus), and "matrix" effect button that allows 2 speaker sources (CDs) to be pumped on all speakers... Convenience is an understatement. Never mind they sounded good at the store! So I whipped out Satan's plastic pal, paid the $100, and lugged it home. Set up was easy and all the cables were provided. Always helpful, that... My sound card is a Creative Labs Fatal1ty Gamer. For reference point, I am replacing a three year old Logitech x-620 speaker set. To summarize the X-540: Good points: * The remote. I like having every conceivable control at my finger tips and not on a computer screen or attached to the subwoofer on the floor. * Sound from CDs or 5.1 enabled games is fantastic. The two speakers per module gets some of the credit here. * Turning down the bass on the remote doesn't hamper bass tones as badly as the x-620; or, rather, most of the tones can be heard without the wretched reverb shaking up the house like a blender. * The "Matrix" effect is quite acceptable. Thumbs up from me. It pipes the left/right sounds from the front to the rear systems, using a slight delay effect and others to make it sound "real" and encompassing. Hard to describe, but while it simply can't take an existing stereo soundtrack and make it 5 separate channels (no sound system can), the trickery used to mimic the effect is very good indeed. * I had no problems with cable length for the rear speakers (6' away with plenty of slack cable remaining). But YMMV; not all computer desks are the same. The not-so-good points: * With 'matrix' enabled, the bass setting needs to be increased slightly; decreased when disabled. The awful points: * For the price offered, why is the subwoofer unprotected? Their preceding models have even a basic grille for the subwoofer. The subwoofer is aimed directly toward the floor, but if you're renting, those neighbors are not going to be keen on listening to the heavy thumping! Definitely recommended. 8/10 Keep in mind, I am not using these speakers above 50% (and at this level they sound very clear and crisp, even on older, digitally remastered CDs). I like the ability to hear and I've got neighbors who like quiet too. :) At the store, I did crank the puppies up to 80% and heard none of the issues some other commentators have mentioned. That's when I noticed people talking louder and thinking of me when I think of other people who crank the volume up to 100% to listen to speaker quality. So, that's my story. | ||
 | Battlestar Galactica - The Complete Epic Series | |
| "Starts great but meanders - still, a spiritual precursor to Trek TNG shouldn't be ignored." | 2007-12-30 |
| Talk about being ahead of its time.
This expensive and popular show started out extremely well, for a family-themed show that does ultimately end up corny in spots. But it jumps the shark. Recall the episode "Fire in Space" when the ship ends up in a disaster? Well, not only is this the point the show jumps the shark in favor of meandering and soap-opera nonsense, it's also a template of which Star Trek TNG saw inspiration from in order to make "Disaster". But I digress. From here on, especially when we get to "Baltar's Escape", the Cylons too seem to have disappeared and all that's left is the soap opera between the characters. Mind you, the finale - "The Hand of God" is rather good... Other episodes to look out for include: "The Living Legend" - featuring Lloyd Bridges, this 2-parter is arguably the best episode made. "Lost Planet of the Gods" - Adama finds their long lost homeworld of Kobol, which has the details on how to get to Earth... another good 2-parter... "Gun on Ice Planet Zero" - another two parter, this one is also a high point. "War of the Gods" is another high point; a good example of the show being ingenious, mystical, and corny at the same time. It dares to be something big, and that is its greatest strength. Indeed, BSG's multi-part stories tend to fare better than the one-offs. Allowing for more character detail and a more epic scope, they do satisfy. One thing about "Saga of a Star World" -- this was the BSG movie, revamped -- Baltar is no longer killed (he is given "another chance" to find the humans, of course). I have to prefer the theatrical movie, as it seems more realistic - ironically. :) At $45, there's more to love than hate in a TV show that was groundbreaking and daring at the time, while being saccharine and campy in the only way late-70s producers knew how to make a family-themed show. Indeed, those were the days. | ||
 | Vcool VGA Cooler | |
| "Useless for an nVidia 8800GTS card" | 2007-12-23 |
| My temps before the insertion of this fan were 57c idle/67c load.
After insertion, with the switch set to "H" the temps were 57c idle/64c load. In order to have the fan fit with the extender tube attached, the bottom clip had to be removed -- or else it wouldn't seat properly in the case. Pity there's no proper documentation to confirm things, so you just read it here. :) The clip can be effortlessly reattached as long as you don't break it off with force. For this high-end video card, the fan just has no effect. For low-mid level video cards, it probably does what it claims on the packaging. And it is a pretty shade of blue. | ||
 | Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS Card ( 70SB046600002 ) | |
| "A VERY worthy upgrade!! (Despite one quirky quirk)" | 2007-12-23 |
| My previous sound card was a Sound Blaster Audigy II (Gamer ZS). I saw the Fatal1ty and wondered "Is this thing worth the price?" So I started reading user reviews on tech topic forums, with most people saying "50 million transistors vs 5, what would you do? ;) " Not helpful, and knowing the only way to learn something is to do it yourself, I bought one.
Needless to say, I am floored with its performance. Of course, as a cynical Gen-X'er, I felt the need to point out the quirk first! I use Windows Vista - when removing the Audigy II and putting in the Fatal1ty (different PCI slot), Vista blue-screened when loading the CL control panel. I rebooted into safe mode and removed the previous drivers. Rebooting afterward, I then installed the Fatal1ty software. I still received a prompt of some old CL Control Panel software, but it was overwritten without any problems. Maybe it's not a quirk; I could have removed the old software first. As with the Audigy II software, my antivirus software thought the Fatal1ty software contained a virus (no, it didn't). Okay, we'll call that the quirk. Now, how does the card compare? It blows everything else away. The few games I play (UT2004, Doom3, FS X) sound crisper and with far more background detail than with the previous card. The computer seems to run a tad faster too. The foreground detail really packs an extra depth. Windows Media Player and MP3s do sound a lot better as well; it is an incredible experience. But to make the long ramble short, if you have even the Audigy II, this upgrade is not a frivolous purchase. | ||
 | HoMedics Sound Spa Clock Radio | |
| " projection unit broke shortly after purchase" | 2007-08-31 |
| The sound effects are quite good; rather better than the competition. They don't sound particularly tinny or anything else un-relaxing. This also works great as an alarm clock; though I wish the LED display was red or dark yellow... The blue projection unit is great - though segments of the display started burning out after limited use; starting about 4 months after purchase. I've used the device about a year now and the projection unit can no longer display the time. Not that I care, the clock does that on its own. :) Perhaps a bit pricey because of the projection gimmick, but I like it enough to recommend. | ||
 | Samsung DVD-1080P7 Up-Converting 1080p DVD Player | |
| "Excellent image quality, but not without caveats." | 2007-07-22 |
| Fastidious as I am, I've checked out all the local consumer brands. (A $300 DVD player that doesn't play HD or Blu-Ray seems pointless, and I'm waiting for either of those brands to become THE standard. right now, bet on Blu-ray... but I digress.) Many local electronics stores probably don't like me right now, but as a consumer who works hard for his money, I'm going to scope things out. Many low-end brands (sub-$100) have pitiful quality. Even more pitiful up-converting quality that is actually worse than standard component video. I've read enough to stay with "the two S's" - meaning Sony or Samsung. The brands starting with M, L, or P seem to be problematic with picture quality (PQ), and I looked at those models too. I ultimately returned the Sony model because it wouldn't play some of my DVD+R DL discs. Plus, I wasn't entirely happy with the upconverting PQ despite it being much better than average. So I tried the Samsung 1080p7. Its upconverting PQ, of all available brands, is clean and crisp - it shows as much detail as cleanly as possible. While it won't perform miracles for poorly comrpessed discs (think "those tv show sets where they cram 9 episodes on a disc meant for 7"), it edges out in overall quality. Now it is true that HDMI offers little compared to component video. But there is an appreciable difference; the output video isn't as grainy and no color adjustments need to be made in either the player or TV set. They look accurate, with no appreciable bias with one color over another. (my TV set being a high-end 32" Sony, but that's a separate review...) The Samsung 1080p7 also plays many of my DVD+R DL discs, though it has had trouble with some of them. (I did exchange the model at the store and the replacement, so far, has fared better with the same discs that wouldn't work before. It also has a newer firmware, dating 5.10.07 (compared to 4.26.07 if I recall the old date correctly), so I'm hoping Samsung has fixed the DL problem. If not, I can live with it. Though I'm hoping they have fixed it for good. :) ) As with the crisp and detailed video of solid gamut, audio - in Dolby 5.1, DTS, et al, is also excellent. One problem does exist in that it won't channel MPEG PCM audio through the fiber or coaxial out; requiring a second link to the audio receiver. MPEG PCM audio usually applies only to homemade discs of weddings, birthdays, street riots, births, divorce proceedings, conceptions, funerals, and so on, and never (so far) with store-bought discs. It's somewhat annoying, but I can live with it. Oh, at least for North American units (R1), they nixed the ability to make the unit region-free. Disheartening, but as they say, "applesauce happens". Maybe I'll give that Oppo a try one day down the road... All things considered, the pros heavily outweigh the cons. Samsung is definitely going to be a major brand in the consumer DVD arena. Though for LCD TV sets, Sony still has the edge and doesn't cost that much more... | ||
 | Sony KDL-32S2010 32" Bravia S-Series LCD HDTV - Black | |
| "Oh yeah!! Sock it to me with this!" | 2007-06-18 |
| No stupid "Dynamic contrast ratio: 7000:1" gimmicks that merely flicker the backlight, which is disconcerting and not to mention misleading... Just a true, real contrast ratio that allows numerous shadow detail that you're not going to see in any competitor's 32" set. No washed out colors, either - this Sony is a half-decent replacement for dead-end CRT technology. And I looked at 6 models, looking at every nuance, black level, color saturation, sharpness, detail, features, menu functions, et cetera, noting all TVs were at out-of-box conditions. Sony costs more, but the difference in visual quality is considerable - worth every penny. Detail is good. :) If you are a videophile, this is THE set to get if you have a limited budget. Casual viewers would probably be satisfied with any competing model, but why? As with lower quality screen technology, the overall quality is bound to be lower as well. You do get what you pay for. And if you looked at the competing model next to the Sony, you'd be tempted to buy the Sony anyway. Even if the cost difference was a mere $100. | ||
 | PNY GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB Video Card | |
| "5 stars = card. 5 stars = warranty/support" | 2007-05-11 |
| One 8800 puts two SLI-configured 7900 series cards to shame. Now fathom a dual 8800 solution - W00T! When I bought my BFG 8800, new, I had a small problem with it. I contacted BFG via e-mail, who got back to me in one day. The first thing they wanted me to check was the power supply. While my power supply did conform to requirements, it is terrific to have a company look at hardware issues instead of Windows issues first; especially as this card is power-hungry. (The 8800 is new technology, and BFG like most 8800 makers kept to nVidia's own specs.) Once it was proven there was no obvious system problem, I got am RMA number. This was over the course of three days. No biggie. I shipped the card to them, UPS Ground. They shipped me a replacement card using UPS RED - next day service. To say I am pleased/happy/loyal is an understatement; especially for them shipping back the replacement card so quickly, and using next day service. (Most companies use third day or ground service). As they have, and honor, a lifetime support and have for all their cards as far back as I can remember. And I've no issue if the replacement card is refurbished or not, but that is quite obviously a non-issue. They will be around to support it if problems ensue. This is the first time I've ever needed their service department, and I've used their video card line ever since nVidia's 4600 series. (Roughly 7 or 8 years and I'm a power user who loves upgrading to the newest technologies.) Along with one other brand, I would trust BFG for their service and support and am even happier to be a customer now than when I had originally bought this unit. Good support is what brings customers back. So is a good product, but sometimes problems are inevitable. That's why support exists - and compared to other companies, BFG came across as honest and knowledgeable, and that means a lot to me. Thank you!! | ||
![Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate UPGRADE [DVD]](product_images/4923000/4923554_thumb.jpg) | Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate UPGRADE [DVD] | |
| "Expensive for what it offers, but isn't as bad as its reputation." | 2007-04-30 |
| My system's specs: AMD Athlon64 X2 4200+ CPU 2GB (DDR400, CAS latency 2.5) 300GB hard drive (three 40GB partitions for Windows and Linux OSes, 160GB for data) Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS sound 2 DVD+RW/RL drives BFG Nvidia 8800GTS video with 640MB RAM (recently upgraded from a 7900GS w/256MB card) What I liked so far: * Improved disk management subsystem * More intuitive file copy interface (overwriting files w/duplicate of original, others...) * Looks and feels more professional; the Mr. Rogers "My computer" and fischer price tinker toy interface was gag-inducing. * Works with Kaspersky Internet Security * Unreal tournament 2004, Doom3, and others work fine * Most RAM reported in use is for file caching rather than being a hog on its own (I am looking to find ways to manually disable needless services) * Activation of Vista (and Office) surprisingly a breeze (I dual boot with XP and Linux; I expected Vista to wreak havoc with everything, and it didn't.) * The new resource monitor. Very fetching in its breakdown of system tasks. * I can play a movie and it would be my desktop wallpaper. If I cared. * Display animation is much smoother (as the Nvidia 7900GS chipset is given a high 5.8 rating, I suspect most video cards DX9 capable WILL work without hiccups.) * DirectX 10 * The Sidebar. What I need to verify: * OS load times (Vista seems slightly faster) * Application load times (no apparent change) * Overall speed & fluidity (it seems the same) I don't care for - the regrets, perhaps: * Default settings: 600MB (of 2GB seen) is in use by the OS. A lot of it is due to file caching (appx 300MB worth) * Once activated, I cannot switch between 32- and 64-bit versions. (so I've been told) * The built-in defragmenter is way, way too slow - a real disappointment * all the animated glowing neon stuff. It looks slick, but why? * UAC seems redundant - a nice attempt to warn me if somebody tries to run a component behind my back, but once UAC is hacked, it becomes useless. It is superficially annoying, but being nagged for admin privs is no different in Linux and Max OS X. * Activation. If I did swap the mobo or HD down the road; I may have re-activation problems. I know piracy is a problem, but the real pirates are not in America. * The upgrade forcing me to have a qualifying OS already installed. Fortunately I have a legal copy of Win2000; so I sacrificed it. :( * Sidebar 'gadgets' aren't many in number, but the number grows with each passing day. So expect some fluff to be found along with the gems. Now, I want more control as to what gets cached. Vista actively caches more system and file data (as do Linux, Mac OS X, openbsd.org, et al), but for all the improvements I wish the Resource manager showed cached data in a different color when compared to program data - like how the other OSes show it. Most video cards won't have problems with the Aero glass interface. Indeed, for my gripes on the needless glossy animation, I do have to say the UI itself is well organized, doesn't look like a rejected fischer price toy design anymore, and the patronizing "My computer" icons have been renamed to something professional at least. THANK YOU! Indeed, having used Mac OS X, Linux, WinXP, and Vista, I see no justification to the claims Microsoft stole from Apple. (any screenshots on the internet would prove how different both OSes look and feel, and given how OS X = openbsd.org (a free OS download), it's safer to say everybody borrows from everybody else, always did, always will do. There are better arguments.) What bugs me most is the price - given how many features, including the much vaunted WinFS, were dropped, the MSRP prices are a tad high. I got Vista for clearance price from CompUSA shutting down. It was worth THAT price ($155). Overall, I think it is a good upgrade, if not a tad high priced. I think service pack 1 will resolve most peoples' problems; I have nothing major to discredit Vista with. But in all fairness, I think some people are giving Vista bad reviews solely because it's Microsoft. | ||
 | Namo WebEditor 2006 | |
| "Don't bother with it on Vista... better yet, don't bother." | 2007-04-29 |
| I downloaded their Vista patch, which says it fixes a problem where Vista reboots when the program is installed. Not launched. INSTALLED.
Of course, installing the patch fails because it says the program isn't installed. Guess what happened when I tried installing, because I assumed the wording was due to imperfect Korean->English translation? It rebooted. No, it seems the linguistics were just fine. The logic of the programmers still leaves a lot to be desired, however. I had used this product 'successfully' on XP, but agree with the other commenters here about stability and poor customer support. Not to mention the program does generate a LOT of bloat. FrontPage may be Microsoft-centric, but the bloat isn't as asphyxiating as Namo's offering... especially with CSS... (FrontPage ignores it; Namo's needs manual tweaking or else it'll repeat every CSS entry...) [...]. | ||
 | The Brady Bunch Movie / A Very Brady Sequel | |
| "Why didn't they make a third!!!" | 2007-04-17 |
| Now I normally despise remakes of old tv shows, but the Brady Bunch movies are different - they don't "do the same old thing" with updated sets and characters nothing like the originals... ...they are the original characters surrounded by an updated reality. The movies are parodies of the tv show they pay homage to, but at themselves as well. They are not a desire to modernize old characters that some dilettante dingbat thinks modern audiences would appreciate (hint, modern audiences DON'T), but the writers actually did something creative without losing the essence of the original characters. They knew the charcters and how to fit the new style comedy. They have the surreal spark that actually makes doing something with an old premise worthwhile. And such a mix is a rare treat; that most tv-made-into-movies creators just cannot even begin to grasp. The movies themselves are a handful of vignettes from original TV episodes; but warped with modern day society - including puns that would otherwise be deemed vulgar, come off surprisingly inoffensive because these characters are still in the 1970s and the rest of the world is in 1995 (or 1996). Well, there are some differences - nobody expected the movie's writers to also incorporate the actual actors' behind-the-scenes moments into the movies as well; it has been said that the actors playing Marcia and Greg may have dated, so lo and behold the writers turn Movie Marcia and Movie Greg into doing it. This is somewhat perverse, but because we all know it's a self-referential homage, the end result is more hilarious than vulgar. Of course, there are the DVDs themselves - the 5.1 Dolby sound is terrific, and the visual looks colorful and crisp, even if there are some periodic artifacting defects. Nothing major. And it's in 16:9 enhanced format, so I'm not going to complain. The DVD releases are solid, there's little that could be done to improve the quality, and it's a shame a third Brady movie was never made. And it's a shame so many old-tv-to-movie shows are even given a first shot with their "movies by numbers" ineptitude. | ||
 | Apple Cinema 20" Flat-Panel Display - M9177LL/A | |
| "Use a PC? Beware. Apple's attempt to 'reach out' is non-existent" | 2007-01-08 |
| I know this monitor is top of the line. (Another big name brand also uses the same high quality S-IPS panel... but that brand seems to have far more complaints of defects despite being half the price... electronics aren't the same as the actual panel...) Back to the panel itself: The panel used is a drool-worthy .0258 dot pitch, true 8-bit, terrific viewing radius, and perfect for graphics uses (though colors should not look like they're 3D as some reviewers on 'net sites claim, that's an unwanted distortion and graphics designers usually want consistency and accuracy. So do their customers. This leads into my gripe I shall now adumbrate upon:) My big gripe is the purported PC support, of which it gets 4 stars knocked off. I pre-ordered one of these and then did some research as I had to wait a day for it to arrive. Glad I had, and I truly wish I could have kept the monitor; I was floored by its quality and specs. The USB ports won't work on a PC. Fine by me, I don't care about USB ports on a monitor. Some will, so that's a caveat if you use a PC. What I am bothered with is the lack of a Windows ICM and INF driver. That's outrageous. Especially for the price and PC compatibility claims Apple makes. This means some extra color calibration is going to have to be done and the end result is going to be an approximation (beware if anyone says the colors almost seem 3D. That's not always a plus...). Apple ought to know better than this; anyone in mid-end (or higher) professional graphics can not settle for "approximations". Indeed, because Apple has nothing on its website and attitudes from folks on their own discussion forum that make Linux zealots come across as heavenly angels by comparison, one has to resort to freeware (that's currently at version 0.4!) to use the monitor as there aren't any settings to be found on Apple's casing, except brightness and power. Yawn. Another toy. I would have expected even a token Windows driver, but when many reviewers have said "Get the freeware, there is no Windows driver provided", that's enough for me to avoid it. Now some Apple fans might say "Ha ha Windoze user, PC product vendors have been doing this to us for ages so get used to it." I say in return "Well, those device drivers aren't covering every nuance like the PC equivalent does, but at least they grant you base functionality and a driver when they say it's Mac compatible! Apple's own actions are showing the contrary as there is no Windows driver at all." Touche. So I returned it. I did not want to pay a 15% open-box restock fee for something I'd have to tinker with and may or may not be satisfied with in the end. And, no, I can't afford the cost of a new Mac whose specs would match my current PC (that cost me less than half as much for the same amount of power, especially when it's only repurchasing Intel components, that's ridiculous.) Sorry to be so negative as there is a lot to LOVE about this monitor, but those not in the majority position would do better to win converts by truly reaching out to them. If you're a Mac user, go for it. Apple knows how to make terrific monitors. If you're a PC user, it will work - just don't expect instant gratification, USB ports, or Windows telling you what the brand of monitor is. Be satisfied with "unknown monitor on ___________ video card" using default VESA color settings. That's a bit risky and even Mac users on that Apple forum said to be wary for such an expensive item... and that's good enough for me. I will add this: A 1 year warranty is unacceptable, regardless of brand. I always advocate purchasing an extended warranty, but a 1 year warranty is the manufacturer's way of telling the consumer "We lack faith in our product" and/or "If there's a problem, we want you to pony up for our bad design". | ||
 | ViewSonic VX2235wm 22" Wide LCD Computer Monitor - Black | |
| "Overall a good buy" | 2006-12-31 |
| As I work with graphics design/photoshop/et al, I'll start with the bad points as that's what needs to be said first: 1. Brightness bleeding into the screen from the edges is apparent. Only bad if you use a lot of black in designs or gaming. 2. As has been said by another: There is an uneven brightness problem that gets consistently worse as one looks to the top. (e.g. a black and gray image will be washed out in all black) However, angling the monitor a bit downward seems to alleviate most of this problem. 3. I would beg for a 1000:1 contrast ratio, as other monitors of this price range do (OTOH they have funky fun-time problems of their own...) 4. The dot pitch of .0282 is about average. For $399, I'd have hoped for 0.0270. Okay, I'm not going to have a stroke because of this and text and graphics do look sharp, but a smaller dot pitch is always going to be better. 5. At the top of the screen, the text does develop a slightly glowing anomaly. Again, see point #2 which also alleviates this problem. 6. The built-in controls and how to access and change them is a bit annoying; once you get used to it you'll be fine... if only the OCD screen helped direct the user better. 7. The monitor is a 6-bit display with dithering seen in darker gradients. If you use the monitor's (or graphics card's) ability to soften the image, it'll look tolerable. But you might want to look elsewhere for a proper (full 16.7 million color depth) screen. That having been said, in some cases this monitor may still work out for you. Best thing to do is to give it a try. That's all the problems I've seen so far. For the plusses: 1. 22" is very nice indeed. 2. It's widescreen - SQUEE!!!!!!!!!! 3. The CD comes with monitor profile files to make calibration easier - this is a must for anyone who works with printing graphics. 4. It's affordable. Even with its faults, a little time to tinker yields a better looking display 5. 3 year warranty on parts, labor, and screen. 6. 5ms timing speed is GREAT for games. 8ms is too slow and results in a weird ghosting effect. I still wish CRTs were being sold, but that's a dream. In the nightmare of LCD monitor inconsistencies, I have to say this Viewsonic model just about makes migrating to LCD the thing to do. | ||
 | Mork & Mindy - The Complete First Season | |
| "Hurry up, season 2!!!" | 2006-03-21 |
| I netflixed this last week and had to run out to buy it! "Mork and Mindy" is a refreshing, innocent yet brilliant, sitcom from the late-70s. The show revolves around an alien, Mork (from planet Ork), who is sent to Earth to study humanity. He meets up with Minday, and hilarity ensues when Mork tries to understand the humans he's observing. Mork, a naive innocent (or Autistic/Asperger's if he wasn't an alien), is played to outrageously perfect finesse by Robin Williams. The one-liners, puns, double entendres, and dry wit sparkle in every episode. And best of all, there isn't a real clunker amongst the lot of 25 episodes in this season. I've never understood why this show had a laugh track; it's hardly needed. I've also never understood why this show was hanging on the coattails of two 50s-throwback shows (Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley) as Mork & Mindy is set clearly in the long, long futuristic 1970s and in a state far, far away from Wisconsin! There was no need to make this a 'spin-off', and the ratings quickly proved the show had a life of its own. But I digress. The DVD quality in this set is extremely good! The audio is crisp and clear; and the film brilliantly restored; only the occasional film speck occurs - and the color is accurate and perfectly saturated. It looks like it was made yesterday. Pity it wasn't; this show is far better than most made at the time - so compared to today's offerings it surpasses by miles. And having an average of 6 episodes per disc helps keep compression artifacting to a minimum. I am VERY happy with the quality put into thee discs. The series is clearly dated (45 RPM records, late-70s lingo, and all), yet there's an endearing, timelass magic to this show. Of course, the "fish out of water" concept has always appealed to me... so has sci-fi. It's no wonder this show retains its jubilant cheekiness and ability to mix sci-fi with comedy that's sufficiently geeky yet accessible by all. Highlighted episodes include: "Mork in Love": In an attempt to learn about love, at the behesty of Mindy, Mork falls head over heels for Dolly... a mannequin. "Mork's Seduction": A customer, Susan Taylor, recognizes Mindy. And how Mork is hanging out with her. Thinking Mork is her boyfriend, Susan is intent on taking him for herself; as revenge for Mindy stealing her boyfriend back in high school. "Mork Goes Public": Mork intends to turn himself into the authorities, so the reward money can go to help Mindy and her father's financial troubles. "To Tell the Truth": Mork learns about lies and 'little white lies'. (a brillaintly written episode) "Mork the Gullible": Mork learns that not all people can be taken at face value. "A Mommy for Morky": Mindy, reunited with an old love, is curious about raising childhood after talking with her friend who's about to deliver a baby. Mork never had a mother. But he has an Orkan Age Machine and is able to act like a baby... "Mork's Greatest Hits": When a thug tries to hit on an unwilling Mindy, Mork intercedes but doesn't truly know how to protect her. She tries to teach him physical violence, but he prefers nonviolence. Another terrific episode. "Old Fears": An old friend of Cora's passes away and gets into depression. Mork uses his aging machine to 'become' old and become a companion for Cora; with Mindy angry once she finds out what's going on. (this is another sweet-hearted episode.) "Mork's First Christmas": Mork invites the beautiful and egocentric, and selfish Susan Taylor over for Christmas... much to Mindy's discontent. "Mork and the Immigrant": Mork befriends a Russian immigrant and believes "alien" applies to him as it does the Russian... things get worse when Mork is told all aliens need to be registered. "Mork the Tolerant": Mork wishes to befriend a grumpy old neighbor (Mr. Bickley, played by Tom Poston) "In Mork We Trust": Mr Bickley steals Mork's age machine... hilarity ensues. :) "Mork Runs Down": Mork is looking for a job, but also has to celebrate his "birthday". The trouble is, birthdays for Orkins can be fatal unless he recharges himself with his egg-like "gleek". (the chickens worked overtime to help make this episode...) "It's a Beautiful Mork": Mork inadvertantly costs Mindy her job; and Mork decides to return to Ork. Orson shows Mork what life would have been like if Mork had not entered her life. Of course, season 2 starts with a bang as it features a 2-part opener that had me terrified as a kid (age 7 at the time (1979), please don't be too harsh...), what with Mork shrinking down to nothing and all... and then there's that riotously funny Necroton 2-parter too (Racquel Welch, squeeeeeee!), first referenced in "Mork's Greatest Hits"... but that's for another day. Hopefully not too long from now! | ||
 | The Jeffersons - The Complete Second Season | |
| "There's a lot of great stories in this set, though I still have a minor quibble..." | 2006-02-17 |
| I should have guessed when I read the back cover, that has 9 episodes per disc - apart from disc 3, which contains 6 episodes and promos I wouldn't care for one way or the other. The insert lists all the titles, but they aren't differentiated by disc number. I own a number of Columbia titles, and this is the first time they skimped on the index insert. The source material is very good looking. DVD compression is typical for Columbia releases (aka "fair"). The DVD audio on discs 1 and 2 is a vast improvement from the "remastering" done for their season 1 discs. Unfortunately, the audio for many of disc 3's episodes is muted and hard to listen too; too much audio being removed along with the background hiss during the cleanup process. Hopefully they'll fix the problem for free one day... Comparing overzealous 'cleaning' to leaving the original hiss present (see "All in the Family" season 5 DVD set), I'd prefer the hiss if I had to choose any imperfections (and for the money, I'd prefer a properly made release.) And, as usual, no extras worth having either. They hype up that these shows made TV history, and yet they don't have any commentaries or extras that help tell us WHY it made history. (long time fans know, but I may as well tell you King William is a great guy but not bother to say WHY... there are numerous King Williams in history too...) It's like Columbia doesn't care about its customers at times; but all and all there's not as much to complain about this time... Regardless, core fans will love this show regardless and may as well spend the money. Like breadcrumbs to slaves, we're lucky to get the show released at all. So here are the best episodes: "Louise's Daughter" ***** - A lady claiming to be Louise's daughter appears. "Mother Jefferson's Fall" **** - Mother Jefferson feigns a fall to get attention; feeling she is being ignored. "Uncle Bertram" ***** - Jenny's uncle, Bertram, makes passes at Mother Jefferson. (there are some great moments in this...) "George Won't Talk" ***** - George refuses to go to Harlem to speak about being a successful black man, thinking he'll get ripped off. He reluctantly goes... and gets ripped off. "George's Best Friend" ***** - George's best friend from the navy pays a visit... but becomes more interested in Louise. "Jenny's Grandparents" ***** - Tired of the bickering between her grandfathers, Jenny seeks the help of Mother Jefferson and Uncle Bertram. (another GREAT entry!) "George's Alibi" **** - During a severe blizzard, Lionel wrecks George's truck by accident. Meanwhile, a news report reveals somebody was hit in an accident, with George's truck being identified. George thinks he caused the incident. "George and the Manager" ***** - George is under attack for not wanting to hire a female manager. (Another TERRIFIC entry; his defense for not hiring whites is utterly noble and correct.) "George Vs Wall Street" ***** - George invests in beans, hoping natural disaster will allow him to profit from it. (Another GREAT entry; the moral talk of profiting from peoples' suffering I don't think had ever been addressed before - or since - in tv history.) "The Break-up", part 1 ***** - Lionel is desperate to pass a college course, and George buys a readymade term paper. A HUGE argument ensues, causing Jenny and Lionel to break up... and the Jeffersons and Willises break up as well. AWESOME set-up that couldn't be better handled (and the cast handle some difficult scenes with aplomb, this stuff is incredibly good!) Indeed, George's response to the question "What would happen if everybody bought papers" is a classic. "The Break-up" (conclusion) *** - George wants to help Lionel find a new girlfriend... and brings on up somebody he didn't fathom: A call girl! (there are some fun moments, but you know they'll all get back together by the end...) "Florence's Problem" ***** - Louise notices peculiar behavior in Florence and suspects she has plans to kill herself. "Tennis, Anyone?" ***** - George is invited to become a member in an excusive tennis club. But he shortly finds out WHY he was chosen... As for the show itself, the sharp wit, sarcasm, and flirting with social issues remains - though the educational slant is somewhat reduced... But there's a confidence in this season not felt in season 1. Even with the "new Lionel", who takes some time getting used to. And especially for the episodes I'd listed above, the character and plot twists are definitely atypical; even if the plots themselves are (e.g. "Louise's Daughter" with the storyline that she may have cheated while George was serving in Korea.) All in all, season 2 is a wild success. The best part of which is that Florence (Marla Gibbs) breaks out of her season 1 stereotype and comes into her own - with style and pizzazz. She and George are riotous together, with their sparring and her sarcastic wit. Definitely worth getting, but the lack of care put into this set has me skeptical for seasons 3 and 4, which I shall netflix first and then buy if there's more effort put into them. | ||
 | All in the Family: The Complete Fifth Season | |
| "I'm sorry, but since when is taste-testing soda pop controversial?!" | 2006-02-10 |
| Or the age-old argument of "keeping the toilet seat up", for that matter? But who'd expect Mike to drink caramelized fizzy sugar water that rots tooth enamel anyway?! Season 4 saw some degredation of Mike, though given all the episodes where his point of view was glorified, it's only fair to have him cut down a little. But Season 5 has less of Mike in general, more Archie (when he's not vanished to someplace else), more in-program product advertising (Tupperware, Coke, Pepsi, Royal Crown?!, and a couple others), a drop from hefty controversial issues into a more schticky sitcom antics... and some rehashing of some old ideas, which is the most telltale sign of "creative rot". The show has just about jumped the shark by now, yet is still teetering on its edge. Indeed, Carroll O'Connor walked out from three episodes in a creative control dispute against Norman Lear; which also proved his character was necessary for the show to even work. (though later seasons prove that without the politics and ensemble piece, the character of Archie is just as lifeless. The show always had and always needed a motley collection of 'extreme' characters to BE funny. And the dynamic has already been whittled down...) Let's go over the better/best episodes first, in chronological order: 1. Archie's Helping Hand: Archie gets Irene Lorenzo a job at his plant, but then finds out she'd to work with him. He then schemes to get her fired via a petition... An otherwise typical episode, elevated by some anti-sexism philosophy. 2. Gloria's ShocK: Easily the BEST EPISODE in season 5 and better than almost everything season 4 came up with. This one is in my Top 10 episodes also; something no season 4 story could accomplish. Mike is adamant he does not want children, citing numerous ecological and population problems. Gloria is just as adamant for wanting one, until she talks with Edith, whose charming viewpoint makes Gloria remember some more important things about herself... This one is mostly accurate on population statistics and utterly correct on the ecological and population concerns. (pity Mike changes (or loses) his mind in season 6, but that's another story for another day...) 3. The Jeffersons Move Up. More of a pilot for "The Jeffersons", it is reasonably entertaining and there's a lot of one-liners that never fail to induce a great laugh. As for the Jeffersons, George, Louise, and Lionel are well cast - as are the goofy assortment of neighbors they have to deal with; you know right there and then it's going to be a winner of a series. I'm looking forward to purchasing "The Jeffersons" in the near future. (but I wouldn't mind seeing "Maude" come out someday too... :) But I digress.) 4. Archie and the Miracle. An accident on the loading dock nearly kills Archie, who in turn becomes a devout Christian. Another solid episode involving a juicy topic. Mike also chokes at the most opportune time too. :) 5. The Best of 'All in the Family'. Given how this one is a clip show, a type of show I usually and utterly dislike, it gave me far more laughs in its hour than half of season 5's remaining episodes combined (the ones not in my "best" list here, that is!) Indeed, this one being hosted by a cue-card reading Henry Fonda with piped-in applause soundtrack almost dampens the celebratory nature of the piece. (Henry himself is cool; but the obvious use of applause and laugh tracks for his comments is not. And his gaze unfortunately looks as if he's reading something just to the left of the camera lens... :( Too stagey.) 6. All's Fair. Mike and Gloria teach Edith how to demand respect from Archie. (we've seen Edith demand respect before, but sometimes a rehash is a good thing.) 7. Everybody Does It. Rationalizing over nicking a pencil from work was never funnier. Still, Mike made the argument in a season 2 (or 3) story regarding taking change left in a phone booth. Still, everybody's in character and it covers an interesting topic. 8. No Smoking. Can Archie give up his ciggies longer than Mike can for food? (I'm a sucker for this sort of plot.) 9. Lionel the Live-in. While this one seems a tad far-fetched, Archie and George make some outrageous comments (some of which are the typically funny ones), and Louise gets the best come-back zinger to George after he makes a multi-ethnic slur. Awesome!!! Definitely a top-10 moment! 10. Prisoner in the House. A surprisingly mature storyline that also deals with the real-life ramifications of having an inmate furlough work program. Archie was totally out of line and shows how quickly stories become embellished. Not the best story, but very good indeed and even-handed in its approach. These episodes ensure this season gets anything more than 1 star, and "Gloria's Shock" and that lovely scene in "Lionel the Live-In" is how it gets up to 3 stars. "The Bunkers and Inflation" must be an in-joke, because it took FOUR parts to tell us that it's harder to live with inflation?? It's a nice idea and has some good set pieces, but by the next story it's as if inflation never existed! "Where's Archie?" is a three-part story consisting of nothing but empty pablum, I may as well watch (any given 1970s sitcom) instead. "Where's Archie?" (pt 1) has the big Tupperware bash, complete with lengthy dialogue on how to properly use the containers. Like Archie would say, 'Oh jeez!!' Worse is in "The Longest Kiss" (pt 3) where it features another rehash; not for blatent product advertising, but re-using an older story's plot piece! But this time it's not Archie determining if the spoon he's eating his Cocoa Puffs with is his World's Fair spoon or not. It's if Mike can determine which brand of cola is which. If product placement comes across naturally, I'm fine. But this seems so badly shoehorned in... ugh. Later seasons are more overt, however... "George and Archie Make a Deal" just doesn't ring true. "Archie's Contract" seems to have a theme regarding "beware of door-to-door salesmen", but the plot itself is too narrow and having too much fun insulting Archie (though there's nothing wrong with that, LOL!) "Mike's Friend" is another boring escapade; this time Mike is being overbearing and leaving Gloria out of activities he and his friend have. This seems atypical for Mike; who has often treated Gloria like an intellectual equal in ther past... "Amelia's Divorce" is another sitcom episode and as the guy who played Frank left after season 4, they couldn't keep finding excuses for him to be gone. So they got rid of him. (Amelia ditches shortly after too...) "Archie and the Quiz" is another plot to be found in any sitcom; it may have been more "controversial" when it first aired, but it's dated badly. "Edith's Friend" vaguely reminds me of "The Threat" where Archie's old friend's new fling stops by and Archie ends up getting more on his mind than he should... But it's not a bad episode. "Mike Makes His Move" has Mike and Gloria renting the Jeffersons' old house. Which is next door, just to ensure we get more arguments and verbal tussles in later seasons. Season 5, on the whole, isn't anywhere near as poweful as its first three. There are some clunkers, "average" story quality is definitely toned down and more akin to a "typical sitcom" but with controvercial bits added. The few stories that are "old school" in their overt nature (especially "Gloria's Shock") are easily the high point standouts, but it's clear the show has been - and will be heading - in a direction far different than how it originated, and not in a good way. The political backbone being replaced with lovey-dovey sitcom pablum, with little bits of political moments thrown in. Video and compression quality is typical to the other releases. Sound seems to have more hiss than previous versions had. Was the audio cleaned up at all? Not a bad season on the whole, and in ways is preferable to season 4... and the worst seasons (which oddly contain some of the BEST episodes) are to follow. Worth the $20 price amazon.com wants. But not more. | ||
 | Quantum Leap - The Complete Fourth Season | |
| "I agree. A+++ TV series. DVD releases are an artist's abomination." | 2006-01-28 |
| Even by QL season 4, some people still considered television a form of art than mindless commodity to dumb down the masses with. Hence TV shows would utilize pop music (aka those pop shows from the 80s that included rock music during 3 minute empty driving-around scenes) and it was novel and rather cool at the time, I must admit... QL did the same thing as needed, also because QL took place in America's past and the music was relevant to the story - not because it was a novel gimmick. I've yet to buy ANY of the QL releases because, quite frankly, such filleting of these episodes out of "marketable necessity" makes them, quite frankly, "not economically viable" for me AS A CUSTOMER. The day this series comes out proper is the day I will buy them. Not a day before. Indeed. I know that the base price for a song can be rather high. Other TV shows that do have the original music have the creators, in commentary, saying how much they've spent (if nothing more to aggrevate the suits, LOL). The average cost seems $10,000 for one song. How many people buy these DVD sets? If ONLY 10,000 people bought them, then you'd only have to raise the price of each set by a one whopping dollar! OMG! What a fortune! Is that too much extra money to ask a consumer to pay? A consumer in an obviously niche market that obvious appreciates unfettered episodes because the show itself doesn't catter to the mindless masses? (Obviously, it seems... doesn't speak much about "customer care", but then DVD companies have no qualms squeezing 10 episodes of a series into a space meant for 7 + a few short extras, or 8 with NO extras...) And it's a terrible shame because QL seasons 3 and 4 have got the best-ever episodes. But, sorry, no sale today. Lemme know when the "special editions" with the proper, untinkered episodes come out. I'll be there, whippin' out my big thick checkbook... | ||
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