Sandisk 16GB MicroSDHC Memory Card, Class 4

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $108.99
Sale Price: $12.39
Today's Bonus: 89% Off

Though I wish I had waited a couple of weeks to buy this card (the price dropped 30 dollars in the past two weeks), I have nothing but good things to say about the card. Easy to load, easy to read. I managed to put about 11 gigs on here in the first three days (lots of music) and the access has been flawless. Word of caution, be careful with the card reader. My first attempt led to a corrupted card which I had to return. May have been a manufacturing defect (bought from best buy, not from Amazon. Best buy charged 99.00). I reccomend loading the card in the device before adding data rather than using the reader and then inserting loaded card.

All in all, a miracle of storage on a tiny card. I eagerly await the 32 gb in a year or two.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Drift Innovation HD 1080p Digital Video Action Camera Camcorder

Customer Ratings:

Got this setup from my wife for Christmas. I like it! Batt life is a little short. If you intend to leave the camera on for an all day ride, I recommend three batteries. Not recording the entire trip, just on standby waiting for a record signal. With the camera mounted to the top of your helmet, I don't think that you could hear the start beep with an engine running. So far I've mounted the camera to the right side of my helmet and used the suction cup to the sled's windshield. Mounted on the windshield, you can see the tiny status led quite well. Video is surprisingly steady. The remote works well even with gloves, just be sure to give a long press. The sellers description is not real clear, this kit does contain 2 batteries. 2 16gb cards maybe over kill for 1 day of sledding but, for a multiple day trip, just right. The supplied quick start guide leaves some to be desired. Go to drift and dl the .pdf manual. In the settings, frequency is not mentioned, set it to 60 if you are in NA. When mounting the camera, you will want to aim it some higher than what looks correct. The suction cup mount holds surprisingly well. I also bought a drop-in charger for the batteries (3, I bought an extra). That's too many to try to charge in the camera, overnight. They could at least include 1 of the usb wall wart chargers to go with the camera's usb cord. With the on board display, you can change settings and review video/pictures in the field/mountain/meadow/trail/diner.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Zmodo PKD-DK4216-500GB H.264 Internet & 3G Phone Accessible

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $249.00
Sale Price: $189.41
Today's Bonus: 24% Off

If youre looking for hi tech crystal clear images and detailed images, move on. If you just want a basic, easy to install CCTV system this is great. Its as easy as mount the cameras with 3 screws, plug the cameras into the cables, run the wires to the unit and plug them in. Its easier than the average surround sound system.

the night vision is OK, works well in darkness up to about 10 feet; the images are black & white though. The overall image quality is OK, if someone is within about 15 feet the image is clear enough to recognize a stranger by the photo. Past 30 feet you'd have a hard time distingushing between Jessica Simpson and Hillary Clinton. When you attempt to 'zoom' the image it gets very grainy, so forget that idea. The field of view is fairly narrow, so if you are using it in a small space (10x10 room) the view is limited.

Overall, its a breeze to put in and use, just dont expect the best image quality. if youre a small business or a homeowner, its fine though.

UPDATE 2/13: here we are less then 18 months later and the system is not working properly. First, one camera developed issues with the image and rolling lines. Then a second camera did the same thing. Now the images freeze on the screen every few minutes for 30-45 seconds and it stops recording while this happens. I tried to contact Zmoto with no luck. For being less then 18 months old and only used inside a climate controlled store, I am disappointed. Pass and pick another better quality setup.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Bose® Computer MusicMonitor® -- Black

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $299.00
Sale Price: $269.00
Today's Bonus: 10% Off

Notes: I don't work for Bose, and I "paid for" these speakers with AMEX credit card points.

To compare these speakers to 3-piece computer speakers makes no more sense than comparing a computer subwoofer to a high-end audio subwoofer. The only similarity is that they produce sound, with varying levels of fidelity.

I'm comparing the Bose MusicMonitor to the few very small desktop speakers that provide a decent sound. Not necessarily an accurate sound; I've heard systems in the $250,000 range that provide excellent sound -but it is still not accurate sound. If you're expecting the full sonic equivalent of a 3-piece system, you won't find it in the MusicMonitor. You also won't find the thumpy, tubby overpowering "bass" those cheap subwoofers produce. And in home theaters, all but the very best subwoofers are often paired with infrasonic transducers which, when screwed to the bottom of the floor, can take the output frequency down to 5 Hz or so (and tickle your feet and your butt in the process).

Granted, there's not much low bass so beloved of video explosions and certain types of music. But neither is there the strident blaring that often comes from small speakers whose speakers are driven well past the point of linearity. What the MusicMonitors provide is a well-balanced sonic field I would rate similar to some professional near-field monitors. Being small speakers, they do best in near-field positions not more than a foot or two from your ears. Still, there's enough clear volume that you can walk around a room and the music won't seem too weak. My impression is that the bass tends to rise slower (maxes out) than the rest of the audio range as volume increases. But at lower volumes there's plenty there to give a good feel of solidity to lower notes. You will not get an extreme dynamic range, but then that's not what they're designed for either.

Some studies in the '50's showed that many people didn't notice the loss of extreme bass as long as their higher harmonics were reasonably loud. I'm sure that's at least a part of what gives these little boxes a sense of weight to music. The mid-and higher ranges all seemed well executed, with none of the stridency I associate with small-diameter speakers forced to do more than their design allowed for.

I was frankly surprised at how much I enjoyed the MusicMonitor's sound. I expected something a little better than the competition; what I heard was an order of magnitude better. They sound very good at my normal listening level and if I turn the volume up for a song that deserves it, I'm not disappointed by that presentation, either.

A fair review would pit the MusicMonitor against a 2-piece speaker the same size. But as far as I can tell, there isn't one. So I'll give the speaker 5 stars based on what it does with what it has. I don't think there's a better very small speaker out there. There are bigger and cheaper ones, but they're not really the same class of speaker I'm reviewing.

The Bose MusicMonitor is an excellent close-field speaker system that produces a broad, relativley flat sound with a wide variety of music. The speakers are unobtrusive, nicely finished, and would look good on any desk. An optional carry case lets you bring them along on a trip to listen to mp3 music in your room.

So, possibly aside from the price, these are definitely 5-star speakers. They play music and audio, in a small package, with no obvious audible distortions or other significant problems. Sure, tradeoffs were made, as they always are in design and manufacturing. But Bose has clearly hit a home run with this little jewel.

If you have reservations about buying and trying one, Bose and Amazon normally have very good return policies, but be sure to check before ordering. If you're looking for something small, look to the MusicMonitor first. You'll quickly see how size, weight, number of components and sound make them an easy first audition choice. You may decide that there's no reason to go on and audit your second choice.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Energizer Ultimate Lithium Batteries

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $13.95
Sale Price: $5.27
Today's Bonus: 62% Off

The Energizer L91 Lithium AA cell is a fantastic power source. For high-drain applications, it offers great advantages over ordinary alkaline cell and rechargeable NiMH cell. However, it is also very expensive as a disposable battery. So it is important to recognize the strength of L91, and use it only in applications that give you the best results. Otherwise you'll be wasting your money.

According to data sheet published by Energizer, the capacity of the Lithium AA cell (L91) is 3000mAh. This number remains nearly constant with load current. In comparison, the ordinary Alkaline battery (such as the Energizer E91 AA) is rated as 2800mAh, but only at a very light load of 25mA. At a heavy load of 1000mA (typical for a digital camera or flash unit), its capacity drops to below 1000mAh. This number gets even worse at low temperature. At zero degree C and 1000mA load, the L91 can provide about seven times more energy compared to the E91. This is where the marketing claim of "Last up to 7 times longer" comes from.

When used in a digital camera at room temperature of 25 degree C, the L91 is more likely to last 3-4 times longer than alkaline. This is enough to justify its price, which is also around 3-4 times higher than alkaline. However, in low-drain applications (such as smoke detector, wireless mouse or remote control) alkaline cells will last just as long at a fraction of the cost.

The L91 also contains much higher energy when compared to an ordinary rechargeable NiMH cell such as the Energizer NH15-2500. This is partially due to its higher terminal voltage of 1.5V, which is 20% higher than that for NiMH.

Energy stored in NH15-2500 : 2.5Ah * 1.25V = 3.125Wh,

Energy stored in L91 : 3Ah * 1.5V = 4.5Wh (44% higher).

Higher terminal voltage for L91 is especially advantageous in digital camera applications, because your camera flash will recharge up to 20% faster. An added benefit is that the L91 weighs only 14.5 grams (0.5 oz) each, compared to 30 grams (1 oz) for NiMH. So your camera becomes much lighter.

The NH15-2500, like all ordinary NiMH cells, suffers from rapid self-discharge problem. If you charge up a set of those cells and leave them in your camera for a few weeks, you're likely to be greeted by 'Low Battery' sign when you try to take a photo. The new generation of 'ready-to-use' NiMH cells such as SANYO eneloop and Rayovac Hybrid solved this problem by having very low self discharge rate. But they have lower capacity of only 2000-2100mAh.

Bottom line: If you need AA batteries for a long hiking trip, then L91 is obviously your best choice. For most other situations, I recommend using low self-discharge NiMH cells for lower operating cost.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

HP dm4-3090se (14.0-Inch Screen) Laptop

Customer Ratings:

Favorable:

* Sharp, anti-glare screen

* Hybrid hard drive speeds up boot times noticeably

* Unique red-backlit keyboard

* Impressive battery life, given the specs

* Beats Audio provides better-than-average sound

Unfavorable:

* Premium HP Envy lineup is only $150 more

* Lid is a fingerprint haven

* Terrible speaker placement

* Tight USB ports

* On/Off Wi-Fi button easily pressed by accident

Introduction:

As a college student, my main justifications for selling off my previous computer was for better portability and battery life. Lugging my thick, weighty Dell around campus wasn't very fun, and although it got the job done, I ultimately decided a different laptop would serve my current needs much better. My initial goal was to end up with a thin and light or possibly an ultraportable. A Toshiba Portege r835 or Asus Zenbook perhaps. So, how in the world did I end up with the HP dm4-3090se? The short answer: The formerly mentioned machines simply didn't have the features I longed for. The longer, more descriptive answer: I can't wrap it all into one sentence, but keep reading and I promise I'll tell you!

Specifications:

I'll keep this section short and sweet since Amazon has the specs readily available on this webpage. This computer came with an i5-2450M @ 2.5 GHz and Turbo Boost Technology of up to 3.1 GHz. 500GB 7200RPM Hard drive with a 20GB mSATA drive*. 6GB of RAM. 14-inch anti-glare (matte) screen with a maximum resolution of 1600 x 900. Red-backlit keyboard, no number pad included. 3 USB Ports ( Two 3.0 and One 2.0), HDMI Port, Ethernet Port, Card Reader, Beats Audio with Subwoofer. In other words, this laptop is loaded.

*HP has recently increased the mSATA capacity from 20GB to 32GB. My machine came with a 32GB.

Unboxing and Initial Impressions:

I bought this laptop off Amazon and it arrived a couple of days later by UPS. Upon opening the box, I was greeted with the power cord, battery, setup instructions, a packet featuring advertisements for HP's many accessories and Norton Anti-Virus, and the laptop itself nicely placed in a cloth sleeve. There is some widespread confusion about whether there is a Beats Audio headphone included and I can say with certainty that there are no headphones, of any kind, included with this computer. It would have been nice, but HP isn't feeling quite that generous.

I pressed the power button, located in the top, left corner, expecting a somewhat slow boot time. Any brand new Windows-based computer has to go through the dreaded "Preparing Windows for first time use" screen before use. From my experience, this can take up to three minutes! So it goes without saying that I was completely taken aback at how fast the setup was. I can't give you a specific time length, but it was asking what I wanted to name the computer in well under a minute. And thanks to the hybrid hard drive, boot up times are always between 10-15 seconds.

Design and Features:

As this is the Beats Audio Special Edition of the current dm4 lineup, the user is graced with a nearly all black finish. A major plus, for me anyways, is the matte black covering most areas. This cuts down the reflections and annoying glares that come being outside in the sunlight or in a classroom full of florescent lights. The top lid is all black, save the now iconic Beats symbol placed in the very center. Open the notebook up and you are greeted with even more black. In fact, the keyboard, trackpad, and palm rests are graced in a mute, matte black finish . It makes for one very cool-looking laptop, to say the least.

The screen is gorgeous! The first thing everyone should know, is that this is a matte screen. Simply put, the horrendous reflections brought on by glossy screens are a thing of the past! I know glossy has had its fair share of user backlash, and it still stumps me as to why computer manufacturers continue to put these screens on the majority of machines. This screen also features a resolution of 1600x900, also a rarity in the 14-inch laptop world. Text will be smaller, but less pixilated and much sharper.

The next thing I went for was the keyboard. It has a red-backlight! Keep in mind, this feature can be turned off or on by pressing F5. Some users may be turned off by the color, and I admit that it probably isn't for everyone. It isn't blinding bright, but at the same time it isn't particularly mute. For me, it is just right. And to top it off, typing is a breeze!

The Beats Audio provides a very loud and clear sound. I primarily listen to hip-hop and R&B and noticed right off the bat how natural the sound was. There is a subwoofer as well, lending a hand on the low end. Given this combination, music sounds full and without noticeable distortion. It's a shame, however, that HP placed the speakers on the very front, at an angle. This often muffles the sound, especially if you have the notebook in your lap or on the bed.

Drawbacks:

First off, there is no dedicated graphics card, only the industry standard Intel HD 3000. This particular con varies on severity, depending on intended use. The causal user probably won't notice the difference, but for you gamers and video editors out there, consider a different laptop.

The lid cover, and even the keys, attract fingerprints heavily. Being black, fingerprints tend to show up more than usual.

The USB ports are quite tight. Attempting to inject and deject my USB flash drive was a job in itself. It took two hands, one to hold the computer in place, the other to pull the device from the port.

The Wi-Fi switch is in a terrible location. The F12 key serves as an automatic on/off switch of your wireless card and accidentally pressing it during a download or Skype conversation can have tumultuous effects on one's sanity.

What Makes This Laptop Worth the Purchase (Conclusion):

See, I promised if you kept reading I would tell you why I chose the dm4-3090se! The current going price of this laptop is around $830, and if you are still reading this review, you obviously want to be as informed as possible before making such a purchase. I don't blame you. After hours of debating, I ultimately chose this machine for the following reasons:

* The i5 Sandy Bridge Processor. Dual core @ 2.5 GHz

* 6GB Random Access Memory (RAM)

* The screen. A matte finish and 1600x900 resolution. This was the deciding factor in my purchase.

* Hybrid Hard Drive

* Red-backlit keyboard

* Beats Audio

* USB 3.0

* HDMI

Laptops with comparable specs are normally in the "premium" category and beyond the $1000 price point, such as the HP Envy line. Granted, for only $150 more you can have an Envy with an all metal finish and a slot-loading optical drive. But you also get a standard resolution (1366x768) glossy screen and an added pound of weight to carry. So for me, the screen was what set this laptop apart from the competition. People often overlook this pivotal feature, assuming all laptops are glossy and reflective with a single resolution. But the screen is what you will be looking at, possibly for hours, and if you aren't happy with the screen, how can you be truly happy with the laptop?

Savvy shoppers tend to be weary of HP and the company's shaky reputation. This will unfortunately deter many prospective buyers who would be perfectly happy with this computer if they gave it a chance. Initial usage is impressive, with the few complaints being quite trivial. If the previously mentioned specifications fits your needs, I urge you to seriously consider this laptop. It is truly unlike any other notebook currently on the market and is a true miracle for the anti-glare, pro-matte screen consumer.

EDIT:

For readers obsessed with numbers, here is the most recent Windows Experience Index:

Processor 7.0

Memory (RAM) 7.4

Graphics 5.9

Gaming Graphics 6.3

Primary Hard Disk 5.9

EDIT: After reading comments by Zvika and OJMH, I installed Intel's Rapid Storage Technology driver, restarted the computer, and was able to see the true capacity of my mSATA drive. It is in fact 32GB! I have edited this review to reflect that. I don't know what drive is 20GB under the System Properties menu, but like Reinaldo mentioned, the mSATA is not visible by this method. So I believe this drive works as a cache, which is the true reason for such a fast start-up. Either way, this systems performance is more than adequate and I am still happy with it! Thanks to Reinaldo, OJMH, and Zvika for the clarification.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Pentax DA 12-24mm f/4 ED AL (IF) Lens for Pentax and Samsung

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $1,079.00
Sale Price: $799.99
Today's Bonus: 26% Off

Pop Photo (Apr-06) praised this lens as a "Wide Winner" for spectacular performance on bench testing: excellent image sharpness and contrast; imperceptible distortion ["best of breed"]; and barely notable vignetting at the short end. I can add breathtaking color, crisp contrast and ruler-straight linearity to that list. At first glance, a 2X zoom doesn't sound impressive these days until you realize that this parafocal zoom sweeps an incredible 100 to 60 degree viewing range, that's just perfect for cramped interiors, group pictures or landscapes. This zoom is a landmark of stellar engineering: combining extra-dispersion glass and aspheric lens elements into flagship "great glass".

But a finely-tuned optical engine performs optimally only if all cylinders fire in unison ... at daylight trial, I noted a hideous 'purple fringing' [chromatic aberration] of trees and power lines outlined against an overcast sky -something was badly remiss. Rather than returning the lens, I packed it up for warranty service so as to alert the manufacturer to quality control slippage. Irreparable misalignment [probably from rough shipping/handling] was acknowledged; replacement with a brand-new lens was hassle-free as well as timely.

Should you detect distortion (run some test shots before starting a formal shoot!), fear not -Pentax service was knowledgeable, courteous, and helpful. To their great credit, exchange was virtually painless, and the new replacement lens at last performs flawlessly. Although the initial unit turned out to be a glass lemon, Pentax made good (try that with a new car!); I have nothing but praise for the fair and decisive warranty follow-through.

Tip: the bulbous cyclops snout of the forward element is close to the surface, begging for scratches and smudges. Protecting the front end with a haze or UV filter in essence adds an unproven 14th glass element to a balanced optical design -buy the high quality multi-coated filter (mounted in a thin WA ring) this star performer deserves to minimize glare, internal reflection and corner vignetting.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Nikon D3200 24.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $1,299.99
Sale Price: Price Unavailable
Today's Bonus: 38% Off

This kit comes with everything that you need for starting right away taking pictures, only complain about the tripod that isn't sturdy at all, made of crapy plastic, you have to buy another a little more expensive, but guessing on the price of the whole package it doesnt matter, i gave away mine cuz i have a good quality spare. And the hdmi cable doesnt fit the camera mini hdmi port. But other than that, this is an amazing kit, amazing lenses and camera.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

AmazonBasics Alkaline Batteries (Pack of 20)

Customer Ratings:

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Never in a million years would I have thought these batteries would outperform Duracell Alkaline batteries. I read recently that a consumer magazine recommended buying batteries based on price and not brand name. My limited testing agrees with that advice.

AmazonBasics AAA alkaline batteries performed better than two types of Duracell Alkaline batteries, and was on par with Kirkland Alkaline brand. The bigger surprise is how well Enloop batteries performed in my testing. The Kirkland and AmazonBasics alkaline batteries were roughly 20% longer lasting than the Duracell alkaline batteries. Freshly fully charged Enloops (NiMH) performed 20% better than AmazonBasics and Kirkland Alkalines.

What can you say about these batteries? Yes they are AAA, they fit in devices that require this size battery, and they last a good long time. I wanted to do some accellerated testing, put the batteries through some heavy drain use in a controlled manner. Since I don't have a testing rig like the one NLee the Engineer uses to test batteries, I came up with a standard device a small electronic flash that uses two AAA batteries.

The test setup: load two batteries into the flash, when the ready light glowed, fire the flash. I counted how many flashes each battery type could make in five minutes. I repeated the test with fresh batteries twice for each brand / model of battery. At the end of the test the batteries were pretty warm and none of them were exhausted. A battery tester showed all the batteries were about 30% spent, so there was still a good bit of life left in them.

Qualitatively, the Kirkland and AmazonBasics Alkaline batteries recycled the flash very fast during the first minute of the test. Recycle times tapered off to a constant level after that. The Enloops (NiMH) seemed to deliver a rapid recycle time throughout the test.

Kirkland and AmazonBasics Alkaline batteries fired 97 times

Duracell Alkaline and Duracell Ultra Alkaline fired 77 times

Enloops (NiMH) fired 117 times

The consumer advice seems to be accurate, purchase AAA batteries based on the lowest per cell price you can find. Enloops are the best alternative, they are rechargeable and deliver great service (Sanyo Eneloop Ni-MH Charger and 8 Rechargeable AA and 4 Rechargeable AAA Batteries). If you do search out rechargeable batteries, the best advice in the world can be found in NLee The Engineer's reviews.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Apple MacBook Air MC504LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION)

Customer Ratings:

This review is for the 256gb SSD 13.3inch Macbook Air w/ 2gb of ram.

(Check the comments after reading the review if you're still on the fence, I'm going over some more uses and offering more tips and advice, and if I have problems I'll note them below, I'll try and add a video review in a week or two showcasing everything after some more use, stay tuned!)

Here's a short overview of the benefits of the 13.3 inch macbook air, and things you should know prior to pulling the trigger, final recommendation is at the bottom :)

When I heard about the air I had the follow questions / concerns. Hopefully I can ease your mind...

2gb of ram only (you can custom order 4gb but you can't install this any time later on).

I was paranoid this computer would be unusable. I feel like I need 8 gigs of ram and a quad core machine just to run firefox (it gets so slow), not to mention the other tasks I enjoy doing. 2 GB is going to be far too much of a bottle neck... or so I thought!

2gb is ample ram. If you run out of ram, OSX writes to the hard disk (virutal ram, the stuff you've been told your entire life is bad and to avoid it at all costs... but with SSD, this becomes a non issue).

13.3 inch screen... Is it going to be enough to use as my main computer? Will it be too heavy to travel?

The 13.3 inch is perfect. I had a 13 inch macbook pro, I loved it, but I got rid of it because I needed a bit more screen real estate and the machine seemed a bit too slow (likely the hd was the major bottleneck).

The 13.3 inch macbook air has the resolution of a 15 inch, in the form factor of a 13 inch. It's truly the perfect combination.

Gloss (on the air) is a non issue, unlike the macbook pro 13 inch on up (where it is a issue). I thought the gloss on here would annoy me... not a bit! It's different.

The next concern I had was the processor. Honestly, I thought 1.86 core 2 duo was going to be a bit sluggish. Especially with 2gigs of ram... However, (I'm pleased to report), there's been no such problem on my end (a friend of mine bought the 11inch and the speed difference is noticeable, but compared to a 15inch macbook pro (running i5) it feels about the same, only more speedy on launching.

That's to say, with this base configuration (1.86ghz core 2 duo) you can do everything you need (including playing games like Crysis, Call of Duty, Battlefield, Starcraft) all on this little machine.

I've edited HD video on the unit (no problems), (though exporting is obviously much slower than on my imac, as to be expected, but editing and working on the footage was pretty much the same, it's only in exporting where you realize the machine is slower).

All in all the processor is fine.

So let me recap.

I was afraid the processor might be a bit too slow to use as my only every day machine (turns out it's not, granted if you edit HD video daily as your job, you might be better off with a i7... in fact you would... but if you edit video a few times a week, not a big deal).

I was hoping I might be able to play a game every now and then and was afraid the 2gb of ram and 1.86 core 2 duo would be the death of me... not even a problem. I can play call of duty modern warfare 2 (I'll come back and let you know how Black Ops is when It comes out), and Dirt 2 with no problems (granted, I'm using low to medium settings). So the processor is not an issue.

I was afraid 2 gigs of ram was far to unacceptable (almost didn't buy this because of it), but again, that's not a problem. The SSD is more than zippy enough to handle any paging if required.

(I'm typing this on firefox with over 40+ tabs open, listening to music with itunes, downloading photos from my amazon s3 account, and uploading a video via FTP to a web host)

No slow down at all. I usually experience slow down on my imac with a quad core, where here I do not.

Everything is just instant.

I was worried about the screen. I'm one of those who likes taking his computer outside on the beach, at a conference, or to a local coffee shop to get work done. The macbook pro glare was unbearable. The 13 inch screen was limiting...

The Macbook Air? No such problems, glare is pretty much a nonissue, and the extra resolution is a god send (especially if you want to do any programming or editing (video or photo).

Bottom Line:

This is the perfect computer for me right now (and I do a lot of things).

I've edited video, worked on photo's, wrote, and opened obscene amounts of tabs, all with no slow downs (again, applying filters in photoshop on 12+ mp files will slow down some, obviously, and exporting your HD video will be slower, but the actual working is a non issue).

The main benefit of this machine to me (and the reason I bought it) was so that I could use this at my desk when needed, I could take with me on the road, and when traveling.

I need to be able to edit photos (screen shots, comps, whatever) and edit video (as well as export).

I need to be able to write (using this mac it is instant, just a click of a button, no more waiting on the spinning beachball of doom for word to load up... ON MY IMAC QUAD CORE!)

I want something with a decent battery life (I got over 10 hours of use, I have the brightness set low (around 50%) bluetooth off, wireless on, browsing the web (no flash), itunes running, and typing away (checking wikipedia and google constantly, all with no slow downs at all, this thing is better than my imac!)

(To be fair, I did watch some netflix videos and hulu on my laptop as well and the battery lasted around 4 hours).

And I need to be able to carry this machine around and do all my work. This machine is just perfect.

I love it, and I love it more with each day.

Right now I have a somewhat unique setup. I have a laptop stand for the laptop (sets it off beautifully) that I use with an external keyboard and mouse (logitech wave combo, which I prefer due to ease of typing, when I need the track pad for gestures it's right there (along with my fellows gel pad).

I have a lap desk for my laptop, and the air works on it perfectly. So I can get work done on my laptop in perfect comfort while laying down, or lounging on a chair or couch at home (I don't take it with me).

I have a nice laptop sleeve that fits perfect (be.ez 13 inch macbook pro sleeve, fits the air like a glove), that I fit inside my vertical messenger bag (which houses this laptop + + a wacom tablet and my kindle will fit in there too).

So when I'm on the go I have the laptop secure and protected (I also bought a slip on pad that gives your wrists relief when typing on the laptop).

In the end, I feel this is the perfect computer. 128 SSD is enough for most people, if you install windows, you can live with 128, but 256 gives you room for your music library and editing videos.

I use an external Western Digital Passport 1tb with this laptop (requires no power cord) and I'm 100% perfect. I love this setup and I doubt I ever go back to the way things where.

No more desktop work (except to batch encode or use as a render farm), and no more bulky laptops (this thing is everything I want and need).

5 out of 5 stars.

If you do a lot of video work, or you render out animations a lot. You can use this machine to do your work, and your desktop to handle the heavy processing. Just store your files on a usb flash drive and xfer to your desktop to handle the render.

If you do 3d animation / modeling. Modeling will be fine, rendering may be a bit slow, when ready, save your file to usb drive, xfer to desktop and your done. (Or use your favorite batch rendering program).

I LOVE IT!

Here's links to all the accessories I use, and at the top under the product description you can view images of how it all looks together.

I'll come back and update this review through time, feel free to post any questions and I'll come back and respond.

Have fun, and buy one!

My Media Drive (House Movies, Photos, Music)

Western Digital My Passport Essential SE 1 TB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive WDBABM0010BSL-NESN (Silver)

(Note they have a newer version that supports USB 3.0, however the macbook air does not support 3.0 so I see no need in spending the extra cash, There is a black version that supports 3.0 and is the same price. I just already have a 500gig black one that I use so I went with silver).

My Case (Macbook air fits perfect)

Be.ez 100691 LA robe Allure Sleeve for Macbook 13.3 (Black)

My Lap Desk (use it on the couch, in the bed, lounging around, non slip and very steady)

Logitech Comfort Lapdesk

I really use it the most when researching, browsing the web and consuming media. When I'm creating content at home (other than writing) I'll sit at my desk and use this...

Logitech N110 (seems that it's not being sold right now by amazon so I can't use the insert a product link, just type it in and you'll find it, check my images at the top for more).

I use this keyboard at the desk:

Logitech Wireless Wave Combo Mk550 With Keyboard and Laser Mouse (920-002555)

I like this for the ergonomics, it feels good even while typing for extended periods.

I hope you enjoyed this review and feel free to leave a comment or question below :)

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Sima SMP-1C Monopod- Silvery White

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $18.88
Today's Bonus: 37% Off

"You get what you pay for"

Most of the time that cliche is true, but there are products out there that break this rule. The Philips DVP642 is one of them, a great quality, versatile product selling at a bargain price. This is not.

I was hoping the same of this product from all the "glowing" reviews on here. However, this quality of this monopod is very disappointing. First of all, you have to ask yourself, why do you need a monopod over a tripod? For myself and most, it's because we need some stability and portability for our telephoto zoom lenses. However, telephoto zooms are long and heavy so the monopod should be designed strong and solid to live up to the task. This monopod doesn't even come close.

Here are it's bad points:

-The aluminum construction is very cheap quality. The leg segments wobble laterally when you extend and close them. It feels like thin, cheap aluminum and the monopod feels it could break in half like a toothpick at any time.

-The head is very cheap and not solid. No matter how tight I tightened the head, my camera would slope down. The workmanship of the head is so cheap that at any point, you think that you're going to break the PLASTIC tightening screw if you tighten it too much. I think we've all experienced that in the past.

-The leg locks are not tight. When you push down on the monopod, the leg segments slide back into themselves.

In the end, it was a risk I took hoping that I could get a high-quality product for a cheap price. Sometimes, you can get away with that. Walmart sells a very decent functioning tripod for only $30. In this case, I should've bought a REAL monopod. Oh well, I wasted $16 that I could've used to help pay for a higher quality monopod.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Apple iPod nano 16 GB Blue (6th Generation) OLD MODEL

Customer Ratings:

The iPod Nano update on September 1, 2010 is arguably the most dramatic since the iPod Nano moniker was introduced by Apple five years ago.

Several colors are being offered in both 8 GB & 16 GB capacities.

More than an update, this is a new product that simply retains the iPod Nano name. It gains a significant feature, but loses several others.

The big deal is the touch interface on the newest iPod Nano. iPod Nano users will now be "touching," their music as iPod Touch and iPhone users have before them. The click wheel is gone. To find your music, you select a category from the Nano's menu such as "Playlists," or "Artists," and select from there. Less convenient or more convenient than a click wheel? Honestly, about equal. The screen is indeed small, but not unusable.

FM Radio has been retained as well as the Fitness aspects with the ability to use Nike + or simply the built in pedometer. However, the form factor will be a major benefit for those working out with the Nano. The previous Nano required an armband to keep it on you while working out, jogging, or the like. Not always comfortable, an additional expense, etc. However, with this new small, square form factor that need is gone. Now, we can simply "clip," the Nano onto us, with the built in clip, and run to our listening content. A bigger deal than you might think.

The downside? Features have been removed from Nano. The screen is much smaller than the previous generation. Therefore, playback of video content from iTunes is gone. Nano no longer plays video, which was a feature added three years ago. Secondly, last year, Nano added a small video camera to record low quality video, which could be played back on the Nano's screen or synced with iTunes and viewed on your computer. That feature is gone too. The device is too small now for a camera or to watch video. This new generation iPod Nano has many exciting new features, but buyers must be aware that it is no longer a video player. It is something new. Those wishing to play video on an iPod must choose an iPod Touch.

My opinion on this change? Honestly, did I ever watch video on the iPod Nano's screen? No. For me, while they kept trying to make the screen larger, it was simply too small to enjoy more than a once a year video. Likewise, the camera was simply not high enough quality to keep yourself entertained by using on a regular basis. It became a feature unused by many.

The iPod Nano has changed and gone back to being an exceptional music player. There is nothing here you do not need to enjoy music. However, the display and touch interface brings the 21st century "touch," that Apple has made so popular to a more affordable device. The touch function will be limited here to simply selecting songs or bringing up the clock, but nevertheless, touch has made its way to the Nano.

I'm most thankful that the Nano has indeed retained the DOCK CONNECTOR. The dock connector is key to use with iPod accessories such as docks, speaker docks, and built in car iPod connectors. The nano is so diminutive that if you plug it into the factory iPod kit of an automobile, the cable's dock connector will look nearly bigger than the Nano itself. Not a negative, just amusing. Nevertheless, the dock connector is there, and you will be able to use the device in such applications, and that was a significant decision by Apple. Users want and need the dock connector. It is there on this iPod Nano, but still missing from the Shuffle due to its even more diminutive size.

This 16 GB version is the largest size Apple offers in the Nano. It offers no additional functionality over the 8GB, but features twice the storage. Choose the one best for you. 16 GB is great if you have a large music collection. We should all remember though that with Nano no longer doing Video or Storing Pictures, the storage is exclusively for music. This makes 8 GB and 16 GB more appropriate size offerings as music takes up much less storage than video.

Overall, Apple has removed video (both playback and recording) from this iPod Nano. However, it's an equalling good music player. Navigation of music is now completed via touch, which works effectively despite the small screen. It's really hard to believe so much can fit into such a small device and I believe everyone will be a bit shocked when they open up the Nano the first time and see it's size yet primary function as an effective music player retained. The newest Nano brings a nearly Shuffle like size, but yet retains the functionality (touch, clip, dock connector) that serious music lovers and those who use the Nano while working out, demand.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

RL-2 Shoulder Mount Follow Focus Matte Box for DSLR Video

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $1,495.00
Sale Price: $494.99
Today's Bonus: 67% Off

Needed a support without paying the thousands of dollars required for the "Hollywood" equipment. This support system does everything I need it to do so far.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Tamron AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD LD Aspherical IF Macro

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $633.00
Sale Price: $490.49
Today's Bonus: 23% Off

If you need a lens that will get you through many different types of photo situations this is the lens for you. It is good for events, nature, sports to name a few situations.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Sunagor Mega Zoom Binoculars 30-160x70

Customer Ratings:

I have a pair of these particular binoculars so I know what I'm talking about when I say that they are absolutely brilliant and unbelievably powerful! I originally read up on Sunagor who are well known for quality ultra powerful binoculars in Europe and this is their top model and apparently the world's most powerful. With a zoom magnification of 30X going up to 160X, I reckon that's true there's nothing else I've seen out there that offers this amount of power and they are capable of viewing over huge distances.

They are beautifully made (Japanese) and have those higher grade bak-4 prisms with multi-coated lenses. The objective front lens size is 70mm so although these babies are a fair size, they're manageable. I use a tripod with them at the higher magnifications because it's pretty difficult to handhold them steady at 160X. They actually come with a tripod adapter for that purpose. What I will add is that to compare a pair of regular 20X70 binocs to these Sunagor Megazooms is like comparing a regular car to racing car. Try them and you'll see what I mean.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Switronix DSLR-PRO Camera Shoulder Support

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $279.00
Sale Price: $269.99
Today's Bonus: 3% Off

Good Product for the price! it feels a little weird in the shoulder but the fact that has that inverted U shape helps you rest more than others Rigs a have tried. The plate its not top quality but over all its a good product for the bucks. The fact that you can rearrange the distance of the camera lets you play good with a Viewfinder. If you are gona have like a big tele on the camera maybe its good that consider to put a counterweight. The one hand grip its great to focus with the other hand.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>

Nikon D3200 24.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera (Red) with 18-55mm

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $1,099.99
Sale Price: Price Unavailable
Today's Bonus: 41% Off

I have been using Canon's for years, my latest being the Rebel T3, and decided to take this step because of the price. I am so glad that i did. I have never had a camera with such clarity and speed at the same time. I take a lot of pictures of sunsets and i was blown away when the Jet trails in the sky showed up so clearly. There is a lot of flexibility with this camera for professionals and for those who are just learning. This kit came with everything i need to get quality pictures. I would recommend this camera to anyone that is ready to take the next step in their photography!

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Read More >>