Samsung Galaxy NoteII 2 Leather Case - GT-N7100 - Ultra Thin Flip Top Type - PDair (Black)

This is the case I am using. I ordered a couple of others (one by mistake), but this is the case of choice for now. Good leather, good feel, good fit. It is a little wider than the other cases,by a fraction of an inch (not bulky though), but the extra width keeps me from hitting the side buttons by accident. Case flips open, holds open by magnetism; flips closed, holds closed by magnetism. One of the other cases (Evecase--see review) has a slightly more compactness to it, looks less bulky, is made of good leather, but the perfect fit of the case leaves the side buttons of the Galaxy Note II more exposed, causes frequent hitting of the volume level and on/off button.

I am pleased with this PDair case.

Skque anti glare Screen Protector For Nook Color

Screen protector is perfectly adequate as a clear, glossy screen protector. It fits and goes on just fine. But it has no anti-glare properties, contrary to the advertised description. I double checked the sku and barcode, thinking they had shipped the wrong item, but they matched up with the anti-glare item. So don't order this item unless you want a glossy screen protector.

didn't like it too hard to put on cant get the bubbles out easy and just too much hassle. nope

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I't definitely protects your screen from fingerprints and it cleans very well with a cavi-wipe without removing it from the screen.

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The item is pretty simple so its gonna be my review. i own a nook tablet and the only thing i wanted was something to protect it from scratches and this does that pretty good. ITS NOT ANTI GLARE it will kind of help to read against a light but it definitively doesn't help if you are against the sun.

also the screen is pretty clear and the the touch hasn't changed. i did notice a small change in the display. don't know how to explain it but it was like little pieces of light fragmenting causing little lines of colors all over the place but it was so small that after 5minutes i got used to it and now its crystal clear for me.

also i did take some time to put it on but that's normal with this kind of stuff.

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Does what it says. Great price. Protects my daughter's Nook Color screen well. I have been pleased with the product thus far. I would recommend this for anyone with a device similar to this.

CSSN Portable Business Card Scanner and Reader - Scan2Contacts

• Fully integrated into Microsoft Outlook ®
• Auto-detect function
• Extracts both data and image
• No external power needed
• No need to learn any new software

I was looking for something that would just scan cards directly into an outlook contact without going through clumsy intermediate contact management tools. This does it perfectly. Plugged it in, ran the install, calibrated and was scanning cards into outlook in about 5 minutes. couldn't be easier.

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I had to return the first scanner I received because it did not work. This company does not provide any telephone contact information; you have to go to their website and send an e-mail. However, once you contact them, they are very helpful and very responsive. The second scanner I received does a good job of reading business cards. I do find it is necessary to check the information for accuracy before saving. The only time there seems to be a problem is when the business card is graphic intensive.

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It set up and worked relatively easily with Vista and XP. It does very well with simple cards. No editing required. If the card has lot's of logo graphics or odd fonts, it has some trouble. It will also occasionally mix up an 'i' with an 'l', but that is understandable. Recalibration reduces the problem. It also did not recognize hand written corrections on cards.

The big plus however, is that it has a very slick interface with Outlook Contacts. When it scans a card, it loads what it read into the New Contact window and awaits your edits. It also drops a .jpg of the card right into the notes section for easy comparison. That makes corrections easy and allows you to toss the cards.

I was not expecting a magic reader and it isn't, but it definitely helped me clean up Contacts and the hundreds of accumulated cards.

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I had great hopes for this product, since some of our execs return from trips with a lot of business cards. Unfortunately, it doesn't work well enough for me to recommend it.

First, the plusses: It's fairly intuitive to set up and run. It's also pretty small and lightweight. It scans directly into an Outlook Contact record, so you don't have to scan it and then transfer it from somewhere else. It's also very good at interpreting which phone numbers belong in which fields (i.e., phone, fax, cell), and it's pretty good at scanning them accurately. You have the option of scanning a JPEG image of the card directly into the contact record, which I thought was one of this product's best features, and it will put a backup copy of the JPEG into whatever folder you specify.

Here's the stuff that doesn't work so well: The Optical Character Recognition software would probably work great for plain text, but this is a business card scanner. Everyone's card is unique, including the color, the company name/logo and the text, and this OCR software just can't cut it. Out of 50 cards I scanned, I had to correct about 75% of them. Some of these were simply changing an "l" to a "t" in the e-mail address, but sometimes it would just drop off or change whole pieces of text, for example, "Manufacturing" became "I Vianufacturing" and "Pete L. Chase" became "Pete L.". Also, if the business card had two addresses, such as a street address and a PO Box, it often missed one completely or put it in the wrong location. I did calibrate the scanner before and during use, per the instructions.

In addition, you should know that if you have Microsoft Business Contacts Manager, you cannot use the JPEG feature, which is not mentioned anywhere in the sales information. Because of how inaccurate the scanning is, you NEED this feature so you can refer to the JPEG in case the contact record is wrong. I had Business Contacts Manager installed, but I wasn't using it, so I uninstalled it before I started using the scanner. Unfortunately for some reason, Outlook considered the JPEG to be an "unsafe attachment", so it blocked me from viewing it in the contact record. I e-mailed Scan2Contacts, and after doing some troubleshooting with me, they could not fix the problem.

In the end, if I have to fix three-quarters of the entries (which means I have to proofread 100% of them), and I can't access the JPEG to see what's correct, why should I spend the money?

I do think there is one way this scanner could function: if you scan the business card but don't save the resulting Contacts entry, you will still have the JPEG in a folder on your computer. The scanner automatically files it alphabetically by first name, so you could create a "digital rolodex" of JPEG cards, although none of the information would be searchable. The only thing you'd have to watch is if it scans the name incorrectly, you'd have to fix the file name, or you'd have a hard time finding it. "Scanning and fixing" may be a little faster than entering information manually, and if you want a file of business card jpegs, maybe this product would be worth it to you.

I received this scanner as a birthday gift and I love it. Our collection of business cards cluttering up our wallets, drawers, etc. are now gone! This was incredibly easy to use once it was installed. Since I'm not very savvy about installing new software, I called tech support for help and they did an excellent job helping me get it done. I highly recommend this scanner.

Global Marketing Executive Leather Case for Asus Transformer Pad Infinity (RC-TF700T-EXE-BK)

• Built-in stand for comfortable viewing at 45 degree angle.
• Detachable inner sleeve for handheld operation; reattaches by touch fastener for landscape / portrait viewing.
• Business and ID slots with accessory flap.
• Elastic loop for optional pen or stylus.
• Dual zipper for easy access.

I just received the case after almost 3 weeks. After installing the cover over the tablet, I could not connect it to the dock. The cover was too bulky to use it with the docking keyboard. The advertisement should have stated not for use with the dock. It did not mention you had to remove the tablet cover when using the dock. The tablet fits the outer case okay while connected to the dock. It does offer great protection.

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I like this product for carrying my tablet only. It is well made and does the job very well. I appreciate the ability to rotate the tablet and still use it as a stand. I only wish there was a version that was made by this company to their standards that carried my keyboard also now that I own one and am transitioning more away from my laptop. i don't think you will be disappointed if you are willing to invest in the higher price.

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This case has saved my tablet from damage from falls on multiple occasions. The included tablet holder is and excellent extra.

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A wonderful buy for the price. Very professional look and even after 3 or 4 months, everything works. Obviously, it was a quality make. The kickstand makes it very useful, the ability to use the velcro with different position...all these make this a very good product. Would recommend to everyone. I wouldnt recomment this for youngsters though. My daughter is already bugging to buy her a purple or pink case so that she can use that when she takes it out and i can use this one when i take it out :-)

Cyber Acoustics AC-850 USB Stereo Headset OEM

• Microphone Power voltage: 1.5 V to 10 V
• Shielded cord, Adjustable headband
• USB Type: USB 2.0
• 180 degree microphone, Adjustable boom arm
• Ambidextrous design (wear on right or left side)

Cyber Acoustics AC-851B USB Stereo Headset OEM

I would spend $7-$10 more for a better unit. Trouble is, it's hard to know which are better. This one should be adequate, but my immediate impression was NOT "wow, this is great," but rather, "this is okay and will do for the price." I don't know how long it will last as I just bought it.

PROS:

I have just plugged this in, and it seems to work fine.

1. The microphone part is adjustable which is good.

2. There is a mute and volume control on the cord and a led on light also

CONS:

The plastic head piece seems to narrow for my head (5'6" female); It is adjustable longer but not wider, so it seems a little tight, which should probably be good for an hour class but not longer

2. The earpads might be better if rounder: they too are tall but not wide, and not 100% wonderful on my ear.

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I bought this headset because I wanted a usb headset to use while playing computer games. This headset performed very well in that aspect. The sound was full and the directionality was adequate, but definitely not surround. The mic sounds clear and is easy to adjust. I thought this headset and i would have a long, happy relationship together.

Enter it's one real downfall: build quality. It's an inexpensive headset and the flimsy plastic betrays that fact immediately. To be honest, I wasn't all THAT careful with it, but after 6 months or so the sound from the left earcup started to become scratchy. It was still usable, but annoyed me to no end so I have since replaced it.

All in all, great entry-level usb headset.

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I purchased this for online courses. It was cost efficient and comfortable. Very satisfied with price and purchase.

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With coaching from my son who is living in Germany for awhile, I bought a headset in order to talk with him, and others, using Skype. It's truly amazing to be able to communicate with such clarity and comfort (the headset is so lightweight you forget you're wearing it), and the call is free through Google! It's the best buy I've made in a long time. Thanks, Amazon!

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I bought a set of these headphones for my teenage daughter. The headset that came with some foreign language software had fallen apart and these were a replacement. After only 4 weeks she was putting them on her head and one of the ear pieces just snapped apart! The wires were still intact, but they are basically not usable anymore. She really liked the sound and the noise cancelling features on them it's too bad they just didn't last long enough to make the purchase worthwhile.

rooCASE (Med EVA Green) Hard Shell Case with Memory Foam for Western Digital My Passport Essential S

Bought this according to its sizing specifications for my portable external. When it got here, it wasn't long enough and wouldn't fit the cord. Wound up just giving it to a friend. Looks durable, just needs to be bigger.

I bought this for my WD Passport. The description said it would fit but it does not. I had to gently force it in and this made the case change shape. I was able to get it zipped and do feel that the hard drive is safe but I'm disappointed that it was not a better fit.

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rooCASE Slim-Fit (Black) Folio Case Cover with Multi Adjustable Viewing Angles for Asus Transformer

• Slim Fit Low Profile Case Cover for Asus Transformer Pad TF300. (NOT Comptible with Transformer Prime TF201 and TF101)
• Black PU Exterior with Non-Scratch Microfiber Interior. (Tablet NOT Included)
• 4 Adjustable Angles for Viewing Typing, Viewing or Displaying. Interior Elastic Hand Strap to Safely Carry your TF300.
• 6 Reinforced Grip Corners to Hold Tablet with Maxium Protection. Access to all Controls and Ports.
• A MUST Have for all Asus Transformer Pad TF300 Owners!!

This case seems well made and like it would do a good job, however IT IS NO LONGER DESIGNED FOR THE TF300. I ordered this case along with screens protectors from this company and received them in a timely manner. However, both the case and screen protectors were clearly labeled "TF700". I emailed customer service and they responded the next business day but they didn't understand what the problem was. After another email to them clarifying that I needed the correct screen protectors AND case sent to me, I was told that:

"The case you've recieved [sic] for the TF700 is in fact the correct case we currently offer for the TF300. Unfortunately, we no longer carry a case specifically for the TF300. The case we offer is compatiable [sic] for both the TF300 and TF700, and will provide the same protection to either case.

Roxy

Customer Care

PCMicroStore

866/686.1800

Hours of Operation Mon Fri 9:30AM 5:30 PST"

As anyone who has compared the TF300 to the TF700 will know, these tablets do NOT have the same dimensions. The 300 is both wider and thicker than the 700. When I replied to "Roxy" and relayed this information I also asked to be contacted by someone else in management of the company in order to get clarification on why this case was being advertised for the wrong device. The reply was that they are happy to give me my money back once I return it and I was never contacted by anyone else.

Just so you know, I tried fitting my TF300 into the case as they claim it will. It doesn't. It can be forced into the side and corner clips, but only with a lot of force. The cover will NOT close flat, and the clasp, if forced to snap shut as it is designed, actually caused enough stress on the plastic body of the tablet to separate it from the screen around the edge!

So if you have a TF700, this might work fine for you, but if you are looking for a TF300 case this isn't it.

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You can force an tf300t in the case, kinda defeats the purpose though. I bough this because it said it was for the tf300t if you get it in it looks ok and protects it well.

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Looks soooo much nicer than the stupid kind everyone has with elastic straps on the corners. This one snaps perfectly in place, holding the tablet snugly. The fit an finish are very premium. Much more than the generic Chinese cases I've tried. It's worth the couple bucks extra just for the fit and finish. The tabs that hold it in place leave the entire face exposed instead of hiding the bezel like most leather cases. It's nice and lush feeling with a thick, firm, yet yeilding cover that feels great in the hand. The only downside is that it doubles the weight of the tablet, but it's totally worth it.

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Well designed, but very, very tight fit on my ASUS 300T...strange, STRONG smell of some type of glue was annoying. IT was hard to close the cover by forcing the snap over the edge of the tablet. So much so that I thought it might damage it. After a while it became easier to close. At first you may have to push the edge of the cover from the opposite edge toward the snap to make it go over the tablet edge. Functions as advertised, but the 2 "odd" points reduced what would have been a 5 star rating.

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The case I received had part number RC-TF700T-SF-BK. The case is for a TF700T. It kinda fits the tablet but not great.

As a case, it's really nice. Unfortunately it's the wrong one for my needs.

Roocase Capacitive Stylus Black For Ipad

• Aluminum
• Black

Very easy to hold and use, you cannot be too rough will using it if you dont want the pen or the touchscreen device to get damaged. Im still using it and it works perfectly.

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When I first got it i thought it was great, very soft, slide nicely across my ipad. Two weeks later I don't want to use it anymore it feels like using a pencil eraser, it gets stuck. Do not recommend it.

PDair BX1 Black Crocodile Pattern Leather Case for Apple New MacBook Air 2011 11"

Very happy with this purchase. Ordered a MacBook Air with the Intel i7 shortly after Apple released the new models in mid 2011. Ordered this case a day or two later. The case arrived the same day as the computer (even though Amazon status still showed Shipping Soon). The case fits perfectly, has a great look, feel, and smell to it, and is just thick enough that I think it will absorb most the shock if dropped if a small distance.

PalmOne Zire 21 Handheld

• Keep all your important information--from appointments to addresses to notes--at your fingertips
• 8 MB of memory, bonus software, and a fast processor
• Play games on the go or read an eBook
• Synchronizes with Outlook
• Handheld device; Palm Desktop software including Note Pad and Expense; Software Essentials CD with Handmark Mobile DB and PDA Money;

The new Zire Palm 21 is essentially an updated version of the original Zire, itself an update of the lowly m100, with the following changes:

* 8MB of Ram (still not upgradeable) vs. hobbled 2MB.

* A better battery.

* A slightly better processor. (This is largely irrelevant, because most Palm functions are nearly instantaneous anyway).

All of the other limitations of the original Zire still exist, chief among them the small, dim dark-grey on light-grey (so very 1979) screen and the utter lack of expandability.

Believe me, screen size matters when you are pointing and clicking on a tiny keyboard on your Palm. This is by far the smallest, dimmest screen you can buy.

The 8MB allows for only relatively basic address and scheduling functions, but is a big improvement from 2MB.

It's intended to be a starter model with limitations that will have you thirsting to upgrade, and often comes free with new computers.

The three PALM programs that I consider essential would come close to overwhelming this puppy. They are: Mapopolis (a mapping program from Mapopopolis.com with keyword-searchable street maps), Avantgo (an online news service that downloads articles to your palm) and Vindigo (a restaurant, movie and city guide).

To me, this model is only for those misguided and poor folks who would have bought the now-discontinued original Zire model but want 8MB. There are far better models out there for only a few more bucks. You can find some of the excellent Handspring Visor or Palm's own Vx/m500/m515 models used for far cheaper, which feature larger, brighter grey screens and 8 MB. Sony's B/W CLIE line of Palm OS handhelds are also better, for a few more bucks.

If you can afford it, I'd definitely trade up to the Tungsten E -which features 32MB, a brilliant hi-res color screen, expandability, MP3 and a slick form factor. It costs twice as much and is worth every penny.

Here's a basic PALM product guide:

Zire/Zire 21/Palm m100: Bottom of the line. Designed to suck you in but leave you wanting more. Think of this as the Chevy Chevette of Palms. Plagued by skimpy, dim screens.

Palm m505: Discontinued color model features horrible washed out color screen. AVOID AT ALL COSTS.

Palm TUNGSTEN TE: The new standard for low-priced, high-value color palms. Features 320x320 brilliant screen, 32MB Ram, MP3 capability with headphone jack, high quality battery and slick, shirt-pocketable form factor.

Palm Zire 71: Excellent, but expensive model features a low-res digital camera that is Okay only for small web page photos or email.

Tungsten T2: Expensive model features drop down graffiti screen. Not worth the extra cash over the TE, unless you need/want Bluetooth.

Tungsten T3: Longer, 320x480 screen. Otherwise, similar to T2. Expensive.

For competitors, check out the Handspring Treo models, which feature thumbpads and a small form factor (some with phones).

But I've heard Sony's customer service is weak compared to Palm's easy-as-pie returns. These things do break from time to time, so keep that in mind.

Also compare to PocketPCs, which have started to come down into the two-hundred smacker price range, but still can't beat Palm's small form factor and ease of use...

If you haven't bought a Palm yet, now's a great time to try it. It's basically an extension and backup for your brain, and who doesn't need that?

Enjoy!

Buy PalmOne Zire 21 Handheld Now

the zire 21 is palm's new entry-level handheld has more memory and a faster processor than its predecessor. if your expectations of the zire 21 are in line with it's low price, you won't be disappointed.

pros:

very good value under a hundred bucks for a solid (if basic) PDA.

runs Palm's latest OS 5.2.

8MB of memory instead of just 2MB in the old Zire 8MP is plenty for the intended use of this PDA.

faster processor than original Zire

great battery life.

pocketable at 4.4 x 2.9 x 0.6 weighing 3.8oz.

feels solid.

USB support.

cons:

no backlight.

no expansion capability.

160x160 monochrome screen.

only the older Address Book and Schedule apps are included rather than the new, more full-featured Contact and Calendar programs that ship with Palm's latest tungsten models.

no multimedia support.

if you are looking for a basic PDA (mainly to-do lists, contacts, and calendar) at a good price, consider the zire 21. it's a good value and will get the job done for you. just don't expect all the multimedia bells and whistles that come with a lot of the PDAs sold today.

the zire 21 will face competition from sony's clié SJ20. the sony has a better monochrome display, 16MB of RAM, and a memory stick slot. but the sony is also more expensive. between the two, i'd go with the zire 21 myself.

if you have extra cash and want more capabilities, consider palm's tungsten E. it has a color, hi-res screen, a SD slot, MP3 and multimedia support, and a much better software bundle.

i hope this helps you with your purchasing decision. peace.

Read Best Reviews of PalmOne Zire 21 Handheld Here

I purchased this Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) as a christmas gift for my wife. This is not the most advanced, or feature-rich PDA on the market, but I wouldn't buy an HP iPAQ 5555 to my wife just because it's better.

My wife is uninitiaded in the PDA arena, and I couldn't overwhelm her with dozens of features she, as a newbie would never use. The Zire 21 has all the basic capabilities for someone to get organized; Address Book, Calendar, Notes, you can even jot down handwritten notes using the Zire as a paper notepad. It's small, thin, light, fits perfectly almost anywhere and it does the job, period. Another plus is the internal battery, no need to buy AAAs or AAs anymore, there's a battery charger included and it only takes 2-3 hours to recharge completely.

A CD is also included; it has the Palm Desktop software and the necessary drivers for the PC (or Mac) operating system to recognize the palm when you connect it using the USB cable. This software allows you to:

1Enter the data on the PC instead of the PDA.

2Transfer data between the PC and the PDA and synchronize both

3It makes your PC act as a backup repository for your data. If for some reason your Palm data is erased, you may recover by re-sycnhronizing with the PC data.

4It allows you to install 3rd party software that you download from the Internet.

You don't need to have a PC or Mac to use the Zire, but it is strongly recommended to have one.

I think the Palm Zire has the best value for the price, it's simple to operate and it looks nice (and this sentence rhymes).

Good purchase

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Original Zire was a ground breaking product because of its low price. But a year later Palm is still trying to sell the same small screen with no backlight for same price?

Pro's,

1. Its price.

2. Has latest stable Palm OS version 5.

3. Looks very good, doesn't feel cheap (so you can gift it).

4. Comes with rechargeable battery and standard USB cable.

5. Fast ARM processor, good stylus and infrared port.

Con's,

1. Still no backlight on screen (uesless in dark or medium light).

2. Screen is B&W and only 160x160 pixels, again the worst you will find on a 2003 handheld.

3. No mp3, mpeg, jpeg support. Without the multimedia features the gift receiver doesn't get much excited.

4. No expansion slot and only 8MB memory.

5. 90 day warranty.

6. Processor & OS are new but rest of hardware is pathetic, new OS is not put to any use.

With Tungsten E selling for well below 199 mark, I would strongly recommend getting T|E instead of Zire 21. You will get so much for a few more $$. Or you might as well get original Zire for half the cost. Zire 21 is good only as a gift to your mother-in-law, not recommended for personal use.

I gave my hardly used Sony Clie T615C to my fiancée and was using my old Palm III until I bought the Zire 21. I realized after owning a Palm III, Handspring Visor, Palm Vx, Sony Clie T615C, that all I really need a PDA for is addresses, notes, and scheduling. I don't need a camera, mp3 player, video player, web browser, etc. So the Zire 21's features and even lack of, were a good match for my needs, especially at the $99 price point.

True, the display is black and white and the 160x160 resolution is inferior to a B&W Clie. But what does that really mean? I have NO problems reading text on the display. It is infinitely better than my old Palm III's screen. The only major drawback to the screen is the lack of a backlit option. Impossible to see in the dark or dimly lit room.

Considering I'm only storing addresses, notes and appointments, 8MB is PLENTY with room for a few extra applications and games. No expansion possibilty however.

The lack of color display vastly improves the battery life of the built-in lithium ion battery. I should be able to go nearly a month or more on a full charge. My color Clie couldn't go an entire week. The USB hotsync cable also acts as a trickle charger. My only complaint here is I wish they would've figured out a way to put the charging cable and hotsync cable into a single cable. Because of the lack of a cradle, I have to deal with two separate cables. However, this is a benefit for traveling. I used to have to take my Clie's cradle and giant power brick with me on trips.

I have not had any of the same problems described by other reviewers regarding random resets, as of yet. And the 90 day warranty is pretty skimpy for an electronics product and reminds me of Sony. It'd be nice if they would stand behind their products, even if it is their entry-level product. Still, the Zire 21 is a very elegant and simple PDA and an excellent choice for those who are looking for a basic Palm powered device. With the upgraded memory, OS and processor, it is much more attractive than the original Zire at the same price point.

rooCASE Neoprene Super Bubble Sleeve Case for Lenovo ThinkPad X100e 11.6-Inch Laptop (Black / Red)

I got this for my Thinkpad x120e. It fits great, nice and snug. It does add quite a bit more thickness than other sleeves, but at least my laptop is protected.

The color is nice too.

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Xircom CFM56G CompactCard Modem for Pocket PC

• High-speed 56 Kbps modem access
• Connects with Pocket PC and Windows CE handhelds
• GlobalACCESS features for automatic modem setup
• Synchronize with Windows PCs and access enterprise systems
• BatterySave advanced power management

This Xircom CompactCard Modem lets Windows CE users have high-speed 56k access. Letting you synchronize, and surf the web. E-mail and the internet from your WinCE device, not every day you see that. This is a very low power modem, ensuring longer handheld battery life, it doesn't drain the power from the devcie if the modem is not being used. It is a 3.3-volt compact flash card. It can be conected to your GSM 900, 1800, DCS 1800, PCS 1900, and PDC phone through Xircom GSM Connection Kit. Synchronize your WinCE device with a Windows PC anywhere in the world. It has a simple plug and play installation configuration. Includes a digital shield which protects the modem from high current digital phone line. It uses RealView PC card management software enabling you to use it in a PC card Compact Flach Card adapter.

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Purchased for use with my HP Jornada 568. Because of a raised bevel on the front of the card it will not fit in the CF type II slot on the Jornada 568.

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This modem does NOT work with the Ipaq ROM update. While Compaq hopes to resolve this issue, Xircom has provided ZERO support. This modem is priced at premium level, and Xircom's most recent web page highlights the Compaq Ipaq SPECIFICALLY, yet there has been no software/driver update for over a year. Not a satifactory choice at this point.

Xbox 360 Rechargeable Battery 2-Pack

• Up to 40 hours of gameplay per battery on a single charge
• No more disposable batteries for your Wireless Controller
• Works with Quick Charge and Play and Charge Kits

The Xbox 360 Rechargeable Battery 2-Pack is perfect for any gamer who goes through battery's like crazy, or even not, The Rechargeable battery packs are perfect if you are looking for a spare or 2 packs to be on the charger at all times, ready for you to exchange them out in the heat of the battle. The only reason I give a 4 is they gave me a bit of trouble at first charging wise, but it's all fine now. In the end I highly recommend this product for anyone who is looking for more battery packs. If you have any questions comments or concerns, please comment below.

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Microsoft batteries at 1/2 the price that you would find them for in the store. Can't beat it, and I will definitely be back!

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I couldn't find these in the stores anywhere, so I settled for a Komodo brand. It specifically says for Xbox 360. The quick charger wouldn't recognize them, and neither would the play and charge. They are only a buck cheaper than on here, but what good are they if you can't even charge them!!! I won't make that mistake again. I'm going strictly for Microsoft branded gear. I'm so glad I found these here on Amazon! Don't settle for goofy knock-off brands for replacements! Amazon is the best mall ever!!!

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I purchased these brand new direct from amazon and I have to say i'm severely let down. I completely understand the matter of sometimes people receive defective products, and looks like it's my turn to be on that list. This contained two battery packs and neither pack would charge. I used my charge cable on an older pack I had just to make sure and that charged fine so obviously it's something to do with these batteries themselves. Maybe they've been sitting around in a warehouse for too long. If you're going to buy these just be very weary. If you get a good pack then great, but me personally i'm out of $20. I'll try to get the problem resolved, and if I do, I will update my review.

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These batteries last very long. I game for at least 26 hours a week, I can play weeks without charging my first battery before I need to replace it with the fully charged one. I have the charge and play kit that works wonderful. I am impressed that they last as long as they do. One thing to remember is to let them drain completely before charging that will make them last longer. This is my second set of batteries as well. My first pair I bought when the xbox360 first came out and they lasted me 5 years. Well worth buying these even for the casual gamer. I saved a lot of money on AA batteries.

Char-Broil 3184727 Deluxe Electric Rotisserie

I have to say that the con to this devices is the spit itself... come on why would make a spit in two pieces attached by a nut that bind the two pieces together ... to me it seems it is the weakest point in the whole device. I broke mine while I was tightening it... luckily I ran out to buy a cheap rotisserie for the 1 piece spit it contained... The spit need to be sturdy and appears to be flimsy... stay away from this one. Char-Broil 2584727 Deluxe Electric Rotisserie

I wasn't sure about buying this rotisserie after reading other negative reviews and wish I hadn't. It didn't even make it to the grill. The rod comes in 2 parts that have to be screwed in, one into the other, and the threaded end snapped off before it was even tightened down all the way. This is clearly not well-made and I would guess if it had made it into use, something else would have failed later on.

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This item is great!! It installed right on the pre drilled holes on my BBQ and I was off and running! Only drawback is that you have to remove the brackets in order to put your grill back on. I cooked a chicken and it was beautiful!

Read Best Reviews of Char-Broil 3184727 Deluxe Electric Rotisserie Here

Char-Broil is generally known as having a pretty good product line; this is not one of them. The spit is a two piece affair that is assembled by screwing one half into the other half with a washer between them. The problem is that the threaded portion is too long to be tightened down to the other half; so it breaks as you attempt to tighten it down as instructed by the sheet accompanying the product. However, based on other reviews (which I wish I had read prior to purchasing the product) this is not new news, so let me add dealing with Char-Broil.

Had I purchased this item locally, I would have brought it back to the seller and demanded either a refund or a new one. Since that is not what happened, I contacted Char-Broil. Even though this product has no warranty information on or in the box I knew I would get some satisfaction if I harangued them enough. Surprisingly it wasn't all that difficult, once I explained to the customer service rep what the problem was and that the item had not been used yet he said they could fix the problem and make it right, then he asked where I purchased it. When I said Amazon, he said that I would have to send the item back to Char-Broil (using a trackable service) and they would replace it; however, here is the rub, I had to send the entire item back, including the parts I had already assembled on the grill. So, I took all the parts back off the grill, then put them back in the box and marked the box with the RMA number supplied and using the shipping box it came in from Amazon, I repacked it and shipped it via UPS to Char-Broil, at my expense.

The day after it arrived in Georgia (where it was being shipped) I received an automated email from Char-Broil requesting that I contact them in reference to my item returned. When I contacted them, I found that what they wanted was a credit card to charge $8.95 for shipping and handling to return my replacement product to me. Needless to say, this did not go over well with me and after some discussion they decided to return it at their expense. Be forewarned, Char-Broil's warranty on ALL items is that the consumer pays shipping in both directions. I hate to think what would happen if there was something wrong with my grill!

When the replacement item gets back to me, I will see if the threaded portion still appears too long to fit into the other side and if so, I am going to grind it down some until it fits easily and rely on the lock washer to keep the two halves together.

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Everything is fine with this except for the spit. It is a two piece contraption that has no strength. It worked fine for the first two times I used it but just now as I was roasting two chickens it broke and dumped our dinner into the flames. DON'T BUY IT.

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TURQUOISE Soft Silicone Skin Cover Case for HTC EVO 3D (Sprint) / EVO V 4G (VirginMobile)

• Protection against scratches, chips, dirt.
• Custom made to fit your phone perfectly.
• Complements Product.
• Accessible opening provides quick access to button functions.

Product came when expected. Color is beautiful. Looks great on phone. fits good. very happy buyer. great product. Love It!!

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Love the color. It fits great and is nice and soft . I definately recommend this case it really helps protect phone in case of drops.

Read Best Reviews of TURQUOISE Soft Silicone Skin Cover Case for HTC EVO 3D (Sprint) / EVO V 4G (VirginMobile) Here

Case was of good quality, however, the color is more of a greenish turquoise than a blueish turquoise as shown in the photo.

Hewlett Packard Jornada 568 Pocket PC

• Color Pocket PC with 64 MB of RAM with Microsoft's Pocket PC 2002 operating
• Built-in CompactFlash slot lets you add memory, accessories
• Vibrant 16-bit color display provides clear view indoors and out
• Store and edit data, browse the Internet, check e-mail with powerful Pocket PC applications
• What's in the box: Jornada 568, Stylus, rechargeable lithium-polymer battery, CR-2032 backup battery, AC adapter, USB cradle, Jornada Quick Start Guide, Documentation pack, Pocket PC Companion CD

The original HP Jornada Pocket PC's were easily outclassed by Compaq and Casio's models, but HP's engineers have redeemed themselvesand surpassed the competitionwith the new Pocket PC 2002 versions: the Jornada 565 and 568. (The only difference between the two is RAM, with the 568 having 64Mb to the 565's 32Mb.)

These new models have the superior display and speed of the competitors products, but easily top the Compaq with built-in CF card expansion and replaceable, rechargable batteries that have longer life spans than the iPAQ. The included flip-up cover is also a plus and makes the Jornada the lightest weight and slimmest Pocket PC available with both screen protection and CF expansion built-in.

HP also thoughtfully provided a way for users to store up to 8Mb of data or programs in the secure FlashROM, assuring the security of vital material.

Besides the Microsoft Pocket PC software suite, HP's bundled software includes Code Wallet Pro and the versitile OmniSolve calculator as well as HP's own image viewer. This viewer is the best I've tried on any Pocket PC. My favorite bundled program though has to be Mobile Conversay. This easy-to-use program allows you to talk to your Jornada and receive spoken responses. Mobile Conversay will read your calendar to you, tell you the date and time, check your battery life, start and stop programs and more.

The Jornada 565/568 are easily the top of the new crop of Pocket PC's.

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Although the new iPaqs are sure to generate a lot of hype, HP is hoping they can gather a much larger share of the Pocket PC market with the new Jornada 560 family.

Size:

The Jornada 560 is about the same size as the 540 and 520, slightly less wide but the same height. The BIG change is in the weight my old Jornada 548 weighed 9.1 ounces, and the 565/567 weighs 3 ounces less at 6.1 ounces. It doesn't sound like much, but this device doesn't try to pull my Dockers down like the old one did! The difference in size is obviously due to the new 3.5" display, which seems to make the screen a bit sharper than its larger competitor, the iPaq.

I love the screen cover on the Jornada 560 series you don't need to have a separate carrying case for the device! With my iPaq, I needed a carrying case to protect the screen. With the Jornada, I can close the cover and jam it into my pocket without worrying about scratching the display. HP devices always feel like they're well built, and the Jornada 560 is no exception.

The Jornada feels very good in the hand. I like the rubberized sides of the device, as I feel like I always have a good grip on it. When I was taking my iPaq with me to work every day on the light rail, I was always feeling like I was going to have it slip out of my hand onto the floor. It was also wider and wasn't as easy to hold. With the CF sleeve on it (hey, I always have to have my eBooks and music!) the iPaq was also much thicker and heavier.

Functionality:

The 560 series uses a new display that's smaller than that used in the previous generation of Pocket PCs, measuring up at 3.5 inches diagonally instead of 3.8 inches. This reflective TFT display is also much clearer and well defined due to a .216 dot pitch the older displays had a .24 dot pitch. With Microsoft ClearType and the Jornada display, everything's easy to read. Outside, this display is even sharper than the iPaq's.

I've gone for many days using the device with backlight a lot, and still have had battery power to spare. The 560 has a replaceable lithium polymer battery pack, so you can have several charged packs on hand. There's a backup battery stored in a tiny slot on the side of the device, so if your battery DOES happen to croak, you won't lose all your data.

HP will soon be shipping an extended life battery pack that will be a bit thicker, but doubles the estimated battery life to 28 hours! In January of 2002, HP should ship a battery pack with a built-in MMC memory slot. This means that you could pop an MMC card into the battery pack to store data and still have a wide-open CF slot.

There's one nice feature in the 560 called "HP Safe Store". It's an 8 MB ROM area that allows users to install applications, store documents and make emergency backups of their data. If the battery dies and the Jornada RAM is erased, this data remains intact! I've installed critical apps into this area, saving my system memory and CF card space for more important data.

Expandability:

IPaq users love to point out that HP Jornada Pocket PCs don't support Compact Flash Type II cards only Type I. This limits the Jornada, since you can't use the IBM Microdrive for mass storage, or use some of the 802.11b wireless cards that have hit the market. However, Socket Communications' 802.11b card DOES work in the Type I slot of the Jornada 560 series.

If you're considering an iPaq so you can have extra expandability, don't HP will provide more expansion options soon! In December 2001, you can buy a PC Card Adapter, an extended battery pack with SD/MMC slot and a mini-thumb pocket keyboard. These expansion options will clip into the battery compartment or will use a sleeve (like the iPaq).

Value:

HP provides a lot for the price. The Jornada 568 is very compact, there is a wonderfully clear color display, you have the HP Safe Store ROM, and removable lithium polymer battery packs so I feel that the Jornada 560 series is well worth the cost. I've had people gasp at the price of most Pocket PCs, but when I show them that this device is really a contender to replace a laptop PC they seem to think that it is a bargain.

Conclusion:

My overall feelings about the HP Jornada 560 Series Pocket PC can be summed up as follows:

· It's extremely easy to carry in all situations and very well built

· It has very few flaws, other than the speaker pop that will most likely be fixed with a ROM patch

· The added applications are very useful and even a bit fun!

· The 206 MHz StrongARM CPU, the new Pocket PC 2002 OS, and the sharp reflective TFT display make for a fast and very usable Pocket PC

Ever since my first HP calculator back in the late 1970s, I've had a love affair with HP devices. They are always a little bit pricey, but are very well built. The Jornada 560 series is no exception to this long history, and I think that it'll be able to make some serious inroads to the current domination of the Pocket PC market by the Compaq iPaq. I do wish that HP would lower the price about $100 that would seal the fate of the iPaq. If you don't have any Type II Compact Flash cards and want a fast, expandable, and very pocketable PDA, the Jornada 560 is the way to go.

Read Best Reviews of Hewlett Packard Jornada 568 Pocket PC Here

I bought my HP Jornada 568 on February 1, and waited more than two months in order to write a review not guided by the emotion of having such an wonderful invention the firsts days, but by the funcionality of the device. And I must tell that it is extremely useful.

The display is excellent, as with everything on this pocket PC. It works very fast even when almost every application is open; the design is so slim and light that is a pleasure to carry your Jornada everywhere; I think that is one of the most elegant designs in the market also.

The sound, with headphones, is excellent for music, even when it is obvious that listening through the tiny built-in speaker is not the best way to get the best sound quality.

The navigation through the internet is very good, but you must be aware that the effect in some pages is like if you were passing a magnifying glass over a book's page, because most of the internet pages do not exactly "fit to screen" (this also happens with large Excel files or complex Word documents), but even with that detail that is not inherent to the Jornada but to all Pocket PC's, is very useful and clear, because you can increase the size of the text in the page in order to a comfortable reading.

If you also plan to receive e-mail in your Pocket PC, the new operative system allows to receive HTML direct from the Internet, because it converts it to text format automatically, and that was a mayor flaw of the preceding OS.

The Word and Excel documents can be edited or created with easiness, given the multiple input choices the OS has to offer.

I highly recommend a Compact Flash Card of at least 128MB. This is not only for file storage, but to install the programs of your Jornada within the Storage Card and leting almost all the RAM for the applications preinstalled so you can get your device to run extra fast. The only flaw with this is that if you are using a CompactModem or CompactLAN in order to connect to the Internet, the programs that are installed in the CF card will not be available at the moment of navigation because the expansion slot will be already in use.

If you never had owned a Pocket PC, another recomendation is the Pocket PC Handbook, by Dan Hanttula. It is more than worth the price.

Overall, if you are planning to buy a Pocket PC and are not sure about which one to chose, do not hesitate anymore and pick the HP Jornada 568. You will be more than pleased and surely will write a review from your Pocket PC.

Accesories I own and recomend: Targus Stowaway Keyboard, Targus PDA/Keyboard Combo Case (Leather) (only if you use the keyboard very often), Viking CF card 128MB, Pretec's CompactModem and CompactLan (the Support Service from Pretec is superb) and the Pocket PC Handbook, by Hanttula.

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This device will end the iPaq's top spot for Pocket PC's. This is smaller, and feels great in your hand..Nice rubberized grips around the edges. Protective cover makes it a breeze to pop into your shirt pocket or trousers. Removable/swappable battery allows for extended life away from your cradle. I can go on and on. Having owned the ipaq and Palm devices, I can say this is surely the best device on the market HP did it right.

Being the techno-nerd that I am I purchased a Jornada 568 as soon as they became available in the fall of 2001. I owned a HP Jornada 548 and had no true business justification for the upgrade but my credit card wouldn't stay in my wallet. This being said I am glad that I made the plunge.

There are many positive sides to this unit and the new Pocket PC operating system over its predecessor. First, the screen is far clearer and brighter then previous HP displays. The screen is crisp and easy to read in sunlight. The screen is very comparable to the Ipaq screen. The removable battery pack is a big time bonus. I can purchase a spare or buy an extended pack which has a built in smart media slot. WOW! The top load compact flash slot is once again another advantage over the Ipaq. With the type I compact flash support built in there is no need for ungainly sleeves. Even better, and the reason I went with the HP, is that the Jornada 540 series accessories for the most part work with the 560 series. The keyboard, camera, modem and many other devices work great on the 560 and in many cases the drivers are built into the new unit. As far as the new operating system goes it is fun and some features are a plus but it is not a major upgrade. The build in transcriber is nice and spell check and word count is nice in MS Word but not revolutionary.

On the negative side I would list two things. First HP did not make screen protectors available for this unit which means we have to purchase from a third party vendor. As much as people complained about the 540 series hard plastic protectors I liked them and wish they were available for the 560 series. The screen is smaller so the sheets don't work without trimming. Secondly, the price may not be unreasonable for what you get but it is pushing the envelope. The unit provides most laptop functions with the purchase of keyboard and networking accessories. On the other hand after you purchase everything you could have purchased a very nice laptop for the same price. The price of the unit is enough to make worry a bit about carrying it around.

Overall a great unit that I am pleased with and do not regret purchasing...

Compaq iPAQ 3955 Color Pocket PC

• Memory is upgradeable via a Secure Digital (SD) card slot
• Use CompactFlash cards with an optional adapter
• Secure Digital Card expansion slot
• Play MP3 music or audio programs from the Web, and record and play back voice or meeting notes
• Docking cradle, lithium-polymer rechargeable battery, touch-sensitive display, soft keyboard

While most of the reviewers have done a great job of examining the various technical advantages of this amazing little device, I'd like to take a moment just to describe the incomparable beauty of the operating system itself. Long gone are the days when the Pocket PC Operating System was home to a handful of difficult-to-use, technical software hash-togethers; today, a Pocket PC can do everything and anything. Microsoft's original marketing ploy for the device "Can your Palm do this?" (answer: not unless its holding a Pocket PC) rings truer than ever. Some of the things you can do with a Pocket PC:

1) Using a connection to the internet (purchase a Secure Digital wi-fi card and stick it into the iPaq) you can transfer money and check your bank balance, if you bank support online banking. Do it anywhere in the house, or even at Starbucks, using their wi-fi hotspots.

2) You can watch your DVD movies on the airplane on the iPaq using Pocket TV; checkout [the website] for idiot-proof instructions on how to transfer those movies you downloaded...(legal movies, of course ;) into your Pocket PC in no time flat.

3) Play Super Nintendo and Original Nintendo as well as Gameboy games on your Pocket PC. Of course, ROMS are generally illegal. So in reality, you cannot do this. But if you were so inclined, various emulators all of them, except for the SNES, are full speed (and larger than original screen size, in the Gameboy emulator's case) are readily available on the internet. Checkout pocketgamer.org for info on Pocket PC gaming.

4) Use it as a remote control. If you've misplaced the sound system remote again, simply use the iPaq sitting in your pocket.

5) Look at (and edit) your digital camera pictures. If your digital camera uses secure digital cards, it is simply a matter of sliding the card into your iPaq. Otherwise, purchase the extra-slim Silver Slider Expansion Pack for the iPaq (about $50) and then you can insert compact flash cards (a more popular digital camera format) into the iPaq.

6) Get the latest headlines and news briefs from the Internet every morning using Microsoft Plus Sync'n Go (available in MS Plus!: Digital Media Edition, available to purchase and download over the Internet) and watch MSNBC at work or in the bus. No commercials, no advertisement, such a quick rundown of the day's news. Simply dock your Pocket PC in the morning, and you're all set.

7) Play Quake the original, fully 3D version on your Pocket PC. Fully legal to play the demo version on the optimized Pocket Quake engine, available to download for free at pocketmatrix.com

8) Play Tomb Raider, Simcity 2000, and, within months, the complete version of Worms World Party on your device. All are available to purchase and download from trusted online retailers like handango.com

9) Replace all your glove compartment maps with MS Pocket Streets, available for free from MS to download over the Internet. Maps are fully zoomable; streets appear just like on a real map, or just click on any street to identify it. If you are really into, purchase Pocket Copilot, a black plastic sleeve with an antenna that slides onto your iPaq and makes it a full-color, ultra-professional GPS system with audio instructions ("Next intersection, turn right"). Even comes with a suction cup holder so you can attach the GPSed iPaq to your car dashboard.

10) Experience e-Books the way they were meant to be experienced. Countless classics, from Kurt Vonnegut to George Orwell, are available...And anything published in the 1920's and earlier (Hemmingway, anyone?) is copyright-free; in other words, go to goggle and type in the book's title and "Microsoft Reader ebook" along with free, and you're bound to find something. Otherwise, check [online] to find out if your favorite book is available to purchase for MS Reader, Palm Reader, or Adobe Reader (all compatible with Pocket PC, even the second one!)

11) Edit documents with on the fly spell-checking (i.e. underlines mistakes in red as you type) along with synonyms, pictures, headers, tables, etc. using Textmaker, a third party app that is as fully functional as Word in every single way.

12) Forget the dictionary; 8 megabytes or less is enough for virtually any of the various dictionary (and translator) products available for Pocket PC.

13) Play the shareware versions (or full, if you own the originals) of Hexen, Heretic, and Doom, all for free. Open source engines for all three games are available, and easily accessible, on the Internet. Take a peak at pocketgamer.org to find out more.

14) Using Thunderhawk, a third party Internet Browser, you can view websites in 100% full "virtual" resolution. When you type in a site address, the website first goes through Thunderhawk's servers and is transformed into a virtual page that then appears on your Pocket PC. Everything...appears just as it does on your PC, with support for all cookies and proprietary standards. Palm cannot match that it is 100% real web browsing.

...In other words, calling a Pocket PC an organizer is an understatement like no other. This is a PC, with all the advantages of portability, that fits in your pocket. Amazing little gadget if you like technology, you will adore the iPaq.

Buy Compaq iPAQ 3955 Color Pocket PC Now

I've been dying to get a palmtop for the last year to replace my old bulky HP Jourdana. I convinced myself that I would not get one until I could get the perfect package, phone and pocket pc integrated together with high-speed wireless internet, MP3 capability, infrared remote control, all of it. I waited and waited. Unfortunately the first generation of phone/PDAs is out and they all .... I want pocket PC not palm, so I checked out the Verizon Thera, and I actually physically laughed at the Verizon guy when he was showing it to me. For over [$$$] you get a PDA that can be a speakerphone, or you can carry a headset. The screen is awful. Their "high speed" wireless internet is [$$$] a month and no one can seem to get it to go faster than 14.4K. So I decided I definately was not waiting for the next set to come out. I got this Ipaq and kept my cell phone.

I don't like the palms, primarily becuase the graffiti pad is built into the screen; on a pocket pc you can choose between keyboard or a graffiti type recognition system or have the option to use the FULL screen. My girlfriend wanted one so I bought her a color palm m130(she mostly wanted the removable faceplates) and that one is really nice. Palms are definately the better option if you want an organizer, you would like some cool games and programs, and you want to pay less than [$$$} for one. She loves it, but I wanted more.

This Ipaq has the BEST screen. They made it thinner so there is not that annoying gap between the actual screen and where the stylus touches the pad. Makes it easier to use. The audio is very good; use one of those cassette adapters for a car cd player, plug it into this and you have awesome skip free digital quality music to pump. The screen is nice and big and VERY bright. I have the brightness turned about halfway down, and it is still plenty bright enough in all environments. The Battery life is the best of any pocket PC, one of the main advantages to having a palm. This can go all weekend without a charge and I use it constantly. Turning the screen brightness down really helps.

The feature I love the MOST is the consumer infrared port. It RULES. I have a lot of electronics, all the audio goes through a 5.1 reciever, and the video mostly goes directly to my TV (to take advantage of s-video and colorstream). Comcast has a motorola cable box that it is IMPOSSIBLE to get to work with regular universal remotes. This Ipaq can control EVERYTHING. It actually learns the infrared signal from any remote you have, and then you program it yourself to a device, room, and person. You can program MACROS too. I walk in the door, and with one touch this thing turns on my reciever, vcr, cable box, dvd player, and TV, sets the TV to the correct input mode, sets the reciever to the correct input and sound mode, and brings up the cable guide for me, PLUS turns on my air conditioner, sets it on high cool, and turns on my ceiling fan. With another touch it switches both the reciever and TV to DVD mode, changes to digital sound, turns down the brigtness of my TV and I'm ready to watch a movie, with ONE TOUCH. I also have a macro that turns everything off with one touch. My buddes are SO jealous of my home theater now hehe.

The writing recognition is WAY better than Graffiti. It can work with whole sentenes at a time instead of individual letters. It lets me go way faster, and actually makes a decent substitute for jotting notes down on paper. You have to try it to believe it. It's the 'transcriber' option, not the letter recognition. It recognizes printing, cursive, or a mixture of both; and you write across the whole screen instead of a little pad like Palm.

All in all I love this thing and I don't regret buying it at all. It is expensive, so if you are looking to save some money, go to maybe a Toshiba or a Palm. My stragegy is to own this for a year or so, by that time hopefully someone will create a viable phone/PDA hybrid, and then sell this one to buy the hybrid. Either that or just keep it as my universal remote control haha.

Here's what I DON'T like about it. Mostly the physical shape of the thing. My gf's palm is more contoured to the hand and lighter, it is much easier to hold. The main thing is that on hers, you detach the faceplate and fit a screen protector right there; if you want a screen protector for this Ipaq you have to get a special bulky case and increase the weight and size. I'm finding that hard to live with. My gf's palm also has a built in black plastic screen cover (cover, not stick on-protector like I was talking about) that flips UP. That is important because you hold it on one side with your hand. This comes with a really ... plastic case that opens to the side, and it is very inconvenient. I'm going to shop for cases, but with the palm you don't need one at all.

Another thing I don't like is that to get wireless internet or add more memory than the one slot, you need those bulky sleeves. However, since I kept my phone I use the internet on that and I will not need any of those sleeves unless I choose to go ahead and get a GPS add on (which I am going to do) In that case, the GPS will just stay in the car.

ALl in all, this thing is the best buy if you are willing to spend the money to have the BEST palmtop pc. I could not be more happy with it.

Read Best Reviews of Compaq iPAQ 3955 Color Pocket PC Here

I was a bit hesitant about spending another [price] on yet another iPAQ. Not that I disliked my previous two (I've owned the 3600 and the 3800 series), but ten seconds after I turned the unit on (3955) I was glad I did! The iPAQ 3955 works so well I have renewed confidence in the "New HP" as Compaq has merged with HP. I must admit I was a bit skeptical when the merger was announce about the future of the iPAQ, but this first model since the merger has dispelled any concerns I previously held (Although the unit and all materials are still branded COMPAQ). The Consumer IP port is exceptional, it easily relaced my Phillips Pronto 2000 Universal remote, (with color to boot!) I've even downloaded a Voice activated Universal remote version for even easier use! The remote function alone is worth about [price]! The most striking feature is definately the display. Wow! When I compared the 3800 and the 3900 on each screen with identical files, I was amazed! The colors are vivid, crisp, great contrast, depth of color and is truely superior. Videos look amazing and sound incredible due in part to the Bass and Treble controls. The speaker is clear and for MP3's the headphone jack makes the unit sound unmatched. The iPAQ's popularity makes the availability of software vast, although there is currently limited software that takes advantage of the new processor speed (twice that of the earlier models). Be warned: Nexian is still having compatability issues with the 3900 series, so your Digital Camera expansion pack won't work yet. Nexian hopes to have this fixed soon. All other accessories are compatible from the 3800 series to the 3900 series, and most all others for the 3600 series work as well (Except for cradles and other cables.) The unit has performed well to date with none of the quirks or bugs from the 3800 series. (LED issues, static with speaker, unit auto-turning on/off, unit requiring frequent soft resets, color resolution, contrast settings, etc.) As a previous owner of the iPAQ 3635, iPAQ 3835, and now the iPAQ 3955 (all purchased from Amazon.com), I can recommend the new iPAQ 3955 with overwhelming support! P.S. I was able to sell my previous units at about 80% of their original price on Amazon Marketplace, so again the investment in the iPAQ is well worth it, the depreciation is low since demand is high! I would highly recommend all you 3600 and 3800 users out there to trade up and sell your older units to those just beginning to get their feet wet with PDA's. The older units are fantastic for High School or College students, make great gifts for graduation, and the newer units (3900 series) are essential for PDA junkies/technophiles who demand cutting edge technology!

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Well, for those wondering between a 3800 and a 3900... get the 3900. If for nothing else, battery life. Granted, my comparison is from the 3600 series, my first, but all I have heard is this thing even blows the 38xx in terms of battery life. I know that I found the battery life *PITIFUL* for the 3600... I couldn't even use it all i wanted to in one day without it warning me it was running out. This thing I have on for like 3 days and it's still got like 73% battery life left (or more if I have used it less).

The accuracy of where you tap the screen also does seem to be better.

And it synchronizes with the computer better, or rather less problems getting the two to recognize they are connected (I've only once had the problem with this one, after I disconnected it while it was trying to connect, and I've actually done that a few times and it has no problems, just one time too many this time). The 3600 I had all the time would have problems recognizing it was attached.

Also, this one seems a whole lot more durable too (durability is very good in a handheld device). Haven't given it too many major falls but it has had some falls and it still works fine. The other one had a foot fall out of my purse (I didn't notice it was open) and stopped working (at which point I never bothered to get the 3600 working again... battery life itself made it kinda pointless except as a toy. This one's battery life is so good I've come to really rely on it).

Another really nice feature is the fact that you can set the battery conservation time. That means you can set it to turn off and stay off til it is recharged anywhere from a 24 hour safe period (meaning that for 24 hours after it hits that point it won't lose your data) to like three days or something like that. This way you can squeeze more power out of the battery if you want to use it longer (but know you are going to be able to get to a recharger relatively soon), or make sure there is plenty of time left to get to a recharger but have less time to use it. It's a very important feature when you realize that once the battery runs out of charge your data goes kaput (and the fact that the min they allow you to run still keeps your data for 24 hours is nice, and that still gives you a whole lot of usage time out of the PDA).

One of the few bad things I can think about it is it doesn't seem that much faster than the 3600 that I can remember. But personally give me same speed and much better battery life over faster and "bad" battery life.

A large minus to the 3900 (and any Ipaq so far) is the fact you still cannot replace the battery without sending it to Compaq (well, I know that will change, they have kits now you can buy to replace the battery in the 36xx, even one that has a much longer battery life battery). But the point is having a battery that you supposedly have to get Compaq to replace when it dies is a *large* minus. I mean come on, you pay 600 dollars for it, and they treat it like something that is disposable once the battery dies. This is something I thought Compaq should be slapped for when I got the 3600 and I am very disappointed they are still doing it this way.

Oh, and I'm not sure if the 3800 had one, but the 36 series didn't, and I'm glad Compaq finally got the sense to put in some sort of "floppy drive" so to speak (the SD slot). Would have rather had flash but better than nothing. I once heard some one say that the whole point of not having a slot was so that you could pick whether you wanted it to be thick or not.. but the ones that had it integrated didn't seem all that thicker and having a sleeve on the ipaq did make it *much* thicker. Nice to have an integrated removable data slot (and hardly noticeably thicker).

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I am very statisfied with my new iPAQ 3955. I would give it five stars but...

It was necessary to do a return/replacement with the first unit I received due to a bad "frozen" pixel on the screen. With Amazon's excellent return/replacement policies this was a relatively painless process and the replacement unit was perfect with no problems whatsoever.

Out of curiosity while I was out Christmas shopping, I checked several iPAQ 3955 units on display at a local retailer and discovered that 2 of the 3 units on display had bad pixels. I also noted that several of the Amazon customer reviews indicate a pixel problem. Apparently, this is a problem with the 3900 series otherwise it is an excellent product with a lot of great features at a fairly reasonable price.

Just be sure to check for bad pixels.

BoxWave EverTouch mini Capacitive Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Stylus - New and Improved Touchscreen Com

• FiberMesh Tip: a tightly woven conductive mesh, highly durable and resistant to tearing and breaking
• Ultra accurate and responsive performance
• Requires less screen pressure than rubber tipped styluses
• Removes screen fingerprints as you use the stylus
• Usable at any screen angle, stylus does not need to be perpendicular

I like how it works when touching my Kindle Paperwhite. However, It was much shorter than I expected. There isn't anywhere to really keep it so I'm afraid it could be easy to lose. Just look closely at one picture of a guy using it. You'll get the feel for the size which is not given in the notes about the item that I could FIND. Also, the rope/string hanging off doesn't seem real useful. It seems like it just plugs into an iPhone.

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Sony ICD-SX712 Digital Flash Voice Recorder

• Built-in 2 GB flash memory
• 2-Position Stereo Microphone
• Records in LPCM 44.1kHz 16 bit and MP3 (320 kbps-8 kbps)
• S-Microphone System, Over 500 Hours of Maximum Recording Time
• DRAGON COMPATIBLE- work with the Voice to Print Dragon NaturallySpeaking® software.

இ Fuzzy Wuzzy's Summary:

ѾѾѾѾѾ Very highly recommended with warm fuzzies!

I work in high tech and I am also a musician who plays guitars, harmonica, and world-beat/ethnic percussion. So I find portable digital recorders like this to be highly useful on a weekly basis for recording everything from personal dictation of thoughts and ideas, to in-person meetings, to telephone conferences, to jam sessions with my other musician friends, to recording impromptu music ideas and vocals.

Prior to purchasing this Sony ICD-SX712, I frequently used a Sony ICD-SX750 2 GB Flash Memory Digital Voice Recorder (Black). And before that, one of my main portable digital recorders was a Sony MZ-NF810CK Net MD MiniDisc Recorder with Car Kit with a Sony ECM-DS70P Electret Condenser Stereo Microphone for recording music ideas, jam sessions, and rehearsals. Sony's MZ-NF810CK Net MD MiniDisc recorder offered CD-quality digital recording with a full 20Hz-20,000Hz +/-3dB frequency range, along with an AM/FM/TV/Weather tuner. But for years, my one big complaint with Sony's Net MD MiniDisc recorder was that the device had no 'Line Out' or easy method to transfer my digital recordings off of its MiniDisc so that I could perform further editing on the computer.

Even though the "712" number in this ICD-SX712 model is numerically smaller than Sony's previous model of ICD-SX750, I see this model as a substantially improved direct replacement for their previous ICD-SX750 model, which was also priced very similarly. Since I have both the ICD-SX750 and ICD-SX712 recorders, some of this product review will compare the two models.

With the advent of affordable digital recorders that use onboard flash memory and/or Memory Stick Micro (M2) and microSD memory cards, I find myself using my Net MD recorder less and less now. Note that the Sony line of "ICD" recorders are NOT really professional digital audio recorders for recording full-spectrum music, but this ICD-SX712 can still produce a very good CD-quality stereo recording for most kinds of music. Using its best LPCM 44.1 kHz 16-bit recording mode, the ICD-SX712 records a frequency range of 40Hz-20kHz. Depending upon the music that you are wanting to record, this may or may not be sufficient since a dedicated digital audio recorder will go down to 20 Hz. If you really want a digital audio recorder for music applications, I would highly recommend either the Sony PCM-M10/R Portable Linear PCM Recorder, 96-kHz/24-bit, 4GB Memory & USB High-Speed Port, Glossy Red, the Zoom H4n Handy Portable Digital Recorder, both of which will record a pristine 20Hz to 20,000+ Hz frequency range at 96-kHz/24-bit recording mode, or one of the Tascam portable digital recorders. Sony's "ICD" recorder line is more optimized for recording voice (dictation, interviews, meetings), but this ICD-SX712 also does a very good job of recording music. There is not much musical content that goes below the 40Hz sub-bass low end that this ICD-SX712 can record: the low fundamentals of a bass tuba, and the fundamentals of a contrabassoon, harp, double bass, pipe organ, piano.

What is in the box package?

✵ ICD-SX712 Voice Recorder

✵ Two AAA alkaline batteries

✵ "Ear bud" stereo headphones

✵ Mini-USB-to-USB cable to connect the recorder to your computer

✵ Sound Organizer software CD (for Windows 7/Vista/XP only, no Mac support)

✵ Soft carrying pouch sleeve

✵ Stand, with tripod mount, for positioning the recorder's microphone

✵ Highly detailed 155-page all-English 'Operating Instructions' guide

The voice recorder itself has size dimensions of 1 1/4 inches wide by 5 3/8 inches long with a thickness of 5/8 inches, and it weighs 2.3 ounces without batteries and 3.1 ounces with batteries. So it is a quarter-inch longer than my ICD-SX750 and a half-ounce heavier.

More of the ICD-SX712's features are described and rated below:

ѾѾѾѾѾ Excellent 5-fuzzies feature ratings:

ѾѾѾѾѾ The recorded sound quality is excellent with crystal-clear sound clarity, both in its directional and stereo microphone positions. Stereo recordings have excellent three-dimensional spatial imaging. And when the recording level is set to "High" microphone sensitivity, the recorded speech of a distant speaker in a large auditorium is excellent. Sony claims that this recorder can pick up sounds from 25 meters (82 feet) away when using its highest-quality LPCM recording format, and I do not doubt that claim.

ѾѾѾѾѾ Compared to my older ICD-SX750, the ICD-SX712's microphones are noticeably more sensitive for recording even the slightest low-level sounds. My acoustic guitar fingerpicking gets recorded with the subtle sounds of my fingers working the strings, speech and vocals get recorded with the slight sounds of breathing, and the directional recording of a person speaking at the far end of a room or a stereo recording of both nearby and distant birds chirping in the trees all get recorded with great clarity. This new recorder introduces Sony's newly-developed 'S-Microphone System', and it combines advanced audio processing technology with a highly sensitive new microphone that captures even faint or distant subjects with extra clarity while reducing background hiss. A 'S-Master Digital Amplifier' produces great accuracy, clear separation of signals, and balanced sound reproduction using digital-to-digital processing, and the recorded signal is taken through the full-digital DSP stage without additional digital-to-analog conversion.

ѾѾѾѾѾ This voice recorder has lots of features with a great deal of usefulness! Do not feel apprehensive about feeling like you need to read all of this recorder's 155-page 'Operating Instructions' guide. You do not need to read all the pages to begin using this recorder effectively. For quick ease of use initially, you just need to read/skim the first 39 pages. This covers the basics of setup, recording, listening, and erasing. If you will mainly use the recorder for one, two, or three main purposes (e.g. dictation, group meetings, and music recording), you just need to familiarize yourself with a handful of the recorder's options for adjusting its recording parameters to suit each situation. For example, I mainly use my recorder for the following purposes: personal dictation with speech-to-text conversion using Dragon NaturallySpeaking Premium 11, recording work-related phone calls, recording a group meeting, and recording musical performances either by me with friends or by others in a music rehearsal setting.

Like the previous ICD-SX750 model, this voice recorder comes with a thorough 'Operating Instructions' guide. On Sony's Web site, I did notice that there is also a simple 'Quick Start Guide' PDF that you can download. I do not know why this 'Quick Start Guide' was not included in the package, but perhaps since this product was only released a month ago, they did not have a printed 'Quick Start Guide' available for packaging at the time?

ѾѾѾѾѾ Setup is pretty simple. The recorder comes with two AAA alkaline batteries. I can also use my own rechargeable AAA batteries. When used with rechargeable batteries, the batteries will recharge whenever I connect the recorder to my computer using the supplied Mini-USB-to-USB cable. Alternately, I can use the USB cord to connect the recorder to a separately-purchased AC adapter, e.g. Belkin Mini Surge Protector Dual USB Charger or Sony's own Sony AC U50AD Power adapter. Rechargeable batteries take about 4 hours to fully recharge from an empty state. However, with the recorder connected via USB to a turned-on computer or to an AC adapter, I can charge the batteries while still using the recorder, which is very handy for very long recording sessions.

The ICD-SX712 can record in the following formats, listed with their approximate hours of recording time listed for using both fully-charged alkaline and rechargeable batteries, the maximum recording time that can be stored by the internal 2-GB flash memory, and the frequency range that is recorded:

LPCM 44.1kHz/16bit: 25 hrs alkaline, 19 hrs rechargeable; 3 hours 0 minutes; 40-20,000 Hz

MP3 320kbps: 22 hrs alkaline, 17 hrs rechargeable; 13 hours 20 minutes; 40-16,000 Hz

MP3 192kbps: 22 hrs alkaline, 17 hrs rechargeable; 22 hours 20 minutes; 40-16,000 Hz

MP3 128kbps: 22 hrs alkaline, 17 hrs rechargeable; 33 hours 30 minutes; 40-16,000 Hz

MP3 48kbps(MONO): 25 hrs alkaline, 19 hrs rechargeable; 89 hours 25 minutes; 40-14,000 Hz

MP3 8kbps(MONO): 25 hrs alkaline, 19 hrs rechargeable; 536 hours 0 minutes; 50-2,000 Hz

Note that this also means a fresh set of alkaline batteries will often provide significantly longer recording time than rechargeable batteries. This is especially true for rechargeable batteries that have been repeatedly recharged over a long period of time. Overall, this recorder has very good battery life.

Additionally, the recorder has a memory card slot that accepts either a Memory Stick Micro (M2) card of up to 16 GB, a microSD (FAT16) card up to 2 GB, or a microSDHC (FAT32) card from 4 GB to 32 GB. Along with its internal 2-GB of flash memory, I have also equipped my recorder with the Sony Memory Stick Micro M2 16 GB Flash Memory Card with USB Reader. When used with the two largest-capacity memory cards supported by the recorder, I can boost the recording time for each of the recording formats as follows:

LPCM 44.1kHz/16bit: 24 hours 15 minutes (16 GB), 48 hours 40 minutes (32 GB)

MP3 320kbps: 107 hours 0 minutes (16 GB), 214 hours 0 minutes (32 GB)

MP3 192kbps: 178 hours 0 minutes (16 GB), 357 hours 0 minutes (32 GB)

MP3 128kbps: 268 hours 0 minutes (16 GB), 536 hours 0 minutes (32 GB)

MP3 48kbps(MONO): 715 hours 0 minutes (16 GB), 1431 hours 0 minutes (32 GB)

MP3 8kbps(MONO): 4294 hours 0 minutes (16 GB), 8589 hours 0 minutes (32 GB)

And if this is still not enough recording time, I simply switch out the filled-up memory card and insert another empty memory card.

One big difference between the supported recording formats of the previous ICD-SX750 recorder and this ICD-SX712 is that Sony has discarded support for the five LPEC recording formats (STHQ, ST, STLP, SP, LP). LPEC is a compressed-sound codec that is proprietary to Sony. On the ICD-SX750, using a LPEC recording format allowed me to add a bookmark during playback of an LPEC recording, and I could also assign a 1-star, 2-star, or 3-star "priority" ranking to LPEC recordings. These were two nifty little features that I could not use with WAV or MP3 recording formats. But recording with LPEC format also meant that I needed extra Sony software in order to convert the LPEC format to a standard, and more portable, MP3 or WAV format (a function that was performed by the Sony 'Digital Voice Editor' software that was bundled with the ICD-SX750). So now, like Sony's professional line of digital audio recorders, the ICD-SX712 only supports industry-standard LPCM (WAV) and MP3 codec formats.

After inserting the batteries, I set the date and time, select the English/Spanish/French language option, and then I am ready to go!

ѾѾѾѾѾ I can either record the recorder's 2-GB built-in memory, or I can record directly to my installed memory card. Five folders are initially created in the memory card, along with the five initial folders in the built-in memory, and the folder structure is slightly different between the two. I can switch between recording to the built-in memory or to the memory card by pressing either the folder button or the [MENU] button. A nifty 'Cross-Memory Recording' option allows me to automatically continue recording onto the memory card after I have filled up the 2-GB built-in memory. The maximum number of folders that I can have is 400, and the maximum number of files is 4074.

ѾѾѾѾѾ The recorder has flexible file functions, including protecting files from being erased or edited, and moving or copying files. I can rename any of the folders using one of the 16 pre-defined folder name options.

ѾѾѾѾѾ Unlike the ICD-SX750, which had two stereo microphones and a mono/directional microphone located in between the two stereo microphones, this ICD-SX712 only has the two unidirectional stereo microphones. Both microphones have a directional response pattern when they are both pointed forward in a 0-degree angle, and they mimic a cardioid-like microphone response when I use my finger to flip them to face outward at a 120-degree angle for stereo recording. The 0-degree microphone position, with both microphones pointed forward, is great for uses like personal dictation, interviewing someone, or recording a speaker who is either in a conference room or auditorium, where you want to focus the recording in one direction. The 120-degree microphone position is great for recording all surrounding sounds in stereo, such as recording a group meeting or recording a live music rehearsal or concert. The stereo recording does a great job of picking up all left-right and near-far spatial information.

ѾѾѾѾѾ Recording parameters have been simplified with five 'Scene' presets. There are basically three recording parameters that you need to think about in order to use this recorder effectively: the recording format mode, the recording level microphone sensitivity, and whether to record in directional or stereo mode. All of the recorder's other features can be investigated later.

A new 'Scene' function now takes the uncertainty out of adjusting recorder settings to suit your recording situation, and it makes it tremendously easy to quickly switch between five different sets of recording parameters. The five 'Scene' modes are referred to as "Meeting", "Voice Notes", "Interview", "Music", and your own custom "My Scene" preset. For each of the five 'Scene' presets, you can define its own combination of settings for record mode, record level, low cut filter and limiter settings, voice-operated recording, and synchronized recording options. The default settings for each 'Scene' allow for the foolproof recording of clear, natural-sounding results for each situation. You can also edit the defaults for each scene to suit your needs. The 'Scene' terminology reminds me of the 'scene' modes that are widely used in digital cameras, especially the user-friendly point-and-shoot digital cameras, for using pre-programmed camera exposure setups for people who do not want to (or know how to) adjust the settings by themselves. Essentially, you get five easily accessible presets of recording parameters that you can edit, modify, save, and access. On my older Sony ICD-SX750 model, if I wanted to shift gears between personal dictation and recording a live music rehearsal, I had to go into the recorder's menu functions and manually switch my recording parameters each time.

The following describes the five 'Scene Select' menu options, the default recording parameters that are used, and some of my own recommended changes that I made using the 'Scene Edit' function.

✵ "Meeting" :: To record in a variety of situations, such as recording a meeting in a spacious conference room or a lecture in an auditorium.

Default setup: (REC Mode: MP3 192kbps), (REC Level: Medium), (Low Cut Filter: On), (Limiter: Off), (Voice-Operated Recording: Off), (Synchronized Recording: Off)

Notes: Point both microphones forward at a 0-degree angle to focus on one speaker, or at a 120-degree angle to record stereo sounds such as a group meeting where there are multiple speakers from different directions. Set 'REC Level' to "High", instead of "Medium", if the speaker is far away or not speaking loud enough.

✵ "Voice Notes" :: To record dictation with the microphone in front of your mouth. This is also the 'Scene' to use when recording dictation that is to be transcribed into text using Dragon NaturallySpeaking.

Default setup: (REC Mode: MP3 128kbps), (REC Level: Low), (Low Cut Filter: On), (Limiter: Off), (Voice-Operated Recording: Off), (Synchronized Recording: Off)

Notes: Point both microphones forward at a 0-degree angle. Because Dragon NaturallySpeaking needs high-quality recordings for accurate speech recognition transcriptions, I change the default 'REC Mode' to the better "MP3 320kbps".

✵ "Interview" :: To record another human being interviewed.

Default setup: (REC Mode: MP3 192kbps), (REC Level: Medium), (Low Cut Filter: On), (Limiter: Off), (Voice-Operated Recording: Off), (Synchronized Recording: Off)

Notes: Point both microphones forward at a 0-degree angle. I also use this 'Scene' when recording a phone call where I point the recorder at the phone's speakerphone.

✵ "Music" :: To record live music.

Default setup: (REC Mode: LPCM 44.1kHz/16bit), (REC Level: Low(Music)), (Low Cut Filter: Off), (Limiter: Off), (Voice-Operated Recording: Off), (Synchronized Recording: Off)

Notes: Position the microphones at the 120-degree angle to record stereo sounds from all directions. The 'REC Level' microphone sensitivity setting of "Low(Music)" is better for loud music such as band practice or rock music, or when your audio input is a CD player. A 'REC Level' setting of "High(Music)" is better for acoustic instruments, or when your audio input is a tape recorder or portable CD player.

✵ "My Scene" :: Use to store your favorite settings.

Default setup: (REC Mode: LPCM 44.1kHz/16bit), (REC Level: Manual, with the recording level set to "10"), (Low Cut Filter: Off), (Limiter: On), (Voice-Operated Recording: Off), (Synchronized Recording: Off)

Notes: This can be used to store your favorite combination of settings, especially if you use a manually-adjusted recording level that you have configured and want to re-use later. When manually adjusting the recording level, the 'Limiter' function is activated to prevent distortion due to sound bursts being too loud.

All of the 'Scene' recording parameters are displayed on the backlit LCD screen using words or graphical icons.

ѾѾѾѾѾ Compared with the previous ICD-SX750, the ergonomics of the new ICD-SX712's layout have been significantly improved, making it far easier to access all of the recorder's many functions, even if I have not used some of the functions for many months. The ICD-SX750 had a nice LCD display, but I had to access everything through its [MENU] button and all of its record/playback buttons were located on the recorder's right side. On the ICD-SX712, I can now directly access the folder structure from its own dedicated button, the 'Scene Select' option has its own [SCENE] button, and except for the 'VOLUME', 'ERASE', and repeat buttons on the right side, all record and playback buttons are located on the front below the LCD display. The recorder has a 4-way rocker switch that is very intuitive to use, and the menu system makes use of a layout that groups all functions under 5 main tabs, 'Recording', 'Playback', 'Edit', 'LCD Display Settings', 'Recorder Settings', and some tabs use sub-tabs.

ѾѾѾѾѾ A small LED indicator light turns green during playback and turns red during recording operations.

ѾѾѾѾѾ For recording a meeting room that has the background hum of an air conditioner, recording a speaker at a convention or auditorium where there is extraneous noise, or recording someone speaking during gusty winds, setting the 'LCF (Low Cut Filter)' to "ON" will cut out frequencies below 200 Hz (e.g. room ventilation, machinery humming, wind).

ѾѾѾѾѾ There is also an 'NOISE CUT' slider switch that can be used during playback of the recording to cut out both high and low frequencies, thereby focusing more on the midrange frequencies of human voices. This frequency filter can be set to either a "Maximum" or "Medium" mode to enhance human speech and reduce distracting background noise. Compared to the previous ICD-SX750 model's 'NOISE CUT' function, Sony calls their newly-developed filter an 'Intelligent Noise Cut' because, unlike other digital voice recorders that simply cut high and low frequencies, 'Intelligent Noise Cut' analyzes the fingerprint of background noise, removing unwanted frequencies to leave recorded speech sounding crisp and natural. This is highly useful, for example, if you are interviewing someone on a noisy sidewalk.

Sony advertises that this new ICD-SX712 model has a newly-designed acoustic isolation that cuts the transmission of mechanical and handling noise to both microphones from the main recorder. So its microphones are supposedly better decoupled from the main recorder body. But you really should have all of your recording parameters already thought out and set up before you begin recording as various movements of the recorder's switches, pressing of buttons to access and change various recording menu functions (via the backlit LCD screen), flipping the microphones between their 0-degree and 120-degree positions, or sliding of your fingers across the unit will still get included into the recording, even if the microphone sensitivity is set to "Low". Ideally, have the recorder fully set up before the recording, and use the included stand to prop up the microphone. Unless the situation warrants it (e.g. interviewing someone while standing up), try to avoid holding or adjusting the recorder once the recording has started.

ѾѾѾѾѾ Instead of a slider switch that is labeled "On/Off", the on/off switch on this recorder is labeled "POWER/HOLD". To turn the device on or off, I slide the switch to the left. Or I can slide the switch to the right to place the recorder in "HOLD" mode. The "HOLD" mode holds the recorder in whatever operation mode I am using (play, stop, pause, record). When the recorder is on "HOLD" during a certain operation, I cannot accidentally interrupt that function when I carry the recorder around or hold it in my hand. So using this "HOLD" slider switch protects me from inadvertently pressing the "pause" or "stop" button during an extended recording session since the recorder will not respond to the pressing of any buttons while it is in "HOLD" mode.

ѾѾѾѾѾ Whereas the previous ICD-SX750 had a 'DIVIDE' button to dynamically divide an ongoing recording into separate messages, the ICD-SX712 now has a more-flexible 'T-MARK' button to add track marks during recording, playback, or pausing operations. Track marks are used in both Sony's Net MD MiniDisc recorders and their professional audio recorders, and they function like bookmarks in a recording. I can add up to 98 track marks per recording file. I can use these track marks to jump to different positions in the recording during playback (especially useful for lengthy recordings), or I can use these track marks to later divide the recording into separate messages. I can also combine/add or overwrite sections of messages and recordings.

ѾѾѾѾѾ I can monitor an ongoing recording by listening to it through headphones connected to the recorder.

ѾѾѾѾѾ I can connect an external stereo microphone or external equipment such as a CD player to record from those sources. The recorder provides "plug in power" for use with an external microphone.

ѾѾѾѾѾ The recorder has a voice-operated recording function, which starts recording when sound is detected, and pauses when no sound is heard, so recording halts during silent periods.

ѾѾѾѾѾ The recorder has a 'SYNC REC' synchronized recording function that is similar to the voice-operated recording function, but is intended for connecting the audio output of other equipment (e.g. CD player) to the recorder's microphone jack. The recorder then pauses when no sound is input, and starts recording when you start playback on the external equipment's sound source.

ѾѾѾѾѾ The recordings can be played back either through the recorder's built-in speaker or through the headphone jack (headphones will obviously provide much better playback sound quality).

ѾѾѾѾѾ One playback function that I use a lot is the 'Digital Pitch Control'. On the older ICD-SX750, this allowed me to change the playback speed between 200% and -75% of a recording's normal speed. This is really useful for me when I am learning a really complex guitar riff that I recorded from a live rehearsal; I can slow down the recording to learn from it and practice along with it at a slower pace, and even at the maximum "-75%" slowdown in tempo, the pitch is not changed, which is awesome for music applications. And for a lecture where the speaker is talkiinnngggg reaaallllyy slow, I can speed it up without having the speaker sound like a Chipmunk. On this new ICD-SX712, this feature has been made uber-cool for musicians and singers, because in addition to being able to adjust the playback speed/tempo between 25% (or -75%) and 300%, I can also independently adjust the sound by up to six halftones (semitones) higher or lower. Using the 4-way rocker switch, I press the left/right buttons to decrease/increase playback speed, and I press the up/down buttons to change the key higher/lower. The LCD display shows an X/Y-axis graph of how you are adjusting the sounds, and the sharp/flat icon (#/b) is displayed if you are changing to higher/lower halftones.

ѾѾѾѾѾ The recorder has six very useful playback style settings: "Pop" (emphasizes middle ranges, ideal for vocals); "Rock" (emphasizes high and low ranges for a powerful sound); "Jazz" (emphasizes high ranges for lively sound); "Bass1" (emphasizes bass); "Bass2" (emphasizes bass even more); "Custom" (you can design your own custom sound using its 5-band equalizer).

ѾѾѾѾѾ Another cool playback feature, useful for lecture, seminar, and crowd environments is the 'Digital Voice Up' (V-UP). This function boosts and amplifies the low-level sounds in the recording, great for hearing low voices that were recorded from a distance out of range or away from the direction of the microphone. If you are recording in a spacious auditorium where you are seated towards the rear, you can set the 'REC Level' to "High" to record a sound located far away from the recorder or a low sound. And then if you still need additional volume from the low-level sound, during playback of this recording, you can use the 'Digital Voice Up' function at either its "Maximum" or "Medium" strength.

ѾѾѾѾѾ The recorder has an alarm clock function to play back a recording at a specific date and time.

ѾѾѾѾѾ A new and very useful feature that Sony added is that I can now search for a recording based on what date it was recorded. From the menu, the 'Calendar' option will display a monthly calendar, and the days when a recording was stored will be underlined on the monthly calendar display. So if I want to retrieve recordings of music rehearsals on a particular weekend or a Monday morning work meeting, this feature makes them easy to find!

ѾѾѾѾѾ When I plug the recorder into my computer using the supplied USB cord, the device looks like a 2-GB flash drive, with various folders containing the .WAV (for LPCM recordings), or .MP3 files. If the recorder's memory card slot has a Memory Stick Micro (M2) or microSD/microSDHC card installed, I can also access these folders just like any other external storage device; in this case, the built-in memory and memory card will display as two separate drive letters. I can use the recorder's flash memory simply as a USB flash drive to store text files onto it if I wanted to. And I can just drag-and-drop the files from the recorder's folders onto my computer's hard drive.

ѾѾѾѾѾ Using the Windows-only (not Mac-compatible) 'Sound Organizer' software, I can transfer files that I have recorded to my computer to manage and edit them. I can also transfer music files and podcast files stored on my computer to the recorder. I can also access the same editing and playback functions that are on the recorder itself, such as adding track marks and dividing a recording into pieces or using the 'Digital Pitch Control'. With Dragon NaturallySpeaking voice recognition software installed, I can also start the transcribing of a recorded speech file from within the 'Sound Organizer' software. I select the recorded speech file that I want to transcribe, select the 'Dragon' menu option, Dragon converts the recording into text, and I make corrections in the pop-up 'DragonPad' Notepad-like text editor to both correct the transcription mistakes that Dragon made and to further (hopefully) train Dragon to learn and adapt from the corrected mistakes. 'Sound Organizer' also has rudimentary CD-burning functions that let me create an audio CD, MP3 CD, or data CD from the recorder's files. Even though this 'Sound Organizer' software is not Mac-compatible, Mac users do not need this to transfer the files from the recorder onto their computer.

One of the 'Sound Organizer' software options lets me start up Sony's great 'Sound Forge Audio Studio' software. HOWEVER, Sony no longer offers this bundled with their latest and greatest ICD recorder. Arggh.

My previous ICD-SX750 was bundled with a Windows-only 'Sound Forge Audio Studio 9 LE' that is geared towards music editing and production. This "LE" version is the "lite edition" of Sony's industry-standard two-channel audio-editing program for Windows, with some useful extras thrown in, and a nice $60+ package if you were to buy this software separately. With Sound Forge Audio Studio, I can perform a variety of digital audio editing functions: save and convert in many formats; change sample rate and bit depth; edit, cut, paste, fade-in/out; set markers and regions within a recording; apply frequency equalization adjustments, swap channels, and even play the audio in reverse. The "version 9 LE" comes with 11 sound processing effects that I can apply to the audio such as chorus, delay, reverb, wah-wah, and distortion. There is also a 'Vocal Eraser' plug-in which tries to remove the vocals from the mix to make a karaoke version of a song; this works with varying degrees of effectiveness. I can archive vinyl recordings and use its 'Vinyl Restoration' noise reduction and 'Audio Restoration' features to adjust the amount of clean-up of clicks and pops and unwanted hiss. Although this software does not offer true multi-track mixing, it does allow me to mix external audio tracks into a recording. And although this is not a video editing tool, I can edit audio files and then attach them to video files. I import the video file, and then edit the soundtrack by scrubbing, as if I had a jog/shuttle control, using the [J], [K], [L] keys on my keyboard to reverse, pause, or forward the playback. When I am finished with my audio editing, I can then burn a CD from the application, or I can also extract audio tracks from a CD for use within the application.

But it appears that Sony is now only bundling the "LE" version of their great 'Audio Studio' software with their more-expensive line of 96-kHz/24-bit Digital Field Recorders. I was hoping that they would bundle a "LE" lite version of their 'Sound Forge Audio Studio 10', but I have to purchase that separately... or just continue to use my existing 'Sound Forge Audio Studio 9 LE'.

NOTE: My review does not end here, but continues onto the 'Comment' section of this review. Amazon does not let me post my entire review in one piece, so I split it into two pieces :-( (continue to the 'Comment' section to keep reading :-)

Buy Sony ICD-SX712 Digital Flash Voice Recorder Now

I bought this recorder primarily to record large group meetings in big rooms. I'm taking over as secretary for an organization that may have as many as 80-90 people present. My predecessor used a Sony IC-MX20 for this purpose and highly recommended it. In checking Sony's web site I found that was no longer in production. This looked like a good choice instead, and so far it's working very well.

I've used it so far to record several smaller meetings, but still in fairly large rooms. I was amazed at how well this picks up voices and the quality of the sound. Battery life so far is good, I'm still on the first set of AAA batteries after recording about 5 hours of material.

The included software was a snap to install, and very easy to work with. It's a huge benefit to be able to have the recording on your computer while typing meeting minutes. The software lets you move quickly to any part of the recording you need to hear in order, to make sure the typed information is accurate.

The instruction manual is the typical Sony mangeled syntax, but I did not find it difficult to find the information i needed to set up and and start recording.

So far I'm extremely pleased with my purchase. It has exceeded my expectations in terms of sound pick-up and quality.

Read Best Reviews of Sony ICD-SX712 Digital Flash Voice Recorder Here

Purchased this for training session recordings for business conference in large room, with 25+ attendees. Out of the box, was very straight forward but with plenty of customization options. The "meeting" setting worked much better than expected, capturing the instructor's voice with unbelievable quality while positioned an average of 20 feet away (instructor movement in front of class ranged from about 10 feet to over 25 feet away from recorder). The adjustable angle on the stereo mics helps with capturing both the instructor and attendee discussions, but can also be focused for single direction recording. After recording almost 3 hours of content, simply connected the USB cable to my notebook and transferred the digital voice to my computer where it can be further analyzed, reviewed, and critiqued. This is an outstanding device... will be using it much more for future training session evaluations.

Want Sony ICD-SX712 Digital Flash Voice Recorder Discount?

I am a journalist who has been using audio recorders since the 1980s and moved from tape to digital in the mid-1990s. For most purposes using a very pocketable recorded like the Olympus WS-320M, which I've used for years and love for its portability and ease of use, is good enough.

In recent years I've had the opportunity to interview historically significant subjects on a one-on-one basis, which led me increasingly to be concerned about the audio quality of the interviews for possible future broadcast use. I've tried a variety of high-quality, low-cost recorders in recent years, most recently the Zoom H1 and now this new Sony ICD-SX712.

I've used both in the field long enough now to say that the Sony is the hands down winner.

I record both manually using the current sampling rate standard of 44.1/16. The sound quality on both are nearly identical, which is to say very good and easily broadcast quality.

The Sony has these advantages over the Zoom H1:

Considerably less handling noise.

Better wind noise resistance, although a quality windscreen is a must for both, especially for outside use.

Pausing the recording is possible with the Sony and not the Zoom. This is perhaps the biggest advantage of the Sony. If a phone call comes in and the person I'm interviewing has to stop our interview for a few seconds, I can simply pause the Sony. With the Zoom I had to stop the recording and then start a whole new file a very big hassle.

The Sony is slightly more pocketable, although heavier.

Much better battery life with the Sony.

Tougher build quality.

Finally with the Sony, if you are trying to get the ultimate sound quality for archival purposes use the LPCM mode instead of MP3. You can always easily convert the files to MP3 later. Also record manually and set your level where it peaks at about -12db. Using the auto level and other modes presents unwanted transient noise into the recordings.

Here's a link to a recording I made with the Sony at a local coffee shop.

Save 11% Off

Small Fast Versatile

Exactly what I needed.

Buy Dragon Premium separately don't buy the kit you'll be thankful you spent the few extra bucks.

My copy of Dragon (from Amazon) was the latest 11.5, even though it said 11.0 on the page.

It's a free upgrade (download) anyway, just in case.

Batteries last a long time (rechargeable batteries are not included unless you buy the Dragon kit so what?)

Comes with a very handy printed manual but download the PDF from Sony for use at the computer.

The printed manual is excellent for carrying around until you get used to using the SX712.

I was dictating into notepad within 15 minutes with about 98% accuracy I was very surprised.

* Buy a Class4 micro SD card (16g will give you about 100 hours of hi-res sound [320/mp3]

__ Sandisk 16GB 16G Micro SDHC Class 4 TF Memory Card with Micro SD Card Reader Bulk Packed

* Buy Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable AAA batteries they work great last years and hold a good charge.

__ Sanyo NEW 1500 eneloop 4 Pack AAA Ni-MH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries

* Buy a Case Logic semi-hard case (6" or bigger inside) It will hold both recorder and all the extra stuff.

__ Case Logic PHDC-1 Small EVA External Hard Drive Case (Blue)

* Buy some headphones

__ Koss CS95 Speech Recogniton Computer Headset

or

__ Koss CS100 Speech Recognition Computer Headset

* And to complete everything, get a switch so you don't have to unhook your speakers when using the headphones

__ Plantronics PC Headset Speaker Switch (I have both: Plantronics is my favorite)

or

__ Audio Speaker / Headset Switching Hub, Manhattan 172851

Comes with Sound Organizer from Sony very very handy. Go to Sony and download latest while you're waiting for delivery. Get the manual too, and read up on the recorder before you get it.

Great product it all works better than I hoped.

(now, when I have a thought or idea in the middle of the night, I can make a note without turning on a light and looking for pen & paper -ok, despite what people say: I do have occasional thoughts)