Showing posts with label handheld vhf radios. Show all posts
Showing posts with label handheld vhf radios. Show all posts

Monday, August 18, 2014

GSI Quality Retro POP Handset With Desktop Telephone Base For Apple iPhone 3/4/4S, iPod, iPad, Droid

GSI Quality Retro POP Handset With Desktop Telephone Base For Apple iPhone 3/4/4S, iPod, iPad, Droid Smartphone, Blackberry, Samsung Galaxy S, Etc. - Connect To Computer For Skype And VOIP Calls - White
  • New Innovative Retro-Style Handset, Connects With All 3.5mm Jack Devices, i.e. Phones, MP3 Players And Computers
  • Greatly Improves Comfort On Long Mobile Phone Or Skype Conversations
  • Eliminates Over 99% Of Phone Radiation Absorbed When Using Cell Phone Directly
  • Noise Cancellation Technology Provides Crisp And Clear Communication
  • Pickup Button On Handset; Weighted Base For Comfortable Desktop Office Use

If your looking at this and considering buying your probably wondering why it is so inexpensive. I have no Idea....it just is, this connects with my Droid and iPad without difficulty and activates instantly. The phone portion is sized right, reaching from ear to mouth, full size and not a compact version. I have good reception and use with this model.

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Sunday, August 3, 2014

HandHelditems(TM) Motorola Xoom Anti-Fingerprint, Anti-Glare, Matte Finishing Screen Protector (3 Pa

HandHelditems(TM) Motorola Xoom Anti-Fingerprint, Anti-Glare, Matte Finishing Screen ProtectorFor those that said this screen protector is junk, I don't think had they much experience putting on large screen protectors. The fact that this doesn't come with detailed instructions doesn't help, but here's a guide to how to get the screen protector to work perfectly.

Before you start you'll want to have some clear tape on hand, this will be to remove any dust particles the get stuck to the sticky side of the screen protector.

Make sure you apply this in an environment that is dust free (at least as dust free as you can get), I recommend a bathroom. Thoroughly wipe down the area you'll be working in with a wet cloth to remove any dust from the area.

On the screen protector you have two tabs, 1 and 2. The first tab protects the underside of the protector (the side that goes on the Xoom's screen), the 2nd the side that faces up. You only want to start to peel back tab 1 an inch or so to start. You're going to apply the screen protector kinda like you would a band aid, peel off the 1st tab only a bit evenly across the narrow side of the screen protector. Line up the narrow edge of the screen protector with the narrow edge of your Xoom. This part is crucial, be sure to put the edge of the screen protector right up against the edge of the Xoom's screen and that it's perfectly aligned. As you pull the backing off use the micro-fiber cloth to press the screen protector down and to remove bubbles as you peel away the backing working your way across the screen. As you're working the screen protector from one side to another if you notice any dust particles between the screen and the screen protector lift the screen protector back up to the dust particle and using the clear tape I mentioned earlier stick it to the underside of the screen protector to remove the dust, this works great.

You may end up with a few bubbles, before you take of the top layer (tab 2) work the bubbles from the middle out wiping the screen protector with the micro-fiber cloth supplied with it. With a little work you'll have a perfectly aligned, bubble free Xoom. This may take a little practice but you should have it dialed after trying it once.

I've tried a few screen protector on my Xoom and this one is the best for sure. The bubble are relatively easy to get out and I like the anti-glare. Yes, the anti-glare will make the screen look a little grainy but that just comes with all anti-glare screen protectors. If you don't like that, then don't use an anti-glare.

For the price even if it takes you till the third try to get it perfect you still can't go wrong and the next time you order these you'll get it right the first time and have two more protectors to use down the road.

These are so much better than the Invisible Shield it isn't funny. Fit is absolutally perfect and installation literally took seconds. Shield is kind of a hard plastic making it much easier to apply and it was very easy to get air bubbles out as I was installing. Each shield in the package was individually wrapped and came with its own installation card which is made of thin cardboard as well as its own cleaning cloth which means three of everything. Matte finish though not fingerprint proof wipes clean with the swipe of a shirt sleeve and does a good job of reducing glare without reducing screen clarity to a great degree. Finger glides easily over the screen protector without the jumping and binding of the helicopter blade protection stuff other people use. If you need to protect a helicopter buy them, if not buy these shields. You will be much happier. As the reviewer before me said, the stylus listed was not in the package. I'm assuming there was a typo and they have not corrected but I wasn't expecting it at this price anyways. Only complaint I have was the shipping packaging. They came in a plastic postage envelope without any protection, not even a cardboard slip. There was no damage to mine but knowing the postal system, there could have been.

Buy HandHelditems(TM) Motorola Xoom Anti-Fingerprint, Anti-Glare, Matte Finishing Screen Protector (3 Pa Now

This screen protector was excellent in that it is non-glare or "matte" in type. It does a good job of light dispersion, and I found the brightness of the tablet not diminished all that much. I do "double takes" in stores where the same Xoom tablet is on tables for show, and they have high-gloss (standard glass) screens, reflecting all sort of ambient light from over head light fixtures. My tablet with this screen protector does not have the same "effect" and I really appreciate the non-glare screen. Application was easy, with little in the way of bubbles, however I used the "turn on the shower" trick that day to cut down on the random specks of air-born dust that get in the way, sometimes. Highly recommend this product.

Read Best Reviews of HandHelditems(TM) Motorola Xoom Anti-Fingerprint, Anti-Glare, Matte Finishing Screen Protector (3 Pa Here

I *really* like the matte finish on this screen protector...however it DOES NOT have a cutout for the front-facing camera. Because of the matte finish, images are fuzzy if the screen protector covers it up. I even tried aligning the protector as close to the bottom edge as possible with hopes it would line up below the lens, but no such luck. Had to resort to cutting a notch...which bends the screen protector ever-so-slightly and prevents an even overlay.

Two-stars since it's not 100% compatible with the Motorola Xoom. If it had the cutout, it's 5-star by far.

Want HandHelditems(TM) Motorola Xoom Anti-Fingerprint, Anti-Glare, Matte Finishing Screen Protector (3 Pa Discount?

A 3 pack with a Stylus for this price!?! I am cutting up the screens and using them on my android. Works awesome and I have plenty extra.

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Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Targus Stylus AMM0113US for Apple iPad, iPad 2, iPad 3 and iPad 4th Generation, iPad mini, 16GB, 32G

Targus Stylus AMM0113US for Apple iPad, iPad 2, iPad 3 and iPad 4th Generation, iPad mini, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB WiFi with 4G, iPhone, iPod and Tablets -Cream
  • Designed to complement the Apple Smart Cover
  • Allows users to type accurately and comfortably
  • Use to take notes, draw or turn a page; soft, durable rubber tip won?t scratch screen, 3/4 inch longer than most styluses on the market
  • Works on all capacitive touch surfaces; use with iPad, iPod Touch, iPhone and other touch-screen devices
  • Unit Dimensions: 5 1/8 inches

Here's what I found after trying a multitude of styluses (or is it styli?) after buying an iPad 2. I wanted to use an iPad as a sketch book and the pad like it's name...and go digital rather than filling up notebook after notebook. So the perfect stylus has to feel like a pen and work well enough on the screen to give the tactile feel of drawing or writing on paper.

I learned that styluses tips are of 2 main types fuzzy fabric and rubber with some additional quirky ones made of metal (O-Stylus) or even sausage (supposed to work like your finger!).

--Fabric tips:

Pogo stylusalso used by Apple Geniuses have a fabric tip that's great for typing or selecting or gaming even but not so good for writing or sketching anything more complex than a smiley face.

Sock Stylus There is a seller on etsy who is selling sock styluses with conductive fabric "sock" stretched over a wooden quill which has been sawed off for the perfect length. I found that stylus a little less sensitive than the Targus and you have to hold it at a certain angle for best results. However, if you're writing pages worth of notes on iPad then it tends to make the hand less tired than the Targus as Targus has a squishy rubber tip that can cause some fatigue.

There are other fuzzy fabric styluses out there sold by small stores like the ones by the guy who has been advertising on all Mac forums and posting pictures of his store in competitors' item images. They claim that they have the best yet but I haven't tried those yet.

--Rubber tips:

The Targus in question has a rubber tip. Please check my uploaded pic for size comparison against some other styluses.

The rubber tip on this stylus looks pretty thick but is still thinner than our fingers. The problem is that it does block the view when writing or sketching just like our finger. There is also another 2nd gen ACase that has tried to eliminate some of that by creating a longer stylus and a thinner and longer rubber tip but failed to deliver as the thinner tip had to be held at certain angles to write well and became more squishy and less natural.

This Targus has been the best of the 4-5 styluses I tried so far (refer to the pic) overall as it is the most responsive of all and has a matte finish stem rather than ACase's smooth finish which makes it a little less slippery to hold. The iPad 2 is already so slinky, I don't want to worry about dropping the stylus too!! It performed well on Penultimate and UPad writing apps and SketchBook Express the sketching app and captured light strokes as well as the heavier strokes. The performance was a lot better than the Acase 2nd Generation Apple iPad / iPhone / iPod Capacitive Stylus (Jet Black) Newest Modeland a shade better than the Acase 2 in 1 Stylus + Pen for Apple iPad 16GB, 32GB, 64GB WiFi + 3G, iPad 2, iPhone, iPod, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy, BlackBerry Playbook (Black). And don't even bother trying the really cheap ones 3 Pack (Red + Black + Silver) of Universal Touch Screen Stylus Pen for Apple iPod Touch 2nd 3rd 4th Gen, iPhone 3G 3GS 4th Gen Generation, they're perhaps ok for tapping a little but not for writing or sketching. Although some people have suggested on forums that roughing up the rubber tip of the cheap styluses with a sandpaper makes them work better.

I've also heard good things about the Boxwave and Alupen but haven't tested them so I can't say if they're better than Targus.

So there you have it, Targus was the winner in writing and sketching on iPad but still not the perfect stylus as it is not as responsive as I would like. I'm still looking for that perfect stylus.

Buy Targus Stylus AMM0113US for Apple iPad, iPad 2, iPad 3 and iPad 4th Generation, iPad mini, 16GB, 32G Now

I have been using a Pogo Sketch for quite some time and I can assure you that the Targus stylus beats the Pogo and every other stylus hands down! In fact, I recently was employed by one of the largest wireless carriers in their marketing department and worked closely with the person responsible for buying all accessories that are sold in our stores. She had tested and trialed dozens of styluses a d had determined that pogo was the best available stylus at the time. Last month, I visited her and showed her the Targus stylus. Like me, she was blown away. She is now going to contact Targus for samples to put through their tests. It works great with iPhone and iPad -and especially great with Penultimate. It is high-quality and feels great in my hand. It is as thick as a normal ballpoint pen, and the clip is made of sturdy metal (not cheap plastic like the Pogo). The tip is soft rubber, but not at all sticky like some other inferior rubber styluses). Using this on an ipad is so silky smooth and a pleasure to use. Buy this, you will not be disappointed!!

Read Best Reviews of Targus Stylus AMM0113US for Apple iPad, iPad 2, iPad 3 and iPad 4th Generation, iPad mini, 16GB, 32G Here

Buyer beware! Genuine Targus products work well and are a good value so this is not a ding on Targus, didn't really want the product to have one star but wanted future buyers to be careful. Recently I purchase two of these for my wife and myself from Amazon and was surprised to find out they were actually shipping thru one of their retailers called Asecshop all the way from Hong Kong. They were in bubble wrap in a small manila envelope and no the Targus name was not on anything including the product. After a recent trip to to a big box store who sells genuine Targus items my suspicions were confirmed, what I received was in deed counterfeit. When my items arrived looking like something you would expect to receive from ebay not Amazon. I left a similar statement on the Asecshop feedback page as well and I was not alone with this type of behavior, lots of folks complaining about counterfeit goods being sold and described as the original article. look similar to Targus in shape but they are clearly not genuine Targus. I have reported this to Amazon and the are supposedly looking in to it, I hope they correct this and do a better job of setting up there retailers in the future. ebay use to be reputable too until they started letting everyone sell all their knock off products on there, now you never know what you are going to get. Just my two cents, but I will only purchase products in the future that ship directly from Amazon"s Distribution Centers. One bad apple.......

Want Targus Stylus AMM0113US for Apple iPad, iPad 2, iPad 3 and iPad 4th Generation, iPad mini, 16GB, 32G Discount?

This stylus is smaller and more precise than my finger, and keeps the screen cleaner. It also works with a touch screen mobile phone and easily distinguishes between a touch and a swipe. Best of all is when using Pages or Numbers on an iPad, as one can hit the small icons with ease. The hemispherical tip ensures contact over a wide range of angles so the stylus can be held as one would a regular pen.

The stylus has a quality appearance with a chrome accent and a metal pocket clip. The top of the pen has a small hole through which a lanyard may be attached. It is only available in black, but that does not detract from its functionality. It is an excellent and inexpensive accessory for the iPad.

Update: After six months of daily use, the rubber tip has perished and the stylus must be replaced. Its replacement will be a stylus with a longer lasting polymeric material and not one with soft rubber.

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At a staff meeting a couple weeks ago, we sat around comparing iPad accessories. Everyone agreed that a stylus was a must have for senior software architects with large and somewhat stiff fingers. (God only knows what we have done to stiffen them.) We passed around 3 or 4 different styluses. The general agreement was that the Targus was the best. The tip is has the right degree of softness and the clip is well designed. The electrical engineer who held out for a rolled up piece of raw bacon was ignored. I ordered a Targus stylus because it was sold out locally. It does work well. My only complaint is the silly string. The latch is hard to work and a stylus dangling on a two inch thread is wrong in many ways. The problem is easily and completely solved by throwing the string away.

Monday, July 7, 2014

Acer Aspire V5-171-6422 11.6-Inch Laptop (Silky Silver)

Acer Aspire V5-171-6422 11.6-Inch Laptop
  • Intel Core i5 3317U 1.7 GHz (3 MB Cache)
  • 6 GB SDRAM
  • 500 GB 5400 rpm Hard Drive
  • 11.6-Inch Screen, Intel HD Graphics 4000
  • Windows 8, 5-hour battery life

This is a pretty decent laptop, especially considering that it's a few hundred dollars less than many of similarly sized Ultrabook alternatives if you're shopping around for an 11.6" form factor.

While it's less svelte than the ultrabooks and the battery life isn't fantastic, it's definitely a big step up in computing horsepower (an i5 processor, 6GB of RAM) from cheaper alternatives. You can also buy the same series and save $150 going w/ an i3 and 4GB RAM instead, which is probably a better deal for most people: Acer Aspire V5-171-6675 11.6-Inch Laptop (Silver). Or, if you don't need a workhorse, you could save even a hundred more w/ the Aspire One/other netbook style notebooks (lots less horsepower, but missing things like USB 3.0, Bluetooth 4.0, etc). If you don't need Windows at all, that new Samsung Chromebook (Wi-Fi, 11.6-Inch) is $250 and looks darn sexy.

There are lots of reviews online (search for Acer Aspire V5 reviews) that have video and do a good job of covering things. I'll just add a few notes from the perspective of someone's that's used a lot of hardware and software, but mostly uses Macs right now (and a Macbook Air for my primary laptop).

* Build-quality, svelteness is nowhere near the MBA of course, but overall it's well put together. The keyboard feels good and the hinge and overall chassis seems solid, doesn't squeak, etc. The hinge opens to almost 180 degrees, which is sort of nice.

* Screen is decent for the price range (as long as you don't compare w/ high-end IPS screen) glossy, but bright enough, if a bit washed out.

* Keyboard is good overall, but the arrow keys are teeny tiny.

* The trackpad is decent except for one thing that makes it nearly unusable by default the right-click is enabled for the right side, but it responds way too far left (there are no hard buttons, it's all software based) so that if you're right handed, and depending I suppose on the size of your hands and how you use the keyboard, you will end up right-clicking all the time when you mean to left-click. The only solution I could find w/ the included Elan Smart-Pad software was to make the right corner also be a regular click and assign right-click to a two-finger click. The trackpad supports gestures and two finger scrolling works fine but the "inertial scrolling" is complete crap and should be disabled.

* The AC adapter is a bit strange it's a big vertical wallwart. If you are using a powerstrip that is aligned vertically, you'll need to put it at the end.

* Setup was fine for a PC faster and less intrusive than a horrible Samsung Windows 7 Netbook I set up last year. Still, it took about 30min for the "PC Decrapifier" software to clean out the vendor junk.

* Haven't stressed it out, but haven't heard much fan noise.

* This laptop was primarily bought as a Windows testing bench at our office, but one of the reasons I bought this was also to check out Windows 8. Turns out, so far, I don't like it at all and much prefer Windows 7. As a general consumer, you may as well go w/ the latest since that'll be supported better in the future, but if you're happy w/ Windows 7, I'd try to see if you could find a laptop w/ Windows 7.

For the specs I was looking for (11.6", lightweight/compact, decent processing power) I think the V5 is a good value the best option I could find. The other laptop I was looking at was the Sony VAIO E11 Series SVE11125CXB 11.6-Inch Laptop (Black) , but the processor is much weaker (Brazos 2.0 about 2x older netbooks, but nowhere near the i5 on the Aspire V5), it's chunkier, and the battery life worse.

If you have the budget and you're planning to use this as your primary computer, I'd strongly recommend that you at the very least give some of the ultrabooks (Acer Aspire S7, Samsung S9, and of course the Apple Macbook Air) a spin, paying attention to how their screens, keyboards, and trackpads feel you may find that the extra price will be worthwhile for something that you spend hours everyday using.

Buy Acer Aspire V5-171-6422 11.6-Inch Laptop (Silky Silver) Now

I bought this on black Friday lightning deal to replace my HP DM1Z laptop which is comparable. For reference it's an AMD Zacate E-350 dual core with switching discrete graphics and 4GB ram. Anyhow, the little E-350 was not cutting it when I had lots of browser windows open or when watching videos it would get choppy and annoying.

With this new Acer that is no longer a problem. The i5 in here chugs along super fast and has made things very pleasant. The HD4000 is adequate for anything you would likely want to on a 11.6" screened laptop. I don't find myself angry with slowdowns or issues playing youtube videos, or having 30 tabs open with remote control sessions to multiple other computers.

Things I like:

-Size: It's a great, very portable, lightweight package that has the benefit of having real ports. Keyboard is good, touchpad is fine for the most part. It's thin with good hinges.

-CPU/power: It's plenty fast for all the normal business apps, Netflix, youtube, etc. things running with a ton of stuff open. It's great not having a sacrifice in performance to get the small form factor anymore. It seems to run cool too, haven't heard the fan and it's been comfortable to have on my lap for extended periods of time.

-Real ports: I love that I have an actual Ethernet port, HDMI port and VGA. I was looking at the Samsung Series 9 and the like and you have to have dongles and adapters for everything. Having the actual port and just being able to bring the laptop and not worry about 10 different dongles to actually get connected to something is priceless. Having the USB 3.0 is great as well. Ports are well laid out and easy to get to. SD card slot is nice to have as well.

-Price: This is a given, you're looking at 1100 for most of the other ultrabooks that even hit on the specs this has (gen3 i5, 6GB ram)

Things I don't like:

-This is nitpicky but I wish the touchpad was slightly farther over to the right. This is more a getting used to it issue though and it's only been better the more I use it but there were times I'd would right click instead of left on accident when using both hands on the touchpad with left pointer moving the mouse and right hand fingers to mouse button. This is more just a getting used to it thing. The multi-touch works decently well.

As mentioned the power adapter is kinda weird with no power brick in the middle but all the bulk is there by the plug. This can make it difficult to plug in to some places. There are aftermarket power adapters on amazon for 9 bucks though that have a more standard setup to ease this issue.

-Battery: Well, it's pretty close to the 5 hours or so quoted with wifi on doing normal tasks. Which is really pretty impressive for a battery that is so small. I would love the option of adding a 6 cell battery for a bit extra capacity but as of 12/4/12 they don't seem to exist for sale. Battery is fine for what it is for the most part though.

-Hard drive: Reading the reviews on this ahead of time the 500GB 5400rpm HD was said to be a weak point. I put in a 240GB SSD to replace it as soon as I got it so I can't say too much on that. For the hour I used it with the drive it seemed fine. Do note though that if you replace the hard drive with the SSD you want one that is 7MM or thinner. I already had this SSD that I had loaded into the HP and it's a 9.5mm thickness. It works but it was quite tight putting the bottom cover back on and bulges a bit. It's been fine since though so I'm not going to worry about it. If you are getting an SSD, or for anyone getting the laptop really it's a good idea to buy a cheap 16GB SD card as well. The system recovery software from Acer will format an sd card and load all the recovery files onto it in case you ever need to wipe and reload the system. Or in this case put in a ssd and have it reload the system onto that cleanly.

-Windows 8 is frustrating in a lot of ways but I'm trying to force myself to get used to it in the stock form to better be able to support clients once they inevitably get some Windows 8 machines at some point. If I didn't have that then buying Start8 for a few bucks and putting it on here would make Windows 8 great. You can do all the multi-touch gestures on the touchpad so you can get away without a touchscreen for the most part. I don't even want a touch screen laptop as who wants all the finger smears all over the screen all the time. Windows 8 is quite fast though on the bootups and shutdowns. I do give it credit there.

So overall I'm quite happy with the purchase. (Especially getting it for $439 on black Friday). This computer is a much better deal than spending twice the price for a few MM of thickness saved. Definitely a solid choice for anyone who doesn't need a big screen. (You can run multiple external monitors with it with ease for a primary desk, there are some decent USB 3.0 docking solutions.)

***Edit 1/11/13 I have added a little more on the ssd and corrected the sizing of the 9.5mm thick one I have (you still want a 7mm ideally). I've been using the laptop daily now for well over a month and love it. Still nice and fast and it works great. Make sure if you buy this to go to acers website and download the latest driver updates, most namely the driver update for the Atheros wireless drivers. The put out a x.x.x.217-v3 version that you NEED to install. This cures some weird wireless disconnection issues a number of people were having. I'm bumping this laptop up to 5 stars now that that is good.

Read Best Reviews of Acer Aspire V5-171-6422 11.6-Inch Laptop (Silky Silver) Here

I looked at many laptops before I came across this Acer Aspire V5-171-6422. I was surprised to find that it had the same processor as the MacBook Air which costs over $1,000 and has the same graphics card. The 500GB hard drive is more than enough room. This computer is much faster showing me online content and it picks up the wifi signal right away so it saves me a lot of time. Battery life is approximately 4.5 hours and this computer is slimmer than my 10.1" netbook. This is the best computer around $500 and when you figure the small 11.6" screen, it's the best small computer out there. I run dual-monitor all the time without any problem, everything runs well through the USB port. USB 3.0 port is the future and this computer includes one such port. At this point, I wouldn't consider a computer without a USB 3.0. There are other plugs and battery packs available online and you can upgrade this computer by swapping out the 2GB RAM chip to 4GB, giving you a total of 8GB. This RAM stick will only run you $20 and all you have to do is remove two screws from the underside of the computer. Great computer ACER

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I've owned about 3 different ACER laptops. All of them were great, but this one takes it to the next level.

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Windows 8:

This laptop, when I first received it was very good. It worked, keyboard is very accurate, touchpad takes some getting used to. Windows 8 is OKAY. But the changes from windows 7 are a bit disappointing. It just doesn't have that "windows feel" anymore. I think Microsoft should rethink/rework the Windows 8 operating system a bit. It's too much to take in, and quite frankly, I think Microsoft is trying to 'copy' what Apple is doing; they're taking it way too far.

Immediately, I was disappointed with Metro. I absolutely cannot manage without the start menu! As well, with this laptop, using metro is kind of difficult. The touch pad is kind of all over the place sometimes, and takes you some place you don't want to go. Basically, I'd just tap the touch pad gently and end up clicking something in metro accidentally. This caused me so much frustration!!!

Overall, Windows 8 was just a huge disappointment to me. I don't know about anyone else, but I need more leeway when I use a computer.

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Linux Mint:

So after about 2 weeks, I tried Linux. I put Linux Mint on it, and surprisingly, it worked really well!! However, the brightness and touchpad were not working properly. I managed to fix the brightness, but the touchpad was a bit buggy still. The problem with the touchpad was scrolling and right click. Right Click wouldn't work unless you used 'two fingers'. Which meant I had to tap the touch pad with two fingers. It was a minor annoyance. The wireless was another major issue. For some reason in Linux, the wireless card would constantly drop. And it also would take for ever to reconnect. The only way to reconnect fast enough was to restart the whole system.

So pretty much, Linux needs a bit of updates for this laptop. The touchpad really works against you and does what ever it wants from time to time in Linux. And the wireless issue was just a huge turn off.

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Windows 7 downgrade:

And finally, 2 days ago, I downgraded back to windows 7. And guess what? IT WORKS FLAWLESSLY!!! It wasn't an actual downgrade, I had an OEM copy of windows 7 with a key to use. The performance difference between windows 7 and 8 on this laptop are VERY noticeable. Windows 8 kind of lags in desktop mode. But on Windows 7, I get no more lag, and everything runs smoothly.

Acer is such a great company when it comes to drivers. Most companies will not provide Windows 7 drivers. The reason for this is because they want to force you to use windows 8. Acer however, understands a users preference, and offers Windows 7 drivers in case you feel uncomfortable with windows 8. SO ACER GETS MY THUMBS UP!

All the drivers work, and I find the touch pad responds a lot better in Windows 7, compared to Windows 8 and Linux. Windows 7 works very well on this laptop, and I do recommend it if you want to downgrade to windows 7.

All I did was plug in an external USB cd-rom, and installed windows 7 pretty much that way. It's very simple.

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PROS AND CONS

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PROS:

1)Sleek

2)Runs decent

3)Intel HD 4000 can actually run some games. I'm not saying on high settings. Played Guild Wars 2, Left 4 dead, Killing Floor, etc; and they all run pretty well on this on low-med settings. But this isn't a gaming laptop, so don't expect anything like eye-candy gaming experience. This laptop serves it's purpose for me quite well.

4)i5 processor is SO GOOD!!!

5)USB 3, Bluetooth and HDMI

6)Overall Sexy silver look

CONS:

1)A bit flimsy (try not to rest anything heavy on it)

2)Network NIC (not the wireless). For some reason, an RJ45 cable refuses to fit properly in it. Don't know if that is a design flaw, or maybe I need better network cables.

3)Keyboard will betray you a few times. But this isn't a major con, it just takes some getting used to if you have big hands.

4)Battery could be better

5)....Wait stop. There are no more cons!

Yeah this laptop is too good for any big cons. It's a very decent semi-Ultra Book.

Other thoughts:

One more thing I noticed with this laptop, is it cannot get dirty! I usually leave my work spaces kind of messy after use. But this laptop has such a clean feel to it, you can hardly notice if there is a mess on it. I've had dust, pieces of hair, even some potato chips fall on it. It comes off very easily. Also, the Keyboard is fitted in a way, where it is impossible for any mess to get inside the laptop. Acer designed this so well, it's almost Dirt-Resistant!

I don't normally make reviews on Amazon, so please consider getting this laptop. It will not disappoint you, even if you like windows 8!

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I originally bought this computer because it was small and portable but also packed a little bit of a punch. I have owned it for a couple months and I love it so far. I am not a huge fan of Windows 8 but can't blame Acer for that.

Pros: Very portable, Durable, Quick start up, Keyboard isn't as small as i thought it would, Price.

Cons: Miss a back light beneath the keyboard, Mousepad isn't as responsive as other computers i have used (macbooks). The keys on the keyboard don't have a high quality feel when you hit the keys (being picky)

Overall i would highly suggest this computer if you are looking for a step right above the lower level i3 processor computers. The price is great for what you get. If you are looking for a computer above the lower level $350 computers and the $699 i7 computers this is a great pick.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Speck EXEC-BLACK-T650 Treo 650 Executive Leather Case with Belt Clip (Black)

Speck EXEC-BLACK-T650 Treo 650 Executive Leather Case with Belt Clip
  • Beautiful, quality leather
  • Belt clip
  • Pocket for extra SD card, cash or business cards
  • Secure snap clasp
  • Real protection and convenient functionality

The outside stitching is acceptable, but in the inside there is some irregularity on the stitches.

The swivel belt clip is detachable but should be also removable, that is, the part that attaches to the belt clip should also be removable (screw) so that it fits better in the pocket when you don't want to use a belt clip. Still, it fits fairly well in my back pocket.

The treo 650 fits nicely, but sometimes it is hard to adjust the snap closure to close firmelly.

Overall, acceptable quality for this price.

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Sunday, June 8, 2014

Gino 3 Ports USB 2.0 Hub Combo MS TF SD Card Reader Black

Gino 3 Ports USB 2.0 Hub Combo MS TF SD Card Reader BlackI got this for my Mom for Christmas. She likes that it is 2 things she asked for in one. The main issue she's noted so far is that the cord is only about 2 feed long, so it doesn't make it from the computer to the desktop. I'll update on quality after she's used it some.

This Zio device works well on my iMac. You can see how useful it is from the photo. If you have awkward sized USB devices, this should help.

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This thing is a piece of. Poor construction, pulled usb plug out a couple times and the brackets are pulling out with it now. On top of this the card reader seems to not work with any I've tried with it. Only buy this if you have high threshold for cheap plastic junk.

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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Sony Memory Stick Pro Duo 1 GB

Sony Memory Stick Pro Duo 1 GBMaybe a good product but the one shipped to me did not have the adapter so I cannot use it in my camera. Amazon refunded my money, which was good, but I still cannot find a Memory Stick Pro W/ADAPTER for my camera. If you only want the memory stick and do not need the adapter for you camera it may be a good product.

got this for a 14 year olds PSP. he loves it because now he can download music

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Thursday, May 8, 2014

BoxWave HTC Sensation 4G DuoSuit - Slim-Fit Ultra Durable TPU Case with Stylish "S" Design on Back -

BoxWave HTC Sensation 4G DuoSuit - Slim-Fit Ultra Durable TPU Case with Stylish 'S' Design on Back - HTC Sensation 4G Cases and Covers
  • Ultra low profile rubberized case
  • Form-fitting case designed to perfectly fit your HTC Sensation 4G
  • Back of the case has a unique swirly design
  • Anti-slip properties gives your HTC Sensation 4G more grip on surfaces
  • Lightweight, durable design protects from scratches and bumps without adding bulk

This is a great case for the Sensation, It fits great, its slim and not bulky and looks great. I had other cases from body glove to otter box and this is way better than those. A must buy for anyone with the Sensation.

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Wednesday, April 2, 2014

WCI Quality Mini Handheld Bluetooth Presenter Keyboard With Touch Mouse Pad And Laser Pointer - For

WCI Quality Mini Handheld Bluetooth Presenter Keyboard With Touch Mouse Pad And Laser Pointer - For Presentations. Meetings, Classrooms, Etc.What caught my eye about this bluetooth presenter was its layout, kinda resembling a Blackberry. Majority of the others I have seen have smaller keys and are much thinner.

This one just feels right when using it, which I love to use as a remote moreso than for presentations. Bluetooth set-up is done in a pinch and takes no time how to figure out all the functions it offers.

Small little keyboard mouse combo.

Little weight and is right at home on coffee table.

Doesn't look out of place.

All-n-one solution for all of your media center needs!

Keyboard layout is very intelligent for the size.

Construction is very good, has nice features. The mouse pad is very well thought out and works great!

I love this thing for controlling my HTPC!

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Saturday, March 15, 2014

PDair Luxury Silicone Case for Nokia N8 (Black)

PDair Luxury Silicone Case for Nokia N8
  • Soft-touch silicone skin texture in multiple colors to protect your device in style.

This case fits my nokia n8 perfectly, the cutouts are exactly the correct size for plugging in power cords or the usb cord, and it has a very nice "hand" feel. There are no cutouts missing.

I bought this to replace a much cheaper silicone case from a different manufacturer ... the other silicone case that I bought was missing a cutout hole for the microphone, and the remaining cutouts were improperly sized for actual use ... for example, the usb cutout was exactly as big as the usb port itself, meaning the plug would not insert fully with the case on.

Lesson learned! Spend more money for a perfect case! This one is very high quality!

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nice grip. fits good, and all the inputs / outputs are considered accurately. doesn't collect dust, which is, in my opinion, significant for phone cases.

Read Best Reviews of PDair Luxury Silicone Case for Nokia N8 (Black) Here

I recently bought a Nokia N8 and I wanted a nice case for my new phone. I took a look at the reviews and I decided to buy it. Funny thing the item description says by Nokia but if you take a look at the right side says Sold by Govamart Worldwide Free Shipping.

Ok the item comes from china, you'll need to wait for a while so you have to be patience. I bought it on March 11th, the item was sent on 15th and I received in Costa Rica on April 1st again be patience my friend and btw there's no tracking number so you'll get it as a surprise.

You'll be asking, what's in the box? One screen cleaner and the case. I don't think I'll use the screen cleaner; I bought a screen protector plus this case a great combination.

This case is made of soft silicone but it feels really great when you touch it, and it really make look nice the N8.

All the important cutouts are: usb and power adapter connector, SIM card and SD card slot, HDMI output, camera and light camera and microphone, lock button. The buttons that are cover are power menu and Volume and the camera button but the buttons shapes are carved into the case. BTW the case color is black.

I recommend this case in case you want something worthy for your money.

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Before I purchased this item from "amazon.com" I noticed 2 circular screen cleaners (lint dusters)

The sealed shipment arrived from Hong Kong, however the PDair black box inside the sealed

shipment envelope was not sealed & open with 1 circular screen duster (screen cleaner) missing!

I am not sure what happened here --that is the reason for my particular rating..

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ES435W/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_title

Don't get me wrong, at this point the case seems alright....

This item was engineered for the Nokia N8 Cell Phone. It fits perfectly and all the ports for charging, etc. are placed exactly where they should be and are correct in size. This is the best silicone case for this phone!

The only thing is that when I ordered the item it took some time to arrive as it was shipped from China. Apart from this, the item although made in

China is a high quality product and fits perfectly. If you have the Nokia N8 and want a quality silicone case, then this is the one for you!

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Motorola T605 Bluetooth Automotive Music & Hands-free System Retail Packaging

Motorola T605 Bluetooth Automotive Music & Hands-free System Retail Packaging
  • Works with any brand of bluetooth-enabled compatible phone or music device
  • Wireless music pauses automaticly when calls come in from your bluetooth enabled phone
  • Volume goes up as background noise increases
  • Supports Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) and Audio Video Remote Control Profile

Without a doubt, the best sounding bluetooth audio system I've heard. I've rented a few cars that had it built in, and purchased a couple other systems myself, and this beats them all. Occasionally there will be a very light sizzle in the upper frequencies, but it's tolerable, and only occasional. Most other systems trim off low end bass. The bass is full and thick from this system. I am very critical of audio quality, and I would recommend this to anyone. I installed it myself in about 90 minutes, but I'm also very experienced with electronics and DC voltage, and fairly experienced with wiring in cars. Most of that time was finding the right circuits to tap.

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I am very pleased with the Motorola T605. I was especially pleased with the speed in which I reeived this item.

Sandisk 1GB CompactFlash Card (SDCFB1024800)

Sandisk 1GB CompactFlash Card
  • High transfer rate for fast copying and downloading 
  • Built to last, with an operating shock rating of 2,000Gs, equivalent to a ten-foot drop
  • 1 GB capacity offers plenty of storage for your digital photos
  • Compatible with digital cameras, handheld PCs, digital audio players and other devices with a CompactFlash slot
  • Non-volatile solid-state; no moving parts maximizes battery power; data is not lost when power is turned off

It works well with my boss 600 studio recorder machine which is why I bought it. I plan to buy another one.

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I own a Boss BR900CD multi-track recorder, and this is the only CompactFlash card that works with it. I tried several other cards, but they didn't work at all in this hardware. Boss suggested looking for this specific make and model right after I had already bought it. It is not just a good deal, it is the only deal, and a very good one.

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I bought this card to use with my Fantom X work station, and it works impeccably well.

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Cheapest ones that I could find anywhere on the internet and the only ones I could get here fast enough to.

It is low and old, i would have liked to have an 8g, but the high ones are not compatible with my older camera, so i had to settle for this one, and it actually is working out really well.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Corel WordPerfect Office X6 Pro

Corel WordPerfect Office X6 Pro
  • Use Corel PDF Fusion to open, create, copy and edit a PDF without altering formatting. Increase office efficiency with Reveal Codes, Microsoft Explorer previewing and new multi-monitor support.
  • Publish your own digital eBook and use the Corel Paradox database management system to work smarter and faster.
  • It's all in WordPerfect, the ultimate office solution for today's fast-paced world.
  • Work with extra tools for improved productivity and collaboration - Find the information and help you need using the WordPerfect Reference Center, plus take advantage of free BrainStorm training videos

Microsoft had discontinued five software programs I used; and what is worse, they no longer offer any support for the file format for two of these I happen to have many files I created with and now I can never review or work with again. So, I thought about moving over to Apple but had to admit they are a strange breed of operating system and software. So what else could I do, but find a PC alternative. And Corel seemed it. I am not disappointed at all. This suite works better and is easy to figure out, even better then Microsoft Office was. I read reviews about Corel and M.S. head to head, and I cannot agree that M.S. is better. You have better control over your document creation. Then we have the conversion of Word too WordPerfect and back again, no issues here either. All the other programs in the Corel suite work very well too. if you seek further information before forking out the money, which I understand totally, I would visit YouTube or use RealPlayer to review the how to use WordPerfect Office. Or perhaps buy the book that seems only available from Corel's website ("Reference Guide").

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I love word perfect... so much more user friendly than Microsoft word... I downloaded the trial version of the x6 and LOVED it.. So to find such a great price here on Amazon when the usual price is almost $400 was the icing on the cake!! So easy to download off Amazon! Do not hesitate, you won't find it at a better price.

Read Best Reviews of Corel WordPerfect Office X6 Pro Here

I have used WordPerfect 8 since 1995. It satisfied all my word production and graphic needs. The only reason I upgraded was that I was experiencing a lot of glitches, probably because of the interface with newer Microsoft programs.

I have not even begun to fully explore the differences between the older and newer, but I do find the thesaurus less useful than the older version. It seems to mimic Microsoft Word rather than keep what was good, which mainly offered synonyms rather than a grammatical use of the word.

I hope everything else is at least as good as the old version.

nan harvey

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It works OK, but does not import previous file formatting well. That seems to be true for each version of WP. I fail to see why it is like that.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

rooCASE Netbook Carrying Bag forLenovo ThinkPad X120e 05962RU 11.6-Inch Notebook - Deluxe Series Bla

rooCASE Netbook Carrying Bag forLenovo ThinkPad X120e 05962RU 11.6-Inch Notebook - Deluxe Series BlackA good case for travelling light. My Lenovo X120e fits well, but when adding the A/C adaptor, its pretty full. But I purchased this simply to carry the laptop and power, and it works well.

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Saturday, November 2, 2013

rooCASE Netbook Carrying Bag for Acer Aspire AOD255-2331 10.1 inch Netbook Black - Classic Series Bl

rooCASE Netbook Carrying Bag for Acer Aspire AOD255-2331 10.1 inch Netbook Black - Classic Series BlackThis is a great bag for netbooks. It has plenty of pockets for your accessories. It is well made and protects you netbook so you don't have to worry about your netbook or accessories getting crushed or damaged. Highly recommended bag.

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Tiny EDR Wireless Bluetooth USB 2.0 Adapter Dongle (Black) Windows Vista/XP/2000 Plug and Play

Tiny EDR Wireless Bluetooth USB 2.0 Adapter Dongle Windows Vista/XP/2000 Plug and PlayThis is a device that IS compatible with Vitsa, and I'm running the 64 bit version. I plugged in the dongle and at first nothing happened, but after a minute or 2, the driver began installation, and another 30 seconds later, I was in business. I didn't even need to use the disc that came with the device. I was able to pair my phone easily to the phone software on my computer. I will be connecting my bluetooth headset as soon as it arrives.

This dongle works! I recommend this one over the other $1 dongles based on the reviews of their compatibility.

This bluetooth dongle works great (at least in win7). I already bought 3 of these dongles and all of them work as intended in 3 different computers. Installation is automatic and it is small enough to be used in netbooks/laptops. I don't know about the other users problems in this and other sellers (of the same dongle), perhaps they are using different OSs that require a particular software or perhaps they received a faulty item (but according to the sells and complains this is a small percentage). Anyway at this price (even with this putative small percentage faulty ones) this is a great deal!

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I had bought 2 of these dongles at the same time, in case one happened to be flaky. Sure enough, after about a week, the first dongle stopped working. Tried to put it in different USB ports to make sure that my USB port wasn't the issue. Didn't work in any other USB ports... but I figured it wouldn't because the red light that used to flash on the dongle had stopped working.

I thought, "Okay, well, pretty fluky, but good thing I have another dongle..."

After about a week and 3 days, the second dongle stopped working as well. I'd recommend getting a higher-end dongle to save you the trouble. Too good to be true.

Do not buy these.

Read Best Reviews of Tiny EDR Wireless Bluetooth USB 2.0 Adapter Dongle (Black) Windows Vista/XP/2000 Plug and Play Here

Bought this to connect wiimote to PC. Software that comes with the package (older version of bluesoleil) installed fine but could not pair wiimote for some reason. Had to rollback to use windows drivers. I can connect wiimote now but takes a couple of attempts before they pair up. The plastic construction is flimsy but what can you expect for a couple of bucks :)?

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It works great. Only thing is it takes a while to get setup and get working, but it does work. But thats fine. It works. Thats what matteers.

Bottom Line:

Works Great

Monday, October 28, 2013

rooCASE Super Bubble Neoprene (Red / Black) Sleeve Case for Apple MacBook Pro MB991LL/A 13.3-Inch La

rooCASE Super Bubble Neoprene Sleeve Case for Apple MacBook Pro MB991LL/A 13.3-Inch LaptopI purchased the rooCase for my MacBook Pro as I really liked the rooCase I bought a while back for my IPad. It is a well made case. I like the extra protection through the bubbles. However, I feel it is a little big and it does not fit as snuggly as I would like it to. The rooCase for my IPad has a better fit.

The case is also not quite as stylish as I had anticipated. The pocket with red trim runs straight across the case. The color contrast is great, but the form is a little boring. The rooCase for my IPad is more stylish and interesting with it's diagonal pocket & trim.

Overall I am happy with the rooCase. It fulfills it's purpose and protects my computer. I would buy it again.

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Monday, August 26, 2013

Panasonic Large Stylus Pen - Digital Pen

Panasonic Large Stylus Pen - Digital Pen
  • DIGITIZER *SOLD AS 1 UNIT

i use these stylus's on a daily bases with a multitude of cf-19 toughbooks and they have worked flawlessly from the moment i got them they have performed at or above their expectancy.

i ordered them as replacements for the original stylus (which was lost) and couldn't be happier with this purchase from having the exact stylus model to ease of placing the order to recieving them from antonline.com all was very quick and easy and best of all secure so thank you .....

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Works Great with the Panansonic Toughbook we use on the Ambulance. It is easy to use and very handy. A good replacement for what comes with the computer. Very enjoyable product will definitely buy another one if something happens to this one.

Friday, June 21, 2013

PDair Leather Case for Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-T989 - Flip Type (Black)

PDair Leather Case for Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-T989 - Flip TypeThere are 3 slots. I'm able to fit license, 2 bank cards, medical card, Costco card & business card in the slots. I can even place folded dollar bills between between the pockets and the phone... close it... and slide it in my pocket. No need for a screen protector. No need for a phone in one pocket & a wallet in the other. So convenient. It ships w/a key ring and hip clip, if that's your thing. I love attention to detail. Nicely packaged item. I've been using mine for 8 months. It holds up well. I'll always buy a PDAir for my mobiles.

Protective Decal Skin Sticker for SONY ERICSSON Xperia X10A case cover X10-359

Protective Decal Skin Sticker for SONY ERICSSON Xperia X10A case cover X10-359
  • A revolutionary way to customize your device with Supper durable Ultra high gloss finish vinyl skin & High resolution digital printing with photo quality!
  • Precision cut to fit your device, scratch resistant protective shields with high-quality vinyl.
  • Supper easy to apply, with EASY Apply technology feature air bubble FREE in the application.
  • Non permanent adhesive allow easy peel off & leave NO sticky residue behind.
  • Thin enough to maintain compatibility with most accessories; tough enough to absorb the minor abuse from daily use.

I only applied the back portion of this skin to my phone since I have a screen protector on my phone and this skin is tricky to put over a screen protector. My phone looks pretty cool with just the back skin applied. It really looks nice and looks like a completely different phone now!

The skin comes in three layers. The first layer is similar to the backing of a sticker; it keeps junk from getting stuck to the adhesive side of the skin. The second layer is the skin itself, while the third layer keeps the skin from getting deformed during application and if the skin needs multiple small pieces, it also keeps them in the right place so that you can apply them all at once.

I recommend not removing the third layer until you are satisfied with the way that the skin is sitting on the device.

Application is very easy, although it may take you a few tries to get it to lay down straight. If you have to do that, it isn't a big deal, but you need to be sure that you take your time and use as much patience as you can.

A recommendation for the seller/manufacturer (this does not affect my review):

Incorporate a screen protector into the front piece of the skin. It would have been nice to have applied a single layer that was both the skin AND a screen protector; or in other words, the center portion of the front skin could be just a clear piece, while the borders were the skin.