Product Description

680,000-pixel CCD * 2-1/2" color touch-panel viewscreen * variable-speed 20X Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 800X) * Super SteadyShot * NightShot Plus * ... Read more

Features

• 680,000-pixel CCD
• 2-1/2" color touch-panel viewscreen
• variable-speed 20X Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 800X)
• Super SteadyShot
• NightShot Plus

Reviews (10)

Nice when it works, but extremely poor workmanship
Based in part on reviews I read here, I purchased this camcorder three weeks ago.The viewfinder was DOA, although the camcorder worked and images could be seen in the flip-out screen.So I returned it figuring I'd just been unlucky and replaced it with another one.I'm now in Istanbul, Turkey and two days ago it ate two of my tapes.BTW, I am very careful and know how to use camcorders.I still use several analog camcorders that I've owned for ten years.Today, it simply stopped working altogether -- it will not power up and I have three batteries, two were fully charged.I finally decided to take it in for repair (of course I don't have my warrenty with me) and the guy was very familar with this camcorder.He walked over to his shelf and pulled three units that all looked brand new, each brought in within the past two days by travelers from various hotels in Instanbul.He told me that Sony products have been making him a lot of money in the past few years as their quality has slipped.I will return this immediately on my return to the States.I am simply amazed at how Sony has let there quality slip.While the images look good and I'm reasonable happy with it's functionality (I wish I'd purchased a unit with more of that), if it don't work, it ain't no good.

Sony DCR-HC21
The Sony DCR-HC21 camcorder comes with an AC adapter, a power cord, a wireless remote controller, A/V and USB cables, a shoulder strap, a rechargable 1-hr battery pack and software.

The camcorder is fairly easy to operate and understand, although I was disappointed with the lack of information in the manual that comes with it. The software that comes with the camera is garbage. I am currently using Ulead's MeadiaStudio Pro 7.0. Windows Movie Maker 2 is also a good choice to capture videos. I strongly recommend the use of a firewire cable in order to be able to capture the videos efficiently. Another advantage of using a firewire cable is that the programs then give you more options on the quality of capturing your videos.

That being said, the Sony DCR-HC21 camcorder is definitely a good buy for people who want a simple point-and-shoot device and there's a whole range of functions and settings for the more curious ones out there. The camcorder's not-so-ergonomic shape sits well in the palm of your hand but isn't too comfortable when used for an extended period of time. The power switch could have been placed a little ahead of its current position, which I find is too close the the recording button and isn't always easy to operate. The LCD touch panel screen is large and easy to operate. The menu settings are fairly easy to understand and the manual can be used to provide an explanation of each setting. The zoom toggle switch is sensitive and takes a bit of getting used to. Alternatively, users can use the zoom buttons located on the LCD panel, beside the screen or the remote. The difference is that using the latter two options, the user will find that she/he is able to zoom in and out at a slower and more gradual rate than when using the toggle switch. There is an Easy Handycam mode which sets the camcorder for optimal shooting conditions and allows the user to start shooting without the fuss of having to set the camcorder up. In this mode, however, the user is unable to access most of the menu settings, therefore limiting the control she/he has. The Nightshot Plus mode is my favorite. I took a video of my snakes feeding in pitch dark conditions while standing 1.5-2.0 feet away and the quality of the video was amazing. The picture was sharp and clear and focusing was not an issue with the Carl Zeiss lens. While using the Nightshot Plus mode, I was able to shoot subjects that were 6-7 feet in front of me in pitch dark conditions. While the subjects did not appear as vivid as my snakes, the overall picture was clear and in focus. The 20X optical zoom is good and comes in handy when shooting subjects that are far away or if you desire a closer look at something small as in a snake's teeth ;) I haven't used the viewfinder for more than a few few minutes because I find using the LCD screen is a lot easier. The viewfinder can be pulled outward but I find this hard and frankly it feels like its going to come right off sometimes. There is a lens adjustment lever located on the right side which can be used to achieve picture clarity while looking through the viewfinder. The mic which is located on the front of the camcorder, just above the infrared port is very sensitive and is able to record with great clarity and quality.

The remote commander is a great little accessory that comes in handy when you have your camcorder mounted on a tripod. The battery supplied is good for anywhere from 40 minutes to 105 minutes depending on the type of recording (continuous/ start-and-stop, using the zoom function and turning the power on and off) as well as the use of the LCD screen versus the viewfinder.

I have not talked about the camera function on this camcorder because I don't really use it. The camera records an image with 7 sec. of sound. I'm not really sure what the advantage is and I'm not too keen on using it as I already have a Canon Powershot A70 that I'm quite happy with.

Overall, this camcorder is an excellent choice for the user who wants something compact, easy to use with the option of having a wide variety of settings to play around with. The price is reasonable and I would recommend this camcorder for a beginner or for someone who just wants an upgrade.

Imporant Experice 2 be shared
Video Quality : Excellent.
It is User Friendly & Compact
CAUTION : Drawback of Sony HC series camcorders
Software supplied to tranfer video is pathetic. Search internet for horrible experiences faced by owner of HC series camcorders.

USB cable is only to transmit images. If video is tranferred quality is very very bad.

If you have SONY memory card and SONY note book it is very compatible else THINK twice before buying.

Impressive quality
This is my very first camcorder and I decided to go with a middle of the line one after I read some reviews.We tested it out yesterday and even displayed what we taped on a huge TV screen and the quality is amazing.I was worried about sound quality, but this little camcorder packs quite a punch.It's easy to use. I almost don't even need the manual.Add to that the fact that it's small enough to carry everywhere with you. I'm overall impressed and very happy with my purchase.

Beware Of Sony
My little advice - Beware of Sony. The quality has decreased over past years badly and customer service and technical support is very bad too. Not to mention the warranty plans and costs to fix things. I just owned a nice handycam DCR-TRV19 that died after one year of seldom use. Something that is obvious factory defect (since many people experience exactly the same problem) costs more than half of the camcorders price to fix at sony service. I advise you to have a look at http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6142-0.html?forumID=59&threadID=53316&messageID=1064984 and see for yourself how Sony treats their customers.
Once again, don't be blurred by pretty design. The inside is piece of crap.
Sincerely. ... Read more

Product Description

Verbatim DVD+RMedia - DVD+R - 4.7GB - 120mm StandardVerbatim DVD+R discs are for use in drives and recorders that support the DVD+R format. Ideal for sharing computer data, home videos, photos, and music, as well as duplication and distribution of all kinds of DVD content. Nice electronics is your source for everyday low prices on theVerbatim 94968 - 100PK DVD+R 4.7GB 8X BRANDED SPINDLE and all other Verbatim Media Accs ... Read more

Features

• Read-compatible with majority of DVD-ROM drives and DVD players
• 8x DVD+R media for recording data, home videos, photos, music, and more
• 4.7 GB of memory records up to 2 hours of video
• Write-once compatible with high-speed Sony, Dell, HP, and other DVD+ writers
• Burns a single full DVD disc in fewer than 10 minutes

Reviews (17)

Very good media, excellent price
I just bought this a few days ago, so far so good.It only burns at 8x on my NEC ND-3500AG with 2.18 firmware though on the package it says it may be able to be burned at 12x with supported hardware (Plextor for one, not sure about others).If anyone is wondering, this is the good stuff.

Here's what DVD Identifier IDs these as:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unique Disc Identifier : [DVD+R:MCC-003-000]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disc & Book Type : [DVD+R] - [Not Available]
Manufacturer Name :[Mitsubishi Chemical Corp.]
Manufacturer ID :[MCC]
Media Type ID :[003]
Product Revision : [Not Specified]
Blank Disc Capacity :[2,295,104 Sectors = 4,482.6MB = 4.38GB (4.70GB)]
Recording Speeds : [1x , 2.4x , 4x , 6x-8x]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEST DVDs
I have just ordered my 4th 100 Disc Spindle of Verbatim Blank DVDs.
They are the only DVDs that I can find that work great!I have not burned a single coaster with these!I have tried several brands from Sony to TDK and the Verbatim brand is the only ones that I have found to work like they are suppose to!

These are top notch DVDs!

Excellent MCC003 disks!!!
I've burned more than30 on my Lite-On SOHW 1673s DVD-RW and not a single problem. I highly recommend them to anyone. the spindle was kinda shattered due to rough shipping but fortunately any disk fell off.

Theses DVDs are worthed every penny. don't go for anything less.

Genuine MCC003, highly recommended
My two spindles turned out to be MCC-003-000. Did a test burn on a Plextor PX-712A - 4480 MB at 12X - scanned with PlexTools Pro on the same; the scan was simply amazing (PIE under 10, PIF under 3). Not even genuine Taiyo Yuden burns this well on my setup.

The discs have matte finish tops which is handy against dust and fingerpints.

Simply: the Best! Burn up to 12x, highest quality
These are of such high quality, anyone here who "could not get them to burn in their HP" as the ONE guy said below simply does not know what they are doing.

I have burned over 400 of these (this 100-spindle price at Amazon, even without rebate now, blows away the prices even at Costco, Sam's Club, other online retailers, etc.) for this great media.This is not the bargain basement, dime a dozen junk you see advertised sometimes in the paper or online.Verbatim 8x discs are made with a special, high quality dye process that allows faster DVD burners (Plextor, Sony, NEC, Ben Q, etc.) to burn these discs as 12x!That is correct, buy these Verbatim 8x rated speed for DVD, and these will always burn at 12x.Why? These Verbatim are high-quality, and no special gimmicks nor additional programs make them burn faster - they just do it on their own as long as your burner is that fast to begin with :)

In summary, the only coasters (out of 400) I have ever made with this media was due to my own error - not the Verbatims.These are of equal or greater quality than the expensive Tayo Yuden brand.So, for that fella that had problems, your problems go beyond the Verbatim DVD+R discs.The discs are not your problem.

Great quality, unbeatable price, and speeds that exceed the 8x printed on the side (you can get 12x with a good burner - my Plextor flys with these).You can't go wrong.Thanks, Amazon. ... Read more

Product Description

Viking InterWorks' SD™ cards can be used in any device that requires the robust security features that this standard offers. The SD form factor represents the smallest,secure flash memory card in the consumer market today and is flexible for applications ranging from MP3 players to PDAs to digital cameras. Combined with low power draw and the highest capacities available, Viking SD cards are the best option available for taking your digital files with you anywhere.

• PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants)
• Handheld Computers
• MP3 Players
• Digital Cameras
• Digital Video Cameras
• Global Positioning Units (GPS)

Features

• Five year replacement warranty and 30-day money-back guarantee
• Optimized for use in PDAs, MP3 players, or digital cameras
• Fast read and write speeds gives you the best performance from your PDA, MP3 player, or digital camera
• High quality components guarantee steady performance and durability
• Individually tested to ensure each product works the first time, every time

Reviews (8)

Excellent!
This high quality memory is made by Toshiba in Japan (and is not Chinese junk like some manufacturer's SD memory cards).No problems whatever.

Do not order this product from amazon
The shipping take very very long , I try buying this for my
wife business trip , she was already back from the trip,Amazon
has not shipped to me.

Good Card
I use this for my Canon sd300 camera and so far I have no issues with this card.It is fast when taking and downloading pictures and when deleting pictures that you just took.For the price this is a really great card (the best value out there) and I am definately going to get another one thanks to the great deals with the rebates.

Works as expected
I've owned this memory card for about 2 1/2 months now and taken around 100-150 pictures split up between about 5 or 6 different transfers to my computer.I'm using it on a Canon SD200 camera.

I have had no errors, the pictures store and transfer as fast or faster than the factory 16MB card that came with my camera.

So far so good!

works well
I bought this when I bought my HP Photosmart R707.This card stores a ton of pictures, and it transfers photos quickly to my computer, and without any problems.So far, so good. ... Read more

Product Description

Wireless-G is the upcoming 54Mbps wireless networking standard that's almost five times faster than the widely deployed Wireless-B (802.11b) products found in homes, businesses, and public wireless hotspots around the country, but since they share the same 2.4GHz radio band, Wireless-G devices can also interoperate with existing 11Mbps Wireless-B equipment. The Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router is really three devices in one box. First, there's the Wireless Access Point, which lets you connect Wireless-G or Wireless-B devices to the network. There's also a built-in 4-port full-duplex 10/100 Switch to connect your wired-Ethernet devices. Connect four PCs directly, or daisy-chain out to more hubs and switches to create as big a network as you need. Finally, the Router function ties it all together and lets your whole network share a high-speed cable or DSL Internet connection. ... Read more

Features

• Advanced wireless security with 128-bit WEP encryption, MAC, or IP address filtering
• All-in-one Internet-sharing router, 4-port switch, and Wireless-G (802.11g) access point
• Wireless data rates up to 54 Mbps--5 times faster than 802.11b
• Shares a single Internet connection and other resources with Ethernet wired and Wireless-G clients
• Interoperates with 802.11b clients at 11 Mbps

Reviews (559)

Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Router is garbage!
The Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Router is a piece of garbage (or whatever)!I spent over 2 hours online with Linksys Technical Support and 1 hour at my local computer repair shop.No one could get it to work properly with my IBM Thinkpad.What a waste of time and money.I returned it...

GREAT PRODUCT...
I have an RCA cable modem with RCN as my ISP.A great service which I highly recommend. I recently bought the Linksys G-Router after getting my hp laptop needing to setup wireless at home.I got it to work with no problem but then I experienced bandwidth loss and constant connectivity issues.I wrongly thought that it was the router.Fool that I was! After countless attempts at recycling the modem and WPA keys etc., I finally figured out that the modem could not support the wireless router and it had a short, plus RCA no longer carried it and the thing was ugly, taking up space.I've since gotten the Linksys Modem (BEFCMU10) and stacked it with the WRT54G router and it works fantastic!!!Be sure to call your ISP with the modem's MAC address to get online.YOU WON'T get connected otherwise. My ISP had me up and running within 5 minutes.Also some ISP's give you a discount if you supply your own modem.Check it out.

Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't
It sounds like some customers have had really good Linksys router experiences.I haven't.So I have come to conclude that sometimes these routers work great, sometimes they completely fail.I've spent hours dealing with Linksys' customer support and my ISP trying to get my router to work.My iBook AirPort and Windows 2000 /USB wireless adapter both found the router easily.But the router was not able to hook up with my ISP.Both computers get a good wired static IP connection to the internet.I tried using Linkksys' customer support by phone, email, web and chat and kept getting advice that did not work and www.linksys.com pages that didn't work.A software engineer, I'm reasonably tech-savvy so I usually have success with half-decent tech support.They never once suggested that their router might be malfunctioning.One of my ISP's support representatives said that he's had a run of some 40 calls from Linksys customers with this kind of problem.Apparently I got one of these duds.

I'd say Linksys has big problems with quality control and customer support.With many good alternatives out there I don't think it's worth rolling the dice with Linksys.I gave it two stars, rather than one, because it sounds like the good ones work really great and I imagine the duds a in the minority.For what it's worth, the guy from my ISP said he's had good experiences with NetGear routers.

VERY easy to install, VERY easy to use!!!
Hi, I'm very happy with this Linksys Router. It took me only 10 seconds to surf in the web. Believe it or not!!!. I just plug in the Ethernet cable from my DSL Modem into the Router conection. I turn on my Gateway Laptop and....surprise!!! I was already conected to the web!!!.
No configuration needed, no CD running, no nothing!!!
Great product, great Plug and Play from Windows XP.

quite good, for a small home network
I've had this router for about a year now, and it does everything I need for a home network of < 5 computers. The only thing the out-of-box firmware doesn't have that I wanted is DHCP reservations. However, I got a better firmware from:
http://wifi-box.sf.net
which does this and adds a few other features. ... Read more

Product Description

The Apple Cinema Display line features a gorgeous new anodized aluminum enclosure to complement the Power Mac G5 or PowerBook G4.

Eliminate Tunnel Vision
The widescreen design of the Apple Cinema Display line offers a natural format for arranging documents the way your brain processes themlonger wide than high. That’s why each display gives you the best view for your work. It just makes sense to be able to display a Web page and its code next to each other horizontally, or long video timelines in wide format. And the 20-inch Cinema Display, at an affordable price, provides the exact resolution to display widescreen High Definition material. Apple engineers find that 100 pixel per inch resolution is ideal for images, yet allows you to easily work with sophisticated type treatments or just plain email. This painstaking attention to detail moves the industry forward and gives you best LCD technology available.

Connect With Pure Digital DVI
Give your PowerBook G4 a second display when you’re not on the road. Now you can connect the 20-inch Apple Cinema Display directly to any PowerBook G4 with a DVI port. This DVI connection also removes all barriers to using an Apple display with a PC. If your graphics card supports DVI with DDC technology for widescreen viewing, you should be able to use these two displays with a PC.

... Read more

Features

• 1-year warranty covers parts, labor and backlight
• 1,680 x 1,050 optimal resolution, 16.7 million colors
• 400:1 contrast ratio, 0.258 mm dot pitch
• 16 ms response time; DVI, Firewire and USB 2.0 connections
• 170-degree viewing angles

Reviews (11)

Pricey but beautiful..
First things first: the 20" Apple Cinema uses the same panel as the Dell Ultrasharp 2005FPW. I paid less than retail for the Cinema due to a coupon and another discount but regardless, the price was almost twice what the Dell cost (if caught during one of Dell's frequent sales or from a third party reseller). I repeat: the Dell and Apple use the SAME Philips panel.So why buy the Apple? I like the brushed aluminum case, stand and clean look. Frivolous but for something I have to look at every day, I find it important to have something that's pleasing to the eye. And please it does. It is truly a work of art that wouldn't be out of place in the Guggenheim. The resolution and response times are outstanding. Video is smooth with no noticeable artifacts. The display is very bright and has good off angle viewing. Using it in daylight with the windows open isn't a problem. The widescreen makes viewing and editing documents side by side easy. Did I mention bright? Bottom line, this is an outstanding display. The 20" widescreen is a good compromise between smaller 17"-19" displays and the almost too large 23"-24" screens. Larger is usually better for movies and television but for the desktop, I find the 23" and up a little too big. A best buy this isn't but a frivolous purchase once in a while won't kill you.

A Stunning display
This is by far the best computer display I have ever seen in my 22 year affair with computers. The design of the display is just stunning - it's a jewel on your desktop or on your wall. It's bright (even in mid day full sunlight), it's crisp, the colors are alive/fantastic and it's very easy on the eyes. It is not only superior to any LCD I have seen to date but also better than any CRT I ever looked at (numerous - believe me, including all kind of mitsubishi, sony etc). I am truely excited about this monitor. By the way, DVD films look great on it too! Well worth the money. It will make you happy.
Cheers.

20" with a PC/DVI
After several months of debating whether or not it was worth the money, I finally bought one of these babies.I hesitated for so long because of the price.I came close to ordering the 21" Samsung several times but really wanted a WS.After seeing the in the Apple stores several times, I really wanted one but $1300 was a big chunk of change.Then when the price dropped to below $1000 I gave in.

Overall, it is an impressive display.I am running it with a custom built PC using an ATI 9700 Pro w/DVI out.At first I could not get the thing to work at native resolution at all and any other res would produce strange results.Eventually, I discovered that something was wrong with my display drivers and I simply wiped out windows and started over from scratch (had been meaning to do it anyway and I upgraded the HD at the same time).After that, it worked like a champ.No problems whatsoever.

My only grips are the incompatibility with XP and the USB hub in the display.This is a well know problem with the PCs and Apple does not seem to care.Also, the only hard button controls you get are brightness and contrast.No other screen adjustments with the PC.I haven't really need any since the display have proven to be very intelligent when resizing different screen res's and I can use the ATI drivers to adjust things like color temp and gamma.

Other then that it is a fantastic display for the price.

Apple Cinema 20" Display
I bought a G-5 last summer and was using a 17" PC monitor for months with it. Let me say that the monitor is more important than I thought! I am a graphic designer/artist that works on the computer most of the day. If you are using a computer as a professional and especially a graphic person PLEASE CONSIDER THIS FOR YOURSELF!!!!! I also talked my boss into getting me one at work ... so I have one at the office and at home.

The graphics are so crisp and clear! The wide format which allows you to have all your pallets and toolbars open and still have a two page spread open with NO overlap! This is worth the cash in it's self. It is a lot easier on the eyes than a CRT.

The only downside to it is there is a little banding on it when viewing a DVD movie, or a heavy video game... but mine is used 95% work and internet so I don't care.

GET ONE!

Apple Cinema Display gives you full computing experience...
There was a time that I never considered buying an Apple display. I figured a Mac costs enough money, without spending $1000, or more, on a display.In late January 2005, I purchased the newest Powerbook G4 12 inch 1.5 GHZ G4, with superdrive.The notebook had nearly all the performance I was looking for, and the small form factor allows me to easily haul it around the house, or the world should I ever get to travel properly.However, I wanted more from my Powerbook, when at my desk.

Yes, I was already using my Powerbook with an external display.It was an analog Sony LCD.However, it was only 15 inches, with a resolution of 1024x768, so I actually had as little screen real estate on my external display, as I had on the 12 inch built-in display.I wanted more.

After deciding a 17 inch LCD would not be enough, I ordered the Apple's 20" Cinema Display, and I'm glad I did.Unfortunately, the box arrived beat-up, and there was even dirt inside.However, everything inside seemed to work ok, thankfully.Un-wrapping the cinema display was a joy, and I was eager to put it on my desk.The design of this display is stunning.The aluminium enclosure will please the eyes of anyone, and the back of the display is as beautiful, if not more beautiful than the front.There is a single cable that comes from the back of the display, which neatly goes through an opening on the aluminium stand.This single cable splits in the end into Firewire, USB, DVI, and a power connector that you plug into the power brick.I connected the firewire, USB, and DVI to my Powerbook, and then I connected the power to the display.Wow.It was perfect out of the box.I could never get the color profile right on my old external display, but the cinema display was out of the box the most beautiful display I had ever used.The brightness was exceptional, and it took a few days for me to get used to the brightness. Yes, you can lower the brightness with grace of your finger over the sophisticated tough-sensitive buttons on the right side of the display, but I loved the look at full-brightness.

My computing experience has been at another level, since the cinema display arrived.Whether I'm browsing the web, working in Photoshop and iPhoto, or making a movie in iMovie, the 20" cinema display and its 1680x1050 resolution is a joy to use.The display also gives me two USB and two Firewire ports directly behind the panel, which is incredibly convenient.If you're a gamer, which I'm not, you will appreciate the 16ms response this display offers.

Yes, your computer does all the hard work, but it is your display you interact with. A great display like the Apple Cinema Display allows you to get more done, with less work and effort. For example, you do not have to figure out how to fit all your Photoshop palettes on the screen, for there is plenty of room.

DVDs are quite the experience on this display as well.I popped in Shrek 2, and I was amazed by the images, but DVDs are far from the only reason you should want a widescreen.The widescreen aspect of this display allows you to work in the way our minds are designed and used to working.We read from left to right, so a display that is wider than it is long makes a lot of sense.

Overall, if you would like to save some money, there are other displays out there.Dell actually offers a 20 inch widescreen display, which compares nicely with this one, even supporting additional inputs.However, it does lack something.It lacks the beauty in design that the Apple Cinema Display offers, and it probably lacks some of the quality control that Apple strives hard to achieve.For example, Apple might reject some of the panels they use inside of this display, if they suspect quality concerns, where other manufactures may use any panel they are supplied with, without spending the time and money to ensure a quality panel. If you believe you would like to spend some money on a fantastic display to use with your Powerbook, PowerMac, or DVI-output PC, then you should not pass-up this beauty.It is truly a piece of art from an aesthetics point of view, and the images it displays are spectacular.This display will not look like "yesterday's" display anytime soon.In fact, it is a pleasure to enjoy a display that does not look like it should be part of a busy, cluttered office.This display oozes beauty and grace, and the stock Apple pictures do not do it justice. The Apple Cinema Display gives you the full computing experience. ... Read more

Product Description

1-megapixel CCD * digital photo mode * digital photo resolution options: 1152 x 864; 640 x 480 * compatible with Memory Stick Duo or Memory Stick PRO® Duo (available separately) * 2-11/16" widescreen color touch-panel LCD * ... Read more

Features

• Professional quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens
• 2.7-inchs wide touch panel SwivelScreen LCD display
• Capture and transfer high quality MiniDV video quickly and easily with Sony's DCR-HC42 Handycam camcorder.
• 1/5.5-inch advanced HAD CCD imager with 1 megapixel still image capabilities
• 12X optical zoom lens with 480X digital zoom

Reviews (7)

Great Camcorder Over DVR
Real Briefly - this camera is great for Instant Recording.I love the touch screen capability - makes for easy viewing and editing.It can also take still photos on the fly, a great feature.It has steady shot and good options for editing tape (fade etc.)The docking station is easy:rechargeable battery and I had no problems sinking it to my PC to download my pictures with the extra memory stick I bought at time of camera purchase.Not the greatest quality for still photos but something is better than nothing.Keep your digital camera.

I was at a party with a friend with a Sony DVR camcorder.It took forever to format the new discs and then she had a fatal disc error and lost all her footage while I kept on shooting no problem.
I love this camera!!Overall ****stars b/c of OK still shots.

Good point and shoot, but not for professional video
This camera offers descent point and shoot type video.If you're interested in making independent films, I would stay away from this camera.For one, there is ONLY ONE CCD.The camera CAN'T shoot in 24p progressive video mode, you're stuck with lame 29.97fps.That means you'll never get that "film-like" feel that film-movie cameras have.There isn't a manual focus ring, you have to focus using MENU controls!The camera also has a CCD the 1/5.5" in size.This pales incomparison to other cameras with bigger CCDs (like the sony fx1 with 1/3" CCDs).A bigger CCD means better low light capability.Also the max verticle lines of resolution is 520 lines.This camera can't compete with 1080i type cameras that have over TWICE the verticle lines.But it's a good camera for those who can't (or don't want to) spend $40K on a professional digital camera.So don't buy this camera if you're interested in making professional feature films.

Small & High Quality
The camera is nice and compact, smaller than it's competitors including Canon, easy to hold and carry around.Very high image quality - looks like broadcast quality when viewing on a television set.Very professional features - it may take some hunting and pecking through the manual to learn all the options.Light aperture can be adjusted manually or automatically or with general (pre-programmed)settings such as "high speed action" or the "beach," etc.. Runs quite long on the battery that comes with it.Built in lens cover makes it simpler.Overall a great camera.I also have a $3500 professional mini-DV and this one is virtually just as good.

Not worth the extra money...
Well I just got this model to test.I am returning it tomorrow as i find it no different than my refurbed discontinued HC20 I got for ultra cheap at the Sony Outlet.Picture quality in my opinion is exactly the same.Handling is the same with the HC42 having more options.So what about the 12x optical - its only 2x more than the HC20.Everything about this camcorder reeked overpriced.

I admit I bought this one mainly for the Analog to Digital passthru but after thinking it over it is not worth the extra cost at all.Half the options (still pic, memory stick, etc...) are things I will not use.

I honestly feel that this is an overpriced camcorder.I tested a Panasonic and it wascheaper and well if you need all these options it was a better buy to get a Panasonic GS35 (30x optical!)

As for the analog to digital passthru - i am going to stick with my old Sony D8 cam for that work.This is just not worth it.I'd look into the HC21/32 if you really want a Sony.

Sony is the best, again
After much searching for the perfectly priced, and well performing mini DV camcorder, I came back to Sony's HC42 model. I've owned a LOT of sony products over the year, and have yet to be disappointed. This is a solid camera, packing a touch screen, an upgraded lens, 12x optical zoom, and a docking station which connects your camera to the computer (via a firewire cord that YOU MUST PURCHASE separetly, it only comes with a USB cable for tranferring pictures) and is also a charging stand. It comes with some video editing software, but I would suggest Pinnacle 9 Plus, or a 3rd party if you are really into video editing. The picture quality is awesome, ease of use is great (it even has an 'EASY' mode, where high tech options disappear from the screen!). You cant go wrong at this price point. I wouldnt go for lower models, and the higher runs over 1000 bucks..this is the sweet spot. Enjoy ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Very Disappointed on This Sony Notebook and Tech Support
I agree with "Amazon Fan" almost 100%.I didn't believe what he said until I bought an S460 and tested by myself.This unit is the "hottest" (temperature wise of course) notebook I've ever used.As Amazon Fan mentioned, "this laptop gets heated up so much that you cannot hold it, the meaning of "LAP"TOP loses its meaning"!(I guess that's why Sony call it notebook instead of laptop.) And I don't know how many people can withstand that kind of temperature on their right hand without wearing a glove.Even Sony "admitted" this heat problem (got it from Sony Tech Support):

(...)
"Do not use the notebook computer on your lap for an extended period of time." and
"Extended contact with the computer or adapter may cause discomfort."

Another big issue to me is Sony's false advising on their web site and putting inferior parts in this notebook.The specs at their web site for all S Series (VGN-S430/S460/S470) on memory:

Memory - 512MB PC-3200 400MHz DDR2 (512MBx1)

But what I found that there are two SamSung's 256MB (333MHz according to BlueDemon) memory modules in my S460. As a matter of fact I've checked many S460's at local retail stores and they all come with the same 256MBx2.This will prevent users to add more memory without throwing away some existing memory since both memory slots have been occupied.And if you notice that Sony do charge ADDITIONAL $100 for a single 400 MHz 512MB memory module than two 400 MHz 256MB memory modules when you're customizing S480 and S380 notebooks.This is a rip off by Sony and their tech support simply replied: "It's a misprint!"

Now I also believe Amazon Fan that "don't bet on Sony customer service, they will not accept that it is their fault".

4.3lb Performer: Your New Best Friend
In the category of ultra-portable notebook PC's, the VAIO S460 is a top contender.I shopped quite a while before deciding on this model, watching the S series evolve from the S160, S260, S360, S380, and finally to the latest offering, the S460.Let me get this out of the way first, the fan is not an issue and can be controlled through VAIO Power Management.Yes, this notebook does get rather warm on its underside, but keep this in mind, it comes loaded with the same hardware included in notebooks more than twice its weight.The newest generation Sonoma chip from Intel seems more responsive than my desktop running a P4 2.8 GHz with HT and 1 GB of RAM.

Good:
1.73 GHz Sonoma CPU w/ 533 MHz FSB
Dual-layer DVD Burner
80 GB 5400 RPM Hard drive
GeForce 6200 GPU (Great for even modern games,Patiently awaiting BattleField 2)
USB 2.0 and Firewire
Keyboard Size and Tactile response and feel
Can't forget the amazing LCD
Size and weight
Price after rebates
Overall build quality
Sleek Design

Bad:
Battery Life 3hrs+ (Get the High Capacity Batt from Amazon)
Hidden Recovery Partition on the hard drive
Have to make your won recovery disks
No Bluetooth (Can easily add USB Bluetooth Adapter under $50)
RAM included is 2 x 256MB modules labeled 333MHz from Samsung - Upgrading to 2GB DDR2 PC2-4200 533MHz RAM takes less than twenty minutes and costs under $300, but involves removing the keyboard (Sounds alot harder than it is)

What fan problem?
I don't really know what they are complaining abvout.When the fan comes on in mine it is a very quiet hum, in no way distracting or annoying.It does run a little hot, but so did my previous Gateway.It perfroms great, and is extremely light and easy to transport.To me, a great computer that is getting a bad rap because of a fan problem I don't even think exists.

The fan is not that terrible...
There have been complaints about the fan noise.On my unit when the fan is going full blast, it sounds about the same as a CD Drive on a Desktop computer.Not terrible but I can see how it may be annoying to some people.

The other bad thing about this unit is that it will only accept Sony brand batteries, so if you want a high power battery expect to pay $250-350 instead of about $100.00 for an OEM.

What sold me was the high quality LCD display, the best and sharpest one I have seen, even though it does not compare with my desktop CRT.

Other than the battery issue, I would give this unit 5 stars.

Jim Christensen
www.uwphoto.net

FAN SOUND WILL DRIVE YOU CRAZY
I got this notebook today, when I opened it , it looked great. I ts really a beauty to look at. Within 30 minutes of using it I was really upset. The FAN makes a lot of noise, I have had HP and even DELL does not make this much of noise. The laptop gets heated up soo much that you cannot hold it, the meaning of "LAP"TOP loses its meaning. This was a known issue in previous model but never expected Sony not to FIX it. I hope if you want a beauty to look at then buy this good looking crap, I would say its waste of money. I am returning mine very sooooon. Dont bet on Sony customer service, they will not accpept that it is their fault.. ... Read more

Product Description

Qosmio is true digital media convergence simply achieved through state-of-the-art and streamlined design. It's 4-in-1 functionality combines TV, Audio, PC and DVD features in one compact package. The multiple plug-and-play ports transform the unit simply into a gaming monitor, a digital camera slide show screen, audio-out to home systems for TV and MP3s, and more! Qosmio's sleek style echoes consumer electronics design, to complement existing electronics in the home.Experience entertainment fully with one trim notebook. Movies, music, television, gaming, internet and personal computing in the Qosmio F15 - all mobile and starting under 10 lbs. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

amazing screen quality
I've had a qosimo F15 for only a few weeks, but so far it has amazed me - I have the US version as the European one is not as hi-spec. So far - screen quality amazing, sounds excellent (better than any other I've heard), and the way the ports are arranged are very user friendly as mentioned by the other reviewer. I've not tried the gaming on it yet but sounds and visison on everything else seem great so I am sure it will fine. The only complaint I might have is that the laptop does not last that long on battery power alone - I think just a couple of hours - which may be a problem for some.

New PC Owner
It hasn't been a month yet since I received the PC, but I like it so far.It's the software that I have to get use to.Usually, it's the software and/or the operator that is the problem and not the electronics.The display is clear and sharp.The color is great.For the size of the speakers, the sound is outstanding.I like the USB ports on three sides.I watched someone trying to give a presentation with a laptop with ill placed USB ports.He had a difficult time getting prepared.I would recommend the purchase of this model. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Replace your desktop PC with a notebook that rivals it in power. The Compaq Presario X6110US notebook PC offers an extra-large 17-inch display, ATI Mobility Radeon X600 video card with 128 MB of dedicated memory, and a fast, hyper-threaded 3.0 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor. But it's also ready to hit the road with built-in 54g wireless connectivity with 125 HSM/SpeedBooster support. The X6110US also features an 80 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, ExpressCard/54 slot, and multi-format memory card reader.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 80 GB hard drive (4200 RPM) is a bit above average in size for notebook PCs. It offers more than enough capacity for storing documents and productivity software for road warriors. You'll also be able to store a good-sized digital audio library.
• Processor: The hyper-threaded Intel Pentium 4 530 processor (3.0 GHz) allows a single CPU system to behave in some aspects like a dual-CPU system, helping to deliver faster transistors and increased performance. It also features a blazingly fast 800 MHz front-side bus speed, which measures how fast a processor and the main memory communicate, and a 1 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance.)

  A Hyper-Threading processor helps a PC to run multiple demanding applications at the same time. This technology enables the processor to execute two threads (a part of a program) in parallel, boosting performance during key high-drain procedures. This results in more efficient software performance (such as faster reaction times in gaming applications) and enhanced multitasking.

• Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (2 x 256 MB, DDR SDRAM, 266 MHz) is a good start for power users. It has two memory slots in total, with a maximum memory expansion up to 2 GB (2 x 1024 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: Offering the latest in DVD writing technology, the X6110US multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer DVD+R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a 101-key keyboard and a touchpad with on/off button and dedicated vertical/horizontal Scroll Up/Down pad.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The X6110US has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's fully compatible with 802.11b/g wireless networks. The 125 HSM/SpeedBooster support will enable it to be ready for tomorrow's 125 Mbps wireless LANs. It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 54/34 card slot, which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features. You get a decent offering of connectivity options, which does include super-fast USB 2.0 and Firewire:

• 4 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 1 S-Video port for connecting to a TV
• 1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, 32-bit)
• 1 ExpressCard/54 slot
• 1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack
• 6-in-1 Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards, MultiMedia cards, Memory Sticks, Memory Stick Pro, SmartMedia and xD Picture cards

Preloaded System and Software
This system comes with the Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 operating system with Advanced Security Technologies, which helps to reduce unwanted downloads and pop-ups while surfing the Web. It also comes preloaded with Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents), Norton Internet Security 2005 (with 60 days of complimentary updates), Microsoft Money 2005, Sonic RecordNow, Apple iTunes, Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition, Intervideo WinDVD, MuVee Autoproducer, and MSN Encarta Plus.

Dimensions and Weight
A good choice for a desktop replacement that can also be mobile, this notebook measures 11.14 x 15.67 x 2 inches (LxWxD) and weighs 9.4 pounds.

Power
It's powered by a 12-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of up to 3 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box
This package contains the X6110US notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limiited hardware warranty and 30-day free software support. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Regarding heat sink problem.
I don't own this notebook but I own a presario 1525 model.
The reason I'm writing this review is to help those people getting inflicted by heatsink problem, which causes an sudden computer shutdown.
In my case, my presari 1525 had worked quite well for about 8 months and then I started getting system shutdown problem especially when I performed CPU intensive works like computer games, large file compression, etc. After quite a while, I found out heatsink was causing the problem so I disassembled the notebook and what I found out was a lot of dirst inside the heatsink and that was the cause of all the troubles. So I cleaned it and the problem is gone now. Now I can play games all day long and the computer never goes down.

I guess you should clean the heatsink every 6 months and all you need is T8 torx driver and thermal grease, which totally cost less than $10.

Extrapolating the quality of X6110US model with my past experience with 1525 model, I guess the new model still has the heatsink problem and since newer P4 CPU produces more heat, it's more likely to have heatsink problem. Except that, since I didn't have any problem at all with 1525 US model, I'd recommend this notebook to everybody who is willing to open up the case and clean the heatsink every 6 months.

And take a look at the spec of this notebook, it's fantastic.

I cannot stress this enough...
do NOT get a Compaq laptop. If you are looking for a laptop of quality that will last you more than six months, stay away from this one. As another review stated, Compaq is plagued with quality issues, while most people still think it's one of the best brands out there. There were so many little things that went wrong, I could fill up this review with them, but I want to focus on the worst, most expensive, and most common issue. It's one that Compaq is fully aware of, but refuses to change. It would cost them a measly few cents to upgrade this part, but again, they refuse. To put it simply, the jack in the back of the computer broke. That means the notebook WILL NOT charge anymore without me standing there holding it and wiggling it around every few minutes. If you look at pictures of the jack, it is a cheap, thin piece of flimsy plastic. Another thing you would notice is that you can purchase this piece of plastic for five dollars on Ebay. However, Compaq doesn't cover this extremely common issue under their warantee and charges $600 to fix it, even if you have the replacement part already. I spent $950 on the laptop itself. I can't find a computer repair shop that is willing to get inside of the computer and fix it either, because so few repairmen work with laptops due to their fragile state. This piece must be soldered in, after following seemingly hundreds of steps to take it apart.

The laptop has also started shutting down at random moments. I can no longer do school work, write lengthy emails, or begin any downloads on this notebook, because of it's random shutdowns. This review had to be typed in Word and saved every minute. These are not just shutdowns, mind you, they are periods when the computer just stops. It takes a few minutes to even get it to turn on again. This happens because I have to have the battery in it constantly due to it's faulty charger and the battery is being literally sucked dry.

PLEASE do NOT buy this computer. If you research a little, you will see how very common this issue is! You will spend much more money on this laptop than you are probably looking to spend, no matter what your actual buying cost is. After many recommendations, I have decided the next computer I buy (whenever I can scrape together the cash), will be a Dell. My brother (a computer junkie) highly recommends their customer service. They believe in actually fixing problems their customers have. I wish I'd known that before I bought this piece of junk.

If you do not or did not have this problem with a Compaq notebook, you are/were one of the lucky ones. The rest of us are out a thousand bucks.

Stylish and good feature set, but poor quality
The new Compaq Presario X6110US laptop is HP's attempt at injecting some consumer-friendly features into Compaq's traditional business-oriented product lines.The laptop has clean, sharp edges which give it a stylish look open or closed.It's well-equipped and performance is snappy.The screen is quite good, especially considering how past Compaq laptops had subpar LCD screens.

The big question, however, is quality.I fondly remember the old days, about 15 years ago, when the name Compaq was equated with performance, quality and value (value as in great bang for the buck, not in "cheap").Unfortunately today's Compaq desktops and laptops are plagued with quality problems.I had my X6110US for two weeks and on two occasions the machine would not boot.The backslash (\) key decided to take early retirement after a week.I've heard from a friend in the retail channel that recent Compaq laptops seem to suffer from some serious quality control problems.You might want to keep this issue in mind when you shop.To be clear: I didn't pay for the X6110US I had.If I had to pay for a new laptop with my own money, I'd have sprung for a Sony or Fujitsu in no time.

Excellent notebook!
I cannot say enough good things about this item.

Actually, I can't say anything at all about it. Amazon listed it (through Office Depot) for the low, low price of $549. Sometime after issuing me an order confirmation and billing my credit card, it became apparent that either Office Depot or Amazon had made a mistake, the upshot of which was that I was about to be shipped a wholly different (and unacceptable) item from Office Depot. Only through my own obsessive tracking of the shipment status did I figure out what happened; neither vendor notified me of the problem. (Did they think I wouldn't notice that my Compaq notebook had morphed into an HP desktop?)

What did Office Depot do? Blamed it on Amazon. Amazon, likewise, blamed Office Depot. Neither is willing to make good--or make anything even resembling a goodwill gesture. (One cranky Amazon customer service rep offered me free shipping on the item--which is already offered on the Web site.)

This is where Amazon and I part company. It's been a good run, but it's over!

... Read more

Product Description

iBook G4 Notebook, PowerPC G4 1.33GHz Processor, 256MB RAM, 60GB Hard Drive, 14.1-inch XGA TFT Display, 4X DVD-R SuperDrive, Mac OS X Panther v10.3 ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Great
I love this computer! I'd had it for a little over a year. I wanted a notebook and searched for the best possible one. Apple offers the latest technology and you are guaranteed high quality. I had my memory upgraded to 768MB RAM and don't have the Super Drive, but this computer is fast. It's great having wireless - I can pick up wireless points all over campus. My parents were worried about software but I haven't had a problem so far. Microsoft makes Microsoft Works for Macs (Word, Powerpoint, Excel).

This computer is small, and light weight for its size (I dare you to compare). I have also been very pleased with the battery life. I get about 4 hours on average- more if I dim the screen a bit.

Without a doubt, the best computer I've used.
I recently bought this iBook with a couple of modifications: I upgraded my Hard Drive to 80 GB and bumped the RAM up to 768MB.I also had a Bluetooth module installed.The computer works beautifully.I've been a fan of Apple for about three years ago, ever since I was introduced to them by the flat panel iMac.As much as I loved my iMac, however, I feel this iBook is far superior.

Reading reviews, you'll notice that the majority of Mac users are very loyal and devoted to their computers and Apple products in general.This is because they just WORK.This notebook will do what you want it to, just as it's designed to do with very few problems.Mac OSX is simple and intuitive, yet powerful at the same time.The book itself is well designed, with great battery life and durability.

I would, however, recommend purchasing extra RAM, as 256 just isn't enough for tasks beyond basic internet/emailing/word processing.I just order the extra RAM preinstalled, but if you'd like to save money, it is not difficult to install more yourself.

I would especially recommend this system to students or anyone who needs a dependable and easy to use portable that is stylish and functional.It is, by far, the best computer I've ever used.

5 Star Dream Machine, but could use a bit more Ram
I have a friend of a friend who works at an Apple store and just recenlty he let me play with all the new stuff, some old stuff too and here is my impression of the new, improved 14 inch iBook. First off, and I feel like shouting this, but I won't, how come Apple is still putting out iBooks without enough ram to run them properly? After all these years of releasing underpowered machines, they finally came 'round right with the PowerBooks by bumping up the ram to 512 megs instead of the lousy 256 they're pushing the iBooks out the door with. So add another 75 bucks to the price. Which is still a pretty good deal, considering now that Apple has built in Airport Extreme. This machine comes with the superdrive and is plenty fast enough to record video. Add that ram, I can't say it enough, and this would be dream machine. Heck, just order it with the ram installed.

This G4 is way speedier than the old iBook 700 I'm still using. That old G3 processor just does not measure up to the G4. However the screen seems brighter and crisper.

I'd just love to give this computer a five star rating, but shame on you Apple for not bumping up the ram. You have made a darn fine machine, otherwise, and the ram required to run System X right would have made it the perfect dream machine.

Jack Priest, Sailor Home from the Sea

Not As Good As Apple PowerBook
This is the cheaper and less packed notebook from the Apple product line. 1.33GHz PowerPC G4 processor is really slow and it's still using the G4 processor and it hasn't gone to the G5. 256MB RAM is not good at all because most notebooks now come standard 512MB. I think you should upgrade to atleast 1GB. 60GB Hard Drive isn't too bad but Apple could have done better. Super Drive which is always a plus. This has the wireless capability built in to it so you can take it on the go. The battery life is extremely good on Apple laptops. The styling isn't as good as the PowerBook but it really isn't that bad. Here are the specifications of the Apple iBook.

Processor| PowerPC G4
Screen Size (Inches/Diagonal)| 14.1
Optical Disc Drive| DVD-R / CDRW
Hard Drive (GB)| 60
Memory - Processing RAM included| 256MB
Memory - Processing RAM Maximum| 1.256GB
Memory - Video RAM| 32MB Dedicated
Connection - USB| 2
Connection - IEEE1394 Firewire| 1
Wireless Capability| Capable - Optional Card Required
Connection - For External Display Analog| 1
Connection - For External Display TV| 1
Connection - Wireless Network 802.11| Airport (available as option)
Connection - Sound| In/Out
Connection - RJ11| Yes
Connection - RJ45| Yes
Connection - Video| Out
Operating System| Apple Macintosh OS X
Software| Pre-Installed by Manufacturer
Unit Dimensions - High| 1.50
Unit Dimensions - Long / Wide| 13
Unit Dimensions - Deep| 10
Unit Weight - Approximate with Battery| 6.0
Manufacturer's Warranty - Hardware| 1 Year
Manufacturer's Warranty - Software| 1 Year

Source: www.jr.com

ibook review
2 weeks after receiving the ibook, the optical drive stopped working.sending it to apple for repairs, they promptly lost my ibook for 2 weeks.on receiving the notebook i had still had problems with the optical drive, but am unwilling to be without my ibook for 2 weeks again.And to be able to use the optical drive, i cannot store any cd's or dvd's in the drive on putting the notebook to sleep or shutting it down which is time consuming and just silly.Also, on return, the different components of the ibook are not flush anymore and creaks.also one of the rubber "feet"on the bottom that the ibook rests on fell off and was lost since it covers a screw which the service dept. would have needed to access.

on the positive, i like the os, but in the future am unwilling to pay extra for the supposed superior apple quality and service. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Read - Important !!!
There are a few major drawbacks in this notebook:

1. The battery lasts for only 1.5 hour configured with the highest battery
saving option (Lowest Screen Brightness etc.) while using only internet (no heavy apps) !!!
I have tested it with many options but you don't go above 1.5 hours.
The life span for these type of batteries are 500 cycles charge/dishcharge.

2. The Intel 2200BG Wireless Card which comes with this laptop and also other laptops
such as DELL, have a major problem of a "Lost connection" where you get disconnected
every 1 minute for a 10-30 seconds. You can search for this problem on GOOGLE and see
that lots of people have this unsolved issue !!!
Sony support was unable to solve this issue, Intel and Sony blame each other.
I managed somehow to solve this problem after 3 Days, non-stop sitting with the laptop.
The only way is to uninsatll the 9.0 version and download the 8.0 version from Intel
and install both Software and Drivers from Intel and let Intel's software manage your
Wireless instead of Windows XP.

3. The maximum RAM which can be installed is up to 1GB.

The bottom line, we are paying a lot of money for Mobile computing when we don't
actually get it in this notebook (both battery life and wireless).

Although I like very much the Design and the Display I have decided
I am returning this notebook !!!

Awesome Laptop!
Fantastic screen, weighs just over 6 pounds, good keyboard and fast!The usual crappy touch pad (sorry, but I prefer a mouse) but any wireless mouse makes this the perfect desktop replacement machine. The only complaint I have is that all of the connections (USB, ethernet, etc) are on the sides of the machine. I would have preferred them in the back of the machine. All in all though - an excellent laptop for people who need high performance! ... Read more

Product Description

The Rio Carbon 5GB Player is super thin with super big memory so you can listen to tons of tunes without worrying about bulk. Easily sliding into any pocket, the player is capable of holding up to 80 hours of MP3 (160 hours WMA) music and features a battery that lasts up to 20 hours on a single charge. The Rio Carbon also features USB 2.0; voice recording; compatibility with both the PC and Mac platforms; 64MB RAM; 35MB available hard drive space; USB port and CD-ROM drive. Includes carrying case, high-quality earbuds, power adapter, USB cable, installation disk and Quick Start guide. Available storage capacity may vary. Made in USA. 2-1/2Wx3-1/3Hx3/5D". ... Read more

Features

• Rechargeable battery offers up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge
• USB 2.0 for faster downloads; built-in microphone for voice recording
• Compatible with Windows 98SE, 2000, ME, XP and MAC OS X v10.2 or later
• 5 GB storage capacity holds up to2500 songs, 80 hours of MP3 , or 160 hours WMA
• Plays MP3, WMA, and Audible audio formats

Reviews (118)

Oh, where to start....
I received the Rio Carbon as a Christmas gift from my parents. From the moment after I had spent thirty minutes maneuvering my way through the insane, theft-proof plastic bubble to retrieve my Carbon, I loved it. The Carbon is really a very beautiful gadget. Though, as I would come to learn six months later, you forget beauty very quickly when your mp3 player passes away to the next realm (mp3-player heaven...? DO mp3 players go to heaven...?).

Don't get me wrong, for the six months that my Carbon worked, it really did do me proud. Besides the fact that none of my headphones were compatible with it (apparently, if headphones have a metal ring at the base, they produce this ear-splitting static and make it impossible to listen to music). And the fact that the battery life didn't exceed more than an estimated 10 hours (even when I wasn't blasting it - which leads me to mention that the volume really doesn't go that high, even when you turn up every setting in the custom equalizer). And the fact that all you had to do was LOOK AT IT and it would scratch. And the power adapter/charger? Yeah, it exploded in about four months. Yet even with the previous complaints, I still enjoyed the look, the sound quality, and the overall performance of the Carbon.

Six months later: I placed my Carbon in a cushioned area of my purse, which doesn't contain any sharp, pointy, or otherwise harmless objects. When I went to retrieve it again, the jog wheel was broken! How that happened is beyond me. In any event, my dad decided to call the customer service. They wanted $140 to fix it. Do yourself a favor and go to eBay. You can get a BRAND NEW Carbon on there for $140. But you know what? I wouldn't, because I refuse to spend that kind of money on something that's going to break six months later. In any event, Dad took it apart and glued the wheel back on (WARNING: DON'T TAKE IT APART UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, OR IT WILL BREAK). After not only gluing the wheel back on, but piecing the entire thing back together, I used it for two weeks before the wheel came off again, and my poor Carbon completely died.

I did not, IN ANY WAY, abuse this product the way I have seen other people abuse theirs. Seriously, I dropped it maybe TWICE in the entire time I used it. The only thing I'm guilty of is blasting my music, something characteristic of my age group and something that shouldn't cause the mp3 player to completely meltdown.

So I give this product one star. What's the use of slapping some shiny gold paint on a rock? Underneath the pretty exterior, it's still only a rock, and I don't think I'll give the Carbon even that much credit. Please, PLEEAAASE, DON'T BUY THIS!!! Think of it this way: I went through the pain of it so YOU wouldn't have to go through it. Redirect your search to the Creative Zen Touch, it looks like a much better product.

Quality Control Issues With RIO PRODUCTS
There is a history of Rio's that fail right after the short 90 day warranty period.

The Carbon is no exception.

I've gotten the dreaded 'Upgrader' Error Message and the unit will not work without the charger attached to the USB Port on the unit.

I've tried everything, including updating firware apprx. 5 times with no success.

Stick with Creative or Apple products. Their quality control is much better.

Very good with WMP 10
Most of my songs are high bitrate WMAs of beethoven, mozart, and mendelssohn (terrific concerti, by the way!) - which makes Ipods a bad option.This Rio Carbon comes with Rio software, but it's not necessary as it's Mass Storage compliant (you can even use it with Linux if you want!)On the PC, Windows Media Player 10 (free download) lets me synchronize the library, transcoding everything down to 96 or 128kbps WMA, even modifying the ID3 tags as you go. Sound quality is (very) good.Okay, I hear people trash about Windows Media format, but reality is it's as good as OGG at sensical (low) bitrates, the encoder is free from microsoft, Pocket PCs all over can play it nicely, and even Linux machines can play it with Xine, so I'm gonna stick with the format.)

(Edit: WMP10 wouldn't allow transcoding to 96kbps, feasible choices are just 64kbps or 128kbps.Rats.I guess 128 it is.)

Some niggles:
- I agree with Erika Moore's review: the 20-hr battery life is for stupid 128kbps MP3 at soft volume.With my kind of files, i'd say 10 hours is about right -- which is still pretty good.
- During playback there's a gap between songs, but it's only about 1/3 of a second of a gap.Furthermore, it seems like sometimes (most of the time?) the first 0.2 second of the song is cut off.This isn't a big deal for Brittany Spears, but it's annoying for continuous tracks like between the third and final movements of Beethoven's 5th Symphony.
- Star ratings aren't transferred from WMP10 to the player, and the auto-playlists aren't there either (i.e. you can't play your most favorite songs unless if you create a playlist manually).I think the Auto-playlists are WMP10's most useful feature, letting you play your favorite songs during the daytime, nighttime, weekend, etc.
- I can't figured out how to create playlists for the Carbon through WMP10.I had to use the Rio software for this (ugh).
- The headphones included are garbage.I have a $9 Philips earbuds I got from Rite-Aid that sounds a lot better.Do yourself a favor and spend $20-30 on a Sony or a Sennheiser.Don't waste your money on the premium 'phones; remember diminishing marginal returns (just my suggestion, YMMV).

I also wish it had an AM/FM radio (so I can tune to the Phillies games), but nobody does AM radio anymore so I understand.Creative Zen Micro has an FM radio, which is halfway there.If that thing had any battery life and MSC compliant, I probably would've gotten that over the Rio.

Problem with Battery Life
I've had the player for about a month, and it has worked very well thus far.I have about 650 mp3s on it, usually ripped at 128 kbps but sometimes at 192, and it is slightly more than half full.I estimate I will be able to get about 1100 or 1150 on there.I have experienced very little skipping, but I have had a problem with battery life.I can only get 8-10 hours out of the thing.I always charge it fully when it needs charging and I don't leave it on.I went to the Rio website, and found out something they mostly hide from prospective buyers - the 20 hour guaranteed battery life is playing tracks at 128 kbps at 15 volume.15 is only half volume, and is not nearly loud enough to hear your music outside.I usually play my music at 25-28 volume.This is certainly part of my battery life problem - so consumers beware that the 20 hour battery life is not completely accurate.I've been very happy with the other aspects of the player, though - and would recommend it to the average listener.

Disappointing Customer Support
While the unit may play MP3 songs without any major problems, for anyone considering using it to play audiobooks, I would look elsewhere. The unit randomly freezes at the end of an audiobook and must be reset with a paper clip (I keep one in my pocket at all times now)to continue working. Sometimes that doesn't even work and must be reconnected to a computer to delete the audiobook before the unit will begin to operate again. Trying to get customer support to recognize the problem and provide a solution is a waste of time. They are more concerned with selling a product than supporting it. Last email indicated that a supervisor would contact me, and that was over 2 weeks ago. Haven't heard anything since. Total lack of customer concern. ... Read more

Product Description

This sleek Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra MP3 player by Creative has a large, hi-res, blue backlit LCD and 60GB of storage for up to 16,000 songs. It features fast USB file transfers, Quick Scroller navigation and playlist creation so you can load and organize your music quickly and easily. Compact and portable, it can also double as an external hard drive for storing photos, documents and other data files. The quick-charge battery offers up to 14 hours of continuous playback, while the anodized aluminum body is sleek and durable. Compatible with USB 2.0 and 1.1 for quick and easy file storage and transfer. Includes earphones, travel pouch and USB cable. Available storage capacity may vary. Imported. 4-2/5Hx3Wx7/8D". ... Read more

Features

• Removable, high-capacity Li-ion battery -- up to 14 hrs continuous playback per charge
• Compatible with Microsoft Windows 98 SE, Me, 2000, and XP
• 60 GB storage lets you bring up to 16,000 WMA songs (80 kbps) or MP3 songs (128 kbps) everywhere you go
• Use AudioSync to synchronize your music on your player with your PC at work, school and home or on the road
• Load a song a second with ultra fast USB 2.0 port, compatible with USB 1.1 too

Reviews (79)

Creative's player almost perfect
I have had this player for a little over a year, bought originally through Amazon, and found it to be pretty much everything that I wanted. I have loaded about 11,000 songs (variably recorded between 192kbps mp3 and 128 kbps wma) into it and still have about 6gb of memory left, enough for probably another couple thousand. I have used it almost on a daily basis, more often than not I use it plugged into portable speakers, the sound has been excellent. I ditched the accompanying headphones early on in favor of better quality Bose ones, far more comfortable. I don't fiddle with the audio options much, just switch the advanced EQ to pop or rock and I'm set. I was