Product Description

Averatec (AV3250PX-01) Mobile AMD Athlon XP-M 2200+ ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Great Notebook PC
I ordered the Averatec AV3250PX from Amazon on Saturday and received it on the following Thursday with free UPS service. I was impressed. As for the machine, it has everything I wanted. I think the display is very clear, the hard drive more than ample at 80 gigs, and with Win XP Pro, the final $876.00 cost after rebates from Amazon and Averatec made the deal unbeatable. The keyboard works fine. There is no serial or parallel port, but the three USB 2.0 ports work well for attaching perhiperals. The built in 802.11g wireless LAN was easy to configure by adding on an access point to my wired router. I used the Microsoft MN-700, which set up in about 10 minutes with 128 bit WEP encryption. The built in DVD RW worked well, especially when I upgraded to SP2 with the MS CD. Adding software such as MS Office was fast and trouble free. The computer comes with sparse software, but who needs all the usual bundled junk anyhow?

I like both the look and feel of the machine. The lights for different functions are colored and well placed. Overall, the machine runs cool and quiet. If there were problems before,they have been corrected. Averatec also offers free 24/7 phone support. The touchpad is very sensitive, but can be adjusted in the Control Panel. No written manual, but it is included in a PDF file of 59 pages.

This is my first notebook or laptop, and from my initial experience, I would not hesitate to get another Averatec down the road.

Great value for a small, powerful laptop

I've been shopping around for months for a full-featured compact laptop and it seemed like I was always trading off weight and size for features.

After comparing laptops from the big boys (Dell, Compaq, HP, Sony), I decided on an Averatec laptop because it had the best price for the size and all the features I wanted.

It's so light that it's a breeze to carry around between work, school, home and on the plane. My only wish would be for a better battery life. It lasts for about 2 hours.

Best thin & light laptop for mobile professionals
I had never heard of Averatec, and had originally decided to go with a 12.1" Apple ibook for build quality and portability(and feeling hesitant about learning a new OS), but after stopping at Circuit City on the way I saw the Averatec 3250. It sat side-by-side with a Gateway that had all of the same features except for a 15.4" sxga screen and 4+lbs of weight. It also had a $350 higher price sticker.

After comparing the Averatec with the stats for the apple and the Gateway I was sold on the 3250. DVD burner, CD-RW; built in 802.11 'G' and only 4.5lbs. Most features you will find in the sub-$1000 category.

Despite some reviews the keyboard is tactile and solid. The battery performance wasn't quite up to spec, but with the wireless feature turned on and the screen at a nominal brightness level the battery lasted for approx 1 hour 55 min. before placing the computer in stand-by mode. Without the wireless turned on I'm sure this would be signifigantly increased. The included software is minimal, but it does have cyberlink DVD/CD burning software and itunes. It comes with a 3 mo. subscription to Norton Anti-virus 2004 and SP2 pre-installed.

The Only problem I experienced was with the touchpad freezing sometimes. The vertical scroll area on the right side would stop functioning. I downloaded a driver update and it fixed the problem. Also, the 3 usb ports on the side are close together, so either get a hub or get a skinny usb jump drive like the cruzer mini. Most others will take up 2 ports worth of space.

Overall I am very pleased with this product and would upgrade to an Averatec laptop again in the future.

... Read more

Product Description

Microsoft Visual Studio.NET 2003 Professional Special Edition .Visual Studio .NET 2003 Professional enables you to rapidly build a broad range of applications for Microsoft Windows, the Web, and mobile devices. Developers can use Visual Studio .NET 2003 Professional to quickly build professional software, reduce IT operating costs and integrate with a wide range of applications, systems, and devices. With an extensive set of visual designers, a range of programming languages, and integrated Visual Database Tools, Visual Studio .NET 2003 enables you to build powerful software quickly. Easy, Web-style deployment of rich Windows-based applications, built-in security, and an infrastructure for reusing existing code make this version of the Microsoft .NET Framework a dependable platform for software development. Support for the latest XML Web service standards and visual designers for mobile application development enable you to easily extend your applications to other systems and devices. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Which is the ultimate version?
If this is the "penultimate" (second to last), then what is the newest version? Is 2005 out yet? If not, then 2003 is the ultimate version, and 2002 is the penultimate.

Not Much of An Upgrade from VS 2002
Microsoft has released another version of its penultimate Integrated Development Environment.Forgive me if I am not as excited as I was for 2002.I love Visual Studio and I love .NET, but there just isn't enough "new" in 2003 to warrant spending money on a new Visual Studio.

With VS 2005 coming out next year, if you are already using VS 2002, just wait for 2005.If you're still in the pre-.NET days (e.g. VS 6), spend the time better training and preparing yourself for the upgrade. ... Read more

Product Description

three separate CMOS sensors for red, green, and blue * 670,000 effective pixels per sensor for video * 690,000 effective pixels per sensor for photos * digital photo mode with built-in flash * digital photo resolution options: 1920 x 1440 (with Pixel Offset Technology); 1600 x 1200; 640 x 480 * compatible with Memory Stick Duo or Memory Stick PRO® Duo (16MB Memory Stick Duo supplied) * 2-11/16" widescreen color touch-panel LCD * ... Read more

Features

• three separate CMOS sensors for red, green, and blue
• 670,000 effective pixels per sensor for video
• 690,000 effective pixels per sensor for photos
• digital photo mode with built-in flash
• digital photo resolution options: 1920 x 1440 (with Pixel Offset Technology); 1600 x 1200; 640 x 480

Reviews (2)

I'm Loving It.
I've had this camcorder about a month, I got it as a gift for my 40th, I chose it.

Pros: Under good lighting it produces wonderful video, great sound. I love the menu system (though the LCD needs constant cleaning). The weight is just right, not too heavy for long use, not so light that it feels unstable.

Cons: Not great under low light conditions such as dimmed room lights; the picture goes grainy and red. I also noticed a bit of wind noise from the internal mic. Short battery life. I had problems with the drivers for the USB under windows XP, never bother to fix this as I bought a firewire card.

All things considered, I'm very happy with the camcorder.

Seeking feedback
I don't get it- from the specs this unit deserves a good review. I am looking to buy it and would like to hear from people whom own it.

Please share your experience. ... Read more

Product Description

Get a multifeature machine in a compact frame with this Toshiba 7" Portable DVD Player. Watch standard, letterbox and anamorphic DVDs with the player's widescreen TFT LCD display. Other features include digital picture zoom for zooming in and magnifying pictures, a JPEG viewer, WMA & MP3 playback and 3-D virtual surround sound. Plays DVD/DVD-Rs, CD/CD-R/RWs and VCD discs. Includes 2 headphone output jacks, A/V in and out, car cord adapter and remote control. Imported. 1-1/5Hx5-3/4Wx7-1/2L". ... Read more

Features

• Several zoom modes; 3-D virtual surround sound simulates surround from just 2 speakers or headphones
• Includes a rechargeable 3-hour lithium-ion battery and a DC vehicle power adapter
• Measures 7.4 x 1.2 x 5.7 inches (W x H x D) closed
• Slim, portable DVD player with 7-inch widescreen TFT LCD
• 2 headphone jacks, multi-format disc compatibility, JPEG-CD image viewer

Reviews (7)

SD-P1600 Portable DVD Player
I picked up one of these from Best Buy today for my son who is buying it. Since he won't come get it for a few days, I gave it a trial run.It is very easy to use and the picture is great. I put a commercial movie DVD in and found that the sound was weak, even with headphones.I tried two DVDs that I had burned in my computer and the sound was more than adequate.I tried another commercial DVD and the sound was OK (but not overly loud) with headphones.There is evidently a lot of variation among DVDs. I really like the unit, but I would not try to use it without headphones or amplified speakers.

Doesn't play backup copies of DVDs!
This DVD player only plays original DVD disks and WILL NOT play backups of DVDs

Very pleased...
I'm not sure why some of the former reviewers are complaining about picture quality.I have been using the Toshiba mobile DVD player for over a month and have to say I'm pleasantly surprised.I must admit that this is my FIRST mobile DVD player, but it is MUCH easier to use and set up for my kids (on a trip) than my Gateway laptop and Power DVD software required.

All navigational buttons are easily accessible from the front panel...the player works great with backups/home movies I have made using Recordable DVD+R discs and backup software...

ALl in all, I feel that I definitely got my $200 worth and MORE!

Not a good start (hopefully it will get better)...
Yesterday I purchased one of these units new from Best Buy.When I got the unit home, it was DOA!It powers up, however it does not recognize any discs at all (I receive a "Non-playable Disc" message or something similar after the disc "Loads" for 3 minutes or so).I purposely purchased the Toshiba instead of spending less on an off brand (Insignia or Polaroid).According to the associate at Best Buy, Insignia is manufactured by Toshiba.Perhaps I should have saved $30 and purchased the off brand.Although, based on the units playing on display the Toshiba had the best picture.Hopefully tonight when I exchange the unit I will receive a fully functional one (I am going to make them demonstrate that the replacement functions before I leave the store!)

worst picture!
This dvd player has the worst picture quality I have ever seen! I thought I was upgrading when I sold my panasonic 5 inch portable player to buy this pile! I looked at many 7" players and chose to go with the toshiba as the price was very good. but best buy did not have one on display at the time so I could not see the picture quality. When I got home I threw in jurassic park and was quickly shocked by the very poor picture. everything was blurry. and the thing made very loud sounds from inside, somthing my panasonic did not do as it was very quiet. so I took it back to best buy for a refund. so if you dont care about picture quality and only care about price then buy it but if your like me and expect the best then stay away from this junk. ... Read more

Product Description

Share your iPod MP3 collection with the world using the Griffin iTrip FM Transmitter that lets you play your dockable iPod through any FM radio. The transmitter tunes to any FM frequency for the best possible performance and the battery-free design receives power directly from your iPod. It's great for listening to your iPod in the car. Includes CD-ROM and Quick Start Guide. ... Read more

Features

• Compatible with any iPod with dock connector, including iPod mini
• FM transmitter designed to play iPod music through FM radios
• Tunes to any FM frequency for the best possible performance
• Battery-free design receives power from iPod itself
• Sleek, attractive housing fits seamlessly on top of iPod

Reviews (161)

Works for me
I have to agree with most of the reviewers who have said that the sound quality is not great but honestly, for this price, did we really expect cutting-edge cd sound quality? Yes, there are other ways to ensure a better quality but most are bigger and cumbersome. I've found this little gizmo to be a great, inexpensive, discreet way to take my music anywhere (it's small and wireless...enough said)
True, the sound can get a little bit scratchy sometimes but it's nothing that can't be fixed with the smallest turn of the clickwheel. So maybe it doesn't work when you're trekking in the mountains or crossing a desert but under (more) normal circumstances, it gets the job done.
I guess I'm really not adding anything new to this forum except to put in a good word for this gadget which hasn't let me down in the months that I've had it. Still works as the first day I bought it and has given exactly what I expected of it. My only complaint? I use it too much and then have to recharge the ipod often... not too bad, really.

Not worth it
I bought is so that I could take my ipod anywhere and have music just in case.
I was the in highlands, the ipod with the itrip were right next to the stereo antena and the reception was scratchy.
I recommend getting additional sets of stereo cables to connect to an auxiliary source, far better sound quality wihout any fuzz.

Probably the best for the money
I just bought an iTrip and I love it.I used to have a Belkin Tunecast II, but it just didn't cut it.This thing is sleek and convenient.the tuning controls are controled by the iPod forming one seamless interface.It is powered by the iPod's battery.It doesn't have very good range, but it is the best bet for the $20-$40 price range.

Worked good, but not for long.
I bought this for my 60 gig ipod.It worked for about a month, then stopped working for some reason.Also my friend got one for her mini ipod, and it did the same thing.It works really good, then all of a sudden it doesn't work.I would buy this if it always worked, but it doesn't.Beware, don't buy!

iTrip does a pretty good job
I received an iTrip for my birthday and have had very few problems with it.

Pros
The iTrip has no batteries and can work out of the box with no installation, provided your area doesn't have a station transmitting on the 87.7FM frequency, or that you are transmitting to a radio without a powerful antenna (for example, a boombox will have no problems unless you are very close to the station transmitting on that frequency). If there is a station on the 87.7 frequency, the iTrip has the ability to swith frequencies. It does not drain my iPod's battery much quicker than when I use headphones, but you can turn the LED off (once you install the option on the iPod) if you want to conserve the battery a little more.

I have found this great at work. I work in a museum and it's a pain to bring a lot of CDs into work because they take up so much room and because they get ruined quickly with all the dust in the lab. Our lab has a boombox, so with the iTrip, I just bring in my iPod and the whole lab can listen to my 500 CDs with minimal effort. I have no problems transmitting across the lab (about 25 feet), or into the next room where there is another boombox. This is nice because I can leave my iPod in a dust-free part of the lab and still enjoy its music. The labs at work all have large windows, so we can get radio reception there, but the collections are at the center of the building and are surrounded by concrete, so the radio isn't an option there. The iTrip means I can work in collections and have a large music library at my disposal. It's nice to be able to walk around and transmit to a boombox, because I can hear the phone or someone knocking at the door.

The iTrip also looks pretty cool, complementing the design of the iPod. I have not noticed the signal drifting or cutting out, but I haven't had it too long, either. Others have complained about distortion, but I think this is because they have the volume turned too high (it must be set to between 50% and 70%). Most people save music to their iPod in mp4 (128kb/s) format to save room. 128 will never have as good quality of sound as Apple Lossless or .wav, especially at louder volumes.

Cons
There is some static interference if you are driving and your iTrip is close to your cell phone, or if you drive in areas where there are a lot of power lines. If your car has a very powerful antenna, it is more likely to pick up the weak signals like those that are more likely to be found on the low end of the dial. If you're not driving past the radio station or living next to it, this can usually be solved easier by switching your car's antenna to local than by switching the iTrip's frequency. It's not hard to switch iTrip frequencies, but it does take about 20 seconds and is hard to do on the fly, especially if you are driving. In my truck, it's one button on the radio to switch to local, and this solves the problem quicker and safer than fumbling with my iTrip. It would be nicer to be able to scroll through frequencies, but it would compromise the design of the iTrip, I think.

Another problem is that the iTrip covers the hold button. This is a problem for some, but not as much for me. I like the hold button when I am biking or exercising, but when I'm at work I like to be able to skip songs now and then, or adjust the volume if someone comes into the lab, so this is not a big problem for me.

The most annoying thing I have found is that the extra frequencies are stored on your iPod as "songs", meaning they show up in your playlist and will eventually cycle through if you use shuffle mode (which I use 95% of the time), and they are dead silence until you fast forward. I have reduced this problem by deleting a number of the frequencies, but it still happens occasionally. It's not too big a deal to delete frequencies (the ones in the middle of the dial are more likely to have a station transmitting from them), but you never know when some back-of-the-woods college or Bible station will be broadcasting on the lower end of the dial.

The last problem I've had with the iTrip is that no iPod case works really well with it. I have a leather one that velcro's over the top of the iPod, which means that those straps are undone when the iTrip is in place. If the iPod is clipped to my belt or pocket, it will quickly spin around and fall out of the case if the iTrip is attached, because nothing is holding it in place. Plus, more dust gets in because the case is open. However, if I want to use the iTrip, I can usually set the iPod next to the radio and walk away - if I really need it to stay in the case (like on my bike), I'm probably using headphones anyway. ... Read more

Product Description

OfficeJet 5510 Color All-In-One Printer, Print/Copy/Scan/Fax ... Read more

Features

• Up to 600 x 2,400 dpi optical scan resolution, 36 bit color depth
• USB interface, PC and Mac compatible
• Color printing, copying, scanning, and faxing
• Up to 17 ppm print speed, up to 17 copies per minute
• 4,800 x 1,200 maximum optimized print resolution

Reviews (82)

[HP OfficeJet 5510 All-in-One]
When it works it is a good machine, but....

I had mine for 4 days before it broke.I sent 2 faxes and printed 2 pages and then it went into this permanent paperjam - there was nothing stuck in the machine.I worked with tech support, reset the machine and was promptly told it had to be replaced.Fine then send me a new machine - but nooooo, i buy a new machine which immediately breaks and all they will send is refurbished because that is policy.

Nice

buy new machine which instantly breaks and get used replacement from the manufacturer - next time I buy a lexmark

It's Not a Piece of Junk, but returns are common
The 1st 5510 I received wouldn't scan properly - so I had the unit replaced.The new one does ALMOST exactly what I wanted from it.I can now scan, fax, copy, email, & print multiple pages thanks to the document feeder.May be a bit slow, but if I wanted laser speed then I would've bought a laser mfc.Configuring the software for use with this printer was not rocket science, but it does require you to follow the installation instructions.Also, not all config options are available via software - for more involved tweaking you'll have to use the printer's panel.

I was particularly pleased with the photo quality of the print.I printed out a couple of photos using quality photo paper in both my Epson Photo printer and the 5510.I didn't expect much from the 5510, and was very surprised to see that it blew away the same prints from the Epson.

The only real complaint that I have about this device is that the fax machine is an either/all proposition.If you share a phone line with this device, the fax machine will usually try to intercept your call.I haven't found anything in the config to allow me to set the number of rings - just "on" or "off."

Piece of junk.Stay away!
Don't even consider purchasing this printer.The software is the worst I've encountered in the last 5+ years. Total junk.I have considerable computer expertise and couldn't get this machine to operate fully under either Windows 98SE, ME or 2000.The printer might work, but not the scanner.The thing might scan, but not print.The OCR never worked on the rare occasion the scanner did. More often than not the software would cause errors during boot-up.I had to repreatedly restore from an older registry to get the machine back up and running.Maybe you'll get lucky if you are running XP, but I wouldn't count on it. Installation errors galore...missing files...incoherent and often outright incorrect instructions given by HP on-line help. And the software takes up close to 1 Gigabyte! The software for the Brother MFC-210C I replaced the HP with takes up less than 10 Megs!It has all the functionality of the HP...and it works!!!!And watch out if you have to uninstall the HP software...that function doesn't work either.Even if you download the special uninstall program from HP's web site.You're left with HP stuff scattered all over your system.Stay away!You've been warned!!!The Internet is filled with horror stories.

Great Multifunction Printer
This printer is excellent.When I bought it I was hoping and praying that I would like it and not have any problems with it.Sure enough, this printer turned out to be a great investment for us.I have no problems with it and it has been a year since I bought it.Alll four functions (copier, printer, fax and scanner)work well and the color is clean and crisp.Personally, this multifunction printer is great for me and my family.I love it!

Printer seems oky doky
Ok I got mine and installed on a fresh computer, with new WinXP Home Service pack 2. (All updates from Microsoft were added before printer install.) I also build computers.
Followed directions about NOT plugging in printer until software is set. (I get the feeling that some people did not do this.)
The printer works VERY well. All-in-ones used to do everything poorly. (Bad print quality, low res scans, blotchy faxes...etc) This all-in-one seems to do it all very well. (I agree with everything said in the main review on this printer.)
Still agree with some people that the software could be better. I don't like to have extra icons on my startup, eating up resources, when I could just run the software when I need it. I like to have that option.
Also the only other big gripe I have is when I use Quicken to write checks. The paper is loaded face DOWN. So when I go to print checks, I have to get ONLY the number of checks that I have to print and put them face down on the feeder. BUT if I have only one check left on the 'last' sheet I have to make sure it gets pushed up to the paper feeder, while its on the 'bottom' of the pile. The printer will then print the last check first, on up to the single 'first check'.
BUMMER
The Epson I used before I just grabbed a slug of checks and put them in the feeder and it would just spit them out...in ORDER!



For the people that had trouble, send that printer back and get a new one. (A few just sounded like they were bad.)
But before you try installing again, scan your computer with an UPDATED virus scanner.
Next get into IE and go to tools and click on Windows update, make sure ALL the Win stuff is up to date. (You should be doing this once in a while anyway.)
A new install would be the best thing, but people tend to not want to wipe out their drives once a year.
... Read more

Product Description

Classic moment, even better than before.

Offering superior image quality and performance, the Epson Perfection 4180 Photo delivers a remarkable value. True 4800 x 9600 dpi with Micro Step Drive™ technology ensures precision clarity and color. And, with powerful one-touch colorrestoration and dust removal capabilities, anyone can easily restore faded color photos, slides and negatives. The convenient built-in transparency unit enables users to scan multiple 35mm negatives, slides, or 2 1/4" transparencies.

The Epson Perfection 4180 Photo offers fully automatic scanning for increased productivity, plus two advanced scanning modes for greater control. With all that, plus a full-featured photo software solution including Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 2.0, this powerful performer makes it easy to achieve high-quality scans from virtually any original for stunning color reprints and enlargements. And, with Hi-Speed USB 2.0, the Epson Perfection 4180 Photo speeds through every scan.

Compatible with both Windows® and Macintosh® system, this scanner provides an unbeatable solution for any task or project. When partnered with an Epson Stylus® ink jet printer, the Epson Perfection 4180 Photo offers the perfect choice for creating brilliant images that last.

... Read more

Features

• USB interface, cable included; PC and Mac compatible
• Up to 4,800 x 9,600 dpi resolution, 48-bit color, 16-bit grayscale
• Epson scan and productivity software, Adobe PhotoShop Elements 2.0
• Scans multiple 35mm slides, negatives, and medium-format transparencies
• Copy, scan, save, and scan-to-email directly from the front panel

Reviews (11)

Broke in two weeks
I thought the scanner did a good job scanning etc.In two weeks the scanning arm jammed and failed to work.(I scanned 500 negitives) The troubling part is at the epson web site, they failed to answer any Email request for help. The good news is amazon is sending another scanner. So there is a happy ending. Amazon responded on the first email.

Worked well until day 4
I had scanned a few slides.It was slow but they turned out well.If you have to scan a lot of slides though I would not recommend this scanner because it will take a very long time.The following two days, I scanned some photos that seemed OK.On day four when I turned the scanner on there was a loud grinding noise and the red light started flashing.I went over the troubleshooting steps and there is nothing I can do but return it.

Excellent value
This scanner performs well for the user who expects very good scans from flatbed and negatives/transparencies at this price point.
PROS:
Costs under $200.
Scans negatives and transparencies--35mm, mounted slides, and 120.
Includes very easy-to-use-and-integrate software.
Installs easily (on WinXP SP2).
Makes scans that are very usable in Photoshop CS.
Is able to make scans that I don't need to mess with (for web, email) without using Photoshop.

CONS:
35mm holder allows filmstrip to buckle.
Minor software tweaks would be desirable.
No good way to store film holders when one of them is in use.

I'm an amateur photographer who develops his own film. I had been getting my film developed by an excellent, and inexpensive, local chain that also provided a CD-ROM of scanned images for each roll processed. Once I started developing my own b/w film, I wanted a scanner that could do decent scans so that I could continue to keep medium-resolution "contact sheets" on my PC. I thought that the 4180 might do the trick at a pretty inexpensive price point. I was right.

It scans well, within timeframes that are reasonable. I've read other reviews here, and I'm not sure what everyone expects of their scanners--but given your connection (USB 2.0, etc.) and whatever else you have going on, I think you'll find this scanner performs as expected. It takes a while to do medium-to-hi-res scans, but that's what I expect of a scanner. I expect it to transmit to my PC pretty darn quick, but the scanning part can take its time.

The scanner software does not always detect the framelines between 35mm frames correctly. I think this might be what another reviewer was referring to regarding black lines. Usually, re-previewing the set of frames corrects this. Worst case scenario, you just preview and scan the whole set of frames and then go back and scan that problematic one individually. It's really not a big deal.

If you're intending to scan a great deal of 35mm negatives, slides, or 120 transparencies/negatives quickly, then this is not the right scanner for you. The provided film holders don't hold a lot of frames. I do appreciate being able to scan 12 35mm negatives simultaneously, but when you're dealing with rolls of 24-36, it does take some time. Luckily you don't have to be present during most of the scanning process.

The 35mm frame is very good at holding the film, but because it isn't a sandwich of glass, it does not hold your film flat if it's not flat already. Artifacts in the resulting scan are common, especially at the ends of 35mm strips.

The software should have a way of overriding the "selection" of frames by the software. Usually it's accurate, but when it's not I'd rather not have to redo a single scan because the software selected a too-narrow area or one that overlaps two frames.
The enclosed software is very good. It includes a densitometer, editable histogram, and other tools for working with your scans. I have not worked much with the grain removal and dust/scratch removal tools, but I'm more comfortable working with those problems in Photoshop.

For excellent thumbnails and fast, very good printable scans, I've found this scanner to be excellent.

Very Slow ; No support
I have a Pentium 4 with 512MB memory and 20 GB free HD space.To scan 4 slides, it takes the 4180 5 mins.at 800dpi. Each sucessive batch of slides takes increasingly longer time. After 5 rounds of e-mails,the support group gave up. So did I.

Noisy...but decent scanner overall
If you like to scan late at night, this may not be the scanner for you. The motor is the noisiest I have ever heard!

However for the low price, built-in light lid adaptor, and the ability to scan up to 12 35mm negatives with the press of a button, it is worth the under $200 price tag. ... Read more

Product Description

built-in 160GB hard drive for recording/playback * free TV Guide® On Screen 8-day program guide (listings for local broadcast and cable TV) * HQ+ recording mode (hard drive only) for ultra-high quality recording * records to DVD-R & DVD-RW, DVD+R & DVD+RW * plays DVD-Video, DVD-R & DVD-RW, DVD+R & DVD+RW, Video-CD, CD, audio CD-R & CD-RW, and MP3 CD-R & CD-RW * ... Read more

Features

• Front-panel i.Link digital interface (DV/D8) provides simple, high-quality connection to camcorders
• Timer recording with advanced electronic program guide
• Universal DVD-R/DVD-RW, DVD+R/+RW recorder and player with built-in 160 GB hard-disk drive
• Record up to 5 hours of audio/video content per single-sided 4.7 GB DVD; record and store up to 204 hours/8.5 days of AV content on the HDD
• High-speed dubbing from HDD to DVD (up to 24x)

Reviews (13)

the best money can buy on 6/5/05
This recorder is fantastic.I don't have digital cable just standard cable/w/high speed internet.The tv guide works great just read the set-up and set the parameters for your type of service.No more setting times and days just find the movie/show on the tv guide screen,push a button and you're done.Nice huge hard drive and excellent picture quality,maybe better than the original show.Dubbing is simple and precise after you play with it for a day or so.This thing even lists the title of the recorded movie in the title list screen automatically unlike others I've had where you have to guess by the recorded time.I love this recorder and would recommend to anybody.Very nice rich styling also,unlike some of the cheap looking recorders out there.I don't know why people knock the tv guide feature,I think it works great you can even sort programs by movie/sports/and more ...very nice. !!I almost forgot,when you use the a/b edit (very simple and fast)about 5 mins. to edit a half hour of comercials out of a 2 hr. movie.You can even pick the exact frame to start and stop if you use the pause botton and the fwd/rev arrow key.

Love It ! But where is "Fast Dub" ? + Update
We bought this primarily for the "Fast Dub" feature that supposedly lets you to dub a video recorded from the Hard Disk to a DVD-R at a faster dub speed (up to 12x) is the figure I read when purchased.

Where is it? I have never been able to find it & the manual just mentions it as "Fast Dub" is available on appropriate recordings, but they never mention what the appropriate recordings requirements actually are to use "Fast Dub". If someone knows how to use it, please post it here. Dont buy if this feature is important to you. Otherwise it works well.

**Update To Fast Dub Situation**

To access Fast Dub the RDR-HX900 needs you to set it into HQ+ recording mode (Available from the system menu button menu) The problem is when you switch to dubbing mode HDD>>DVD the machine typically throws "The Disc Is Dirty " error & trys to dub again & then shuts the machine down. If someone is using a specific blank dvd-r disc that works with "Fast Dub" mode please submit | I would love to use this machine for that. I like this machine, but if Fast Dub is important you may want to reconsider just using a PC with DVD authoring and a fast dvd burner.

Well worth the price
The price of this device is a little on the high side, but it is a freakin' excellent machine that has met or exceeded all of my expectations.

I bought this DVR about a month ago, primarily to free up my aging and slow PowerMac G4 from the VERY time-consuming task of rendering iMovie projects into DVD format. Now, I export edited projects to DV tape (which I was already doing for archival purposes) and quickly and easily dub them to the Sony DVR's hard drive. With my "titles" assembled there, I can subsequently dub them in any combination to as many DVDs as I want. This is better and far cheaper than the alternative I hd been considering -- a new dual-processor G5 -- and by itself more than justifies the cost of the DVR.

The fun doesn't stop there, however, because the unit has also enabled me to begin converting my collection of off-air recordings to DVD, with quality that seems better than the originals.

I very much like the fact that, unlike many DVRs that only work with one or two disk formats, this unit can write to R+/- and RW+/- disks. That's comforting when your disks may be played back on computers or DVD players with format restrictions.

I was not especially interested in the TV Guide feature when I was shopping for the DVR, but after trying it out I have found that it works fine and is very convenient for time-shifting broadcasts. Everything else works perfectly and smoothly too. My only worry is how well the 160-GB hard drive will hold up; only time will tell. The unit has a quiet fan in the back and throws off a fair amount of heat, even when not turned on, so I've been leaving the glass doors open on the cabinet in which it is stored. I don't have cable, satellite or a surround-sound system, so I have no comment on the issues that have been raised regarding them.

I would like to commend Sony for having packed this unit with a huge array of features without making it incomprehensible. Both the remote conrol and the controls on the set are thoughtfully laid out, and the on-screen user interface is logical and consistent. Working with video is inherently complex, and you will need to refer to the instruction booklet for the first week or so, but the manual is clearly written with no machine translation gibberish and the answers are all in there.

This recorder may be expensive (I paid $600 + shipping), but it is NOT overpriced. If you own a camcorder, it's definitely the only way to go!

Good dubbing speed, Excellent picture quality, So-So editing
I bought my HX900 2 months ago and have about 25 fully edited 3hour(LP mode)DVDs of network TV under my belt so far.I've read all the reviews to date and would like to add some observations not yet mentioned.Even though I am generally very happy with the unit, I'm focusing on some of the subtler negatives that may influence some prospective buyers and avoid some gnashing-of-teeth after purchase.

Picture quality is excellent.Network TV recorded at LP quality is nearly indistinguishable from the broadcast (and I have a very good antenna).The unit seems to clean up snow and other glitches.Dubbing at the maximum 8x speed is to DVD-R's only and is quick (15 min for 3 hour DVD) and almost completely flawless.The only transfer error I've found occurs if you alter the title name or any menu information on the DVD-R before you finalize it; Then it won't run on a standard DVD player, and mine is a SONY DVD player, so I doubt it's a compatibility problem.

The editing is good, but not great.The concerns in other reviews are overblown about the permanence of the the A-B editing. The marking of points A and B are simple and intuitive and can be adjusted to a specific frame.I've done several hundred commercial deletions at this point and not a single unwanted deletion yet, and I am now hitting remote keys quite quickly.The A-B editing leaves a 'tail' starting about a quarter to a half second before the 'B' mark, making precise edits tricky.There is a processing time of 10-15 seconds for each A-B delete, so it still takes 8-12 minutes to edit a one-hour network program even when you get good at it.The next version of the firmware should include multiple edits.Also, you can't split a title into chapters.What I've done, is duplicate the whole title to a DVD+RW working disk, then copy back to the hard disk (which occurs at 1x speed only) then do A-B editing on the two copies separately to create chapters: quite time consuming.

Finally, managing all your titles on the hard disk is tedious.I have 120 titles at LP quality and still have 50 gigabytes of space left.There are no subdirectories for the titles so collecting all my "West Wing" titles for dubbing takes 2-3 minutes when in full-display mode.You can speed it up by displaying only the title names, but then it's hard to tell what show it is without the thumbnails.Then after dubbing, it doesn't remember which shows you dubbed, and you have to reselect through the exact same process to delete the titles.It should offer a "delete after dubbing" option or leave the shows selected.You can creatively use the title sorting by date or alphabetically to jump up or down the list more quickly.

The final archived DVD-Rs are wonderful, including a menu selection that works on any DVD player I've tried.

Worth having, though not unflawed.
I've had my Sony RDR-HX900 for about two and a half months now.

This is the first DVR I've owned (previously only VCRs), and I was
primarily attracted to it for the ability to store a large number of
recordings.I'm the type of person who abhors "appointment TV" - I
watch when I want to watch.I also like having the ability to pause
for any number of reasons, and come back later.

First, my overall opinion is that I definitely recommend this unit.It
is not, however, a perfect design.There are pros and cons that should
be weighed, and compared with whatever else competes on the market.Much
of the information below can be read in the manual, which you can
download in PDF format.

There are 7 quality settings available - HQ+, HQ, HSP, SP, LP, EP,
and SLP. They are described in the manual by the approximate length of
video that one can store on a single DVD, and on the hard drive.Per
DVD, HQ allows 1 hour, HSP 1.5 hours, SP 2 hours, LP 3 hours, EP 4
hours, and SLP 6 hours.HQ+ is only available for hard drive
recording, and uses about 50% more space than HQ.It is a setup option
to use HQ+ instead of HQ, while other speeds are looped through in
succession with a button press.

The difference in quality between HQ and SLP is very obvious.The
difference between adjacent quality modes is difficult to detect.I
was able to see differences between HQ+, HQ, on down the line, but only
when trying to find them.I've come to settle into using whichever
recording mode will allow the program to fit on a DVD, in case I
decide to dub it later.For things which I've no intention of
dubbing (weekly recordings, for example), I use SP mode.

Dubbing allows copying between the hard drive and DVD.Normal DVD
Video titles cannot be dubbed onto the hard drive.As near as I can
tell, only titles created by this recorder (or perhaps other Sony DVD
recorders) can be dubbed from DVD to the hard drive.

There are two types of dubbing - fast dubbing, and slow dubbing.Fast
dubbing is only available when copying the video data directly from
the hard drive to DVD, which means no quality conversions.That means
that only recordings which fit on a single DVD without being re-encoded
can be dubbed in fast mode (e.g. a 1-hour program recorded at HQ, a
2-hour program recorded at SP, etc.).When a conversion is required
(or chosen), the recorder re-encodes at real-time speed.For some unknown
reason, dubbing from DVD to the hard drive always takes place at real-time
speed.It would be simple to do a direct read at maximum speed from
the DVD, but this device insists on actually recording to the hard
drive instead of copying.

Because the encoder can only work at real-time speed, non-fast dubs are
pretty inconvenient, especially considering the fact that while
dubbing, you can do basically nothing with the recorder.You cannot
record to the hard drive or play existing recordings.Programmed
recordings will not start while dubbing.This is probably the most
irritating limitation of this unit.

Another dubbing-related limitation is that you can't split a single
hard drive title among several DVD's (in case you want to preserve a
quality level, say, or the recorded title is actually two programs that
you want on separate discs).I don't have a killer need for this
feature, but it's an obvious omission that may be important to someone.

In most other respects, however, it's an able multi-tasker.You can
watch titles previously recorded while recording on the hard drive, and
can even watch a title still being recorded (wait 15 minutes after that
network show starts, then begin watching and skip all commercials).
You can watch a DVD as well, of course, and supposedly can watch a
title on a DVD-RW while another title is being recorded (untested by
me).However, during a recording, the only editing function available
is changing a title name.You can't erase a title, so you had better
make sure there's enough space before the recording starts.

None of the recorder functions behave any differently when the unit is
turned off, except of course for playing.

Media support is another important feature in a DVD recorder.This
unit supports both the DVD Forum standard media (DVD-R/RW), and the
DVD+R/RW media from the DVD+RW Alliance (which was created because of
the exhorbitant licensing fees charged by the DVD Forum).I've
recorded on DVD-R, DVD+R, and DVD+RW media - no DVD-RW media to test.
With -R/+R, the maximum write speed is 4x, and with +RW media, the
maximum write speed is 2.4x (which is 14 minutes and 24 minutes write
time for a full DVD, respectively). The maximum speed only applies when
fast dubbing.

One killer feature (for me) is the set top box controller, which is an
IR emitter that can change channels on a cable or satellite controller
box (but not turn the box on - you must leave it on).For me, that
means I can program the recording of non-broadcast channels of my
digital cable service.However, it's an all-or-nothing thing.You
configure the unit to either use the box controller, or its internal
tuner.You cannot use both.It's a shame, too, because it'd be useful
to have the recorder use the built-in tuner whenever possible, so
casual TV watching isn't interrupted when doing a programmed recording.

The TV Guide system is supposed to download program listing information
while the recorder is turned off.There's no data in my area, and it
says in the manual that no digital system (satellite or digital cable)
supports TV Guide listing data.For those that have it, it looks to be
a fairly simple way to program recordings (select the show in the
listing grid).

I must (and prefer to use) manual timer recording, which is still done
through the TV Guide system screens.The timer entry screen is
functional enough, but not especially good compared to some of the VCR
timer screens I've used.The one good thing is that there's room for
30 timer recording entries - more than other devices seem to have.

Beyond some playlist editing features that only work with DVD-RW media,
the three primary editing functions are changing the title name,
erasing the title completely, and erasing a section of the title (A-B
erase).

Title editing is done via a text-entry screen which is anything but
convenient to use, though it's not horrid once you get used to it.I
think making it look like a QWERTY keyboard would have been much more
efficient.

The A-B Erase function is very simple.All play controls are available
when selecting the start and end points.All erasing is confirmed, and
cannot be undone.I primarily get rid of junk at the beginning and end
of movies I record, which frees up some space until I watch them and
erase them completely.It can also be used to remove commercials from
a network program.

As a DVD player, this Sony is fairly modest in features.There are
three fast-forward/reverse speeds, FF1-FF3 (approximately 1.5x, 12x,
and 150x). There are two buttons called Instant Replay and Instant
Advance.The former skips back 10 seconds, with no display while it's
skipping.The latter fast-forwards at FF2 for 25 seconds. There's no
A-B repeat feature (if you want a scene to replay over and over), and
no zoom.You can toggle the angle and subtitles with a button press.

Despite its spartan playback options, it is very good at reading
damaged, defective, and marginal DVDs (something an old Sony DVD player
I have is horrible at).One defective DVD (since replaced) that
screeched to a halt on an old JVC player, and a newer Sony DVD/VCR
combo player, did nothing but imperceptibly skip with this unit (I only
know it skipped because the on screen play indicator flashed -
automatic status displays can be disabled, if such a thing would bother
you).

That concludes my review.It's a bit long, but I figure people might
appreciate some detailed information before plunking down $700 for a
piece of electronics. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Sophisticated and modernly styled, the Sony VGC-V517G TV-PC is an all-in-one entertainmentcomputer that helps you finally eliminate all that remote control and cable clutter. Sony'sMotion Reality technology enables you to enjoy the same TV experience on the VGC-V517Gas you would with an LCD TV, and the crisp, clear images come alive thanks tothe 17-inch XBRITE LCD screen. You can also record your favorite TV programs tothe hard drive using the Giga Pocket personal video recorder (PVR) software, orsave them for later viewing by burning a DVD via the dual-layer, multiformat DVD+/-RWdrive. Other features include a fast, hyperthreading 3.0 GHz Pentium 4 processor,spacious 200 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM, and a wide assortment ofSony multimedia software for editing and managing your digital content. For astep up in price, the Vaio VGC-V520G offers a faster processor, 1 GB of RAM, and250 GB hard drive.

The Basics Hard Drive: It comes with a 200 GB Ultra ATA hard drive (7,200RPM), which will store hundreds of hours of recorded TV programmingand digital audio. You can boost your storage space by adding optionalexternal hard drives via the USB 2.0 or Firewire ports. Processor: The hyperthreading 3.0 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processorallows a single CPU system to behave in some aspects like a dual-CPUsystem, helping to deliver faster transistors and increased performance.It also features a 1 MB L2 cache and a blazingly fast 800 MHz front-sidebus speed, which measures how fast a processor and the main memory communicate,and a 1 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily storesdata; a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance.) A hyperthreading processor helps a PC to run multiple demandingapplications at the same time. This technology enables the processorto execute two threads (parts of a program) in parallel, boosting performanceduring key high-drain procedures. This results in more efficient softwareperformance, such as faster reaction times in gaming applications, andenhanced multitasking. Memory: The VGC-V517G comes with 512 MB of installed PC-3200DDR RAM (400 MHz). This is a good start, but you'll want to max outthe 1 GB capacity (which is a tiny for such a multimedia powerhouse)for your 3D gaming and video-editing needs. CD/DVD Drive: Offering the latest in DVD writing technology,the multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with both DVD+ and DVD- discformats as well as dual-layer DVD+R discs, which can store up to 8.5GB of data. For DVD-RW discs, it has a 8x write/4x rewrite speed, whilefor DVD+RW discs it has a 8x write/4x rewrite speed. DVDs are read at8x. For double-layer DVD+R, it has a 2.4x write speed. For CDs, ithas a 24x write/rewrite/read speed. Keyboard andMouse: This TV-PC comes with a wireless keyboardand optical mouse, as well as an IR remote control.

The V517G comes with a 17-inch XBRITE LCDscreen for viewing TV recorded with the Giga Pocket personal video recorder(PVR) or DVD movies.

Graphics and Sound
The nVidia GeForce FX Go5700 supports playback of high-definition content. You'llenjoy an immersive cinematic experience when playing back DVDs as well as smoothgameplay. It features 128 MB of dedicated DDR video RAM. The flat-panel 17-inchscreen has a resolution of 1,280 x 1024 pixels. The integrated audio card offers16-bit Sound Blaster Pro-compatible audio through the internal speakers.

The V517G provides a number of ports for allyour expansion and interface needs.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots For expansion, the VGC-V517G has a good variety of external and videoconnections, including: 4 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digitalcameras to MP3 players 2 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) ports for connectingdigital video camcorders and other peripherals (both 4-pin) 1 S/PDIF out 2 PS/2 ports for connecting keyboards and mice 1 VGA/DVI monitor port Composite and S-Video video/audio inputs (front and rear) Coaxial video input (VHF/UHF) 1 microphone, 1 headphone, 1 line-in 1 infrared port for remote control 1 RF in Memory Stick reader, compatible with Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro,and Memory Stick DUO It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.90) and an RJ-45 LAN network portfor a 10/100 Fast Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems

Preloaded System and Software
This system comes with the Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 operating system with Advanced Security Technologies, which helps reduce unwanted downloads and pop-ups while surfing the Web. It also comes loaded with a bevy of Sony multimedia software: Vaio Zone with WinDVD (for watching DVD movies), Click to DVD (DVD creation) PictureGear Studio (digital photo), SonicStage (digital music), Vaio Media (network file sharing), and DVgate Plus (digital video). Other preloaded software includes Quicken 2005 New User Edition, Microsoft Works 8.0 (with word processing, spreadsheet, and calendar), Norton Internet Security (with 90-day subscription), and SpySubtract.

Dimensions and Weight
The VGC-V517G measures 19.1 inches wide by 15.7 inches high by 11.3 inches deep and weighs approximately29 pounds.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Sony Vaio VGC-V517G TV-PC, IR remote control and receiver,wireless keyboard, and wireless optical mouse. It is backed by a 1-year limitedhardware warranty. ... Read more

Product Description

Mac mini, PowerPC G4 1.42GHz Processor, 256MB RAM, 80GB Hard Drive, 8X DVD / 24X16X24 CD-RW Combo Drive, Mac OS X Panther v10.3 ... Read more

Reviews (43)

Mac Mini 1.42 slower than expected but a nice computer
I recently purchased a Mac Mini 1.42GHz with 1MB RAM and the combo drive. Once you get past the cool looks and start doing various tasks on the machine, the performance seems to be less than what a 1.42GHz G4 should be. I will say that the set up was extremely easy - all Macs are easy to set up. The 1MB RAM helps a lot. I played around with a display model at Best Buy that only had 256MB RAM and Tiger couldn't roar. Some of the slowness has to do with the 80GB Ultra ATA hard drive only being 4200 RPM. But that is only part of it. I have a G4 DP 533MHz machine with 1.25GB RAM. I would expect the Mini to be faster in processor intensive tasks than my system even though it has dual processors. But the Mini falls short. Everything seems to be faster on my old G4. Surfing the net using Safari, using iTunes, Garageband, iDVD, iPhoto, etc. I have my iTunes and iPhoto libraries on an external FireWire drive which is 7200 RPM. I ran Xbench on both systems and the Mini scored a 118.7 compared to a 90.6 for my old G4. But it seems that they should be reversed.

Speed issues aside, someone looking for a computer for surfing the net, sending and receiving emial, doing some word processing stuff and burning the occasional cd should find this system to their liking. Somone looking to spend a lot of time in iMovie, iDVD, iPhoto and other high end programs that are both memory and processor intensive will find that the Mini is not only small in size but also in performance.

Neither lunches nor computers!
Let's face it, no legitimate company can offer Mac mini computers as a "gift" just for signing up for a bunch of trial offers!

It's easy to find out with a little research that even the most generous new-customer bounties are around twenty dollars. So, it's pretty clear that these "gift programs" are really just a way for spammers to get your name, address, phone number, and email.

Apple makes great products, especially the Mac mini. Don't become a victim by trying to get one by falling for a fake "deal"!

The worst computer experience i have ever had.
I had decided to try switching from PCs to macs recently, and thought the mac mini would make a good first mac computer.

I ordered my first mini with all the extras and when i got it, i tried importing all my cds to itunes. The optical drive was malfunctioning whenever i put in a cd with the slightest scratch on it. It would freeze up, making an awful skipping sound, and i would have to force quit itunes and sometimes shut down the computer and turn it back on just to get the sound to stop and get my cd out.

I called tech support, and the first man said there was nothing wrong with the drive, it was my cds that were at fault. Their solution was to take my scratched cd to my PC, burn it and take it back to my mac mini and then try to import it.

I said, ok, so my cds should work on other computers, but not the mini? and he kept saying how it was my cds and not the mini. I asked him if i could return my mini and he said no because i had bought extras like more ram and bluetooth. so i got off the phone with him and called back again.

The next tech support "help" also told me there was nothing wrong with the computer but i could return it (but not exchange it because there was nothing wrong with it). He transferred me to someone who told me i could exchange it, which i did.

Now, my next mini comes in the mail, without my bluetooth and airport extreme options. "Oops, sorry", they say, "we can return it and we'll send you another mini." I took it to my local store and they very nicely installed them for free in 45 minutes. So, now with less enthusiasm for my new purchase, i took my mini home, and tried out the optical drive again, which again had troubles. Now i should mention I took the same cd's that wouldnt work on my mini, and they worked on my PC and on my friend's mac.

I called back the apple store and all they would give me for compensation was a return for my mini (not the $60 keyboard i can no longer return at the store) and $100 credit for my next apple purchase. I said sorry, that's not enough for the hassle that i will probably go through again.

Never, never again will I buy an apple product. This whole hassle lasted for most of a month, and it is still not over yet. Time for me to buy another reasonably priced PC. My mac friends are all about their mac's, but first impressions are lasting, aren't they?

No free anything
Clicking your way past this barrage of come-ons finally gets you to the meat of the matter. Incentive Reward Center says you have to sign up for at least two offers from participating firms to get your hands on that free iPod.

It looks like there might be some freebies here, but most of the offers are for DVD and music services, credit cards and other such strings-attached programs.

according to sfgate.com

Amazing little machine
i'm really impressed at how fast this thing goes. it was ready to go out of the box after a 3 minute setup, it's really fast for only having 256mb of ram, i love the combo drive, tiger is great. it's practically silent unless the combo drive is running. and it's super easy to use. it also has a lot of programs for 600 bucks, i think it's great and highly reccomend it. ... Read more

Product Description

You'll never leave home without your tunes and with 256MB of internal storage, that's up to 8 hours of music. The iRiver 256MB Portable MP3 Player with FM Tuner also has an integrated FM tuner and a built-in voice recorder. Features: 256MB internal storage; MP3, WMA, and ASF compatibility; integrated digital FM tuner with presets; 4-line graphical text display with bright backlight; record to player directly from FM tuner; built-in voice recorder; iRiver Music Manager for simple music transfers; USB connection; can be used as portable drive to transport any file type; Sennheiser MX300 earphones; neck strap; PC installation CD; USB cable and a printed manual. Available storage capacity may vary. ... Read more

Features

• Supports playback of MP3, WMA, and ASF music files
• Integrated digital FM tuner with presets and built-in voice recorder
• Record to player directly from FM tuner
• Comes with Sennheiser MX300 earphones, neck strap, AA battery, USB cable, and printed manual
• 256 MB built-in memory

Reviews (131)

disappointed
I did a lot of research on the different players below $100.This one seemed to be the best.It took a while to receive from Amazon.com.I've had it for 4 days and must have spent 10 hours trying to get it working.The iRiver website and customer service are unacceptable.The customer service line rang busy for 20 minutes.When I did get through, I waited on hold for an hour and 4 minutes for someone to come on the line.When I did get someone, he was rude.He did not want to stay on the line and walk me through the steps to address the problem.As soon as I got off of the phone, I had another problem.Called back and got busy signal.Held again.After a few minutes on hold, a message came on that they were closed.Only open for support M-F 8-5.(And only then when you can actually get a live person.)The CD that comes with the device is not up to date.You have to go to the iRiver website to download the latest version and then update firmware.Then, you cannot use iRiver Music Manager.You have to go to Windows Media Player.Sometimes it would recognize the device and, other times, I had to reboot the computer to have the device recognized again.I was finally in a position to download music and had the songs selected.When I tried to sync, I got a message that said there was an unknown error.After hours of frustration, I decided to pack it up and send it back.I gave 1 star because it is small and seems to be a good device, if only it wasn't such a hassle to set up.

Durable, lightweight, great sound, yadayadayada...
Well, here's what I have to say: I've had this little sucker for over a year now, and thus far, this is what my mp3 player has been up against:

1. NW Washington weather. Need I say more?

2. It's been dropped onto hard marble floors from chest height (roughly 5' 7") TWICE, and worked (although it developed a minor joystick anomaly that lasted about three days to a week) just fine, still works like a charm.

3. It's been on several camping trips in NW Washington (again, need I say more? This place is WET).

4. It's survived a day in Hana, Maui (even wetter than WA).

I'll tell you, this thing is pretty tough for a little device such as this. I also use it to play music in the halls, on my own sound system, and because my sub is a little funky, I have to readjust my equalizer, and it's VERY simple, once you get the hang of it (if you're having trouble with the custom equalizer, just hold the knob straight down for three seconds, and from there you can figure out how it works).
It's been with me all over the country, and in all sorts of situations. This mp3 player is like a Timex (takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'!), and the best part is, it gets GOOD sound, too. I have a pair of Sony (also a year old) headphones, and a set of Bose QC2, and the sound through both is phenomenal. I am thinking about trading up to a bigger mp3 player, and I think an iRiver is where I'll be aiming.

P.S. My advice on music transfers is to stick with the provided software, and get the firmware upgrade, and still stick with the software. WMP10 has the strangest ability to add clicks and whops to songs saved at 192 kbps, that are then transferred to the player. The iRiver software does none of that. That's all for now! Tata!

good sound and bad interface
I just got this player for exercising. It's small and light enough to carry around. The sound is excellent. The interface is bad, the buttons are confusing. Everytime I tried to lower the volumn, it took me to the menu. USB 1.0 is slow. But I will probably buy it again, just for the price.

Mac users, have no fear about upgrading firmware!
If you are a Mac user and are apprehensive about how to upgrade the iRiver's firmware, have no fear. It's very simple (a lot simpler than Windows--sorry, PC guys.) You use the iRiver Music Manager for Mac (included on the CD or downloadable from the iRiver'sWeb site). File>Firmware Upload. That's all. By upgradingto the UMS, you can use the player just like a regular flash drive-- drag and drop MP3 or any other file. (The UMS version also gives you a lot more features and functions of playing music than the Music Manager. I'd recommend the UMS upgrade.)

I like everything about this iRiver! One of the iRiver's best features that I don't find in many other MP players around this price range is the RESUME function, which starts a file exactly where it stopped the last time. It's especially very convenient if you listen to audio books. (...). ... Read more

Product Description

Portable Speakers, For iPods and MP3 Players, , ... Read more

Features

• Lightweight and compact; includes AC power adapter and charges your iPod while docked
• Efficient, class-D amplifier offers up to 24 hours of continuous playback with 4 AA batteries (not included)
• Dual 1-inch neodymium micro drivers per speaker deliver big sound in a small format
• MaxxBass technology creates a sense of rich, deep bass without the need for a subwoofer

Reviews (81)

The little speakers that could!
I LOVE these speakers! You won't believe the big speaker sound that comes out of these little guys! Enough to fill up a bedroom (or hotel room) easily. They also charge your ipod whether they're playing or not. They fold down to a miniscule size - easily packed in your carry on. I actually use mine in the ER where I work 3-4 days a week for 12 -13 hour stretches and they work great, then fold up and fit in my backpack. If you're looking for travel speakers or just want to put these on a desk at home or work (and don't want to spend more on your speakers than you did on your ipod) these are for you.

Is it the SPEAKERS of the "iPOD"?
I felt the same way most of the reviewers felt... Great for travel...nice, neat ,compact, easy.... however not the best sound quality especially at higher volumes... but decent for the price.HOWEVER.... I recently connected my 256MB MPIO MP3 player to the speakers... adjusted the equalizer and the sound quality is actually VERY CRISP and clear at higher volumes.This makes me question the "infamous iPOD"... which doesnt have options for controlling the sound quality in each category....

They're okay... not great
The sound quality isn't as crisp as I've heard, but they are reasonably loud enough to fill a hotel room.However, the louder you play the more distorted the sound.I was expecting a great product in a small package.The package is great, compact, easy to pack in your suitcase.... but the sound is just okay.Keep your expectations reasonable and you'll be okay.Mostly, these speakers are great for travel, but not for high quality sound.

My Final selection after buying and testing 3 systems
I bought and tested the InMotion, JBL On Tour and I-station systems with my Ipod.

Overall the In-Motion system had the best sound - fullest range and brightest presence of the systems.JBL On Tour was a close second.

Very good speakers for your iPod!
Altec Lansing is known for providing good quality PC speakers for an affordable price. Now they have a hit on their hands in this portable speaker system for iPod. The speakers are small, easy to carry, nice looking and most importantly sound very good. The only concern I would have is that these would be useless if Apple changes the iPod connector in the next generation of iPod's. Other than that I would highly recommend these for your iPod.

However you can get another version of these speakers which will work with any mp3 players and costs less than half of this. It has exact same quality and size. ... Read more

Product Description

5-megapixel effective recording * 1-1/2" color LCD * optical viewfinder * 3X optical zoom (4X digital/12X total zoom with lower-res photos only) * JPEG options: 2592 x 1944; 2048 x 1536; 1280 x 960; 640 x 480 * ... Read more

Features

• Powered by 2 AA batteries (NiMH rechargeables included); connects to PCs and Macs via USB 2.0
• 5-megapixel sensor (2592 x 1944 pixels) for enlargements up to 20 x 30 inches
• 3x optical zoom plus 2x digital zoom for 6x total
• High-resolution movie mode with sound; A/V output to TV; 9-shot burst; histogram display
• Compatible with Memory Stick and Memory Stick Pro media; includes 32 MB card

Reviews (35)

Great Camera! Easy to use!
I had to replace my Olympus D-550. It was difficult to make a decision as I had loved the Olympus, but I dropped it on the floor and it was broken. The decision to buy a Sony stemmed from owning rechargable AA batteries and my dad owning a sony memory stick already for an older Sony Mavica.

I have had nothing but great pictures with this camera, unless I moved.Batteries last a long time but the included charger and batteries would have been a better deal if it charged more than two AA batteries at a time.

The manual is very easy to follow; there are alot of features in this camera so I refer to it every once in a while to refresh my memory. I mostly use it outdoors with children in my day care in very bright conditions or in florescent lighting and all the pictures are great.

I download using the USB cable and Windows XP camera wizard. I only installed the basic software to run the camera, because all the other software is useless.It doesn't edit the pictures, so I actually edit them on Camedia. I know some people don't like that software either, but on the whole it is easy to use and works well.

You won't be sorry if you buy this camera. It is small enough to go anywhere, and will do the job.Unless you want the semi-pro models to change lenses, this is one of the best cameras I've ever owned.

Great consumer-level point-and-shoot digital camera
If you are just an amateur photographer that is either finally switching from analog to digital or just want a decent camera to take on family vacations or school projects, this is a great camera. It is small, lightweight, and does just about anything you could possibly need it to do. It won't take pictures of hummingbirds feeding across a forest bed, but it will take a decent photo of the grand canyon. The quality of the 3x optical zoom is really good, but the picture is sacrificed slightly as you try to artifically enhance it with the digital zoom. The battery life is good enough to take on extended trips from your hotel or on a hike without having to carry around a charger or spare batteries. If you plan on taking lots of high quality large photos, you will need to get a larger memory stick (64 MB will work, 128 MB even better), but the memory stick it comes with will be enough to photograph your child's birthday party as long as you download the photos onto your computer afterwards. At 5.1 MegaPixels, this camera will pick up hairs on a persons head and it will even be able to define a flea in the hair. 5 MP is enough to make clear 8x10 prints.There are 6+ MegaPixel cameras out there, but at the consumer level there is really no point in spending the money on one (7.2 MP won't come in handy unless you are making 15x20 prints or are a student taking pictures through a microscope or a telescope--it is more of a prosumer level) All around, while Sony's camera lenses may not compare with Canon or Olympus, Sony makes up for it with their superior knowledge of how to make a great consumer digital device and turn it into a decent digital camera. It is a great value for the price.

oh so nice!
After owning 2 Canon cameras over the last 6 years, I new for my new one I did not want a proprietary battery format again. This Sony is great, and it uses AA batteries! I rotate between the pair of recharbles it came with and 4 more rechargables I bought. Highly recommend. The pictures and videos are very good. Also, the video clips aren't limited to any amount of time, only by your memory.

This camera was buried in the snow and still worked!
I just need to rave about this camera.I loved it from day one it is easy to use and has so many options.It is also a great price.The thing that has completely shocked me and amazed me is that my camera was accidently taken outside and left outside by a younger sibling of mine and it still works.He thought it would be funny to bury it in the snow this past winter.I had on clue where it was it sat outside buried in snow for at least a week and then when I finally found it the snow had all melted so it went through a lot.Never in my dreams did I think that this camera would still work.I took out the batteries replaced them with fresh batteries and took out the memory card and replaced it with the same memory card.Hit the on switch and it turned on!I've been using it ever since with absolutely no problems.So if you want a camera that will take a beating with lots of options and that is easy to use this is the one for you!

Great investment!
Regardless if you are a novice or professional this camera is great all around to use. Easy to take with you anywhere and not as bulky as I thought it would be. Buy nothing less than a 5MP camera you'll be disappointed if you don't.

Accessories:
No need for a case becasue the lens closes if you leave it on for 30-60 seconds. More memory and more rechargeable batteries are a must. I always carry IKEA regular AA batteries when I'm going for an extended night out...trust me it helps!

Enjoy! ... Read more

Product Description

If you thought smooth tracking optical sensors were an advancement over mechanical ball-based mice, let us introduce you to the mouse that takes precision and performance to a whole new level: the Logitech® MX™1000 Laser Cordless Mouse, the world's first laser mouse.

Now optical is obsolete. And your computing experience will never be the same.

Featuring the Logitech MX™ Laser Engine, the MX1000 delivers a new pinnacle of performance no optical mouse can match. With an incredible 20x more sensitivity to surface detailor tracking powerthan optical, laser can track reliably even on tricky polished or wood-grain surfaces. And the MX1000 offers even more advanced features that will make you more productive and more comfortable:

Rapid-charging base station makes sure the mouse is always ready, and the lithium-ion battery never needs replacing.

Cordless performance that equals USB corded connection

Deep-sculpted thumb support for incredible comfort, and outside finger grips for enhanced control

Precisely monitor battery strength

Wheel tilts for side-to-side scrolling, Cruise Control™ rocker for speed-scrolling up and down, and zoom with a click of the wheel

Universal page forward and back, plus an application switch that quickly moves between open windows

Features

• Cruise Control rocker for speed-scrolling up and down, and zoom with a click of the wheel
• Compatible with Windows 98, 2000, Me, XP, and Macintosh OS X and higher
• Rapid-charging base station makes sure the mouse is always ready, and the lithium-ion battery never needs replacing
• Universal page forward and back, plus an application switch that quickly moves between open windows
• Wheel tilts for side-to-side scrolling

Reviews (110)

Awesome mouse...the few low ratings confound me...
I've had this mouse for nearly four months now and I love everything about it. A HUGE improvement over the MX700 which I'd been using previously for nearly two years. The primary noticeable improvements are 1. how much better it fits the hand over the MX700, like it was custom-made for my hand...2. the battery-level indicator, not to mention the much-improved battery-life w/o charge--about 4hrs for the MX1000 compared to about 2hrs for the MX700...3. the also much-improved charging cradle...and 4. the on/off switch on the bottom of the mouse itself. Personally, I don't use that switch since the battery has such a decent lifetime per charge as it is.

The only minor drawback that's barely worth a mention is the weight of the mouse.It has some weight to it, but that's something you'll get used to very quickly. On a smooth surface it slides like skates on ice, thus rendering the weight of the mouse essentially irrelevant.

This one's worth every penny!

Decent product, but highly overrated -- Suffers Lag
I am not sure what's up with everyone's love affair of this mouse.I bought it expecting miracles, but it's just like any other optical mouse.If you use a mousepad, then you probably won't detect a noticeable increase in sensitivity. (I didn't)The charger is very nice and the mouse seats well in it.However, the mouse is heavy (from batteries I presume) and so it makes it cumbersome to use.Additionally, and worst of all -- the mouse suffers lag.This is only detectable to some people I guess, but it drives me nuts.It's not that the "speed" is slow, it's that the reaction time is slow.When I move the mouse, I want it to react instantly -- maybe that's asking too much from a wireless device.After all, radio waves only travel at the speed of light and they do have to traverse nearly 20 inches...

Easy to use...What a wonderful laser mouse!
I have had this mouse for about a month now. I bought it so that I can use it at work. It's a pleasure to use since I hated the cheap mouse I had have at work. It's very comfortable to use, especially for people with long fingers. I love the fast scroller button. I bought this from Amazon because the computer stores cost about $30 more. It was definitely worth the money. I'm almost tempted to buy one for my home laptop but I wouldn't want to travel with a large mouse. I have to try and find a laser logitech for my notebook now. :-)

Wonderful with a few minor caveats
I received my MX1000 this morning and after playing with it for 6 solid hours, I decided I had to write a review.

Installation was fairly simple, but I ran into one little snag. I suggest you download the newest software from Logitech before installing the mouse. 1) Turn of the computer. 2) Remove the old mouse. 3) Plug the MX1000 base station into the computer. 4) Plug the AC adapter into the base station, then into a power socket (preferably a UPS). 5) Turn on the mouse (there's a tiny switch on the bottom of the mouse) and drop it into the base station to check the battery level. Mine came just barely fully charged! 6) Turn on the computer. The new mouse will be detected and you will be asked for drivers (I installed on windows XP SP2). Instead of letting windows use the installation disc (which came at version 2.14b), I cancelled the driver search and used the newest drivers (version 2.31.546 dated 5/5/2005) from Logitech. A reboot was required after installation. Also, the mouse was unusable after first staring the computer, during installation of the drivers and after the reboot. I hit the silver reset button on the base station, a help balloon popped up from the system tray telling me to hit the reset button on the bottom of the mouse. Bingo! The mouse works! I have a sneaking suspicion that if I'd just reset the mouse after first starting the computer, I could have used it during installation. Oh well.

Customizing the buttons is simple, however, there are somewhat less options available than I am used to with MouseWare, such as minimize all. If there were a way to assign windows key commands to buttons, it'd be perfect.

The grip of the mouse is incredibly comfortable! The arch of the mouse and thumb groove is literally the perfect size for my medium sized hands.

Unlike many have complained, the back and forward buttons DO work in Firefox! The issue was likely addressed in the newest version of the drivers. Also, I reassigned the left/right scroll buttons on the wheel to Control+Shift+Tab for the left and Control+Tab for the right. Easy tab switching in firefox!

The scroll wheel is a bit loose, with less pronounced clicks. I don't know if that's good or bad yet, but it seems fine. When clicking down on the scroll wheel, you have to take a bit of care not to hit the left/right scroll actions, though I quickly became used to it. The forward/back/application thumb buttons feel slightly lose, but the clicks are good and solid. The cruise up button is just a little bit of a long reach for the index finger, though it is much more prominent and easy to hit than the little button on the MX500/700/900. The cruise down button is very easy to reach. The left mouse button has a stronger spring and bit longer travel to click than the MX500/700/900. The same goes to a lesser extent for the right button, but that's a good thing as I was accidentally right clicking on my old MX500 quite often.

Some have reported the MX1000 to un-level and wobbly on a hard surface, and that may be true for some, but the unit I received is rock solid.

As far as skipping/stuttering/jumping behavior is concerned, I haven't seen any. Which is amazing considering I placed the base station directly in front of my wireless router which is on top of my steel tower case which is about 6 inches from my monitor! I figured there'd be SOME kind of interference, but I've noticed none whatsoever!

The mouse tracks beautifully on my bare desk surface (highly polished imitation wood grain). The weight of the mouse takes a bit of getting used to if you are used to a light corded mouse, such as I am. My previous mouse was a Logitech MX500. After playing a few hours of CS2, I found my accuracy has noticeably improved because the weight of the MX1000 is damping the natural twitchiness of my "gaming hand". However, I expect that effect to lessen somewhat after I'm completely trained to the mouse.

Overall, I'd give the MX1000 4.5 stars if I could, but since I cannot, I believe it is more deserving of 5 stars than it is of 4.

Happy mousing!

A hug for your hand.
I was strolling along in the electronics section of BJ's Wholesale Club when I stopped dead in my tracks. I had a locked gaze on a shiny new MX1000 they had for $60! I wasted no time snatching one and hiding the others so I could feel like I had the last one. I bought it and went immediately home to my computer.I plugged this baby swished it around on the mousepad like a lightsaber. I was in complete shock about how smooth it was. It read my every intentional movement as if it was reading my mind. The deep-sculpted grip was like a hug for my hand. After getting cozy, I really didn't want to let go. The MX1000 really was THAT comfortable. I even considering surgically bonding it to my hand. What I really thought was sweet was the freakin' laser man! No crappy LED optical. Logitech claims that the 800dpi laser is 20x more precise than optical and I cannot argue with that. At first, I was skeptical about wireless mainly because of the battery. However, the lithium ion battery last4EVA!!! figuratively of course. I use my computer for hours at a time and have only seen 1 out of 3 lights go out. The battery life is unbelievable. I was partially concerned about the responsiveness of a wireless mouse, but as you can assume from the first part of this review, I absolutely no lag or unresponsiveness for all the hours upon hours I used it. I would have to say every single penny was worth it for this masterpiece! ... Read more

Product Description

Apple's AirPort wireless networking technology lets you surf the Internet from almost anywhere in your home or business, and enables schools to provide Internet access to multiple students without installing expensive cabling. With AirPort-enabled Macintosh systems, it's a snap to exchange files or play multiplayer games at data transfer rates of up to 11 megabits per second. And because AirPort uses radio waves for communication, it can even work through walls.Add an internal AirPort Card for each AirPort Card-ready system you want to bring onto your wireless network. ... Read more

Features

• Compatible with the 802.11b wireless standard
• Ranges up to 150 feet indoors at 11 Mbps
• Provides tight security
• Use with an Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station for added functionality
• Compatible with AirPort-enabled Apple computers

Reviews (9)

life changing
The wireless revolution has seriously altered the way I work. It didn't seem like it was that big of a deal, to be able to work anywhere in the house on a laptop. And then I was home over Thanksgiving and tried my father's - it was incredible. So, soon after I had my own and I love it - I even ended up getting another one for my wife's laptop.

Whether it's browsing amazon.com late at night in bed, checking morning email in the kitchen while the kids run around, or being able to set up a writing desk anywhere in the house without worrying about an accessible internet port - the airport system is awesome. Even if you only have a desktop computer it's worth it - you can to put the computer in a place where there's no internet plug, without the 40 foot cord draping your wall to connect it. All in all, a wireless system may seem extravagant, but once you have one you'll wonder how you got by without it.

The airport card, along with the base station, allows you to connect several computers, even ones that don't have wireless cards in them (i.e., we have two laptops on the wireless system, and then one iMac that doesn't have an airport card is plugged directly into the base station). You can print, scan - anything - wirelessly, as long as those extra components are connected to the base station.

If you have a big house and the base station won't be centrally located, you may want to look into the antenna. I have a 2500 square foot house and the base station is at one end of it. I can get access from anywhere in the house without the extra antenna, though in one or two places it's a weak signal. My father's house, on the other hand, is over 5000 square feet and the base station is at a far end - you can't even get a signal on the other side of the house. However, he purchased the antenna and the signal is now very strong wherever you are. A warning - you should make sure your airport network is password protected, especially if you get the antenna. The signal will be broadcast through half your neighborhood and if not protected, people can get on and use your airtime, clogging up your bandwidth.

Make sure you get the right card! There's the airport extreme card and the regular airport card (I believe they are both compatible with either base station). Check Apple's website for direct compatibility between your computer and the two different cards. They are different sizes and will only fit in the right kind of slot.

One final word - I've heard from others that certain products from Net Gear or other wireless manufacturers accomplish the same thing as the airport card and base station for much cheaper. I can't attest to the validity of this, but it might be worth looking into. I'd exercise extreme caution, since if you go with Apple products it will be covered with tech support, even if it's more expensive. And putting third party hardware in your computer will likely void the warranty on your computer.

Watch out, this does not fit an Apple iBook G4!
Recommend and rating, hard to say.My intent is to make sure that people don't make the same stupid mistake that I did!An Apple iBook G4 can only accept an "airport extreme" card.I suspect that most of the latest generation ibooks, powerbooks, and powerpcs and etc can only take the extreme card.

Do your homework beforing buying the M7600LL card.

Adapter Comments
Just to clear things up a bit further on the adapter business.When Apple started selling Airport-capable systems and cards, the cards could be used with the CRT iMac or an iBook or Powerbook.Rather than build a special slot in the iMac that you could slide the card into, the card came with a little wraparound bit that had a socket on it which plugged into the iMac.If you were going to use the card in an iBook or Powerbook, you didn't need the adaptor, the card slides into a slot.I guess after awhile they decided to including the adapter was a bit wasteful if a large segment of the buyers weren't going to use it, so they made it an optional extra.The fact that their newer systems didn't need the adapter, and that sales of the CRT iMac were slowing down probably had something to do with it as well.

I've bought 3 Airport cards myself for various systems, and have been very impressed with the ease of use and reliability of the product.

it works like a dream
I am a recent convert and just got a new 12-inch powerbook.The retailer who sold it to me was supposed to have installed the airport card themselves, but they did not.The airport card came separately and I decided to install it myself.Not only was it the easiest thing to install in the world, it began working immediately.I'm impressed with how non-technical you need to be and how smoothly you can just do all these things that I would never have dreamt of doing myself in the PC world.

If only it worked
Switched to Mac? Switch back.

I built an 802.11b network for the PCs in my house. I set up everything and had it working and tested for a few weeks before tackling the Airport install. Since I'm not usually a Mac user, I thought I'd make sure everything else was working first.

Well, it was the right decision. 8 months later, my Airport card still does not work. I put it in our iBook, and it's recognized, but there is an error message that locks up all the wireless applications and configuration, so the Airport is useless. Yes, I have the right OS version, and I've gotten the latest drivers and applications, but nothing works.

I'll try again, sometime, but it's just really hard to get psyched up for hours and hours of beating your head against the wall, trying to get something to work.

Hey, it might work out of the box for you. If you have an older iBook, though, I'd prepare for a struggle. ... Read more

Product Description

Intuit QuickBooks Premier 2005 Contractor Edition - Complete Product - Financial - 1 User(s) Complete Product - Standard - PCCustom-built for contractors, QuickBooks: Premier Contractor Edition 2005 with advanced job costing helps you make more money from your jobs. Nice electronics is your source for everyday low prices on theIntuit 284212 - QUICKBOOKS PREMIER CONTRACTOR 2005 WIN and all other Intuit Software - Misc ... Read more

Features

• 5 new job-costing reports; built-in tutorials; easy to learn and use
• Run contracting business more efficiently and accurately
• Accounting software custom-built for contractors
• Boost job profits with automatic job costing; keep all details in one place
• Quickly create invoices formatted as letters right from QuickBooks

Features

• USB 2.0 interface, digital-camera memory slots, optional Ethernet
• Up to 20 ppm color printing, 30 ppm black
• Up to 1,200 x 1,200 dpi print resolution
• Makes 99 copies, reduces and enlarges 25% to 400%
• Up to 2400 dpi optical scan resolution; 150-page incoming fax memory

Reviews (17)

Surprisingly easy to assemble
I was a little apprehensive in buying this particular all-in-one, but I am so so glad I did.Working for a medical doctor, I've gone through 2 different all-in-ones including canon and hp and I couldn't figure out which brand or model would last.Luckily, I had no problem installing this model and I am so glad I trusted the positive reviews.Set-up for the fax and copy machine was a breeze and the printer and scanning software went without a hitch.All in all, it took me about half an hour to finish installation.

As a last note, I do suggest using the fax cord included as I had problems trying to fax with my original phone cord.Also, the printer does not include a USB connection so make sure you already have one or buy one with this.Great purchase!

Finally -- an All-in-One that Delivers!
After three months use, this all-in-one printer still satisfies.Fax -- perfect!Printing -- Gorgeous, and the duplex printing allows me to save on paper and space to store it.Copy -- Nice - maybe not the absolute best I've ever seen, but better than acceptable. Scanner -- scans are good when they work.Probably a software upgrade would be the answer, but I haven't seen one yet that solves my (sometimes) problem with a tempermental scanner.

Overall, with the exception mentioned above, I'm a happy camper. I've reduced the number of machines in my office without a huge sacrifice in productivity.

Four Stars!

Phyllis Staff
Author of "How to Find Great Senior Housing"

Frustrating and Disppointing exp with this All-in-One!
I was a huge fan of HP.I had a HP All-In-One from college and that lasted me 6 good years until it just went obsolete.However, this printer changed most of my HP perspectives on All-In-Ones.First, the print function is faulty.Whenever it tries to print Black and White on paper, there will be wide white stripes where there should have been text or graphic.Called HP for repair, spent 45 minutes of testing on the phone and they only replaced my cartridge.OK, white stripes problem improved but is still happening.

Then, the fax function failed after 1 month of use.Everytime when the multiple-page fax is sent out from the feeder correctly, the fax result will always print out to say "Jammed".But NOT A SINGLE FAXED PAPER WAS JAMMED!!!And sometimes the fax goes out just right and the result message will say "Error", this is when the recipient doesn't receive the last 1 or 2 pages of the fax.

Very disppointed HP comes out with a product as defective as this one.Hopefully your HP All-In-One experience is much better than this one!

Wow.Overcome minor hurdles and totaly impressed.AMAZING!
I bought this with major hesitation about some of the other reviews and am blown away with the function of this machine.

After hooking up my desktop in half hour, I then went to install my laptop.It gave me an error message and required a call to India for tech support.After 2 hours, I couldn't be happier and HIGHLY recommend this machine.

I can scan documents to either machine wirelessly, fax from either machine wirelessly and print from either machine.

It doesn't get any better.

Now, I am tossing my separate scanner, printer, wireless router and fax machine.

AWESOME!Be patient and expect a couple of glitches but the results are 5 ******

Great printer, terrible software...
First of all, it is a great printer. Color inkjet, duplex printing, duplex scanning, flatbed scanner, sheet fed scanner, built-in fax machine, it is a networked printer etc. Unfortunately, the software isn't great at all. Even after the major recent update it is still buggy. But I love the printer. It allows me to slide a 30-page dual-sided document in it, click "Scan", and it will do the duplex scan job, save it into a PDF document and will even do the character recognition for me! But let them fix the software!!! ... Read more

Product Description

CREATIVE SUITES PREM CS 2 WIN PHSP UPSELL CD ... Read more

Features

• New power for vectors in Adobe Illustrator CS2
• Rich, versatile layouts with Adobe InDesign CS2
• Unified design environment
• Simplified file versioning
• Greater control over images in Adobe Photoshop CS2

Product Description

PERFECTION 4870 PHOTO FBSCAN 4800X9600DPI USB ... Read more

Features

• USB 2.0 and Firewire connectivity; PC and Mac compatible
• 4,800 x 9,600 dpi optical resolution, 12,800 x 12,800 dpi interpolated
• 48-bit color depth, 16-bit grayscale; 3.8 Dmax
• Transparency adapter built into lid with 4 film holders
• Digital ICE and Epson Easy Photo Fix for color restoration and dust removal

Reviews (13)

Excellent scanner for the price
I just received the scanner today. It was easily installed and worked great out of the box. This scanner is identical to the PRO version (the only difference is the additional software in PRO). For home and family photo scanning this version is more than enough. If you are a serious photography hobbyist or professional, the extra software (upgrade in Silver Fast from the LE version plus Monaco EZ Color calibrating system) in the PRO version more than makes up for the price difference. After much thought, I went with the PRO version. The software does have a slight learning curve, but even winging it on my first scan I got great results. I have been very happy with all my Epson products over the years and this scanner, I can tell, will fall into the same category.

well worth the price
I rate this at 4 1/2 stars...
Bought this over the weekend specifically for scanning 4x5 transparencies (taken during the 1950's) and so far very impressed with the quality.I've also scanned 35 mm film strips with equally amazing results.I'm new to this aspect of computer use and my laptop may not be powerful enough at this juncture and so it seems slow when I scan - converting it to 2400 dpi, but the results were definitely worth the wait. This was an upgrade; had an epson 3170 and was very pleased with it but wasn't getting clear results...saw dots all along profiles.

The only difficulty I've had is when I use both 4x5 frames it will only read one frame - here again it may be because my computer needs to have more power.I also had difficulty with 2- 1/4 x 2-1/4 negative but didn't have that problem with the 35 mm strips.

I did try and scan a very old 8x10 color proof and used the ice aspect - might be my inexperience with computers and such but the outcome was better than the original, however, don't think the 8 minute wait was worth the effort; if I used the photoshop software I may have been happier but as I really intend this for negatives and transparencies I'm one very happy customer.

Haven't had a chance to use any of the accompanying software so I can't comment but for straight scanning what a wonderful machine.

Epson / Adobe Problems
When you buy a $400 product you expect it to work. The 4870 comes with Photoshop Elements 2. I keep encountering a memory error that crashed Elements. I called Adobe helpline and their response was I should upgrade to Elements 3 for an additional $80 or I could pay them $40 to diagnose the software bug because Elements 2 is no longer supported.

So, recognize a hidden cost of $80 because of old, bad software.

Excellent product, but more than what average user needs
I bought the Epson 4870 scanner to scan my old pictures and negatives. I read many reviews on different scanners. I chose Epson 4870 mainly for the high resolution. I also, liked the firewire option and the speed seemed to be reasonable.
I managed to scan hundreds of films and pictures in the last few months with no problem. The product works excellent, but that itself could be the problem. It is just too good for my needs. The very high resolution would produce files about 100 MB; way too big to adjust the lighting or the color on it. My Intel P4 machine with 256 MB RAM had hard time managing those files. The resolution was much higher than anything my $1000 digital camera could ever produce. Unless you are a professional photographer or you need to make large posters of your pictures, you will never need such a high resolution capability. I ended up using the lower resolution settings and still have very good quality scans. Save your money and buy the Epson 3170.

Here are some technical notes:
The setup on my XP machine was very easy and took only few minutes. I used both firewire and USB with no problem. I noticed absolutely no "stability & reliability problems" as other reviewer has reported. I wonder if that reviewer's machine did not have the muscle to handle the large files. You need at least 128MB of memory. Also, if you use Windows, make sure you have set enough space for your virtual memory (on XP: Control Panel -> Performance and Maintenance -> System ->Advanced -> performance ->Virtual Memory).
The black & white setting of the software does not work, but you can use the color setting for scanning the black and white pictures with no problem (you will get a good quality B&W scan).
The Adobe Photoshop LITE included with the package is definitely needed to adjust the lighting and the color. For more repair work on damaged films or for applying special filters, I would recommend the full version of the Adobe Photoshop.

Everything That Epson Said it Would Be
I researched this scanner very carefully as my options (I live in Taiwan) were limited and the only other option was to order a dedicated film scanner from the U.S..

Epson said "Will rival dedicated film scanners." In my opinion, it not only rivals them, but outperforms some of 'em.

I read some reviews that listed an 8 minute scan time for a 35mm slide with ICE enabled, that is about right if you save as .jpg. I save as .tif, so the scan times are closer to 12 minutes. However, I save double that just by not having to do dust and scratch removal manually. I have it connected to a USB 1.1 port (Pentium 2.4GHz, 512MB RAM) and am planning on putting a USB 2.0 card or Firewire card in and upping the RAM to 1GB. However, I don't really expect huge performance increases (I do a LOT of scanning, so if I can shave a minute off of each scan, that will add up to a lot more productivity over a month).

I have noticed that this scanner does a little better with negatives than with slides, go figure. Both work well with some post processing in Photoshop (all scans need that, the only possible exception is if you are using Silverfast Ai, which I am not and which is, in my opinion, well worth the investment of US$100 to upgrade from the included Silverfast SE).

Overall, I found Epson Scan to be barely adequate. The professional mode needs more tweakability. I do final color balancing in Photoshop, and usually resample the images down from 4800dpi to a maximum x or y of 5000 pixels for archival images. The grain removal feature seems not to work at 4800dpi on any machine, Epson's response seems to be "tough." If it is a real problem (on some push processed B&W I have), I simply use Silverfast SE to do the grain removal (SEs non-ICE defect removal is FAR better than Epson Scan's).

All in all, I have had virtually NO problems with this scanner and I've plugged it in (while trying to figure out why the grain reduction didn't work) into 5 computers, including 2 running Chinese Windows XP (a notoriously buggy environment). ... Read more

Product Description

400-disc DVD/CD/SACD changer * plays DVD-Video, DVD-R & DVD-RW, DVD+R & DVD+RW, and Video CD * plays SACD, CD, CD-R & CD-RW, and MP3 CD-R & CD-RW * 108MHz/12-bit video D/A converter * selectable interlaced/progressive-scan component video output (progressive scan requires an HD-compatible TV) * ... Read more

Features

• Measures 17 x 7.4 x 21.1 inches (W x H x D)
• Progressive-scan DVD player, compatible with DVD-RW/-R, DVD+RW/+R, SACD (Super Audio CD), and CD-R/RW discs with CD and MP3 audio
• 400-disc changer holds your entire movie and music library; find your favorites with DiscExplorer onscreen management
• Connections include component, composite, optical, and coaxial
• High-speed 108MHz/12-bit video D/A converter; Dolby Digital and DTS output

Reviews (32)

The Solution
I liked the thing so much I bought two.Hate the remote, can't figure out the Disc Explorer feature, but it swallows up the discs.Until you have emptied the shelves of hundreds of jewel boxes and DVD cases you just can't fully appreciate the miracle of this machine.Forget all the features--it plays just about everything and if there is a sound quality difference from my old one disc Denon player, I'm incapable of hearing it. The DVDs play perfectly and I'm much more comfortable if the kids merely press buttons than if they are handling the DVDs.

Sure, in a few years everything will probably be kept on harddrive, but it is important to me to have my collection instantly accessible.DO NOT attempt to use the features--I spent hours entering title information and somehow it all got erased.I keep a log on the computer and a recent printout right next to the machine--it is so easy to dial up the disc you want that you find yourself re-discovering your music collection--not to mention the instant access to all your movies.This machine is worth twice its price.

Great if you know what you're dealing with.
Thanks to the dire warnings in reviews like these, I purchased this item with low expectations.I chose a local retailer instead of an online one because I knew I might want to return it.Got a floor model for $345, so I was satisfied with the price.

One reviewer mentioned that he avoided the Disc Explorer entirely by typing up a list and accessing discs by disc number only.I took his advice, and after a cursory look at the Disc Explorer I haven't used it since.Sony screwed up here, but the rest of the player is great.

(It's inexplicable why Sony designed the Disc Explorer the way they did.It shows only 5 titles at a time, you can't page down and it doesn't load titles automatically from most discs.It's really terrible.WTF, Sony?)

If the remote had a jog dial so I could dial up a disc number, I'd be in heaven.As it is, I use the
+/- keys or press "Folder", then type in the disc number, enter, enter.This works fine.I'm happy with the disc-loading speed.

What I'm most thrilled with is that it plays all my DVD+R home movies perfectly.Whew.Didn't know whether they'd play when I bought it.Having 20 years of my life on deck changes everything.I can go to my kids' birthdays, Christmas of any year or specific vacation memories in seconds.Without a player like this, most home video lies unwatched and even if you pop a tape in, you can't locate anything quickly.With everything transferred to DVD and loaded in a jukebox, I can finally really use my home movies.Same with my complete Monty Python and Seinfeld sets.If you want to put on The Argument Sketch or The Contest, you can go right to it.Oh, and children are incapable of putting DVDs back in their cases.Problem solved.

One nightmare I read about but didn't have was scratched discs.My player is fine in this regard.

My wife asked my why I bought it if it had so many annoying problems.Here's the deal:

1.This player costs $200 less than the Pioneer.
2.This player is progressive scan.
3.The Pioneer is much older.
4.It does what it's supposed to do.

I can't comment on the picture or audio quality since I'm not a videophile or audiophile anymore.I have the thing plugged directly into a 27" tv, not even stereo.But I'm sure if I get a plasma tv and hook it into a surround system it'll be awesome.

My wife is happy it plays CDs.She rarely listened to CDs before because it was too much trouble to find them and put them on the player.Now, she can just dial up (on the player) what she wants and press Play.

Buy one and work around the shortcomings.It'll change your life.

Pros
1.This player costs $200 less than the Pioneer.
2.This player is progressive scan.
3.The Pioneer is much older.
4.It does what it's supposed to do.
5.Plays DVD+Rs.

Cons
1.Disc access interface.Just avoid Sony's Disc Explorer and you'll be fine.
2.Huge, but that's not a big problem for me.

A great device for the price
First what this is: it's a great device to easily store and retrieve your DVDs.When reading the reviews here before I bought it I was concerned about the access speed.This is not an issue if you simply maintain a list of the DVDs you have in the player.The progressive scan picture is good and if you enter the slot number of a disc it quickly plays it.This is what I wanted out of this player and it delivers.

I also have a Sony 300 CD player and was concerned that the DVD remote control signals would interfere with the CD player (so that if I turned on the DVD player and wanted to play disc 4 that the CD player would also turn on and play disc 4).This concern is unfounded and there's no overlap in the remote control signals (and if there were, the DVD remote has three settings that enable it to effectively use one of three different sets of commands to avoid this problem - a nice feature).

I have had no problem with the 300 disc CD player so I am confident in the quality of Sony's DVD mega changer.

One negative: when you stop watching a move, the DVD player only remembers the location where you stopped it for a single DVD and only if you don't turn off the DVD player.In contrast, a 5 disc Sony player that I also have is great in that it remembers the location of where you last stopped 50 different DVDs - which enabled you to avoid having to watch the FBI warning and other nonesense everytime you put in a disc.

I have not even tried to use the menu system to retrieve a disc (because of all of the negative comments that I've read), nor have I tried to enter data about the DVD's into the unit (I used a keyboard to enter data into my CD player and it was a pain, but the data was not lost even when power was lost for over an hour).As mentioned above, the menu system can be avoided if you create a simple table with the slot number and DVD title.

Overall, this does what I'm looking for and the price is great for what you get!

Flawed, but mostly awesome.
I've seen so many negative reviews of this machine that I feel the need to comment myself. The user interface is definitely it's biggest flaw. I, too, have resorted to using secondary lists to know where my discs are. At first I used a paper list, and now I have a file on my laptop for my CDs and use my IMDB account for my DVDs. (Just type the slot number in the URL section of your movie notes) Anyhow, it is a big area Sony can improve on. What I would ultimately like to see is an ethernet connection to get the info off CDDB, etc. I was one of the folks who bought this for CD's, opting for the DVD version because of the small price gap between the two. What I absolutely LOVE about this machine is having all (or most) of my CDs able to be played though randomly. Granted, a few minutes are spent setting up with the akward menu system, but once set, this thing will play forever until I stop it. I have to wonder why I have to scroll though a menu for such a common function as shuffle, though? Here is the exact procedure for starting the process. Turn on machine. Default folder is "ALL". Hit folder button once to show the "ALL" folder, again to move to "DVD" folder, and once again to move to "CD" folder. Now, you cannot access the menu that contains the shuffle function unless a disc is playing, so hit play. After disc loads, hit "display" button twice to get to correct menu. Scroll down 6 items, then hit right arrow to enter shuffle menu, then down once for random disc, or down twice for random tracks across all discs[my preferred]. So yes, there is definitely truth in the poor menu design complaints. But, after doing this daily, I basically can do it with my eyes closed, and don't even need the TV on. As far as performance, I have had this nearly two years now and never had a single problem other. I often leave it playing CDs at random for hours, if not days at a time. Playback is flawless (I use the optical output). DVD,s too (via component)all play perfectly. I too wish more DVD manufacturers would include pictures and title info.One last thing that bothers me...I had dreams of burning comp discs of MP3's to load and play randomly, but after trying the few I already had, the machine really doesn't like them much. It pretty much ignores MP3 discs in random mode. Also, MP3 discs cannot be put into folders. Additionally, VCDs are auto grouped with CD's which can get annoying on random. I stopped storing VCDs in my machine for this reason. Well, I'm not sure my review will come across much better than the others. It is harder to expand upon the reasons I love this machine, and easy to draw out the negatives with detailed descriptions of the problems. All in all, I think most people with a sizeable collection would appreciate all that this unit has to offer, and like myself, overlook even it's glaring flaws.

Very satisfied
I have had this player for a few months now and have been very satisfied with it.The price through Amazon was the best that I found, even compared to military exchange shopping.From my perspective, the best thing was eliminating the DVD mess around the TV.I have four small kids (8,6,3,2).Discs were constantly getting scratched and ruined.Not now.And they are able to navigate their movie selections easily.I printed up a numerical title list based on categories, "animated, little kids, children, action, drama, comedy, etc" and left room inbetween to add more movies as they come.
I read a previous review about the complaint about not having a single slot for rentals, etc.I was slightly worried about this when buying, but it really isn't a problem.You open the carasol and put it in any empty slot.Dial in the slot and the movie plays.No big deal!I recommend leaving slot 1 open for this purpose.Granted there are some things that could use improvement, but for what is out there now, I am very happy with it.I give it a four just because I know that faster and easier electronic/remote searching will be available in the future.But I don't think that it is any slower than finding the DVD in a box, unloading it, putting it in the DVD player and waiting for it to load.If you have kids, then this is a buy in my book.One other thing... you can childlock certain movies or even specific scenes on movies.Another plus with kids.
jfw. ... Read more