Lets Review

Pioneer DEH - P5550MP Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:09:00 +0000

Excellent piece costing me INR 10,000 in Grey market . all features of DEH-P5550MP + other features like slide in CD tray etc. Can be compared with Sony make Xplode series. (Sony Players have very good
Bass) This unit is having balanced Bass and Treble.

Ideal for small and medium cars. Best output available with Sub-woofer, tweeter and Speaker boxes.. Whispers can also be heard. Noi squeaky or hiss or disturbance due to car ignition and engine. Can be used with car Indoor electronic antenna.

Specifications: CD Features Improved S-10.1 Mechanism CD-R and CD-RW Compatible MP3 File Playback from CD-R/RW WMA File Playback from CD-R/RW WAV File Playback from CD-R/RW CD Text with Scroll 1-Bit D/A Converter, 8fs Digital Filter Disc Title Memory (48-disc, in-dash)

Track Scan Pause Repeat Random Play 8cm Disc Direct Loading Track / Manual Search Supertuner Features Supertuner IIID with Digital Processing Provision for upgrade to DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) Automatic Seek (Up / Down) 24-station 6 preset buttons 18 FM and 6 AM presets BSM (Best Stations Memory) Selectable Local / DX Selectable Local Seek Sensitivity 9kHz / 10kHz AM switching Multiplay CD Control Features CD Text Display with Title Scroll ITS (Instant Track Selection) Disc Title Memory , 8 characters Track & Disc Scan Disc List Search Repeat Play (Track/Disc/Mag) CD Pause

Sony - CDX-GT350S Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:03:00 +0000

m changing my review alil..earlire was when i just got into car audio..and now when m fully into it
i had read the posted reviews and m sure they dont kno ne thin about car audio.
this cdx gt350 was my 2nd system and the worst thing happened is i bought this. let me tell u sony is not good for car audio.

this sys do hav a nice output from uilt in amp nd nothing else.no looks,no sound quality,bad radio reciever,takes a lotta time to read nd change a track....skips a lot ...a lot ...if theres a bump u’ll skipping is guaranteed...this is a just fukin shit. gives u lotta bass and highs(dso setting).but where is the mids.

muzic should be heared as it is..m a sq lover no spl for me!! hope ppl here understand sq and spl...and there4 there should be a balance of frequencies which is not in sony..of course what can u except from such a cheap unit. i wanna ask pplusing sony had they heared better brands?sm xpensive unit..if they had not plz do listen !!how can u judge that sony isnt crap..or just sony sells more so itz the best..plz....
blaupunkt got chinese so dont buy it..quality highly hampered..
alpine- for indian users ,coz v dont spend much ..best in its price range
pioneer better than sony but cannot touch alpine even if they put their all efforts..
eclllipse even better than alpine--highly priced
nakamichi..for high end customers

the list is endless..alpine is truely the winner among INDIAN BUYERS..better than pioneer sony kenwood or ne u kno.yes even blaupunkt.
even jbl is chnese now highly loss of quality..

sony is like maruti 800
pioneer like alto
alpine like accord
and one cannot compare 800 and alto with cars like accord can u?
the only advice i’ll give as a frnd is save till u get the best.this might take years

Blaupunkt Car Audios Blaupunkt Munich CM168 Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 15:02:00 +0000

I purchased Munich (made in Germany) for my Ikon long time back when it was for Rs.14000/-

- Essentially its a Cassette player, u can listen 2 radio & attach a Blaupunkt’s Multi CD Changer which can b operated from d head-unit itself.
Comes with an easy 2 use remote control. U can even instal its ever jazzy steerin wheel remote control - extremely useful 4 occupant of drivers seat.

- Sound quality -
Sound quality is 4 u 2 decide.
Gud or bad.
I ll tel u how...
Dere r 2 parts 2 it...
1) Sounds of Higher frequencies can disappoint many music lovers (It means Treble is very low even when full Treble is selected).
2) Even if Sounds of Higher Frequencies r low it doesnot mean dat dese frequencies r absent. D best part of d Stereo is - It plays each & every sound - Right from d Lowest frequency 2 d Highest.
Tho d worst part is ofcourse discussed - Treble is low.

- Frequency bands -
Only d ’Volume’ of d preset frequency of Bass & Treble can b changed.
U cannot adjust d Middle frequencies. - Gud 4 those who like a simple car stereo.

- Power -
Its has 160 Watts RMS output, distributed 40 Watts in 4 channels.
But if u compare it with some other car stereos of similar output, chances r u shal find it ’Less Powerful’ dan many others.

- User friendliness -
More or less user friendly controls.

- Looks -
Looks of a Munich r very simple (’decent’ 4 many ppl)
but I personally luv sumthin funkier dan it.

- Display -
Bright & gud display at night when its dark
but wonder wht happens 2 its display lights during d day time
coz it becums extremely low dat time.

- Customer care & service -

Very very poor (Query, Technical related )
& many a times very costly too (repair jobs).

- Features -

Some realy gud features (now ofcourse dey come in almost every gud car stereo) for ’’emotional satsfaction’’ - U can watch ur personal greetings bein displayed everytim d system is switchd on like in ur mobile phones & so forth...
but Nothin realy relating 2 sound - essentially only Bass & Treble boosters.

- Product quality -
Quality is ’’Okay-kinds’’ (not ’dat’ gud).
One commonest problem I find in all d Munichs is d Volume-Wheel (See in d image d round thing on d left side) stops workin properly afta a few weeks of usage.
Tho even den d Remote control can b used 2 change d Volume PERFECTLY well.
A little less common problem can b d problems relating 2 Display afta 2 to 3 yrs of usage.

- My suggestions -

...If u r one who luvs 2 listen 2 good & high bass & treble (& overall sound quality)
without wanting 2 install a high wattage amplifier
or without installing an amplifier - DO NOT BUY IT
coz dere r exceedingly much much better options in d market (like ANY model of Pioneer with Blaupunkt/Pioneer speakers wud do wonders 4 u in this case).

- On d otha hand, if u r more like me (m a DJ) - who luves 2 listen 2 amazingly gud bass & treble (& overall sound quality)
at extrodinarily high volumes,
who wants to get an amplifier of power ’’MORE THAN’’ RMS 350 Watts per channel (dat is 700 Watts for 2 speakers, 1400 Watts for 4 & so on...)
& also if such an amplifier has Bass & Treble boosting gainers - YOU MUST go in for MUNICH.
Nothing can beat it den...

- 2 conclude,
Blaupunkt stereos at large r now not really ’’BLAUPUNKT’’.
Now their stuf is further dwngraded & dey sel us made in India stereos (with poor product quality) (their best unit I learned is in Germany)
& dey charge so hefty as if dey r payin custom duties on it.

Anyways keep hvn interest in Music! -

Blaupunkt Car Audios Blaupunkt Jackson CM148 Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 15:01:00 +0000

Highway or a congested city road…driving can be fun if your car is equipped with the right stereo.
Buying the right stereo…Whew! A real food for thought since most of us spend considerable

time travelling.

Ok ….sooo…which one to go for…??

Branded or an expensive one need not necessarily be the right choice instead buying form a grey market sometimes serves the purpose of good car stereo (none-the-less it comes with no warranty leave alone an anti-theft insurance!)
not to forget the locally assembled stereos that are also good.
Make sure whatever you buy listen to it while driving and then make a decision.
For the best demo check your friend’s car system…
Be very particular about the speakers than the head unit. If planning to shrimp and cut down on the system cost but still want a decent sounding system go for a pair of original brand speaker!
Going for flashy displays or illumination may not be a very good idea especially if you are colour blind. Blaupunkt does a pretty decent job at this. If you are not the gaudy types avoid Pioneer.
Also test the car stereos by sitting in the front seat. At the rear seat all systems sound good.
If you are not confident about the quality of the package mix ‘n’ match can be a neat idea…whatever you do make sure the speakers are branded.
For good branded speakers I suggest you go in for Blaupunkt they do a fine job!

…and the last word of caution ….if you are really passionate about your system beware those thieves!!

Blaupunkt Car Audios Blaupunkt Boston Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:58:00 +0000

Hi friends,

Here is an example of how a good product loses customer trust by some poor service. Right from the day I bought my car, I wanted to fit a Blaupunkt system onto it. Now that I already have a Blaupunkt fitted in my car, I regret having made the choice in the first place. Strangely this is not due to the quality or performance of the product, but due to the insensitive behaviour of Blaupunkt service personnel. What more, two mails to the Head of Blaupunkt sales in India and even the Managing Director of MICO (the frontal organisation for Blaupunkt in India) about this, hasn’t yielded even a simple acknowledgement, let alone a favourable response.

It all started when I began to experience problems with the in-cabin audio output from my new Blaupunkt system. The speaker output started creating physical noise, the honking started having interference noises, the radio started making strange noises and there was a general drop in the radio signal levels beyond a point within the city.

I promptly complained about this to the Blaupunkt team in the beginning of this year. There was of course a response from the regional sales head with a promise that the problem would be solved on his visit to Bangalore. But nothing happened after that till today (even after a month), except for a call from the local service person asking for a time to come and meet me.

However, what has really put me off is the way the senior people at Blaupunkt have approached this problem. I feel that they are simply not bothered about my problem as the system (Boston) is a low end system and I am the singular complainant about this product. They probably have felt that, it doesn’t cost much if one guy is dissatisfied.

Nothing can be more frustrating to the beleaguered customer than to get no response from even the Head of Blaupunkt Operations in India, not even an acknowledgement of the mail and no effort being made to understand the problem. This from a multinational of German origin, known for its precision and professionalism, comes to me as a rude shock. Being part of an MNC myself, I find it surprising that a German MNC like Bosch can entertain such casual approach to customer service at its Indian operations.

Now, to top it all, Blaupunkt guys haven’t even bothered to respond even when I’ve offered to return the system back. I have now come to a stage where more than the solution to my car audio problems I would be happy if Blaupunkt service engineers just rid me of this system.

Credits :Vinay

Blaupunkt Car Audios Blaupunkt Melbourne RCM148 Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:56:00 +0000

do not of the origin of the system or actully i am not sure but i think it is german ,anyway whatever it may be the point is the output is marvelous, the kind of clarity it gives even with audio tapes is amazing ,it`s noise filters work exceptionaly well.

once u here it on a Blaupunkt the same music on something else might give u a feel that the other system is out of order its the best

Alpine Car Audios Alpine TDA-7563E Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:53:00 +0000

I’m a big Pioneer Fan, so much so, to compliment a system from a another company, really shows how good the system is. Let me first admit the fact that i did not buy the system but it came as original equipment in my Honda VTEC.

First of all, Alpine is the original equipment to Lamborghini, so it speaks volumes for the brand (not that anyone’s gonna listen to music rather than that V12 roar). Secondly even David Beckham has an Alpine in his car.(Man U fans better buy what their idol buys)

In the looks department, Alpine has fallen way behind behind competitors such as Pioneer, Kenwood and Clarion . (The new Pioneer systems with their amazing faceplate looks really good). Alpine has retained its traditional transparent buttons for this one. (Nothing like the simplistic design of a Nakamichi). The remote is a slim ( not the card type like Pioneer)and quality piece with all the essential controls, does comes to use when using the system from the back seat rather than have my driver fiddle with the head unit.

Love the way the buttons make a CLICK sound whenever any adjustments have to be made. Real Quality stuff. Don’t feel the way the new Pioneer systems have ( that cheap Malaysia build quality). The system has normal features with tape and CD controls. Normal bass, treble, fade and balance controls. No equalizer though. The ergonomics on this system is perfect, that is, the system can be adjustment while on the move (try doing that with a Kenwood - u’ll have a good Kenwood system and NO car ). Don’t know how the tape sounds cause i don’t have any (tapes i e ) and with the radio rocking who needs tapes anyway. Alpine CD players are more pricier than the competition. If your going for a system now, buy one with an in-built cd player or just the controls to a Multi-cd player, forget the tape player, cause u might never use it. Also do be carefull and find out whether the CD player plays CD RW’s, most of them play CD R’s, but they don’t play CD RW’s. Alpine’s just comeout with an Multi CD player that plays MP3 CD’s (not too great because all the companies have one now).

Most important of all is the sound with which the Alpine unit does not fail to impress. Good quality highs and lows with good punch. Infact among all the systems availible in the price range, Alpine systems have the best frequency rates ofcourse you need compatible speakers to fully exploit their potential. An amplify with subwoofer would be an overkill, but so far i’ve not decided to buy one.

The final reason why anyone should buy an Alpine rather than a Pioneer would be that incase of trouble, Alpine provides warranty. Like my faceplate had a problem with the remote, so they changed my whole faceplate. If that happens to your Pioneer you can frame that faceplate cause no distributor will exchange that for you. Alpine units always are a bit on the pricier side but that’s the premium you pay for quality sound.

Fiber Optical Toslink Digital Audio Optic Interface 6 Foot Cable Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:50:00 +0000

As stated in other reviews, bits are bits. If they get from one system component to another, you're doing just as well with a $9 cable as a $60 one. Monster and other companies are ripping consumers off with gobbledeygook buzzwords designed to obscure the mind and open the pocketbook.

I have installed this cable in my system, and its performance delivering 5.1 channel and DTS from my DVD player to my receiver is flawless. Identical to the other more expensive optical cable I have.

One thing to note: While the list price of this item is $3.25, the shipping was around $6, which is pretty high, but for a total of $9 or so, you get what you'd have to pay $20 or more for at other outlets. $9 is a very good price compared to the rest of the market for optical cable.

Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote Control Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:50:00 +0000

I'm not entirely sure this would be the end-all-be-all of remotes, but it sure comes close. I suspect if I spent $1,000 or more on a Pronto, I'd be a little more decisive, but the Harmony is still an excellent middle-range remote.

Set up was quick and painless. The Harmony knew about all my devices, so I didn't need to go thru the painful process of head-to-head training.

Once my devices were defined, setup walked me thru a wizard which assigned the most logical "activities" to the remote. "Activities" are basically macros - power on the selected components, select the proper inputs/outputs, and assign the buttons.

An example is "Watch a DVD". This powers on the TV and selects VIDEO5, powers on the receiver and selects the DVD/LD input, and then powers on the DVD player.

The wizard asked how I control the volume or channels for each activity. When I watch cable, I use the TV volume; when I watch a DVD, I use the receiver volume; and so on.

This may sound a little confusing, but going thru the wizard takes only about 10 minutes. If you compare this to other remotes, you would have to press about six or seven buttons, and even then, you'd not have full functionality.

If you're not happy with the Activities, you can redefine things. I changed the behaviour of the VCR, which defaults to pressing play when you select "Watch a video".

When you're using Activities, the Device button will still let you fully control any device. I like to watch TV with Closed Caption, and that was actually easier to do with the Harmony than the factory Sony remote!

My only gripe is the physical buttons. They're a little small and placed right next to each other, so it can be easy to fumble. I find that I need two-handed operation when I want to fast-forward my VCR, because the FF/REW buttons are in an awkward location which makes it hard for my fingers to find.

SanDisk SDSDH-2048-901 2 GB Ultra II Secure Digital Memory Card (Retail Package) Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:49:00 +0000

I've heard people having problems with this card using older cameras and readers. I've taken 3500 pictures with my Canon Powershot S80 and have never had a problem. I download my pictures using a Lexar 7 in 1 reader. I never use the camera software since it's half-baked and designed for newbies who lack access to Photoshop, it's browser or the bridge.

Before deciding not to benefit from the extra space this 2gb card offers, check your camera manufacturer's site to see if your camera is compatible. Most older camera's and readers will not work with this card and those that do, usually require you to format the card in-camera before you use it.

Great storage space for vacations. I might need to get a second card.

JBuds Hi-Fi Noise-Reducing Ear Buds (Black) Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:48:00 +0000

I bought these headphones to replace my Sony MDR-EX51LP Fontopia Headphones. I like these better for one two reasons
1) completely superficial reason - it matches my black ipod
2) completely non superficial reason - it's better for my hearing

I typcially keep the sound on my ipod locked at 75% to minimize damage to my ears. With these JBuds I don't have to take that precaution, because I never have to raise the volume up that high. And I listen to my ipod chiefly going back and forth on the subway in D.C., where it can be pretty difficult to block out the sound of the train. I'm really glad I bought them.

Two words of caution, however. First, I don't think the sound is as good as it was with the Sony headphones. I listen mostly to podcasts and audiobooks, though, so it doesn't affect me much. Also, I'm not an audiophile so my standards aren't that high. Secondly, I've gone through 3 pairs of these types of headphones due to the rubber tips falling off. While I prefer these type of headphones to other in-ear phones (I've got small ears, and other types hurt), this is getting pretty aggravating. So electronic companies? Work on that.

Cables Unlimited 6FT HDmi Cable Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:47:00 +0000

You're not going to get a better picture spending more for an HDMI cable. However, if you buy a cheap cable, you're more likely to get one that'll break easily. That is exactly what happened to one of these cables I bought. The connector on one end of the cable broke the first day I got it as I plugged it in a jack a couple times while setting up my home theater system. (Fortunately I should be able to get a full refund from Amazon).

I would recommend the Impact Acoustics cable over this one. It may be a couple bucks more, but it feels much more sturdy.

TiVo AG0100 Wireless G USB Network Adapter for TiVo Series2 & Series3 DVRs

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:46:00 +0000

This Tivo Wireless Adapter is way better than the D-Link usb wireless adapter I was using on my Tivo. The performance increase (transfer speed from Tivo to PC using Tivo Desktop software) was about 25-40%. Signal reception also improved as displayed on the Tivo itself to "Good 70%" instead of "Fair 50%".

I highly recommend this adapter if you are interested in taking advantage of some of Tivo's more advanced functionlity like transfering programs to your PC to burn to DVD or transfer to other Tivos in your house.

Sony Quick Battery Charger with 4 AA Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:46:00 +0000

While Sony's "super-quick" charger is a solid product and the price includes 4 high-capacity (2300mAh) NiMH batteries, the charging time is too long, at 4-5 hours. You can find a 1-hour charger at Radio Shack for the same price. Trust me, a lot of times you want to get the batteries charged very quickly, rather than waiting 4 hours.

In fact, I highly recommend Rayovac's 15-minute charger. You do need to get their special 15-minute NiMH batteries, but when you buy the charger it already comes with 2 or 4, depending on the kit. (I believe it's now $25 for the 2-AA kit and $30 or $35 for the 4-AA kit. You can also find them at Radio Shack under the Radio Shack brand, but still made by Rayovac.) When I use my digital cameras (Minolta and the SB-800 flash for my Nikon D70) being able to recharge the batteries in 15 minutes is just awesome. That's 1/16 the time needed on this Sony charger. (Do note that, the Rayovac charger charges regular NiMH batteries in 8 hours.)

BTW, reviwer "H. Yu" is in correct in stating that fast chargers can damage NiMH batteries. Most manufacturers claim that fast charging does not necessarily shortern the battery's life. The speed boost mostly comes in advances in battery chemistry, not some high-voltage forcing charge. Prior to getting the Rayovac 15-minute, I had been usign a RAdio Shack 1-hour charger for years and had charged teh same batteries probably 500 times or more with no depreciation in capacity. I'm a big battery user and NiMH is a godsend that saves money and the environment.

In short, while this Sony charger is a solid NiMH recharger, you may want to spend the same amount of money on a Rayovac 15-minute charger which saves you a lot of time and may come in extermely handy the times when you need your batteries fast. Feel free to write me at hotmail with questions.

Transcend 8GB SDHC CARD (SD 2.0 SPD Class 6) Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:45:00 +0000

This 8GB SDHC is my second Transcend SD card. My first was an 1GB SD.

After having used some real slowpoke doozies in my Treos (namely Ritek, PNY, and "generic" cards of capacities between 1-4GB), I would rate these as good or better than SanDisk Ultra II's for quality and speed. The 1GB 120x Transcend SD card seemed almost as fast, but this Class 6 SDHC card is the fastest SD card I've ever owned. Saving 300k photos is almost instant and so is switching between apps and email stored on the card.

Note, though, if using on the Palm OS - it will show only 4GB available; however, once you fill up the first 4GB, it will then show the actual remaining capacity. It does not affect the amount (7.5GB) of usable space, though. This is a quirk of the PalmOS rather than the card. Using an SD-to-USB adaptor, the capacity shows correctly.

I can't wait to get my hands on the 16GB version from Transcend (and later the 32GB version) at a reasonable price (i.e., when they fall under $100).

DLO HipCase Leather Folio for iPod touch (Black) Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:44:00 +0000

IMO this is one of the nicest looking & feeling leather cases for the Touch. I specifically chose it because of the flip top (in order to protect the screen) & also because of the fairly open bottom (thinking I could still manage to dock it in a cradle while in the case)...

Well, needless to say the later part was wishful thinking on my part as the Touch is not dockable into a cradle while in this case (the case makes the unit a bit wider & more so also extends below the bottom of the Touch by about 1/8" - pushing it further away from the bottom of the docking cradle, hence further from the dock connector).

Out of the box it was a very nice fit, but I have noticed that after 2 weeks use that the fit is a bit looser now. This combined with the soft surface liner inside the leather case now allows the Touch to move about. This has me concerned (i.e. that it can slide in & out) as once the flip top is flipped to the open position, the top of the case is open. Accidentally turn it upside down with the flap open & your asking for a potential drop of your Touch out of the case.

For fear of this I'm now getting a cheap, thin Black Silicone Skin to put over the Touch & then slide it back into the DLO Leather Case. I similarly did this practice for my Nano & it kept it very securely within it's DLO Nano leather case (as leather does give/stretch a bit).

Sony 2 GB Memory Stick PRO Duo (MSX-M2GS)(Retail Package) Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:44:00 +0000

Remembering the saga, 'buying cheap and paying twice', too well, I chanced on the largest Memory Stick Pro Duo available. I have not regretted my decision after using it with my Sony DSC-W100 digital camera.

The 8,1-megapixel photos are written to the stick so fast that I never wait before taking next photo. I took about 500 8,1-megapixel photos and about 5 minute video before the stick became almost full.

My advice is to buy the largest you can afford. You'll be grateful for it.

SanDisk 2 GB SDSDX3-2048-901 Extreme III SD Memory Card (Retail Package) Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:43:00 +0000

With my equipment, this 'Extreme' card is faster than an 'Ultra' only in a few situations. Usually, the two cards perform identically, and you can buy three Ultra's for the price of two 'Extremes'.

The 'Extreme' captured 29 RAW images in 30 seconds, while an Ultra captured only 23 (the camera supposedly can capture 3 frames/second). Using the computer's USB 2.0 card reader, the Extreme uploaded just a tad slower than the Ultra (1.2 seconds/frame, vs. 1.15 seconds/frame). When capturing JPG's, the two cards were about equal (85 vs. 86 frames in 30 seconds) with the Ultra a tad faster... a negligible difference.

If the camera could capture 5 frames/second instead of 3, or the card reader were faster, the 'Extreme' card might have been faster than the 'Ultra'; but this is the equipment I have.

So, if you know your equipment can take advantage of the extra speed and you'd rather have the slight speed advantage than have three cards ($29/each) for the price of two ($43/each), consider the 'Extreme'. Otherwise, I'd recommend using the 'Ultra'.

Canon CLI-8 4-Color Multipack Ink Tanks Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:41:00 +0000

I've discovered that the inconvenience may outweigh the few dollars saved by purchasing the combination pack. My Cyan and Magenta cartridges lasted only 4 weeks and 6 weeks respectively while the others are still going. Purchasing more combination packs would have resulted in a backlog of unused ink.

You might order the package now and then (I wish it included regular black ink), but given the staggered depletion of ink cartridges, it frequently makes more sense to order the single cartridge. Moreover, the combination of Amazon's one-click ordering and no-postage Prime membershp makes it no less practical for the consumer to order individual cartridges as they expire (though I'm sure Amazon prefers to send out large quantities in the same order).

Logitech Harmony 890 Advanced Universal Remote Control Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:40:00 +0000

I've just upgraded to the Harmony 1000, and talk about fantastic. Nice, easy to read screen and hard buttons, especially if you need glasses to read. Well worth the added price (since the RF receiver isn't bundled with the 1000).

---

3 years ago, I purchased my first Harmony remote, the 768. At the time, I wrote that it was the best universal remote, bar none. I've since purchased a Harmony 668 for another setup, and have recommended various Harmony remotes to my friends. It was now time for me to update my home system.

Based on the numerous reviews, many over a year old, I was hesitant to give the Harmony 890 a try. I'm glad that I did! With the latest Harmony Software and firmware updates (which are automatically installed the first time you connect your devices), my experience has been excellent. And Amazon's price is outstanding - the same that local "discount" chains are selling the non-RF capable model.

I have had no problems configuring both the 890 remote and RF wireless extender under Mac OS X (Intel and PPC) and Windows XP clients. Clearly this is a different experience from the early adopters who bought this a year ago.

Some background - I'm an electronics geek and audiophile. My system is complex, and with more components (12) than the average home setup. In my opinion, if the Harmony can be configured to control all aspects of my environment, then it should handle any configuration as long as you have the patience to work through Harmony's setup wizards and lack of adequate documentation.

Initial setup is easy - install the Harmony software, connect and register, connect your devices (firmware will be automatically updated) and then specify what components you have, and what activities you want them to be in. If that's all you need to configure, there's not much work.

In my instance, I wanted all aspects to be controlled - changing sound modes on the amplifier depending on input source, switching to the optimal input on the TV monitor, controlling all component functions on the remote. This takes some time, and some learning through the sometimes quirky Harmony wizards. But in time, I was successful.

As I've mentioned in my past review of the 768, one of the real differentiators of the Harmony remotes is their ability to intelligently understand the STATE of various devices, and what commands are needed to establish a setting. For example, they will remember if your TV was last ON or OFF, what input it was set to, etc. For some devices, without separate settings for On/Off, or for selecting inputs, this is a lifesaver. And if the remote ever gets out of sync, you can just hit the Help button and it will prompt you through.

The included RF wireless receiver is great capability, allowing you to control devices in separate rooms without a line-of-sight from the remote to the components. However, I would recommend against using the RF receiver at first. Instead, configure the remote for all of your devices using the IR commands. Then, add the RF receiver and change your inputs. (See my separate review of the Logitech Harmony RF receiver for complete details).

Although the screen isn't very large, it is easy to read, providing 8 selections per screen. I prefer the Harmony 890's use of physical buttons to the touchscreen-only approach of other remotes, which force you to look at the screen each time.

Also a nice touch, the Harmony 890 has a motion sensor that will turn on the backlight when you pick up the remote.

There areas that could be improved:

> The included documentation is almost useless. Logitech attempts to be user friendly but in the process it ends up being so oversimplified it is of little use.

> Some remote commands (for example, the sound mode settings on my Sony receiver) cannot be learned except in "RAW" mode. This is not the standard Learning mode, and I only found it by searching various online forums.

> The Mac OS X client software can sometimes lose "focus", where it will stop responding to the keyboard (for example, for naming a learned command, renaming an activity, etc). It is easily worked around - just quit and restart the Harmony client software.

> The Harmony client software has a resizeable window, but the actual content doesn't adjust to fit the window size. this is annoying when setting up custom button settings.

> Once you add the RF receiver to your configuration, you must always plug it in and update it, even when you make a minor change that shouldn't affect the RF receiver. I'd recommend placing it (and plugging it to a power source) where it is easy to disconnect/reconnect from your system.

> You can only define 16 favorite channels for a TV activity. This would seem to be an easy change for Logitech (the remote itself is not limited to 2-screenfuls of information).

> The buttons are laid out for appearance not ergonomics. If you have trouble reading without glasses, it may be tough to read the labels on this remote.

Even with these limitations, I still give this a 5-star recommendation, and would recommend it without reservations.

Some tips:
1) Make sure you let the Harmony software update the remote AND the wireless RF receiver to the latest firmware

2) Remove the RF receiver from your initial setup, and configure for IR only. Once you're satisfied with all your settings and configurations, then it is simple to add the wireless RF receiver.

3) Configure the RF receiver to send commands to a specific channel (there are 4 different channels with 2 IR emitters on each wire) to minimize interference and improve performance. But, make sure if you do this that you label the IR emitter wires!

4) Harmony now has a Media Center device profile for the AppleTV. The trick is that you need to assign Volume Up to the Direction Up key, Volume Down to the Direction Down key, and Play to the Select key. When you do, the Harmony can control the AppleTV, even with the RF receiver, properly repeating commands to accelerate through the AppleTV menus. The profile is even smart enough to send the PowerOff sequence (hold down Play for 5 seconds).

5) If a learned command doesn't work, click on the "Custom" button at the bottom of the Learn IR screen, and then try to learn the command in "RAW" mode.

6) If you search the internet for "Harmony Remote icons" you can find several sites where people have gone through the work of creating custom icons for the Favorite Channels. This is something that Logitech should provide themselves, but they don't.

SanDisk 2GB SD Memory Card 2 GB (SDSDB-2048, Bulk Package) Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:38:00 +0000

This is a common thing I've found on the internet, especially on Ebay, but more and more on Amazon these days too. I selected several SD memory cards, placed them in my cart. When I went to check out, the total for the cards was about $70. The shipping was more than $85., and the tax was more than $12. The actual shipping charges would be less than $5. I don't know why these people do business this way.

At best its dishonest, and at worse, its fraud. For me its a complete turn-off, and I won't do business with these kind of people. I just wish Amazon had a way for me to filter these merchants from my searches so I don't waste so much of my time. As this practice becomes more frequent on Amazon, I find myself using Amazon less. I can see a time in the near future where I'll only use Amazon for book purchases.

SanDisk 2GB MicroSD/TransFlash Card with SD Adapter (SDSDQ-2048, Bulk Package) Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:37:00 +0000

As described at the top of this page, this is a "bulk package" card, meaning it doesn't come in a pretty package. All you get is the carrying case with the Micro SD card and SD adapter inside. Who need the packaging anyway? You're just going to throw it away as soon as you get your card out ;) Rest assured, it is in fact a brand new, official card (well... at least the one I got from the seller "a-depot" was).

FWIW, I chose the seller "a-depot" because, if you include shipping costs, they were the cheapest seller period. 2gb transflash for $30.39 shipped. Just wow.

Use:
I plugged in into my card reader and it mounted instantly. Actual usable space on the card showed up as 1.89 GB. I did a couple tests with a 30MB file and found that the transfer rates over USB2 (on my system at least) are consistently 1mb/s for both read AND write.

After copying over a few MP3's, I moved the card into my Verizon Motorola Krzr. Everything showed up right away. Not much more to say.

Cables To Go - 40315 - 2M (6.5ft) Velocity HDMI Digital Video Cable (Blue) Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:36:00 +0000

Okay, folks...we're talking about digital signals here. A digital signal gets there, or it doesn't. This isn't like analog signals where increased resistance or poor shielding of the wire degrades your sound and picture.

This cable does what I need it to do for about 15% of the cost of most of the alternatives out there. My picture looks great, I can get 1080p out of my Playstation 3, and I saved some bucks in the process. I couldn't be happier.

From some of the reviews, you'd get the impression that this cable is exceedingly thin or poorly manufactured. Not true. It does have gold-plated ends, it fits snugly in the sockets--won't pop out from its own weight, but also will come loose instead of dragging your equipment to the floor if someone trips over it.

And I got news for you: I used to work at Best Buy, and stuff like cables have some of the highest mark-up in the store. Yup, most of what you're paying for those $100 cables--probably somewhere around $75--is going straight in to the "Profit" column in the ledger.

Garmin Portable Friction Mount for Nuvi, StreetPilot I Series & C530, C550 (010-10908-00) Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:35:00 +0000

The first time I tried this mount was in a rental car for a Garmin C530, and I never thought it would stay on the slightly sloping dash of the Pontiac Grand Prix but it held firm going up and down San Francisco's hilly roads. That prompted me to buy one for my car. Essentially this mount is a bean bag with a mouse pad like rubber base but its engineered to stay where you put it and not slide around unless you move it. The good thing is that it stays put even if you brake suddenly.

The advantages are:
- No sticking on windshield. This is a BIG advantage as the windshield mount starts to come off easily after a year of usage, less if you leave it in your car while it's parked in the sun. There is nothing worse than your GPS sliding off while you're driving round a tricky bend, especially if you are new to the area. Sometimes it can be downright dangerous.
- The windshield mount also alerts thieves that a GPS is in the car. A friction mount can be placed down under the car seat when you leave the car without needing to disconnect anything so that you're ready to go quickly when you come back to the car.
- The other big advantage is the ability to move it around to the position you want it. If a passenger is sitting in your car you can just slide it to their side and they can input the information while you are driving. It also makes it easy to slide it closer to yourself.

This mount works for all Nuvis as they have the "snap the ball in the joint". If you buy any model of Nuvi then this is all you need, no other adapter parts are needed. It's also easy to switch this mount between cars or move it to a rental car when you travel. It has been the best and most useful accessory I could buy for my Nuvi 660.

Kingston 2GB Secure Digital Memory Card (SD/2GB, Retail Package) Customer / User Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:33:00 +0000

I bought this for my Canon digital camera. The camera shoots photos up to 8Megs and does high-resolution video as well. I originally had a 256MB San Disk SD Card in there because that used to be considered a BIG memory card. It worked fine, but I was constantly pulling it out to dump the photos or videos onto my computer so I could take more. At an event where I was taking lots of photos, I would literally run off to dump the card and I would limit my use of the video since it takes a lot of memory.

I finally bought this Kingston card because I saw it on sale. It works fine as well and I can't tell you how nice it is not to have to constantly be worried about whether I've got enough memory left and will miss a photo or video shot! This thing has so much memory that at times when I'd usually be thinking about dumping the data onto my computer I find I can still take hundreds of photos or lots of video (after all, it's about 10x more memory)! This has really been a big improvement for me and I'm really glad I bought it.

With the price of memory these days this card is extremely affordable. If you're working with anything less and/or ever worry about having enough memory in your camera, I would just go ahead an invest in this. It's really worthwhile!

NOTE: I'm writing here about the plain Kingston 2GB SD card. I've noticed Amazon sometimes groups reviews of similar items so you might see this posted under one of the premium or high-speed Kingston 2GB SD card listings. My only comment is that I've never noticed any significant lag or delay using this in my digital camera for either photos or video. If it's there compared to the premium cards, I can't tell the difference. This includes when there are few photos on the card and when the card is almost full. YMMV.