Saturday 30 April 2011

Bella Band - belly band, gifts for pregnant women


The Belly Belt is awesome and I rate it five stars, but only when used in conjunction with a Bellaband. (I'd rate it three stars by itself). Use the Belly Belt to hold your pants closed allowing the extra space you need, then fold the BellaBand down over it. Voila! Smooth and secure, your pants stay up, are bigger to fit your growing belly, and the BellaBand covers the unzipped zipper (and looks like a layered cami). This combination has allowed me to wear all of my regular clothes comfortably through my first trimester, and unless my hips widen considerably, I think I can do the same through part or most of my second trimester.



You can use this product alone and it's comfortable, but it causes the open zipper area to bulge and crinkle, so you definitley want to wear a long and possibly voluminous top over it. Or perhaps a long cami to smooth the zipper area.



Specifically about the Belly Belt combo: I love this set. It has three colored panels (black, white, denim) to fill the v left by the open zipper. There are four belts, a small and large, each in two styles. Style one: buttons for use with jeans, khakis,and other zip/button pants. Style two: hook/sliders for use with slacks, dress/work pants. Each belt has three size settings so the belts can grow as your belly does. It's a great invention, I recommend this (and the BellaBand) as your VERY FIRST maternity clothes!! Maternity Belly Belt Combo Kit - Affordable Versatile Maternity Wear

The idea is great, however I rarely used it. I used the smallest button one a few times and the rest of them not at all. Even the small one is still too big. I went back to using a hair tie around the button and through the loop. i never used the fabric pieces either. I think the problem is I'm small(size 2) so my hips get pretty big when I'm pregnant(size 9) and therefore I can't really wear my pants too long before I have to get another size. It might work better for someone who stays in their pants the whole time and just needs more room for their belly.

My wife is 5 months along and really likes this extender. She had been using a rubber band to wear some of her pants but this is nice as it has multiple settings and covers the underwear.



She's been using it pretty much every day to keep wearing her old pants.

This works awesome!!! The belly bands go around the body so they slide or roll up often. This belt extension kept my pants up where they belong after sitting and standing which the bands didn't. This stays in place and is hard to notice. I would've saved money over my pregnancy if I bought this first! You can stay in normal, versus maternity, clothes for many months!

Material is not rough on the body and is pretty soft/silky! Has not fallen off but it does not always feel that secure because I'm quite petite. Colors are not the greatest, but they more than work. Panels cover the abdomen adequately and as advertised. Note the belts only come in two sizes of both button and hook/eye, if you are small you might need a safety pin to help attach them securely. Overall a useful product if you don't want to buy maternity pants all you have to do is cover the top (i.e., wear tops over your trousers)!

This is nice when you are too small to fit into maternity clothes (or you just hate them like me) but I'm carrying my baby in my hips apparently, since I could not get most of my pants over my hips past 5 months (but still had no belly).

There is no way I would walk around with my zipper open even with the panel thing on, it still does not match your clothing color 100%.

I just ended up using the belt without the panels and using the 2 lace bella bands that I got from ebay to cover my open zipper.

The slider type button belt did not fit all my work pants (only the ones from Banana Republic which have a large slider) so if you have pants from say for example "Express" that have a small slider, the belt won't work.

I thought this was a nifty product but it left gaps between the belt "flap" piece and the pants. If I could have ever found maternity shirts long enough for me, that might not have been a concern, but it seems this summer was the season of fashion designers thinking all preggo mom's are 5 foot 2 or want to bare their belly for the world. Anyways, this product was not as useful as I hoped it would be, but I do intend to wear it postpartum for those days at home before I can completely get into my pre-baby wardrobe again. It is adjustable, well made, and can be useful. However, it wasn't AS useful as I'd hoped. - Gifts For Pregnant Women - Belly Band - Maternity - Pregnancy'


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Garmin Nuvi 255w - gps case, case logic


I purchased this case for the Garmin 760. I'm not sure why the other reviewer mentioned it did not fit the 760

but my brand new Garmin 760 fits perfectly inside with extra space! There is 1 inch of extra room on the top and 1/4" on each side. and plenty of room on top to close the zippered lid. All this while slipped into the mesh screened pocket inside.

It came with a soft cloth and wrist strap with a swivel clasp to connect to the case.

This is an awesome case with a little extra room for a memory card and protective shields. Case Logic GPSP-2 Professional GPS Case for 4.3-Inch Flatscreen GPS Navigators

I'm very pleased with my choice. I wanted something that would protect our new gps and this does the job very well. The case is very hard and zippers the gps screen in. Eliminating the possibility of it sliding out of it's case. A lot of the cases I looked at didn't mention the exact gps model we purchased, which has the larger 4.3 inch screen (garmin nuvi, 255W). This case does the job, very well. I looked at purchasing a case that would hold everything, but each one I found wasn't large enough. So,I decided to get this small case, which can also be carried in one's purse. When we get to our destination, we place the screen in the case and everything else (friction stand and connection cord) in a tote bag I already had, which keeps everything together. This has worked out great and a lot cheaper too!

This product has a few negative reviews and after receiving it from Amazon I have no idea why. First of all it is a stiff case. It's slightly flexible but still rigid enough to provide good protection for the GPS unit and everything else inside. I was amazed that I was able to fit the GPS unit, the car charger cord, the suction mount and the adapter for my Nuvi 760 all in the bag and it zipped up easily! It's just big enough to fit everything required for the GPS without any extra bulk to take up space in your suit case, laptop bag, glove box, etc.



The GPS unit slips out of the inside pocket easily and there is a bit extra padding next to the pocket to keep the screen on the GPS from getting crushed.



Excellent product and I'm glad I didn't let the negative reviews sway me from purchasing it!

This case is a useful accessory for any 4.3-inch, flat-screen GPS unit like my Garmin Nuvi 760. The price at $20 may be higher than some, but it is much more secure and protective than the Garmin cases, which are more like wallet/sleeves than cases. It also has an attractive, modern look to it.



Inside, there is a web netting dividing the interior, which could be used to carry notes, cash or the micro-fiber cloth that comes with it. The case is semi-rigid, and has two substantial stainless-steel zippers to secure it closed. This case will not pop upon and expell your GPS. A wrist strap is attached with a stainless-steel clasp; also an aid to preventing accidental damage by dropping the unit.



Highly recommended. Remember, it's only 4% of the cost of a $250 GPS

This case fits my Garmin nuvi 260W with room to spare at the top. The hard outer shell is well constructed, but no padding inside. A side mesh pocket holds the gps in place and a cleaning cloth is included. There are 2 elastic bands that keep the case from opening fully, but they are designed to keep the gps from sliding out the sides.



The case arrives wrapped in plastic, and the carry strap and cleaning cloth are held in place by a plastic tie which must be cut to use.

I really needed this case to keep my Garmin in. I don't tend to be the most organized person. This has many little pouches inside it to keep everything seperate so you can get to it. I have a 4.3 inch screen and the biggest pouch could hold it. Then there are smaller pouches for the cords along with little Velcro strips to keep your cords wrapped up.



I love that the individual pouches all have Velcro on the back of them so they will stick to the walls of the big case. When you open it the stuff doesn't all come tumbling out at you. Lastly, I am so happy with the fact that the case is hard. It's not hard plastic - but it's in no way a soft squishable case. It's perfect for me.



I would definitely recommend this product.

Saw this case at Target in the GPS section and thought it would fit my Nikon S52. Was not quite sure but bought it anyway. Fit perfict ..camera AND extra battery. Can't say enough for the sale price of $15. Feels like a piece of luggage: strong and sturdy. Love it for its non-intended purpose. A muti-tasker...

Case Logic has been setting standards for years in the area of protective cases, and they've done it again with this product. Sharp appearance, and ample protection. I should know. Ol' 'butter fingers' here has dropped his Case Logic case (with navigator inside) twice now, both times on hard surfaces. The outer case is rigid and protective. I am not sure just how much of a jolt it could absorb while protecting your unit from damage, but feel confident it would be more that the 30" to 40" drops I've subjected it to. There is a mesh net pocket on the inside to further secure your unit. Comes with a dual zipper opening, an optical quality cloth to clean your unit's touchscreen, and a clip-attachable lanyard for easy, secure transportation. Now...if we can just get 'butter fingers' to use the lanyard... ;-) - Gps - Gps Case - Nuvi Case - Case Logic'


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Garmin Nuvi 255w - gps case, case logic


I purchased this case for the Garmin 760. I'm not sure why the other reviewer mentioned it did not fit the 760

but my brand new Garmin 760 fits perfectly inside with extra space! There is 1 inch of extra room on the top and 1/4" on each side. and plenty of room on top to close the zippered lid. All this while slipped into the mesh screened pocket inside.

It came with a soft cloth and wrist strap with a swivel clasp to connect to the case.

This is an awesome case with a little extra room for a memory card and protective shields. Case Logic GPSP-2 Professional GPS Case for 4.3-Inch Flatscreen GPS Navigators

I'm very pleased with my choice. I wanted something that would protect our new gps and this does the job very well. The case is very hard and zippers the gps screen in. Eliminating the possibility of it sliding out of it's case. A lot of the cases I looked at didn't mention the exact gps model we purchased, which has the larger 4.3 inch screen (garmin nuvi, 255W). This case does the job, very well. I looked at purchasing a case that would hold everything, but each one I found wasn't large enough. So,I decided to get this small case, which can also be carried in one's purse. When we get to our destination, we place the screen in the case and everything else (friction stand and connection cord) in a tote bag I already had, which keeps everything together. This has worked out great and a lot cheaper too!

This product has a few negative reviews and after receiving it from Amazon I have no idea why. First of all it is a stiff case. It's slightly flexible but still rigid enough to provide good protection for the GPS unit and everything else inside. I was amazed that I was able to fit the GPS unit, the car charger cord, the suction mount and the adapter for my Nuvi 760 all in the bag and it zipped up easily! It's just big enough to fit everything required for the GPS without any extra bulk to take up space in your suit case, laptop bag, glove box, etc.



The GPS unit slips out of the inside pocket easily and there is a bit extra padding next to the pocket to keep the screen on the GPS from getting crushed.



Excellent product and I'm glad I didn't let the negative reviews sway me from purchasing it!

This case is a useful accessory for any 4.3-inch, flat-screen GPS unit like my Garmin Nuvi 760. The price at $20 may be higher than some, but it is much more secure and protective than the Garmin cases, which are more like wallet/sleeves than cases. It also has an attractive, modern look to it.



Inside, there is a web netting dividing the interior, which could be used to carry notes, cash or the micro-fiber cloth that comes with it. The case is semi-rigid, and has two substantial stainless-steel zippers to secure it closed. This case will not pop upon and expell your GPS. A wrist strap is attached with a stainless-steel clasp; also an aid to preventing accidental damage by dropping the unit.



Highly recommended. Remember, it's only 4% of the cost of a $250 GPS

This case fits my Garmin nuvi 260W with room to spare at the top. The hard outer shell is well constructed, but no padding inside. A side mesh pocket holds the gps in place and a cleaning cloth is included. There are 2 elastic bands that keep the case from opening fully, but they are designed to keep the gps from sliding out the sides.



The case arrives wrapped in plastic, and the carry strap and cleaning cloth are held in place by a plastic tie which must be cut to use.

I really needed this case to keep my Garmin in. I don't tend to be the most organized person. This has many little pouches inside it to keep everything seperate so you can get to it. I have a 4.3 inch screen and the biggest pouch could hold it. Then there are smaller pouches for the cords along with little Velcro strips to keep your cords wrapped up.



I love that the individual pouches all have Velcro on the back of them so they will stick to the walls of the big case. When you open it the stuff doesn't all come tumbling out at you. Lastly, I am so happy with the fact that the case is hard. It's not hard plastic - but it's in no way a soft squishable case. It's perfect for me.



I would definitely recommend this product.

Saw this case at Target in the GPS section and thought it would fit my Nikon S52. Was not quite sure but bought it anyway. Fit perfict ..camera AND extra battery. Can't say enough for the sale price of $15. Feels like a piece of luggage: strong and sturdy. Love it for its non-intended purpose. A muti-tasker...

Case Logic has been setting standards for years in the area of protective cases, and they've done it again with this product. Sharp appearance, and ample protection. I should know. Ol' 'butter fingers' here has dropped his Case Logic case (with navigator inside) twice now, both times on hard surfaces. The outer case is rigid and protective. I am not sure just how much of a jolt it could absorb while protecting your unit from damage, but feel confident it would be more that the 30" to 40" drops I've subjected it to. There is a mesh net pocket on the inside to further secure your unit. Comes with a dual zipper opening, an optical quality cloth to clean your unit's touchscreen, and a clip-attachable lanyard for easy, secure transportation. Now...if we can just get 'butter fingers' to use the lanyard... ;-) - Gps - Gps Case - Nuvi Case - Case Logic'


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Propane Tee


knowing how they will Not settle on making things universal and always changing things, I was worried this was Not the mainstream size that fits the mainstream 20 and 40 and 100 pound cylinders, that Is what fits, though Its almost cheaper to buy another cylinder. I bought It to run 2 Infrared heaters at the same time this Winter but I Am still waiting for cold weather to come to Oklahoma to get rid of ticks and mold and flies and other biting pest, probably too much hot Air from them politicians. Century Y Female POL Propane Adapter, Brass'


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Cheap Ipod Charger - ipod accessories, ipod car charger


The USB cable looks and feels very similar to the apple one, but the chargers have a somewhat cheesy feel. Then again, that's totally to be expected when you buy a whole set for less than half the price of a cable or either charger alone from Apple or one of the name brand companies.



I also should note that the AC adapter is 100-240v compatible, so it can work worldwide. I was wondering about that when I bought it because none of the tech info mentioned it. In fact, the casing itself was designed to be used with the EU style plugs, and that's why it protrudes from the body of the case.



Also, the items I received look like the submitted picture, and not the MFG's picture, for what it's worth... Doesn't matter much because in any case the items aren't very aesthetically pleasing anyways.



Bottom line, from reading the other reviews it looks like they have QC issues, but I wound up with a perfectly functional set at a great price. Apple iPod USB Travel Kit with Car Charger, Travel Adapter & Cable

The car charger worked great. I could charge my iPod while listening to it. I'm currently trying to use the Travel Adaptor, but so far it's not working. I'm trying to discover the problem. It's not the cord, because the cord is working when connecting the iPod to computer. So, I can't really say anything about how the travel adapter works. But I give the car charger 5 stars. It gets the job done.



edit :: i actually got it to work. it works great. you just have to wait a second for your iPod to display the charging symbol.

Guys,

Do NOT EVER buy this product. I lost my Ipod Nano(8gb) because of this cheap nonsense. As soon as I plugged in the charger into the wall outlet, and connected it to the nano, the charger blew a fuse, and had smoke coming out of it. My nano didn't start after that. No matter what I tried. I took it to apple store, and they couldn't start it either. My warranty was void.



Go for real apple products, not for these cheap chargers. I'm not sure if this company BargainCell is selling authentic products, or just cheap makeovers without ever having tested them out.



Again, do not buy it, unless you want to risk losing your ipod.

The charger worked once. When I removed it from the wall electrical outlet an electrical spade just came off in the wall. These items are so cheap that they break the first time it is used. I wouldn't buy this item again.

so cheap. how could you *not* buy this? it screwed up my ipod after using it for a few weeks. now i have issues powering down my ipod. it won't turn off. weird. i've heard this complaint from others, too.

Great product to have for you ipod.

i own an ipod touch 3G. the wall wall adaptor is awesome. I was skeptical when i saw hte price, but the product is awesome

Don't buy the expensive wall adapter from the apple store, these ones works great and usb cable that you get with this product is awesome too.

so stop looking around and buy this.

So far, I really like the charger. The thing I like the best, is the convenience of not having to find a computer to charge My I-pod. Another good feature of this charging unit, is that it doesn't reset the play count(on the I-pod), just because I'm recharging. I recommend anyone with an I-pod to get one of these. My opinion, they are a "MUST-HAVE" type of item for anyone with an I-pod. The price is Phenomenal for such a necessary accessory for any I-pod Nano. I'm very pleased with this product, and the charging time is rather quick. I would appreciate a "Fully-Charged" indicator lamp that can be seen from a distance, to make aware of a full charge, and is ready to be UN-plugged. I would imagine that it'd be a bit extra in cost for such a feature, but I for one, would be willing to pay for it. As long as it isn't an "exorbitant increase", that is. Again, all and all, a pretty good, and necessary product for anyone owning an I-Pod. Too Redundant? Sorry.... - Ipod Car Charger - Usb - Ipod Accessories - Cheap Ipod Charger'


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Cables - usb cable extension, usb cables


Works great so far, I tried it with my PS3 also, it works fine. No noticeable slowdown on file transfers, or lag on my gamepads. You just cant beat it for the price. I'll tell you in my experience, 99.9% of the time a cable is a cable, just buy the cheapest one. Unless you are buying a ridiculously long one like 100 ft or something, then it might be worth spend a few extra $. Black 15 Foot USB 2.0 Extension Cable

First off to the people who have tried to string them together for a 30ft cable, USB cables are meant for 5m or less (16 feet-ish) so thats why your setup won't work but it'll still be recognized. IF you get a repeater in there it'll work.



I ordered 2 of these, and both work. I use them to be able to sit inside, run the cable out side with a wireless adapter on the end to preform "security audits" on the neighbors. Works flawlessly, and a great price

(English)

I bought several to use as an extention of WiFi adapter but none were used, the device loses connection and reconnects intermittently with this cable. I tried different devices and the same happens but other cables did better and worked very well but it does not buy it.



------------------------

(Español)

Compré varios para usarlo como extencion de un adaptador WiFi pero ninguno sirvieron, el dispositivo pierde conexion y se reconecta intermitentemente con este cable. He probado diferentes dispositivos y pasa lo mismo sin embargo lo hice con otros cables de mejor calidad y funcionaron muy bien pero este no lo compren.

I hoped that I would be able to fulfill my needs with a cheap cable, but I should have known better. Just as I feared, the cable was DOA. I tested it with a variety of devices to ensure that it was in fact the cable. All devices worked with another USB extension that I own which is of a comparable length, but none worked with this cable. Save yourself the time and money and go for a higher quality cable.

I use this with my Microsoft Lifecam Cinema in the HD mode and it works perfectly well. It is connected to an Asus P5Q Pro Turbo Motherboard with an Intel Q6600 Processor. Asus P5Q PRO Turbo Core 2 Quad/ Intel P45/ DDR2-1300/ A&GbE/ ATX Motherboard

maybe a little less.



out of the box, the 2 that I bought could not be strung together, devices would show up in the device manager as unknown device and reporting errors and unable to start, so I used just one, and soon it stopped working as well. it disconnected while I was smoothing out some of the kinks, when I re-kinked it, it worked again for a while. Time to see how long this other one will last.



for $ .83, I guess I should have just bought 4 and hoped that 2 would be functional products

Shipping and price was great. Product does not work. The computer recognizes that the cable is present, but nothing will work when attached to the other end. I have tried differnt ports and various devices all in vain.

I purchased this on the cheap thinking they were all the same, they are not! The connectors on this cable are loose and not very secure when plugged in. Stick with $4.00 white extension cable, it feels more secure when plugged in. The cable still works as it should so far, even though the connections are not as tight as the other cable I purchased. A small tug on the cable will uncouple the connectors. - Usb Extension - Usb Cables - Usb Cable Extension - Usb'


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B C Eagle


Since the end of the Second World War, America has exerted a considerable influence on European popular culture. According to Sabrina P. Ramet and Gordana P. Crnkovic, the editors of "Kazaaam! Splat! Ploof! The American Impact on European Popular Culture Since 1945", these impressions can be seen in areas ranging from music, television, fast food, product branding, UFO sightings, and religion. The editors compiled articles by 13 different authors, both European and American, and arranged them into two areas of concentration; Western Europe and Eastern Europe. Each author examines a different facet of European popular culture and attempts to explain how it has been affected by American cultural influences.

Despite the fact that there isn't a unifying thesis present in the book, each author does express varying degrees of concern over the dynamic power and appeal that is inherent in American culture. In the essay entitled, "Does Mickey Mouse Threaten French Culture? The French Debate about EuroDisneyland", the author, Marianne Debouzy, chronicles the problems faced by French citizens as well as state and local authorities during the opening of EuroDisney. While some of the concerns outlined were seen as an attack on French culture by American culture; EuroDisney employees are expected to bath daily and wear deodorant, much of the outrage was focused on the use of American-style free enterprise tactics in negotiating work contracts and real estate purchases. In the essay "Fear and Fascination: American Popular Culture in a Divided Germany, 1945-1968", Uta G. Poiger examines the fascination that German youths on both sides of the Iron Curtain had for American style rock and roll and the fear that this attraction engendered in German authorities. The West German government was able to use this American cultural influence to their advantage in the political and cultural battle carried out against East German communism. With the inclusion of the piece entitled "UFO's Over Russia and Eastern Europe", by one of the books editors Sabrina P. Ramet, the topics are taken from the sublime to the ridiculous. In this essay American popular culture is seen as an influencing force on UFO sightings and crop circle formations in Russia and Eastern Europe. The author constructs a thin argument in which she blames the proliferation of UFO sightings, UFO magazines, and UFO clubs on the influence of American culture, despite the fact that recorded UFO sightings in Russia go back as far as 1910.

What struck me about many of the concerns that the essayists had was that they are many of the same concerns Americans have expressed about our own culture. The French fear of the overarching power of the Disney Company is the same fear that many Americans have about the monolithic power of companies like Wal-Mart and Microsoft. Many Americans complain that television programming is banal fluff with little redemptive power. We say we want programming with meaning and significance, but as an official for Hungary's HBO was quoted as saying in Beverly James' essay "Two Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue: Hungarian Assessments of American Popular Culture", the people don't want to be enlightened, they want to be entertained. Perhaps this means that we are all much more alike than we are ready to admit. That does stand to reason if we keep in mind that the strongest influence on American culture has come from European immigrants. The book raises questions that aren't addressed but deserve to be looked at. Is all American culture nothing more than popular culture? Can America's cultural contributions be no more significant than Jerry Lewis, McDonalds, and Disneyland? The authors presented in this book would leave the reader with this impression. While the authors don't come out and say it explicitly, the reader is left with the conceit that because American culture is seen as a negative influence on European popular culture, Euro pop culture by default has more value and worth. If that is the case, then why doesn't European pop culture have as much appeal in America as American pop culture has in Europe?

This book is important in helping American readers understand the impact that their culture has had and continues to have on Eastern and Western Europe. With the exception of two of the articles, one mentioned earlier concerning UFO's in Russia and an essay written about the exploitation of Russian ?migr? artists by American children's book publishers, the book provides initial insight into some of the issues facing U.S-European relations in an increasing global age. While not intended for readers interested in an in-depth causal analysis, it does make an adequate jumping off point for further discussion. Kazaaam! Splat! Ploof! The American Impact on European Popular Culture, since 1945'


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Logitech Quickcam Deluxe For Notebooks - logitech, laptop


Just like the 5000 series cameras before these (the "9000" series), Logitech has built a camera that puts out superb video (this one's video is better than the 5000 series, and those were better than the 4000 series).

However, the software, lack of control, and enormous pile of bloatware that gets installed with the camera, coupled with its enormous system resource demands, make this another clunker.



Environment:

P4 2.4 GHz processor

Windows XP Pro SP 2

DirectX 9c

USB 2.0



First, the good:

Color and picture quality are outstanding (although focus is not good - more on this below). The new support for large quasi-hi-def picture sizes produces amazing images.



Now, the bad:



Machine resources:



You better have a FAST machine. And I mean FAST, like a Core 2 Duo, or forget it. A simple 320x240 capture/preview (not even writing the video to disk) sucks down 10% more CPU on a P4 2.4 GHz machine with Windows XP Pro, than the old 4000 series cameras did.



Holy cow --- a 2-way 30 fps 352x288 video conference with the older 4000 series camera would use 55% CPU on my test machine. With this camera, it's about 80% and that's with auto focus, auto-white-balance, auto everything turned OFF and NOT using the audio from the camera.



This is just like the 5000. And just like the 5000 series, once THIS camera's driver has been installed, even the older 4000 Logitech camera now uses CPU like a pig (this thing overwrites DLLs that the older cameras also use).



I've been down this road before. The only way to make the older camera work efficiently again will be to completely uninstall this thing, and reinstall the old driver.





Support for other applications:



I only test these cameras using Amcap and Vidcap32 (the ubiquitous, standard, simple, generic Windows capture apps) and our own custom-written videoconferencing code that I wrote myself. So I have nothing to say about Skype, IM, etc.



Just like the 5000 series before this one, this camera DOES support the proper DirectX interfaces. So if Skype or some other app is freaking out on you, it is not this camera's fault. It is Skype, or whatever app you are running. My code works just fine with it.



But... just like the 5000 series, if you install the "driver only" (to spare yourself the bloatware), half the camera's functions will be broken.

When I installed it driver-only, it would only do about 10 fps, in any kind of light, with any picture size, no matter how I set it.

After I installed their obnoxious applications, it snapped into shape and would obey settings to do 30 fps.



Bloatware:

It installs services and several auto-startup pieces of junk that you have to hunt down in the "Run" folder in the registry and delete. Otherwise, every time you log in, you will have these things running, and the tray icon app, and two other apps, will always be running. No matter what you do, these will always restart unless you ditch them from the registry and the services control panels.



Their apps also "phone home" to Logitech periodically, registering your purchase and checking for updates. (Yes, it does, I sniffed the network traffic.) If you don't mind Microsoft and Logitech spying on you and connecting you to machines without you even knowing it, fine. Personally, I find that behavior deplorable.



If you are a programmer (like me), you can get rid of this junk. But if not, you are stuck with this stuff hogging down your machine all the time.



Focus:



The auto focus function works, but overall, this camera's focus is poor. Whether on auto or manual, it cannot focus well on objects that get more than about 2 feet away from the camera. They probably honed the focussing algorithm expecting you to be sitting close to the camera. That's a reasonable assumption, but it's too close-focussing. Even sitting at a normal distance from a PC monitor, it just cannot focus sharply on my face. It also has AWFUL focussing at the edges of the picture no matter what.



Conclusion:

Great video, but poor focus.



If you are just an ordinary user who plugs junk into their PC and doesn't even know what CPU usage is, and you are using a hot fast Core 2 Duo processor, this camera will do a good job for you, as long as you don't sit too far back from the camera.

If you already let Microsoft spy on you with all their automatic junk turned on all the time, then you probably won't mind Logitech doing that to you to.



(Hope you like Windows Media Player opening ports in your home router without telling you ---- didn't know they did that, eh?) Logitech QuickCam Deluxe for Notebooks (Silver)

This webcam is vastly better than the MacAlly webcam I bought before I got this one. It works with Mac OS X 10.4.9 and greater without installing any software. My only wish is that it actually came with OS X software to adjust the brightness and contrast, because it really doesn't work well in low light without some adjustment. Fortunately, I already had a piece of software that will adjust those settings. I have recommended this camera to several friends, and I haven't heard any complaints yet. - Logitech - Skype - Laptop - Quickcam'


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Power Supplies - cheap, defective


No, I don't work for Radio Shack :) but I looked high and low for a replacement cord for my Nikon MH-18a charger after I misplaced the original and ultimately I called my local camera store and told them what I needed and they said, "Go to Radio Shack. They've got 100 of them." There was a Radio Shack a mile from my house. Drove there, they had one on the shelf, paid $7.95 + tax and I was off to the races.



With shipping, no one has this cable out there on the internet cheaper than that. I've looked for weeks. And now that I know Radio Shack had one all along, I kind of feel like a dumb ass for not being able to use my D70 all this time!



Next time I'll know! Standard Replacement AC Power Cord for Most Battery Chargers

I was very happy to not pay $30+ for a replacement cord for my laptop. Unfortunately this replacement didn't last. After 3 weeks the cord no longer works. I'm taking my business somewhere else to get top quality for my hard-earned money.

This cord was perfect, unlike the cord that came with the camera. The cord was supposed to have two round ends, the cord that came with the camera had one round end and the other one was square. You cannot put a square in a round openning.

The camera was fine, this was the only problem. - Nikon - Power Supplies - Defective - Cheap'


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Ethernet Adapter - ethernet switch, switch


I found this product while looking for a way to split the LAN at my job into two. We get one ethernet cord running to our desk and that's it. I was worried that my company would have some kind of block to not allow this to happen (they don't allow streaming video, audio, etc... so they block a lot of things). I found the unit on sell (about half price) and decided it was worth the price to try it. I tried it at home at first and it worked great (I have a router at home, so don't really need this at home, but just wanted to make sure it worked at home so if it didn't at the office, then I'd know it wasn't the device). I unplugged the ethernet from one computer, plugged this in and plugged in two computers. So, basically, there was one ethernet cord going from the router to the TRENDnet box and two computers branched off from there. Worked great - no set up needed, just plug-n-play. So, now for the big test: I took it to work. Worked with no big problems - same plug-n-play. The only thing is that when I plug my computer directly to the work LAN, it says the connection at 1 GBPS, but through this device, it shows up as 100 MBPS. I can't really tell any problems so far with speed - everything is working as normal, but now I have online access on both my work computer and my laptop. So, for me, this device works as advertised and meets my needs.



PS - sorry for my non-technical review, but I'm no tech expert!



PPS - don't forget you'll need an additional ethernet cord to make this connection. I didn't think of it at first, but luckily remembered before I finished my transaction and was able to pick up a cheap 3-footer. TRENDnet 5-Port Ethernet Switch (5 x 10/100Mbps Auto-MDIX RJ-45 Ports) TE100-S5 (Blue)

This little 5 port switch is in my laptop computer bag at all times. There are plenty of situations I find myself in where there are several people who need Internet access but there is only one connection. Does anyone happen to have a switch? 9 times out of 10 the answer is "no."



This switch has a great feature that I wasn't expecting to find on such a small, low-cost unit. It auto-uplinks to any other switches on the network - no crossover cables necessary. That's one less specialty cable required to carry around to ensure network connectivity. Good job TRENDnet!



Otherwise there is nothing remarkable about this switch besides being small, light and does what network switches are supposed to do. After quite a bit of searching, this was the smallest switch I could find. At 3.1" x 3.9" x 1.2" it can't get much smaller!

Bottom line: Small, light weight and just works. Power brick is half the size of the unit itself and is also very light.



I was looking for a portable network switch to keep in my backpack for occasions when I had a network drop but no wireless. Searching around I found this one and saw that the switch itself is small and light, but I was worried about the power brick. Turns out the brick is small too, so I'm very happy with my purchase.



I've used the switch to network two Macs together and to connect multiple Macs to various network drops. The switch has always worked flawlessly. It doesn't care in which of the five ports you plug in the cables, it figures it all out and just works.



According to my kitchen scale, the switch weighs just under 4 ounces and the power brick just under 3.

I needed to "split" a single Ethernet connection between my DirecTV box (for DTV on demand) and my Samsung BluRay DVD player (for Netflix streaming)so I did not have to keep swapping the cable back and forth. This little Trendnet gem really fit the bill. It is small, lightweight and completely unobtrusive. The best part is there is no setup, completely plug and play. Look no further, you found what you are looking for!

This switch works really well for what it is; but it is limited. It's easy to use, easy to set up, just plug it in and go. However, if you are trying to connect multiple devices to the internet and you are using a Comcast cable modem (and probably other cable internet service providers too), this is not the device you want to buy. You will only be able to connect one device at a time if you use this device unless you purchase extra IP addresses from Comcast. If you don't want to pay Comcast extra money every month what you need to buy is a router (which is able to take the IP address assigned to you by your ISP and then assign its own IP addresses to each device, something a switch cannot do). Some routers do not have enough ports for the number of devices you want to connect to the internet, and with those you would need to add a switch like this device (see what playing around with home networking can teach you? :-)) I hope this review helps someone else avoid my mistake, but this is not to suggest that there is any fault with the device itself. For what it is, it works great! :-) - Trendnet - Hub - Switch - Ethernet Switch'


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Plastic Lense Polisher - scratch remover, scratches


I bought a tube about a year ago and keep finding uses for it. I first bought it for a Polar heart rate monitor and I was able to eliminate all but the deepest scratches. I next used it on a couple of Timexs, a Swatch, an old Seiko, two other heart rate monitors and two Ipods. The last I checked I still have some polywatch left in the tube.



I received the best results if I shook the tube, then applied just a drop or two on the watch and then buffed it with a cotton ball for 5-10 minutes. After this initial buffing, grab another clean cotton ball and polish the face. Polywatch Plastic Lens Scratch Remover

I bought this product because I had a jacked up pair of glasses that had a similar surface to watches. I had some varying scratches on it that made them completely unusable. Minus the extremely deep scratches they are all gone. I'm working on buffing them out and its slowly but surely working although I may need a second tube. So if you have glasses with a similar surface to watches then I highly recommend this product.

When I purchased Polywatch I was doubtful. I have a 5 year old Omega Speedmaster with the acrylic lens that was covered with fine scratches and even a few deep ones. I tried a whitening toothpaste as suggested by many on the internet and this actually made it worse and I thought that I had ruined it. Polywatch did not remove the deep nick type scratches, but other than that it honestly looked as new as the day I bought it. I am very satisfied! - Scratches - Polisher - Accessories - Scratch Remover'


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Plastic Lense Polisher - scratch remover, scratches


I bought a tube about a year ago and keep finding uses for it. I first bought it for a Polar heart rate monitor and I was able to eliminate all but the deepest scratches. I next used it on a couple of Timexs, a Swatch, an old Seiko, two other heart rate monitors and two Ipods. The last I checked I still have some polywatch left in the tube.



I received the best results if I shook the tube, then applied just a drop or two on the watch and then buffed it with a cotton ball for 5-10 minutes. After this initial buffing, grab another clean cotton ball and polish the face. Polywatch Plastic Lens Scratch Remover

I bought this product because I had a jacked up pair of glasses that had a similar surface to watches. I had some varying scratches on it that made them completely unusable. Minus the extremely deep scratches they are all gone. I'm working on buffing them out and its slowly but surely working although I may need a second tube. So if you have glasses with a similar surface to watches then I highly recommend this product.

When I purchased Polywatch I was doubtful. I have a 5 year old Omega Speedmaster with the acrylic lens that was covered with fine scratches and even a few deep ones. I tried a whitening toothpaste as suggested by many on the internet and this actually made it worse and I thought that I had ruined it. Polywatch did not remove the deep nick type scratches, but other than that it honestly looked as new as the day I bought it. I am very satisfied! - Scratches - Polisher - Accessories - Scratch Remover'


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Running Watch - running watch, sport watch


I am 5'8" and 165 lbs... not a big guy, but this watch looks like a toy watch on me. The natural curve of the band isn't comfortable on my wrist and causes the dial to sit above my wrist. I think it is a solid state item and I would be more than tough enough for me, but it looks disproportionately small on my wrist. Either Chelsea Watches sent me the kiddie version or maybe I have a sensitive ego. I give it 5 stars for quality, but beware that it is smaller than you will expect. By way of comparison, I had the Timex Marathon 8 lap watch and it is smaller than many watches but fits me very well. Timex Midsize T53161 Ironman 30-Lap Resin Strap Sports Watch

I was looking for a digital watch that had a face that wouldn't catch on clothing, or anything else, and had a rubber (polyurethane) strap that wouldn't absorb smelly sweat after I went running. This Ironman has fulfilled both of those needs. Unlike my previous digital watch, this face is mid sized and does not snag on the wrists of jackets or on the carrying straps of book bags. The polyurethane wrist strap is smooth on the skin, doesn't absorb sweat, easy to rinse, and durable. The indiglo light is bright and the watch is easy to read. The watch's features include: two time zone clock, with options for a 12 or 24 hour time keeping; alarm; a stop watch with splits and 30 lap memory; and a count down clock. All of which are simple and intuitive to program.



This Ironman is a very good watch for general use or for those who need something that can handle the rigors of exercise.

I have this watch and it is great for exercise and general use. I had an old ironman watch for the longest time. I lifeguarded for four summers with it and wore it every time I went swimming. I used it to count laps while I was swimming. After 6 years it finally died and I got this one. I'm disappointed because the first time I wore it in the water it stopped working. Eventually it started working again when it dried out. The seal on it must not be any good. I only give it two stars because it hasn't lived up to the expectations I had for it based on my old ironman watch.

Overall, this watch is great. I wore it day-in day-out from 3/2005 to 5/2009 and it never let me down. I bought it at KMART for $35. I replaced that battery once (or was it 2x?) and it was strong as ever (indiglo is faint when battery is low). Took it to the pool many times for timed swims! Has the features everyone truely needs in a digital: daily alarm, two timers (count down and stopwatch), indiglo, date + day of week. Plus other fancy stuff I didn't know what to do with (split? chrono? lap?). I'm sure you athletes know what that's about. Anyway, never strached up the face, and I did plenty of outdoors stuff.



Definitely, a little room for improvement: I'm a tiny lady with tiny wrists, and this "mid sized" watch was big on me (1) visually, a bit butch (2)thickness. Band gets annoying after hours at the computer!!!. That's how I ended up losing it on campus this week. Also, I'm not a whiner, but for a unisex watch, it was definitely on the boyish side.



Since I've misplaced mine (drat!) I'm here looking on Amazon for a more lady-like but just as sturdy and with the digital features I require. I think I'll end up with the Timex Marathon, which seems to fit the bill. However, that one is notorious for the slim band breaking.



Come on Timex, get your materials engineers on this...I want a flexible unbreakable slim band to house your great watch.

I want to like this watch. The price is right.



However, I would agree with the other reviewers that this is a woman's watch.



1. It's slightly bigger than a woman's small, but not quite the size of a man's small watch.



2. The band is very narrow and would not fit most men well. I have thin wrists, and it's still very narrow for a man's wrist band.



There also are issues with the face of the watch:



1. The contrast between the face of the watch and the numbers isn't that good in low light, making the time hard to see. In normal light, it's actually pretty good, but in bright light the crystal has some glare.



2. Even though the watch is about 1 ½ inches, the actual LCD screen with the numbers is only about 1/3 of that size. Additionally, the LCD screen is sunken in about ¼ inch, meaning the frame of the watch casts a shadow on the date making it harder to read.



Lastly, it's ironic they call this an "Ironman" model. The Ironman is a race that combines swimming, cycling, and a marathon. But don't wear this watch while swimming. The instructions say this watch is water resistant only for the purpose of "everyday life", and not water resistant for "water related work", "swimming", or "surfing, snorkeling, water sports".



Nevertheless, the watch fits my needs and for the price I can live with the difficulty in seeing the time. Also, as far as multi-function watches, the functions on this one were well designed.

Dear Sirs:



I received my watch in time for Christmas; however, the watch had a dead battery in it when I received it. The instructions were so old they crumbled when I unfolded them, obviously this watch had been sitting in a warehouse for many years prior to shipment. Why didn't anyone check it before it left the warehouse? Bad timing for something like this.



Sincerely,



Phillip Masters - Sport Watch - Running Watch - Ironman Watch - Emerald'


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