Kaylahs Blog

Belkin Laptop Sling Bag Jet/Cabernet Product: Buy Belkin Laptop Sling Bag Jet/Cabernet At Amazon! List Price: $49.99 Amazon Price: $23.95 Click Here To See Amazon Sale Price Add to cart to see low price@ Availability: In Stock Usually ships in 24 Hours Free Shipping Available

Compare Prices on Belkin Laptop Sling Bag Jet/Cabernet

Take the traditional back pack to the next level with a slim sling bag. The Sling Bag has compartments for everything from pens, business cards, credit cards, power supply and your other notebook accessories. Also, there is a separate removable pouch for your power supply coordinates with your bag and contrasts for easy identification. The cell phone pocket provides quick access while providing protection with plush scratch-free fabric whereas the shoulder strap and back-side of the sling bag has extra padding and breathable mesh for maximum support and comfort. A SnapClip is used that allows quick access to your sling bag. There is also a convient headphone grommet that provides access to your MP3 player while keeping it safe and stored in a secure pocket. The Sling Bag also features a plush fabric in the notebook compartment to prevent scratches and damage to your notebook’s surface.

• Color: Jet/Cabernet
• Brand: Belkin
• Model: F8N052-BR
• Format: CD
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 6.00″ h x 14.00″ w x 17.00″ l, 2.10 pounds

Features

• Fully padded compartment keeps your laptop isolated and safe from bumps and scratches
• Fits laptops with screens 15.4 inches or smaller
• Available in two colors: jet/cabernet and chocolate/blue
• Separate pouch inside stores your power cords and other accessories; cell phone compartment on shoulder strap
• Exterior dimensions: 18 x 12.5 x 5 inches; notebook compartment dimensions: 17 x 11.5 x 2 inches

Lightweight but with plenty of utility
I originally went looking for a neoprene case for my laptop to make it easier to lug back and forth from work. However, I’m glad that I stumbled across a recommendation about this bag somewhere on a web user forum, because this bag is excellent. It provided me all the weight savings I was looking for, without forcing me to make compromises about storage pockets or a shoulder strap, and it did it all without costing an arm and a leg. The bag is very lightweight; it weighs next to nothing on its own (though obviously a bit more than a plain neoprene case with only a handle and no pockets). It fits my MacBook Pro perfectly, and the included power supply carrying case is a nice touch. Inside the bag, there are plenty of pockets for pens, business cards, USB flash drives, etc. I can fairly easily carry a couple of spiral-bound notebooks with my laptop and power cord, but the bag really isn’t meant to carry tons of stuff. The point I want to make is that if you want to carry your laptop *and* accessories, you can, which is more than can be said of most lightweight slim bags. The shoulder strap is fairly comfortable, and padded, and has a standard clip to facilitate easier removing of the bag rather than pulling it over your head. Unfortunately, the included pocket on the strap is too tight for me to put my iPhone in it, and I think the only thing that would fit comfortably is a RAZR or something smaller. I will point out that I’ve never had a bag fit me quite so nicely. I honestly think I could jog somewhere with my laptop on my back, and not feel awkward that I’m struggling to keep the bag on my back. I do agree with some of the other reviewers that there were a few stray threads here and there, but nothing I would consider to be a problem, and at $44, I’m willing to overlook that regardless. Overall, in my opinion, this bag rocks, and I wish it were easier to find in stores so that more people would know about it. You should get this bag if you’re looking for a lightweight bag with room for a few extra things and like the idea of a sling strap.

Not for the well-endowed.
I love the bag itself. It is compact and the laptop, cord and mouse fit in nicely with enough room left over for a book or two. Not huge like other backpacks I have seen. I didn’t like the “sling” feature as much as I thought I would. It was awkward to hold just over the shoulder unless you put it on properly which is to unclip it and put it around your left shoulder and clipping under your right arm. I am rather large busted and this was extremely uncomfortable and quite frankly, hilarious looking on me! I returned this bag for Belkin Laptop Backpack which is exactly the same bag, except two straps instead of the one sling strap.

Just right….trendy and well made.
Exactly what it should be, a stylish, padded shoulder-tote for a laptop. Comes with several small but useful inner pockets and a neat little bag to put the AC adaptor in.

But the the bag is not really designed for too much more than laptop and adaptor. You can fit in a mouse and some papers, but a real backpack or large laptop bag would be better if you need to carry a lot of stuff. Because it’s only got one strap, a heavy load could cause some backstrain if you are prone to that. Consider it a more a portable bag for “quick-toting”.

Plantronics .Audio 995 Wireless Stereo Headset Description:

The Plantronics .Audio 995 digital wireless PC headset combines the wireless technology with superb audio drivers to deliver exceptional performance up to 30 meters from your PC. All the controls are intuitively placed for quick and easy control: volume up and down are positioned on the ear pod and with the microphone mute activated when the boom is stowed you will always be in control. The 40mm speakers deliver studio-quality audio with maximum bass response perfect for music, multimedia, gaming and PC chat. The lightweight design ensures excellent comfort for hours of use.

• Brand: Plantronics
• Model: Plantronics .Audio 995
• Dimensions: 3.75″ h x 10.50″ w x 9.00″ l, 1.00 pounds

Features

• Big, rich stereo sound you won¿t believe is wireless.
• Enjoy digital wireless for all your PC audio needs ¿ music, calls and more.
• Pillow-soft ear cushions enable all-day comfort.
• Noise-cancelling microphone includes fast-mute technology.
• Control your music right from the earpiece.

Customer Reviews:

Best Wireless Headset at this time
Lots of reviews out there, but mine is a bit more objective due to the testing I have done.

Probably, like you, I was in the market for a headset to use with speech recognition, Skype, music playback from iTunes, etc. But I wanted to cut the cord on my Logitech USB headset. So a few months ago I went out and purchased the Logitech ClearChat Wireless headset. Between this latter headset and the Plantronics 995, there really is not much else on the market as far as non-bluetooth wireless headsets go. These headsets use a USB 2.4 GHz transceiver. This is much better than bluetooth, which constantly needs pairing and has sub-par performance when used with speech recognition, VOIP, etc. due to low bandwidth.

Testing and using the Logitech ClearChat Wireless headset, I was pretty impressed. It worked with Dragon Naturally Speaking/MacSpeech Dictate, as well as with Skype.

However, what I did not like about the Logitech ClearChat headset was that the ear muffs were too small (many complain about it) and there was constant static whilst speaking to someone on Skype (Skype to phone calls). Additionally, the more you move around with the ClearChat, the more static there is, and the range was acceptable but not great. To make my testing objective, I was switching, on the Skype call, between the USB headset and the wireless ClearChat one. The static was only present with the ClearChat headset and not with the USB headset.

So, having read all the great reviews about the 995 Plantronics, I went down to the store, exchanged my ClearChat for a pair. I then phoned from Skype to a telephone (same person) and tested the reception again. This time, there was hardly any static at all (user feedback): their comment was that it was “much improved” from the previous wireless headset. I also got better range with the Plantronics as well.

In addition, the speech recognition seems to work a bit better too, and is actually working amazingly. Seems even better than my USB headset.

Furthermore, I tested some iTunes playback and no question the Plantronics has fuller, deeper, richer sound than the Logitech ClearChat headset.

The only thing I like better about the ClearChat headset is that you can quickly switch the headset off when you don’t want it to be connected to the receiver.

With the Plantronics, you can quickly switch it on and off too, with auto-pairing (nice), but there is only one button, not a switch, which needs to be held down for 2 seconds to turn the unit off or on. The only issue is, unless the unit is off your head, you won’t be able to see the solid blue light turn to red then off. So if you want to shut it off and leave it on your head, it is not possible to get confirmation from the headset that it is off. However, you will see the blue light flash on the receiver, from solid blue, and that is confirmation you have turned off your headset. But it also indicates the headset is out of range, so the only way to really know for sure that your headset is turned off is to remove them from your head and look to see if the light is off on the side.

Thus, the ClearChat’s simple on/off switch is superior in this regard, where you can turn the unit off without the need to remove it from your head for confirmation. At any rate, this is sort of minor because most times you can be confident that a flashing blue light on the receiver indicates you have successfully turned off the headset, so you won’t be needing to remove it.

And I like to power down the unit frequently to save on battery life…

As for battery life, I think the Plantronics is better than the ClearChat as well, and both demand roughly the same charging times. Of note, when you first get the unit, charging it may be a bit quirky. You should calibrate the battery (the ClearChat headset took 2 days before it was fully charged, for instance).

Other than that, do yourself a favor and get the Plantronics wireless headset. It is truly liberating to have the cords cut, and it works extremely well with speech recognition.

4.5 out of 5 stars, because of the on/off procedure and paltry instructions that do not explain how to turn the unit on/off. In addition, nothing is perfect. But a 4.5 out of 5 star rating for me is a huge compliment to anyone. I am very critical of everything, and demand a lot from my computing products. Plantronics: well done.

Remember, hold down the power button on the headset for 2 seconds ONLY to turn it on or off.

—————————-

January 6, 2009 UPDATE:

I just wanted to update everyone. Just recently, the headset’s power button broke (it wouldn’t press any more: sort of stuck). I almost had a suspicion that it would happen because the power button feels a tad cheap and must be pressed and held down for a few seconds to power down the headset. Since I like to power down my headset often to save on battery life, the switch didn’t hold up. I just received my new unit from Plantronics and it’s charging. Customer service was pretty helpful. They express shipped it to me, which was nice, after sending in my old unit.

Now, do I stand by my review? Yes, yes, and, yes. Aside from a flimsy power button, the unit has worked as I have described. Speech, Skype, and music are the ticket items for this headset. All these latter work very well. Also, I just had a friend call me on Skype recently using the Plantronics 995 headset. It was on my recommendation that he bought the headset. He’s got a standard cable internet connection with 1 mbps upload speeds. This is the first call I have received from someone who was using the Plantronics 995 headset.

The thing is, I did not know he was using it when he phoned me. When I picked up, and he started talking, I interrupted him and asked him what kind of microphone he was using. He said the Plantronics 995. I was blown away by the quality of the audio. It sounded so good like it was in stereo sound. I had to smile because I was the one who recommended this to him, on the pretense of a boatload of research and testing. As the conversation took course, I just was smitten by how well it sounded. That right there was confirmation enough to me that this headset is ‘for real’. It sort of concluded my testing.

Since I didn’t know he was using the Plantronics 995 Headset, it puts that extra layer of validity into my testing. This was no ‘placebo’ effect. I noticed the quality of the sound without knowing he was using the 995 headset. If you read my entire review, and this update, I think you would agree that my testing is rigorous enough to pass the standards set in the context of the scientific method. Far too many reviews float around the internet with giant holes in their testing methods. I am not tooting my own horn, I am just stating the facts. I put this through some objective testing to prove to you, the reader and consumer, that this headset works as I have described.

I have a feeling this headset is going to be a sort of ‘cult classic’. That is, one of those landmark products in a category that struggles to define itself. Although the power button is a bit flimsy, Plantronics really got it right with this. Call quality is incredible on Skype, music has thick, rich sound, and speech recognition just works. This is really the freelancer’s/home user’s/business user’s competitive advantage.

So, like I said, go get liberated, and pick up the Plantronics 995. You won’t look back. Rest assured the hard work, the research has already been done for you. I’ll stand by this review for all my waking days.

As I spent a lot of time researching, writing, and updating this review, maybe you can take a minute and comment! Let me know what you think. Thank you!

Sincerely,

//Amazonman//

The good news, and the bad news
The good news first:

I like this headset. The sound is good, a bit thin for music, but good for skype and gaming, which is what I use this for. It’s comfortable, and I love being able to walk around my apartment while wearing the headset and talking to someone.

The bad news, there’s a couple little quirks:

-If the battery dies in-use you have to stop using the headset, plug it in and charge it with a usb cable. While it’s charging you can’t use it (why?)

-Nonreplacable battery, so you are basically paying to use it for a year and a half and throw it away after it stops holding a charge. The usb cable doesn’t carry audio (again, why?)

Love the headset, it works well, I just wish they: 1. made the battery replaceable and 2. would have the usb charging cable carry audio so you can use it when the battery is dead.

If I had known all of this beforehand I might have specced out other headsets more before purchasing.

Good sound super easy installation
Plantronics .Audio 995

Let me start with something that amazed me. I plugged the USB dongle into the computer, started Itunes, hit play and music started coming from the headphones!!! I did not have to configure a single thing. The control panel in WinXP showed the Plantronics as a first device automatically. When unplugged, I had to restart Itunes, but that was it, the sound was once again coming from my main speakers. That level of ease of operation has to be commended.

The sound quality and controls. The controls on the left earpad are volume up, down, pause, play and skip track. They all work as advertised. The volume of the headphones at maximum level is loud, but not very. I can easily tolerate maximum volume, which I could not do with my none too efficient Sony EX51 earbuds. If I had to estimate efficiency in standard terms I would guess ~97db.

The sound is typical of larger and over the ear headphones. For me this sound is exemplified by good bass and slightly inadequate treble. 20-20khz advertised frequency response. For reference the 995 sound better than an old Consumer Reports best buy Sony MDR CD180, but not as good as renowned Koss clip on KSC75 (a true best buy). The 995’s treble is actually pretty good, while the midrange has a slight listening thru a pillow quality. I had a chance to compare these to a Altec Backbeat Bluetooth wireless headphones, and find the Altec headphones slightly more accurate despite a slight hiss in the background.

I tested the built in, fold away microphone with windows XP recorder, and once again the ease of setup (none) was amazing. The sound quality was excellent. If you ever consider these for use with Skype or other computer based internet VOIP (phone) applications you will be pleased.

The range does appear to matchy the 40ft claim, but subtract 10 ft for each wall in the way. Battery life is claimed to be 8hrs (have not run them down the first time yet) and the recharge time is 2-4 hrs (headset only, the dongle is powered thru USB). I wish these and the Altec BackBeat’s would also have a wired connection such that you can use them with a MP3 player directly. The Altec’s dongle allows you to wirelessly transmit any audio source thru a mini stereo plug, but that forces you to give up the track skip function. The good sound quality makes me want to use them with a TV and a stereo, how about an optional audio in dongle as well?

In summary, the incredible ease of use and very good sound quality will make me use these more often than I initially thought.

Amazon.com Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description Freely roam from away your desk while making Internet phone calls or listening to your favorite music with the Plantronics .Audio 995 Stereo Headset. This lightweight, ultra-comfortable headset delivers full-spectrum stereo with a 40-foot wireless range. The headset also features on-ear controls for iTunes and Windows Media Player, so you can control your music without being tethered to your desk.

With a 40-foot range, you won’t be tethered to your desk while making Internet calls or listening to music. View larger.

Plug-and-Play Wireless Functionality
Set up is as simple as can be: just plug the wireless USB adapter into your computer’s USB port and you’re good to go. There’s no software to install, no configuration, no hassles. Once plugged in, you’ll be able to roam up to 40 feet from your desk without interrupting your PC calls or music. And thanks to the convenient on-ear controls, the .Audio 995 lets you skip tracks and adjust volume on iTunes and Windows Media Player remotely.

Outstanding, Full-Range Audio Quality
The .Audio 995 features dual 40 mm speakers that deliver crisp, clean treble with deep, rich bass. The sound is so clean and rich that you won’t believe it’s wireless. Whether you’re listening to music, playing a game, or watching your favorite DVD, you’ll hear every detail.

Make Crisp and Clear Internet Calls
Experience exceptional call quality when you use the .Audio 995 to make Internet calls with Skype or other Internet phone services. The person you’re talking to will also hear you with superior clarity thanks to the headset’s noise-canceling microphone, which is designed to reduce background noise. And thanks to the Fast Mic Mute feature, you can quickly mute the microphone by simply raising the boom.

Smart, Adjustable Design for All-Day Comfort
The .Audio 995 sports a lightweight design that stays comfortable all day and all night, making it perfect for listening to music during all-night study or marathon gaming sessions. The adjustable headband lets you customize the fit, and the soft, swivel-mounted speakers cushion the ears comfortably.

The Plantronics .Audio 995 Headset is backed by a one-year warranty.

What’s in the Box
Wireless Stereo Headset, USB wireless receiver, USB charging cable

Get up and away from your desk and roam around with the .Audio 995.

Dynamat 10455 Xtreme Bulk Pack 9 Sheets Description:

Dynamat 10455 Xtreme Bulk Custom Pak(TM) - Nine 18 x 32 Sheets 36 sq.ft. Total (1 Each)

• Amazon Sales Rank: #49 in Automotive
• Brand: Dynamat
• Model: 10455
• Dimensions: 22.05 pounds

Features

• Kit Contains Nine 18 x 32 Piece of Dynamat Xtreme
• For General Use on Rear Decks Doors Floors and Trunk Floors
• Also Use for Trunk Lids Roofs Quarter Panels and Under-Hood Installations
• Get More Bass More Music Lower Road Noise and Better Sound

Customer Reviews:

Tin-can to almost Mercedes feeling, no joke!
I’ve had the dynamat installed in my ‘04 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport for about a month now and it was well worth the effort. When I say effort, I tore out my entire interior to install this stuff. Inner and outer door skins, entire floor (doubled up in places), trunk (doubled up again), rear hatch, and under my hood. It took a total of about 17 hours to install and trashed my hands, cuts and sore for several days. I used the dynamat heavy-duty roller for most of the installation and the handle of the roller to push the material into tight crevacises. My entire car, exluding the roof, took 2 3/4 bulk packs. I still have some left over and trying to figure out what to do with it…

The results: You could say I was skeptical like other users, mostly because I hadn’t known anyone who used it or what dynamat was even made of really. It’s basically sheets of tar (butyl rubber) backed with thick aluminum foil. This stuff is heavy, but pretty thin and tucks into tight places pretty easily. While at first I noticed an increase in my cars weight, it seems to be less noticable the more I drive. What’s more noticable is the quiet ride and solid-feeling the car now has. The doors really do close with a thud and not that reverberating tin-can sound like before. The entire chassis feels much more rigid and stiff, like a higher priced, luxury car. My roommate, who drives a Benz C-class, said the stiffness was immediately apparent and the road noises was significantly reduced. This girl loves to drive and she was pretty impressed with the results.

The amount of road noise from freeways was almost difficult to carry on conversations or listen to music clearly before. Much more quiet now. If you’ve ridden in a subaru impreza, you know how loud they are! While it’s not Lexus quiet, it’s much, MUCH better than a stock subaru. There’s still some noise, but I wasn’t able to cover the firewall as much as I would have liked and my tires are lousy. When new tires are needed, I’m going back to a quality set and that should help a lot more. (BTW, Bridgestone-made Fuzion HR’s suck a$$, but they are cheap.) I’m going with Bridgestone Turanza’s next time.

My intention was purely to block out road noise and make a more comfortable environment for myself and passangers. A bonus to killing the road noise was the improvement in my cars audio quality. I had previously installed an Alpine h.u., Alpine speakers and Audiobahn d-class amp w/ a 10″ sub and it really brought my system to life. I never knew what mid-bass was till after the dynamat was installed. I’m amazed to get that much thump, out of 6 1/2″ door speakers!! I had to go back into the headunit and re-adjust my equalizer because the entire soundstage totally changed. It really allows me to enjoy my music to it’s fullest without an amp for the door speakers, which is nice! My music consists mostly of hardcore, metal-core, metal and punk. The dynamat really brought out crisp, clean sound that wasn’t distorted at higher volumes like before. It’s also allowed me to tune in really precise and crisp bass hits from my single 10″, enough to make my rearview mirror droop with each hit. I love hearing and feeling the kick drums in heavy music.

All-in-all, I am extremely pleased with the results. At first I was tired and my hands and back ached from two straight days of installation, all the while thinking “what the hell am I doing!?”. But now, I can sit back on a drive, carry on conversations without raising our voices, listen to my music with better definition and clearity, or enjoy a nice peaceful interior alone. It’s been well worth the effort.

Would I do it all over again??

In a heartbeat on this car. Hopefully the next car will be more quiet from the factory… if not, I’ll probably dyanmat that one too!

Expensive but Effective
I decided to go with Dynamat to reduce road noise in my Jeep Liberty as the all-terrain tires were unbearably loud at highway speeds after a few hours. Amazon had the best prices on the bulk packs by far so I bought two to cover all four doors and the floor of my Jeep Liberty. I ended up with two sheets (3 sq ft) left over which should be enough to cover the rear gate when I have an afternoon to kill.

The metal backing is incredibly sharp and it conducts electricity, so a co-worker warned me to take great care to ensure that the wires do not come into contact with any of the edges. It’s no easier on your finger tips either! I found out the hard way that you should not cover any contact points between the trim panels and doors if you want the panels to fit as snugly as they did before the installation. With the great care and lessons learned, all four doors took approximately 20 hours to install and the floor took close to 30 more. I’m certain an experienced installer could have done the job in half the time.

The results of just the doors were impressive enough, but covering the floorboards made a tremendous difference. At 75 mph, I now listen to the radio at 18 instead of 30, which is an approximate 40% reduction in cabin noise. More impressively is the sudden emergence of midrange and punch from the base that makes me wonder if somebody stuck a subwoofer in my console. With no adjustments to treble or bass, the premium Infinity speakers now sound almost worth what the dealer charges!

Despite the high cost in initial expense, weekend sweat, and finger tip slashing, Dynamat has lived up to the hype. Hearing is believing!

My doors go “kfump” now, instead of “klang”
I agree with the others; anyone who doesn’t like this product must have installed it wrong.

I have a 2000 Honda CR-V SE. I lined the underside of the hood, the entire roof, all four doors (inside the doors and the surface), much of the floor, the spare tire well, the rear quarters (inside, behind the rear speakers) and lots of the tailgate with two (2x) Bulk Packs (9 sheets each.) I had not planned to line the roof, but after gutting the seats, all trim panels, and all the carpeting it seemed worthwhile. I cannot explain how differently the vehicle sounds now. EVERYONE compliments it (including my wife, who could not understand why I was spending the time and money on the project in the first place, but now wants me to Dynamat her Solara!) The doors go “kfump”. Knocking on the hood, roof, or doors sounds like hitting a solid wood desk. There are NO vibrations or rattles in the car whatsoever (I also got some cheap self-adhesive felt sheets from a hobby store and lined the ashtray, glove box, and little change compartments. Now it’s like driving around with ear muffs on. There is still some road noise, because I have pretty knobby tires, but the incredible thing is that I can no longer hear my exhaust from the rear of the car, and sometimes I’ll look sideways and notice an 18 wheeler beside me that I did not even hear. When I pass vehicles going the opposite direction I am used to the “whee-owwww” as they go by, but now it is a “whiff”, or just silent.

Lining the roof made a huge difference when driving in the rain, but since the windshield is so noisy in a downpour the cabin is still pretty loud, but there is no “ratta-tat-tat” from the metal anymore at all.

I bought a heat gun and the rubber Dynamat roller specifically for this project (though I’m sure I’ll get plenty more use out of the heat gun). I agree with many of the other reviewers that if you do not press this stuff down in FIRM contact with your vehicle that you will not get the best results. I’ve done MUCH (much, much, much, much…) research on this and the bottom line is that this product is so effective because of “vibration damping”, NOT sound blocking. If you hold a sheet up in midair between you and a speaker it will have no effect. If you glue it to the speaker you will virtually stop the sound.

I can also go on about how AMAZINGLY different that my stereo sounds, but I think everyone else covered that. Yes; more mid-bass. Yes; you will hear things in your music that you never heard before. Something that surprised me though was how much quieter your music is OUTSIDE your car. I am not a loud person, and I always turn the volume down at stop lights, and in residential neighborhoods, but one time I stepped out of my car and left the stereo on at a pretty comfortable level. When I closed the door I could not hear it at all. Nothing. Nada. That was a nice bonus.

This stuff is incredible when installed right. Amazon had the best prices in all my searches. You will ache, you will probably bleed, but a weekend or two of hard work should reward you for years. Enjoy!

HP Dongle For 90-Watt Smart AC Adapter 414136-001 406824-001 414136001 Description:

. Product may differ from image shown

• Brand: Hewlett-Packard
• Model: 414136-001
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds

Features

• Dongle : Dongle for 90-watt Smart adapter - Converts 3-pin Smart power connector to standard/legacy power
• For use with HP Compaq 1100, 4200, 6200, 8200
• connector - Required when using a Smart AC adapter with an older, non-Smart-compatible notebook PC

Customer Reviews:

Glad I found it!!!!
I am so glad I found this piece…I bought an adapter to go with my laptop and the little piece on the end got loose over a period of time. So I just so happen to look up the number that was on that piece and there it was…I got it and I feel complete again with my computer!!!

HP Dongle For 90-Watt Smart AC Adapter 414136-001 406824-001 414136001
Item was just what i needed, excellent build, not cheaply put together and so far has worked flawlessly.

great product
These dang dongles keep breaking, and if it wasn’t for finding it here I would have been stuck buying *another* aftermarket power cord for a lot more money. (last one from Fry’s was $80)

Zune HD 16GB 32GB Premium Accessory Kit: Skin Case in Black, Clear, Pink, Blue colours + USB Car Auto Charger and Wall Home Travel Charger + Highspeed USB Retractable Cable + 2XScreen Protector, Armband, 3.5mm earphone, RCA Video Cable, Neck String Product: Buy Zune HD 16GB 32GB Premium Accessory Kit: Skin Case in Black, Clear, Pink, Blue colours + USB Car Auto Charger and Wall Home Travel Charger + Highspeed USB Retractable Cable + 2XScreen Protector, Armband, 3.5mm earphone, RCA Video Cable, Neck String At Amazon! List Price: $59.99 Amazon Price: $19.99 Click Here To See Amazon Sale Price Add to cart to see low price@ Availability: In Stock Usually ships in 24 Hours Free Shipping Available

Compare Prices on Zune HD 16GB 32GB Premium Accessory Kit: Skin Case in Black, Clear, Pink, Blue colours + USB Car Auto Charger and Wall Home Travel Charger + Highspeed USB Retractable Cable + 2XScreen Protector, Armband, 3.5mm earphone, RCA Video Cable, Neck String

This is a must have for all the Zune HD Owner. The package will be great for personal use or a gift to your loved ones. The deal does not get better than this. With the fraction of the retail price, you will get Black Skin Case + Clear Skin Case + Pink Skin Case + Blue Skin Case + USB Car Auto Charger + USB Wall Home Travel Charger + Highspeed USB Retractable Cable + 2XScreen Protector + Armband + 3.5mm earphone + RCA Video Cable + Crazyondigital Neck String

Features

• Compatible with Zune HD 16GB 32 GB
• Custom made to fit your Zune HD perfectly. Easy installation.
• Very thin, light weight, and durable
• Great Unique and Bright Design

Not bad for the price
This pack of goodies is pretty decent when you take into consideration the price you’re paying for all this stuff. The screen protectors (X2) are great. The silicone skins are pretty decent, but they are pretty much lint magnets. The neck strap is great if you’re a small-framed person. I’m a big guy (6′4″) and found the neck strap a little bothersome to put over my head, but it still works. The car charger adapter is good, but the AC adapter only outputs 500 mah which is half what your USB port outputs when you charge it straight out of the PC. This will be handy only when I don’t have access to a computer. The Y-cable may come in handy somewhere down the road, but I’m not sure when as I never share my player with anyone else. The video output cable was good. The earbuds are cheapies that you can pickup anywhere. The armband is just a basic armband which runs through the beltloop opening in the back of the silcone skin and is pretty much unremarkable. All in all, this wasn’t a bad purchase, but I’m not absolutely thrilled with it, either.

Good Stuff
Its got everything you need and more. The skins are pretty good quality. The screen protectors work well but they do have air bubbles. The usb chord is useful. the ac adapter and car adapter work well too. Overall if you don’t want to pay those outrageous brand name prices for the same accessories. Its a no brainer. Buy and be happy.

Good deal
I was looking for an armband for my Zune that wasn’t going to molest my wallet and stumbled onto this package. The three neoprene(?) cases are a nice shell to use in conjunction with the arm strap which is surprisingly comfortable. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t wear it all day but for runs and other workouts it isn’t cumbersome and didn’t need to be adjusted every two seconds.

The array of chargers is nice since Microsoft only supplies a proprietary USB cable when you buy a Zune so if you wanted to charge it without your computer, tough noogies. They feel a bit chintzy but get the job done which is all that matters I suppose. The headphone splitter is good if you want to watch something with a friend on a train ride or something. I don’t use the screen protectors because I bought the kit from Zagg that feel way better though I suppose they are passable.

The extra retractable transfer cable is nice to have around if you are like me and misplace your cables when you drag your laptop all over the house. Everything else, ie; ear buds, neck string and video cable have limited use. The video cable is short so if you don’t have front TV inputs it might be a little annoying to leave your player on top of the TV. To me, if you are near a TV then you are probably near your laptop which is probably your preferred medium for viewing anyway so it’s kind of a none issue but nice to have around anyway.

Overall it was a nice deal for the price and everything functions the way it should. A good alternative to the local offerings from the wallet predators.

Nikon SB-900 AF Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Product: Buy Nikon SB-900 AF Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras At Amazon! List Price: $570.00 Amazon Price: $455.54 Click Here To See Amazon Sale Price Add to cart to see low price@ Availability: In Stock Usually ships in 24 Hours Free Shipping Available

Compare Prices on Nikon SB-900 AF Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Professional i-TTL Speedlight compatible with Nikon FX and DX format SLRs, and part of the Nikon Creative Lighting System. This powerful Speedlight offers photographers extensive creative opportunities for their flash photography. Three illumination patterns - Center-weighted, Even and Standard - provide total control over flash coverage and it covers a class-leading auto zoom range of 17-200mm in just 1.2 seconds.Advanced features include a booster circuit that enables high-speed recycling using four AA-type batteries and a built-in thermal protection system to warn of excessive heat build up. The SB-900 can automatically detect the presence of a fluorescent or incandescent color filter and transmit this information to the attached camera’s white balance setting, and its firmware can be upgraded via the camera body.

• Brand: Nikon
• Model: B001BTG3OQ
• Released on: 2008-07-26
• Dimensions: 4.33″ h x 5.51″ w x 10.24″ l, .91 pounds

Features

• High-quality flash for standalone use or as part of a comprehensive lighting system
• Commander mode controls up to 3 Speedlight groups or unlimited individual Speedlights
• 4 wireless channel options; prominent master and remote control switch for wireless operation
• Auto power zoom coverage ranges from 17 to 200mm (FX format) to 12 to 200mm (DX format)
• 3 light distribution patterns; measures 3 x 5.7 x 4.7 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 14.6 ounces

Thermal shutdown - fixed?
I have an SB900 and agree with all the positive comments posted in other reviews, however I want to challenge those who are posting stories about thermal shutdown to supply some additional information about what situations really cause the flash to shutdown.

I’ve been using my SB900 for several months now, and I’ve never experienced a problem with the unit shutting down, so I thought I’d try a simple test.

I installed a set of brand new lithium ion batteries in my SB900, set it to full power manual mode, and hit the flash button manually as soon as the ready light lit - that’s about one full-power shot every 1 or 2 seconds. I did this until the batteries were drained (that is, until it got to be about 10 seconds between flashes - that’s a few hundred full-power flashes in a row).

Never once did the thermal protection circuit kick in…in fact, the temperature display barely moved for the first 50-100 shots, and throughout the test, even when I could feel the batteries getting warm, it never went much above the 50% mark. My test was indoors at an ambient temperature of about 70 degrees.

I tried other settings - repeat flash, flash with my D3 firing at maximum continuous speed, etc. But I could never even come close to driving the flash to shutdown. So perhaps Nikon fixed the issue, I’m just plain lucky - or it has to do with the type of batteries or maybe other accessories used.

With this issue out of the way, I’m able to give the unit an unqualified 5 star rating as it’s simply the most capable and easy to use unit I’ve ever owned.

Lots of misinformation in other reviews of this flash
I can’t believe the amount of misinformation presented in customer reviews for this product.

First of all, it is true — Nikon added a thermal cut-off that allows the customer to be absolutely certain that the flash never overheats. If that sensor is turned on, the flash can’t shoot fast enough or often enough for professional usage — particularly for weddings. Try shooting the bridal party introductions at a reception, for example. Even if you limit yourself to two flash pops per couple, by the time the third couple is walking in the door, the thermal shutdown will kick in, and you’ll be swearing at the thing.

However, you can simply turn the sensor off. In my experience, the flash is no more delicate than previous Nikon and Canon speedlights. Every Nikon and Canon flash has a duty cycle carefully described in their manual that virtually all professionals ignore and exceed, and yet — most of us get years of usage from the flashes with no problem. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve taken batteries out of my flashes that were simply too hot to hold, and the flash housing was burning hot too — but the thing just kept on working. So I think, if you turn off the thermal cut-off, the SB-900 will behave just like earlier flashes like the SB-800, in terms of overheating.

So the simple answer is. . . if you turn off the thermal sensor, the SB-900 is at least as useful as a professional tool as it’s predecessors — no more, no less susceptible to overheating. I don’t know why Nikon and Canon are so conservative in the duty-cycle ratings of their flashes, but I’ve talked with dozens of fellow pros over the years — we all abuse the flashes, and we rarely have issues. I’m not saying that it’s not possible to abuse these speedlights to the point where they will die — I’m just saying I have used them professionally and repeatedly put hundreds of very fast, high-power pops on them, significantly exceeding the rated duty cycle, and have yet to kill a Canon or Nikon speedlight.

As far as batteries go, Nikon fully supports and recommends the use of NiMH batteries — both normal and Eneloops. The chart in the manual shows NiMH as being the best combination for a good number of pops and the shortest recycling time. Only the expensive Lithium non-rechargeables have better battery life, but they have a recycle time almost double NiMH. Alkalines give the smallest number of pops, and have the second longest recycle time.

So fear not — the SB-900 is the nicest speedlight I’ve owned yet — I have three of them, and I like it far better than it’s predecessors. Turn off the thermal sensor as soon as you take the flash out of the box, load it up with Eneloop batteries, and you will experience flash nirvana.

Finally, I highly recommend the SD-9 accessory battery pack. Load it up with Sanyo Eneloops, and you can easily shoot an entire wedding (actually, probably two weddings) without swapping batteries, while enjoying the fastest recycle time possible with this flash.

Update after using three of the SB-900s for a full wedding season: We encountered some flakiness (random flashing of the flashtube and AF assist lights) which I THINK is related to a loose fit of the SB-900’s hot shoe base in the D700 camera’s hot shoe. So far, it seems like applying Deoxit contact cleaner to both the camera and flash camera contacts makes the problem go away.

So Far So Good
I own 3 SB-800s and I shoot weddings. So far none of SB-800s have quit on me. They are real workhorses. I bought the Sb-900 because i like the ease of switching it from being a regular flash to a master control in a quick flick. If you use this function a lot, it may be worth it to get the SB900. The $130 difference to me depends on how fast you use that function. In a wedding, you could set up some remote lights with your other nikon speedlights…and create some nice lighting. But sometime you want to turn these remotes on/off and it is a real hassle doing it withe the Sb800. Now, it takes less that second…which is essential in a wedding environment.
I read other comments about how their 900s overheated and shut down. I did not experience this for the 2 weddings i shot recently. However, since i’m shooting with a new D700 at ISO 400 - 800, i’m probably not working the 900 extremely hard. Overall, the flash seems to be working well, and apart from its size, i like it. The negatives: The controls needs a little getting used to and the flash case is a little too long too. If it was priced in the 3 hundreds…then it would be 5 star…for this price…it only gets 4 stars from me.