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SanDisk Sansa Fuze 8 GB Video MP3 Player Silver Description:

• Amazon Sales Rank: #83 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Silver
• Brand: SanDisk
• Model: SDMX14R-008GS-A57
• Format: CD
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1754
• Dimensions: .30″ h x 1.90″ w x 3.10″ l, .13 pounds
• Display size: 4

Features

• Listen, watch, and play all day with 24 hours of battery life and room for up to 2,000 songs
• Watch your favorite video clips or share your photos on the 1.9-inch color screen
• Digital FM radio with 40 preset stations
• Voice recording with built-in microphone
• Expand your existing 8 GB memory with the microSD/microSDHC slot

Customer Reviews:

Amazing Little Digital Audio Player
What I really like about it is the size, capacity, and most of all price.

The codec support is about average, not great but it satisfies my needs as 99% of my music is encoded in mp3 format.

One of my dislikes is common among all sandisk mp3 players(and most other players) is that the charging/syncing port is proprietary. Not a big issue, mini-usb would have been nice though.

Video playback was smooth(used a mp4 350MB recorded tv show) no sync problems between the audio/video and no stuttering. Too small to really be considered for video playback though.

Picture viewing is about the same as video and by that I mean it works great and the pictures look ok but the screen is so small it is not practical to show off pics with it.

Voice recording works well, don’t have to hold it directly to my face to clearly record sounds…although I’m not sure what this can be used for but it is there and works well.

The radio works great, easy station browsing, easy to add stations to presets, and reception is very clear.

The sound is very accurately produced at all ranges. The included headphones fit well and sound good. The volume goes up much higher than I could ever think I would need it. For those of you who are runners, I use the earphones that come with it and they direct the sound very well into my ears so I do not have to make it too loud and can still hear some of the environmental sounds: wind noise is hardly noticeable.

The screen is easy to see in all light conditions, bright, and easy to read.

The build quality feels great. It has generous weight to it, light enough to take running and not really notice it but heavy enough to give it a solid feel. The front of the device is a bit shiny and does tend to attract fingerprints easily but not scratches so far.

Expansion port works great, currently using a 4GB microsdhc to shuttle podcasts/audiobooks between it my pc.

Navigation is a breeze and the menus are very intuitive, the scroll wheel/buttons are easy to find and press even with the player not in sight.

Syncing I very easy to do without the need for bloated software. You can add media to it via a file explorer(drag & drop) or one of several media players like WMP, winamp, and a variety of others. The datbase is auto-updating and works flawlessly. I have seen a few reviews that say the database refresh takes a while. With a completely full internal memory and half full 4gb card my refreshes only take 15-30 seconds.

A few final notes. The boot-up is about 3-5 seconds from off to playing music after pressing the power button. It will resume the music exactly where you left it when turning it off. Actual usable memory is about 7.8 GB. 4 1/2 out of 5 stars, best on the market right now but not perfect of course.

UPDATE: 2 new “cons” I have come across. Technically the device is performing as intended but I am hoping for a firmware update to “resolve” these.

1. When scrolling, the speed of scrolling does not increase. Basically takes forever if the song you want is in the second half of the alphabet. This will probably be changed in the next firmware update though.

2. The podcasts are sorted by most recent first. This kind of makes since so you dont have to scroll to the bottom to listen to the newest one but it also causes a problem if you are trying to listen to a series in order and it starts playing through them backwards. Probably no “fix” for this issue although being able to choose how it is sorted would be great.

Would be great except for a few issues
The price, capacity and design of the Fuze 8GB are great, however I have had some issues with my Fuze since picking it up a couple months ago:

1) The screen is easily scratched: I have been carrying it in the front pocket of my jeans with nothing else, and the display screen has lots of little scratches on it (they showed up the first day even). Not at all scratch resistant, if you get one make sure you get a shield for the screen. Strangely enough the finish on the rest of the front of the Fuze is much more scratch resistant (though not completely so either).

2) Proprietary connector: The Fuze uses a proprietary connector to connect to your computer’s USB port rather than a standard USB Mini-B plug. This means if you lose it you can’t just use a standard cable, you’ll have to buy a new proprietary cable you can’t use anywhere else. Additionally if you want to use a wall adapter to charge your device you’ll need to purchase another cable.

3) It takes too long to refresh: Each time you unplug it from your computer or plug in a MicroSD card, the Fuze goes through a process of “Refreshing your media”, presumably scanning the internal and/or external memory for music. This takes about five minutes on mine, with a nearly full (7GB) internal memory and no external memory. Even if no changes are made to your music (i.e. you were just plugging it in to charge the battery), it will go through this process each time you unplug the device from your computer.

4) Playback issues: This may be an issue with my particular Fuze, but on occassion it will refuse to play particular tracks. After cycling the power it will then usually play the tracks fine.

5) Playlist problems: I have been unable to utilize playlists with much success. The Fuze recognizes standard M3U playlists, however accessing and scrolling through them on the Fuze is painfully slow (I just looked into one of my playlist, it took 15 seconds for the list to show up, and maybe 2/3 second to scroll down to each song off the bottom of the screen). Additionally, the tracks in the playlist show up with the artist’s name in front, so for long artist names you can’t see the song name at all, unless you wait for the name to (slowly) scroll to the right revaling the rest of the information.

6) Scrolling issues: In general, scrolling is pretty rapid (unless you’re looking at a playlist). Unlike the iPod however, the speed is fixed; continuously scrolling through your music will not ‘accelerate’ the scroll speed after several seconds. I scrolled through my artists from A-Z, it took 39 complete rotations of the scroll wheel to reach the bottom, and again to go back, taking maybe 20 seconds. With a full 16 GB of music, or fewer songs each from more artists, this could easily double.

With the exception of the easily scratched screen and proprietary connector, I would think these issues could be resolved via a firmware update. Hopefully as the Fuze becomes more mature these issues will go away, as they mar an otherwise great device.

Best all-around digital media player!
Hands down, this is the best digital media player I have purchased. After three failed attempts at buying an updated media player (Insignia Pilot 8GB - terrible sound quality, Creative ZEN 8GB - terrible interface software with the computer) I finally found the Sansa Fuze.

This player had everything I was looking for: low price point, large memory capacity (8GB), an exandable memory port (microSDHC), FM radio capability, and small size.

The unit itself looks and feels of quality construction, the interface with the computer is simple (just drag & drop to either internal or external memory) and it has amazing battery life. I’ve had no problems charging the unit on my laptop or via a USB A/C adapter. The manual clearly states that some USB ports are not powerful enough to charge the unit, particularly those on the front of the computer, and in that case to try the back USB ports.

As for video quality, I can’t speak to it. The Fuze has only a 1.9″ screen, so if you bought it to watch videos you must have microscopes for eyes.

Overall, the Sansa Fuze is the best bang for the buck in terms of sound quality, construction, ease of use, and functionality. If you’re looking for an excellent digital media player, you’ve found it!

Amazon.com Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description With the SanDisk Sansa Fuze, you can fuse your portable entertainment, featuring 8 GB of storage. Listen, watch, and play all day with 24 hours of battery life and room for up to 2,000 songs**. Watch your favorite video clips on the Sansa Fuze’s 1.9-inch color screen. Measuring just 0.3 inches thin, the Sansa Fuze marks the next wave of music and video players.

Your portable music machine with 8 GB of storage. (Click image to view larger.)

The MicroSD/SDHC memory card slot means storage possibilities are essentially unlimited. (Click image to view larger.)

Smaller than a credit card and as thin as a pencil, the new Sansa Fuze MP3 player looks great–and has the brains to match. (Black player shown here; click image to view larger.)

Audio Player
Smaller than a credit card and as thin as a pencil, the new Sansa Fuze MP3 player looks great–and has the brains to match. With room for up to 2,000 songs**, you can listen all day long. Jam to FM radio with 40 preset stations, play with the built-in voice recorder, and listen to your favorite audiobooks wherever you go. And with 24 hours of battery life, you’re free to listen, watch, and play all day–literally.

Watch Your Favorite Videos
The Sansa Fuze comes with 8 GB of built-in memory enough to store 5 hours of video playback. Watch your favorite TV video clips from wherever you are. To ensure speedy file transfers, the unit features a USB 2.0 connection. Simply connect the player to a PC, and start dragging files from your Windows Media Player 10 or 11 applications.

Expanded Capacity
With an option to extend the capacity, its MicroSD/SDHC memory card slot means storage possibilities are essentially unlimited. Expand your music collection, show albums of photos up to 4000 images*, and watch your favorite videos on those long trips.

Compatible Formats
The player supports MPEG4 video files and audio files saved in MP3, secure and unsecured WMA, WAV, Audible, and Overdrive file formats.

FM Radio
If you’re feeling like a break from your own tunes, or want to dial in the TV frequency at the gym, use the digital FM tuner. Save your favorites on the 40 user presets.

Voice Recorder
Use the voice recorder with built-in microphone to take memos, record meetings or lectures, or capture whatever else you might feel inclined to point a microphone at. When you’re ready, transfer your files for listening on your PC.

What’s in the Box
SanDisk Sansa Fuze 8 GB MP3 player (silver), earphones, USB 2.0 cable, quick start guide

* 1 gigabyte (GB) = 1 billion bytes; some of the listed capacity is used for formatting and other functions; thus, it is not available for data storage

** Based on continuous audio playback at 128 kpbs MP3; video playback at 512 kbps/ MPEG 4; photos based on 1.7 MB average file size; battery life and performance might vary depending upon usage and settings; battery not replaceable.

From the Manufacturer
From the Manufacturer Listen, watch and play all day with up to 24 hours of juice*** and room for hundreds of pix and flix. Smaller than a credit card and as thin as a pencil, this clever little player can put up to 2,000 songs**, 12 two-hour movies***, or 4,000 photos* in your pocket. Plus, unlike other MP3 players, your Sansa Fuze player isn’t done when your battery’s done. Just re-charge it. And while you’re at it, add another memory card whenever you like–and just keep growing your entertainment library.

Listen
Keep hundreds of tunes or hours of audiobook listening at the ready wherever you go. Or tune into FM radio for news and fresh music anytime. And you’ve got up to 24 hours for audio playback and 5 hours of video playback with your internal rechargeable battery***.

Watch
Keep hours of home video or your favorite movies at the ready–and load them onto your Sansa Fuze player quickly thanks to USB 2.0 connection. Just drag and drop files from your Windows Media Player 10 or 11 applications.

Record
With the built-in microphone, you can record memos, lectures or all those unexpected, mic-worthy moments throughout your day. When you’re ready, transfer the files to your PC for listening and sharing.

Grow
Storage possibilities are essentially unlimited because, unlike other MP3 players, you can swap out the memory card. So get a bigger card or start a memory card library to hold your whole universe of entertainment.

Get together
The Sansa Fuze player supports MPEG-4 video files and audio files saved in MP3, secure and unsecured WMA, WAV, Audible and Overdrive file formats**.

So what’s in the box?
SanDisk Sansa Fuze MP3 player, earphones, USB 2.0 cable, quick start guide.

* 1 gigabyte (GB) = 1 billion bytes. Some capacity not available for data storage.
** Approximation based on 4-minute songs at 128kbps.
*** Approximation based on 512kbps video stream.
* Based on 2MB average file size.
** Videos (MPEG-4) Music (MP3, WMA, secure WMA and audio book file formats), Photos (JPEG). For additional specifications, please go to sansa.com for more information.
*** Based on continuous audio playback at 128kbps MP3; video playback at 512kbps/MPEG4; battery life and performance may vary depending upon usage and settings; battery not replaceable.

Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15×70 Binoculars with Tripod Adapter Description:

Celestron and ;s SkyMaster Series of large aperture binoculars are a phenomenal value for high performance binoculars ideal for astronomical viewing or for terrestrial (land) use - especially over long distances. Each SkyMaster model features high quality BAK-4 prisms and multi-coated optics for enhanced contrast. Celestron has designed and engineered the larger SkyMaster models to meet the special demands of extended astronomical or terrestrial viewing sessions. The 15×70 version is one of the most popular models in the series. It offers serious large aperture light gathering in an affordable and reasonably lightweight configuration.

• Brand: Celestron
• Model: 71009
• Dimensions: 4.90″ h x 10.10″ w x 12.00″ l, 1.50 pounds

Features

• Multi-coated optics
• Large aperture perfect for low light conditions and stargazing
• Tripod adapter
• Long eye relief ideal for eyeglass wearers
• Diopter adjustment for fine focusing

Customer Reviews:

Celestron 15X70 Skymasters ROCK!
I’ve been an amateur astronomer for about 23 years. I have a broad amount of experience with the kind of optics that are used for astronomy. I have used most every type of instrument and have visited some of the great professional telescopes. I have hand built my own newtonian telescope including machining the german equatorial mount. Soon after completing this instrument I took it to a star party and ended up on my back with a pair of Fujinon SX binoculars. To make a long story short, I preferred the binos to the view in my telescope. Telescopes are expensive, they are big, heavy, hard to move, hard to store, complicated to set up correctly, and the view through the eyepiece can be crowded and dissapointing. For the casual observer binoculars are the superior choice. They are everything that a telescope is not…relatively cheap, light, easy use. And because they are so easy to use, you will end up using them much more often than you would a cumbersome telescope. That aspect of binoculars alone will make them show you much more than a telescope ever would. The Celestron 15X70 Skymasters are by far and away the best amateur astronomy instrument for the money on the market right now. They are truly and incredible value. You could spend $600+ on Fujinon SX binoculars and have a very fine instrument, but after using these, that would be a hard argument to make. Most everyone’s eyes are not able to discern the fine differences between the two instuments. Mind you, I am not telling you that these are as good as the Fujinons, but at about a 10th of the price…well you get the idea. My experience with Celestron is that they are a first class operation. And now with their lifetime no-fault warranty, the best in the industry, you can purchase products from them knowing that if anything ever goes wrong for whatever reason, they will always stand behind their product. If you are looking to get started in astronomy or looking for an excuse to leave your telescope in the closet, these binoculars are a great value and with proper care will last a lifetime and show you more wonders than you will ever see frustrating yourself with a high magnification-small field telescope. Get them, take them outside at night with your kids and wonder why…….

More than I hoped for
My first night out under dark skies with these binoculars was a terrific experience. In ninety minutes of observing I had great views of M36, M37, M38, M44, M50, easily saw the Trapizium in Orion’s nebula, saw the Andromeda galaxy and it’s companions streaching across 75% of my FOV. It had taken me two observing sessions with my 5″ reflector to find M33, with the Binoculars I found it in two minutes, M81 and 82 were also easy.
All this and I don’t even have a tripod yet. I may well spend more time with the 15 X 70’s than I do with my telescope.

They are also great for terrestrial viewing. Contrast and definition are excellent. Best optical value I’ve ever seen.

Nice All Around Binos
I took these out to some dark skies recently and they were increadible, stars looked like i could touch them, crisp pinpoint stars all around. These were easy to use will laying on my back, however, i must say while standing or sitting up a tripod is recommended to steady the view as they are heavy for hand held observing. I picked up a sturdy but inexpensive tripod with use with these binos which has made it possible to use for birding or bison watching in Yellowstone. The price is terrific i could not find them any cheaper but plenty out there way more expensive. Get these and with the saved cash pick up a tripod and you will be on your way to some great viewing.

Amazon.com Review
Binoculars come in a wide range of shapes and sizes these days, and an even wider range of prices. It’s easy to spend less than $100 or more than $500 for what may appear to be, at least outwardly, comparable models. While they may look the same, they are probably quite different on the inside.

Recently, the binocular market has seen a flood of giant binoculars at prices that were unheard of just a few years ago. In general, giant binoculars are defined as those that magnify the view 10 times or more and have 70-mm or larger front (objective) lenses. It used to be that the least expensive giant binoculars cost in excess of $150, even $200. All that changed not long ago, when the bottom fell out of the price cellar. Now, several companies import giant binoculars that sell for half that, or less.

Celestron’s 15×70 SkyMaster binoculars are one of the leaders in the low-price giant binocular arena. They certainly sound good on paper. The SkyMasters include multicoated optics and BaK-4 internal prisms, two features that promise brighter, better images, and key points to look for when judging a pair of binoculars. They also come with an adapter for attaching them to a photo tripod, which is a must to use them to their fullest, and a soft carrying case. But just because they are cheap doesn’t always mean they are worth the price. Would it be better to save up for a more expensive pair?

To find the answer, I had an opportunity recently to judge the SkyMasters against a pair of Fujinon 16×70 FMT-SX binoculars , one of the finest pairs of giant binoculars sold today. Like the SkyMasters, the Fujinons feature BaK-4 prisms, but also have fully multicoated optics. As a general rule, superior coatings mean superior image sharpness and contrast. But then, that should be expected, given that the Fujinons cost many times more than the Celestrons.

While the Fujinons were clearly the better performer, the Celestron SkyMasters held up admirably. Image brightness, quality, and contrast were all remarkable considering their bargain price. Although images were a little soft across the outer 25% of the Celestron’s field, the overall view was impressive nonetheless.

Some inexpensive binoculars have very sloppy focusing, causing the eyepieces to tilt and shift. Not so with the SkyMasters. I found that their center-focusing mechanism worked smoothly, with no apparently backlash or wobble. Eye relief (the distance you hold your eyes away from the eyepieces to see the full field) is stated to be 18 mm, a good distance for higher power binoculars and an important consideration if you must wear glasses when viewing. The SkyMasters are also light enough to support by hand for short periods of time, although buyers would be well advised to mount them on a sturdy photo tripod.

The bottom line is, if you are considering a pair of giant binoculars, whether for bird watching, stargazing, or another recreational use, and have a limited budget, Celestron’s giant 15×70 SkyMasters represent an excellent value. –Phil Harrington, author of Star Ware and Star Watch

Pros:

• Exceptional value for the price
• Light enough to support by hand
• BaK-4 prisms
• Multicoated optics

Cons:

• Outer 25% of the field is soft and a little blurry
• Requires a tripod to use for extended periods

From the Manufacturer
 SkyMaster 15×70 - General Features

• 15x magnification porro prism binocular
• Large 70 mm objective lens offers maximum image brightness in low-light and long-range conditions
• Ultra sharp focus across the field of view
• Multi-Coated optics for sharp, clear views
• Suitable for terrestrial or astronomical viewing
• Protective rubber covering for ultra-firm grip
• Large center focus knob for easy focusing
• Tripod adapter included
• Long eye relief ideal for eyeglass wearers
• Carrying case included for travel and safe storage
• No Fault Warranty provides best protection and product support on the market

Details
Celestron’s SkyMaster Series of large aperture binoculars are a phenomenal value for high performance binoculars ideal for astronomical viewing or for terrestrial (land) use - especially over long distances. Each SkyMaster model features high quality BAK-4 prisms and multi-coated optics for enhanced contrast. Celestron has designed and engineered the larger SkyMaster models to meet the special demands of extended astronomical or terrestrial viewing sessions.

The 15×70 version is one of the most popular models in the series. It offers serious large aperture light gathering in an affordable and reasonably lightweight configuration.

Specs

• Optical Design: Porro
• Diameter: 70 mm (2.76 in)
• Magnification: 15 x
• Angular Field of View: 4.4 °
• Linear Field of View (@1000 yds): 230 ft (70.1 m)
• Exit Pupil: 4.7 mm (0.19 in)
• Eye Relief: 18 mm (0.71 in)
• IPD Min: 56 mm (2.2 in)
• IPD Max: 72 mm (2.83 in)
• Near Focus (Binoculars): 43 ft (13.11 m)
• Prisms: BAK4
• Optical Coatings: Multi-Coated
• Caps: Yes
• Strap: Yes
• Carrying Case: Nylon
• Weather Proof: Water Resistant
• Tripod Adaptable: Yes
• Weight: 48 oz (1360.78 g)

NO FAULT Binocular Warranty

The No-Fault warranty is applicable to all Celestron binoculars.
(excluding the VistaPix digital camera/binoculars which feature a 2-year warranty) 
 
A. Celestron warrants this binocular to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for its usable lifetime. Celestron will repair or replace such product or part thereof which, upon inspection by Celestron, is found to be defective in materials or workmanship. As a condition to the obligation of Celestron to repair or replace such product, the product must be returned to Celestron prepaid together with proof-of-purchase satisfactory to Celestron.  The proper Return Authorization Number must be obtained from Celestron in advance of return.  Call Celestron at (310) 803-5955 to receive the number to be displayed on the outside of your shipping container.  You can also send an email for this number from the support section of the Celestron website.

B. The NO FAULT provision of this warranty means that regardless of how the binoculars may have been damaged or rendered unusable (fully or partially) by the
Owner of the binocular, Celestron will repair or replace the binocular without any questions being asked.

To take advantage of this provision, enclose a check or money order for $ 25.00 (U.S. dollars) with the binocular to cover inspection, handling, and shipping.

All returns must be accompanied by a written statement setting forth the name, address, and daytime telephone number of the owner, together with a brief description of any claimed defects. Parts or product for which replacement is made shall become the property of Celestron.

Celestron shall use reasonable efforts to repair or replace any binocular covered by this limited warranty within thirty days of receipt. In the event repair or replacement shall require more than thirty days, Celestron shall notify the customer accordingly. Celestron reserves the right to replace any product which has been discontinued from its product line with a new product of comparable value and function.

CELESTRON DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WHETHER OF MERCHANTABILITY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH HEREIN.

THE SOLE OBLIGATION OF CELESTRON UNDER THIS LIMITED WARRANTY SHALL BE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE COVERED PRODUCT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS SET FORTH HEREIN. CELESTRON EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY LOST PROFITS, GENERAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WHICH MAY RESULT FROM BREACH OF ANY WARRANTY, OR ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE ANY CELESTRON PRODUCT. ANY WARRANTIES WHICH ARE IMPLIED AND WHICH CANNOT BE DISCLAIMED SHALL BE LIMITED IN DURATION TO A TERM OF ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF ORIGINAL RETAIL PURCHASE.

Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages or limitation on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitations and exclusions may not apply to you.

This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.

Celestron reserves the right to modify or discontinue, without prior notice to you, any model or style binocular.

If warranty problems arise, or if you need assistance in using your binocular contact:

Celestron
Customer Service Department
2835 Columbia Street
Torrance, CA 90503 U.S.A.
Tel. (310) 328-9560
Fax. (310) 212-5835
Monday-Friday 8AM-4PM PST

NOTE: This warranty is valid to U.S.A. and Canadian customers who have purchased this product from an Authorized Celestron Dealer in the U.S.A. or Canada. Warranty outside the U.S.A. and Canada is valid only to customers purchased from a Celestron Distributor or Authorized Celestron Dealer in the specific country and please contact them for any warranty service.

Belkin Laptop Sling Bag Jet/Cabernet Product: Belkin Laptop Sling Bag Jet/Cabernet Sale-$23.95! 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

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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”.

Logitech Wii Cordless Keyboard Product: Logitech Wii Cordless Keyboard Sale-$24.95! List Price: $49.99 Amazon Price: $24.95 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

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Now it¿s even easier to use your favorite game console to surf the Web, read the news, check the weather, browse YouTube, send e-mail, and communicate with members of the Wii community. The Logitech Cordless Keyboard for Wii ¿ enables natural typing for easy surfing, searching, and sharing on the Wii Internet Channel and in chat-oriented games. With its 2.4 GHz wireless technology, compact design, easy setup, and dedicated Wii system keys, the Logitech Cordless Keyboard for Wii helps you communicate, share, and explore the online world from your living room.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #159 in Video Games
• Brand: Logitech
• Model: 920-000934
• Released on: 2008-10-13
• Platform: Nintendo Wii
• Format: CD
• Dimensions: 13.40″ h x 1.60″ w x 7.10″ l, 1.05 pounds

Features

• Wii system keys make navigation simple with dedicated buttons for Zoom In/Out, Forward/Back, Quit, and OK.
• Licensed for Wii to ensure both design and technical compatibility.
• 2.4 GHz wireless technology allows you to easily enter text on the Wii Internet Channel and in chat-oriented games from up to 30 feet away from the console.
• Compact, slim design blends into living room settings ¿ it¿s easy to store but has full-size keys for comfortable typing.
• Easy setup. Just plug in the receiver and the keyboard works instantly.

Not just for the Wii!
I can’t understand why Logitech advertises this solely as a Wii product. It works flawlessly as a PC keyboard as well!

I searched quite a while for a light, compact, easy-to-stow-away wireless keyboard for my home theater media center PC. Every one I found was the same old thing; big standard keyboard, with a mouse, with a big receiver, etc.

Finally I stumbled across this little guy; small, light stylish, keyboard only, and a tiny USB receiver half the size of a pack of chewing gum.

But… the packaging listed support only for the Wii. Wii required!, it said, in big, bold, scary letters.

Well friends, I’m here to tell you that it does *not* require a Wii! it works *perfectly* with my 32-bit Windows XP home install. My PC is locked away in a closet, and this thing has no reception/lost keystroke issues at all from 10 feet away (with a reasonably heavy door in between the receiver and the keyboard)]

To summarize:

>Pros:

>+ Small, lightweight
>+ PC compatibility! Works great with XP
>+ Easy to install, great reception even through walls
>+ Good key feel, similar to a high-quality laptop with a short key throw

4.5 stars, highly recommended.

Great Wireless Keyboard For The Wii
This wireless keyboard is great! Small, slim, fits nicely on my lap. Lightweight, but seems pretty durable. Typing on it is fine (and, obviously, much faster than using the Wii remote). Looks great, too, matching the Wii and other accessories.

Set-up was a snap — put in 2 AA cells (included), plug the wireless receiver into the Wii’s USB, flip a switch on the bottom to turn it on. I have two Wii’s in adjacent rooms, and the two keyboards do not interfere with each other.

A bit pricy, but I feel it’s worth it. Great accessory!

Saves time
If you spend a lot of time surfing the net with your Wii, then this keyboard can save time. It has some nice features, such as, zooming and paging up/down/sideways, and there is a place on the bottom of the keyboard to store the usb wireless attachment if you don’t want to leave it in the Wii. Keep in mind, the Wii remote is still required much like a mouse or scroll pad etc. I gave this product 4 stars instead of 5 stars, because: 1. price 2. no built-in pointing device/mouse/scroll pad 3. doesn’t work with all Wii applications 4. doesn’t include any information about the function keys…, but the product is made solid and feels comfortable, and definitely makes surfing more enjoyable.

Canon CanoScan LiDE 700F Color Image Scanner 3297B002 Description:

Compact and Stylish 9600 dpi Scanner with film scanning

• Brand: Canon
• Model: 3297B002
• Dimensions: 1.80″ h x 11.50″ w x 16.10″ l, 7.10 pounds
• CPU: AMD Athlon 1 GHz
• Memory: 128000MB DRAM
• Hard Disk: 1GB
• Processors: 1
• Native resolution: 640×480
• Display size: 669.2913385827

Features

• “Auto Scan Mode” automatically adjusts settings by detecting what you are scanning
• High speed letter size color scanning in approximately 12 seconds
• Low Power Consumption; one USB cable for data and power

Customer Reviews:

Excellent scanner, lightweight, easy to store, and the price is right!
I wasn’t planning on getting another scanner until I foolishly decided to clean the inside and outside of the glass on my old HP scanner because the underside was cloudy. I got rid of the smokey glass but added lint:( so I checked the specs on this scanner since there weren’t many reviews on it and decided to take a chance on buying the LiDE 700F because of the image resolution and price.

I couldn’t be happier that I messed up the old scanner. This one makes excellent scans and makes things very easy to enlarge when printing. It is also very lightweight and easy to store. One of the better things is that it all works with one USB cord. I really am impressed with the quality of the scan although I don’t believe that it actually scans at the speed that is advertised. It does seem slower than what the specs list and that is at the default scanning resolution for me. That issue doesn’t bother me though because it fits my needs perfectly. Resolution is easily adjusted but the higher the resolution the slower the scan.

I use it (and carry it) between 3 different computers in 3 different rooms. It works flawlessly on Windows XP, Windows Vista 32 bit, Windows Vista 64 bit, and Windows 7 32 bit and 64 bit. It comes with its own software which works well although I prefer to use it through Adobe Photoshop.

Picture scans come out excellent and the color correction is great but not perfect. It has restored some old photos very well for me. Scanning text is easy and having the four buttons on the front make scanning for e-mail, .pdf, copies, and scans faster.

I do not have slides to scan so cannot comment on the quality of slide scans although I am extremely curious due to the very high maximum pixel count for slide scans.

I like this scanner immensely because of the light weight, portability between machines I use, that it requires only one USB plug, and the great scanned images. I do agree with another reviewer that the cover does feel flimsy and could be broken by someone not careful but that does not concern me much even thought I carry this from room to room depending on what machine I need to use. Just use the same care as you would with your laptop and you will be fine.

I would not hesitate to recommend this scanner for high resolutions scans for people on a budget. This is a great scanner! I have no regrets having purchased this scanner.

BTW: This is my first straying from HP scanners since 1995. Beware HP! Canon has won me over.

EDIT: (Addition 3/7/10) Works flawlessly with Windows 95, 2000, XP, Vista, and 7.

I also have to retract my statement about color correction. This machine scans so well that the image of something I scanned, using this scanner, was better than the actual item according to the person who bought the item. I was accused of “Photoshopping” a picuture because the image was so much better than the actual paper money the scan was used to represent. It was only scanned (using the scanner software - not imported into Photoshop), cropped only, and not altered using software. Now that’s an impressive scanner!

poor film scans
This scanner does a good job of scanning prints and documents. But the accessory film scan device is virtually unusable. My results were hopelessly out of focus. I contacted the Canon service center, and after they had seen my emailed scans, they agreed that something was amiss. I sent the scanner back (along with my test negatives), and they sent a replacement unit. This performed better, but the film scans still are woefully unsharp compared to what I got seven years ago with my HP film scanner.

I’ll keep the scanner for scanning flat copy, but I will not bother to scan any more films.

Scans well but some key parts are not very durable
The scanner does a good job and it’s great that it doesn’t need a separate power cable. The main drawback I’ve found is that the hinges for the cover depends on a tiny little plastic nubs that are easily broken off.

From the Manufacturer
From the Manufacturer Become familiar with high-quality and high-speed scanning for documents, prints and 35mm film. With a scanner this compact and stylish, its powerful maximum resolution of 9600 x 9600 (Optical) dpi immediately impresses. You won’t believe how easy it is. It’s Auto Scan Mode feature automatically detects what you’re scanning and saves it as a file. The Four EZ Buttons enable you scan, copy or create a PDF faster than ever.

View larger

For those with a true need for speed the LiDE700F delivers a letter size color scan in approximately 12 seconds! This product also allows you to join the Generation Green initiative featuring low power consumption using the USB cable for both data and power.

Stunning Resolution
When you combine 9600 x 9600 maximum color resolution with a vivid 48-bit color depth and over 281 trillion possible colors, the results will astound you. Continue your scanning brilliance with tremendous 19,200 x 19,200 (Interpolated) software enhanced scans.

EZ Buttons
Have the flexibility to do what you want with your originals, quickly as you utilize the Four EZ Buttons to automate the entire scanning process. Copy, scan and create email attachments or PDF files simply with the push of a button.

Auto Scan Mode
Finally, you have the ability to bring eight steps into one as you scan a photo, document, business card, textbook or personal notebook and have it automatically recognized. In addition, the original is automatically cropped to proper size, scanned and saved in the appropriate file format. All of this is achieved with the press of a single button.

35mm Film
Make your old photos look brand new again with the special film scanning guide frame and Film Adapter Unit by scanning one film strip at a time at a maximum 9600 color dpi.

One Plug Scanning
Consolidate the number of wires in your work area as one simple cable provides a USB 2.0 Hi-Speed connection and power.

3 Way Positioning
Scan with flexibility to accommodate your work station as you can setup the LiDE700 in three positions such as upright, portrait and landscape.

USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
Scan and transfer images to your computer with the fastest possible scanning speeds with this connection. The USB 2.0 Hi-Speed Interface also allows for quick previews of your images to your computer.

Motorola SB6120 SURFboard DOCSIS 3.0 eXtreme Broadband Cable Modem Description:

Motorola’s easy-to-use SB6120 SURFboard DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem unlocks the potential of offering innovative high-bandwidth data and multimedia services to customers. Utilizing the power of DOCSIS 3.0, the SB6120 enables channel bonding of up to 4 downstream channels and 4 upstream channels - which allows an operator to offer their customers advanced multimedia services with data rates of well over 100 Mbps in each direction.

• Brand: Motorola
• Model: 545101-011-00
• Dimensions: 2.80″ h x 7.10″ w x 9.70″ l, 1.50 pounds

Features

• Designed to provide a cost effective, next generation technology to offer a high speed residential or commercial service tier
• User-friendly online diagnostics and bonded channel status page
• Features a 10/100/1000Base-T Gigabit Port for incredible wired network speeds
• Capable of downloading up to 2000 times faster than 56k analog phone modems; up to 4 times faster than DOCSIS 2.0 broadband
• Intuitive, easy to read front panel operational status LEDs

Customer Reviews:

The Game player review
I bought this modem the other day because I felt my old SB5101 modem was not optimized for speed. I have a regular DOCSIS 2.0 service through Comcast. The modem made a huge impression on me after it was installed. The download and upload increased around 20 percent. The amazing thing is that this modem squeeze extra bandwidth out of your existing service (weather you have a standard basic megabyte connection or the newer DOCSIS 3.0 service high speed connection). The noticeable difference was the latency speed of the connection. When I click on a link on a web page, the page loads up as soon as the link is clicked. My old SB5101 modem would take a few extra milliseconds to load. What does this mean? If you play video games like Halo 3 via X-box or Call of duty, you will have a reaction time advantage against your competition. The clear negative of this product is that it takes longer to boot-up. If you power cycle the modem or if your internet service provider resets the modem, it will take two minutes to restart. It will take Comcast longer to recognize the modem when you call in to give the Mac address because when they reset the modem remotely, it will take two minutes for the modem to initialize. Once it is online it performs flawlessly. Anyone that buys this modem will benefit from the extra tweaks it has regardless if the are using a basic or super high speed internet service.

Great
just made a quick call to comcast to give them the modem’s MAC address and now my internet is blazing. I’m on the comcast 22Mb download tier but speed test is showing an average of 35Mb down / 6Mb up. really fast.

Easy setup, great so far!
I had the older SB5120 and lately I have had to restart the router about 2 times a weeks when I was using massive bandwidth.

The new modem works great with my Comcast service here in Olympia, WA. Took 5 min on the phone for the Comcast Tech to authenticate the new router.

From the Manufacturer

Ultra-fast Internet at your fingertips – NEW lightning fast technology lets you surf up to 4x faster than traditional cable modems.
The Motorola SURFboard SB6120 eXtreme Cable Modem unleashes the next wave of broadband technology at exceptional speed. The SB6120 is up to 4 times faster than DOCSIS® 2.0 broadband cable modems making it capable of reaching data rates up to 150 Mbps. That makes gaming, shopping, downloading, working, high-quality voice and video conferencing, and peer-to-peer networking applications — far more realistic, faster, and efficient than ever before. The SB6120 delivers your complete personal media experience, at lightning-fast broadband speed. So what are you waiting for?

Motorola SURFboard® eXtreme Cable Modem

Easy to Install, Activate, and Use.

Delivers a realistic gaming experience – watch as games come to life

Watch as games come to life.

Highlights

• Capable of downloading up to 2000 times faster than 56k analog phone modems
• Capable of downloading up to 4 times faster than DOCSIS 2.0 broadband cable modems
• DOCSIS® 3.0 Certified
• Enables a myriad of advanced multimedia services:
• - Access real-time online games; new heights in realism and speed
• Faster music downloads; one song or the entire album
• Share digital photos, home movies and other multimedia effortlessly over the Internet
• Download high-definition movies to your PC or watch as streaming media
• Windows®, Macintosh®, and UNIX® compatible
• Supports Advanced Encryption Services for data, as activated by your operator
• Features a 10/100/1000Base-T Gigabit Port for incredible wired network speeds: enjoy lag-free network gaming and faster file transfers
• Intuitive, easy to read front panel operational status LEDs
• Use your current Internet Browser
• No additional software required
• Slim design saves desk space
• 2-year limited warranty

What’s in the Box
Inside the Box - Motorola SB6120 SURFboard eXtreme Cable Modem,Quick start guide,Installation CD-ROM,Ethernet cable,Power adapter and cord,Install sheet,Warranty card

36 CHL./24 MILE TWO WAY RADIO Product: 36 CHL./24 MILE TWO WAY RADIO-Retail $59.99! Sale Only $36.41! List Price: $59.99 Amazon Price: $36.41 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 36 CHL./24 MILE TWO WAY RADIO

Midland LXT480VP3 36 Channel GMRS Radios with NOAA Weather Alert/All Hazard Alert. Includes Rechargeable Batteries and Dual Desktop Charger, Pair Packed . The LXT480 features the standard 22 GMRS Channels with an extra 14 Channels and a range of up to 24 Miles. The Weather Scan feature finds the nearest NOAA broadcast to stay up to date with the latest weather and hazard information. In addition to important weather announcements, All Hazards Alert means the LXT480VP3 will receive other emergency announcements such as Child Abduction (Amber Alert), Nuclear Power Plant warnings, Biological Hazard, Fire, and Landslide Warnings. The LXT480VP3 features Vibration Alert, 3 Level E Vox for Hands free operation, 121 Privacy Codes, Scan of the 36 Channels, 5 Call Alerts, Keypad Lock, Battery Save Circuit, and is water resistant. Unlike other GMRS radios on the market that use lithium batteries, Midland’s Dual Power Option allows the use of the included rechargeable batteries or 4 “AAA” batteries (Not included). An External Jack can be used for the Midland AVP-1 AVPH1, AVPH2, AVPH3, AVPH4, AVPH5 Headsets.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1222 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black
• Brand: Midland
• Model: LXT480VP3
• Dimensions: 1.00″ h x 2.40″ w x 4.00″ l, 2.00 pounds

Features

• Pair of 22-Channel (plus 14 extra), two-way GMRS radios with range up to 24 miles
• 121 privacy codes provide up to 2676 channel options to help you block other conversations
• NOAA Weather Alert automatically locks on to your local weather channel and alerts you to severe weather
• Five different call tones to notify you of incoming call from your group
• Requires FCC License

Pleasantly surprised, range is okay with lots of obstacles
When we went up to a cabin in the mountain last month with lots of foliage around, we were pleasantly surprised at how well these walkie talkies work. We were able to keep in touch within a mile from the cabin. We are aware that these will not provide the distance listed, especially in steep terrain with lots of trees blocking the signal. That being said, these work really well, and the sound is clear. The double-charger base is a nice touch. If I leave the radio on, even without using them, the battery lasts about 24hrs. They are certainly not the smallest/most-portable radio around, but for the price you can’t beat it.

EXCELLENT 2-WAY RADIOS FOR AN EMERGENCY
The Midland LXT480 Series GMRS/FRS Radios are professional quality. They have 22 transmitting channels, however, channels 1-7 and 15-22 require an FCC license. To obtain a license, contact 1-888-CALL FCC and request form 605. Serious penalties could result for unlicensed use of GMRS channels.

I might be safe transmitting high power on GMRS in the Avatar (Hallelujah) Mountains, but Big Brother has a mighty long arm. I’d rather not risk it unless faced with a genuine emergency. In such a case, forgiveness is easier to obtain than permission.

This leaves 7 transmission channels for unlicensed users like myself. The power setting for transmitting on these 7 channels (8-14) is permanently set to LOW at the factory per FCC regulations.

Channels 1-7 and 15-22 can be set on high power.

On the bright side, each channel has 121 privacy codes.

Therefore, the remainder of my review covers only 7 channels set on low power.

In spite of the limitations, I am pleased. In several tests with both radios inside of brick houses one mile apart, separated by woods, a hill and a few other buildings, the audible was consistently clear and sharp. This is all the distance I needed. Another desirable feature is the vibrating call alert. This is great in more ways than one when silence is important. In normal call mode, press the call button on one radio and the other radio rings like a telephone. This is a great option. In regions of the country where many cell phones find dead zones, these radios can be life savers.

Every company I’ve ever dealt with from automobiles (gas mileage) to radios (range) advertise the extremes of their products under ideal conditions. Since I’m unable to verify these claims while orbiting the earth or in the or the Bonneville Salt Flats, I’m compelled to go with 5 stars until I can prove otherwise.

Product listing incomplete and misleading
I purchased a set of these walkie-talkies with the eye towards having an alternate means of contact should the cellphones not work in a disaster scenario. What is NOT mentioned in the product review is that a federal FCC license for GMRS walkie-talkies is REQUIRED, and that said license cost EIGHTY FIVE ($85) DOLLARS! You also need an FCC call sign - issued at the time you pay the license fee - that you MUST use every time you transmit on the radio. Otherwise you have only the use of a few channels that can be accessed by a cheap $10 pair of walkie-talkies. Trying to use these radios without the FCC license is playing with fire - the fine is in the thousands of dollars and you are very easy to find.

For someone who intends to use these radios infrequently if ever - just as a second option in an emergency - paying $85 is simply absurd, and Amazon should INFORM prospective buyers of the fee and license requirements to use even half of the available frequencies.

SwissGear SA1131 Red and Grey Backpack Description:

SwissGear SA1131 Red and Grey Backpack

• Color: Red / Grey
• Brand: SwissGear
• Model: 11311415
• Dimensions: 18.00″ h x 7.00″ w x 13.00″ l,

Features

• Organizer Pocket
• Padded Shoulder Strap
• Water Bottle Pocket
• Document Pocket

Customer Reviews:

Koss PortaPro Headphones with Case Description:

Dynamic element design for deep bass performance; Comfort zone setting on temporal pad for comfortable, secure fit; Multi-pivoting earplates and adjustable headband for added comfort; Collapsible for maximum portability when listening on the go; Includes convenient carrying case; Includes 1/8″ and 1/4″ stereo plugs for home and portable use; Straight, dual entry 4 foot cord; Frequency response: 15-25,000 Hz.

• Brand: Koss
• Model: 155491
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 19.68″ h x 68.90″ w x 88.58″ l, .18 pounds

Features

• Dynamic-element design for deep bass performance
• Comfort Zone setting on temporal pad for comfortable, secure fit
• Collapsible for maximum portability when listening on the go
• Multipivoting ear plates and adjustable headband for added comfort
• Includes convenient carrying case

Customer Reviews:

Koss Portapro vs Sennhauser PX100
I couldn’t decide between the Sennhauser PX100 and the Koss Portapro headphones. I bought both, so I could take them home and compare at my leisure. Result: They are both excellent choices! You will be pleased with either. But to distinguish between them:

The PX100 are more comfortable because of the foam cushions which rest on the top of your head. The Portapro are also comfortable, but I do notice the metal band on the top of my head, which sometimes pulls some strands of hair out.

The PX100 look better when on. The Portapro look kinda dorky — especially at first — but they are easy to get used to.

The PX100 are also more durable. Once you get the hang of it, it’s quite easy to collapse the headphones and put them in their plastic carrying case. They are not going to get squished while they’re in that! The Portapro can be collapsed into a ball, but if I’m not really careful, they spring open all when I touch them. It’s also very difficult to get the Portapro headphones and cord into the accompanying bag.

The Portapro headphones have more bass, and to my ears, the music sounds more alive than with the PX100. The PX100 sound really good, but the Portapro sound just a tad bit better.

The Portapro feel more comfortable when under a wool hat (important for my winter walks with the dog).

Both leak sound — there’s no difference there. If that’s a huge concern for you, then you might want a closed system for your headphones.

In the end, I couldn’t which I liked better and kept both, rationalizing that my husband needs a pair of headphones too. Both are used regularly, although I take only the PX100 when I travel because I think it’d be much easy to accidentally break the Portapro.

Best portable phones I’ve found in 13 years
I’m always on the lookout for the best sounding portable phones, and these are the best I’ve found yet. They have the smoothest, wide-range sound I’ve heard from any portable headset. I’d expected that in the 13 years since I bout them, that someone would have come up with something better. However, I’ve yet to find anything that comes close.

These phones may sound a little bass-heavy to some, but this unit has temple-pads that lift the elements away from your ears. This not only improves comfort, but also attenuates the bass, leading to a nice mix of comfort and sound quality.

Also, since I tend to be a bit rough on phones, the lifetime warranty has come in handy a few times.

Great for Travel
I’ve worn out two pair of these phones in the last decade. The sound quality was great. Wonderful bass–the only phones with better have been phones that fully cover my ears–and aren’t really “portable.” These stayed comfortable for the excruciatingly long flights from SoCal to northern Norway, even while wearing glasses. They fold up nice and small, easy to tuck away. They also performed adequately while watching airline movies … more than saved the price of the phones over several trips!

I have two complaints: 1) hair easily penetrates the “speaker grill” and makes irritating noise against the actual speaker membrane. 2) The speaker, while reproducing sound well, can develop tears in the membrane easily. BE CAREFUL! Nothing is more annoying than a buzzing speaker at 33,000 feet (well, perhaps sudden cabin depressurization …)!

My second pair wore out about the same time as my vintage walkman. I replaced the setup with a Nomad II MG & a pair of noise cancelling headphones–they make a _huge_ difference!

Five stars for sound quality. Five stars for comfort. Five stars for portability. Five stars for durability. If you’re not going to spring for noise cancellation and you need a folding pair of phones, then get a pair of PortaPros.

Amazon.com Product Description
The Koss PortaPro collapsible stereophone combines high-quality sound reproduction with a unique design for the ultimate in convenience and comfort. These over-the-head headphones have a dynamic element design for deep bass performance and a frequency response of 15 to 25,000 Hz to ensure the music comes through clear and bright.

Also designed for comfort, these headphones have two adjustable temporal-comfort zone pads to shift the pressure and perfectly balance the ear plates on your ear. The open-earphone ear plates are multipivoting and, together with the adjustable headband, allow for maximum comfort.

The PortaPros are collapsible and come with a carrying case, so it’s still easy to take them with you even when you’re not wearing them. A 0.25-inch adapter is included to ensure they will fit with any system.

Koss offers a lifetime warranty on its PortaPro stereophones.

Lenovo G560 06793JU 15.6-Inch Laptop Grey/Black Description:

We Make Smart and Affordable Look Good. The future is now, and it’s more affordable than you might think. The sporty and attractive 15.6″ widescreen Lenovo G560 notebook features Windows 7 Lenovo Enhanced Experience certification, delivering fast boot and shutdown, rich multimedia capabilities including high-definition graphics support, and easy system maintenance tools. Plus, the G560 is equipped with an Intel Core i5 processor, providing a new level of intelligent performance. Best of all, it’s from Lenovo, makers of the award-winning ThinkPad business notebook.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #229 in Personal Computers
• Color: Grey/Black
• Brand: Lenovo
• Model: 06793JU
• Dimensions: 1.43″ h x 15.00″ w x 9.60″ l, 5.95 pounds
• Battery type: Lithium Ion

Features

• 2.26 GHz Intel Core i5-430M Processor
• 4GB DDR3 SO-DIMM Memory upgradeable up to 8 GB DDR3
• 320GB (5400RPM)
• 15.6″ LED Display; Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
• Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit

Customer Reviews:

Great laptop - except for pre-installed software
I live in Costa Rica and ordered a Lenovo computer after several good recommendations from friends. I am a programmer and my main concern was CPU speed and amount of RAM memory. This computer works smooth after uninstalling all the bundled software that comes with it, including the face recognition software. The trackpad is very good, I personally like it, but I guess it is a matter of taste.

Pros
* very fast computer
* incredibly fast startup and shutdown
* good for CPU intensive apps and full screen videos
* very elegant design
* keyboard of very high quality
* glossy screen looks beautiful, with bright colors
* very thin and light for its size and price

Cons
* exaggerated amount of pre-installed software (reason why I give it a 4-star rating and not 5). After uninstalling, I recommend making backup DVDs…

It is a pity that Lenovo installs that amount of software in a computer. It should be an option, at the first time of use. Otherwise, a great computer. Highly recommend it if you don’t mind spending at least 1 hour uninstalling all the crap… For my part, for $699 (bought at Amazon on Marco 2010), I like this computer very much…

Mousepad SUCKS BIG TIME
DO NOT BUY…till they fix the mousepad on this thing. This thing seems to have gone through absolutely no QA before being shipped.

I’ve been using HP’s and Dell’s and heard a lot about Lenovo’s so went ahead and bought this one. Nice laptop with a good LED screen and i5 processor but what’s the point if you can’t work it using the mousepad. It is beyond horrible - the mouse has a mind of it’s own. Does not follow the finger well at all. Sometimes I’ll keep moving my finger and the mouse would be left behind somewhere. Just grabbing a window slider to scroll a window is a hugely frustrating task. I’ve tried all kinds of mouse setting available but nothing seems to make this better. And the buttons are all part of the mouse pad. On my HP I can move the mouse and hit the left/right button using just one hand. No such luck on this one. You need mucles to depress that button and the fact that it’s built into the mousepad instead of being separate buttons makes it even harder. So now you need two hands - one to move the pointer around and another to depress the mouse.

Going to talk to Amazon right now to figure out what to do about this. Once I started using this and figure out the mousepad is so horrible - I thought I got a bad piece so I googled. Apparently - it’s a known issue but Lenovo continues to ship defective laptops. My first and last Lenovo for sure. Don;t know if I can [ut in links but just seacrh for Lenovo trackpad/mousepad issues before buying….

Poor trackpad ruins an otherwise solid laptop
I’ve had this laptop for about 2 weeks.

Pros:

* sleek modern design (gray, brushed metal)
* good value (HDMI out, i5 CPU, webcam w/ mic, 4gb RAM)
* bright clear and crisp LED screen
* decent battery life

Cons:

* as other reviewers have noted - trackpad is unresponsive at times (see below)
* low screen resolution (1366×768)
* preloaded with lots of bloat-ware.

The trackpad at times seems overly sensitive and sometimes not sensitive enough. At first, I thought it was my hand interacting with the multi-touch software (which lets your scroll down webpages, drag and drop, etc. with motions on the trackpad) but even after turning off those features, it does not completely resolve the problem. Lowering the sensitively of the trackpad does help, but even then - the trackpad seems to not respond to motions and does not even detect a mouse click. Since the mouse buttons are integrated into the trackpad, I can only conclude it’s an issue with the pad itself.

The 1366×768 screen resolution is fairly standard with 14-15″ laptops these days, but that seems low. The desktop icons seem huge. With a i5 CPU and a 15.6″ screen, I’d expect the resolution to go up to 1280×1024.

Overall, I’m a bit disappointed with the Lenonvo G560. On paper, specifications and price point offer a lot of value, but unfortunately, the trackpad issues ruins an otherwise solid laptop.

Amazon.com Product Description
WORK SMART, PLAY MORE. WITH BREAKTHROUGH FLEXIBILITY.
The Lenovo G560 notebook helps you take on multiple, mega-sized tasks and complete them quickly and efficiently, giving you more free time. The Lenovo G560 comes with technologies and features designed to make things easier, including the smart, adaptable performance of the new 2010 Intel Core i5 processor with OneKey Rescue System for easy data backup and recovery. The new and improved Lenovo Energy Management provides not only extended battery life and long-term durability, but also keeps noise to a minimum with intelligent fan control, so you can concentrate on your work. And when it’s time to play, the numeric keypad doubles up as ideal gaming controls, whilst the high-definition 16:9 widescreen display, integrated webcam and DVD reader/writer mean the Lenovo G560 is also equipped for entertainment. Lenovo Enhanced Experience for Windows 7 delivers fast boot and shutdown, richer multimedia capabilities and easy system maintenance tools.

Lenovo G560 Notebook Key Features

BREAKTHROUGH INTELLIGENCE

• Up to the new 2010 Intel Core i5 processor
• Up to Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium
• Lenovo Energy Management 5.0 enables extended battery life, long-term battery durability and lower noise output through dynamic fan control

BREAKTHROUGH ENTERTAINMENT

• 15.6 inch high-definition LED backlight display, 16:9 widescreen
• HD graphics support and HDMI connector
• High-performance multimedia: DDR3 memory and up to 500GB HDD storage
• DVD reader/writer
• Integrated high-speed WiFi
• Numeric keypad for easier data logging and gaming

BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY

• Integrated web camera
• Touch-sensitive controls
• OneKey Rescue System for quick and easy data recovery with antivirus protection
• VeriFace facial recognition technology - a fun way to log in to your PC

A BETTER WINDOWS 7 EXPERIENCE

• Lenovo Enhanced Experience for Windows 7 provides a faster, richer and easier way to use your PC

OneKey Rescue System

OneKey Rescue System for quick & easy data recovery with anti virus protection. With the touch of a button, users can restore the system and recover valuable data. The OneKey Rescue System interface allows the user to quickly diagnose where a system corruption occurs, ensuring that recovery is fast and effective. OneKey Rescue System consists of 3 modules which can be accessed before booting into the OS, or in the case of OneKey Recovery can also be accessed in Windows (with limited functionality): OneKey AntiVirus Supports Norton Anti-virus, runs virus checking before entering operating system. OneKey Recovery Backup and recover system and user data. System Repair Automatically repair damage to critical system files.

VeriFace Face Recognition

VeriFace face recognition - a fun way to log in your PC. Your face is your password and software supports multiple users. Login log review - Check who has tried to log into your computer. File encryption/decryption - Encrypt and decrypt sensitive files, using your face as the password. Live detection - Stops unauthorized users from using a photo of the owner to log in. Checks head movement and other characteristics to determine if a real person or a photo. Users can enable/ disable the live detection or set the sensitivity level according to their preference. Leave a video message - Unauthorized users can leave a video message for the computer owner to view when they return.

Multimedia Features

Multimedia features like a 5-in-1 media card reader*, integrated camera*, integrated microphone, HDMI connector* and optical disc drive provide a great multimedia experience at home or on the go. *Available on select models

Lenovo Energy Management

Lenovo Energy Management, our advanced power- and battery-management software (on select models), helps you easily control your laptop’s energy usage with a simple interface and a quiet mode for studying or working.

VibrantView Displays

VibrantView displays let light pass through with minimal diffusion, resulting in sharper contrast, crisper images and better image visibility in bright light.