Monday, 31 January 2011

Light Weght Poncho


This is exactly what it says on the package - "Emergency Poncho". Do not expect to pay a dollar or two and get a London Fog raincoat!



The poncho is made of thin plastic, about the thickness of a decent plastic disposable dropcloth that you'd use for painting. Mine are orange, but I'm not sure they're available in other colours (I would've preferred clear, or blue, perhaps). I believe they are meant for single-use only, and are not meant for manhandling or extreme activity.



It was easy to use and put on, and has a built-in hood (the hood has no drawstring, but I didn't expect on at this price). The poncho comes in a small, thin packet that is very easy to take along anywhere. It is a "one-size-fits-all" thing, and fit my 6', 200+ lb companion just fine. Not sure how it would go on someone who's 350 lbs, but would be perfectly fine for the "average" adult.



I bought these because I was going to Stonehenge and the English weather can be rather unpredictable. As it turned out, it did rain - and I was fully prepared! Thanks to this little poncho, which took up nearly no space in my handbag, I was able to stay out there and take lots of pictures while others could not do so without ending up cold, wet, and miserable.



For the price, it is certainly worth grabbing some of these for travel if there's a chance of rain, because it's better than carrying an unused umbrella or jacket around all day, should the rain hold off. I've now got a couple in the glove compartment of my car, too, just in case. I also use one when I have to work outside in the yard when it's raining.



I would not hesitate to buy these again, when I run out. Emergency Poncho, Emergency Rain Gear, Weather Protection, Emergency Zone® Brand

The forecast for my trip to Walt Disney World called for rain and thunderstorms so I bought some emergency ponchos. When I first arrived I felt dumb because I saw all these people wearing Disney Ponchos and I thought at first I wasted my money, but actually turns out these emergency ponchos are pretty awesome.



They are extremely light and small to carry around before you take them out of their packaging. So they don't take up much space before you need them. Also they are extremely cheap (I bought 8 for 99 cents each) so they are disposable, which is nice. You use it for a day (if you even need it) then at the end of the day rather than drying it out or trying to re-pack it, you just toss it and carry around a new package the next day (if you need it). Also I was worried at first these ponchos would be small. I'm 5'9 and 220 lbs. It fit fine, and even over myself AND my camelbak. Also as a poncho, it works. it keeps you dry and the hood is nice.



Here's my only negatives with these ponchos. The hood isn't nice though when it's windy because it doesn't stay on your head. maybe wearing a baseball cap would help. Also the ponchos are extremely thin like paper thin. So although it keeps you dry, if the rain is cold, you're going to feel cold and wet, even though you're not actually getting wet. And lastly one of my eight ponchos the sleeve opening basically was open all the way to the bottom. So I had to tie the poncho at the end so it wouldn't blow completely open.



Anyway considering I paid about $12-13 after shipping for 8 disposable ponchos as opposed to the $10-15 for a poncho I'd have to hang dry every night and figure out how to repack every morning. I think it was money well spent. I actually ended up with a few extras from our trip which stores nicely in my car's glove compartment for true emergencies.



~G

I picked up a couple of these for a recent trip to Central America. They were easy to pack and didn't take up a lot of room. They're easy to carry along, in a purse or pocket, not matter where you are going.



These are cheap plastic. They are meant to be disposed of after wearing. I would not recommend this product for somebody who is in need of a good poncho again and again. Instead, you should look into something a bit thicker. If you're planning a trip where you aren't sure you'll need rain protection and want something small that will help you stay dry, these will work great.

I carried one of these in my back pocket at Disney. It's the perfect size for portability, it fit in the back pocket of my jeans nicely. Worked great. Just toss it when your done. I'm buying some more for my next trip.



update: I just realized the price jumped to 3.99. These used to be .99 cents. For a buck they were great, not sure they're worth 3.99. They did work great, but great for .99 cents -- you could just toss them when your done since they were only a buck.

Bought two of these and two children ones for a trip to Disney World. They didn't take up much room in the bag we took to the park and they kept us nice and dry on the second day when it rained. After they dried out I even folded them back up and put them back in the bags. Took up a little more room when they were refolded but not much and defiantly better then having to carry around rain coats.

These rain ponchos worked perfectly for our Disneyworld trip. They are very small and lightweight to carry, and open up big enough to reach to the knees and elbows of a 6 foot man. They are made of very thin plastic, so they won't hold up more than a day or so, but they are cheap enough to be disposable at the end of the day.



These are too big for children. Get the Children's Emergency Poncho for them ( Children's Emergency Poncho, Weather Protection, Rain Gear )

After the rain your shoulders will be dry and your hair sopping wet.

This is absolutely a disaster if there is the slightest breeze. The head covering needs to be held to keep it from sliding off.

A dry cleaner bag would do a better job and be less expensive.'


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Kindle Accessory - booklight, best book light


The company that manufactures this light is called Mighty Bright, and for good reason! The lamp gives off more than enough light to read by in a pitch black room. It has two brightness settings, one with both LEDs and another with just one. The LEDs in this lamp are so bright, that only one is really needed, having two is an added bonus. I'm not using a power adatpter, I'm running off of 3 AAA batteries. LEDs use such a small amount of power, those batteries should last me a year or more. Overall I was very pleasantly surprised with the quality of this light. With such a fair price I didn't think it would really hold up, but I'm definitely going to recommend it. Mighty Bright XtraFlex2 Book Light - Purple

My wife who loves to read in bed after I have gone to bed, has tried many, many book lights over the years. The complaints have been many about each one, and pretty much the same. Small circle of light, have to move it from side to side to see good. So last Christmas I went on an internet hunt for the ideal book light. After a few days of research, I decided on this one for her. Now 7 months later she wants me to buy one for our daughter, and a spare for her (in case I lose or break it) cause she says could not live a night without it now. True story. It is bright and evenly covers an area of two pages of a large book without trouble, no hot spots. Seems to be the perfect book light. Battery life is excellent with the LED bulbs.

I have purchased MANY book lights in the past, but never have I owned one that was actually bright enough to read by. I usually keep moving the light around and around and around so I can see the page . I ordered the power adapter but it hasn't arrived yet, I am using 3 AAA batteries and this is a awesome light. It has 2 lights in the head you can use both or just one, the light spreads across both pages of a paperback in either mode one light or two, I haven't tried a hard cover book yet, but I really don't think this light will have any problem at all. Very Very Bright. I definitely recommend this light .

Know what is as essential in my luggage as prescriptions or deodorant? My book light! A book light is essential to a reader, or at least to me.



Whenever I go overnight or longer, my book light is packed. I don't sleep at night as most people, especially in "strange" places. So I rummage, actually, no, I don't rummage, I always know where exactly where I packed my book and my light, and slip off to the bathroom, get comfy on the bathmat and read until I get sleepy. I don't need to turn on any lights because my book light points the way. In another place I can go to the living room and snuggle in a chair, clip on the light, and read away. Last time I stayed at my mother's I tip-toed into her walk-in closet, found comforters, and read away. She's used to me.



But the best reason for a book light is when the lights go out as they are wont to do during thunderstorms or ice storms. My book light and a flash light are right in the drawer next to my bed. There are two other flashlights stashed around the house. Find one, light candles, go to bed, and read. I used to fret and fume over the electricity snapping out. No more.



In case the LED lights go out, I bought two replacement bulbs. I also own three other styles of book lights, but Xtra Flex 2 LED Book Light,Silver is the best of all. It has double LED lights, but only one is necessary. I need bright light to really see to read and this product meets my demand. Plus, the graceful curve of the neck and the sophistication of the silver make this an attractive product. It also comes in lime, purple, and bold blue. Take the clip at the bottom, snap it onto the back cover of the book and several pages for stability, click on the light, once or twice for your brightness, and enter that other world.

New technology has led to the book or craft light that will be the end to all others.



Its incredibly bright--with no shadows--, lights both pages (no shadows), is by far the brightest light (maybe double), spots only onto the book (the room remains dark), completely flexable shaft so you can direct the light exactly on what you want, AND lasts 40 hours on 3 AAA batterys!



Like comparing a Corvette to a tricycle! See to beleive.

I have to say that the Might Bright XtraFlex 2 is a wondefully bright light. If I position it correctly, it easily lights both pages for comfortable reading. It's so easy to adjust that there is never a problem getting the light where you want it. The price is great!



The problem arises when you turn the page or shift your own position. This light has a clip that does not secure well to the book. No matter how many pages you clip it to, it will swivel around and tip to the side. I get weary of righting it time and again. The clip is too bulky and I found myself missing the Itty Bitty Booklight that slips so nicely onto a back hard cover or a few pages of a soft cover, and then stays put. That is the only problem, but it's a substantial one when you're trying to read, thus the 3 stars. Right now, I'm hoping for a merger of the Itty Bitty and Might Bright. Perfect light and perfect clip! - Booklight - Mighty Bright - Reading Light - Best Book Light'


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Postal Scales - shipping scale, post office


I added this to my wishlist on a whim, and received it as a gift. I have a store on Etsy and this is perfect for my needs. It really does weigh heavy items; I've put it on the floor with a box of stuff and it's accurate. The "lock" feature is SO HANDY for when you can't see the screen while you're weighing. Once it beeps, it'll hold the weight for a bit. Love it!



Haven't used the tare feature, but I haven't had to. I'll leave that up to someone else! :)



Overall, great postal scale, accurate and a good size. I keep it on my desk. Weighmax 2822- 75 lbs capacity Gray Postal Shipping Scale, Battery and AC Adapter Included

Bought this hoping for decent quality, when the box arrived I was thinking the worst, but when I took it out and started using it I was pleasently suprised. It works great and is the perfect size for my workspace countertop, its not too big and cant fit on a shelf and be easily and because its light, can be taken down and used as needed. The battery has lasted a long time and shows no signs of wearing out. I dont know how I lived without this for so long, no more guessing and over paying on shipping.

This scale works but it has absolutely no bells and whistles! I use it to weigh items for eBay and it serves its purposes but I wish it had a reset button. If you weigh an item, you have to wait about a minute before the scale resets back to zero. The only other option is to turn it off and then back on to reset it. If you're trying to weigh several items back to back, that one minute delay before it sets itself back to 0 between each and every item seems like a loooong time! All in all, the scale works fine.

Bought this to replace a 5 lb max scale. Accurate, quick, easy to use, GREATLY appreciate the battery backup. What more can I say? Buying one for my mother. Never have to stand in line in the Post Office again to ship - worth every penny.

while this scale is typically used for weighing letters or parcels, I use it to weigh NOS bottles to determine how much they contain - it's accurate and even though it plastic, it handles the 30-38# bottles just fine.

Excellent scale, perfect for my needs at a wonderful cost. It is extremely sturdy and I love that it includes an AC Adapter. I haven't had to use the battery it came with yet, so can't comment on battery life. It is light, but made of strong material. For such a small scale, I can't believe how much weight it can handle. No more paying extra to the Post Office. This scale is as accurate as it could be, with a digital display easy to read. Very precise scale. I love it!

This scale worked fine when it was dilivered. After being used less that 10 time in 5 months. It would not turn on with the battery or the adapter. I see two other reviewers had the same problem so I guess it cannot be repaired. - Post Office - Accurate - Digital Scale Tare Accurate - Shipping Scale'


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Ink Jet Printer Cartridges


The price per print of ink jet printers is simply expensive, especially when you consider the fact that the process is probably not even close to being archival quality. Yet for most they will suffice. It is commonly believed that if you want archival you should either use silver emmulsion (what you will get if you have your prints traditionally developed by a photo lab - even a one hour lab) or dye sublimation. All that being said, this ink and the printers they go into do a very good job. I've been very impressed. I don't think there is a huge difference over the last generation, but if you want the newer printers you have to make the switch to the newer ink. Good news is that it works with the current crop of paper.

What is great about this ink cartdridge is that in the canon printers it is the cartridge mostly used for black print, while the other black cartridge is used for photo prints. This keeps your cost of printing regular text a little cheaper.

Buying on Amazon isn't much cheaper than other options, but if you are signed up for Amazon Prime, it is increadibly easy to buy them and have them delievered very quickly (two days). Canon PGI-5 BK 2-Pack Pigment Black Ink Tanks 0628B009

I've tried generic and refilled brands and I'll never do that again. I print a lot of photos and CD/DVDs and there is a huge difference in quality from the real thing and the generic. The per page price isn't that bad and I use a lot of ink. The originals go far and is worth the extra cost.

Everytime I've purchased any Canon ink cartridge, and I've purchased well over a hundred bargain brand's and Canon's, I've been extremely pleased with:

o no clogging,

o quality print,

o page count per cartridge printing,

o every cartridge printing when installed



The only negative would be their high pricing, but I guess it proves the old axiom "you get what you pay for".

After souring on Epson printers (C.R.A.P.), I love both of my Canons. They're not ink hogs (could be better though) and the heads aren't clogging up once a month. Here is a great deal for two cartridges at not much more than the usual cost of one. Color me impressed.

Why make a trip to the store? You can get these cartridges delivered to your door in a few days for less than you will find them at your local discount store. They are genuine Canon products. Don't take the chance of gumming up your printer with substitutes.

I am a student and with my Canon Pixma MP600 used 3 reams of paper before I had to replace one of these black ink cartridges. I am happy with that. Amazon has the best price on these, plus no sales tax and free shipping.

Good product.....but....I hate the fact that Canon charges so much for these tanks and has made it impossible for 3rd parties to provide OEM tanks. Do you realize how much they are charging for a gallon of ink!?! Around $1500! A good gallon of ink runs around $100. Thanks for Amazon for selling to us at a discount which is less than you can get locally.

I am thrilled with my buy. I have looked all over and found my best deal at Amazon.com much to my surprise. I have ordered ALL my colors from here and will continue to do so. Ebay offers refilled cartridges without the chip needed and say for YOU to replace them with your old ones, well why take the chance of screwing up your printer...spring for the REAL ones that are COMPLETE. Best buy....Amazon.'


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Wireless Adapter - wi-fi, wireless adapter


Installed and running well since 01-14-11. Here's my take on it:



POSITIVES:

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

** It really, really works like mad. **



- It's very cheap cost-wise for the great performance it gives you



- It's small(ish), though it will look big connected to your laptop



- Comes with a 3' USB extension cable which I definitely recommend using. It helps position the device, and keeps it from crowding your laptop or from being destroyed by being knocked out of your PC's front USB port.



- Has a diffused green LED under the white plastic to let you know it's working, instead of the blinding blue LEDs that everyone uses these days. The light turns off when it's not powered (like when you hit Standby on your PC)



- The software is relatively simple to install and use, and allows you to use other products to manage your WiFi instead.



- The current driver, software, and documents come on a mini CD and are all up to date with what's available on TP-Link's web site



- The documentation is good, even though it could use some more detail.



- For those who use Win7, it appears to now be compatible. The software and doc reference it.





MINOR NEGATIVES:

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

- The TP-LINK Wireless Client Utility is very functional but could be a little better, a little more intuitive. A configuration "wizard" would be a good improvement for manual configs.



- Manual configuration (which you need if your network is securely hidden and requires a pass code) isn't fantastically documented, though you will be able to get it to work with the document, and maybe a little trial and error. If your setup is totally open security-wise (this would be BAD), you will have no problem with the software.



- Even if the driver is installed incorrectly, the client utility may report enough information to make you think it is installed. When in doubt, do a complete removal of the software and drivers and re-install.



- It's a minor thing, but the QSS software that comes with the device is ONLY usable with other TP-Link products. Don't bother installing it unless you have a TP-Link Router/Access Point that has QSS built in.



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

You can stop here unless you want to read my experience with it.

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



A friend of mine needed a WiFi adapter since she moved to a location that wasn't wired, so I recommended this to her based on the great reviews it's received. She successfully and easily installed this device on her work laptop, and was extremely impressed with it's ability to drag a much better signal out of the almost inaccessible 802.11n WiFi router located down stairs, the signal of which is blocked by many walls and turns.



She also needed to install the device on her personal PC. Unfortunately we spent hours over chat trying to get it installed and working, and FINALLY got it done after completely removing the software and drivers that she had installed, and then reinstalling those drivers with my guidance. It was only at this point that she said, "Oh yeah, I kind of passed over that part" where XP asks for confirmation to install an unsigned driver. AHHHHHHH! Well, now it works. :) The signal is not fantastic, but it's 4 times better than it used to be (for her laptop) and is good enough for her PC. It definitely works. So one lesson for you is: Please do yourself a favor, and let your operating system install the driver properly. ;)



The night I helped my friend with her WiFi, I received and installed my own TL-WN722N adapter, to help her through the install process and to replace the D-Link 4300 router I was using as a WiFi receiver (firmware v1.8 has bridging).



After installing this little thing and adjusting the antenna, I got download speeds almost twice as fast as before to the aging Linksys 802.11b-only wifi router downstairs. I then spent some time replacing that Linksys device with the D-Link 4300, turned on Super-G, and got almost 13Mbit down and 1.7Mbit up, which is more than four times what I was getting before on download and upload. The download speed varies between 8Mb-12Mb - it probably hits 12mb because of Super-G infringing on other people's signal space :P - but the upload speed has been really constant at 1.7Mb or so since I installed it, even to the Linksys router. The download speed is almost as good as I can get by plugging in a 75' network cable directly to the router.



So this little thing really rocks!



FYI, DSL Reports has an excellent set of speed reporting tools, as well as info on increasing network equipment and WiFi performance. Check it out! I'd enter a link, but Amazon would probably only delete it.



That's it, another novel for my reviews. I'll update this over time if anything new happens... TP-Link TL-WN722N 150Mbps High Gain Wireless USB Adapter - Usb Network Adapter - Wi-fi - Wireless Adapter - Wireless N'


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Leather Case - ipad cover, ipad stand


First, I have to tell you that I have looked at almost all iPad cases available in stores and online and have tried several of them since the iPad was released, but this case/stand is definitely the best of all - it looks very stylish and functions so well.



As a case, it provides excellent all-around protection. The material may not be top quality leather, but it feels soft and good in my hands or lap. As a landscape stand, it's just fantastic. All of the four angle positions work great and are useful for different situations. At the lowest angle, it is perfect for typing. At the second and third angles, it's great when you're sitting. And the highest angle can be useful when you're lying in bed or on a sofa. The designer(s) paid a lot of attention down to every little detail, so it makes me feel as if it were the creation of the same people who designed the awesome iPad.



In conclusion, I am extremely satisfied with it and highly recommend it to anyone!!! Acase Leather Flip Book Jacket/folio for Apple Ipad 3g Tablet/wifi Model 16gb, 32gb, 64gb (Black)

This is an excellent case that I believe is better than Apple's, for significantly less money. If you need an Apple logo then this isn't for you; otherwise it's great. We are a two iPad family (one received as a gift) and actually have both cases, so it is easy to compare. The iPad slides in easily and is held by a strong frame along one of the long edges and two corner "loops" along the other long edge. The fit is very tight and secure. Sliding the edge with the volume controls into the frame results in no loss of any button functionality (one reviewer mentioned that the volume buttons are partially blocked--that's only if you put it in the other way). Our Apple case actually partially blocks the speaker, although my guess is that some do and some don't given manufacturing tolerances, but regardless, the Acase fit is actually better in our experience.



What makes this case particularly good are three features: 1) the case is slightly cushioned. While it makes it slightly thicker than Apple's (1/8th of an inch), in my opinion it also makes it more protective and reduces the "worry factor". 2) it has four different "blocks" that you can rest the side containing the iPad in to create different landscape viewing angles. These are sturdy and offer more flexibility than Apple's design. The lowest setting does not get as low as the Apple case's "typing mode" but I find I rarely use that anyway. 3) it has a loop that snaps the halves closed. This seems trivial but if you are putting it in a carry-on or purse, it provides more protection against things getting between the flaps and damaging the screen. Apple's just folds closed with nothing to secure it in that position.



Other reviews have cited that it isn't real leather. Honestly it's hard to tell but whatever it is made of, it is high quality and pleasant to hold. Apple's isn't leather either, rather it is a matte rubber type material. One disadvantage is that the edges are not as protected with this case vs. Apple's (the Apple case is a frame on all 3 exposed sides) although my principal concern is the screen, and so this is minor in my opinion. Also, obviously the buttons, speaker, etc. are exposed with the Apple case and those are what is at risk along the edges anyway.



I gave my wife the choice between this one and Apple's, and after trying both she went with this one. I would have as well. Overall this is an excellent case.

This looks like a well made case and it's understated, unlike some of the things I've seen. It's also one of the more reasonably priced cases, since everyone seems to think "ipad, let's gouge anyone who has one". The really best part of this case, though, isn't the case or its features. It's that you can look at the packaging which reads "Leather Case for iPad" across the top, followed by the line "Real leather-like". It's vinyl. It's also "real vinyl-like".

Advertised as leather on Amazon and in packaging. Case is NOT Leather --- it's petrol-smelling vinyl. It has cloth elastic bands to hold the ipad -- does not protect the corners. When stored face-up, the flap snap is underneath, and prevents it from lying flat. It has raised bumper pads inside that rest against and rub against the screen. The notches for angling are only good for steep angles for viewing, not a low angle for typing. I am returning this item and will continue my search for a real leather case that will actually protect my investment.

It is synthetic leatheroid, not real leather. It did not hold up well.



It works well enough as a landscape viewing stand, if it is on a flat stable surface, but it does not adjust low enough to use for typing comfortably.



After I had been using it 3 or 4 weeks daily, the pads for the stand and the ridgid backing softened up a bit, so it was not as sturdy or stable. I took it out of the case regularly to put it on the Apple iPad keyboard, and it was easy and convenient for this procedure. Then I accidentally dropped it with the iPad secured inside onto a tiled floor from about 4 ft, and it landed on the upper right corner of the ipad. This ripped the leatherette tab on that corner and allowed the ipad aluminum body to get slighlty bent at that corner around the on switch/volume/rotation switch, which appears to be the weakest point of the ipad unibody.



Ipad still works fine, but I would not trust this case any more! It offers minimal real protection if you drop it!



Pros:

-cheap.

-easy and quick access to ports/buttons



Cons:

-cheaply made, not really leather

-no portrait mode stand

-no typing mode stand

-no real protection of the vulnerable corners of the device

-no protective coverage of ports and buttons

-fell apart within a month of daily use

-stand mode is not very stable in a car or moving it around





Bottom line: threw it away and got the Otter Commuter case, and will make my own homemade stand for it based on some of the clever designs I have seen on the web. - Leather Case - Ipad - Ipad Cover - Ipad Stand'


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Yoga Mat Bag - gaiam, yoga accessories


I love this yoga bag! It is machine washable and therefore easy to clean. It also snaps fully open, so I can easily put my extra long, extra thick, sticky yoga mat in the bag. It's plenty big to toss my towel, tee, and water bottle on top of my oversized mat. Plus the outside, zippered pocket is great for keeping my keys, wallet and cell handy. Gaiam Tree of Life Yoga Mat Tote Bag

Aesthetically beautiful tree design, but could be functionally better. Holds two mats (5mm & 3mm) but the soft fabric is not supportive. The bag ends flop and turn the simple act of placing a mat in a bag into a chore. The snaps work well, but do not allow for complete closure or upright storage. Shoulder strap is not adjustable and carrying the bag lengthwise is cumbersome. Would prefer a longer and deeper bag, stiffer fabric, complete closure, adjustable shoulder strap and upright carry.

This is a very nice bag and is sturdy. i bought a heavy yoga mat from another company and it fits in here just fine. its bigger than i thought. but beware that its not wide enough for the extra wide mats. check widths first. overall good product and i am satisfied.

I like the bag. The tree of life embroidery in a lovely shade of green is real pretty. Love that its roomy enough to pack all the essentials. Plenty of space to put my extra long mat plus my regular mat.There's also room for a block and strap. There is an outside pocket and an inside pocket which is ample to carry my keys,wallet and towel. For some reason I thought the bag would be a bit rigid. The ends of the bag keep folding over. So it doesn't sit straight up like in the picture shown. If it were a little rigid it would've been easier to take the mats in and out of it. Haven't washed it but when I do I hope it won't shrink. The magnet clasps are good. However, a zipper would've probably enabled the bag to not fold over at the ends. But on the plus side you don't have to worry about the zipper getting faulty and rendering it useless.

Just got my Yoga Tote and though i love the bag (it's nice and roomy, fits my mat and a set of clothes easily, pretty design, well made, etc.) i ended up being the jerk on the crowded subway with the awkward size bag. the straps on the bag dont allow your mat to lie against your body so if you live in cities like NYC where you take the subway or bus everywhere, your bag tends to take up a lot more space than traditional sling bags. this bag would be fantastic if i drove to work and could leave it in my car but unfortunately, that's not the case for me...

This yoga mat bag is nice and spacious, with long straps and room to throw in clothes/water bottle in addition to the mat. The only reason I don't give it a higher rating is because it gets dirty very easily. I guess it's to expect with white fabric, but I would hope it would have some sort of a fabric protectant that allows dirt to be wiped off easily - which I don't think it does. But other than that, great bag!

I bought this yoga bug because at the photo is seems nice and when you see it is BEAUTIFUL. The bad things that I notice once I used it, is that if you have a heavy mat it starts bothering you at the neck and shoulder when you carry it and also, that I can't control hiting people or things with it as I walk.

Maybe with a lighter yoga mat is better, I don't know.

Still, the fabrics is high quality.

The bag is made well and great for fitting in my extra thick yoga mat and towels for bikram yoga. It fits a lot of stuff, but cumbersome due to it's size. Constantly knocking into people with my bag. The straps are uncomfortable. Would be better if they were adjustable.

This yoga bag is fantastic! I disagree with previous reviewers who said the snaps don't close and it doesn't hold enough. I put in my 1/4" thick yoga mat AND both my blocks AND my strap AND my Yogitoes towel and I can still close the snaps! Plus there are pockets both inside and outide for my phone, wallet and keys.



I agree that this bag is a bit unwieldy if you are in cramped spaces. You tend to bang people around you when you turn if you get too close because it rests perpendicular to your body. It's not a problem for me because I live in the suburbs and drive to yoga class, and I store it either in my car or my foyer. If you pack it right, you CAN store it upright in a corner.



It is made of very sturdy canvas and looks nice too. All in all, a great bag if you don't have space issues while traveling. Highly recommend.

This a great yoga bag (especially for hot yoga). The bag is attractive but also highly functional. I am able to quickly and easily pack yoga mat, yogitoes towel, water, face towel and snap it shut (or you can leave open). The straps are long enough so that it's very comfortable to carry and it's machine washable! There is a pocket inside as well as an outside zip pocket (large enough to fit all of the above at the same time: phone, keys, tissues). I'm very happy with this purchase. - Yoga Accessories - Bag - Yoga - Gaiam'


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Nintendo Ds Lite


We have a DS Lite that we bought in the US, and since moving overseas, we've needed to use a voltage adaptor every time we want to charge it. Even the small wattage voltage adaptors are quite heavy, so while this works fine for us at home, it makes it very difficult to take the DS Lite with us when we travel. This charger is a lifesaver, since we no longer have to pack a heavy voltage adaptor.



Like the original charger, the plug folds down to make it more portable, but the US-style plug does mean that a plug adaptor is still required for most overseas use. Thankfully plug adaptors are usually quite lightweight. Also, the cord is a bit shorter than the original charger, which may be good for traveling but makes it a little harder to play when the power is low, since you need to sit closer to an outlet.



Overall, it's a handy thing to have if you ever take your DS Lite overseas, and the price is fantastic!



(Note that this charger is indeed designed for the Nintendo DS Lite, and NOT the original Nintendo DS, which uses a different connection.) Travel Charger for Nintendo DS Lite by eForCity

I too received the wrong item from the seller. I have contacted them to see if I can get the correct one. The end that is supposed to plug into the DS Lite is much bigger and clearly belongs to another electronic item. BUYER BEWARE.

Instead of sending me the 100-240V "Worldwide Traveler" adapter, the vendor sent me the standard USA-only adapter that comes included with Nintendo players sold in the USA. From reading other reviews, I can see this is not the first time this has happened. This vendor either has very sloppy quality control, or they are using Amazon as a way to discard high inventories of the USA-only adapters. The price is very low, but even a low price is not worth it if customers cannot buy the item they want.

...It was just that. I recently went to purchase a USED DS lite charger at my local Game store and it was $10, I got this one for $3- shipping included, and it came to me in less then a week. Great service :)

Wow.....great product at a fraction of the cost! My children lost the adapter that came with their Nintendo DS Lite and I did not want to buy another one for $14.99 at a retail store. I am so glad I found this here at Amazon for not even a fourth of the price!!!

This product is not the same as the item in the picture - the way the outlet prongs fold in is different, and depending on how its folded, it may or may not charge. I had to keep mine straight out for it to work, and if I moved it, it would cease charging.



I guess it works, I'm afraid to leave it unattended though for fear it might burn my house down. Feels cheap. Shipping took FOREVER.'


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Kindle 3 Case - kindle accessory, kindle 3 case


I've noticed that like myself customers have been concerned primarily with two things regarding the new lighted case from amazon. These are: 1)The weight and 2) The uneven lighting. My review will briefly discuss these two things.



1)The Weight - The lighted leather case is a nice weight, sturdy and comfortable to hold. In ounces it is about the weight of the kindle itself however don't let that concern you. With the case on it feels like a medium sized paperback, however it is far much more comfortable to hold. It's easy to hold the case open like a book (nice for couch and table type reading) or to fold the front back and close it with the bungee so that the bungee doesn't hang around (this is good for bedtime reading).Closing the front back with bungee keeps the case folded in position and you don't have to worry about it bothering you. BTW THIS CASE FOLDS BACK 100% - Very comfortable. In sum very comfortable to read with the case and very sturdy.



2) The uneven lighting - Amazon's pictures don't do this case justice. The light hits the ENTIRE screen. Yes if you look closely it's brighter in the top right corner then in the bottom left but Amazon's pics make it look the top is lighted while the bottom is dark. There is good light all over the screen. Trust me I'm fussy about these things - the lighting will not bother you, your entire screen will be lighted and it is extremely pleasant to read in the dark.



*Final Thoughts - Great case, good quality, works well, kindle feels very secure and protected (I would feel comfortable slipping this case into my backpack or suitcase and I think it would sustain some mild impact). Lastly hinges are a non-issue, casing of the kindle will not get damaged with normal or even slightly aggressive use. You could damage the kindle by trying to pull the back of the case but you'd have to really force it to cause any sort of damage to your kindle. The hinges work fine and should not be a concern to any case user.



Update 1st December 2010:



Have now been using the case for 3 months. Leather still looks impeccable. Some people expressed concern that the bungee cord might loosen with use. I have not experienced any loosening so far. Quality of the product has proven outstanding. I've occasionally spilled or messed the cover, just a wipe with a damp cloth has cleaned it up, and the case looks like new. Have to admit I enjoy the feel of the case in my hand, there's just something great about taking your kindle to a coffee shop in this case, it just looks and feels so classy. Also with regard to the hinges: I have had no scratches on my kindle or any other issues, so I remain convinced that the hinges are a non issue. Kindle Lighted Leather Cover, Chocolate Brown (Fits 6" Display, Latest Generation Kindle)

I was hesitant to buy this cover mostly due to the pictures in its listing, which seem to show a light that doesn't even extend to the opposite corner. The fact that I have not been impressed with the Amazon's Kindle covers in the past didn't help. I went ahead and purchased it because the cover I wanted isn't available yet and I don't like to take my Kindle out and about without a cover. Now I am glad that I went ahead and bought it.



PROS:



1. The light is much better than I thought it would be. Using it in a darkened room I found that the light did the job very well. In a pitch black room, it performs even better. While the screen corner opposite the light is a bit dimmer than other areas, there is no problem reading the page at all.



2. The light gets its power from the Kindle itself, through the gold-plated hinges which attach it to the cover, so batteries are a thing of the past. When your Kindle goes to sleep, the light will go out as well. It will also turn off when you slide it back into the case.



3. The cover is slim, well-fitted and very easy to attach and detach using the hinges. The inside has good padding. The leather outer surface has a nice pebbled texture with the exception of a smooth area along the edge of the front. While stiff enough to protect the reader, the cover is slight flexible and the front easily folds behind when reading so you can hold your Kindle with one hand if you like.



4. A great plus is that the cover has an elastic cord that fits into a groove on the front of it. This holds your cover closed (unlike the original Kindle 2 cover that would flop open in your purse & let things slide into it) and easily distinguishes the front from the back--important as many owners of the Kindle 2 cover accidentally opened it from the back, which could cause cracking along the Kindle's spine.





CONS:



I haven't found any, really. The light Is a bit hard (stiff) to pull out of the cover, but then you wouldn't want it to be flopping out when you don't want to use it so that is more of a Pro than a Con.



The one concern I do have is about pulling the light in and out--I wonder if whatever wiring or conductor that is used to get the power from the hinges to the light will eventually break. But that is something to find out down the road. Right now, the more I use this cover, the more I like it. - Kindle Accessory - Kindle 3 Case - Light - Kindle 3 Covers'


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Clock Radio - clock radio, alarm clock radio


The feature that automatically turns the display completely dark, then

illuminates it when a hand is waved over the device (no need to find a

button in the dark) convinced me to purchase this clock radio. There

would be no possibility to hear "That clock is too bright; I can't get

to sleep."



That works as designed. The problem is the clock beeps when the

display is activated. Want to check the alarm time? Wave your hand

three times: beep... beep...beep! It sounds like the alarm on my

watch, which is intended to catch my attention, but this is louder

than the watch. There is no option to suppress this sound, and it is

not affected by the volume control. This is a fatal flaw when there

is more than one sleeper in the room.



There is no station memory. If you want to tune a different station,

you have to manually turn a wheel to find the desired station. I am

accustomed to have at least half a dozen stations that can be set

once, then selected with a button press. This requirement for manual

tuning is a bother. No possibility of a quick change to hear a

weather or traffic report, then back to music or whatever.



This lack of station presets is especially bad when one wants an alarm

to start the radio instead of just make a noise. A better design

would let the user associate a specific station to be tuned when the

alarm time arrives. With this Jensen unit, if you use sleep mode to

play the radio while you fall asleep, you need to wake up and re-tune

to the station you want to hear at alarm time.



There is another problem this lack of digital station presets produces.

The manual tuning mechanism tends to drift. I found after I turned

off the radio, it would tune a slightly different frequency when

subsequently turned on. Sometimes, the drift would be large enough

that no station would be heard - a problem if the radio is silent when

it is supposed to wake you - a nuisance when you have to frequently

adjust the tuning just to hear the same station.



The volume control does not permit fine adjustment of loudness at low

levels. Perhaps the circuit designer did not consider an audio taper

potentiometer, or a packaging engineer did not realize only one of two

possible orientations for the volume control is correct. Whatever the

reason, I always had a hard time to find a setting between "silent"

and "too loud" in a quiet bedroom environment.



The single picture in the product description shows a silver case with

black display. In fact, most of the case is black plastic; only the

front half-inch or so is silver, the remaining two and one-half inches

is black. Black is not ugly, but it was an unwelcome surprise on my

brown wood table. Additional images that show side and rear views

would be helpful. I would contribute them, except I repacked my unit

in order to return it.



Why two stars with all these problems? The sound from this radio is

natural and better than I expected from a unit with this size and

price. Jensen JRC-275 AM/FM Dual Alarm Clock Radio with Wave Sensor (Silver)

I had to replace an older alarm clock that was zapped during a storm. I honestly was looking for best price for a dual alarm & came across this. Its a solid product. There are some neat features on here in addition to the dual alarm. The night light is semi-useful. I love the fact the display completely goes black if you want it too...this is great if you have trouble sleeping to the annoying glow of the clock numbers. The room temperature is also handy. Best feature hands down is the wave sensor/gesture. All you have to do is wave your hand over the top to have it snooze, or turn the clock on if its off. The only thing I'd like to see different is red digits/light. Otherwise, I'm digging it. Would highly recommend.

I was trying to find an alarm clock that was more modern looking and wasn't bulky. I found it in this alarm clock. VERY easy to set, small size (display is large and bright though), has the ability to dim light to lower setting. Wave your hand over the top once, the temperature in the room displays, wave your hand over 2 times and it will show you what the first alarm is set at, wave 3 times and it will show you what the second alarm is set at.

Volume control is very sensitive, sound is not the best but the stations that come in are fine with me. I'm not looking for superior sound quality for this price.

It works for me and I'm buying another for inside my bathroom because of the larger display and the compact size will fit right on my counter (I'm always running late because of shower time!)

first the positives:

- Well Made

- Stylish (somewhat)

- Great features (i.e Motion sensor)



But...



1. Extremely bright display, which lights the whole room at night (even with dimmer to lowest setting and with nightlight turned off). This could be overcome if you only use the motion sensor to see the time at night (though you will be blinded when it flashes on for a few seconds);



2. As mentioned in other reviews (and I stupidly ignored), when you do initiate the motion sensor to see the time, it always beeps. And not a soft, subtle beep, but a loud, sharp beep that woke-up my wife everytime, so that I was afraid to even check the time at night anymore. So really, what good is a clock if you can't turn it on to see the time?



Two fatal flaws to what could have been a really nice bedside clock... - Alarm Clock Radio - Alarm Clock - Clock Radio - Alarms'


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Iphone 3gs Charger - iphone 3g charger, iphone 3gs charger


Great charger. (It's only a charger, cannot connect the iphone to a computer.) I had been burned by a third party charger for a previous phone, and didn't recognize the name iseries but I decided to take a chance. When it arrived, I was delighted to see that it was in official Apple packaging. It's not some brand x charger, it's the real thing. Works great! It's cheaper than getting another Apple data cable and power adapter. My daughter used it to recharge her IPAD too. iSeries Home Charger for iPhone,iPhone 3G, iPods

The moment I got the product and plugged in to the outlet, next thing you know is that one of the leg was left in the outlet, this is not gonna work and some one is gonna get shocked by not knowing the metal object left in the outlet.

this charger fits perfect to my ipod3G it is a one piece configured item vs the apple is a two piece that is also a USB, But that charger runs approx 40$. I believe this is the best logical alternative to the actual apple charger. It seems so far to be very reliable and cost effective

Despite some negative reviews I decided to give this charger a try. I have an i-pnone 3gs, i-pod touch 4th generation and a 1st generation i-phone, charger works great on all of those, just like a regular apple charger. I think it's great for the price!

Purchased this charger for my daughters Ipod and my wifes Iphone 4. So far so good...we have used the charger successfully on both components without issue. The product shipped quickly...no negative issues to report.

My wife's IPhone 3G charger got stepped on and broke - so we had to get her a new one. This product was received quickly from Amazon and works very well. She can't tell a difference as far as how long her battery lasts from using the Apple charger compared to this. It appears to be sturdy and should last a long time. To me its better quality than the Apple chargers - We've went through 2 of them (although the 2nd one was not apples fault) - The first one's cord started to separate from end of the cable to plugs into the phone. Apple replaced the first one - but the 2nd one started to do the same thing before it was broken. Overall very happy with this product. - Iphone 3gs Charger - Iphone 3g Charger - Ipod Charger'


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Belkin Wireless - n router, junk


To begin, I purchased this router less than a few weeks before Christmas. This is actually my first wireless router (I had always used wired routers before), but I was able to plug it in, and connect perfectly fine. In less than 30 minutes, I was able to set it up, and my wired connections worked perfectly fine. Only problem was that the wireless didn't work at all.



I've struggled with the wireless for a week after I got this router. The problem was that upon first setting up the router, it would work fine, but as soon as you implement new settings (port forwarding or wireless security, for example), it would suddenly stop working. I found that hard resetting was the only way to get the wireless to work, but of course, leaving it as thus was unacceptable because I wanted to at least set up wireless security to prevent outside access. Unfortunately, after a few hours of struggling with this, it resulted in the wireless not working at all. Hard resetting, powercycling, reinstalling the firmware; nothing worked.



As a computer hobbyist, I usually pride myself on being able to fix things like this myself, but even I wasn't able to do anything. Needless to say, I had to call tech support. I may as well say here that tech support is absolutely worthless. I was routed to, where else, India, and got on with a tech support representative. I was led through the basic steps (and had to ask the rep. to repeat multiple times because I couldn't understand) and, at the end, the wireless still wouldn't work. The rep kept insisting that wireless isn't working for me simply because I either didn't have 'the drivers' or the 'proper wireless adapter'. Finally, I just had enough, and I was on my own getting the wireless to work again.



Just as I was having serious thoughts about making a return, however, I somehow managed to get the wireless to work. I must have had help from God because, at that point, it had seemed hopeless. Nonetheless, I did manage to get it working fine. I could port forward, set up wireless security, and basically do anything just fine. Unfortunately, it's not completely problems free. Like others, I have and am experiencing random connection drops (it seems as if the router randomly resets), but fortunately, it did not stop the wireless from working anymore. Furthermore, the Belkin Wireless N resets extremely quickly, so it's not as big of a deal as the previous problem to me.



Now that I am able to get the router working fine, let me review the actual router itself. Here is how the Belkin Wireless N ranks in the important areas of range, speed, security, stability, and features.



1) Range - I, like many others, purchased the Belkin Wireless N for the purpose of using the wireless feature. As such, one of the most important features to me is the range. After all, I didn't purchase a wireless router just to be confined to a single room because the range wouldn't extent past the walls. So then, how does the router rank in range? I would say it is fairly good.



I live in a three story house and the router is set up on the third floor. On the third floor and the second floor, the connection power is fully strong. However, on the first floor, the range just drops tremendously. On the first floor at the best location, the number of connection bars is usually one or two, which is a big drop. I suspect that there may be electronic interference.



For what it's worth, the range does seem to be pretty excellent, which is a commendable point on the Belkin Wireless N's part.



2) Speed - Of course, what worth is the range if there is no speed? I have tested the speed using the wired connections and the wireless connections and this is another commendable part of the router. The speed is just as fast wireless as it is with wired connections and both compares favorably with my previous router (all three matches the speed advertised by my ISP).



Truthfully, I had expected some loss of speed when using wireless, so this was impressive. It should be noted, however, that I was in the optimal position for speed testing (i.e. I was sitting right next to the router), so more likely than not, there would not some loss of speed if I had performed the test, say, on another floor in my house.



Regardless, the speed factor is definitely a category the router does well in.



3) Security - The Belkin Wireless N offers ample security to protect against outside invaders jumping on your network. From the simple WEP to the much more powerful WPA2 (I chose that one, of course), it really is nice security. Furthermore, if you chose one of the more simple security, the router actually offers an extra step of further encrypting the password for you.



Personally, I did not like the second encryption, but it is a nice thought nonetheless. I rank the router well in the category of security.



4) Stability - Well, as noted by the first four paragraphs of this review, stability is the one category the Belkin Wireless N fails miserably in (that and tech support anyway). Aside from the trouble of setting up the wireless to work correctly, however, there is also the problem of random dropped connections, which is fortunately mitigated by the router's ability to reset quickly, but it is still a problem nonetheless.



Aside from these problems, however, which can be solved through a router update (if Belkin ever decides to make another update, that is), the router really does not lose much else in the area of stability.



5) Features - Another category in which the Belkin router does well. The router comes with ample features which can all be found on the router's homepage. All the basic features and many more advanced features are here for the users' desire.



Personally, I have no use for many of the extra features (aside from port forwarding), so it's not a big deal for me, but the gesture is still appreciated nonetheless.





Alright then, so out of five categories, the Belkin Wireless N does smashingly in four of them. One would think this speaks favorably of them, but lets look at the realistic side: For the vast majority of consumers, only three of those categories truly matters. Those three categories are the range, speed, and stability. The Belkin router does well in two of them, but it fails in the last one spectacularly.



Furthermore, unfortunately for Belkin, many other routers offers excellent speed and range too, so doing well in just those two categories is not necessarily enough to make it pass with flying colors. It really was crucial that Belkin made its router stable and it is unfortunate that it was unable to do this well enough.



Overall, what would be my recommendation for the Belkin Wireless N? My recommendation is this: If you're knowledgeable about computers and is willing to work at getting a slick and powerful router to work, then the Belkin Wireless N is not completely bad. However, if you're just looking for a simple wireless solution, I would recommend a better router. Belkin F5D8236-4 Wireless N 4-Port Router - Belkin - Belkin Router - Junk - N Router'


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Staple Remover


I am a big fan of the push-style remover (like this one: Stanley Bostitch Ergonomic Remover) but this one intrigued me, so I tried it. Unfortunately, I don't really like it.



Unlike the push-style, the larger format of this remover makes it harder to get the tip under the staple in order to remove it. It also makes it harder to actually remove the staple, as the entire width of the remover presses down on the paper (and kind of wrinkles the paper in the process) and you seem to have to keep pushing the tab farther under the staple as it works its way loose. It does work, but definitely not as smoothly as I was expecting.



I also assumed this remover would work like other removers, in that the removed staples would stay attached (in some way) for disposal at a later time. Unfortunately, they don't. There is a sticker on the remover that says "Built-in Magnetic Staple Collector" which I thought was going to be the solution, except that the staples don't go INTO the remover in any way (like I thought they would). Instead, one corner of the remover is magnetized, so you have to wave it over the removed staple (where it landed on your desk after removal) in order to "grab" it--and then you still have to do something with it (unlike the push-style remover, which collects and holds a bunch of removed staples until you purposefully empty the whole thing/pull them all off).



This product claims it's safer for kids...and in a sense I can see that since there are no sharp points. But I think the fact that the staples don't get collected anywhere negates the "safety" aspects of the remover.



I would not buy this product again, and in fact I am now shopping for a push-style remover. Pencil Grip The Classics Easy Touch Staple Remover, Assorted Colors (TPG-141)

As a previous reviewer mentioned, this remover damages the paper as it pulls the staple. While it works great for removing staples tacked to the wall, it does not work for staples in paper. The damage to the paper is comparable to the damage one might make ripping the staple out by hand.

I purchased several of these to give away as gifts. It is the best staple remover ever. It's easy to use and the staples are removed very cleanly...no tearing of paper. When you press down on the handle, the handle pivots and the staple comes out easily. This item is very well made.'


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