Thursday, 30 June 2011

Computer - laptop battery, laptop batteries


I have a Dell Inspiron 1520. My old battery only held about 30 minutes of charge so I decided it was time to get a new one. I was wary about purchasing the battery from pyrus electronics since it was so cheap. Nonetheless, the battery arrived on time and it works perfectly fine. When the battery is fully charged, I get about five to seven hours of power (depending on screen brightness, active programs, etc.).



Also, my battery fit perfectly into the slot. There was no force necessary as stated in a previous review. (9-cell) Laptop Battery for Dell Inspiron 1520 1521 1720 1721 Vostro 1500 1700 Series Pn 312-0504 312-0513 312-0518 312-0520

I bought this product admittedly without reading carefully enough through the product description: I took myself to be buying an original Dell battery. When it arrived, it did not fit quite perfectly into my computer; it took an unhappy amount of force to get it situated. My computer (an Inspiron 1520) did indeed recognize the battery without any problem. However, it does not seem to power the computer for as long as my original Dell battery did, which would last for almost 6 hours when it was new. Perhaps this is because I have not yet "trained" the battery. But after the first charge and deplete and recharge, my battery meter now tells me that the freshly charged battery is good for about 4 and a half hours. That's not quite as good as I was hoping.

I bought this battery for my Dell Vostro 1500. Everything seemed to work fine the first 45 days or so. Then for no apparent reason this battery died. Just like that.



This battery comes with a one year warranty. So I contacted Amazon customer service. Of course, I am out of their 30 day period to send it back. They asked me to contact the manufacturer (NG). Amazon doesn't even know what NG is, and what the contact info is. They asked me to contact the seller (Westronics).



I called Westronics. Left them a voicemail. Haven't heard back from them yet. If there is any progress I'll update this review. But for now, this battery is a piece of junk and customer service is the worst.

Despite their claims, this battery does NOT fit correctly in an Inspiron 1720. It is just loose enough to lose contact when I transport my laptop in its case. When I try to awake the computer from hibernation, it ALWAYS reboots completely, telling me Windows did not shut down properly. I lose all my open windows, work-in-progress,etc -- all the advantages of hibernation. Not sure about other models, but AVOID this battery for an Inspiron 1720.

DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY AND TIME!!!! This battery charged 100% when first received and within 3 weeks was down to 33%! Now another week and it is at 30%, at this rate will be gone in the next month. $35.00 for two months is too expensive. It will not hold a charge and the company will not reply to emails. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!

I have a 3 year old Inspiron 1520 and my battery life has been hovering around 1.5 hours. I wanted to get a replacement battery since my battery health was around 47%. This battery worked for 3 days and, when it reached 40% charge, it would plummet to 1%. This battery held even less charge than my old one. I have sent it back for a refund and I would not recommend getting this.



Also, it is worth mentioning that this battery does NOT has the same charge compared to Dell's OEM 9 Cell battery. This battery is 7200mAh, Dell's battery is 8500 mAh.

My old stock battery only held a charge for 20 minutes' worth of use, so I definitely needed a new one. When I saw this one, it was an easy choice. Being a 9-cell, it's important to remember that it will stick out a bit (roughly an inch) from the back of your laptop; I do not see this as a con.



My laptop (Vostro 1500) accepted it without the slightest difficulty, and sliding it into the battery slot was effortless. Even after the recommended breaking in process (which was presented in badly translated English), it does not last as long as I had hoped. I can get two to three (somewhere in the middle) hours of moderate use from a full charge, which is still a marked improvement. The computer's power gauge estimate of how long the battery lasts is not accurate, sadly. It believes the charge lasts longer than it really does, and the battery dies around the 10% mark (though when I plug it in and turn it back on, it properly reports the approximately 0% reading). There may be a way to fix this, but I don't know it.



All things considered, this is probably not the highest quality battery you can find, but it's more than worth it for the price.

Good battery. Fit perfectly. Not quite as good performance as my original dell 9-cell (now 4.5 hrs instead of original 5+), but at 1/5th of the price I am completely satisfied with this product. Please note that this is the 9-CELL battery and will stick out the back. Some people seem upset that this battery sticks out the back and their old one did not. The 6-cell does not stick out like the 9-cell. Please do not rate this product low because the battery sticks out. This is due to the design by DELL and not because of this specific battery.



I would definitely recommend this product. - Laptop Battery - Dell - Battery - Laptop Batteries'


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Manual Pencil Sharpeners - school supplies, pencil sharpener


After having enough of battery-eating weak electric models, we decided to do it "old school." I have fond memories of those sturdy, satisfying wall-mounted manual pencil sharpeners from elementary school. This model would be decent if it were manufactured properly...(but isn't that true of sooooo many things?) Okay, here's my assessment: Either one of the steel receptacle centering fins was honed at an incorrect angle or one of the twin barrel cutters was set at the wrong angle, or both.



When you were in grade school did you ever place way too much downward angular pressure on your pencil as you were sharpening it? If you ever did, then you probably also remember returning to your desk and discovering half the "lead" still covered by the wood barrel of the pencil. Employing a writing instrument prepared in such a way is like scraping and scratching with a pointy stick, rather than the smooth unfettered flow of freshly revealed graphite. I swear, what happened to product testing or, for that matter, product quality?



Fast forward to present day: No, I did not place too much angular pressure on the barrel of my present-day pencil...the afore-described result was from gingerly CENTERING the pencil in the sharpener before turning the crank. (I think I got the "centering" thing down to a science after 12 years of daily manual pencil sharpening.) And, yes, I tried many, many pencils to make sure it wasn't just a poorly manufactured pencil. I wanted soooo badly for this product to work, but it just wasn't to be :-(



It's shocking. And yet, disturbingly, I *somehow* have gradually come to expect such disappointment from my purchases over the past couple of decades.



I would pay *4* times as much money for a 100% American-made quality product...if I could *find* a 100% American-made quality product. Come on America, let's get on (or in this case, off) the "stick" and get the "lead" out! X-Acto Model KS Table- or Wall-Mount Pencil Sharpener (1031)

A great sharpener, I have two girls in my house (ages 7 and 13) and they have broke nearly a dozen plastic and various electric models. This sharpener is very heavy duty and solidly built. I think it would stand up to a class room full of kids. I plan on buying one for my shop.

I've decided to replace this pencil sharpener because it has been destroying too many pencils. I have the same problem so many reviewers have had - namely it tends to sharpen only one side of the pencil when it doesn't chew right through them. In the end, I find myself having to remove the wood on the unsharpened side by hand, all too often breaking the lead in the process. We'd have -much- better luck with a cheap 50 cent sharpener, or a kitchen knife, or a machete...blender...

I thought this was going to be a good sharpener, but it doesnt matter what pencil I use, it just does not sharpen well at all. I'm about to pitch it in the trash. Only one side of the pencil sharpens while the wood remains on the other half, making it impossible to write with. It's junk.

As usual X-Acto has somehow managed to de-evolve the pencil sharpener. My first experience with X-Acto was with a simple electric sharpener. The quick convenience I had taken for granted with my Boston 19 was not possible with my new five-minute-per-pencil X-Acto. My next experience was with the $130 + "heavy duty" X-Acto in the department center in my school. Well before the end of the year it was simply an impressive looking paper weight. Finally, this rotary model was installed in my classroom. Basically, it ate every pencil at an impossible-to-write with angle. I tried out three others in neighboring classrooms. I did not have the same problem; rather, the others were worse: noisy, grinding pencil crushers that no student would use. My only option is to stock up on the small plastic manual sharpeners that frequently break but at least manage to sharpen a couple of pencils before they bite the dust. That's much more than I can say for my X-Actos.

Finding a pencil sharpener in my home was impossible. We have/had dozens of the small plastic hand held sharpeners come and go. Never to be found when I actually needed one. So I decided that mounting a hand-cranked sharpener to a fixed point would solve one of my life's many problems. I always welcome a quick easy way to eliminate a chronic hassle.

Anyway, I wanted the same model that I commonly found in my grammar school classrooms. My parents also had one mounted in their garage while I was a kid. Those things were built like Army tanks. Never seemed to wear out. Unfortunately, it appears the quality of that model, while still available, is now lacking in quality.



So after searching Amazon, it would seem this X-acto model is the best hand-cranked sharpener available. Easily mounts to any wooden surface with the included wood screws. Performs great. After I mounted it, I grabbed 10-12 new pencils and "got crankin". Each pencil was quickly sharpened to a perfect point. Quality seems solid with the all steel construction. No downsides could be found in this product. On top of being a well-regarded product, its also one of the cheaper models on the market. Best of both worlds. - School Supplies - Manual Pencil Sharpeners - Old School - Pencil Sharpener'


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Camcorder Accessories - opteka, handle


I bought the X-Grip for camcorder use. It was shipped fast and arrived in perfect condition. I appreciate the simple, uncluttered, straightforward design which was executed with quality materials. Attaching it to the camcorder is swift and easy, and the X-Grip can even be attached to a tripod or other mount when operating the camcorder. The heavy-duty accessory shoe can be detached. The grip of the unit is heavily padded and comfortable to use. Small built-in 'loops' at the top and bottom of the mount can be used to attach additional accessories via zip-ties or other field expedients. The X-Grip is constructed from very heavy duty plastic and is robust enough to withstand many years of service. I heartily recommend this unit to all active videographers who want bang for their bucks. Opteka X-GRIP Professional Camera / Camcorder Action Stabilizing Handle- Black

I highly recommend the X-GRIP because it is light weight, sturdy, and at a good price. The X-grip allows me to get really creative angles and shots that are impossible to get hand held. This grip is extremely useful for everyday use and I plan on using it all the time.

My son was looking for a stabilizing handle for his video camera. This was the perfect price and an awesome purchase. Very easy to use and store. Would definately buy from this seller again.Opteka X-GRIP Professional Camera / Camcorder Action Stabilizing Handle with Accessory Shoe for Flash, Mic, or Video Light (Black)

I think this item is a cool little film making tool. I am an independent film maker and I am sure I will make good use of it at certain times. It is easy enough to mount the camera and remove it again quickly. The only thing I dislike is the fact that the microphone that fits into my hotshoe does not fit on the camera while mounted on the rig. Also, the build feels a little cheap. Other than that this is a great tool for the money.

like many who purchase this, i film skateboarding. i have a nikon d5000. for a dslr, this helps a lot with stabilization because you have to hold a dslr differently than a camcorder. i recommend this if you have one. also id your camera has bad sound quality you should buy an external mic and put it on top.also obviously a good fisheye with a wide angle close to 180 degrees. its very high quality and worth themoney i definately recommend buying it for a dslr

I love this thing! Use it with a canon vixia hf s10 and I rarely ever take the camera off. Gives great additional weight to a light weight camcorder, and adds extra stability control. There's another model without the sidebars, and it appears that the top may be angled down a little more than this model (based off pictures). I bought this model because I didn't want the top curved down, and thought the side bars might add for an extra hand grip or stationary stability. Some ppl complain about the bars digging into their palm while trying to hold the camcorder. I can see how this may be a problem, but if you move the camcorder as far right as possible in one of the sliding pegs, the issue should be resolved. I personally have never found having the bar against my palm to be an issue. It never hurt, and again, made for more stable control as I felt I was holding the camcorder and part of the X-Grip. I have a heavy duty L bracket as an additional attachment to it; fits nicely between the base and the side bars.



(NOTE* If you unscrew and open up the base of the X-Grip, there's a thick threaded washer inside which you screw the clamp screw in and attach the camcorder on. I had an additional one of these washers made and placed inside, so I could slide the L bracket between the base and the side bars. ...It's a really sweet setup. Now, not only do I have the strap grip on the right for my camcorder, but the hand grip of the L bracket on the left which I use to attach my light. With a hand in both of those positions and the back of the X-Grip pressed against your shoulder, you get ultimate stability.)



[Extra Note* If you add an additional washer and it's a plastic model with a threaded metal interior (like mine is) you may have to sand down the excess metal lip so that its even with that of the plastic washer and fits nicely in your X-Grip]



BEST FEATURE! Even with the addition of the extra threaded washer and L bracket; I screw my tripod cap to the base (the tripod cap is perfect distance between the two side bars) and it still attaches to the tripod! I literally never have to take my camcorder off this thing! So whether you want the extra stability for hand held shots, or maybe your tripod isn't the best and you want some extra bars to grip and move; this is the best piece of equipment you can purchase. No Set up and tear down. Attach your camera and keep it on.



Great price, and the most useful attachment piece yet. I'll attach pictures soon, once I figure out how.

I love this thing. It's much more than just a handle for low-angle skater shots. I use mine with a Canon Vixia HF-10, and I like that I can mount the camera forward, as you see in most of the product shots, or 90 degrees left so that the curved handle serves as more of a left-hand support for regular shooting... like a flash bracket that still photographers use. That's going to be my default setup. Since the camera mounting screw is in a little track that extends the length of the flat rubber area, the camera can be slid forward or backwards within the X-Grip before tightening. In my case, I slide it all the way forward, rotate it 90 degrees counter-clockwise, and the camera's video monitor has plenty of room to swing all the way out to the left without hitting the handle curve. The accessory bracket on top also rotates 360 degrees so the light/microphone can match the camera direction.



My only complaint is related to the mounting knob below. I'm thrilled that it also has a female thread for mounting to a tripod or other standard-thread item. But the X-Grip's feet, the little skid things that it sits on, get in the way of my tripod head a little. I use a Manfrotto 501 pro tripod head with the large quick-release plate. If that plate is mounted directly underneath the X-Grip, then I can't slide the plate/X-Grip combo onto the tripod head without some serious force - too much to be practical. Fortunately, the solution was to disassemble the whole thing and add a single metal washer between the camera mount knob and the underside of the X-Grip, which caused the knob to hang just a fraction of an inch lower when the camera was fully tightened in place. This lowered the female tripod threads in relation to the skids just a bit, so that the "skids" were raised off of my tripod head just enough to be able to slide the release plate in place without much effort. Your mileage may vary with other tripods. If you try this, be careful not to use too thick a washer, since you're sacrificing the amount of threads that actually screw into your camera. This rig does not have the "two knob" type of camera mounting screw where you can set the screw depth with one knob and then tighten down with the other. On this, the depth you see is all you get. It's just right for my camera, but if your camera has an exceptionally shallow tripod-mounting hole, you may need to do the washer trick. Or if your rig is so heavy that you need more than 3/16"-1/4" or so of mounting thread to feel safe and secure, then the X-Grip may not be for you.



The rubber platform that the camera sits on is great. It's actually about 1/4" thick, and good rubber - not just the cheesy little thin layer of neoprene left over from the mousepad factory. So if you need to crank down on the camera mounting knob, the camera settles into the rubber pretty securely.



About the strength of the handle: more than enough. It's not totally rigid plastic. It's got a slight flex, so a heavy accessory on top might bounce up and down ever so slightly. I have a Rode NTG-2 mic up there on a shock mount, and I have no concerns about the flex. In fact, I prefer it. The plastic seems strong enough to support a pretty hefty camera rig, and I'll gladly take the "flexy" plastic over the harder, more brittle plastic that is more likely to shatter if dropped.



That's it so far! - Handle - Camcorder Accessories - Camcorder - Opteka'


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Media Center Pc - assembly, build


There are very few folks who know their subject as well as Robert Bruce Thompson. He has been keeping a web-log for several years now where he discusses many subjects, especially about is daily adventures with building computers, managing a home-network and diagnosing problems with them.



Probably the single biggest reason that many people don't put together their own systems is the simple lack of knowledge on how to do it. This book provides a great introduction on how to do it.



The best reason to do it for yourself is then you will have the piece of mind that you have quality parts in your system. Picking good hard drives, video cards, motherboards, means you are less likely to have a computer failure. Cheap parts are the major reason large corp. retailers put out a lot bad systems... they got some parts that were cheap, but that fail a lot. Thus, causing their customers a lot of headaches. Sure, you might get a dirt-cheap computer system, but you get what you pay for.



The other best reason to build a system on your own is that you will learn something in the process. If you can build your own system you will start to be able to do your own tech support. You won't have to wait to get your system fixed: you'll have the knowledge to do it yourself.



Better than the simple list of hardware (which since this is a physical book will be out of date very soon after publication) is the discussion on how to do it. The questions you need to ask yourself before picking hardware, etc. What do you want to do with the system? Do you want to play high-power games? Maybe you just want to surf the web and do some light word processing. The system can then be customized for you and you don't get one-size fits all system from some corp. retail giant.



And don't forget about his web site. He keeps updated lists of recommended hardware on it, as well as details as to his adventures of computer-problem land. A lot of tips can be picked up there. A good way to keep abreast of the authors thoughts and opinions as to the state of the industry.



Anything by Thompson is worthwhile. Building the Perfect PC

I came to this book fairly late in the design process of my own new custom PC, but it was uncanny how closely the book tracked my own needs.



The book's approach is superb: After a few chapters on the basics of building PCs and buying parts, the authors describe five different PCs: A mainstream system, a SOHO server, a "kick-ass LAN party PC", a home theater PC, and a small form factor PC. The issues for parts choice are carefully explained, and there are step-by-step instructions on assembling each one, with some of the best photos I've ever seen in a book like this, all of them in color.



As I said, I had most of my custom PC design completed before I found the book. I had already chosen the very quiet Antec Sonata case (recommended in the book) and the authors pointed me at the Zalman Flower HSF, a CPU cooler that runs almost silently. I learned a number of things about high-performance disk drives from the book that I didn't already know, ditto RAIDs. My unfinished design turned out to be very much like their description of a mainstream PC, and my final PC will be quite a bit better for having read the insights in the text.



I may someday want to build a media server, and I learned a lot reading the section on the home theater PC, though I had to tuck it all in long term memory for future reference.



The book is probably most valuable for people who don't want to spend the time studying every PC component technology to the extent that they could confidently spec their own custom system. It would be quite easy to just make a "blind copy" of one of the designs presented here, and the mainstream PC and small form factor PC look very effective for general PC neeeds.



The book is beautifully written, clearly laid out, and probably the most useful of the small pile of PC hardware books I've been accumulating and poring over this past year. Clearly the best of breed.

This book has gotten some pretty good reviews, which is one reason I chose it over other, similar titles. So I hate to be the voice of dissent, but here's how I feel about this book.



I think this book is extremely useful in theory. What I mean by that is you can sit back and read the book without actually doing the projects and learn quite a bit about PC components. For example, I now know that Antec is a really good brand to choose for the case. I saw the layout of a motherboard and have a better understanding of what the different sections of it are for. And maybe most importantly, I learned about the little things to look for when choosing the individual components, especially to make sure that they are all compatible with each other and, of course, with the motherboard.



However, when I finally started reading one of the chapters on actually *building* a system, that's when it fell apart for me. I read the gaming PC chapter, because what I'd like is a gaming PC. Well, it didn't take long before I was thoroughly confused. I felt like a lot of the steps were given in broad strokes and weren't detailed enough for a novice like myself.



Now, I know what you might be saying: you can't just read these sections "theoretically" like you can the first few chapters. You need to sit down and actually put the pieces together yourself. Well, that's fine and all, if someone gave me a bunch of free components to use. But I have no desire to spend $1000+ when I don't even understand the instructions I'm reading in the book in the first place. Example:



"Position the free-floating retention bracket over the plastic nub on one side of the black plastic retention module base."



Uh...what? And no, I'm not even taking that out of context. The instructions were just difficult to follow. And yes, like I said, it might be easier if you had the components in your hands, but this isn't like picking up some cheap items at the grocery store to perform a high school science experiment just for fun. This is serious and expensive stuff.



Something else that didn't give me too much hope was the fact that after inserting the motherboard into the case and putting it all together, the authors discovered that the back-panel I/O template had some metal tabs that actually blocked the ethernet ports on the motherboard. First off, if *they* make this mistake, I can certainly imagine myself doing much worse. Second, they don't even tell us how to fix it. They simply say that they would have "started over" -- which is absolutely no help at all, since it isn't at all clear how you would prevent this from happening a second time (none of the other ports were misaligned, so it can't simply be a matter of trying it again and hoping the tabs don't block the ethernet ports the second time around).



I also browsed the other sections and found another interesting dilemma they got themselves into. In the budget PC chapter, they chose to use a CPU cooler that ended up not fitting properly against the motherboard, and only after a lot of work and "minor surgery" did it finally fit. In other words, a hardware compatibility issue -- exactly what the authors had been warning us to avoid.



A final example of what I would call the "impracticality" of this book is this: in the chapter on building a mainstream PC, we are given this advice before installing the motherboard:



"Check the motherboard documentation to determine if any configuration jumpers need to be set."



Again...what? The authors don't explain what this means or how to do it, and they don't even mention this step in the chapter on building a gaming PC. I suppose it's possible that the particular motherboard they used in that chapter doesn't need any jumpers set, but I doubt it. I think they just left it out of that chapter. I shudder to think what else could have been left out, and having to face that problem all alone when I'm in the middle of putting all my components together.



Don't get me wrong -- I'm not listing these things just to show how incompetent the authors are. They seem to really know a lot about what they're doing. My point is, if they can make these types of mistakes, then certainly anyone new to building a PC can (and probably will). Furthermore, as I said in the case of the metal tabs, they don't even say how to fix the problem.



If anything, this book has shown me that building a PC is just as difficult as I imagined it might be, and that it isn't always a clean and easy process. It's a really exciting thought to put all these pieces together yourself, but I don't know if I'd start by doing it with new, top-of-the-line components. One thing for sure I will do is take apart my parents' current computer as soon as they get a replacement, and I might even have this book on hand just to see if I understand it better then.



Finally, the binding of this book is terrible. One section has already fully bent back, looking like at any moment the pages will start coming out. Even worse, the entire spine of the book has torn away from the back cover. If this happens in the front, then the entire cover will come off the book! And I am very careful with my books, so this isn't from rough treatment. This book has moved from my desk to my bed, a matter of two feet, and after three days it's already falling apart.



So all in all, I would recommend this book if you are interested in reading about building a PC, but I'm not so sure everyone will find it all that easy to follow when it actually comes time to build it. Furthermore, since the authors use (necessarily, I understand) very specific components in their projects, it seems possible that when you go to build your own PC using different components, some entirely different issue might pop up that the authors don't discuss since they aren't using the same equipment as you. This, of course, cannot be avoided, but to me it just shows that building a PC still might be a somewhat intimidating process. - Assembly - Ebook - Build - Build A Pc'


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Iphone Case - iphone, iphone 3g accessories


This was exactly what I was looking for! Fits the phone like a glove without making it bulky. It slides on easy and doesn't mess up my screen protector causing those annoying bubbles that let dirt under them like other covers did. Perfect protection for my phone (considering I drop mine a lot)!! I am so satisfied with the quality of the product that this is the only product I have actually taken the time to write a review about. Seller ships out quickly too!! Apple iPhone 3G 3Gs 8GB 16GB 32GB Textured Silicone Skin Case Cover + Free Screen Protector, White, One Size

I ordered this case as I wanted to get something to protect my fragile new iPhone 3gs. There were a lot of choices out there so I figured I'd go with something inexpensive that had a screen protector and had gotten solid reviews.

I have the white version of the iphone so I went with a white case. It shipped quickly and arrived safely. I was pleased initially with the case, specifically the screen protector which once properly applied has stayed snugly in place and doesn't seem to limit screen sensitivity. However, the case itself is another story. When I first put it on, (keep in mind that no directions are included), it fit nicely. It's not the greatest looking case but I've seen worse. It has a sort of cheap look to it; not something a professional would likely want to use at the workplace but one that a teen might enjoy. After about a month or so of use the case became extremely stretched out. It now is so loose it that it is almost worthless to put it on the phone. Mainly I use it for protection while in my purse but when it comes out, off comes the cover.

So I would only recommend this to someone who wants something cheap for their teenager and who wants a reliable screen protector. Othewise, I would search for something with more quality.

I feel my phone is definitely better protected than without a case. This product is lightweight and easy to "install". I've found only 2 drawbacks; 1. There isn't an opening to show off the Apple Logo on the back of the phone. 2. The fabric is sticky, so it's difficult to slide the phone into the pocket of my purse or pants.

Well definitely this is one of the slimmest silicone iPhone covers I've ever seen. And despite of that, it does provide "OK" protection (I've drop it a couple of times now with no impact on chassis). However I kept wondering if the sellers have two models, a quality one and a sloppy one, because many reviewers have praise the quality of this skin case. Unfortunately mine is definitely sloppy. The cut outs are not even, they don't fit correctly at the camera side nor the silencing lever. For me the worst part is that, since it fails to provide a firm grab, it moves around to much to the point that I'm always pushing out the screen protector (which comes with the skin case and is in fact pretty good) from the edges of the phone .



Honestly I was expecting a little more even despite the price.

I bought the clear one because of the subtle swirl design and figured it would look okay with my white 3GS. However, after a few days, nice clear color started to yellow and was much more noticeable BECAUSE my iphone was white...

The silicone case has held so far (abt 2-3 weeks) but the screen protector came off in 7-10 days. While the screen protector was there, although it changed the look of the iphone quite a bit (nothing to blame the product as such) funcitonality wise it was ok. Havind bought and returned a black case in store, I ordered the white online since the black wasnt there and the white isnt appealing. It changed the look of the phone and if given an another option I would love to have the black.

This is without a doubt the best cover I've bought for my iPhone 3GS. And for 1/4 the price of those other covers you'll buy anywhere else. I'm 100% satisfied with this purchase and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in buying it. Fits like a glove and the bumps on the side and top for the volume and sleep button works out great for me. - Iphone 3g Accessories - Iphone - Iphone 3gs Case - Iphone 3g Case'


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For Dummies - for dummies


This is a great, easy to understand desktop reference for making ANY document, brochure, newsletter, report, letter, etc. look professional, and for making people want to read them. It tells you what makes publications look better and WHY, and gives examples and ideas. Even using just a few tips from this book can help your documents look better and be easier to read. It explains fonts and how to choose, spacing, using pictures, clip art, and graphics (including scanning and sizing), borders, tables, charts, how to attract reader's attention, and how to use color and save money. The design, page formatting and layout tips also provide detailed instructions for most major word processing and desktop publishing applications, such as Word, Wordperfect, MS Publisher and Pagemaker (Windows and Mac). Although it was written in 1995, the tips and tricks still apply and I find the instructions generally hold up in the upgraded versions of the software applications (i.e., Office 2000)(- but it would still be nice to get a new edition of this book published). It also has a section on how to easily work with your service bureau or print shop, and on creating a corporate identity for your business.I've read this cover to cover and keep it at my desk for quick reference. I think all design and publishing professionals should read this book as I can now do better than most I've worked with! I highly recommend this for anyone who owns their own business - but it even helps with the family Christmas newsletter. Desktop Publishing & Design for Dummies

OK, this book is old. I don't read it too often anymore, but have probably read it cover to cover three times, and referred back to it dozens of times. It is good generic information that still applies today. I bought this book back in late 1995. Around the same time I started fooling around with Corel Draw 4 and Serif Page Plus 3/Draw Plus 2. By June of 1996 I was a graphic artist at a weekly newspaper. Two years later I got a job as a signmaker for a few months. I returned to the newspaper business when a good offer came in, and have been doing dtp, design and signmaking freelance on the side ever since. When I bought this book, I didn't know the difference between a serif and san serif font. I was self taught, 100%. Other books that were a big influence "The Gray Book" and a little spiral bound book from DDC "Quick Reference Guide-Graphic Design for Desktop Publishing". Learning programs certainly is valuable, and I've worked with a lot of them. More valuable is the understanding of layout and design. Without this knowledge, knowing a bunch of programs is of little use. This book is good for someone starting out, or someone who thinks they know a lot. - For Dummies'


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Range Accessories


I bought this to eliminate the crack between the stove and the counter top where all the crumbs get stuck. This product is L shaped and although it is well made it just trades one crack for another. It sticks magnetically to the side of the stove and overlaps the counter top. I will send it back and get one that is T shaped and overlaps on both surfaces. 23" Black Stovetop Extender

This is definitely a good product. However, I guess I will say it is my own ignorance, but it only comes as one. I assumed that since there are TWO sides to a stove that two extenders would come together. Like I said though, it never says in the product info that it is a "pair" or "set" or anything so other than that it is just what I expected and wanted!

What a clever idea! I've been using this product for several months now, and the stovetop extenders work very nicely in deed. Functional as they may be, they also give the kitchen a neat and tidier appearance. They are very easy to clean (leave them attached or remove them, and wipe with a damp cloth), and mine fit perfectly. A great, attractive addition to any kitchen...



I noticed that a couple review stated that you only receive one extender. This merchant definately includes TWO extenders as stated.

I bought the stovetop extenders due to others that cook in my kitchen. When others are cooking they don't care about the spills next to the stove that slide down between stove and cabinet. Now, with the extenders food spills are not able to get in those cracks.

This product solved my problem and was exactly what I needed. No more gaps, no more food dropping on the floor and sides. Fits snuggly. Thank you!

This merchant is the only one that sells the different colors and sizes. It really works and is much better than the the T-shaped ones sold at home improvement stores. Try it.



Stovetop Extender SE23BL 23 Inch Stovetop Extender - Black

I really wish I could remodel my kitchen and put in a built in range but until then, these are the next best thing. It's an "L" shaped cover that magnetizes to your range and covers that gap between your range and the counter top. It's very low profile so I don't even notice it at all anymore. It definitely keeps grease splatters and crumbs from falling down into the dark abyss between the stove and counter, but I don't think this will keep big spills from dripping down into it.



I loved mine so much I bought a set for my husband's best friend, who up until then, was using electrical tape to cover that gap and he loves them too!'


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Weight Lifting Glove - best price, gym


I am very pleased with my purchase of the Valeo Wrist Wrap Lifting gloves - though I do not use them for lifting. Rather, I am in a manual wheelchair and these gloves, with the full 3/4 length on the fingers and the incredible soft, "sticky" leather helps me to move my wheelchair with ease and comfort - and the double thick leather in the palm and "thumb cradle" makes for long lasting performance. I have, and still do, recommend these gloves to other wheelchair bound people who use manual chairs.

Furthermore, the service I recieved from Amazon was first rate. Fair pricing, quick shipping and on-time delivery made this a most enjoyable experience. Valeo Competition Wrist Wrap Lifting Gloves (Large)

These gloves work for there specific purpose I've had them for only two months and the strap is starting to tear. If you are into serious competition these aren't the gloves for you but for getting in shape and basic weightlifting they work fine.

I owned these gloves for 2 years. Never had a major problem with stitching. They are comfortable gloves, especially the padding on the palm for heavy benching. At first I didn't like the wrist strap, but now I can see how it stablizes the wrist and I like it a lot.



Only downside is that the leather around the fingers do curl/crunch up a bit after 2 years use and I often find myself straightening it out.



But for the price on Amazon - you could buy a pair every year and it's a pretty good price!

The gloves were comfortable. However, the seaming along the fingers came apart within two weeks and less than 5 uses. Unless you only plan to use these gloves for a week or less, invest your money in a different pair. They were a very big disappointment to me.

I gave these 4 stars because of the size. The quality is decent. I'm 5'6 and have average to slightly small hands for my height, but these glove are definitely loose but wearable. When concentrating on lifting weights i am detracted so i don't really notice it, but I measured my hands for the sizing guide and it said xs was 6-7 inches across below the knuckles. Anyway, my measurement was a solid 7 so i almost ordered a size up and glad i didn't. I like a more snug fitting glove and these have creases and wrinkles when i wear them and the fingers are loose, but for $10 I'm not sending them back. Next time i will buy exclusively a woman's glove.

The leather on these gloves feels like plastic and the thumb portion doesn't extend far enough to protect your skin on the inside of your thumb - a spot that needs covering whenever you grip something. Overall, I am not satisfied with these gloves.

These would appear to be great for the price: leather, washable, wrist wraps-- all very impressive. The only problem is, if you frequent the gym like I do, they just don't last long enough. I use the gloves probably four days a week for an hour each day (I don't use wear them on leg days or when doing cardio), and probably wash them every three weeks, and let's just say they aren't the best stitched gloves. One pair I bought actually lasted me six months, but the replacement only made it to six months after I got my wife to sew up all the rips. On my third pair, they are not looking good after two months. These will do the job for light usage, but I'm going to treat myself and try to find something that lasts longer.

For some reason, when I was lifting, my wrist were being pressured by some of my sets. I brought these and the price is right as well. I just got them today and wore them. They look the pressure off my wrist and gave me more support just like it should. Yeah I'll will buy them again when I need new ones. - Gym - Weight Lifting Glove - Best Price - Glove'


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Womens Health - fitness, amy dixon


This was my first Women's Health workout DVD I've used. I also ordered Train for Your Body Type and The Wedding Workout, but haven't used them yet. I decided to give this one a go first, since the split up workouts seemed promising since I have limited time to workout. Boy, was I glad I did! This is an EXCELLENT DVD. First off, you can either do one section for concentrated training, or you can do all the sections and get a total (and I mean total!) body workout.



First off the cardio section was amazing. It was hard, but it was also fun and Amy Dixon is a great instructor. She had me begging for mercy about 4-5 minutes in, but she encouraged me to "keep going, it's only 10 minutes!"



The lower body section clocked in at just under 8 minutes, but you WILL feel it. Amy has you doing a series of lunges, curtsey lunges, and deadlifts with lunges. VERY effective and the pace moves quickly and the moves are compact. Right off, you can feel the muscles you're working.



The upper body section was UNBELIEVABLE. I was dying--in a good way. And the day after I was sore. She does a bunch of great variations on the usual shoulder exercises, bicep curls, triceps and an awesome pushup variation that I love and you won't dread doing, yet is effective as well.



The flexibility workout is great as well, and Amy reminds you that this is not a wasted workout--you're still burning calories, which was encouraging as well.



All in all, this was a great DVD that I probably won't use everyday but I will use when I want a total body workout in less than 40 mins., or on days when I want to concentrate on certain areas of the body. I've never heard of Amy Dixon before but now that I have, I will definitely be buying more of her DVDs. Her cueing is great, she's funny and makes come comical remarks and is not overly peppy or obnoxious.



Great DVD, if you buy it, you WILL be using it again and again! Women's Health: Total Workout in Ten!

This is the second workout of Women's Health that I own. I'm equally as impressed with this as their other new workout, Ultimate Fat Burn. Amy Dixon is a fantastic instructor and she's fast becoming a favourite of mine.

You get a mix in here - cardio, toning and work for flexibility and balance. You always know what's coming up because Amy cues so well. She's encouraging and motivating. The aerbics isn't too dancy and fancy but it does get your heart rate up and that helps burn fat. Then there is upper toning and lower toning, both of which target lots of muscles in different ways (by changing your body angle, you work more muscles). The stretching at the end is what helps your balance and flexibility and it's relaxing yet fun. All you need are some dumbbells and for a bonus workout, you get a stability ball segment so you should have one of those on hand too.

It's not too hard to do, and it's fun yet effective and I'm so impressed that I'm buying these as birthday and holiday gifts for my friends. I think everyone will find this as enjoying as I do, and if you stick with it, the results will come for sure.

This is the third Women's Health workout DVD I've borrowed from the library. I have to say, I wasn't too impressed with either The Wedding Workout or Train for Your Body Type, but I loved this DVD. I'm definitely going to buy this one, and will probably throw in her other Women's Health DVD, Ultimate Fat Burn, as well.



Amy Dixon is a great instructor who cues well and is encouraging without being annoying. Plus, it's a really great workout! I did all 4 10-minute segments together, and it was a really well rounded routine. I'm definitely a bit sore today (especially in the shoulders!). My favorite segment is probably the balance/flexibility cooldown at the end--it's very relaxing with some great yoga/pilates-inspired movements. What a great way to end a workout!



I'd definitely recommend trying this out, even if you weren't a fan of the other Women's Health DVDs.

I guess I am the first to give this video anything but 5 stars. I am in my mid-forties. I haven't been working out for a few years and purchased about four videos to try to develop a healthy workout pattern. I've been going for three weeks and this video has not been my favorite. It may be that my fitness level doesn't allow for the intensity. I have really enjoyed the Leslie Sansone's Eat Smart, Walk Strong : The Secrets to Effortless Weight Loss and 10 Minute Solution: Tone Trouble Zonesmuch more than this video. If you are beginner, you might want to try one of the other videos first.

I finally received my DVD's based on a recommendation by a friend, and I am SO happy that I did. These new Women's Health workouts are so far superior to anything else I have, it's ridiculous. The star Amy Dixon has more energy than anyone I've ever seen. Seriously. It must be a redhead thing. I couldn't recommend them enough.



I would definitely say you should get both of these tapes to mix it up a bit, but for anyone just deciding between the two, here's a word of advice based on my initial testing... The Ten Minute one is definitely for everyone. It's amazing because who can't workout for ten minutes? And there's four different ones. But the Ultimate Fat Burn, while personally is my favorite, is definitely a little harder of a workout. If you're just a beginner, it may be a little difficult for you. But like I said before, I'd get them both. Slow days? Ten Minute Workout. Harder Days? Ultimate Fat Burn.



I hope this helps. They really are amazing tapes. I hope they make more. The look of them is really different than anything I've seen. It's not just in an empty room. It really helps.



Enjoy them, and happy working out!

This video is fabulous. I've done it 3 times per week for 4 weeks and I already feel more toned and more energetic. You don't need any special equipment, just roughly 50-60 square feet of carpeted space and two 3 pound weights. In just over 40 minutes, you get a wonderful, comprehensive workout. Amy Dixon is very likeable. She is encouraging and enthusiastic without being overly bubbly and sweet. The five women who join her on the video are fit, but clearly women who have real lives apart from working out and worrying about their abs. The workout has four segments that you can do separately, or you can do all four in a row for a comprehensive workout. The first segment is a fast paced cardio workout. The second focuses on lower body. The third focuses on upper body. And the fourth is a combination of yoga and ballet moves that improve balance and flexibility and provide a cool down. Many of the exercises throughout the workout also do agreat job on abs and waist. I love doing all four segments in a row. Everything is set to a simple dance beat, so it's easy to keep with the pace. Many of the moves are downright fun. A few were a bit challenging the first time, but they are easy to learn after a few times through. One of the women on the video does modified versions of some of the moves that require a bit extra strength, balance or flexibility. I am in my mid-40s, a mom, and a full time professional. So I can't commit to long workouts at pre-set times. I was thrilled to find an at-home workout that gets my heart rate up for 40 minutes, works on all the muscles in my body and is (amazingly!) so fun that I look forward to it. Thank you Amy Dixon and Women's Health.



NOTE 5 MONTHS LATER: After a few weeks, I only had time to workout on Saturday and Sunday mornings. But that was enough. I lost 9 pounds without eating differently, though I look as though I lost more because I replaced fat with muscle. I dropped a full dress size. And I wore bikinis this summer, for the first time in 14 years! - Workout Dvd - Amy Dixon - Exercise - Fitness'


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Cyrill Harnischmacher - photography, digital photography


I greatly enjoyed the review copy of Cyrill Harnischmacher's first book, Low Budget Shooting. This one I didn't find as compelling. There is quite a bit of good information here, and certainly you could learn a lot about how to start experimenting with photographing all manner of things close up. But where Low Budget Shooting was really innovative in addressing a need that many photographers don't even think of having, Closeup Shooting looks at a topic well covered and doesn't breath the same refreshing air as Harnischmacher's first book.



In some cases, the technical information is limited without, so far as I noticed, an explanation. To say that extreme closeup photography is only possible with an SLR or DSLR is flat out wrong. Medium format and large format cameras are capable of as much and even more. (Perhaps the book's title should have been Small Format Closeup Shooting.) One mention of infrared photography didn't mention the difficult - or even impossibility - of doing this with DSLRs. There are many examples of images, but relatively few show the set-up and lighting diagrams that help people understand how the techniques worked and to apply them in their own shooting.



Given the number of special considerations one could make, 121 pages simply aren't enough to offer comprehensive coverage - there are entire books written on nothing but close-up photography in nature. It certainly isn't a dud, and it contains a lot of useful information, but I don't think it would be my first stop to learn about tabletop or macro photography. Closeup Shooting: A Guide to Closeup, Tabletop and Macro Photography

I have been able to take my closeup photography to a new level with the help of this new book published by Rockynook. As a 'people photographer' I used to be interested in what some of my fellow students were shooting while attending Brooks Institute of Photography, however, never took the time and didn't take any of the nature classes where closeup photography was being taught.



I have recently been more interested in photography in the garden and would get some nice shoots when it was overcast, however, didn't really have the right equipment and didn't spend much time with technique.



This book has helped me with finding and using the right equipment (lenses) and helped more importantly with lighting techniques using various diffusers, reflectors and flash.



I am really pleased with the results I am consitently getting and am looking forward to getting back in the water (diving) to try some of the underwater closeup techniques that are covered in the book.



This book is great for someone just beginning photography and for the photography professional.



Tom Ligare

'Closeup Shooting: A Guide to Closeup, Tabletop and Macro Photography' is a wonderful book that will help you get the most of out your closeup shots that you want to look better and jump off the page at you! Shooting closeup is one of the hardest things a photographer can do. Just simply setting the camera to macro mode and pressing the 'shoot' button is rarely enough. Subjects like what is being shot, lighting, how fast the subject is moving, etc. etc. need to always be kept in mind and this book will tackle these issues and so much more! With over 100+ pages of material, this book is beautifully designed in a hardcover casing that yells out to the reader: LOOK AT ME!! If you are a serious or hobbyist photographer that is interested in taking closeup pictures or you simply want to get better at this facet of picture taking you owe it to yourself to pick up this book. I absolutely love this design and feel that this will make nearly any photographer become a BETTER photographer. Easy to recommend and a joy to peruse.



***** RECOMMENDED

Close-up Shooting

A guide to close-up, tabletop and macro photography

by Cyrill Harnischmacher

published by Rockynook 2007

ISBN 978-1-933952-09-3

rockynook.com

Reviewed by Carl Baggett (member of Eureka Photoshop Users Group)



Having just obtained a close-up lens I was eager to review this book. It turned out this book is perfect for someone just getting into close-up photography. There is a brief, basic discussion of the technical issues that is easy to absorb. The author does a good job comunicating that the many techniques of lighting is where the creativity of close-up photography starts.



Lots of photos are used to demonstrate what the author is discussing. In particular there are 2 pages with 9 photos of the same object. One page shows a comparison of different lens configurations and the other shows different lighting techniques. And you know what they say about a photo being worth a thousand words.



I haven't looked at any other books dealing with close-up photography to compare this one to, but I would tell any close-up beginner like myself that this book is a good one to get. - Digital Photography - Photography Book - Macro - Photography'


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Cordless Tools - combo packs, drill


I recently owned a Makita set so I will compare the two. I use the tools every day in remodel and new construction work.

* The Milwaukee is slightly heavier, but still easy to use.

* The belt clip on tool base is very useful. Makita doesn't have same feature.

* Battery life seems to be the same. I love the charge level indicator on the battery, but when it is dead, it stops immediately, no gradual loss.

* The hard plastic carry case will last much longer than the Makita cordura bag, which was pretty beat up after six months of use.

* Both brands have a use light above trigger but Makita's will glow for a short stretch after trigger release whereas the Milwaukee turns off immediately.

* Makita also has the glow ring on the impact driver that makes finding it in the dark easier, very handy.

* The Milwaukee impact driver has a rubber bumper strip on both sides of the nose for friction protection [nice] but one end on both sides come unattached with very little use [annoying]. I had to super glue them in place and they have held for several weeks.

* I anticipate no difference in tool life and durability having used both tool brands for many years. Milwaukee 2691-22 18-Volt Compact Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit

After owning two of the white Makita lith-ion drills I had to return both of them because the charger kept killing the batteries dead. From what I have read this is a known problem.



Here is what I like better about the Milwaukee.



First the charger does not kill the $80 batteries no matter how long you leave them on the charger. Second, the Milwaukee has a great battery charge indicator right on the battery. This is very important with Lith-Ion batteries as they have full power right up to the end and quit without warning. With is level gauge you know exactly how much battery life you have when you grab your drill. Third, the Milwaukee drill has bit storage on board, handy for philips and reg bits. Lastly the red color holds up much better then white.



Hope this helps.

Recently I've been doing a lot of work around the house getting ready for winter. I went to Home Depot looking for an impact driver (something that could easily drive 4-6 inch lag screws and 8-10 inch Timberlock screws). The Makita and Milwaukee impact drivers seemed to outperform any others available. I chose the Milwaukee based on prior experience with this brand AND final sale price of $225.00 for the set (versus $275 for the Makita). Right out of the box there was enough charge in the battery to finish driving several timber screws in a drain box I was repairing. I've been very impressed with the weight, durability, and performance of this set. The torque in the impact driver is eye-popping. No buyer's remorse for this tool purchase.

After having Makita products in the past, I chose to buy this Milwaukee drill after the Makita Lithium Ion drills had concerns about wobbly chucks and poor batteries. I received the drill and immediately liked it. The weight, size, trigger control, etc. were all fantastic. The best drill I ever handled. So I took my new drill to put up several blinds and thought the new quick change bit set I bought was junk. Everything was wobbling and it was even hard to put in the screws. I went down to the shop and started going through some other bits. Every one of them wobbled. So, I pulled out my old Makita and the wobbling was immediately gone. I was in the middle of a bunch of different projects, so I went to a local store and picked up another Milwaukee. I got it home and the same problem. They both wobble like nothing I've seen before. Beware, others say Makita has wobble problems, but in my case 2 Milwaukee compact drills from two different stores have suffered from wobbly chucks, while I've never seen a Makita with this problem. There's definitely some quality control issues at Milwaukee with these drills.

I'm a hobbyist...a retired car nut. I like good tools, and in this case, I wanted a cordless drill with lots of power, and a keyless chuck that would hold a drill bit without slipping. I haven't used my new Milwaukee drill and impact driver much yet, but my initial impression is very positive, with one exception: battery life. Both pieces have all the power you could ask for, and they're light and well-balanced. They feel good in your hand...not over-bulky or lop-sided. The chuck on the drill grabs great, and doesn't spin on the drill bits, but I noticed the battery charge getting low after about 30 holes in sheet metal. Battery charge lasted a little better on the impact driver...I don't know if the drill just pulls more charge out of the battery, or maybe my drill battery happened to be weaker than the driver one. In any case, the battery charge indicator lets you know where you're at (after you put the battery on the charger), and the batteries recharge in a relatively short time. I questioned at first, why I'd need or want an impact driver if I had a powerful drill. Won't they do basically, the same thing? The impact driver gives you much greater control in driving screws. I was able to drive about 75 sheet metal screws into thick sheet metal without boogering up a single phillips head or twisting off a single screw. I know that using a drill to drive those screws, I'd have had about a 75% success rate at best. For me, these are great...for a contractor or someone working for a living, you'd want to have a handful of batteries so you can keep going.

How could a craftsman who's bought Milwaukee tools for over 20 years, (and many are Still in constant use), mark a "one star"? Two reasons: very very poor engineering and cheap brittle plastic. First of all I should have realized a change when my trusty 'ol 18 volt nicad Milwaukee drill slid off a chair onto a wood floor - and the handle snapped in half! Luckily I could buy the case, and after 2 hours of reassembly it is functioning again. Their plastic looks maleable, it is an illusion - it is incredibly brittle. The opposite of what is needed in a 'Heavy Duty" tool. So I should have known better than to buy this new set. I could find nothing amiss with the impact driver - it looks like good ol Milwaukee quality. But, believe me or not, the driver drill snapped in half too! And this was one half hour out of the box, drilling studs with a 1" spade bit for wiring. The bit caught on a knot, I resisted, and the drill snapped. Same brittle plastic. But far worse is the engineering / design of the drill. On a cursory inspection it looks strongly built. It's totally an illusion. All that holds the drill motor to the handle is two tiny pieces of brittle plastic hidden under pretty coverings.

Amazon prime is wonderful, they refunded in full in short order. I so regret I did not take pictures of this pathetically designed tool broken in two in my hands! And I am no gorilla -( like those who still respect these Chinese made Milwaukees may need to presume). For me, 20 years of supporting them has come to an end until I learn they have recalled this tool And changed their plastic formulation. Next day I went out and bought a Bosch set, nearly the same price, with even better specs on torque. (Bosch CLPK23-180 18V 2-Tool Litheon Combo Kit) After careful inspection and hard use I can say they are designed very well. It seems Bosch hasn't gone the route of Milwaukee. Whew. My partner uses a Makita set, and as can certainly happen on a job site, eventually one fell a story and half. We just picked it up and kept going, as it should be. Makita is not quite as well built IMHO, but certainly a good second choice. I have never written a review before, hope it's useful. - Drill - Combo Packs - Milwaukee M18 - Lithium-ion'


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Electrician - contractor, lithium-ion


I am a traveling service technician i purchased this drill to replace a corded hammer drill and a milwaukee cordless drill that i carried this tool does as good a job or better than the previous two did at less than half the weight i would purchase this drill again in a heart beat excellent drill sufficient as a hammer drill for drilling small to medium holes in concrete up to about half inches which is as big as i needed to go overall excellent milwaukee tool that i would not hessitate to purchase again if need be Bare-Tool Milwaukee 2602-20 M18 18-Volt Cordless 1/2-Inch Hammer Drill/Driver (Tool Only, No Battery)

I just ordered this contractor grade drill yesterday and have received it already in less then 24 hours later and didn't pay for extra shipping. Bravo Hardwaresales(dot)com, you earned another customer. I'm a professional Electrical Contractor an I'm very happy with this drill. I unfortunately misplaced my other one (probably up in somebody's attic) and needed to replace it. I've owned it since it's release and have put it through heavy electrical contractor use on a daily basis. I previously was never a fan of Milwaukee and had always used Dewalt. I now wouldn't trade this drill for two Dewalts. It has no problem handling a 7/8 auger bit, 2" self feed bits, 4" hole saws and Masonry bits. The LED light is excellent, battery life is great not to mention the battery life indicator light, weight and handling is good.

I'm known by my friends as a "tool snob" and feel this is the best performance drill and best looking drill on the Market. I own pretty much every other drill of professional grade on the market as well and this drill hands down is the best. This Milwaukee lithium line up has definitely made me a believer and has converted me to a Milwaukee fan. The line was definitely worth converting from the dewalt classic 18 volt lineup, which if you're in the trade, you know how difficult and expensive this is to do. It was definitely worth it. The bare tool option is also great at a excellent price.

If you are interested in buying this be sure you have the correct batteries first. Do not buy it to replace the prior model drill because it will not work on the prior Lithium 18V batteries. The batteries for this will cost over $100 each if purchased separate plus $35 for the new charger. This is great for an additional drill in your current set of the same tools.

I received a Milwaukee 18v Lithium-Ion drill for a birthday present three years ago. It was lightly used for a few home improvement projects. During the last project the battery life was short. Recently (last week) we started tearing down a deck to put up a larger replacement. I took one screw out of the railing and then the battery reported no charge and would no function. It had just come off the charger. Called Milwaukee to report that the batteries are no longer taking and holding a charge. They told me it was out of warranty and I could buy replacement batteries. Ridiculous!



The DeWalt I had before this drill lasted 13 years. I just bought a replacement for the Three Year Old Milwaukee, I bought a DeWalt.

this is my second time purchasing this drill the 1st time i got it i had it about a month and it burned out on me and stoped working. so with my warrenty and all i recieved a second 1 and that one after 2 months the drill wouldnt b able to lock or losen for any type of bits i hate it never again buy this drill. it is powerfull but doesnt last. I always had dewalt drill and i switch to this worse choice i made.

The Milwaukee M18 cordless hammer drill is a power and quick alternative to a larger SDS hammer drill for drilling small anchors into concrete surfaces. I run coax cable lines along homes for a living and this drill lets me fasten coax neatly across foundations with its powerful hammer drill setting. Makes for a professional finish. And you get a great driver on top of it all. Three drill settings over all. You can't go wrong. Great product.

This drill is awesome!!! tons of torque and looks great! I like that the handle grip is kind of rubberized or something. It has a cool led light so when you press the button it turns on when you drill. Awesome drill and product! I cant wait to get more milwaukee products! This is the best deal you will find this top of the line drill!! dont wait just buy it!! @ homedepot they wanted $299!! f-that im good with amazon!! thanks AMAZON!!

AWSOME DRILL!! This is my first Milwaukee drill, and I cant believe how powerfull!! I have had many B&D cordless but nothing like this!!! I still have a B&D 18v cause doing wood work its nice to have one drill set for pilots and one for screws. Comaring this and my 18v B&D; the Milwakee's chuck holds better, it has more adjustability, is a LOT MORE powerfull, lasts at lest 4x as long, & charges in an hour (rather than 6 !!)!! Not to mention the work lighting led and the hammer function are great extra functions!! The waranty is 5 YEARS (thats hard to beat!)but I will buy more Milwaukee tools. Basicaly if you are wondering if Milwaukee is worth the extra money, the answer is YES !! - Cordless Drills - Contractor - Lithium-ion - Drill'


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Makita Replacement Battery


Hi.......

Thanks for such a quick process. I received the battery 3 days after I ordered, by simple US Mail.

Brand new condition, the battery charged up really well and is in use now. What a great difference from the old batteries I was putting up with.

I did'nt need a whole new system and drill to use. I just needed my old drill to use around the house. This battery gave new life to my drill.

Thanks again for your quick service and the great condition the battery came. Pwr+ 7.2v Battery for Makita 7000 632002-4 4073d 6019dwle Ml702 (1300mah Ni-cd)

This battery works as well, or better, than the battery I received with my original purchase back in 1988. Each charge has outlasted the job I was using it for. It fits four different Makita tools, also purchased in 1988. The price was $8.00 less than the previous replacement battery I bought locally at Battery Warehouse four years ago. They also had to special order it, which required two trips to the Warehouse, and required payment in advance. This whole transaction was so much easier, and less of a hassle. I ordered this, and a book from my Wish List, and with free shipping, had my order in a few of days.

I bought this battery after one of my old ones quit working after several years. When I opened the package and put it in the cordless it was completely dead so I put it in my charger. After a couple days I took it off the charger and put it in the cordless again but it still has no charge. I returned it to Amazon under their return policy. I will not buy another PWR brand battery.

This hard to find replacement battery for my old 7.2V Makita drill worked out perfectly. My last old battery died and I was afraid that my favorite old cordless drill that works great would become obsolete. I was very happy to find this replacement that no store carries any longer.

After a mix up of delivery, the items were correctly send after an inconvenient of phone call, email, and a trip to the post office. The products are working as expected after the two weeks from the order date. The refund of the postage were send after two weeks. I loved the batteries and make my Makita drill units work like new again.'


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