Hewlett-packard - hewlett-packard, hp

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I almost never write reviews on Amazon, because most often I find the reviews perfectly describe the items I've purchased. But in this case, since the mixed reviews I read here before buying almost discouraged me from purchasing this printer,

I feel like I am obligated to write about my experience with this printer.



I've had a HP Photosmart 3180 all-in-one for about two years now, and it still works. However, I was really sick of replacing the ink cartridges every 70 pages or so, and wanted a printer that could handle double-sided printing. I purchase a lot of digital textbooks for school since they're typically half the price, but I still want a physical book in front of me, so I typically print out chapters as needed for my courses. Printing chapters with my all-in-one HP was a HUGE CHORE, not only taking HOURS of time, but SEVERAL cartridges of ink... not to mention the frustration of manually printing two sided documents in book-layout.... agh!



My printer just arrived this morning. I removed it from it's box, followed the included quick setup instructions, and that was that! I have NO idea what is wrong, or happened with some of the other reviewers set-up processes since mine was exactly as described in the instructions. The process couldn't have been any more straight forward! Then again, other reviewers did note their PC operating system .... and well, I guess that's Microsoft's Vista for ya. I'm on a Mac, so I didn't have to deal with solving Vista's various operating hurdles.



In agreement with other reviews, the first-time initialization did take about 20 minutes, but it's a one time deal, so not that big of a nuisance. Actually, the first thing the printer did when I plugged it in was print out a polite little note to let me know that it was going to begin its initialization process, which could take up to 20 minutes, and could I please not interrupt the process by powering off or otherwise disturbing it. The friendly little note even suggested I work on installing the included software in the mean-time, which I did. Installation of the software again could not have been more straight-forward.



When the printer was done initializing, I immediately opened a 96 page document, clicked the box for two-sided printing, and without issue of ANY kind, the printer got on it's way, printing 96 pages of colored, double-sided textbook pages in perfect book-layout... Ahhhh... :-)





I am super impressed with this printer! For the cost, I think it is totally more than worth it! HP Officejet Pro 8000

I was searching for a simple, reliable printer and did not need multiple functions (fax,scan,etc.) commonly included in many printer feature packages. Whether it will stand the test of time for reliability is a question yet to be answered. However, when I purchased this model a few weeks ago, the availability of significant discounts coupled with a $50.00 trade-in offer from HP made this a real value for me. Set up was simple, and using the custom set up allowed me to avoid adding superfluous software.

Printing is quick and quality is fine. I really like the four color ink cartridges so I will only need to purchase the color that I need. Automatic two-sided printing is a nice extra that I didn't seek but happily accept.

Yes, it is a little noisy when printing, and initializing seems to take forever (but probably about a minute or so). I did have to go to the HP website to take a peek at the user manual to answer a couple of my operating questions, but I guess not including user manuals in the box saves a lot of paper in the long run.

In summary, so far, so good.

I replaced an old but very serviceable HP 970 CXI deskjet with this Officejet Pro 8000. I had excellent service out of the 970 but it all of a sudden quit working because the light says it needs a new color cartridge - even though in my many years of owning it, that error never happened - the color just faded until you replaced it. Looking at replacing the color cartridge for $35 with no guarantee of it working, prompted me to add $45 and get a brand new one. The decision wasn't difficult as I've owned HP printers for 20 years problem free, beginning with the Laserjet II.

Just finished installation of the printer on a Vista machine - the second time around, because the first attempt resulted in nothing but a hardware problem with the printer refusing to print even a test page. After conferring with the HP on-line chat technician (excellent service) I was told that my printer had to be replaced and he gave me the option of sending it back to Amazon and having it replaced by them, or - allowing HP to replace it directly with immediate shipping. Because of my trust of HP and the rapid replacement I chose them. On unwrapping the replacement printer I found a large sticker on the back which reads "REMANUFACTURED." Huh? My former printer was brand new out of the box and never printed a page and they replace it with a remanufactured device? Back to on-line tech chat where I was informed by the "floor supervisor" that "we always replace them with a remanufactured printer." Well, that's fine, but I was never informed of that fact so here I sit with a remanufactured printer instead of a new one, for the price of a new one (albeit a very good price - but it was advertised as new). So, that's an automatic knock of at least on star, being kind at that. The second demerit star is for the print cartridges. Using the HP Toolbox I checked the ink level of the cartridges. The black one was fine - it showed 100% but each of the three color cartridges are only about 75 - maybe 80% full. That's after printing 6 pages total, 2 black and white and 4 color. The color pages were black and white stock market charts (very little print/ink of any kind) with just a few scattered small colored arrows.

I think the reduced price by HP is like the free printers that come with a new computer - they're getting them into customers hands to sell replacement ink cartridges. Like someone else wrote in their review, I think they are selling disposable printers. Suspect that I'll get a lot of service out of the printer, but if it ever needs print heads it's obvious that it will be printer replacement time.

The print quality is outstanding and every bit as good as any laser printer I've ever had. It prints very fast for an inkjet and I've had no problem at all with download time, it prints within 3 to 5 seconds of hitting the print button, with no delay between multiple pages . Am just disappointed with HP and their replacement policy along with less than full ink cartridges. - Hp - Officejet - Hewlett-packard - Inkjet'

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Succelerator Considering - womens issues, christian parenting

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Reading this book has not only opened my eyes to the huge lies that society is forcing down our throats; but it has helped me to realize that I have been involved in teaching them to my own daughter! Mostly because I, too, have believed many of these lies; however, now that I see the truth, I am thankful that my own daughters are young enough that I can train them up in the ways of the Lord and teach them to save themselves--physically and emotionally--for a man who deserves them!



I would recommend this book to anyone with daughters and even to any female at all; undoubtedly, all females are helping to shape the lives of young girls around them. Whether they be neighbors, church members, neices or friend's daughters, this book is a clear, concise explanation of what has happened to society over the years, and further--how we can improve it! Five Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter

Vicki Courtney has written a wonderful resource for mothers. 5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Daughter is full of encouraging advice about how to approach the tough topics with your daughter at each stage of her growing up years. Topics like:



* Your are more than the sum of your body parts.

* Don't be in such a hurry to grow up.

* Sex is great and worth the wait.

* It's OK to dream about marriage and motherhood.

* Girls' gone wild are a dime a dozen - dare to be virtuous.



She not only shares her advice, but her experiences - both good and bad, and information from a lot research that helps you understand the battle we are facing in raising daughters.



While I personally do not agree with absolutely everything Vicki wrote (mostly technique or a particular approach) I would still highly recommend this book for any mom to read no matter how old your daughter is. I have always anticipated having these conversations with my daughters because I want to be the one to share with them rather then let them fall into the world's false beliefs.



I noticed that at times Vicki seemed to be ultra careful in one area and then more "liberal" in another compared to what I would be. When reading/listening to this book I highly suggest you think about the information given and prayerfully make changes in your family in agreement with your husband. I think you will find a lot of helpful information and ideas to aid you in being a better mother to your daughter(s).



The one and only negative I have on this book is that I really did not like the way that it was read on the audio version. However, it was not bad enough to cause me to stop listening. The one caution I have is to make sure you listen to it out of the hearing range of any children of any age. This is most definitely a book for mothers only.



* * * * *



This review copy was courtesy of Oasis Audio.

I'm about 75% finished with this book. I bought it because I have a 6 yr old daughter and I work with the high school students in my church. Vicki does present some good facts and thoughts, and I've used those to facilitate some good conversations with both my family and my small group. However, I have to make an effort to read this book because I cannot stomach her judgemental attitude. Heaven forbid her good, Christian daughter would befriend a non-believer. Or that a teenager would buy a birthday gift for someone from Victoria's Secret (does she not know they have the most comfortable cotton panties? Or that VS's lotions and PJ's are a very popular bday gift?). Or that a "good, virtuous Christian girl" would not want to marry as soon as she graduates college... Again, good info, but I feel the need to work around some of the things presented here. I am literally needing to talk myself into finishing the book.

This book is clearly intended for moms, but this dad learned a lot.



I began reading this book on a plane during a business trip. Based on the title alone, no less than five flight attendants thanked me for reading it and expressed their wish that their fathers had read something similar. I was also approached by a couple of female passengers. None of my four flights passed without someone commenting on the book. Obviously, the topic of this book fills a need.



The author is unabashedly Christian, but her information and guidance are applicable regardless of your religious tendencies. If you're uncomfortable with Christianity, just mentally substitute "grandpa" for God and "Important Psychology Textbook" for Bible, and you'll discover that it really is universal. The author espouses her ideals but is careful to explain that each family and each daughter are different, and that an overly strict "one size fits all" approach will not be successful. She also accepts that every parent is imperfect, having made their own mistakes while growing up (and likely continuing to make mistakes). She admits her own mistakes and is very open about the abortion she had as a young woman. Obviously, this is not a woman who would disown her daughter for pre-marital sex or teen pregnancy, but she recognizes these are not the goals. This book offers great information and guidance on ways to reduce their likelihood.



What opened my eyes the most was the information on the effect of media on little girls. When I look at a covermodel on a magazine, I think "Wow, she's hot." I generally take little notice of the men on magazine covers (sorry, I'm just a typical guy). However, when young girls see a covermodel, they think "Ugh, I don't look like that, so I must need to diet, wear more make-up, dress more provocatively, etc." I was also surprised at just how much teen girls measure their self worth by the attention they get from boys. Talk about a recipe for eating disorders, teen sex, etc.



After reading the book (and several by Dannah Gresh on related topics), I have already begun these conversations with my daughters (7 and 5 yrs old). Before reading the books, I thought I could wait until my daughters were in their teens before having "the talk." Now I realize that there is not just "the talk," but rather many conversations that must start while they are young and must be ongoing. Just the other day, I showed my girls a magazine cover of Faith Hill and the original (before photoshop) version. They were amazed at how much "editing" was done for one of the most beautiful women in the world. They came away understanding that "nobody looks like the woman on the magazine...not even the woman on the magazine!" These conversations are just too important to risk the consequences of not having them. - Womens Issues - Parenting - Christian Parenting - Vicki Courtney'

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Succelerator Considering - womens issues, christian parenting

Linux Compatible - epson, scanner

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I just got this and have been trying it out. As I surmised, it is identical to the V300 except there is no negative holder in the box. The driver CDROM and all documentation lists both models. I'm using this with Photoshop and Indesign to make personal studies for portrait drawing practice, using art book and magazine images for source material. I was holding my breath to make sure the TIFF file type is included with this version, and it is (in the professional scan mode.) Fabulously smooth images made from ordinary newspaper color ad inserts using only 800 dpi. You can select various destination image types, including up to 48-bit color and up to 12,800 dpi (in professional mode). TIFF files are rather large, but I plan to dump them as soon as I print the cropped images. (After I draw, I no longer need the images.) Of course, also does jpeg format (default) and has a tremendous range of custom formatting before saving, as well as ultra simple 'point and shoot' scanning. Also has customizable presets for home mode (email scanning, etc.) and office mode (RGB value settings, for example). I haven't tried this yet, but it makes PDF files in all but full auto mode, without purchasing Adobe Acrobat, unbelievable. (I have a Fujitsu document scanner that outputs to PDF, but it cost several times more.)



There is the same user selection option for film as a document type as on the V300 so I don't see why you can't scan slides and negatives, using a homemade holder or even just guessing where to position film in the center strip of the scanner bed. I don't plan to scan many film images or I would have gotten the V300, but it was not available for prime shipping. I do have some favorite Velvia slides I will eventually try to scan and see what happens. Will let you know how it goes when I get a chance. Superb scanner, incredible price, and arguably unbeatable Epson reliability, per my previous experience with color inkjets going back to windows 3.1 that just never stopped working well. I based my purchase on all the high praise for the V300/V200 and the assumption that this one uses the same scan engine and software, which it does, the only difference I can tell being the missing film holder. If anything, the V30 is more recent and probably has higher specs than the V300. If you don't need a film holder, or if you just need to update your flatbed scanner, this is a total no brainer. Forgot to mention, top is hinged and lifts/flips back out of the way. Epson Perfection V30 Color Scanner

...the placement of the usb and power ports is such a glaring design flaw. If you don't use the buttons, or you expect to have this only on the right side of your desk and against the wall, it might not be a big deal. Maybe that's being picky, but it bugged the heck out of me.



Image quality was solid for this type of slimline (CIS) scanner, I'd say a touch better color rendition than a Canon Lide 30 I tried. Also seemed a bit faster, probably due to needing it's wall wart (power brick), vs the Canon which is USB powered. Software installation no problem (Mac OS 10.5), and I think Epson's drivers are much better than Canons on the Mac.



Ultimately though, these simple standalone scanners need be be priced less. After all, one can routinely find refurb or even new Epson All-in-one devices for not much more. Hence, value for money isn't quite there, in my opinion.

received package in 3 days, free shipping. box was light, since scanner was light. hooked up scanner to power outlet and connected USB cable to laptop running linux ubuntu 8.04 Hardy.



download drivers for the Epson Perfection V30: Google for "epson linux driver", find the site "Linux driver | Avasys Corporation"; go to Download Epson scanner; select "Perfection V30"; Distribution Ubuntu; Distribution version 8.04; Country/region; Connection environment for using printer: Scan with local scanner; Location for the product; click Next. found 2 debian 32-bit packages: iscan_2.20.1-1_i386.deb (362,624 bytes) and esci-interpreter-gt-f720_0.0.1-2_i386.deb (156,404 bytes).



UPDATE, 3 May 2010: The iscan program had a newer version iscan_2.24.0-4_i386.deb; the esci-interpreter-gt program remained the same, i.e., esci-interpreter-gt-f720_0.0.1-2_i386.deb.



installed these 2 .deb packages on laptop. no problem.



launched command iscan to start the scanner; worked. tested by scanning a hardcopy color photo with the default 300 dpi; the scan (in .png format) looked great; file size about 5 MB. tried higher resolution 1200 dpi; file size was much larger, but not better quality at regular photo size. scanned write-on transparencies written with color marker pens (black, green, red, blue) as color documents; results (in .png format) were great. even at 50 dpi, the scans of these transparencies were nice. the file size was small, about 300 KB, allowing for quick upload to mediawiki.



it appears that there is no option to scan into pdf under linux; a work-around approach would be to use openoffice, import the .png files of the scans, then export the resulting openoffice file into pdf format.



UPDATE, 3 May 2010: Actually, you can scan in 5 different formats: Run iscan, place document on scanner, click Preview, click Scan, another window pops up, then you can select the "File Type", i.e., file format; there are 5 different formats: PNM, PNG, JPEG, TIFF, PDF. The difference between iscan and the Epson scanning software under Windows is that you need to concatenate the separate pdf files into a single document later, using pdftk for example. You can write a script to do that. You can also scan into PNM format, then convert to DJVU format, which is more compact than the PDF format for the same resolution.



painless and relatively quick installation even under linux.



there were more choices of resolution (under linux) than with the CanoScan 8600F (which was used under Windows XP, not linux compatible). an annoying problem with the CanoScan 8600F was that the scans were often skewed (rotated) by a few degrees, i.e., not straight up and parallel to the margins; the problem had to be corrected by skewing (rotating) the original in the opposite direction to straighten up the scans. did not encounter any such problem with the Epson Perfection V30; all scans were perfectly straight up.



have not tried to install and use this scanner under Windows XP in dual boot with linux ubuntu yet; will do in the future. expect no difficulty (should be even easier than under linux); scan into pdf format should be possible under Windows XP.



UPDATE, perhaps Oct-Nov 2009: i also installed the scanner software under Windows XP; real easy, no problem.



when not in use, scanner can be disconnected from laptop to place on a shelf to save space.



was torn between the Canon LiDE100 scanner (a little less expensive, NOT linux compatible) and this Epson (a little more expensive, but linux compatible); now i know i made the right decision. the scan quality of the Epson was also better, with more choices of resolution.



excellent product; painless installation; easy to use; excellent quality. - Epson - V30 - Linux Compatible - Scanner'

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Kindle Covers - kindle covers, kindle 3

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GelaSkins Protective Skin for my Kindle just arrived. While easy to put on and very attractive, I was very disappointed that it didn't include a protective covering for the viewing screen. I feel the description of the product is misleading. It implies that the skin protects against scratches, dust and UV damage which it may do for the back of the Kindle, but the important part, the reading area, is not protected. I wish I had known this before I purchased the product. GelaSkins Kindle Skin (Fits 6" Display, Latest Generation Kindle) Almond Branches

It came yesterday - went on very nicely! I was a bit worried that it would be difficult to position, but was no problem at all. I love the look and feel of it. Since GelaSkins did not have a glossy or matt choice, I think it is in-between. I keep it in an zipper pad-folio case I got from a local hotel, will do until I find the perfect case. I'm in no rush tho. It looks really nice especially with the Audobon book cover screen saver - birds and branches etc. : ) Wish we could load our own screen saver, tho. I really love my Kindle3 and how it looks all dressed up!

I thought this was supposed to be a protective cover, like the kind of cushioning skin that you get for a cell phone. Really this is just a decal sticker that is for looks only. I was disappointed at first, but after I got it on and realized I probably couldn't return it anyway, I am just appreciating it for making my Kindle look pretty and more unique. Other than that it really serves no practical purpose. If I could take it back and get my $20 back I would.

I ordered this for my Kindle 3, so that I would protect it with out haveing to

place it in a case that would add weight. Between the Green Onion screen protector and this

I feel that I can throw it in my purse and go. I really had no problem placing the skin on the

kindle, I lined the bottom edge up with the bottom edge of the kindle plastic face plates and every thing

went down smoothly. The look is attractive and stands out from the other things, magazines etc on my

end tables, so I can always locate it. Over all I am very pleased with this purchase.

I'm a big fan of cell phone covers, PDA skins, etc. So, I love the way this skin looks on my Kindle. Plus, I'm an Old Masters fan and Van Gogh is a favorite. It covers the Kindle well, and was relatively easy to put on. I'd recommend it.

I did not see the GelaSkin cover I really liked so I went to their website and was able to upload my own art work. I received it in about a week. It is really fantastic! I was surprised that my bank added a $.55 cent transfer fee to transfer the payment to Canada, but it was still worth the price. It went on easily and I've had it about a week and so far it is staying in place. If this one gets dirty or I get tired of it I will definitely go back to their web site and buy another one.

This is clearly marketed as a skin by GelaSkins, and that's what you will get. It is great quality, thick and covers up much of the kindle. Some other brand skins do not even cover between the keys. You need a steady hand and clean kindle to apply. It looks great on my k3 with a handmade leather case from Oberon designs.

I thought this skin would be like a cell phone cover and protect the kindle more. It was just a sheet of stick-on paper. It's pretty, but now I still have to order a case protector for it. I'm a little peeved.

Love it!Love it!Love it! It is what I expected and much easier than I thought to apply. The skin is backed by 3M Controltac removeable sticky paper. Finish is in between matt and low sheen. Slight invisible texture to assist with non slip while holding. There are even covers for each button and page turner if you like. I order the clear plastic hard case for protection. It was clear to me this was to dress up the Kindle and protect from scratches. Screen protectors are avail on Amazon for about $2.00. Nope don't work for them just a shopper like you.

This is a very cute cover, and it has been very protective to my kindle. Although my parents assumed it would be like a silicone case, they are impressed by the amount of abuse it has taken up and been very good at taking a beating. Very good case, it would be better if it came with a screen protector as I have to wait to get mine in the mail.... :( - Kindle Covers - Skins - Kindle Skins - Kindle 3'

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Wheeled Cooler - wheeled cooler, lawn

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We recently spent three days visiting San Francisco and stayed in a hotel which furnished a fridge and microwave. We carried our food with us and it stayed cold and fresh during the hours we spent traveling on public transit getting to our hotel. The only problem we had was with the two carrying handles. It would be so much nicer if the handles could convert into one handle so that the cooler could be carried in one hand while the other hand carried a second travel bag or suitcase. Getting on and off buses and climbing up stairs would have been so much easier with a single handle. Columbia 50 Can High Performance Rolling Cooler

Cooler was great for the beach. Only drawback is there's no single handle on the top to carry across the sand. Having 2 handles on the sides made it extremely difficult to carry across the sand when you also were carrying other stuff. We took rope and tied to both side handles to make a strap to carry. Made it much easier. Other than that it was great!

This item keeps everything cold and refreshing even on a hot day. Took it to the beach and the ice and drinks were ice cold even though the temperature was over 95 degrees. Took it to a tailgate and the same result. Cost is reasonanable and it is better than those costing more.

I bought several of these as wedding gifts for our groomsman. 3 of them have already had the wheels literally melt off. The design allows the wheels to rub against the support housing and eventually melt the whole assembly. Be careful not to touch them if you feel some rolling resistance. I burned one of my fingers pretty bad after touching one of them! It failed shortly after....

The cooler is the right size but lacks the extra-pockets space these usually come with. I use mine for a portable refridgerator/home-base while at work and this model has but one large pocket. The top and sides are totally wasted.

This collapsible cooler has a lot of space so you can carry lots of items. It also keep things cool far longer than I expected. Rolls easily, although I wish it had a wider wheel base. It is well made. It stores easily, but because it is soft it tends to sag when it is not full.

Cooler does exactly as described. We have not owned this very long. We have used this cooler once on a 3-day trip. Number one concern is of course "leakage" and this one doesn't leak. We filled the cooler with ice daily but at the end of the day there was still ice remaining. We placed the cooler in the back seat of the car, then it went inside the hotel room at our destination. The weather was not overly hot as the high was in the 70's but the important thing is that it didn't leak. A plus for us is that the cooler folds pretty compact for storage when not in use. It has velcro tabs on the sides (near bottom) that keep the cooler folded flat after you compact it down. And when driving on a road trip it's convenient to just reach thru the small opening on the top to grab a bottled water. (Don't have to unzip the whole top).

When the cooler first arrived, I thought its design was great. However, the very first time we used it, one side of the handle pulled out completely and no matter how we tried to reconnect it to the sleeve, we couldn't get it back in. We've returned the cooler. I've never had to return anything before, but Amazon made the return process very easy.

Purchased this cooler in late May 2011 to use at the Chicago Air and Water Show in August. After just this single use one set of wheels, possibly defective since the unit was manufactured, froze up and would not rotate. A closer inspection revealed that the wheels were rubbing against the wheel mounting bracket since the wheel shaft was misaligned in the bracket. Needless to say, I am extremely disappointed with this product- especially since it carries the Columbia name, which I have found to typically be very reliable and well-made products. Don't waste your money on this item......although as a cooler it functions fine, without the capability to "roll it" I might as well have purchased a cooler bag......at least then I would have had a shoulder strap with which to carry it. - Lawn - Wheeled Cooler - Cooling - Collapsable Cooler'

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Logitech Universal Remote - harmony remote, logitech universal remote

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I read owner reviews on this remote that complained of a constant reset issue (touching the remote or remote turning over bumps it out of the current mode - eg Watch TV - resulting in it being unusable for that mode) but figured they just received a dud and mine would be fine (4 out of 5 stars is not bad).



About 30 days into ownership (and therefore too late to return), the problem started. If batteries are not 100% fresh or battery contacts haven't been adjusted recently (see note below), the problem happens constantly.



The up arrow button "sticks" as well - need to press it at least 2x before action registers.



I'm still awaiting word from Logitech but my guess is I'll have to pay to ship it in and this may not be the only warranty replacement incidence needed on this baby.



So... moral of the story is stay away from this model even if the price is attractive.



An aside - Logitech forums and other reviews indicate the reset problem arises from momentary loss of contact in the battery compartment. That makes sense to me. I've very gently bent out the battery contact prongs, which makes the problem occur less often - but it still occurs. If you're stuck with this remote, try adjusting the prongs every time the reset issue occurs. Ugh. Logitech Harmony 650 Remote (Silver)

I loved this remote when I first got it. It was easy to set up and I really liked how you can do it all through the Logitech website.



However, within a couple of months, it started to lose its connectivity with some or all of the devices. Usually it was the receiver and sometimes it was also the digital box. This would happen within a few minutes of turning everything on. The only way to get it working again was to turn everything off and back on again.



When I started researching the problem, I saw that a lot of people have the same issue. It is not a battery connection issue like some suggest. There is a design flaw with the remote itself. It should be recalled.

For about as long as I've had more than just a TV I've had a pile of remotes that were necessary because each device had some function that could only be controlled with the remote it came with. Clearly I'm not the only one that's had this problem or these types of universal remotes wouldn't exist. So recently when I was updating my home theater I decided I'd get myself one of these. The Harmony series was immediately attractive, with it's computer programability. You can even go to the Logitech website and check if they have all your devices in their database before you buy a remote (it's the same database for all the Harmony remotes from the cheapest to the most expensive). I spent quite some time drooling over the expensive One and 900. Then I found out about the 650. Despite the weird numbering system of the Harmony remotes, the 650 is one of 3 brand new Harmony remotes (the others are the 300 and 600) released in April 2010. I would have ideally liked something like the 900, because it has a ton of cool stuff but the 650 is much cheaper and maintains a great feature set.



First off this and the 600 are both apparently the same remote, just the 600 has a monochrome screen instead of a color screen, and it's a good amount cheaper for that reason. So you might check that one out too. I had exactly 5 devices I needed control of so the 5 device limit on the 650 was good, although it doesn't leave room for me to add additional devices in the future.



Some places it says the keys on this aren't backlit but they are. They have an orange glow (I wish with all the customizing you could change this cause it's kinda ugly but a small complaint) when the remote is activated. The screen and the backlight turn off when you put the remote down and turn on when you pick it up using a motion detector. This is a really cool feature and you can adjust the amount of time the screen and light stay on after you put it down to fit your needs. Speaking of the screen it's a nice size, easily readable, and seems pretty high quality. You can also see it perfectly even in direct sunlight.



The setup process could be difficult for some non-tech savvy, but really they made it as easy as they could. If you know the model numbers of all your equipment and how it needs to be set (like what input on your tv you need on to watch dvds) then you'll be done with the set up pretty fast. But you're going to want to go back and make tweaks. The remote software (which you download from the Logitech website along with the full manual, neither actually come with the remote, I guess as a money saving measure) is easy to install and allows you to tweak the heck out of this thing. You can add icons for your favorite channels (these are downloadable from various websites but you can also make your own), set delays between commands, set the order things turn on, etc. All the adjustments make it so that this remote will work perfectly on your setup and for your specific needs. For example if you use a certain command more than others you can move it up to be first in the list of commands on the screen, or even map it to one of the hard buttons. That's another thing, every button on the remote can be changed to do whatever you want it to. For example if you have a DVR you probably have a "List" where your recorded shows are. Instead of the list command being on the screen you could set it to be one of the actual buttons on the remote like the # key for example.



Overall I am very happy with this. It's got a little bit of a learning curve, and you can spend days tweaking to perfection, but for the price it's got a ton of great features and if you have 5 or less things you need to control this is the remote for you. - Logitech Universal Remote - Logitech Harmony Remote - Harmony Remote - Logitech'

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Logitech Universal Remote - harmony remote, logitech universal remote

Cell Phone Charger - accessories, cell phone charger

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A great solution for charging up an assortment of Apple gadgets. It provides the extra power needed to charge an iPad while it's powered on. The USB ports on most PC's only put out 500mw and the iPad needs 1000mw to be charged while it's in use. I like that you can charge 4 devices at once and only use a single power outlet.



Plus it makes a great stand for the iPad. We keep this in the kitchen and we can view recipes on the iPad while it's resting in the stand. When you price out decent iPad stands, this becomes a greater bargain.



There were a couple of peeves, but nothing serious. It does not come with an Apple dock connector USB cable. They are cheap enough, like this one, but iHome could have tossed one in. Also the phone charging cable needs to use the included mini to micro adapter. Mobile phones have pretty much standardized on the micro USB connector, a cable like this (except shorter) should have been included. iHome IB969G Charging Station for iPad, iPod, iPhone, BlackBerrys and eReaders

I ordered this product because of the mess with all different types of iPod and iPad Chargers.

It works well and charges 4 devices at once. The high power outlet for the iPad charges this device pretty fast. Without the inlays for the iPhone3 you can place an iPhone 4 with case directly in the dock.



Now I can put my other power adapters somewhere else.

The first thing that I noticed about this product is that in the associated image, the Blackberry is off to the side, not charging. The iHome IB969G charger is little more than a USB hub with a platter. Beneath the platter are two USB hubs, one side is powerful enough to accommodate the iPad while the other is for any other USB charging devices. One cool attribute of the iB969G is the sync on/off toggle on the top which is genuinely useful for keeping it attached to the computer.



Despite this being a Jack-Of-All-Trades product, I don't find it indispensable. It's cheaply constructed and rather ugly. It also requires a separate USB cord to charge the iPad.



Is it worth $40 dollars? Absolutely not. I think $20 would be too much to pay for a powered two port USB hub. It's an absolute waste of your money.

This multi-duty dock is a sure delight. Each night, I use it to charge my iPad, iPod Touch and smartphone, using the one dock and one electrical outlet. Its rear slot reliably holds the iPad, horizontally, for charging. I can even choose the quick-charge feature when time is scant. What is more, I unplug the dock to simply enjoy it as a reliable spot to leave my devices so I don't misplace them. The expandable base holds keys, among other small items, so you don't lose those, either. Alternately, you could use the base to show off a valued photo, or a fave art item; you will find the base quaint and unobtrusive. The ability to take advantage of a variety of inputs (a minimum of 5) gives this dock it's satisfying usefulness.



Overall, the dock is a winner, to be sure. When it's time for an upgrade of this model, I suggest a heavier base: seating an iPad vertically in the rear slot will tip the dock backward. To its credit, iHome specifically states that the dock is not meant for the iPad. If you've got one, however, that back slot sure is tempting! The dock can do it's job well with the iPad - as long as the iPad is either placed in the back slot horizontally, and NOT vertically, or placed beside the dock while it charges.



As I did, you can purchase this docking station/charger hassle-free, right here on Amazon.com.

This little beauty charges an iPad, two iPhones, and a Kindle for us - all at the same - with nary a complaint! Add the occasional iPod to the mix, and we have "charging central" - with a reasonably small footprint, and a lot of convenience. Some of the bulkier iPhone\iPod covers might not fit well in the two slots, but work-arounds like using the provided (or original Apple) cables will work fine. We have the iPad encased in a somewhat bulky "roocase", but it still sits like a champ in the rear slot. Haven't tried the iTunes "synching" feature yet, but it should work, since the device functions as a powered USB connection when paired with your computer. Quality and engineering of the plastic unit are fine. All-in-all - a worthwhile buy that works as advertised.

We currently use this to charge 2 iPhone 4's, 1 iPod Touch and 1 iPad (first generation). All can be charged at the same time.



For this setup, I have to use 2 usb-dock connector cables, which were not included. We have many extras lying around so that was not an issue.



The iPhones and iPod can be charged while in cases, the inserts need to be removed though. You also need to be careful when inserting the devices.



Base is a little too light in my opinion, one with slightly more heft would make it more stable. It tends to slide around when we are plugging stuff in.



Overall, pretty happy ... it does reduce a fair amount of clutter!

I bought the iHome Charging Station for our home recently. I had a Dexim dual home charger before, but we(I) left that at a hotel in Niagara falls accidentally, and they wanted $45.00 to ship it back to us. I bought the iHome to replace that and it was cheaper than the shipping for the Dexim from Canada. The iHome can charge 4 devices at one time and takes up very little space. Our family of 6 (4 kids, my wife and I) have 3 iPads, 3 iPhones, 3 3DSs and a DSi. Our kitchen countertop always had multiple chargers aon it and the kids would fight over charging their stuff. Now there is no clutter, the extra usb ports can charge our iPads and also the 3DSs and DSi (I bought a few DSi usb cables from Amazon for $3 each), and no fighting over when to charge the devices. My wife hated the clutter and loose wires, and the iHome is very neat and clean. The extra 2 usb wires that you can use, can be coiled under the base and out of sight. She actually loves it because it also acts as a stand for her iPad in the kitchen. And as any married man will tell you a happy wife means a happy life.



I would highly recommend this product to any family with multiple portable electronic devices like iPhones, iPads, eBook readers and portable gaming systems. - Cheap - Cell Phone Charger - Ipad - Accessories'

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Cell Phone Charger - accessories, cell phone charger

Conversation Starters

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Nice tin & good ideas on the cards.

My only problem is that it states up to age 12 for this one, and it was a little boring for my 10 year old. I do think that children under 2nd or 3rd grade will love playing this, so I will keep it in mind for the younger ones, but the age recomendations are not totally accurate.



It does have great ideas you could even use on road trips or just for fun anytime, so it's a keeper. Nice little tin it comes in too, easy to pop in your purse for when the family is eating out and need something to do while you wait for your food with younger kids. Family Time Fun Dinner Games and Activities

Wasn't sure how to rate this. The overall concept is very simple, and the activities easy enough where the cards are almost silly. The thing is, they are simple, so why did we never think to do them before? It does help spark some dinner time fun, but once we read through the cards, it's not something we look back at. For example, one game is to do a round robin and each family member says a word in a different language. Another is to take something off the table and guess what is missing.



The kids do have fun with the games, and with some imagination you can do this one on your own.

Excellent dinner entertainment. The game arrived in time for use at a Thanksgiving dinner I attended. We utlized several questions/activities during and after dinner. The oldest adults were in their forties and the youngest child was six, and we all enjoyed the activities. I can see this box of ideas becoming a requested dinner party activity for years to come.

This has changed everything! We have always tried to have dinner as a family, but with complaints about the menu, sibling arguments, and general fatigue at the end of the day, it's made me wonder if it's worth it. This game has reminded me that it is! Every night we have fun at dinner.



- Games can be enjoyed by a wide variety of ages

- The varied topics prompt sharing, silliness, test memories, and help the older ones teach the younger ones

- They are so simple that the children can modify them to come up with their own new games



Now we linger at the table, kids eat without complaints so we can keep playing (including young guests who insist they don't like salmon or spinach salad!), and my children say, "Are we eating at the big table tonight? Do we get to play Family Dinner Games?"

We have a 9 year old and 6 year old and they love this! My 9 year old daughter literally pulls this out every night and dinner and gets so excited to read the cards and start the games. This is wonderful and we will be giving this to her friends as Birthday gifts - its so great for families!

With a busy family, it is sometimes difficult to get everyone to the dinner table at the same time. It seems like meals are rushed and abbreviated. Sadly, we often don't even make small talk while we're eating because we're so focused on what's next on the "To Do" list.



It is important to restore and protect the family dinner table. This game is the perfect way to do that! Our son loves this game and he usually gets to choose the "game" card. The nice part about Family Time Fun Dinner Games and Activities is that none of them are long, dragged out games. Even our teenager likes to participate and we all learn more about each other every time we play and we always have a great time!! I HIGHLY recommend this product to any family! This game is great for early readers through adults!

My 5 year old son makes us do at least one game from this tin every dinner. The cards are color coded by educational skill (Numbers and Math, Social Skills, Silly Games, Phonics and Vocabulary, Creative and Critical thinking, and Memory games). My son loves to pick out a card, tell us which skill it is, and read us the directions. Now these are simple games that I'm sure you could think of on your own, but it's so much easier to just pick a card at random and go with it. We've definitely had more laughs and good conversation at our table since we received this game. Great product.

This game consists of a nice tin that holds durable laminate cards. Each card has the instructions to a "dinner game" printed on it. The instructions are easy to follow and it only takes a few seconds to grab a card and begin playing a dinner game.



Having this box of games has brought my family closer together! Before I got this game, my kids didn't want to sit at the table as a family and endure the usual "How was your day?" discussion. Now they are excited to sit at the table and play the games. The games fall into different skill sets (phonics, social skills, silly games, etc.). When I watch my kids giggle and try to think of something for their turns, I am amazed at how much of a different dinner-time experience this game allows us to have! My whole family is happy to be at the dinner table together when we play Dinner Games!'

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Reconditioned Tools - reconditioned tools, nailer

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This is the Cadillac of nail guns. Now that they make the offset full round head nails to go in the clipped head nail guns, you just can't beat this gun. The 100 nail magazine makes a big difference, you really notice how many fewer times you are reaching to refill the magazine. Also, the rafter hook works great. Toe-nailing tight spots is a little difficult, but I am very glad I bought this gun instead of one that shoots plastic collated nails. I was sick of the plastic pieces flying around and hitting me while I was working. The wire collated is a big improvement. Factory-Reconditioned Bostitch U/F28WW Clipped Head 2-Inch to 3-1/2-Inch Framing Nailer with Magnesium Housing

I have been using the older and heavier version of this gun for a while. When it came time to get another one I was a bit hesitant about the magnesium housing. My arm however is overjoyed. It has just as much balls as the older version. I have never had any trouble with this gun. I prefer the wire weld nails so there really was no other gun for me.

This thing is nice and light, the bottom of the magazine has a plastic cover that is pretty chewed up. It also came with a nice dent on the side of the magazine where you slip the nails into the back. This was causing the spring bottom to 'catch' and stop about 1/3 from the top of the magazine. I straightened out the metal with a pair of needle nose pliers enough to get the spring to move up and down freely.



Judging the overall condition, I'd say this unit was used at a construction site and was dropped from a good height, which broke it. The fall caused the damage to the base of the magazine and dented the side of it as well and probably broke the air hose nipple (the nipple looks new now). There are chips and scratches all over the main body.



It's a nice gun to work with, the light weight is noticable making this thing feel almost like working with a finishing nailer. Toe's in very nicely, weird angles are usually not a big problem. Handles smaller nails and large nails equally well.



The only other thing I would mention is that for a home user like me, nails aren't all that easy to find. The hardware man at Home Dpeot was baffled by my nail gun requirements, "28 degree wire collated? huh? We don't have anything like that...". Lowes didn't have any either. Ace does carry them (wierd in my opinion), but only one or two types, so you will have to order what you need. Probably better to special order them at a store than buy online and pay extra for shipping.

Have used this nailer for several months now and am very satisified.

No trouble finding nails as they are carried at local Home Depot and online from Amazon.

Pros: Works very well, no jams yet, for low volume usage a small compressor works ok, nails are available.

Cons: hard to use in tight places, exhaust will stir up a lot of dust in confined spaces, lost protective tip in about a week, falls off too easily.

I'd purchased this nailer from CPO which sold them reconditioned with a full factory 1-Year Warranty. Mine arrived and appeared like new, with hardly a scratch upon it. The only issue I'd noted was the nailer was missing the hanger-attachment which allows the nailer to be hung from a rafter when not in use. CPO assured me they'd remedy the situation, and a new attachment was sent within a few days. Overall I really enjoy the nailer, it's intuitive in its use, and a breeze to set the nails depth. It does have some kick-back, but it's not unmanagable, and I suppose it's to be expected when you trade weight in lieu of recoil. As for someone elses comments about the nailer be extinct due to Bostitch not having round headed nails... They're completely wrong! I researched this prior to purchasing the nailer, as I didn't want to buy something I couldn't use (i.e., not to code). Bostich offers round-head nails that are wire-collated @ 28 degrees and I'd purchased a box of them @ Lowes (same price as the 1/2 head, similar length). Overall, I'm quite happy, as I'd saved over $75 from our local merchants, and I have a nail gun that works like new!

I'm an avid DIY'er, not a professional so this is from that point of view. The gun showed up, looked new. Worked flawlessly. I've used it about a dozen times to build a deck and some knee walls. I have always been hesitant to buy a framing nailer, but so glad I did. I've had it about a month now and not a single issue. The only small issue I will note it the release for the nails (pull back to put in nails and then push the level to release the lock) is a bit stiff. I don't think it's defective, and it works, just takes a little doing. I really like this product and would highly recommend.

I bought this nailer before starting a large deck project. I've used a brad nailer for years, but never a framing nailer. I was totally geeked out by this thing! It must have cut my construction time in half. Nails and accessories are readily available at Lowes, Menards, etc. - Nail Gun - Framing Nailers - Nailer - Reconditioned Tools'

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Benchtop Drill

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I had a Floor Drill Press for years until we sold our house and bought a condo. I bought this one for a project not expecting much for the price.



Boy was I surprised.



This is one quality tool. It is extremely well built and very smooth and quiet in its operation. In fact, it has the feel of a precision tool as opposed to a plain old drill press. This thing looks and feels like it should cost twice as much as it does.



I used to buy all my tools from a National Retailer who has their own brand of tools ( you know the one- begins with a C ).

I borrowed a friend's drill press first who had this well known brand and it was total junk. So I went out and bought the Skil instead. I usually buy only Dewalt and Bosch and this is every bit as well made as those two other brands. In fact, Bosch owns Skil.



Finally- in case you're wondering, the laser really does work and is a great assist when drilling small holes. Just remember to take the batteries out when you are not going to use it for a while. Skil 3320-02 120-Volt 10-Inch Drill Press

Although the package was a bit banged up the contents were all there and not damaged. The drill assembled easily and the instructions were good. The unit operated without any problems. I'm very happy with it and would buy from Skil again.

The fit and finish aren't what you will get from an expensive tool, but this is very functional and precise in the places it needs to be. Was surprised to see that the table was exactly perpendicular to the chuck right out of the box, and the lasers were dead on as well. Has a little vibration in the spindle at certain points in the travel but nothing that should effect the cut. The power switch is very nice and you can shut it down quickly. For the price, not to mention free Prime shipping, you cant go wrong.

First, you must decide what you want your tool to do. Then you can choose the tool.



This is not a production drill press. It's designed for the home shop, with medium-to-heavy usage by one to two people. I got it to drill holes in brass parts for the armatures I make for models. Not exactly heavy-duty usage. But, it performs that function flawlessly. The adjustment knobs and set-screws are all rugged. And, I was surprised, but the laser guide does work, and it works well. I aligned the lasers using the smallest drill bit I own, and they are very useful for getting the holes lined up accurately.



Overall, this is a great product. There are cheaper options, but when I tested and/or inspected them, I found the components to be shoddy and the results to be sub-par. The Skil Drill Press out-performs all of them.

We needed a small dril press for fabricating electronic test assemblies. The Skil 3320-02 was right for the task. Assembly was quick, and adjustments were minimal. The laser alignment was not perfect, but it didn't warrant re-adjustment. The table was even clamped at 90 degrees to the bit right out of the box. Chuck run-out was negligible which allows us to drill holes with small numbered drill bits. A good value for a small drill press.

I purchased this drill press for my 'garage' workshop. The drill is used in a variety of home projects (PCB board fabrication, project box construction (plastic and metal), etc.



This drill serves its function quite well. The press is durable and well balanced. The laser sight is very helpful in aligning drill bit and hole.



NB:

To change speeds, you do need to pop the top cabinet, loosen the motor mounts (thumb-tight screws), change belt positions and then retighten the motor mounts and snap the cabinet back into place. Not a serious chore, but it is a 'manual' not an 'automatic' transmission.



The press is heavy (about 50 lbs) and it is best to mount to a stable surface (e.g., a workbench).

This is my first drill press since shop class in 8th grade, though I'm handy with most other power tools. I assembled it in about 30 mins without too much difficulty (though there is one small plastic part left over that is not mentioned in 3 readings of the instructions -- never a good thing).

Moving the table up and down seems rather clunky, but I may have more adjustments to make.

I'm writing this review before even using the drill because the ad says "variable speed", which from many years of using standard drills means to me that the speed is easily and continuously controllable. This drill press actually has only 5 discreet speeds, which can be changed by opening up the hood, loosening one of the spindles, adjusting the belt, and then tightening the spindle again to the right belt tension. Not that hard to do, but not trivial.

Maybe you experts out there knew this from previous experience, but for those like me who did not, this drill is "variable speed" only in the sense that you can change the speed to 1 of 5 speeds by manually adjusting the belt (570rpm, 900, 1390, 2050, 3050).

I'll update my review after I begin using it.'

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Diabetes

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This book contains the most common sense, practical information I have found yet for helping manage my toddlers diabetes. This is not a medical text, but an easy to read guide for managing insulin, meals and the behavioral problems related to diabetes. There are excellent suggestions on how to not let the behavioral problems develop. I highly recommend this "down to earth" book Sweet Kids : How to Balance Diabetes Control and Good Nutrition with Family Peace

Our pediatric unit provides this book to

parents of children newly diagnosed w/

type 1 diabetes.

The book is a thorough, detailed reference

with a focus on nutrition, meal planning, snacks,

glucose management---through the various age

groups of childhood.

One of the biggest obstacles we faced when my daughter was diagnosed at 2 was not battles over shots or finger pokes; it was over food. We were used to having pleasant, sit-down dinners as a family, but at 2 years old, she had the power to send me into panic mode when she wouldn't eat the carbs I had already given her insulin for. No amount of punishment, crying (on my part), or anything else worked to get her to understand the importance of eating what I had set out for her. How could it? She was only 2. I found this book while browsing titles and it saved our family dinner! By giving her insulin after she had eaten, I got the control over our family dinner back and it became a pleasant experience again. Also, she started eating more when she wasn't being hassled about it, and she needed to put some weight back on. We still maintained excellent control (not perfect, but ours never has been). We've had diabetes for 5 years and I'm still thankful we had a way to deal with a very trying issue at a very stressful time (diagnosis).'

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External Hard Drive For Mac

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I bought this hard drive about 7 months ago prior to my deployment to Afghanistan. The weight and size were great. Seemed perfect. I get to afghanistan, and may have only plugged it into my Sony VAIO ten times, when suddenly it would not be recognized. Like it didn't exist. I kept unplugging it and plugging it back in. I then tried it on a bunch of other laptops. Nothing. So, I thought, maybe it's just in a "mood". I turned off my computer, went to sleep, and tried it the next day. Still nothing. Now, it has been seven months, and I still occasionally plug it in to see if it works, but to no avail. Luckily, everything I had on the WD hard drive was backed up on another hard drive, so I didn't lose anything. I would just return it, but seeing that I'm not in the United States and where I'm at, the mail system doesn't work, I now use it as a paper weight, which it would recieve 5 stars if that was what it was meant to be used for.



I looked it up online and found that there are thousands of other people with the same issue. WD keeps giving the lame excuse of "some computers don't supply enough power". That's bull... Then why doesn't it work on ANY computer? And why make something that doesn't work all the time? And, using simple logic, my buddy who has the same hard drive plugged his into his computer, and it worked. I plugged mine into his computer, and it didn't work. He then plugged his into my computer, and it worked. I plugged mine into my computer, and it didn't work. Hmmm... Sounds like it's more than a power issue. I'm meeting my wife on R&R soon and will give it to her. Hopefully, she can return it, but she can't find the receipt, so I'm sure we're stuck with it.



I can't tell you to buy or not buy it. Most people have great luck with it. But that's what it is...luck. So, you may buy this, and it will probably work. Or, there's a chance it won't. So, why not buy a hard drive that works ALL THE TIME? No risk, no chances. I think I'm going to order a Toshiba and have my wife give it to me on R&R. It seems that their hard drives don't suddenly decide to not work. Western Digital My Passport Essential SE 1 TB USB 3.0/2.0 Ultra Portable External Hard Drive (Metallic Blue)

This is an easily portable hard drive with generous 1 TB capacity. It is compact, lightweight and runs nearly silently.



It was instantly recognized when connected to a desktop machine running Windows 7 Professional (32-bit), to a laptop running Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit), and to a netbook running Windows XP Home.



None of these machines is USB 3 equipped; since all of my data transfers were via USB 2, I can't comment on the USB 3.0 performance. USB 2 transfers to/from the desktop internal hard drive took about 3 minutes for every 1.5 GB of data.



Since this is a recent purchase, it's not possible to address the reliability/service life of this drive.



This drive is powered via the USB cable, eliminating one power cord (and wall wart!) from the rear of my desk (and increasing its portability)



Some reviewers have commented on issues with the included backup software. My experience with the offerings from both WD and other vendors is that significant shortcomings in features and functionality are often part of these applications.



I simply deleted this software without installing it, and continued to use this drive with a separate back-up application (I've been using Centered System's "Second Copy" with great success for both automated and manual back-up tasks for 5 years).



One minor gripe about this device: the included data cable is *very* short (about a foot long), limiting drive placement options (I don't know if this is related to the USB 3 capability or not).



Note: I purchased the blue version (not currently offered on Amazon). I included pictures on the product page and the only the color is different; specifications, form factor and performance are identical to the black model.

This WD 1TB drive is a good value, but the backup software [SMARTWARE] should be called DUMBWARE. The software assumes that you are expected to be an idiot and they are all knowing.

The previous software, WD Anyhere Backup, is a much better product. What it doesnt do that Anywhere did:

1. Backup to drives other than WD Smartdrive;

2. Let you have duplicate file names in different folders;

3. Doesnt have the feature to purge files from the backup that are no longer on the source drive.

4. Since it ignores folders you can only backup by file type. This means that it backs up videos, for example, that you dont need or want to backup. These files may be multiple GB and eat time and space needlessly.

5. The picture catagory doesnt know that a NEF file, Nikon's raw format, is a picture.

6. There is no way to add file types to a catagory.

7. Can not be paused til idle or til resumed. This means that it kills high useage programs like Photoshop CS5. The only choice is to turn the drive off while you are using photoshop.



NTS, I uninstalled this product and use the older SMARTER Anywhere Backup. The older software was the driving item that led me to choose WD, which was a bad move. Maybe 3 stars is to kind.

It was awesome - for the week that it worked. I have a Macbook and for the week prior to the HD crapping out, it worked beautifully. The software it came with is cool and easy. The drive is a little bigger than my phone - perfect size and super portable. I only had about 200gb's on it, and i plugged it in one day, and all of the sudden my laptop wouldn't recognize it. I tried it on 3 other laptops and nothing happened. I called WD and talked to two different people - they both said the same thing. "Alot of laptops don't have enough USB power to power up a portable hard drive over 500gb's"....whats the point of having a portable drive if your lappy can't power it? Granted I only have USB 2.0 - but what's the point of being portable if my laptop can't power it?



Good thing Amazon is awesome and is giving me a full refund.'

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Squaretrade Warranty - warranty, ipod

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Squaretrade is the real deal. I have been a warranty admin for 20 years and know the heartbreak people feel when they think they have a covered repair only to find out they do not!! My experiences with square trade have been subperb!they did everything they advertised just as advertised with no headaches, no waiting and in the end replaced the unit without question! Normally I would be against buying any type of service contract, or extended warranty but after the experience with my GPS I swear by Squaretrade. I have now covered all of my new electronics. Squaretrade is the way ALL warranties should work, no fuss, no muss just repair,replace or refund period!SquareTrade 3-Year Electronics Warranty ($250-300 Items) SquareTrade 3-Year Electronics Warranty Plus Accident Protection (Electronics $250-300)

Almost a year ago I purchased an Asus netbook and at the time I decided to take advantage of SquareTrade's 3 year warranty with accidental damage coverage. I was more concerned at the time with the atom processor possibly malfunctioning or a hard drive crashing than anything else. I had owned laptops for many years and never had an accident. This time was different. While attending a picnic for my local Linux Users Group , I had the misfortune of knocking the netbook (in its case) off of the picnic table. The short fall cracked the screen and I was sure that I was out a netbook and had not been planning to purchase any new computers for at least 2 more years. I remembered that I had purchased the SquareTrade warranty and when I checked it did have the accidental damage coverage. It only took minutes to file a claim on line and they e-mailed the shipping label and off it went to SquareTrade. No hassles at anytime in the process and I have a check from them for the original amount of my purchase and have replaced my netbook and I am extremely pleased with the whole experience.SquareTrade 3-Year Electronics Warranty Plus Accident Protection (Electronics $250-300)

I had purchased a warranty through SquareTrade on a GPS system after recieving an email and looking at the website. Unfortunately, we had some problems with the GPS system so I called SquareTrade. The whole process was so smooth and I loved the fact that every step of the way was followed up by an email explaining everything. Everyone there was so nice and helpful. We did end up having to replace the GPS system, so they sent a check for a full refund to me. Not to mention the money I saved not using the store warranties. I will definitely purchase all warranties that I can through SquareTrade.

UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE HAD TO USE 3 OF MY 10 SQUARETRADE WARRANTIES AND COULD NOT BE HAPPIER IN EVERY WAY. THE WARRANTY PRICES CAN NOT BE BEAT AND THE SERVICE IS MUCH BETTER THAN YOU COULD IMAGINE. DO NOT HESITATE TO USE THEM FOR EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS A WARRANTY.

I have been pleased with my SquareTrade warranty on my XBOX 360 Elite. I had to have my XBOX repaired once after buying it, so before the original warranty expired and because I had already had problems, I purchased an extended warranty from SquareTrade. I'm sure glad that I did! A couple of months later I encountered the RROD (Red Ring Of Death; stats say that this happens to 40% of XBOX 360 consoles). I contacted SquareTrade and they said I needed to send them a copy of the purchase receipt for my game console (which I recommend doing right after purchasing a warranty for those that are not organized). They confirmed that they had received the receipt and then I had to send them the console and accessories for them to confirm the problem. A week or so later I received a check for the full original purchase price of my game console. This would have been hundreds of dollars down the drain without the SquareTrade warranty. They proved their worth to me.

I can't say enough good things about the SquareTrade Electronics Warranty Plus Accident Protection. I fell the other day with my IPOD Touch-32GB in my rear pocket. Fortunately I had purchased this policy. On 4/20/11 I filed the claim online and within hours, received approval of my claim plus a pre-paid UPS shipping label. I elected to receive payment via Amazon Gift card where I planned to purchase the replacement. On the evening of 4/21/11 I received an email from SquareTrade with the gift card information needed to purchase my new IPOD. I call this outstanding service with a capital O!!

I purchased an extra warranty/accidental for my husbands new rangefinder. Square Trade emailed me the warranty in a matter of minutes and also followed up with a phone call and found out that it was a gift and then mailed me a copy of the warranty. I have been well pleased so far even thou I have not had to use the warranty yet.

This is the second warranty I have purchased. The first was on my first Acer Laptop which got the blue screen of death after 1-1/2 yrs. I emailed SquareTrade and within 10 days I had returned my defective laptop and received a complete refund. I would recommend them for any warranty .. fair price and excellent customer service. - Warranty - Ipod - Xbox 360 - Squaretrade Warranty'

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Squaretrade Warranty - warranty, ipod