Kodak Scan Station 500 Duplex Scanner (8738056) Review

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(More customer reviews)We have used a Scan Station 100 Plus for a few years, and when we wanted an additional unit ordered the Scan Station 500 (ss500) instead. A very preliminary review, but what you are buying here is a world class paper feeder, attached to a pc with a touch screen, that does OCR and outputs ready to use, searchable PDF files.Another reviewer mentioned that directories cannot be browsed, this is not an oversight. The design goal (for better or worse) is something that an administrator can deploy on a corporate network without compromising network security. What's cool is that 10 people can walk up and drop scans directly into 10 different directories, and that the confidential/protected directories for the CEO are available on walk up, but not compromised to other users. The strength and limitation of this unit is that it is designed for enterprise use, with a high priority on security, HIPPA, PCI DSS, etc.
Set up has a little bit of the "IT Sys Admin" feel, and absolutely requires a PC. Once configured, the basic interface is an ethernet connection to shared storage, and/or a USB key.The ss500 office-user fast at OCR (not industrial speed). Image quality is very good (for a sheet fed scanner). The latest upgrade to the software rotates documents so that they are saved as PDFs with the top at the top even if fed up-side-down.

RAM: I'd love to be able to upgrade its 1gb RAM to 3gb. (Uses XP.) I'm using the attached flatbed, which is a nice extra and produces much higher resolution scans.
EXTERNAL KEYBOARD: Kodak doesn't say this for some reason, but you can attach a USB keyboard to this. The touch screen is fine, but being able to type a file name with a real keyboard is *much* faster. If all goes well, I may come back an give this a 5, but for now 4 stars.
COMPARISION WITH SCAN SNAP: I Have also used/own a ScanSnap S510. The Scan Snap a great unit, but because it is directly attached via USB to a single workstation, and requires drivers and special software be loaded onto that workstation, a USB-direct-attached scanner really becomes essentially tethered to a single workstation. (And for the Scan Snap) Adobe Acrobat gets activated to *that* workstation, and over-writes any existing acrobat installation -- it overwrote my Acrobat Professional with the less expensive, less powerful Acrobat Standard. The paper feed on the Kodak is also much better, bigger, heavier, and more serviceable. Jams are such a annoyance that they justify a large part of the price difference - sheet feeding on the Scan Snap is very good; sheet feeding on the Kodak is really great.
MACINTOSH: If you have more than one user, or need scans for both Mac and PC, then getting your scan output as a PDF file on a network drive and/or USB key means that scans can very quickly get used by any computer.
COST: The cost of a network scanner is 5 times the cost of a USB attached scanner. If you are a one-person operation or office, then the business case is harder to make. On the other hand, if what ends up happening is that you dedicate a workstation to the scanner anyhow, the Kodak makes huge sense. It a refined, flexible, and secure approach to a shared scanning.

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Kodak Scan Station 500 Network Scanner 8738056 Sheetfed Scanners

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ASUS 7" Eee 8GB PC Netbook Computer with Windows XP - Galaxy Black Review

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(More customer reviews)This little 'netbook' is very small. I liken it too a poor man's OQO but it does its intended job: To get on the Internet. One cannot play WoW on it and expect it to mimic their home PC. Also it having a Celeron is something to hamper the expected performance of it. However, it comes underclocked! A good thing and a bad one too. That's to save energy and extend the life of the machine. I was blessed to get a version w/ Windows XP on it for a reasonable price. The first thing I did was to bump up the SO-DIMM RAM to 2GB and that seemed to help. The auto update (which I disabled) stuck me with XP Service Pack 3, so that ate up the already small HD. Getting rid of the swapfiles freed up over 5% of the HD, which is a lot for just an 8GB hard drive. The 701 SD possesses a SD card reader (hence its name) so one can save the solid-state drive some room. It seems to run a little hot when it's used for a while. The battery charges relatively quick compared to my Compaq V6444US.
Again, this thing is tiny and borders on being a novelty, but, its saving grace is access to the world-wide-web by 802.11 B/G wireless or the RJ-45 port. I'm going to learn to overclock this 'netbook' to speed it up to run the mandatory applications I installed like a firewall, spyware detector, Real-Player, Adobe Reader and Power Point viewer for the person on the go to take better advantage of the 'Net. This little computer is good for children, folks who are new to computers and for those who are out and about that want the reassurance of not losing data if hey drop the thing because of its solid-state drive. Keep in mind that this Asus Eee 701 SD can outdo the ENIAC (duh..) and it amazes me that a computer for a reasonable price can bee gotten by almost anyone and how far things have come and will go. A good buy that's built well but S-L-O-W compared to all modern home PCs. It's like 1995 all over again! Again, keep this in mind also: It's for the Internet. Knowing and reminding yourself of that you'll do fine and it will serve you well.
Have fun & God Bless!

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Gateway SX2802-03 Black Desktop PC (Windows 7 Home Premium) Review

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(More customer reviews)Pros:
-Quiet
-Fast boot up into Win7
-Plenty of RAM for OS Requirements
-Plenty Big Hard Drive for anything
-Does not include a ton of worthless software
Cons:
-On board integrated graphics
-Button to eject DVD tray must be pressed HARD
-Does not include hard copies of OS or system recovery disks (these must be burned at your $$)
It is a nice quiet compact system. Boot time is noticeably faster (about a minute) over my previous Vista computers. Moreover, there is not a lot of preinstalled worthless junk ware. Although, the optional software (MS Office, Norton, etc) that is there are trail versions only. There is not any good tactile feel to the DVD eject button and must be pressed rather hard. I was very surprised to find no hard copies of Windows 7 or any recovery disks. For these, the system prompted me to insert my own DVDs and burn copies on my own (something EVERYONE SHOULD DO). The on-board integrated video is the weakest link in performance.Windows performance score is 3.6 due to graphics. There is a PCI-expresssx16 slot open. I ordered a video card (which MUST be a LOW PROFILE card) and will update this review on how it affects performance. Over all so far it seems to be a solid computer and a good experience. Time will tell more!
Edit:
I received, installed and tested HIS H435F512HDLP Radeon HD 4350 HDMI Dual Link DVI (HDCP) 512MB (64 bit) DDR2 PCIe 16x 2.0 Low Profile Video Card Retail (RoHS)
It brought up my gaming graphics score from a 3.4 to a 5.8! You may have to fiddle around with Aero and tone down some of the bells and whistles to gain improvements within windows 7 environment. Also this card has a fan. The fan adds a little more air flow within the case but also adds noticeable fan noise. So to maintain the stealthy quiet of the original system...get a card with no fan.

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Gateway SX2802-03 Desktop PC comes with these specs: Intel Core2 Quad Processor Q8300, Windows 7 Home Premium, Intel G43 Express Chipset, 6144MB DDR2 Memory, Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500 Graphics, 1TB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive, Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader, High-Definition Audio Support with 5.1-channel Audio Support, 9 - USB 2.0, Keyboard and Mouse, 12.0 lbs. | 5.4 kg (system unit only), 1 Year Parts and Labor Limited Warranty with Toll-Free Tech Support, Registration/ Limited Warranty Card, Norton Internet Security Suite 2009 Trial

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Epson PowerLite 1735W Multimedia Projector (V11H270020) Review

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(More customer reviews)The PowerLite 1735W is terrific portable presentation tool. I researched comparable DLP-based projectors before buying this one. The PowerLite's picture quality is excellent for such a small projector, and the "3LCD" technology works very well for playing videos (comparable DLP projectors have trouble with rapid light/dark changes).
Tired of mediocre - and loud - projectors at conference & hotel venues, I have been pleased with the very low fan noise when set to "low" brightness - and the output is still a bright ~2000 lumens.
Pros:
* Bright, even when set to "low"
* Quiet when set to "low" brightness
* Compact & light weight
* Very easy to set-up with VGA input
* Works well for projecting flash videos (or DVDs)
* Very long lamp life (4000 hours on "low" brightness)
* Can set-up for custom logo (professional look)
* Can set-up for password lock-out (inhibit theft)
* High-resolution native WXGA (1280 x 800) projection
* S-Video input
Cons:
* Pricey
* Noticeable fan noise when set to maximum brightness
* XGA (1024 x 768) projection is not native (dithered)
* Only works with PowerPoint "presenter mode" (notes on laptop screen) when using VGA. Presenter mode does *NOT* work when connected via WiFi or USB (will only project the same output as the main laptop screen).
* No component, HDMI or DisplayPort inputs (but nothing in this class does)
* Security lock-out requires the remote control. If you lose the remote, you're toast until you get a replacement.
* Speaker output is no better than typical laptop. Only suitable for a small conference table.
The DLP-based projectors are slightly smaller, but for me the combined features of the PowerLite 1735W make it a superior tool for professional use. If you don't need the WiFi or USB input (and I don't), consider the PowerLite 1730W Epson PowerLite 1730W 3000 Lumens WXGA Projector and save ~$100. If size and weight aren't important, there are lots of far less expensive alternatives.

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The ultimate mobile projector. Stunning widescreen performance. Wireless and networking connectivity. Innovative easy-to-use features for ultra-quick setup and smooth transitions between presenters. No need for bulky VGA cable.

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HP Firebird with VoodooDNA 802 Desktop PC Review

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(More customer reviews)If your the kind of person who would prefer a hybrid Prius to a Corolla, then this machine may be for you. HP has basically crafted a "hybrid" PC that incorporates new liquid-colling technology and the energy-saving technology of a laptop with the power and versatility of a desktop. Many users will find the payback in electricity savings will makes the purchase price a lot more attractive (more on that later).
The Firebird is as close to "plug and play" as any Windows machine has ever been. It's very simple to set up set-up and is immediately compatible with the vast majority of devices out there. I purchased the 803, which is basically the 802 with a blue-ray burner. Here's what it took to set it up:
I plugged the HDMI output into a 42" LCD HDTV, connected the fiber optic audio cable to a surround receiver, plugged the power supply in, pulled the plastic film tabs out of the back of the keyboard and the mouse and connected it to the network. Then I booted it up and it was ready to go. The Bluetooth mouse and keyboard worked immediately. It took a couple of minutes to "set itself up" and after a few tweaks to the desktop it was ready to go.
In terms of performance, the machine more than adequately powers current games running at 1080 wide-screen mode and it does it efficiently. How efficient? Well the answer is: "Amazingly!"
Next, I plugged the computer into my Kill-a-Watt Meter ($25 from Amazon) and was amazed at how low the power consumption was. At idle the Firbird uses 67-72 watts. To test it at load, I loaded two instances of Stanford's "Folding at Home" (FaH) applications, both the CPU and GPU versions, and ran them simultaneously at "Average" process priority. At load the Firebird uses only 124-133 watts. The power drops by about 7-9 watts when the HDMI feed to the monitor goes into standby. I noted a similar draw rate when playing games. This amounts to about half the electricity cost of a typical desktop with similar performance benchmarks.
So, what's that amount to in electricity costs? Well, the average price of electricity in the US in November of 2008, according to the US Dept. of Energy was 11.5 cents per KW-Hr. If you're a hardcore geek like me, you leave your computer on all the time and it's probably doing something while it's sitting there.
At idle, the Firbird will cost the average consumer $70.33 in electricity over a year. If you run distributed apps, like I do, Firbird will raise your bill only by $130. A comparable desktop will consume more than twice that amount.
So, over two years, the Firbird can provide a payback of over $260 in energy costs. The liquid cooled system keeps the processors running at consistent temperatures and does it quietly.
The machine is also spouse-friendly. It is quiet and attractive enough to put in the living room right where everyone can see it and doesn't require all sorts of cables. The Firebird's internal LEDs can even be color-coordinated to match the decor. I can finally can sit in my lay-z-boy chair and check my e-mail and WoW auctions while the significant other knits or reads and doesn't mind. How much is that worth? Answer: Priceless.
Alas, the machine is not perfect. I'd sure like a front USB slot. It's hard to cram some of these new keychain card readers into the back of this computer when the outputs are all so close. The machine does have a front card reader slot, which is handy for reading cards from cameras and phones.


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Built for speed, stealth, and style, the aggressively styled HP's Firebird 802 desktop PC combines HP innovation with VoodooPC's award-winning expertise in PC design and architecture, resulting in a desktop that delivers the look, versatility and performance gamers and high-end PC enthusiasts crave--from massive computing power to quiet performance and power efficiency. A clean, striking aluminum enclosure delivers compelling visual presence, whil slot load drives and connector ports flush with the rear panel keep the exterior uncluttered.
The Firebird's distinctive aluminum foot echoes the unique construction of its predecessor--the HP Blackbird--including its trademark hover effect, allowing for optimized airflow. On top of all this, the recyclable all-aluminum chassis and 90-percent power supply highlight HP's and Voodoo's attention to the importance of energy efficiency and environmentally sensitive design solutions.
The Firebird's interior space is no less remarkable. It features patented, full system liquid-cooling to keep itself running cool in even the most heated head-to-head gaming scenarios. The external 350-watt power supply keeps a primary heat source outside the chassis. And the system's removable side panel, completely open BIOS, and interior and back panel LED lighting make it convenient for gamers to get inside the machine for performance tuning. Tool-free entry makes it upgrade-friendly.
Hardware features include a 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 processor, 500 GB of hard drive space (from dual 250 GB hard drives), 4 GB of RAM, multi-format and dual-layer DVD±R drive, dual NVIDIA GeForce 9800S SLI graphics with support for Microsoft DirectX 10 and a total of 1 GB of dedicated graphics memory, 7.1-channel onboard HD audio, full complement of USB/FireWire/eSATA connectivity to your peripherals, and included wireless mouse and keyboard.
Keeping Things Cool The HP Firebird's thermal management was created to take advantage of natural convection to move cool air through the machine, as well as incorporating liquid cooling elements to keep core temps down. The addition of Voodoo's signature factory-sealed liquid cooling system delivers no-maintenance operation, quiet running and solid reliability.
The 350-watt external power supply delivers a performance level equivalent to a machine with double the energy consumption, and keeping it external optimizes thermal performance, reduces chassis size, and delivers 90 percent efficiency. The Voodoo factory-sealed liquid cooling and Nvidia HybridPower management keep the Firebird's noise low, while delivering reliable high performance.
The Basics
Processor: With four execution cores, the 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 processor blows through processor-intensive tasks in demanding multitasking environments and makes the most of highly threaded applications. Part of Intel's "Penryn" line of 45nm processors, it features new hafnium-infused circuitry to reduce electrical current leakage in transistors and help this desktop run cooler. It also features Intel Trusted Execution Technology, which provides hardware-based mechanisms that help protect against software-based attacks and protects the confidentiality and integrity of data stored or created on the client PC.
Whether you're creating multimedia, annihilating your gaming enemies, or running compute-intensive applications at one time, new quad-core processing will change the way you do everything. The Q9400 has a top-of-the-line 1333 MHz front-side bus (FSB), an extra-large 6 MB shared L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)
With four complete execution cores in a single processor, you get four dedicated, physical threads help operating systems and applications deliver additional performance that enhance multi-tasking and multi-threaded performance across many types of applications and work loads. The Smart Memory Access feature improves system performance by hiding memory latency, thus optimizing the use of available computer data bandwidth to provide data to the processor when and where it is needed. The Advanced Digital Media Boost feature effectively doubles the execution speed for instructions used widely in multimedia and graphics applications. And with the Intel 64 Architecture, the processor can access larger amounts of memory. With appropriate 64-bit hardware and software, platforms based on an Intel processor supporting Intel 64 Architecture can allow the use of extended virtual and physical memory.

Hard Drive: The Firebird 802 comes with dual 250 GB SATA hard drives for a 500 GB capacity.

Memory: The 4 GB of installed RAM (PC2-6400, 2 x 2 GB) offers a fast 800 MHz speed, and RAM can be expanded to 8 GB.

Optical Drive: The Firebird 802 includes a slim, slot-loading optical drive on the front of the chassis that can burn single- and dual-layer DVDs as well as CDs. It offers the following write speeds: 6x DVD±R DL, 8x single-layer DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 24x CD-R/RW.

Keyboard & Mouse: This PC comes with an HP wireless optical mouse and HP low-profile wireless keyboard.

Video & Audio Go beyond HD video and redefine HD gaming with the dual NVIDIA GeForce 9800S SLI graphics cards, each of which provide 512 MB of dedicated GDDR3 graphics memory. (GDDR3, short for Graphics Double Data Rate, version 3, is a graphics card-specific memory technology that's better able to deliver fluid frame rates for even the most advanced games and applications.) NVIDIA HybridPower technology is a key feature of Hybrid SLI, allowing you to unleash graphics performance when you need it, or instantly switch gears to a lower power mode from the motherboard GPU. Integrated with the leading HD movie software players, PureVideo HD does the video decoding, instead of the power-hungry CPU, reducing fan noise and freeing the CPU for multitasking, so you never miss a scene. You can spread your work across two displays with NVIDIA nView display technology so that you can easily compare information or multi-task with everything in sight. The Firebird also provides support for 7.1 channel surround sound
Networking, Connectivity & Expansion This gaming desktop has two PCI x1 Express slots (one available), one PCI x16 Express slot (occupied), two 5.25-inch bays (one available), one internal ODD slot drive (available), and the following external ports:
6 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
2 eSATA
ExpressCard 54/34
Video out: DVI and HDMI
Headphone and microphone jacks
Audio: Optical audio output, headphone and microphone
15-in-1 media card reader on the front, compatible with CompactFlash (Type I and II), MicroDrive, SmartMedia, Memory Stick/Pro/Duo/Pro Duo, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital, XD Picture Card, RSMMC, MMC Mobile, MMC+
10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet

Operating System Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit version) is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.
Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.
Preloaded Software Cyberlink DVD Suite Deluxe with CyberLink Power2Go and CyberLink DVD Play; Grisoft AVG Professional anti-virus software (1-year subscription)
What's in the Box This package contains the HP Firebird 802 gaming PC, power cord, keyboard, mouse, and printed operating instructions. It's backed by dedicated HP Blackbird toll-free phone support and a one-year HP Limited Warranty.

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SONY VRD-VC10 DVDirect External DVD Recorder Review

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(More customer reviews)I didn't purchase this product at Amazon, but commonly rely on others' recommendations at this site, so here's my take. THIS PRODUCT IS A GREAT INVESTMENT. The primary reason that I didn't give it a 5 star rating, is because the packaging doesn't clearly state which brands of blank DVD's are compatible. I bought a 100 pack of memorex DVD+R & the disks wouldn't finalize. I contacted sony support & learned that there's a list of approved brands.
DVD+R DL (Double Layer)
Verbatim/Mitsubishi 2.4x speed
DVD+R
Sony 4x & 8x
Ricoh 8x
Verbatim/Mitsubishi 4x & 8x
Taiyo Yuden Co. 4x & 8x
Hitachi Maxell 8x
DVD+RW
Sony 4x
Ricoh 4x
(The support person also said TDK works - but it wasn't on the list)"The list" goes on for other types of Media (ie. DVD-R etc.) Visit sony.storagesupport.com for more info.
I have used only Sony disks without difficulty.
Note: the Double Layer disks are priced about 10 times the single layer disks, so you'd better have a good reason to use that feature.
Also, if you have an older DVD player, be aware that some will not read/play burned DVDs. I've lived this problem. It's frustrating, but I found a new, very inexpensive DVD player that works well.
One drawback... using the stand-alone option with a Digital Video Camera requires the signal to be converted to analog, then back to digital & there's certain to be loss of picture resolution - whether it's noticable may be a matter of opinion. Fortunately, you can hook up your Digital Video Camera to your computer via firewire and utilize the Video Capture software by Nero, that I found to be very straightforward. I recommend using the DVD+VR software feature that allows you to insert your latest video footage into a previously burned DVD+RW disk that works in most all newer DVD players.
I didn't commit to converting my old VHS to digital until I found an older VHS tape whose image quality had detiorated so much as to be useless. What a loss! I had been intimidated by peers who'd told me to plan on spending upwards of 10 hours to edit a single hour of finished tape. The standalone operation & the quality Nero software bundled with the software make this Sony product a less-intimidating, worthwhile investment.

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Includes: NeroVision Express, Nero Burning ROM SE, Ahead InCD, Nero Showtime, Nero BackitUp, AC adapter, & USB cable. SonyVRD-VC10 DVDirect External DVD Recorder - DVDirect is an all-in-one solution for burning video, and other data, to DVD media. When usedwith a computer, it operates as a dual layer DVD burner that can write any kind of data to DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, & CD-R/RW media. Withouta computer, it can capture video footage directly from a VCR or camcorder, encode it, and then burn it to DVD media.3 Recording Qualities - SLP (single layer (SL) 6 hours/double layer (DL) 12 hours), SP (SL 2 hours/DL 4 hours), HQ (SL 1 hour/DL 2 hours) Easy Start/Stop/Pause Recording Supports Dolby Digital (AC3) Automatic Chaptering - 5, 10, or 15 minutes Connects to a PC via USB 2.0 Supports Microsoft windows 2000 / XP

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English Russian Talking Electronic Dictionary and Audio PhraseBook ECTACO Partner ER800 Review

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(More customer reviews)Before vacationing in Russia, I wanted to purchase the best electronic translator available. Reading the product description for the Partner ER800, it sounded perfect. The company makes some impressive claims in the product description. After having purchased the ER-800, I believe the product marketers and the electronic engineers who designed this device are themselves suffering a language barrier.
Before I get into the point-by-point, claim-versus-reality portion of the review I'll tell you some of my first impressions of my ER-800 experience. I opened the box and removed the product. The physical dimensions are small, sleek and the construction looks sturdy.
I opened the device and touched the power switch. The monitor lit up and it started a "software loading" procedure. At one point and "error screen" popped up and then disappeared. I was then presented with a choice. Two choices, both written in Russian. I don't speak Russian, that's why I ordered a translator. I've since learned that this is the "language selection screen". If your language skill is such that you can recognize the word "English" written in Russian, than this probably won't hinder you. But I couldn't so I made choice (50/50 chance- right?) and scored a win.
Referring to the User Manual, I noticed it was in Russian. I flipped through it looking for an English section. No English section. I tore through the rest of the box looking for the English version of the User Manual. It does not come with an English User Manual. I found an English "Quick Start" leaflet in the box but it's not a like a User Manual.
I was able to locate an English User Manual for the ER-800 on the Ectaco website. But it is built in HTML, and not something you can easily print out and use.
A few other general problems I've experienced is with the touch screen and the keyboard buttons. The ER-800 comes with a handy stylus to use with the touch screen. When selecting text with the stylus, the text becomes unselected when the stylus tip leaves the touchscreen. This will drive you insane. I've tried different techniques to try to avoid the text from becoming unselected. But there is no way around it. You just have to keep trying until it works. Selecting individual words is easy, but selecting a large paragraph is almost impossible.
Several of the rubber keyboard buttons, when depressed, will get stuck under the metal and remain depressed until you can pry them out with your fingernail. This is not a huge problem, but still annoying.
Now we get to the actual functions of the ER-800:
The product description says:
"Coherent full-text translation into English and Russian, instant reverse translation."
Reality: Instant reverse translation only works with the dictionary. There is no "instant" way to reverse the translation of full text.
The product description says:
"It employs the latest language learning technologies that use foreign language Speech Recognition modules...Test your pronunciation by trying to speak out a phrase in the foreign language and see if the Partner understands you."
Reality:
So far as I have found, the voice recognition function only works as part of the pre-recorded phrasebook. The voice-recognition to locate the phrase you want. Using the phrasebook to test your pronunciation is a ridiculous notion. It only works about a third of the time, even when you pronounce the word perfectly. The other catch with the phrase book is that you must select a small section of phrases such as "At the restaurant: drinks" before you can use the voice-recognition function.
Honestly I had the mistaken notion that the you could speak (English or Russian)into the machine; it would recognize and record the words as text, and then you would be able to translate this into (English or Russian) - which you could then playback aloud using the voice synthesizer. Now that would be impressive! It doesn't do that, and sadly I don't believe there is any electronic translator available that can.
As far as fine-tuning the ER-800 to recognize your voice, you specify if you are male or female. That is the true extent of the calibration.
The Product Description says:
"Type any text you want and it will translate and speak the translation out loud using its built-in Text-To-Speech processor."
Reality: No. It really won't do this in an automated way. It will translate into text, but will only speak the source text - not the translation. There is a round-about way to trick the machine into speaking the translation, but it is not easy because you have to highlight (see stylus problem) the translation, then click the "Dictionaries" button, then select Ectaco Text Translation software icon, to reopen the program with your translation in the source window. This is the only way I've found to get a reverse translation using the Text Translation program. Not what I would call "instant" or even easy.
The games:
I thought the games and exercises would be useful. We all know "flashcards." There is aa question on one side and an answer on the back. A useful set of flashcards for learning a new language would have an (English or Russian) word on the front and it's translation on the back. The "flashcards" that you get with the ER-800 have a word on the front. When you "flip" the card you get to see a synonym of the word in the same language. How is this useful? I guess it might help you broaden your vocabulary (in your own language). Or use it as a random thesaurus. The other games are simply disappointing variations of this "game."
The SAT 200 and SAT 5000 are for Russians only, or English speakers who want to broaden their vocabularies.
Media Player? Don't know about this feature. I haven't tried to use it.
I almost returned the ER-800 to the manufacturer. But when researching alternatives, I discovered that even with it's flaws and glaring weaknesses, the ER-800 is, in fact, the best translator available. The fact that it can translate sentences is unique. When I took it to Russia, I used it several hundred times a day. It was useful. Persons who can speak both Russian and English will notice that the full-text translations are generally far from accurate. You cannot rely on these translations or use them to carry on a meaningful conversation. But they are useful as clues or hints as to what you are trying to say. The individuals I talked to found it most useful just to see the English spelled out on the display, and only refer to the translation if there was a certain word that was unknown to them.
Support is available through Ectaco via email. I was able to contact an employee through the website, but did not get useful information from him. His knowledge was limited to information found in the User Manual. I called once to get an RMA number so I could return the ER-800. I got a message machine (during working hours). They did not return my call. My trip to Russia was closing in, so I decided to keep it. It was useful. I only hope that they offer a software upgrade in the future to fix some of the issues I've described.

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The English Russian electronic talking dictionary ECTACO Partner ER800 contains the largest ever vocabulary base: over 1,030,000 words in general and specialized dictionaries, Business, Financial, Law, Medical, Oil, Telecommunication and Computers. Advanced English and Russian voice feature is powered by TTS (Text-to-Speech) technology - the most sophisticated and accurate available on today's competitive market. "Add new word" function allows to create your own vocabulary bases and add them to the existing ones. Slang lock: function allowing you to include or lock out slang from your dictionaries. Advanced word recognition and MorphoFinder. Full-text translation from English to Russian and vice versa! English-Russian audio phrasebook (8,000 phrases) with live native speech, featuring unlimited voice function will help you in a variety of standard everyday situations and activities: Shopping, Traveling, Everyday conversation, etc. Flashcards: classical game helping you memorize the words and improve spelling while you play: Flash Cards, Pockets, Spell It, Translation Test. English and Russian speech recognition, allowing your machine to fine-tune to the individual user's voice. English language learning: SAT 200 and SAT 5000 vocabularies, helping you to prepare for tough standard English language proficiency tests. WordNet dictionary - 70,000 words with explanations: this dictionary will get the meaning of every single English word you may request. Phonetic transcription, essential tool for those learning to speak and write English properly. Vector Ultima spell-checker. Bilingual interface, superior organizing system, MP3 media player, currency and metric conversions, world time, daily alarm, calculator. High-resolution color touch screen with adjustable color schemes for customizing screen elements. Device is powered by AC/DC adapter and rechargeable battery (included). 1 year international warranty.

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Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 6100 1080p 3LCD Home Theater Projector Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you are looking to break into the 1080p projector territory, this is an excellent projector! I've had the chance to use my 6100 now for a few weeks, and it definitely doesn't disappoint. Image quality is fantastic, and the colors are great too (when configured correctly). I've been using mine with the HDMI output of a Harman Kardon AVR-254 7x50W 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver with HDMI 1.3a Repeater.
Pros:
* This sucker is BRIGHT. I am amazed at how nice it looks even with ambient light.
* Minimal screen door, as should be expected for a 1080p projector.
* The expanded color mode is beautiful, and works quite well.
* Contrast ratio is good, but don't believe the 18000:1. It is still remarkably good for a

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Experience home entertainment in a whole new way with the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 6100. This affordable projector puts you in the middle of the action with blockbuster brightness and contrast. Whether you enjoy movies, games or sporting events, every image is sure to pop off the screen thanks to Epson’s new D7 panel and an impressive 18,000:1 contrast ratio. It’s easy with Epson’s 3LCD, 3-chip optical engine and 1800 lumens of color/ white light output* Best of all, with the Epson exclusive Cinema Filter and OptiCinema lens by Fujinon, you’re sure to experience movies like never before. (*Footnote: Light output varies depending on modes (color and white light output))

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Western Digital My Book Essential Edition 500 GB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive WDG1U5000 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Visually appealing, extremely quiet operation -- just a slight ticking under heavy use. Very stable, with two long thin rubber strips keeping the case from moving. Installation is automatic on Win2000. Drive powers on and off automatically with the computer. Green ring of light on front flickers to indicate read/write.
However, operation of the drive was quirky at first. Opening the root of the drive would always bring up the annoying software install menu. (The software includes Adobe Acrobat Reader, Google Toolbar for IE, and Picasa). To facilitate use with both Windows and Mac, the drive comes preformatted to FAT32. However, this limits file sizes to 4GB. Using Windows utilities to reformat to NTFS was simple and hassle-free.
Note that a small slip of yellow paper in the box suggests downloading and installing an updated drive utility. Unfortunately, starting this updated utility brings up a blue screen of death, forcing a reboot of my Win2000 machine. Fortunately, the utility software is unneccesary.
Were it not for this hassle, I would have given the drive five stars.
UPDATE (March 18, 2008): The drive is STILL in perfect working order -- after nearly two years of weekday backups and a switch to XP. For months now, I have been using TrueCrypt for file encryption without any problems.
UPDATE (May 12, 2008): Drive died over the weekend, causing the blue screen of death, and now makes sad clicking noises as it tries to mount.
RIP

Click Here to see more reviews about: Western Digital My Book Essential Edition 500 GB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive WDG1U5000

Is your computer loaded with photos, music, video, and all sorts of important files? If so, you should make extra room, back them up, and keep them safe on Western Digital's WDG1U5000 My Book Essential Edition 500 GB Hard Drive. This reliable, easy-to-use external hard drive is the perfect storage solution for all your precious digital assets.
Installation is a breeze because you don't really "install" anything -- just plug it in and it's ready to use. There is not even an installation CD because all the included software loads automatically from the hard drive the first time you plug it in. The My Book Essential is all about simplicity. Just plug it into your computer's USB 2.0 port and you're ready to start saving and backing up your files.
But that's not all. Western Digital uses a smart design to make the My Book Essential look as good as it performs. The elegant case resembles a book and takes up very little space on your desk. Plus, it stacks horizontally and allows two or more drives to nestle neatly together like encyclopedias on a shelf. Inside the stylish exterior is an exceptionally fast, ultra-quiet, cool-running hard drive. Last but not least, the My Book Essential is equipped with free Google software that searches your drives, manages your photos, and simplifies Web searches.
My Book Essential Edition Hard Drives are ideal for:
Simple add-on storage for your files, music, photos and movies
Adding virtually unlimited storage with multiple USB 2.0 external hard drives
Archiving the music stored on your MP3 player
Adding plenty of space for digital video capture and editing
Saving and organizing your digital photo collection
Note: For higher performance and automatic backup software, consider the My Book Premium Edition 500 GB Hard Drive.
What's in the Box My Book Essential 500 GB USB 2.0 external hard drive, USB cable, AC adapter with power cord, and quick install guide.

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Panasonic DMR-E65S DVD Recorder with SD Card Slot (DVD-RAM & DVD-R) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Very happy that I got to archive my old home VHS to DVD with great results.
Great features:
This is an excellent entry-level DVD-recorder. The TV Guide feature is the reason to past over Panasonic cheaper brother the E55s which just have the VCR-plus feature. TV Guide is a simpler and free version to TiVo. It has an on-screen menu of the channels including title, time, info and the option to record. Sadly, TV Guide feature only work for antenna broadcasting and basic cable. Digital cable and satellite users might have to invest more money into a TiVo recording device (lack of component input here).
The recording quality is great, which is almost the same or lesser then the original, but never better. I transfer old VHS home video to this device and it was easy with excellent quality. Recording TV programs through the antenna is simple, but the quality depends on your reception. DVD-r is more common then DVD+r. I use XP or SP mode (1-2hrs) for VCR transfer, and LP or EP mode (4-8hrs) for TV program.
This is one of the most intelligence video devices I have own yet. There are so many option and setting to configure base on your needs. The SD card reader is a nice extra for this device. I have a Panasonic digital camera with a SD card so it is just plug and play. The manual is simple to follow and understand to figure this complex device.
The have not:
As an entry level recorder would mean this device have less of the advance input features. There are no component inputs which mean you can't recorder from higher quality image. No DV(firewire) input for newer digital camcorder. No hardrive for mix and match recording. The recorder is a 4-stars but the DVD playback is a 3.75-stars. The progressive scan has a lot of settings to customize from, but my Toshisba's DVD is a little smoother. The basic DVD-playback feature is just basic and limited. The old Toshiba has many features as zoom, slow forward, display length of the DVD, which I have yet figure/found. Slow boot time, but that is true to most recorders.
Panasonic quality is great. I have a Panasonic's HDTV for almost a year, a digital camera and they all are working fine with great results. I like Panasonic's pricing which is producing great quality for the price, but they leave out some of the more fancy features and style that Sony has that will jack up the prices. I use Verbatim's Digital Movie DVD-r at 4x and Panasonic's DVD-RAM, anything faster like 8x does not seem to work.


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The Panasonic DMR-E65S is an affordable entry into the world of DVD recording, enabling you to watch TV programs at your leisure as well as easily archive precious home video memories. The DMR-E65S features compatibility with both DVD-R and DVD-RAM discs, MP3 audio playback, an SD memory card slot for viewing images from your digital camera, and simultaneous recording and playback functionality.
The DMR-E65S's joint support of DVD-RAM and DVD-R media provides the best of both worlds: DVD-R for the highest compatibility (letting you share video recordings with virtually anyone with a DVD player) and DVD-RAM (for rewritability and benefits like Time Slip, chasing playback, and simultaneous play and record). In addition to DVD-RAM and DVD-R compatibility, the DMR-E65S also plays DVD-Audio, Video CD (VCD), and CD-R-RW discs. It has a built-in SD memory card slot as well as a PC Card slot that reads CompactFlash and other memory cards (with an adapter). It has 3 composite A/V, 3 S-video, and 1 RF input connections; output connections include 2 composite, 1 component, and 1 S-video. Other features include optical output for DTS and Dolby Digital surround sound, cinema mode that improves the visibility of details in dark scenes by automatically adjusting picture contrast, and a dialogue enhancer.
Panasonic's Time Slip feature lets you replay a scene recorded earlier while a program is still in progress, without disrupting the recording process. And chasing playback makes it possible to watch from the beginning a show while recording is still in progress. It's also simple to transfer favorite VHS tape recordings to space-saving discs, and personal movie libraries and family videos can be archived, preserved, cataloged, and accessed. With instant recording onto a DVD disc, you don't have to find blank space, as with a VHS tape. Just press record and the unit will automatically find space on the disc, much like a computer's disk drive.
With the Playlist Playback function, you can perform simple nonlinear video editing, such as rearranging the order of scenes, skipping over unwanted scenes, or copying selections, to create custom playlists of favorite scenes on a disc. The Direct Navigator feature makes it easy to find a previously recorded program on a disc. A list of recording dates, times, channels, and (user-entered) titles are shown onscreen, and you can quickly manage program deletion, protection, and title input. It can handle up to 99 titles at once.
What's in the Box Panasonic DMR-E65S DVD recorder, remote control, batteries, and printed instruction manual.

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Apple 40 GB iPod from HP (MP103) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First, this HP iPod is the same as the Apple iPod. There is an Apple store 1 block from my office and I took it in and compared them. The ONLY difference in the unit itself is a smal HP logo on the back.
I bought this simply because it was in stock and the "Apple" version wasn't, no other reason.
I really like my iPod for all the reasons everyone else does..it's elegant, works well, holds a ton of music, etc. That said, here are a few cons I thought I'd mention...
-Using the device as a hard-drive in Windows requires a setting that makes you "eject" each time you disconnect the cable. Seems like an odd extra step.
-USB connection charges the battery, Firewire doesn't.
-There are fewer cases/covers available for this new design without the buttons above the selector wheel. These things scratch so easily you need a case.
-Sometimes the wrong song title appears on the display, even though the file has the correct one in iTunes.
I also have a few issues with iTunes 4.6 for Windows, a key component of the iPod:
-The screen doesn't refresh automatically, showing a different song playing than actually is. Sometimes I get gibberish on the screen.
-The music store is often quite slow to respond to searches or even hangs.
-There's not enough information on the music to make purchase decisions, so I find myself browsing at Amazon and then buying at iTunes.
-Different iTunes songs have different volume levels. I think there's a setting to make them all the same, but I haven't found it.
-It's hard to synch all your music onto multiple computers. I would like to have my music on my iPod, work laptop, and home desktop. Getting them all the same isn't easy.
-You really have to watch pricing on albums. Most albums cost $9.99 and most songs cost 99 cents. If there are less than 10 songs on an album, you still get charged $9.99, even if you could get all the songs individually for less.
-I had one of the original Rio MP3 players and ripped a lot of songs using their software, which combined song-album-artist into one field. iTunes doesn't parse these when importing.
-If I import music from a CD without an Internet connection, iTunes doesn't go to the CDDB later when I do have a connection to get track info.
Despite all the above, I'm really enjoying my iPod, I just wanted to point out a few of the shortcomings in the hopes that Apple would address.

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40GB Apple iPod from HP - Includes: Rechargeable Battery, Dock, Earbud headphones, AC adapter, FireWire cable, USB 2.0 cable, iTunes software, Electronic documentation, getting started guide The iPod is becoming a reigning icon around the world. It's no wonder. This 4th generation model is thinner, easier to use, more energy efficient, & a greater value than ever. It can simply work with Apple and Windows computers. iPod now incorporates the same touch-sensitive Apple Click Wheel that debuted on iPod mini. Without lifting that trusty thumb of yours from the wheel, you can easily select playlists, scroll through thousands of songs, and start the music playing.Save multiple On-The-Go PlaylistsAdjust speed for AudiobooksEnjoy seamless integration with iTunesUse as a portable hard drive take your files with youRemind yourself with Text NotesPlay games Keep appointments using the Alarm clock/Sleep TimerStay organized with contacts/calendars/to-do lists Sync and charge with FireWire or USB 2.0 cablesAs for all of those CDs you already own, iTunes makes speedily transfers your favorite songs and albums. Just pop a CD into your Mac or PC, and click the Import button Voice Recorder (when used with optional microphone) - perfect for seminars and lectures About 4 hours (2-hour fast charge to 80% capacity) yields up to 12 hours use Unit Dimensions -4.1 by 2.4 by 0.69 inches / 6.2 ounces Audio support AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 (32 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible, AIFF, Apple Lossless and WAV

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GE Cordless 5.8 GHz Digital 28001EE1 Accessory Handset for 28021, 28031 and 28041 Series Expandable Phone Systems Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I ordered three GE 5.8 GHZ accessory phones for the GE Base phone. I loved that the GE Phones have features like mute, speaker, conf, and also an intercom so I can call from the phone in the kitchen to upstairs. The reception is great too. With the accessory phones, you do not need a telephone jack to attach to, just plug into the electrical outlet and the phones work off the base phone. Each has it's unique ring tones and I love how light and sleek they are. You can also turn off the ringer from each phone individually or there's a base phone that has a private button that allows you to turn the ringer on/off all the phones all at once. One of the phones I received was non-functional, but the return process was so easy. I had a replacement phone in two days.

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5.8 GHZ Digital Cordless Accessory Handset Speakerphone, Call Waiting/Caller ID

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Panasonic DMR-EZ47V Up-Converting 1080p DVD-Recorder/VCR Combo with Built In Tuner Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My setup: HD antenna directly into the Panasonic's coax input, then connected via HDMI, coax and component cables to the back of my LCD panel (a Sharp LC37D62U, a 1080P panel with HDMI inputs).
The tuner in the Panasonic unit, while capable of receiving HD signals, cannot output a full HD signal, but only 480P. If you are looking for a unit to act as a full-on HD tuner, this unit is not for you, but if your TV already has an HD tuner, then this unit offers some cool features. Before I start though, I want to point out that the unit does "pass" a full HD signal - that is, when using my TV's own tuner with the Panasonic set to "TV" (on the "TV/VCR" selection), the TV receives a pass-through of the HD signal coming in over the air to the Panasonic. Other descriptions of this unit had me believing that it would pass-through a 480P signal, but this is fortunately not the case.
Cool Feature #1: Recording HD TV shows over the air. This is one of the first of a new generation of DVD recorders that can record an HD signal onto a DVD disc (although only at the lower 480P resolution). Despite the lower resolution, the picture looks great, obviously not full HD but far better than analog TV. I have recorded "Lost" and "House" and both shows look pretty good. While the unit appears to be able to record on every DVD format known, DVD-RAM format provides some advantages. Using a DVD-RAM disc and the HDMI connection to the TV, the TV switches automatically to a full wide screen picture. Setting the unit on its LP recording mode, I can record 4 hours of HD programs on one disc, and the sound is great.
Cool Feature #2: Chase play. After starting a program recording, you can start watching the recorded program before the entire recording is complete - skipping past commercials and so on until you catch up to the "live" point in the recording. This works only with DVD-RAM discs, but is pretty nifty. By the way, the DVD-RAM discs can (according to the Panasonic manual) be re-recorded up to 100,000 times, so they are ALMOST like having a hard drive in the unit.
Cool Feature #3: Disc navigator. This allows you to see all the programs recorded on a DVD disc on a single screen - you can then use this to select which recorded program you want to watch. Nifty! No more hunting through VCR tapes for the program you recorded you can't remember when...
The VCR output is also fine (although obviously much less impressive that the DVD output). I can't comment on its ability to output upscaled 1080P as compared to other DVD units with a similar feature, but the outlook looks pretty darn good to me, no noticable "jaggies".
Complaints: The auto-channel setup missed one of my local HD stations, instead tuning a secondary station being broadcast on the same signal. Annoying! There appears to be no way to manually select which channels are tuned by the unit. I have been meaning to call Panasonic about this, but haven't gotten around to it. Also, long-ish startup time (like 15 seconds). Sometimes the DVD output seems a little washed out, but this can be taken care of by re-adjusting the TV's color settings. Having to turn the unit off in order to have it launch a scheduled recording.
Overall, quite happy with the performance.
FYI, the first unit I bought (from Amazon) arrived DOA, but they were great about returning it and I had a new unit two days later. They even paid for the shipping to return the first unit. Nice!

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DVD/VCR/SD Card Recorder, With ATSC Digital Tuner,1080P HDMI Upconversaion DV Input

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Polaroid PDV-0700 7" Portable DVD Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a great machine for the price. The screen is a good size and the picture quality is good even when viewed from the side. The small overall size, even with the battery attached (the battery effectively doubles the thickness) makes it very portable. It also comes with a couple of accessories not found with the more expensive machines, like a car adapter as well as a 110 plug, and a splitter that allows you to plug 2 sets of headphones in. The sound is the only place were this machine falls short. The sound is okay at best with the built in speakers, but any background noise makes it nearly impossible to hear anything from them even with the volume all the way up. Not surprising since due to the size of the player the speakers are only a little bigger then headphone speakers, but with headphones or portable plug-in speakers the sound is superb. Besides the sound the only 2 complaints are that you can not control the volume with the remote and that the power switch is too easily turned on by accident (do not travel with the battery attached or you will find you have no charge when it comes time to watch a movie). The battery lasts 3.5 to 4 hours, long enough for 2 short movies or 1 long one. So if you are looking not to spend a fortune, nothing else come close in in the under $300 range.

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The PDV-0700 portable DVD player from Polaroid Electronics lets you enjoy your movies, music, and digital photos when you're on the road or relaxing in the comfort of your own home. Its autosensing power adapter (AC 100 to 240V, 50/60 Hz) makes it perfect for international use, too--a great companion for business or pleasure. The book-thin, MP3-friendly player features a broad, 7-inch LCD configured in a widescreen (16:9) aspect ratio whose dimensions closely approximate those of your favorite contemporary movies. A supplied rechargeable lithium-ion battery keeps your discs spinning for three to four hours between charges, and the player also comes with separate AC and DC power adapters for use indoors, in cars and boats--you name it.The PDV-0700 also offers built-in stereo speakers for headphones-free listening, picture zoom, and compatibility with DVD-Video, CD-R, CD-RW, and MP3-encoded discs--not to mention digital photos stored as JPEG images on recordable CD (you can rotate and zoom on these, as well). Dolby Digital 5.1-channel surround-sound signals can be routed through the player's digital-audio output (through a .125-inch minijack-to-RCA coaxial cable, not supplied) for direct connection to a full-featured audio/video receiver.Use the supplied AV interconnects to hook the player up with your television and/or stereo system. The supplied wireless, credit-card-sized remote control is just as useful within your home or without. Playback options include frame-by-frame slow motion, forward and reverse play, and multiple-angle viewing (with applicable discs). Headphones are not included, though you do get a handy splitter for listening with a friend.What's in the Box DVD player, battery pack, remote control, remote battery, headphone splitter, an auto-switching AC power adapter, DC vehicle adapter, audio/video interconnects, and a user's manual.

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ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005PE-PU17-BK 10.1-Inch Black Netbook (Up to 14 Hours of Battery Life) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this little computer about a week ago and so far it has been great. So far I have not found anything to complain about with the computer so I will list a few of the things I like:
- Even with the extended capacity battery, the computer is very light and portable
- The battery life is great! My daughter watched movies for almost 8 hours on our plane ride home without a hitch or stutter. After being in use for nearly the entire flight, it still had 35% of the battery remaining. Another note on the battery, in the earlier 1005 netbooks, the battery would stick out past the screen on the rear of the netbook. That is no longer the case, on the 1005PE it is flush with the rear of the netbook.
- The keyboard is nice and decent size. I almost bought a Toshiba solely because I did not like the keyboard on the 1005HA version of this machine. Asus changed the keyboard on this model to a chiclet keyboard which is much better. I saw one review that thought the keyboard was flimsy. As far as I can tell, the Asus has no more flexibility in the keyboard than the Acer or Toshiba netbooks I looked at.
- Windows 7 starter and Asus Utility. I saw a few reviews where people complained about Win7 Starter. Again, so far no problems with the OS, it does what it is intended to do. As far as the complaints about changing the background on the desktop, Asus was kind enough to provide a utility that makes changing the background very easy.
- WLAN - since I bought the netbook, it has been in 6 locations that have wireless internet and it has jumped on the network easily each time regardless on encryption.
A couple more thoughts on netbooks in general:
- Netbooks are not desktop replacements or miniture laptops. They are intended to provide basic computing and internet needs. If you are expecting it to fly through huge power point presentations or apps that require a lot of RAM and processing power you will be disappointed. If all you need is a computer that travels easily and will allow you to surf the web, play music and video and run office programs, netbooks can be a very good choice.
- I would recommend that anyone who buys a netbook remove as much of the installed software as they can. I was able to remove alot of pre-loaded junk and the netbook ran faster. Here are a few program that I think every netbook should have: Firefox or Google Chrome for internet, vlc (Videolan) for music and movie playback, Open Office 3 for word processing, spreadsheets, etc and Foxit Reader for opening .pdf files.
Also, I have seen several recommendations to replace the 1GB Ram with a 2GB stick. I have not done this yet and it still works great. At the moment I have a 4GB SD card installed to see if there are any performance gains using the Windows Reafyboost function. So far so good.
The bottom line is that this netbook has exceeded my expectations and is a solid little machine. I would recommend it to anyone in search of a good netbook.


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Eee PC 1005PE-P The 10.1-inch Eee PC 1005PE-P Seashell with Windows 7 Starter shines as the ideal Eee PC for the traveler looking for outstanding wireless connectivity and efficient Eee PC performance.Thanks to the exclusive ASUS Super Hybrid Engine and high-density battery, you can take this mobile phenom wherever you choose and enjoy up to an incredible 14 hours of unplugged freedom.* The Eee PC 1005PE-P is encased in a smooth pearlescent shell that captivates onlookers and features the next generation Intel Atom N450 processor for extraordinary battery life.Plus, it gives you extended comfort with a chiclet keyboard, large palm-rest, and multi-touch trackpad. For more convenience, the Eee PC 1005PE has hotkeys placed above the keyboard – granting you quick access to Wi-Fi and control of the ASUS Super Hybrid Engine that instantly optimizes system performance for the task at hand.Throw in a generous 250GB hard drive with 500GB of ASUS WebStorage** and you get the ability to store, share, and access your important data anytime, anywhere. ASUS worked closely to make your Windows 7 experience better with groundbreaking utilities such as FastBoot and LocalMe.With ASUS FastBoot technology, this Windows 7-enabled Eee PC starts up fast so you wait less and do more.LocalMe is a GPS-like application that when connected to the internet provides easy access to local areas and gets you where you want to be. Miles ahead of its competition, the Eee PC 1005PE-P provides unsurpassed battery life and superior portability that liberates you from wall chargers and brings you into the next generation of mobility.


Key Features

Up to 14 hours of unplugged all-day computing to go further than ever before* (Learn more)
ASUS Super Hybrid Engine (SHE) innovatively saves battery life and boosts performance (Learn more)
Intel Atom N450 processor is now even more power efficient in combination with ASUS SHE
750GB Hybrid Storage for convenient storage on-the-go 250GB HDD + 500GB ASUS WebStorage** (Learn more)
10.1-inch LED-backlit Color-shine display uses less energy for longer use(Learn more)
92-percent full-size chiclet keyboard for a comfortable and precise typing experience (Learn more)
Multi-touch trackpad for intuitive and quick control (Learn more)
Stunning looks and convenient mobility with seashell design weighing a mere 2.8 lbs
1GB system memory (easily upgradable to 2GB)
High speed Wi-Fi networking (802.11 b/g/n @ 2.4GHz) + Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR for wire-free mobility (Learn more)
Windows 7 Starter for the most reliable and simplest Windows operating system to date (Learn more)
Integrated webcam and digital microphone for video/voice conversations with your friends and family
F9 easy recovery for convenient and easy system reinstallation (Learn more)
Warranty: 1 year global warranty and 30-day Flawless Display Guarantee: If a single bright dot is found, a free panel replacement is guaranteed within 30 days of original purchase

Learn More
Get up to an Amazing 14 Hours of Battery Life
Get the Big Picture in a Small Frame
Strikingly Comfortable. Perfectly Concise.
Easy Connectivity
Even More Storage
Quick Recovery with Just One Key
Eee PC with Windows 7 –Life Made Easier
A Brand that Sparked a Revolution - The First Netbook
Customer Warranty –The Industry's Most Complete Netbook Care Package
1 year global warranty
6 months battery warranty
30-Day Flawless Display Guarantee: If you discover one defective bright dot within 30 days of purchase, ASUS will replace the panel at no cost
Free one-way standard shipping
24/7 tech support
What's in the Box
Eee PC 1005PE-P Seashell (Black)
Power Adapter †
User Manual
Warranty Card
Recovery DVD / Support CD
Specifications
Operating System: Windows 7 Starter
Display: 10.1-inch LED-Backlit Display(1024 x 600) with Color Shine glossy finish
Intel CPU: IntelAtom N450
Wireless Data Network: 802.11b/g/n(@ 2.4GHz) & Bluetooth V2.1 + EDR
Memory: 1GB(upgradeable to 2GB)
Hybrid Storage: 250GBHDD + 500GB ASUS WebStorage
Camera: 0.3M Pixels
Audio: StereoSpeakers, High-Definition Audio CODEC, Built-in digital microphone
Storage Cards: 2-in-1MMC, SD(SDHC) flash card slot
Input/Output: 1 xVGA connector, 3 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x LAN RJ-45, 2 x audio jacks: Headphone& Mic-in
Battery: Up to 14hours high-density Li-Ion battery *
Dimensions: 10.31(W) x 7.01 (D) x 1.02~1.44 (H) inches
Weight: 2.80lbs (with battery)
Color: Black * Operation lifetime subject toproduct model, normal usage conditions and configurations. For more information, pleasevisit http://eeepc.asus.com/global/computing.html. The estimated maximumbattery life in Windows 7 is measured with MobileMark 2007. **ASUSWebStorage is a complimentary trial service for 1 year after registration.Actual storage capacity varies by model. †To recharge using the AC power adapter, power plug must be fully pushed into the power socket on the Eee PC until it clicks firmly into place. Note: This Eee PC features a glossy finish chassis. Reflections in photos may vary. Color of the chassis is single-toned. All specifications and terms are subject to change without notice. Please check with your supplier for exact offers on selected models. Products may not be available in all markets. Product may not be exactly as shown in images.

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Toshiba DVR610 1080p Upconverting Tunerless VHS DVD Recorder Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)After half a decade of waiting for a machine that'll do merely what I want it to do--transferring my old VHS library to the more permanent DVDs--I jumped at the opportunity to get the DVR-610, at a great price (I purchased it at BestBuy, which allowed me to return it within 30 days for full refund if it wasn't up to scratch).
I must say: it passed the "probationary" period smashingly, though with a few small reservations I will mention later. Supposedly this deck is Toshiba's new improved version of its DVR-600 from last year. That deck brought forth quite a few frustrated reviews from buyers, and with this buyer-beware in mind, I assumed we were still in the Dark Ages as far as preservation on home DVD's was concerned. I initially thought a deck with merely a DVD recorder would do the trick (i.e., wiring my old VCR to its inputs to do duping), but I received conflicting and discouraging reports on these machines, too.
And so, the present model does a very, very nice job concerning the purpose for which I bought it: it will transfer my old (blank recorded) videos I made myself with almost no occurences of the "RECORDING ERROR" message; I had just one instance of this so far, which made me relegate that blank DVD to the "toss-out" pile. Actually, I'm using the discs with abortive recording projects for "test discs": that is, using them to see if a particular VHS video will transfer OK or not. I'm finding most '81-'85 rental tapes (pre-copyguard-era) will transfer OK, but you're up the creak without a paddle as far as dubbing your old prerecorded videos from '86 onward: specifically from the majors (Columbia, Warner, MGM, etc.). If your friends with similar movie tastes still have off-the-air broadcast tapes, by all means tell them to dig them out of storage!
While preserving taped-off-the-air movies has been a top priority, my FIRST DVD project was duping the one-hour tape full of films my old college animation class did. I made it a point to dub it at the high-quality speed (XP), and the transfer came off quite well, though there was a bit of picture jitter here and there. But after finalizing it, I found it played back well not only on the DVR-610 itself, but on my OTHER two DVD decks: my old Samsung player, and my 11-year-old Compaq computer. I used a Fuji blank disc for this one. The playback was smooth, and in time I learned how to make menus for later discs I recorded.
You would do well to reserve, as I did, a small pile of blanks for practice & test purposes; you will want to do comparisons of the sound quality of the highest speed compared to that of the slowest (for music videos--even those taped off a small 14" screen mono TV--the differences in sound reproduction are revealing). For feature films taped from mono television, the picture reproduction isn't that significantly different: not only in comparing your final DVD copy with the original tape, but also at the different DVD recording speeds. (I may think differently, of course,when I finally get a widescreen TV, but newer programs aren't of concern to me).
One thing I'm glad I learned quickly is how you can make individual cue-ups for separate films: unfortunately, you have to stop the DVD recorder at the end of each film. (For a cartoon collector like myself, this becomes VERY complex & involved....patience is mandatory!) At least I didn't find an alternative to this method in the owner's manual; and with my budget, I can only go with the cheapie DVD-R's that can be recorded only once. You CAN separate scenes for cue-up in a feature-length film, but THAT process is complicated by the machine's own automatic insertions of its OWN chapters in anything running over ten minutes. As for myself, I don't even bother separating scenes--only one movie from an entirely different one.
I was apprehensive during my first one or two tries at the "one-touch dubbing" feature, but this proved groundless (I used home-recorded tapes, of course). But I hasten to suggest: PLEASE DON'T throw out your old VCR, for a small number of tapes (yes--even your prize blanks) won't record on the new machine's all-in-one, two-decks-in-one feature.....you will have to wire patch-cords from your old videotape player to the front input jacks on the DVR-610. It is the only way around on these tapes.
One or two things I have to concur with on the other reviews of this machine: the manual CAN stand a bit better organization (it's categorized well, though not necessarily in the order you'd anticipate); two weeks back, when trying to find a mistake I made accidentally (I pushed the input button to "camcorder," or "DV," making it impossible to do tape-to-tape dubbing), the manual didn't list this problem which had me panicking for a few hours till I corrected it on my own. I have little quibble, though, with the English translation, which makes perfect & grammatic sense. AND: YES, the remote IS a pretty feisty critter! I've had about a dozen-and-a-half endings on some recordings where the "STOP" button goes to sleep, and I must rush to the machine itself to use the stop-button on IT. And the remote's own RECORD button is also as aggravating as a toilet handle. They work, alright (and you DO have to wait close to half a minute for the information from a just-finished recording to write itself onto the disc--as well as when you first turn on the deck with a blank disc still in it).
As for recordable discs, I've stuck with NAME BRAND blanks--those from Fuji, Maxell & TDK; and as yet, I've only recorded on DVD PLUS R (DVD+R) discs. All three brands play flawlessly when they're finally ready, and of course you must acquaint yourself with the "DVD MENU" feature which shows the option of finalizing the disc (necessary, of course, to have it play on other decks).
FINE deck, overall: there's still small room for more improvement, but this one gets an "A" for the job I want it to do: it's my main RECORDER now, and I'll be saving the playing for "play-only" decks (which I'll feel confident of buying in the future). It'll at least give me the security of knowing that the only film/TV fare that matters to me will be preserved to the time I kick off.


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DVD Recorder/VCR Combo with 1080p Upconversion

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Apple MacBook Pro MB991LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is my first Mac computer. My first four computers ran Win 3.1, Windows 95, XP, and Vista (from about 1995-present). I have quite a lot of time spent on each of them. Switching from Windows to Mac is not difficult, but it can be a bit frustrating for a week or so. There are Windows features that you will miss, but they are mostly overcome by overall advantages in my opinion.
I've spent two weeks with this machine now. If I had written this review after one day, I would have probably stated that I regretted the switch to Mac. After getting more proficient with the machine and realizing how well it works, I would definitely recommend it to a friend.
This review is going to be a mix of my impressions of both the hardware and the Mac operating system from a new Mac user perspective.
The only difference between my machine and the one on this product page is that I ordered directly from Apple and upgraded the hard drive to 250GB (from the 160GB base option). I am using 2gb of ram and the lower-end processor.
My Mac OS impressions:
The biggest thing I missed from Windows at first was the task bar. Mac uses the "dock" to replace the task bar. The dock is kind of like the quick launch toolbar in Windows spread out across the entire bar, with large icons. Having used windows with a task bar for the past 13 years, I missed the ability to see all open programs and switch between them with the task bar. The dock has a tiny dot below the icon on running-programs, but nothing else to separate it from other program and folder icons. The dock is not nearly as useful for multitasking as the task bar.
The saving grace that rescues the Mac from awkward app-switching while multitasking is called expose. Expose is activated by either pressing a key or using a multitouch gesture (four-finger swipe). Expose uses the entire screen to display all open windows and allow you to switch between them. It's like alt+tab on steroids. Having used the machine for a couple weeks, I miss using expose when I use my Windows machine. As much as I hated the dock at first, I have to give the advantage to the Mac for managing multiple windows while multitasking.
The controls for open-windows are quite different than in MS-Windows. In Mac, there is a resize, hide, and minimize button instead of maximize, minimize, restore, and close. To close an app on the mac you need to use a menu command or keyboard shortcut. The Mac resize button kind of works like restore/maximize, only it's a bit more awkward. A commenter here pointed out that it resizes the window for ideal viewing without using the entire screen. I find myself resizing windows by dragging corners more than I ever did on a Windows machine. I really miss the ability to maximize, if for no other reason but to avoid distractions. The green resize button may be better on an enormous monitor, but not on a 13" notebook. When you minimize or hide an app on the Mac, it is only available from the dock and is hidden from expose. I'll give the window size-management advantage to Windows in this contest. The windows system is just easier and more logical in my opinion. It isn't a deal-breaker, but I do miss the Windows "window controls." If you are a frequent user of the F11 key while web browsing in Windows you'll have to kiss that feature goodbye. Neither Firefox nor Safari will go full-screen.
Windows Explorer is "replaced" with an app called Finder. Finder is kind of like the start menu and an explorer window all rolled up into one. Compared with older versions of Windows, finder is adequate but Vista's explorer is quite a bit easier and more logical to use. I prefer Vista's preview pane to Mac's coverflow. I miss the "up folder" button. I have found myself mostly using the view that puts files, folders and apps into a column view for easiest computer browsing, and it just isn't as elegant as Windows Vista. The lack of a maximize button has caused frustration especially in the finder, because the finder likes to stay in a very small window unless you drag the corners.
The Safari web browser is nice and quick and has a decent security reputation. I have been switching back and forth between Safari and Firefox. Firefox has crashed a couple of times and I really like being able to use multitouch gestures with Safari, so I'm leaning toward making Safari my main web tool. Reading RSS feeds, and the bookmark toolbar are really well done in Safari. Browsers are so personal that it's difficult to recommend one over the other, but as a Firefox user in Windows I think I have high standard and Safari has met or exceeded them.
I absolutely hate the iPhoto app. Iphoto does not allow you to organize and browse your photos in folders. It imports your pictures and sorts them itself based on time/date stamps on the photos. This works fine for personal vacation snapshots but it completely mixed up the rest of my images. Folders that were neatly organized for work projects, and fun web clippings, and adult stuff were all shuffled into one big mess after I imported my image collection. I ended up just deleting all of them and not using iphoto at all. Right now I'm just using Finder to browse my photos and the preview app to view them. Light editing work isn't possible in the preview app and I still haven't decided what to use for a basic photo editor yet. Vista's photo app is junk but it's still superior to iPhoto if you like to keep your photos organized using your own folder system. I know people who love iphoto. It comes down to whether you want the ability to organize your collection yourself. If you have a big mess of photos, you'll love iphoto's ability to organize them via event and face recognition.
Edited to add: you can organize your photos into "albums" after you import them into iPhoto, but be prepared to spend a lot of time reorganizing everything. Even after you organize into albums, the main library screen gives you views of your entire collection (perhaps things you don't want everyone to see).
I have not used Garage Band or iMovie yet. I'll update later when I get a chance.
Edited to add: I played with garage band a bit and it's pretty powerful. It allows you to import and export AAC and MP3 tracks and record sound in multiple tracks. Very easy to use. The only other audio app i've ever used is audacity and I much prefer Garage Band. I haven't used any of the music lessons it offers yet but plan to soon.
I played with iMovie for a few minutes and it seems pretty nice and very intuitive. I actually don't mind Windows Movie Maker, which is included with Vista. I would not consider it a big step up from Win Movie Maker, but it's a nice app.
The mail, calendar, and address book apps are basic but work very very well. The address app will import common file types easily. It will sync with yahoo out of the box. Address book will only sync with Google contacts if you own an iPhone or iPod Touch.
Everyone has an opinion about iTunes. I'm a big fan of it. It's exactly like the windows version only it runs a bit faster without the bugs. If you have an iPhone or iPod touch, the Windows-iTunes bug with time/date being wrong after the computer sleeps is not an issue on the Mac.
Time machine is the Mac's backup app. It is amazing and very simple. I'm using an external drive plugged into my Apple Airport wireless router, as a backup disk. My wireless disk showed up on my desktop instantly once I plugged it into the router. Time machine noticed the external drive right away and went to work backing up my files (after asking permission of course). Now my machine automatically backs up any changes every hour as long as I'm in range of my wireless access point. Time machine is a big load off my mind. If I ever have a drive failure or my computer is destroyed I have an exact backup of everything without remembering to backup my files. Vista will backup according to a set schedule, but it lacks the ability to easily look through backups for specific files. Time machine is wonderful and make wireless backup effortless.
The Mac disk utility is almost as good as the one in Vista and it's easier to use. It's far superior to the one in XP. I used it to format my external wireless drive because the Mac router couldn't read NTFS formating (although the computer can read NTFS drives via USB for some reason).
The graphics control software is a joy to use. When I plug in my external monitor it immediately extends my desktop to the new monitor. Adjusting everything from resolution to rotation couldn't be any easier.
Boot camp is a utility that allows you to create a partition and install Windows as a secondary boot system (you need to own or buy a legal single-disk 32bit copy of either Windows XP or Windows Vista). When you start up the boot camp utility, it gives you a choice between using either 5 or 32 GB of space for the Windows partition. I learned the hard way that Windows XP SP3 won't fit into 5GB. You need to give it at least the 32 GB (which left me with almost exactly 200GB on my "250" GB drive). Installing Windows using the Boot Camp utility is very very easy. Once you get Windows loaded, your OSX install disk makes quick work of installing drivers for all of your laptop's hardware. It's too bad that Nvidia and HP aren't as good at putting together easy Windows driver packages as Apple. In order to boot into Windows, you simply press the "option" key during bootup and it allows you to choose which OS to run. Windows XP absolutely screams on this hardware.
The hardware:
The hardware is where this computer really shines.
The biggest advantage is...Read more›

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Featuring a precision unibody enclosure crafted from a single block of aluminum, the MacBook Pro is thinner and lighter than its predecessor as well as stronger and more durable. But Apple didn't stop innovating with the body's design. The MacBook Pro also includes a new 13-inch, LED-backlit glass display (instead of an LCD panel) as well as a glass trackpad that doesn't include a button (for larger tracking area) that features Apple's Multi-Touch technology.

This 13-inch MacBook Pro (model MB991LL/A) also now includes Apple's innovative built-in notebook battery for up to 7 hours of wireless productivity on a single charge without adding thickness, weight or cost. Using Adaptive Charging and advanced chemistry first introduced with the 17-inch MacBook Pro the built-in battery delivers up to 1000 recharges before it reaches 80 percent of its original capacity--nearly three times the lifespan of conventional batteries.

Under the hood, the MacBook Pro is powered by a powerful 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor (with 3 MB L2 cache and 1066 MHz front-side bus), which runs applications faster and more efficiently as well as helps to reduce power requirements and save on battery life. And video is powered by the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics processor, which provides an outstanding everyday graphics experience with up to a 5x performance boost.

Other hardware features include a 250 GB hard drive, 4 GB of installed RAM (which can be upgraded to 8 GB), an 8x combo Superdrive (for burning dual-layer DVDs as well as CDs), built-in Gigabit Ethernet for high-speed networking, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), FireWire 800 port, Mini DisplayPort video output (for DVI and VGA connections), and a Secure Digital card slot for easy access to digital photos and audio stored on SD and MMC memory cards.

It comes pre-loaded with Apple's Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard operating system--an operating system custom-designed for the advanced technology inside--and it also comes with the iLife '09 suite of applications, including iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband, and iTunes.

The Unibody MacBook Pro Design Traditionally notebooks are made from multiple parts. With the MacBook Pro all of those parts with just one part--the breakthrough unibody enclosure. Every MacBook Pro starts its life as a single block of aluminum, which is precisely machined into the basic unibody design. Another pass and the unibody takes shape. Another, and the integrated keyboard emerges. When you pick up a new MacBook Pro, you immediately notice the entire enclosure is thinner and lighter. And it feels strong and durable--perfect for life inside (and outside) your briefcase or backpack.



The standard aluminum electro-static trackpad has been replaced with a new glass Multi-Touch trackpad, which provides 40 percent more tracking area than before. Use two fingers to scroll up and down a page. Pinch to zoom in and out. Rotate an image with your fingertips. Swipe with three fingers to flip through your photo libraries. Swipe with four fingers to show your desktop, view all open windows, or switch applications. The entire trackpad surface is also a button, allowing you to both track and click virtually anywhere on the trackpad. And you can easily enable multiple virtual buttons in software, such as right-clicking.

The keyboard has also been improved, with the rigid aluminum keyboard webbing cut precisely to hold the keys, which are curved to perfectly fit fingers. And it's illuminated, so when you're in low-light settings, such as airplanes or conference rooms, you can always see what you're typing.

The 13-inch display is made of edge-to-edge, uninterrupted glass for a smooth, seamless surface and features LED backlighting for brilliant instant-on performance that uses up to 30 percent less energy than its predecessor. The ultra-thin displays provide crisp images and vivid colors which are ideal for viewing photos and movies

Long-Lasting Battery The 13-inch MacBook Pro now includes a newly engineered lithium-polymer battery that that lasts up to 7 hours on a single charge thanks to advanced chemistry, intelligent monitoring of the system and battery, and Adaptive Charging technology. The battery is built right into the computer, eliminating the space-consuming mechanisms and housings that standard removable batteries require. This non-removable battery also provides a longer battery lifespan of up to 1000 recharges--meaning fewer depleted batteries and less waste, which is better for the environment.

Giving it a lifespan of up to 1000 recharges required breakthroughs in battery technology. Apple electro-chemists developed advanced chemistry that maintains the battery's charging capabilities longer than ever. And while most notebooks wear down their batteries by charging them at a constant rate, the 13-inch MacBook Pro takes a different approach. Using an Apple-developed technology called Adaptive Charging, a microchip on the battery constantly communicates with the computer to determine the optimal way to charge its cells, adjusting the current up and down depending on a variety of conditions. Combined, these advancements offer a dramatic improvement in battery lifespan: more than three times the lifespan of typical notebook batteries--up to five years.

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor Experience improved energy efficiency, expanded wireless connectivity, and amazing battery life with the 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, which has a super-fast 1066 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and an large 3 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

The hafnium-infused circuitry--which reduces electrical current leakage in transistors--conserves even more energy, giving you more time away from the wall outlet. With 3 MB of shared L2 cache, data and instructions can be kept close to the two processor cores, greatly increasing performance and allowing the entire system to work more efficiently. And, because the processor cores share the L2 cache, either can use the entire amount if the other happens to be idle.

Video Processing & Output The MacBook Pro delivers both powerful graphics performance and long battery life via the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics processor, which provides an outstanding everyday graphics experience with up to a 5x performance boost. Power your way through the latest 3D games--including Call of Duty and Quake--and enjoy improved graphics performance with iWork '09, iLife '09, and everything you do in Mac OS X. The power-saving NVIDIA integrated graphics processor also keeps you up and running throughout the day, with up to 7 hours of battery life.

The MacBook Pro includes a next generation Mini DisplayPort, which delivers a pure digital signal that can drive up to a 30-inch widescreen display. The Mini DisplayPort is ultra-compact at just 10 percent the size of a full DVI connector, and is compatible with Apple's 24-inch Cinema Display. Adapters are also available for using VGA, DVI/HDMI and Dual-Link DVI displays

Hard Drive and Memory The 250 GB Serial-ATA (SATA) hard drive (5400 RPM) quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to USB 2.0. The 4 GB of PC3-8500 DDR3 RAM (two SO-DIMMs of 1024 MB) has an industry-leading 1066 MHz speed, and the RAM capacity can be increased to 8 GB.

Wireless Connectivity The built-in 802.11n wireless networking provides up to five times the performance and twice the range of 802.11g, but it's also backward-compatible with 802.11a/b/g routers, enabling you to communicate with the a wide variety of Wi-Fi resources. It works seamlessly with the new AirPort Extreme with 802.11n. Use the built-in Bluetooth wireless technology to connect to your PDA or cell phone, synchronize addresses, or download pictures from your cell phone. You can also use a wireless headset for iChat audio chats and VoIP calls as well as quickly share files with a colleague.

Video Conferencing with Built-in iSight Artfully placed in the glass display is an iSight camera, which enables easy video conferencing as well as allows you to snap pictures of yourself and create video podcasts. Using the iChat AV application, video conferencing is integrated into your iChat buddy list, so initiating a video conference is a breeze. iChat also lets you hold audio chats with up to 10 people and provides high-quality audio compression and full-duplex sound so conversation can flow naturally. For video podcasting, you can record a short clip using the iSight camera, then use iWeb to create a video blog entry or post your GarageBand-recorded podcast.

Other Features

Two USB 2.0 ports (up to 480 Mbps), one FireWire 800 (up to 800 Mbps), SD card slot
Mini DisplayPort compatible with DVI, VGA, and dual-link DVI connectors (all optional)
Dual display and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors
8x slot-loading SuperDrive with the following write speeds: 8x DVD±R; 4x DVD±R DL (double layer); 4x DVD±RW; 24x CD-R; 10x CD-RW
Built-in full-size backlit keyboard with 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys and 4 arrow keys (inverted "T" arrangement)
Internal omnidirectional microphone and built-in speakers
Combined optical digital output/headphone out with selectable analog audio line in (minijack)
Kensington lock slot
Measures 12.78 x 8.94 x 0.95 inches (WxDxH) and weighs 4.5 pounds (including battery)

Environmental Considerations Apple has worked hard to eliminate many of the toxins that are a common part of computer manufacturing. Apple engineers removed the majority of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from circuit boards, internal cables, connectors, insulators, adhesives, and more in the MacBook Pro.

Because Apple makes both the hardware and the software for the MacBook, they're designed to work together to produce a smarter product that uses less electricity. For instance, to reduce energy consumption, the hard drive spins down automatically when inactive. MacBook Air also decides which processor--CPU or GPU--is best suited to efficiently perform a task. The LED-backlit display in the MacBook Pro is another feature that plays an important part in conserving energy, consuming 30 percent less power than conventional LCD displays. And the display is designed to dim when you enter a darkened room.

The MacBook Pro meets the stringent low power requirements set by the EPA, giving it ENERGY STAR certification. MacBook also meets the latest efficiency requirements of ENERGY STAR Version 5.0 Specification for Computers before its July 2009 effective date.

The MacBook Pro has also earned the highest rating of EPEAT Gold. The Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, or EPEAT, evaluates the environmental impact of a product based on how recyclable it is, how much energy it uses, and how it's designed and manufactured.

Pre-Loaded with Mac OS X Snow Leopard and iLife '09 Every Mac comes with Mac OS X Snow Leopard, the world's most advanced operating system, and iLife, Apple's innovative suite of applications for managing photos, making movies and creating and learning to play music. Snow Leopard builds on a decade of OS X innovation and success with hundreds of refinements, new core technologies and out of the box support for Microsoft Exchange. iLife features iPhoto, to easily organize and manage photos; iMovie with powerful easy-to-use new features such as Precision Editor, video stabilization and advanced drag and drop; and GarageBand which introduces a whole new way to help you learn to play piano and guitar.

Installed software

Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard (includes Time Machine, Quick Look, Spaces, Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Photo Booth, Front Row, Xcode Developer Tools)
iLife '09 (includes iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iWeb, iDVD)

What's in the Box MacBook Pro, display cleaning cloth, 60W MagSafe Power Adapter, AC wall plug, power cord, install/restore DVDs, printed and electronic documentation

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