MIDLAND WR300 Weather Radio

• Receives All NOAA Weather Channels
• S.A.M.E. Technology
• AM/FM Radio with Clock and Alarm
• Memory system for 30 Counties
• Ability to Add & Remove Alerts

After having tried just about every SAME technology weatheradio out there, I found the WR-300 to be one of the better ones, and definitely the best of the Midland weatheradios to date.

One of the best features it has is that it allows you to disable the audiable alerts for every watch/warning except life threatening ones like tornado warning, or biological hazard warning, etc. Other brands and models will only allow you to disable the most harmless events. I do not wish to be alerted at 3am because of a severe thunderstorm warning, or tornado watch. With the WR-300, I won't be alerted unless there is actually a tornado warning.

The blue LED backlit LCD display is pretty sharp looking, too! There is a menu feature that allows you to continuously keep the blue backlighting on, although I think it would be too bright in a bedroom at night, especially if the WR-300 is right next to the bed on a nightstand.

Some people have complained about the beeps for every keypress, and I did not find that to bother me. Maybe a softer "click" sound for every keypress would be better. Also, others have reported that their WR-300 leaked audio when the WX is muted. I did not have this problem at all; it worked fine for me.

Things I really liked about the WR-300:

1) Extensive audiable alert disable ability

2) Form factor and relatively small size

3) Blue backlit display

4) 4-AA battery backup (instead of 9v transistor batt)

5) Am/Fm/clock/alarm features

6) Menu flexibility (although not that intuitive)

I gave the WR-300 a 4 instead of 5 star rating because of the following minor issues:

1) No display of event(s) remaining time(s)

2) Menu navigation and master alert disable/enable operation was not intuitive.

3) No visual indication as to whether or not the master audible alert is enabled or disabled.

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I purchased 2 of these to replace the Midlands I lost in a tornado on July 13, 2004. The old radio saved the lives of myself, our 5 yr old and 3 of our grandchildren. If the radio had not been gone off, we would likely be dead. I never would have looked out the back door in time to get us all in the basement before an F4 hit our home. We live in the country and I have always had a weather radio. I tell everyone I know to get weather radio .

This is a nice model and I like the AM/FM feature. The problem I continually have had with every radio is that we live in the middle of the coverage areas and don't get the best signal at times. I have solved this by putting a Chore Boy stainless steel scrub pad on the antenna. It definitely improves the reception and seems to do better that foil. Other than that I think this is the best one I have had.

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I purchased this unit 6 months ago with the fear of "tornado season" coming. I live in an area where a tornado is likely with almost every storm. In past years, Easter weekend has been ruined by the destruction of houses in the path of a tornado.

We hear the alarm and listen to the weather service warning BEFORE the news stations can announce the warning on t.v.

The WR-300 has been great. The alarm is clearly heard by everyone throughout the house and the display gives a read out of the alert while the alarm is sounding. You can hear the local weather service with the touch of a button or press the AM/FM button and listen to local radio stations of your choice. The use of this radio is very simple. My kids know how to turn off the siren and how to press the weather radio button to listen to the verbal warning from the National Weather Service. The alarm is a great asset to have during night time hours.

The radio can be plugged in for everyday use and then when power is out for whatever reason, the backup batteries take over so that you can hear announcements and further weather warnings.

Many people have complained about the beeping while pressing the buttons. Yes, there is a beep but it is not that annoying. We do not do very much button pushing in the middle of the night and it has not bothered us.

There is a weekly test that can be a little annoying if you are asleep during the day. My husband is military and his schedule changes regularly, sometimes causing him to work mid-shift. When he is sleeping during the daytime hours, the alarm sounding during the weekly test can be disturbing but it is a small price to pay for safety. On the other side, the weekly test is a nice option. Each week we are assured that the radio is working and the alert will come through during an emergency.

This is a great item and wonderful purchase to make for yourself or a loved one. You really can not put a price on safety.

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I got one of these back in early April of this year. We had a couple of days of severe weather in the area. The unit would not alert when the NWS sent out alerts. I changed back and forth from "multi" county to "all" counties, but no alerts. I was listening to the alerts on another weather radio I have, and I don't believe they were broadcasting the data burst with the SAME info contained in the burst. I was only hearing the 1050khz tone. I contacted Midland via email to ask them if the unit responds to both the tone, and data burst. They replied without answering the question, and asked me to return the unit since they thought it was faulty. I contacted Amazaon about returning the unit, and had no problem. In fact they automatically shipped out another unit. However when I received the new unit and set it up, it would not respond to alerts either. I sent an email to the NWS office here in Louisville to see if someone there had the same unit and could give me some advice. I heard back from them today, and they said they had two of same units in their office which they could never get to alert! They did not say anything about the data burst and the tone signal, but I'm GUESSING that this unit does not respond to the 1050khz tone only, but needs the data burst also. I'm going to contact Midland again about this and see what they say.

Update...I contacted Midland and they said the unit does not respond to the 1050hz tone, but to the SAME data burst. I can only assume the NWS office wasn't transmitting the SAME info. We have had an outbreak of numerous severe thunderstorms today, along with tornado watches...the unit has worked flawlessly. So sorry for the low rating, but if for some reason your NWS office doesn't transmit the SAME data the unit won't alert you.

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We bought this radio after the Tornadoes hit Florida in February in the middle of the night. That event was a serious reminder that a Hazards Radio can be as important to saving your life as a good smoke detector.

I looked at the WR-100 and the WR-300 and went with this unit. I believe the WR-300 is definitely worth the extra $$. Both have county-specific set-up which keeps you from getting woken up for alerts two counties away, but the WR-300 goes one step further and adds the capability to disable the audio alarm individually for some 30 or so specific alerts. For example, we diabled the Winter Weather items (since these are of little consequence in North Texas), as well as the Flood items since we live nowhere near a creak or other body of water. But we left the Tornado, Severe Thunderstorm, and Boil Water (?!) items audible-enabled.

This unit also has a Clock Radio with AM/FM (3 memory presets each) and a 9-minute snooze button.

These NOAA radios have come a long way, and this one is worth more than the price we paid for it.

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RCA RC142 Large Display Clock Radio with USB Charging

• Built-in USB port for device charging
• iPod/iPhone compatible
• AM/FM radio
• Dual wake, sleep and snooze functions
• Audio line-in for MP3 player connectivity

I needed a clock radio with an AUX input so came to Amazon to see what was available.

I bought a Westclox Tech AM/FM clock radio from Amazon. The Westclox radio was poorly made, would not pick up even the strongest of stations even the station with a radio tower 2 miles from me. The AUX input on the Westclox did not turn off via the sleep function. I am in the process of returning that unit to Amazon.

In the meantime, I still needed a clock radio with an AUX input. Went to Walmart and found the RCA RC142 radio.

I thought the Westclox was poorly made but the RCA RC142 was worse. The On/Off button was stuck down I had to move it from side to side to get it to pop up to the start position so that I could turn it on or off.

The time set button would not select the lock position so the display stayed on the time set for Alarm 1.

Reception was poor once again I could not pick up the local station whose tower was 2 miles away.

Tuning required a magnifying glass to see the frequencies printed on the tuning button. There is no vernier so you have little idea of what frequency you are tuning to.

The instruction sheet was written in about 10 different languages in very small print.

I hate it when I have to sift through multiple languages to find how to work something.

It seems that any RCA device I have purchased in the recent past has been poorly made and prone to premature failure. I took it back to Walmart and got my money back but I still needed a clock radio with an AUX input.

I went back to the electronics section of Walmart to look for another radio. I found an Emerson Smart Set Dual alarm radio with line-in Emerson Dual Alarm Clock Radio Amfm Smartset. I was skeptical since like RCA, Emerson had once been a very good brand of radio but my recent experience with Emerson had been less that spectacular.

I got home with the Emerson, opened the box and found a carefully packaged device.

On opening the Packaging and removing the radio, I found that it appeared to be well built. The finish was good, the buttons were solidly installed. For $20 and change it was more than I expected.

I plugged it in and the correct time appeared on the screen no messing around trying to find out how to set the time. (The correct time is programmed in for Eastern Time. You will need to adjust for other time zones)

The correct day and date were already programmed into the radio.

I do not think it is an atomic clock thing but rather a finely tuned clock circuit that produced such an accurate time on start up.

A button type battery comes installed to provide backup for when the power is out.

The instructions are written in English only.

The AUX input is controlled by the sleep function.

The tuning frequencies appear on the display as you turn the tuning knob and the thing picks up a station 30 miles from where I live.

I suggest that you pass on the RCA and look at the Emerson if you need a clock radio.

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I purposely bought this because it had a radio and a USB charging dock. The reception on the radio is terrible from the get go, but once you have a phone plugged in, it's unusable. It's total static and hardly any signal gets through. Also, the nap/sleep buttons are totally non-functional. This is a big paperweight that happens to have a clock on it.

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Ok, so. This is a medium-sized black clock with large glowy display, radio, and USB charger capability.

Size: Put three soda cans next to each other and that's about what you're dealing with. A bit on the big side.

Glowy Display: Not so glowy. Even in a pitch black room, it's dim. I suppose if you're easily annoyed by light when trying to sleep, this dimness would be a good thing. But even in a poorly lit room, its tough to read the time.

Radio: Nothing good to say here. The speaker is weak and tinny. The dial is stiff and it's tough to tell what you're tuned to: the glowy display is for the time only, not for the radio information.

USB Charger: It works! The jack is awkwardly located, but if you always charge the same device, just keep that cord plugged in and you're set.

To sum up: No, I wouldn't recommend this to a friend.

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This alarm clock looks better in the pictures on the website and on the box than it does when you get it out of the box. The impression of holding the product itself is that it is a pretty cheap piece of gear. It doesn't feel particularly substantial. Once you set the time and put it on the shelf though it looks pretty nice. I appreciate the slim form factor. The ability to plug in a phone or USB device is also a nice touch. You can also plug in an MP3 device and play music through the tinny low quality typical clock radio speakers if you desire. It has a compartment for a backup battery and needs a 9v battery for that. Overall a decent alarm clock. Extra points for slim form factor and USB plug.

I just purchased a RC142 and it simply is the poorest product I've seen. It is going back. The alarm-off feature did not work. The dimmer switch was barely functioning. The music-alarm-off buttons (1 or 2) did not sequence through the off mode. A few minutes of playing with it, and the music-alarm-off buttons BROKE. This is a piece of junk, and I would be very embarrassed if I worked for RCA.

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Coby MP957-4G 5 Inch 4GB HD Video Player with HDMI - Black

• Experience high-definition video, music, photos, and text on a generous 5 inch LCD screen
• Advanced processing supports 1080p video in a wide range of popular formats
• Audio: MP3/WMA/FLAC/APE
• World/alarm clock, calendar, and gaming apps included
• FM tuner, integrated stereo speakers and 3.5mm headphone jack
• Video player; Audio player; FM tuner
• 5 inch TFT LCD screen
• Connect and enjoy in full 1080p on your HDTV
• 4GB internal flash memory
• MicroSD card slot (SD card not included)

This review comes from a person with; creative zen-xfi, G1 capacitive tch scrn, Coby Kyros resistive tch scrn tablet, samsung behold,

3 dif. branded 19in-32in Full HD LCD tv's, hp dv7 notebook win7, acer aspire5315 notebook winxppro, pioneer and yamaha home theater equip,

this is just so others know where my opinions reference from.

After researching for almost 3 months for a PMP (aslo known as DMP (digital media player), mp3 video player, MP4 player etc., (AINOL,ONDA,COWON,VisualLand,Trio, sylvania), I was torn between Ainol v6000hdt screen/video quality and Cowon v5 sound quality subtitle function, however, Cowon price was too high for me and amazon did not have the Ainol (yeah, have a good time pronouncing that,and make sure no ones listening if your reading out loud =).

So, without regret (thus far), Coby MP957 media player (83dol from amazon,free ship received in 7 days);

-Very good build quality, feels solid with good weight in the hand, comfortable for personal video viewing/listening.

-Screen size (my measurements) 5 full inches diagnal TFT LCD bright, beautiful, high resolution display vivid colors

and detail (better than my g1, kyros, samsung behold, and zen)

---This is NOT a touch screen. 5 device buttons navagate thru the user interface nicely.

---This is not a "glossy" screen. Very minimal glare if any, my kyros, g1, etc is glossy and glare interferes with video watching.

---There is NO wifi, NO internet browsing abilities of ANY kind.

UPDATE: The player DOES remember last audio file played but ONLY IF it is in the INTERNAL memory in the "Medialib" (media library). Audio files on an external memory card for some reason cannot be remembered as a "last played" file. -My very large audio book KJV Holy Bible plays in order automatically, it does not remember last played if it is located on my SD card but, there is a "star assigning rating" feature, with up to 5 stars, you could if only using this star system for this purpose, use the stars to rate the last played audio file to generally remember last played audio item, which is working for me. The "stars" can be changed or removed. It does, however, remember where you stopped/paused videos, whether they are on the internal or external memory, AND even if you turn the player off.

-TESTED VIDEO FILES (sizes ranged from 700mb-3.8gb, movies were played full length) and played flawlessly, MKV, HD-AVI, AVI, MP4 (no audio video sync issues either). NOTE, M4V files were NOT recognized at all.

-TESTED AUDIO FILES (all played perfectly); mp3 (my high bit rate 320kbp mp3's sound excellent), wav, flac, wma. There IS support for lyrics, but I don't have any lyric files to test (sorry).

-SUBTITLES: External subtitle ".srt" files played flawlessly with mkv, hd-avi, avi, mp4. Embedded subtitles in avi files played as well.

-MICRO SD MEMORY CARDS: My sandisk 16gb, kingston 8gb, transend 1gb micro sd cards work great in this. Manual states UP TO 16GB.

-JPG, Bitmap pics/imgs look beautiful with great detail/color AND can be set as wallpaper. Screen brightness can be adjusted from level 1 to 5, with 5 being the brightest.

-There is ebook support, but I have not tested this yet (again, sorry).

-BATTERY Things to keep in mind with all these media devices, the higher quality files being played, the more battery power required as well as screen brightness and subtitles. With that in mind I played full hd mkv video with subtitles (.srt external file) continuously for 3 hours and 20 min. on the brightest screen setting (5) before it alerted me to connect to charger. 2 standard avi videos (2 average length movies at 420p) SHOULD have no problem playing thru before having to recharge. (Will test 420p and audio/radio and update later).

-AUDIO QUALITY; There is a graphic equalizer w/8 presets. I'm a bit of an"audiophile" and must say this player sounds great. Highs, mids and lows are clear, bass is adequate... I use SkullCndy smokin buds, Shure E2c, bose quiet comf. headsets. The in-ear (they look similar to my skullcndy smokin buds) headphones that come with the Coby player don't look too bad but I like my own. There are 2 speakers on the back of the unit with good sound and sufficiently loud. No scratchy residue or distortion sounds. I plugged in my HarmanKardon soundsticks system for a fantastic movie experience w/2 friends (who now want my coby player) that helped test the features . Any speaker system w/3.5mm jack will work nicely for a "larger" sound experience.

-HDMI out to tv; works very good, 720p looked better than 1080p in my opinion. I've seen quite a few of these devices that play "out to tv", none of them compare to HD DVD/BR players, but the ability to be able to play something from the player on the fly to a bigger display is a great feature that this player can do. The picture from this player is better than my kyros when i tested both on my tv's. I use this player when working, in workshop or kitchen far away from my entertainment system.

-FM RADIO works very well, however, headphones or external speakers need to be plugged in as their cords act as the antenna, If there's no antenna, the radio screen dims off. There are 12 preset station slots with auto scan for stations and manual. I found all my favorite stations and some I didn't even know about. Radio works excellent and I'm so glad it has it.

-VIEWING ANGLES; this is a 5 inch screen with impressive viewing compared to other devices I have researched as well as tested. 3 people sitting side by side can view a video comfortably, outside that range screen dims. There are 4 good viewing angles left, right, center, and top looking slightly down. If the player is held center above eye level the screen dims. I cannot see this being an issue for most users, however, if using this in a lying down position, a secure "holder" (I made a simple holder from wood scraps in ten minutes) that allows the device to be tilted or to sit straight up without tipping over would eliminate any screen dimming.

-I have only 1 dislike of this coby mp957 so far, and that is that you can not remove the clock or date from the home screen. They are relatively small and transparent, but it would be nice to be able to "show/hide" them.

It's an excellent player at a great price (amazon 83 usdollrs). I'm happy with it. INCLUDED IN THE BOX IS; wall unit charger, charges via usb mini input plug, full hdmi to mini hdmi cable for out to tv, in-ear headphones, user manual (clean easy user interface), remote control, microsuade protective pouch and usb to mini usb cable.

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First off, good & bad, the reviews here are very helpful and I'd like to thank the folks who took the time to write them. That being said lets get to the meat of my review.

I purchased one of these over a year ago while I was in the VA hospital, and have used it nearly everyday since.

Pros = Ease of use is outstanding and quite intuitive .. In only moments I was able to fully run nearly all it had to offer. The video quality is excellent on the player, when attached to a television (even an older tube TV) or a computer monitor. It seems to handle nearly every video format I could find and does it without skips, lag or hangups. The sound from the built in speakers is ok but honestly using this item with a good set of headphones or good external speakers really brings out the best in the sound. The photo quality is another feature that is surprisingly great given the price. The built in FM radio works very well and even if it didn't work at all, it'd be such a minor flaw that it wouldn't be worth mentioning. As far as the book reader, PDFs are a bit bulky to maneuver, zooming, etc; however There are a great set of controls even though they take some getting used to. As far as books go, I was having issues at first, then found that if I converted them to plain old text files The quality became very good as well. The calender / clock combo work well for what they're supposed to do (tell time and date). The remote was also a wonderful feature that works extremely well.

Cons = I could name off features or changes I'd like to see but honestly I could do that with any piece of tech. I do believe that Coby and / or the retailers for this item should edit the description to get rid of the mistake "has gaming apps". But since I didn't buy it for games it wasn't really a concern.

Other Thoughts = I'm still quite amazed that this tiny item has made my vcr, stereo, dvd player, as well as the huge collection of media to accompany them, and a few other media devices completely UNnecessary. I've nearly completed transferring the various tapes, cds, dvds, etc over to sd micro chips and I'm stunned to see how much room all that was taking up. For what this is, a media player (NOT a tablet) I haven't found anything as good or better even remotely close to the price. I'll be buying more of these as xmas gifts and probably another for me as well for the other room.

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I purchased 2 of these for my kids (20m.o. and 4y.o.) for use during our recent 3-week trip abroad. The 4y.o. was able to navigate the menus to the point where she was at least able to say "daddy, I want to do it." and she started her own movies. (I only had movies loaded on.) She was able to adjust the volume as well. She had trouble with the power button to power-up or down since it required an extended hold.

On the other hand, my 20m.o. son thought that the buttons were the best part and I sometimes found him in menus or with feature options that he shouldn't have been poking at. So for this case, I would really prefer to have had a combo-button-push lock feature so that once I started a movie, I could lock the buttons out.

I had the screens normally set on brightness #3 (of 5) .. and normally got 5hrs of play out of them using mainly the internal speakers.

The HDMI out didn't seem to work in my initial attempt on my TV but since this wasn't my intended purpose, I didn't pursue it. When I plugged it into my A/V receiever the TV reported that it could not understand the stream or something. When playing around with the HDMI/AV/etc out trying to get it to work, I did find the COBY device go black and unresponsive .. I held the power button for a while and it did eventually come back. I know that others have reported unresponsive devices, I wonder if it had something to do with trying HDMI out.

My son's unit even survived a full-on assault of car-sickness.

The units travelled with us wrapped in some foam packaging padding and inside a hard-cardboard box (from an old cellphone purchase) .. my 20m.o. did end up dragging his (by his Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Headphones) about 25feet across a hardwood floor and bouncing over 2 doorway saddles .. and his is still ticking.

I should note that I also purchased additional 16GB card Sandisk 16GB MicroSD Memory Card for each and it worked flawlessly as well.

Last note was that I set them for NEVER Power Off and NEVER Screen Timeout. Since I did find that one of them seemed to flick off during the middle of a movie .. and since I was normally driving I couldn't have a screaming kid tell me their movie went off again every 5 mins. I just always made sure to manually power-down when they were done with them. After the 3 weeks, I have no complaints at all about the battery life. In fact they have a nice power-meter feature in the options screens which provides better information about the remaining battery life. It reports for example "73%" rather than "3-of-5 battery bars".

I'm not sure how best to store them now .. fully charged, fully depleted .. hmm.

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The coby mp957 4 g has been a good purchase for me. The unit itself has played just about anything I have thrown at it, from Divx files to H264 and MKV, from mp3 to Aac+, the images are clear and sharp.

The only reason I did not give it a 5 stars rating is because in some video files , if the file has more than one audio track it will only play the fist one but not the others and the same goes for the subtitles. Also there seems to be no way to turn off the subtitles , if they are displayed (this happens mostly in MKV files) .While playing music, the sound is appropiate for allayed this size, with earphones the sound is very good, almost amazing.

While playing video the image does not skip nor freezes. While using the HDMI output the image is clear and sharp, every once in a while you will notice some artifacts, but this could be the way the videos were encoded.

Overall this is a very good player for the money and I am looking forward to the second generation .COBY could be on to something with this player.

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Notes before the Pros and Cons are listed:

I haven't yet tested the HDMI

I dropped it 4 feet onto the concrete and at times the screen is a little blurry.

Pros:

5 inch is nice. For about 20 bucks more they have a 7 inch one

Very easy to download songs and videos onto it

Can buy a Micro SD card to make the 4G turn into an extra 16G

The speakers are adequate they can fill up a 12 foot by 12 foot room when there's no extra white noise

You can adjust the brightness of the screen and you can adjust the duration screen display

Cons:

There is no 'auto off' switch, so if you forget to turn it off, the battery will run out of power. Many times I will be listening to something, pause it, the screen will go off, but the power will still be on, and hence it will look like it's turned off but it is not and it is slowly draining power.

The book reading section is inconvenient. Don't get this product for book reading purposes

Not able to change the background

All of the buttons are spread out the power is in one top corner, the volume is on the other side, I still get confused on where the select button is and where the escape button is.

The battery seems to wear out quickly. I charge it about every other day. I use about 90 minutes to 120 minutes a day on MP3 (my work commute)

The albums or folders are not listed alphabetically; they are listed in the order that they are downloaded.

Summary:

I guess I hate the battery capacity. But this product has many features for a great price.

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World Band Am/Fm/Shortwave Radio With Digital Display Headphone Jack

• Receives SW 1 and SW 2 world bands.
• Digital LCD display.
• High-performance telescopic antenna.
• Integrated 3" dynamic speaker.
• Clock and alarm functions.

HAVING HAD SUCCESS WITH PREVIOUS COBY PRODUCTS, I WAS DISSAPPOINTED WITH THE AM BAND RECEPTION WHICH WAS SO DISTORTED WITH PERSISTANT BACKGROUND STATIC THAT IT MADE THIS UNIT USLESS FOR ME. THE FM AND SW BANDS ARE EXCELLENT.

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Garmin nüvi 265/265T 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic

• Bright, 3.5-inch diagonal color QVGA TFT touchscreen with 320 x 240 pixels and white backlight
• Preloaded with City Navigator North America NT
• Bluetooth wireless technology for hands-free calling
• High-sensitivity GPS receiver for improved performance and reception
• NOTE: Model number on the box is 265T because the traffic receiver is included; however, the model number on the device itself is 265 as the "T" in 265T refers to the additional component

This is a review of my first stand alone GPS unit. I have used iGuidance on my PPC with a bluetooth receiver in the past. The reason I purchased the 265t is for the "integrated FM traffic receiver" with the lifetime subscription. The integrated FM traffic receiver is one of my main gripes because it's not actually integrated into the unit itself. It's integrated into the power cable by an unsightly tumor that runs long about 3 inches along the length of the cable. So if you're in between cars and need the traffic capability, you can't forget the power cable. Other than the power cable, it's a nice simple looking unit.

The screen is clear and visible except for the most extreme angles of glare in which you might need to adjust it just a touch. The screen is very responsive when panning around the screen and even has a fairly accurate mouse pointer function if you want to get to a particular place on the map. The icons are clear and the tracking is smooth. The only improvements I could wish for is if the displaying information was able to be configured. Sometimes I just like to be ignorant of the speed limit and would rather like to know the distance to my destination rather than the ETA without having to keep tapping at the screen. A little arrow pointing north would also be nice.

Compared to my old iBlue receiver and iGuidance software the 265t locks onto satellites eons faster to get you going on the road ASAP. The FM receiver does warn you of upcoming traffic with a little icon in the upper left corner with an expected delay time but I can't comment on it's diverting capabilities yet, even with a recent traffic heavy trip from NY to Toronto. Some areas just don't have the traffic information when you need it which isn't the fault of the unit, but the lack of coverage of the traffic reporting area.

One difference I would like to point out where iGuidance may have better function over this nuvi is that you can detour around specific roads in the route list, whereas detouring with nuvi is perhaps oversimplified. Once you hit detour, you're at the mercy of the unit.

Overall, it's a fun little gps. It's pocketable, functional, not too gimmicky, and has more POI than I imagined. There might be a few more menus you wish you didn't have to go through, but for the most part it's organized and has outstanding search capability.

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This is my 4th Garmin GPS and I love it! The other writer mentioned the extra "tumor" for about 3 inches. If that bothers you, well I am NOT that anal and it is hardly even obvious. Who cares about the power cable any way? The unit's screen is clear, bright, easy to read. Lot's of improvements. Considered the 265WT but frankly just prefer the smaller screen for walking or riding a bike, just fits in pockets better and still large enough to see easily in an automobile. I agree that the start-up is FAST-FAST. A great improvement over several previous Garmin models. I highly recommend this one!

**I have now used this for a few weeks. The screen is actually brighter and the colors much more vivid than previous models I have owned. Up-to-date locations and the voice is an improvement over prior models as well, much easier to understand street names and names of saved people\locations. For the money-you can't go wrong. When I go to Europe again in the future I am getting the 275 model which is the same as this but has maps for Europe as well. Again, I do prefer the 3.5" vs. the 4.3" screen size. It's very easy to see in the car and so compact for walking, hiking etc. Garmin keeps making improvements and this little unit is a GREAT value, highly-highly recommend it.

***OK, I have used this for months now and it has NEVER gotten me lost, never. Previous models at least got me lost once. I am more than pleased I made the investment in this little puppy. Fast, easy to see (even in bright conditions, better than prior Garmins I had). It's worth the extra bucks to get this vs. others, well worth it and I could not be more pleased now.

Read Best Reviews of Garmin nüvi 265/265T 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic Here

I live in San Jose CA and drive in the bay area of San Francisco.

I have had the unit about 2 weeks now.

Any gps unit that you buy today should lock on in seconds, give accurate directions, have a display that is not confusing and have a simple menu navigation system. It does all of these things well except give accurate directions.

My other gps the Tom Tom 130 does everything mentioned above well, but lacks the traffic feature so I will return it. But it always gives very good directions 100% of the time. I just wish it had the traffic capability and I would keep it.

The directions that the Nuvi 265 gives are accurate most of the time, but occasionally gives strange non optimized directions. I don't know if it is because of the traffic component or not. The directions that are not the best only lose about 5-10 minutes at the most.

The unit's philosophy is to have a minimalist view of everything. It only displays what you need to know based on the route you are taking.

My other complaint is that it takes about 5-10 minutes to access the traffic information. There is also no direct way to look at the traffic map. For example if your destination does not involve using the traffic feature, it won't display the traffic map. I wish I could just go to the traffic map directly.

What I like about the traffic is that it does route around problems and it gives warnings about slowdowns ahead, which is nice. So the traffic feature is nice to have and I wouldn't want a unit without it.

So my dilemma is that can I live with less than accurate directions some of the time in exchange for the free traffic that does work well when I am going through an area with traffic jams.

I am also considering the Dash Express and the Navigon 2200T which I may try out.

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

UPDATE Nov 21 2008

I am upgrading my rating to 4.9 stars

For in depth review see this site.

http://www.gpsmagazine.com/2008/11/garmin_nuvi_265wt_review.php

The reason is that while it gives inaccurate directions some of the time, it is only because I know a more direct route or I know that even though it gives a more direct route, those streets are slower, than a slightly longer way that I know through experience. So you buy a gps for when you DON'T KNOW where your going, not where you do know where your going.

The traffic functionality does pop up right away during rush hour, (within a few minutes). If shows you problems and how far they are away. You can see a traffic map by going through a few screens and unzooming. It also shows a yellow or red colored line next to the road if you are in a traffic jam and when it will end. So overall it works really well. I also read that Navteq traffic (the free FM) works better than MSN paid service according to this site.

http://www.gpsreview.net/traffic/

I read here that Dash is no longer selling new units, although on their site it shows that they do, they cut 50% of their staff and want to focus on selling their traffic software to other companies. See this page and scroll down.

http://www.gpsmagazine.com/

I am getting the Navigon 2200T to try out but consumer reports rates it very low, compared to the 265WT. In fact the only other serious competitor to the 265, on consumer reports, for the price is the Garmin Nuvi 760, its an older model, which costs about the same as the 265, but you have to pay for traffic at $10 a month and it has some other extra features, none of which I would use.

My only real complaint is the non qwerty keyboard, which bugs me. The only reason that they don't have it is to get you to buy the 265WT which does have it. So the trade of might be to get the 265WT just for qwerty keyboard. I also like the fact that you can transfer addresses directly from Mapquest or Google maps through the computer cable, which is nice.

Sure if it was perfect it could have reality view lane selector, 3-D maps, voice recognition, historical traffic info, directions to which side of the street, instant Dash Express like traffic interface, ipod connection, fm to car radio input, better cell phone integration(I don't use this), XM satellite reception and everything else you can think of.

But for now it does have very good traffic options, good directions, very fast response time, nice responsive touch screen, and a very affordable price which is now $40 less than I paid only 2 weeks ago $239.

So someone show me how you can get something better for the price or close to it.

Want Garmin nüvi 265/265T 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic Discount?

I purchased this for my mother. Fortunately, I was able to get it working for her. The traffic receiver didn't work out of the box. The included instructions didn't include registering on-line or downloading the required updates. My mother would not have known how to do this on her own.

I succesfully registered the device with Garmin.com and downloaded the firmware and software updates. After a couple restarts of the device, it recognized the FM traffic receiver and worked flawlessly.

Overall, it's a great GPS. However, I'm disappointed that Garmin doesn't provide decent instructions about downloading updates.

I had a Garmin c320 for a few years that I was mostly happy with, but I was ready to upgrade after hearing about some of the new features. Here are the highlights that, in my opinion, make this GPS the best bang for your buck.

* Like all Garmins, the interface is designed for ease of use. My grandparents use a Garmin. However, if you are looking for customization, you might want to consider a TomTom.

* The routing engine is very good. Caveat: Be wary that the points of interest (POI) addresses may be inaccurate. If you have a specific address, enter it!

* The 265T is much quicker at getting a satellite lock when turning on than my c320. Starting from power on, usually about 10-15 seconds vs. 1-2 minutes before.

* The traffic service is free (ad-supported). Other makes and models require a subscription, which I'm not a big fan of. The ads are unobtrusive and appear only on startup and on arriving at your destination.

* Text to speech

* The new interface is much more helpful, specifically, the upcoming turn direction indicator.

The higher end Garmin features, such as lane assist, 3-D building view, mp3 player, etc. seem superfluous to me. Voice recognition would be cool, but the 855 and 885T models are very expensive. If you want a widescreen model, the 265WT is exactly the same except for a bigger screen. Still, I don't have any problem reading the 265T's screen and its approx. $50 cheaper.

P.S. I would highly recommend getting the Garmin Friction Mount as well. This will prevent suction cup rings on your windshield, to reduce your profile for theft.

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KICKER 09IK150W iKICK Digital Stereo System for iPod/iPhone with AM/FM Tuner and Alarm (White)

• Compatible with 4G or newer iPod/iPhone/iPhone 3GS
• Tuned-port enclosure with 3-Inch full-range woofers & integrated amplifier with DSP for enhanced bass response & signature KICKER sound
• Charges in standby mode
• Dual-alarm feature
• AM/FM tuner with wake-to-alarm, radio, or iPod

We have 2 Bose systems, compared the sound, guess what; the Kicker wins hands down. Plus, you can adjust the treble and bass on the Kicker. The sound is great. If it just had a remote control, it would be perfection. Love it!

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Very nice I have enjoyed listening to loooouud music when I want to.

I highly recommened this product for anyone who likes waking up to music or just cranking it up.

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DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT!

After settting up the ikicker 150 the unit stopped working after 2 days. I diagnosed the power supply and it was working properly. I even used a second power supply but the unit did not power up.

When it did work seating th ipod was trivcky you had to place it just so and hope the coneection wouds stay.

Sound quality is okay heard better.

Stay away ftom this product!

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Tripp Lite ECO550UPS 550VA 300W UPS Eco Green Battery Back Up Compact 120V USB RJ11, 8 Outlets

• Protects PCs and peripherals from downtime, damage and data loss due to power problems
• Saves up to $50 on annual energy costs
• 99% power efficiency saves energy around the clock
• Energy-saving ECO surge outlets automatically turn off idle equipment
• Free PowerAlert software for safe unattended computer shutdown and file saves

I purcased one of these UPS units in April of 2011. After about 6 months it failed to supply backup power for even 30 seconds and will not pass it's own self test. I contacted Tripp-Lite Customer Service who responded quickly and send me a replacement unit immediately. They didn't even require me to send the defective unit back to them. Now the replacement unit occasionally shuts itself off for no reason at all. I have to leave it off for at least a minute to keep it from starting up with a failure alarm, which will sound a loud beep every minute while the unit is on. This is the only UPS model by Tripp-Lite I've ever used and after two units showing problems in less than a year I think I'll stay away from them. I've used Tripp-Lite surge protectors for years without a problem but their UPS units, at least this particular model, seem to fall short in the reliability department. Kudos for their Customer Service people though. That's the reason I give this product two stars instead of just one.

Buy Tripp Lite ECO550UPS 550VA 300W UPS Eco Green Battery Back Up Compact 120V USB RJ11, 8 Outlets Now

I read a convincing and information packed ad for Tripp Lite in PC World that prompted me to purchase it. Also a family member stressed that I should have one in case of an outage. My former surge protector had its limitations so it was time for a change. The eco550UPS comes with 8 outlets, 4 for surge protection and the other 4 are energy savers for peripheral hardware. Supposedly using the "550" will save one about $50 per year in energy costs based on 3 hours of computer use daily. The manual is poorly worded and flimsy. For example, the manual gives very brief and confusing directions for the installation of the UBS wire. In addition, the manual has to be downloaded from the Tripp Lite website, which I find to be an annoying inconvenienceTripp Lite ECO550UPS 550VA Energy Efficient UPS System Black. Another unique feature of the "550" is the "Power Alert Console" software (downloaded from the website) which tracks disruptions in your system. My power alert does not work and crashes every time I try to use it. I called, at my expense, Tripp Lite, but, after several suggestions from its tech staff the issue was still unresolved. Tripp Lite dismissed is as a Windows issue and they could not help me. If one has problems with the unit, you either call tech support at your expenses or send an email. It takes two days for a response so depending on the nature of your problem that can be a very long time to wait. Once one receives a reply, the tech staff will correspond with you most of that day to resolve the issue, which is what they did for me. Another important point is that the unit is an actual battery, which means that once the unit "expires", you have to buy another one. Tech stated that the unit, depending on use and care, should last 3 to 5 years. I was under the impression that you simply put a new battery into the unit to recharge it but it does not work that way. Despite these shortcomings, I'd recommend it. It's easy to install, fits on my desk, provides protection for my system, eliminate crashes from sudden electrical surges, and will alert me if there is an overload or the battery is weak. Tech support is there, albeit somewhat slower than anticipated.

Read Best Reviews of Tripp Lite ECO550UPS 550VA 300W UPS Eco Green Battery Back Up Compact 120V USB RJ11, 8 Outlets Here

Backup part would not stay on with just the computer plugged in. Finally switched with another backup we already had and put it on a security camera system for it to work.

Want Tripp Lite ECO550UPS 550VA 300W UPS Eco Green Battery Back Up Compact 120V USB RJ11, 8 Outlets Discount?

Because of power pulses (very short losses of power due to high winds and grid issues)I experienced some computer issues and in particular, a hard drive that became unusual due to a boot sector problem. Since I was really not looking for a UPS that could power me through a blackout, this little baby did the trick. It provides smooth, constant power even when the lights flicker and gives me time to do a powered shut down. I have been using it for over a month and so far no problems. Pros are that Windows 7 automatically senses it when the USB hookup is attached to my computer and knows that there is a battery backup and allows for native Windows power management. Cons are that the manual is almost non-existent, the on line software is cryptic and I never figured out how to install a "power down" application in case we loose power for an extended period. Time will tell how long the battery lasts and how much it will cost to replace it when it does. Overall, this unit performs the functions I bought it for and the price was only marginally more than a "fancy" surge protector.

Save 45% Off

I'm not sure if I received a defective unit or the unit was just undersized for my application. In any event it kept acting like it was overloaded even when I only had my laptop, router and modem plugged into it. I sent it back. Amazon's return process is excellant.

I bought a new battery for my old Tripp Lite unit that is larger. It had served me very well for several years and with the new battery is working fine once again. I'm happy with Tripp Lite, just not that particular unit.

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Denon AVR4810CI 9.3-Channel Multi-Zone Home Theater Receiver with Networking Capability and 1080p HD

• Networking capability opens up your AV system to audio and jpeg photo streaming and Internet radio.
• Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital Surround EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIz decoding
• DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS-HD High Resolution, DTS ES 6.1 Discrete, DTS ES 6.1 Matrix, DTS Neo:6 decoding
• Audyssey Dynamic Sound Expansion with front height and/or expanded width channels, with maximum 11.3 channel capability
• Audyssey MultEQ XT, Dynamic Volume, Dynamic EQ; Audyssey Pro Installer ready

Initially, I went through the struggle of choosing separates (pre-amplifier and amplifiers) versus a receiver (where the pre-amp and amplifier functionality is built-in to one unit). I liked the flexibility of having separate components in case I decide to make changes in the future, but simply did not have the space in my audio area to accommodate multiple pieces, hence my choice to look at receivers. There were many receivers to choose from and I found the Denon to be at my sweet spot for value, function, performance, aesthetics and simplicity.

This beast of a receiver is one step below Denon's flagship AVR-5308ci. The AVR-4810ci delivers 9 amazingly clean channels of amplification without breaking a sweat. The GUI-driven menu takes a little getting used to, but after 4 or 5 uses, the menu becomes second nature. There's a plethora of inputs and outputs, and the capability to handle 3 subwoofers coupled with 9 channels for front, front height and/or width, surround, surround back and center channels allows for enormous flexibility with room for future expansion. There are 6 HDMI inputs (with one in the front panel behind the flip down door). Built-in WiFi allows for integration of other networkable sources in your home with no mess or fuss. Having Napster and Rhapsody online access built-in is extremely convenient and very easy to use. Satellite radio (XM and Sirius) can be handled by this beauty as can HD radio. With the USB input, you can playback photos or audio. Freely assignable amplifiers allows for bi-amping, bi-wiring and multiple zones (up to 4) throughout your home. This receiver can even control your iPod on-screen via the USB digital direct connection.

The initial setup process is quick and simple, thanks the Audyssey MultEQ XT Room Equalizer that allows the receiver to setup all of your speakers' time and frequency response, for up to eight positions which is very handy if you have more than one person frequenting your listening area.

The Advanced AL24 Processing Multi Channel features improved dynamics, so my sources sound phenomenal. The 1080p HDMI output via Anchor Bay's advanced VRS processing (using the ABT-2010 chip) and excellent scaling capability makes all of your sources look simply superb! Even your analog sources can be unconverted and scaled to 1080p!!

As usual, Denon's Dynamic Discrete Surround Circuit (D.D.S.C-HD) provides for amazing sonic detail and extended range, with Burr-Brown 24-bit/192-kHz digital-to-audio converters for all channels, rather than just the front two. Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoders ensure amazing reproduction of your favorite Blu-Ray discs. As a bonus, you get dual HDMI outputs if you want to output to other rooms or to handle situations where you might have both a video projector and an HDTV flat panel in your theater.

The "ci" designation means that the receiver supports custom integration features if you choose to do some advanced setup or are having the receiver professionally installed/integrated into your home.

If there's one thing about this unit that I didn't like, it's the EL remote. I found the remote a bit clumsy to use and don't really use it much for controlling the receiver once initial settings are accomplished (as I use my Harmony universal remote instead). I also think the User Manual could use some tweaking to make the instruction flows easier to understand.

I heartily recommend this receiver and have not regretted my purchase for even a second! Good luck with your choices and no matter what, ENJOY!

Buy Denon AVR4810CI 9.3-Channel Multi-Zone Home Theater Receiver with Networking Capability and 1080p HD Now

I researched the features of many high end recievers and settled on this one for the many HDMI in and outputs, the wireless, the DLNA, the internet radio. It turned out to be an awesome receiver except for the malfunctioning wireless. The wireless did in fact work properly until it hooked up to the net and downloaded a firmware update.

I set it up to connect to my wireless router right off, using the security settings I had previously used in the Dlink router, with no problem. Once the new firmware was installed the wireless was no longer able to connect to my Dlink router using any security. It would indeed connect using no security but what good is that when everything else on my router uses security. I even tried 2 other routers to ensure it wasn't a router problem. It had to have initially connected properly using security because it downloaded new firmware via the wireless.

I called Denon tech support and was told there was no way to go back to the previous firmware and I could ship it back to be checked out but I was assured no part of the firmware dealt with with any part of the wireless. The box and packaging it shipped in was hardly capable of enduring another trip so I decided to wait till another firmware update was downloaded in hopes of a fix for the wireless function and I am presently using a wired ethernet setup. The box it shipped in seemed sturdy but the interior packaging was broken up during the original shipping making any further use of it very questionable.

The receiver is a very heavy unit due to the hefty components used to build it. Prior to this receiver I have used four Pioneer receivers, two sony receivers, and a Sherwood. This is definitely the most involved and configurableversatile receiver up till now. This is far superior to anything I have used so far.

A feature I also chose this unit for was the Hi Def FM. I live in a very rural area that can hardly pick up stations using analog FM but this unit receives many digital stations excellently using the included FM "T" antenna. One of the FM features that only work on the most powerful stations are the music information data that streams imbedded in the FM signal. It still picks up many stations with no dropouts, but only shows the frequency used with no other details of song, genre, etc. on the weaker stations.

I am currently only using the main zone set to 9.3 surround. I have 3 subwoofers and have the speakers set up to use the Front Hi and Front Wide extra speakers, for a total of 9 surround sound speakers and three subs. I have plans to use the extra HDMI output to a second room with a separate receiver and TV.

The Denon receiver has so many HDMI inputs that I am not even using the other main feature I bought it for, the up-scaling to HDMI from analog inputs.

The 140 watts per 9 channels is awesome. It runs warm but not hot. There are 9 separate sets of speaker binder connectors on the back plus even more pre in and pre outs for use with other components including pre-out outputs for 3 subwoofers.

The front panel display could seriously be larger to be of any use. I have to stand right in front of it to use the display for settings or information, hence I use the TV on screen display for all settings and usage.

It has two remotes but both are infrared. You would think that the secondary remote intended for use in other rooms would be RF since the unit does have a wireless antenna. In lieu of that the unit should have included an infrared remote extender.

A feature I didn't realize it had when researching is the ability to preset input, audio settings, volume level, and then set all possible settings to a one button choice. You get it set to exactly how you want to recall then press one of three buttons for a few seconds and presto it can be recalled via the front panel buttons or on both the remotes. I really like that particular function since there are so many variable settings you can change.

Overall I can't rave enough about the power, flexibility, configurability, fit and finish of this receiver. The only cons for me are 1the wireless malfunction, 2the non RF remote, 3the shipping box and packaging weren't quite up to handling the heft of this unit.

Update 4-24-2011;

After using the receiver for a couple of months I am less and less enthused by it. Now the unit will not connect to the internet to receive updates or internet radio. I also cannot connect to the unit via IP address to control it through its built-in webpage. My router shows it has assigned an IP to it but typing that IP into the web browser gets a "cannot display web page error". Also the unit has developed a problem of not switching the HDMI video signal when selecting different sources. I have to switch sources then power the unit off and back on to see video on the TV. This problem is also occuring when switching from non-video sources like Hi-def radio. It seems to have a gradual decay of its features functionality. I may have to end up sending the unit off to a repair facility since 1) denon says to repair the firmware it needs to go to their repair facility and 2) now it cannot connect to the net even via ethernet cable as well as wireless.

Update 6-11-2011

Ok, so I paid the 84 dollars to UPS the unit back for repair. (They only pay for shipping back to you) It got there ok and they replaced the DM80 board. That fixed the wireless issue and other things. Now that it is back home it has developed another problem. When I switch channels on my Direct tv box the audio coming out of the Receiver stops, goes silent. Changing inputs the sudio works there so far but I have to power the receiver off then back on to get audio on the new channel of direct tv. What a P.O.S. So do I send it back for more repairs??? another 84 dollars, another 3 weeks without the unit? The warranty clock is ticking, hmmm. More later after MORE issues develop.

Read Best Reviews of Denon AVR4810CI 9.3-Channel Multi-Zone Home Theater Receiver with Networking Capability and 1080p HD Here

I have owned this reciever for just over 2 months now and I can say that this is top rate gear and really does seem to have it all. There is no way that you would be disappointed with the functionality it offers, however, this is not in any way a unit for the beginner. You need to have some understanding of home entertainment systems, as the customizable functions are tremendous but need to be used properly. There are many features most importantly, Audyssey sound processing, Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD master audio. The unit has so many options; you have to know it really well to get the best out of it. The back panel is absolutely littered with connection options. Denon has color coded and labeled them well, so following the manual is relatively hassle-free.If you are serious about your music(and video)then this is your reciever.

Want Denon AVR4810CI 9.3-Channel Multi-Zone Home Theater Receiver with Networking Capability and 1080p HD Discount?

I have owned the 4810ci since Sept 2009.

It is an amazing unit! I have 3 Emotiva amps (XPA-1,XPA-2 & XPA-5) and am using only 4 of the

4810's internal amp channels for the heights and wides.

It sounds exceptional. I had 5.1/7.1 for many years and although it was very good,

11.1/3 sounds so much better. The realism is amazing. Sometimes it gives me goosebumps.

I have over 700 movies (120+ Blu Ray's) and I find myself watching my old DVD's (on my

OPPO player) and am very pleased with the results. It breathes new life into them.

My audio/video room is now filled with amazing sound.

I live just outside of Nashville so as you can imagine, there are musicians/singers everywhere.

I have had a couple of pretty famous people, in addition to professional musicians, over to watch

movies and listen to some music. They are blown away by the sound.

Once I played an old song (Van Halen's Dancing In The Street) and had it cranked up.

With my pretty efficient speakers (92dB to 96dB), I can get it pretty loud (120+ dB on

my Radio Shack SPL meter). Two of the musicians just sat there (even after I turned it down) with

their mouths open. One said they had never heard something so clean and so loud outside of a

concert. The other said he was hardly ever envious of anything anyone else had, but my system

sounded amazing. Another very well known singer told me it sounded so clear it was like

a recording studio.

Am I saying this is the best system out there? No, absolutely not... What I do know from experience

is; I have never heard one that sounded better overall. I have aditioned many systems with some well over

100,000.00. Some were a little "clearer" (one in particular was a pair of Martin Logan's powered by

a couple of Mark Levinson Monoblocks. It sounded a little clearer but would not go anywhere near as loud as

my system.) I looked at Anthem, Parasound, Meridian, Krell, Theta, Integra, Outlaw, Lexicon, Mcintosh,etc. and

some were very expensive. Some sounded great and others were kind of "laid back" in my opinion.

I was seeking something that would give me a realistic natural sound. I also look at Value, not just

to brag about brand names. I think we may sometimes purchase some high end items and then think we

can tell a big difference from something else just so we can justify our purchase in our minds.

Nobody wants to be thought of as a fool. I have made a few Expensive mistakes in the past myself.

This Audio/Video thing can be addicting. I know of people who spend tens of thousands,every year or

two,just tryng to get that perfect realistic sound but they always fall just a little short.

I also went to Emotiva's "Emofest" and auditioned their then new UMC-1 as well as their speakers.

The UMC-1 is an incredible value. A Nice Unit (Their speakers are nice also).

For the price I'm not sure anything out there can beat it. I left wanting just a little bit more.

I knew their amps were spectacular (especially the XPA-1). I am one of the few that drives my amps until they

get too hot to touch sometimes. I have an open air rack but had to buy a vertical fan to blow on them during

extended party type sound.

I also purchased a ERC-1 (a great product but that is another story)...

I have owned several Denon's in the past and although I liked the units, I always felt their internal amplification

was the weak point of their receivers (as is with most receivers). That is one reason I looked elsewhere when it was time to

upgrade. I also wanted to get a system that sounded extraordinary. I thought I had to spend some major bucks

but it turned out I did not have to.

When I read about 11.1 I had to test drive it. I purchased the AVR-4810ci and was Very Pleased with it's

sound. What a bargain! The Preamp/Processor section of the 4810 Is Very, Very, Good.

I have some friends (online)that have had network card issues with their 4810's. One friend in particular had 3

units fail on him and he finally gave up and bought a 4311. I also thought about getting a 4311 because it is a

newer unit and has some new upgrades. I didn't because I think it may be a small step down especialy in the DAC's.

I would buy a "4811" if Denon ever comes out with one, just for the newest and greatest.

For right now, my 4810 works Perfect and it always has.

I say all of the above to say this; You CAN pay a lot more for a pre/pro/receiver and probably get a little better

sound. I believe the difference is incremental and may be hard to differentiate. But when you throw in the 11.1, the 4810

is a hands down winner! Do not listen to the people who tell you 11.1 does not make a difference. I do not care how many

channels are matrixed or whatever, go and listen to a well set up system and you decide! It always makes me smile.

My only fear is 11.1 does not seem to be catching on as fast as I had hoped. I hope by the time I upgrade it will still be available

on the newer units.

One thing to remember is to get 11.1 on the 4810, you need at least one 2 channel external amp. Try any of Emotiva amps, you

will not be sorry. Also buy the longest and best warranty you can afford in case you do have any issues.

Amazon.com is a great place to shop!

Blessings To All!

Do not buy this unit. I am now on my third Denon AVR-4810CI Receiver in 45 days. One failed after 3 days, the other after 5 days and now the third has failed after 29 days. Each was successfully returned for exchange. The unit is great when it works, but the reliability is horrible. The unit is very complex and feature rich and it takes a full day to install it and go through the setup routines. I have done this three times now. I have also spent much time with Denon tech support on the phone and their web mail. The Denon technicians run the range from "must read the script" novices to "jump right in" experts. None were able to solve my issues short of returning the unit(s). Failures started with the networking features going dead. Then the HDMI input port switching refused to function without first powering the unit OFF and then ON, and finally the audio features went dead. I believe these are software issues, because the failures do not appear to be hard failures as with a hardware component. Anyway buy at your own risk. I am returning my third unit and switching to another brand. This unit is not ready for prime time.

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Oregon Scientific Rm313pa Exactset Fixed Projection Alarm Clock

I've had four of these clocks so far and only two have survived. Don't get me wrong... it's a GREAT clock with easy and logical buttons and features, but one was dead on arrival and another one lost half of its print on the screen after only two months. BUY ONE LOCALLY if possible and definately save your receipt and packaging so that you can return or exchange it if it acts up. When we bought our first one several years ago, it was REALLY expensive. Recently, I found one at my local Target and it was much more reasonable. This clock is great for me as an adult and two of my children use it as well. The time projection on the ceiling is a nice feature for children that sleep in a top bunk bed. It's easy for a young child to turn the alarm on at night and off in the morning. My six year old uses his faithfully. The time is dead-on accurate and doesn't have to be re-set after a power failure. All busy moms should appreciate that feature. From now on, I will always buy an atomic clock for my kids!

I was very surprised to see such a nice product at such a nice price. The automatic synchronization, and the projection are features you can't find in any other clocks at this price. My main gripes are:

* You can't change the orientation of the projection. I'd like to have the clock facing me when I look at it from bed, but if the clock is facing you, the projection will be side-ways.

* As someone else mentioned, if you change the time manually, the clock will not synchronize. This is very frustrating because the clock will not initially be set, and you have to wait up to 72 hours for it to synchronize. Your clock is totally useless during this time. If you manually set it, you will have to reset it for it to synchronize. This is not well documented in the manual. I found this process to be frustrating, but now that it's set up, it works well.

Even with these two shortcomings, I give it 4 starts because it's a nice product for a nice price.

Buy Oregon Scientific Rm313pa Exactset Fixed Projection Alarm Clock Now

Design and function collide in this so-very-cool little alarm clock. Available in several colors (red, blue, purple, clear), it's easy to find a clock to match the decor of whichever room its intended for and with the modern curvy design, it looks almost as much like a decoration as it does an alarm clock. But it's no dust-catcher this little clock (actual size, according to the manufacturer is 4.25" x 2.5" x 4.5") works 24/7 sending radio signals to the U.S. Atomic Clock in Boulder, Colorado one of the world's most accurate timepieces. This allows the ExactSet clock to maintain the exact time, even going so far as to update itself for Daylight Savings Time!

Even with minimal instruction-reading, this clock is amazingly easy to program and use. The first thing to do is use the clearly-labeled 'ZONE' button on the clock's face to choose your time zone Pacific, Mountain, Central or Eastern. A small map of the United States on the clock's LCD screen allows you to see the time zone that you have chosen, making the process error-proof (as long as you know where you live!)

The clock automatically synchronizes the time and date via radio wave to the U.S. Atomic Clock. A Signal Strength Indicator on the LCD screen shows how strong the clock's signal is at any given time. While the instruction manual maintains that complete synchronization may take up to 72 hours, my clock reached full signal strength in less than five minutes.

The ExactSet alarm clock comes equipped with two AA batteries as well as an AC power adapter.

The overall design of this clock makes for easy information retrieval and it will tell you whatever you want to know the time, including seconds, the date and day of the week, and will even keep the time for which the alarm is set visible for future reference. Just a touch of a button allows you to choose what information you want displayed on the LCD screen at any given time.

The coolest feature of this clock, though, has to be the projection display. With the AC adapter in use, the time is projected in large, red numbers onto the ceiling above the clock. (I was worried at first that my husband would not be able to tolerate the projection feature as he requires total darkness in order to sleep well however, the numbers are a very visible yet very muted color that doesn't light up the room at all.) Oregon Scientific thought of everything with this clock, and a prime example is the angled projection. Assuming that most people will place the clock beside a bed, the projection unit is angled so that the time doesn't appear directly above the clock. I found that, upon waking, I didn't have to strain and careen my neck to find the time it was positioned directly above my head where I saw it first thing upon wakening. (If the AC adapter is not used, then the time is not projected continuously. More about that in a minute...

Before actually trusting the alarm to wake me up, I wanted to hear it and what I heard made me a little nervous at first. The alarm is a series of short, repetitive 'beeps'. Well after using my 70's model alarm clock that sounded a loud, terrifying blast (and having slept through it on more than one occasion nonetheless), I thought there was no way this little beep was going to wake this bedhead. I set the alarm for 6:30 a.m. and then set my old behemoth for 6:45 just in case. Well just imagine my surprise when I woke up at exactly 6:30 the next morning and indeed, for the mornings after to nothing more than a series of beeps! After just a few days, the decrepit blaring alarm clock was relegated to the guest room...

Like any good alarm clock, the ExactSet has a snooze button conveniently located on top of the unit. One tap and the offending alarm goes away for eight minutes before sounding again. Pressing the snooze button also activates a blue HiGlo backlight to illuminate the clock's LCD screen for about five seconds. (Were you *not* to be using the AC adapter, pressing the snooze button also causes the time to project on the ceiling again, for about five seconds.)

Setting the wakeup time is also a snap with this clock just a button here and a button there and the time is set. Another wonderful discovery on my part, since setting my old clock often took several attempts. The ExactSet clock is this user's epitome of "user-friendly".

The ExactSet is hands down the most easy to use yet technologically sophisticated timepiece I have ever had the pleasure to use. Cool enough in design to appeal to children and teenagers, it's every adult alarm clock user's dream come true.

Read Best Reviews of Oregon Scientific Rm313pa Exactset Fixed Projection Alarm Clock Here

Purchased this so my 7-year old can wake up on his own for school. I checked several stores and was dissapointed to find nothing suitable for a child (didn't want radio, CD, telephone, and other features).

** Pros **

1. Very compact size, fits good next to bed

2. AC adapter with battery backup (even came with batteries)

3. LCD display doesn't have annoying illumination while trying to sleep. Blue "glow" activates only when very easy to find button is pressed

4. Straight forward buttons and controls that took about 2-3 minutes for my 7-year old to learn. Buttons are a good size and are not real hard to press.

5. Great styling as a kids clock

6. The projection feature is a BIG hit. Projects about 4" high numbers on ceiling.

7. Projection intensity is good for laying in bed at night without lighting up the whole room

8. Decent construction for the $$$

** Cons **

1. None for my particular application

NOTE: If you are looking for a projection clock to use during the day (visible projection in sunlight), you will be extremely disappointed

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This is a fun and useful clock! My boyfriend got me this for Christmas, and now I know why. He plays with it every chance he gets. The first night, he must have hit the illuminate button 15 times in 5 minutes.

Now some serious comments:

For those who worry that the projection on the ceiling will bother you don't worry, it doesn't. I'm an extremely light sleeper who needs complete darkness, but the projection of the clock doesn't bother me at all.

I agree that the projection should rotate based on where you position the clock.

Also, the only way to see the clock in the dark is to push the illumination button which lasts for 5 seconds. So if you're trying to set the alarm in the dark, you have to keep pushing the button, kind of a pain.

For me the clock synchronized in about 10 minutes, so that was no problem.

Again well worth the low price, and one of the more useful gimmicks I've seen.

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Philips Speaker Dock for iPod/iPhone/iPad DS1210/37

• This sleek Fidelio fills your mornings with delightfully rich music. Perfect for the bedside,
• Philips iPod/iPhone/iPad Speaker Dock
• Philips Product
• It tells time, wakes you up, works as a nightlight and charges up to two iPods, iPhones or iPads together.

After purchasing the Philips Fidelio DS7700, I was excited to try the Philips DS1210 Speaker Dock. The DS1210, made in China, seems like a technologogically advanced alarm clock featuring dual charging capacity, speakers, an internal battery incase of power failures, a digital clock, and glowing night light in a stylish black weave exterior with brushed aluminum accents.

Like the Philips Fidelio DS7700 Docking Speaker, the DS1210 is compatible with all 30-pin connector based iPod, iPhone, and iPad models and can typically be used without removing your iDevice from its case. Both speaker docks produce full rich sound, significantly improve iDevice audio, and make use of the Fidelio app.

The Fidelio app, when connected to the internet and used with the DS1210, includes playback controls, a multi-function alarm clock, music collection browsing, sharing via Facebook and Twitter, access to more than 7,000 internet radio stations and podcasts, and displays current local weather conditions.

When I originally installed the Fidelio app on my iPad 2 and iPhone 4, the app would intermittently fail to work with seemingly no pattern to the problem. I browsed Philip's speaker dock product page and found the solution in the frequently asked questions. This problem occurs when the app is installed on devices with iOS 4.3 or prior. To resolve the issue, delete the Fidelio app from your iDevice, install the latest iOS, then reinstall the Fidelio app from the app store.

Once the Fidelio app stabilized, I found I didn't want to use it. The alarm clock requires the app to be running for use, browsing and listening to the internet radio stations quickly loses its interest, podcasts require more effort than using iTunes, and the app doesn't integrate with Pandora accounts. Philips attempts to enrich the Fidelio experience may be successful for some, but not for me. If it weren't for the audio setting capabilities on the DS7700, I would remove the app from my iDevices.

The DS1210 docking speaker, unlike the Fidelio DS7700, hides the Fidelio app's Dynamic Bass Boost (DBB) and equalizer settings for sound customization. There isn't much difference between these speaker's default output, but the DS1210 sounds a little flat by comparison and could use some adjusting. The DS1210 doesn't have Bluetooth connectivity either, requiring the iDevice to be docked for listening to audio while preventing use of your iDevice for other activities. The absence of these features significantly diminishes the DS1210's value which the price difference attempts to address.

The inclusion of the night light with two settings and a 15 minute auto shut off is a nice touch. The brightness settings are visually different; however the brightest option is too dim to see anything beyond the general docking speaker area. Plus the ability to charge two items, using your own USB charging cable, simultaneously allows me to charge my iPhone and iPad together. Since my bed side outlet powers this speaker dock and a table lamp, the duo charging option is nice to have, even if I don't regularly make use of it.

When it comes down to it, the Fidelio DS1210 speaker dock is nothing more than a speaker charging station with a no frills digital clock. This speaker dock feels like an alarm clock, but its capabilities rely on a tedious app. If it were priced in the 50-60 dollar range, I'd consider it a worthy purchase, but at its current price I wouldn't buy nor recommend purchasing the Fidelio DS1210.

PROS:

One year limited warranty

Certified to meet Apple standards

Dock any iPod, iPhone, iPad, in many cases

Charges two items simultaneously

CONS:

MSRP overpriced and poor value

Relies too much on a tedious app

Cannot listen to audio while using your iDevice

Buy Philips Speaker Dock for iPod/iPhone/iPad DS1210/37 Now

I have been looking for a nice dock for my iPhone for awhile, my old iHome unit not being compatible with my newest iPhone. When the Philips Docking Speaker came available via Amazon Vine, I jumped at the chance to review it. It has all I want in a docking station and even more. Its unique design enables the user to dock/charge one item while charging another via USB port hidden at the rear of the unit. But, wait! There's more! The Fidelio app (it's free) turns your device into an internet radio, multi-function alarm clock, and, for you in tornado alley (and others), a weather alert system. As a middle-aged grandmother I'm still nearly as obsessed with my electronic toys as the younger generation is. What I am really happy about is that this has a limited one-year warranty. That tells me the company stands by the quality of its product. Something I think is super cool is that the docking station will automatically synchronize with your electronic device. The unit is compact --just a little bit wider than the iPad itself. But the compact size seems to have its limits. The first time I placed my iPad (with its cover) on the dock it was very wobbly. It wanted to bowl right over the front. I finally got it balanced -but it was still not very stable, despite the fact that it's advertised it works for iPhone (have one) iPod (have several) and iPad -with cover (my latest obsession). I'm really leery about just leaving it there for any amount of time. There is a small plastic "kickstand" for want of a better description--that you'd think would hold it in place. But it doesn't I think I will just use it for my iPhone for the most part. Hopefully with future designs. Philips will change this small kickstand for either a bigger one or provide several sizes for use with the different devices. As a speaker/dock system for the iPhone and iPod, this unit delivers. The jury is still out on whether it is totally functional for use with the iPad. I'll amend this review should I decide it works well, or doesn't work at all for the iPad.

Read Best Reviews of Philips Speaker Dock for iPod/iPhone/iPad DS1210/37 Here

I just received this item this morning. I was looking for a dock for my iPad that I could have on my desk at work since I use my iPad all day long in meetings, etc it would be nice to have a home for it when I'm at my desk working to keep the battery charged. This dock works great for that purpose. I don't really utilize the speakers that much since I am in an office environment however down low it is clear and easy to hear.

What I love most about this dock is that I use the Incase Convertible Magazine Jacket Hard case for web tablet rubber black Apple iPad and a lot of charging bases including apples own don't allow the ipad to be docked without removing the case. This dock however has plenty of room to allow the iPad to sit on the dock with the case on and the cover folded back behind it. This is exactly what I was looking for.

I also love the lighting and clock built into the dock. Early mornings when I am at the office before everyone the lights are typically off. Having the little light on it and clock are just nice touches.

I also downloaded the free Fidelio app mainly because when I docked my ipad it said it wasn't installed and allowed me to go straight to the iTunes app store to download it on my iPad. Made it very easy. As for the app, I'm not impressed with the "home screen" of it and wished they would spruce it up to look better. But it does show you the current audio you are listening to including album art, the time in either analog or digital format and also the weather for your local area based upon where the GPS thinks you are.

Overall very pleased with this, it is exactly what I wanted since it charges the iPad without having to remove the case, keeps my iPad on so I can view documents, etc without battery drain and doesn't sound bad at all down low.

One con I do have is there is no audio out or sync ports on this which means you can't use headphones with this dock (minor point) and you can't connect this to your computer to sync through it. Although with iOS 5 and the new wifi sync that really is no longer needed.

I recommend this so far from the few hours I've been playing with it. Very nice.

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To visualize this unit on a nightstand, it is a bit longer than a rectangular DVD case, and a tinier bit wider. Or, if you open up a standard CD jewel case and lay it flat, the length is from one edge of one side of the jewel case cover to the center of the spindle on the opposite side of the jewel case. So this Philips Speaker Dock has a fairly compact footprint, making it only slightly more obtrusive than my Sony Dream Machine Clock Radio with Dual Alarm.

When its nightlight feature is used, the pleasantly soft dimmable light emanates from the lower rim of the unit (as can be seen in one of the photos in Amazon's display). The light of the clock is also dimmable, and when lit it shines through the sheer black fabric that covers all but the night light portion, bottom, docking section, and USB and AC power port areas of the unit. (The areas on the unit's bottom that come in contact with your nightstand or whatever surface the unit is on are rubber.)

If you are curious about the Fidelio app which this unit works with, you can download it for free at iTunes, check it out, and then delete it if you decide not to purchase one of the Philips docks the Fidelio app is designed to work with. Or you can watch a short tutorial video about the app at the Philips website (go to the site and enter DS1210/37 in the search box on the upper right, from the search results list select the result that has an url ending in "support" the first one on the list as I try it now, and on the support page click on the link that reads "Fidelio App" at the bottom left of the screen, below "instruction video's" [sic]).

What about the sound? Philips markets this unit as having "Surprisingly rich sound...Rich omnidirectional sound to fill your bedroom." It's true that the unit's monaural speaker is omnidirectional, but my experience is that the audio quality of the unit declines as the volume is raised, and that when the volume is set to a listening level that does not result in a noticeable decline in audio quality, it's hardly room filling (I tested it with rock and classical). The sound is superior to that of the aforementioned clock radio and the bass is better than I expected given the size of the unit, but I would rate the audio quality as just okay. (I heard better quality sound from the iHome iD84BZ App-Enhanced Dual Alarm Clock Radio for iPad/iPhone/iPod with AM/FM Presets that was in the last business expense Hyatt Regency hotel room I was in.)

There is a USB port next to the AC power port on the back of the unit, meaning that users can have one Apple device (iPad, iPhone, or iPad) charging on the dock and another charging via the USB port (for which users must have their own charging cable). I like this feature not only because it allows two devices to be charged at the same time, but because it allows one to use a device, e.g., an iPad, out of the dock while its sound is playing through the Philips DS1210/37 speaker. (Of course the charging cables that come with i-devices are short. I use a 3 meter or nearly 10 feet long, rugged Griffin iPad USB to Apple Dock Cable when I want serious freedom of movement; and BTW, if you're in the market for a Griffin 10 foot long cable, check your local WalMart for the best price.)

Another nice feature of the Philips DS1210/37, as reviewer J. Haggard mentions, is that the docking cradle can accommodate a first generation iPad when it is in a case or sleeve that many other docks will not accommodate (for example, the DS1210/37 is the only docking unit I've tried that enables me to dock my iPad when it's in the clever, useful, but at times awkward Joby Gorillamobile Ori Multipositional Aluminum Case for iPad.

I'm rating this unit 4 stars (for "I like it") rather than 5 ("I love it") mainly because I was underwhelmed by the audio given the MSRP. Like I said, I consider the sound quality okay, but for a single speaker unit with a MSRP of a hundred bucks, I think one should get better than okay. For purely subjective aesthetic reasons I don't care for the sheer fabric that covers the unit. I'm one of those guys who removes speaker grills whenever possible, so that may just be my idiosyncrasy. I do think the DS1210/37 would make a nice gift for yourself or anyone at all who is in need of a compact bedside table docking speaker alarm clock for an i-device (especially if the intended user has two such devices).

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Update 3/19 Philips just updated the app and amazingly it is worse than the previous version! Forget using this as an alarm clock, the app just crashes. Clearly Philips doesn't quality test their apps before releasing them.

This Philips alarm clock/speaker dock requires the Philips app to do anything other than set the time. (You cannot set an alarm with out the app installed on your iphone/ipad).

The app must continue to run in the background for the alarm to work, however the app constantly crashes! It crashes when you have an alarm set, it crashes when your listening to music from your iphone, radio station or pandora.

If Philips fixes the poorly designed app the Alarm clock/Speaker dock will be a great device. It has amazing sound and styling. However, until then it is a large mostly unusable digital clock.

Avoid this and any Philips device that requires the app.

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