Creative Labs GigaWorks T40 Premium 2.0 Multimedia Speaker System with BasXPort Technology

Creatives Labs

Nice Looking, Wonderful speakers
By Leon M. Bodevin "Do right and fear no man"(Lemoore, CA)
- See all my reviews

I'll admit that I was drawn to these speakers by their striking appearance. They are very attractive speakers and also seem very well built, as if Creative had spared no expense on the casing and yellow woven drivers. So that said, how good are these speakers? First off, when watching movies or television on my laptop, these are fantastic. They sound like surround sound and are very clear and very loud. I don't know how Creative got such great results from such a meager power rating (28 watts) but they did. These would be great for a living room if you wanted to attach them to a television. For music, you get similar clarity and volume. The bass is also very impressive and my friends did not believe me that there was not a subwoofer in there somewhere. That said, I noticed something that annoyed me when listening to music: the music sounded hollow somehow. It's a small complaint to an otherwise great set of speakers, but it is still annoying. For audiophiles, this will probably be an important issue so I would recommend my previous speakers (Philips MMS321 2.0, $65 on Amazon) as a better alternative. They are not quite as loud but the sound quality is comparable. The Philips also have more watts (40) and are considerably less expensive.

Update after several weeks of use: I've noticed that after a month or so of breaking these speakers in that they have improved dramatically. I no longer have any legitimate complaints about them whatsoever. When I listen to music on them now, the music sounds natural, very clear and vibrant. My friend has a set of Logitech 2.1 speakers that I was listening to the other day, and while his system has far more wattage and a separate subwoofer, the creatives are infinitely better. The sound on the logitechs sounded very artificial compared to the sound of these speakers.

Product Features

• Product Type - Speaker
• Localization - Eng/Fr
• System Components - 2.0 Speaker System
• - Dual woven glass fiber cone
• - Cloth dome tweeter

Technical Details

• Model: 51MF1585AA001
• Hardware Platform: PC
• Item Package Quantity: 1
• Height: 12.6 inches
• Width: 4.6 inches
• Depth: 5.9 inches
• Warranty: 1 year warranty

The Christopher Reeve Superman Collection

The Real Superman Returns!
By S. R. "supes" (USA) - See all my reviews

All of the Christopher Reeve Superman movies arrive on DVD once more after being given the V.I.P. treatment by WB! Here are the specs for this DVD set:








SUPERMAN THE MOVIE (Four-Disc Special Edition) contents:
DISC ONE
* Original 1978 theatrical version with soundtrack in Dolby Digital 5.1
* Commentary by producer Pierre Spengler and executive producer Ilya Salkind
* Theatrical trailers, TV Spots
DISC TWO
* 2001 expanded edition movie with commentary by director Richard Donner & consultant Tom Mankiewicz
* Soundtrack in Dolby Digital 5.1
* Music-only audio track
DISC THREE
* Taking Flight: The Development of Superman
* Making Superman: Filming the Legend
* The Magic Behind the Cape
* Restored scenes
* Screen tests
* Audio-only bonus: additional music cues
DISC FOUR
* The Making of Superman the Movie vintage TV special
* 1951 Movie Superman and the Mole-Men, starring George Reeves
* 9 Fleischer Studios Superman cartoons mastered from superior vault elements

SUPERMAN II (Two-Disc Special Edition) contents:
DISC ONE
* Movie with commentary by producer Pierre Spengler and executive producer Ilya Salkind
* Additional scenes (over 8 minutes worth)
* Soundtrack in Dolby Digital 5.1
* Theatrical trailer
DISC TWO
* The Making of Superman II & Superman's 50th Anniversary vintage TV specials
* First Flight: The Fleischer Superman Series featurette
* The Remaining 8 Fleischer Studios Superman cartoons mastered from superior vault elements

SUPERMAN III (Deluxe Edition) contents:
* Movie with commentary by producer Pierre Spengler and executive producer Ilya Salkind
* The Making of Superman III vintage TV special
* Additional scenes (over 19 minutes worth)
* Theatrical trailer

SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE (Deluxe Edition) contents:
* Movie with commentary by screenwriter Mark Rosenthal
* Additional scenes (over 30 minutes worth!)
* Theatrical trailer

The Supergirl Movie and Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut are not included in this set and are sold separately. This set is also not to be confused with the 14-disc Superman Ultimate Collector's Edition, which features a ton more additional content. To appease all the fans, WB is targeting the more affordable Christopher Reeve Collection for the general public and the more expensive Ultimate Collection for the collectors. Despite owning the 2001 DVDs of the Superman movies, I was still excited to add these new releases to my collection as all of the movies have supplemental material this time around, instead of just the first film. It's also fitting that Christopher Reeve's name has been added to this collection, as it shows how synonymous he's become with the Superman legacy. His brilliant performances brought a larger than life appeal to the Man of Steel that still has yet to be eclipsed. The Superman movies may have their fair share of flaws, but they're still wildly entertaining even after all these years and worth adding to anyone's collection!

Zune 80 GB Digital Media Player (Black)

Better than iPod Classic, but could be better
By H.S. Jawanda "visionslr"
(Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews

The rating is actually 4.5/5, but since Amazon doesn't allow fractions, I put down 4 stars.

[Disclaimer]I work for Microsoft. I think I have been objective in this review--you can draw your own conclusions.[/Disclaimer] Also know that I do not work in the division that makes the Zune, so I have no insider information.

Let's start with my likes and dislikes of the Zune 80:


THE GOOD
* Beautiful, bright, large, glass (not plastic) screen. The size (3.2") is so much better for viewing videos and pictures.
* Size and weight (lighter than iPod Classic).
* Capacity (80 GB).
* Built-in Wi-Fi and associated wireless sync.
* ZunePad.
* UI (both of the device and the PC software).
* FM radio.
* Ability to rent music (allowing one to listen to whole songs before deciding whether to buy or not).
* Build quality.
* Customizable backgrounds.

THE NEUTRAL
* Wi-Fi sharing--if there aren't enough Zuners around you, this is not of much use.
* Simplification of the 5-point song rating scale to a 2-point (like/dislike) scale.

THE BAD
* None of the Zunes work as mass storage devices (portable hard drives)--every other player on the market has this ability, so why not the Zunes?
* Automatic playlists are no more.

Now for a more detailed review of some features...

SYNC-ING: USB OR WIRELESS?

Here's the deal: Over-The-Air (OTA, aka wireless) syncing is going to be slower that USB syncing, but more convenient. So use USB sync for bulk transfers (e.g., when you sync your Zune 80 for the first time ), and OTA sync for smaller, incremental transfers (e.g., nightly updates). To realize the usefulness of wireless syncing, consider this setup: keep the Zune dock connected to your Home Theater (HT) receiver in the living room, then when you put your Zune in the dock, the player gets charged, the music gets synced and you can play your Zune's music through your HT setup! I think the wireless sync is a very useful feature and finally MS is beginning to realize the potential of the on-board Wi-Fi (though more is possible).

MUSIC: RENT OR BUY?

Both. Renting music allows me to try out unlimited number of songs an unlimited number of times. Buying allows me to not worry about keeping up a subscription--I know that my favorite songs will always be with me. Renting also works well for "in" or "hip" music--this type of music typically gets overplayed and becomes boring before long. The subscription model allows me to fill up my Zune with the latest music for (say) a party, while keeping my options open for permanently acquiring some songs. The Zune Marketplace supports both models.

ZUNEPAD

The ZunePad is a great combination of D-pad (Directional-pad) and a trackpad. It took me all of 30 seconds to get used to it. Scrolling through long lists of songs is a breeze and fun too ;-). You swipe up, down, left or right to navigate the Zune. A quick flick of your thumb will send a long list of songs scrolling in the intended direction, and a touch on the ZunePad will stop the scrolling (the scroll will come to a natural rest too). The whole action is very intuitive and works as expected--for example, the speed of list scrolling is proportional to the speed of your upward or downward swipe.

COMPARISON

It is inevitable to compare any new entrant in the Digital Audio Player (DAP)/Personal Music Player (PMP)/MP3 Player market to the corresponding iPod--the Zune 80's natural competitor is the iPod Classic 80 GB. To compare the Zune 80 to any other device in the iPod family would be like comparing bananas and oranges ;-).

How the Zune 80 is better:
* Larger, better screen (screen size vital when watching video)
* Wi-Fi and associated wireless sync (possibility of new features via firmware updates)
* FM radio with RDBS display (a saving of approximately 50 bucks vs. iPod Classic)
* Sound quality
* The UI is far more visually pleasing, both on the computer and on the device
* Subscription-based access to entire Zune Marketplace song catalog
* Zune marketplace has a well-developed social aspect to it (not such a big draw for me personally, but others will like it more).
* ZunePad. Thumb motions on the ZunePad are simpler than on iPod's clickwheel (or so says my right thumb, still recuperating from a serious, though unrelated, injury).
How the iPod Classic is better:
* Mass storage device capability (aka portable hard disk)
* iTunes store has bigger song collection, and has videos too
* Cover Flow (while visually snazzy, CoverFlow isn't very useful for people like me who have mostly individual tracks, not albums).
SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS

1. Enable mass storage device mode/capability (aka portable hard drive functionality).
2. Use built-in Wi-Fi to enable direct download/purchase/rental of songs from/to the device (I hope this is already in the works).
3. Bring back automated playlists.
4. Let users choose 2-point or 5-point rating scale.

I will add more to the review as I keep using the device...

Friends - The Complete Series Collection (2006)

See all Friends Series...
A worthwhile way to collect all ten seasons at once
By calvinnme "Texan refugee" (Fredericksburg, Va) - See all my reviews

Since I notice all the questions seem to concern the logistics of the set, that is the main thing I will address in this review, since you would have to be a resident of another planet to not know the story behind the series "Friends". Suffice it to say it is a classic comic treatment of what I have always called the "post-college adolescent phase" of life, which is roughly the ten years immediately following college graduation as you strike out on your own and try to find your place in life. It is the time in life when you are likely to have the best health, the most freedom, the most disposable income if not necessarily the most total income, and the most fun if you are fortunate enough to have people to share it all with. This phase ends when you "settle down" both career-wise and family-wise, and I always found Friends to track this time in life quite accurately and with both drama and great humor.

As for logistics, this collection fits in a sturdy red box that's less than a foot long. There are 40 DVDs containing 236 episodes that can be found inside. The Friends set just has two pieces of the box that comes together. Flipping the top up exposes the guts of the set consisting of 6 books, with one for each Friend. Thus there are only 6 books to hold the 10 seasons. Each book has a picture of the Friend, a number (1-6), and the episodes you can find in each case. The books flip open from the top, and each disc has its own pouch in the double-sided pages. Every disc has a different photo of the Friend, and they're all inserted into the pouches so that the photo is visible as you flip through the book. The disc number and episode numbers are also visible. The contents of the discs are the same as the previous sets, but they have new artwork.

Besides the packaging, there's just one thing to note for this release, that being the episode guide booklet. This 60 page booklet lists every episode with its synopsis and the disc you can find it on. Of course, the bonus material is mentioned along with the disc it can be found on, and the bonus features include 25 documentaries. You'll also get the original treatment for the series written by David Crane and Marta Kauffman. The booklet, which is as wide as the box, can be found behind the DVD books.

As for screen format, it's full screen, which is what Friends was filmed in. The full screen ratio is 4:3, which is the same as 1.33:1. You can record in wide screen and chop off parts of the frame to make it fit a traditional 4:3 TV, which is what is done with full screen editions of movies. However, you can't add stuff to a frame that was recorded in 4:3 and make it widescreen.

There's very little of value here for someone who already has the season 1-10 boxes, and the book with the episode information is just an upgraded version of the booklets that come with the season sets. If you don't already own the 10 seasons then this is an easy way to buy the show since it is a lot cheaper than buying each set individually. It's also nicer than the box set released last year, which was the existing 10 seasons in a big box. If you decide to replace your existing sets then you'll be happy to know the set takes up exactly the same amount of shelf space.

Toro 51599 Ultra 12 Amp Variable Speed Electric Blower/Vacuum With Metal Impeller

Other products by Toro / See collection

An excellent value in an electric blow and vac
By BBS, Bay Area, CA "BBS" (Bay Area, CA USA) - See all my reviews

I bought this Toro electric blow and vac in utter frustration after spending a small fortune on similar gasoline powered products. I use it as a vac several times per week and even daily in the Fall. I found that the very cheap gasoline blow and vacs start falling apart very quickly indeed as the result of poor and shoddy design so I moved up to the top of the line, Echo, which appears to be very well made and engineered. My first one, an ES211, did outlast its 2 year warranty, it had a starter assembly and cord replaced under warranty but then just wore out during the third year. The second ES211 lasted 18 months until something broke inside the engine and it wouldn't even rotate. The third one (a $290+tax ES231 heavy duty model) is just over a year old and overheats very quickly, smokes badly, and is melting the plastic grill surrounding the engine.
The dealers lie and tell me that it's my fault and that the problem is lack of lubrication. As a lifelong, now retired, professional mechanical engineer and having owned 2-stroke engines since a teenager I have always used the correct gas/oil mixture in 2-stroke engines including motorcycles of course.
The Toro Ultra Blower and Vac does everything I need. Let's list the advantages. It is amazingly light and doesn't strain your back lugging its bulk plus a heavy bag of leaves around the way a gas powered model does - this is very important and not to be dismissed as you get up in years. It always starts when you turn the knob - you sure can't say that about gasoline powered garden equipment. It converts from a blower to a vac very quickly without needing a screwdriver and undue force - Toro obviously corrected this problem from the prior model. It is very quiet compared with gas models - your neighbors will appreciate this. It doesn't have a spark plug or an air filter that needs frequent attention. It doesn't get dirty, grimy, and oily from gasoline exhaust and leaky carburetors and tubing. You don't have to buy expensive gasoline and oil and be required to mix and find a place to store a separate highly inflammable gas/oil mixture. The Toro has a cast magnesium impeller that handles the occasional twig or stone quite handily. The leaf bag is well designed, it disconnects easily and is a snap to empty. The vac suction and air blast from the blower seems equivalent to the Echo. Last but not least is P R I C E , my Toro was $69.99, at that price I could buy four of them for the price of one Echo ES231.
Now for the only disadvantage I can think of. I use a 100 ft. 13amp. electric cord and reel. You sacrifice some ease of mobility because you have a cord dragging behind you all of the time - nothing in life is perfect I guess.

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Technical Details

• 12 Amp electric blower/vacuum provides power and versatility to tackle every clean-up chore
• Leaf shredder reduces 16 bags of leaves to 1 bag
• Rugged metal impeller and infinite variable speed motor
• Exclusive cord-lock system holds power cord firmly in place
• Powerful handheld blower delivers up to 235 mph of air flow

Product Description
Match the Power to the Task for Better ResultsTackle big clean-up jobs the right way with this powerful blower vac. A variable speed 12 Amp motor lets you select from an infinite variety of speeds between 112 mph and 235 mph. This means that you can use low speeds to clear off hard surfaces and clean up tight areas without making a mess and without sacrificing the blower's high-speed functionality.

Air Speed and Air Volume to Get Yard Jobs Done
Unlike some manufacturers, who simply reduce the size of their blower nozzles to achieve higher air speed ratings without increasing the practical value of their tools, Toro gives this blower vac the ability to balance between air speed (measured in mph) and air volume (measured in cfm) to ensure maximum power and performance. This Ultra blower vac offers air speeds up to 235 mph and air volume up to 255 cfm, allowing you to move a substantial volume of leaves and debris with ease.

3-in-1 Versatility Makes Managing Tasks Easy
A convenient quick-release latch lets you convert your blower into a vacuum in seconds without any tools, while a metal impeller makes it easy to mulch debris.

The magnesium serrated metal blades on the impeller shred leaves and other unwanted debris into a fine mulch that you can use around your lawn and garden, saving money and recycling important nutrients. It also makes it easy to dispose of unwanted yard waste, since the impeller can reduce 16 bags’ worth of leaves to one bag.

Clean and Efficient with Electric Power
Compared with gas blowers, electric blowers are quieter, more eco-friendly, and require less maintenance. They start up instantly without requiring you to master a finicky pull cord. There's no messy gas-oil mixture to worry about, and you don't have to contend with noxious fumes to get a job done.

This high-powered blower also weighs in at a very manageable 7.5 pounds, making it easy on your back.

This blower/vac is backed by a full two-year warranty.

What's in the Box

• Power unit
• blower tubes
• vac tubes
• vac bag
• Operators manual.