Canon PowerShot S230 3.2 MP Digital ELPH Camera with 2x Optical Zoom
by Canon Cameras US
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $399.99
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Editorial Review

With the Canon PowerShot S230, you've got the best of both worlds--the compact size and high style of the digital Elph series plus the higher resolution of a 3-megapixel camera. Updating the popular 2-megapixel PowerShot S200, the PowerShot S230 also features a 2x optical zoom, an improved 3.2x digital zoom, movie mode for videos up to 3 minutes, and more--all in a stylish, compact package.

Optics and Resolution

S230's nine-point autofocus lets you sharpen the image on your subject, no matter where it is in the frame.

Featuring a 3.2-megapixel CCD sensor, the PowerShot S230 delivers a wide range of detail and color (with images up to 2048 x 1536 pixels) and prints up to 11 by 14 inches. Canon's high-quality 2x optical zoom lens allows you to close in on the action, while the 3.2x digital zoom allows for a combined 6.4x zoom, letting you capture intimate details that might have been missed with another camera. The PowerShot S230 is also one of the few digital cameras to feature wide-area nine-point autofocus for taking crisp, sharp images no matter where the subject appears in the image frame.

Storage and Transfer
Images are stored on CompactFlash memory cards, and a 16 MB card is included. When shooting images at the medium or fine setting, the 16 MB card will store approximately 26 images. Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB storage-class connectivity, which means it can be connected to any USB-based Windows Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.

Movie Mode
In addition to taking still photos, the S230 can also record movie clips of up to 3 minutes. You can choose from three different video formats: 160 x 120, 320 x 240, or 640 x 480 pixels. Both picture and sound quality have been improved, and an editing feature allows you to delete unwanted scenes during playback. The S230's photo-effect mode lets you do more with your still images. Choose from low sharpening, vivid color, sepia, neutral, and black and white.

More Features
Though it's primarily designed as a point-and-shoot, the S230 includes several advanced features for photographers who want more creative control, including exposure compensation, low-light manual shutter speeds, manual ISO and white balance, and stitch assist, plus black-and-white, sepia, vivid, and neutral modes.

The PowerShot S230 uses highly advanced technology to make your digital photography experience simple. DIGIC enhances image definition and processing speed, while the sophisticated iSAPS (Intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space) technology assures faster and more accurate autofocus, autoexposure, and automatic white balance. The intelligent-orientation sensor ensures your pictures are always right side up, on the LCD or even while downloading.

Horizontal	Vertical
S230's Intelligent Orientation Sensor knows which of your images were shot horizontally and which were shot vertically.

Power, Size, and Contents
The camera is powered by a proprietary Canon rechargeable lithium-ion battery (included). It measures 3.4 by 2.2 by 1.1 inches and weighs 6.4 ounces. This package includes the PowerShot S230 digital camera, 16 MB CompactFlash card, lithium-ion battery (model NB-1LH) and battery charger (model CB-2LS), USB and A/V cables, wrist strap, and CD-ROM with imaging software and USB drivers for Windows and Mac. ... Read more

Features

• 3.2 megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 8 x 10 prints and medium-quality prints up to 11 x 14
• Autofocus lens with 2x optical/3.2x digital (6.4x total) zoom
• Included 16 MB CompactFlash card holds 26 images at default settings
• Connects with PCs and Macs via USB port
• Uses proprietary lithium-ion rechargeable battery (included)

Reviews (141)

Gotta Have it!
The PowerShot S230 Digital Elph camera is truely a usable camera. The instructions are clear and concise. The rechargeable battery and charger are a perfect companion for this camera. All pictures come out great! It makes taking pictures easy, fun, and compact. I recommend buying a case with too, because it is sooo small! pocket size!

Greatest little camera!!!
What a work horse, plus the great size, just fits in my shirt pocket. Battery life is outstanding, but get a backup, plus this one uses compact flash so I was able to get the Sandisk II 512meg CF card also at Amazon for about $100. It's so good I bought a camera for everyone in my family.

Great Camera
I got this camera after looking around and comparing it with others.I'm glad I decided to go with the S230 for many reasons.

Pro's
Small and can fit in your pocket, great quality pictures, excellent movie mode with sound, comes with battery and charger, not complicated to use, all around excellent camera, and again the 3.2MP makes the pictures very pleasing to the eye.

Con's
Zoom isnt the best buts its alright, it takes good pictures when its dark out but you have to edit with a program such as photoshop to make it brighter.These cons should no way bother you much and should not deter you to buy this camera.

I suggest you buy a viking 256MB memory chip because the one that comes with it will leave you able to only take a few pics.With the 256MB chip you take long videos and take well over 1200 pictures.All in all excellent camera and as usual amazons shipped it fast and got the camera in a few days after making the order.I look forward to buy from amazon and cannon again. ... Read more

Asin: B00006LV79
Subjects:  1. S 100    2. Digital Camera (Cameras)    3. Photograph (Photography)   

Parachutes
by Capitol
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (07 November, 2000)
list price: $17.98 -- our price: $9.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Music doesn't come more touching than this. With their debut single alone, the emotion-fortified "Shiver," Coldplay prove they can shift between elated and crushed in a breath, as singer Chris Martin pours out music's oldest chestnut (unconditional yet unrequited love) with the shakiest of voices and a backdrop of epic guitars. For 10 tracks on Parachutes, he adds newfound meaning to the most tired and overused rock sentiments--love found, love lost, love unrequited--over acoustic guitars and emotionally fraught rock. And for once, all the clichés ring true because Chris Martin genuinely sounds like a man picking over the bones of his life, coming up with just as many reasons to be cheerful as seriously depressed. Not that Parachutes is a depressing album--there's too much conviction to the guitars and hope in Martin's words for that. Instead it's a beautifully tender balance that comes as close to perfection as anything that's come before it. --Dan Gennoe ... Read more

Reviews (578)

A Great Album for great people
What can I say about Coldplay other than the fact that they are the greatest band out right now, I think that they are not going anywhere for a longtime. This album is very sad, and when I say sad I mean it is bittersweet and the lyrics reflect a very profound mind, with scars and fears.

A MASTERPIECE!
This is a beautiful album.I can feel the words, the notes, the music.Their music carries so much emotion.I especially love the song Don't Panic.It's beautiful.Trouble, Yellow and Everything's Not Lost are three more emotional, inspiring songs.Go Buy it.You won't be disappointed.

Excellent album from start to finish
A great album is like this where every song is great from start to finish. This album has the perfect amount of songs and never gets boring. This band is very talented. I actually like them better then Radiohead. ... Read more

Asin: B0000508U6
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Come Away with Me
by Blue Note Records
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (26 February, 2002)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $13.49
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

It is not just the timbre of Norah Jones's voice that is mature beyond her 22 years. Her assured phrasing and precise time are more often found in older singers as well. She is instantly recognizable, blending shades of Billie Holiday and Nina Simone without sounding like anyone but herself. Any way you slice it, she is a singer to be reckoned with. Her readings of the Hank Williams classic "Cold Cold Heart" and Hoagy Carmichael's "The Nearness of You" alone are worth the price of the CD. Jones's own material, while not bad, pales a bit next to such masterpieces. They might have fared better had she and producer Arif Mardin opted for some livelier arrangements, taking better advantage of brilliant sidemen such as Bill Frisell, Kevin Breit, and Brian Blade; or if the tunes had simply been given less laconic performances. Jones has all the tools; what will come with experience and some careful listening to artists like J.J. Cale and Shirley Horn is the knack of remaining low-key without sounding sleepy--sometimes less is not, in fact, more. --Michael Ross ... Read more

Reviews (1312)

Excellent CD!
This is an excellent disc. If you like this, you should also listen to Katie Melua's CD "Call Off the Search".

(Mood Music)Put on some N. Jones and light a candle.
This kind of music is made for sentualists- (not of the higher order though).
Norah's voice is just like Diana Krall's, mono and one dementional; just the kind of recipe for listeners who believe they have good taste.
Norah will probibly keep making the same kind of albums for the rest of her life, but at least her presence will satisfy the need for this kind of music.

oh sooo mellow, baby
Norah got like 7 someodd emmys for this album, and she and the producers earned it. nothing like it. OK, she reminds me of a white Nina Simone. sultry, soft, sexy, and - well - mellow. love it. i play this CD at work and everyone loves it. in fact if there is a day that all the customers are being poopy - we put the CD on to calm every one down, and yes, it works!!good for fussy husbands too (sorry, hunk man, the love of my life!) ... Read more

Asin: B00005YW4H
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Agaetis byrjun
Average Customer Review:
Digital
list price: $0.00
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Reviews (7)

Ah ha
Even though you might not be able to undastand a word of it, you'll undastand what they are saying better than anyone on MTV, true music conveys feelings through the sounds of the words and the instruments not the meaning of the words.This is truw music.

if you cant stand radio...
and you like your music to reflect your moods, not the
latest mall trends, ie. Britney, 50-cent, etc...then pick
up either of Sigur Ros CD's. this is driving-on-a-highway, alone
with your thoughts kind of music.
i dont want to put a label on this original sound but its like a simpler form of Radiohead and if you like them or Enya, chances are youll love Sigur Ros.
remember, friends dont let friends listen to the radio...

I'd rather listen to a week of Tuvan throat singing
Come on, people, take the needles out of your arms and make some music!This music is beautiful the way a freshly paved parking lot is beautiful, which is to say -- NOT!Take some instruments, a vocalist, and make them do everything possible to stay out of each others' way harmonically and melodically, and this is what you get -- nothing.A wind chime exhibits more creativity and certainly more intellect. ... Read more

Asin: B00005Q60D

Calphalon Commercial Nonstick Collector's Edition 9-Inch Chef's Skillet with Lid
by Calphalon
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $96.00
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Editorial Review

This round-sided pan is like a shallow, flat-bottomed wok, perfect for stir-frying and designed to facilitate a chef's C-shaped flipping motion. Because it exposes lots of surface, given the bottom's 6-inch diameter (the top is 9 inches), the pan is also ideal for quickly reducing sauces. Its domed stainless-steel lid collects moisture and returns it to foods during cooking. Calphalon's Commercial Nonstick cookware is coated with an especially durable, multilayered nonstick material. (To extend its life, use only plastic, nylon, and wooden utensils.) The matte-finish pan's exterior is anodized for hardness and won't chip, crack, or peel. The polished handle is cast stainless steel, multiriveted for durability, and resists heating on a stovetop. Made of heavy-gauge aluminum, the pan cooks without hot spots or warping and carries a lifetime warranty against defects. --Fred Brack ... Read more

Features

• Round-sided pan ideal for stir-frying and reducing sauces
• Domed, stainless-steel lid collects moisture and returns it to foods
• Anodized for hardness, with nonstick coating oven-safe to 450 degrees F
• Riveted, oven-safe handle is cast stainless steel, resists heat on stovetop
• Hand wash with mild detergent and scour with plastic or nylon scrubber

Reviews (19)

Extremely poor coating and customer service
I have had this pan for less than 6 months and the coating is aleady scratching and peeling.I have used only non-stick utensils and a soft sponge to clean.However- the coating is not durable enough to hold up to plastic utensils over time.Eventually- it does cause scratching/peeling.Infact I have several other "Commercial Caplphalon" pans and the same thing happens over 6-8 months.I am very unhappy with the pan and the customer service.I will never buy anything from Calphalon again.Probably why the "Commercial" pan is discontinued in the stores.

Calphalon is great...so great that you don't need nonstick
I'm rating this product 3 stars, because I have its hard-anodized cousin and would give that a five star rating without a second thought.

Teflon is an easily scratched fluorocarbon, with essentially no advantages over a nice heavy anodized pan. I clean my non-coated pans with a simple sponge, with a warm water soak if I let something cake on.

In short, save ten bucks and the heartache of seeing fork-scratches on your brand new nonstick. Get the hard-anodized version, season it by heating vegetable oil in it until it starts to smoke and then let it cool to room temperature, and it will do everything this pot will: backwards and in heels.

My most-used pan.
An excellent little pan.I was ambivalent at first, not particularly interested in having any non-stick cookware.

Main drawback?The pan's smallish size.But we can hardly blame the pan, can we?I have still crammed a lot of food into this tiny thing...great for wilting a bag of spinach, great size for making sauces and personal stir-frys.

The nonstick surface is excellent.A few roommates have abused it in my absence and it still works great.I use it for pancakes, etc., since I lack any other skillet or omelette pan.The steep sidesmake flipping with a spatula a little work.However, the shape of the pan makes hand-flipping quite simple.

I have not had trouble with the pan's balance when empty, however I have dealt with much worse at work and so maybe calphalon's relative excellence had spoiled me.Nor have I had particular trouble with the handle getting hot, but again I'm used to everything being hot.

The lid is great, both because it is domed and it forms a good seal when liquid is present.It also allows the pan to be used for many other purposes to which it would not otherwise be suited (e.g. simmering messy sauces, wilting leafy vegetables)

Final thoughts: this attractive little pan is shaped thoughtfully, comes with a lid, comes clean very easily thanks to excellent non-stick, and can be used for just about anything (I have steamed, boiled, fried, roasted, sauteed...).Don't expect it to feed a family.It's ideal for one or two people, and for larger groups it will be a favorite for side-dishes, tapas, etc.Goes right in the oven.

This skillet is an excellent tool that if given a chance will be useful every day.As long as you don't expect something from it that its size simply cannot deliver, it has earned all five stars.

I just bought three more Calphalon pans (commercial hard-anodized) and expect as much from them. ... Read more

Asin: B00004WYJM
Subjects:  1. Cookware    2. Chef's Pans    3. (Cook Ware)    4. Skillets    5. Fry Pans    6. (Frypans)    7. (Frying Pans)    8. (Calphlon)    9. (Calaphon)   

Destiny
Average Customer Review:
Digital
list price: $0.00
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Reviews (20)

Average to good.
Well done to the already established Zero7 in allowing some of their music to be downloaded for free. This ones been around a while and appeared on numerous chillout albums etc. It doesnt climb any mountains but its a pleasant enough tune for a laid back lounge on some warm sunny beach. Mmmm yeah...

it's permanently stuck in my head!
i first heard "destiny" on t.v. and i knew right away that it was destined to be part of my life. this beautiful track is creatively composed by zero 7 and sia furler gave justice to the song. it's soooooooooooooooo good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hypnotic and smooth
Along with Ivy's "Edge of the Ocean," I can't believe this is a free download. Reminds me of a warm summer's night with lots of stars. Nice song to relax to, with a cool sparkly and smooth sound, with a vocal that took me a bit to get used to because I thought it cut into the instrumental part, but it's quite nice actually. ... Read more

Asin: B000066RVB

Viking 128 MB CompactFlash Card (CF128M)
by Viking Components
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $49.99 -- our price: $18.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Features

• Five year replacement warranty and 30-day money-back guarantee
• Optimized for use in PDAs, MP3 players, or digital cameras
• Write speed guaranteed to exceed 1.2 MB per second (8X) with independent test results exceeding 2.25 MB per second (15X)
• High quality components guarantee steady performance, the utmost durability, and breadth of compatibility
• Individually tested to ensure each product works the first time, everytime

Reviews (200)

Great card, but slow write speed
I've been using this card with my Canon S400 for the past 9 months and am very pleased with it.However, about a month ago, I noticed that the write speed increased from about a second to three-four seconds per image.It's kind of annoying since it was so quick before, but other than that, the card has served me well!

Good value, but watch out for compatibility
Unlike Lexar or Sandisk, Viking does not design or make the components that go into their flash memory cards, instead they use off-the-shelf components (controller and memory core) made by others.This means two things: 1) lower cost (to Viking), and 2) compatibility with devices may not be as robust as Lexar or Sandisk.There have been numerous reports about incompatibility between Viking flash memory and various digital cameras and PDAs.You should do a web search before buying this product.

That said, this Viking CF card should work in most digital cameras or older Pocket PCs that take CF.The rated speed of 8x means this is not suitable for digital SLR's such as the Nikon D70 or Canon EOS Digital Rebel which need higher-speed CF cards (40x or higher).Most consumer, non-SLR digital cameras will find the speed of this card more than adequate.128MB holds about 80-100 5MP, high-quality pictures (depending on the complexity of each picture and the particular camera model).I personally recommend if you have a 4MP or more camera, you should have a 256MB memory card as your primary card, while carrying a 128MB card like this Viking as a spare.

In short, this Viking 128MB CF card is good for the money.Just make sure it's compatible with your digital camera.

Viking vs. Sandisk
First I bought a sandisk and after a month of use got damaged, I tryed to comunicate with them a lot, they have the worst customer service, then i gave up. then i bought this Viking like a year ago, and im still using it. ... Read more

Asin: B00003G1RG
Sales Rank: 773
Subjects:  1. viking memory finder    2. Flash Memory (Flashcard, Flashcards)    3. Compactflash (Compact Flash)   

Apple 20 GB 2nd Generation iPod M8738LL/A
by Apple Computer
Average Customer Review:
Electronics

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Editorial Review

Apple has revamped the now-classic iPod with several exceptional new features. The new 20 GB model packs 4,000 songs and a 10-hour battery life into a stunning 6.5-ounce package, and Apple ups the ante with new iTunes 3 software; a redesigned, touch-sensitive scroll wheel; red-hot FireWire digital file transfers; a wired remote control; and an overhauled calendar/scheduler.

The iPod's setup and interface are still the same: just plug it into your Mac and all your iTunes songs and playlists are automatically downloaded into iPod at blazing FireWire speed--typically 15 seconds or less. Don’t forget that the player also doubles as a FireWire drive for applications and other files. This new model also comes with a FireWire port cover to protect the player from dirt and other gunk.

In addition to its 20 GB hard drive, iPod has a 32 MB memory cache. The cache is made of solid-state memory, meaning that it has no moving parts, so it's not affected by movement of the device. Skip protection on the iPod works by continually preloading up to 20 minutes of music into the cache.

The iPod has a large, high-quality LCD (liquid crystal display) for viewing up to six lines of text. And the LCD features an LED (light-emitting diode) backlight for clear visibility in low-light situations--indoors or outdoors. Pocket-size and just 6.5 ounces, it weighs appreciably less than the stack of CDs it can store music from.

Featuring Apple's new iTunes 3 software, the iPod can synchronize with newly added music files and playlists. Simply plug the iPod back into your Mac and the changes are automatically updated in seconds. And with iTunes 3, you can rip MP3s, create playlists, and burn custom CDs all from one simple interface. And thanks to a cool new partnership with audible.com, you can now download audiobooks to the iPod.

You can also download your calendar and schedule to the iPod from applications like Entourage, Palm Desktop, and Mac OS X Address Book. Plus, the iPod now has a built-in digital clock.

The iPod's rechargeable lithium-polymer battery is charged using the FireWire cable when connected to your Mac. You can also recharge the iPod using the included FireWire cable and AC adapter when you're on the go.

The iPod supports MP3 (up to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR (variable bit rate), WAV, and AIFF files, and is firmware upgradable. To use the iPod with your Mac, you'll need a FireWire port and you must be running either Mac OS 9.2.1 (or later) or Mac OS X 10.1 (or later).

The unit comes with a wired remote control, revamped earbud-style headphones, a FireWire cable, power adapter, CD-ROM with iTunes 3, and a carrying case with belt clip. It's backed by a 90-day limited warranty. ... Read more

Features

• MP3 Audio
• Compatible with Mac OS 9.2.1 (or later) or Mac OS X v10.1 (or later)
• Includes wired remote control, remodeled headphones, and carrying case with belt clip
• Discontinued by manufacturer, replaced by model #M8948LL/A
• FireWire interface for fastest digital transfer available; covered FireWire port
• Download audiobooks from Audible.com; keep up to date with new calendar/scheduler and built-in clock

Reviews (31)

Apple 20 GB Second Generation iPod
If you need more songs and you are willing to spend $499.99 I would recommend this iPod to you. This is the second generation 20 gigabyte iPod. This iPod holds about 4,000 songs at near CD-quality. I don't have this version but I do have the 10 gigabyte version (plus another few iPods). I think Apple has designed their MP3 players extremely well. I love the white coating on the top and the metal-finish at the back. People do not see too much difference between the first and second generation iPods. There really isn't too much change accept now the scroll wheel isn't mechanical; that's the only big change. There is a cover for the connectivity ports and the 10GB version is a bit thinner than the first generation 5GB version. This iPod is about .80" in depth which is pretty thick. The 10GB is still .78" but you can still see the difference. Now iPods are really thin especially with the mini but the new fourth generation is extremely thin as well. This weights about 6.5 ounces which is kind of heavy but it will still suite you well. The battery life on this is about 10 hours which isn't too bad compared to the third generation iPod's 8 hour battery life. I would recommend you getting a case so the metal or white plastic on top will not get scatched. This iPod has really everything you need: playlists, calender, games, phone book, etc. There is only one game though (Bricks) but I love Bricks and I think you will enjoy it as well. On my 10GB version I have about 1,500 songs which fit perfectally onto my playlists. It comes with MusicMatch Jukebox but I would recommend getting iTunes. I would look into the iPod but not this one. Get the fourth-generation iPod or any other kind of iPod you like. But this is all around a very good package and especially now it's really cheap!

Service.What service?
I bought the iPod from Amazon and it was delivered about a week ago. I also bought the Apple Care Protection plan. The product seems to work fine except I am having minor but irksom problems 'navigating' using the buttons and wheel thing. I am using it for an Audible book which is supposed to start where you left off. Well, after 7 hours it decided to start at beginning again. I try fast forward and the thing goes to the next book.I want to just finish the last hour of the one that is being played.

So, I call what they call Customer Service and find that they won't give me any advice whatever until I FAX in a copy of my shipping document from Amazon and another sheet with a magic number on it from within the extended service package. They say that Amazon is not an authorized reseller and that they cannot check my order and date of sale from Amazon.

I explain that I do not have a FAX machine, and that I will go send the stuff in a few days when I feel like walking that far using my crutches.

I think that it is probably a good product, but if you are in any way handicapped and it is not convenient for you to run around to get their service, I recommend not buying it.

THE gadget of the year!Maybe Decade!!!
This is amazing.A must have for any traveler.The easy firewire plug for charging is great.I like it better then the funky new charging firewire layout.This is simply standard.The unit itself it pretty tough.I dropped it running and it didn't skip or anything.Amazing battery time and everything.The one thing I don't like is the way Apple set up their mp3 sharing so that you can only copy music onto it or delete music.You can't transfer music back off it.This is probably to keep the record companies happy.iTunes is great. And the unit is great simply to use as a portable Hard Drive as well. ... Read more

Asin: B00006FDR8
Subjects:  1. Mac Macintosh Machintosh Apple    2. Portable Audio    3. MP3 MP 3 Player    4. Jukebox    5. MP3 Player (MP 3)    6. Apple    7. (Mac)    8. (Macintosh)    9. Gigabyte    10. 20GB    11. 20 GB   

Secrets of the iPod
by Peachpit Press
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (26 June, 2002)
list price: $21.99
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Editorial Review

Everyone loves the iPod (though for a lot of us it's a fairly abstract love, given the gizmo's sticker price). In Secrets of the iPod, Christopher Breen--you may know him from TechTV--does a brain-dump on the latest version of the iPod. His coverage is complete, easy to read, and clearly reflects the personal experience of a man who likes to be able to listen to Monkees tunes wherever he goes. You're sure to learn a lot about your iPod--or deepen your wish to have one--by reading this book.

It's possible to criticize this book for explaining the obvious: No one really needs a tutorial on how to download music from the iTunes store, which was carefully set up to be easy to figure out. On the other hand, such documentation--which may be needed for the sake of completeness--takes up little space next to the many pages devoted to relatively obscure features. Readers get the complete run-down on using their portable music players as spare hard disks, and as contact-management utilities. There's also lots of coverage of third-party hardware and software that's sprung up to unlock additional iPod capabilities. --David Wall

Topics covered: How to use the Apple iPod, iTunes, the iTunes Music Store, and the various hacks that have grown up around the iPod. There's good coverage on hooking the iPod to a Microsoft Windows machine, and some troubleshooting tricks. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Make sure you get the most recent edition.
There are lots of good details in this book, which seems to go farther than the missing manual series.The 4th edition (hot pink cover) seems to have pretty even coverage of using an ipod/itunes with Mac OS 9, Mac OS X, and Windows XP.After a day examining ipod books in the bookstore, this is one I bought.The 5th edition is out due in December 2004.

An excellent book for new and experienced iPod users
Five stars; highly recommended.This is an excellent book for new users and experienced iPodders alike because the information is thorough, accurate, and fun to read.The author discusses not only each version of the iPod and iPod Mini, but also includes detailed discussions of accessories, cases, and iTunes.He also includes power-user information, such as setting up the iPod as a boot disk.This leads me to the best reason to purchase this book:time savings.The author covers so much information in such depth and in such a clear and easy-to-understand manner, that almost any reader will save an enormous amount of time as compared to searching for answers about the iPod on the Web.Although this book has been a big help to me with my new fourth-generation iPod, my hope is that Chris Breen will write an updated edition specifically including the Click-Wheel iPod and the latest iPod accessories.

The must have iPod Manual
If you can't make it to one of Mr. Breen's iPod/iTunes seminars which I highly recommend, this is the next best thing. Everything you need to know and more about your new iPod. First off, the iPod is a mini hard drive music player run by cool software. It does a great job. It is not a walkman or radio, it is a sensitive appliance. I own two and I found it's fairly intuitive and got it up and running in minutes. For those who want get into the innards, voila! Mr. Breen to the rescue! ... Read more

Isbn: 0321136454
Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - General Information    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computers    4. Operating Systems - Macintosh    5. iPod (Digital music player)   

Sony RM-VL900 8-Device Universal Remote Control
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $59.99
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Features

• Rubber keypad keys and ergonomic design
• Picture-in-picture function
• Controls up to eight audio/visual components
• Learning function for programming from other remotes
• LED illumnation for clear button location

Reviews (31)

A bargain with few drawbacks.
We have six of these remotes--one for every room that has a TV and speakers. All our entertainment gear, computer LAN, security system, intercom, and telephone equipment sits in a single dedicated closet my wife calls "World Central." We control the entertainment components via IR receivers in each room. My wife can watch one TiVo and I another, while our nieces watch cartoons on the DVD or the VCR (or both at once if they can't agree). Meanwhile, you can also listen to CDs, MiniDiscs, FM, or anything on our computers through speakers throughout the house and outside.

We got the RM-VL900s exactly three years ago and have changed batteries just once. I can operate the remotes blindfolded after all the practice, but I agree with the complaint that only nine buttons illuminate--and only when pressed. The rest of them do glow in the dark, but not brightly enough.

Theses devices are so good that I hesitate to mention these minor flaws, but I do find programming them (when you get new gear) to be tricky sometimes. Occasionally, you have to repeat a procedure with tiny variations not covered in the guide to get them working.

A great universal remote for a decent price.
With any universal remote, there's always the possibility that it won't be compatible with a device (i.e. TV or VCR) that you have.In that case, a learning function is essential.If it wasn't for this Sony RM-VL900 having it, I wouldn't have been able to use it to operate my Scientific Atlanta Explorer 3250 digital cable box.Once everything was set up, there was no need to use any other remote.This remote is SO fabulous!!Its glow-in-the-dark feature is nice.The remote's keys absorb light & give it off when the sun goes down.Unfortunately, in total darkness, it'll only glow for 20 minutes before going totally dark.I watch TV with the lights on, so it wasn't a big deal for me.I guess it would've been easier for Sony to make the remote (like other competing models) draw power from the batteries to make everything glow all the time.But that would drain battery power, and Sony would've had to install power saving features that limited the functionality ... which wouldn't be a good thing (I used to own a RCA universial remote like that.Didn't like it at all.) Overall, I definately got my money's worth purchasing the Sony RM-VL900.It puts other universial remotes to shame!! :-)

FYI: If you're buying this to replace another because a previous model, you can transfer a lot of what's in the former over to the new one.Learned functions?FUGGETTABOUTIT!!You'll have to teach those to the new remote all over again.The process is relatively painless, though, so it won't take long at all.

Awesome remote, bar none
This remote is the only one I've tried that works with everything I own. It knows the codes for almost everything, and when it doesn't, then you can program it, which comes in handy for those old pieces of equipment you don't want to get rid of...

Programming can be a litle confusing at first, but once it's done it's a pure delight to use. It's very straightforward to use and anyone can figure out how to operate everything. This is what a remote is supposed to do.

FYI Since it's programmable, you can always reprogram buttons to work for other things... for example a remote controlled ceiling fan... ... Read more

Asin: B00005I9Q0
Sales Rank: 6012
Subjects:  1. Remote Control   

OK Go
by Capitol
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (17 September, 2002)
list price: $9.98 -- our price: $9.98
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Reviews (109)

Love the album...love the price
I first saw OK Go open for They Might Be Giants at the Anaheim House of Blues. They opened with a cover of Panic by the Smiths and I was hooked. Unfortunately at the time they only had a 3 song EP to sell me but that was enough to tide me over for the full length album. This album will hook you the first time you listen to it and hold your interest for a long while. Their indie alt rock style is greatly enhanced by judicious use of a synthesizer and solid vocals. The lyrics are fun and catchy too. My only regret is that they don't make it out to the West Coast more often (sigh).

Retro? Indie? Power Pop?
When I first listened to this CD, I immediately liked it because of the bouncy yet mellow first song, followed by a happy energetic second song.
As for the genre of the song that Ok Go specialized in, I was quite confused at that.
I know that they want to be recognized as an indie rock group, but at the same time most of their songs sound more power pop.
Anyhow, despite the dilution of genre, their songs are a mixture of sweet, angry/annoyed, and love orientated lyrics.
My favourite songs are "Get Over It," "Don't Ask Me," "You're So Hot," "1000 Miles per Hour," "There's A Fire," and "C-C-C-cinnamon Lips." That's practically half of the album.
As for the other songs, I'm not saying that they're bad or not nice to listen to, but they don't seem to have that punchy hook line like the ones I like.
Overall, it's one of those albums that you can either put it in your car and always listen it to while driving or have it playing at the background while you're working.
This album definitely makes me in a better mood :-)

Don't Just Buy This Album for the Single.
When the local radio station overplayed "Get Over It," I was really getting sick of the song.It wasn't until a friend of mine recommended to me this album that I really sat down and listened tothe whole thing through.The single used to be more catchy to me, when it was fresh.As that song died in my mind, 7 more sprung to life from this album.My personal favorite from the whole album was "1000 miles per hour."Other songs such as "You're so Damn Hot" and "What To Do" only add to more to this album.I wouldn't say this band sounds like Weezer per se.They sound more like a mix of Owsley and Rooney.They have the genre variety of Fountains of Wayne and they mix the speed of songs well in the album.You must listen to this album a few times and it will easily catch onto you. ... Read more

Asin: B00006I0BD
Sales Rank: 18604
Subjects:  1. Indie Rock    2. Pop    3. Punk-Pop    4. Rock   

Amelie
by Miramax Home Entertainment
Average Customer Review:
DVD (December, 2002)
list price: $19.99 -- our price: $14.99
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Editorial Review

Perhaps the most charming movie of all time, Amélie is certainly one of the top 10. The title character (the bashful and impish AudreyTautou) is a single waitress who decides to help other lonely people fix their lives. Her widowed father yearns to travel but won't, so to inspire the old man she sends his garden gnome on a tour of the world; with whispered gossip, she brings together two cranky regulars at her café; she reverses the doorknobs and reprograms the speed dial of a grocer who's mean to his assistant. Gradually she realizes her own life needs fixing, and a chance meeting leads to her most elaborate stratagem of all. This is a deeply wonderful movie, an illuminating mix of magic and pragmatism. Fans of the director's previous films (Delicatessen, The City of Lost Children) will not be disappointed; newcomers will be delighted. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Widescreen

Reviews (849)

"Amelie": avoid it with someone you love
America's relationship with France, never the hardiest, was dealt a decisive blow with France's refusal to give the big "thumbs-up" to our incursion into Iraq. Some feel the enmity thus engendered in U.S. hearts to be more than justified. "Bushwa," I say (mainly because it's fun); if there were indeed a reason to be angry with our snail-eating friends across the sea it would be, rather, the illegal and unjust "Amelie".

It has been noted elsewhere that Audrey Tautou bears a striking physical resemblance to Rowan Atkinson's Mr. Bean, but personally I believe this comment to be "below the belt", and have no intention of dignifying its rancor by repeating it here. More germane: that the relentless symmetry of "Amelie"'s visual design (take note, budding film makers: nothin' screams "MY MOVIE IS A MASTERPIECE!" quite as loudly as having the same things on both halves of the screen) and Tautou's endlessly coy grins, grimaces and pie-eyed glances into the camera (kootchie-kootchie!) turned my face as GREEN as most of the shots in this film, for reasons I have no way of divining, happen to be.

As for the narration, mercilessly cloying in two languages: it is the rare film indeed that would not benefit from the excision of same. Film is a medium consisting of both pictures-

THAT MOVE!

- and sound. There are many possibilities inherent in this combination. It would be good for film makers to exhaust them all before resorting, ever so reluctantly, to the hiring of someone to stand off-screen and tell us about things we are not being shown (or worse) to explain to us things we ARE being shown, or (also bad) to explain what the characters on-screen are thinking or feeling about what is happening, or not happening, to them, or whatever.

C'est la vie (That Gallic charm is infectious).

It is for now a technical impossibility to give a film a zero-star rating; one star will have to do. Some films, however, are indeed wholly without merit.

Deserve Six Stars, not five...
Another Ran-Right-Out-And-Bought Production...I loved Loved LOVED this movie!There are a few adult scenes but they are so amusingly done (not smutty like American films would be) that they are almost safe to watch with your folks.While watching this movie, my husband turned to me and asked, Would you mind if I fell in love with her (Audrey)?" I said I didnt mind at all; I was nearly in love with her myself.This is a beautiful, fantastic movie.

Full of subtleties.
I for one really enjoyed this movie; perhaps because I could really relate to the main character. Amelie is essentially the story of a very shy, introverted young woman. People need to keep this in mind when viewing this movie. She is faced with difficult people and problems in her life, and instead of blowing up at these people and problems verbally; she is more cunning and cleaver and helps out using less obvious, more creative means. Yes, she doesn't speak very much throughout the movie, but maybe we need more people like her in the world. People who shut the heck up and figure out problems in more imaginative, peaceful ways. She saw flaws in people's lives and instead of confronting these people, she helped guide them in seeing there errs in more inconspicuous ways, yet she was reluctant to face her own problems in her own life. The ultimate conclusion of the move is that she was finally able to see there were flaws in her own life from lack of confronting her feelings of love. I feel Amelie is a wonderful work of art. This is not one of those Hollywood films that just screams out its message. The film is full of subtleties. ... Read more

Asin: B0000640VO
Subjects:  1. Foreign Film - French   

Rolling Stone
by Wenner Publishing
Average Customer Review:
Magazine
list price: $103.70 -- our price: $12.97
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Editorial Review

Founder and publisher Jann S. Wenner's brainchild remains the standard by which rock & roll magazines are measured, though even its most fervent boosters would concede there've been some growing pains for RS as it's strived to remain relevant through the decades. The erstwhile baby-boomer bible mixes fleshy covers of today's alluring celebs with coverage of graying rockers from the magazine's heyday. In addition to celebrity interviews, stalwart features such as CD reviews and Random Notes (the mag's long-running gossip section) provide familiar reading for older readers, as does the publication's superior political and cultural coverage. But the bulk of Rolling Stone's features are aimed at the younger pop-culture set. --Steven Stolder ... Read more

Features

• Magazine Subscription

Reviews (142)

Corporate magazines still suck
Rolling Stone hasn't been a credible music journal for at least 15 years, and that's being extremely kind.Rather they are a marketing outlet for the corporate sponsors of whatever music is being pushed at the moment.That's of course when they deign to write about music at all.There are far too many politically oriented articles from an upper middle class armchair liberal point of view to catagorize Rolling Stone as strictly a music magazine.And let's not mention the extremely annoying fashion layouts.RS is more of a lifestyle journal that panders to white and mostly liberal middle class tastes and culture.I don't care about the political bent of the magazine so much as I care about the pop garbage that Rolling Stone writes about.They almost without exception shill for the flavor of the month rather than write any responsible criticism.Occasionally the articles are informative, but for the most part Rolling Stone is an irrelevant device to generate advertising dollars.

You get what you pay for
Isn't it amazing that the cost of a Rolling Stone subscription is barely enough to cover the cost of postage?The magazine is mostly advertisements, and the rest of it isn't worth reading.I grew up on Rolling Stone, but have realized that if I want a decent music review about music I care about, I'll go to pitchforkmedia.com.Even SPIN is better than this crap.

RS: "Music Experts" who don't know CRAP about music.
Anyone who would consider putting a list of the 100 Greatest Artists ever without Pink Floyd, Queen, or Metallica has no knowledge of music whatsoever.

Also who the hell would put Kurt Cobain and Jack White on a list of the 100 greatest guitarists ever above Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads? Also not to mention that they didn't even include Slash or Malmsteem on the list.

This magazine makes me sick to the stomach. Basically all they do is praise artists who have good lyrics but crappy music, like Bob Dylan. They also need to get over their constant worship of U2, because even when they put out those 2 awful albums 'Zooropa' and 'Pop', they did nothing but praise them for their over-produced experimental crap.

And what can we say about their devotion towards 'The White Stripes' and 'The Strokes' and hail them as the BEST NEW THING, while we've been waiting for years for these people to make albums worth their praise. Yet, Rolling Stone rather ignores great new artists like Muse, Franz Ferdinand, and Keane.

I know you guys are probably potheads, but perhaps you should consider putting the hash pipe to the side and think about what you write because it's hurting the REAL ARTISTS. ... Read more

Asin: B00005N7SJ
Subjects:  1. Entertainment    2. Music   

Entertainment Weekly
by The Time Inc. Magazine Company
Average Customer Review:
Magazine
list price: $196.00 -- our price: $38.95
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• Magazine Subscription

Reviews (86)

Subscribed for a year...very disappointed
I got a free subscription to ET by using my frequent flier miles.When I read through my first issue, I was more than a little disappointed.The cover stories often dealt with movies that wouldn't open for a year, and were mostly hype to begin with.A few of the cover stories I remember (The Village, Van Helsing) covered two of the worst movies of the year, certainly not worthy of a cover story.The weekly reviews of the movies were pretty good, but the music reviews were terrible.I have quite an extensive music collection and familiarity, however, the albums reviewed were often from artists I'd never heard of while larger, more established artists were completely ignored.This is simply unacceptable.ET should be focused on the mainstream.Let Rolling Stone and other "music" magazines focus on the obscure bands.The articles and interviews in ET are terrible at best.Often, a "feature" interview consists of a celebrity rambling on about something stupid.And the filler material in the first half of the magazine (The Hot List, etc.) isn't fit for tabloids.In the year that I subscribed to the magazine, I can only think of one or two good articles that I read in the magazine. The addition of Stephen King as a columnnist helped, but even his columns seemed off-base most of the time, like he didn't have the guidance of an editor, but was simply given an open forum instead.ET is very disappointing.They simply ride each fad or popular celebrity until it stops moving, and then hop on to the next one.The magazine is hardly journalism.It's more like a high school gossip forum of sorts, where people talk about people rather than ideas and artistic achievements.Sad.

The Best Entertainment Magazine Out There
If you're looking for a magazine that focuses on all aspects of the entertainment industry, look no further than this magazine.

I signed up for Entertainment Weekly as a charter subscriber back in 1990. I was looking for an alternative to Rolling Stone, something that focused exclusively on entertainment, and I found it with this magazine. I was hooked from the first issue and I've been a subscriber ever since.The funny thing is that I tend to keep my past issues. And as you can guess, on a weekly basis, they tend to take up space quickly!But I actually do find myself going back and referring to past issues.

Each issue is broken down into specific sections: Television, DVDs, Movies, Music, Books, etc., with fairly good commentary in each section. They rate the items reviewed on a grading scale of A to F, and often provide excellent, well thought out reviews. Yes, you're going to get latest fads (the Britney's and the Usher's) on the cover - but you'll also see established performers like Harrison Ford, Kenneth Branagh, Thomas Wolfe, and Tom Hanks on the cover as well. They cover the good, the bad, and everything else in between.If it's entertainment oriented, you'll find it here.

I especially like their annual movie and TV perview issues. ou get a great comprehensive overview of the upcoming TV season as well as almost every movie due to hit the screen, month by month.

While I really like the magazine overall, there are a few items I wish would change. The layout has gotten a little sloppy and hard to read over the past two years. Lots of colors mixed with different texts make it hard to focus. Another item is that they occassionally revise their reviews. For instance, Britney Spears's "Crossroads" movie received a B+. Once it came out on DVD, they revised their rating to a C. At least they come clean and state why they changed the rating in the DVD review. The last thing I've noticed is that they've gotten a little soft as far as their reviews go. I think they may have grown to the point where they don't want to offend any celebrities, so their interviews take a softer edge.

With Entertainment Weekly, you get what the magazine's name promises: a quality product covering all media outlets, delivered on a weekly basis.Subscribe to it and you'll be in the know as far as entertainment is concerned.

That's 'Entertainment'
Been a subscriber for well over ten years and this mag is still one of the best out there.There've been format changes and sometimes I wonder where the reviewers are coming from but, hey...it's still the only magazine I read from cover to cover.(Letter column included!)I would be considered by most to be a 'flyover' cuz, heck, I live in the middle of the country and don't have that LA LA chic or NY state of mind or whatever, but this mag keeps me up to date on new releases (Books, Music, Movies, DVD...and heck, once a month, I get a feel for what's what on Broadway--lucky me!!)EW has turned me onto many, many great things-Erik Larson, Buffy, Lemony Snicket, House, Gilmore Girls, Lost...I could go on and on and on.And, I don't always agree with the reviews/grades but they are competent and reasonably critical.(Owen and Lisa aren't afraid to call abad movie exactly that--especially Lisa!)I guess if you're looking for something serious, EW is not for you.If you're looking for some light reading with a bit of snark and humour and insight, this is the magazine for you.I know I look forward to it every week... ... Read more

Asin: B00005UQ61
Sales Rank: 45
Subjects:  1. Literary    2. Entertainment    3. Movies (Movie, Films, Film, Cinema)    4. Music    5. TV (Television)    6. Musicians    7. Actors and actresses   

My Big Fat Greek Wedding
by HBO Home Video
Average Customer Review:
DVD (08 February, 2005)
list price: $14.96 -- our price: $11.22
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Editorial Review

It's not surprising that My Big Fat Greek Wedding grew more popular over the course of its theatrical release (whereas most blockbusters open big and then drop precipitously)--not only does it have believable situations and engaging characters, but these characters (particularly our romantic heroine, Toula, played by writer and performer Nia Vardalos) look like actual human beings instead of plastic movie stars. The result is the very accessible tale of Greek-American Toula (whose family sees her as over the hill at 30), who falls for a WASPy guy named Ian (John Corbett) and then has to endure the outrage, doubt, and ultimate acceptance of her deeply ethnically centered family. The actors invest their wildly stereotypical portrayals with sincerity and compassion, giving the movie an honest warmth instead of Hollywood schmaltz. But My Big Fat Greek Wedding ultimately succeeds because of Vardalos; her intelligent, down-to-earth presence and charm carry the film. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Widescreen
• Dolby

Reviews (719)

No "spoiled little princess perfect"bride here!
The only thing that got me into the theater to see this movie was the fact that the actor playing the brother is a friend of a friend of mine. I ended up forgetting he was even there half the time, (even though he was wonderful) I was expecting Bridezilla, what I got was a very normal woman.

Whoa, what's with all the rave reviews?
Nerdy girl meets handsome guy.Hansome guy likes nerdy girl anyway.They both have to deal with each other's strange families(mostly hers).Love prevails.

For what it is, this is an okay movie, but it's certainly not the pinnacle of cinematic arts like all the five star reviews led you to believe.This is a story that has been done many times before, and often with better results.

My Big Fat Happy Ending
Frumpy Greek 30-something goes to college, gives herself an ambush makeover. Non-Greek man of dreams suddenly falls in love with her, family follies over the wedding and they live happily ever after.

It's fine, but it's no cinematic feat of brilliance. Occassionally humourous, often sickeningly sweet--if Meg Ryan were Greek, this would have been hers. ... Read more

Asin: B00006FMUW
Subjects:  1. Feature Film-comedy   

The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition)
by New Line Home Entertainment
Average Customer Review:
DVD (12 November, 2002)
list price: $39.98 -- our price: $27.99
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Editorial Review

In every aspect, the extended-edition DVD of Peter Jackson's epic fantasy The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring blows away the theatrical-version DVD. No one who cares at all about the film should ever need to watch the original version again. Well, maybe the impatient and the squeamish will still prefer the theatrical version, because the extended edition makes a long film 30 minutes longer and there's a bit more violence (though both versions are rated PG-13). But the changes--sometimes whole scenes, sometimes merely a few seconds--make for a richer film. There's more of the spirit of J.R.R. Tolkien, embodied in more songs and a longer opening focusing on Hobbiton. There's more character development, and more background into what is to come in the two subsequent films, such as Galadriel's gifts to the Fellowship and Aragorn's burden of lineage. And some additions make more sense to the plot, or are merely worth seeing, such as the wood elves leaving Middle-earth or the view of Caras Galadhon (but sorry, there's still no Tom Bombadil). Extremely useful are the chapter menus that indicate which scenes are new or extended.

Of the four commentary tracks, the ones with the greatest general appeal are the one by Jackson and cowriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, and the one by 10 cast members, but the more technically oriented commentaries by the creative and production staff are also worth hearing. The bonus features (encompassing two complete DVDs) are far superior to the largely promotional materials included on the theatrical release, delving into such matters as script development, casting, and visual effects. The only drawback is that the film is now spread over two discs, with a somewhat abrupt break following the council at Rivendell, due to the storage capacity required for the longer running time, the added DTS ES 6.1 audio, and the commentary tracks. But that's a minor inconvenience. Whether in this four-disc set or in the collector's gift set (which adds Argonath bookends and a DVD of National Geographic Beyond the Movie: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring), the extended-edition DVD is the Fellowship DVD to rule them all. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

Features

• Director's Cut
• DTS Surround Sound
• Color
• Box set
• Widescreen

Reviews (3516)

Favorite movie i ever watched!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lord of the rings THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING is my favorie movie i ever watched.It is a cool action movie. I ecspecaly like the troll & the Belrog. I would also recomend reading the book first and you should watch the extended edition. This cool movie is 3 1/2 hours long (the extended editon) so make sure you have enough time before watching it. I personaly Wouldn't recomend it for children under 10 but it is your choice. or maybe children under tenif taking the scary parts uot. If you havn't seen it already go get it from your nearest movie store. Youl love it!!!

Its About Addiction
Lord of the Rings is not an epic struggle between "good" and "evil". That level of analysis is more appropriate for pop trash, such as Lucas' Star Wars.

Lord of the Rings is about addiction. Any addict, or anyone who works with addicts, will immediately recognize the ring's affect on its bearer as quite similar to the affect of serious addictive elements on the addict, such as that found in heroin addiction, alcohol addiction, or religion addiction. There are numerous parallels between the power of the ring and addictive behavior: the transformation that occurs in Bilbo, Frodo, Gollum and the Ringwraithes; the insipient, all-consuming desire to use the drug, but also the fear to do so; Frodo's desire to see Gollum restore to Smeagol, so that Frodo may hope to also return to a pre-addictive state; the inability to return to a pre-addictive state, as with Bilbo and Frodo; the overwhelming temptation to use, even among those who are cognizant of its terrible descrutive power, as with Galadriel and Gandalf; the development of multiple personalities, as with Gollum/Smeagol; the isolation of addiction, as with Gollum living alone in the depths of the Misty Mountains for countless years with his "precious"; the discarding of loved ones, as with Frodo to Sam or Smeagol to Deagol; the delusion of strength acquired by addictive usage, such as with Boromir and Faramir; the deterioration of perceived strength over time, and ultimate corruption of the soul, as with Gollum and the Wraithes. These are all highly correlated with serious addictions.

With this understanding of addiction in mind, it is a painful yet inspirational experience to view the epic journey that occurs in the three LOTR movies. So much is familiar. Even Frodo's and Bilbo's decision to accompany the elves across the waters to live out their days is indicative of a life that has been utterly and irreversibly changed due to past addiction - the addict is never really cured.

Thank you so much Peter Jackson, for bringing Tolkein's books to life. Now, how about The Hobbit?

The grandest movie I have ever seen from an extreme critic
There's something about this that just takes you and punches you straight in the stomach. Peter Jackson took what was already extremely earthy and honest book material and then supercharged it into this fantasy-visual epic. Some minor touchups and tweaks here and there and you have a tight true to fandom, fresh, morally relevant masterpiece. I popped this sucker in my PC, within my dark lonely apartment and immediately felt like I was amongst good friends on a grand Kick-Ass adventure. Real mellow too.
Good job! Please make more films like this Hollywood.
Staying true to the original concept roots while regarding the film version really wins every time.
I only saw the cut version and need to see the extended as i thought the stories were too complicated in only 3 hours.
Now off to the other two! Whoohoo! ... Read more

Asin: B000067DNF
Subjects:  1. Feature Film-action/Adventure   

Six Feet Under - The Complete First Season
by HBO Home Video
Average Customer Review:
DVD (04 February, 2003)
list price: $99.98 -- our price: $63.99
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Editorial Review

The Fishers are your typical dysfunctional family. Ruth (Frances Conroy) is the stern matriarch who has trouble expressing emotion and snaps at the slightest problem. Daughter Claire (Lauren Ambrose) is an underachiever who cultivates a moody, mysterious loner image in high school (she's indulging in illegal substances too). Brother David (Michael C. Hall) works in the family business, and is uptight beyond belief (he's indulging in a secret homosexual relationship too). Elder brother Nate (Peter Krause) is the black sheep, who, eschewing responsibility, fled to Seattle but got lured back. And Dad (Richard Jenkins) watches it all bemusedly. Did we mention Dad's dead? Oh, and that the Fisher family business is a funeral home? It might sound off-putting, but coming from the mind of Alan Ball, the man who strip-mined suburban life to find the mordant wit underneath in American Beauty, Six Feet Under is a trenchant, stylish spin on standard family dysfunction.

This HBO series initially aspired to fits of Twin Peaks-like whimsy, with each episode starting with a death more outlandish than the previous, but soon settled into a comfortable groove that harkened back to the most familiar of TV family dramas (in fact, it's almost a mirror image of '70s drama Family, down to the three sibling archetypes). Of course, its HBO roots allowed it ample leeway with sex, drug usage, profanity, and violence. While the writing strove to be a little too clever, the overall look and tone of the show remained solid and sometimes profound (sometimes absurd too, but usually with good reason). Krause and Hall, as initially warring brothers who come to a wary understanding, are solid anchors, but it's the women in the cast who do the most phenomenal work. Conroy infuses her almost stereotypical mom with an obstinate but ultimately accepting heart, and Ambrose's Claire is by far the show's most appealing character. And stealing scenes left and right is Rachel Griffith's Brenda, a mystery woman with an outlandish backstory who meets Nate on a plane, has sex with him at the airport, and infiltrates his life. Like Brenda herself, Six Feet Under is fascinating--and highly addictive. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Box set
• Dolby

Reviews (142)

Dark humour which I like but...
...the episode A Private Life struck so close to home that it scared me. I sat on the sofa terrified and then started to cry. I've been through it all before. Those that have seen the episode may guess at what I'm getting at but I doubt it. To everyone else, I encourage you to view this series. It is the best drama from America that I have ever seen and I think it might become my favourite. For me, it was very thought provoking and seems to leave me feeling quite introspective at the end of each episode. There are much more informative and helpful reviews below, but I just felt compelled to write this. I wont sleep tonight I'm sure.

Slow & Steady Wins the Race
For once, you can believe the hype. "Six Feet Under" showcases one of the highest quality television shows to have been produced in a long time. Who knew HBO could pull it off?

"Six Feet Under" starts off a little slow, and comes off in the first few episodes of unsure of itself. But once the groundwork has been laid, the first season hits its stride and concludes with some of the absolute best acting, writing, and direction that can be seen on contemporary television. The season's high point is Illeana Douglas' guest appearance as a temporary mortician in the Fisher & Sons Funeral Home.

Each episode geniusly begins with a death scene of the latest Fisher & Sons customer, who usually haunts the theme of that episode, and ultimately leads a major character into a surprisingly believable moment of clarity or self-realization. The dialogue between characters is real--this is a family that I would believe is actually living next door. Their problems are neither too polished nor too extraordinary to relate to. The characters are multi-faceted, and played with such precision that the viewer is allowed to both love and hate them.

The series starts off slow, and there are elements of melodrama that overshadow the whole. But altogether, "Six Feet Under" is worthy of every good thing ever said about it.

Best TV show in History!
The pilot episode is brilliant! Within the first 4 minutes you will be sucked into their world and fascinated by every charecter. This is truly the best dramatic series on television. I'm sorry to see it go away. ... Read more

Asin: B00006NT1S
Subjects:  1. Television   

Lost In Space
Average Customer Review:
Digital
list price: $0.00
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Reviews (3)

Lost in this music
I purchased this album over a year ago and still listen to it every week. Aimee Mann delicately weaves vocal melody with complex instrumentation throughout every song. She creates metaphors with her lyrics that better describe love, loneliness and life than any other artist I've listened to.

When Norah Jones won Best Album of the Year for 2002, I lamented that it wasn't Aimee Mann. If you're in the mood for a serene album to get lost in, buy this album. It's perfect.

one of the best downloads on this site
Aimee has a cool, spare voice that conveys just enough emotion. Reminds me of Sarah Harmer (a Canadian singer-songwriter), but less folksy. The song itself is very tuneful and catchy, slightly depressing with a cool groove and beat. I can't believe this is a free download!

Strong grace in space
She has a melodic voice you'll like immediatly. a strong rythem that puts you at ease with out putting you to sleep. No need to make haste when your lost in space! ... Read more

Asin: B00006LHBM