Microsoft Window XP Professional Upgrade
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (25 October, 2001)
list price: $199.00
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Editorial Review

Windows XP is the operating system release that unifies the Microsoft range, with all the desktop versions now built on the NT/2000 code base rather than the shakier foundation of Windows 95, 98, and Me. That makes XP a great upgrade for users of the now obsolete 9x and Me line, but for those already on Windows 2000 Professional it is a closer call. Despite the similar name, there is no special synergy between Windows XP and Office XP, which works fine on Windows 2000.

XP certainly looks different, with rounded window corners, larger and more detailed icons, and a clean-look desktop that on first installation shows only the taskbar and recycle bin. XP is also more customizable than previous versions of Windows, and includes visual themes that let you change the whole appearance of Windows in an instant. That is the window-dressing, but underneath are some significant improvements. One of the most interesting is Remote Desktop. A standard XP feature, this uses technology from Microsoft Terminal Server to enable users to access their computer over any connection; for example, by dialing into the office from home. This is not just file access--this technology lets you run applications remotely as if you were sitting at your desk at work. This is mature technology, stable and carefully thought-out. So, for example, you can print from a remote word processor to a local printer. A variation on the theme is Remote Assistance, where the user can allow a remote helper to view their desktop, or optionally gain control of the keyboard and mouse, in order to troubleshoot a problem. The feature can also be disabled to ease security concerns.

Laptop users benefit from enhanced power management, with options to extend battery life by reducing CPU speed and display brightness. IrDA support has been fixed so that, unlike Windows 2000, XP can easily use modems in mobile telephones via infrared. A new screen font, ClearType, improves legibility for laptop or other flat screens, and there is built-in support for wireless networking using the popular 802.11 standard. A great feature of XP, also found in Windows 2000, is the ability to synchronize network files with offline copies. Previously these files could not be stored securely, but now they can be encrypted.

For Web browsing, XP comes with Internet Explorer 6.0. The enhancements in IE 6.0 are mainly of interest to Web developers, and in any case Microsoft makes IE freely available to all Windows users. Although Java is not installed by default, it is not difficult to download a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Windows Messenger, originally a chat client, has evolved into a collaboration tool that allows for video conferencing and application sharing.

The most significant new feature for Internet users is the built-in firewall. A firewall protects against one of the most disturbing security risks, in which other users unknown to you might connect to your computer while it is online, reading private files or causing other damage. XP's built-in firewall is a simple affair, but does prevent most types of unauthorized connection.

Windows XP has strong multimedia features. The new Media Player lets you copy music from CD to hard disk, create your own playlist, and write your own music CDs if you have a CD writer. Although there is loss of quality as a result of compression, the process is easy and convenient. Media Player 8.0 can play back DVD video, but only if a hardware or software DVD decoder is already installed. You can also play MP3 audio files and MPEG videos, but sadly not the popular RealMedia formats. In the end, Media Player does nothing that you cannot also do with free alternatives, but it is slick and nicely integrated.

The XP user interface is not a radical departure from earlier versions of Windows, but there are a number of small changes that together add up to a significant improvement. The Start menu now automatically features the most frequently used programs at the top of the list, and you can add and remove shortcuts by right-clicking the icon and selecting Pin or Unpin from the pop-up menu. Windows online help is integrated into a Help and Support Center that works like an internal Web site, with searchable help, tutorials, and walk-throughs.

Windows XP Professional includes all the features of Windows XP Home, and adds support for dual processors, encryptable file system, offline folders, the Remote Desktop as described above, and extra administration features that come into play when connected to a Windows server domain. XP is demanding on hardware, and it would be a mistake to install it on less than Microsoft's recommended minimum requirements. There is also activation to consider, a mildly annoying anti-piracy measure that requires you to obtain a code from Microsoft for full installation, and in the future if you reinstall or make major system changes.

Overall, it's a big step forward for those coming from Windows 9x or Me, and attractive rather than compelling as an upgrade from 2000. --Tim Anderson ... Read more

Features

Reviews (204)

Ambiguous
In the system requirements link on Amazon for this product the upgradable OS are :

"Upgrade for users of Microsoft Windows 98, 98 SE, Me, or 2000"

Great! What about users of XP Home Edition - we all know it CAN be upgraded inplace but will this paticular upgrade product do it?

answers on a postcard.

Windows XP....THE BEST OS EVER
Windows XP Professional is the best operating system ever, however, I do not reccommend the Home Edition version, it is too limited.I also reccommend Microsoft Office 2003 Professional Edition along with XP, because it will increase your performance.

Windows XP certianly looks different, because of the new design.Ideal for home and professional users, while your at home making a business card, or if you are at the office.It can handle Hyper Threading, as well as advanced applications.

Windows XP rarely crashes, and if it does, it is not the whole OS, but just a program, and it is so easy to close.Then, just simply restart the application and you are back up and running.

Windows XP is very easy to install; just pop in the CD, answer a few simple questions, and your done in just forty-five minutes!

Windows XP is a valid upgrade for users of any Windows Operating System, weather it be 2000, 98, ME, 95, XP Home, or NT, XP will increase your performance and make you overall happier!

Windows XP Professional
I have been a freelance translator for the past 15 years; and as such, was forced to learn how to operate a computer at a rather advanced age.That was during 1990.I started with a plain little computer, no WYSIWYG. . .and I can't even remember what the operating system was, but it was, most assuredly built by Bill Gates and was not yet "Windows".
I have FINALLY GRADUATED to this WONDERFUL version of Windows. . Windows XP Professional, the zenith of operating systems.I assure anyone who is reading this, that it is a most worthwhile investment.No more crashes.The computer even TELLS YOU when it has "indigestion".I love it.I cannot believe how good it is.I recommend it most heartily to everyone.You will certainly not be sorry once you load it on to your computer. ... Read more

Asin: B00005MOTG

Microsoft Office Standard Student and Teacher Edition 2003
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (21 October, 2003)
list price: $149.99 -- our price: $129.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Features

• Automatic backup and recovery of documents
• Burn multimedia PowerPoint presentations¿including a free PowerPoint viewer¿directly to CD
• Full versions of improved, yet familiar Office programs for up to 3 of your home PCs
• Junk e-mail filtering and blocking of unsafe attachments
• Backward compatibility with older versions of Office programs

Reviews (41)

great software
I recently bought a notebook with Windows XP home edition.Naturally, there was no Microsoft Office in the package so my computer felt crippled.I'm currently in need of a word processor so I tried downloading every freeware that was rated better than MS Word.Unfortunately, I didn't find any of them useful.I still prefer MS Office over any other.Even though this is only the Student and Teacher Edition, it's still loaded with very useful programs.

A little expensive and not a lot of products in there
I am a teacher evaluating the software suites offer for my school in Ontario, Canada.

- The ministry of education pays for Corel's suite, but my students can not use it at home.
- Microsoft Office with ONLY word, excel, ppt = 200$ is too expensive, I cannot ask all my students to get that, therefore I cannot rely on it
- OpenOffice.org free for everybody, comes with equivalents to word, excel, ppt, access, frontpage, vector graphics... for free. I can then ask everybody to have it. It reads Microsoft documents. Learning curve is reasonably low.
- StarOffice is free for Students and Teachers in school and at home. A good choice as well.

Good, but free substitutes are available.
Microsoft did a pretty good job with its office products. They are easy to use, powerful and versatile. Between Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, you can get all your office needs met, whether you are a beginner, student, or a professional
The best feature of the Microsoft Office suite is Outlook. It combines an easy to use calendar, email program that can handle multiple email accounts, task lists, and many other features that are just right if you need an all-in-one organizer.

HOWEVER ---

One of the other reviewers mentions that "the bottom line is value... why pay retail?" My question is - why pay at all? There is a FREE office suite called Open Office that you can download (again, for free, and legally). All you have to do is Google Open Office, and you will find the website. Granted, Open Office is not as good as Microsoft Office, but it is quite close. If you are looking for basic word processing, presentation software, and spreadsheet package, and if you do not require advanced features and your budget is tight, Open Office would be perfect for you. ... Read more

Asin: B0000C0XT1
Sales Rank: 3
Subjects:  1. Computer software (programs)    2. Office Suite (Suites)    3. Bundle (Bundles)   

Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Router
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $99.99 -- our price: $56.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Early Adopters Pick: January 2003. The first high-speed wireless networking router to use the 802.11g standard, which is four times faster than the current standard (802.11b) and backwards compatible.

The Linksys Wireless-G broadband router is really three devices in one box. First, it's a wireless access point, which lets you connect Wireless-G or Wireless-B devices to the network. There's also a built-in four-port full-duplex 10/100 switch to connect your wired-Ethernet devices. Connect four PCs directly, or daisy-chain out to more hubs and switches to create as big a network as you need. Finally, the router function ties it all together and lets your whole network share a high-speed cable or DSL Internet connection.

To protect your data and privacy, the Wireless-G broadband router can encrypt all wireless transmissions, and it supports the industrial-strength wireless security of 802.1x authentication and authorization. The router can serve as a DHCP server, has NAT technology to protect against Internet intruders, supports VPN pass-through, and can be configured to filter internal users' access to the Internet. Configuration is a snap with the Web browser-based configuration utility.

With the Linksys Wireless-G broadband router at the center of your home or office network, you can share a high-speed Internet connection, files, printers, andmultiplayer games with the flexibility, speed, and security you need!

Wireless-G is the 54 Mbps wireless networking standard that's more than four times faster than the widely deployed Wireless-B (802.11b) products found in homes, businesses, and public wireless hotspots around the country. But since they share the same 2.4 GHz radio band, Wireless-G devices can also interoperate with existing 11 Mbps Wireless-B equipment.

Because both standards are built-in, you can protect your investment in existing 802.11b infrastructure, and migrate to the new screaming-fast Wireless-G standard as your needs grow.

For more information on the differences between an access point and a router with access point, see the following table:

See a comparison diagram of the different wireless technologies.

Wireless networks are rapidly becoming more popular and coming down in price. Since they don't require cables, you can use the devices anywhere in an office or home, even out on the patio. There's no need to roll out an Ethernet network cable to each room of a house; you can network anywhere--without wires. Outside the home, wireless networking is available in hotspots at coffee shops, businesses, and airports--great when you're on the road and need to get some work done. For convenience, wireless networking is the answer. Which Wireless Standard Is Right for Me? Now that you've decided to create a wireless network, the next step is to figure out which wireless standard to use. Basically, a standard is a set of specifications for a device. All devices that follow a specific standard share operating characteristics, such as the radio frequency used and maximum data transfer speed. For wireless networking, there are three standards to choose from at this time: 802.11b 802.11a 802.11g To learn about the differences between the standards and select the right one for your network, click here for an easy-to-understand chart.

... Read more

Features

• Advanced wireless security with 128-bit WEP encryption, MAC, or IP address filtering
• All-in-one Internet-sharing router, 4-port switch, and Wireless-G (802.11g) access point
• Wireless data rates up to 54 Mbps--5 times faster than 802.11b
• Shares a single Internet connection and other resources with Ethernet wired and Wireless-G clients
• Interoperates with 802.11b clients at 11 Mbps

Reviews (558)

GREAT PRODUCT...
I have an RCA cable modem with RCN as my ISP.A great service which I highly recommend. I recently bought the Linksys G-Router after getting my hp laptop needing to setup wireless at home.I got it to work with no problem but then I experienced bandwidth loss and constant connectivity issues.I wrongly thought that it was the router.Fool that I was! After countless attempts at recycling the modem and WPA keys etc., I finally figured out that the modem could not support the wireless router and it had a short, plus RCA no longer carried it and the thing was ugly, taking up space.I've since gotten the Linksys Modem (BEFCMU10) and stacked it with the WRT54G router and it works fantastic!!!Be sure to call your ISP with the modem's MAC address to get online.YOU WON'T get connected otherwise. My ISP had me up and running within 5 minutes.Also some ISP's give you a discount if you supply your own modem.Check it out.

Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't
It sounds like some customers have had really good Linksys router experiences.I haven't.So I have come to conclude that sometimes these routers work great, sometimes they completely fail.I've spent hours dealing with Linksys' customer support and my ISP trying to get my router to work.My iBook AirPort and Windows 2000 /USB wireless adapter both found the router easily.But the router was not able to hook up with my ISP.Both computers get a good wired static IP connection to the internet.I tried using Linkksys' customer support by phone, email, web and chat and kept getting advice that did not work and www.linksys.com pages that didn't work.A software engineer, I'm reasonably tech-savvy so I usually have success with half-decent tech support.They never once suggested that their router might be malfunctioning.One of my ISP's support representatives said that he's had a run of some 40 calls from Linksys customers with this kind of problem.Apparently I got one of these duds.

I'd say Linksys has big problems with quality control and customer support.With many good alternatives out there I don't think it's worth rolling the dice with Linksys.I gave it two stars, rather than one, because it sounds like the good ones work really great and I imagine the duds a in the minority.For what it's worth, the guy from my ISP said he's had good experiences with NetGear routers.

VERY easy to install, VERY easy to use!!!
Hi, I'm very happy with this Linksys Router. It took me only 10 seconds to surf in the web. Believe it or not!!!. I just plug in the Ethernet cable from my DSL Modem into the Router conection. I turn on my Gateway Laptop and....surprise!!! I was already conected to the web!!!.
No configuration needed, no CD running, no nothing!!!
Great product, great Plug and Play from Windows XP. ... Read more

Asin: B00007KDVI
Subjects:  1. Linksys   

HP OfficeJet 6110 All-in-One Multifunction
Average Customer Review:
Electronics (10 January, 2003)
list price: $369.00
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Note: The HP OfficeJet 6110 is no longer being manufactured. You may want to consider purchasing the newer HP OfficeJet 6210 instead.

With beautiful, optimized color and fast copying and printing speeds, the convenient, space-saving HP OfficeJet 6110 multifunction is ready to help you. It can handle projects ranging from copying multipage documents in sharp laser quality to printing borderless 4-by-6-inch color snapshots. Equipped with a 35-page automatic document feeder, the HP OfficeJet 6110 gives you complete functionality so you can turn your attention to other tasks while printing, faxing, scanning, and copying.

Professional-looking documents are assured, thanks to 1,200 x 1,200 dpi print and copy resolution, and 2,400 x 1,200 dpi scan resolution with true 48-bit color. Plus, get your documents fast, with up 19 pages per minute (ppm) copying speed. The convenient USB interface is quick to connect and the software is easy to set up. The unit is backed by a one-year product warranty. ... Read more

Features

• Printing, scanning, faxing and copying
• 1,200 x 1,200 dpi print and copy resolution
• 2,400 x 1,200 dpi scan resolution
• 19 pages per minute copy speed
• USB interface; 1-year product warranty

Reviews (90)

Trash
This machine is a constant frustration.Out of the box, the software is buggy and has never worked right.Tech support is poor, and they are able to do little more than parrot the instructions that come with the machine.Constantly jams when sending faxes, freezes up when sending large faxes, and has never successfully scanned an item.I operate a small business and thought this machine would cover several bases at once, but have been constantly disappointed.HP should be ashamed for putting this garbage on the market.

Buggy Software
So mom needed help scanning and e-mailing some documents. No problem. Hit the "scan" button on the OfficeJet, and go, right? Wrong. Hitting the button would bring up an HP splash screen on the computer, but it froze there. Lesson learned: the "scan" button on the machine is useless.

Then we went into the "HP Photo # Imaging Gallery" software. It worked for 3 scans, but on the 4th one, it appeared to scan fine, but the document file never showed up in the gallery window.

We tried it with another scanning application, and again it appeared to scan fine, but the software never received the data. No error, nothing.

I tried downloading a "critical update" for the HP software, and it arrived as an executable WinZip file. Unfortunately, it tried to unpack to a directory on C: but the computer in question doesn't have a C: drive, so the WinZip self-extractor said "Drive c is not a valid drive, unzip operation canceled" and exited.

Anyway, I then noticed the link that lets HP analyze your system for needed upgrades, but it found that the driver for the OfficeJet was up-to-date.

My HP Scanjet also 3300C has funny drivers. They don't like it when I disconnect power to the scanner before "disconnecting" the scanner in Windows. I think it used to crash Windows, before I upgraded the drivers. Now it merely complains. But it shouldn't complain at all!

Also, my uncle tried getting the fax part to work, but he hit an unresolvable problem (I don't remember what it was).

At work, we also use a different model of OfficeJet for faxing. That has problems feeding paper, and it just doesn't work as well as the Brother machine that sits beside it.

From now on, I can't recommend any HP device with a scanner, due to the poor quality of the drivers. But to be honest to myself and HP, I still like my Deskjet 970CSE. And the OfficeJet 6110 prints fine, which is why I give this 2 stars instead of 1.

Wonderful Multifunction Printer
I pruchased this unit so I could make copies for Sunday School and do light faxing and scanning.I have to use the unit increasingly for scanning documents into my computer.

So far, I have had no problems to report on this unit. ... Read more

Asin: B00007HULQ
Subjects:  1. Copier (Copy Machine, Machines, Copying)    2. Scanner (Flatbed, Flat bed)    3. Inkjet Printer (Ink Jet Printers, Printing)    4. Scanner (Sheetfed, Sheet Feeder, Sheetfeeder)    5. Hewlett Packard (Hewlett-Packard)    6. Multifunction devices    7. Laser Jet (laserjet)    8. Ink Jet (inkjet)    9. Hewlett-Packard    10. (HP)    11. (Hewlet Packart)   

Belkin F3U133-06 USB Device Cable (6 FT)
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $9.99 -- our price: $6.02
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

A premium quality USB A-B device cable ... Read more

Features

• Warranty: Lifetime
• Universal 20/28 AWG construction, double shielded
• Gold-plated copper contacts ensure no data-loss
• 20 AWG power conductors to support 12-Mb data rate
• Minimizes cross-talk and ensures high-speed transmission

Reviews (46)

Exceptional Quality at Low Price.
This is a good USB cable.It is compatible with both USB 1.0 and 2.0 ports.It is long enough to give great flexibility with arraging whatever it needs to be connected to.The price is extremely good (even though amazon.com changes it every now and then) for this cable.It is way more expensive in stores.And getting a Belkin product for such a low price is excellent.This is totally worth the money, and is a great buy if you need a USB cable.

... your basic cable.
It's cheap, it works.What more could you want from a cable?

This is a USB 1.0 AND 2.0 cable.
The product description doesn't state this, but this is a USB 2.0 cable meaning you get access to all the extra speed USB 2.0 offers.It's also backward compatible with USB 1.0.

The cable is dark grey (it matches the 2004 model Dells nicely), very sturdy, and has a great solid connection when plugged in.

The price is low, the quality is not. This is an excellent value. ... Read more

Asin: B00000J1TX
Subjects:  1. Cables - Computer    2. F3U13306    3. Expansion (Expansions, Controller, Controllers, Card, Cards)    4. USB Interface (Universal Serial Bus Interfaces, Ports, Port, Connection, Connections)    5. USB Cable (Cables)    6. Accessories (Accessory)   

Norton Antivirus 2004 [Replaced by Norton AntiVirus 2005]
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM
list price: $59.95
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Features

• Award-winning anti-virus software with expanded threat detection
• Automatically removes viruses, worms, and Trojan horses
• Scans and cleans incoming and outgoing email messages
• Alerts to non-virus threats; worm and script blocking
• LiveUpdate automatically checks for virus-protection updates

Reviews (168)

I hate this Anti Virus
I'm disappointed that it doesn't clean the system of spyware and adware!! Oh why did I buy this? I must have been on crack! I should've bought Spyware and adware removal tool instead of this crap.It would probably be good for detecting and erasing viruses but not spyware and adware, which I recently learn is more dangerous than viruses.Oh man, tough luck for me that I paid Norton $50 bucks of my mom's money and didn't even turn in the stupid $10 rebate that came with it because it was to expire "VERY" soon. :-( A sad ending to this product review.

God only can help you to download this product.
I had bought Norton Antivirus product for my older Sony Vaio Computer & renewed it, there were viruses which got in & I had to format the computer.I had the recovery disk & I loaded the norton antivirus from it & try to update the definations which it did not do. I have a valid subscription till march 2005. I wrote many e-mails but got no help whatsoever from Norton people & thus getting fed up I bought Bullgaurd which is working well.

I bought a new HP preserio which had Norton Antivirus with it, The subscription would end on 12/14/2004 & so on Dec. 11.2004 I have bought downloadable version & for which a hidden cost of $ 6.99 was charged for Extended download service. Well I paid everything & since 3 days I made several attempts to download the program & I could not succeed. I am praying to god that perhaps I learn Hi tech coputer skills to download this program.I would adress this issue with various consumer rating agencies.I am fed up with this attitude, & computer generated response from Norton people. I have wasted lot of time in doing the same.I thus rate this program as Useless, & Hopeless

Sanjeev Athale

download problems
I was actually downloading a renewal it took forever 3 or more hours my computer crashed and a large no of spyware programs were included i ended up removing the norton from my system this was original software and installing a different software so not only did i lose the original software but also my money for the upgrade i am trying to recoup the cost of the download thru the credit card co what a disappointment ... Read more

Asin: B0000C8XYI
Sales Rank: 153

APC Back-UPS ES 500 Backup Battery and Surge Protector
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $79.99 -- our price: $54.14
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

The APC Back-UPS ES is a battery backup and surge protector for home and office electronic equipment. With six outlets and built-in phone/fax/modem lines (DSL compatible) your valuable equipment is protected from surges and lightning. With the USB connector, it's easy to install the system software. Audible alarms and building faulty wiring notifications add to your ease of mind. The status LED's will keep you informed of the operational status of the Back-UPS ES. The included battery is user replaceable, making the surge protector easy to maintain. This package comes with a wall mounting template and cord management straps.

What's in the Box
Surge protector, CD with software, cord management straps, free trial of anti-virus, USB cable, wall mounting template and a user's manual. ... Read more

Features

• USB connectivity
• Surge and lightning protected outlets
• Audible alarms/building wiring fault indicator
• Status indicator LED's
• Hot swap batteries

Reviews (5)

AWESOME!!!A great battery backup from APC!!!
I have had this UPS for about a year and a half now and LOVE it!!!I just upgraded to the BACK-UPS 1000 (review to follow in about a month or two) and am now using this to backup my DVR, DVD recorder, and television.I could not be happier with this product!APC has some great stuff and I have had several different brands of UPS's.This one, the BACK-UPS 500, is probably their most popular.It's powerful, affordable, and VERY reliable!!!Give it a try -- You WILL NOT be dissappointed.

Horrible Customer Support
The UPS unit itself works just fine. It kicks in properly when power fails, allowing me to save my work and safely shut down my computer. It even automatitcally shuts down the computer when I'm not available to do so myself.

Having said that, APC's customer support is downright horrible. I contacted them concerning an issue with a recent software upgrade, explaining the situation in some detail (two paragraphs) and asking for a possible resolution. I received a poorly written, canned, response in return which did not relate at all to anything I had said. This happened again following two more follow-up messages. Either they were not reading, or could not understand, what I was writing.

Angry at this point, I sent another message, including all the previous messages and replies, bluntly asking for this message to be delivered to someone who spoke English and could actually read what was sent. To my surprise, I received a response saying it was being sent to the software developers who would respond in detail. However, a few days later, I received a message stating that, since I had not contacted the company in some time, my problem had apparently been resolved. Of course, it had not been resolved - I was still waiting for the promised response.

I gave up at this point. I never did receive a response from the software people, nor has the issue been resolved to this day. This company has apparently outsourced their customer support to a third-world country, using employees whose command of the English language is questionable at best. This was insufficient to handle even a relatively minor issue like mine. Further, I'm not exactly thrilled about the loss of American jobs as a result of overseas outsourcing (obviously "American" is only good enough to use in a company name). Therefore, since I'm buying a new computer this week, I'll look for another company who takes customer support, and American workers, more seriously. I urge others to consider the same option.

Don't buy this item for the warrantee...
I don't own this specific APC product, but I do own other APC products.

My home was hit by lightning on July 2, 2004 during a severe lightning storm. Both of my garage door openers were destroyed during the strike and they were on separate NET3 power line surge protectors made by APC.

NET3 surge protectors offer the best ($50,000) damaged equipment warranty that APC offers. APC refuses to pay for replacement garage door openers since in their determination, the surge protectors are functioning properly (I had to send the surge protectors at my expense for analysis at their labs).

I will never contend that a surge protector can protect any device from a direct lightning strike, but the APC warranty contends that they will replace your equipment in the event this unfortunate event occurs.

I now do not recommend APC equipment, since their warranty is worthless. ... Read more

Asin: B00006HYUB
Subjects:  1. Surge Protection (Protector, Protectors, Power Strips, Strip)    2. Accessories (Accessory)   

Apple 4 GB iPod Mini Silver M9160LL/A
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $349.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Features

• 1.67 inch (diagonal) backlit screen displays full song names and more
• More than 8 hour battery life on a 3 hour charge (1-hour fast charge to 80% capacity)
• Comes with earbud headphones, belt clip, AC adapter, FireWire cable, and USB 2.0 cable
• 4 GB model holds up to 1,000 songs; supports MP3, AAC, WAV, MP3 VBR, Audible (6), and AIFF formats
• Mac and Windows compatible; FireWire and USB 2.0 interface for fastest digital transfer available

Reviews (472)

The Best Thing EVER!
The iPod Mini is great! The sound quality is excellent, the colors are bright and fun, and you can store up to 1,000 songs easily and on the go!!!!!! I love it!

mini ipod rocks (almost)
Generally speaking, the mini ipod is great. I'm not an apple user, so I was hesitant to purchase it. Plus, the price is nothing to laugh at. It's very durable, and the user interface is pretty cool and easy. If your thinking of buying the 4 gig, I recommend springing for the extra cash to get the 6 gig. The ipod can hold a lot of songs, but mine is already full (4 gigs). You'll be wishing you had more space like I do.

Pros:
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Small/compact
- Easy to install (some people had problems, but my install was easy)

Cons:
- You HAVE to use itunes (which comes with it) for this to work. Not a big deal. But I was so used to Windows Media 10, I thought I wouldn't like it, but itunes makes things pretty easy. It will automatically catalog and convert songs if you want it to.
- There aren't many other worthy competitors out there right now, so if you want lots of storage with a simple sleek design, ipod is the way to go.
- The sound quality has something to desire. With all the hype and the price, I was expecting a brilliant sound system. I've tried different earphones, but the sound is a bit tinny (metallic, harsh on the high end). This can suck when you crank it up and your ears are shattered by the high-end. The ipod does offer some preset EQs, but they should've offered a band EQ for those of us who really want to fine-tune things.
- The navigation wheel takes some time and skill to get used to. It's definitely designed for the nibble-fingered, and not for big chunky hands. So, you'll get used to it and get the feel of how to make this baby sing.
- TERRIBLE stock earphones that come with it. Throw those out and buy some new ones right away.

Overall, I recommend, but be prepared to spend some money on the ipod itself, and another small investment in some quality earphones. I hope future models will include a detailed manual band EQ. That will then make this an ideal product.

People Love Minimalistic Gadgets
The next big (little?) thing to take the world by storm is the Ipod Mini. I'm not sure what it is about small electronic devices that puts a giant smile on everyone's face, but this one definitely gets the job done. As soon as I heard about it, I knew that it would eventually be mine. A few days later I found myself standing in the store with a new blue Mini in my hand, ready to be paid for.

The Mini is great for people who need to move around a lot at work and can't stand near an outlet all day, just clip it onto your pants and crank the volume. Chances are, you won't even notice that it's there due to the almost non-existent weight of the thing.

My one gripe about the Mini would have to be the earbuds. They tend to hurt my ears after only a short amount of time with them in. However, I'm thinking the fit of them might just take a while to get used to since I stop feeling the pain after a certain period of listening. Then again, maybe my ears had just gone numb by then.

After all is said and done, the Ipod Mini is an amazing product that will hold your attention for countless hours. It becomes addicting very quickly, especially when you take notice of all the skins and other accessories out there for it. I think even moreso than loving minimalistic gadgets, people really love add-ons. It's an obsession.. why else would The Sims exist? ... Read more

Asin: B0001A99MO
Sales Rank: 884
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. 5GB    11. 5 GB   

PC Annoyances
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (14 October, 2003)
list price: $19.95 -- our price: $13.57
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Reviews (38)

A sanity saver
I am still pretty much a neophite where computers are concerned, so I bought this book hoping that it could get me out of the "messes" I'm always getting into. It really DOES help! Thank you!!! Steve Bass, I'm now searching for other books you have written.

Concise, excellent, usable tips
I've read many computer books, and I have to say this is one of the most informative. More important, Steve provides hundreds of tips to overcome the small (and large) problems of Windows. It's nice to konw that even a well-known computer columnist experiences the same frustrations we ordinary users do. Happily, he willing to share the solutions he's found.

In my first reading, I discovered the answers to at least 7 windows annoyances I've encountered.

And instead of including a cost-raising CD, the publisher has made 100 utility programs available online, a better solution that including them on a quickly outdated disk.

A useful, and often amusing book.

You need it!

A readable computer book!
This is the first computer book I actually said down and read, cover to cover. It holds your interest, and each tip gets you excited for the one to follow. I call it my AHA book. All the time you read it, you go "Aha! That's the problem!" or "Aha! That's how to get rid of that!". Can't recommend it highly enough. ... Read more

Isbn: 0596005938
Sales Rank: 20373
Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - Languages / Programming    2. Computer Books: General    3. Electronic mail messages    4. Equipment and supplies    5. Handbooks, manuals, etc    6. Microcomputers    7. Microsoft Windows (Computer fi    8. Programming Languages - General    9. Personal computers